Chapter 7: Escape from The City
"You shouldn't have come here." The Second Sister snarled as she and the Third Brother circled Roman and Seth.
"Really?" Roman asked as he looked around and shrugged. "I don't see any big signs saying: "Roman the Fox and Seth Kerran are not allowed within the confines of the city."
"Do you really think now is the time to be making jokes?" The Third Brother replied. "We have you completely surrounded."
"I don't see how your definition of completely surrounded is correct, given that there are two of you." Roman replied. "Since my idea of being completely surrounded is for there to be three times as many hostiles surrounding us as there are now."
The Third Brother scoffed. "It seems what the Grand Inquisitor said about your sense of humour is correct. You'd make a fine court jester on Shili."
"I'd sooner fuck Seth and Tails in a homo threesome." Roman replied. "From what I heard about you and Shili from Tails, Shili isn't exactly five-star accommodation. In fact it sounds more like two star accommodation."
The Third Brother's nostrils flared as he snarled: "How dare you discredit my home planet!" before charging Roman.
Only for Roman and Seth to switch sides, so that Seth was facing the Third Brother, and Roman was facing the Second Sister.
"If I hadn't got a girlfriend and you weren't a psychotic, tattooed bitch, I'd so fuck your brains out." Roman remarked as he properly looked over the Second Sister's voluptuous form, which reminded Roman of Asajj Ventress, Dooku's pet assassin during the Clone Wars.
"How flattering." The Second Sister said. "However, flattery will not save you today!" With this, she lunged.
Only for Seth and Roman to again switch sides, so that Roman was once again facing the Third Brother, and Seth was facing the Second Sister.
"I assume you won't want me to mention that comment to Ashley later." Seth said to Roman.
"Don't you fucking think about it." Roman said. "Do you want more kids after this one coming? Because if I hear you played tattle tale with Ash, I will rip your balls off and make you fucking eat them."
"It won't matter." The Third Brother snarled. "Neither of you will live long enough to tell her anyway!" At this, the two Inquisitors attacked.
And Roman and Seth fought back, once again crossing blades with their enemies.
With Sally and the other Freedom Fighters…
"Can you walk?" Sally asked Caleb as Shatter and Tusk set him down.
"I was walking since before you were born, Princess." Caleb replied as he got up. "Now someone find me a gun. I have the urge to shoot some Stormtroopers."
As if on cue, a squad of Stormtroopers appeared from around the corner, the leader of whom pointed:
"There they are! Put your hands where we can-"
The CO never finished, as a hail of blaster fire obliterated him and his squad.
Walking over to the bodies, Sally stripped it of its ammunition, and handed it and a blaster rifle to Caleb. "There." She said. "Should serve your purpose."
Caleb nodded. "Always wanted t' use one of these." He remarked.
"Well now you can." Sally replied, smiling as she stripped the rest of the Stormtroopers of their guns and ammunition, handing one to each of the Freedom Fighters. "Better stock up guys." She said. "It's going to get pretty hairy around here soon."
"Better get moving too, if we want to reach the extraction point." Tails replied as he loaded his rifle.
"Why aren't you using your lightsaber?" Caleb asked.
"Rather not reveal myself as a Jedi unless it's necessary." Tails replied. "Better for people to think I'm just me, than another Jedi."
"A good idea in my opinion." Ashley remarked. "Roman's already risking his life, along with Seth. I'd rather Tails wasn't risking his as well by brandishing his lightsaber."
"I agree." Caleb replied.
"We should get moving." Knuckles said. "I've got a feeling any nearby Stormtroopers will have heard that."
"I agree." Sonic added. "At this rate, we'll be caught in the thick of the revolt."
"So we will." Sally said. Grabbing Nicole, she opened Nicole and said: "Nicole, calculate the safest and most quiet route to the extraction point."
"Yes, Sally." Nicole said as her image disappeared.
A patient silence fell upon the Freedom Fighters as they waited for Nicole to complete her calculations.
Which once she had appeared again, she had. "Got one." Nicole said, her image dissipating to reveal the route she had calculated for them.
Sally smiled. "Thanks, Nicole." Turning to the Freedom Fighters, Sally said: "Let's move."
Castle Eggman, at the same time…
"Prepare a group of troop transports." Elias ordered as Imperial Officers scrambled to do something to prepare for the oncoming people. "Get all walkers mobile and ready for combat, and by the fucking Emperor, can someone man the defences!"
"Were you anticipating this sort of attack, Grand Inquisitor?" Tarkin demanded as he followed. His face was a mask of anger, his eyes almost black.
"The Freedom Fighters have never been bold enough to attack the capital!" Elias protested. "If this is any indication, the prisoner they freed was likely of massive value to them for them to mount this sort of mission."
