The Galactic Exodus Chronicles Part 2 :The Galactic Civil War

by Lord Exar Kun

Now with the rebels dealt a mighty blow, and the renegade Moffs about to strike, the galaxy finds itself moving closer and closer to full blown war! The Galactic Civil War is about to be unleashed upon an unsuspecting galaxy, and this is not the war you remember in the least. Follow Exar Kun, Darth Vader, Leia, the Emperor, and everyone else through this next chapter of the GEC.

68. Chapter 68

Chapter 68

(Mandalore Sector, Concord Dawn System, Concord Dawn)

The rumbling roar of battle and war was all around them. It echoed through the air and shook the foundations as this Mandalorian city came under the full assault of the URM droid armies. The battle had begun not too long ago and the third or fourth wave of the droid forces were advancing against the battered but still holding trench forward lines of the Mandalorian defenders.

"No sign yet of any 'Protectors,' yet, boss." Crash reported in. Jodo kneeling on the ledge of one of the taller buildings of the city of Cuyir nodded mindlessly and scanned the lower streets below. A hail of artillery fire exploded from within the city to his rear and flew over his head to the main army lines beyond.

"Copy Crash. Shadow, report in. You see anything girl?"

"Nothing on my end boss. Mindless Mando drones running around in the streets. Nothing special. Though my trigger finger is itchy. If you wanted an update on my health and all." Jodo scoffed.

"Smartass." He chuckled and heard several of his team share in the light humor. At the moment they were all spread out from one another across outer sectors of the city. Not at the Mandalorian defensive front, but near to it. All of them were not alone, however, but they all needed to hit separate targets at once. They had just the backup to do it too.

"Alright, everyone else keep tight and watch our backsides. Check five minutes and move in for the kills." His team of Mavericks copied and acknowledged him as Jodo turned. Behind him stood thirty B1-A air battle droids. Units with many traits similar to normal B1 battle droids, but with a stockier chassis frame, personal shields, wrist blasters, and built in combat knives on both arms. Most importantly, however, these units came with built in repulsor packs that acted essentially as jetpacks in combat. Along with them were ten B2-RP battle droids. Similarly these were B2 super battle droids equipped with normal B2 hardware and looked the same save for their own personal jetpacks. And, finally there was one squad of five BX-droid commando units.

"On my mark, we move in and take out the weapons depot. Stay on me, follow my orders, and do as you were programmed to do. Remember orders come down from Nelrain herself. Disregard mine and it'll be the same as ignoring hers." The droids all silently acknowledged, and Jodo turned back towards the roof edge as the sounds of war endlessly rang onwards. He completed one final check of his own jetpack and waited for the predetermined moment for he and his teammates to take out vital Mandalorian weapon and ammo depots just beyond the frontal defenses.

"Alright, move in!" Jodo jumped clear off the side of the building and fell for but a few seconds before his jetpack exploded to life, and two small jets of what seemed to be fire shot down to the ground. His body jolted slightly and he continued to fall but now at a controlled slower pace than before. Behind him came falling from the edge what appeared to be a swarm of insects.

Then they too exploded to life with roaring jetpacks and fire. Dozens of them falling to the ground below with Jodo just ahead of them in their fall. Below them the Mandalorian depot saw dozens of men of all ages moving back and forth. Those from the front running back to take crates of ammunition back to their posts. Already they'd gone through untold amounts of canisters, grenades, and projectiles, and their own front line stores were depleted. It looked to Jodo that the youngest of the fighters were acting as munitions couriers. He felt his lips curl in disgust and clasped both hands onto his carbine as the ground neared he and his legion of droids.

"What is..." One Mandalorian having heard the loud combined roar of the many jetpacks lowly intoned before turning his helmeted head around and upwards into the skies above.

"Alor'ad, aru'e!" The Mando cried out. His Captain swung around at the call of enemy, and saw what his trooper saw in the sky.

"Beskar'ad! Tracyn, tracyn!" The captain howled for his men to fire as he pointed upwards to the building the depot had been nestled against. His guard unit of Mandalorian troopers swung at their Captain's orders and all took aim with their rifles and carbines, one or two aiming two blaster pistols of assorted kind at the droid enemy.

Jodo aimed his carbine downwards and unleashed a hail of bolt fire at the nearest two Mando's. The bolts whipped by their heads, and they were quick to dash out of the way of fire. He ordered the raining droids around him to open fire and they did. Raising their arms and mounted blasters slightly and downwards a new hail of fire erupted. The Mandalorians fired back in kind. The hail of droid bolts from both the B1-A air battle droids and B2-RP battle droids fell upon the Mandalorians and ripped into three of them. They were torn to shreds as dozens upon more dozens of scorching bolts flew into and thrashed the men.

The Mandalorian bolts flew into the air, and passed the droids as they fell. Some slammed into the building behind them, but several finally made their marks. Some droids hit would smoke and fall back into the building before crashing down to the ground. Others began raising one arm and activated their personal shields and held off the hail of enemy fire. The larger hulking B2-RP's were hit plenty of times but didn't seem fazed. They raised their arms and fired to the ground ripping into a few Mandalorians, but mostly sent others scrambling for cover.

Jodo hit the ground ahead of all the droids. He fell into a kneel and immediately aimed down his sights and tore into a Mandalorian trooper firing up to his droids in front of him. The man grunted and fell back. His arms flailing and pistols flying as he did. Then his droids fell beside and around him. They raised one arm, with the other near to their chests awaiting to activate shields. They opened fire and the Mandalorians met them with their own fire in kind. Hundreds of bolts whipped and whizzed by both sides as the booms and wails of war and fire in the distance sounded off.

Jodo rolled to his left and behind a crate of munitions. Pulling a frag off his belt he tossed it over and heard a Mandalorian yell to another before a deafening explosion ripped through the area. His droids advanced passed him and the crate firing rapidly into the Mando lines. Jodo waited and let the droids advance and pull all Mandalorian fire their way. The massive and hulking B2-RP's pulled in close around him but never relented firing on Mandalorian troopers behind cover.

"Draw them away from the main munitions dump!" Jodo yelled over the roaring exchange right by him. The droids acknowledged and suddenly a dozen or so B1-A droids rushed the Mandalorians with shields raised and B2-RP's releasing heavy covering fire against the Mando's. The Mando Commander motioned his arm out in a waving out motion that signaled to his men to pull off their cover and slowly retreat backwards away from the munitions.

The droids jumped over the munitions and towards the backing up Mandalorians who fired on them nonetheless. The droids paused and returned fire. Two Mando's fell over dead and four of the droids were hit and met the same fate. Jodo moved his head and carbine over the crate and took aim. He fired burst rounds towards the Mando's and he caught one in the neck. The Mando fell over but was too far for Jodo to hear if he yelled or screamed. Not that he really wanted to hear anything.

The Mandalorian Commander, a rather large man hidden beneath a body covered in Mandalorian Protector's armor looked to Jodo for a minute. Jodo couldn't be a hundred percent sure but he swore he was looking directly at him. The Commander cocked his head to the side as he noticed Jodo, but did not cease firing into the droids.

The Commander was using two WESTAR model blaster pistols and firing into multiple droids at once. He ducked low and howled something in the Mandalorian language of Mando'a. Suddenly the Mandalorians all erupted with their own jetpacks at their backs. Jodo felt his brow crease in confusion as they all erupted up into the air and fired down to the droids. The droids stopped and fired up to the Mandalorians, but Jodo then saw the Commander clasp one pistol to his hip and point his hand and then index finger up high whilst yelling more gibberish to his men. They followed him up and then with his free hand he saw the Commander take out a grenade.

"Oh, come on!" Jodo yelled as the realization hit him. "Off the dump, on me!" He cried and ran away from the depot as his droids followed after him. The grenade was a plasma by the heat and radiant light that erupted out. It fell into the very heart of the depot Jodo himself had meant to blow sky high. Jodo pounded his boots against the ground as he made his way back towards the building. He activated his own jetpack with a leap up into the air and barely cleared the depot as the plasma fell and exploded.

His distance didn't help as the depot erupted in fire, and successive seemingly endless explosions beyond the initial ground shattering one. Jodo felt himself be thrown up higher and his whole body become heated up in an instant. He slammed forward into the wall and with a thud. The wave of energy erupted by the fiery release pinning him to the wall for several moments even as he heard rather than saw his droid company be torn to shreds. Bits of them torn and thrown and chassis's crumpled into shredded corpses of intertwined metal.

Jodo shook his head and felt a throb ripple across almost all his body and into his head. He picked himself off the side of the building and launched his jetpack again upwards. As he did so he narrowly missed a second massive boom of explosives below. The glass on all the nearby buildings were shattered and thrown about as nothing dug into the ground below was tousled and shaken.

The URM Commander barely made it to the top of the building he'd just come down moments prior when a third and fourth and more after explosions successively rocked the streets and sent fire and smoke, with torn metal and crate upwards and raining to distant streets and buildings beyond. He landed breathless from being slammed into the building side, and into a kneel along the rooftop. He snapped his hands around and pulled off his helmet seeking some fresher air than the confines of his helmet. He was met with the smell of burning and charred metal, and the unfiltered crashing, booming, and screams of war and battle.

He coughed as a pungent whip of the wind carrying the smell of what Jodo thought was burning flesh passed by him. He raised his fist to his mouth and coughed into it as the wind passed and pushed his hand to his ear comm.

"Karking suicidal Mando's nearly blew me sky high! I've lost nearly all my droid company! Need that aerial pick up sooner than planned Boom-Boom!"

"Copy boss! But, we got enemy AA all over your sector not yet wiped out! Give me ten or twenty and I'll have bombers take em' out!" Jodo copied and acknowledged before ending the comm exchange and wiping his gloved hand through his sweat matted blonde hair.

As he did so though he heard the nearing sounds of what were undeniably jetpacks. His eyes narrowed and he quickly snapped his helmet back onto his head and clasped it into place. He jerked his head up and realized he hadn't seen that his BX commandos were still on the roof and were standing there waiting for orders.

"Cover on me!" He ordered quickly and curtly. The Commander droid nodded and signaled with hand gestures his fellow droids into positions on sides of the roof furthest from the side impacted from the depot explosion and fire roaring below. The Commander kneeled in the center throwing down mobile ray shield cover for himself and two other of his commandos who took up positions beside him on either side, with two more going to the far corner setting up cover and pulling out sniper rifle units.

Jodo swung around in his kneel and aimed down sights of his carbine and aimed to the skies. There hanging just beyond the building ledge with the smoke stacks rising and blotting the air behind them, were over a dozen Mandalorians with jetpacks firing behind them. Jodo assumed they had just come through the smoke, or otherwise would have blasted down his commandos now in positions on the far side of the roof. So, he quietly stood off with them. Several of them had him in their blaster sights as their Commander; the large Mandalorian with dual pistols floated easily through the air to the front of the group.

"That armor you wear is more worthy of my bolts than you are mercenary! You shame that armor, and spit in the face of the history and story it tells." He spoke loudly, proudly, and foolishly bought Jodo time.

"The armor's mine buddy. You wanna peel it off of me you can go ahead and try. Though I'd think your men would be surprised you wanted to peel armor off any man." Jodo retorted with a stiff laugh following his last comment. No one laughed with him, though he didn't expect them to anyways.

"Your pathetic attempts at a joke aside it's time for this to be at an end! I'll kill you and hang your armor from a flagpole for all your allies to see! To see what becomes of scum like you!"

