Episode 11 – Prisoners
Ailyn Vel: Prisoner of War! Following the Republic victory at Felucia, Bounty Hunter: Ailyn Vel is lured into a trap and captured by the Sith, replaced by a changeling assassin! The Assassin's mission: to murder the leader of the Mandalorians, Ailyn's father, Boba Fett! Vel finds herself on the Sith Prison Planet of Malachor, cellmates with the Nightsister: Silri! Meanwhile, thanks to the efforts of Jedi Knight Kento Marek and Mandalorian, Venku Skirata, the assassination attempt is foiled and the Assassin, captured! Ailyn Vel's only hope of rescue now lies in the hands of Kento Marek and the Mandalorians as they attempt to interrogate the assassin!
Keldabe, Mandalore…
In a darkened room inside the Keldabe Detention Center, pained screams echoed down the hall as the captured changeling was tortured by one of the Mandalorians while Boba Fett watched from an adjoining room, Sintas watching along with him. The torturer had the now one armed Clawdite woman chained to a metal gurney attached to a small power generator, her body paralyzed from the neck down to prevent her shape shifting but still capable of feeling pain. The torturer was assisted by an 8D smelter droid which stood at a control panel linked to an array of terrible torture devices set up throughout the room. At the mere raising of the Mandalorian torturer's index finger, the 8D would raise a lever controlling the voltage of the generator, sending a painful blast of electricity through her body. Venku Skirata finally entered the room with Boba and Sintas.
"Has she said anything, Mand'alor?" Venku asked.
"Nothing. Not even a name." Sintas replied, Boba still watching, his eyes fixed upon the Clawdite woman. He then diverted his eyes away for a moment to pull out the saber dart used by the would-be assassin. He looked at it for a moment before turning towards Skirata.
"Skirata, I have a simple task for you. Take this saber dart to Slave I. You'll find a small scanner inside near the prisoner bunks. Put this in the scanner and run a DNA scan on the blood on it. See if it comes up with any results and bring the results to me." Boba said as he handed Venku the saber dart. Venku looked at it curiously for a moment before bowing.
"It will be done, Mand'alor." Venku replied, turning and disappearing into the hallways.
…
Across town back at the Skirata Home, Bresha was treating Kento's wounds from his fight with Boba earlier, Mirta sitting nearby with R4 while Mesh'la helped her mother with the medical treatments. Kento sat in a kitchen chair, flinching slightly whenever Bresha attempted to suture one of his larger cuts together.
"Har'chak, sit still!" Bresha ordered, belting Kento in the stomach to keep him seated.
"Ugh, I've dealt with gundarks with better bedside manners." Kento grunted.
"I'm a field medic, Jedi! I'm used to working without any sort of anesthesia and my patients are typically taught to expect none! Mesh'la, bacta press here! Keep pressure on it." Bresha said, pointing at Kento's chest. The Twi'lek raised a sponge-like object that was dripping with bacta.
"This may sting a little." Mesh'la said as she pressed the object to Kento's wound, causing him to grimace.
"Oh force, just shoot me now!" Kento grunted as Bresha quickly sutured the wound.
"Quit crying you big baby, the worst is over!" Bresha said as she applied a bacta patch over the suture marks.
"Why didn't you put that there in the first place?" Kento asked in minor frustration, referring to the bacta patch.
"Because if I hadn't sutured the wound, it wouldn't stop the wound from reopening under the bacta patch, thus doubling the recovery time." Bresha said, handing Marek his shirt.
"Might I suggest a stunner?" Kento asked, earning a blank look from Bresha.
"Stunner for what?" she asked.
"For anesthetic." Kento replied, putting his shirt back on.
"Mesh'la baar, nayc vod?" Mirta asked Mesh'la who nodded in agreement with a smirk.
"Mmm, lek." Mesh'la replied, both eying Kento's body as he put his shirt back on.
"Udesii, gar t'ad." Bresha scolded as Kento put on the few armor plating he wore back on.
"Okay so what happens next? We wait for Boba Fett to 'extract' the information we need out of the fake-Ailyn so we can rescue the real one?" Kento asked, making air quotes on the word "extract."
"Not much we can do, Marek. Until we have a clue as to Vel's whereabouts, our hands are tied." Bresha replied as Kento thought for a moment then looked towards Bresha.
"I need to get to my ship. I think I might be able to get some help from the Republic in expediting the search." Kento said as Bresha shrugged.
"Not sure what kind of help you can get but okay. We'll take my speeder, it's faster than getting a cab." Bresha said as Mirta got out of her seat.
"I'm coming too." Mirta said, R4 beeping in agreement.
"Fine, let's go." Kento said as Bresha looked to Mesh'la.
"Clean up the medical equipment, we'll be back shortly." She instructed, Mesh'la giving a nod.
