Star Wars – The Force Unleashed – Daughter of Fate
Chapter 3
2 BBY – Moments later on the Rogue Shadow after take off from the Executor
Juno easily piloted the ship and placed a course for hyperspace to the Hutt System where Nar Shadda and their objective was located. An Imperial shipyard had been taken over by a Rebel squadron rumoured to be led by a former Jedi General of the Clone Wars Rahm Kota. Starkiller turned to PROXY to give him the details he needed for his mission.
"PROXY, give me the target" said Galen.
PROXY then suddenly morphed into the appearance of and elderly looking man with a white ponytail and a gruff expression. He looked as if he had seen many battles within his time and wore the common attire of the Jedi Knights being the simple tunic and light body armour accompanied with old field boots and a lightsaber not strapped to his belt but on an upper belt strapped across his chest where it sat on his back.
"According to official Imperial Records, Jedi Master Rahm Kota was a respected general during the Clone Wars" said PROXY.
Juno looked to Starkiller shocked "The Clone Wars? You're hunting Jedi"
Ignoring her statement Starkiller turned to his droid "Go on PROXY"
"Of course, Master Kota was a military genius, but did not believe that the clone soldiers were fit for battle. Instead he relied on a small squadron of his own personally trained troops. . It's the only thing that kept him from being executed when the Emperor discovered the Jedi's plot against the Republic" said PROXY.
"There were no clones in his squad to bring him to justice" replied Juno
"Exactly, Captain Eclipse. After Order 66, he vanished. Imperial records actually claim that he's dead" said PROXY.
"But papa, why would he appear and attack the Empire now?" said Setra.
"Kota wants to be found" Starkiller replied.
At that same moment the Rogue Shadow came out lightspeed and had arrived at its destination. Above the calamity of space combat between the Rebel forces and the Imperial Tie Fighters stood the battered and damaged shipyard.
"Get us closer" said Starkiller to Juno "Over there, that looks like and open hangar"
"It is defended" replied Juno.
"We don't have the time to talk security. Come in hot. Let me handle the defences" said Starkiller.
And with that he took control of the ships weaponry he destroyed the outside shielding system to the shipyard hangar allowing the Rouge Shadow enough room to enter undetected.
"I will slice into the mainframe and guide you through the infrastructure" said Juno.
"Just keep the ship safe and be ready to leave when I return. We might need to move quickly" replied Starkiller.
"That is my specialty" Juno replied.
Starkiller then went to the opening ramp of the ship and gracefully descended to the ground floor of the hangar bay. Juno quickly set up the cloaking device on the ship and quickly left the hangar bay and stayed at a safe distance away from the shipyard but not too far away so she could at least retain a decent comlink reception with Starkiller.
"Can you hear me" said Juno through the ship's intercom system.
"Yes" said Galen as his voice came back clearly through the intercom.
"Reports are showing that Kota's forces have stormed the command bridge" said Juno.
"Then that's where I'm headed" replied Galen.
"The intruders may try using Tie Fighter assembly lines as cover. And I am picking up explosives on my scanners. Be careful" said Juno.
"No challenge. Starkiller out" said Galen as the intercom cut off for now.
Setra jumped into the co-pilots chair next to Juno who seemed a little tense.
"Don't worry. Papa has been through a lot worse. That last mission was a lot harder then this one" said Setra.
"What exactly happened little one?" replied Juno.
"Well papa had to go and assassinate a rebel politician on Kuat. He had to go through and entire fortress of elites before he could even reaches him and then he killed him. But what was worse was the last pilot was at the wrong co-ordinates meaning papa had to go through the city being chased by local security and then finally got back to the Rogue Shadow but after that the pilot forgot to put on the cloaking device so we were traced back to the Executor and the Dark Lord had to deal with all kinds of enquiries because of it and it didn't end so well for the pilot. He was the one just before you" said Setra
"Tell me youngling, exactly how many pilots have been on this ship before me" replied Juno.
"That last one makes seven" said Setra.
"Oh Excellent" remarked Juno sarcastically "what exactly happened to them?"
"You don't want to know" said Setra remembering the accounts that Starkiller had given her on what had happened to the previous seven whether they had disobeyed one of Vader's orders or had died on a mission.
Thinking it appropriate to change the subject Setra wanted to get to know Juno a little better.
"You have a really nice name Captain Eclipse" said Setra.
Juno flattered by the remark smiled at Setra "Thankyou little one, but please call me Juno. What is your name anyway youngling"
"Oh sorry I nearly forgot to tell you. My name is Setra" she replied.
"Nice to meet you Setra. How did you get here anyway" said Juno gently.
"Papa found me on Naboo during a mission when I was still little. He said that I was all alone and that he couldn't leave me behind so he took me with him and so here I am" replied Setra.
"Don't you have any family at all" said Juno.
