Chapter 25
Acts of Defiance
The world below them was considered one of the deadliest "triple max security slams" in the galaxy, one of only a handful, as the number changed from time to time with trends in organized crime. The planet, considered by many to be the home of the drug known throughout the galaxy as glitterstim spice, a valuable commodity used both therapeutically and recreationally through the galaxy. The substance was in constant demand by doctors and physicians, as well as being the main interest in more than one well-known crime lord's illegal activities.
"So this is Kessel," Naruto murmured as he looked down upon the deformed planet below him. At first glance, it didn't seem to be a planet at all, but rather a very large asteroid. It had an atmosphere which, while thin, could sustain sentient life. Apparently Kessel had been different once, a very long time ago, but some great catastrophe happened: whether it was a natural event or a war was unknown to him. All he knew was that the after effect of the event was the barely-inhabitable rock he now saw, which was only kept habitable by an atmosphere that was artificially sustained, as the asteroid's gravitational pull was too weak to hold the air down.
"Yeah…" Ahsoka replied as she looked down at the half-dead world with hard eyes, "…it's a real dive."
"And an extremely dangerous place," Aayla added as she pushed a few more runes on her console before sitting back. She had turned off everything but the most basic systems: even the main lights had been switched off. To all but the most sophisticated sensors, the Will of Firewould look like nothing more than a piece of debris floating in the atmosphere…and even then, the operator of said sensors would have to be actively looking for their ship in order to have a chance at picking it up.
Naruto and crew all thought that this was a very good thing…especially considering the infamous dagger-shaped form of an Imperial-class Star Destroyer hanging in orbit at the other side of the planet.
"Do we have a position on our targets?" Naruto asked.
"Affirmative…" Celeste replied, "… Master Vos took painstaking time and effort researching this. We know the time and place where they will be, and it has been confirmed that a total of eight to ten masters will be there."
"And what about our enemies?" Naruto asked, looking at the intimidating figure of the enemy cruiser. Aayla had made sure that they were far enough away so as not to be seen by the warship's sensors, so he wasn't worried that they would be spotted, and even if they were, he had full confidence in both the ship and his girl to get them out of danger.
"They're scanning the surface and deploying ground teams, so I don't think they know our quarry's exact location," Celeste replied as she looked over the schematics. "That'll give us a window of a few minutes. Enough time to warn them to get out of dodge."
"Do weknow our quarry's exact location?" Rex asked.
"Yeah, hold on a minute," Celeste responded before silently pushing runes on her console. As she finished, there was a flash of light as the holographic equipment burst into life, showing a three-dimensional representation of a section of barren ground, with many pits and holes several meters long scattered across the landscape. As the Jedi Shadow's hands danced along her keyboard, the image magnified as she zoomed in, moving past the rock and showing a look at the interior of the mineshaft.
"So that's the place, huh?" Ahsoka muttered, "How did Master Vos know of it?"
"He was invited, but declined…" Aayla replied as her chair swivelled around, giving her a look at the map, "…he also told the meeting's chair, a Master Shadday Potkin, about the other conclave on Kashyyyk, but she declined to come."
"Why would she decline a meeting with the remnants of the order…but set up another meeting with a handful of masters?" Rex sighed as he folded his arms, "…it makes no sense."
"It makes no sense if she set up the meeting just to discuss…" Naruto growled as he looked over the map, "…but it makes perfect sense if someone wanted to set up an ambush, especially if she wasn't sure that those she invited would join her in such an ambush."
"Luring several Jedi of Master rank to Kessel, knowing that Vader would follow them there…" Aayla murmured this for a moment, deep in thought, before her eyes widened in revelation, "…she wants a shot at Vader!"
"Revenge…" Rex sighed, "…but why so foolishly? Unless she's counting on the possibility that the Dark Lord would underestimate them and go in alone. I know Vader: he will face them, but he will have reinforcements ready…and I'm not talking about the usual cannon fodder, either."
Aayla nodded, "He'll have his back watched by crack shock-troops, at best, veteran clone troopers, but at worst, ARC Commandos."
"If it's the 501st, I'll be betting on the latter…" the former Captain informed, "…Darth Vader has been busy since the official end of the war. He's been selecting the best veterans from across the Grand Army to fill in his personal legion's losses, and believe me, I've seen the lists. We'll be dealing with stone cold killers; veterans who know how to fight but who also know when to run."
"Veterans who know how to fight Jedi…" Ahsoka's eyes burned, "…Jedi killers!"
"Then we have to get them out of there…" Naruto stated with finality as he leaned forward and pointed to the map, "…A good portion of that chamber is open to the surface. There is a lot of heavy machinery in there but…Celeste, can we fit the Will of Firein there?"
The woman looked thoughtful, "Yeah, definitely. There's enough room in that pit for this bird to hover in. It'll be tight, though."
"If we can hover near enough to that ledge, then we could evacuate those masters and fly off before that cruiser even knows we're here!" Ahsoka piped up happily.
"Yeah, but we'd be sitting ducks to ground fire…" Celeste intervened, giving a pouting Ahsoka an apologetic look before continuing, "…we wouldn't be able to use any of the ship's weapons. If we did then we'd collapse that mine shaft at least."
"Don't worry about that…" Rex said with a grin, "…I've got a few tricks up my sleeves."
Celeste frowned at the former Captain, and then smiled in realization, "I thought you were going to save those for a special occasion."
"I believe this qualifies as a special occasion, Lady Morne. Don't you?"
"Yes, I suppose it does."
"What, what I miss?" Naruto asked.
"I'll show you in a minute."
"Looks like we have a plan, then?" Aayla cut in.
"Looks like it," Celeste replied with a knowing smirk.
"The only problem is who we will send…" Rex said with a frown as he stood beside Naruto. "If I went in they'd probably kill me on sight because of Order 66. There would definitely be a lot of anger in that room should I be sighted. If Ahsoka went in, they probably wouldn't take her seriously because of her rank."
"Hey!"
"Sorry, but it's the truth…" Rex apologised to his charge, "…and if either Naruto or Celeste went in they would be considered a possible threat because the Masters don't know them."
"That leaves only one person then…" Naruto replied with a sigh, "…I don't like where this is going."
Aayla sighed as she looked over at them, "You mean me, I take it?"
"I apologise Lady Secura, but they all know you, at least by reputation, and because of your rank they will at least listen to you…" Rex explained, "…I know that some, including Mistress Swan and Master Shoi would listen to a fellow Jedi, but there are some I am not so sure of…and there are a couple others who are known to be chauvinistic to begin with, and a bit full-of-themselves because of their rank."
"In basic terms: people with egos that outmatch their brains…" Naruto finished with a frown before looking over at Aayla, "…I don't like this."