"Yes ma'am." She replied as the four headed out of the dwelling.
…
Meanwhile in the Hoth System, Jedi Master Anakin Skywalker stood on the bridge of his flagship, the Tatooine Avenger. The Imperial-II Star Destroyer had been heavily modified with long-range turbolasers and various other advanced systems. The Tatooine Avenger, was the flagship of Skywalker's fleet, the 501st fleet group. The fleet consisted strictly of former Imperial or Old Republic starships, including one or two old Acclamator class Assault Ships and Venator Star Destroyers that had undergone extensive modernization and refitting. The rest of the fleet consisted of at least seven Imperial-II Star Destroyers (including the Tatooine Avenger) with a number of Tartan Patrol Cruisers and Nebulon-B frigates. The only noticeable ships that weren't Imperial or Old Republic were the X-Wings and other assorted fighter craft. The ships all were emblazoned with the symbol of the Republic Starbird in blue in the center of a blue variation of the Old Republic's Open Circle Fleet insignia which had become the 501st's fleet emblem. The 501st had been expanded to include the fleet group in light of the recent outbreak of the war so while some would balk that the 501st was no longer just a Legion due to its size, it was still colloquially referred to as the 501st Legion. The Tatooine Avenger, or known simply as just the 'Avenger,' was also the only ship in the fleet crewed exclusively by the 501st Legion, Anakin's personal force. There were a few other 501st crewed vessels but the Avenger was the most notable. As Anakin stood watching the fleet on maneuvers, he sensed one of the Stormtroopers of the 501st approaching.
"Lord Skywalker, we're receiving a message on encrypted Jedi channels. It matches General Kento Marek's signature sir. He insists that you make contact with him." Commander Delta reported. Anakin turned towards the Commander.
"Put the message through to my quarters. I will take the transmission there." Anakin said as Delta saluted.
"Yes, milord." He replied as Anakin headed for his quarters. As Anakin entered his quarters, he saw the hologram of Kento already projected in the room.
"What is General? How are things on Mandalore?" Anakin asked, Kento rubbing his forehead in hesitation.
"Not good. Ailyn Vel's been captured by the Sith on Felucia. They replaced her with a changeling tasked with assassinating Boba Fett. We stopped the assassin and Fett's interrogating her now but we need help. We need to know the location of all known Sith Prison Facilities in the Galaxy." Kento said.
"If we knew the location of the Sith Prisons, we would have launched a rescue mission ourselves by now." Anakin replied.
"Master, I don't think I need to point out that if the Sith manage to get Ailyn to talk, which in itself is unlikely but is still an ever present possibility, they may learn about the secret location of the Jedi Temple. Ailyn's been there herself a couple of times so she knows where it is. And if the Sith find out…" Kento explained.
"I am aware of the situation, my apprentice. Do not assume I am ignorant." Anakin said as Kento sighed heavily.
"What do you propose I do?" Kento asked.
"Remain on Mandalore for the time being. When you learn the location of the Sith Prison where they are keeping Vel, inform me immediately and we will formulate a strategy together. That is a direct order, Kento." Anakin said as Kento nodded.
"I understand Master. Marek out." Kento said. On Mandalore, Kento watched the hologram of his master disappear inside the main hold of the Mynock, Bresha and Mirta watching from the sides.
"Osik. You weren't kidding when you said the guy who used to be Vader was your Master." Bresha said in amazement.
"That doesn't change anything does it?" Kento asked.
"Well despite the fact I had family on Alderaan, albeit estranged family, yes but very little." Bresha replied.
"I'm sorry, but you have to understand that the man who allowed Alderaan to be destroyed is different than the man I call Master." Kento said as Bresha nodded.
"There's a concept amongst us Mandalorians: Cin vhetin. Meaning white snow. It means that once a person takes up the armor their past does not matter anymore. In a sense, your Master has taken on a new armor. Therefore, his past doesn't matter anymore. So you don't have to convince me he's a changed man, Marek, when I can tell he is." Bresha said as they headed for the boarding ramp.
"Looks like trying to explain the Light and Dark sides of the Force is easier than I thought when it comes to Mandalorians." Kento said as they exited the Mynock and climbed into Bresha's speeder.
"So where to next, Marek?" Bresha asked.
"To wherever Boba Fett is keeping the prisoner." Kento said as the speeder roared to life and raced off into the Keldabe streets.
Meanwhile in the Malachor Prison Facility…
Ailyn reclined on the bottom bunk beneath Silri's, the Mandalorian staring up at the bottom of the bunk above hers.
"So this is probably the most asked question around here so you might as well get used to answering it, but what are you in for?" Silri asked as she tried to make some adjustments to her cybernetic prosthetic leg. It was little more than a metal pole with some mechanized joints at the knee to allow her some level of mobility.