"Very well." Tarkin said. "I assume you are to head a mission of interception?"
"That'll be Frederick's job." Elias replied, gesturing to the aforementioned cat, who now came into view, dressed in an Imperial Security Bureau uniform. His head was framed with the helmet that had been designed to his specifications.
"Head of the ISB here, I presume."
"Yes." Frederick replied, his voice still layered with the menace he was known to always speak with. "I assume you've heard of me."
"Frederick the Fox, former head of the criminal underworld, now turned head of the ISB. Your reputation precedes you." Tarkin replied, shaking hands with Frederick. Turning to Elias. "What do you propose I do?"
"I would prefer you remain here and coordinate the defence of the castle." Elias replied. "I will not be the one held responsible for placing your life in danger."
Tarkin nodded. "Very well. Go and do what must be done, Grand Inquisitor. Your brethren need you."
Elias nodded and placed his helmet over his head, then motioned for Frederick to follow him.
"What is it that makes that old man so valuable to the Freedom Fighters?" Frederick asked as they walked.
"I suspect it's because of the fact that he is good friends with Roman the Fox." Elias replied. "At least that is what I discerned from the Second Sister during the period in which the old man's ilk was collaborating with the Freedom Fighters."
"Then I should either kill the old man to hurt Roman, or recapture him and use him as bait to get the Freedom Fighters to surrender." Frederick said.
"Either would be preferable then answering to Tarkin for failing." Elias replied. "With someone like Tarkin, it's very easy for him to be able to report what he finds here to either the Emperor or Lord Vader. And then it's both of our necks." It was at this time that Elias spotted someone he'd been meaning to see for a while. "Colonel Aryn!" He called out.
Cersei turned to see Elias running up. "Grand Inquisitor!" She replied as she joined them. "I had just woken up when I heard. Is it true the Freedom Fighters are here?"
"Yes." Elias replied. "And as such, I'd prefer it if you remained here to help coordinate the defence of the castle from the populace."
"Who else is here that can help?" Cersei asked.
"General Okada and Governor Tarkin." Elias replied. "They'll be in the war room."
Cersei's face fell as she said: "Tarkin?!" She asked.
"Yes, Tarkin." Elias said. "But don't worry. With him here, the castle's in good hands. Now you'd best get over there and help."
Cersei nodded and made to obey, but she stopped and said: "Elias, there's something I need to tell you!"
"It can wait!" Elias snapped. "And it's Grand Inquisitor right now. Now get to the war room!" With this, he and Frederick swept away, headed out of the castle.
Cersei frowned, briefly running her hands over her abdomen, feeling a slight bulge. Sighing, she turned and headed in the direction of the War-Room.
With Roman, Seth, and the Inquisitors, the City Square…
Dodging a jab from the Third Brother, Roman and Seth again switched places, with Roman locking blades with the Second Sister once more.
"Your games end here, fox!" The Second Sister snarled as she pushed Roman back, slashing at him with her lightsabers.
Blocking the attacks with ease, Roman quickly unleashed a punishing counter-attack, one that battered against the defences of the Second Sister, which while formidable, nearly fell under the fury of Roman's aggressive attack. "I don't see what you mean by games." Roman replied, lashing out with a punishing kick that knocked the Second Sister back. Looking to Seth, they both nodded, and thus switched sides, with Roman now squaring off against the Third Brother again.
"Were she the Queen of Shili, you'd have been hung." The Third Brother said as he attacked Roman.
"Where you see a queen, I see a slut." Roman replied rudely.
The Third Brother roared in fury as he attacked, snarling: "You will pay for dishonouring my sister!"
"Your sister?" Roman asked. "And who am I paying? Her for quick sex?" He quickly fell back as the Third Brother attacked furiously, smashing against his defences viciously. "Actually, now that I think about it;" Roman said as he parried a slash that would have left him minus an arm. "I'd rather not. I'd probably get an STD from her, considering how much dick she likely gets during orgies."
The Third Brother responded with another furious attack, one Roman countered with a firm punch to the Third Brother's face. "You know, I'm kinda getting disappointed." Roman remarked. "I was kinda expecting more from you, bro." Roman shrugged and added: "Just like I expect your sister expected more… during your first time together."
The Third Brother let out an enraged cry as he attacked with as much fury as possible.
Roman parried every single one of The Third Brother's attacks, smiling as he lured the Third Brother into a trap he had set for the Third Brother ever since he had started his string of insults towards the Third Brother's sister.
With the Freedom Fighters…
"Nicole, I thought you said this route would be quiet!" Sally exclaimed as she evaded a storm of blaster fire.
