Chapter 46
Blood on the Sand
"Shuttle Existence, what is your cargo?"
The pilot hesitated a moment before pressing the button to the comlink and replying. "Replacement parts for one of the main power generators on the shipyards, copy?"
A long moment of tense silence, then finally there was a response. "Roger that Shuttle Existence. You are cleared to proceed, docking bay 37."
The pilot sighed in relief before pressing the comm again. "Roger that command, moving to docking bay 37."
Before them was the vast planet spanning ring of the Dac shipyards, encircling the planet like the rings of rock and debris usually found around a gas giant. These rings of metal and iron were one of the largest shipyards in the galaxy, known officially as one of the 'Big Five' shipyards which comprised of Dac, Kuat, Corellia, Fondor and Duros. In short if they could take Dac and her shipyards, even temporarily, it would remove a major construction hub from the Empire.
There were ten shuttles like theirs, all carrying a platoons worth of advanced commandoes all commanded by a Jedi Master. They had been coming into the shipyards over the last few weeks, pretending to be supply ships and troop transports in light of the recent increase in rebel activity in the Outer-rim.
They were the last, and as far as they were aware the last several shuttles had docked with the shipyards and dispersed their cargo of commandoes and Jedi Knights across the length and breadth of the shipyards. All they needed to do was follow suit, dock, pass checkpoints, disembark, move to their positions and await the rebel attack. Their mission was to take control of important command hubs, cut off the automatic defence systems and nullify the security troopers.
Roblio Darte watched the great shipyards with a calculating eye as the shuttle approached. The Jedi Master was dressed in the black uniform of an Imperial officer, his soldiers both clone and otherwise wore Stormtrooper armour procured during their last major raid, all checked multiple times to confirm that their codes weren't out of date before beginning this mission. He had shaved his beard and hair to military grade compared to the usual length, all in preparation for the battle.
The shuttle docked, the doors opened with a cry of hydraulics and a hiss of steam and with a straight posture of professionalism Darte led the way, his troopers following him in two line of six as they descended the ramp, armour immaculate and blasters held tightly to their chests.
Meeting them was another black clothed officer, eyeing him speculatively as he approached with a half dozen real Stromtroopers flanking him. "Ah Corporal, I take it the parts are ready?"
Darte snapped to attention with a sharp salute, "Yes sir!"
"Very well," the man replied dismissively. "Proceed!"
Darte managed to stop himself from grinning as he ordered his troopers to move the cargo. Now that they had successfully managed to access the shipyards all they needed to do was move to their specified point, not draw any attention to themselves and await the time to act. They would make their move. The labour crews would riot, drawing attention to them and the end result would be control of the vital parts of the orbital docks.
That still left the fleet and the resistance movements on Dac to carry out their own jobs, and he hoped to the force that they were able to do so. The mission was too delicate enough as it was without anything going wrong.
The four ships exited hyperspace as close to the planet as possible, so close that the desert world completely filled their cockpit viewports. Atin watched his sensors closely, looking for even the possible signal of anything designated as a Cruiser, when nothing but the usual comtraffic and sensor readings showed he breathed a sigh of relief and turned to his passengers.
"The sensors aren't picking up anything Imperial, looks like we're the first ones here." He said, waiting for their reply. The atmosphere on his ship had been tense ever since they had left the rebel taskforce behind. Naruto, Rex, Vos and Tano had been as quiet and subdued as the Clone commandoes they were travelling with.
"Good," Uzumaki replied as he stepped up beside him, pushing a few buttons on his communications console. "Alright guys report in."
"Red 2 here." Tholme reported in.
"Red 3 reporting." Obi-wan added.
"Red 4 here." There was a moment of silence followed by a groan from Weiss. "Stang!"
"you alright, firecracker?" Naruto asked.
"You try living in a Starfighter for two days straight!" She snapped, obviously irritated. "Oh force me I need a shower after this!"
"We all will." Obi-wan retorted, bemused.
"And here was me thinking I retired from this kind of thing." Tholme added ruefully.
"Hold on, did you just call me firecracker?"
"Yeah."
A moment of silence, followed by an overly irritated, "Why!?"
