Part 3 – Dromund Kaas Pt. 1
The rest of the trip consisted of drinking, laughing, and before Sasuke knew it, he awoke to the sound of the shuttle drop out of hyperspace above Dromund Kaas.
When he opened his eyes, and reached up to his forehead, he knew he had drank a little to much Red.
He then looked across the table at Sakura, and saw she had the bottle sitting in her lap.
Sasuke stood up, and walked over to the cabinet, and retrieved a pitcher of water and some tablets.
After dropping the tablets in the water, he downed the glass in one gulp.
Sakura awoke as the shuttle touched down to see Sasuke standing over her with the same water and tablets he poured for himself.
Sakura took the water, and downed it in one drink, "Thanks," Sakura said as she let the pain in her mind escape her.
"Come on," Sasuke said, "Let's go."
Sasuke and Sakura left the shuttle to find Dromund Kaas customs waiting for them.
"Excuse me sir," one of the Customs agents said, "But I'm going to have to tag you as you come into the port."
The Customs agents scanned them, and were confused, "Excuse me sir," one said, "But there appears to be something off on the slave's credentials."
"Slave," Sakura asked Sasuke silently.
Sasuke shrugged as the Customs agent spoke, "Why isn't she wearing a slave-collar?" He asked.
"Because she's not a slave," Sasuke said, "She's my partner."
"Well it says her she's marked as a slave." The Customs agent said.
"Then your status is incorrect," Sasuke said, "Now move aside before I get angry."
The Customs agent moved aside, probably scared out of his mind, but maybe it was not to offend Sasuke.
Offending a Sith on the Imperial Homeworld is not only dumb, it's almost suicidal, one bad report could possibly cost him his job, or worse, might force him into slavery.
When they walked out of the spaceport, Sasuke saw someone he hadn't seen since he left for trials, his older brother, Sith Lord Itachi Uchiha.
"I thought I ordered you off this planet," Itachi said as Sasuke approached him.
"I was never one for taking orders," Sasuke said as he stood face-to-face with Itachi.
Itachi and Sasuke, then chuckled, and embraced, "Great to see you again brother." Itachi said.
"Good to see you to Itachi," Sasuke said.
"You too," Itachi said, "Who's the Twi'lek?"
"My companion," Sasuke said as he turned his attention to Sakura, "Sakura, my big brother Itachi," Sasuke then pointed at Sakura, "Itachi this is Sakura."
"Welcome to Dromund Kaas," Itachi said as he kissed Sakura's hand.
"Itachi, you don't show up unless there's a good reason," Sasuke said, "What's wrong?"
"Darth Saber is planning something," Itachi said, "Father needs to see you."
"Come on," Sasuke said to Sakura, "Let's go."
Sasuke and Sakura followed Itachi to a speeder, and took off for Kaas City.
Sasuke's father, Darth Fugaku was head of the Academy of Imperial Intelligence, his mother was the head of the Imperial Embassy on Dromund Kass.
The Uchiha family Estate was on the top floor of the Dark Spire building in the Dromund Kass business district.
When they arrived, the Uchiha family honor guard, walked up to greet them along with Mistress Mikoto Uchiha, "Mom." Sasuke said.
"Hello my sweet little boy," Mikoto said as she hugged Sasuke.
"Hey mom," Sasuke said before turning toward Sakura, "I want to introduce you to someone," he then held his hand out to Sakura, "Mom this is Sakura, my partner."
"Partner?" Mikoto asked.
"We met on Korriban," Sasuke said, "She's a good traveling companion."
"I'll bet," Mikoto said, "Now come, your father awaits."
Sasuke, Itachi, Mikoto, and Sakura walked into the estate to see Sasuke's father, Fugaku Uchiha Darth, or as he's known by his Dark Council name: Darth Tryaus sitting at his throne.
Fugaku Uchiha got his name because he prefers things be in his control, he possesses neither the peaceful nature of the Jedi or the rage of the Sith. He was driven by his hatred for the fact the Emperor controls the fate of the Sith, and the Emperor didn't mind in the slightest, Fugaku had become one of his best warriors, and knew he could be counted on.
