Chapter 18: The Second Battle of Menagerie
Three Days Later, Haven, 31st March 16 BBY, 5:30 am
Nathan woke up to the blaring of his alarm, and silenced it quickly. Rising from his bed, he looked around, thinking about how he would not be the only person sleeping there for much longer.
Today was the day.
Today… he'd finally reunite with the woman he loved.
Today… every drop of blood, sweat and tears he had shed over the past seven months would become worth it.
Today… he would be in Blake's arms and she in his at last.
But before that; he needed to get himself hyped up for the day.
And working out would be a good starting point.
Grabbing his workout gear, Nathan switched on the shower, taking a moment to relieve himself and wash his hands before stepping inside. Taking a deep breath as the warm water cascaded over him, Nathan knew that Blake would be occupying this shower same as him soon enough.
But before that could happen; he did want to spend some time with her in Menagerie first. That had been where they both had been at their happiest, and he felt he would be remiss to not want some time in Menagerie; free from the worries of war, Ironwood, all of it.
Just him and Blake; together at last after seven long months apart.
Finishing his shower, Nathan dried off and donned his workout attire, stepping out of his room to find he wasn't the only early riser.
"Morning." Jason said.
The older Jedi Knight was also dressed to work out, sporting a tank top and work-out shorts.
"Morning." Nathan replied, sharing a fist-bump with his friend before they both headed downstairs to train.
"Today's the day, huh?" Jason asked.
"Yeah…" Nathan said. "It… it almost feels weird; I'm excited… but at the same time I'm more nervous than I've ever been."
Jason nodded. "Maybe having a plan would help?" He asked with a grin.
Nathan snorted. "Already had one. Team RWBY and the clones will be accompanying us. If just so Kanan and Yang can be together too. Plus; Ruby and Weiss need some time together too. Why not a day in Menagerie?"
"Sounds fair enough." Jason said. "What are you planning on doing with Sienna?"
Nathan scowled. Between assisting in the liberation of the Arc Family, getting to Haven and reuniting with the bulk of his friends, Sienna's words to Blake had almost been forgotten.
"I'll say what I say." Nathan said neutrally. "I'll avoid being harsh. But I'm not going to let her walk away thinking she got away with talking to my girlfriend like that. Winter didn't. Cardin didn't. And neither will Sienna."
Jason nodded as they continued on their way to the training room.
Nathan said nothing more, allowing thoughts of Blake to dominate his mind.
All he wanted to do right now was think about the woman he loved more than anything in life.
Blake's bedroom, Menagerie, 9:00 am…
Kanan walked up to Blake's bedroom door, lightly rapping on said door with his signature knock in order to call Blake's attention.
"Come in!" Blake called out.
Kanan smiled and stepped into Blake's room to find her in nothing but a bathing towel looking over several outfits:
One was a gorgeous white sundress that looked like it would reach just above her knees; the other was a cute combination of a purple tank top and black Daisy Duke booty shorts with her trainers, and the other was a pretty combo consisting of a black tube top and high waisted white shorts with a purple belt.
"Trying to pick out an outfit?" Kanan asked with folded arms.
Blake nodded. "I just want to look my best for Nathan." She replied. "He's waited this long to see me again… I'd be stupid not to make it worth the wait."
Kanan chuckled. "Blake; you're taking this too seriously. Nathan isn't going to care what you're wearing. All he's going to care about is that you're in his arms. That's literally all that'll matter to him."
Blake smiled warmly, nodding. "You're right." She said. "But still… which would you go for?"
Kanan looked over her outfits, before finally gesturing to the white dress. "I'd go with the dress. Nathan always loved seeing you in-"
The roar of explosions rocked the room, and Kanan looked at Blake.
"On second thought… my combat gear sounds ideal!" Blake said as she rushed to get dressed. "Meet me outside!"
Kanan nodded and rushed out. What was going on?
Outside the Belladonna Manor…
Kanan found Ghira and Kali outside, asking: "What the hell is going on?!"
"We've just heard from Sienna; Adam has finally launched his strike against us." Ghira replied.
"Any idea what we're up against?" Kanan asked.
"Reports indicate usage of Imperial weaponry." Ghira responded. "Adam has clearly taken advantage of his new sponsors."
Kanan nodded. "I'll join the fight once Blake's here."
As if on cue, Blake joined them, sporting her normal combat ensemble; including her tailcoat, which had been repaired since the escape of Adam from prison.
"Is it the Empire?" She asked.
"No; it's Adam's forces." Kanan answered. "Armed with Imperial weaponry."
"Damn it." Blake said. "Either way; no use crying over spilled milk. We need to get up there and back up the defenders!"
"Carrick will be in command. Find him and see where he needs the two of you!" Ghira ordered, before pulling his children into a warm hug. "And most importantly… be careful. I shudder to imagine the wrath of Nathan and Yang should their significant others fall in battle on the cusp of their reunion."