"Takes scum to know scum, Mandalorian!" Jodo without another word opened fire on the Commander but he missed. The Mandalorians all opened fire at once, and forced Jodo to roll himself back and away quite awkwardly from the raining bolt fire. The BX commandos behind him all opened fire, with the three in the center firing triple bolt burst rounds expertly into the exposed sectors between the Mandalorian armor. They took down four troopers who fell wildly as their limp bodies caused their jetpacks to spin out of control.

The sniper units fired, and for blaster sniper rifle units their firing was rather loud. They rung out and two bolts flew through the air slamming into two Mandalorian helmet and killing one whilst the other was thrown back, but managed to escape deadly damage to himself. Jodo in desperation and trying to escape the following hail of bolt fire came to a sudden stop and unleashed a strong bout of fire shooting out from his wrist mounted flamethrower up into the air at full blast.

Either from fear or loss of sight of him, the Mandalorians all began moving through the air away from the wave of fire heading towards, but falling shy of actually hitting any of them. Jodo broke into a quick run towards the far side of the roof where his commando droids were set up. They fired into the air towards the Mando's scattering about, one being hit by both snipers and being thrown back through the air to the ground far below to his death. Jodo ignited his jetpack once more and erupted up into the air.

Lifting his carbine and spinning himself around he fired a free fast spray of bolts into the air, and hit one Mandalorian trooper in the foot of all places. He heard the man curse furiously in Mando'a. The trooper aimed his way and unleashed a free firing burst of bolts his way and Jodo maneuvered through the air to avoid those bolts.

The Mandalorian Commander flew down to the roof and along with four of his remaining men landed. The droid commandos remained where they were and fired furiously on the Mandalorians. The sniper units remained zeroing in on the four or so Mandalorians still in the air while the three in the center furiously unleashed their weapons on the landed Mando troopers.

They fell into kneels and fired back while the Commander unleashed a hail of fire from both of his pistols and focused on the left commando from his point of view. He threw himself into a roll to the side as the commandos fired his way and as he did so he managed to loose and toss another grenade. The frag landed next to the mobile shields of the commandos. They dove back away and the grenade exploded taking two of the three shields. The Mando's fired rapidly on the exposed commandos, and all three took bolts to their chassis. One was thrown back and another jolted, the Commander BX droid with a quick spin of its body threw a grenade of its own.

It landed far from the Mandalorians, but suddenly a blinding and furiously flashing repeating white light and piercing sound was released. The Mandalorians shielded their eyes and some grabbed at their helmets as if trying to block their ears. The Commander took a few steps back and fired randomly.

The Commander BX droid ran furiously and near silently to his left covered by the endless booms of combat and battle all around them. With a swift motion the commando droid pulled off its back the standard commando droid dagger. With an inwards turn right it swiftly came up behind one Mandalorian trooper and jabbed the knife deeply into the back of his exposed neck. Blood erupted from both the entry and exit wounds as it pierced through. The man sputtered and gurgled horrendously through his helmet and began to twitch and shake furiously as the commando swung its free arm around and clasped the dying trooper to its chassis. Leaving the knife where it was the commando swung the trooper and itself left and with its free arm pulled the Mandalorian's WESTAR-34 from his very own belt.

Throwing both itself and the trooper left as a body shield the droid raised the taken blaster pistol and fired into the trooper's nearby comrade. The Mandalorian turned shocked as his armor was scorched by blaster fire from his right. He saw the droid and his comrade flailing and howled a cry of rage and horror. He raised his carbine and made to fire, but paused. The droid took that pause and fired to the head of the Mandalorian. It knocked the man back and he fell backwards to the ground.

The Commander of the Mandalorians caught the sight and fired on both the trooper and droid. Knowing full well he was dead anyways. In fact the Commander aimed and shot the flailing trooper in the head several times finally bringing an end to his life and suffering. He cursed loudly and continued to fire on the commando with his now limp human shield. The Commander droid fired on the Mandalorian Commander and they exchanged fire. Finally a bolt slammed into the cone head of the droid along its right half of the 'face.'

The commando fell backwards and released the dead trooper. The Commander Mando and his remaining men were finally relieved of the flashing grenade the droid had dropped. The fallen Commander droid made to get up and the Mando trooper it had shot ran up on it and furiously, though foolishly kicked the metal soldier over onto its back. Aiming down to fire into the chassis of the droid he was cut short as a series of bolts in threes flew into his back and charred at his armor, but he was only jostled forward, and the burnt, damaged droid Commander threw itself onto its hands and then pushed both legs up into the trooper throwing him back onto the rooftop once more.

Jodo landed atop the Mandalorian and without a second thought fired his flamethrower down on top of the man. He screamed from behind his mask and began trying to shake the fire off of himself. Jodo rolled himself away back into a kneel and aimed a bolt into the knee of another the last trooper on the rooftop. He fell over with a grunt and the Commander Mando fired at Jodo furiously.

Just then overhead a series of screeches sounded out causing a momentary pause in the firefight. Droid Hyena bombers flew overhead and loosed a series of proton bombs to the nearby streets. AA fire was fired from them and hit several of the droids causing them to crash with ground shaking explosions into the city, but the bombs nonetheless made their mark and more explosions followed with thick black smoke as the AA positions leveled.

"You got support inbound boss!" Jodo heard Boom-Boom call into his earpiece. Jodo looked up and around for the support Boom-Boom spoke of. He saw nothing and the Mandalorians hanging in the air by their jetpacks fired down at him again as the shock of the bombers passed. He fired back and began crouch-walking backwards away from their fire as some of their bolts hit and scorched his armor.

The commando droid snipers fired at the hanging Mandalorians and caught one who was jostled back through the air, but they returned fire and finally pelted the one on their right with bolts. It sparked and whirred and slumped down and was destroyed. Jodo cursed as his droids were losing the ability to fight back and support him.

However, he heard a familiar clicking and chattering shriek followed by many others. Jodo then caught the sounds of flapping wings, and he knew then what was approaching to give support. From both the right and left in the air on both sides of the few Mandalorians remaining in the air, came dozens of armored Geonosian warriors. The Mando's in air began firing wildly as the Geonosians swarmed. Pike wielding warriors charged through the air right into the Mandalorians in air. Their jetpacks failing to hold them up as the natural wings of the Geonosians kept the warriors level even as they rammed into the Mandalorians.

Jodo saw many get shot down one after the other, but eventually a warrior would make it through. With pike in hand the Geonosian would stab at the Mandalorian again and again until finally piercing through the soft points along the men. They began screaming and howling even as they pulled knives and used fists to fight tooth and nail to the bitter end with the Geonosians.

The Mandalorian and his last man on the rooftop turned and saw the Geonosians swarm their comrades and begin mauling them to death in the air. Explosions rippled across the outer limits of the city beyond as the droid forces pushed into and passed the forward trench lines of the Mandalorians. But then even more large explosions came from just beyond the limits of the city within. As the Commander Mandalorian watched thick balls of fire followed by immense smoke rise up, he knew those spots to be the other weapon depots around the city limits for the now collapsing forward lines.

"You've won a victory here today. You've shown some promise as a warrior, but you have yet to know honor. For, there is none in what will happen if this city, and my people fail to push back your machine men, and your...allies." The Commander threw a pointed thumb over his shoulder to the Geonosians now hovering in air and surrounding the rooftop.

Jodo scoffed and kept his carbine aimed down sights from where he now stood towards the Commander and his last man. That trooper aimed his own rifle all around and seemed to not know who to point his weapon at.

"Look Mando, I got all the honor I need in my life. I don't need the accolades of some random Commander who's about to be in the dirt with his men on top of that. You Mandalorians are the biggest batch of hypocrites in the galaxy. Mercenaries, bounty hunters, murderers, and all the while you're gutting people who can't pay bills, defenseless families and the like, yet you keep spouting bantha poodoo about your 'honor.' I may be scum like you, a bounty hunter, but at least I'm finally making a bit of a difference with my machine men and my allies! So, can it, and pick up your blasters. I'll give you the type of death you want despite myself." The Commander chuckled rather loudly and said no more as he nodded in what seemed to be gratitude.

He raised his two blasters towards Jodo and his man opened fire up to the Geonosians. Jodo released a wild spray into the Commander, his commandos fired with him into both men, and the Geonosians in the air with their new sonic blasters fired down onto the roof. Both the Commander and trooper got off a few shots that missed, with one hitting a commando droid that simply was jolted. They were riddled and scorched, before both fell over dead on the rooftop.

Jodo finally lowered his carbine and allowed himself to take a long intake of breath and relax for the moment. Taking off his helmet and feeling the air again he took in yet another deep breath of air and released it in a sigh. His battered and scorched commanding BX commando rounded up on his right with its E-5 blaster rifle back in its hands. Without warning it raised the blaster with one hand and fired three bolts into the bodies of the fallen Mandalorians. They shook with the impact and smoldered where the bolts made contact.

"Whoa, whoa! We're good, at ease!" Jodo grasped the arm of the BX and lowered it. The droid Commander turned to him and cocked its head questioningly. One of its photoreceptors was burnt out and it sparked a few times, but silently nodded and lowered its blaster. Jodo nodded appreciatively as if he needed to, and turned away towards the left edge of the rooftop.

He scanned the city limits and saw the other depot sites smoking just as thickly as his site was. Though not because of anything he did himself, he was satisfied and activated his ear unit.

"Great work guys and gals. I can see the handiwork from here. Everyone good on their end?" Everyone indeed called in green with Gearhead only having received a small burn to the right leg.

"Alright then. I'd say phase one of crippling the Mando's here has gone swimmingly. Boom-Boom make your rounds and get us outta these hot zones!"

"Copy boss. What about the Geos?" Jodo turned and saw the Geonosians begin making their ways to other buildings and the streets as droid forces moved in on the street levels to Mandalorians pulling back.

"Looks like they got secondary objectives. Leave em' be, just get all Mavericks back together. Copy?"

"Loud and clear." Jodo sighed again and looked out over the city once more. Explosions rippled, artillery fired tanks moved in and met them with more explosions. Men were screaming orders, droids marched and smoke filled the air as the day dragged on with war.

(Kuat System, Kuat)

"By your stunned expression I'll assume my reputation precedes me." The cyborg creature spoke in that all too recognizable mechanically overladen voice. Raydonn felt his eyes dancing all over his form from where Grievous now stood on the very edge of the hill that lead down to where he now stood. The General had both metal arms behind his back, and very likely had his boney fingers clasped together. A cloak in every way like the one in the holo images of the General from the clone wars flowed down his metal frame and was clasped together with a magnet upon his metal chest.

Raydonn saw no lightsaber hilts but searched for them with his eyes nonetheless. At either side of the General stood a Magnaguard. Adding to the image that seemed straight from the Clone Wars. They stood silent and still at the ready to do whatever their General told them, and they too wore the signature flowing cloaks they had worn both in the Clone Wars and under their URM masters.

"What's the matter Sith? Too stunned or frightened to speak?!" The creature laughed that old bitter laugh and Raydonn felt himself tense. He turned fully towards the cyborg General and raised his saber in defensive posture.

"Scared of a ghost? Why should I be? After all, the so called 'great,' General Grievous was killed once. Why shouldn't I be able to kill him again?" The General laughed, and motioned his right arm from behind his back. He swept it across from his metal abdomen out towards the Magnaguard on his right.

"You mean as these fools tried?" The Magnaguards on either side of him suddenly reached down, and Raydonn tensed further in wait. However, they only reached down to pick up something obstructed from his view. The image of two dead bodies limply hanging in the grasp of each droid came to Raydonn. Without an order needed from Grievous the droids threw the corpses down the hill. They rolled down violently and freely. And, only when they reached the bottom of the hill nearer to Raydonn did he note their robes.