His wardrobe consisted of a thick armored chest plate that had four spikes sticking upwards from his back, a long hanging lower-robe which contained the Uchiha family fan, a pair of heavy metal armored boots, a pair of gauntlets that had a special attachment on the outside of the arm that reached all the way up to his shoulders, and to top it all off was a special chrome mask that covered half his face and was covered in spikes and intricate patterns that looked like barbed-wire.
Itachi, Mikoto, and Sasuke bowed to Fugaku, and then Sakura followed as Sasuke gave her a tap on the side of her legs with his knuckles, "Father."
"Rise my wife and sons," Fugaku said as he arose from his throne, and walked down to greet them.
As they rose to their feet, Fugaku walked up to his youngest son, and spoke, "Welcome home my boy," he then hugged his son, and turned toward Sakura, "And who is this?"
"My traveling companion," Sasuke said, "This is Sakura."
"Arise," Fugaku said, "Welcome to my home."
Sakura stood up, and you could tell she was a little scared in Fugaku's presence.
"It's ok," Sasuke said as he put his hand on Sakura's shoulder, "Just relax."
"You like her," Fugaku said, "Understandable. I sense control, passion, it's what drives her, and what she is inside... my blood runs hot thinking about it."
"Indeed father," Sasuke said, "I understand you have something to tell me."
"Yes," Fugaku said, "It seems Darth Saber has something up his sleeve."
"I wouldn't worry about Saber," Sasuke said, "The Emperor himself knows about Saber's actions on Korriban."
"You reported him?" Fugaku asked.
"No," Sasuke said, "Lord Hatake reported his assassins to Darth Tsunade."
"Darth Tsunade," Fugaku said as took his seat on his throne, "Her name swings open a lot of doors. I trained with her, we were good friends."
"Good," Sasuke said, "And my little gift should be enough to solidify my loyalty to the Emperor."
"What gift?" Itachi asked.
"This," Sasuke said as he let his lightsaber fly into his hand with the force, and with a flick of the button the black and blue blade ignited with a swift 'buzzz'.
"A black crystal…" Itachi said.
"With a blue glow," Fugaku said as he walked over to his son to see the blade, "You found a vein of the crystals?"
"Yes," Sasuke said, "Alas there are so few left. I took three, one for the Emperor, one for a friend of mine, and one for myself."
"May I?" Fugaku asked.
"Yes father," Sasuke said as he handed his lightsaber to his father.
Fugaku swung his son's saber in his hand several times, and stopped swiftly, "Tis a good blade my son," Fugaku said as he deactivated the lightsaber, and using the force hovered it into his son's hand, "Use it well. While the Emperor works, I want you to work yourself. Go to your master, and continue on your mission."
"Yes father," Sasuke said, "But before I go, there's someone I'd like to bring."
Fugaku snapped, and in came the family honor guard, and behind them was a Mirialan about Sasuke's height with spikey blonde hair wearing a pair of full-metal boots, overlapping-armor pants, a simple grey vest, a set of metal bracers, one that was completely smooth and geometric, and the other ridged and spiked, he wore a pair of simple shoulder-pads, and his hands were cased in a pair of spiked gloves.
"Hello Sasuke, you look like Chemlizard slime," the man said as he approached him, Sakura noticed the training saber on his belt.
"Long time, you yourself look like Bantha-shit." Sasuke said.
The two then broke into laughter, and hugged each other, "Good to see you again brother," the Mirialan said.
"You too buddy," Sasuke said, then turned his attention to Sakura, "Sakura, I'd like you to meet my best friend, my battle-brother, and our new partner Naruto."
"Nice to meet you," Sakura said as she shook Naruto's hand.
"And you as well." Naruto said.
The three then departed the estate, headed into Kaas City, and to the Sith Enclave.
When they arrived, Sasuke instantly started to get dizzy, and faltered against the side wall, "Sasuke," Sakura said as she grabbed his arm, "What's wrong?"
"There's something in the air," Sasuke said, "It's making me sick."
