Here's chapter 11.
TRAPPED BEHIND ENEMY LINES!
CARRYING SECRET INFORMATION VITAL TO THE REPUBLIC'S WAR EFFORT, JEDI MASTER EVEN PIELL AND CAPTAIN TARKIN WERE TAKEN PRISONER BY THE SEPARATISTS.
AN ELITE STRIKE TEAM LED BY OBI-WAN KENOBI AND ANAKIN SKYWALKER LANDED ON THE PLANET LOLA SAYU AND INFILTRATED THE PRISON.
THE TEAM RESCUED MASTER PIELL AND TARKIN, BUT THEY WERE PURSUED BY THE PRISON'S EVIL COMMANDANT, OSI SOBECK.
DURING THE ESCAPE, THEIR SHIP WAS DESTROYED.
NOW WE FIND THEM ON THE RUN, DESPERATE TO ESCAPE THE TRAP THAT IS THE CITADEL...
The group walked through a large underground area with small lava pools around them, while carefully watching where they were stepping. "We're clear." Rex said as he put his pistols in his holsters. "What's are next move?" Ahsoka asked as they stopped moving. "We're gonna have to fight our way off this rock." Anakin replied. "Contact the Council. See when they plan to rescue us." Obi-Wan said to Piell. "I'll handle it." the smaller Jedi assured before turning towards Artoo as the droid beeped and a hologram of Windu appeared. "Master Piell, it's good to see you alive, my friend." Windu said, relief in his voice.
"Likewise, Master Windu. Our escape route has been compromised, and there are several squads of droids closing in on us." Piell explained as Anakin stepped beside him. "When can we expect your arrival?" the Knight asked. "Master Plo is already en route." Windu said. "Gunships will arrive to evacuate you and your men, but do not delay, only a small window of opportunity shall we have." Yoda told them as an area shaped like a thick ring appeared and two red arrows pointed to the hollow middle. "Your rendezvous point will be this island." Yoda said, after the map came up. "Understood." Piell said. "May the Force be with you." Windu said before the transmission ended.
Barely a moment later blasterfire was heard and they saw three commando droids running towards them and shooting. "Incoming!" Cody warned as he returned fire, managing to disable one and cause it to fall into the lava. Rex started firing as Fives primed a thermal detonator before tossing it near a pillar of rock than diving out of the way as it exploded, crushing the two remaining droids. Rex helped him up and the two walked back to the Jedi and Tarkin as they sheathed their sabers. "No doubt, there's more on the way." Obi-Wan said grimly. "In that case, we better keep moving." Revan suggested as the group nodded in agreement before they continued onward.
A little while later they finally exited the tunnels and were now running along a cliffside with a big lake of lava below them on their left. They stopped at a small gap and were about to start jumping across when a crab droid appeared on the rocks ahead. The clones started to fire and Jedi activated their sabers when more bolts came from where they had just come from. "They're boxing has in!" Ahsoka exclaimed as the squad of droids walked towards them. "Lock in your cables!" Anakin ordered as he and Obi-Wan shot the hooks in the ground near the ledge before addressing Artoo. "Artoo, we need your droids to hold off the enemy as long as possible." he told it, earning and affirmative beep. "Good, everybody follow me!" he said as Tarkin climbed on his back and a clone climbed onto Kenobi's back. "This is sheer madness!" Tarkin exclaimed as the two Jedi walked down the cliffside.
The others covered them as Artoo addressed the three droids on their side. "We understand, sir. We will enemy as long as possible." it assured the astromech. "Prepare for attack." it told the other two before turning back to Artoo. "It was an honour serving under you, sir." it said respectfully, earning one more beep from Artoo before the droid followed the Jedi and clones. The rest of the group used the lines to climb down as quickly as they could. "Keep moving!" Obi-Wan exclaimed before two of the clones screamed as they fell when their cable was broken. The group finally reached the bottom and quickly moved away from the wall as blasterfire rained down on them. "Keep moving! Keep moving!" Anakin ordered urgently as they jumped into the hole leading underground while he activated his saber and deflected blasts. Revan picked up a fallen clone's rifle and took a few shots at the droids before jumping in the hole, followed by Anakin, and ran as fast as they could.
The group hid behind some jagged rocks while Obi-Wan scoped it out before gesturing to them that it was clear and continued moving. "What if your Jedi friends are not there when we arrive?" Tarkin questioned the Jedi. "Keep moving and you won't have to worry about that, Tarkin." Piell replied. Revan smirked when he saw his girlfriend roll her eyes at Tarkin. "Why did Master Piell have to share half the intel with that guy? It's like he's not even grateful we rescued him." she said to her boyfriend and master with a less than thrilled tone. "Captain Tarkin feels the Jedi should be… relieved from the burden of leading the war effort." her master explained. "That's ridiculous." she replied. "Maybe, but we aren't soldiers. We're peacekeepers. The Jedi Code often prevents us from going far enough to achieve victory." he reminded.
