Chapter 41
The Jedi Asteroid
"Sometimes I stand in wonder, considering all of this is to search for one man."
Sasuke did not reply to the High Inquisitors statement, simply allowed a subtle nod as the two stood on the bridge of his personal Star Destroyer, watching as the beginnings of a fleet were coming together. The Star Destroyers Usurper and Reprisal had met barely an hour ago, the Inquisitors own warship already in the depths of space, and his own just recently arriving after confirming that their quarry had been here.
Laid out before them, drifting in the endless darkness of space was what remained of the Pirate flotilla which had taken it upon themselves to allow their quarry to escape. They had since paid the price for their arrogance. The ships they had utilised were in pieces, torn apart by the firepower of an Imperial capital-ship, their bodies floated unmoving in the void, and what few had survived were now wishing they had died with their compatriots, if the horror stories surrounding the Inquisitorious were to be even remotely believed.
Alongside the two Star Destroyers was the damaged Interdictor Cruiser, which was even now going through repairs, and its escort which hung close by. From what Sasuke had heard it was due to limp to the nearest repair yard, its interdictor domes too damaged for quick repairs. That was disappointing, considering such a ship was still a rare commodity within the Imperial Navy and requesting another would take time they did not have.
So it was with that in mind that the young Lord could see why the Inquisitor had used his influence to call upon almost every ship in the quadrant. Already they had been joined by at least twenty warships, a few were old Venator-class Star Destroyers but the majority were escorts and support vessels. They were expecting at least another thirty to arrive within the next few hours.
The plan it seems was simple. They were to create a net, send them out in duos and trios in search of their target, and the High Inquisitor standing beside him had already utilised the ruse of a surprise military exercise with the surrounding systems, to make sure no other officer or bounty hunter with dreams of grandeur and riches would take it upon themselves to intervene.
"Was that really necessary?" Sasuke asked at last, catching the Inquisitors attention.
Tremayne looked over at the Lord and Master of the new corps, before his one organic eye looked down at the mangled body on the deck, the Pirate Leaders eyes bulged in his skull, hands grasping his own throat in the deathly grip, blood was pouring from his orifices, pooling on the decking. This was his guest's handy work, the gains from him delving forcefully into his subjects mind and tearing the information from his psyche.
"You do not approve, Commander?" the man asked.
Tremayne was a man who Sasuke did not like right away. His form radiated superiority and arrogance on a scale which matched that of his younger self. He was also a protégé of Darth Vader, whom the young Commander did not get along with. He found Vader to be nothing more than a mindless storm, a blunt instrument which destroyed everything in his path.
Tremayne was a tall, lanky and imposing figure, something had happened to the High Inquisitor to mar the right side of his head to the point where he needed cybernetic implants to survive, the eye on this side was a slanted hole with a single crimson light. The cyborg which was once a full man was also quite powerful in the force, to the point where he could rip information from a subjects brain, then make him strangle himself to death.
"If you are going to kill your prisoners do it on your own ship," Sasuke replied, turning slightly so the man could see that he was not afraid of him, if anything just to show his annoyance. "And don't sully the deck of mine."
His two black robed bodyguards twitched, as did the two Ninja guarding his own back. Sasuke knew almost immediately that Ayame and Amaya were not intimidated by the enshrouded agents, if anything he could almost feel the tension, they wanted to test their mettle against these Jedi outcasts turned killers. This was something he knew the Inquisitors bodyguards reciprocated, they had undoubtedly heard about the precision and ability of his own agents, and wanted to see if their lightsabers could cut them down to size.
The potential confrontation was stopped when the High Inquisitor raised a hand. "I apologise, considering the reputation of your corps I thought you would not mind if I took out an enemy of the Empire."
Sasuke shrugged, and his agents relaxed marginally, "I prefer to do my killing away from what I consider my home."
"Fair enough," the High Inquisitor replied.
"So, what brings a High Inquisitor of the infamous Inquisitorious onto my vessel?"
"Straight to the point, I like that." Tremayne smirked, the cyborg clasping his hands behind his back as he turned to face him. "I am aware that you have been called in by his Imperial Majesty to aide us in capturing this vagabond, this Naruto Uzumaki."
Sasuke nodded, "The Emperor considered our past dealings would be crucial in his apprehension."
