Gideon Squadron: Chapter 18 - Darkness' Wrath
While the Arlechi was able to escape the clutches of the Inquisitorius, it had taken extensive damage, forcing it to drop out of hyperspace and travel on impulse power alone. Eras stretched his shoulder painfully while he took a break from rerouting secondary systems to primary functions still needing power. The medical droid had removed a large portion of his shoulder and had replaced it with artificial muscle and "E-skin" (electronic skin which mimics the sensory capabilities of human skin). Trace entered the bridge, having just inspected the secondary hyperdrive. "I am still waiting for the necessary parts to be replicated. It will take a couple of hours before they are complete.", he reported. Eras, opting to take the first watch, had ordered him earlier to his quarters as he was going to need him at his best if they were going to limp back to headquarters in one piece. "Sir, you need rest. I will take the watch and notify you if anything changes.", insisted Trace. Too tired to argue, Eras simply acknowledged this with a nod as he made his way to leave. He paused at the doorway. "Have you checked on Sho recently?" "He was supposed to be recovering in medbay, but I noticed the hover-stretcher was empty when I walked by just now.", answered Trace. "I will check his quarters on my way to my own.", signaled Eras as he left the bridge.
Feeling Sho's presence, Eras knocked on the door of his quarters. He waited for a moment but after no response, he entered. The room was dimly lit, though Eras could see Sho kneeling in meditation on the floor in the center. His lightsaber, which had been destroyed in his duel with Tarren, lay on the ground before him. Mimicking his comrade, Eras knelt beside him, waiting silently to be addressed. A few minutes passed before Sho finally spoke. "My saber is beyond repair and the crystal inside has completely burned out.", he said plainly. Eras thought for a moment and then began taking one of his own sabers out. "No.", Sho stopped him with a wave of his hand. "It must be of my own making. I have my Master's crystal as a start, but Master Bu'Narii said it would not be enough." "What do we do?", Eras inquired. "I must meditate a while longer. The path is not clear. In the meantime, go get some rest.", said Sho as his thoughts towards solving his problem were replaced by concern for his friend.
Eras obeyed and left for his own quarters. Sho remained kneeling, surrounded by complete silence aside from the soft rumbling of the impulse engines. "What must I do, Master?", he asked in the darkness. He reflected on Master Bu'Narii's instructions. "You are to unite it with his holocron. What is needed will then be revealed to you.", she had said. Sho placed both the saber crystal and the holocron side by side. "How do I bring the two together?", he pondered. He turned his thoughts towards the lessons Master Drallig had taught him. He could almost hear his teacher's guiding voice now. "Let your thoughts of the world around you fall away. There is nothing but the current of the Force. Listen to it. By your own two hands, you cannot dictate where it flows. Let yourself become immersed in it and let it take you where it wishes.", Master Drallig had said in one of his final lessons before the fall of the Temple. Closing his eyes, Sho stilled himself and reached out to the Force. At this moment, nothing else mattered. Both objects rose off the ground and remained levitated in front him. The holocron began to open as his Master's saber crystal began to slowly gravitate towards the opening. Like a key and lock, they connected perfectly. A powerful hum began to grow…
…On the bridge of the Star Destroyer Horizon…
Admiral Gleaves had just been informed that repairs to the sensor cluster were complete and the reaction chamber was ready to come back on line. The doors to the bridge opened. Both Inquisitors and Commander Lanu entered. Tarren strode towards Gleaves with purpose. "Lord Inquisitor, repairs have been compleee…". Without warning, the Inquisitor Force Pushed the Admiral into the walled control panel behind him, sending sparks in all directions. All officers on the bridge were on their feet. "Stay where you are!", ordered Commander Lanu. The officers were hesitant, but complied (more due the menacing look from the four armed Inquisitor that stood behind the Commander).