"You too, Dad." Kanan replied, sharing a hug with Kali as well as Blake. "Call Haven. Tell the gang that we're under attack and need help ASAP."
Ghira nodded as Kanan and Blake dashed off towards the fight.
As they ran up the hill; Blake turned to Kanan. "What are you willing to bet that the same guy we fought during the prison break is here as well?"
"The Inquisitor? Unlikely." Kanan replied. "The Baron's probably got more important work for him as opposed to dealing with us."
"I'd think taking us out would be pretty high on Maleficus' important tasks." Blake pointed out. "To the point I'd be surprised if Adam isn't leading the attack personally."
"You do realise that if he is; he'll be gunning straight for you, right?" Kanan said to Blake.
Blake sighed. "Then so be it. He's had a month to prepare… and so have I."
Kanan grimly nodded before they reached the top of the hill; looking over the battlefield:
The White Fang seemed to be holding their positions across the coast of Menagerie; but Adam's forces were starting to gain footholds.
"Kanan! Blake!"
Kanan and Blake looked to see Sienna marching towards them, flanked by her guards. "What is it, mom?" Kanan asked.
"Carrick's told me to tell the two of you to head down and help hold the docks." Sienna said. "Ilia is already there with some soldiers. Get down there and hold at all costs. Only retreat if there's no other choice."
Kanan and Blake nodded, before dashing off down to the battlefield.
But not before Sienna caught Kanan's arm and pulled him into a warm, loving hug. "I know we've not been on the best terms lately. But be careful, Kanan. If I lost you…"
"You won't, Mom." Kanan replied, giving his mother a soft smile before looking to Blake. "Come on; let's go!" He shouted, grabbing his younger sister and dashing off towards the field of battle.
Kanan prayed that Nathan was already on his way. He'd heard how Jedi could turn the tide of any battle. This would be one they desperately needed to win.
Haven, at the same time…
Nathan finished donning his combat gear and checked his weapons:
Lightsaber? Check.
Phoenix's Breath? Check.
Ammo for Phoenix's Breath? Check.
Nathan nodded in satisfaction with his handiwork, grabbing a backpack containing some utilities; since he knew he had some clothes in Menagerie for when he got there, before stepping out of his room and heading down to the dining room, where he found Ruby, Weiss, Yang and the clones waiting for him.
They all shared a smile, with footsteps drawing Nathan's attention from nearby:
Pyrrha had now joined them, a supportive smile crossing the face of Nathan's adopted sister.
Nathan returned the smile, before suddenly, Yang's scroll buzzed.
"Hey, babe." Yang said gently, letting everyone know it was Kanan calling.
Nathan immediately sensed something was wrong when Yang's expression darkened, and she asked: "What?! Okay; we're on our way." Hanging up, Yang eyed Nathan. "Menagerie's under attack. We need to get there, ASAP."
Nathan nodded. "Round up everyone save for Oscar, Qrow and Ahsoka and get them ready to move." He ordered. "Wheels up in ten."
The gang all nodded, rushing to order everyone to get ready for battle.
Nathan lingered. He didn't know why Adam and his forces had chosen today to attack; but he vowed that he'd make them regret it.
Menagerie, the Docks…
The situation looked even worse than Kanan thought the moment he and Blake arrived on scene:
The White Fang had taken up positions along the main entrance to the docks; blocking it off from Adam's forces…
Who had already taken much of the docks and were now trying to push forward and dislodge the White Fang.
They found Ilia just as one of her men fell; a blaster bolt entering their throat and causing them to stagger back, allowing Adam's men to blast them full of holes, killing them within moments.
Kanan watched as Blake rushed in to plug the hole, taking out several of Adam's troops with well placed shots from Gambol Shroud.
"Blake! Kanan!" Ilia called out, tossing Kanan a rifle. "Glad you two could make it."
"Glad we could help." Kanan asked, snapping off several shots and downing several enemy troops. "Gimme a sitrep."
"Good news is; we're holding." Ilia replied. "The bad news is that they've managed to take the main HQ."
"Damn it." Kanan spat. "Means they could flank us."
"No worries; Carrick is personally holding that road with as many of his men as he can." Ilia assured them. "Only thing that's lacking is our left flank. That falls; we'll need to fall back to the town centre."
Blake nodded "We should have held there. Much more easily defended."
Ilia made to respond, but her eyes widened as a soldier with what looked to be some form of rotary cannon appeared. "GET DOWN!" She shouted, ducking.
Kanan and Blake followed suit; just in time for a hail of blaster fire to rake their defensive position, tearing several more of their men to shreds.
"Damn it!" Ilia spat as they vacated cover, just in time to see enemy forces a hundred metres or so away from their positions.
Just close enough to see their insignia; a blood red set of fangs clamped around the letters F.R.A.
Must be the name Adam's given his followers, Kanan thought as he set his rifle to full auto, and let loose an entire clip of ammunition on the advancing soldiers, watching several fall victim to his sudden blast of effective fire. Taking cover to reload, Kanan made to let loose with another burst, only to find even more soldiers preparing to fire on them, diving under cover as another hail of fire passed over them, killing even more of their men.