"I understand these ones are given the titles of 'inquisitors,' before they met their end. So called elite agents of the Emperor Palpatine." Grievous hissed out that name long and slowly. Raydonn could have even sworn he sensed rage emanate from the droid, but he noted previously that he had sensed no signature from him before.

"I certainly hope you prove a greater challenge to me than these fools had. I suspect they were meant to protect this world from the likes of myself when the invasion began. Their failure is quite obvious." He chortled as the smoking plumes of war rose endlessly behind him from afar.

"It is flattering..." The General spoke as he took the first several slow, methodical and heavy stomps down the hill with his clawed talons of metal feet clutching into the soil. His guard followed, and Raydonn kept his eyes planted on him. "Flattering that you would call me by my name. So, many I met upon my reawakening seemed to have forgotten history. Forgotten the name of Grievous." He paused several feet from Raydonn who looked confusedly towards him.

"What do you mean Grievous?" He asked as curiosity got the better of him, and the need for more time to plan a strategy dawned on him. The General made a noise Raydonn thought akin to a growl though it was low. He clasped both hands behind his back and stood stiffly tall and towering once more glowering down upon Raydonn.

"Foolishly those who awoke me thought to name me something other than who I am. Perhaps to try and make me their slave, but I assure you as I did them, I am not a droid!" His eyes from afar narrowed and Raydonn then caught sight of something strange about those eyes. They seemed to glow more than he thought they should have and were more fixed. He couldn't get a clearer picture from where he stood, however, but he sensed more and more that something was off.

"A droid huh? Well I mean...have you looked in the mirror there Grievous?" Raydonn forced a weak but outwardly convincing grin onto his face. The General growled far more audibly this time, but somehow shockingly managed to contain himself. That alone seemed off to Raydonn. The General he knew of, heard endless reports on was a hot headed bad tempered barbarian who threw himself into battle upon the slightest insult, or goading.

"My frame is out of necessity. And, it has its...perks." Grievous raised his left arm idly and looked at it intently. Raydonn felt a chill go through him as he imagined facing this beast of a duelist with all four of his dreaded arms loosed against him.

"It doesn't matter. They will all see soon enough that I am Grievous. Not some droid as they claimed! No matter what they show me or what they have prepared in my image. I am General Grievous, and I have returned." Grievous growled and Raydonn mentally noted to remember the cryptic words of the general when he got out of this and if he got out of this.

"Well you done making me wait and fight second tier duelists like this?" He craned his head back to the beaten and silent female form propped up against the tree. "Or, are you going to make me ask nicely for you to get serious? After all, I always thought you were all bark and no bite. Prove me wrong." Raydonn goaded though he could feel his heart racing, his adrenaline flow freely and the Force whine out in warning. It at least knew whatever Raydonn was face to face with was an immense danger to himself.

"Foolish little Sith." Grievous...or whatever this thing was seethed. "Surely you must realize just how many Jedi I've killed. You are nothing but a dark variant. Your death is assured." The General growled, and both arms went to the opposite side of his waist. Right to left and left to right. They disappeared around his metallic hips and became hidden in the cloak hanging down him. But, Raydonn knew what he was reaching for, and he was proven correct when his hands returned. Each holding a lightsaber hilt. Raydonn mutely noted they were indeed two different hilts.

His boney fingers snapped down on two activation studs and came bolting from the saber emitters came two brilliant crimson beams of light. Raydonn raised up his purple saber and brought it into a meshed Soresu, Shii-Cho defensive posture. He tensed himself up and readied for an onslaught as his eyes darted between the two Magnaguards standing ominously unmoving to the back of Grievous.

"Retrieve the woman, and take her to a medical droid. She may yet be of use to Nelrain." Grievous intoned aloud and the Magnaguards both bowed dumbly and stiffly. Raydonn narrowed his eyes, but decided to begin pacing away to his right and away from the body and the droids. He didn't think picking a fight with all three of them over a knocked out combatant instead of getting rid of her and two possible enemies at that was a good idea.

Grievous turned himself slowly left and kept himself trained on the now pacing Raydonn. The glowing and still oddly yellow of his eyes fixed on him and his arms moved outwards and slightly upwards. Both hands spun suddenly and the sabers formed disks of crimson light around his head for a moment. He seemed to only want to show off, and frankly it did send a slight chill of worry through Raydonn who took a cautionary step back and stopped pacing. Grievous stopped and chortled before placing his left saber in front of his chest horizontally with his right saber slightly angled overhead and leaned towards his back ready to strike down vertically.

Raydonn grimaced slightly as he couldn't decipher what form or pose, if any, the General was going for. Though he could pull general theories from the stance it didn't help him much. Grievous though came nearer slowly. His pronged metal talons of feet stomped and pounded into the dirt beneath him. The claws puncturing into the soil and leaving pitted holes in their wake.

"Well?! Are you going to-" Raydonn didn't have time to finish his taunt as Grievous exploded into a full dash towards him. His first saber came down and Raydonn blocked. The second slashed out across his stomach but he threw himself backwards. The General was on him in a second once again slamming down both sabers one after the other and spinning himself around throwing the full metal weight of his form against Raydonn and slashing at him.

His adrenaline was pounding but he fended him off and once more dashed aside from the wild slash just in time. The force of his blows was unlike few he'd come across each one forcing him to concentrate on not falling and letting the full force of the blows against him carry him into a fall. Grievous chortled robotically once again as he spun both his hands and threw himself at Raydonn again.

A wild set of parries came his way slashing left and right left and right over and over again with each one pushing Raydonn back further and further as he met each with a block and guard. Every one thrusting his arms back and saber towards his face as he defended the onslaught. He flushed the Force into himself and attempted to strengthen himself against the attacks as another set came against him.

Raydonn ducked down and threw himself into a roll to the General's left and passed him. Grievous growled and twisted himself left and stomped down onto the ground heavily. His prongs just missed Raydonn as they tore into the soil. Raydonn spun around kneeled and raised his left hand up and the Force exploded outwards into Grievous. The General threw both arms across his head and hunched down. The wave blew across him and set his cloak wildly flowing behind him but he didn't budge.

Raydonn jumped and charged Grievous with saber trailing at his side for a sweeping upwards strike, but Grievous then slashed both sabers outwards and across. Raydonn skirted to a stop and threw his saber up to connect with Grievous' but the double slash forced his saber to the right leaving him open. Grievous threw both sabers to his right and swept both up and down to hi center at Raydonn who once more jumped back missing the attack.

Grievous laughed and charged yet again. Both sabers came down from the right at him and swept down over his saber then he slashed both across Raydonn's waist. He angled his saber downwards at an angle and allowed his saber to be carried by Grievous' momentum around. He spun and slashed sweepingly towards his metal neck. The General just brought both up in an X formation and caught Raydonn's saber in between the clashed beams. Raydonn felt his muscles begin to strain and shake as Grievous pushed down against him with another low chortle escaping him. With a great surge of the Force entering into him Raydonn slammed his weight down against the clash of three sabers and sent all of them down towards the ground. Grievous suddenly deactivated his sabers and threw himself backwards.

The cyborg landed on his hands and the hilts and then onto his clawed feet into a beastly prone position staring down Raydonn like a Nexu waiting to strike. Raydonn stood still but brought his saber up before him in readiness for another attack. His face betrayed him, however, as his brow furrowed and his body shifted awkwardly after. Grievous just remained there for a minute staring at him still as a statue on display in a museum. And, Raydonn couldn't understand for the life of him what Grievous was doing.

Only the hum of his saber and the distant rumbles and booms of war filled Raydonn's ears as he stood waiting for Grievous to move from his prone position. Yet, there was nothing for another moment and then a second came and went and Raydonn felt his pulse quickening in anticipation. Until at last Raydonn sneered and took a calming breath and a steady step forward. Then like a bolt of lightning Grievous sprung back into action. The Force screamed in Raydonn's head in warning as the white figure slammed all four limbs down into the soil and began crawling towards Raydonn.

He felt himself nearly go still in shock and terror at the sight of it, but Raydonn stood his ground and raised his saber to strike. Then Grievous slammed his hands against the ground, both of them still holding his saber hilts. His body swung up into a hand standing position and then began flipping towards Raydonn. The clawed talons on the metal feet reached out towards Raydonn, and rather than swing his saber outwards the Force warned him to jump back and dodge. As he did so Grievous paused mid roll and twisted his body around and swung his right arm with saber reactivated out where Raydonn's waist would have been.

"You waited all that time to try that?!" Raydonn called in adrenaline fueled wonder and disbelief. He brought his saber before himself in defensive position again as Grievous chortled and fell into a kneeled position.

"Merely testing your senses and reactions, little Sith. The rigidity of both Jedi and Sith training leaves little to the imagination and reflexes. I can see you're worth more of my time and effort than your friends I received these sabers from were. Though not much." The metallic and robotic voice laughed once again gleefully.

"The warm up ends here, Sith." The cyborg General intoned darkly. Raydonn steeled himself both in body, mind and with the Force as well. He raised his saber up to defend and maybe even counterattack as grievous stood once more to his full height and activated his second crimson saber once more, and spun both blades menacingly.

(Battlefield Outside Kuatac City, Kuat)

The forward advance by Imperial forces against the tide of URM droid forces had finally ceased. Forward defensive lines had been formed with a seemingly endless onslaught of droid attackers ready to slam against their wall of forces. Yet, with the skies pluming with smoke, dead bodies and destroyed droids littering the ground in piles and charred broken machinery laying everywhere the battle was far from over. The droids kept coming and landing more. The Imperials kept fighting and dying.

"On the left!" One stormtrooper among this company turned whilst kneeling and fired wildly towards the left of himself and the TX-130T fighter tank his comrades found themselves huddled around and atop. A squad of four B1 battle droids and a B2 fired as they advanced on them from the seemingly endless sea of droids. The bolts were exchanged, blasters firing sounded out and the lights of the bolts shone. Two of the B1's were hit and fell over in heaps. The other two continued to fire as the B2 advanced and fired rapid bursts against the trooper. Searing bolts numbering into the dozens ripped into the trooper who slammed back against the tank and fell over dead.

"Kriff! Get fire on them!" Another trooper atop the tank and manning the beam cannon turret swiveled the weapon from the forward position towards the droids and unleashed the beam against the droids. All three of them were shredded and fell in heaps. The turret swiveled back forward as another line of dozens more of the droids advanced on them. All of them firing or huddling but firing all the same. The troopers took cover around the tank and atop it in prone and kneeled positions firing wildly. In the distance droid tanks pushed forward and cleared the way of the ground troops, and artillery slammed into the Imperial defensive lines across the entire front. One blaster shell from an artillery barrel slammed down along the right and another to its forward sending heaps of dirt flying and several troopers were thrown as the tank rocked and began firing wildly into the fog of dirt and debris in front of it.

"We're getting overrun! Droid units advancing on all sides, and passing us to rear positions! Will not be able to continue holding advancing units to our center unless we receive some karking support!" The unit Commander howled over the endless booms, slams, and thundering claps of war around he and his men from inside the tank.

"Support is en route. Keep eyes to the skies, for danger close bombardment." The voice of a coordinating officer responded over the comm systems to the Commander. The trooper quickly relayed the information to what was left of his unit and snatched up his own blaster rifle. He joined with the rest of them and popped up from inside the tank turret port and fired on the droids moving passed the tank on the right.