"Does anybody else not get that?" Naruto asked.
"I get it." Rex replied.
"Same here." Quinlan nodded.
"Yeah." Ahsoka added.
"I get it." Obi-wan allowed.
"I may be old but I understand it perfectly." Tholme finished.
Another moment of silence. "I hate all of you right now."
"We know." Naruto finished, trying his hardest not to laugh. It had felt like a millennia since he had been able to crack a smile. "Red 4 remain in high orbit and power down your ship to the necessities to avoid detection. The rest of you follow Master Tholme. The old man knows something about flying under the radar."
"Understood." Sia-lan replied, "powering down now."
"We're going to drop down onto the night side of the planet and keep below fifty meters from the ground. Land based sensors won't be able to detect us so long as there are no military grade vessels in orbit." Tholme explained.
"Master Weiss the moment an Imperial warship comes in warn us." Obi-wan added. "I'm guessing we have an hour before they reach the planet."
"Understood, Master Kenobi."
"Once we reach the palace were going to need to move fast." Naruto said, looking upon the desert planet. Aayla, Celeste and Seth were there and they would be getting them back. "Get ready for a close and personal fight ladies and gents. Me, the Jedi and the commandoes will take and hold the landing pads, Delta-7's provide air cover and destroy any heavy weapon emplacements this asshole may have."
"He'll have them." Skirata replied. "The last time I was here I spied at least two anti-ship laser cannons within striking range of the main landing platforms. Those will need to be taken out before I can safely land this bird."
"You all heard that?" Naruto asked.
"Loud and clear!" Obi-wan answered.
"Then let's bring a little hell to Tatooine!" Naruto smiled grimly before taking a deep breath. "Begin operation!"
Two of the three Delta-7's and the starship dived, punching through the atmosphere of the planet and kept going until they came dangerously close to the surface, just as it seemed they had reached the point of no return the three ships pulled up sharply. They just missed the ground, kicking up a whirlwind of sand and kept going. Just as predicted they saw the canyon and soared into it, now out of any sensors that the crime lord would likely have.
They continued this way for a good ten minutes before their destination came into view. The Hutt's palace was carved into the rock of the small mountain, a semicircle of landing pads connected by walkways hanging over the gapping abyss. They saw Fett's Slave I landed on the far pad, and the dome shaped ships presence brought a glare to Naruto's features. That meant that the hunters who destroyed his ship, killed and abducted his friends were still there.
The ship wasn't all there was in plain sight. He saw dark figures strolling along the walkways and landing pads at random places. Jabba's guards he guessed, mercenaries and cutthroats armed with blasters and bladed weapons.
"Palace in sight." Obi-wan's voice crackled over the comlink.
"Let's begin." Naruto replied, and it did begin.
The two Delta-7's ascended steeply, then spun and dived. Their blaster cannons flared, peppering the walkways with crimson bolts which sent those on them either scrambling for cover or falling to their deaths. Something on one of the platforms was flammable for an explosion destroyed one of the walkways, the empty landing pad connected to the main structure slowly fell away as the few remaining supports strained and snapped.
Several openings appeared and anti-air cannons rose, their twin cannons already blazing away at the two starfighters. In response they rolled and evaded with almost scary ease before Tholme swung his fighter around and fired a pair of proton torpedoes into the first anti-air cannon with a huge explosion of flame and debris. It was then that the Etain rose up from the chasm, dorsal and ventral laser cannons peppering and destroying the last ground cannon before hovering over one of the remaining landing pads.
Doors opened, ropes were dropped and Clone commandoes slid effortlessly down them, firing their blaster rifles at the surviving guards as they huddled behind piles of crates and returned fire. Naruto, Quinlan and Ahsoka didn't need the ropes. They just jumped from the side, landed effortlessly, blasters drawn and lightsaber igniting as they rushed across the interconnecting walkway. The surviving guards saw them, and one of them had a homing launcher.
The missile struck the bridge, blowing the central section. It didn't completely destroy the bridge but from the screams of durasteel that landing pad wasn't a safe place to be either. The two Jedi and single Shinobi vanished in the explosion of flame and smoke, and the mercenaries cheered.