Just as they did, their communications came alive with a communique from Sienna:
"Attention all soldiers! The left flank and the docks are starting to falter. Fall back to the town centre and take positions there!"
Kanan, Blake and Ilia all shared a look, before Kanan bellowed:
"FALL BACK! Fall back to the town centre!"
With that, them and their remaining forces broke cover and dashed for their next defensive positions, blasterfire zipping past them and felling more soldiers as they fled.
It didn't take long before they reached their next line of defence in the town centre, which had much better defensive positions.
It covered all main entry points into the town centre, and would keep the White Fang close together; allowing reserve elements of White Fang forces to back up any parts of the defensive positions that were under threat of collapsing.
Kanan soon found Carrick nearby, and they shared a look.
Carrick then keyed his comms: "Bravo six, this is White Wolf. Fire Mission; target package Romeo, danger close!"
"That's within a hundred feet of your position, sir!" Bravo Six protested.
"That wasn't a suggestion; Send it!" Carrick bellowed before looking to Kanan, Blake and Ilia. "Best take cover, ladies and gentlemen. And have melee weapons ready. We're taking the fight to them, now."
Kanan and Blake nodded before they all took cover, just in time for artillery to obliterate the enemy as they ran for cover, leaving the FRA in disarray.
"CHARGE!" Carrick roared as he jumped over the barricades.
The rest of the White Fang followed suit, bellowing a defiant war cry as they themselves charged after their leader.
Kanan, Blake and Ilia charged with them, weapons drawn.
Only for a blast of red energy to come flying towards them, cutting numerous White Fang to pieces and sending Carrick flying back towards them.
Kanan, Blake and Ilia both bore the brunt of the contact, all four being sent sprawling as a voice bellowed:
"Brothers of the Faunus Revolutionary Army! Why run when we're still winning? Push forward; and see the White Fang to their doom!"
Kanan, Blake, Ilia and Carrick shared a look as the FRA heeded Adam's words and moved to press their attack once again.
Rushing back to their defensive positions, they steeled themselves. This was not how any of them had imagined today being.
On the Shuttle, on the way to Menagerie…
"ETA thirty minutes, sir." Jet said to Nathan.
Nathan nodded and headed back into the cargo hold, calling out: "Alright everybody; listen up! We are thirty minutes from Menagerie, and we need a plan of action."
"If we infil on the rear side of the Belladonna Manor; where their landing pad is; we can move to secure Mr and Mrs Belladonna before moving on to join the battle." Blaze suggested.
"Jason will lead the bulk of you ahead." Nathan said firmly. "I'll secure Ghira and Kali myself. The battle is where most of you will be needed, and the battle is where most of you will go."
Everyone nodded agreement.
"Good." Nathan said. "Thirty minutes, then it's go time." With that, he took his seat again, between Pyrrha and Jaune, taking a deep breath.
He felt their gazes on him as Pyrrha asked:
"You feeling alright, Nathan?"
"Yeah. Just… determined. I didn't come this far only to find Blake a fatality on the battlefield." Nathan replied. He sighed. "If that happens…"
"It won't, Nate." Jaune assured Nathan. "Blake's one of the best warriors in the gang. She'll make it."
"I don't doubt it." Nathan replied. "Because I've no idea what'll happen if she doesn't."
Pyrrha and Jaune didn't respond at that.
Pyrrha only cuddled up to Nathan, allowing him to pull her close with an arm around her waist.
Nathan glanced over to Jaune, who shrugged.
Smiling, Nathan looked across him to Jason.
The older Jedi was giving him a supportive smile, and both men shared a nod silently as Jet came over the PA:
"ETA Twenty-five minutes."
Nathan glanced up, then looked back down, taking a deep breath.
His hands clenched into fists, and he started to think about all the things he wanted to do with Blake when all this was over:
Hug her tightly and tell her how much he loved her.
Kiss her so many times her only escape would be via a kick to the balls.
Take a long walk along the beach.
And so many other things Nathan knew for sure he wanted to do with Blake.
Finding them comforting, he continued thinking about it.
Menagerie…
"HOLD THE LINE!" Kanan bellowed over the fury of combat as the FRA fired on their position relentlessly.
Kanan was aware he was running low on ammunition for his rifle, but at this time, he knew for a fact that he couldn't deal with that now.
He had to deal with the FRA that were increasingly gaining foothold after foothold.
Already, the White Fang had been forced to the exit to the town square, with Kanan, Blake, Ilia and Carrick forming up the defenders as the rest of the White Fang fell back to their next defensive position; which was at the peak of the hill.
Oncoming FRA fire was relentless, each shot threatening to hit home and fell another member of the White Fang, some of whom already lay dead around them.
Which was when an FRA rocket struck close by their position, killing the last of the White Fang defenders aside from Carrick, Kanan, Blake and Ilia.