A series of droideka's came rolling in from the forward along the left and began unfurling aimed towards the tank and unit. The turret trooper swiveled the cannon and fired the beam directly into one and it exploded into bits. Two more unfurled and activated their shields and began firing towards him and the Commander who both ducked from the wave of fire. Two troopers on top of the tank along its right aimed around the tank and began firing against the droids using the main body of their tank for cover. The droideka's returned fire and scorched the tank and barely missed the two troopers. Until finally one of them took a hit to the head three times in quick succession and fell lifelessly over beside his friend.

Finally the tank turned on the droids and fired its main cannons on them. They both exploded after three shots and sent mounds of dirt flying up into the air with them. Then a barrage of fire came from their front as the droids immediately advanced in huge numbers along from that moments reprieve. Two more troopers were cut down in dozens of bolt wounds with most hitting them after being already long dead.

"Where is our-" The Commander was cut off as he raised himself from the turret port and noticed his men falling left and right. As the screams of the TIE bombers finally reached his ears. Above his tank, what was left of his unit, and he himself, dove down three TIE bombers for a low carpeting run. They dove down from their collective right to the left. The blue hued bombs shone down from the bottom of the TIE's and fell to the ground and exploded across the entire droid line advancing on them in succession. Piles upon more piles of metallic parts and debris flew in all directions as the bombs ripped the droids to shreds, filled the air with even more smoke and dug more holes into the soil of Kuat.

Just as the unit of troopers felt a moments reprieve of their own a cracking ear splitting sound ignited in the distance as droid AA guns from their new walkers were loosed. The bolts sheared through the skies and ripped into two of the six bomber wing and sent them plummeting into more droids below. Then another two were cut out of the sky by more AA fire before the last two peeled off in different directions after completing half their expected run on the droid line.

"Kriff!" The Commander howled again as he ducked back inside of the tank as debris flung out in all directions and scratched all across the tank. His men on the outside huddled by the tank, but one nonetheless took a piece of a TIE wing to the chest. The metal debris slammed into the ground and spun back off into the air three times until it flew up one last time and fell into the trooper through him and impaled him to the ground limply holding onto the tank beside him. His comrade by him began screaming and babbling across the open comm as he ran to the side of his friend and screamed for a field medic they lost hours ago.

"Command! I'm bleeding manpower, and we just lost our aerial! I need reinforcements ASAP or I will have to pull off this position!" The Commander cursed under his breath as his man's screaming was loud and clear as he called into HQ over the usual sounds of combat.

"Dammit, Kappa-3 get him to shut up!" The Commander called to another of his men as his turret trooper remounted up as bolts flew passed his head and fired wildly into incoming droids. The trooper jumped off the tank and slammed his body against his comrade as bolts came their way and began shouting at him to 'pull it together,' as their dead comrade lay dead beside them in a growing pool of blood.

"Confirmed Commander. There is a forward Commander en route to your location. They will be there in under a minute." The Commander frowned but didn't bother replying again as he snatched up blaster rifle and came over the turret port once more and fired to the left as hundreds of B1 battle droids pushed passed his unit towards another behind him. Bolt shots rang out endlessly and the Commander felt as though he'd go crazy if his trooper kept weeping, sobbing even, as the booms and shots rang out all around him. His mind was screaming at him to just shoot him and put him out of his and his unit's misery as his body went into survival mode and pumped him full of adrenaline to keep shooting and living.

To their front from out of the flying debris of another artillery barrage came three crab droids skittering quickly towards his tank with dozens of B1 battle droids of varying weapons along with several B2's backing them up. Their tank fired into the incoming group and sent swathes of droids flying up in bits and one crab droid was hit and lost its forward right leg, but kept limping and dragging itself forward shooting at them as it did. Whilst overhead the Commander briefly peeked and caught the two TIE bombers from before scattering in air as a swarm of Vulture droids chase them and fire rapidly and randomly. Filling the skies with exploded bolt fire remnants of smoke and fire added to by with AA fire from the ground.

Then a new crack came as the Commander heard the whine of cannon fire nearing his position. He ducked out of instinctual need to do so, but he heard the cannon bolts zip beyond and over his tank and unit into the droid lines. He picked himself back up and turned himself to the left and behind his tank as four AT-ST's came stomping quickly near and fired rapidly into the droids on all sides of his position followed thereafter by three more IFT-T tanks and two Century-class tanks.

"Thank the Emperor!" He called and leaned back against the tank port with a sigh. His more able minded men even cheered as they saw reinforcements slam into the droids around them. Though his one trooper was still sobbing like an infant on the ground with Kappa-3 hushing him.

"I believe your thanks lie more with me than the Emperor, Commander. Though I shan't hold it against you considering your situation prior to my coming." The Commander turned to his left once again and as a company sized force of troopers moved towards him and took up firing positions against the droids he spotted the ground Commander of all ground Commanders himself standing by his tank with a smirk upon his face. An expression the Commander had not thought possible given the state of the battle as well.

"My Lord Kun!" He announced and bowed awkwardly from where he stood.

"Forgive me. Had I known HQ was sending you I'd-"

"You'd what? Assemble an honor guard? Get into salute lines or whatever it is protocol dictates?! We're in a battle Commander! You did your duty, and considering...you did it well! Now eyes forwards this battle is not yet won! And, get your man here some help as best you can." Exar eyed the sobbing trooper now sat up against the tank and turned towards the droids. His cloak whirled wildly yet boldly in the wind that whipped about him and his blue lightsaber hummed in a wondrous glowing hue at his side as he calmly and purposefully began to bolt towards the droid lines without a worry about him.

"Yes...my lord." The Commander managed to acknowledge as he watched him throw himself with unnatural agility and strength onto one of the stunned crab droids and bury his saber into it and hold on as it flailed and soon thereafter fell limp to the soil below. The Sith Lord then spun around with his saber still implanted into the body of the Crab droid and raised both hands upwards towards the incoming hordes of droids. The air crackled and burned as a great bout of blue hued lightning bolts sung into the air from the very tips of Exar Kun's fingers. The bolts hurled into the air and extended from bolt into new bolt and grew massive in length and separate bolts. They careened through the air into the droid lines and slammed into the units and walkers among them. All of them began to shutter and shake as smoke rose from them all and their internal machinery became hot, fried, and molded together in intense heat. Then in succession hundreds of droids began popping in explosions and falling over from the bout of lightning coming from Exar's hands.

The Dark Lord laughed with a wide grin upon his face as the blue hue of his own lightning shone across his features and lit his gray eyes. Hundreds of droids fell to his power as his tanks and walkers, and men fired into the stunned swarms and sent them to the scrap yards a little bit quicker than he would have. Those thousands of droids that streamed on forwards around or through his unleashed power fired against his troops and armor and he, and met against Imperial arms. Until at last Kun ceased his attack through the Force and hundreds more of the URM forces fell over fried and beaten.

"Delta unit advance!" Kun ordered via his comm as more and more endless droids began trampling over their fallen units towards Kun and his Imperial forces. The AT-ST's that came with him advanced and fired vast streams of cannon fire into the newly formed lines. A stream of droid missiles launched undoubtedly from a series of Hailfire-class tanks streamed overhead towards the rear Imperial lines and exploded in succession leaving smoke trails in their wake. Kun leapt off from the crab droid, grabbing his saber as he did, and charged in towards the nearest droid forces as his ground troops advanced firing as they went and using fallen droid walkers for cover.

Activating the other end of his saber the Sith Lord threw the blades spinning through the air and into the first droids nearest to him. Another few dozen of B1's and B2's were cleaved and torn into burning bits and fell over as the lightsaber ripped through more and more and turned in back towards Kun. As it neared back to him he unleashed a devastating Force blast against more droids on his left advancing on further down the line towards other Imperial units. Dozens more were thrown harshly away and slammed into others. Some were torn to shreds by the sheer force of his attack.

He caught his incoming saber and deactivated one end as he fell immediately into a series of swipes and parries as bolts flew towards and around him from all directions. Kun chuckled to himself as if recalling an old joke, and dashed forwards ducking under heavy rounds of bolts heading towards him from a nearby B2 super. He came before it and swiped up from his right upwards and cleaved the droid in half before swinging his arm back around down and cutting down a B1 and slashing back forwards to take another down. Three droideka's rolled by him towards some other fight and a dwarf spider droid came before Kun following after them and firing a loud cannon shot into the Imperial lines. Eventually slamming into a distant TIE Mauler and sending it exploding in all directions.

Lifting his free left hand and grasping at the open air into a fist the droid walker suddenly stopped and began to shake where it stood. With little effort but a subtle heaving breath Kun lifted the walker into the air and listened as the metal whined and began to bend and break. He threw his left arm back right and the walker went flying through the air back into a line of droids moving forwards slamming into dozens upon dozens before coming to a stop and a fiery explosive end.

Easily blocking dozens more incoming bolts heading his way Exar leapt once more forwards over the fallen spider droid and onto a B2 slicing it down in half. Slashing right and taking another two, spinning the saber left and mangling another four. Thrusting his left hand out again and more droids fell. He could and did repeat the same over and over again but the droids never stopped and streamed forward. Endlessly, dumbly, and randomly firing forward and bleeding the Imperial forces dry, nonetheless.

The rear Imperial lines of the forward forces were becoming bloodied with little aid, and the screams and frantic calls of support and aid flooded the comm lines. Bombs and artillery rounds still rained down on Kuatac city and all other cities across Kuat. The airs were chocked in smoke from aerial dogfights and raining exploding AA rounds, and the secondary line of Imperial reserves just outside Kuatac awaited the order to advance from their Lord Kun.

Exar struck down another B2 holding his saber in both hands from up right down left, and swung with his right hand out right and spun the saber whilst activating the second blade in swift motion. He spun around and struck down a droideka making to roll passed him without mind given at all to the Sith Lord himself seemingly. Before he finally raising his left hand out forwards to the droid lines and unleashing a final burst of lightning from his fingertips and sending a few more droids into metal fusing spasms and their ends.

"My Lord, are you there?! This is Colonel Nidrini, acting information relay and communications officer for the forwa-"

"Yes, yes Colonel, skip the pleasantries! What have you to report?!" Exar yelled over the rumble of a nearby AT-ST moving passed him firing into the droids near to his left as it went.

"Err...yes, of course my Lord! The most recent reports from orbit indicate no improvement in the current situation. The enemy has maintained a heavy attack on the defense fleet and the reinforcements under Admiral Refflet are still in free orbit but attempting to give aid via fighter units and well placed cannon shots."

"Very good! Now the worse news." Exar asked idly raising his saber to block one stray bolt that flew back and hit its B1 originator in its cone head to the ground.

"Well...planetary scanners indicate a massive number of enemy troop transports descending onto Kuat along all combat sectors. You have several hundred incoming for the front line alone my Lord! I recommend immediate withdrawal to the city boundaries and the setting up of a defensive perimeter and-"

"A withdrawal yes Colonel, but not to the city boundaries!" Exar chuckled lightly once more as he sent another burst of lightning from his fingertips that tore into two B2 supers five B1's and a droideka halfway unfurled.

"Send a general pullback halfway between the forward units and the city boundary. Advance the reserve force towards that position for a linkup of forces and stem the droid advance with some blasted aerial support! That will be all Colonel."

"Yes my L-" Exar cut him off as he ducked under a flurry of bolt rounds and dashed towards a line of droids firing towards him to cut them down one by one with total ease. Just as the comms once more lit up with furious, but undoubtedly relieved Commanders, captains, lieutenants and all other officer classes calling for a tactical retreat. Stunning bombardment from all tanks and walkers towards the front fell across the droids as the skies once more screamed with TIE bombers as they dropped in from space far above and the droid AA walkers fired on them in kind.

