Chapter 8 is here. This one was interesting to write since it has Lux in it and I added a special someone.
DIVIDED BY WAR!
IN AN EFFORT TO END THE GALACTIC CONFLICT, THE FIRST EVER SANCTIONED MEETING BETWEEN THE REPUBLIC AND THE SEPARATISTS WILL BE HELD AND MANDALORE IS CHOSEN AS NEUTRAL GROUND FOR THESE PRECARIOUS MEETINGS.
TENSIONS RUN HIGH AS MANY HOLD HOPE FOR THESE IMPORTANT NEGOTIATIONS...
Revan, Ahsoka, Padme, Bail and Mothma were in Satine's throne room. The Jedi remained standing while the senators sat across from their Separatist counterparts and four Senate commandos stood behind the Republic senators as four commando droids stood behind the other senators. "The Republic recognizes the tragedy of war, but there is nothing we can change that is already occurred." Padme said. "Say it aloud before this gathering. As representative for Chancellor Palpatine, that you declare without reservation, the Separatist state legitimate." Voe Atell said. "I have something to say about the legitimacy of the Separatists." a new voice rang out. Revan scowled, he recognized that voice instantly.
The senators and Jedi looked towards the entrance to see Lux Bonteri. "Why is Lux Bonteri here?" Amita Fonti wondered. "What does he have to say?" Bec Lawise said. "He was not invited." Voe said as the man walked up to all of them. "You didn't mention that Lux Bonteri would be here." Ahsoka whispered to Padme. "I didn't know." she whispered back. Revan's scowl had turned into a glare as he watched Bonteri walk up to the Duchess and bow before turning around to face the others. "I stand before you, son of Mina Bonteri, loyal Separatist, a patriot, a friend." he said, as he and Ahsoka looked at each other and smiled. Revan gritted his teeth and clenched his robot hand so hard the covering on it was starting to strain from the pressure.
"It has come to my attention that my mother was murdered by Count Dooku in cold blood!" Bonteri exclaimed. Revan smirked cruelly before quickly dropping it as his wife looked at him. "That is a lie! Remove this traitor immediately!" Lawise ordered the droids while standing up. Revan placed a hand on Ahsoka's stomach to hold her back before she tried stopping them from grabbing Bonteri. "I will not be silenced!" he said as two of the droids started dragging him. "Stop this!" Satine ordered as she stood. "We would ask you to respect that we deal with this matter ourselves." Voe said as she stood. "No, Dooku is deceiving you! You will all be betrayed just like my mother!" Bonteri said as the droids dragged him out. 'Good riddance.' "I apologize for such a rude interruption. Please let us continue." Lawise said as he sat back down. "We can't just let them take him. He'll be killed." Ahsoka whispered to Padme. "Do what you can Ahsoka, but be discreet." the Senator whispered back. 'There is no way in Hell, i'm letting her be alone with him!'
The two teens watched as Bonteri was escorted onto a ship by the two droids. They quickly made their way into the ship and she used the Force to open the door before Revan begrudgingly saved him from the droids by cutting them down with his sabers. "Ahsoka?" he asked in surprise. "Lux, I think it's time to go don't you?" she said, holding her hand out, Lux took it and she pulled him into the lift. "Artoo, fire up the engines." she told the droid over her com as the door opened. The three ran out of ship and were noticed by droids. Ahsoka Force-pushed one over the edge while Revan cut down the other one. "Run!" Ahsoka told them. They ran past the other droids and back into the building. "Hurry! Hurry!" she said quickly. "Ahsoka I appreciate your help, but-" he started before she cut him off as they turned. "Keep moving!" she said urgently. They finally made it back outside where their was a group of Senate commandos outside the ship they had come in. "Captain Taggert, we've got incoming clankers." she told the Captain. The commandos readied their blasters. "We'll cover you, sir!" he assured as the droids caught up and the two groups exchanged fire. The three quickly made it onto the ship and took off.
They ran into the cockpit and Artoo beeped before a hologram of Anakin appeared as they sat down. "Ahsoka, Revan, Padme just contacted me. She just told me the peace negotiations have all but collapsed. Where are you?" he asked. "We're on route to Coruscant, Master. We have Lux Bonteri with us." she replied. "Master Jedi, i'm sorry if I have caused you any trouble." Bonteri apologized. "It's nothing. You'll be safe now with the Republic." Ahsoka assured him. "All right. Bring Bonteri to Coruscant immediately, we'll discuss giving him amnesty." her master said. "Yes, Master." she said standing up as he cut off.