However, it had done a significant number on their auras, to the point Kanan turned to Carrick. "Get back and prepare to lead the defence. We'll meet you guys there as soon as we can."
Carrick nodded. "Good luck, you three." He said before turning and dashing off in the direction of the White Fang's next line of defence.
With that, Kanan finally exhausted the last of his ammo. "I'm out!" Kanan shouted, drawing the Claws.
"Me too!" Blake said. "We should fall back as soon as we-"
"GET DOWN!" Ilia screamed as she tackled both to the floor as a blast of red energy came over them.
Getting to their feet, Kanan scowled. "Fuck this…"
Stood behind them, weapons at the ready, were Adam Taurus and his Lieutenant.
Behind them was the Inquisitor Blake had fought during the prison break; lightsaber in hand; but unignited.
"I hope you're all prepared to suffer for your transgressions, you three." Adam said gleefully as he drew Wilt.
"Not as prepared as we are to fucking end you!" Blake shouted defiantly as she charged Adam, their duel commencing within moments.
This left Kanan and Ilia with the Lieutenant, who was boasting his chainsaw as per usual.
"Compensating for something, dude?" Kanan asked, gesturing to the chainsaw.
"You'll be compensating for a lack of a head!" The Lieutenant snarled as he swung at Kanan and Ilia.
Ilia ducked, but Kanan attempted to block the blow.
Which he paid for upon flying into a nearby building.
Shaking his head to clear it of cobwebs, Kanan rolled out of the way just in time for the Lieutenant to swing at where he had just been.
Getting to his feet, Kanan raised the Claws, when something out of the corner of his eye caught his attention:
It was an increasingly large speck that was looking more and more like a transport ship.
A very familiar transport ship.
Kanan allowed the sight to fill him with hope. If that was who he hoped it was, then the day would be saved.
On the ship…
"Fifteen minutes out, commander!" Jet called out as Nathan stepped into the cockpit.
"Good work, Jet!" Nathan said, patting the clone pilot on the shoulder. "See the Belladonna Manor? I want you to get as close to it as you can!"
"Understood!" Jet said as he made the necessary preparations.
Nathan nodded before turning and leaving the cockpit. "Nearing my stop, ladies and gentlemen!" Nathan called out before he took his place at the gangway.
"Fancy some assistance, commander?" Ghost asked as he joined Nathan, checking his weapons.
Nathan shook his head. "You're needed with the others. I'll be fine on my own."
Ghost made to protest, but nodded. "Understood, mate. Good luck." Patting Nathan on the back, Ghost returned to his former seat.
Nathan took a deep breath, and made one final check of his weapons.
Lightsaber? Check.
Phoenix's Breath? Check.
Ammunition for Phoenix's Breath? Check again.
All that remained now was to drop down and begin taking care of business.
Taking his lightsaber from his belt, Nathan glanced back at his friends, his teammates…
All of them gave him supportive thumbs up.
Nathan reciprocated the gesture, just as the gangway started lowering. Taking one final deep breath, Nathan had one thought in mind:
I'm coming, Blake…
With Ghira and Kali…
They could see the White Fang forming up on the hill now. If their defences failed there; it'd be a matter of the White Fang arriving at the Manor with enough time to fortify and prepare for a siege.
Ghira prayed to all that was good in the world that his family would be okay; Blake, Kanan, Kali… he prayed they would all be fine.
"They'll be fine, Ghira. Just have a little faith." Kali said as she took her husband's arm.
"That faith will soon end in your demise."
Ghira scowled as several familiar faces surrounded him and Kali: Corsac and Fennec Albain, alongside Trifa and Yuma, all of whom drew sinister appearing weapons.
"I believe it's time for us to relieve Chieftain Belladonna of his duties." Corsac said as Fennec stood by him.
"Yes, brother… I believe you are right." Fennec said as both raised their weapons.
Ghira scowled. "Kali… go inside. I will deal with our uninvited guests.
Kali nodded, pecking her husband on the cheek before rushing indoors.
"That will not save her." Corsac said sinisterly.
"Perhaps not. But it will buy her some time!" Ghira replied as he charged into battle, grabbing both Trifa and Yuma and hurling them towards Corsac and Fennec as the Albain brothers prepared to fire on him.
Both dived out of the way, but it proved costly, as Ghira closed with them with surprising speed for a man of his size, delivering a fierce right hook to the jaw of Corsac, sending the bigger of the Albain Brothers flying.
Turning to Fennec, Ghira engaged the smaller of the brothers with a savage backfist before Yuma swooped in and tried to tackle him to the floor.
Wrapping his arms around Yuma's waist, the chieftain of Menagerie lifted the big man above his head and violently slammed him to the ground.
At which he suddenly found himself wrapped in webbing as Trifa moved in, scoring several hits until she overextended herself and Ghira seized the moment, grabbing and hurling her into Yuma as the latter got to his feet.