It didn't last long.
Blaster fire rained down on them, followed by lightsaber blades cutting through their weapons and armour. The three targets had been Shadow Clones, two henged to look like random hooded Jedi. Naruto, Quinlan and Ahsoka had waited until the skirmish was in full swing, then performed force and chakra strengthened jumps to land on the far wall, Naruto's keeping his feet stuck managed to hold the two up until the mercenaries thought they were safe and then he released the technique and let them fall towards their targets. What followed was a short exchange of kunai and lightsaber blades.
Finally the walkway snapped, and the landing pad started a slow descend into the canyon, but not before the ARC troopers activated their jetpacks during the lull in the fighting, throwing themselves away from the unsafe ground and landing on the more solid main walkways connected to the palace proper.
Naruto pulled a few kunai from a dead grunt and looked around, nodding in satisfaction. A dozen bodies of the enemy he could see, and none of his own. A good first step in their strategy, he thought as he pulled out his comlink and thumbed it to all frequencies. "ARC troopers. Setup a defensive perimeter around the main exit. Anything not us comes along you blast them. Fighters continue to circle. Atin get the transport out of sight until I say so or you're found!"
A long series of clicks was his answer as he turned back to the two Jedi. Ahsoka and Quinlan didn't even look partially winded by the fight. They both remained calm and in control, looking at him for orders.
Ahsoka smiled, "That brings back some memories."
"What do we do?" Quinlan asked.
Rex came up by his side then, blaster rifle held idly in his hands. Naruto took a breath and looked at them. "I will be going in alone. You three and the ARC's make sure no one interferes."
"There's probably an army of Jabba's men in that palace." Vos countered, his weapon deactivating and partially hidden within the folds of his robes billowing sleeves. "You'll need all the help you can get."
"I'm going to have to agree with Vos, boss." Rex replied. "It's going to be close quarters the whole way, meaning that most of your Shinobi voodoo stuff will be difficult to pull off."
"That I don't doubt." Naruto allowed, turning to Rex. "But my order still stands, stay here and hold the entrance."
"Boss." Rex chastised, a warning in his voice.
"Don't argue Rex." Naruto cut him off sharply, voice leaving no room for retort. He contemplated for a moment. Should he tell them or not. He ground his teeth together, feeling an old familiar yet unwelcome sensation wash over him. It was like Konoha all over again. A choice was made. "I'm not in a good way right now and when I get like this you don't want to be around me in an enclosed space."
"A new technique of yours?" Rex asked, ignoring the Jedi's inquisitive looks.
"No," Naruto replied, closing his eyes and opening them. The azure orbs were gone, replaced by crimson orbs with sickle like pupils, what was more they were blinking gold every now and then. It was unsettling to see. "It's an old style I once used often, but couldn't remember until Boz Pity. I'm not sure if I have the same control I used too."
Rex scowled even as the Jedi tensed. An armoured hand grabbed him by his collar and pulled him close. His friend and comrade seemed unafraid by the lightshow going on with his eyes, his own dark chocolate glaring right at him with an intensity only soldiers could bring. "Promise me you'll get them. You'll bring them back to us. Promise!"
"Promise." Naruto replied, eyes finally turning from volatile crimson to glowing gold. It wasn't the same as Sith eyes, those were yellow and sickly. These were glowing with suppressed power. The similarity worried Vos and Ahsoka, but they did not let their natural response take over. "I'll bring them back to us, alive."
Rex and Naruto continued to stare at each other for a long moment before the former Commando sighed and let him go. Naruto placed a comforting hand on his shoulder as he walked past him, glowing eyes glaring at the darkened entrance to the palace. He walked past Ahsoka and Quinlan, walked past the ARC troopers as they continued to setup a defensive semicircle of crates and debris.
"Commander," Delta saluted as he stalked past. "What about the interior of the palace?"
"Leave that to me, Captain." Naruto replied, sparks flying from his form. "You lot just worry about what's coming from outside."
"Understood sir."
"Naruto!"
He turned to see Vos was right with him. "You can't expect us to wait out here until you return."
