Episode 12 – Jailbreak
Malachor V! A planet infamous throughout the galaxy doubles as the secret location of a hidden Sith Prison Facility where Jedi and Republic Prisoners of War are kept! Acting on information from captured Sith Assassin: Sone Wesell, Jedi Knight Kento Marek leads a band of Mandalorian Commandos on a daring rescue mission into the Malachor system to rescue Ailyn Vel, the daughter of Mandalorian leader Boba Fett! Meanwhile Ailyn Vel is left disturbed by the terrible revelation that the Sith have agents within the ranks of the Republic and the Jedi and now formulates a plan of escape from the dreaded Sith Prison in order to alert the Republic!
Malachor V
It was yard time as Ailyn walked out of her cellblock into the yard. After getting her food, she began observing and examining important areas for potential avenues of escape. She noted that the catwalks overhead were too high for one person to reach by climbing the walls and anyone attempting to would be exposed. A Jedi might be able to reach them but the Ysalamiri prevented such a plan. Attempting anything in the main cellblock would be difficult due to the overhead mounted turrets, but there weren't as many Ysalamiri in there so their force negating field was weaker than in the yard. The ventilation shafts in the cells were too small for the average humanoid and flush with the ceilings. The Kushiban Jedi Master Ikrit could fit with no problem, as could the youngling Hisari's comparatively slender frame. The difficulty was their reaching the vents due to their respective heights. The bunks were welded to the walls and floor along with the refresher so moving them were impossible. It was also next to impossible to smuggle items from the yard into the cellblocks due to mandatory full body scans that each and every prisoner had to have when entering or leaving the cellblock. Ailyn's quiet observation was disrupted when Hisari sat down next to her.
"Hey." She muttered.
"You sound defeated already, Jedi." Ailyn said as Hisari sighed heavily.
"I've been here for weeks. I've tried to reach the vent in my cell to try and escape but I can't get the grating loose." Hisari mumbled, absently rubbing the stump where one of her horns was missing.
"What happened to your head?" Ailyn asked curiously.
"Broke. One of the inmates snapped one of my horns off in a fight. Bashed it against the table." Hisari replied, Ailyn's eyebrow arching.
"Do you still have it?" Ailyn asked as Hisari pulled at her Padawan braid, her dislodged horn tied to the end of it.
"Right here. The scanners only look for differences in mass so it goes unnoticed. Frankly they couldn't care less about a hurt prisoner so they don't even bother." Hisari said while Ailyn looked the horn over.
"Hmm, thin enough. Looks sturdy enough. It might work." Ailyn said in thought.
"Work for what?" Hisari asked curiously.
"Let me ask you this, youngling. Can you reach the vent in your cell?" Ailyn asked softly.
"Yeah but its bolted shut." Hisari said as Ailyn tapped her chin.
"But can you stay up near it for extended periods? Like lean against the spot for a while, long enough to, say, pry it open?" Ailyn asked, further confusing Hisari.
"Are you suggesting what I think you're suggesting?" Hisari asked as Ailyn glanced away.
"Perhaps." She replied as Hisari smirked.
"What's the plan?" Hisari asked.
"Don't have one yet. Need more information but your horn might come in handy." Ailyn replied, rubbing her chin in thought.
"There've been a few attempts made but none have succeeded. Usually they're used as a means to commit suicide." Hisari said as Ailyn smirked while the buzzer signaling the end of yard time sounded.
"You've obviously never done time before." Ailyn said as she finished her bowl and got up to put it away before moving back in line with the rest of the prisoners. As she and Silri were escorted into their cell, Ailyn couldn't help but notice that Silri seemed disconcerted all of a sudden.
"You feel that?" Silri asked.
"Feel what?"
"They periodically take the lizards out to clean their cages which causes a temporary break in the force negation bubble. Something's coming. Something bad." Silri replied before snarling in annoyance.
"What is it?" Ailyn asked.
"I know that presence. One of them is here." Silri said with disdain.
"Them?"
"Do you know how many Sith Apprentices Darth Akul has?" Silri asked as she climbed onto the top bunk.
"All that matters to me is how much their heads are worth." Ailyn commented.
"There are six of them, not including the Empress. Vandal, Fenrir, Talzin, Sheelal, Stalker, and Lumiya. How do I know them you ask? Because I was one of them once before that brat Talzin betrayed me and took my place at Akul's side!" Silri said angrily.
"So what does that have to do with anything?" Ailyn asked as Silri ran a hand down her face.
"Because I sensed one of them arriving just now." Silri replied as Ailyn scowled.
"And me without a blaster." She grumbled.
…
Above the Prison Facility, a Sith starship docked with the Prison Facility. It was a little smaller than a Sith Destroyer, about the size of one of the Old Republic's Assault Ships and similarly designed too. However there were very few straight lines on the ship's hull, giving it a smooth and curved arrowhead design. The ship hovered above the facility, the top of the facility's tower connecting to a docking ring on the port hull of the ship. Inside the facility, squads of guards scrambled into formation as the Prison Warden, a bald man with Sith Tattoos on his head in black armor approached the large doors to a turbolift, a vibrosword at his side. The man dropped to one knee as the turbolift doors opened, revealing a dark figure flanked by Sith Troopers inside.
"Lady Lumiya, welcome to Malachor V." the Warden greeted as Lumiya approached him.
"Dispense with the pleasantries, Commander. I am in no mood for flattery." Lumiya growled as she stormed past him, the sycophantic warden groveling along behind her.
"Your presence is surprising to say the least. We were not at all expecting one of the Empress's Hands to come in person for an inspection." The warden said as Lumiya glanced at him.
"Inspection? Ah yes, inspection. Where is your office? I would like to start there first." Lumiya said as the Warden showed her to his office. It was small and not very elegant. It did however have a view into the yard below.
"It's not much but it is sufficient for my ne-." "Get out." Lumiya ordered, the warden immediately scurrying away without a word. Lumiya proceeded to lock the door behind her, already irritated by the Ysalamiri's force negating field's effects on her ability to use the force. As she approached the window, a chiming sound from the desk caught her attention. She turned and pressed a button on the desk, causing the window to blacken and a hologram of Darth Akul to appear.