"Got picked up on Felucia. Damn dar'jetii ambushed me with a stunner mine. Next thing I know I wake up in this jumpsuit, my weapons and armor are missing, and I've got binders on my wrists and ankles, riding slipshod to this dar'yaim! What about you? I'd half expect a Nightsister to be working with the Sith given your similarities." Ailyn said as Silri scowled.
"My crime was giving the Sith Empress some valuable information freely with the assumption that it would lead me to becoming one of her apprentices. Instead she lops off my leg and sticks me in here for my trouble!" Silri hissed as she dropped down onto the floor of the cell. Ailyn couldn't help but notice the number on her jumpsuit read: 000001.
"You were the first prisoner here?" Ailyn asked as she climbed out of her bunk.
"That's right. For about ten or so years, then she starts throwing more people into this place. Political dissidents, captured Republic Soldiers, and recently Jedi." Silri said, earning a curious look from Ailyn.
"Jedi? How do they manage to hold Jedi? Don't they have access to that Force they cherish so much?" Ailyn asked as Silri scowled towards her.
"You'll see." Silri replied as they heard a loud buzzer sound over the P.A. system, the doors to all the cells in their block opening up.
"All prisoners in cell block 2, in transit to yard area." The P.A. voice said as Silri and Ailyn walked out of their cells, rode down the turbolift and joined the quiet sea of prisoners out through the doors into a large and well lit domed semi-circular area. The area appeared to double as both the yard and commissary as there were tables and benches set up with plenty of extra free space to move around in. There were catwalks lining the edges of the room overhead with guards patrolling along the catwalks with stun cannons. The large flat wall against one side had a tower for observation near the top while a dispenser down at the bottom had bowls and cups stacked up for the prisoners to receive their meals and drinks.
"Take my advice girly, eat up now. We only get one meal a day." Silri said as she headed for the food dispensers. Ailyn followed her, taking note of something peculiar. Something she had overlooked when they brought her to her cell initially. There were catwalks leading to five cylindrical cages hanging from the ceiling, all spread evenly apart. The cages looked occupied but not by any form of humanoid lifeform. She could slightly make out what appeared to be part of a tree with some shrubbery inside the cages. There was also something moving on the trees but she couldn't make it out.
"What's in those cells?" Ailyn asked, pointing to the cages.
"You asked how they keep the Jedi here in check? There's your answer. Those cages hold Ysalamiri, lizards from the planet Myrkr that are able to cut off a force user's ability to manipulate the force around them. They've got several hundred here, making it where no one can use the force. They have the Ysalamiri mostly in here. The cellblocks are more secure so they don't have any in there. Our force powers are still weakened significantly though regardless." Silri explained as she held her bowl under the dispenser, allowing a grey paste to ooze into the bowl. As soon as it was full, Silri walked away, allowing Ailyn to fill her bowl. As Ailyn followed her cell mate to one of the tables, she took note of a strange circle of prisoners seated on the floor near one wall.
"Take another piece of advice girly. Don't try and smuggle anything back to the cell. The Sith scanned you when you first arrived so if they detect anything out of the ordinary on your return scan to the cell, they take you to a special room where…heh, well let's just say that if you get taken in there, you end up wishing you've never been born." Silri said as Ailyn scowled.
"Helpful advice." Ailyn said, eating her paste and wrinkling her nose at the awful flavor.
Back on Mandalore…
Kento, Bresha, Mirta, and R4 arrived at the Keldabe Detention Center just as Venku returned from the Slave I, a datapad in hand along with the saber dart.
"Kad! Has the prisoner said anything?" Bresha asked but Venku shook his head.
"Don't know. Mand'alor had me run an errand for him. Prisoner could be dead by now for all I know." Venku said as Kento looked towards Mirta.
"Mirta you may want to stay with the speeder." Kento said but Mirta wasn't budging.
"Forget it, Scruff. I want to know what happened to Mama and you're not going to stop me from finding out." Mirta replied as Kento and Bresha shrugged helplessly.
"Alright but don't say we didn't warn you." Bresha said climbing back into the speeder and driving off as the others entered the detention center. There was an eerie silence throughout the building.
"Looks like we got here too late." Venku said as he led Kento and Mirta to the observation room where Boba and Sintas sat. In the other room, the prisoner was still chained to the metal gurney, her head drooped down but a small screen on the wall indicated she was still alive…barely.
"Skirata, what did you find?" Boba asked as Venku handed Boba the datapad.
"You were right, Mand'alor, the scanner found a match for the DNA on the saber dart. But the DNA belongs to a person who died fifty years ago." Venku said as Boba looked at the pad and then looked up at the woman in the other room. Sintas looked over Boba's shoulder and arched an eyebrow at the contents of the datapad.