"I know…" Aayla replied, "…but it has to be done. Besides, we've performed a full scan and sensor sweep on the meeting place: we know that half of it is open to the surface. We can use the hole to set the Will of Firein so that the rest of you can back me up if I need it."
"What about enemy air support?" Celeste asked.
"Hopefully, they'll keep it to a minimum. I know Anakin; he is gifted, yes, but he is also brash and so sure of himself he believes he is unbeatable. He'll keep a few squads of troopers behind him and maybe a scout fighter, nothing else."
She looked over at Naruto, seeing his worried expression, and smiled ever so softly, "I know you're worried, but with what you've taught me combined with my training as a Jedi, I am stronger now than I was before. Please, my love: believe in me."
"I always do," Naruto replied with a loving smile of his own.
"Then let me do this," Aayla replied back, her soft voice and tender eyes full of experienced confidence in her abilities.
Naruto, seeing her resolve was not a result of sheer bravado, couldn't help but have unfaltering confidence in her. He closed his eyes and nodded his head, "Alright…but I will be ready if you need me."
Aayla smiled teasingly at him, "Well, you'd better be, mister…or you're sleeping on the couch, tonight!"
Naruto started sputtering before levelling off into a sheepish chuckle.
Rex walked up to Naruto, and slapped him on the back, flashing him a grin before he spoke. "Don't worry so much, chief. As I said, I have a few tricks up my sleeve to deal with anything Force-related."
"Really?" Naruto asked, his interest suddenly piqued, "…do tell."
"Come with me, and I'll show you," Rex replied, leading Naruto out of the corridor and out of sight.
"What does Rex have?" Ahsoka asked with a curious frown.
"You didn't check out what he brought back from his last run, did you?" Celeste quipped with a cheeky grin.
"No…" Ahsoke replied slowly, "…so…what did he get?"
"Something Naruto's really going to love!"
Aayla rolled her eyes as she jumped out of her pilot's chair, reaching for her utility belt and strapping it around her waist. She took out the blaster, checked its cartridge, and fluidly swept up her Jedi cloak as she made her way to the cockpit's exit.
The last thing she heard upon exiting was Naruto holler with glee from the other side of the ship, "Rex, you are the MAN!"
"Thank you for coming," Shadday Potkin spoke up to the assembly before her. She was a reasonably young woman, Bultar Swan saw, maybe in her late twenties to early thirties. Her hair was a dark chocolate brown and cut short, her skin was tanned and her eyes were a dark brown. The healer had heard of her, mainly during the early years of the war but she never really stood out on the field of battle.
Her eyes fell upon the other members of this meeting: a total of eight Jedi Masters, including herself and her old friend and ally Master Tsui Choi. The two of them had just entered the abandoned spice mine a few moments before and were quickly welcomed by the Jedi Masters. The others, all waiting for them, were seated in a half-circle of empty steel storage crates. A few of them, Swan recognized, while others, she did not.
"As you can see, Masters Roblio Darte, Sia-Lan Wezz, Ma'Kis'Shaalas, Koffi Arana and Jastus Farr have already joined us…" the young woman introduced with a wave of her hand, "…I am expecting one more, but I think we can begin."
The healer's eyes quickly scanned those in attendance. She recognised all of them, now that she had names.
Roblio Darte was seated to the far left, a human man in his middle years, long dirty blond hair done up in dreadlocks and a beard, well muscled and obviously a man of action. To his immediate right, sat Sia'Lan Wezz, perhaps the youngest present, with a slim build, long blonde hair done in a braid and a complexion of olive skin she stood out as a beautiful woman: a gifted Jedi, but also known to be quite impulsive. To her right, Ma'Kis'Shaalas, a Nikto Jedi Master, leaned against a crate beside her, dressed in the tunic, pants and knee high black boots of a Jedi, with light brown skin and a crown of horns along his head, twisting down his cheeks. Sitting on a crate across from him was Koffi Arena, dressed in red armour with dark skin, a well-kept beard and braided black hair, and finally across from him was a giant of a man, Jastus Farr, of a race Swan was unfamiliar with, but he was an intimidating figure in the meeting: a large man with blue skin and fur who was double the size of a human.
"Then perhaps we should begin with whywe are here?" Choi asked as he looked around at those assembled.
"We are here to save the Republic," Master Darte replied.
"There is no Republic, Master Darte…" Choi countered calmly, "…the Senate chose to become an Empire, remember?"
"They were manipulated, just as we Jedi were manipulated with the Clone Wars. Palpatine and Dooku were in league with one another. That much is plain now…" Master Koffi Arena replied as he sat on his crate, "…two Sith, only two…and the entire Jedi Order was laid to waste. What good have the Jedi teachings been?"
He wasn't looking at anyone, but Masters Choi and Swan could see the eyes of a broken man, "Kill the Sith! Kill them, and their empire falls."
"Hmm…" Ma'Kis'Shaalas hummed as he leaned against his perch and crossed his arms, seemingly in thought, but Swan could tell that it was with approval, "…killing the Sith is difficult to do at best. Many guards, this new emperor has. Can it be done? I do not know. Should it be tried? Yes."
Swan looked around, seeing some in favour of such action, but others against it. Shadday Potkin stood to the side, seemingly uninteresting in the conversation. Instead, she seemed to be waiting for the arrival of their last participant. The healer sensed a disturbance in the Force: something was wrong.
There was a murmur of agreement around the small circle, but it was silenced by the aging voice of Master Choi as he looked at both Ma'Kis'Shaalas and Arena, "What you seek is revenge, Master Arena, and that can only lead to the dark side."
"Perhaps…" the armoured Jedi allowed, "…and perhaps to destroy the Sith, one needs to go to the dark side. Has the dark side already proven stronger after all? To save the galaxy, dare we not use any weapon?"
The large form of Master Farr finally spoke up, deep in thought from his place, "Can one take the dark path to achieve good or can the dark path corrupt the good that one hopes to achieve? So the great masters have always said: 'Dark path and dark end'. This is the common wisdom…but is it the truth, I wonder?"
Swan was obviously uncomfortable with the way the meeting was going, for she went to the side of another of her oldest friends, Roblio Darte. He had been quiet during the whole argument and she had hoped that she could at least convince him.
"We're talking off revenge, Roblio…" Swan began as she turned her attention to her old comrade, "…that is not the path of the Jedi. Having lost so much already…must we now give that up as well?"
Roblio looked at her, eyes softening at her look of distress, "We strayed from the path of the Jedi when we became Generals, didn't we? I am not looking for vengeance, Bultar. I am only looking to make things right."
"Things are as they are, Roblio Darte…" Choi said, looking upon the two, "…the situation has changed over the years, and it will change again. This empire will learn to groan under the heel of the Sith. Then it will fall to us, or others, to take up the fight, but now is not the time for that discussion."