He should have seen this coming. Vos was Aayla's first teacher. He was important to her, as a friend and a father figure, and looking into the man's eyes Naruto saw that she meant the same to him. He saw something else though, worry for him. "Give me ten minutes. If I'm not out by then come in yourself."
"Are you alright?" Vos asked.
Naruto chuckled, a dark sound to his ears. "I will be once I get them back."
"Careful with that power." Quinlan warned. "It can lead one down dark paths if not understood and controlled."
He had no idea. "Understood."
Vos nodded and stopped, turning around just in time for the comlink to beep. The Skirata clones voice echoed on all channels. "I've got activity from the nearest settlement. Multiple takeoffs. Get ready for some madness."
Cursing under his breath Quinlan turned and stalked back into the light, lightsaber reigniting as he stepped into the light. He watched as Rex and Ahsoka joined the clones in the hastily assembled barricade before shielding his eyes in time to see the two Delta-7's zoom by overhead. He had never once thought he would be back in this situation, commanding Jedi and Clones in combat yet here he was. "Get ready for some action!"
"Looks like we're getting a fight after all." Rex smirked, checking the power cells of his blaster.
"Did you think we wouldn't?" Ahsoka asked, her own lightsaber snapping back to life in her hands.
He turned back to the darkness, a flash of golden light catching his attention but when he turned fully there was nothing. Naruto was gone, but he still felt the power through the force, greater than anything he had ever felt before. It was difficult to describe. It was powerful, but it also seemed muffled, as if he were hearing someone speak but it was blurred by a great distance.
It was disconcerting, to say the least.
The rebel fleet was ready. The entire fleet was ready.
Admiral Swell looked at the holotable, mentally tallying the ships as they moved into their designated fleet squadrons.
The centre of his fleet was his old core of Confederate capital-ships including Providence-class Cruisers and Lucrehulk-class Battleships. Surrounding them were small sorties of support and picket vessels moving in groups of three, these were generally made up of Munificent-class Frigates and Recusant-class Light Destroyers. Spreading out from there was a myriad of starships donated by various planetary resistance groups and governments including Blockade Runners, modified civilian vessels and even a few old warships. It was a ragtag navy but it was what they had and hopefully it would be enough.
Fighters could be seen swarming about in small squadrons of between nine and twelve, all of the fighters, bombers and gunships out there were hyperdrive equipped and piloted, while the non-hyperdrive enabled craft were stored within the hangers of their motherships, ready and waiting.
The job of the hyperdrive enabled ships was simple. Fly ahead of the fleet, sow chaos within the planets orbital defences, destroy weapons platforms, military hanger bays, any warships on the move were to be harried until the main fleet arrived. Hopefully they would be able to create so much chaos that when his fleet came in they would be dealing with a harried and unprepared enemy force.
His fleet would then engage, jumping in as close to the planet and its shipyards as possible and use the guided trackers the vanguard would have placed to aim and fire their main turbolaser batteries upon the most dangerous targets, take them out quickly and efficiently and then mop up the remaining defenders in sweeping pincer actions. Recent reports had shown that the Imperial defenders were made up of one battlesquadron, three Star Destroyers, Victory-class and a dozen picket vessels, mostly Carrack-class Light Cruisers. If they could catch them by surprise, knock out the Star Destroyers first, then the fleet will not be an issue.
His comm beeped and the Admiral thumbed it on. "Report."
"All fleet squadrons report ready Admiral." the officer at the other end replied. "All fighter squadrons also report ready and willing. Shall we send in the vanguard now?"
"Go ahead, give them the green light to proceed." Swell nodded, looking at the officers and aides huddled around the main holotable with him. The command deck of the Freedom, his own personal cruiser and flagship, went silent as the order was given. After all of their preparations this was it. This was the raid which would make or break the rebellion. "May the force be with us."
They'll need it. That was his thought as the ragtag force of fighters, bombers, gunboats and freighters broke away from the armada, reformed into their own squadrons and vanished into hyperspace. The fleet would wait until they had confirmation that the attack had been a success before jumping in as well.
