Shadow of the Jedi
Chapter 13: The Ghost King ain't the only one with girl problems
Nico was in his quarters on the Coronet, the ship that'll be escorting the Duchess of Mandalore to Coruscant, Obi-Wan was in the cargo hold with the Clone escort, briefing them on the safety of the Duchess Satine Kryze, that it is of the utmost importance that she comes to no harm. Nico didn't know what all the security was for, because apparently it wasn't 'any of his business' (quoted by an extremely snappy Obi-Wan Kenobi) though he did get a small brief from Commander Cody that a terrorist group known as the Death Watch are planning to assassinate the Duchess. Meanwhile, Nico was in his quarters, sitting in a chair watching the HoloNet news on the latest developments of the war, and apparently a new droid General has been brought into public awareness, General Grievous.
Nico raised a brow as he watched the droid General take on three Jedi at the same time and win, feeling nothing for the Jedi's demise, Nico replayed the holo, studying the strange cyborg that had killed them, his brow furrowing at the Separatist General's fighting style. It was a mixture of Ataru but with the brute force of Djem-so. It lacked any and all grace, the style so broken down to suit its owner that its Jedi roots were hardly recognizable, though Nico saw it.
"He's been trained…" Nico muttered to himself absentmindedly. "Poorly, but he's been trained by someone familiar in the Jedi arts…Probably Dooku."
Nico frowned as his eyes studied the joints and body of the droid that was given through the blue-white hologram. A reversible joint was visible as well as a locking mechanism in each arm and Nico crossed his arms, brushing his thumb and forefinger against his chin in silent thought. It almost looked as if the cyborg could separate his arms but Nico found the idea…foolish, dangerously so when using multiple lightsabers. The fewer blades to kill yourself with the better and while he sometimes favoured using multiple blades, he had the Force and from the fighting style of Grievous, Nico could tell the cyborg had little to no connection, his style a mechanical dance, ungraceful but brutal and efficient, utilizing the strength mechanical limbs gave its owner and Nico decided Grievous would be a problem simply because of that fact. Jedi were used to fighting beings with blasters or beings that fought like they did. Grievous was unorthodox, fighting almost like a Mandalorian atop a Basilisk war droid and Nico could admire the style's efficiency, though its grace left something to be desired. The droid-half-breed had no Force-sense and was using split-second calculations and the speed and strength allotted to his artificial limbs to overwhelm his opponents.
Nico sighed as he let the holo continue on with the news, and if he didn't like the news on the new droid General, he was not going to like what was up next…
"In other news, who is the new mysterious Jedi Commander?" the Twi'lek news reporter said as a picture of Nico with his lightsaber out in a reverse grip and hood up stood out amongst over a hundred destroyed battle droids, "Recent reports have said that he is the hero of the Senate hostage crisis. Is his sudden appearance in the war connected with the disappearance of Lord Reaper? Find out at ten tonight." That being said the holoprojector winked off.
As for Nico, he just rolled his eyes with a long, tired sigh, a lot of people already knew that he was Reaper, mainly bounty hunters for some reason, and he was getting very fed up of the news reporters coming out of nowhere and asking him really irritating questions. Who are you? Where did you come from? Are you really Lord Reaper? Though they have not been able to get a picture of him without his hood up, and Nico was thankful for that, though the Ghost King was honestly ready to lop off all of the reporters heads, he hated them almost as much as Senators.
It was all Palpatine's fault. An inevitable result of the Supreme Chancellor's relentless drive to put faces to the names of the Jedi fighting for the Republic's survival. A drive that had culminated in the continuous looped reporting of the war via the HoloNet news service. And since the Jedi were playing such a prominent role in the conflict…
Yoda and Windu had spoken forcefully against the notion, but Palpatine had been charmingly obdurate. The Jedi were heroes of the Republic, selflessly fighting in the name of peace. People should know this. Besides, only by making the Jedi known to every sentient on Coruscant, in the whole Republic, could they be sure of consolidating the groundswell of support for the fight against the Separatists.
"People cannot love an abstract," Palpatine had said. "But thanks to the HoloNet they will come to love the Jedi. Masters, you must trust me. In this matter I know precisely what I'm doing."
Yoda and Windu had not conceded the argument, but somehow they had lost it anyway. And as a result Nico had lost his comfortable anonymity, and each time he's in the middle of a battle he can sometimes see a droid HoloNet cam (Which he usually destroys just for fun).
Nico sighed as he heard his wrist-comm go off, he raised it to his mouth, "Di Angelo here." Nico acknowledged.
"The Duchess and her retinue requests your presence." The voice of one of the Mandalorian guards came through.
"Alright, what about Kenobi?" The Ghost King questions, as he got up from his chair and exited his quarters, making his way toward one of the lifts on the Coronet.
"He has already been told." The guard said.
"Alright, Di Angelo out." Nico said as he lowered his arm.
Nico got to the lift just in time, before it left without him, once he got in he noticed that Kenobi, Captain Rex and Commander Cody were in the lift as well.
Nico smirked at Kenobi, "Greetings gentlemen." He said with a sarcastic salute, hoping to get some sort of irritated response from Obi-Wan, but all he got was two nods from the Clones and a Jedi Knight ignoring him, obviously deep in thought. The Ghost King pressed the button for the floor that the Duchess was on.
Nico suddenly frowned and looked at Kenobi, who was stroking his beard, deep in thought, "I sense some anxiety coming from you about the Duchess," Nico remarked, "She couldn't be in safer hands." He tried to reassure.
"Yes, I know." Kenobi responded.
Nico frowned, "Then why-" He was, rudely, interrupted by the Jedi next to him.
"Never mind," He said a little too quickly. "It's all in the past."
Nico raised an eyebrow, "Oh, so you're close to her?" He questioned with a teasing smile on his face.
Kenobi looked at Nico through narrowed eyes, "I knew her!" He snapped, but then reigned in his temper, and sighed, "A long time ago."
Nico just rolled his eyes and waited for the lift to stop, It looks like I'm not the only Jedi with girl problems.