The argument was silenced by the echoing whine of the blast door opening at the entrance to the chamber twenty meters away from the small enclave. The heads of all in attendance snapped around, waiting for the new arrival to make his or her way up the corridor into sight. As the newcomer approached and stepped into the light, they saw that it was a slim figure whose features and gender were obscured beneath Jedi robes.
"Who are you?" Potkin asked with a little edge in her tone, which surprised a few of the Masters present. Wasn't she expecting another to attend this meeting?
The figure stood there for a moment, before reaching up for its hood with hands of a deep cerulean. The hands pulled the hood away, revealing a female Twi'lek with cerulean-coloured skin, cone shaped ears and a pair of Lekku done up in a leather clasp. Some did not recognise her, but Bultar Swan did, and a smile tugged upon the woman's features at seeing her again.
"Identify yourself!" Potkin demanded again.
"Jedi Knight Aayla Secura…" Swan smiled as she began walking forward with confident strides, remembering the woman she had taught so many years ago. Aayla smiled upon seeing one of her old teachers and accepted her embrace without hesitation, "…it is so good to see you, my dear child. I had feared you lost."
"Master Swan…" Aayla greeted back warmly, tightening her embrace, "…I thank the Force that you are alive, as well."
There was silence, only interrupted with the patter of tiny steps as the diminutive figure of Tsui Choi approached the pair. He was before them in a moment, looking up at the young woman with a smile, "Aayla, you've gotten so big since the last time I saw you."
Aayla smiled brightly as she looked down at another former teacher, "Master Choi. You haven't changed at all since I last saw you."
The old creature chuckled as she kneeled down to embrace him, feeling her calm and happiness in the Force and feeling further bolstered by it, "I can't say the same, haven't seen you since you were as tall as me. You have grown into a beautiful young woman; strong, too, I sense."
Aayla couldn't help but smile despite the situation, "Thank you, Master."
Their reunion was short lived, interrupted easily as Potkin took a step forward. Her features were set in a slight frown which she was trying to hide. Obviously she had not expected Aayla to make an appearance at this meeting, "May I ask who you are?"
Aayla was about to answer, but wasn't as fast as the tiny Master before her. Master Choi released her, turned around and looked Shadday Potkin in the eye as he mildly rebuked his colleague, "I am surprised you do not know her name, Master Potkin. This is Aayla Secura, Jedi Knight. I believe her escapades as a General during the war are quite well-known, and her reputation certainly precedes her."
Indeed, recognition did spark within more than one pair of eyes once her name was spoken. Swan looked over at Potkin curiously as the elder of the trio made the introductions, "Was she not invited to this meeting, Master Potkin?"
Aayla took little notice, eyes once again on the small Jedi Master as she spoke with haste, "I have come to warn you, Masters. Someone has tipped off the Empire about this conclave. As we speak, Darth Vader is on his way here."
Turning to the diminutive master who had vouched for her presence at the conclave, Aayla continued urgently, "We need to leave, now. I was just able to get ahead of him, but he will come and he will have an army behind him. I have a ship, and with but a word, I can call it in for extraction."
Before anyone of those present could respond, they were brought to full alert by the screeching of the blast-door being ripped from its hinges, followed by a series of echoing smashes as the remains were unceremoniously slammed against the walkway. A voice, nightmarish and echoing, resounded from the corridor, one with nothing but anger and hatred in each breathe.
"Obi-Wan!"
Aayla's head darted to the corridor, feeling Swan's hand pulling her in the direction of her fellow Jedi as she and Master Choi took several steps back. She knew he was coming, but she thought she would have more time. Metallic steps echoed as the mechanical Sith lord ascended the steps towards the main mine shaft. She heard the snap-hissof a lightsaber being ignited and could swear she could make out the red hue in the darkness.
"You led him right to us," Swan said with a frown, looking over at Potkin with pure confusion written on her face.
"I did…" Shadday replied as she glanced at the older Jedi before igniting her lightsaber, "…I knew exactly what would happen when this council gathered. There would be debate, there would be meditation…but there would be no action. I needed to draw us here in sufficient number, and then I needed to draw Vader here."
"And you used Obi-wan's name to do it!" Aayla accused, looking over at the Jedi Master with a frown.
"I do not know his past with Master Kenobi, nor do I care. I only knew that using his name would bring Vader here."
Other lightsabers were igniting, some did so eagerly, others because they saw the corner they had been driven into and knew there was no other choice but to fight.
"However powerful he may be, Vader is one, and we are many. No more debate, no more 'reflection', no need for planning; our prey comes to us. When he is dead, the Emperor will be crippled, He will know fear, and the Galaxy will know that the Jedi yet live!"
Before either Choi or Swan could reply, Vader made himself known, his black-armoured form coming from the shadows as smoothly as a phantom, but his voice thundered like an angry god, "Where is Obi-wan Kenobi!"
"Not here, Sith…" Potkin jeered as she took a step forward, "…his name was the bait for the trap I've laid for you!"
The dark lord was not deterred, such was his anger that he didn't even seem to register the identities of those in the room, "The first one to tell me where to find him lives. The rest of you shall die."
A blur of motion passed right by Aayla and her dark eyes widened in surprise and dread when she saw the form of Master Wezz rush the dark lord, lightsaber ignited and held over her head in time for a downward stroke, "It is you who will die!"
Aayla saw it before anyone else could even contemplate it: in but a moment, it seemed that everything around her slowed down. She watched as the Master jumped high to bring greater momentum to her swing…but it was a wasted effort. Vader was ready for her. All he needed to do was bring his blade forward and he would pierce her right through the heart.
In the blink of an eye, Aayla reacted with an amazing speed she never knew she had. She raised her hands, reaching into the Force and knowing her target before calling upon that reservoir of energy. Vader had just flicked his wrist, bringing his lightsaber onto its deadly course. Aayla could picture the look of surprise and shock on Wezz's face at the speed of his movement before she was thrown back by an invisible force, the tip of the dark lord's blade piercing a millimetre into her skin before she was clear of him and into Aayla's waiting arms.
Aayla took a deep breath, holding onto the master as she gritted her teeth against the pain, yet she was still alive. Her surprise was written clearly on the Twi'lek female's face as she looked down at her hands. She had no idea that she was this fast; an accomplished Force user, for certain, but never possessing of reflexes and speed that would put a good many Jedi Masters to shame. And yet, she had just demonstrated such reflexes and speed!
Aayla remembered the first thing that Naruto taught them when he first began their endurance training. He had explained to them that the longer one trained their body the more it became reflex, by going over hand seals over and over, one was able to do them faster and without thought; by practising stances, one could eventually make falling into a combat stance as easy as breathing; by practising Jutsu, it was only a matter of time before they would instinctively know exactly how to mould the necessary chakra and when to use it.
She had no idea that the training would make her this quick, though! Granted, she had trained in being able to use the Force with the same ferocity as she did to use chakra, but she hadn't expected such profound improvements in so short a time.