"I am sure he did." Tremayne allowed. "And I trust in the Emperor's judgement on the matter."
"So are you here because you wish for us to work together, as partners rather than rivals?"
"No," the word was uttered calmly and meticulously from the fallen Jedi. "That is not why I am here Lord Uchiha, I am here to warn you to stay out of my way. I will not lie that calling you went against my own advice and wishes on the matter."
"I see," Sasuke hummed in response, turning onyx orbs on his unwanted houseguest. "And why is that?"
"Because you are an enigma, an unknown in the secretive world of intrigue and espionage, all Inquisitors are in and of themselves spymasters Lord Uchiha. We pride ourselves on our networks and our understanding of the greater workings of the galaxy. I do not pretend that I know everything, because that is impossible. I do however live by the creed of 'knowledge is power'. You are an unknown in this game, a void in my understanding of the universe, and that makes you a liability." Sasuke said nothing as his rival; his new nemesis spoke his mind with such surety and lack of fear. "I do not know why the Emperor has such an interest in you and your abilities, taken you under his wing, allowed you to recruit and train your own warriors but know this, everything the Emperor does is for gain, never for charity. The second you cease to become useful you will be snuffed out, and perhaps I will be the one to do it."
The tension in the room was once again palpable. The onyx eyed assassin noticed the heckles rise in his two subordinates, their chakras flaring, the silent hiss of assassins knives held within the folds of their robes. One word from him and the High Inquisitor would be drowning in a pool of his own blood.
"With respect High Inquisitor, you have been following his trail for the better part of the last year and you have yet to turn up any plausible leads to him or this little rebellion he is helping put together. If anything you have made the hunt all the more tedious by advising the Emperor that a bounty be placed on Uzumaki's head in the hopes of smoking him out." Sasuke stepped forward, ignoring the two agents tense ever so slightly as he came to stand shoulder to shoulder with the fallen Jedi. "Your problem High Inquisitor is that you treated this as any other hunt, but this was never such a hunt. You prepared for prey, when you should have prepared for a predator."
"Oh," the Cyborg replied.
"You don't like me, Tremayne, which is alright because I don't care much for you either. To me you are just another pawn, another blade which can be used and discarded once it breaks. You warned me that once my usefulness has come to an end so will my life, well in my opinion that train of thought works both ways." Sasuke turned to face him, red eyes and swirling black tomoe of his Sharingan flashing to life. He held the High Inquisitors gaze, knowing that if he wanted to he could place him under the most horrific Genjutsu he could imagine. It would be all too easy. "Do not threaten me Tremayne, least of all in my own house."
A smirk spread across the fallen Jedi's lips as he held his gaze, "Hmm, interesting... so those are the infamous Sharingan eyes."
Sasuke did not rise to the question, but instead put an end to the conversation. "Thank you for coming here to introduce yourself in person High Inquisitor, but I think you have overstayed your welcome. Don't you?"
"It appears I have," the High Inquisitor replied, an air of nonchalant as he turned and began to walk away, his two guards in tow. "Just remember my Lord, that the Emperor wants the vagabond alive, no disintegration."
"I am aware of this High Inquisitor. Do not treat me like a moron."
"That was not my intention. I simply wanted to reiterate his Imperial Majesties express wishes." The cyborg replied, though a hint of mirth was just barely noticeable in his slightly mechanical voice. "You may do whatever you like to his companions if you apprehend him first. Blow them up, chop them up, shoot them repeatedly, execute them in public... heck you could even torture them while he watches, but the target himself is not to be permanently damaged."
Yes, Sasuke decided with finality, Tremayne was definitely someone he would not be an ally off, as much as he was no ally to his master, if anything Tremayne was worse than his master. Darth Vader was just a mad dog on a leash, but the High Inquisitor was something much worse, a twisted, cruel monster born in the depths of the Emperor's reprogramming facilities in the Deep Core. If anything he meant every word of his threat, as he knew his new opponent meant every word of his.
He made it halfway across the walkway when Sasuke's voice echoed, a tinge of irritation clear. "Can someone please clean this mess up?"