Bonteri suddenly pulled a blaster on her and Revan shot out his seat, ready to attack. "I can't go with you two." he said. "What?" she asked surprised and frowning. "I told you, I have a plan." he replied. Ahsoka disarmed him quickly and pointed it at him, making Revan relax and sit back down. "Shooting me is not going to be part of it. What are you doing with a gun anyhow? You're not a fighter." she said. "I'm no longer a Separatist either. I won't join the Republic." he said. "What other options do you have?" she asked. "There is a different way." he replied, turning around. "I understand everything that you've been through. I understand you feel alone. But the Republic will help you." she assured.
"Like they helped my mother?!" he snapped, turning to face her. Ahsoka's face fell and she looked at the ground. "I've already made contact with a group on Carlac who are noble and are allied with my cause." he said. "And what cause is that?" she asked. "To kill Dooku." he said darkly. "The only one you're going to get killed is yourself." she said. "And that's a bad thing?" Revan mumbled under his breath as she sat back in the chair. "I'm sorry, but we're taking you to Coruscant. You're plan hasn't exactly been well thought-out, Lux. Without us, how did you think you were going to escape those droids?" she asked.
"Like this!" he said before tazering her. Revan shot out of his seat again just as Bonteri kept her from falling to the ground and sat her up. "Wait!" the other teen said before Revan gripped him in a Force Choke. "You're lucky she's alive otherwise I would have closed my hand!" he snarled upon letting him go. Bonteri coughed before using the chair to pull himself. "You've got ten seconds to explain before I toss you out the airlock!" Revan snapped. "I need revenge on Dooku. I know you're a Jedi, but wouldn't you want revenge if you lost someone you cared about?" Bonteri asked as he rubbed his throat. Revan begrudgingly agreed before gripping him in another Force Choke. "If something happens to her, I won't hesitate to reunite you with your mother!" he snarled, releasing the other teen who gasped for air. The Knight picked his wife up and gently placed her on the chair behind the co-pilot chair just as Artoo came in and saw her passed out. The droid gave a worried beep. "She'll be fine, bud. Just a little tired." the Knight lied, looking at Bonteri that whole time as the former Separatist sat in the pilot seat and typed in some coordinates before jumping to hyperspace.
Revan had placed his mask somewhere safe and slipped on a balaclava as they touched down on the cold world. The Knight walked into the cockpit as his wife was waking up with Artoo watching over her. "Lux? Revan? Where are my lightsabers?" she called out, patting her belt before noticing where they were and walking to the front. "Lux." she said, seeing the teen outside. She turned to Artoo. "Artoo see if you can find where Lux his them." she said before noticing her husband. "Revan, where are they?" she asked. "Don't know, he must have took them when I used the refresher earlier." the Knight replied. "Wait, why are you wearing that and not your mask?" she asked, noticing the balaclava. "Well one: It's freaking cold out and two: Well… you'll find out in a bit." he answered. "In that case, i'm going to have a little chat with Mr. Bonteri." she said in a low tone before exiting the cockpit, followed by her husband.
Ahsoka slipped on a winter jacket with a hood that could fit over her montrals before the couple exited the ship and made their way over to the other teen. "Lux! Lux, where are we and what did you do with my lightsabers?" she demanded. "You should have stayed on the ship." he replied before seven Death Watch members landed around them in a circle with all but one aiming their weapons. "Hey, kid, you're late." the sole female, Revan recognized by her voice as Bo-Katan said. "Death Watch." Ahsoka said in a low voice. "You get us what we need?" Bo-Katan asked Bonteri as she walked up to them. "Yes, I have the information with me." he replied before she looked at the couple.