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In her luxurious sweet on the Coronet, Duchess Satine Kryze was lying down on some sort of couch like throne, and was going on another one of her rants about how war is not the answer on how to solve things, so in Nico's perspective, the room was filled with politicians that he absolutely loathed, people who knew nothing about war.
"War is intolerable!" The Duchess starts as a servant droid gives her a glass of wine, "We have been deceived into thinking that we must be apart of it. I say the moment we commited to fighting, we already lost."
"Excuse me your grace," The Senator of Kelevala, Tal Merrik, interrupted, "Are you suggesting that we oppose the war on humanitarian grounds?" He asked with a raised eyebrow.
The Duchess turned her head toward the Senator, "I'm going to oppose it as an affront, to life itself. As the designated region of fifteen hundred systems, I speak for thousands of worlds that have urged me to allow them to stay neutral in this war."
"And yet some might argue that the strongest defence is a swift and decisive offence." The voice of Obi-Wan Kenobi came from the door as he and Nico walked into the room.
Nico watched as Kenobi and the Duchess stared into each-others eyes and nearly rolled his own eyes, By the Gods, I'm gonna hurl.
Finally, the Duchess decided to respond to Kenobi's statement, "You are quite the General now, aren't you Master Kenobi?" The Duchess questioned with a glare.
Obi-Wan smiled thinly, "Forgive me for interrupting your highness." Kenobi said in a polite voice. "I meant no disrespect."
"Really?" The Duchess questions, she then looks at the six politicians around the room, "Senators, I assume you are acquainted with the collection of half-truths and hyperbole known as Obi-Wan Kenobi." It was hidden, but Nico could make out an insult when he heard it, and funnily enough, it wasn't directed at him.
"Your highness is to kind." Kenobi responded through clenched teeth, obviously seeing the insult as well but not rising to the bait.
"Your right, I am." The Duchess responded making Nico raise an eyebrow and glance at Kenobi, If Kenobi thinks I won't be able to see the tension between them, he's got another thing coming.
Obi-Wan then gestured toward Nico, who stepped forward, "Allow me to introduce my fellow Jedi, Nico Di Angelo."
Nico stepped forward and nodded his head in respect, he absolutely refused to bow in respect, not until the Duchess has earned it, ever since he got on this ship he has seen nothing that would make him respect her at all, other than her strong will and strength to get whatever she wanted, though he was still polite, just like Kenobi told him to be, "You're servant, milady." Nico said with a scowl, I ain't no ones servant.
The Duchess glanced at Nico, "I remember a time when Jedi were not Generals, but peace keepers." She was trying to get Nico annoyed, but it just made him amused.
Nico just shrugged with a smirk, "I've been a Jedi for less than a year, so I don't know a lot of things about peace. Besides, the Jedi are protectors highness, yours at the moment, the Jedi fight for peace." Nico pointed out.
The Duchess chuckled, causing Nico to narrow his eyes, "What an amusing contradiction." She said, making Nico glare at her, Bitch
Before Nico could voice his thoughts, and most likely get himself thrown of the ship while it's still in hyperspace, Obi-Wan decided to interrupt, "What Padawan Di Angelo means is that we are acting at the behest of your highness," Kenobi said as he approached the luxurious couch that she was lying on, "To protect you from the Death Watch and the Separatists, who don't share your neutral point of view."
"I asked for no such thing!" The Duchess exclaimed, outraged.
Kenobi just raised an eyebrow, "That maybe so, but a majority of your court did." He said as he gestured towards the Senators, who had frowns on their faces for being pointed out.
The Duchess looked at Kenobi with narrowed eyes, "I do not remember you as being one to hide behind excuses."
"I do not remember you as one to shrink from responsibilities." Kenobi sent back, making Nico blink in bemusement, Wow, is this how I am with Ahsoka? I hope not.
Then, much to Nico's absolute annoyance, Senator Orn Free Taa stepped between the Jedi and the Duchess, Not him again, "I am certain we all agree, Duchess Satine and General Kenobi have proven that there are two sides to every dilemma."
"Indeed." Tal Merrik said, helping the large Senator end the argument.
Senator Taa smiled, obviously satisfied, "Now, in regard of the Senate vote, we think-" He was suddenly interrupted by Satine.
"I think a multitude makes discord, not good council." She said as she glared at Senator Taa.
The Senator bowed toward the Duchess, "Right again, milady."
Kenobi leaned in to Nico, making him lean away slightly, "There maybe two sides to every dilemma, but the Duchess only favours hers." He muttered, but it was loud enough for everyone in the room to hear, and get the Duchess annoyed.
The Ghost King sighed, this is going to be a long ride to Coruscant. He thought to himself as he reached for a glass of wine from one of the servant droids, and as he was about to take a sip of it, it was suddenly taken out of his hand, Nico looked at Kenobi with a glare, who responded with one of his own while holding Nico's glass of wine, and Nico could tell what he was thinking, No alcohol for you, you're both a Jedi and a kid.
Kenobi then walked up to where the Duchess was lying while, much to Nico's dismay, drinking his glass of wine, "A Republic military presence is the only sure defence against the Separatists."
The Duchess frowned and stood up, "Even extremists can be reasoned with." This statement made Nico even more amused than he already was, Uuum, not these ones, the Sith aren't exactly the most reasonable people.
"Perhaps," Obi-Wan concedes with a shrug, "If one can be heard over the clanking of their battle droids."
The Duchess scoffed, "The sarcasm of a soldier."
Kenobi scowled, "The delusion of a dreamer." They were both face to face now.
The Duchess scowled, "The reason I am neutral is because of the military in the Republic. The Republic hasn't had a military in over a thousand years and-" She was cut off once again, but not by Kenobi.