Hearing movement behind him, Ghira spun around straight into a dropkick from Fennec, backing him up against one of the pillars which Corsac then tackled him into.
Fennec them jumped onto Corsac's back, grabbing Ghira's hair to piston fist after fist into Ghira's face before he fought both off.
Ghira took a breath. This was to be harder than he thought.
With Kanan, Blake and Ilia…
The FRA had all moved on from the town square and were moving up to the next line of defence prepared by the White Fang.
As such, the town square had become an arena of sorts:
An arena for two big duels.
Blake vs Adam, alongside Kanan and Ilia against the chainsaw-wielding Lieutenant.
Kanan dived underneath a swing from the Lieutenant's chainsaw and spun back around, slashing them across the back several times before rolling underneath the next swing and blocking the next one. "Ilia, get him!" Kanan shouted.
Kanan then watched as Ilia jumped up and onto the Lieutenant's back, wrapping Lightning Lash around their neck and engaging the shocking feature.
Backing away, Kanan connected the Claws into its staff form, preparing to attack when Ilia came flying into him. "Oof!" Kanan spluttered as he and Ilia went sprawling.
Dragging himself to his feet, Kanan blocked one of the Lieutenant's attacks and led it off to the right, spinning around and jabbing them in the gut, followed by Kanan skilfully bringing the other end of the staff up and into the Lieutenant's face.
Ilia struck quickly, rushing in and catapulted herself off of Kanan and onto the Lieutenant, lashing out and striking the Lieutenant across the face with a flying kick, followed up by driving Lightning Lash into their chainsaw wielding foe and sending a fresh shock through the man.
Kanan rushed in and drove the middle of his staff into the midsection of the Lieutenant, bringing it up into their opponent's face, allowing him to separate the Claws into two separate swords and go on the attack, launching into an array of alternating spinning slashes that would do a number on anyone's aura.
Which was when the Lieutenant finally let out a bellow of fury and violently kicked Kanan in the gut as hard as he could.
The breath exploded from Kanan's lungs with violence as he once again went sprawling, tumbling to the floor in a fight to catch his breath again.
The sound of a ship flying in drew Kanan's attention, and he looked up.
Flying overhead was a familiar shuttle.
And dangling from the gangway, lightsaber in hand, was:
"Nathan…" Kanan murmured to himself. Dragging himself to his feet and watching the ship fly overhead towards the Belladonna Manor, Kanan roared: "YES!"
With Nathan…
It's Clobbering Time… Nathan thought to himself as he jumped down just before the ship passed over the Belladonna Manor, landing on part of the Manor's roof before back-flipping off of it and landing in front of it, igniting his lightsaber.
Before him were four of Adam's followers: Corsac and Fennec Albain, Trifa and Yuma.
Behind him was Ghira, with whom Nathan shared a small smile before he charged the surprised members of Adam's faction.
Trifa and Yuma tried intercepting Nathan, only for Nathan to duck their attacks and score two quick slashes on the both of them.
Clearly Ghira had been doing well against them up until now; because just like that; their auras vanished.
Using the Force again, Nathan hurled both Trifa and Yuma away from him.
Sensing Corsac and Fennec both about to attack, Nathan skilfully fended off their attacks.
Using the Force, Nathan grabbed Fennec and hurled him into Trifa and Yuma as he engaged Corsac.
Corsac made several quick attempts at jabs against Nathan, but the fiery haired Jedi parried all of them, disarming Corsac and slashing him several times, at which the bigger of the Albain brothers' aura broke.
Kicking him back, Nathan adopted the lightsaber stance popularised by Obi Wan Kenobi as Fennec, Trifa and Yuma all stood up, staring daggers at him as their grip on their respective weapons tightened.
"Did you forget who I was?" Nathan asked.
With a cry of rage, Fennec, Trifa and Yuma all rushed Nathan at once, hoping to fell the Jedi with pure weight of numbers.
Unfortunately, Nathan was poised and ready, and with a single turn and swing of his lightsaber, all three soon toppled to the floor, their heads joining their corpses shortly thereafter.
"I… Am Nathan fucking PHOENIX!" Nathan declared.
"BROTHER!"
Nathan spun and immediately engaged Corsac Albain, now wielding a sword, which he now clumsily swung at Nathan. Parrying with ease, Nathan then countered with a small, deft cut to his opponent's arm, causing them to drop the sword.
With a cry of cold fury, Nathan rapidly beheaded Corsac as well, stepping away as Corsac's headless body toppled to the floor, whilst his head somehow neatly rolled up right next to his brother's. Together in death, as they were in life.
Switching off his lightsaber, Nathan attached it to his belt and looked to where Ghira was now stood, battered, but unbowed.
Next to him, absolutely beaming with happiness, was Kali; Blake's mother.
Walking up to them, Nathan made to say something, but was silenced when Kali closed the distance and hugged him tightly.