"What is thy bidding, my Master?" Darth Lumiya asked, a smug grin on Akul's face appearing.
"Are you enjoying your new assignment, my apprentice?" Akul asked with a taunting expression.
"Your point is made, my Master. I won't fail you again." Darth Lumiya said disdainfully.
"Your words are hollow my apprentice. You have failed me on several occasions Darth Lumiya. But perhaps I can be dissuaded from abandoning you altogether." Darth Akul said thoughtfully as Lumiya bowed her head.
"What is thy bidding, my Master?" Darth Lumiya asked.
"There are several Jedi within our care that could be of use to us. If they can be turned, they will be valuable assets to the Empire. Will it be done?" Akul asked as Lumiya smiled beneath her mask and bowed her head again.
"They will join us, or die, my Master." Lumiya said as the hologram disappeared, the window returning to normal. Lumiya then pressed a button on the desk.
"Warden, get in here." Lumiya ordered as the warden entered mere seconds afterwards.
"You summoned me, Lady Lumiya?" the warden asked.
"Yes. How many Jedi are held here?" Lumiya asked.
"Seven exactly. One Master, five Knights, and one Padawan." The Warden replied.
"All captured at Yavin I presume?" Lumiya asked as the Warden nodded.
"Yes…well, all but one. The Padawan was captured on Kalee by Lord Sheelal and Admiral Daala." The Warden replied as Lumiya glared at him.
"Bring the Padawan to interrogation. We will start there." Lumiya said as she exited into the hall.
"Start, milady?" the Warden asked, confused.
"The Jedi captured at Yavin are nearly worthless to us but the Padawan possesses information that my Master requires." Lumiya said before pausing in the middle of the hall.
"My lady?" the Warden asked, Lumiya's eyes shifting back and forth as if a thought occurred to her.
"Are Jedi your only prisoners?" Lumiya asked as the Warden thought for a moment.
"Well no. We have upwards of about three hundred Republic Soldiers and Officers held prisoner here in addition to the Jedi. Although, there are a couple of unique inmates here that are neither Jedi nor Republic Military. The first is our most recent acquisition. A Mandalorian Bounty Hunter captured at Felucia and the other, a Dathomiri Nightsister, incarcerated on the Empress's order at least ten years ago." The Warden replied as Lumiya let out a small chuckle.
"Silri is here. It's been quite a long time since I last saw the Witch. I think I may have to pay her a visit before the fun begins." Lumiya said as she continued down the hall.
Meanwhile…
The Mynock dropped out of hyperspace as it entered the system. The system was chalk full of debris and wreckage from millennia old ships dating back to the days of the Mandalorian Wars.
"Stealth suites are engaged." Sintas said from the co-pilot's seat as Kento maneuvered the Mynock through the debris field. Venku sat in the chair behind Kento.
"This place feels wrong." Venku said, Sintas nodding in agreement.
"Yeah. It's like the environmental controls are on the frits, it's freezing cold and yet diagnostic says they're just fine." Sintas said as Kento maneuvered the Mynock towards a Sith Destroyer in the distance.
"It's the aura of the Dark Side. This entire system is rank with it. If you ever go to the wreckage of Alderaan, it's the same way." Kento said as Bresha came in with a duffle bag.
"Marek, we brought you a change of clothes." Bresha said, opening the bag and pulling out a Mandalorian helmet. It was a dark grey with red lining.
"Thanks. If anything I may need to use it as a space suit. I'm picking up transmissions coming from a large asteroid just past the fourth planet." Kento said as Venku took a deep breath.
"Malachor V. That is what most Mandalorians think of when they hear the name Malachor." Venku said.
"Five? But I'm picking up only four planets and a ton of asteroids." Sintas said, confused.
"Those asteroids were once a planet. Four thousand years ago, the final battle of the Mandalorian Wars was waged but the Republic unleashed a terrible weapon that killed millions, Mandalorian, Republic, and Jedi alike. The weapon destroyed the planet it was located on: Malachor V. It is the remains of that world that is likely the location of the prison." Venku said as they slipped past the Sith Destroyer unnoticed, flying towards the largest asteroid. As they approached, they saw a large structure built into the asteroid with at least three large arms connected to a semi-circular domed structure in the center. Behind the domed structure was a large tower-like structure where a smaller Sith Destroyer sat docked.
"It doesn't look that well protected. I only see a handful of turbolasers and an impressive shield emitter." Sintas said as Kento rubbed his forehead in mild pain.
"This place, it's like I'm being blinded and deafened at the same time. I can't sense the life force of anyone on that station. If there is anyone down there, I'm afraid they're-…" Kento said, his sentence dropping off.
"I don't think so. I've got the results of a sensor sweep, and I'm picking up hundreds, maybe thousands of life signs within the facility." Sintas said as Kento furrowed his brow.
"Looks like you all have the edge on me. I can't feel a thing. It's like I've been cut off from the force. I can sense myself but I can't even sense yo-…" Kento said before snapping his fingers in realization.
"That's it! That's how they're doing it!" Kento exclaimed.
"Doing what?" Sintas asked as Kento turned towards Venku.
"You felt it too right? That sudden deadening in the force as we approached the facility?" Kento asked as Venku nodded.
"Yeah?" Venku replied.
"That's the feeling of a Ysalamiri force negation bubble! I bet they've got Jedi prisoners in there! We take the lizards out, then the bubble pops and their Jedi prisoners become ten times as dangerous." Kento exclaimed as he spun back around to the controls, maneuvering the Mynock towards the prison facility.
"So what's the plan then?" Sintas asked as Kento brought the Mynock in to land in a crater near the facility, its stealth suites continuing to keep the ship hidden.
"I'm just kinda making this up as we go along." Kento said as he got up and grabbed the duffel bag, heading towards his cabin on the freighter.
"Well the primary objective is to rescue as many prisoners as we can, Ailyn included." Venku said as they followed him towards his cabin.
"The immediate objective will be to disable the facility's outgoing comm systems so they're unable to call for help once they catch wind of what's going on." Sintas added.
"Let's not forget about that Destroyer." Bresha commented as Kento locked himself inside the cabin while he began putting on the Mandalorian armor.