"I smell it too," Naruto said, "It's like putting your nose against the open end of a bottle of perfume, and inhaling."
"I don't smell anything." Sakura said.
"That's because it's the Force," Sasuke said, "It's Lord Mascaraed, my former master. She was murdered, but by who I don't know. I do however know that someone followed her."
"Saber?" Naruto asked.
"I don't know," Sasuke said, "I can't tell."
Sasuke, Naruto, and Sakura made their way to Kakashi's office, when they arrived, the three of them entered Kakashi's office to see him going over a small book.
"Come in my student," he said as he looked up at Sasuke and his group, "I see you have brought in another friend."
"This is Naruto," Sasuke said, "He's a force-sensitive that my father found in the slums of Dromund Kaas and trained him from there."
"Good," Kakashi said, "You could use more subordinates. Now onto your mission. There's been an uprising by Imperial slaves out in the jungle at a long-abandoned Imperial Military base. I've been discussing this at length with Darth Tsunade, who has, in turn discussed this with other members of the Dark Council. And they all agree that we have reason to believe that Darth Saber is behind it."
"Why's that?" Sakura asked.
"Because most of the slaves worked for Saber's second biggest enemy." Kakashi said.
"Darth Scoria?" Sasuke asked.
"Yes," Kakashi said, "And we both know their history's been very bad in the past."
"You mean besides the murder of nearly twenty five of her pupils," Sasuke asked, "The torture of her last acolyte, and the fact that he stole her designs for self-healing prosthetics and claimed them to be his own?"
"Yes," Kakashi said, "All of those. We believe this to be an attempt to publically disgrace her."
"You have a way to squash this rebellion?" Sasuke asked.
"No," Kakashi said, "Not at once. But we have word that there's a meeting taking place between one of Darth Saber's lieutenants and the senior leaders of this rebellion. One swipe, and we can have them both. Strike a crippling blow to both the rebellion and Darth Saber."
Sasuke bowed, and as the three left Kakashi's office, a single thought flashed through Kakashi's mind, "I hope he knows what he's doing."
The three walked to the speeder port, and found a three-seated speeder painted dark blue with a single black stripe running down the front.
When they arrived at the abandoned base, they saw that the Imperial Military had set up a perimeter with snipers, auto-rifle positions, and auto-turrets.
The first soldier that saw Sasuke approaching stood at attention, and shouted, "TEN-HUT!"
Sasuke walked up to the commander who put his hand to his chest, and bowed in front of Sasuke, "My lord." he said.
"Speak Major," Sasuke said, "What's happening here?"
"We've been holding this position for seven weeks straight M'lord," the Major said, "The rebel slaves are dug in deeper than a Sarlacc pit," the Major pointed to the bridge heading into the base, "Right now, that bridge is the only way in and out of the base."
"Any other way in?" Sasuke asked.
"Yes," The Major said as he pointed to the sewer grate below the bridge, "That hole in the wall. The major problem we face is that there's no way to get to that hole without heavy-duty climbing equipment, which means we can't carry any welding equipment."
"Who needs climbing equipment," Sasuke asked as he pulled out his lightsaber, "Or welding equipment?"
Naruto pulled out the lightsaber Fugaku gave him, and tapped it against Sasuke's.
It took about thirty minutes for the three to arrive at the cliffs on the opposite side of the gorge from the grate.
"Alright," Sasuke said as he grabbed onto the cliffs, then turned to Sakura, "Wait here."
Both Sasuke and Naruto leapt over to the other side of the gorge, and grabbed onto the rock.
The two of them activated their lightsabers, plunged them both into the opposite sides of the grate, and used the force to slice the grate open.
Sasuke noticed that Naruto was using his father's old saber which was a yellow blade with an orange glow, not as rare as his saber color, but almost as amazing.
The two of them then used the force to remove the grate, and dropped it into the gorge below.
Sasuke motioned Naruto inside, turned to Sakura, and held out his hands.
"You're insane," Sakura said, "I can't jump that far!"
"I can help you," Sasuke said, "I'll use the force. Trust me!"