Nico stepped forward, his amusement fading rapidly and turning into annoyance, the Ghost King cut the Duchess off with a sneer, That's the reason why she's neutral? Gods, it's time to shut her up. "And what? You expect the Jedi to carry you as the Separatists make war on the Republic? Do you think the security forces of the Republic worlds would be enough against a military organisation? Do you honestly think everyone in the galaxy has the best of intentions? War is big business and war can fill empty Credit accounts, can turn the eyes of civilians from social disorder to the threat of annihilation. I've been on the Outer Rim for years and I've seen war firsthand. The Jedi cannot fight a war by themselves…they need help. There aren't enough…" As Nico was saying this he took Kenobi's place, who smirked and backed up a few steps to allow Nico do what he does best.
Satine's face took on a stubborn expression, but Nico refused to back down. "It was in the interests of the preservation of liberty that the Clone armies should not have been created. Because of the fact that the Republic has a military there is chaos, secessions, panic…why the very beliefs the Republic was founded upon-"
"Would mean nothing if all those who believed in them were not willing to fight for it." Nico said, dangerously cutting the Duchess off. "Give me fifty, fifty able warriors and I could level the Jedi Temple. What do you think the Jedi are? They are not a bloody military no matter how much I wished it. The great majority of Jedi are students, children who seek guidance in understanding their unique abilities. That they have those abilities does not mean they understand them. Only the more experienced Knights and Masters are ready for war. What would you do if I went to the schools of your world and took all of the children at the age of ten, placed weapons in their hands and told them to fight a battle for someone they would never know or see because it was their duty? I ask you what? The need for a military to keep the peace when the Jedi are not able-"
The Duchess chose to cut the Ghost King off, seeing the logic in the young man's words but simply not believing the same things. "I understand what you are saying but none of these Separatists want war. Because of the fact we gave up our freedom to be dictated by a military-"
Nico rose a hand, causing an outraged look to cross Satine's face. "Hear me out before you set in about freedom and liberty and the tyranny and corruption of the military. Look at your own situation right this moment. Think of the attempts on your life as a small war fought between you and the Death Watch. Ugly as it may sound not everyone wants peace. You speak of freedom and yet look at yourself right now. Can you take a stroll along the walkways of Mandalore at night? Would you take a flight in a shuttle to sightsee in space? You are still free to do so but the danger remains there and you chose security over freedom. Walk to the window and have a look over Mandalore but mind the snipers. Look at these assassination attempts and then you tell me, if it is the Separatists or the Death Watch behind this, what makes you think a war between your people is not far behind? Is that your freedom? Is that your liberty?" Nico silenced his argument, surprised the opinionated woman hadn't simply shot him.
Duchess Satines eyes narrowed. "I appreciate your input, Padawan Di Angelo, and I can tell you speak from some experience, but this is the Republic we are talking about, not Gallidran or a bunch of bloodthirsty Sith." She said, giving Nico a pointed glance, a sneer formed it's way on the Ghost Kings face for a mere second before it was dissolved into an expressionless mask, though the Duchess caught the slip and pressed her attack. "I know I'm not a Jedi and I know I am not a warrior or a soldier but I will not do something to jeopardize the peace within the Republic that has stood for a thousand-"
Nico had heard enough. The Duchess was an idealistic and opinionated politician who knows nothing of war, and while he respected her will and her strength, she didn't know what the Hades she was talking about.
"A decade," Nico interrupted. "Unless you consider the Trade Federation's invasion of Naboo a simple misunderstanding and not a bloody war."
Some of the fire in the Duchess's eyes dimmed at the truth in Nico's words. To Satine's dismay she felt as if Nico had been waiting for her to say something like that, to throw it in her face.
"That incident was resolved. The Trade Federation has since-" Satine stopped talking, her cheeks colouring as Nico's angry expression turned to an amused smirk. "You're twisting the truth." The Duchess spat, glaring at the former Sith Lord.
Nico's smirk remained in place, though the amusement was gone. "If that is what you think, I will not begrudge your opinion, milady." Nico said as he gave, what most would say, a mocking bow, and slowly made his way out of the room, not missing the shocked looks of the Senators, guards, and Kenobi, and saying nothing further. The woman's facts were based on opinions and the simple hope that people wanted to be good, wanted to do the right thing. Oh, how much better the galaxy would have been if that were true. Some people did not want peace and could not be reasoned with.
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Nico was walking down the hall of the Coronet with Kenobi by his side, after Nico had his nice little 'conversation' with the Duchess and walked out Kenobi shortly followed Nico, right now, they were heading back toward there quarters.
"That was quite a performance you put on up there." Obi-Wan remarked, breaking the silence.
Nico smiled grimly, "She needed to be taught that sometimes peace isn't an option." He then looked at Kenobi with an eyebrow raised as he remembered the way Kenobi and the Duchess spoke to each other. "You and Satine have a history," He remarked.
Obi-Wan looked at Nico warily, weighing down his options, "An extended mission when I was younger." He finally let out, "Master Qui-Gon and I spent a year on Mandalore protecting the Duchess from insurgents that threatened her world." He said as they made it to a lift to head down to the floor that their quarters were on, Obi-Wan pressed a button and the lift started moving, "They sent Bounty Hunters after us, we were always on the run. Living hand to mouth, never sure what the next day would bring." He said with a peaceful smile on his face, remembering fond memories.
Nico smirked, "Sounds romantic." Obi-Wans eyes widened, and he gave Nico the famous 'Kenobi stare'. Though Nico just grinned and shrugged as the elevator doors opened.
Kenobi rolled his eyes and continued on with his story, while walking out of the elevator and heading towards there quarters, "A civil war killed most of Satines people, hence her reversion of violence. When she returned she took on the difficult task of rebuilding her world alone."
Nico raised an eyebrow, "You didn't stay to help her?"
"That, would have been problematic." Kenobi said once they reached there quarters, Obi-Wan pulled up a chair and sat on it. "My duty as a Jedi demanded that I be elsewhere."
Nico leaned against the wall next to the door, with a confused frown, "Demanded? But, it's obvious you had feelings for her." Nico said in a confused tone, "Surely that would affect your decision."
To give Obi-Wan credit, he didn't deny the fact that he had feelings, "Oh, it did," The Jedi Master said, staring at Nico with a sorrowful gaze, "But I live by the Jedi code."
