Part V
Th senate hall sounded with debate. "We need to attack Ossus now! The Imperials should not be allowed to have asylum any longer, this attack has proclaimed war upon the Republic, immediate military action should be taken!" The senator of Felucia said. "War is not an option. In the midst of our recovery, we should be focused on rebuilding not the destructive nature of war, my fellow senators I propose initiating a political task force to ascertain the Imperial situation." Cal Omas said. "Senator Omas, that notion is incredibly ludicrous, an Imperial force attacked the Capitol of the galaxy, killing thousands. You dare stand there and deny the need of action?!" Senator Viqi Shesh said. "I must agree with Senator Shesh, there is no time for peace, I declare the chancellor should allow a fleet to apprehend the Imperial scum." The Banking Clan ambassador remarked. "It is settled then, all in favor of war vote on you holo-pads." Borsk Fey'la said. The results showed a resounding agreement to go to war. Luke stood in the doorway to the senate hall, he watched as the Republic fought against themselves. "Master, are we going to Ossus too?" Jacen asked. He was standing next to Luke. "No Jacen, we're not needed anymore, the Republic can handle themselves." Luke responded. "Come Jacen, your father needs you on a mission to Naboo." Luke said. "What for Uncle?""We lost contact with the Queen and the Naboo parliament over three days ago, it's imperative we find out what happened." Luke continued. The two Jedi walked through the Senate building in silence, Luke glanced out of the window to see Coruscant in shambles, fires continued to rage, bodies were being transported through the city. The two Jedi made their way to the landing docks toward the back of the building. The Millenium Falcon stood on the landing pad, Han Chewbacca and Ben stood near the ship. "Come on Jacen, we got work to do." Han said as he put his arm around his fifteen year old son. Ben didn't rush to his father, he kicked the ground and put his hands in his pockets. Luke walked over to Ben and put his hand on his shoulder. "What's wrong Ben?" Luke asked. The boy looked up at his father, "I almost died if it weren't for you father. He would've killed me if it wasn't for you." Ben said. "Ben it's fine, you're okay, nothing is wrong now. Go with your Uncle, your mother and I will be waiting. Ben, you did great today." Luke said as Ben walked onto the Millenium Falcon. Ben sat down next to Han in the cockpit, "Where are we going?" Ben asked. "Naboo, we have to make sure everything is alright, communications went dark just about three days ago." Han replied.
"Where is Shesh?" Thrawn asked the Imperial officer. "She hasn't gotten back from Coruscant yet." The officer responded. "Then the plan has gone accordingly. Prepare all units at their battle stations and standby for orders." Thrawn commanded. "Yes Admiral." The officer said as he walked out of Thrawn's office. "Admiral Thrawn, has the plan gone accordingly?" The figure sat behind the shadows of the office. "It has my lord, the Republic fleets and ground units are coming to us. Hopefully they'll hold up their side of the deal." Thrawn said. "What do you mean hopefully? Are you not in control of the situation Admiral?" The figure said. "No, no I am my lord. I just meant that hopefully they do not fail in the attack." Thrawn said in a panic. "I sense your nervousness, are you afraid of death Admiral?" The figure remarked. "No my lord, I am not." Thrawn responded. "Then why are you afraid of me?" The figure said. "No my lord, I respect your power and yo-" the force gripped Thrawn's throat, a white bony hand appeared out of the shadows as Thrawn slowly died. The grip was released. "You are weak, spineless and you hardly suit my needs for a military leader. Tell me, why shouldn't I just kill you now?" The figure said. "Because my lord, if you kill me, this alliance dies, and you of all people know not to trifle with them." Thrawn said as he pleaded. "Your lack of progress with the plan is infuriating Admiral, you have let the 501st become a band of petty soldiers. Furthermore, your actions have put our operation in jeopardy. Admiral, you fail me once more...your death will come swiftly. Now go, wait for Shesh and then travel to Hoth." The figure concluded. "Yes my lord." Thrawn said as he bowed and exited the office...