"How many of us are there?" Sintas asked.
"I count twenty two, that's including nineteen Mandalorians, you, Marek, and the droid." Venku replied to her.
"Break off into three groups of seven, not counting the droid." Sintas suggested.
"R4's used to working on starships. Maybe he could help with the destroyer." Kento suggested from behind the door.
"Agreed. Bresha can lead the strike on the destroyer. I'll take the lead on the…hold it, did I just see that floor panel move?" Venku asked, motioning to one of the floor panels. Bresha and Sintas quickly moved the panel out of the way, revealing a certain youngling crouched down inside surrounded by copious amounts of armaments, in a small suit of yellow Mandalorian armor.
"Are we there yet?" Mirta asked as Venku slapped his forehead, yelling out curses in Mando'a. Kento could be heard mumbling his own string of curses in Shyriiwook from inside his quarters.
"Mirta! What the blazes are you doing here?!" Sintas asked, lifting the youngling out of the hole.
"I wanted to help rescue Mama. I snuck on board when Scruff was talking to his buir, a tall guy in black, and the Jedi king. I knew where Mama's extra gear was so I hid there. I brought my helmet and everything." Mirta said, holding up her helmet.
"Mirta you shouldn't have come here." Bresha said as Kento emerged in armor, carrying his own helmet with him.
"I agree, that was foolish of you." Kento said.
"Well it's too late now. You might as well use me." Mirta said as Venku sighed in exasperation.
"Shabla'ni darasuum! Fine. But you're sticking with your grandmother and the Jedi." Venku said as Mirta saluted.
"Whatever you say, alor." Mirta said, putting her helmet on and holstering a pair of blaster pistols as they entered the main hold. Some of the Mandalorians groaned at the sight of Mirta's presence but most had overheard the conversation earlier.
"Alright, this is a three pronged operation. We'll split up into three groups: Ordo, Concordia, and Dxun squads. We'll work together to eliminate key parts of the prison: outgoing communications and sensors. Dxun and Concordia will hit them both at the same time. Afterwards, we'll split up. Dxun's objective will be to capture the Star Destroyer connected to the facility. Bresha will be leading Dxun Squad. " Venku said as R4 projected a hologram of the Star Destroyer.
"We've encountered these vessels before. They're Sith Assault Destroyers. Designed as multi-role cruisers, they typically are meant to transport soldiers as part of an invasion army. The point of entry is here, on the ventral side where the garbage chutes are located. Take R4 with you, he's equipped with a slicing suite. He'll come in handy." Kento advised, Bresha and her team nodding in acknowledgement.
"Concordia's objective after the sensors and communications are down will be to hit the command center. That way we'll be able to override the facility controls, allowing Ordo to move more freely. We'll also need to be able to open weapon lockers for the inmates." Venku explained.
"And Scruff and I will be leading Ordo Squad. We're to generate chaos inside the prison and organize a riot but not until after their communications and sensors have been disabled. Any questions?" Sintas asked, Mesh'la raising her hand.
"Yeah, does Marek know how to handle a blaster?" Mesh'la asked, all eyes turning towards the Jedi.
"I might've had a few lessons in marksmanship from my mother. She's more of a pilot though so…" Kento said as he pulled out a blaster pistol, making sure the safety was on.
"You at least know which way to point the thing though. More than I can say for most Jedi." Venku said.
"You've obviously never met Masters Katarn, X2, or Mara Jade." Kento chuckled as the holograms disappeared.
"You know how to use a jetpack though?" Bresha asked as they walked towards the boarding ramp, an environmental force field activating over the closed ramp before the ramp began to lower.
"Now that would be a negative." Kento said as Mirta attached a safety line from her belt to his.
"Then I'll help guide you. Looks like we're joined at the hip, huh Scruff?" Mirta asked mischievously as Kento rolled his eyes and put on his helmet.
"May the Force be with us." Kento said as he picked Mirta up from behind and began to walk out onto the surface of the asteroid. The Mandalorians immediately activated their jetpacks, flying towards the facility. Kento, Sintas, and Mirta's group headed towards the nearest wing of the facility while Venku's group followed him. Bresha's group followed after Venku and his group, R4 flying along with them thanks to a pair of leg mounted booster rockets, courtesy of some of both Anakins' tinkering with some of the Academy's droid stock in their spare time. Kento's group reached the nearest arm which happened to be the one in the center with a large number two painted on it. The group landed beneath it and waited in position beneath a lift meant for transporting cargo and equipment to and from the asteroid's surface. They had purposely disabled their helmet communicators, preventing accidental breaks in comms silence until the time was right so they were only able to communicate through hand gestures and head movements. Their helmet's audio emulators suddenly picked up a sound coming from nearby. They turned in the sound's direction and saw an airlock opening, allowing a large amount of mashed garbage to be released into space before closing again. Kento started space walking towards the airlock, Mirta following with him since they were still attached. Sintas and some of the others followed while two remained at the hatch. Kento turned to Sintas and motioned at Mirta then the airlock, Sintas nodding in agreement. Kento picked Mirta up again and leapt lightly off the asteroid surface towards the airlock. They both grabbed hold of a safety rail while Kento leaned in towards a control panel, opening it up, then going to work on the circuitry.
Meanwhile, Dxun and Concordia squads reached the central tower without being detected, the sensors being designed to detect large targets not small ones and the asteroids were making it difficult to detect anything in the first place. Venku gave a hand signal to Bresha's team, his sister giving a thumbs up back in response as she and her team flew towards the communications array while Venku and his squad looked towards the sensor array.
Back at the second arm, Kento was still attempting to hotwire the airlock door when Mirta shook her head and punched him lightly in the chest, causing him to back away slightly. Mirta proceeded to reach into the circuitry and move two cables, causing the airlock to open. She gave Kento a slow glare, causing the Jedi to shrug helplessly. The two peered inside to see a more industrial looking airlock linked to the waste disposal. Mirta then noticed a smaller airlock meant for maintenance droids to move through, about the size of a small humanoid. Mirta motioned towards the airlock and then at the cable connecting her to the Jedi Knight. Kento nodded and tapped the side of his helmet, indicating for her to activate her comlink. Mirta flipped a switch on the side of her helmet and gave a nod before unclipping herself from the Jedi Knight. She quickly dropped down onto her knees and pressed a button on the airlock, causing it to depressurize and open. She quickly crawled inside before closing the door, initiating the re-pressurization from the inside. Kento's helmet comlink then crackled to life.
