RIP Carrie Fisher, this chapter is dedicated to her memory, the world lost a princess today who is now one with the Force.
Note, I don't have internet service at home (at least at the time this chapter was written) and can only get on usually on the days that I actually post chapters to this story, so if any information I give on planets or their locations doesn't make sense, please forgive me, for I cannot double check at this time. Not that I would actually check, more than likely, as I am way to lazy for that, but hey legit excuse right now XD
Luke and Obi-Wan weren't able to catch their breaths, at least that's how it felt to the two Jedi. Since there were still neutral planets out there, the Jedi of course kept sending the great Negotiator to them. They had visited many planets, Sulon and Mirial were two of the most recent ones and now they were landing on Corellia. They had hitched a ride on Raven's Claw, manned by Kyle Katarn and Jan Ors, so as to appear less threatening to those who were unsure of the Jedi.
But this was the last stop the couple could drop them at, they had a business to run after all and while the Jedi were paying good money, it wasn't quite enough to meet all of their needs and wants. So the first matter of business to take care of was to find another ship to take them wherever the counsel wished them to be next, or rather that was Luke's next job. Obi-Wan would be meeting with officials, trying to convince them to join the Republic against Maul's Dark Forces.
After his master went off to do just that, Luke started walking the spaceport asking about those hiring out. Most weren't and those that were when they learned that he didn't even know where they were going next wouldn't take him on. Finally he reached the last ship in the row and while he wasn't sure how the thing would get off the ground, let alone was still standing, he boarded it to see if the crew was on board.
He was greeted swiftly by a Wookiee who took him to the captain, Han Solo. Luke judged him to be in his mid-twenties and obviously was desperate for work, for he said "Let's go sit at the Cantina and wait for your Master then." when Luke informed that he wasn't sure of what their destination was and why. They hadn't been inside long when a Rodian approached Han, claiming that he had stolen a trip from him. "Greedo, buddy, would I do that?" Han asked innocently.
The Rodian responded with something Luke didn't quite catch, but it caused Han's to glare at the Rodian. Suddenly two shots rang out before Greedo slumped to the floor, dead only because Han shot first. The patrons of the bar only paused for a second before continuing on with their business. Luke raised his eyebrow at Han, who responded with a shrug and said "What, he dissed my ship." Luke knew that wasn't all if that was even part of the truth, but he let it drop.
Not to long after that, Obi-Wan appeared, causing Luke to wonder if Corellia had sided with the Dark Forces. But upon asking his Master, Obi-Wan shook his head and replied "No, they were waiting to see who contacted them first before making any final decisions." "So they joined us just like that?" Luke asked. "Yes, my young Padawan, sometimes negotiations go extremely well and to celebrate I think I will have a drink. "I'll drink to that." Said Han.
Obi-Wan paused, just really taking notice of the human male and his Wookiee companion that were sitting with his Padawan. "Who are you?" he asked. "I'm Han Solo, your Padawan told me you were looking to hire a ship." Obi-Wan gave Luke a look, to which Luke replied "He was the only one willing to agree to even wait with me to find out where our next destination was." "Guess my first order of business after this drink is to contact them then." Obi-Wan said, before downing it in a single swallow.
He pulled out a holo disc and few seconds later they were looking into the eyes of Yoda. "A success your mission to Corellia was, yes?" he asked in his queer little way. "Yes Master, where would you like Luke and I to go next?" "To the Jedi Temple, a rest you deserve." "Yes Master." Obi-Wan replied, before ending their connection. "Well it looks like we need you to take us to Coruscant then." Obi-Wan said to Han. Han seemed to brighten up at that as he said "Sure, maybe I can see my friend Leia."
Luke and Obi-Wan shared a look of surprise before Luke asked "You know Leia? Leia Skywalker?" Han nodded and said "Yeah, I met her and her Master Ahsoka when they went to Kashyyyk must be going on five years ago now. I often give them lifts, in fact I dropped them off on Alderaan not too long ago. How do you know them? I mean I get that your all Jedi but I get the feeling its something more then that." "Leia's my sister." Luke replied and Obi-Wan continued "And Ahsoka is my old Padawan's Padawan."