"Are you alright?" she asked, shaking her head to dispel her sudden surprise. Sia'Lan looked up at her, wincing in pain, hand gripping onto the burn wound in her chest, but nodding her head.
"No, but I'll live," she replied as she shakily tried to get to her feet.
Aayla kept her down with a hand before turning to the healer of the group, "Master Swan, can you help her?"
"I'll do what I can," the healer replied as she kneeled down.
"Thank you," Aayla nodded as she rose, looking back to the fight in time to see that it had quickly gotten out of control.
Vader was encircled by the other Masters, who had jumped into the fray a few moments after Master Wezz jumped into the attack. It was obvious who the most-skilled duelist was: Vader moved with precision born from many years of skill and practice, effortlessly parrying and deflecting multiple strikes as he spun his form and twisted his body, his long black cloak flowing around him like a shroud.
His first victim was Ma'Kis'Shaalas. Vader killed the Nikto Jedi Master with a single, well placed strike, throwing away Master Arena with a force push before bringing his lightsaber down with a blur of motion, bringing it up in a reverse diagonal strike across his chest, leaving burning cloth and a slash wound of third degree burns as he was thrown back to the ground, dead before impact.
The moment the Nikto Jedi Master's body hit the ground, the surrounding Jedi renewed their attack. Master Farr was able to come in behind Vader, landing a strike to his back with one end of his double-bladed lightsaber. Vader cried out, more in surprise than pain, as his armour absorbed most of the blow. The dark lord then performed a somersault with the force, evading Master Arena's follow-up, and while he was in midair, he was just able to bring his blade around to block the strike from Master Choi as he jumped above him, using his smaller stature to present a target near impossible to hit.
Vader twisted his body, dodging the smaller master's second strike, and landed on the spine of a long-abandoned crane, looking up in time to see Master Potkin follow. Instinctively, Vader brought his blade up to deflect the coming blow only to see at the last moment that it wasn't a lightsaber she wielded, but a well-crafted blade. The two blades met, and his lightsaber blade snapped out of existence.
"Surprised, Sith lord? I've prepared very carefully for this moment…" Potkin grinned as she brought the blade down in another slash which Darth Vader sidestepped, "…this is a Cortosis blade. Your lightsaber will now be useless for the next few minutes, more than enough time to kill you."
Suddenly Shadday was stopped in place, lifted off her feet by an invisible force as something unknown latched around her neck. The Jedi Masters eyes widened in surprise and fear upon seeing Vader's black gloved hand grasp around her neck, hand gripping onto the hilt of her cortosis blade, "Since I require a weapon, I shall take yours."
With that he promptly snapped her neck, releasing her body and barely giving it a glance as it fell from the crane. Cortosis blade in hand he leapt from the crane, diving towards the surviving masters with ease, "Tell me, where is Obi-wan Kenobi?"
With a few well-timed strikes, he disabled the lightsaber blades of Masters Darte, Arena and Farr but was unprepared for the sudden strike from Master Choi. The Jedi lashed out with his blade just as the Sith Lord spun around to confront him, severing the mechanical limb which held the deadly weapon.
"If one cannot touch the blade, touch the hand that wields it!" the small Jedi Master exclaimed smartly.
Aayla chose that moment to enter the fray with speed, her hand reaching under her robes to procure three kunai knives which she threw with deadly accuracy. All three kunai hit their mark, stabbing into Vaders left leg, the wounds sparking as the mechanical limb threatened to fail. The dark lord fell to his knees, surprise oozing off him through the Force that he had been defeated.
"I underestimated you, my masters. You have proven yourselves to be greater adversaries than I had anticipated. I am at your mercy…" Aayla could not believe what she was hearing, Darth Vader, surrendering? To confirm her supposed suspicion, Vader added, "…I surrender."
"No!" Master Arena shouted angrily, glaring at him, "Look at him! It is another Sith trick! He seeks to make fools out of us again! Kill him!"
"Stop, Master Arena…" Swan called, attempting to restrain him, "…we are Jedi. We will not murder an unarmed man who has surrendered."
"He needs to die!" Arena shouted angrily, turning on Swan, eyes glaring at her unlit lightsaber, "If you will not kill him, then give your lightsaber to me, and I will!"
"Don't give into your anger, Master Arena," she pleaded with him, watching as he attempted to grab the blade. The two struggled for it, "Please, don't give in!"
"I will take what I need to end this, Master Swan, one way or another!"
Another hand gripped onto the lightsaber, snapping it to the side just as it was activated. The blue blade cut through the air. Swan was able to see that she had just had a lucky escape. A pale hand slapped Master Arena across the cheek with stinging force. The man turned to see Sia'Lan Wezz, glaring furiously at him.
"Don't!" she growled angrily as she pried the hilt from his hands and gave it back to Bultar, but her eyes didn't leave Koffi Arena's as she continued to glare, silently challenging him to say anything, "Just…don't!"
Arena returned her glare, "I will kill him!"
"And kill one of us, one of your own while you do it!" Wezz spat back, her chest heaving and her breathing laboured, showing that the blade had cut deep enough into her chest to damage her lungs. "Be very careful where you are walking, Master Arena. Even if it means killing Vader and ending this madness, I will not allow you to take the life of a fellow Jedi!"
There was a dark blur and suddenly an explosion of blood which spattered across Sia'Lan's face, startling her. Koffi Arena went rigid, looking down in surprise to see the blood covered blade of a sword exiting his chest. Bultar, surprised and horrified, stumbled back and saw who the man who ended Arena's life was.
He wore black armour, a long black cape fluttering behind him as he extracted his katana from the dead Jedi, kicking his corpse away and removing the remainder of blood with a flick of his wrist. The healer saw black spiked hair, pale skin and dark onyx eyes devoid of all life. In his hands was the weapon he used to kill Master Arena, a well-crafted katana which he pointed at the surprised Jedi healer. Bultar and Sai'Lan were just able to activate their blades and bring them up in time to deflect the incoming blows.
A kick to her midsection sent the already-wounded Sia'lan flying back, slamming against the ground and skidding to a halt as the air was unceremoniously ripped from her battered lungs.
"Bultar, Sia'Lan," Roblio cried out with worry as he rushed to their aide, lightsaber clashing with the blade of their new assailant.
Vader used his chance. With the Force, he levitated his severed hand into the air, still carrying the cortosis blade and threw it at the surprised form of Jastus Farr. The large behemoth saw the strike coming, but was unable to get out of its path. The blade stabbed into his shoulder, causing the Master to grunt in pain before he fell to his knees, grabbing onto the hilt of the imbedded blade.
A high jump-kick sent Roblio skidding across the floor, and Swan was alone against this new foe, finding it more and more difficult simply in the act of defending herself than counterattacking. Her new enemy's strikes were relentless, his every movement honed to near perfection. One morbid fact became clear: he was out of her league.
