"Where is he?", Jonai asked Telon.
"Jonai, can you shut up. I'm trying to concentrate here", Telon said as she tried to meditate.
Jonai turned her back to Telon and sat down on a meditation mat the other side of the room, giving Telon space. Telon was desperately trying to find Zexar's signature in the Force, but was unable to find it, despite their close bond he never knew existed between them.
"It's useless. I can't find any trace of him despite the fact we have a close bond"
"Well what happened to him?"
"There's two options, he was killed, or someone has restricted the Force from him"
"I sense the council was involved"
"As do I, but I sense his captives have different motives from the council, and each other in fact"
"What do you mean?"
"I feel as if one wants to have him executed and one wants him redeemed for his sanity, whereas the council want him redeemed for the sake of the order"
"You don't think it could be his old Jedi Master Carly?"
"It seems likely"
A pilot droid they had programmed to take control of the ship when they weren't in the cockpit suddenly came into the room, it's dark blue metal head empty of emotion. What Telon would give to feel no emotion now.
"Mistress", it addressed Telon, "We have an incoming transmission from Darth Grunto on Korriban"
"Accept the transmission"
The droid pressed a button on the small device he was holding, and a large image of Darth Grunto popped out of it.
"Darth Jonai, I assure you that Darth Zexar can easily be found", Grunto started, "When he was taken here I placed a small tracking device within his left forearm. I am sending you the co-ordinates to the system he is being held on: Chandrila. His exact location is being sent to you as well"
"Thank you, Master", Telon bowed.
"Get Zexar off that planet, alive, or it will be fatal on your part", Grunto stated, before returning back into the device.
"Thank you RDF-6, set the co-ordinates and jump to hyperspace"
The droid left the training room and resumed it's post in the cockpit, where it input the co-ordinates sent by Darth Grunto. The two Sith both followed the droid after a few minutes, and took over piloting the ship, Telon's dislike of flying wasn't something she could overcome when someone else was piloting the ship. She double checked the co-ordinates and readied them both for the jump, which had always managed to take her by surprise, no matter how often she did it.
"You got a plan?", Jonai asked.
"Not in the slightest. I work better that way"
"That's comforting"
Telon rolled her eyes at Jonai's sarcasm, and left the cockpit, hoping for some quality thinking time.
This is driving me crazy, why did he have to get abducted now; just as we're on track to an important planet. We both know exactly why we were headed towards Tatooine, and it's a good plan, if somewhat ridiculous. Then again, we have both been known to do ridiculous things within the Jedi, but not the Sith for some reason, maybe thats why we're going there. I wish I could get him out of my head for just a minute, I feel like I'm going to explode. Not that I don't want to think of him, I just can't let myself, I know what will end up happening. I fear the mission Grunto sent us on was a plot. He wants me and Zexar to grow closer and grow to love each other so that he can kill me and make Zexar much more powerful. It's a clever plot. Zexar would kill Grunto where he stood, and become the most powerful Sith Lord we have ever had, but I can't allow Grunto's plan to succeed. No matter how hard I try, I know he's succeeding. I've fallen for him.
"Telon?", Jonai asked her.
"Yes Jonai?"
"Are you okay? Since Zexar has gone you've changed"
"I'm fine, I'm close friends with Zexar, that's all"
"You've fallen for him haven't you?"
"I don't know Jonai"
Jonai nodded and left, obviously realizing her presence was irritating her.
Jonai has been the most irritating woman to be around in the past few days since Zexar has gone. I must admit the Jedi who took him are brilliant tacticians, managing to sneak into a large cruiser undetected and abduct the strongest Sith on the vessel without a struggle. Blacking the ship out was a good plan especially as by the time we had power back they had jumped to hyperspace so we were totally unable to track their ships destination. I fear Grunto waited too long to contact us, two days ago we contacted him and only now he contacts us with the information of where we are headed. He is trying to make me realize how I feel about him but surely Zexar's safety is much more important than his own plan. After all, if the council get to Chandrila before us, Zexar will be taken to Coruscant, out of our reach, so he will surely be killed. I just hope we get there on time.
"Darth Zexar", Lauren said coldly, looking into his eyes, "How does it feel to be a prisoner once again?"
"Quite relaxing actually", Zexar replied.
Just as Lauren had done earlier in the day, she pressed a button on the torture console to give him a small shock; a taster for whats to come.
"Wheres your Sith base?"
"The Dune Sea of Tatooine", Zexar replied, sarcastically once more, causing Lauren to shock him again.
"What was your mission?"
"Now that, my love, is a secret"
"My love", Lauren repeated as she shocked him again, "You were my love back before you turned your back on the Jedi"
"That may be so. You do realize torture will never open my mouth"
"That may be so", Lauren repeated again, mockingly.
She shocked him but this time let the shock last at least twenty seconds.
"You would make a good Sith", Zexar spat out, gasping for breath.