At that, Nico sighed, "Of course," He says with a roll of his eyes, "As Master Yoda says, a Jedi must not form attachments." Unfortunately, I can't get that one rule through my thick skull. Nico mentally added.
Obi-Wan leaned forward resting his arm against his leg and bringing his hand up to stroke his beard, "Yes, but he usually leaves out the undercurrent of remorse." He said, staring at the door wistfully.
Kenobi's comlink suddenly went off, breaking both Jedi out of their thoughts, Obi-Wan recognised the frequency as Captain Rex's, "Yes Captain?" the Jedi acknowledged as he raised the communicator to his mouth.
"General, something's wrong with Di Angelo's astromech." Came the voice of the Clone Captain, "Scanned him real good Sir. I've also lost contact with two of my men."
Kenobi got up from his seat, "I'm on my way down to assist you." He said as he was about to exit the quarters, but a hand stopped him in his tracks.
"I'll go Kenobi," Nico said in a bored voice, "If there's something dangerous down there, the Clones and I can handle it, besides, I don't think I'll be able to stay calm if I stay in the same room as a bunch of Senators." Nico said as he exited the quarters and headed toward the elevator.
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In the dining room of the Coronet, the Senators and Duchess were just being served their dinner.
"Deep fried nunaray!" Senator Orn Free Taa exclaimed happily as he stared at his large plate of food, he clapped his hand together in satisfaction, "Delicious."
The doors to the dining room open and Master Kenobi enters the room, and bows politely, "I beg your pardon Senators," Kenobi started, "Our men are investigating a situation below decks. I respectfully ask you to wait here until it is settled." The Senators glanced at each other, uncertainty entering their expressions.
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The elevator doors to the cargo hold of the Coronet open to reveal the form of the son of Hades. Nico walks up to the Clones that were in the vicinity as well as his astromech, R5-G9.
"Alright men," Nico sighed, "What's the problem? I'm missing dinner."
"We're not sure yet sir." Camptain Cody said, "There's still no sign of Mixer and Red-eye
R5 rolled up to Nico and let out a series of beeps.
Nico looks down at the little droid and smiles, "What's the matter buddy." Since the battle of Ryloth, Nico has been growing more and more attached with his little astro droid, almost as much as Skywalker is with R2, the only reason why he has grown close to the droid was because not a lot of people at the Jedi Temple really liked him, so he had to find someone else to keep him company.
R5 lets out a few high pitched beeps.
"I know, I know," Nico says with an amused smirk, "but I'm here now. Use you're scanners, see if some-things out of place."
R5 beeped an acknowledgement, a long scanner came from the top of his dome shaped head and a light came from one of his many panel, and started rolling off, Nico and the Clones trailing behind.
Once they turned a corner, Nico raised a brow at what he saw, a massive crate with its lid open, and nothing inside.
"Well," Rex drawls, "What have we here?" The Clone Captain scanned the ground around the box, "Looks like the contents of this box are missing."
Nico's eyes narrowed, "Or it got up and walked away." The Ghost King scowled and turned to look at the Clones that are surrounding him, "Alright, fan out, separate squads, I'll do the dull job of contacting Obi-Wan." This elicited a few chuckles from the soldiers, while they started going around the labyrinth of boxes in squads of two.
Nico clicked his comlink, trying to get the frequency of Obi-Wan, "Nico," Obi-Wan said tensely. "What have you found?"
"There's a large open container and the contents are missing." Nico sighed, "And I still have two men unaccounted for."
There was a pause on the other end, "That's not good." Kenobi remarked. "Keep things quite, I'll stay here with the Senators."
Nico nodded his head, "Got it." and lowered his wrist.
R5 beeped anxiously as he made his way down one of the corridors.
Nico raised an eyebrow as he followed the little astromech, "What's up? Did you find something?" Nico had to jog a little to try and keep up and once he turned a corner he saw something.
Nico narrowed his eyes as he saw a white armoured foot come from the shadows, and he sighed in relief, thinking it was one of the Clones, "There you are, Red-eye where have you been? You had us all…" Nico trailed off as the Clone walked toward him, the top part of his armour still covered by the shadows, but the way he was walking made him look like a zombie. "Red-eye?" He questioned uncertainly, and R5 quickly used his light to dispel the shadows around Red-eye.
Nico's eyes widened as he saw some kind of spider like droid holding the corpse of Red-eye, and he ignited his lightsaber.
The droid quickly through the Clone corpse at Nico, but he sidestepped to the right, dodging it.
Nico looked at the corpse, then back at the spider-like droid, which was charging at him, two large pincers raised ready to skewer the Ghost King.
Nico sidestepped the attack and used his lightsaber to slash at two of the eight legs that it had, causing the droid to stumble and crash into a bunch of crates.
Though that didn't stop it, the droid got back up and picked up two small crates and through them at Nico, though this time they hit the mark, causing the Ghost King to lose his grip on his lightsaber and fall to the ground.
Nico looked at the droid with wide eyes as it came up to him, pincers raised, and it would have killed him had the Clones not arrived in the last second and started blasting the thing.
Nico got up from the floor, used the Force to grab his lightsaber, and study the smoking droid, after a moment he gave it a kick to see if it would react, Nico frowned as he heard a small skittering sound, and his eyes widened as he turned his head toward the elevator door, only to see another one of those spider droids prying it open.
"The lift!" He shouted, causing the Clones to turn and aim there weapons, but it was too late as the droid opened the lift doors and started climbing.
Nico scowled and brought his comlink up to his face, "Obi-Wan, There's assassin probes down here. One made it up the lift, I'll try to hold the others here."
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After Obi-Wan was given the warning by Nico, he quickly ran toward the dining halls door, "Quickly," He said to the two Mandalorian guards, as he activated his lightsaber. "Secure the lifts."
Before the two guards could move, the door to the dining room was torn open to reveal the assassin probe droid, drawing shocked gasps from the politicians.