A trio of kunai flew through the air, and her new opponent was forced to disengage and backpedal to avoid them. Bultar took a step back, arms burning from just defending herself as Aayla jumped into a crouch between her and their new assailant. The Jedi Knight rose to her feet slowly and calculatingly, her eyes seemingly locked with the dead orbs of the assassin. Aayla spoke up after a few moments, addressing Bultar, "Go! Master Farr needs help!"
"What about you?" the Master asked.
"I will hold him as long as I can…" Aayla replied, "…don't worry; help is coming!"
Swan nodded her head before moving to help the larger master, obviously stricken from the strike he took from Vader, who was now being kept at bay by Master Choi and a still-stricken but determined Wezz. The young woman was obviously in pain, but she continued to fight, at least to help Master Choi in keeping the wounded form of Vader at bay.
Aayla took a deep breath as she looked back to her opponent. His form was idle, but it was clear that he was ready for action. Aayla ignited her lightsaber, falling into a ready stance as she waited for her opponent to make the first move. He did not; he simply stayed where he was, looking at her with misted-over eyes which were not natural.
"I know that form," Aayla murmured as she took a step forward, watching each twitch and movement on this man's frame just as Naruto had taught her. The form he had used after he killed Master Arena was so familiar to her, and she had only now realised what it was.
"Tell me, stranger…" Aayla addressed her current adversary, "…are you what is called a Shinobi?"
He did not reply, but he did hesitate, and a small splash of emotion appeared in his onyx eyes. Aayla knew the signs when she saw them, signs of acute brain-washing and remodelling as clear as day in her mind. She had seen it before.
He blurred forward, his blade flurrying like a mass of gleaming light as it impacted against her lightsaber. The blow sent her staggering back, but she recovered quickly enough to counter his next series of strikes and stabs, deflecting and blocking as well as she could. Her opponent was quicker than her, however, and within the first handful of strikes she was already sporting several shallow cuts from close calls.
"You cannot hope to win…" Vader said, hand outstretched in time to grab onto the flailing hilt of a still-working lightsaber and ignited it the moment his gloved hand gripped onto it, "…once you were nine, now you are six…and that number will soon dwindle even further. My forces approach. You have one last chance: tell me where Obi-Wan Kenobi hides!"
Tsui Choi, Jastus Farr and Bultar Swan stood before him, all three with their arms outstretched and ready to use the Force as their ally. It was the smallest, yet oldest, of the trio who spoke, "Even if we knew…we would not tell you."
Masses of rock and debris rose into the air, before being tossed towards the dark lord with the will of all three masters. The shards of metal, rock and machinery met with Darth Vader's own mental defences, but against the will of three masters of such high power and esteem even he could only endure so much. His barriers failed, and the storm of rock and metal fell upon him, smashing against the shattered remains of his armour.
"Yield, Vader!" Choi demanded, relinquishing their devastating barrage upon the dark lord for but a moment.
"I will…destroy…you all," Vader growled, his armour severely damaged, sparks mixed with blood coming from both the mechanical parts of his appendages, and those parts that were still blood-fed flesh.
"So be it, then…" Choi conceded at last, unclipping his lightsaber from his belt and igniting it in a smooth motion, "…you leave us no choice. Master Koffi was right on one thing: the deaths of untold numbers of innocents are on your hands…and those hands will be stained with the blood of countless more if you are allowed to simply walk away."
Before the elder Jedi could move in to deliver the blow, they were attacked. Four new figures rushed into the chamber, decked in black armour similar to that of the assassin that Aayla was stalemated against, but in addition to the armour, they were bedecked in encompassing black cloaks and bullet shaped helms, and in their hands was an ignited double-bladed lightsaber, spinning in their hands as they advanced.
Immediately the surviving Jedi were forced to react, jumping to the side, their own lightsabers ignited in time to meet this new threat. But these new arrivals did not target the Jedi. Instead, they encircled the stricken Darth Vader in a diamond formation, and then, they simply waited.
Stormtroopers arrived at the moment the new arrivals fell into formation around their Lord. Dozens of white-clad troops rushed across the walkway many meters above them, all armed with the latest blasters and decked in the newest armour. The leader of the platoon, whose armour was engraved with blue stripes showing his rank, looked down upon the battle as his troops took up position, blasters at the ready to take their foes down by sheer magnitude of firepower.
"Execute the enemies of the Empire," the commander ordered. The assassin hopped away from his opponents, using a jump enhanced by some higher power to perch himself on the railing of the same walkway the troopers were lined upon, sword sheathed in the blink of an eye. He was a dark wraith, standing out from those who looked like ashen bone.
"Make ready!" the commander ordered, and the blasters were aimed.
Aayla looked on, preparing herself for the barrage, against this many veterans, who were perched on high ground and ready to fight, not even the six Jedi before them could leave unscathed. A few of the older and more experienced may survive, as well as herself, but she knew that without help their numbers would be halved, Masters Wezz and Farr would not be able to survive such a hail of weapons' fire due to their injuries.
Aayla heard the low hum of engines and smiled despite the situation. Help was at hand, and if anything, the man she had given herself to was known to appear at the last possible moment to save the day. She made a mental note to talk to him about that…rather sternly. She looked out past the crane towards the plateau and her small smile turned into a grin when she saw the familiar metallic form of the Will of Firedescend upon them, a mass of metallic silver blotting out the sun as it turned.
The Stormtroopers looked upon the starship before turning their attention from the Jedi to what was now the larger threat. Blaster fire spewed from their rifles in a barrage of red beams, slamming against the armoured hull of the ship, yet unable to do much more than leave black scorch marks. Almost in response to the blaster fire, the entry ramp of the ship descended, and two figures walked towards the edge and stopped, making themselves known to those below.
The two of them looked over the landscape: stormtroopers had positioned themselves on the upper levels of walkways along the walls with weapons trained towards the ground, while the Jedi and Darth Vader were on the ground level, seemingly in a standoff, while several bodies, three of which seemed to belong to Jedi, were also scattered around the floor in heaps.
As Naruto looked down, he focused on those who were his main concern: he saw Aayla, alongside a man who had the look of a warrior and a woman who was obviously in need of medical assistance. Vader was at the other side of the shaft, beaten and at the mercy of another three Jedi, one of whom looked badly wounded. Four warriors decked in black surrounded the weakened Sith, looking ready to strike down anyone who drew near enough. Among the white-clad troopers in the walkways above, he noticed a man equipped with black armour carrying a katana. Naruto was unable to see the man's face, as it was hooded, and he was standing in shadows that covered his head and shoulders, but there was something eerily familiar about that man…particularly with the stance that he held. One fact about this man that Naruto was able to easily discern: he was strong.