Nestled within an asteroid belt in the Acherin system, protected by an atmospheric storm, the Jedi Asteroid was considered a bastion of protection against the might of the Imperial war machine. Easily one of the larger chunks of rock within the field the asteroid, which was once nothing more than a haven, had been upgrading to a refuelling and rearming station for the remnants of the Confederate navy.
Where once one could barely make out the infrastructure of the base now there were patches of transparisteel hull, docking bay arms, and scattered weapons turrets ranging from laser and ion cannons to even a few turbolaser batteries. What was more the Confederates considered this, their only permanent base in the region, an important enough installation to keep a small taskforce of ships in the area.
Even as the Will of Fire hovered through the asteroid belt towards their destination they saw evidence of the fleet presence, a trio of Vulture Droids flanked them and their comms crackled to life.
"Unidentified craft, you are in restricted airspace, identify or be fired upon."
Naruto sighed as he grabbed the mic and pressed the button, "Identification code Alpha-November-Mick-Foxtrot-6-7-4-1-9."
There was a moment of crackled silence before the voice spoke up again, "Roger that Fireball, move to dock number five, welcoming party will be awaiting you."
"Thanking you very much control, Fireball out." Naruto finished before hanging up the mic and turning to his crew. "You heard him folks, dock number five."
"Roger that, moving into position." Celeste intoned as she moved her hand across the control yolk, making minute changes in their course.
"It's been a few years since the war and I still can never get used to those damned Vultures." Rex grumbled, throwing a glare at the sleek droids as they continued to shadow them.
"It's about to get worse," Aayla was also looking out the cockpit window. "It may have started as a haven for Jedi but since they now have the protection of an entire fleet there was little need for it. The Padawans and younglings were moved to the Refuge some time ago. It's more or less a Confederate stronghold now."
"That means droids?" Rex asked.
"That means droids," Obi-wan affirmed.
"Great," the former Commander grumbled under his breath.
"Hey relax Rex," Naruto placated with his usual easy smile. "We're all friends now."
"Old rivalries Naruto, they don't just fall to the wayside so easily."
They docked with the asteroid without incident, the three Vultures soaring past them and disappearing back into the rock ridden darkness of space, either to return to their mother ship or back to their usual patrol route. Naruto, Obi-wan, Aayla, Rex and Lowbacca exited the ship and walked across the docking arm towards the asteroid proper.
The doors opened with a hiss of steam, and they were greeted by one of the founders of the facility. Naruto remembered Fy-Tor-Ana from the Jedi Enclave some time ago. She was a short and slender woman with dark hair cut short, blue eyes and a marking on her forehead he was unfamiliar with. Another Jedi stood beside her, and a duo of skeletal B-1's flanked them both. He allowed the Jedi Master of the group to take the lead.
"Lady Solace," Obi-wan greeted warmly, bowing his head.
"Master Kenobi," the founder of the Asteroid replied, bowing her head in return with a warm smile. "Welcome to the Asteroid."
"Thank you," the Master replied before turning to the rest of his entourage. "You remember our friends from the enclave."
She nodded, turning to Naruto with a half smile, "I do remember, you caused quite a stir Master Uzumaki."
Naruto shrugged, "Kind of the thing that I do."
"Well it was something we needed," Solace nodded. "So I heard about your latest exploits, not a small feat becoming one of the most wanted men in the galaxy. I hope you know what you're doing."
The Shinobi shrugged, "We'll manage."
"I'm sure you will," Solace replied before turning back to Obi-wan. "I take it you need resupplied and rearmed?"
"Yes, if it wouldn't be too troublesome."
"No trouble at all." A dozen technicians were waiting at the edge of the antechamber, standing smartly to attention and waiting for the Jedi Masters command. "It may take a little while so please make yourselves comfortable. The Confederates have been a little... overzealous in their renovations so it might not be as you remember."
"Yes I've heard," Obi-wan nodded as the two began to walk, Naruto and the rest following after them at a sedate pace. "The younglings have been moved out and they've been busy hollowing out the rest of the asteroid for storage areas."
"They've also enlarged the medical bay, living quarters, added on a half dozen additional docking bays and armed the surface to the teeth." Fy-Tor-Ana added with a wry smile. "It's almost unrecognisable."
They exited the bay and entered a slightly wide corridor, men and women dressed in military uniforms passed them by, some ignoring them, others offering salutes to Lady Solace as they passed. More than a few glances were sent at their little groups attention. Lady Solace leaned in close a little, whispering distance between Obi-wan, Aayla and Naruto as they walked.