The droid grabbed one of the guards and knocked him into Obi-Wan, causing the Jedi to fall, and then through the guard at the second guard, knocking both of them unconscious.
Senator Orn Free Taa literally screamed in terror as he backed away from the assassin droid, along with the other Senators.
The droid leapt onto the dining table and advanced on to the Duchess, but before it could reach her Obi-Wan leapt into the air, igniting his lightsaber, used the droids head as a spring board and leapt again in front of the politician while at the same time chopping off the two front legs of the droid.
Before the droid could react, Obi-Wan plunged his lightsaber into the main photoreceptor the spider like droid, causing it to malfunction.
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"There might be one left," Nico said to the four Clones that helped him with the assassin droid, "Lets spread out and find it."
"Whatch it!" Cody shouted as he pointed at the assassin droids carcass, making Nico frown, he turned around and his eyes widened as he saw little tiny spider droids come out of the assassins head.
This ain't good. Nico thought to himself as he ignited his black as night lightsaber.
The Clones started blasting at random places that they thought they saw the droids, and as the droids came closer, they started leaping at the Clones. Nico cut them up each time they tried to leap at him.
"They're everywhere!" Rex exclaimed as he smashed one with his foot.
"Get behind me." Nico ordered as he continued to cut up the little droids that jumped for him.
The droids reached one of the Clones and started entering their helmet, "Ahh! Get them off!" He shouted desperately, and he fell to the floor while clutching his helmeted head. Nico winced, I don't even want to know what these things are doing to him.
R5 started rolling around an area where there was a large group of the miniature spider droids, but he had one of his many handy tools out, and started short circuiting the droid with electricity.
Once all the droids were destroyed, Nico looked at the three Clones that survived, "Good work men," He then glanced down at R5, "You to buddy."
The astromech whistled appreciatively.
"Hmm, Assassin droid." Rex said, annoyance clear as day in his voice, "How did that monster end up in the hold?"
Nico frowned, "The question is, who smuggled them on board?"
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"I'm looking for the droid that services the cargo bay." Nico said to a protocol droid. He and the Clones have been wandering around until they found this silver droid hiding behind some crates.
"Ah, yes sir," The droid said in it an emotionless voice, "Are all those creatures dead?" It asked as it walked toward small table.
"That's what I'm trying to find out!" Nico said rudely, he was getting impatient, and he wanted to know if there were any more assassin droids on the ship. "You're in charge of the cargo manifest, right?"
The droid turns back around from the table and walks toward Nico with a datapad in hand, "Uh, yes, I have it right here."
Nico raised his eyebrows expectantly, "Well, where did they come from?"
"It is right here," The droid said as he held up the datapad, which Nico quickly took, "On the manifest."
Nico frowned as he looked at the datapad, "Immediate delivery to Coruscant, container marked as medical supplies." Nico scowled as he looked back at the protocol droid, "There's no name on this chart. There is no indication on who shipped it."
"No sir," The protocol droid said politely with a shake of its head, "Just the Senate stamp, Always accepted for transport here aboard the Coronet."
Nico blinked, Senate stamp.
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Nico walked into the dining room, and he wasn't entirely surprised to see a bunch of tiny spider droids scattered all around the place, as well as one giant assassin probe droid just lying on the table, as well as all the food being scattered all over the place. But there was already five protocol droids cleaning up the mess.
Nico walked up to Kenobi, and gave him the datapad the silver protocol droid gave him, "One of our four distinguished Senators appears to be a traitor." Nico said with a scowl.
Obi-Wan studied the datapad, "I sense it too." But he suddenly frowned as he heard a little skittering sound, he turned around, only to see one of the tiny spider droids wandering around the room aimlessly. "It looks like one of our little visitors is still alive." Kenobi remarked, looking at the small droid with a thoughtful expression, and he smiled slightly, "I have an idea on how to expose the turncoat," he said as he gave the datapad back to Nico, "Return to the hull of the ship, Destroy the last assassin droids. I'll find out which of the Senators is the traitor."
Nico nodded with a smirk, and turned to leave, but not before watching Kenobi pick up the tiny spider droid.
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The Senators and Duchess were once again in the dining room eating there dinner, but the Duchess didn't even touch her food as she looked at her plate with a bit of nausea.
Senator Taa noticed this, and after taking a big bite from…something, he turned to Satine, "Duchess, you are not eating." He remarked in a concerned tone.
The Duchess sighed, "I have no appetite."
"Begging your pardon," The Senator said as he looked at the Duchess with a wary expression, not believing anyone could not have an appetite, "You must keep up your strength."
The Duchess looked at the Senator of Ryloth, amusement dancing in her green eyes, "By all means, be my guest, Senator." She said as she gestured to the large amount of food on the table.
"Oh," he said, as he looked at the food with a hungry expression, "If you insist."
But before he could reach out for any of the food, someone cleared their throat.
Obi-Wan was standing next to Senator Taa with a plate covered by a cloth, it looked like that there was some kind of cake underneath the cloth.
"Ahh!" Senator Taa exclaimed in delight, "Desert! Excellent!"
Obi-Wan raised an eyebrow, "This morsel might prove too much for even the legendary appetite of Orn Free Taa," he said as he quickly took the cloth of revealing one of the small spider droids in a plastic container, "Enjoy." He said as he put his hand on top of the container as the tiny spider droid tried to attack the Senator.
Senator Taa gave a little squeak of fright, and groaned as he imagined himself eating the droid, "On second thought, it wouldn't agree with me."
Obi-Wan rolled his eyes as he looked at the horrified Senators and Duchess, "My theory, is our little friend here will attack the Duchess and anyone who defends her," he said as he looked at all of the suddenly nervous Senators, "Anyone that is, except the traitor that programmed it." Senator Taa gave out a little whimper as Obi-Wan came closer to him, causing the droid to try and attack the Senator with more force.
"Take it away," The Senator whimpered, "Please."
The Duchess stood from her seat and glared at the Jedi, "Obi-Wan! This line of questioning borders on torture." The Duchess said, anger in her voice.