"Those weapons of yours can do the trick, right Rex?" he asked as he looked upon the situation.
Rex looked upon the same scenario as he hefted his weapon to his hip, activating its systems and placing it on automatic fire before walking to the edge of the ramp. He aimed the Z-6 rotary blaster cannon right at the high walkway, smirking when he saw who was leading the kill team far below. He would recognise that lump of poodoo anywhere.
"Hello Bow."
The commander looked up, eyes widening behind his mask as he identified one of the men standing on the open ramp-way. He snarled the name with nothing but venom and bile, remembering the traitor whose very existence stained the reputation of his legion, "Rex!"
Rex smirked before he pulled the trigger to his cannon, releasing a torrent of azure blue blaster bolts along the surface of the walkway, downing six stormtroopers with the three second burst. Four hit the deck, white armour pot-marked with black burn spots while another two were thrown from the walkway, slamming into the ground with bone-shattering force. The surviving clones took cover behind packed steel crates and support pillars, returning fire.
"Nice one," Naruto grinned as he walked towards the edge of the rampway, looking down upon the body-littered landscape. The black-armoured bodyguards of the dark lord were already moving swiftly into action, one aiding the Sith out of the chamber while the other three charged the Jedi, obviously aiming for the wounded of the group to even out the numbers, "Keep the troopers busy."
"Obviously," the Captain replied as he set the cannon down on a slab of cloth, looking over the assembly of weapons present before opting for the DC-15X sniper rifle, "What's your plan?"
Naruto took several steps back, drawing his katana and taking a practice swing before breaking off into a run, jumping off the ramp with a chakra-propelled leap, katana over his head as he crossed the precipice and came down where he wanted to be. Right on top of one of the black armoured guards.
Rex sighed, slamming a blaster pack into place and testing the scope before aiming right at the walkway below him, sights trained on the white helm of a stormtrooper, "Guess I should have seen that coming."
He pulled the trigger, and a lance of azure energy pierced the helm of the stormtrooper, killing him before he even hit the ground. Rex chambered another round and fired again, hitting the exposed knee of another and finishing him with a shot to the head when he fell into the open. The return fire was now completely sporadic as the troopers weren't even aiming anymore, just firing from behind the safety of their barriers. Rex placed the sniper rifle down, not wishing to waste a shot, and picked up a T-9 Grenade Launcher. Placing a frag grenade into the barrel before coming down to a knee, he aimed at the walkway and…
"Goodnight, boys!" he exclaimed as he pulled the trigger. The grenade shot through the air with a dull thump, skipping across the decking. Before the surviving troopers saw the grenade, it exploded with all the force of a thermal detonator, throwing another five soldiers clear off the platform, falling to their deaths…if the blast and the scorching heat didn't kill them first.
He smiled at the sight and sighed contentedly, "…I love this job."
Sia-Lan ducked and twisted, dodging and deflecting the masterful strokes of her opponent, smelling the burning ozone in the air as she was forced to back-pedal. The black-armoured trooper followed without the slightest hesitation, spinning his double-bladed lightsaber in circles as he attacked her with quick, precise one-two combinations, spinning on his heel and lashing out from every angle.
It was all she could do to keep up. The burn on her chest was painful and she knew that it had done some damage to her breathing, which was coming out in shallow gasps. She was low on breath and with her training regime she shouldn't be this soon into the duel. She knew that Vader's blade hadn't gone in too deep, so it must have been when Master Arena's killer kicked her in the chest with more force than was needed. She had felt more than a few ribs crack under the strike.
She deflected her opponent's ruby blade, moving her lightsaber when he disengaged in time to intercept the other as he spun around, dancing around her with beautifully-choreographed motion and fluidity as she kept pace with a duelist's footwork. The kick came out of nowhere, ripping the oxygen from her lungs painfully as she was launched through the air and landed hard on the ground, arms wrapped around her stomach as she gasped for air.
The blonde Jedi opened her eyes in time to see the black trooper advance, and hastily, she made a grab for her now-unlit weapon. The weapon flew out of her reach, landing in the outstretched hand of her opponent, who clipped it to his utility belt as he advanced, extinguishing one blade and bringing the other over his head.
She heard a dull thump a few meters away, followed by a deep, gruff voice, "Hey!"
Both she and her assailant turned in time to see a tall, well built human man rising to his feet, dressed in clothing similar to the attire she saw Knight Secura wear under her robes, similar, but also very different. His pants and jacket were a dark orange with black trim, some kind of jumpsuit, she supposed, a sleeveless armoured flak vest of dark camouflage green was worn over, and a long black coat with red flames along the hem and cuffs worn over that. He was handsome with tanned skin, whisker marks across his cheeks, piercing blue eyes and spiky blond hair a few shades darker than hers. In his hands was a katana, similar to that of the assassin.
He raised the weapon, pointing the tip to the black-armoured acolyte, a dark smile on his face as he spoke, "That is no way to treat a lady, my friend!"
She blinked in surprise at his choice of words. That blink was enough for her to lose sight of him, as the next thing she knew, he was already upon his opponent! A flash of light showed her that his free hand had drawn a strange-looking knife from his waist. When he was within a meter of the dark acolyte, he jumped, pulling his sword-arm back and thrusting forward in a deadly stab which the acolyte sidestepped.
Apparently the acolyte's sidestep had been anticipated by the tall blond warrior. She watched, entranced, as he spun around, his blade slicing through the air as it intercepted the lightsaber, keeping it from slicing through his guts. A follow-up stab from his knife was again keenly sidestepped by his enemy, as was the spinning strike from the katana. Sia'Lan could only watch, mesmerized, as Vader's bodyguard and this stranger danced around each other in a fluid and deadly game, ruby blades blurred and metallic swords glinted in the low light as they blocked each other from killing their wielders.
The katana and lightsaber blade met again and locked, and with a single strong motion the blond brought the locked weapons to the ground, making the bodyguard stoop over and using the momentum to lash out with a backhand, smashing into the acolyte's helm with an audible crack, making the helmeted soldier stagger back. Sia'Lan's eyes widened when she saw the crack along the faceplate.
The stranger threw his knife, and Sia'Lan watched as the acolyte intercepted it with a swing of his blade. One of his hands now free, the stranger brought both his hands together, making a cross shaped seal with his middle and forefingers and muttering a quick incantation she could not hear. There was a dual explosion of white smoke, and another two exact copies stood side by side, both armed in the same manner as their creator.
They moved together, one flanking left, the other right, and the original in the centre. The acolyte backpedalled quickly, his double-bladed lightsaber once again spinning in his hands as he spun around, blocking the strikes from his trio of opponents. A spinning heel kick slammed into the clone on the right, causing him to explode in a mass of smoke. A few moments and strikes later the one on the left was stabbed in the torso with the ruby blade and also became smoke.