"Jedi temple, this is Kyle Katarn, do you read me?" Kyle said desperately trying to contact the Jedi. He looked at his destroyed shuttle. "Oh boy." He said to himself. The Yavin forest was thick with brush and foliage. He saw the Yavin temple annex in the distance. "Again Tython, do you read? Poodoo." He said as he grabbed his backpack and headed for the annex. The foliage came to a stop on top of a small cliff side overlooking the land indentation where the annex stood. Kyle saw a ship, one like he never saw before. It looked alive, he saw it breathing. He ducked and went completely prone on the cliff side. He took out his binoculars and scouted around the ship, he saw tall muscular beings with frightening armor move crates and equipment from the annex onto the ship. He thought of a plan, he scrambled through his backpack to find a bag of thermal detonators. "That's safe." He sarcastically said to himself. He got into a crouch position and mad his way along the tree line until he reached the back of the ship. He put two detonators in each hand and threw them onto the ship. He ducked behind a large hollow log, he was able to see past the tree line. Another two aliens on speeder bikes pulled up to the side of the ship. He pushed the detonation button. A huge explosion rocked the annex and the surrounding forest. Kyle peeked over his log, he saw the aliens continue to talk as if nothing happened, then he saw a flickering image of one of them. "What the blazes?" He said as he got up, walked over to the tree line. He ignited his lightsaber and slashed at the three aliens, his lightsaber went right through their torsos like a hologram. "What?" He said again. He looked toward the entrance of the annex, a fuzzy holo projection of an alien carrying a crate exited the building, the hologram proceeded to drop the crate onto the floor where the crate disappeared. He looked all around for some kind of sign. He tried to sense lifeforms through the force, all he felt was a void in the force, an awkward emptiness. He deactivated his lightsaber. Suddenly out from the tree line were numerous soldiers pointing their weapons at Kyle. They spoke in an unknown language to Kyle. There's too many of 'em. Kyle thought as he put his lightsaber on the ground in surrender...
"Master, I can't." Kryat said as he doubled over and gasping. "Push yourself, this will only make your body stronger. Again!" Nihilus said. Kryat slowly got to his feet, he took one more breath and sprinted through an obstacle course, numerous spikes, flying balls of fire and blades missed him as he hurdled, climbed and barreled through it. He ran across a platform to a bed of searingly hot rocks. "Feel it in yourself to continue." Nihilus said as he shadowed Kryat. Kryat laid down on his stomach and slowly crawled across the bed of rocks. He felt the burning pain shoot through his armor. He crawled to the end of the obstacle course, he sprawled across the temple floor, smoke rose from the armor as he continued to stare at the ceiling. "Good, good." I have another mission for you Darth Kryat." Nihilus said as the apparition glided next to Kryat. Kryat forced himself onto one knee. "What is thy bidding my master?" Kryat said through his pain. "You must go to Naboo, there you will take the Queen and her servants hostage in the palace, if my senses are correct, the boy will be going to save the Queen. I want him Kryat, give him to me." Nihilus finished. "It will be done."
The city of Theed was a ghost town. Han landed the Millenium Falcon in the royal hangar bay. "Where is everyone, I didn't see anybody walking around when we were landing." Ben asked. "I don't know Ben." Han said. He lowered the boarding ramp, the group walked out of the ship. "Way too quiet. I have a bad feeling about this." Jacen said. "Yeah I was just about to say that." Han said. Chewbacca armed his bowcaster as he took the lead. "Alright Chewie, maybe I wanted to take point." Jacen said. "Quiet boy." Han said as the group moved cautiously through the hangar. They opened the hangar bay doors, bodies of slain guards were strewn across the entrance hallway. "My god." Han said as he inspected the dead. "Father, some of the bodies have lightsaber marks, but others I'm noticing have a weird ballistic wound." Jacen said. Han went over to his son and saw exactly what Jacen was talking about: one of the dead guards had a green spot that left the wound oozing a green goop. "Wait, I've seen this before. When Ben hurt his hand, he touched this stuff." Jacen said. "But that can mean two things, well one actually, the aliens are here." Jacen said. "I didn't need it spelled out, but thanks son." Han said. "Okay, but it doesn't correlate to the lightsaber wounds." Ben chimed in. "That's true. This is odd." Jacen said. Suddenly blaster fire went off in the distance. "I think it's coming from the square." Han said. The group ran through the hallway, they came to an overhang, through the glass they saw the skirmish. The aliens slowly advanced over the foot bridge into the city square, the police and the handful of royal guards were retreating back to the palace. "We gotta help 'em." Jacen said. He ignited his lightsaber, slashed through the glass and dropped down into the fray. The guards hollered in support at the sight of seeing a Jedi. Jacen made a gesture toward the guards to follow him, he ran into the advancing alien force and he hacked away. "I'm gonna go help, come on Uncle!" Ben said as he charged behind his cousin. "Well Chewie, we're gonna have to die someday, why not today?" "Rrrrwwwaaaarrr!" Chewbacca replied. "Yeah I know, but come on." Han said.
"It's like fighting battle droids, these guys are stupid!" Ben yelled over to his cousin as they fought their way through waves of incoming hostiles. Ben kick flipped then hacked away at a squadron of the aliens. The two Jedi pushed the alien force back beyond the bridge. "Keep pushing! We have them on the run!" Jacen commanded the small force. Jacen felt a strong presence in the force, it was coming from Theed Palace. "Come on kid, keep going!" Han said as he grabbed Jacen by the arm. Han fired three more shots into the retreating crowd. The remaining enemy forces scrambled back to their ships. Hollering could be heard throughout the square. Jacen sprinted over to Ben, "Do you feel that?" He asked. "Slightly yes, what's wrong?" Ben replied. "I feel the Dark side in the Palace, we have to go. It might explain the lightsaber marks on the guards." Jacen said. "We shouldn't go alone though, we need backup." Ben responded. "This is a Jedi ordeal, we don't need them, come on." Jacen said as he tugged at Ben's clothing.
