"Concentrate fire on the battleship. Have the fighter squadrons harass those cruisers to redirect their fire," said Master Plo.
"Master, what about the destroyers on the right?" said Tia, a green female Twi'lek.
"Don't worry. Me and Sapphire Squadron have this," said Bruck, a male Zabrak as he chased a trio of Vulture droids. "How long till the reinforcements come?"
"I don't know. We've contacted Coruscant, but I'm not sure if any are available. We might be on our own," said Plo as he surveyed. Overall things were grim. They were outnumbered 3:1, with 4 Venators taking a fleet consisting of 1 battleship, 5 frigates, 4 cruisers, and 2 light destroyers. They were also outnumbered by 4:1 with starfighters as tri-fighters and Vulture droids reeked havoc, drawing away valuable fighter support. All the Venators were damaged, and their fighters couldn't hold back the numerous droid forces for much longer.
"Master if we don't get support soon, we're doomed," said Bruck as he now weaved between the Separatist ships. Frankly, he was right. Luckily, at the moment he finished his sentence, four more Venators came out of hyperspace behind the Separatist fleet, shooting as soon as they exited. Because the Separatist fleet was preoccupied with the Republic fleet in front of them, and from the sudden attack, they couldn't turn around to face their new threat. The Venators guns wreaked havoc on the rears of the Separatist ships, hastily taking out their engines and pouring fire onto the hulls. The tables had turned in favor of the Republic.
"Scramble fighters to mop up the rest of theirs, and assemble some boarding parties. Maybe there's some information onboard that battleship or maybe that frigate," said Obi-Wan.
"Alright. Let's go," said Anakin. The four Jedi headed to the hangar, as everyone scrambled to their posts, starfighters took off to engage in the battle.
"I'll come with you sir," said Rex.
"No Rex. You and Cody take the main boarding party to the destroyer. We'll handle the battleship," said Obi-Wan.
"Yes sir," said Rex and Cody.
"And good luck General Kenobi," said Cody.
"Tags, Hunter, Bogs, and Felix, come with us," said Obi-Wan.
"Yes sir," the four clones said.
"Our ship will head to the battleship. The rest of you will board their frigate and take it," said Obi-Wan. The clones cheered and headed towards their LAATs. Obi-Wan, Anakin, Taran, Ahsoka, and the four clones Tags, Hunter, Bogs, and Felix, boarded their LAAT. Plo Koon hailed Obi-Wan on his comlink.
"You came in the nick of time Master Kenobi," said Plo.
"Master Plo, we're preparing to board the battleship," said Obi-Wan.
"I'll send Bruck and Tia to assist you," said Plo.
"Good. There help will be needed. Kenobi out," said Obi-Wan as the LAAT hovered up and rose out of the hangar into the darkness of space, this area lit up with capital ships, laser fire, and hundreds of starfighters. Their gunship raced towards the main Separatist battleship, passing through dogfights and laser fire from both sides. The pilot kept the ship steady, only banking every now and again if a Separatist fighter lay in its path guns blazing.
Inside, the eight passengers waited patiently for their ship to reach its destination. They could hear the noise of battle outside, the explosions and lights from outside illuminating the little space they had inside. Taran's eyes were on the floor as he was thinking. His thoughts were focused on Ceran and where he could be at. Suddenly, just as he was about to shift his thoughts, he felt a familiar presence. His eyes widened, knowing whose presence he was feeling. He focused on the battleship, searching for it. Just as fast as he began focusing, he was able to find it.
"Master," said Taran.
"Yes?"
"Ceran's onboard," said Taran. Anakin and Ahsoka's eyes widened, as did Obi-Wan's.
"Are you sure?" said Obi-Wan. Taran nodded, more sure than ever.
"I sense Dooku as well, and also Grievous," said Anakin. Their gunship pulled into the Separatist hangar bay and landed, the bay doors opening to let out. As soon as they were opened, the four Jedi activated their lightsabers and rushed out, deflecting the blaster rounds from the numerous droids in the hangar. The clones returned fire, picking off the droids a shot at a time.
Ahsoka cut through two battle droids with relative ease, disarming them (literally) and plunging both her blades into them. Coming up behind her, Taran jumped onto her shoulder and jumped off, her feeling nothing, his lightsabers whirling and cutting four droids in half ahead of her. Obi-Wan and Anakin cut down droids like they were in a chop shop, going so fast the droids processors could scarcely pick them up.