The third one took the chance and jumped, katana over his head. The acolyte brought his lightsaber up instinctively, but not fast enough. The katana came down, and the long hilt was cut in two. The acolyte fell back, losing the grip of one half of his weapon but keeping a hold off the other. He performed a handstand before jumping back to his feet, spinning the remnants of his lightsaber around to deflect several more keenly-timed strikes and stabs.
Another knife snapped into the man's hand, and with a simple motion he stabbed it into the acolyte's leg, causing him to cry out in pain. The follow-up sweeping cut from his katana neatly took the bodyguards head off his shoulders. The body remained standing for a moment before falling into a heap on the decking.
There were no words spoken, background noise of lightsabers clashing, blaster fire and a grenade explosion all that was detected by Sia'Lan's ears. The man remained in his stance for a long moment, taking in a deep breath before shaking his head, "Wow…he was stronger than I thought."
He then looked over to her, sheathing his weapon as he approached and crouched down. He offered her a hand, "Can you stand?"
She took his hand hesitantly, and winced as he pulled her to her feet. Her hand immediately went to her side, where one of her ribs was definitely broken, "Just about."
He offered her a concerned look before his gaze went up to the still open landing ramp, "Can you make a jump?"
Sia'Lan looked up, disbelief on her features. If she were in one piece she might be able too, but in the condition she was in, "No, I…don't think so…" she managed to utter through teeth gritted tightly in pain.
"Okay then…" he said in a chipper voice, and before Sia'Lan knew it she was lifted up in his arms, uttering little more than a surprised squeak as he opened his mouth and shouted, "…Hey Rex!"
"What!" a gruff voice called back, muffled by distance.
"Catch!"
Her eyes widened as he spun around, realisation hitting her with a monumental chill crawling up her spine. Surely he didn't mean to…? There was no way he could possibly…? This was madness!
"You cannot be serious," she muttered fearfully.
He threw her in mid-spin, sending her rocketing high up into the air, absently knowing she was screaming in both surprise and terror as the wind battered her form. She curled up in a ball, and couldn't believe how high she was climbing. It almost seemed like gravity had been forgotten for a brief moment. The last thing she saw was the surprised and disbelieving features of a clone before she collided head on with him, the two of them hitting the decking in a pile of limbs.
The two disentangled from each other, and the clone trooper looked at her with wide eyes before glaring over the edge of the ramp-way. She looked down as well. The blond actually had the nerve to look sheepish, waving his hand casually and shouting a single word, "Sorry, sorry."
"What the hell?" the clone roared, "You're insane!"
"You're just realising that, now!" the man shouted back without pause, his grin a mile wide, "Get that girl some medical attention, and for the love of the sage…tell Celeste to lower the ship!"
Sia'Lan could only watch as he turned and rushed head on into the fray.
'Who the hell is this guy?' she thought to herself as she heard him cackling insanely while she watched him seemingly having the time of his life while almost getting himself killed.
Aayla sidestepped the strike from the ruby blade, ducked the follow-up swing and jumped back from the third slash. Her opponent did not relent, continuing to chase her with relentless swings, stabs and slashes from his double-bladed weapon.
She slammed her hands together, rushing through a sequence of seals as she backpedalled. Her assailant was fast though and with a feint he cut her form in half at the waist. It was a good thing she had cast that Genjutsu before he struck, otherwise she would probably be dead. Seeing his head snap left and right in search of her, the recently-made Chūnin used the time to cast a few more layers, making sure that she had him thoroughly confused.
Each of Naruto's three pseudo-apprentices had learned the basics the same way, but once that was accomplished they each made a choice and branched out, each choosing a different and unique path of the Shinobi.
Celeste had chosen to delve further into the art of Fuinjutsu, diving into the small library of books Naruto had given her in her insatiable curiosity to learn more about the art. Ahsoka had taken another path, finding herself fascinated with the principles of Iryojutsu, art of healing, which Naruto viewed with pessimism at first considering her impatient nature, but not only did she enjoy it, she excelled at it with a talent that he hadn't seen since Sakura.
Aayla, quite obviously, had chosen Genjutsu. She always did have a talent for concealing herself, and Genjutsu was several levels above whatever she had learned before. As Ahsoka seemed to have Sakura's talent for medical ninjutsu, so too did Aayla seem to have a talent for Genjutsu that, with time and energy, could rival even the great masters of the art on his home world. That was Naruto's opinion anyway, and she would admit that he was probably bias.
The black-armoured trooper was now spinning around, randomly lashing out with his blade in a vain attempt to hit something…anything. Aayla simply watched from the shadows as he engaged and 'killed' her doppelgangers before drawing a trio of kunai from her thigh pouch, coating them with chakra and then firing them in a hail towards the assassin. The blades pierced his back, two piercing straight through his armour. Stricken and surprised, the warrior fell to a knee.
Aayla jumped from her perch, lightsaber ignited as she dived towards her quarry. She barely even felt it, feint like a pulse but suddenly the wounded trooper's bullet shaped helm snapped in her direction, lightsaber stabbing out to impale her. Aayla brought her free hand to the ground, using a Force push to propel her higher, somersaulting over the bodyguards head. With a simple strike she severed his outstretched arm and as she hit the ground behind him she spun around, bringing her azure blade around in a sweeping arc she decapitated the fallen Force-sensitive.
She didn't even give her fallen enemy a second glance, instead her head snapping right and left. Someone had cancelled out her Genjutsu. She knew the feeling of a chakra burst anywhere. Naruto had used the same technique during one of their practice spars, showing her that while the illusionary arts could be powerful they could also be easily dispelled by an experienced Shinobi.
There was another blur, and she was just able to block the katana blade with her lightsaber, once again coming face to face with the dark haired assassin. Her surprise cost her, a swift kick to her gut sent her stumbling back and a follow up slash from his sword would have killed her, but Naruto intervened. Two katana met and scraped against each other as they locked, azure eyes meeting onyx. There was recognition from Naruto, whose eyes then narrowed as an angry smile crossed his face.
"Hello, Sasuke."
There was no answer, barely even recognition of his name. Sasuke simply acted, disengaging his sword and spinning around, lashing out with quick, precise strikes which were just as quickly intercepted and blocked. Aayla took a step back, watching with awe as these two Shinobi duelled each other with the fluidity and power of experienced Jedi Masters.
The Uchiha jumped back, a blast of flame spewing forth from his mouth, Naruto jumped back at exactly the same moment, sending out a stream of condensed air to collide with the flames. The two elemental Jutsu clashed with a grand explosion of flame which burnt the ground and blades of air which left slash marks on the pillars of rock and steel.