"I'm in." Mirta replied.
"Be careful. Use comms only when necessary." Kento said as he dropped down out of the airlock.
"Right." She replied as she began crawling through the maintenance tunnels.
…
Meanwhile inside the cellblock, Ailyn was laying in her bunk, Silri above her tinkering with her leg cybernetics when she heard a commotion from across the block. Ailyn quickly sat up, got out of her bunk, and headed for the cell windows. On one of the levels above her on the opposite side of the block, she saw Hisari struggling with two of the guards as they removed her from the cell by force.
"What's happening? Why are they taking the youngling?" Ailyn asked as she watched the guards haul Hisari away.
"A good question indeed, Bounty Hunter." Darth Lumiya said as she approached Ailyn's cell. Silri glared at the Dark Jedi from her bunk as the guards opened the door, forcing Ailyn to the back of the cell at gunpoint as Silri got off the bunk.
"Lumiya, it's been a long while, hasn't it?" Silri asked as Lumiya placed her hands behind her back, a smirk on her face that was visible beneath her mask.
"Last time I saw you, Witch, you were screaming curses at our Master as you were dragged out by Darth Stalker and thrown on a transport to here. I've looked forward to this moment ever since I heard you had been put in a place where the Empress could keep an eye on you." Lumiya said as she revealed an inactive light whip in her hand. Silri snarled at the Dark Lady.
"So, you've come to finish me off." Silri said as Lumiya chuckled.
"Oh no. Doing that would only incur my Master's wrath. I can't kill you…but that doesn't mean I can't make you scream a little." Lumiya said as she snapped her fingers, two guards moving in to grab the Nightsister by the arms, Silri struggling to break free.
"You slime! You'll pay for this!" Silri spat angrily, still struggling.
"No, I really won't." Lumiya said as she uncoiled the light whip, keeping it inactive. All of the guards and prisoners were watching this unfolding, the guards all eagerly waiting with anticipation while most of the prisoners looked away in disgust. Unknown to them though, a small figure dropped into the cellblock control room from one of the maintenance tunnels running over the control room. As Lumiya reared back the whip, ready to make a vicious first strike, the entire facility suddenly shook violently, the lights in the facility turning red and alarms blaring, causing one or two guards to fall from the higher levels to their deaths. It also caused Lumiya to stagger backwards and onto her back, the lightwhip falling to the ground floor below. At that moment, Silri quickly threw off her guards and dove down onto the bottom floor to grab the light whip, Lumiya quickly chasing after her. Ailyn also took advantage of the distracted guards and grabbed one as a human shield, using his blaster to shoot his companion while his companion shot the hostage. She quickly turned the blaster on the two guards formerly holding Silri and running out of the cell. She quickly came face to barrel with the tracked turret. Suddenly the turret spun away and opened fire on the Sith guards. Ailyn blinked confused for a moment as all the tracked turrets in the block turned on the guards. She looked towards the control room and saw no one in there but she did see guards getting gunned down from both directions as they tried to enter the room. Whoever was in there was ducking down below her line of sight. Meanwhile Silri and Lumiya were fighting for control of the lightwhip, engaging in a savage fist fight. Silri attempted to break Lumiya's arm but recoiled as her arm bounced off of the Dark Lady's own, causing her to groan in pain. Lumiya merely laughed in amusement as she quickly grabbed the Nightsister by the throat, lifting her up off the ground.
"Foolish witch. You never could handle yourself in a fight." Lumiya said as she reared back her hand, mechanical claws extending into place at the tips of her fingers. Before she could make a move, a blaster bolt grazed her shoulder, causing her to drop her prisoner.
"You've got a price on your head Dar'jetii!" Ailyn called down from overhead, the blaster trained on the Dark Lady who glared up at her, "And I aim to collect."
"It's going to take more than a meager blaster to get out of here alive, Bounty Hunter!" Lumiya hissed before she heard a blaster shot and the death squeal of a small animal overhead, suddenly feeling the force rushing into her.
"I couldn't agree more!" a voice yelled from the other end of the cellblock. They all turned in time to see a squad of Mandalorian Commandos burst into the block, one of them wielding a green lightsaber in a reversed grip. The Lightsaber wielding Mandalorian ripped off his helmet to reveal a certain Jedi General.
"Hope you don't mind, but we'll be taking our friends back!" Kento declared as the cell doors flew open and the prisoners came swarming out. Lumiya quickly leapt to her feet and summoned the lightwhip to her hand with the force, activating it before throwing Silri towards Kento with the force, but Kento caught her with the force. The Mandalorians quickly started throwing blasters to the other prisoners who attempted to surround the Dark Jedi. Suddenly the doors into the block from the yard area flew open behind the Sith Lady as Sith troopers began to run in. The cellblock floor immediately turned into a firefight as the prisoners and Mandalorians exchanged fire with the Sith guards, giving Lumiya a chance to back away from the fight. Silri saw Lumiya slipping away and gave chase with an angry snarl, unleashing a blast of Force Lightning against the guards in her path, swiping an electrostaff from one of them and giving chase to the Sith Lady. On her level of the cellblock, Ailyn was firing away at the Sith entering the area when she soon noticed two other Mandalorians on either side of her, one of them noticeably short.
"Weren't expecting us now were you?" Sintas asked, earning a smirk from Ailyn, the three continuing to fire at the Sith.
"Wasn't even expecting Scruff! But you and I are going to have a long talk about this little di'kut!" Ailyn replied, motioning to Mirta.
"How'd you know it was me?!" Mirta asked.
"Easy I bought you that armor!" Ailyn replied as they climbed onto the turbolift and road down to the bottom level where Kento was waiting for them.
"Aren't you a little short for a Mandalorian?" Ailyn asked as Kento smirked towards her.