(15 minutes ago)
"Sir, we've picked up new signals coming out of hyperspace," said a droid pilot.
"Where?" said Count Dooku, the de-facto head of the Separatists.
"Behind us," said the droid. Just as it finished, four Republic ships came out behind their ships guns blazing.
"Why did you not tell us this sooner?!" said General Grievous.
"You didn't ask," said the pilot. Grievous picked up the droid and hurled it to the other side of the room, crashing into two more droid pilots.
"I think we may need to consider a tactical retreat," said Ceran as he looked at the battle with Plo Koon's fleet while he felt the explosions hitting the back of the ship from Obi-Wan's fleet.
"Sir, we just lost our engines," said another pilot droid.
"And sir, a boarding party has landed in our hangar," said another.
"Put it on the screen," said Dooku. A hologram projector formed on the floor and the images were broadcast. They could see a squad of clones on there, as well as the four Jedi who boarded it. Ceran felt himself seize up as he recognized all four of them, including the one with a green lightsabers bending a squad of battle droids into a wall with an air wave.
"Why must they always meddle in our affairs," said Dooku, rubbing his forehead. Ceran continued to stare at Taran's image as it mercilessly cut through battle droid after battle droid. Dooku noticed this and wondered why. Sure Ceran was Taran's clone, but this time this stare was different. It wasn't one of anger, hatred, or anything else, but something else.
"I say we go and crush them now," said Grievous, heading to the hangar flanked by two Magnaguards.
"I concur," said Dooku. The two began to make their way down to the hangar. Dooku noticed someone from their group...
"Ceran?" said Dooku, wondering why his acolyte wasn't doing anything.
"I'll be there soon Count," said Ceran, still looking at the holoprojector.
"Now!" said Dooku. Ceran, not taking his eyes off the hologram, made his way with them before turning fully in their direction.
"There's something not right with this," Dooku thought.
"Bruck, for the love of the Force do not EVER do that again!" said Taran as he and Bruck were fighting a squad of Super Battle Droids. Bruck and Tia had made an entrance into the battle in the hangar, their entrance consisting of them crashing into the hangar with their starfighters and take out a platoon each as the fighters skidded to a halt right in front of the four Jedi, with Bruck's fighter coming within inches of Taran.
"Where's the fun in that? Besides you know how I like to make an entrance," said Bruck. Bruck, tan-skinned, was taller now, already taller than all of them, standing at 5'9 inches, and wearing a dark brown tunic with black pants and black Jedi boots. His hazel eyes sparked with life, and a ferocity that could be unleashed at his most powerful. Tia was Ahsoka's height of 5'6", light-green-skinned and wearing an outfit similar to what Aayla Secura wore, except it was black and some fabric covered around her midriff the same way Ahsoka's did.
"Yes, and believe me when I say the last few times (cuts through a SBD) was terrifying," said Taran.
"Get use to it Taran," said Bruck, smiling as he ricocheted a blaster bolt back at a droid, sending its head flying off. The droids in the hangar were thinning as the now six Jedi destroyed them. The clones particularly kept up their barrage of fire on the droids, scoring kill after kill. Soon there was only a handful of droids left, and that number soon dwindled down to nothing.
Anakin sliced the last droid down the middle, separating it into two equal halves.
"That was fast," said Obi-Wan. "Now let's head up to the bridge. I'm sure Ceran, Dooku, and Grievous are waiting for us." Just as they were about to move, another ship landed in the hangar. It seemed to be a stealth fighter of an unknown design that looked like a sleek, black triangle with a cockpit and solar wings that folded up on the side that projected outwards when the ship was in flight. It landed softly on the ground and the cockpit opened up to reveal a bald, grey woman with a cloak.
"Ventress?" said Obi-Wan.
"Ventress?!" said everyone else.
"Surprise Kenobi. Don't worry, I'm not here for you. I'm here to finish something that should have been done with months ago," said Ventress as she stepped out of her fighter. Though she was no longer an 'enemy' of the Republic, the group was still a little unsettled about her, especially Ahsoka, who couldn't ever trust her after their past experiences. If Ahsoka had a flaw, it was holding grudges.
"Alright, but no funny business," said Obi-Wan.