Though Obi-Wan ignored her as he made his way to the left side of the table, watching as the droid tries to attack the Senator of Rodia, "Oh, I assure you, our pacifist Duchess, that all is under control," He said as he moved on to the next Senator, yet the droid continued to attack, "Interesting, the droid displays unusual hostility to the honourable Kin Rah," And as he moved behind the Duchess and to the next Senator, the droid suddenly stopped moving, "But it seems to like you, Senator Merrik." The Senator looked at the Jedi through narrowed eyes, "Well Prince?" The Jedi questioned with an innocent smile.
Senator Merrik chuckled and looked at all of the other Senators with an expression that said, 'This man is an idiot', "Really General Kenobi?" He said, and he suddenly jumped up and knocked the droid out of Obi-Wan's hands, "You're quite clever!"
The droid landed on the other side of the table and started skittering up to the Duchess, Satine gasped and backed away just as the droid leaped for her, but Kenobi smacked the droid with the dish that he was holding to keep it secure, and the droid went flying into a protocol droid, causing the droid to fall and short circuit.
Kenobi activated his lightsaber as he saw the droid come out from the protocol droids neck, the tiny spider droid jumped onto the Senator of Rodia's head and was about to bite down, until Kenobi swiped the droid with his lightsaber.
With the small distraction, Senator Merrik grabbed the Duchess round the neck and aimed a blaster, that he had hidden in his clothes, at her head, "You're coming with me." He said with a smirk.
Kenobi turned to the door, but froze as he saw Merrik holding the Duchess at blaster point, the Senator smirked and left the dining room.
Kenobi deactivated his lightsaber and followed them, but as he opened the door, the two were nowhere to be seen, Obi-Wan scowled and lifted his wrist-comm up to his face, "Nico, Tal Merrik is the traitor. And he's taken Satine hostage."
Line break
"Copy that," Nico said in a strained whisper, "But I've got problems of my own right now." He said, lightsaber activated and R5 rolling beside him as they walked through the maze of crates, "Cody, Rex," Nico said as he changed the comm frequency, "Have you found anything?"
"All quite over here sir," Captain Rex said through the comm, making Nico sigh, though after the comm went off he heard blaster fire coming from his left, and he quickly ran to the source.
Once he got to where the blaster fire came from, he saw Rex and Cody on the ground with the spider droids trying to get inside their helmets, Nico quickly cut the two on Cody's helmet and R5 used a gadget to electrocute one of the droids on Rex.
"Thanks little guy." Rex said to the astromech droid as he picked himself up.
Nico helped Cody up, "Well," Nico said in mild amusement, "We found the little ones, what about the mommy."
Rex shrugged, "Haven't seen i-" The Captain was suddenly interrupted as a black blur smashed into him.
Rex was knocked away from the Jedi and Commander, and as the Captain looked up, the droid came running at him pincers raised, as the droid tried to stab Rex, the Captain dodged the left pincer and grabbed the right pincer with both hands to stop it from stabbing him in the head, raised his legs up and kicked the droid away from him.
The Captain quickly grabbed his blasters and started firing at the droid, but the spider like droid started climbing a wall that it was close to, trying to gain the higher ground.
Nico just sighed as he watched the droid try and escape, he raised his hand signalling the Clones to stop firing and through his lightsaber up at the droid, slicing all of the legs off causing it to fall to the ground.
Rex ran up to the droid and aimed his twin blaster pistols at the top of its head and fired several shots to stop it from letting any of the tiny spider droids out.
Nico grinned as he deactivated his lightsaber and put it back on his belt.
Line break
On the bridge of the Coronet there were at least five Senate Commandos and a captain piloting the vessel.
Suddenly the door to the bridge opened revealing the Duchess with a blaster aimed at her head by Senator Merrik.
Merrik aimed his blaster at the Captain, causing said Captain's eyes to widen, Merrik glanced at the Commandos as they quickly tried to gain there weapons, but it was too late as Merrik shot each and every one of them in the chest.
The Senator looked at the Captain with a smirk, "No," The Captain said desperately, "Please I beg you." At that, the Senators smirk seemed to widen as he shot the Captain.
"Monster," The Duchess said in a horrified tone, "You're a horrid monster!"
The Senator smirked down at the Duchess, "Get used to it." He said as he walked up to the controls of the Coronet and made the ship come out of hyperspace, he quickly turned on the comm unit, bringing up the leader of the Mandalorians, who was wearing traditional Mandalorian armour.
"Death Watch command." The Mandalorian stated.
"Tal Merrik here." The Senator said with a nod of his head.
"Senator Merrik," The Mandalorian said in a gruff voice, "Have you completed your mission?"
The Senator smirked and nodded his head, "Yes sir, I have the Duchess, but I'll need help getting away."
"Very good," The Mandalorian said, satisfaction in his voice, "Reinforcements, are, on their way."
Line break
Nico was running through the halls, trying to get to the one elevator that reaches the bridge, once he turned the corridor for the elevator, he saw Obi-Wan coming from the corridor on the other side.
"Did you find them?" Kenobi asked, referring to the Duchess and the Senator.
"No," The Ghost King said as they both met halfway through the corridor, "But I've stationed troopers at every escape pod."
Kenobi nodded, "Merrik will try to signal his allies for help, we have to find him."
Nico nodded as they entered the elevator and pressed a button, Nico looked at Obi-Wan, only to see him staring at the door anxiously, and Nico couldn't help himself, "This may not be the time to ask," He started, "But were you and Satine ever..?"
Kenobi whipped around and gave Nico a harsh glare, but it didn't faze the Ghost King in the slightest, "I don't see how that has any bearing on the situation at hand!" The Jedi Knight snapped, but as he turned away Nico saw the sullen look he had, making Nico shrug.
Suddenly, the ship started to shake violently, making Nico raise an eyebrow, What now? Not a moment had those thoughts crossed his mind, the elevator doors opened, and there were Clones making their way down the halls, all heavily armed.