"Well it grabs a little in the seat and I'm afraid to sit down for fear of setting off some kind of explosive but besides that it's not too uncomfortable!" Kento said as they followed the prisoners and Mandalorians out into the yard where the Mandalorians quickly rocketed up to the overhead level and started blasting Sith guards and executing the Ysalamiri in their cages. The second the last Ysalamir died, Master Ikrit stared bounding through the crowd towards Kento.
"Ah, Marek! Good to see you!" Ikrit said as Kento smirked at the diminutive Jedi Master.
"Master Ikrit! Glad to see you haven't gotten too comfortable as a house pet!" Kento said, earning an amused smile from the Kushiban Jedi Master.
"I had missed your puckish charm, Marek." Ikrit said as he quickly ran to the "frontlines" where the Prisoners and Mandalorians were ducking behind overturned tables as Sith guards attempted to enter the yard from the flanking prison blocks and from the command center. They were suddenly surprised when the body of a Sith officer came flying through the window of the command center at the top floor of the yard area and landed below. Kento's comlink started beeping and he quickly pulled it out to activate a hologram of the Mandalorian Squad leader as he ducked behind some cover in the command center above.
"Marek! We've knocked out their outgoing communications and have control of the Command Center. Dxun Squad is on the Assault Ship and working their way to the bridge now. They could really use some help." Venku said as Kento nodded.
"Understood. As soon as we get the path cleared to the turbolift we'll start sending some of the prisoners over for support!" Kento said as Master Ikrit landed nearby.
"Marek, I will lead our friends to the turbolifts and aid in the taking of the Sith Vessel!" Ikrit said as Kento nodded and turned back to the hologram.
"Did you get that Venku?" Kento asked.
"I did. By the way, Dxun Squad also has one of the Assault Ship's Hangars under their control so if you don't want to leave your ship behind, I'd suggest sending someone back to retrieve it! Concordia Squad out!" Venku said as his hologram disappeared.
"I'll take care of the ship! You get Ailyn and the rest of the Prisoners to the cruiser!" Sintas said as Kento nodded.
"Go!" he ordered, the Bounty Hunter turning and running back into the cellblock.
"Looks like Venku's got things taken care of upstairs. Now we need to get the prisoners to the cruiser and get out of here before the Sith get wise that there's a Prison Break going on!" Kento said as Ailyn turned to Kento.
"Scruff, we've got to grab that Nightsister, she's got information that could decide the fate of the Republic and the Jedi. Information that, if not acted on soon, could mean doom for both." Ailyn said as Kento gave her a worried look.
"Right, follow me." Kento said as he used the force to locate Silri and gave chase, Ailyn and Mirta close behind. As they ran through the halls, they saw a certain Zabrak Padawan nimbly evading and dodging blaster fire as she retreated around a corner. Kento blinked in surprise at seeing her.
"Padawan Hisari?!" Kento asked as the Padawan came to a stop near him.
"I've got friends behind me!" she exclaimed as a squad of Sith Troopers rounded a corner only to get quickly gunned down by two generations of Mandalorian women. However that changed when the Sith Warden rounded the corner with a vibrosword in hand. The moment Kento and Ailyn saw him however, their eyes widened.
"Impossible! You're the Dark Jedi from Dxun!" Kento exclaimed. The Warden arched a confused eyebrow.
"I have no idea what you're talking about, Jedi. I have never been to Dxun. I've been here with this rabble for almost three years!" the Warden replied as Ailyn scowled.
"Yeah, that's clue one as to that secret the Nightsister has. The Zabrak is the second clue." Ailyn commented, keeping her gun trained on the Warden.
"Ah so you've encountered one of my brothers. Excellent. How many Jedi did he kill?" the Warden asked with a grin.
"Zero. He became one with the force before he could. Speaking of which, Ailyn I think you've got some back pay coming!" Kento said as Ailyn smirked and opened fire on the Warden. As he didn't have a lightsaber, he was almost instantly mowed down by the Bounty Hunter. Kento, Ailyn, Mirta, and Hisari approached the deceased Warden, Kento kneeling over him with curiosity.
"It's impossible. Even the tattoos are the same." Kento said as Hisari picked up the Warden's vibrosword.
"That's the secret that the Nightsister knows. She told me what it was but it's probably better if your bosses hear it straight from her." Ailyn said as Kento looked at her, standing up from over the dead warden.
"Give me the short version." Kento said, deactivating his lightsaber.
"The Sith have a mobile cloning facility. They're using the ship to breed their army from templates based on the members of a four thousand year old Sith army. The ship is advanced enough that it can clone Jedi. They're using it to plant sleeper agents within the Republic and the Jedi Order." Ailyn said as Kento thought for a moment while Hisari blinked in disbelief.
"Clone Jedi? But…so that's why you said they had a body when I was reported dead! They cloned me and killed my doppelganger!" Hisari exclaimed in anger.
"We need to find that Nightsister and fast before she gets herself killed by that Sith Lady." Kento said as Ailyn snatched his comlink from his belt.
"Pardon me, I think I might be able to help." Ailyn said as she activated the comlink, a hologram of Venku appearing.
"I'm a little busy right now!" Venku replied as he ducked in and out of cover.
"Skirata, have you seen any dar'jetii run past your position?!" Ailyn asked but Venku shook his head.
"Negative! They've been throwing these di'kuts at us! One of my men is wounded but we're holding the line! Is Marek there?!" Venku asked as Kento took the holoprojector.
"Do you need a hand Venku?" Kento asked.
"Not that badly, but I needed to relay a message to you from Dxun Squad! They have the bridge of the assault ship but the Sith di'kuts got off a distress call! Remember that Destroyer we passed on our way into the system?" Venku asked as Kento rubbed his forehead.
"Let me guess, on its way to investigate?" Kento asked.
"You got it!" Venku replied, popping up out of cover and firing a few shots before ducking back down into cover.
"Skirata, can you tell us if there is any other way off this station outside of that Assault Ship? Any shuttles or fighters of any sort?" Ailyn asked as Venku nodded.
"Yeah, according to a map of the place, there's one hangar with any ships left. A shuttle by the looks of it but we're intercepting reports of a fight going on in there! Is that your doing?" Venku asked.