Lauren used the Force to pull a metal pipe from the wall and sent it into the torture chamber, before hitting Zexar around the head hard enough to knock him cold once again.
"Telon, we've arrived at Chandrila", Jonai shouted from outside the room.
"Finally, board my small ship, we can take that down easily undetected"
"Will do, I shall bring twenty droids as well"
Jonai boarded the ship, strapping herself into the co-pilots seat with blaster cannon controls. Telon joined her shortly after and they took off from the cruiser, and flew manually down to where Zexar was supposedly being held. The lush grass-land stretched untouched for miles into the distance, wild animals grazing on the green vegetation. Telon pressed a small purple button which immediately cloaked the ship, so they could fly low without being seen by the Jedi. After an hour of low flying, they noticed a small silver bump in the horizon, shaped like a ship. They carefully approached the area, landing a kilometer away from the large Jedi ship.
"Jonai, get the droids ready"
"Consider it done", Jonai replied.
Telon got up and ran a hand through her long black hair, allowing it to take it's natural untouched place over her right eye. She unclipped her light-saber from her belt and ignited it, and ran her eyes up and down the blade, taking in an unseen dept. She withdrew the blade and held it in her hand, the familiar weight causing her to smile. If this was Master Carly, she should start off controlled, their past was unsettling at best.
"Ready when you are", Jonai called.
Telon pulled up her black hood and left the cockpit, walked past Jonai and the droids, and opened the ramp with the Force.
"Jonai, I'm the commander, remember that", Telon said slowly.
"Yes, I know"
Telon took a deep breath and walked towards the Jedi ship, holding her light-saber hilt in her right hand. No Jedi seemed present but Telon could feel their presence. Telon briefly paused when they reached the Jedi cruiser's hatch, but strode boldly in, ignoring the warning calls through the Force.
"Darth Telon, not one for stealth are you?", Carly stated, appearing from behind them.
"Darth Jonai, nice to see your traitorous face again", Lauren said, coming from the other end of the corridor to Carly.
"Master Carly, how nice to see you again", Telon spat out.
"Master Veronica, I agree", Carly said, smirking at Telon's reaction to her Jedi name.
"Veronica died along time ago Jedi"
"Apparently so", Carly began, "Shame you came, Darth Zexar was enjoying being a lone captive"
"Well we don't plan on being captives, prepare to die Carly", Telon replied.
Telon and Jonai ignited their red light-sabers at the same time as Carly and Lauren ignited their blue sabers. The droids opened fire on Carly and Lauren, but were all obliterated within seconds. Carly and Telon met in a harsh offensive made on Telon's part, whereas Jonai and Lauren clashed more equally, both attacking at the same time. Red and blue merged together and from distance it would appear as if they were fighting with purple light-sabers, rather than the deadly red and defensive blue. Telon pushed Carly further into the ship, fighting strongly on the offense, whereas Lauren and Jonai began to push each other towards the ships exit.
Telon refused to open her self for attack so continued to push into Carly, exerting a little more effort than Carly, but successfully putting Carly on the defence. All she had to do was keep up the offense like this and Carly was bound to make a mistake, every clash, every movement was potentially lethal; her pure energy blade threatening to end Carly's life prematurely. Carly knew this however, and tried to force her way back into an offense, something Telon was making impossibly hard. Carly engaged Telon and forced her into a saber lock.
"Telon, turn from the dark, I can feel you don't enjoy the hate and pain within you"
"Why don't you turn from the light?"
"So we're enemies either way?"
"Precisely"
Telon pulled out of the lock and viciously swung at Carly, who narrowly ducks under and attacks herself, managing to singe Telon's side, causing her to jump back clutching her side. Carly approached again and sliced off her right wrist, before using the Force to push her through the door into the torture chambers where Zexar was being held. Telon clutched her wrist but released the shields to Zexar's chamber. Zexar picked up Telon's saber and cut along the back of his left wrist and up his arm to where the Force preventing chip was, before ripping it out. He grabs hold of the Force and breathes in deeply, allowing it to engulf him, before he chases after Carly, who had cut a man-sized hole in the ceiling before jumping through to the maintenance shafts tunnels.
Jonai and Lauren were fighting a equally fierce, but much different battle to Carly and Telon. They had both mastered the skill of balancing offense with defense, causing them to be equally skilled in each section of light-saber combat. Jonai pushed Lauren back with a hard hit, and sent a volley of Force lightening towards her, which she blocked with her saber.
"Give up Sith", Lauren taunted.
"I was more skilled than you as a Jedi, and I have grown in strength since my induction into the dark side"
"Fool", Lauren stated as she threw herself at Jonai, saber held low.