"Sorry Sally, I must have miscalculated in my haste to get a route for you guys." Nicole said.
Sally rolled her eyes and said: "Try and calculate again, and take your time this time."
"Will do, Sally." Nicole said as she dissipated in order to begin.
"You think she can get it right this time?!" Sonic demanded as he ducked oncoming fire.
The group had inadvertently ran into an entire platoon of Stormtroopers, all of whom were firing mercilessly upon them.
"Don't be so hard on her, Sonic!" Tails protested. "She was trying to be quick!" With this, he popped out of cover and returned fire, managing to down several Stormtroopers, whose shots nearly hit him more than once. With this, he ducked down behind cover.
"That was a little risky, don't you think, Tails?" Shatter remarked as he jumped back to avoid the oncoming fire.
"With respect Shatter, I was taking risks even before you or Tusk were grown in a cloning vat!" Tails replied as he grabbed a thermal detonator. Priming and throwing it, Tails smiled as he heard an explosion, followed by the dying screams of those in its vicinity.
"Nice throw!" Caleb remarked as he started firing.
Tails did the same, a smiled on his face as they started to push forward. He only hoped that Roman and Seth were doing well.
With Elias, the City Square…
"Here's your stop, Grand Inquisitor." Frederick said.
Elias nodded and stood up. "I shall be seeing you, gentlemen." He said before leaping down from the troop transport and storming into the main square.
It wasn't difficult to spot the Jedi, who were engaged in a hectic duel against Elias' Inquisitor brethren.
Roman was currently duelling the Third Brother, and doing very well, with the Third Brother having difficulty in battling against Roman's heavy counter-attacks. Scowling, Elias came forward and into Roman's line of sight, calling out: "Roman!"
Roman ceased his duel with the Third Brother, looked between the Third Brother and Elias, before suddenly smashing the pommel of his lightsaber into the Third Brother's face, knocking the Togruta down, quickly surging towards Elias, ready to face him again. "I had a feeling you'd show up." Roman said, his face a snarl.
"Just as I knew we would fight again." Elias replied. "Only this time, only one of us is walking away."
"Like only one of us walked away several months ago in Artika?" Roman replied. "Last time, I rendered you nearly helpless."
"That was then." Elias replied. "This is now." With a flourish of his lightsaber, Elias said: "And my meaning was that only one of us will be leaving this place alive."
"Funny." Roman replied. "I recall you saying something along those same lines last time. And like I said, that day in Artika, I left you nearly helpless. I could have killed you." Holding his lightsaber at the ready, Roman growled: "And looking back, I kinda wish I had."
"I'm touched by your show of regret;" Elias said, before snarling: "But regret will not win you victory on this day, nor allow you to keep your life!"
"Like I always say: You're welcome to try." Roman replied.
Elias smiled, before launching himself at Roman, who rushed forward to meet Elias' attack. Just another day in the life of the Grand Inquisitor.
With Seth…
Blocking a furious flurry from the Second Sister, Seth responded with one of his own, using the fountain in the middle of the square as a catapult to lift himself above the Second Sister, slashing at her with quick and vicious strikes.
Blocking, dodging, ducking or parrying the strikes that Seth attacked her with, the Second Sister backed away and landed a savage kick that knocked Seth back, hearing a nasty crack as Seth's back hit the fountain.
Letting out a groan, Seth grabbed at his back as the Second Sister attacked. Rolling out of the way, Seth managed to leap to his feet, albeit with a stabbing pain in his lower back. Reaching behind and feeling the affected area, Seth deduced he maybe had at least one herniated disc in his back.
The Second Sister was upon him in seconds, sensing his injury like a predator smelling blood.
Seth blocked the attacks as best he could, but his newly sustained injury meant he would be as able to mount a defence as he normally would be. His thoughts travelled to Obi Wan Kenobi, his former master, remembering a conversation he and Obi Wan had had concerning the amount of punishment Obi Wan had sustained during a large-scale battle, and how Obi-Wan had been able to defend himself just as effectively as he would do when not wounded:
"Just trust in the Force, Seth." Obi Wan had said. "Use it as your strength and as your shield, especially when you are as hurt as I was earlier."
Seth sighed as he gave himself up to the Force, allowing it to flow through him like an eternally unbroken river. With this, he found a newfound focus, and suddenly, his defence increased in efficiency until he was finally able to counter one of the Second Sister's attacks, ducking the slash she made at him and slashing a deep wound into her flank, gouging two slashes into her that made an X when their path and been traced.
The Second Sister snarled in pain, backing away and holding her side. "A lucky hit, Jedi." She said. "For the spawn of a teenage whore."