"You're reputation may proceed you here," she warned softly. "News has already circulated on all available channels about your escapades and bounties, at the moment your seen as heroes of the rebellion."
"We're not heroes," Obi-wan sighed.
"You may not believe your heroes Master Kenobi but you know as well as anyone that in times of strife people need heroes," Fy-Tor-Ana admonished softly. She was right off course, Naruto would be the first to know that when things turned bad and hope was fading what people needed more than maybe anything else in the world for heroes.
It was kind of funny, he never thought he'd hear the term again.
"Can I interest you all in some tea while you wait," Lady Solace asked as they continued to walk. "It's been a while since I've seen familiar faces."
"I would be delighted," Obi-wan smiled.
"Got anything a little stronger?" Rex asked.
Lady Solace frowned thoughtfully, "There's some Kuati Ale."
"Sold," Naruto grinned as Aayla sighed, shaking her head.
"So they went in there did they?"
"Yes."
Peering from the shadows of his hat Cad Bane watched the asteroid field, scanning it with his crimson eyes before turning to his partner. "Do they know they're being followed?"
"Impossible," the Mandalorian rebuked. "The tracker is state of the art, almost untraceable unless you know what you're looking for."
"You have obviously never hunted Obi-wan Kenobi before," the Duros chuckled before leaning forward in his chair, steepling his hands together in thought. "Do a scan of the area, look for signatures belonging to Confederate stealth signatures and comm channels."
He got no reply, but he knew his fellow bounty hunter was already working on the task. There was silence for several long moments before he pulled up an image from the holo-table and absently sent it in his direction. It was an asteroid, which wasn't surprising if you considered where their quarry was supposedly hiding, but the half hidden ship hovering behind it gave him pause.
"That's a Confederate Cruiser," he muttered, using his hands to zoom the image. "Looks like a Providence-class Carrier, if it's fully armed and operational we'll be dealing with more firepower and more droids than we can handle."
"It's not alone," another image was passed over to him, showing a different ship passing between the huge clumps of rock. "A Blockade Runner, looks like a CR-90 Corvette, heavily modified. It looks like this is more than just a random asteroid field."
"Hmm," the Duros hummed in agreement, bringing up a few other images of the surrounding region. "There's several pings going off at random places across the system, looks like duos and trios of scouting ships, possibly Vultures or Scarabs."
"It looks like we've found ourselves a rebel base, an outpost or refueling station perhaps," the Mandalorian replied as Bane smiled thinly at the images.
"The Empire could pay quite a price for this information."
"Keep to the quarry Bane," the armored warrior warned. "Whatever money they give us for this base will be minuscule compared to the bounties of our targets."
Bane shrugged, "I suppose your right. They're obviously still in the asteroid belt, so we just sit tight and wait for them to make a move. Does this tin-can have a cloaking device."
His partner gave him a flat look before leaning over with deliberate slowness and pushing a few buttons on his console. There was a whine as a device came online followed by quiet. "It does, yes... call my ship a tin-can again and you're walking."
Banes response was a shrug, some people just didn't have a sense of humor.
The battle was progressing well. They had jumped into the system undetected, achieving the element of surprise and catching their target completely unawares. By the time the defenders were aware of their presence they were already in firing range, and their opening salvo crippled the Cruiser in its docking bay, causing significant damage to the surrounding superstructure.
Squadrons of TIE fighters swept from the hangers of the main station like a black tide of locusts, and were met with an equal tide of Vulture droids and Tri-fighters. Crimson and emerald bolts of energy lit up the darkness, and plumes of flame and debris heralded the destruction of another fighter, droid or Imperial, it was difficult to tell in the chaos.
With the Cruiser crippled and the TIE fighters busy the main fleet swept in. A ragtag group of small ships ranging from winged Munificent-class Frigates to a few Dreadnought-class Cruisers acting as a protective shield to the taskforces heavy muscle of three Providence-class Cruisers. Following behind them, escorted by another screen of Vultures was a small flotilla of tankers and troop transports.