Swell sighed, hand reaching up to massage his temple. He was never a religious man, always thought of it all as a waste of time and energy. But if there was a higher power, be it the force or a god or whatever then he hoped that it was watching over them now. He hoped that the Jedi led strike teams would secure the shipyards. He hoped that the information from Dac about a resistance movement with ships was accurate. He hoped that the mission would be a success.
He hoped for many things.
Originally there were four transports and six fighter craft approaching the palace, but by the time they arrived Obi-wan and Tholme had destroyed two fighters and one of the transports. The other four starfighters peeled away to try and remove the Delta-7's from the fight and even from here they could see the emerald and crimson exchange of blaster fire from the skies above.
Quinlan watched from behind the makeshift barricade, seeing with relief that the transports were civilian models with no real armament other than the cartel troopers within their holds. Two landed on the remaining landing platforms, ramps lowering and disgorging mobs of armed men. They screamed and roared war cries the moment they hit the ground, charging over the interconnecting walkways towards their position.
"All troopers ready!" He roared.
"Yes sir!" The ARC troopers replied in unison.
"Fire at will!"
They did, the twenty ARC troopers fired their blaster rifles and pistols, peppering the approaching horde of mercenaries and strongmen with throngs of blaster fire. Every bold hit a mark, another life winked out, another falling to the decking or thrown over the railings to the chasm below. Several had enough sense to take cover behind crates and other pieces of debris along the walkways, returning fire from cover.
But the ARC troopers had the better soldiers, ones experienced in the art of war on a level far beyond those they were up against, and their weapons were far superior as well. Their blaster rifles were still military grade, and at least two of the ARC's had Z-6rotary cannons. They mowed down the approaching mercenaries and hired thugs with an accuracy which couldn't be matched.
An explosion tore open the dorsal section of the central transport and one of the Delta-7's zoomed by, trailed by two other fighters who fired at will. Vos vaguely recognised one as an ARC-170 but not the other. It didn't matter at the moment. Both Obi-wan and Tholme were expert pilots and wouldn't be taken down by any rookie pilot in an old poorly maintained fighter.
"This is Red-4 to ground forces, do you copy?"
"Yes, we copy Red-4!" Vos replied to Weiss over the comlink, his lightsaber only moving to deflect the odd blaster bolt back at the incoming mercenaries. "What's going on up there?"
"An Imperial ship has just jumped in from hyperspace, looks like one of the new Star Destroyers!"
Quinlan swore under his breath before bringing the device back up to his lips. "What are they doing!?"
A moment of silence before she replied. "Looks like they have an idea on what's happening. A shuttle and six fighters are coming down to the surface! Looks like a troop transport!"
"Keep yourself hidden." Vos ordered sharply. "Do not engage. We still need eyes and ears up there!"
There was another long pause. "Roger that."
Vos thumbed off the comlink, took a deep breath and turned to the commandoes, a sudden flash of his lightsaber deflecting a blaster bolt right into the chest of an approaching mercenary. "Alright boys and girls prepare for a fight. The Empire has arrived and they're bringing down reinforcements!"
"Stormtroopers!?" One of the commandoes asked.
"Probably." He replied.
"Good." the clone replied, turning back to the fight. "I've always wanted to see how good they were compared to a real soldier!"
"My Lord Jabba!"
The Hutt scowled as his Majordomo cried from the main hallway, almost crashing into the chamber. The band stopped playing music. The dancers stopped dancing. All of his clients, hunters and benefactors stopped whatever they were doing to look at the Twi'lek as he approached the throne.
Aayla could see the Hutt's annoyance as clearly on his features as she did through the force. She was seated close enough to be able to tell, as was Celeste. The two of them sat side by side, chained to the slugs throne by chains attached to their explosive collars and watching as Bib Fortuna practically castrated himself before his master.
"Speak, why do you interrupt!" the Hutt bellowed in his native language, dutifully translated into basic by his protocol droid.
"My Lord, we are under attack!" Fortuna answered just as a muffled explosion from outside rocked the walls. "Two Jedi fighters and a transport have struck at the landing pads! They have destroyed the outer defences!"