Seth's nostrils flared and he let out an almost feral snarl as he launched a furious attack on the Second Sister, who blocked all of Seth's attacks, cackling as she did.
The Second Sister, using Seth's anger to feed her defence like a leech sucking blood to sustain itself, let out a cackle of delight as she landed a counter of her own, knocking Seth's lightsabers aside and spinning around, landing a gruesome kick to Seth's back directly on his injured area.
Seth groaned in pain as he sank to one knee, his connection to the Force weakened to a degree. As he made to get to his feet, the last thing he saw before being knocked unconscious was that of the Second Sister's leg hurtling towards his face.
With Roman…
"Seth!" Roman shouted as he used the Force to push away Elias and charge the Second Sister, rapidly blocking the attempt she had made to deal Seth a coup de grace.
"Brave of you, Jedi, but foolish." The Second Sister snarled as she attacked.
Blocking all of the Second Sister's attacks, Roman landed a kick to her wounded flank before landing a thunderous punch to her face, knocking her down.
Getting to her feet, the Second Sister barely had time to duck Roman's attempt to relieve her of her head, rolling out of the way to avoid it. Getting back to her feet, the Second Sister smiled as she saw Elias get up behind Roman. "You're outnumbered now, Jedi."
Roman turned to see Elias, who merely beckoned.
"Until you either kill or be killed by him, he's all yours." Elias said, smiling.
The Second Sister's face became one of shock before it became a snarl, as she launched herself upon Roman, unleashing a withering assault that would have left an ordinary man in multiple pieces, utilising to its full the aggressive nature of Juyo, Form Seven of Lightsaber combat.
Yet Roman managed to block, dodge, duck and parry all of the attacks the Second Sister made, stonewalling her offence in a manner what would have certainly drawn the envy of Seth's former master Obi Wan Kenobi had the Jedi Master been here now.
Seeing her most effective of attacks fail, the Second Sister's attacks turned from measured, quick, and effective, to sloppy, ineffective, and desperate as she smashed her lightsabers against Roman's defences.
Seeing an opportunity to counter, Roman spun his lightsaber and blocked one of her attacks, quickly spinning his lightsaber and himself around, slashing at the hilt of one of the Second Sister's lightsabers.
Seeing that she was now open to assault, Roman blocked another attack from the Second Sister, stepping inside her guard and landing a violent elbow to her face, hearing a bile inducing crack.
Screaming in pain, the Second Sister backed away, holding her face with her free hand. When it came away, it was revealed that the Second Sister now had a severely broken, perhaps even shattered nose. From it, blood was flowing like its own river. The gore had covered the lower part of her face and the upper part of her torso, and was staining her clothing, leaving the material seemingly darker than it normally would be. The blood also stained the hand with which the Second Sister had been covering her face, staining the glove she was wearing also. The sight of her blood now awakened something within the Second Sister; something basic, something primal, something that could only be described as animalistic. With a snarl so vicious it sounded feral, the Second Sister charged Roman as if she were a ravenous zombie, raising her lightsaber up high as she brought it down upon Roman.
Only for Roman to parry the blow as if it were nothing, spin around to her back, and drive his lightsaber up to the hilt into the Second Sister's back.
The Second Sister's face fell as she looked down to see the blue lightsaber blade protruding from her stomach. Her hands weakening, she felt her lightsaber drop from her hand as Roman drew out his lightsaber. Falling to her knees, holding the wound, the Second Sister looked up to see Elias walking up. A hopeful smile crossing her face, she raised her hands towards him in supplication, only to be met with Elias' ignited lightsaber.
"So disappointing." Elias said harshly. "I'd have thought you'd stand a chance." With that, he raised his lightsaber, and struck the Second Sister down.
As the Second Sister's body toppled to the floor, Elias stepped over it and readied himself for battle with Roman.
Roman did the same, but at the same time, he noticed that the Third Brother had regained consciousness, and was doing the same. Looking between them both, Roman weighed his options. He could stay here and continue fighting until either both Elias and the Third Brother had been defeated, but then again, Seth was still unconscious near the fountain. Either Elias or the Third Brother could go to Seth at any given time during the duel and force Roman to surrender through threatening Seth. Plus, he wasn't here to kill the Inquisitors: He was here to rescue Caleb.
Spinning his lightsabers, Roman said: "Sorry gents, but I'll have to postpone this to a later date." With this, turned so that both were in his line of sight, and sent them both flying with a thunderous Force Push. Once he was sure they wouldn't interrupt, he grabbed Seth, and his lightsabers, and ran as fast as his legs could carry him and Seth out of the square. He had achieved his objective in holding the Inquisitors back while his friends escaped. It was time to make himself and Seth scarce along with them.