"Who are they?" she asked. "I'm his…" she started. Revan instantly knew the lie she was going to come up with. 'Oh, Hell no!' the Knight quickly wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "She's my wife. Lux wanted his two best friends here to help with his plan and we instantly agreed." Revan lied. "Oh, yes." Bonteri quickly agreed. "Friends, huh? They don't look like much." Bo-Katan said, smacking Ahsoka on the backside. "Why, you-!" Ahsoka started as she turned back around with her fists up. "They serve their purpose." Bonteri said, standing between her and the other two just as Artoo was rolling towards them with Ahsoka's sabers. The padawan shook her head and the droid hid them inside itself just as Bo-Katan turned her head.
"We leave now. The snow is coming." she said, moving past them. "What have you gotten us into?" Ahsoka asked Bonteri quietly. "It's all under control." he assured as a speeder car and two bikes showed up. "These are the Death Watch. They're Mandalorian terrorists. They'll kill us all." she said. "You coming?" a man asked them. "Yes." Bonteri answered as he got in the speeder. "Uh, I should stay with the ship." Ahsoka said, turning around before the man stopped her. "No, you're coming too." he said as two others picked Artoo up and placed it on the speeder. Revan hopped onto the back of the speeder while Ahsoka climbed onto one of the bikes a Death Watch was driving before the group took off.
They slowed down upon entering the camp and saw a few shooting at the feet of some droids while laughing. Another shot a droid for fun before they stopped and got off as the ones flying landed around them. Artoo gave a worried beep as the droids were shot. "The boss will see you in there." Bo-Katan said, gesturing to the tent behind her. The two Jedi and former Separatist walked into the tent. "Don't ruin my plan, okay?" Bonteri asked. "Plan? What Plan?" she asked. "This is a holo-trace device." he said, pointing at the small watch-shaped device on his wrist. "It can identify the origin of any holo transmission. I knew if I accused Dooku of murder, I would be brought to face him. Well, it worked, and now I know Dooku's exact location. If Death Watch moves quick enough, we can destroy him. Is that enough of a plan for you?" he asked grabbing her arms and smiling.
Ahsoka shrugged him off. "This is not some idealistic political group, they will take the information and kill you." she said. Bonteri rolled his eyes and moved away from her. "I knew you wouldn't understand." he said. "The Death Watch are murderers. Sworn to destroy Jedi! You don't know what you're doing! This-" Revan quickly pulled the mouth part of his balaclava down and kissed her when he noticed Bo-Katan and two others enter. "Am I interrupting something?" the middle on asked. Revan pulled away and covered his mouth again before shaking his head at the Mandalorian. "It's time to talk business. Tell your friends to leave us." he said, taking his helmet off. 'Pre Vizsla.' "Of course." Bonteri said, looking at the two before Bo-Katan grabbed both by one arm and escorted them out.
"Wren! Find something for this one to do, while I take her to the others." Bo-Katan yelled to the other female Mandalorian who came over before the other woman kept pulling Ahsoka. "So, how did you get dragged into Bonteri's little revenge plan?" she asked. "What?" he asked confused. "I recognized your voice from earlier." she replied. Revan could practically see the smirk underneath her helmet. "Guess I wasn't paying enough attention earlier to notice you, huh? Sorry." he said, scratching the back of his head. "It's fine." she said, waving his apology off. Revan clasped his hand behind him. "You know, despite you being Death Watch and your group hating Jedi, it's good to see you again." he said smiling. "Likewise. Now would you care to meet someone?" she asked. "Sure." he replied and she led him to a tent.
The first thing he noticed was the baby near the left side of the tent, covered in a few layers of blankets to stay warm. "Let me guess? That's who you wanted me to meet." he said, taking his balaclava off and looking at the baby with tan skin and curious brown eyes looking at him. "Yes. This is my daughter, Sabine." Wren replied. "How old is she?" he asked, letting the little girl grab his finger when she reached out to him and started cooing softly with a smile. "One year." Wren replied. The Knight didn't know why, but he had a strange feeling this wouldn't be the last time he saw the little girl.
After spending a few hours playing with Sabine the Knight slipped his balaclava back on and Wren led him to the tent where everyone was. The two sat down at a table near Bonteri and Vizsla, just as Ahsoka came over with a tray and some soup, she handed one to her husband and watched his interaction with the baby as a smile formed on her face. "Hungry? Careful not to choke on your stupidity." Ahsoka said to Bonteri with a fake smile as he took a bowl. A smile broke onto Revan's face while he helped Wren feed her daughter before three Ming Po walked into the tent. "Vizsla!" the middle one said. "Chieftain Pieter, I don't remember summoning you." Vizsla said as he, Bonteri and Bo-Katan stood. "You have taken our women, stolen our food and threatened us for too long!" the Chieftain said.