"As expected." Jabba replied, pulling on the chain and forcing Celeste to his side. The woman crinkled her nose in disgust as he caressed her head. Aayla truly pitied her friend. From where she sat the Hutt's odour was on the low side of bearable but that close it must be close to agonizing."The rebels would mount an attempt to take back their comrades. Deploy the battalion and drag Uzumaki's corpse before my throne!"
"At once, Lord Jabba!" Fortuna exclaimed.
The second Jabba let her go Celeste pulled away as if she had been struck, and Aayla grabbed her friends wrist and pulled her close, seeing a thin layer of mucus on the right side of her flesh. The former Jedi gagged, just managing to hold the contents of her stomach at bay as she shuddered in revulsion. "I can't take this much longer."
"I know," Aayla soothed quietly, making sure the Hutt didn't hear her. "Naruto will be here soon and then we'll be out of here. Just hold on a little longer."
"He couldn't come soon enough." Morne replied.
Aayla had to agree. For two days they had been chained to his throne, forced to get used to his smell and the perverted gazes of his small army of revellers and sycophants, undressing them with their eyes even though the clothing they had been given gave very little to the imagination in the first place.
Her clothing, which was a very loose term, was little better than a bikini. A golden chest and groin piece covered her modesty, with wrist and ankle bands. Her lekku was covered by a harness made of the same gold material, covering them from the base of her head to just a few inches from the tips. Earlier, as she was being dressed, she had idly thought that Naruto would love to see her in this, before chastising herself for thinking such a simple thought in this situation.
Celeste's outfit was little better, and while Aayla's usually choice of clothing made this a little more bearable one only needed to look at her friend to see how embarrassed she was. Her outfit was a black sling-bikini, resembling a bikini bottom with the side straps extending upwards to cover her breasts and over the shoulders, while a second set of straps were tied tightly around the midriff. Her dark hair was loose and waving without any restraint. In any other situation she would look enticing, gorgeous even, but in this situation she felt anything but.
"Continue playing!" Jabba bellowed, annoyed at the silence. "The disturbance will be dealt with!"
A moment of silence prevailed before the band started playing their catchy melody, and then the dancers followed, bodies moving with the beat. Soon conversation returned to the chamber as the scum and villains began conversing again. Aayla ignored it all, feeling out through her connection in the force and feeling many familiar presences in combat. They were all close, all fighting and all determined to be reunited with them again. It brought calm and serenity to her where fear and anger had prevailed before.
Ten minutes passed before Bib Fortuna returned, and he returned staggering and drunkenly, nudging through the crowd before he was before Jabbas throne and once again bowing before him. Jabba's huge maw parted in what the Hutt's termed as a smile as he looked down upon his Majordomo. His booming Huttese was keenly translated by his protocol droid. "Well? Has the rabble been dealt with?"
Fortuna was shaking, "No, Lord Jabba. It has not."
Jabba was silent for a long moment, digesting this information. "What?"
"I sent in the battalion mighty Jabba, as you instructed but... but we've lost contact with them. All of them. What little I could catch was screams and then nothing." Fortuna looked up at his benefactor, eyes wide. "I have been unable to contact anyone!"
There was a flash of light right in the middle of the chamber, right before Jabba's throne, and then he was standing there. His form was covered in golden light, blazing, tendrils of shadows twisting along the walls, black markings swirling along his form. Naruto was completely encased in light, from his skin to his clothes. His eyes burned with intensity, softening for a moment when he saw her and Celeste and then hardening once they came across Jabba's form.
Fortuna and all close to the epicentre almost screamed in shock and awe before staggering back.
Then there was the power. It burned through the force, flickering beyond her sight, a tight net of control kept in place what should have been uncontrollable. It crackled and sparked before her, more intense than any lightsaber blade. Aayla had seen but a glimpse of this before on Boz Pity, what seemed like a lifetime ago.
"Naruto Uzumaki, I presume?" Jabba asked, eyes wide. Fear cascading off of the slovenly Hutt.
"Correct." Naruto replied, voice distorted, arms folded.
"Kill him!"