Smiling warmly, Nathan quietly hugged her back. "It's good to see you again, Kali." He said softly. Looking up at Ghira, Nathan added: "You too, Ghira."
Ghira nodded and enveloped both of them in a warm hug of his own, just as the rest of the gang filed out through the front door, causing all of them to break the hug.
"Sorry if we're late to the party guys, but where're we needed?" Jason asked.
"The front lines are at the top of the hill." Ghira told the older Jedi. "Make haste; I can only imagine they are in dire need of reinforcements."
Jason nodded and said: "You heard the man; let's get moving, ladies and gentlemen!"
With that, Jason led the bulk of the gang off towards the battlefield.
Nathan lingered, looking towards Ghira and Kali. "Is Blake up there?"
Ghira nodded. "As are Kanan and Ilia. Sienna might be present as well, given she is not in her war room overseeing the battle from there."
Nathan frowned. "Then that'll be where I go as well." He declared, hugging both of Blake's parents once again before dashing off to join his friends on the front lines.
It didn't take long for him to catch up, surprising Jason.
"Figured you'd be securing Kali and Ghira." Jason said.
"They'll be fine." Nathan replied. "Right now; Blake is in trouble and I intend on breaking her out of it."
Jason nodded and said: "Take the rooftops. "You'll get a better bead on where Blake is a lot faster than if you ran with us."
Looking up at the rooftops, Nathan nodded. "See you on the other side, Jason." Sharing a fist bump with his close friend before leaping up and onto the rooftops, running across them like he was playing a platform video game.
Reaching out with the Force, Nathan sensed Blake, Kanan and Ilia were far behind enemy lines. Possibly either prisoners or trying to make their way back to their lines.
Sensing a dark presence also there, Nathan forced himself to quicken his pace. It wasn't the Baron, thankfully. But whoever it was, Nathan needed to hurry.
With Jason…
From the moment Jason saw the front lines, he could see the situation was not entirely dire for the White Fang:
They had set themselves up strongly on the hill overlooking Kuo Kuana, and the enemy was trying and failing to break through, as they had with other lines of defence.
Snipers were visible on the roofs nearby as well.
Jason then looked at Ghost and Ruby. "Get set up on the roofs and start picking off targets." He ordered. "The rest of us, set up where you can on the line."
"JASON!"
Jason looked to see a familiar face walking over. Smiling, Jason walked over. "Carrick! You look like hammered shit."
"Looks don't count for shit on the battlefield." Carrick replied, grasping Jason's arm tightly. "This is front line combat, baby!"
Jason chuckled before they both crouched behind cover. "So; what's the situation?" Jason asked Carrick.
"The FRA have us backed into a corner." Carrick replied. "They have both the numbers advantage and Imperial weaponry to boot. We've tried to break through and force them back; but ever since Adam showed up to rally his troops, we've had a hard time."
"Where is Adam now?" Jason asked.
"We think he stayed behind to engage Blake, Kanan and Ilia. They're still in the town square, for all I know."
"Then that's where we need to be ourselves." Jason declared. "Ghost… Storm the enemy lines with the ARC Troopers."
"Yes, sir." Ghost said.
At that, Jason and Carrick watched as Ghost and the ARC Troopers, equipped with jetpacks, rocketed out of cover and began raining down a hail of fire upon the oncoming FRA troops.
This had the effect of drawing the FRA's fire for the moment, allowing Jason to shout: "NOW!" Jumping out of cover and charging the enemy, igniting his lightsaber.
Following suit were the rest of the gang, and finally, the White Fang, who surged forward with a fearsome war cry.
The FRA, realising their mistake, raised their weapons to fight back, but the fierceness of the counterattack had them reeling.
The first FRA soldier to fall to Jason's lightsaber found themselves slashed from shoulder to hip, followed by a second who was more or less impaled on the older Jedi's lightsaber.
Sensing a third nearby, Jason moved to engage, only for the soldier to fall via a bullet to the head.
Carrick then moved into position next to Jason, and the two shared a nod before they surged forwards.
More FRA soldiers were soon falling to their blades, and more were retreating by the minute to the likely next line of defence, which was the entrance to the town square.
Jason dared a glance ahead, and his heart sank.
Blake, Kanan and Ilia were fighting a losing battle against both Adam and a large man wielding a chainsaw.
Stood off to the side was a bald, pale, completely hairless human dressed in Inquisitor armour.
Jason looked around, thinking: Nathan, where are you?
With Blake…
Blake yelled in pain as she flew into the lamppost flank first, grimacing as her aura broke and she sank to the floor, defeated.
"BLAKE!"
Blake heard Ilia's voice and saw her rushing over, only for Adam to use a quick blast of his semblance to knock her back into Kanan, sending both sprawling.
Blake tried forcing herself to her feet, but found a seething blood red lightsaber blade at her throat.
"I wouldn't try that if I were you." The Inquisitor said.
Blake then watched helplessly as Kanan and Ilia, both their auras down, now were dragged over next to Blake, where Adam joined them.