"Hmm, Bo didn't you know someone by that name when you were a kid?" Sintas asked as Boba walked out of the room, carrying the datapad with him. He then entered the torture chamber, ordering the torturer to wake the prisoner up. The torturer gave a nod to the 8D droid which pressed a button, causing a mechanical arm to swing down with a syringe on the end and inject the prisoner with some kind of fluid, rousing her from unconsciousness in seconds. She seemed dazed and confused for a moment before she saw Boba, staring at her with a stone faced glare, causing her to snarl.
"You!" the prisoner hissed in huttese. She started to rant angrily and almost incoherently, attempting to lunge at Boba but her body was still paralyzed and restrained. Boba stood there taking her abuse until finally he raised the datapad, the changeling falling silent immediately. Kento noticed a tear form in the woman's eyes. Boba quietly motioned for someone out in the hall, a medical droid floating in with an empty syringe. The droid proceeded to take a blood sample from the woman and then floated up to Boba who plugged the datapad into the droid. After a moment, the droid projected a hologram of two Clawdite DNA strings.
"Confirmed partial match. The prisoner possesses approximately fifty percent of the DNA of Subject: Wesell, Z. Possibly a direct and immediate descendant judging by her DNA." The droid reported as Boba unplugged the datapad.
"That will be all." Boba said, the Droid turning and floating away. Kento seemed curious by the name the Droid mentioned. The prisoner was now sobbing uncontrollably.
"Wesell? That name sounds familiar." Kento said as Sintas leaned back in her chair.
"Boba told me once that his father, Jango Fett, worked regularly with a Clawdite Bounty Hunter named Zam Wesell. Jango had to kill her when a pair of Jedi cornered her after an assassination attempt failed to prevent the identity of his client getting back to the Jedi." Sintas explained as Kento snapped his fingers in realization.
"That's right, I know one of the Jedi who cornered her. It was my old Master, Anakin Skywalker. It was back when he was the Padawan of Obi-Wan Kenobi. The target had been Senator Padme Amidala, my Master's late wife but the attempt failed. He told me about it once when we were chasing a changeling thief on Dantooine a few years ago." Kento explained as Boba stared at the prisoner.
"I didn't recognize you at first, Sone. It's been a while, hasn't it?" Boba asked, the prisoner glaring at him through the tears.
"You bounty hunter slime! You and your father! It's a good thing the Jedi killed him at Geonosis because I'd've done the same to him as he did to my mother! I couldn't kill him so I decided to take it out on you, Boba Fett, son of Jango Fett!" the Clawdite spat in huttese.
"So you've carried this grudge for fifty years? What a waste of good genes. You could've been something, a half-way decent bounty hunter if you'd had applied yourself, Sone. Now you've crossed the line, and taken something that belongs to me. I bet you know where she is. Tell me and I'll make your death quick and painless." Boba said simply. Sone snarled at him.
"Kill me, Fett! It's what you do best! I'd rather die knowing that you'll never see your precious daughter again!" Sone hissed as Kento stormed into the torture chamber.
"Fett, this is getting us nowhere." Kento said, earning a glare from the Bounty Hunter.
"Guards get this Jedi out of my sight." Boba ordered as two guards approached but Kento quickly knocked them against the wall with the force, knocking them out.
"You can execute me later, but let me try and get through to her. I'm a Jedi, and we have more humane but far more effective means of getting information out of people." Kento said as Boba glanced at Sone who was catching her breath while glaring at him, before turning back to Kento and giving a nod.
"Don't be gentle." Boba said as he backed away for a moment, Kento stepping up towards the prisoner who regarded him with a cold glare. Kento then raised his hand and waved it across in front of him.
"You will tell us where Ailyn Vel was taken." Kento said as Sone seemed disoriented.
"I will…tell you…nothing, Jedi! I won't!" Sone hissed but Kento waved his hand again.
"You will tell us where she was taken." Kento said, Sone wincing in an attempt to resist the force pressure.
"Ailyn…Vel…was taken to…drop dead, Jedi!" Sone grunted, struggling to resist him.
"You will tell me the name of the system she was taken to." Kento said, Sone letting out a pained grunt.
"Ma-…Ma-…Mal-…No, you can't make me!" Sone grunted but Kento was now more determined than ever.
"You will tell me the name of the system." He ordered, tears welling up in Sone's eyes as she struggled to resist his power.
"N-No!" she grunted.
"The system, tell me the name of the system!" Kento ordered.
"N-No! I won't!" She strained to say.
"Tell me NOW!" Kento yelled as Sone's eyes shot open.
"MALACHOR! She's on Malachor!" Sone screamed in agony, before realizing her mistake and began openly weeping in anger and frustration. Her plan of revenge had backfired completely. Not only had she failed to kill her hated enemy, but she had also given away a valuable Sith secret. The Mandalorians were all disconcerted by the revelation. Kento turned towards Boba Fett who was scowling at the creature.