"No but thanks for the tip! Sintas, do you copy?" Kento asked as the hologram switched to Sintas in a seated position.
"Yeah I read! I'm in the Mynock about to lift off!" Sintas replied as Kento, Ailyn, Mirta, and Hisari started running down the halls towards the hangar.
"Good! Bring the Mynock around to the hangar on the facility! We'll meet you there!" Kento said.
"On my way!" Sintas replied before her hologram disappeared. In the hangar bay, Silri and Lumiya were engaged in a heated battle. Despite the Nightsister's physical limitations with her weak cybernetic leg, she was managing to hold her own against the Dark Lady, blocking her access to the last shuttle available. The Sith Troopers in the Hangar were wisely keeping their distance, keeping their blasters trained on Silri. Silri had switched the force pike for a vibroblade during the chase and was able to nimbly evade Lumiya's light whip.
"Grrrr! Stand still!" Lumiya spat as she attempted to strike the Nightsister with the weapon.
"You really think I don't know how to deal with someone wielding a light whip?! I'm the one who taught you and that whelp Talzin how to wield the weapon before you betrayed me!" Silri hissed as she dodged a crack from Lumiya.
"Then allow me to give you your retirement package!" Lumiya yelled, using the force to throw several large crates at the Nightsister who caught the crates in midair and threw them into Lumiya's path as she tried to make for the shuttle. As Lumiya turned back towards the Nightsister to continue their confrontation, neither of them noticed as a Sith Probe Droid flew into the hangar from outside and focused its blackened eye on the fight between the two force users.
…
Outside the facility, the Sith Destroyer from earlier approached the prison facility while on the bridge of the vessel, the Sith Captain, another clone of the Warden, stood before a holoprojector displaying the battle between Silri and Lumiya. Next to him was a hologram of Darth Akul, observing the battle from the comfort of the Sith Capital.
"My lady, the Prison is in chaos. The prisoners are rioting and we've lost contact with both the facility and Lady Lumiya's Assault Ship. It also appears that Lady Lumiya is engaged in combat with what appears to be a Dathomiri Nightsister." The Captain reported as Darth Akul scowled.
"Captain, open a channel on all Sith frequencies. Make sure my message is heard by all of our forces in the system." Akul ordered as the Captain bowed.
"Yes my lady." The Captain replied.
…
Back in the hangar bay, Lumiya and Silri were still fighting one another, the Sith Troopers still quietly observing. The Officers suddenly heard a beeping sound coming from the comlinks on their arms and opened the channels to reveal a hologram of Darth Akul.
"To all loyal Sith forces in the Malachor system, Darth Lumiya has proven herself unworthy of her title. Execute Order 66." Akul ordered.
"It will be done my lady." One of the Sith Troopers in the Hangar replied as the hologram disappeared. Lumiya and Silri were still fighting each other and hadn't heard the order given. Lumiya managed to throw Silri onto her back, knocking the vibrosword from her hand. Lumiya stormed up to the Nightsister and grabbed her by the throat and was about to finish her off when a blaster bolt flew between them, causing her to drop the unconscious Nightsister in surprise. She spun towards the Sith Troopers in the hangar only to see them leveling blasters at her.
"Blast her!" the Trooper Commander ordered, pointing at Lumiya who's eyes widened in shock and anger as the Sith Troopers opened fire at her, the Dark Lady quickly pulling a number of crates across in front of her with the Force and launching them at the troops, the crates smashing into them.
"What is the meaning of this?!" Lumiya asked angrily as she looked around and finally saw the probe droid in the hangar, her eyes widening in horrid realization.
"Master…you have forsaken me." She said in soft spoken anger. She then heard more blaster fire coming from the hallway and saw Kento, Ailyn, Mirta, and Hisari fighting off some of the Sith Troopers in the hall before racing into the hangar.
"AKUL! YOU WILL PAY FOR THIS!" Lumiya screamed into the hangar as several more Sith Troopers came running in from another doorway, firing at her as they ran towards her. She quickly turned and ran towards the shuttle, climbing aboard as Silri came around. Silri snarled and summoned the vibrosword to her hand before charging after Lumiya, boarding the shuttle and closing the boarding ramp. Kento and the others burst into the hangar just as the shuttle started lifting off.
"No!" Kento exclaimed, knowing that their evidence was escaping. He attempted to grab the shuttle with the force and pull it back down but the Sith Troopers had switched targets and turned their blasters towards them, forcing him to start deflecting their blaster fire, allowing the shuttle to fly out of the hangar, the wing clipping the probe droid and destroying it in the process. As the shuttle flew away, it dodged some laser cannon fire from the Mynock as it approached the hangar, coming in for a landing.
"Looks like our ride is here!" Kento exclaimed as a small repeating blaster turret extended from beneath the Mynock and opened fire on the Sith forces in the Hangar, allowing Kento, Ailyn, Mirta, and Hisari to rush the boarding ramp, climbing aboard.
"Mirta! Hisari! Man the guns!" Kento ordered as the two raced towards the turret controls while Kento and Ailyn raced towards the cockpit. Sintas had already maneuvered the Mynock out of the hangar and quickly transferred to the co-pilot's seat as Kento and Ailyn entered, Kento taking the pilot's seat.
"Thanks! Any word from Venku and the others?" Kento asked as the proximity alarm started beeping.
"We've got fighters!" Ailyn exclaimed.
"Yes! They're all onboard the Assault Ship along with all of the prisoners that survived the escape!" Sintas replied as the Mynock pulled around towards the Assault Ship as it pulled away from the prison, the Sith Destroyer opening fire on it as it attempted to escape.
"That Destroyer's going to decimate the Assault Ship!" Ailyn exclaimed.
"Agreed! We've got to find a way to draw its fire! Find something to-WHOA!" Kento yelped as a massive blue shockwave exploded near the Destroyer, the shockwave cutting into asteroids, Sith Fighters, and part of the Destroyer.
"Was that a-?" "Seismic Charge! Only one man in the galaxy would ever use those in space combat!" Sintas said with a grin as Slave I appeared along with squadrons of Mandalorian Starfighters and Republic X-Wings. The Mynock quickly turned away from the Destroyer in time to see the 501st Fleet along with several Keldabe Battleships entering the system, the Tatooine Avenger firing its long-range Turbolasers at the Sith Destroyer.