"That was a better fight than you've ever given me, Blake. For that; I commend you." Adam said. "But the fact remains that in a straight fight… you could never defeat me."
Blake scowled. "Interesting theory, Adam. But one day…"
"There never will be another day after this, Blake. Because after today… you'll be all mine once again." Adam said gleefully.
Blake spat in his direction. "I'll die before that happens, Adam." She snarled.
The would be faunus messiah snorted. "Like I'd give you the chance." He said before looking to Kanan and Ilia. "Now… which of you do I kill now?"
Blake's eyes widened and she finally felt herself breaking down. "No…"
"I promised I would destroy everything you love, Blake." Adam taunted. "First I took your friend Yang's arm… but now… now I want someone's head."
Blake watched helplessly, tears starting to fall as she watched Adam looking between Kanan and Ilia.
Before seemingly settling on Kanan.
"I would go for Ilia… but I'll need concubines for when I tire of you, Blake." Adam said, before raising Wilt.
Blake shut her eyes tightly against tears as she awaited the sickening sound of Adam beheading her brother.
But instead, she heard another sound:
That of someone landing behind them.
An unseen force from somewhere behind Blake sent her, Kanan, Ilia, Adam, and evidently the Inquisitor flying, as they all went sprawling.
Getting up, Blake heard a sound she had been yearning to hear for months:
The signature snap-hiss of a lightsaber igniting.
Feeling relief enter her system, Blake looked and saw their would-be saviour, her heart swelling in happiness.
There, stood ready for battle, lightsaber in hand, was Nathan.
Nathan stared across the square towards Adam, whose expression had become one of shock.
"You… you're supposed to be dead!" Adam snarled, his fury returning.
"Do I look dead to you, Adam?!" Nathan responded, raising his lightsaber. "It doesn't matter, anyway. You're going down, you piece of shit!"
Adam responded by smirking. "Not until you deal with him!"
Knowing exactly who he was talking about, Nathan spun around to immediately meet the oncoming strike from the Inquisitor, who disengaged and immediately jabbed for his chest.
Parrying the blow, Nathan quickly slashed across the Inquisitor's torso, spinning his lightsaber and preparing to deliver another blow.
The Inquisitor's lightsaber rose to meet his before the stroke could fall, and he shoved Nathan back as they circled one another. "You should have died at Beacon, boy." The dark warrior snarled.
"That's the thing a lot of people don't realise about me, asshole." Nathan responded. "I don't fucking die easily."
He could see from his position that Adam was now being attacked by Blake again, as well as Kanan and Ilia. The chainsaw wielding warrior was now at the exit to the town square, trying his hardest to rally the troops as the White Fang threatened to break through.
Turning his attention to the Inquisitor, Nathan saw they'd ignited their second lightsaber blade. Raising his own, Nathan surged forwards.
With Jason…
The sight of Nathan had been just the boost the White Fang had needed.
Seeing someone who had become something of a hero to them after everything he'd done for them was enough to send the White Fang charging into battle, forcing the FRA back into the square.
Now, their lines looked dangerously close to breaking.
And Jason was determined to be one reason why.
Two FRA soldiers fell to his lightsaber, one with a slashed open throat, the other from shoulder to hip.
A third soon followed by way of Jason beheading them, whilst a fourth found themselves bisected into two separate halves.
Fifth and sixth both drew swords to attack, but Jason quickly parried their blows, cutting one in half within seconds, whilst he cut the other's arm off before beheading them.
With that, the FRA soon fell back again, retreating towards the other end of the square.
Jason was remotely aware of Nathan duelling the Inquisitor nearby, whilst Blake, Kanan and Ilia had now renewed the battle against Adam.
Which left Jason with the man who stood before him now;
A giant of a man wielding a chainsaw.
"Finally; I get to kill one of you myself." The Lieutenant said as he rushed Jason, lunging forwards as if attempting to impale Jason on the chainsaw.
Jumping to the side, Jason responded with a slash to the man's flank, bringing his lightsaber up to block the oncoming upward swing of the chainsaw, the force of it driving Jason back a few paces.
With surprising speed given a man of his size as well as the weapon they were wielding, the Lieutenant surged forwards, swinging his chainsaw violently towards Jason.
Jason rolled out of the way, and slashed at the chainsaw itself, slashing into the mechanism that gave the weapon its power.
Incidentally, Jason soon realised that he'd struck the area where dust went in, as the chainsaw suddenly exploded in the hands of the Lieutenant, sending the chainsaw blade flying into a nearby FRA soldier.
A scream of untold agony emerged from the Lieutenant, who sank to his knees, staring at his bloody, partially destroyed hands.
Jason advanced on the big man, and ended his suffering by way of beheading the larger man.
As the body hit the floor, Jason took a look around, and saw Nathan still duelling the Inquisitor. Part of him wanted to help, but the other decided to see what Nathan could do now.