Admiral Nath Swell watched the whole battle play out from his holo-table, the recordings were only five hours old and came directly from the Commander of the taskforce, signed off with two simple words written in bold capital letters. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED. It was those two simple words which allowed the Confederate Admiral a sigh of relief, but then he felt compelled to see the technical readouts and simulations of the raid, his mind moving on to how many did he lose.
As it turned out the losses were minimal, although the TIE fighters were superior fighter craft compared to the aging droids they were outnumbered almost three to one and were quickly broken and individually eliminated. When the crippled Cruiser tried to fire at the approaching fleet it was met with a return barrage which destroyed all of its main weapons. By the time the troop transports had docked with the main station and the tankers were coupling up to the Tibanna gas platforms all resistance had been quelled.
The tankers filled up on the gas, the commandos were able to get what information they needed and the fleet managed to leave long before Imperial reinforcements arrived. Their losses included twenty Vultures, seven Scarabs, minor damage to one of the Frigates and three Commandos. It wasn't a complete victory but he would take those losses over the loss of the fleet.
The turbodoors opened with a hiss and the Admiral looked up just in time to see the Director walk calmly into the room, Ruk Sull eyed the ongoing simulation for a few moments before turning back to his immediate superior. "It seems the raid was successful, Admiral."
"Thankfully yes, Director." Swell answered, straightening from his place at the table and walking towards the head of Imperial Intelligence and, for all intents and purposes, the second in command of what was left of the Confederate Navy. "What news from the Empire on the raid?"
"The usual," the Director replied as he handed Swell a datapad. The admiral skimmed over the report within, nodded to himself and then handed it back. "The expected response, they're going to reinforce the surrounding fuel depots and outposts, which will weaken their security elsewhere. Any word on where?"
"My sources are still confirming that," Sull replied. "I should have word within the next few days, then you can plan the next strike. How much Tibanna gas did we get?"
"A years' worth for the fleet."
"And the data?"
"Negligible, only fleet movements and dossiers for the immediate vicinity," the Admiral replied with a frown. "For it being such a large refueling hub I expected more information than that."
Sull nodded, then began typing into his datapad, soon handing it back to the Admiral. "The latest news from the scouting groups and raiding squadrons, including recruitment and losses."
Swell took it wordlessly and studied it more closely, his eyes narrowing the more he read before closing them tightly, "We've lost another ship in the Hydian Way, what does that make now Sull? Three this month?"
"Four sir," the Director replied.
"And recruitment?"
"We've received seven hundred and eighty volunteers from the Outer-rim, a hundred and seven from Hutt Space and seventy five from the Gordian Reach... as to ships the Corellians gave us an old Carrack-class which was slated for scrapping."
"We lose four ships and gain only one, that's not acceptable."
"I agree."
"We're losing ships faster than we can procure them. We spend most of our time raiding soft targets and shipping conveys because we can barely supply and fuel our own ships instead of hitting the Empire. If this keeps up we'll degenerate into nothing more than some Pirate fleet scrounging for spare parts." Swell scowled as he continued to read the data, before turning his attention back to the holo-table. "We need to hit the Empire somewhere where they will take notice, somewhere that'll hurt them."
"Anywhere in mind, Admiral?"
"A shipyard, a major supply depot or refuelling station, a fleet rallying point, a major trade centre... just something that'll remind them that we're still here and something that'll hopefully rally enough volunteers and materiel to keep us going." Swell tapped a few buttons on the control panel, closing the simulation and bringing up a map of the galaxy, with another moment he brought up a series of possible targets. "We need to hit them hard, do some serious damage. The question is where are they at their weakest."
Clasping his hands behind his back the Director of Confederate Intelligence walked, slowly but surely, to his commanding officers side, eyeing the galactic map for several moments before reaching for the control panel with a single hand of spindly digits. Deftly he typed in what he needed to type and the holomap zoomed into a single location, a region, then a system, then a planet. "How about here, Admiral?"
Swell eyed the planet for a long moment, frowning. "Are you sure about this?"
"Positive," Sull replied. "The shipyards on the planet have been greatly upgraded since the proclamation, it's now considered the fifth greatest shipyard in the galaxy. According to reports from my networks the Mon Calamari and Quaran have been basically enslaved to do most of the renovations. Recently Palaptine himself gave permission to destroy several cities on the surface, so rebellion is rife and with the right show of support it will explode. We would have saved a planet, gained evidence of unsavoury Imperial activities and also gained a shipyard to, at least temporarily, repair, refuel and rearm our ships."