"Brave for you to come here with such bold words." Vizsla said. "You are no longer welcome here." Pieter stated. "Well, if our presence here isn't welcome, we'll make ready to leave." the Mandalorian said, earning snickers from the other Death Watch members. "And you'll return our people to us?" the Chieftain asked. "Yes. Sunrise tomorrow. You have my word." the Mandalorian replied with a smirk. Revan glared, he didn't need the Force to know Vizsla was lying. "Very well. We'll be waiting." Pieter said before he and the other two left the tent. "You see? They're not the butchers you make them out to be." Bonteri whispered to the two Jedi. 'That's what you think.'
The next morning Death Watch and the other three zoomed into the town with the girls who served last night and stopped. Vizsla landed in front before the others dismounted from the speeders just as Pieter walked up to them. "You have kept your word. We are very grateful for your understanding." he said as a dozen more Death Watch landed on the roofs of the buildings around them. Revan did a quick check and sighed quietly in relief. 'It's a good thing Wren isn't her because I have a feeling, things are about to go south.' the Knight subtly clipped his sabers back onto the sides of his belt.
"I am a man of my word. Here is your granddaughter, as promised." Vizsla said, pushing her forward before activating a black-bladed lightsaber and stabbing her through the back. Revan's eyes widened. 'The Darksaber!' "Thralla!" Ahsoka cried, rushing to her and helping lay her on the ground gently. "Kill them! Kill them all!" the Mandalorian commanded as the others started burning down homes. "Save them, Ahsoka… Save them… Save my people…" Thralla whispered before dying. "Why? What're you doing?" Bonteri asked Vizsla in horror. The Mandalorian wrapped and arm around the teen's shoulders. "Never let the weak tell you what to do. Welcome to Death Watch." he said.
Ahsoka used the Force to grab a staff before tossing it and impaling a troop who was trying to burn a woman to death. Ahsoka shaded her coat and knocked down two more. She held it up as Vizsla came down and cut it in half before dodging his slashes. Two flying troops wrapped cables around her wrists as another wrapped around her waist and she fell to the ground. Revan tried to grab Vizsla from behind, only for cables to wrap around him. "Now what do we have here? I think we caught us some Jedi!" Vizsla said triumphantly. "Drag them back to camp." he ordered. The couple glared at Bonteri before being dragged along the cold snow.
A few troops picked them up after they stopped in the camp and moved them into Vizsla's tent. They pushed the two Jedi to the ground in front of Vizsla as another held Bonteri's arms behind him. "Now, Lux Bonteri. This does not look good. This does not look good at all. I ask you to join us in good faith, and you bring Jedi into our camp!" the Mandalorian exclaimed in mock shock. "They weren't meant to be here. Please, let them go." Bonteri said. "I'm afraid that's not an option." he replied, taking the Darksaber hilt out. "I believed you had honour. But you're just murderers no better than Dooku!" the teen snapped. "You call us murderers? And yet it was your own lust for revenge that made you seek us out." Vizsla reminded. "I wanted justice for my mother's death." Bonteri replied. "And you shall have it. But the Jedi are no different from Dooku and these two shall pay in part for their crimes against Mandalore. So you see it's not murder at all! It's like you say! It's justice!" he said with a cold smirk and raising the saber. Before he could bring it down, Artoo bumped past the troop at the entrance and released a smoke screen.
"Guys, now!" Bonteri said, using the distraction to break free and push Vizsla away. Artoo rolled up behind Ahsoka and gave her lightsabers back. "Thanks, buddy." she said. Ahsoka ignited them before cutting free as she jumped then decapitating all four troops that held her. She nodded at her husband and he Force Choked the ones holding him before snapping the cables off like they were string and igniting his ice blade. The remaining troops moved to attack before Vizsla stopped them. "Stop! The Jedi are mine!" he said, activating the Darksaber again. "Lux, get to the ship." Ahsoka told him before he and Artoo left the tent.