With Nathan…
Even with six months of training, Nathan still hated double-ended weapons.
Which was why he found himself backing away as the Inquisitor; now known to him as the Ninth Brother, spun his lightsaber in a figure eight whilst spinning around, switching hands and slashing at him viciously.
Blocking the blow, Nathan was quick to side-step the upward slash from the other end, attempting to counter with a jab towards the Ninth Brother's belly.
The Inquisitor was quick though, knocking Nathan's blade away.
It hadn't escaped Nathan's notice that the Ninth Brother used his lightsaber more traditionally, in the sense that he often didn't use the rotary mechanism on it, preferring to wield it as a saber staff.
This gave Nathan some relief; recalling how difficult it'd been for him to deal with the Third Sister's fighting style.
Memories of Narcissa threatened to steal Nathan's focus, but he resisted the urge, just in time for the Ninth Brother to go back on the attack, blocking an upper whirling rotatory cut from the Inquisitor, leading the Ninth Brother's blade off to the side, spinning around, and cutting a fresh, deep wound into the Inqusitor's flank.
Crying out in pain, the Ninth Brother lashed out with a Force Push, trying to shove Nathan back.
Nathan raised his lightsaber to block the attack, countering with a fierce jab at the Ninth Brother's torso, only to be thwarted as the Inquisitor suddenly parried, countering with a series of diagonal cuts that sent Nathan backing away until he finally lashed out with a lower thrust towards Nathan's belly.
Nathan was able to parry the attack, countering with his signature spinning back kick which connected, knocking the Ninth Brother back several paces.
The two combatants stared one another down before the Inquisitor finally charged Nathan once again, spinning around and lashing out with a lower slash, following that up by an upper slash when the last one was blocked by Nathan. Seeing Nathan raise his lightsaber to counter, the Ninth Brother then made to block Nathan's downward strike using a similar method used by the Sith assassin Maul to slay Jedi Master Qui Gon Jinn.
Seeing this coming, Nathan took a step back just as he brought down his lightsaber.
The result saw his lightsaber slice right through the Inquisitor's lightsaber, whilst also fatally slashing the Inquisitor from shoulder to hip.
Nathan watched the Ninth Brother's face fall as the Inquisitor soon dropped the separate halves of his lightsaber, before toppling to the floor himself, dead.
Taking a deep breath, Nathan now turned his attention to Adam, who had paused his own duel with Kanan, Blake and Ilia to see the outcome of Nathan's duel with the Ninth Brother.
The would-be faunus messiah had a look of shock crossing his face, surprised at Nathan's victory, but now clearly worried.
Nathan then raised his lightsaber, assuming his standard fighting stance, keeping his head, shoulders and elbow covered as he stared down Adam.
However, Adam seemed to realise that facing Nathan now would mean certain death.
And so keyed his comms: "Attention all FRA forces! This is Adam Taurus! Fall back to the boats! We may have lost today; but the next time will be much different!" Staring Nathan down for one last look at the man who had once again denied him victory, Adam then spun around and rushed off in the direction of the docks, defeated.
Only when Adam was no longer visible did Nathan finally switch off his lightsaber, attaching it to his belt before taking the Ninth Brother's lightsaber and doing the same thing, taking a deep breath.
"Nathan?"
Nathan's fists clenched as that voice once more found his ears.
A voice he had only heard once before in six months; two weeks before this moment right now.
His heart began to hammer at his ribcage, its strings taut as he finally turned around.
And when he did, his eyes met those beautiful amber eyes he had yearned to look into for six months. All the pain; all the frustration, and all the anguish he had fought for six months seemed to evaporate within moments of looking into the eyes of the woman he loved. Tears began welling up in his eyes as he smiled warmly at her.
"Blake…" He finally said.
At that, whatever dam that was holding back tears broke, and the two charged one another, meeting in the middle as Blake dived into Nathan's arms, both finally bursting into tears of joy the minute they held each other again.
Nathan spun Blake around in his arms for what felt like hundreds of thousands of times before finally setting her down, pressing his forehead to hers. "I'm home, Belle." Nathan said softly, wiping away Blake's tears with his thumb.
"Took you long enough." Blake replied sarcastically.
Nathan snorted, before finally pulling Blake closer to him.
Blake reciprocated, wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling him closer as well.
Finally, their lips met as they sealed their reunion with a passionate kiss, together again at last.
Earlier drafts of this fanfic would have had a rematch between Nathan and Adam instead of Nathan fighting and felling another Inquisitor, but I felt the Inquisitor would be a better choice.
However; now Blake and Nathan are back together at last. The question is... now what?
Enough rambling though; review time!
Sharnorasian Empire: I am not an entirely heartless man. This was always going to be the chapter where Nathan and Blake reunited for good.
With that said; thank you all so much for reading this chapter. If you all enjoyed it; you all know what to do.
I shall see you next weekend with chapters 19 and 20, which see Nathan and Blake spend some much deserved time together.
T-Rock14