Naruto vanished from sight even as a dozen men within the crowd drew blaster pistols and raised blaster rifles. His form became a flash of golden light, impossible to follow, and then he was standing back in the centre of the chamber. In his glowing arms were a dozen blasters which he dropped to the floor with little care. They clattered and rolled but he remained standing, a split-second later and those who had held the weapons within the crowd fell in a series of meaty thumps as they hit the ground, unmoving.
Naruto flexed his fingers, then raised his hands. his glowing golden eyes not leaving those of Jabba as he made a cross symbol and took a slow, deep breath. "Kage Bunshin no Jutsu."
Two perfect clones of Naruto, also encompassed in golden light and black markings, came into existence and walked towards Jabba's throne. The Hutt was still as a statue, watching this display of otherworldly power and ethereal strength with wide eyes. Fear cascaded off of the Hutt in waves through the force, but they were overshadowed by the power Naruto was releasing.
The two clones stood before her and Celeste, both knelling down and looking into their eyes. The clone of Naruto watched her with a piercing gaze, waiting and gauging her response. Aayla knew that look, one of fear and indecision. Would she accept him after showing such otherworldly power. She felt a little hurt by those pained eyes and raised her head, bearing her throat and the explosive chocker to him. There were no words exchanged, words were not needed. Such was the level of trust between them, even with all of this overwhelming power she still knew this was her Naruto.
He would never hurt her.
Celeste looked at the other clone with wide fearful eyes, but closed them and took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down. Aayla was glad to see this. Even with all of this power brought to bear he was still the Naruto they had come to know and trust. He was still her friend, her brother, her confidante and her rock. That had not changed.
The clone of Naruto leaned forward, his golden eyes locking with her dark orbs and offering a smile. "Trust me?"
She hesitated, then followed Aayla's example, raising her head and bearing her throat to him. She replied to his question with a single word, one which both she and he needed to hear. "Always."
The clone smiled. There was twin flashes of light they could barely recognise and their throats were suddenly free. Two objects flew across the chamber, imbedding themselves into the far walls, beeping furiously before exploding. People screamed and panicked, bodies and objects flew across the bar but Aayla and Celeste were unharmed, as were Naruto and his two clones. The two women reached up and touched their throats, feeling no metal and hearing no beeping.
The two clones smiled at their respective targets before puffing out of existence, and then it was just one Naruto. he whispered something under his breath, a thanks to the both of them for trusting him and not being afraid before he turned his steely ethereal orbs on Jabba.
The Hutt gulped, actually gulped before raising his grubby hands. "My boy, what was done was only business. It wasn't personal."
"Really," Naruto asked, eyes closed and a fake smile in place when through the force his anger was palpable. "Because it felt pretty damn personal to me."
Jabba stuttered from his throne, and everyone in the room took an involuntary step back.
"Aayla, where is Seth?"
"He's dead, Naruto." Aayla replied, just remembering the event made her wince in pain. Another Jedi to join the ranks of the dead. "He was killed and thrown into the vacuum of space by their opening attack."
"I see," Naruto allowed, hand reaching up to massage his forehead. His pain surged through the force, a tidal wave which made her want to wrap her arms around him and comfort him. "Another young death added to the list, another friend to mourn and bury. I am sick of this."
She couldn't help but agree, dark eyes falling upon Aurra Sing.
"Who killed them Aayla?" Naruto asked, looking at her with glowing eyes. "Who killed our friends? Who killed Lowie, Jack and Seth?"
She couldn't stop herself from raising her hand and pointing right at the one responsible. "Her."
Everything happened in an instant.
Boom, cliff-hanger. I am evil as all hell. Thank you to everyone who reviewed the last chapter, the technical issue with viewing reviews meant I wasn't able to read anything until Tuesday, which really annoyed me because I always love to hear the feedback from you guys.
So what has happened. The rebel operation over Dac is about to get underway. Naruto and his friends have began the raid of Jabba's palace to free Aayla and Celeste and an Imperial Star Destroyer has just arrived. Who does it contain? What will happen to the fleet? Tune in next time for another exciting chapter of The Good Left Undone. Sorry, just felt the urge to do that haha.
Hope you like this one too, and peace out.