The secondary force moving up from the edge of Kuatac city flowed forward. Tanks and walkers in force with hundreds more ground forces. The thundering and smashing stomp of the AT-AT's sounded and rumbled across the open soil. The great machines of war aimed their cannons forward into the distant droid lines and unleashed great bolts thundering through the air. They slammed into droids and walkers or tanks and sent all exploding with great force into both enemy and ally near as the TIE bombers swept in from above and began dropping waves of bombs across the droid rear lines as the AA guns loosed upon them and splintered the skies with explosions and fire. Some ripped into the bombers as they flew by and sent the fiery husks down into the soil and armies entrenched in battle. Exar followed after his men backwards from the droid front as the machine men and soldiers along with their tanks and walkers came to a general halt and fired against the retreating Imperials.

Until at last both sides of the battle reached their own static zones along the open soil of Kuat and the shooting war erupted between the sides once again. The fields between the armies littered with dead and destroyed soldiers. Along with beaten battered and burnt husks of tanks and walkers with the fiery ruins of fighters and bombers. Leaving Exar to stand watching the droids now but a few kilometers away from him and his army.

"Master," Kun turned with his saber still alight in his right hand to see an injured Mara kneeling before him.

"Mara. Good to see you all in one piece. Battle in war zones I find hardens and molds Sith in ways singular combat cannot. Wounds and all." Kun smiled and Mara seemed to only mutely nod and fight to not roll her eyes.

"Nevertheless, have you seen young Offee?"

"No not yet, though I'm sure we will soon enough. Though every minute I get without her voice blistering my ears is a blessing, master." She snorted and Exar chuckled in response.

"Ah, nothing like a good mannered...or perhaps not so good mannered sense of rivalry between fellow acolytes and apprentices. Nevertheless, I'm sure she will soon enough show herself." Exar commanded Mara to rise with a small gesture of his left hand and turned back towards the droid lines beyond as stray cannon and artillery bolt shells flew overhead back and forth. Mara silently walked up beside Kun on his left as he deactivated his saber and kept it in hand and brought both before him into a clasp around his saber.

"The fleet I hear is decimated. We arrived with the only relief for the local command and they still end up alone in the fight. We're surrounded and cut off I think, master."

"Not entirely." Exar intoned whilst observing droid dropships landing in the distance as reported. "The rebels have the planet surrounded sure, but the fight continues. Admiral Hyun maintains the fight, and our ships give what support they can. So long as they continue fighting, the Drive Yards remain resilient and, of course, if Viathan and his own forces arrive in time we should last out this siege." Mara sighed lightly beside Kun.

"Great. So now we have to rely on him for aid." She scoffed at 'him,' and Exar couldn't help but scoff whilst laughing.

"Honestly, my apprentices all feel nothing but disdain for one another! There at least was a sense of admiration in time long since passed between Sith. Though considering the age and nature of all of you I perhaps desire too much."

"Valek and I, I would say knew one another too long before you came around, master. He is an emotional wreck, an unthinking brute who follows the backside of his master like a lost ack dog and does as told without question! He's no Sith material let alone Dark Jedi material! He's prone to disappointing both those he works for and those around him. Not even mentioning the self loathing, cynical, introverted rage that he harbors and outwardly alleviates from himself though bloodshed and fighting." Exar slowly turned his head towards Mara with a raised eyebrow.

"Big words, and harsh criticisms young Jade. Despite my prime apprentice's shortcomings he remains that. My prime apprentice. This does not detract your importance and that of any other seeking my wisdom and tutelage of course. However, I would remind you that in many situations 'Valek,' has pulled through on his obligations. When given a task he attempts to complete it until he is before the doors of death itself. In this way he is a worthy disciple. Remember that tenacity when you seek to outshine him in my eyes dear Mara." Mara narrowed her eyes but nodded understandingly as they both watched the last Imperial units still embroiled in heavy fighting with the droids approach the new forward line.

One of the AT-AT's moved up close behind both Mara and Kun and fired a successive line of fire from right to left along a segment of droid forces and tanks and creating a vast line of fire and death as a show. Just as Exar's comm crackled in from the city command base the explosions ended and left both ears ringing.

"This is Lord Kun, repeat last message."

"Ah yes Lord Kun, this is Colonel Nidrini once again. I was informing you my Lord, that we picked up an urgent message from a smaller city from the capital with your name mentioned. I was ordered to relay the message your way. Shall I play it for you?"

"At once, Colonel!" Kun commanded and placed his hand over his left ear to aid in blocking out the endless pounding and thundering sounds around him.

"Yes, my Lord. Note that the transmission is scrambled. Will play now." Kun nodded idly and began focusing his attention on just hearing as a crackle entered his ear as well as rushed breathing.

"Found Commander...not...master!" Exar recognized Raydonn's voice and could sense the anxiety in the voice as it broke through to him. "Cannot...require...once!" Before the message ended Exar could only make out the sound of some mechanical noise unlike the usual broken transmission sound. Indeed it sounded almost like a growl, but Kun passed it off without further thought as the message ended abruptly.

"Is that it, Colonel?"

"I'm afraid so, my Lord. Shall I send a RECON force to investigate?" Kun pinched the bridge of his nose and took a calming breath as the shadow of irritation and fatigue crept upon him.

"We haven't the manpower to expend. We need to send someone though. My agent would not attempt transmission unless necessary!" Kun thought aloud as Mara began eying him with a sideways both confused and interested look. Kira also finally showed herself but remained silent as she neared Mara and Kun with her common seemingly innocent look upon her face.

"My Lord, I have one option available. It may not be capable of evacuating your agent, but it may provide support if needed."

"Speak then, Colonel." Kun barked slightly sharply, before containing himself even as the Force began feeding on his aggression.

"Ye...yes, my Lord. Our unit has been given a new piece of hardware classified as the 'Nemesis-class' gunship. It can fit and requires only one pilot and holds an assortment of weapons available for infantry support operations. It can act as support and RECON should we need it."

"Very good. You have my express permission and orders to send it at once. Identify my agent as a male human wearing dark clothing with armor covering his body. Possibly a purple lightsaber on his person. If he is in combat with anyone or anything provide support and relay his situation to me at once. Understood Colonel?"

"Expressly, my Lord! I shall attend to it at once!" Nidrini responded and Exar heard the comms cut out. He turned with a frustrated sigh to see and acknowledge Kira who smiled sweetly towards him.

"Master! I hope we didn't pullback because of whatever nonsense that fool of yours got himself into! I was just beginning to properly imagine the droids as living breathing rebels I was cutting down!" She giggled madly and Kun numbly noted her eyes glowed hot yellow. He would hazard to guess in a pitch black room they would shine brightly.

"Tactical retreat is a necessity of war Offee. Blindly attacking even when it's far more prudent to retreat for the time being is suicide and speaks to a lack of military awareness. Your proclivities towards violent combat and desire to bleed the rebel droids dry or not, young one. Besides," Kun pointed up simply as the AT-AT line came fully into position down the entire Imperial forward position.

"I believe these lovely toys of the Empire will suit us in whittling down that mass of metal out there." As if on cue the AT-AT's began firing down the line and thundered through the air and shaking all around them. Joined then by artillery fire from SPMA's to the back and any other Imperial artillery units. The droids in the distance became pelted and covered in torn soil and rising dust or smoke from their now exploded and ruined walkers and tanks. To that Kira laughed wildly and Mara sighed deeply as she crossed her arms.

"You're right! Plus this is better than any holofilm!" She squealed in delight as the three watched the distant explosions rattle on and on. As lines of stormtroopers began forming up behind them under the bellies of the giant AT-AT's and alongside their own walkers and tanks.

(Naboo, Naboo System, Chommell Sector)

A terrible sound whined out and buzzed through the open air of Naboo before it was followed by a deafening crack and boom. As a TIE interceptor whilst consumed entirely by fire slammed into the domed roof of a residential home in the capital of Theed. The pilot of the interceptor lay dead, broken and now burning within the shell of a vehicle as those within the home lay dead beneath it.

As outside a tremendous battle continued on between the Moff Alliance splinter faction and the Imperial loyalists of the Galactic Empire. The skies were alight as were most worlds now embroiled in war as the Imperial and Moff forces committed all available fighters, bombers, and interceptors to fighting for supremacy in the air above Theed and the outlying regions around the city. The capital of the Naboo people saw fires ripple across the usually tame and serene city untouched by violence since the Imperial subjugation of Queen Apailana. Smoke rose into the skies and Imperial AT-AA walkers moved through the streets firing into the skies to ward off bombing runs by Moff forces. Civilians, screamed and ran in chaos as the booming echoing and haunting recordings of an Imperial officer sounded throughout the city.

"Attention, attention! All civilians within the city of Theed must vacate the streets and homes at once! By order of Lord Vader and for the protection of yourself and your family vacate the streets now! Make for predesignated bunkers and civilian shelters! If you do not know the location of one of these shelters seek out a local Imperial officer or soldier for aid! This is not a drill, I repeat, this is not a drill!" The voice sounded out echoing throughout Theed and barely remaining audible over the explosions, firing and screams of civilians.

"You know, call me nuts-"

"Alright you're nuts." Starkiller retorted immediately. Luke rolled his eyes.

"Call me nuts, but I don't think any civilian anywhere is going to run up to any given stormie and say 'hey I can't find a shelter can you point one out kind sir?' Frankly I think they're better off running clear of the city." Starkiller chuckled and nodded.

"You may have a point. But, we can't be worried about them right now. We gotta get back to your father."

"We always do." Luke scoffed as he and Starkiller hugged the wall of a building between an alley. Starkiller peering around the corner saw the street littered with debris and small fires burning around as civilians ran like insects, or so he saw them, around incoherently as the recording sounded off again echoing through the streets.

"Well?! Is it clear or what?"

"I'm checking." Starkiller hissed.

"Well we haven't seen a single enemy stormie in the streets and yet every street corner and every alleyway is suspect to you! If getting back to my dad is as important as you say then why the extra attention to detail?!" Starkiller turned his head back towards Luke looking as if he was going to speak. His mouth slightly open, until he closed it and sighed turning back towards the street.

"I don't know okay. Something feels off."

"What do you mean, 'something feels off?' We've been in war zones plenty of times by now! I've seen more death and destruction than some people will in five lifetimes. I can handle myself with the saber and the Force, so can you. So, you're telling me in spite of all of that you feel the need to act extra paranoid today over your gut?" Starkiller grumbled but nodded.

"Essentially yes! You learn several things as an apprentice to a Sith Lord, Luke. One of them is that your gut, your primal instincts, and split second intuition are not always reckless and possibly dangerous. It may well be the Force trying to clue you in to danger. May well be I was hungry before we left for that karking museum and still am! Either way I am not about to pass it up as paranoia just yet!"

"Okay, okay!" Luke threw his hands up. "You're worse than aunt Beru on why I need to drink blue milk. Can we just get out of THIS alleyway then?" Luke huffed as he idly looked to their rear towards the other end of the alleyway which led to another street also lined with rubble and dead civilians.

"Alright...let's go. Follow after me and keep up!" Starkiller bounded around the corner and Luke followed rolling his eyes again.