"Looks like Boba Fett and my old Master decided to come after us after all." Kento said with a smirk as they arced back around, pursuing a Sith Fighter, in time to see the Sith Destroyer, engulfed in flames across multiple decks from the pounding it was taking, start careening downward towards the Prison Asteroid, crashing into the facility and destroying it in a colossal explosion. The remaining Sith Fighters quickly turned and started fleeing the system, making the jump to hyperspace at the first opportunity while Republic Star Destroyers approached the lightly damaged but still intact Assault Ship. As the Mynock turned towards the 501st fleet, a hologram appeared of Anakin Skywalker.
"Kento, it is good to see you still alive." Anakin said as Kento grinned.
"It's good to see you too Master! Better late than never, huh?" Kento replied as the fighters started to regroup, Mirta and Hisari entering the cockpit.
"It took very little convincing from me to persuade Boba Fett to launch an attack on the system. It appears he had a spy amongst your ranks that verified the information regarding the location of the prison facility." Anakin said as Mirta smiled.
"Hi!" Mirta said, earning an amused smirk from Ailyn who tousled her daughter's hair.
"Why you little bes'uliik." Ailyn chuckled.
"It was ba'buir's idea. He figured I'd be able to sneak onto Scruff's ship undetected and be able to find out whether or not you were here then alert him with this." Mirta said, holding up a small transmitter.
"What is it?" Hisari asked as Ailyn examined the object.
"It appears to be a one way transmitter. Custom built and attuned to only a single encrypted frequency. I'm betting Fett has the receiving end." Ailyn said as Kento groaned.
"That womp rat! He makes a big deal on how it's taboo for Mandalorians to enter the Malachor system and allows me to go on this suicide mission instead when he had every intention of launching a rescue mission in the first place!" Kento ranted.
"There's a word for people like that but there are younglings present so I won't say it." Sintas grumbled, earning a scowl from Mirta and Hisari as the Mynock approached the Tatooine Avenger's ventral docking bay.
…
Inside the Avenger's hangar, Fett had joined them in Slave I and stood talking with Sintas, Ailyn, and Mirta while Kento stood before Anakin.
"Kento, I am pleased with your success, but my disappointment in your actions outweighs my satisfaction. You disobeyed your father, you disobeyed the Jedi Council, and you disobeyed me. You also used the force in anger to interrogate the clawdite on Mandalore, something I cannot easily ignore, Kento." Anakin said as Kento looked up at his master.
"But Master, we rescued a lot of prisoners from the Sith! We rescued several Jedi and we uncovered a massive Sith conspiracy! I'd say that the ends justified the means!" Kento argued but Anakin shook his head.
"No, Kento. The ends cannot justify the means. If we ascribe to that philosophy, we become no better than the Sith. If we allow our emotions to guide our actions, then we risk succumbing to the allure of the Dark Side. In my youth I would likely have done the same as you. But since then I have learned to trust in the Force to guide my actions. Perhaps it would be best if you spent some time away from the battlefield for a while, Kento, and clear your mind of all distractions." Anakin said as Kento bowed his head.
"I understand Master. However I do feel that I have learned something in all this, something that has cast a different light on the Mandalorians that few in the Galaxy ever see." Kento said.
"What have you learned, Kento." Anakin said as Kento glanced towards a Mandalorian shuttle where Venku, Bresha, and Mesh'la stood watching the two Jedi discuss amongst themselves.
"There's something we Jedi can learn from the Mandalorians. The Mandalorians might be warriors, but their bonds of family are arguably the strongest I've ever seen. To them, bond is greater than blood. I met a family of mixed races. They all knew they were different and that there were no blood ties to each other but it didn't matter to them at all. They genuinely love and care for one another regardless of their pasts or origins. They love with an open heart. They also have a similar view of redemption that we Jedi have, believing that it is possible for someone to become a new person given the right circumstances and regardless of their past deeds. I feel that maybe there's more in common between Jedi and Mandalorians than we first thought." Kento said as Anakin listened.
"It appears that your time amongst them has broadened your mind, my young apprentice. For that, I am proud of you." Anakin said as Kento smiled and bowed.
"Thank you, Master. I'll return to Ossus at once." Kento said as Anakin gave a nod. Anakin turned to leave when Kento cleared his throat.
"Master there is one more thing. We encountered two of Darth Akul's apprentices, but before we could catch them, we heard Akul give orders to her soldiers, an order you are no doubt familiar with: Order 66." Kento said, immediately sensing a feeling of consternation within the former Dark Lord.
"What did you just say?" Anakin asked.
"I don't know what it was like during the purge, but Master, they turned on the Sith Lord and tried to gun her down after the order was given. She escaped but I thought that I should bring that old order to your attention." Kento said.
"You were wise to bring this to my attention. It appears that Darth Akul has repurposed the old executive order for the sake of eliminating her Apprentices if they outlive their usefulness or turned against her. This information could be useful." Anakin said as he turned to leave.
"I figured as such." Kento said as Anakin paused.
"Kento…despite your disobedience…I am still proud of your accomplishment in rescuing your friends. Your dedication to your friends is admirable. Do not let yourself become isolated, for alone a Jedi is strong, but together we are stronger." Anakin said before turning to leave, walking away towards the bridge. Kento smiled at his master as he watched him leave R4 approached Kento from behind, beeping something as he approached with Venku and Bresha close behind.
"Say what?" Kento asked the droid with an amused chuckle.
"He's probably happy to be back with you, Marek. Probably not too keen on working with Mandalorians any time soon." Bresha said as Kento chuckled.
"I've discovered R4 can be a bit cantankerous at times. But he's a faithful droid." Kento said as Bresha nodded.
"And a damn good slicer too. Without him we'd have never been able to get onto the bridge. Thanks for loaning him to us." Bresha said as Kento gave a nod, Ailyn approaching from her group.
"Hey Scruff! Can I have a minute?" Ailyn asked, Kento turning towards her.