"I don't think so, papa said no one was alive but my family is papa and PROXY and maybe even you too Juno" replied Setra
Amused Juno replied back "What makes you say that little one?"
"I sensed it. I have powers like papa as well but he says I have a long way to go before I'm like him" said Setra.
"You use the Force as well" replied Juno.
"A little bit. I'm really practicing levitation and pushing and pulling objects toward me" said Setra as she levitated a datapad towards her.
Juno looked on wondrously at Setra. She didn't know she would become so akin to the girl. She already felt a sense of affection towards her already and she had met her mere hours ago. Juno couldn't help it, there was something about her that was special and she wanted to get to know the child and maybe even become a sort of family to her after all she needed it with only having the company of a Sith Apprentice and a droid.
"Well if you want me to be family Setra, then that's alright with me" said Juno.
"Thanks Juno" replied Setra.
Suddenly Juno snapped out of her reverie and noticed that the shipyard was not going to last longer and the Rogue Shadow was in the direct line of fire if the shipyard should go. The reception was faulty so Juno tried her best to tell Galen what she could. Starkiller stopped after dispatching some rebel soldiers listening to Juno on the other side of his own comlink.
"- the stabilisers or the repulsor engines – can't tell which – not good at all" said Juno.
"What's that? Repeat" replied Starkiller
"Kota's accomplices have hit the facility where it hurts. Finish up soon or we are going down in the skylines with it" said Juno.
"Affirmative. Where did you say the control centre was?" replied Starkiller.
Juno stayed on the intercom with Galen guiding him through the complex until her reached the control centre with Kota inside.
"I'm there. Will contact you as soon as the target is dispatched" said Starkiller.
"Alright. Be careful, I'm checking out now" replied Juno.
Starkiller switched of his wrist comlink as he made his way into the control centre finally setting his gaze upon the old Jedi Master who had his back turned towards him.
"So I've finally drawn you out of hiding. I ordered my men to lower the containment field on your approach and – " Kota stopped abruptly as he saw the person there wasn't quite who he had expected.
"A Boy? After all these months of attacking Imperial targets, Vader sends a boy to fight me?" said Kota
At this remark Starkiller dropped into a low fighting stance and before Kota could anticipate his first move Galen produce bolts of Sith lightning from his left hand toward the old Jedi Master who mimicked his same movement by blocking the Sith lightning and sending it back toward Starkiller but the energy force was too great and knocked both warriors flat on their backs. Being first on his feet Galen came toward the Jedi Master his lightsaber about to strike through the Jedi's throat but Kota ducked before the crimson blade could penetrate the skin. Kota attempted to catch him but Starkiller avoided this and dodged with a mid air flip landing on the opposing wall and propelled himself toward Kota using Force Push only to be met by Kota's own defence and the Force energy sent both warriors once again sprawled upon the cold metal floor of the control centre.
Starkiller now more wary of his opponent now knew that direct attacks at this time were meaningless so he circled his enemy while telekinetically hurling pieces of debris toward the old Jedi to try and cause some kind of distraction to open up his defence. Suddenly Kota came into Starkiller with heavy strikes using great speed at the same time to deliver his attacks but Starkiller adopted the Soresu stance and was able to parry all of Kota's attacks and when he finally saw and opening Starkiller struck back hard eliciting a groan of pain from Kota. When Kota found his balance again he noticed that his cape was now nothing but a pile of smouldering material on the floor and his right shoulder pad had been sliced through still glowing a faint orange from the force of the blow. Starkiller attacked harder and harder each time making Kota weaker with every offensive strike and move until he caught Kota in a choke hold which turned back on Starkiller but he was prepared for this movement and while he struggled under the choke he continued to hurtle debris towards the Jedi General.
One piece of the debris struck the general from underneath and sent him to the ground and only was just able to raise his lightsaber against Starkiller's next strike locking the deadly weapons mere inches from their faces. Kota sensed something different about the boy he was fighting and made a last ditch attempt to save his life by appealing to Starkiller.
"Vader thinks – he's turned you. But I can sense your future – and Vader isn't part of it. I sense – I sense. Me?" gasped Kota.
Suddenly Kota lost all of his strength and cried out in agony as Kota's lightsaber was forced down into his eye sockets blinding him permanently. Starkiller took away his blade from the general watching him squirm on the ground, his lightsaber now lying next to a large pile of debris as he struggled to search for it , like it was the only lifeline he had left. Starkiller used Force Repulse hurling the Jedi General out of the front viewport of the control centre sending him hurtling into the black abyss of space towards Nar Shadda and the vertical city miles below him. Galen suddenly closed the viewport door to prevent himself from being sucked out along with Kota and once he regained his composure his comlink crackled back to life with Juno speaking on the other end.
"This place is going to tear itself apart at any moment! Are you almost done there?" said Juno.
"On my way" replied Starkiller as he picked up Kota's lightsaber next to the large pile of debris and made his way back to the Rogue Shadow.