"How many ships will be needed?" Swell asked.
"Half the fleet at least." Sull replied, raising a hand before the Neimoidian could retort. "According to my sources most of the reinforcements for the regions we've hit will come from this sector, even then it'll have a considerable military presence, but with half the fleet and your direct command, it will be possible to liberate the planet, and once Dac is liberated the entire region will rise up in rebellion."
The Admiral was silent for a long moment, "This is a make or break operation Sull, you understand this?"
"I do," the Director replied. "But we have little choice otherwise, even if we do not go ahead with this the lifespan of the fleet as a cohesive fighting force, even with the latest successful raids, is three years at best... not exactly the time period the Jedi set out is it?"
"No, it isn't." Swell allowed, the Jedi had advised caution, that it would take decades for resentment to build into a rebellion which would topple the Empire but he would freely admit that they didn't have that kind of time. "Dac is the hub between the Mid-rim and the Outer-rim. If this strike succeeds then other disgruntled sectors will rise in open rebellion, it will be the spark that'll set everything off, war of the scale of the Clone Wars may be inevitable, do you understand this Sull?"
The Muun nodded, "War of that scale was inevitable from the very beginning Admiral, as much as I like the naivety and faith in the Greater Good of the Jedi and their friends my own experience says otherwise. It was never a matter of if a bloody war would happen but when."
The Admiral was silent, instead walking to and sitting heavily on the nearest chair he could find, for what seemed like hours he sat there, hands steepled, eyes closed as he thought of all the possible futures this one action would have in store. This one action, if successful, would set off a chain reaction of open rebellion across the Outer-rim and possibly the Mid-rim territories, it may save the fleet and their allies but doom countless worlds to the wrath of Imperial counterattack and revenge. Should he act now, or should he wait and see what else could happen, what other trigger points the Empire would flip to cause open rebellion.
With hindsight he would make such a decision in a heartbeat but without it the path was as muddy as it could get.
So instead he thought of the events that he could control. He thought of his fleet, which was low on fuel, ammunition, supplies and hope, his men and women were starving and it wouldn't be long before he would lose control of them entirely. He thought of his allies in the Jedi and Rebel Clones, how they would be hunted to extinction by everything the Empire could bring to the table should they be defeated. He thought of the crimes the Empire was committing on the worlds which supported the Separatists and beyond, including his own home domain of the Neimoidian Purse Worlds and the masses of people being enslaves and worked to death for the Empires huge construction and renovation projects across the galaxy.
After thinking of all of this he opened his eyes with clear thoughts and a clear conscience. "Give the order, assemble the full fleet."
"The full fleet?" Sull asked, blinking.
Nath Swell offered a wry smile to his Intelligence Director, "Like you said this is all or nothing. We either emerge victorious or continue crippled until the Empire hunts what's left of us down. I choose for a final confrontation than living the last of my days in fear. Send words to our allies and ask if they would like to join us."
"I will do so," Sull replied with a nod. "Admiral."
Swell remained silent, even as the Director turned on his heel and walked from the room he barely seemed to notice, just one thought went through his head. For better or worse everything will hinge on that moment, that one life or death struggle. Will the rebellion die here, or morph into something more.
Lights flashed across the darkness of the chamber, flashing crimson and sapphire as two blades of pure plasma met and locked. The chamber where the duel was taking place was meant as a viewing platform, somewhere people would meet, look out through the impressively cavernous viewports and see what spectacle was in store for them, now it was the scene of a duel between a Jedi Knight and a Sith lord.
The Jedi Knight was Ferus Olin, former apprentice of Jedi Master Siri Tachi, General of the Clone Wars and childhood rival of the man he was currently fighting against. A man who had turned to the darkness of evil to save a loved one who died. Anakin Skywalker, no, Darth Vader was the other combatant in this duel which held the lives of hundreds in its hands.
Sapphire and crimson blades clashed, locked together, broke apart and clashed again as the two combatants fought for dominance in the darkening platform. The Jedi Knight was impressive, highly skilled through training and experience both, but his opponent had all of that skill and training and much more, he was a bastion of power, a reservoir of darkness, lost to the evils of the ethereal and absorbing every last drop of power it gave him.