"Ok," Sakura said as she pushed herself back as far as she could, and with one push, she jumped as far as she could, she braced herself, waiting for the fall, but instead she found herself floating, she looked up, and saw Sasuke had used the force to hold her up.
After a few seconds, she floated right into Sasuke's arms, "Thank you Sasuke," she said as she looked up at the male Cathar.
"Sure," Sasuke said as he hoisted Sakura onto the edge of the grate, "Go, I'm right behind you."
Sasuke sat back against the rocks, "By the force, she's cute," he thought.
He shook off his thoughts, and jumped into the drain where Naruto and Sakura were waiting, "The drain goes for about five miles," Naruto said, "We should be under the main compound in about two miles."
"Educated guess?" Sasuke asked.
"About." Naruto said.
"Let's go." Sasuke said.
The three moved up through the sewer pipe for what seemed like an hour before arriving at a small grate only big enough for one person to go through.
Sasuke pushed the grate open with the force, and motioned Sakura to go through.
Sakura poked her head through, and motioned the two of them up.
Sasuke signaled Naruto to go up, and then followed Naruto when he signaled him up.
He emerged to find that they were right in the middle of the abandoned base, and that the rebel slaves had found the walkers, and were moving around the base.
"Great," Sasuke said, "That's really kriffing great."
"We should be able to sneak through them," Naruto said, "They're meeting in a small sublevel of that building," he pointed to the building on the far end of the complex, "We saw them go in just a few minutes ago."
"Then let's move." Sasuke said.
Sasuke, Sakura, and Naruto moved up to enter the building their targets went into to come face to face with five guards dressed in black robes that cover black armor, and were armed with saber pikes.
The guards pounded the pikes against the floor, activating them, Sasuke and Naruto levitated their lightsabers into their hands, and activated them.
"You three plan to beat the six of us," One asked, "That Twi'lek doesn't even have a lightsaber."
"She doesn't need one," Sasuke said as Sakura fired two rounds at the second guard, he spun his pike around, deflecting the shot, and would have rebounded back into Sakura if Sasuke hadn't held out his hand, deflecting the shot.
The second shot got the guard in the shoulder, the rebounded shot went straight into the guard's forehead, killing him.
As he fell backwards, the guards looked at him as he fell, then looked up at Sasuke, Sakura, and Naruto, and charged.
The first and third came at Sasuke wielding their pikes with both hands over their heads, and each threw a stab at Sasuke.
Sasuke deflected the blows, and swung low at the first guard, who spun his pike around, deflecting the blow, but that was his fatal mistake.
Sasuke ran the blade of his saber up the length of the pike, the guard's right hand came flying off, as he opened his mouth to scream in pain, Sasuke took the guard's pike, sheathed it through the guard's chest, and kicked him backwards.
Sasuke then turned toward the second guard who swung high, Sasuke deflected the blow, and swung toward the guard's waist.
The swing was deflected as the guard wedged Sasuke's blade between the pike's blade and the pole, the guard then swung the saber around to try and disarm Sasuke, Sasuke simple pushed into the swing, and used the opportunity to elbow the guard in the face.
The guard was momentarily stunned, but that mattered little as Sasuke used the opportunity to bring his saber in a downward swing from the shoulder's shoulder to the bottom-half of his waist, which sliced the man clean in two.
The fourth and sixth guard came at Naruto with an underhand swing and an overhand swing Naruto simple jumped between their two trusts while spinning around, and as he landed, he unleashed a concentrated burst of force into the ground which sent the sixth guard flying, the fourth however planted the blade of his pike firmly in the ground, keeping him anchored.
The guard charged Naruto who deflected the guard's incoming stab, and swung high at the guard's head.
The guard deflected the blow, and bunted Naruto in the chest with the blunt end of the pike.
Naruto grabbed the pole between his bicep and ribcage, and in one swing cleaved the staff in two.
The guard stumbled backwards, and as he did, Naruto charged, and sheathed the blade of his saber through the guard's chest.
As he unsheathed it, the sixth guard charged back at Naruto with an over-hand swing, Naruto deflected the swing, grabbed the guard in a force-choke, and in one swing clapped the man's head right off his neck.