"Malachor?" Kento asked as Boba motioned for him to follow. Kento followed him out of the torture chamber, Sintas, Venku, Mirta, and R4 following them out into the streets where Boba stopped and looked towards the sky for a moment.
"Jedi, do you know what happened on Malachor four thousand years ago?" Boba asked.
"I heard there was a huge battle across the entire system. It was the height of the Mandalorian Wars I believe, one of the major clashes between Jedi and Mandalorian in history. It's where the Jedi Revan killed the leader of the Mandalorians and the Republic decimated the Mandalorian fleet." Kento explained as Boba turned towards him.
"You're correct. Since then the place has been considered taboo to us Mandalorians. There is an unspoken vow that none of us will enter the Malachor system to honor the memory of our fallen ancestors that were butchered by the Republic and the Jedi." Boba said as Kento seemed to figure out his meaning.
"So Ailyn's been taken to the Mandalorian version of hell." Kento said as Boba nodded.
"That's right. That's also why we can't do anything." Boba said, startling Kento and Sintas.
"What? What do you mean we can't do anything?!" Kento asked.
"Exactly as it sounds. Malachor is a sacred place to us. It is forbidden for us to go there." Boba said as Sintas stormed up towards him.
"Damn it Bo this is our daughter, not one of your random Mandalorian bucket heads! I didn't spend twenty-seven years of my life carbon frozen, then to be released, only for my only daughter to end up rotting in some Sith prison! I don't care if you are the kriffing king of this planet, I'm getting her back. So you can help me or you can shoot me. Your choice!" Sintas yelled angrily at Boba, the Mand'alor not making a sound or even reacting. He remained silent as Sintas snarled at him before punching him across the face, causing him to drop to one knee slightly, Sintas storming off into the Keldabe streets. Venku quickly helped the Mand'alor to his feet.
"Shall we go after her, Mand'alor?" Venku asked as Boba touched a cut on his cheek from Sintas's strike, noting the blood on his hand.
"No. Let her go. If she wants to kill herself trying to rescue Ailyn, then let her go alone." Boba said as he started walking away.
"Wait, you mean you really aren't going to try and rescue your own daughter?" Kento asked as Boba paused and turned to glare at him.
"Don't question me, Jedi. I know what we'd be up against. Any prison is likely to be designed to withstand both external and internal attacks. It would be an impenetrable fortress. And considering the Sith are involved, I would wager that they have some way of keeping force-sensitives like yourself under control." Boba said as Kento crossed his arms over his chest.
"So now I guess we know what makes Jedi better than Mandalorians. Jedi don't leave a man behind. And Ailyn and I've fought alongside one another long enough to know we can trust one another to watch each other's backs. So since I'm not Mandalorian, I guess that means I can go on this suicide mission to Malachor and rescue a friend of mine. May the force be with you, Fett." Kento said before turning and leaving, R4 following after him. Boba scowled at the Kento as he watched him leave. Venku also watched him leave but with a different expression, a thoughtful one.
On Malachor…
Ailyn had finished her meal and was quietly observing the other prisoners. Most of them had stances that identified them as military, but she noticed a few were seated in a circle in a corner of the room. Silri merely watched Ailyn as the bounty hunter approached the circle of prisoners. One of the prisoners, a Kushiban, sat leading some of the other prisoners in some sort of group meditation.
"A Jedi's strength flows through the force. But beware the Dark Side, especially now in this dark time. We must draw strength from those around us and together we can survive to walk out of this dark place." The Kushiban said with his eyes closed, the others around him seated on the ground as they attempted to meditate, one of them being a young Zabrak girl, one of her horns having been broken. She seemed to be struggling to meditate.
"Master Ikrit, I just can't seem to break through." The Zabrak said as the Kushiban opened his eyes.
"You cannot break through the Ysalamiri's force negation field, young Padawan. Do not try to force your way through it. But you can still find solace by tapping into your own force energies and finding peace within yourself." Ikrit said before noticing Ailyn observing the group.
"A new face amongst us. Come, join us friend. I do not recognize you from the temple. Are you a Jedi?" Ikrit asked as Ailyn sat down next to the Zabrak.
"Not bloody likely. Bounty Hunter's more like it." Ailyn said as Ikrit rubbed his furry chin.
"A bounty hunter. Most interesting. The majority of us are Republic soldiers or Jedi. I see you've met Silri and show no fear of her. You clearly have seen others like her before." Ikrit said as the Zabrak looked her over.
"Say, I know you don't I? You were at Kashyyyk when we dealt with that slaver camp with Sev." The Zabrak said as Ailyn gave her a nod.
"Right, you're one of the Jedi younglings. Hissy was it?" Ailyn asked, earning a scowl from the Zabrak.