"Please Kenobi, like I said your not who I'm after," said Ventress.
Suddenly, a massive fireball appeared from down a hallway heading straight for Bruck.
"Bruck! Get down!" yelled Taran as he dove and tackled his friend to the ground to escape the blast. The others jumped back as the blast crashed into the end of the hall.
"What was that?" said Bruck.
"That would be Ceran," said Taran as they got up. Sure enough, at the end of the hall, Ceran stood, the smoke from his fire around him, obscuring him partially from view before he stepped forward.
"Wow, he does look like Taran," said Tia as she studied him carefully.
"You shouldn't have come here," said Ceran, looking directly at Taran.
"Tell me something I don't know," said Taran, readying himself for a fight. From behind the smoke, four more figures entered. Count Dooku and Grievous, flanked by two Magnaguards, entered the room.
"Hmm, an odd collection. Ventress and Kenobi working together? How unpredictable," said Dooku.
"You'll pay for betraying me Count," said Ventress, activating her lightsabers.
"Not as much as you will Ventress," said Dooku, his lightsaber at the ready, as were Grievous's lightsabers. The Magnaguards flexed their electrostaffs, ready to do battle.
Suddenly, the ship rocked, sending everyone except Dooku, Ceran, Grievous, and the Magnaguards, to the ground. The ship's alarms blared, indicating the ship was at a critical condition.
"However, this will have to wait for some other time," said Dooku as they turned and began to make their way to an escape pod in another part of the ship.
"What should we do?" said Bruck.
"I think it would be better to find a way off the ship before it-Taran!" yelled Obi-Wan as Taran took off down the hall in pursuit of Ceran.
"Taran, wait!"
"He's not getting away this time!" Taran yelled back as he turned a corner and disappeared from view.
"Your padawan sure doesn't take on following orders well," said Ventress. Obi-Wan rolled his eyes and the others took off in Taran's direction.
Up ahead Taran was gaining on the Separatists. He launched an air wave that knocked them forward onto themselves and erected a fire wall to separate Ceran from the rest of them. Ceran got up, glaring at Taran.
"You're not escaping this time," said Taran threateningly, his lightsabers lowered towards Ceran.
"Oh, plan to kill me here huh?" said Ceran, his hands slowly going for his lightsabers.
"You're too dangerous to let loose," said Taran, preparing to attack.
"Well then you better try," said Ceran as he activated his lightsabers as soon as he attacked, his lightsabers pressed to Taran's. Ceran attacked him ferociously, pressing Taran farther back against the wall, the edge of his lightsabers dangerously close to Taran's face.
"You could have just left well enough alone, but no you always have to be the shining knight they want you to be!" yelled Ceran, kneeing Taran savagely in his ribs, making Taran cry out. Seizing his chance, Ceran sent a gust of air to dissipate the fire wall and run for Dooku and Grievous.
"No you're not!" yelled Taran, causing the ceiling of the hallway to collapse, sealing the end of the hallway and blocking them.
"We don't have time for this," said Grievous. He signaled his Magnaguards to attack Taran as Dooku and Ceran cut through the metal. The Magnaguards attacked Taran, using synchronized attacks to keep Taran off-balance. Taran couldn't let Ceran get away, but the Magnaguards were keeping him from his goal. He defended himself, patiently waiting for the right chance to strike to finish off the droids in a single blow, but their attacks ensured that he could only block one in just enough time before the other one attacked him as well.
Ceran and Dooku cut through the metal blocking their escape and hurriedly went through the hole, followed by Grievous. Taran tried to follow them, but one of the Magnaguards blocked his way. Just as it seemed like he would never be able to advance, a green lightsaber plunged into the back of the one behind him, enabling Taran to quickly get past the other by sidestepping an attack and cutting it in half.
"Thanks," Taran said to Ahsoka before he dove through and dashed down the hallway.
"Anytime," said Ahsoka, taking her lightsaber out of the Magnaguard. "Always on the move."
Taran put away his lightsabers to fashion up an air scooter, speeding as fast as he could down the corridor that led to the escape pods. He saw them entering the large circular room where the pods lay. Dismounting off the scooter by jumping off of it, he launched himself into the air and landed in front of them, lightsabers ready.