The room appeared to be spinning out of control as Admiral Gleaves was barely holding on to consciousness. "I do not tolerate failure!", growled Tarren as he ignited his lightsaber. An alarm at one of the officer's stations sounded. The Ensign standing nearby investigated. He turned towards Tarren. "Vessel coming out of Hyperspace, my lord. It is an Imperial Dreadnaught. We are being hailed." Tarren stopped at this, disengaged his saber, and glanced at his fellow Inquisitor. They had both felt it. "On main viewer.", ordered the Commander. The screen revealed a Captain by the markings on his uniform. "This is Captain Firmus Piett of the Executor.", he said. That had confirmed to all who had arrived. "My lord Vader demands the immediate presence of the Inquisitors who travel with you." Before a response could be delivered, the channel was closed. There was an unbearably tense stillness on the bridge of the Horizon. "What are your orders, my lord?", asked Commander Lanu. The Inquisitor remained silent for a few moments longer. "Prepare my shuttle for departure…Admiral.", commanded Tarren who now remembered Gleaves lying on the ground next to him. "Dispose of this refuse as you see fit.", he added as he walked out. The last thing Gleaves remembered before letting the darkness take him was the wicked grin on Lanu's face as he hovered over him…
…Aboard the Arlechi…
Sho slowly opened his eyes as a projection of his old Master stood smiling down on him. "Hello Naan…", it said warmly, using Sho's given name,"...If you are seeing this, then I have become one with the Force. You carry one of my most prized possessions, my lightsaber crystal. It is my wish that you use it to aid you in passing on the knowledge you have learned." Sho was both honored and saddened at this. "Master, the Temple on Coruscant has fallen and the Order is all but extinguished. I have failed" The projection of his Master did not seem bothered by this and continued to smile. "Knowledge is not meant to be contained in one place. It should be shared, improved upon, and passed on to the following generations. Where this takes place is of no consequence. It is more important THAT it takes place. As long as one Jedi remains, hope will always endure." "A Sith lord now reigns over the galaxy, all surviving Jedi are being hunted. How can I accomplish what you ask of me?", protested Sho. The projection's expression turned grave. "You must first remove this threat or more will fall to the Dark Side. I have created this hologram to help guide you, should you ever be in need." "I AM in need Master…", Sho pleaded, "...My lightsaber has proven no match for a new weapon of the Sith and has been destroyed. How do I fight this threat without a weapon of my own?" "Your greatest weapon is your mind. However, a lightsaber is part of a Jedi's identity. It inspires fear in the enemy and gives hope to the downtrodden. You will need to create a formidable saber.", agreed Master Drallig's hologram. A small chamber in the holocron opened. A red saber crystal emerged. "This synthetic crystal once belonged to a servant of evil, but has long since been cleansed. It is very powerful, yet it is unstable. It requires reinforcement. It must be fused with another.", the projection instructed. "How can this be done?", asked Sho. "Is this even possible?", he thought to himself. "The Council forbade it. There are great risks to the one who attempts it. There is the danger of falling to the temptations that come with such power as well.", said Drallig. "I have little choice Master.", reasoned Sho. "Very well. You will go to the planet Tython located in the Deep Core. There, you will seek Vur Tepe, the Great Forge of the Tythos Mountains.", instructed the hologram. "Yes Master.", said Sho, bowing his head. "May the Force be with you.", were the final words of the projection before it disappeared. The holocron closed, leaving the room still once more. Sho sat quietly in reflection as he gazed at the two small saber crystals in his hand…
…On the Imperial Dreadnaught Executor…
Tarren and his comrade were immediately brought before Vader. The room was a large meditation chamber, covered mostly in darkness, save for the dim lights that allowed both Inquisitors to barely make out the outline of their Master, who sat in unnerving silence on a raised platform overlooking them. The only sound that could be heard was the artificial respirations of the menacing figure that towered over them. "My lord,...", began Tarren awkwardly, "...we have located several surviving Jedi." This was met with more silence. "We believe thaaa…", he continued but was interrupted by a powerful Force Choke that lifted him straight into the air. "Where are these Jedi?", Vader asked as he rose and strode towards them. "Admiral Gleaves allowed them to escape, my lord!", the second Inquisitor responded in a pleading tone, hoping this would redirect Vader's anger. His Master produced his lightsaber at blinding speed, severing the second Inquisitor's two left arms. The Codru-Ji screamed and huddled pitifully on the ground as he held his hand in place of where one of his limbs had been. "You have failed!", the Sith lord boomed. He looked towards Tarren who was gasping for air while attempting to beg for mercy. "Please, my lord. We will find them.", he managed to squeak out. "I have told the Emperor personally that you will. Perhaps you need motivation to help you with your task." the dark lord thundered. He released Tarren, who fell to the floor next to the other Inquisitor. The room suddenly lit up from the Force Lightning that shot out from Vader's raised hand. Their screams could be heard throughout the ship…