"Oh so you're the Luke and Obi-Wan I have heard so much about." Han replied. Luke chuckled nervously and said "I hope that it was all good things." Han smirked and said "Mainly." Before laughing at the look on Luke's face. The bantering, teasing and getting to know each other kept up long after they had entered hyperspace.
XXX
After leaving Han at the spaceport, Luke and Obi-Wan were halfway to the Jedi Temple when they saw Luminara Unduli and her Padawan Mara Jade heading in their direction. Master Unduli had taken on Mara as a Padawan about a year after Luke and Leia had been taken on by Obi-Wan and Ahsoka, so while they didn't see each other often, he knew her pretty well from the times they sat around waiting for their Masters when they were in Council room. They stopped and chatted for a few minutes, the two were headed to Onderon as Lux was worried about a possible attack hitting there soon since Dark Forces ships had been seen in the system.
They soon bid each other goodbye, and Master and Padawan made their way to their rooms. When they were almost there, Luke heard a familiar voice cry out "Hey Luke!" Turning, Luke saw Ezra and his Master walking there way. It had been almost a year since the two friends saw each other, so they quickly, but quietly caught up with each other as their Masters briefly did the same. They parted with promises to meet up after Luke and Obi-Wan got some rest. As Luke laid down on his own bed for the first time in months, his last thought was how the thing that could make this trip perfect was if his twin was there to share it with him.
How did you like my brief mention of Kyle and Jan? For those that don't know who they are look up Star Wars games until you find them XD And how about my little Han shot first bit? I'm sorry I couldn't resist XD Okay I'm not really sorry, oh well XD Also yay we saw Mara! I only read a few of the books and I think only one of the ones I read had her alive in it and the rest were after she had been killed, but I really grew to love her as a character and I am keeping my fingers crossed that she at least gets mentioned or something in the movies or new books (if she has and I didn't know it, please enlighten me!).
That night, Naare, Mace, Ahsoka and Leia all gathered around the holo table they had been using all along to plot their attacks. "Why do you think they stop fighting each night?" Asked Leia. Before either Master could respond, Naare replied "I don't know, but what I wonder is what brought them here? The Dark Forces have made some headway as far as getting several systems to join them, but Alderaan isn't really close to any of them."
"A good observation, my Padawan." Mace replied, giving Leia a look that left her feeling even more annoyed. She knew Mace had never been overly fond of her father and he never failed to make her feel like she wasn't measuring up, no matter what she said or did. Ahsoka didn't appreciate Mace's one sidedness either, she could sense it, but even Leia's Master couldn't put him in his place, for his rank was higher than any Jedi but Yoda. Leia shuddered at the thought of what would happen if the sixty five year old Jedi ever got to take Yoda's place.
Naare even looked a bit uncomfortable at her Master's actions, but she continued "If we could only figure out what it was that brought and kept them here, maybe then we could finally get the upper hand in this battle." Leia had to admit that, much as she was miffed with Mace, Naare did make a good point. "It can't be the Senator. Granted this would be one of the easier places to nab him, out of here and Coruscant, but they could also easily grab him in space with a whole lot less effort." Ahsoka said in a tone that almost suggested she was thinking out loud.
The four Jedi stood in silence for a few minutes before Leia tentatively suggested "What if they are just trying to draw our numbers down, and I don't mean the Clones, but rather us Jedi? I mean if I were Maul I think I would take down as many Jedi as I could before confronting them myself. Yeah, at the beginning he was here often, but he didn't have that many allies then. Now, he's got his army and they can do the hard work/be the cannon fodder so to speak. Even with our switching out we're all growing tired and we have lost a few Jedi over the years."
Ahsoka nodded as Mace grudgingly said "You may have something there, Padawan Skywalker. But why come here? Why not one of the planets closer to the systems already on his side?" "Because we would send more than enough Jedi to here because Senator Organa is not only a strong supporter of the Republic, but of the Jedi Order itself." Naare replied, catching onto Leia's thought pattern. Leia nodded and said "The only way we are going to get rid of them is if we take them out at night. That is probably the only time they aren't prepared to fight, at least that is what I assume from them retreating every night."
Ahsoka nodded and said "Besides a few guards, they are probably all asleep, after all, they don't need to plan and figure things out as we do. We need to take action tonight." Mace sighed and said "We'll only take a battalion of Clones with us, that way if we aren't back by sunrise someone will still be here to protect this city." Senator Organa came in just then and said "I was coming to see if you were joining us for dinner tonight." "Sorry Senator," Ahsoka said, "But we are going to make a move against the Dark Forces tonight."