The battle taking place around them stopped, Jedi and the remaining bodyguards and stormtroopers ceasing hostilities just to watch the destructive aftermath of the engagement. Naruto and Sasuke both landed, but while Naruto skidded to a halt Sasuke continued to back away, performing handstands, a cartwheel and a backward somersault to retreat to the edge of the chamber. The moment he stopped, dozens more stormtroopers exploded from the only exit in an almost-endless column of white armour.
Naruto backed away, his eyes not leaving Sasuke's as he joined the surviving Jedi. Masters Farr, Choi, Swan, Darte and Aayla had their lightsabers ignited but they knew that these odds were beyond them. The one surviving bodyguard had jumped high onto the destroyed walkway, looking down upon the scene.
"I think it's time we got the hell out of here," Naruto murmured.
"We'll never make it to the ship…" Master Choi shook his head, "…the moment we run, they'll gun us down."
"Perhaps, Master Choi…" the large form of Jastus Farr agreed as he took a step forward, placing a giant hand on Naruto's shoulder to push him back into the semi-circle, "…the moment we turn our backs to run they'll gun us down. What we need is a diversion."
"Master Farr…" Bultar said in disbelief, "…you cannot possibly be thinking of-"
"I am," the large Jedi replied as he clipped his lightsaber to his belt and held up his hands. The Force correlated around him, and all in attendance could make out the shimmering form of a Force bubble, but far larger than was safe to create.
"I am injured and would only slow you down…" he explained as he began walking forward, keeping the blaster fire off of them, "…this way, at least…the rest of you can survive."
Naruto gritted his teeth, knowing that if he tapped into the Kyubi's power to create a completed chakra cloak he could wipe these few hundred clones out, but the risks were far too great. He could bring the entire mine shaft down on their heads, and then there was the problem with Sasuke being in the room. There was another entity which could match his cloak, and that was the Mangekyo Sharingan's legendary Susanoo. Naruto remembered Sasuke's version: it was perhaps the strongest ever created.
The diminutive figure of Master Choi hobbled over to the behemoth which was Master Farr, and for a long moment the two Masters looked each other in the eye. Tsui Choi sighed heavily and sadly before looking back at the huge Jedi Master, "There's no talking you out of this, is there?"
"I'm afraid not, my friend…" Farr replied before looking back at Naruto, "…I ask you to take the survivors and flee. Take them to safety. Can you do that, stranger?"
"You have my word, and I never go back on my word…" Naruto replied, gritting his teeth before making the seal for his signature technique, "…I can at least help you…Kage Bunshin no Jutsu."
The survivors all looked on in surprise as twenty clones appeared out of the white smoke, quickly setting up a battle-line with Farr at their centre.
The large Jedi shook his head in bemusement as he looked back over, "That is a very neat trick. Now go, all of you! Go!"
They heard a stormtrooper give the order, "Do not let them escape! Fire at will!"
A deadly hail of blaster fire smashed into the large Jedi Master's barrier. The survivors all ran to the waiting ramp-way of the Will of Fire, while the twenty clones Naruto left behind drew their blaster pistols and returned fire to the small army of clones advancing upon them. Nearly two dozen of the white-armoured troopers fell before their combined firepower overwhelmed Master Farr's shield. The massive Jedi was peppered with blaster fire before falling on his back, unmoving. Without his barrier to aid them, the twenty clones quickly exploded into white smoke as they too were peppered.
It only bought them a minute, but it was more than enough. The survivors had jumped onto the landing ramp, and Aayla had slammed her fist into the control gauge within, closing the ramp-way and shielding them from the blaster fire. The last thing the survivors saw was Master Farr being overwhelmed.
"Celeste, get us the hell out of here!" Naruto yelled and stumbled as the ship suddenly lurched up and forward.
The ship rose high into the air, fire from the trooper's blaster rifles bouncing off its hull as it cleared the plateau and shot off like a rocket. The assassin looked on as three winged silhouettes of ARC-170 starfighters gave chase, laser cannons flashing.
The stormtroopers were quick, professional, and knew exactly what they were doing. The moment the ship escaped they secured the mine shaft, checking on the bodies of enemy and ally alike. The assassin didn't linger; there was no need for him to remain there. He spun on his heel, placing his hood over his head as he stalked across the half-destroyed deck, through the only exit and along the main walkway. He exited into another, larger chamber, also long abandoned.
His employer was seated on a steel crate, being looked over by a medic. The Sith lord had indeed been badly beaten. His life-supporting armour was a mess of sparking mechanics, armour burnt away or smashed in some places. He looked over at him. His helm had been removed, revealing a bald head, pale skin and the telltale signs of extreme second degree burns, still healing.
Darth Vader looked over at him, eyes a sickly yellow, "They escaped?"
"Four managed to escape. The other four are dead," the assassin replied in a dry, emotionless monotone.
"Not good enough," Vader growled.
"It is four less Jedi to worry about, no?" he asked.
Vader rose to his feet, burning yellow eyes glaring at him with rage and intensity. That was what this Lord of the Sith was: a behemoth of barely-restrained fury, a deadly weapon ready to be unleashed. The eyes burned, but were met with equal intensity, for the sharingan eyes of the assassin activated the very moment the intent to kill saturated the air. Burning yellow glared at bloody crimson for a handful of heartbeats before the dark lord turned away, stalking through the chamber.
"Prepare to leave!" Vader ordered loudly.
The assassin watched the dark lord's retreating back, before bringing his mind back to the confrontation. All he could remember was being in the service of the Emperor. Even though that was all he could remember, there were things he had seen during this battle which brought a feeling of…nostalgia…to him.
The first was when he engaged the Twi'lek woman and saw the clothing she wore when she shed her smouldering robes. He felt something as he looked upon the attire…familiarity…as well as a mass of other emotions he found difficult to discern. The second was when he engaged the blond man, and every second he felt a great welling of nostalgia, acquaintance and knowing.
He had known this man before.
"Hello,Sasuke."
That name.
He said it as a quiet whisper, one not a soul around him could hear, testing it on the tip of his tongue. He felt something when he spoke that name: something more than familiarity or nostalgia. He felt it in his very being. That was his name. His name was Sasuke.
His eyes narrowed. The blond man knew who he was; he was sure of it. This meant that if he ever wanted to learn anything about who he was before he lost his memories, then he needed to find this person. To find this person…was to find his past…who he was…and who the ghost haunting his dreams was.
"Tell me, my beautiful ghost," he murmured, looking over at the mirage of a beautiful woman with shoulder-length pink hair, bedecked in a beautiful kimono depicting a summer's day, "If I find this man…will I begin to remember?"
She did not answer.
He did not expect her to.
Author's Note 1: Naruto and Star Wars are the property of Masashi Kishimoto and Lucas Arts, I make no profit from this story.
Author's Note 2: And now we're back to the present, forgive me for the last few chapters but now we are back on track. I've also rearranged the last three chapters back into some sort of order with the timeline so as not to confuse anyone who reads this story in the future.