"It's Hisari, Hisari Bow. And I'm no youngling, I'm a Jedi Padawan." The Zabrak replied, Ikrit raising a paw to calm the Padawan.
"Peace, Padawan Hisari. It seems you know one another." Ikrit said as Vel looked Hisari over.
"Yeah but last I heard, you were dead." Ailyn said as Hisari looked at her curiously.
"Dead? What gave you that idea? By the way, have you seen Padawans Velia, Grun, Ronderu, or Yodin around here? Or Master K'Kruhk? We were all on Kalee together when we got captured by the Sith. They were planning on doing something to Ronderu but they stunned us all before they could do anything. Then I wake up on a Sith prison barge and they dump me off here. The guards said that my friends were dead." Hisari said as Ailyn seemed thoughtful, putting a hand to her chin and tapping her upper lip slightly.
"Last I saw of them, they were alive and still on-…at the Jedi Temple." Ailyn said, remembering that the temple's location was secret. Ikrit noticed this.
"Wise that you not mention the academy's location out loud. The Sith have offered a reward to anyone who comes forward with a lead in regards to its location. So far, no one has come forward." Ikrit said as Ailyn was intrigued.
"What reward are they offering?" Ailyn asked.
"Extra rations and better accommodations in a private cell." Ikrit replied. Ailyn scoffed.
"Yeah. I bet that private cell comes with movable walls and maybe a pet dianoga." Ailyn grumbled.
"A sentiment shared by many here. Although many here couldn't be more apathetic towards the benefits, insisting on remaining loyal to the Republic and the Jedi." Ikrit said as Hisari, who had been mulling over Ailyn's news that her fellow Padawans were still alive, looked at the Bounty Hunter.
"So wait, you mean that my friends are alive and free?" Hisari asked as Ailyn nodded.
"Yeah. Scruff, a Jedi friend of mine, was saying that the entire Order had been alerted to the death of one of its younglings. A Zabrak female originating from Taris." Ailyn said as Hisari blinked.
"That's me! Those idiots think I'm dead?!" Hisari asked as Ailyn attempted to calm her down.
"They had a body!" Ailyn exclaimed, causing Hisari's eyes to widen.
"What?" she asked in disbelief. Ikrit was also startled by this.
"This is most disturbing news. How could there be a body when Padawan Hisari is right here, alive and well." Ikrit said. Before any could answer, there was a loud buzzer. The Prisoners immediately got up from their positions and started heading towards their cellblock.
"When do we get to talk again?" Ailyn asked as she fell in with the other prisoners.
"Tomorrow at the same time. For now, we must meditate on these new developments. Come Hisari." Ikrit said as he and Hisari disappeared into the sea of prisoners.
…
Ailyn finally reached her cell where Silri was waiting for her.
"So, enjoy your little chat with the Jedi?" Silri asked as Ailyn glared at her.
"I want you to start talking, chakaar. Tell me exactly what it was you gave to the Empress." Ailyn said as Silri grinned and crossed her arms.
"What reason do I have to tell you that? What do I get in exchange?" Silri asked as Ailyn glanced outside.
"This is a Sith prison right? They probably wouldn't care if one of their prisoners killed another for the hell of it. They'd probably cheer. And right now, your force is cut off while I'm a Mandalorian, I'm trained to fight unarmed while you rely too much on your precious force. I may travel with Jedi but I don't exactly subscribe to their ideals of peace and pacifism. So let me put it too you another way." Ailyn said as she cracked her knuckles, causing Silri's grin to slowly disappear.
"How many broken bones would you like?" Ailyn asked as Silri uncrossed her arms.
"What do you want to know?" she asked as Ailyn smirked.
Back on Mandalore…
Kento stood in the main hold of the Mynock, standing before holograms of Anakin, his father Galen, and Grand Master Luke Skywalker, R4 standing off to the side.
"Kento we cannot launch a rescue mission on the word of one would-be assassin. We need to verify the information first. I'm also a little disturbed by the fact you were willing to use the force to such an extreme to get this information." Galen said as Kento sighed heavily.
"Dad her reactions felt real! Changelings can change their shape but their emotions are as readable as any other sentient being's emotions are through the force. The information is valid, I'm sure of it." Kento replied.
"I agree with Galen, Kento. There's too much at risk. It could easily be a trap." Luke said, earning a frustrated grunt from Kento.
"So, what? We just let Ailyn rot in a Sith prison and do nothing to free her?" Kento asked.
"Kento, you are letting your emotions get the better of you. Calm yourself. If I didn't know any better I'd say you had an emotional attachment to Vel." Galen said as Kento ran a hand over his face.