"You're going to have to go through me if you want to escape," said Taran. Giving him dark looks, all three drew their lightsabers. Taran was outnumbered three-to-one and when counting lightsabers he was outgunned seven-to-two if one counted Grievous's two extras. He didn't know how he could hold them up long enough for the others to arrive, but he had faced long odds before and this one was no different.
Grievous attacked first, his two lightsabers hitting Taran's one, leaving Taran free to use his other lightsaber to swing at the cyborg's torso, causing Grievous to back off. The cyborg whirled his blades around like a windmill, making Taran duck and attack from below, striking Grievous's lightsabers up and unbalancing him. Just as Dooku and Ceran were about to join in, the others arrived. Ventress and Anakin attacked Dooku while Ahsoka and Tia took on Ceran. Bruck and Obi-Wan ran over to help Taran fight Grievous. Grievous took out his other two lightsabers to even the playing field.
Now everyone was locked in combat, fighting their opponents ferociously. The walls were covered in scars from the lightsabers that had slashed along them, and circuitry that was cut fizzed sparks continuously. Suddenly, the ship rocked forward and everyone was thrown to the ground. Anakin looked outside the viewport to see that the ship was falling towards the planet.
The ship kept tilting down until it was literally plunging down to the surface of the planet like a knife. Everyone fell down the corridor like they had jumped down a vertical tunnel. Ceran reached for a handhold and found it at the end of a hallway that lead to the corridor. Soon everyone else found one as well, hanging on for dear life. They could feel the ship plummeting to the planet's surface, knowing they only had a little time left. Suddenly, they all felt a tingling sensation over come. They noticed that they began to float in the air as if they were in zero-gravity.
"What is this?" said Tia.
"I'm not sure," said Anakin. Suddenly, a blinding white light emerged from the end of the corridor and headed rapidly for them. They were all helpless as it engulfed them one-by-one. The last thing Obi-Wan saw before it got to him was an impenetrable darkness before he knew no more.
Taran opened his eyes to see a green jungle around him. Trees reached up to the sky as far as the eye could see, and tall grass that went up to his knees covered his body. He took in a breath and found the air to be breathable, if not extremely humid. He sat up to look around, seeing another body right beside him. He moved the grass to see Ceran out like a light, unmoving.
Suddenly, Ceran's eyes opened and focused on him. Before he knew it, Ceran was ontop of him trying to strangle him.
"What did you do?!" he yelled, his fingers trying to desperately find Taran's throat.
"Me?! How can I do anything when I just woke up less than thirty seconds ago?" yelled Taran, working his leg underneath Ceran to kick him off. However, as Ceran was thrown back, Taran found himself following him by the arm. They both landed on the ground, Ceran on his back while Taran was sprawled on the ground on his front.
"What the hell?" said Ceran as he sat up. He looked to see that his hand was cuffed, with the other side of the link attached to Taran's wrist.
"Oh you've got to be kidding me," said Ceran. "Now I have to drag you along."
"Believe me, this isn't exactly a walk in the park either," said Taran, sitting up. The chain gave them a max distance of three feet from each other.
"How do we get this chain off?" said Taran. Ceran reached for his belt to where his lightsabers usually were, but found nothing there.
"You wouldn't by chance happen to have your lightsabers on you?" said Ceran. Taran looked down and saw his were gone too, shaking his head.
"Maybe I can metalbend it off," said Taran, focusing on the metal. However, he was unable to.
"It's some kind of alloy that I can't bend," said Taran. Ceran held a link of the chain in his hand and began to shoot flames at it, hoping to melt it. He continued for about five minutes, but all he succeeded in doing was making a red-hot link and and a black scorch mark on the ground.
"Who the Spirits put these on us?" said Ceran.
"I don't know, but he doesn't want us to leave," said Taran. "And there's probably no way to take these off."
"There is one way," said Ceran, very sinisterly.
"What w-" said Taran before Ceran pounced on him, turning him around and put his arm behind his back, bending it in a irregular fashion.
"OW..AHH what the hell are you doin-Gah!" yelled Taran.
"If I can break your arm clean off, we won't be stuck," said Ceran as he continued to bend his arm backwards.
"ENOUGH!" yelled Taran, shooting air from his other hand and sending Ceran, and himself, colliding into a tree. Taran nursed his arm, feeling how close it was to breaking.
"What the hell is your problem?!" yelled Taran.
"Just giving my solution," said Ceran, looking like it didn't bother him.