With the Freedom Fighters…
"This isn't looking good!" Tails shouted as he returned fire against the hail that was coming their way.
An entire company of Stormtroopers was firing on them, firing such a large amount that any attempt at escape by the Freedom Fighters would result in them being gunned down where they stood.
"Tell us something we don't know!" Sally shouted in reply as she fired back, seeing a Stormtrooper fall. That's one down, she thought. Looking down, she quickly checked on Sonic: "You okay, Sonic?"
"Just fine, Sal. Just fine." Sonic assured his wife. His left shoulder bore a nasty blaster wound, as Sonic had been unfortunate enough that he had been hit by the initial fire of the Imperial force currently keeping them from escaping. Thankfully, the wound was not serious enough to be life threatening, but bad enough that Sonic would require medical attention.
Sally smiled and patted Sonic gently on his good shoulder before her com-link roared to life, Roman's voice coming through:
"Sally, this is Roman! We've gotten away from the Inquisitors and are enroute to the extraction point! What's your status?"
Sally breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank the Goddess, Rome! We're pinned down on the outskirts of the city by a large force of Stormtroopers, about an entire company. We need backup, and we need it soon!"
"Doing my best, Sally, but it ain't easy when you're carrying an unconscious man on your back!" Roman replied. "That and when you're also likely being pursued by two lightsaber wielding maniacs."
Sally sighed. "Is Seth alright?" She asked.
"Unconscious, but alright!" Roman replied. "He's also got some sort of back injury. I think one of the discs in his back was herniated during the fight."
Sally nodded. "Okay, just get him here ASAP. Sally out."
"On it. Roman out." Roman replied as the line went dead.
Sally turned and said: "Hold here for as long as we can! Roman's on his way with Seth!"
"Thank the fucking Force!" Tails replied as he returned fire. Only for his gun to stop firing, indicating he was out of ammo. "Fuck!" Tails growled, throwing the gun aside. Turning to Sally, he asked: "Request permission to use my lightsaber!"
"Go ahead. We might need it." Sally said.
Tails nodded and stepped out of cover, immediately igniting his lightsaber. The blue blade flared to life in his hands as he held it at the ready.
At first, the guns stopped firing. And then a familiar voice snarled:
"KILL THAT JEDI!"
At this, the guns resumed firing, though most of them were trained on Tails, who blocked them as best he could.
Meanwhile, Ashley felt herself gripped by the icy hand of fear. She'd know that voice anywhere.
It belonged to her father, Frederick the Cat.
With Roman and Seth…
The sound of oncoming fire was getting louder when Roman felt Seth starting to stir. Stopping quick, he put Seth down and allowed Seth to regain consciousness.
"Ah, fuck…" Seth groaned, rubbing his head. "What happened?" He asked, seeing Roman.
"Got knocked out, Seth." Roman replied. "Had I not saved your ass, the Second Sister would have killed you."
"Thanks." Seth said, sitting up before falling back down, groaning in pain. "Forgot my back was fucked as well." Seth said. "Where's the Inquisitors?"
"Somewhere in pursuit of us." Roman replied. "The Second Sister's dead, by the way."
Seth sighed. "Finally, that bitch is off of my ass." He remarked, giving a low chuckle. "You take her out?"
"More of an involuntary joint effort from me and Elias." Roman replied. "I dealt her a fight ending blow, he gave her the coup de grace." Roman sighed. "Sorry I couldn't save her for you, bro. I know how bad you wanted her dead."
"Never mind." Seth said. "At least my mom can rest easy knowing that she just got avenged." Looking around, Seth chuckled. "Kinda like when we were helping in the hunt for Maul and Savage Opress, huh?"
Roman chuckled. "Only our roles were reversed." He replied, the memory coming back to him.
Seth chuckled. "And Ahsoka was actually still an active Jedi. Whereas right now, she's not exactly in the condition to fight anyone. Not that she wouldn't be able to, though."
Roman smirked. "Remember when she took General Grievous on hand-to-hand despite having a broken leg?" He asked.
"Oh, fuck, don't even remind me of that bit on Shili." He remarked. "You weren't even conscious, given that you'd just gotten four lightsabers to the chest."
Roman scoffed before saying: "Anyway, come on. We gotta keep moving." With this, he helped Seth up, draped one of Seth's arms over his shoulder, and began to help Seth towards the extraction point, and the sound of blasters firing.