"A rather simple point of view." Obi-Wan said. "Either way, he is a good captain." Anakin said, earning a snort from Revan. "Really? Cause I could've sworn he was a pompous ass." the younger Knight said, earning a scolding glare from Anakin while his girlfriend barely managed to stifle her chuckling and a look that was somewhere between amused and scolding from his old master. Anakin opened his mouth to vocalize that scolding when they heard a howling noise. "Did you hear that?" Ahsoka asked them. "Yes. We're going to have company." Piell warned.
"You know it's not wise to argue with Master Piell. It's certainly not a good career move." Anakin said to Tarkin with a smirk. "General Skywalker, I stand by my principles, no matter what. Besides, I needn't worry about my career. I've fallen into favor with the Chancellor. He shall support me." the captain replied. Revan pretended to gag on Tarkin's supposed air of superiority. Ahsoka was having a hard time controlling her laughter from what her boyfriend just did. "Oh, I happen to know the Chancellor quite well myself." Anakin said with a smile. "Oh, really?" the captain asked. "Really." the Knight confirmed. "Let's keep moving. If we're not at the rendezvous at the exact time, we'll miss our window." Obi-Wan reminded before that howling was heard again. "Those creatures are gaining." Fives warned as they all stopped and looked towards the direction they had just come from.
"If they've caught our scent, they'll lead the droids right to us." Piell warned. "We're gonna have to deal with them." Anakin said. "What about using this cave to surprise them?" Ahsoka suggested. "If we can get them to pass by, we can attack them from behind, but we need a distraction." Piell said. "Leave that to me." Anakin said before Obi-Wan pretended to clear his throat. "And Obi-Wan, of course." the Knight added. "Okay, the rest of you, follow me." Piell said as he and the others, minus Obi-Wan and Anakin, went to find somewhere to hide.
A little while later they hid behind some pillars of rock as five anoobas ran by and towards Anakin and Obi-Wan, with a group of five commando droids on STAPs flying outside. The small group trailed behind the anoobas as quickly and quietly as they could. A crab droid suddenly came from under the ledge and knocked a clone to the ground before killing another. Piell quickly reacted and slashed two of the droid's legs off then stabbed his saber in its head before it could kill the downed clone. "Keep going! Ahsoka, Revan and I will take care of the droids." he said as three more crab droids appeared. The others did as they were told and went around while the droids circled the three saber-wielders.
Revan jumped high and spun sideways in the air like a tornado before falling down above one of the droids. The crab droid moved back in time to dodge his attack, causing his sabers to lash at the ground. Piell dodged a few blasts before making his way underneath the one he was fighting and brought his saber up to cut it in half. Ahsoka managed to flip onto the one she was fighting before stabbing it with both sabers. The older Jedi jumped on top of the last one and stabbed it as well before an anooba came from above and tackled him to the ground. "Master Piell!" Ahsoka cried out.
The beast grabbed him by the neck and slammed him to the ground before Ahsoka managed to jump over and make it back off with a slash. Revan sheathed his sabers and lifted it up with the Force before tossing the beast over the edge of the cliff. Ahsoka sheathed her sabers and the couple knelt down beside Piell. "We have to get help." she told her boyfriend and Piell before attempting to stand, only for the old Jedi to grab her arm. "No. Don't leave. Listen to me carefully, children. The information, I need you to deliver it back to the Council." he said in a strained voice. "We should find Anakin or Obi-Wan, they need to hear this." she said. "No. you must listen." he replied. "But I wasn't assigned to the team. I lied just so I could be part of the mission." she confessed.
"Whether you were meant to be on this mission or not, you are now the most important part of it. Remember this, and see to it that the information i'm about to give you is revealed to no one but the Jedi Council." he told her. "Wait. Revan is on the mission, you should tell him." she replied. "No, Ahsoka." her boyfriend replied softly. Ahsoka gave him a confused look. "Master Piell is trust you with the information, not me, sure he could easily tell me but I think you should be the one." he said before nodding at Piell then standing up and taking a few steps away. After she was given the info Master Piell died, Revan walked back over and gently picked him up.
Once it was over the couple took off towards the others and soon caught up with them. "Oh, no." Obi-Wan said in a quiet voice upon seeing Piell in Revan's arms. Anakin walked up and gently took him from his friend's arms before setting him on the ground. "He died honourably." she said solemnly, kneeling beside him. "What about the information?" Anakin asked gently. "I have it. He told me just before he died." she replied. Anakin gave the other Knight a questioning look. "I insisted she be the one to tell." the younger Knight answered, earning a nod. The look on Tarkin's face said he wasn't to pleased she knew the info. They managed to wrap Piell's body up and placed it by the riverside of lava. "We don't have much time. Let's take this moment to honour him, then we must move on. He would have wanted us to complete our mission." Obi-Wan said solemnly before he and Anakin used the Force to gently lower Piell's body into the lava. "Rest well, Master Piell. The Force is with you." Revan said softly as they solemnly watched him move along the river, and wrapped his arm comfortingly around his girlfriend's shoulders.