"Any attachment I have to Ailyn is strictly professional. We've saved each other's butts a few times so you could say I owe her. Besides, she's my friend and I seem to recall reading about a few missions from the time of the Rebellion where you led suicide missions to rescue prominent Rebel prisoners from the Empire. How is this any different than Kessel? Than Corulag? Heck how is this any different than Endor where the fate of the Galaxy was hung in the balance?" Kento asked.
"He does have a point." Anakin muttered.
"Maybe so, but there's too much uncertainty surrounding this. But we will work with the Mandalorians to see if we can gain their support. For now, you are to remain on Mandalore until Master Skywalker and the 501st arrive. Then we can work together on a solution. Are we understood?" Galen asked as Kento scowled and bowed simultaneously.
"Yes, Masters." He replied.
"Good. I know this is difficult but you need to remain mindful of the Force. And have faith in Ailyn Vel. She is both resourceful and intelligent. She can take care of herself. I will not be long in arriving, Kento. I will see you shortly." Anakin said before their holograms disappeared. Kento scowled at the spot where their holograms were for a moment before heading towards the cockpit.
"R4, start the engines. We're going to look for Ailyn ourselves." Kento said as the astromech beeped in confusion.
"Yes, we're disobeying the council's orders. But I'd rather ask for forgiveness than permission right now." Kento said as he sat down at the pilot's controls. R4 beeped a worried acknowledgement as he rolled up to a droid interface panel and plugged in. As the Mynock's engines revved up, Kento heard something land on the cockpit outside. Kento spun forward to see Venku standing in full armor outside, leveling a blaster rifle at him.
"Hold, Jedi!" he ordered. Kento groaned and raised his hands, powering down the ship's engines.
"Oh what now? Fett going to have me killed for earlier?" Kento asked as he walked out towards the boarding ramp, R4 behind him. As the ramp lowered, he kept his hands raised over his head. He was startled when he saw a number of Mandalorian Supercommandos standing outside the ship near the boarding ramp in formation. Bresha and Mesh'la were among them.
"What's this?" Kento asked.
"You're planning on breaking Ailyn Vel out of the Malachor prison aren't you? Despite opposition from your Masters." Venku stated as Kento nodded.
"Yeah, what of it? You plan on stopping me?" Kento asked.
"Quite the opposite actually." Another voice responded. Kento turned to see Sintas approaching in a suit of red and black Mandalorian armor, a helmet under her arm.
"We're here to help you bust her out." Sintas said, surprising Kento.
"I thought Malachor was taboo to all of you." Kento said.
"Jedi, you said something earlier to Mand'alor. You said the difference between Jedi and Mandalorian was that Jedi don't leave a man behind. Sorry, but that's not true. We don't leave a man behind either, and we're not about to start now. Ailyn Vel is one of us, whether she likes it or not. We might be going headfirst into hell, but if we survive, we can hold our heads high with pride and say we've been to hell and back. There's no greater glory than that." Venku said as Sintas cocked a blaster rifle.
"As for me, I just want some good old fashioned revenge on the fools who tried to take my daughter away from me for the second time." Sintas said as Kento smirked at the Mandalorians before him.
"Well what are we waiting for? Let's go." Kento said as he turned and headed back into the Mynock with R4 and Sintas, Venku barking orders to the Mandalorians in Mando'a, the Mandalorians suddenly breaking out into a war song as they climbed aboard the Mynock, the stealth freighter lifting off with Kento in the pilot's seat and Sintas riding shotgun in the copilot's seat. The Mynock quickly took off into the Mandalorian sky of the early morning, unaware that Boba Fett, his helmet on his head, watched them fly off.
"Is the tracking device in place?" Boba asked as one of the Mandalorians near him nodded.
"Yes Mand'alor. If the prisoner's information proves correct, your agent will notify us." The Mandalorian replied.
"Good." Boba said as another Mandalorian came running up.
"Mand'alor! We've just received word, a fleet of Republic capital ships just dropped out of hyperspace and there's a transport ship en-route to the capital!" the Mandalorian reported.
"No cause for alarm. I've been expecting this ever since this fiasco started." Boba said as he climbed into a speeder and drove off with his escorts in tow. He arrived at one of the docking bays in the city where a number of additional Supercommandos had gathered. They all soon saw a heavily modified H-Type Nubian Yacht begin landing within the docking bay. As the yacht touched down, Fett removed his helmet, watching as the ramp lowered and a squad of Stormtroopers with the blue triangular markings of the 501st disembarked, taking position at the foot of the ramp as a familiar breathing sound echoed from within the yacht. Soon the towering visage of Anakin Skywalker emerged from within, approaching the Mandalorian leader and bowing before him.
"Boba Fett, it has been far too long since our last encounter." Anakin said as Fett gave a nod.
"True. As I recall, your credits were always good and as far as I know, they still are Lord Vader." Boba said as Anakin looked down at him slightly.