The fifth guard was still fighting Sakura who was holding him off with merely the butt of her rifle.
The guard swung low, only to have Sakura dodge the strike, and break his leg by striking his kneecap with the butt of her rifle.
As the guard went to one knee, Sakura smacked on top of the shoulder, breaking his arm, but even with one hand the guard continued.
Finally Sakura got the upper hand as the guard scrapped the blunt end of his pike against the ground which allowed Sakura to go in for the killing blow, and fired a single shot into the guard's helmet.
"Nice," Sasuke said as he put his saber away, "We were outnumbered, but they were outmatched."
"That's why they can't beat us." Naruto said.
"We still have to take out the insurgent leader, and Saber's representative," Sasuke said,
"Let's move."
The three of them arrived at a small area where they found three men waiting around a large table, "I don't care what your master said," the rebel leader said, "I run these men and women. We have been slaves our whole lives, and we are tired of living under oppression! We want the weapon you promised us, and we want it now!"
"You're in no position to make threats," the acolyte said as he slapped his lightsaber on the table, "I'm the acolyte here! I have the lightsaber."
"Guess what," Sasuke said as he walked out of the shadows, with Naruto, "So do we," the two of them ignited their sabers when he finished that sentence.
"What is this," the rebel leader asked, "You decide to ambush us? Gain our allegiance, and then kill me," the rebel leader pulled a blaster from underneath the table, and fired.
The acolyte was fast activating his lightsaber, but not fast enough, the blade missed deflecting the round by one inch, but it was high, and struck the acolyte in his shoulder.
The acolyte stumbled back, grabbing his shoulder, the rebel leader went to fire again, but his gun jammed, and as he went to clear it, the acolyte thrusted his hand forward, and four bolts of lightning flew from the tips of his fingers and turned the rebel leader into a human lightning rod.
The man fell forward onto the table as the rebel leader's second reached for his vibro blade.
The acolyte had the man dead to rights before he could grab it, and cut the man's head clean off his neck before his hand touched the grip of the sword.
The man turned to have Sasuke hold the tip of his lightsaber to his throat, "I'd think twice before making your next move," Sasuke said, "What were you selling these slaves?"
"I wasn't selling," the acolyte said as he held up a datapad, "I was buying."
Sasuke took the datapad from the acolyte, and as he activated it, the acolyte raised his saber to strike, "Naruto," he said as he waved his hand, "If you would."
Naruto blocked the swing, and pushed the acolyte back.
The acolyte backed-flipped over the console he was standing in front of before Sasuke, Sakura, and Naruto busted in.
Naruto followed him, and swung high, only to have the acolyte roll backwards, and narrowly miss getting hit by Naruto's saber.
The acolyte then charged at Naruto who rolled onto the table as the acolyte jumped toward him in an effort to skewer him.
As the acolyte came down toward the ground, Naruto simply held up his saber, and the acolyte came down right on top of the blade.
Naruto shoved the acolyte off his blade, and got down onto the floor as Sasuke was scanning the datapad.
"What's it say boss?" Naruto asked.
"They're a set of directions." Sasuke said.
"To where?" Sakura asked.
"A secret passage," Sasuke said, "Somewhere beneath the Dark Temple, a hidden chamber, and a reference to a… Indra Ōtsutsuki."
"Who is that?" Naruto asked.
"I don't know," Sasuke said, "But somehow I feel like I should."
"I think we know someone who will." Naruto said.
"Yes," Sasuke said as he waved the datapad around, "I think we do. Now let's get out of here."
Sasuke, Sakura, and Naruto walked outside to see that the shooting and the fighting had attracted the attention of the slaves.
"Oh kriff," Naruto said, "MOVE!"
As the slaves started firing, the three made a run for the hole they came through, and jumped into the sewer drain as fast as they could.
"Whew," Naruto said as he sealed the hatch, and slapped Sakura on the arm, "Not bad."
"Thanks." Sakura said.
"Come on," Sasuke said, "Let's get back to Kaas City."
Guess what happens next…