Once they paid their respects, the group continued to make their way towards the rendezvous point. Revan pulled at his collar. 'Judging from the map, i'd say the rendezvous point is right in the middle of a lava lake. It definitely feels like we're close.' the young Knight took his robe off and tied it around his waist just as they reached the small island that was right in the middle of the lake, which thankfully from the side they were on, wasn't to far away. At least for a Jedi. "There's the extraction point." Obi-Wan said, pointing to the island. "Thanks, Captain Obvious." Revan said with sarcasm, earning a look from his old master. "Sorry, heat's getting to me." he apologized while tugging at his collar again. Anakin and Cody ran up onto jagged rocks pointing towards the island before connecting cables between them and the island. Rex and Tarkin started to climb across first. Revan looked at the cable then at his lightsaber. 'Gods. It would be so easy. Nah, i'd get in so much trouble.'
"Incoming!" Rex warned after he helped Tarkin onto the rock, and pointed up. The group looked up to see six STAPs headed towards them, five of them had commando droids, however the front-middle one wasn't a droid. 'A Phindian?' Cody and Ahsoka crawled along the cable next, as the Phindian and droids started getting closer. After a few more minutes the rest made it across and were now defending the island. Both Obi-Wan and Anakin hijacked a STAP before Artoo used its smokescreen and hovered up, causing the Phindian to fly into it at cover his eyes. Fives took that moment to shoot the STAP, causing the Phindian to fall to the ground.
Anakin and Obi-Wan took out the remaining droids before ditching their rides and dropping back onto the island just as Tarkin attempted to shoot the Phindian, he dodged the blast before smacking the rifle out of his hands and picking him up by the throat. The Phindian slammed him to the ground before holding him up again. "Captain!" Ahsoka exclaimed has he was lifted into the air and the Phindian was about to toss him over the side. "If I can't have the information, it will die with you!" he roared. 'Well, shit… I guess we gotta save him…' With that thought the young Knight rushed forward before ramming his saber through the Phindian's skull. Tarkin dropped to the ground and Ahsoka helped him up. "My thanks, General Revan." the captain said before walking towards the others. "The rescue ship should be here by now." Obi-Wan said. "So should the rest of the Separatist army." Anakin replied just as a Republic gunship appeared through the fog and landed in from of them.
"I believe you've worn out your welcome." Plo quipped as a group of crab droids appeared and started shooting them. The group made their way onto the gunship one at a time with the rest defending. Anakin was the last on the gunship and backflipped into it while deactivating his saber before the clone pilot took the ship away from the planet. "Admiral Coburn, we have the survivors. Recall all fighters." Plo said over his com. "Yes, General." Coburn replied before cutting off. The gunship flew towards Plo's Star Destroyer while dodging and shooting droid fighters. "We're all ready, Admiral." Plo told him before they felt the jump to hyperspace.
Back on Coruscant the pilot landed the gunship on one of the Temple's outside landing platforms and the Jedi plus Tarkin exited it, where Yoda, Windu and Fisto were waiting along with four clone troopers. "Of Master Piell's loss, we are sorry to hear." Yoda said remorsefully. "He will be missed." Windu said. "Because of his great sacrifice, we now have the Nexus Route coordinates." Plo said. "Captain Tarkin and Ahsoka have each memorized half." Obi-Wan told them. "Debrief them both, we must." Yoda said. "With all due respect, Master Jedi, I was instructed by Chancellor Palpatine to bring the intel directly to him for debriefing." Tarkin replied. "I promised Master Piell that I would deliver it only to the Council, and that's what I will do." Ahsoka said, glaring at Tarkin for a moment. "Personally meet with the Chancellor, I will. Decide what is best to do, we shall." Yoda said before he and the others, minus those who went on the mission and Plo, left the landing platform.
"Master Plo, there's something we want to ask you. Did you assign Ahsoka to the mission?" Anakin asked him. Revan could tell she was worried about his reply. "It appears I did." Plo replied, earning a small surprised look from Ahsoka before he left, Ahsoka right behind him. "A job well done, General Skywalker." Tarkin complimented with a smile and held his hand out. Anakin grasped it while the captain continued. "I wish more Jedi had your military sensibilities." the captain said and took a few steps towards a Jedi shuttlebus. "Perhaps I can inform the Chancellor of your valour." he offered before continuing towards the shuttlebus. "I'm not sure what to think of you new ally." Obi-Wan said with some uneasiness creeping into his voice. "Well, i think we need people like him. This is a war. If we aren't willing to do what it takes to win, we risk losing everything we try to protect." Anakin replied. "Unfortunately, war tends to distort our point of view. If we sacrifice our Code, even for victory, we may lose that which is most important: our honour." Obi-Wan said with wisdom as the three Jedi watched the shuttlebus leave.
The 11th chapter is finished.