Nico sighed, "I'll take care of this Kenobi," Nico said as a smirk worked its way onto his lips, "You, go find your girlfriend."
Kenobi nodded, "Right," He said as he turned to leave, "What? No" He said with a shake of his head as he turned back to Nico, "Nico, she's not my…" But he was already gone, making Kenobi growl in frustration.
Line break
Once Kenobi reached the bridge, he activated his lightsaber once he saw Tal Merrik still holding the Duchess hostage, surrounded by six bodies.
"Come in, Kenobi," The Senator said with a large smirk, "Your expected, though, I would have preferred that young Jedi Di Angelo, after hearing his little speech with the Duchess he would have made a wonderful Mandalorian."
Kenobi narrowed his eyes, ignoring the proclamation about Nico becoming a Mandalorian, "Tal Merrik, you are under arrest." He said as he pointed his lightsaber at them, "Release the Duchess."
The Senator seemed to muse on this, "Hmm, no," He said with a small chuckle, "I took the precaution of wiring this ships engines to explode." He said as he raised his free hand, which, instead of a blaster, and a small device, "I press this remote, and we all die."
"Obi," Satine said, using the nickname that she once gave him, "If you have any respect for me, you will not take such risks with so many people's lives at stake."
Kenobi's eyes softened as he heard his old nickname, "Satine," he started, but before he could continue, Merrik started moving toward the door, "Don't." Kenobi ordered as he pointed his lightsaber at him, the Senator just rolled his eyes and continued out of the bridge, Obi-Wan following them both.
Line break
The Clones were firing down the hall, on the other side of the hall half a dozen Super Battle droids were making their way up, mowing their way through the Clones. The Mandalorian guards were using their staffs to deflect any of the blaster shots that came there way.
Nico suddenly flipped from one of the side corridors, bounced off of the wall and jumped into the mass of Super Battle droids, lightsaber ignited, and destroying the first droid with a downward slice, stabbed the second one in its photoreceptors and literally punched the third one with his fist, the Force augmenting his strength.
As the droids started firing on Nico, the Ghost King perceived the dozens of bolts and their trajectory with perfect clarity. He whipped his blade left, right, angled it ten degrees, and turned three bolts back on the droids who'd fired them, destroying all three.
And as for the last three, well, they found themselves being short circuited as Nico let loose a barrage of Black Lightning onto the droids.
Without looking back at the Clones, Nico turned a corridor and started looking for Kenobi.
Line break
As Kenobi walked through the corridors, lightsaber still active and following the Senator and Duchess, he noticed something, quite odd. There were ships embedded inside the halls, obviously dropships that allowed the Super Battle droids to get in.
Merrik raised his wrist comm up to his mouth, "This is Merrik, stand by to disengage." He said, obviously speaking to whatever is piloting these dropships, the Senator looked at the Duchess with a smirk, "Say farewell, Duchess."
"Obi-Wan," The Duchess started, "It looks like I may never see you again," She said as a tear rolled down her cheek, and she sighed, "I don't know quite how to say this but, I've loved you, from the moment you came to my aid, all those years ago." She said, sincerity in her voice.
Merrik looked like he was going to hurl, "I don't believe this." He said with a roll of his eye. (That was the exact same reaction I had when I watched this episode)
"Satine," Obi-Wan said in a somewhat uncomfortable tone, "This is hardly the time or place for…" He trailed off as he looked into her green eyes, looking at him pleadingly, making Obi-Wan sigh, "Alright, had you said the word, I would have left the Jedi Order."
Merrik cooed in a mocking way, "Aww, that is touching," he said with a massive smile on his face, "Truly it is." The smile dissolved to look of complete disgust, "But it's making me sick, and we really must be going."
Satine looked at the Senator and scoffed, "You have the romantic soul of a slug, Merrik!" she said, as she stamped her heeled foot onto his making him cry out and loosen his grip on her, the Duchess grabbed the blaster that was strapped on the Senators waist and back away, aiming the blaster at Merrik. "And slugs are so often trod upon."
At first, the Senator looked slightly fearful, but then that ever cocky smirk made its way upon his face once again. "Interesting turn about." He stated in a thoughtful tone as he stared at the Duchess, "But even if I don't deliver the Duchess alive to the Separatists, I still win." He said as he looked to Kenobi, his eyes gaining a gleam that could be called insanity, "The second I'm away, I'll hit the remote and blow the Coronet to bits." He said, while holding the remote device up and grinning at the Duchess.
"I will not allow that." The Duchess stated as she aimed the blaster at Merrik with shaky hands, though the Senator still had that smirk on his face.
"What will you do?" Merrik questioned in an amused tone, "If you shoot me, you prove yourself a hypocrite to every pacifist ideal you hold dear." He then turned to the Jedi Knight, "And you, Kenobi, you are no stranger to violence, you'd be hailed as a hero by everyone on this ship." He then glanced at the Duchess, "Oops," he said sheepishly. "Almost everyone."
Obi-Wan glanced at the Duchess with an uncertain expression who was still aiming the blaster at the Senator, her finger shaking on the trigger.
"Come on then," Merrik mocked as he opened his arms out wide, "Who will strike first and brand themselves a cold blooded killer." Merrik said with a smirk.
Suddenly, a black as night lightsaber blade sprouted out from the Senators chest, making his eyes widen and loose his grip on the remote detonator, but a pale hand quickly caught it. And as the body fell to the ground, Nico Di Angelo stood there, looking at the detonator with a raised brow, wondering what the Hades it was for.
He then looked at the Duchess with a smile, only to see her quickly throw the blaster away, which made him shrug and look at Kenobi, who had a slightly incredulous look on his face as he stared at the Ghost King.
"Nico." The Jedi knight sighed.
"What?" The Prince of Death asked innocently as he clipped his lightaber to his belt, "He was going to blow up the ship."
Obi-Wan rolled his eyes as he too deactivated his lightsaber, and then he looked at the Duchess, who was staring right back.
Nico, noticing this, covered his eyes, not wanting to witness what'll happen next.