"I would prefer that you not refer to me by that name again, bounty hunter." Anakin said as Fett gave a respectful nod.
"As you wish." Fett replied as Anakin started looking around curiously.
"Good. Now what has become of my apprentice? I do not sense him here. I can only assume he chose to defy mine and the council's orders and left on this rescue mission of his." Anakin said as Fett gave a nod.
"He took off shortly before you arrived with some of my men on his ship." Fett said as Skywalker let out an audible sigh.
"He is as clumsy as he is stupid. A trait he inherited from me I fear. I presume you have taken necessary steps into tracking him." Anakin said as Fett nodded again.
"Naturally. I placed an agent on his ship that will send me a coded message as to whether or not the intel we collected from the prisoner is accurate." Fett said as Anakin looked at him.
"The Republic is eager to see this prison undone. Perhaps we may work together on resolving the matter." Anakin said.
"I believe an arrangement can be reached rather quickly." Boba said as they turned towards the city together.
Meanwhile on Malachor…
It was lights out in Ailyn's prison block but Vel was lying wide awake in her bunk, replaying her conversation with Silri over and over again in her mind.
"What was the information you gave the Sith Empress?" Ailyn had asked.
…Flashback…
Silri sat down on the edge of Ailyn's bunk, crossing her arms over her chest.
"During the Galactic Civil War, I was hired by the crime lord Tyber Zann to decipher a Sith Holocron. When I finished deciphering it, I stole it and followed its guidance to a hidden vault on an uncharted planet where I found an army of Sith Soldiers frozen in carbonite for four thousand years. I attempted to awaken them but shortly after I awoke a few of them, I quickly learned that the effects of hibernation sickness had forever scarred their minds and left them as a bunch of mindless drooling idiots! That's when I was contacted by the Empress. She offered to put my mindless army to good use and she took me in as one of her Apprentices." Silri explained as Ailyn arched a curious eyebrow.
"How? What good would they be if they were mindless?" Ailyn asked as Silri chuckled, glancing at the guards patrolling the cell block outside for a moment then looking at Ailyn.
"Their minds were worthless but their bodies were valuable. It seems that Emperor Palpatine bequeathed a number of valuable devices to Akul on his passing. One of which is a mobile cloning facility, which Akul used to breed an army of clone soldiers for the war that now rages across the galaxy." Silri explained as Ailyn's eyes widened.
"You mean, all of the Sith forces are clones of ancient Sith soldiers?" Ailyn asked softly as Silri gave a nod.
"That's correct. But there are so many templates, by the time the Jedi or the Republic find out, it may be too late to save either one." Silri said as Ailyn glared at her.
"What makes you say that?" Ailyn asked as Silri chuckled darkly.
"Because one of the things the Clone Ship can do is clone Jedi." Silri said as Ailyn began to understand the magnitude of the Sith's capabilities.
"So they could create a clone of a Jedi and perceivably alter them somehow to become living weapons. Sleeper agents." Ailyn said as Silri smiled darkly and nodded.
"That's correct. With these clones, Order 66 will pale in comparison to the devastation and chaos the Empress's plan will cause." Silri explained as Ailyn swallowed hard.
"Is there any way to detect these imposters?" Ailyn asked as Silri scowled.
"That's what I wanted to know when my own apprentice cut off my leg and had me sent here!" Silri spat angrily.
"So right now, there are clones running around in the galaxy, doing force knows what to weaken the Republic and the Jedi?" Ailyn asked as Silri nodded.
"It's only a matter of time before Akul flips the kill switch, the switch to signal the end of the Republic and the Jedi, and the revenge of the Sith." Silri said as she began to laugh sinisterly, Ailyn only looking on in horror at the knowledge she had just learned.
…end flashback…
In the present, Ailyn closed her eyes, focusing all of her energy to try and tap into her limited connection to the force. She knew it might be pointless given the Ysalamiri in the facility but she'd be damned if she didn't try.
"Kento…Kento please…find me." She begged softly. After a while of begging she gave up, her eyes opening in with a determined glare, a plan formulating in her mind, a plan of escape. Little did she know that, flying through hyperspace towards Malachor, Kento sat at the controls of the Mynock when he suddenly felt a slight disturbance in the force.
"Ailyn." He said softly
"Did you say something?" Sintas asked, snapping Kento back to reality.
"What?...No. No I didn't. I just thought I heard something was all." Kento said as the Mynock raced towards Malachor.
To Be Continued…
And this has been our mid-season finale. The rest of the season will pick up later on in the year and will continue until we have 22 episodes total. Episode 22 will be our Season finale.
The character of Sone Wesell is legit. She is on Wookieepedia as having existed but all record of her whereabouts vanish after her mother's death so she's an open ended character that had no conclusion to her story…which to me is what I like to call 'fiction fodder.'