With the Imperial Forces…
"For fuck's sake!" Frederick snarled as another of his men fell. Ducking back behind cover, Frederick held his head in his hands. Their efforts to push forward against the Freedom Fighters had proven fruitless, as the Freedom Fighters were putting up a fierce fight. Already several of the Stormtroopers that formed up the company of Stormtroopers he was commanding had fallen, cut down where they stood. Poking his head above cover, Frederick fired another shot from his pistol, looking up again to find he had not scored a hit. Scowling, Frederick contacted Elias: "Grand Inquisitor, what is your status?! We have the Freedom Fighters cornered, but they're putting up a fight."
"We are currently in pursuit of the Jedi." Elias replied. "We believe they are headed to your position."
As if on cue, the sound of igniting lightsabers was heard.
Frederick managed to turn just in time and duck as a familiar blue blade grazed the top of his helmet, and the heads of several of the Stormtroopers surrounding Frederick fell to the floor, rolling around as aimlessly as they had been firing their blasters.
Frederick stood up, and found himself once again facing the Jedi who had caused him such pain in the past. "Roman… What a pleasant surprise." He said, a sick smile crossing the gangster turned Imperial Security Bureau officer.
"Sounds like our respective definitions of the word 'pleasant' differ greatly." Roman replied.
Frederick scoffed as he looked to see Roman's friend, Seth Kerran cut several Stormtroopers into ribbons. He noticed that Seth wasn't looking in the best of conditions. "Your friend seems to have seen better days." Frederick remarked.
Roman scowled. "Wasn't too long ago that I said that to you." Roman replied.
Frederick mock bowed. "And now the roles are semi-reversed." Frederick said before jumping the barricade and reaching for his left hip, from which hung a sword. With a sound ring, Frederick tore the sword from its sheath, holding it before him in a ready stance.
It didn't take long for Roman to recognise the sword. "That sword…" He said, his face becoming a snarl. "That's mine."
"Come and get it!" Frederick cackled.
With a deafening roar, Roman charged Frederick.
Only for Elias to suddenly appear, lightsaber at the ready. "Prepared to fight again?"
Roman noticed the Third Brother also nearby, ready to attack Seth. Looking to his friend, Roman called out: "Fall back, I'll deal with these guys!"
Seth turned and nodded, limping back to where Tails was standing, beginning to start blocking the blaster bolts of the Stormtroopers as they resumed fire.
Roman spun his lightsaber as he prepared to battle the two Inquisitors.
"Your friend was wise, Jedi." The Third Brother said as he readied himself. "For he knew to retreat when faced with a superior force."
"It's two against one, buddy." Roman replied. He made to say more when a familiar shape appeared next to him, saying:
"Not anymore."
Roman turned and smirked. "First time this has ever happened."
"Certainly won't be the last." Tails replied, holding his lightsaber at the ready.
For a time, everyone stopped to see the four combatants ready themselves, a visible tension about the area.
Finally, Roman and Tails charged the Inquisitors as the battle resumed around them.
Castle Eggman War Room, at the same time…
"Reports indicate that Frederick and his men have successfully cornered the Freedom Fighters close to what we expect is their extraction point." General Okada reported as he stood over the holo-projector. "The problem is that the Freedom Fighters are putting up fierce resistance."
"Have you considered circumventing them and attacking them from behind?" Tarkin asked.
"They've both sides covered." Okada replied. "It's almost like they intend to die there."
Cersei listened to all this with a worried ear. She was well aware that Elias was in the field, fighting against the Jedi. Including the one that had killed her brother several months ago in Artika.
The thought of it filled her heart with rage, as it did every time she thought of it. She couldn't help but think of the manner with which the Jedi had executed Jax, shooting her little brother in the head seemingly without a second thought.
She was interrupted by Tarkin, who asked her suddenly:
"What do you think, Colonel? Should we send reinforcements to assist Frederick and the Inquisitors? Or should we keep what we have here?"
Cersei drew a sharp breath at Tarkin's voice. She knew Tarkin was not one to forgive failure, and what she said now could mean the difference between success and failure. She also knew that if it were to become a failure, the blame would fall chiefly on her, which would then lead to various outcomes, none of them good.
Frowning, she said: "I'm certain that the force currently out there in the field will be sufficient force enough to capture some of the Freedom Fighters at most."
Tarkin's eyes narrowed. "Confidence like that often leads to failure, Colonel."
"That's because most officers like that don't have three Imperial Inquisitors at their disposal." Cersei replied. "Or an ISB agent."
Tarkin nodded, saying: "If you are confident, then that is the path that we will take." Tarkin said. Keying the intercom, Tarkin said: "QRF, cease preparations and return to your posts. The force we currently have out there dealing with the Freedom Fighters will be successful."
Cersei allowed herself to breathe a sigh of relief. Now all she needed to do was wait and see what the outcome of the battle would be.
With the Freedom Fighters…
"You okay there, Seth?" Sally called out.