The Senator showed his concern both on his face and in his voice as he asked "Are you sure that is wise? You have barely been holding them at bay." "Yes but that is when they were rested and expecting us." Leia answered, earning a frown from Mace for speaking out of turn, "If we go at night they should be asleep and therefore off guard." "We'll be taking only a battalion with us, leaving the rest of the Clones to guard you and your people if something should go wrong." Mace cut in, earning a glare from Leia behind his back, to which her Master put a calming hand on her shoulder.
"I wish there was some way I could help you." Bail stated, to which Ahsoka responded, "There is, Senator. You can inform the Council of our decision. That way, if anything happens to us, they should be able to send reinforcements before trouble comes to your door." Bail nodded and said "That I will do, Master Jedi." Mace motioned with his hands as he said "We should go gather the battalion together and let the other Clones know what we are doing." The other Jedi nodded and followed him out of the room, leaving the Senator alone.
"Leia certainly does look like her mother, but she has the same air about her as her father." The Senator thought to himself, "I should let Padmé know how her daughter is doing. But first I will contact the Jedi Council as I promised." With these thoughts floating around in his head, he too exited the room.
XXX
The four Jedi, each with their own small group of Clones from the battalion, cautiously inched their way to their predetermined positions around the enemy camp. Rex stood close to Ahsoka, each able to read the other well after so many years of being on the battlefields together, a simple motion saying enough for the other to comprehend what the other was asking or saying. Ahsoka's eyes at the moment, however, were not on her old friend and mentor, but rather on her Padawan.
She could see Leia's annoyance at the way Mace had been treating her on this mission, let alone sense it. She was surprised Mace had made a comment about it himself, it had hung in the room they had all recently vacated like a thick fog. Rex, seeing her distraction and the cause of it asked "Anything wrong Ahsoka?"
Ahsoka glanced at her old friend before returning her attention to her Padawan and replying "I don't know Rex. Leia is a lot like Anakin and I am just having so much trouble reaching her. I wish my Master could be here to guide her through this set of feelings she is going through lately, he would understand it better then I." "I'm sure you will find a way to get through to her, kid." Rex replied, causing her to smile at his old nickname for her.
She hoped he was right, but for now she would have to put it out of her mind, for Mace gave the signal for them all to converge. Suddenly the enemy camp was full of blaster shots and the hum of lightsabers as the Jedi and their men attacked. Things were looking good, the enemy was too stunned at first to do much and once they did start returning fire, they were so panicked that what resistance they offered was weak. But then everything changed.
From the center of the enemy camp, a red light burst forth. "Maul!" shouted Naare. The Jedi stared at the double blade Sith, who had up until that moment cloaked his presence in the Force. He chuckled, the evilness of it sending chills up Ahsoka's spine. The four Jedi, recovering from their shock of his being there, all pointed their lightsabers in his direction, as Mace said "Surrender Sith, we have you surrounded."
The Dathomirian chuckled again, then said almost gently in a voice that was bordering on a whisper, "Why should I surrender when I have you where I want you?" with that he lunged at Mace as he Force pushed Naare backwards. The wide sweep of his double blade caused Ahsoka and Leia to jump back before they were distracted by a few of the Dark Forces as they tried to take down the Jedi while they were focused on Maul. Mace blocked the strike that had been aimed at his head, though barely, the purple of his own blade sparking against the red of Maul's.
Naare leaped in to add her own purple blade to the mix, helping her Master push back Maul's attack. No sooner had they relieved themselves of one side of his blade, however, the other side came at them with just as much force. Naare grunted as the strain of it on her wrist started to be too much. Distracted by the pain, she was prepared for the next push from Maul, which sent her flying backwards where her head met a rock. Naare was knocked out almost instantly.
Ahsoka, meanwhile, managed to break away from the Dark Forces with the aid of Rex and some other Clones. Finding herself free she joined Mace, where they started giving Maul a run for his money. Her duel blades came in handy for keeping the Sith Lord on his toes and it started to look like they might actually end the war that night. Greens, purple and red mixed together in blinding speeds, meeting for seconds before pushing off only to meet once more. The three leaped around, staying out of reach of the other blades, while trying to stay close enough to land a strike.