"You're such an ass," said Taran, still rubbing his arm and shoulder.
"Takes one to know one," said Ceran. Taran felt his eye twitch as he contemplated killing Ceran right at that moment.
"Oh, did I get under your skin?" said Ceran, a sick glint in his eyes like he was mocking him. Taran didn't answer, just glaring at him.
"Relax broth-"
"I'm NOT your brother. I acknowledge what the clones have as brothers, but you are NOT my brother," said Taran, standing up to glare down at Ceran. "I don't care if we're identical and my DNA is the exact same; you're just plain evil and nothing like me."
"Ouch I'm hurting right here," said Ceran pointing to his heart, "but I think you hate me because I represent what you could be."
"What are you talking about?" said Taran, feeling his heart drop.
"Well I'm basically what you would be like if you turned to the dark side, so it only makes sense the reason for your 'misplaced' anger and hatred. In the end, you're just like me," said Ceran, smiling as he felt Taran's heartbeat drop and his eyes slightly widen.
"But, there's something else isn't there? Why else would you want keep trying to find me for all this time unless you found something out, like that little ability you had back when we captured it. You think I might unlock it and use it on you and your friends, especially the Togruta. Ahsoka was it?" said Ceran, smirking. Taran's eyes narrowed as his fists clenched.
"Spirits, I wonder what would happen if something were to happen to her, like if I were to-" Taran jumped on him, punching him across the face. Ceran caught his next punch and delivered a vicious uppercut, sending Taran off of him to the ground. Ceran jumped onto him and the pair rolled around as they grappled at each other. They both got onto their knees at the same time, both charging their fists up with flames as they prepared to deal the final blow to the other.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you," said a dark, yet gentle voice above them. They both looked to their side and jumped back, startled at what they saw. A large, dark grey-skinned, humanoid creature was above them. It had a gargoyle-type face with human lips and fangs coming from them. His bright, yellow eyes looked down at them as if piercing their very souls. Two short horns adorned his head, the top flat as a table. He had a very well-muscled torso, his lower body below his waist covered by a white skirt tied off by a golden sash that seemed to shimmer and form shapes if one were to gaze at it. His feet came off as regular feet with only two large toes that split right down the middle and sharp nails. He wore a large medallion that looked like a giant, all-seeing eye. His hands had five regular fingers, but with razor sharp nails as well. What startled them the most was that he was levitating two feet off the ground.
"Come," he said, motioning them forward. Taran and Ceran stood frozen, not knowing whether to move or not.
"I said come," it ordered. Hesitantly, both Ceran and Taran got up and began walking forward. The creature turned and started walking, though it was hovering off the ground. Taran and Ceran looked at each other before they continued on their way through the jungle. The jungle flora around them was magnificent. Giant flowers of the brightest colors, ferns that were as large as houses
It wasn't long before they came up on what looked like a temple. It looked like a pyramid in conjunction with a sphere made of a dark-brown stone. A row of stairs lead into the inside, which couldn't be seen from where they were. The creature lead them up the stairs into the cavern, where they could see inside. The cavern lead into a torched room, but there was nothing there.
Suddenly, the floor dropped beneath them, plunging them into darkness as they fell below. Yelling as they fell, they held onto each other. Just as fast as they were falling the floor leveled out and was smooth, causing them to slide and tumble over the other in a ball. The slide kept on going until it deposited them into a room, Ceran sprawled on the floor face first and Taran sprawled facing up to the ceiling.
"Taran!" yelled five other voices.
"Get off!" yelled Ceran, flipping over to send Taran to the floor as the two got up. Taran's eyes refocused to see that everyone was there. Anakin, Obi-Wan, Ahsoka, Bruck, and Tia were there, and so was Grievous, Dooku, and Ventress. All had on cuffs like their own, with Anakin paired off with Dooku, Grievous with Obi-Wan, Ahsoka with Ventress, and Bruck with Tia.
"What's going on?" Taran asked.
"We don't know," said Obi-Wan. Suddenly, the chamber they were in lit up and a blinding white light illuminated in the middle of the room. The creature that Taran and Ceran appeared in the light's place.
"Welcome newcomers. I am your host, Xerxes. Welcome to my realm," he said.
"What are we hear for?" said Anakin
"You're here to participate in the Shadow Games, the deadliest contest in the galaxy."