Ahsoka dodged Vizsla's first slash then blocked the other two before he narrowly dodged Revan's attempted decapitation. The Mandalorian attacked the padawan a few more times, then kicked her out of the tent before getting tossed to the side from a burst of Force-lightning by Revan. The Knight rushed out and help his wife up as a group of droids surrounded them. "I guess Artoo made some friends." Bonteri said with a smile as he gestured to them. Vizsla came out with the other Death Watch and the droids opened fire on them. While the others took to the air and returned fire on the droids, the couple resumed their duel with Vizsla.
The Mandalorian blocked their attacks before trying to shoot them with his wrist-blaster. They continued exchanging blows with him before Revan flipped over his back and slashed his jetpack. "Not bad, Jedi." he said. "I didn't miss." the Knight replied. A look of surprise came over Vizsla's face as he turned his head behind him before taking the jetpack off quickly. The three were blown forward as it exploded when they tried to run. Revan quickly helped her up as Bonteri came over with the speeder. "Guys!" he said before they jumped on and he took off.
A few seconds later, three troops were flying behind with their jetpacks and the left one shot a rocket that hit the snow beside them, knocking Revan onto his back on the side of the speeder and Ahsoka on him. The two quickly got up and ignited their blades to start deflecting bolts. Ahsoka deflected one back and the Mandalorian was knocked away before he exploded. The one on the right zoomed towards them and tackled Ahsoka, knocking her sabers away as he tried to choke her. Artoo shot a smudge of oil in his faceplate before Revan hit him with a Force-push. Bo-Katan landed on the back and tried shooting her, Ahsoka dodged before the two women ended up in a fist-fight. 'Perhaps i'll let her deal with this one.' The older woman managed to knock her off and Ahsoka grabbed onto the side as her feet were dragging against the ground. The woman chuckled as she took aim before Bonteri swerved the speeder, causing her to stumble a bit and giving Ahsoka time to hop back on. The padawan punched her in the back of the head before she turned around and Ahsoka dodged her punches then kneed her in the stomach, punched her in the head again and finally Force-pushed her off.
A few seconds later they stopped beside the ship and quickly made it inside before Artoo automatically started the ship. Once safely in space, the Jedi and droid entered the cockpit before Ahsoka took the pilot seat and her husband relaxed in the co-pilot seat. Artoo beeped. "No one followed us, good job Artoo." she said with a small smile. Artoo beeped again. "What do you mean the escape pod has been activated?" she asked. Artoo beeped a reply. "Lux! Artoo, the ship is yours." she said before leaving the room, followed by her husband. The two climbed down the ladder and walked put to the escape pod. "Lux! Lux, what're you doing?" she asked him through the glass as he walked over to them. "I can't go with you, Ahsoka. You- You know that." he said. "But- But we can try, er… try to change things together." she tried reasoning. Revan gritted his teeth as a flare of jealousy hit him. "We make a pretty good team, don't we? Don't worry, we'll meet again. I promise." Bonteri assured with a smile. "Be careful, Lux." she replied before the pod launched.
"Good riddance!" Revan growled, turning around. "What is your problem?" Ahsoka demanded, frowning at his back. "My problem!?" he hissed, turning to glare at her. "You're the one with problem! Don't think I couldn't sense your feelings for him!" he snarled, stepping so close to her, that she was pushed against the escape pod door with only a few inches between her and her pissed off husband. Ahsoka gulped in fear as her expression mirrored it. Revan calmed down and sighed as he took a step and gently took her hands in his. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to snap, i'm just jealous, I can't help it. I keep feeling like i'm going to lose you him, whenever he shows up." the Knight said gently unable to look his wife in the eyes.
Ahsoka gently pulled his hood down and took the balaclava off before lifting his chin up kissing him softly. Revan returned it and gently pressed her back against the door while making sure to put one hand on the exposed flesh of her back so it wouldn't touch the cold door. Ahsoka sighed softly at her husband's care for her and smiled against his lips. He could be so scary and downright merciless half the time while the other half, which she only really saw, could be tender and loving. The couple reluctantly broke the kiss for air and smiled at each other. "Force, I love you…" he whispered. "I love you more…" she teased before he leaned in again. "Mmm… Not possible…" he teased back as their lips met for another soft kiss...
There! Chapter 8 is finally done.