"You can have more than that." He replied with a smirk. She shot her fellow Mandalorians a look and motioned her head away from the group, indicating for them to move away, which they did. R4 instinctively headed for the Mynock.
"I suppose I should thank you for the rescue. My mother told me what you said to my father. That and the rescue are worth several points in my book. So my question is, what are you after?" Ailyn asked as Kento arched a curious eyebrow.
"I don't know what you mean." He replied.
"Why did you come after me? My mother told me that the odds of pulling off a successful rescue attempt were slim. Outnumbered, outgunned, no intel, no proof that you weren't walking into a trap, acting on questionable information at best…you could've gotten you and everyone with you killed or captured. And you attempted it anyway all to rescue me. So there must be something you want from me and right now, I'm amenable to nearly anything." Ailyn said but Kento shook his head.
"I'm afraid you're reading too much into it, Ailyn. My reasons for rescuing you were simple. I wanted to rescue my friend. We've been through a lot together already. Rattatak, Bespin, Nar Shaddaa, Tatooine, Mustafar, Yavin, Kashyyyk, Dxun, Felucia…the list isn't getting any shorter. To be honest, I felt that I owed you." Kento said as Ailyn scoffed.
"You owe me? Well okay maybe you're right there but not by that much. Now I feel I owe you for that rescue." Ailyn said but Kento gave a dismissive wave.
"Jedi don't hold debts over people and I certainly don't. But if you're serious about repaying your 'debt,' You can repay it by going to my father and Grand Master Skywalker and informing them of what Silri told you about the Sith Cloning Vessel. That's something we're going to need to find if we have any hope of winning this war." Kento said as Ailyn nodded in agreement.
"Vader-err-I mean your Master, already asked me to join him to Coruscant to meet with the Republic Leadership. That Zabrak Padawan's coming along too as added evidence. After that, I may head back to Mandalore for a while…spend some time with Mirta. This experience has left me…a little homesick." Ailyn said as Kento looked at her suspiciously.
"You're not going to try and murder your father while you're there are you?" Kento asked, earning a punch to the shoulder from Ailyn.
"No, you di'kut." Ailyn replied, earning a laugh from Kento.
"Yep, you're you. Had to make sure." Kento said as Ailyn smirked and started to head towards the bridge before stopping and turning towards Kento.
"Hey Scruff! May the force be with you." Ailyn said before turning and continuing on towards the Bridge. Kento watched her leave as Venku approached again.
"Marek, before I leave, I just wanted to say that you're always welcome in my home anytime, and if you need someone to fill in for Vel, just let me know." Venku said, extending a hand which Kento shook.
"I appreciate the offer, Venku, but I won't be in the field for a while. When I am and Vel decides to take a vacation or something, I'll give you a call." Kento said as Venku smirked and nodded.
"I think you've earned the right to call me Kad." Venku said as Kento smiled.
"Alright then, Kad. May the force be with you." Kento said as Venku bowed.
"You too, Jedi…oh, and you can keep the armor and jetpack. Might come in handy." Venku said as he turned and headed for his ship.
Meanwhile…
Lumiya sat in the pilot's seat of the Sith Shuttle she had stolen from Malachor, scowling at intercepted Sith communiqués announcing a Death Warrant for Lumiya to all loyal Sith citizens across the Sith Empire. She was seething in anger as she glared at the screens showing the orders, audibly growling as she looked at them.
"Akul will pay for this. She will pay for betraying me." Lumiya growled angrily as Silri smirked in delight at the ex-Dark Lady's exile from the Sith Empire.
"Such anger, such rage. If only The Empress knew what she had done when she banished you. Didn't even have the guts to banish you to your face." Silri said as Lumiya turned towards her with a slow glare.
"And what would you, a broken old Nightsister, be able to do against the Empress? We couldn't get within five light-years of the capital without being obliterated." Lumiya said in frustration.
"This 'broken old Nightsister' isn't exactly without means. I might've been in prison for ten years but I was quite active beforehand. I knew that it was only a matter of time before the Empress turned on me and threw me out of the fold. That is why I took precautions and prepared for just such an eventuality." Silri said as Lumiya arched a curious eyebrow.
"What have you done, Nightsister?" Lumiya asked as Silri smiled darkly.
"I might've hidden the Sith Holocron I stole from Tyber Zann in a safe place along with a few other valuable Sith artifacts." Silri said as Lumiya stood to her feet.
"What good would that do us? Do you intend to sell them and buy the Empire from her?" Lumiya asked in annoyance.
"No-no. What we need is a new Master, one who can teach us to destroy Akul…or even, do it for us." Silri stated as Lumiya crossed her arms over her chest.
"And where do you propose we find this, Master? Who is he anyway?" Lumiya asked as Silri sat down at the controls, taking the helm.
"What if I told you that Darth Akul is not the only surviving apprentice of the Emperor?" Silri asked.
"I'd call you a fool. Vader technically still lives, albeit as a Jedi." Lumiya replied but Silri chuckled.
"No not Vader. What if I told you that there was another apprentice of the Emperor's that still survives. One far more powerful than Akul will ever be." Silri said as Lumiya scoffed.
"I'd still call you a fool. How would you know this?" Lumiya asked, leaning against one of the bulkheads with her arms crossed over her chest.
"You forget, after leaving Tyber Zann and finding the carbonite army, I didn't exactly head straight to the capital world and join Akul. Instead I sensed a powerful presence in the Dark Side and followed it to its source to an unknown world. There I found my Master. He took me as his apprentice where he trained me in the ways of the Dark Side before sending me out to join Akul so that I might undermine her from within." Silri explained.
"Alright but who is he?" Lumiya asked, skeptically.
"He was once apprenticed to the same Master that trained the Empress…and I don't mean Vader." Silri said as Lumiya began to realize who it was she was referring to.
"Wait, you mean…he is alive?" Lumiya asked, her eyes widening in shock as Silri grinned with an expression of near pure ecstasy.
"Yes, Lumiya and I will introduce him to you very soon. Then we will reveal ourselves to our former Master…and we will have our revenge." Silri said with a dark smile as their ship disappeared into the galaxy.
End Episode 12
Who is this Dark Lord? You will have to find out and see…
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