"Hard to say you're okay when you've a herniated disc in your fucking back!" Seth replied as he returned fire, making sure to not aim for Roman or Tails, who were currently battling the Inquisitors. "When're we gonna move?"
"Not until the enemy force is thinned sufficiently enough for us to do so!" Sally replied. "We've still got Stormtroopers behind us too, which'll also be a problem!"
"Well that's not fucking helpful, is it?" Seth asked angrily, before an idea popped into his head. He'd nearly forgotten about his personal plan B if this ever occurred. Contacting Shade on the Emerald, Seth asked: "Is Crankshaft good to go?"
"Yeah. You need him?" Shade asked.
"Yep. Surrounded on both sides. We could use some help taking out the ones currently forcing their way up our proverbial ass." Seth replied.
"On it." Shade said.
Seth let out a breath and turned to Sally: "Sally! Just hold a little longer! Help's on the way!"
"I heard!" Sally replied. "You think Crankshaft will be enough to take out our friends behind us?"
"What do you think we reprogrammed him for?" Seth asked with a smirk as he resumed firing, ignoring the furious pain in his back.
With Roman and Elias…
Roman parried another attack from Elias as blaster fire arced past them, quickly avoiding another attack that would have left him in two pieces had he not.
"Do you really think you can escape?" Elias snarled as he and Roman found himself in a blade lock. "We have you cut off on both escape paths, and it will only be a matter of time before you are forced to surrender!"
Roman responded by breaking the blade lock, and deftly connecting his fist to Elias' helmet, hearing a crack, which he guessed was from Elias' helmet.
Elias grunted in pain and backed away, holding the affected area with his free hand. Once his hand came away, it revealed one of his eyes.
Roman had to fight the chills crawling up his spine as he saw that one eye, one of a pair that had once shone blue. Now coloured golden, a tell-tale sign of one's corruption by the Dark Side. Chuckling, Roman remarked: "Guess you felt that one."
"Indeed I did." Elias replied. "But all it's doing is making me angrier." With this, Elias attacked again, unleashing the full extent of his knowledge of Juyo, the most aggressive of lightsaber forms, his lightsaber becoming a warhammer in his hands, battering at Roman's defences like a battering ram against a door.
Roman parried the attacks deftly and swiftly. This made for the fourth time he and Elias had met in combat, and in that time, he had grown used to Elias' style. Defending himself as well as he could, Roman quickly found an opening and exploited it, exploding out of his defensive stance with a counterattack characteristic of Djem So, smashing into Elias' defences to a degree that Elias found it hard to defend himself.
Elias did what he could with his lightsaber, but more often than not found himself dodging and ducking the oncoming attacks rather than blocking or parrying. He realised that he needed some space to reconsider his game plan, or risk losing the battle and his head. Unleashing a quick Force Push, he shoved Roman away before attacking again, this time even more fiercely using Juyo, pouring every ounce of his fury and anger into an attack that he knew he could keep up.
Roman found himself pushed back again, finding it hard to defend against the furious assault. He could feel himself tiring already. He only hoped he'd be able to keep the assault at bay for a while longer yet.
On the other side of the wall…
"Keep up the firing!" The Stormtrooper commander shouted as he and his men poured fire towards the entranceway into the city, from which several of the Freedom Fighters were also firing.
One of the Freedom Fighters' shots found one of the Stormtrooper Commander's men, smashing him full force in the head and flinging them back, the hole where their entire face had formerly been smoking, the wound having already been cauterised.
"Fuck!" The Stormtrooper Commander snarled as he turned back towards the entranceway, continuing his steady stream of fire towards the spot, ducking whenever an oncoming shot came his way. He silently hoped the other side were doing better, because he knew for a fact that a push forward at this juncture would be suicide.
Suddenly, he heard a startled cry from one of his men to his right, followed by a strangulated gurgle and the sound of tearing flesh. Snapping his head towards the sound, he quickly saw what had killed the trooper:
A long Clone Wars era Commando Droid, wielding a vibroblade in one hand, and a looted E-11 in the other.
"I find your resistance laughably hopeless." The droid said as it levelled its blaster at one Stormtrooper, executing them with the emotional detachment of a boulder, quickly dodging and ducking oncoming Stormtrooper blaster fire as he approached, quickly starting his bloody work, cutting numerous Stormtroopers into ribbons.
Blood quickly began to coat his dark brown endoskeleton, turning his colouring from dark brown to gory crimson within seconds of his assault commencing. But Crankshaft dismissed it as nothing and continued his task, blasting several Stormtroopers with the quickness he had been programmed with. Were he human and felt emotion, he might've giggled at the sheer feebleness of the oncoming fire of the Stormtroopers. The clones had been right. They just weren't built the way they would have been in the past.