"When can't I keep up with you?!" They entered the street while over them three TIE fighters raced forward in the same direction as them with four TIE interceptors following after firing wildly towards the fighters. Which was on who's side? Neither knew, but didn't much care to find out as they raced by with dazzling speeds and horrendous screeches. The eruption of a nearby AT-AA cannon sounded as the two teenage boys darted passed several stores on their left. The cannon fire ripped into the skies and slammed into two higher elevated TIE fighters and a bomber near to them. The explosions were distant but the whines of their falls to the planet rung out and Starkiller yelled for Luke to move faster which the boy obliged willingly.

The debris slammed into the very store they had passed, and then the center of the street towards them. Starkiller turned on his heel and extended both hands out and used the Force to slow and stop the metal death trap from slamming into he and Luke. Luke turned to see what Starkiller was doing just as the Force warned him to move causing him to instinctively jump back towards Starkiller who turned in time to see the third shot down TIE slam near to where Luke had been running towards and rip into a nearby shop causing a small secondary explosion near them.

"Whoa...that was close."

"No time! Keep moving!" Starkiller yanked Luke by his collar and forced the boy back up into a run beside him, much to Luke's annoyance. Overhead the screeching wail of another TIE neared them from up high coming down low. Starkiller angled his neck up while in run and saw a TIE bomber diving in low towards a block a few streets over. AA cannon fire erupted towards the bomber as fighters cleared the area. One stray cannon bolt ripped into the wing of the bomber and the explosive fire rung out as smoke trailed the falling vehicle. It began spinning but loosed its payload as it did raining death onto random sectors of Theed before crashing with great speed and force into some distant street sending a fireball up that Starkiller could only assume meant it hit a walker or tank.

"This is not where I want to be!" Starkiller seethed loudly as he and Luke turned right down another street and into several people who were running in the opposite direction against them.

"What...ugh...do you...mean?!" Luke called as he hit face first into several bodies pushing and yelling passed him and into him.

"At the mercy of Moff, or any other bombers not our own! At the mercy of them getting blown out the sky by our forces so they can run suicide dives into us and everyone around us! Either way, enemy in the air with allied forces barely fending them off is not a good thing Luke!"

"Think I don't know that?! Get me to a fighter and I'd clean the skies up no problem!" Starkiller snorted as he and Luke pushed beyond the running civilians.

"The arrogance is strong with this one." Luke grinned and shrugged.

"If the shoe fits! I mean after all, I have led several successful combat missions. Even on Coruscant if you remember!"

"One to two or more odd fluke victories mean nothing in the grand scheme of things I think."

"Oh shut up." Luke heaved as they continued running down the street with Starkiller laughing a little between breaths. They kept running silently for a few moments as the streets became cleared of all civilians before them. The rumble of bombs and fighters or AA walkers all around them as they went. The two of them paused for a moment halfway down the rather long street and took a moment to breathe.

"Hey...what do you think they were running from?"

"Who?" Starkiller replied between breaths.

"The people back there."

"What makes you think they were running from anything but the bombs? You know to a shelter." Luke nodded and took another breath.

"Probably right. Don't know they just seemed a bit-" Down the street ahead of them a woman ran into the street with a screaming kid in hands and darted towards the two teens. The shop suddenly exploded after her and both boys raised their hands to cover their eyes.

"What the-" Luke intoned as out from the shop came walking a behemoth of a man...or what looked like a man. Its armor was black its frame stocky and huge. Thick and bulky black plates lined its abdomen and chest around to its back connected through metal links. A massive utility belt that matched was hung around the waist of the thing which led down the bulky legs covered in more thick black armor seemingly made to seem a mockery of normal sized and fitting troop armor to monstrous size and form. Massive metal shoulder pads in layers lay upon it with a large square mask similar in essence to a stormtrooper but all black like the rest of it sat upon its 'head.' Yet, its eyes seemed to glow a subtle red, but what drew both Luke and Starkiller's eyes was the massive cannon bigger than one of them even being carried easily in its right hand.

"That's either a really big defective clone put to use or a droid," Starkiller intoned and activated his saber in Shien backwards grip. Luke activated his saber and fell into a Shien defensive posture without Starkiller's grip. The thing made a strange noise and slammed the barrel end down into the waiting palm of its left hand and aimed down the street towards them Only Luke saw it wasn't aiming at them.

"No!" He yelled and began running as the thing unleashed a hail of blistering bolts that tore through the air and slammed over and over into the back of the woman. She stopped screaming with a great heave of breath and fell forward whilst still in a run with her child in her arms who fell beneath her to the ground. Luke snarled and dashed towards the thing as it just seemed to register him.

"Wait Luke!" Starkiller cried as he, nonetheless, broke after Luke.

The blonde Sith apprentice kept running towards the beastly figure as it opened fire on him with its massive repeating cannon. Luke dashed right and sent a few bolts back to the monster by swiping his saber out left back right. The beast took the shots and the bolts scorched the heavy metal armor plating across the behemoth. It didn't flinch. Luke felt the Force cry out in warning within him, but he didn't stop himself from jumping into the air as he neared the monstrous figure and slash down at its left arm.

It made a strange mechanical noise and swung that left arm out. Luke's eyes went wide for a second before it slammed into his ribs and gut. He felt all breath vacate his body and his saber was freed from his hand as he was thrown with tremendous force to the burnt out husk of a building the thing had come from.

"Luke!" Starkiller cried with a growl as he came to a stop and eyed the giant as it aimed its cannon on him in both hands once more. Starkiller broke into a run towards it and it opened fire aiming down sights on him. Starkiller then with the Force jumped straight up into the air and sent a striking bolt of lightning from his left hand down into the beast from above. It looked up to him just as the shocking bolt struck and entered into it.

It began to shake and make more mechanical almost wailing or crying noises as the whole body began to contort. Starkiller threw himself back to the ground towards the hulking thing that he now knew undoubtedly to be a droid. He let loose a savage cry as he slashed down his saber on the droids left shoulder down. The saber burned into metal but then trailed down the shoulder along the abdomen and clipped the left arm as the metal only seemed to lightly burn. Starkiller looked up to the machine as it began to calm with a look of shock and disbelief about him.

The droid garbled some binary and with only one arm swung the repeater into the boy's face. Starkiller sent a powerful wave of Force energy against the droid with his fee hand and had it stumbling backwards only slightly. Leaving him time to jump away from the beast. Stretching out his hand he called Luke's fallen saber to him from where he spotted it among rubble on the floor. Activating the second blade he fell into a Shien double grip defensive posture. The droid swung towards him throwing its weight around as it swung its arms out and turned to Starkiller with repeater raised.

A hail of bolts were fired and the boy dove straight towards them and brought his sabers before his figure. Slashing one after the other through the open air before himself he blocked one bolt after the other as they made to cleave into and kill him. Until he neared the droid enough and sent another pulse through the Force into it. It stumbled slightly, raising its repeater some to fire randomly into the air as it did.

Starkiller once more threw himself somewhat into the air and fired a hefty blast of energy down into the droid. It stumbled back further and fell with a massive thud to the stone street beneath it. Starkiller landed with either leg on its massive chest plates and swung both sabers left and carved the barrel off the repeater as he did. Swinging back around and he aimed both crimson beams down and stabbed with all the force he could muster aided by the Force into the droids chest. The sabers began to burn and melt the armor but the droid made a loud guttural and wholly synthetic cry as it swung its right arm to punch Starkiller. The boy ducked as the large arm swung over him but could not reach him as he bent lower.

"Die dammit!" He seethed as the sabers took far too long to burn down into the thing. The Force cried out to Starkiller to move, and on instinct his body cartwheeled right foot first off of the droid as it rolled onto its chest and surely would have crushed him beneath so massive a weight. It slammed both fists into the stones beneath and the body began to rise to a kneel. Starkiller took both sabers in hands and flipped them behind his head and with a great heave tossed both, spinning through the air, towards the droids neck. Both hummed and slammed into the droid, but Starkiller curse as both merely left cuts along the more flimsy seeming metal just as it had for the main plates of armor. He recalled the sabers as the beast rose to a stand and raised its left arm with its hand turned into a fist towards Starkiller. The image of a B2 super battle droid rung in his mind as did the Force, and Starkiller again cartwheeled aside to the left with saber still coming to him. He caught both whilst in spin and landed in a kneel as a blaster repeater erupted from a small barrel port that popped up from the main armor of the droid's arm. It sounded far more like a repeating cannon like the weapon now laying useless beside the droid than a blaster.

"Force, what is this thing?!" Starkiller cried as he broke into a run passed the droid and hopefully behind it as he did. A stray bomb from high above suddenly slammed into a building along his left and sent debris flying across both he and the droid. One large chunk slammed into its head from its right and bent the metal inwards as Starkiller came to a sudden mid-run stop and turned to the droid. Catching some falling rubble with the Force Starkiller sent them flying towards the droid as it turned, endlessly firing its arm blaster, towards him. The rubble pelted and dented the behemoth but still it would not fall!

"Kark it!" The boy deactivated both sabers and quickly clamped them to his belt. Raising both hands forwards and outwards ten separate blue streams of lightning bolts erupted with a crack from his fingertips. They all of them slammed into the droid as if it were a lightning rod set atop a tall Coruscanti spire. He clenched his teeth and funneled all his energy into the act of unleashing the powerful electrified tendrils from his hands. Yet again, the droid began shaking and the blaster swung back out to its side firing wildly for a moment before stopping. This time Starkiller did not relent and began moving steadily forward while unleashing mass tendrils against the droid. It fell to a knee and the metal began to sear and smoke rose as the smell of burning metal began rising into the air along with all the other smells of battle and war around them.

Starkiller stood then but a few feet from the thing as its shakes turned even more violent and with a great heave the very insides of the droid burst and a small fire erupted out. Starkiller finally stopped his assault and jumped back as some debris began flying outwards. He looked back as the husk of the droid now remaining motionless on one knee with a fire burning from its chest where he could see into now through a hole along the entirety of the massive machine with cracked and bent metal twisted outwards from the explosion.

Without further thought he dove towards the building the monster had come from and blown out somehow. Jumping while running over debris and stones or small fires he came to the fallen black cloth covered body of Luke. He lay on his stomach with one arm under his body and another outstretched up from his head with both legs just laying motionless with his cloak whipping around them.

"Oh...come on Luke!" Starkiller cried as he began to turn the boy over. A moan of pain escaped from the blonde boy and Starkiller released a great breath he hadn't realized he was holding in. Luke opened his eyes slowly and raised his left arm over his face to block out the far hanging star above them as it shone down on the war and carnage below.

"What happened?"

"You got tossed aside like a karking rag doll by a massive droid! Now shut up and let me see if your bones are broken!" Starkiller chided and began lightly pressing his hands on Luke's ribcage. Each one Luke seethed at the press and only on one of his lower ribs on the left of his body did he jolt up in pain and felt his breath escape him again.

"Alright...one's cracked by the feel of it. Lucky considering the size and power of that thing." Starkiller sighed and extended his hand to Luke who took it in a clasp and picked himself up into a tender sitting position with his legs outstretched before himself. The boy ran his left hand through his hair and sighed before looking around the debris laden place they found themselves.

"The kid, what about them? Is he or she okay?" Starkiller had all but forgotten about that and turned towards where the woman had been shot dead by the droid. Only to see the debris thrown about by the bomb earlier now covered the entire area. Giant rubble pieces of stone and metal supports with small fires about. He felt his eyes dart low before turning back to Luke with an apologetic look about his face. Luke looked to him expectantly, and Starkiller made to speak but in the end just shook his head.

"No...come on!" He all but jumped up even as he gasped and clasped his right arm across his chest and moved towards the road. Starkiller jumped back some and took after him.