Han walked over to what looked like the commanding officer. "Hey, uh have you by any chance seen the two Jedi?" He asked. "I saw them headed towards the Palace, I don't know what for. But hey, thanks to you guys, we're alive...thank you." The officer said. "Don't sweat it." Han replied. "Come on Chewie, let's go get 'em. Leia'll kill us if we don't." Han said as he adjusted his holster. He grabbed an E-110 blaster rifle from the ground and walked along with Chewbacca.
"Naboo is under my jurisdiction now your highness." Kryat said as he stood over the deceased royal guards. "Naboo does not belong to the likes of a Sith." The Queen replied, her handmaidens stood in fear of the Sith lord. "Please, your majesty, sit back down on your throne and relax. I am here for one thing: a Jedi. And you're my bait." Kryatt said. The doors to the royal throne room were bust open, Jacen and Ben ignited their lightsabers and walked into the hall. "Ah, I was just speaking of you. Little Jedi…" Kryat remarked. "Stand down, you are under arrest by the intergalactic laws of the Republic." Jacen said as he readied himself for a fight. The Queen stood up again. "No! Jedi! It's a trap!" The Queen warned. Darth Kryat force pulled the Queen into his now-ignited lightsaber. "No!" Jacen and Ben yelled simultaneously. Kryat threw the body on the floor and advanced toward the Padawans. Jacen slashed toward Kryat's chest, he deflected with a swift flick of his wrist. Ben lunged, Kryat side stepped and pushed Ben across the room. Jacen went for his head, the two lightsabers became interlocked. "I feel your anger young one, release it and destroy me." Kryat taunted. "Never." Jacen responded. Kryat let out an energy blast of pure force power, this sent Jacen flying into the enormous hallway leading into the throne room, Jacen slid on the marble floor, he was shaken up. "If you will not succumb to your destiny, then you will die!" Kryat said as he rushed and slashed at Jacen on the ground. Jacen backflipped onto his feet and re-ignited his lightsaber. He saw Ben charging at Kryat, Ben slashed at Kryat's backside, Ben's lightsaber deflected off of Kryat's armor. "What the blazes." Ben said in shock. Kryat grabbed Ben by his throat and started to choke him. "Let him go!" Jacen yelled as he swung at Kryat, the Sith lord deflected every lash with his lightsaber in his free hand. Jacen saw the life being drained from Ben, his eyes rolling back into his head, his face turning a bright red. Tears started to fall down Jacen's face, the anger enraged him, he let out a pulse of force energy, he blasted Kryat through the hallway, into the throne room and out it's main window. Jacen grabbed Ben's lightsaber from the ground and pursued Kryat. Jacen's eyes were full of fire and hate. He dropped from the window into the royal square, where Kryat was waiting. "Your anger and hatred are fueling you, you've given in Jacen. I feel it." Kryat said as he summoned his lightsaber to his hand. "I'm going to kill you." Jacen said. He ignited Ben's lightsaber and charged at Kryat, he let out a flurry of slashes and hacks, accompanied with stellar acrobatics, Kryat was becoming tired, his parry's were ineffective. "AHHH!" Jacen yelled as he flipped, and slashed both sabers through Kryat's armor, effectively cutting off his left arm. "Ah! You Jedi scum! You will die!" Kryat said as he fell to the ground clutching his left shoulder. "No, you will die!" Jacen said. He pointed his lightsabers toward Kryat's head, he readied the swing when someone's hand touched Jacen's shoulder. It was Ben: "That's not the Jedi way Jacen, we must take him in, let the courts decide." "You want to keep him alive for any longer? WHO'S SIDE ARE YOU ON BEN?!" Jacen screamed at his cousin. Kryat summoned his saber, force pushed the two Jedi and sprinted into the forest. "He got away Ben, he would've been dead if it weren't for you!" Jacen remarked. "He wanted you to kill him, he wanted you to fall to the dark side Jacen, I couldn't let that happen!" Ben responded. "It wouldn't have happened, I will never turn… you understand me?!" Jacen said, he dropped Ben's lightsaber on the ground as he walked away. Ben looked down at the saber, the metal glinted in the mid afternoon Naboo sun. He picked it up and followed Jacen.
"Where the hell were you two?!" Han said as he saw the two Jedi leaving the royal square. "There was a Sith lord, Jacen fought him off. He got away though." Ben said. "Are you two okay?" Han asked. "Yes uncle, we're fine." Ben said