The loss of limbs to only be replaced by cybernetic constructs did not slow him down or weaken him, only continued to give him purpose to bring a final inevitability conclusion to his masters will.
A galaxy completely under the dominion to the darkness of the force, the destruction of all Jedi and all those who opposed them. A Sith Empire which would reign for ten thousand years unmolested and undefeated by its foes. That was all Anakin Skywalker, no, that was all Darth Vader had left in the universe and whether it was right or wrong he would see it through until the bitter end. It was too far for him to go back now, too much blood spilled and too many innocents lost with him holding the blade.
He was numb to it, and so he continued.
Ferus Olin knew this, felt it in the force, that through this indomitable will and almost unbroken resolve he would never be able to best his rival yet he continued on anyway. It was not just his life on the line, it was all of his friends, those who still meant something to him, if he allowed the Dark Lords plans to go ahead he would lose what little ties to the world he still had, so he continued on without fail.
He would protect that chunk of rock with his life, or die trying.
He knew of the alliance between the survivors of the Clone Wars, that the younglings and innocents had been removed from that rock, but his friends were not, Fy-Tor-Ana was still there, the lady who had decided to protect that asteroid in his stead and would continue to do so until his return. Not just that but Obi-wan and several heroes of the rebellion were there if his sources were correct and he would not allow those who needed to live die, not on his watch.
But Anakin, no, Vader, was too powerful. He had come a long way from the time when they were Padawan's squabbling at the steps of the Jedi Temple on Coruscant, no, his power had increased tenfold since then. He was a force of nature, a crippled yet unbroken beast, a foe whose reserves of power and energy were limitless. Yes, Anakin Skywalker had truly become a behemoth of overwhelming power and destruction, a machine driven by a single purpose, the will of his master.
His lightsaber was ripped from his grasp, he was thrown to the metal decking and the point of a crimson blade was aimed right for his throat. All the while the monster that Anakin Skywalker had become towered over him, leering at him, glaring at him with a single message through the weary and defeated Jedi Knight's mind, a single resounding message.
You have failed!
"You are beaten," Vader announced as he towered over him. "Your time is up and the end is nigh."
"Anakin," Ferus began, feeling the heat of his former rival and now mortal enemies lightsaber as it seared the skin of his throat. "Please, don't do this."
Vader did not respond, did not move, but simply continued to watch as Ferus starred back at him. The covers for the viewports opened, showing the glowing orb of the systems sun and the ring of rocks which was its asteroid belt, somewhere out there was the base for the Jedi, their last great refuge and the only real resupply point for the rebels in the Mid-rim, take it out and sever their connection.
A voice echoed through the internal speakers, "Lord Vader, we have arrived."
Vader was unmoving for a moment, and for a moment Ferus allowed a small minute hope to pierce his chest, that he had somehow gotten through to the Sith Lord, that his friends would be spared.
It did not last long, "Proceed, commander."
His heard sank as he looked out of the great viewports of the observation deck. The newest weapon of the Empire was poised for his friends and he couldn't do a damn thing about it. He could imagine the experimental weapons, looking like little more than oversized Turbolaser batteries as they swivelled into position and waited for the target to come into sight.
The test of the Emperor's dread weapon would take place.
The Eye of Palpatine was about to be unleashed.
Hello guys, I'm back!
not a lot of Naruto and Aayla in this one, but I feel that this was the problem which led to my long hiatus. I mean sure there were little scraps about the thoughts of others, mainly Sasuke, Vader and Palpatine but mostly it was just following this one plot point, after a while I came to the conclusion that this was the problem.
At this stage with a large body of rebels declaring war against the Empire it would be foolish to stick with just one plot. What about the Confederates, what about the Rebel Clones, what about the Jedi, what about the Imperial forces chasing after them? It took me almost a year but when it came to that I finally got my muse going again. Let's talk about these other elements, let's give them a voice and a say in the story as a whole.
It might be a little rough and lacking of grammar but bare with me, I felt I needed to get this out to you guys as soon as possible so I only re-read it once. I hope I caught out all of the glaring annoying issues with grammar but give me a shout if I didn't.
Best Wishes!
Darth Malleus