"Luke come on! You're in no shape to be jumping around and swinging all over the place." Luke raised his left hand to silence Starkiller as he moved quickly towards where the bodies would have been. Starkiller sighed again and ran up passed Luke who stopped in confusion. He watched Starkiller jump on top of a piece of rubble and look down beyond it and out of Luke's line of sight. He jumped down and Luke waited a moment. Almost moving towards him again several times until Starkiller came around the debris rubbing his forehead lightly and moving towards Luke.

"Well?"

"Come on Luke. You know what." Luke pursed his lips and hardened himself and moved forward, but this time Starkiller snatched his left arm in hand and pulled him back a bit forcefully.

"You don't wanna see what's over there Luke. The rubble...it hit and crushed his head. I imagine he didn't suffer." Starkiller intoned darkly while looking into the eyes of Luke with a hard but distant plead for him not to go look. Luke figured he desired more for his benefit rather than anything Starkiller personally felt, but he finally relented. With a great heaving sigh and a tensing of his jaw he silently stood in pain beside Starkiller with the images of the woman running playing in his mind again and again.

"In war not everyone can be helped. Not everyone can be saved Luke. I didn't think I'd have to remind you of that. After all, we've seen enough battles." Starkiller intoned and snatched up Luke's saber, extending it towards him to take.

"Yeah." Luke intoned in kind and took his saber from Starkiller before clasping it to his belt. The son of Darth Vader turned his head upwards to the sky silently and watched for a moment the sporadic and chaotic scene of TIE fighters chasing and firing on one another. Bombers sweeping to and fro with AA fire pelting the skies and TIE interceptors flooding around and fighting all who they could.

"Just figured we could help someone when we could rather than just kill everything in sight. Or, do nothing. A lot of good this Empire of ours is at defending anything but dirt." Luke spat and began moving down the street solemnly and downcast leaving Starkiller to mull over his words for a moment, before the teen wriggled his nose as if like a tic and chased on after the semi limping Luke down the street. Starkiller didn't bother trying to talk as he sensed the brooding mood linger upon his fellow apprentice and charge. Instead choosing to as briskly as possible move towards their originally intended destination. To their Lord, his master, and Luke's father.

Indeed as the two made their way through the streets of Theed being torn to shreds, they became clearer and clearer of all signs of life. Civilian or military and allowing them a small sense of safety and reprieve especially from anything like that droid they had fought. Until Luke silently raised his hand to stop the both of them and sat himself against a wall for a rest while nursing his ribs with pain etched upon his features.

Starkiller didn't complain and simply stood waiting for Luke to recover. He idly watched a distant AA cannon fire into the skies tracking some bomber and miss it before he felt his comlink chime with an incoming call.

"Master." Starkiller answered and instinctively bowed his head even as he could not see his master nor could his master see him. Luke's interest was caught and he turned his head towards Starkiller to listen in as best he could.

"Starkiller, I require an update to your and my son's present situation. I recalled you some time ago, yet you have not returned to base with Luke."

"Yes master. We were...delayed." Starkiller sensed his master awaiting elaboration.

"It would appear the enemy has managed to land some units ground side already. Some sort of large droid. It looked similar to those Dark Troopers, but far bigger, far stronger, and resilient against lightsabers."

"What is the condition of my son?" The Sith Lord inquired immediately.

"Luke's..." He turned to the boy who gave a pleading sideways look. "well, my master. We managed to take the droid down not without some bruises and scratches, master."

"Very good." Vader again replied immediately. "The Moff rebels have begun breaking through our aerial defenses. This was inevitable and expected. Troop transports have begun landing both inside the city and along the outskirts. Return to the base with Luke at once. Do not, for any reason, delay your arrival any further. Am I understood, apprentice?"

"Explicitly, my master." Starkiller again bowed his head to no one as the comlink cut out and Vader ceased their transmission.

"So, what are the new orders?" Starkiller clasped the comlink back to his belt and shrugged slightly.

"The same as before. Get back to base, and stop for nothing. No more delays for anything. Especially now that the Moffs have begun landing across the planet." Luke nodded knowingly and expectantly.

"Right. Best get to it then huh?" Luke said as he picked himself off the wall with a bit of a pained shake of his legs and back. Starkiller merely nodded and went to Luke's side as both teens once more moved through the city streets. As above them the dropships of the Moffs descended as the battle far above in orbit beyond raged on over Naboo.

(Nar Shaddaa, Corellian-Sector)

"Now that was a good night!" Tol laughed as he patted the back of his massive Herglic who chuckled dumbly and nodded.

"See you keep that type of work up dear, and me and old Fiz here won't need to do any extracurricular activities to make the real credits around here!"

"Yeah? Well how about next time you get on stage and shake your backside and lekku all over the place for the greasy parasites you call customers Tol!" Taesa complained as she fixed her casual clothing across her crimson Twi'lek form.

"Oh! Come on now Taesa baby you know I love you! Those greasy parasites love you too! It's how we make money, and you ain't even gotta give them the grand prize they chase either! Though I gotta say you really work them up. You know Laithie and Yolla complain about you being the big tease on the block. Give them double the 'frustrations,' to help the male clientele work through."

"Oh poor them. They make double the credits and you make double the percentage. Eat me Tol!" Tol laughed as Fiz chuckled too and waved them both off out the club doors.

"Don't tempt me Taesa." He kept after her and chuckled. She snorted and kept on moving towards the air-speeder lot.

"All your talk on morals and being 'good,' to the girls you got, but you're still a bit of a pig...no you're still a whole pig Tol. Like all men on Nar Shaddaa."

"Yeah, but I try my best Taesa my love. You have been too as of late." Tol grabbed her shoulder and turned her back around and stopped her. She sighed and crossed her arms over her ample chest.

"I mean it you're good at the dancing gig. Keep at it and I'm sure you'll never have to deal with anyone up close and personal. Neither will I make you go street-side again. You get me?" He pinched and clasped her chin tilting her to look him in the eyes. She rolled hers but broke a small smile near invisible.

"I know Tol. Lay it on a bit more strong why don't ya' huh?"

"Hey...you coming onto me?" She shoved him off to the sound of his laughter and she finally broke a grin as she turned back to the air-speeders.

"Alright Tol, keep it in your pants huh?! I'll see ya' tomorrow!" She called back laughing as Tol stood waving her off.

"Alright. Sleep well and hey, maybe make a pillow outta all that money! Try and sleep like the rich folk on Coruscant do!" She waved him off and kept walking as Tol sighed contentedly and pulled out a cartridge of cigarra's and picked one out placing it between his lips and then fished for his igniter in his pockets.

"Boss!" Tol turned to the voice just before he could light the cigarra. Running up towards him came one of his guys. Young human guy named Iyo. He jogged up to Tol with heaving breaths until he stood directly in front of him gasping for air.

"Iyo, what's the big rush? You know you ought to work out more. I mean that was hardly a run. More like a light jog-"

"No time boss!" He heaved and leaned forward placing hands on knees to breath in more air.

"Just gotta call from my friend. Works over by the Promenade in the Hutta casino run by one of Varuunga's lieutenants." He began taking in breaths again and Tol finally waved his arm out questioningly.

"And?!"

"And, he said this lieutenant of Varuunga's wants to have a meet with you. Something about 'peace process,' and some other whatever, get me?" Tol furrowed his brow.

"No not really." Iyo heaved a final great gulp of air and released it while visibly calming himself and placing a hand onto his chest.

"Okay my friend, he works for this lieutenant, kinda knows the guy. A nobody by the name of Tobo or something. Anyways, he works directly for Dormi the Falleen. Word came to him as an intermediary that Dormi wants to call a meeting with you to make peace with Varuunga. Problem is he wants Tobo to first send you a 'message' on behalf of Varuunga and Dormi. Get me?" Tol furrowed his brow deeper than before and clasped his cigarra in-between his fingers and went quiet in thought for a moment.

"What sorta message?"

"Don't kn-" A sudden powerful explosion ripped through the air-speeder lot and sent debris and immense heat flying towards the two. Both men were thrown to the ground as metal shrapnel and glass flew over them and off the sides of the tall spire landing into the abyss below. Tol remained prone for a few moments with his arms over his head as he lay face first into the metal floor beneath him. Beside him Iyo took much the same posture. He was first to look up, however, then Tol followed after. A look of open mouthed disbelief and shock now etched on Tol's face as he and Iyo saw several air-speeders engulfed in flames. Metal bits, glass, and whole chunks of the air-cars lay all about the lot and around the two men as small mini-explosions popped off from the speeders in front of the men.

"Taesa..." Tol gasped lowly almost in a whispering intone.

"Not for nothing boss, but I think that was the message. Though I have to say blowing up a girl ain't what I had in mind." Tol turned to Iyo a deep frown of anger replacing his horror from before and shutting him up immediately. Both of them pushed themselves off the ground and back into stands as everyone inside Tol's club began filtering out. Fiz and some of his boys running with blasters drawn towards him and around the club.

"What the kriff happened?!" Fiz yelled with his massive hand holding an equally massive blaster pistol at the ready and his other grabbing at Tol's shoulder protectively.

"Taesa...Varuunga and Dormi just blew her up." Tol seethed and ground his teeth. "Those slime sucking, bottom feeding, karking kung!" Tol reverted to a Huttese insult as he kept his eyes fixated on the burning husks of air-speeders in front of the gathering group of gangsters, dancers, working girls, and club employees. One of those husks containing what was undoubtedly a burnt and mutilated corpse of a but mere moments ago living Twi'lek woman.

"Why'd dey' do dat' boss?" Fizz asked as he relaxed enough to where his broken basic began surfacing a bit more again.

"Because I was sent a message. Ain't that right Iyo?!" The fellow human raised his hands in a pleading surrendering motion and kept his mouth shut. Tol's features only grew darker, his face becoming like a carved etching of barely kept rage.

"Varuunga and Dormi will request a meeting soon. A day or two maybe. They want to show me they can get to me. Just like they got to Taesa here. Could of been any of our people done in. She was just unlucky." Tol sneered before turning on a heel and stomping back towards the club through the crowd gathered.

"Sweep the karking lot Iyo! Fizz follow me and get some of the boys on the horn. We got us some business to attend." Tol seethed and hollered his commands as his men followed after him and Iyo began sweeping for more bombs and explosives. The body of a dead club dancer charred and mutilated now the first blow cast against Tol and his crew. Which in turn demanded a response from Tol. Peace or more and greater war for the streets of Nar Shaddaa loomed.

(Gladiator-class Stardestroyer Domitor, en-route to Kuat)

"So, you want to run that by me again?" Leia asked sitting cross legged across from Viathan who in turn sat with his legs folded underneath himself to the floor. In his left hand a silver circular cuff and in his right a small laser torch.

"I'm carving the symbols used in alchemy into this cuff. That way if I need to use any of the abilities I've learned thus far in the heat of battle all I need to do is memorize which symbol where does what and draw some of my own blood onto it. This cuff is just a connector piece for my mechanical hand anyways." Viathan lifted his left arm up and showed it to Leia.

"Right here where the metal meets the flesh of what's left of my wrist. This cuff covers that to make the hand look more, 'natural,' as my father would say." Leia cringed slightly at the sight of his arm connected to the metal hand. It seemed raw and inflamed possibly painfully so. He brought it and the cuff back down and began using the torch to carve a further strange symbol into the metal leaving blackened drawings on what was once pristine smooth metal. Across the more shackle than cuff like piece of metal were many such etchings of circles, lines, squiggles and more. All of them Leia was sure held meaning, but to what end only Viathan knew.

