Chapter 20
To guest reviewer: thank you, you made my day with that comment, thanks a bunch and hope you enjoy. ;)
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o
Mace Windu stood facing the assembled Jedi, a lok of stoic bravery was masked on his face. Over a hundred of the orders diminishing braves stood together, acknowledging each other for what they were about to do. The force thrummed in the small hangar, and burst and flitted between the Jedi masters.
"We have come to a crossroads, to fight and defeat the darkside, or retreat and abandon the light." Murmurs arose, then died away as master Windu continued. "I know we will stand together and fight these Sith abominations."
"This is our time, the final battle between us and them, the light and their dark. Some of us will not survive the battle, but it is a sacrifice we need to make, a sacrifice that will not go unheard. We will fight to the death to defeat the Sith, even if it means to forfeit all our lives In the name of the ligh, in the name of the force."
"I ask you defenders of the light, do you stand with me against the dark hour, against the Sith?" The Jedi gathered shouted in agreement, their lives gladly given for the sake of the lightside. Master Windu saluted the Jedi gathered before him, and smiled when they all saluted back.
"We will leave in an hour, any attack on the enemy must take haste, we have not long to win the war. Say your goodbyes, for you might never again have the chance to do do." Mace turned around and headed towards the ship he would be sharing with Skywalker, Tano and his old Master Yoda.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o
Darth Severous grinned as his master walked down the aisle of gathered Sith. It was nearly time for the battle, for the Sith to triumph over the weak and pathetic Jedi.
"My brethren, we come together in the final act against the enemy. The Jedi have breathed to long, thrived too long in our expense. They made a mistake the day they thought to hunt us down and kill us off. But thanks to my apprentice Severous, we have returned more powerful than they could ever have imagined."
"With him by my side we will slaughter the useless Jedi and clear out the abomination to the force." The sith cheered at their leader, the darkside coursing in each of them as the lighgt reoiled further away. Severous laughed inwardly as Sidious scowled.
Sidious and Severous had not agreed to anything in the planning stages, nor when Severous continuously showed the older Sith up. "My apprentice, step forward, stand by my side where you rightfully belong."
Severous bowed in acknowledgement, then stepped forward, one step to the right and behind his master. "We will fight for vengeance, for what is rightfully ours to take, their lives. Sidious, you must not stay here, return to Coruscant. It would look badly if their Chancellor is not there, if anything had to go wrong, we will continue with your plan."
Sidious smirked at Severous, basking in the glory of being mentioned. "Our time has come my brothers and sisters, the Sith shall rise again, the Jedi will fall."
The Sith cheered once more before filing down the aisle to wait for their prey. Severous was about to follow when a soft plea in the force grabbed his attention.
/Please be with me today Obi Wan, I could really use your guidance./
Severous blinked, that voice sounded so familiar, so pleading that he almost felt sorry for the person. Almost. He shook his head, the name had popped up again, and he felt a tug at the back of his mind. A tug so welcoming he wished he could follow. Turning around, Severous followed his master.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o
Four Republic class cruises dropped out of hyperspace just above the Korrubun atmosphere. General Windu stood on the bridge of the Resolute, gone was the Jedi peacekeeper, in its stead, a war hardened fighter. Mace breathed out, then turned to Anakin and Yoda behind him. "Ready?"
The Jedi nodded, come death or not, they would always be ready. "Masters, no matter what happens down there today, it was an honor serving with you." Mace smiled down at the Jedi infront of him. "The honor is mine Anakin. Admiral, patch me through to the other ships."
Admiral Yularen nodded, then set up the holoconference. Three holograms popped up immediately. Master Fisto, Master Ti and Master Mundi were leading the other cruisers. "It's time, we must launch the attack." The Masters nodded, bowed then disconnected the feed. Mace took a shaky breath, it all came down to this, the final battle.
"Come on, no use standing around here." Anakin sighed, he missed Obi wan now, his judgement would be welcomed with an open heart.
/Please be with me today Obi Wan, I could really use your guidance./
Anakin almost cried when he felt a flicker of a connection, the feeling of a niggle at the end of his shattered bond. Anakin believed that Obi wan was there, and would be with him during the battle. Tightening his shields, Anakin followed Mace towards the gunships.
Once all the Jedi were securely nestled in the gunships, Mace gave the order to take off. A feeling of dread, fear and acceptance muddled the force and smothered the lightside. Mace shrugged it off, then clicked on his comlink.
"To all of my fellow vessels of light, the war will not be won easily. Be safe, tqake care and May the force be with you all." A chorus of replies rang in the force, banishing the hazy cloud of doubt. The gunships dropped out of the atmosphere, speed toward the Sith burial temples.
The gunship carrying Mace, Yoda, Anakin and Ahsoka, led the way through the desolate watseland. The spires came into view, the the vast network of cave openings appeared. Mace suppressed the overwhelming darkness and forced his mind blank.
The viewscreen bleeped once, when the line of twenty four Sith lords came into view. The Jedi gunships took it as a cue, and opened fire.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o
The Sith stood still, awaiting the Jedi to arrive. No more words were spoken, there was no need. Severous stood at the end, his Master to the right of him. He delved into the darkside, then cloaked himself in its malevonence.
The gunships came into view, Severous took his cue and pulled his hood up over his face. All twenty four Sith lords drew their lightsabers and activated them simultaneuously. The angry buzz resonated across the barren land. The red crystals illuminated the brown desert, and the Sith lords stood, blades readied in their favored stances.
Ready to intercept the first blast coming their way.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o
A/N: what do you guys think. Please review on your way out, it really makes a difference. Thanks for reading, hoped you enjoyed and may the force be with you.