"Obi-Wan, I-" That's all she got out before Commander Cody came running in.
"Commander Di Angelo? The last of the droids have been defeated sir."
Nico uncovered his eyes and looked at the Clone Commander, "Good work Cody." He said with a nod of his head, and he looked back at Obi-Wan and the Duchess, only to see the Duchess turning away from Kenobi.
"-I must get back to the business of diplomacy." She said, no emotion in her voice at all as she walked away.
Kenobi sighed softly, and bowed, "As you say Duchess." He said as he started walking out of the room with Nico, "Some other time."
Line break
Once the ship finally reached Coruscant, Nico and Obi-Wan were the first ones out, R5 rolling next to Nico, only to find the Chancellor standing there, ready to greet the Duchess and the Senators.
Nico and Obi-Wan bowed in respect to the Chancellor, "A job well done, Master Jedi." He said with a bow of his head.
"Thank you, Chancellor." Obi-Wan said.
"You're excellency." Nico acknowledged.
And they moved away to allow the Chancellor speak with the Senators, but once they found their own spot to stand in until there transport to the Jedi Temple arrived, the Duchess started walking toward them, making Nico smirk and walk over to Rex, allowing the Jedi and the Duchess to have some private time.
"How ironic to meet again," The Duchess of Mandalore started, "Only to find we're on opposing sides."
Obi-Wan smiled, "The needs of your people are all that matter," Obi-Wan reassured, "They couldn't be in better hands, with you to guide their future."
The Duchess chuckled slightly as she moved closer to Obi-Wan, "Kind word indeed, from a mindful and committed Jedi." She said with a smile, but then a frown worked its way on her features, "And yet…"
"What?" The Jedi Knight questioned in a worried tone.
"I'm still not sure," She said as she reached her hand up and stroked his beard, "About the beard."
Kenobi blinked, "Why?" He asked, suddenly feeling very self-conscious, "What's wrong with it?"
"It hides too much of your handsome face," She said with a small smile and turned and started to leave.
A chuckle came from behind Kenobi as Nico walked next to him, "What was that all about?" He asked in an amused tone, he then looked at the Duchess a laid a hand on Kenobi's shoulder, "A very remarkable woman."
Kenobi nodded his head, "She is indeed." He said as they both watched her speeder fly off into the Coruscant sky.
Hello readers, I know it's been a long wait, but I'm kinda starting to lose inspiration on this story, I know that I've got a lot of people reading this, and I'm grateful to those people who are reading it, but could more of you please, please, please, review more, cause the only reason why I try to do the chapters quicker is because I get a lot of reviews that are saying I'm doing a great job, even criticism is welcome, because as you can see, with this chapter, I started to get a bit lazy halfway through it.
Oh yeah, I hope you all like the description I made of Grievous, but I want you to also pay attention to Nico's feelings on the matter, it is very important to the plot, and it might give away some kind of clues on what'll happen in the near future.
Anyway, onto the reviews.
Lightningscar chapter 12 . Mar 30
Great chapter, even if for a filler. I liked the two Jedi analysis of Nico having traits from both Jedi and Sith. Perhaps even better though, was Nico telling them to be cautious about the clones. I have often wondered how someone as intelligent as the Jedi could be so completely blind to the danger inherent with total obedience. A filler chapter, perhaps, but one of the best filler chapters I've seen.
Keep up the good work and good luck with your exams.
Yours sincerely,
Lightningscar.
PS: Thank you for the advertising XD
Thanks for the compliments, and I'm actually slightly proud of that chapter. And about the advertising, well, I'm gonna be doing that for every chapter, but no need to thank me, I think people should know about really good stories on Fanfiction.
PsychoMike5469 chapter 12 . Mar 30
I've truly enjoyed the series that you have going here and I want to know one thing; Will Darth Maul make an appearance in upcoming chapters? I hope you have him come in as I believe that it will make for a very interesting encounter if Nico and Maul meet. With your writing style I know you can make it great, if it comes to pass.
Thanks for the compliments, and Nico and Maul meeting ay? Well, you'll have to wait and see, wont you?
alex chapter 12 . Apr 1
I never understood why sideous killed the jedi younglings he could have easily turned them into sith younglings by A brain washing B telling them join or die or C hold up a sign that says come to the darkside we have cookies! I would have tried C and see what happens.
It's because they already had light side 'blasphemy' stuck in their heads, Sidious wanted every Jedi killed, even the younglings. He wanted revenge, the Sith were thought to have been extinct because the Jedi killed them all, so Sidious wanted revenge, killing every last one. (Well, almost every last one.)
Lizzy8980 chapter 10 . Apr 6
finally! i was waiting for a kiss! cant wait to see (or read) the look on Anakins face when he finds out!
It will be fun to write, I'll tell you that, but Skywalker wont find out for a while.
TheFictionKitten chapter 12 . Apr 11
Me likey. Me likey a lot. I can't wait for the next chapter, as you have impressed me so far. It is a rare sight for TheFictionKitten to give approval of a story, as she is very picky, but you deserve it. For now...
She also can't wait for Nico to show his powers more, you gotta' love him. She loves heartbreak and betrayal, and this is just what she needs. MWUAHAHAHA. (Don't judge, I'm weird like that.)
...／l、
（ﾟ､ ｡ ７
. l、 ヽ
..じしf,)ノ TheFictionKitten (In Third Person for no Reason)
Can I just say, that cat thing made me laugh slightly, thank you for that. And I am glad that I have impressed you so, and I hope that I continue impressing you. And if you like heartbreak and all that jazz then I'll try and add more tension in the story.
Great stories you should read:
'Dark Pheonix'. Author: Lightningscar. Crossover: PJO x Harry Potter.
'Death's Avenger'. Author: Sinsidhe. Crossover: PJO x Avengers.
'Everlasting Promises'. Author: Starblade176. Story: PJO
Anaklusmos14 is a great author and all his stories are amazing. So is TheseusLives.
Thank you for reading and if you have any questions just ask them in the reviewers box or PM me. Please review.