Jonai met Lauren with a low then high attack, forcing her to move backward. Lauren had trained with Jonai within the sparring room in the Jedi Temple, and knew Jonai's attack style fairly well, but nothing prepared her for this. Jonai could see the battle was going no where and changed her style dramatically, causing an opening for Lauren. Ignorance blinded the Jedi as she plunged in, determined to end the Sith's life. Jonai pulled her saber up with incredible speed and destroyed Lauren's saber, before using the Force to pull a hatch from the Jedi cruiser and throw it at Lauren. She was hit dead on and flew to the floor, barely conscious.
"You may have won Sith, but Master Carly will destroy you"
"Give my regards to Masters Vett and Tepel", Darth Jonai said coldly as she used the Force to pick up the large metal hatch and slam it down on to Lauren's head, killing her.
"Carly", Zexar shouted as his old Jedi Master came into view further up the tunnel.
She paused at the end, trying to find a new route to escape the pursuing Sith. Zexar used a short burst of Force lightening, and caused her to fly into the wall at impact.
"Master Carly, the dark side has prevailed, surely you see this"
"Yes, the dark side, however, is a fate worse than death"
"The power is immense"
"In the long-run, you will be the cause of your destruction my young apprentice"
"Join me, Carly", Zexar begged.
"I will never turn from the light", Carly started, "Join me, Aaron, I can help you destroy the dark within you"
"I can't be redeemed, you will not join me, what's the point?", Zexar stated, staring at a gas pipe to his left.
"Aaron, no", Carly begged.
Zexar looked deep into her eyes, pain swirling in his eyes. He raised his saber and stared coldly into her eyes.
"This isn't you Aaron, let me help you", Carly tried once again.
"The Jedi are evil"
Zexar brought down his saber to where she was backing into the corner. He had never intended on this plan working so well. The gas pipe exploded, sending him and Carly flying full force into the metal wall opposite, knocking Carly out in an instant. Zexar coughed and spluttered, trying to regain his breathe but the smoke was too much for him. He quickly checked Carly's pulse to find no beat; he shouldn't find himself doing it, but he was smiling.
"Zexar?", Jonai shouted, "Zexar, are you alright?"
Zexar was walking slowly towards her, the body of Carly in his arms.
"Yes, I'm fine"
"Your bleeding heavily Master, I shall get a medic-droid ready on our ship"
Zexar nodded before following her out of the ship, the hot sun baking down upon them. Telon was sitting next to the small Sith ship, clutching the wrist where her hand should be, and Jonai joined her, helping her up so she could visit the medic-droid. Zexar put Carly's body down next to the Jedi cruiser, and walked into the Sith ship, no remorse showing on his face. They flew the small Sith ship up to where Jonai's Jedi cruiser was, and boarded. Jonai left first, preparing the medic-droids for Zexar and Telon, who followed her after a few minutes.
"Telon, are you alright?", he asked her.
"Yes, it's nothing too bad. Well done with the Jedi Master"
"About that, thank you for your help, without it she would have escaped"
"In case you hadn't noticed, I was helpless on the floor and all I did was release you"
"She would have escaped should you not have released me", Zexar said sympathetically.
"Zexar, seriously, it's nothing"
"No, it's not. You came for me too. The entire council is on the way, they could have beaten you here, and captured you two as well. You have my thanks Telon", Zexar stated, pulling her into a hug.
They both stared into each others eyes, chemistry sparking between them both. Zexar began to close the small gap between them, leaning slowly towards Telon.
"Telon, Zexar, a-", Jonai said, walking into out of the medic room, "Oh, I'm sorry"
"It's okay", Zexar stuttered, not taking his eyes off of Telon.
"The droids are ready for you both"
Telon and Zexar finally broke their stare and walked into their respective rooms, where a medic-droid was waiting for them.
An hour later Zexar's wounds from the explosion and his short spells of torture had been treated, allowing him to pilot the Jedi cruiser whilst Telon's mechanical hand was created. Jonai had taken the role of co-pilot until Telon was able to take up the position.
"Zexar? Why are we going to Tatooine? What's there?", Jonai asked.
"Anchorhead is pulling me towards it, I need to take care of some business there"
"Okay, here's the co-ordinates"
Zexar started to input the co-ordinates as a large Jedi fleet came out of hyperspace in front of them.
"Holy shit", Jonai stated.
"The entire Jedi Council is in that fleet, and by the looks of it, two per ship"
"That large one. Jared is on there", Jonai said, pointing at the largest ship in the centre of the fleet.
"I agree", Zexar began, "Telon? We need you to pilot the ship"
Telon left the medic room early and ran into the cockpit.
"What do you want me to do?"
A transmission was received from a Jedi cruiser, which Zexar declined whilst he delivered his plan to Jonai and Telon.
"Telon, you pilot the ship. Jonai, you use the blaster cannons and destroy as many fighters as you can. I'm going to use the Force on a cruiser, they're not too big"
"That's crazy Zex", Telon shouted.
"Just do it"
"Okay"
"Get to your stations everyone", Zexar started, "May the Force be with you"