Ahsoka tried for some low cuts while Mace went for some high ones, attempting to split his attention so that the other could land a strike on the Sith. This proved to be their downfall. Maul, counting on them to do that kind of a move was ready for them. Blocking Mace's blow, which came a second faster than Ahsoka's, Maul used the Force to push him off balance enough so he wasn't able to help the Togruta when Maul spun his blade vertically.
Only the fact that she was bending over for her attack saved Ahsoka's life, but not, unfortunately, from injury. She let out a scream as it sliced along her back, leaving two long gashes as she shifted from the first initial contact. The pain overwhelmed her and she blackout as she heard Leia calling, as if through a tunnel, "Master!"
XXX
Leia felt her Master's pain through their bond, causing her to turn and scream "Master!" Pulling one of her Master's green blades to her empty hand, Leia jumped over her Master's unconscious form, crossing the blades in front of her to stop a downward, finishing attack by Maul. Mace had recovered by now and helped her push him back further from their two fallen comrades.
Leia soon dropped her Master's blade, fighting with two blades wasn't her strongest suit, and focused on putting as much power behind her strikes as possible. Blue and purple blades moved surprisingly almost as one, the fact that neither of their owners really thought much about the other lost in the heat of battle. Unlike the Jedi who seemed to be straining, trying to end the fight before they got anymore exhausted, Maul seemed not only just as strong as other, but also as if he were toying with them, keeping them around just for his amusement rather than because their skills had kept them alive this long.
Finally the Sith said "I grow so tired of this fight." Without another word he started choking Leia and said to Mace "Lay down your weapon if you want the Padawan to live." Mace glared at Mail, but obeyed him, turning it off and dropping it. Maul laughed and said "Pity, I thought for sure you would put the galaxy before this Padawan." Before Mace could respond, Maul started using Force lightning on him.
Mace bellowed in pain, trying to concentrate enough to catch it in his hand like Yoda had done or to pull his blade to him, but he couldn't shake the pain long enough to do it. After what felt like hours to Leia, though was probably just seconds, Mace fell dead to the ground. Her eyes widened in horror, not only at the sight of the dead Jedi, but because Maul also started to pull her closer to him.
He stared at her as she struggled in his Force grip, before finally saying "You might prove more useful to me as a hostage." With that he yelled to his remaining troops that were still fighting with the Clones, "Retreat to the ships." To himself he added, "I have what I came he for." Using the Force, he knocked Leia out before carrying her aboard the nearest ship. Once the last of the Dark Forces was loaded, they took off into the sky and finally into hyperspace.
Once they were out of reach, Rex ran over to Ahsoka and said "Commander, wake up." as he slapped her cheeks gently for good measure. The other Clones were seeing to Naare and Mace, though nothing could be done for the older Jedi. Ahsoka groggily opened her eyes and muttered, "Rex? What happened?" "It's not good kid. General Windu is dead and Maul took Leia. We tried to stop them, but there was nothing we could do."
The news crushed Ahsoka, she may not have gotten along with the older Jedi, but she wouldn't have wished him dead for anything. And Leia was in the hands of Maul?! How would her Padawan be able to stand up to that quiet, unassuming Sith? He could sound so sincere and kind, he had perfected the art of deceit so well that it was hard to tell what the truth was even if you knew, let alone when your emotions were in flux like she sensed Leia's were.
She forced herself to push such thoughts out of her mind, she needed to see to Mace's body and Naare, than she would have to let the Council know what took place here. Sighing, she added to her mental list "And then Padmé and Anakin." Out loud she said "Help me up Rex, there is much that needs to be done."
Honest opinions on how I did with the fight between the Jedi and Maul are appreciated, though I feel like I did okay I think it could have been better, but then again I might just be being nit-picky, I don't know. Those scenes are always so hard to write for me, lol. Also for any Mace (or Samuel L. Jackson) fans out there, sorry for killing Mace. Honestly, he never was my favorite Jedi so it wasn't too hard killing him off for me, but I'm sure some of you are bawling or something, idk. I have big plans ahead, feel free to speculate :D
Also, yeah I know Naare's lightsaber was blue/red in the Freemaker show, but I felt like purple would work best with this.