Within seconds of his attack, the entire contingent lay dead at Crankshaft's feet.
All but one.
The Stormtrooper Commander began to back away, fear beginning to set in. "Please… Don't kill me, I have a family, I got kids! I needed this job!"
"Perhaps you should have considered that before enlisting, Trooper." Crankshaft replied before deftly executing the commander.
As the body toppled to the floor, Crankshaft contacted Seth: "Master Kerran, the enemy forces on this side have been felled. You are free to begin your escape."
With Roman and Elias…
"Rome! Our rear end is clear! We have to go!" Seth called out.
Roman turned to Seth whilst still locking blades with Elias, who seized this mistake by the horns, shoving Roman away and slashing at Roman viciously.
The resultant strike caught Roman directly on the top of his right shoulder, slashing down until Elias' blade met Roman's sternum.
Letting out a pained snarl, Roman backed away, holding his fresh wound.
Using the already considerable momentum of his lightsaber, Elias spun it and lunged forwards in a standardised fencing lunge, intent on catching Roman in the chest and finally dealing a fatal blow.
Only for Seth to suddenly come forth, throwing Elias back with a Force Push. Turning to Roman, Seth ignited his lightsabers. "See yourselves and Caleb to safety." Seth said.
Roman shook his head. "I'm not leaving-"
"SEE IT DONE, ROMAN!" Seth shouted as he attacked Elias with everything he had.
Reluctantly, Roman retreated, running alongside the others towards the safety of the Emerald, leaving Seth alone against Elias and the Imperials.
"Brave of you to stay behind." Elias taunted. "But foolish of you to do so, injured as you are."
Seth responded by kicking Elias away, launching another furious offensive, causing Elias to back away under the fury of his attack.
Finding himself and Seth in a blade lock, Elias said: "You're getting desperate, Jedi. Desperate to buy time for your friends to escape." Pushing his way out of the lock, Elias lashed out with a brutal kick that caught Seth right in the small of his back, just about hitting the herniated disc in his back, which in itself caused shockwaves of pain to explode Seth's nervous system.
Crying out in pain, Seth backed away, now finding himself on the defensive.
Elias turned, finding he now was joined by the Third Brother. In a rare show of consensus, the two shared a nod, before launching their assault on Seth.
Latching onto his knowledge of Soresu like a leech latching onto human flesh to feast on blood, Seth blocked and parried all the attacks as he knew he could. But he knew that he had lost the fight already. All he was doing now was delaying the inevitable in the hope of buying time for his friends to escape.
After a few minutes, Seth spotted a ship lifting off into the sky, one he knew well: The Emerald.
The Third Brother, catching on to this momentary distraction just as Elias did, pushed his way out of the blade lock the three combatants were currently locked in, and slashed at Seth's left hand lightsaber, cutting the hilt in two and destroying the lightsaber.
Seth responded by shoving the Third Brother away and continuing his battle with Elias, blocking Elias' attacks with a singular focus, unwittingly turning his back on the others.
And thus, his downfall came about.
Seth suddenly felt an arm wrap around his throat, and quickly felt a stabbing pain in the small of his back not long after, a stabbing pain that travelled through to his abdomen. The pain was not the pain he was feeling from his herniated disc, but a cold, biting sort of pain. The sort of pain one feels when they've been stabbed.
"Born a Jedi, fall a Jedi." A voice snarled from behind.
Seth fell to his knees, just as the voice from behind him tore his blade free. Looking up, he soon saw Elias.
Who promptly smashed the hilt of his lightsaber into Seth's head.
Falling to the floor, consciousness draining from his skull, Seth looked up at the Emerald making its escape, knowing that at least he had been able to delay the enemy enough that his friends had been able to escape. His last thought before losing consciousness was of one thing, and one person alone: Ahsoka.
And now, the main arc of the story begins.
I bet you weren't expecting the Second Sister to meet her end in this chapter, were you? But hey, it's the Dark Side, and the weak perish.
Also, little bit of Sonic trivia for you: What significance does the name of this chapter have in the world of Sonic the Hedgehog? Leave me your answers in your reviews.
With that said, thank you all so much for taking the time to read this chapter. If you enjoyed it, then please, leave a review in the appropriate section, and tell me what you enjoyed and what you thought I could have done better. In the case that you really enjoyed it, then you're welcome to favourite and follow this fanfiction, so you can be notified whenever I upload another chapter.
Again, thank you for reading, and I will see you tomorrow (Hopefully!) with the next chapter, where Sally and Roman clash over choices made during the escape.
T-Rock14