"Yeah right. If it weren't for the Force in all of this I'd think you were crazy." Viathan shrugged as he finished carving a small circle with a line running through it, along the top of the circle to the right of the line lay two dots and the same on the other end of the circle to the other side.

"You mean the cutting? I'm not that depressed or attention seeking. Besides there would be no one to help me if I was actually going to kill myself, nor anyone interested enough to notice superficial cuts. The deepest darkest reaches of the Dark Side require sacrifice for gain Leia. If for a little blood I gain the upper hand in a duel or on the battlefield I'd think a small bit of blood is worth it wouldn't you?" Leia in kind shrugged.

"I guess, but don't you think what we can do already gives us an advantage in battle?"

"It does," He agreed. "But having double that only sweetens the deal. As I believe the saying is." Now she rolled her eyes but shrugged nonetheless in agreement.

"We have a few hours before we reach Kuat. Enough for me to do this, get some training in, sleep, ready the men for battle, and then off to battle we all go."

"Is that all you think about?" Viathan turned up to her with a perplexed expression.

"What do you mean?"

"War, fighting? Ever think about anything else? Okay maybe other than war, fighting, killing and new ways to use your gifts to kill people." She asked pointing to the cuff. Viathan lowered it and the torch to the ground. Then he clasped his hands together and leaned forward some.

"Something on your mind then my Princess?" Yet again she rolled her eyes.

"No...maybe. I don't know just thinking I guess. What will happen when the war's over? To you to me to everyone and everything? Will the war even end while either of us are still around?!"

"Seems like a lot more is on your mind than you let on. Where did all of this even come from? You seemed content not just a few hours ago. Or, at least you let on."

"Yeah well maybe I like to think about more than just war and killing. You should try it some time. Maybe you'll find yourself a philosopher hidden under all that." Leia randomly pointed all around Viathan's figure and he in kind looked down at himself.

"I highly doubt there's a philosopher or whatever else underneath. As for everything else; no I don't much think about what happens after the war. Should I even live through it. I find it far more time efficient to think about battle plans, what's immediate to come and how to handle it. Thinking that far into the future is not relevant for me I think."

"And why not? War could end tomorrow out of the blue then you're left with no idea of what to do. Except maybe do whatever Kun tells you, or the Emperor if he commands it." Viathan sighed looking down to his clasped hands.

"I've gotta say," Viathan began looking back up and looking towards a barren white wall with an odd smirk upon his face. Which alone was an unusual sight to Leia. "I grew up under people I'd rather forget exist. Some of them weren't so bad. Some of them they were...they were what they were." He visibly gulped, and Leia could see his eyes go distant for a moment. She wanted to ask what he meant but felt the better course was to let it be as she had felt before.

"But I survived them. Morlin's strategy lectures, Lucentos' and his 'instinctual awakening,' to the Force training." He used air quotes as he mentioned this 'Lucentos,' to Leia. She again remained silent as she listened to him.

"I lived through all the anger, and hatred, the rage and darkness of those deep halls and hidden rooms laden throughout the maze of a palace. I lived through the Emperor's 'love,' and care for me. The pats on the head the soothing lectures before he sent burning bolts of electricity through me commanding me to remain unmoved lest I gain myself a beating for disobedience." He smirked again. "Of course I failed every time. He knew that and on some level I knew it too. I suppose I just became so used to it I grew to think of it as another way he showed me he cared about me and my well being. He would then have me whipped with electrical whips that Lucentos would have modified with needles made of durasteel at the end so when they connected they tore flesh and burned at once." Viathan motioned towards his back while Leia cringed in silence.

"I always found it odd that they would waste metal used for creating starship armor plating to tear at my skin, but then I would tell myself that my mast...the Emperor knew best. Either way," He shrugged and awkwardly began running his hands together. "That's just one example of the torture. Sometimes I would be sent to Morlin's strategy one on one classes so beat up, bloodied, and unable to move that he would complain to my handler...an old man by the name of Lieutenant Ficker. He smelled like Tiingilar which is this Mandalorian casserole brew that has spices that can burn your nose from smelling. He liked going to the local Mandalorian home brew restaurant before coming to tend to me... I hate the smell of Tiingilar. It make me wanna," Viathan placed his right hand over his mouth as if trying to force himself not to vomit. Leia couldn't understand why the memory of such a casserole would make him sick.

"Did you ever eat it? I mean, does it taste bad?" Viathan raised his hand signaling her to give him a minute. He released a breath and shook his head.

"No I never ate it, but Ficker told me what it was after a while. The smell would hang on him when he'd come handle me and...I just hate the smell. Anyways that doesn't matter. Morlin would get a tongue lashing from Ficker who, as my handler, outranked him in regards to me. So, Morlin would be forced to teach me the tactics used during the Battle of Geonosis or the Invasion of Muunilinst maybe about some old battle from an ancient war while half dazed from the pain and barely standing. But, he always patiently worked with me, and I suspect he may have lied on my behalf once or twice to the Emperor in his reports on my studies. Only because I know I failed to understand several key points he made during those hard days and would do terribly on his exams and tactical command live tests, yet I never received an unacceptable grade to the Emperor." Again he shrugged.

"Who knows really. I hope when his time comes whoever puts him down for his treason does so quickly. I would extend to him that mercy in confidence none save me and now you would know of it." Leia nodded understandingly. "I've been thrust into missions of terror, and murder, and thrown onto wretched worlds of crime and suffering to test my ability to survive and thrive and I've known treason myself. Only ours is secret unlike Morlin's whom announces to the galaxy his treason. There are days too that I sit alone and think on how quickly I turned from a loyal and faithful servant that would lick a garbage pile if so commanded by my...the Emperor. I think very little of myself for that and I do not know why, and I choose not to dwell on it for that.

'Then I learned of war and I know war now. So, to come back to your question my Princess; no I don't think about what I will be or do or feel after this war is done. Unlike you; and I do not say that in anger or bitterness, but unlike you I have nothing but my master my Commander and he who gives me orders. Whomever that person may be, be it Kun or the Emperor or a general placed above me in command. I have come to know war in such a way as to where of all things and situations I have been in, in this 'life,' of mine war makes the most sense." Leia watched him again turn to look idly and numbly towards the wall to her right. Her brow furrowed and she cocked her head but remained silent.

"You get up you get ready you land somewhere and you go forward with men yelling, screaming, hollering, shooting and dying. You know the enemy is over there on some ridge, in a burnt out building over in a trench amongst the mud and blood, or in the trees waiting for you to move passed them so they can slit your throat. But, it makes sense to me. You fight and struggle every second to live, and nothing is complicated!

'Strategies, maneuvers and watching those you respect die, those can be complicated on technical and emotional levels. But you get better at strategy after a few battles of learning or schooling, and death? You get numb to that with a little time as well. It's easy, nonetheless, to stand and fight and know if you don't, if your heart stops beating and all goes black that's it. To lay dead beside friends or comrades or tools you sent into battle for the gain of those in position higher than you? That's easy and it's simple. War is simple when you get to its basic core. It's survival of the fittest with tools put to the grandest form in most simplistic fashion." He went quiet for a minute, and Leia soaked in what he said with growing concern and dismay.

"I was brought into this world by a madman. My father is undoubtedly one of the cruelest and apathetic beings alive today, but he sees in me the potential for greatness through what he calls my 'perfection.' When all I was brought into creation for was to struggle and fight and kill. He intends on doing such in bulk soon, but I suspect my purpose is greater than any of those to be in his eyes. Then I have...the Emperor and he too brought me into being for one purpose. To kill. My master? Kun he seeks similar goals, but at least he treats me with some semblance of worth and being beyond just a tool. Yet I don't fault him for seeing my abilities and purpose and using me to his own ends. It is the way of the galaxy to take what can be used and exploited for your own ends and set it to that purpose you need it for.

'I don't know what I will do after the war, Leia because I cannot imagine my life without war now. So, I see myself seeking conflict chasing the next battle and war zone of dead and dying of hate and rage blinding those to kill and slaughter. Not for any silly notion of philosophy or politics, but for survival from one day to the next. I dare predict I won't live beyond this war, because if I do then I won't live long anyways. Because my nature by birth is conflict, and I'll blindly search for it until I finally contend with something that will end me."

"Oh yeah? Well where does that leave me? Am I free of this fate of yours, or am I too cursed to wage endless conflict chasing death?" Leia snapped causing Viathan to turn back to her. He looked thoughtful for a minute and again smiled, but very slightly.

"You aren't the same. You were born into a different reality. Many people are from me, and that is no badge of greatness nor a declaration of superiority or desired individuality from the rest of the galaxy. There are some out there such as me I would hazard to guess anyways. You could struggle through war and bloodshed and see a light at the end of the proverbial tunnel. You know that something better lies beyond this war and beyond any conflict and you strive for it, and fight towards it. That is an honorable thing, but it is not reality for me.

'Beyond my masters and my conflict I have no home but Coruscant as a whole. No family but a madman who wants me to go to our ancestral homeworld and wage war there as well for some grand vision our people have whom I've never known or met nor their ideals as well. You? You I see living through the war coming out strong and resilient not left unscathed but better for those things you've seen. Because they help define for you what you don't want to see. If all your designs go your way I'm sure you will level the direction and will of your father and be with a family that desires you and loves you as you are. You'll probably meet a nice guy somewhere out there in the vastness of the galaxy. Marry him, have kids and raise them well mannered and idealistic. You'll be a very unorthodox Sith, as you already are milady." Viathan chuckled softly. And, Leia couldn't hold back the smirk that fell across her face followed by her own chuckle.

"Oh yeah, I'll be a hot commodity on the market."

"What do you mean?" He questioned.

"Oh the Princess of Alderaan and daughter to Lord, Darth Vader after this war and when she's old enough of course," She winked and Viathan forced himself to not roll his eyes but smirked somewhat. "She may be married off to some rich and powerful prince awaiting her out there in the great galactic expanse! Awaiting the moment to sweep her off her feet and make her queen of all she desires!" Leia's voice took on a sarcastic but theatrical tone as she brought her hand to her forehead in a classical image of a damsel in distress swoon.

"I'm not so sure about that one, milady." Viathan offered folding his arms over his chest. "The daughter of Vader you are indeed. How many young men will have the gall to so openly seek your hand in marriage? Let alone some rich and lordly toad from the upper echelons of galactic society. I know some of your father's personality and I've seen him interact with you and your brother. He seems not like the type to sell you away to any old fool with power and credits.

'Darth Vader is not one to form political unions or alliances by way of marriage. Anything he could gain from such a union he could and would easily take by way of force. Which I do not say in a degrading or derogatory manner. In that way I think you and Luke are safe from forced marriage as is the norm amongst the rich and powerful be they politicians, lords and royalty, or the rich and powerful industry men and women. You could likely marry anyone you want, so long as they get passed your father with their lives." Leia laughed and nodded for quite a while nearly doubling over. So much so that Viathan felt himself drawn to laughter once or twice himself before she brought herself under control.

"Oh that's precious! I think you're right about the marriage part, but someone making it passed my father?! That's rich Vale. Real rich." She snickered some more.

"Well...we can hope milady that someone meets your...fancy and standards and your father's." Again she laughed but reigned it in faster this time.

"Oh? And what about you? You could well do the same you know?"

"Doubtful. As I have mentioned before I am not the correct material for such matters. I do not...like to think of it even. Too much is expected and...required of someone for those relationships." He looked queasy again and almost brought his hand to mouth but stopped himself.

"Love is not an emotion I believe truly exists within the galaxy milady. I believe it is a synthetic emotion driven by base desires. Yet I fault none who believe in it and believe they've felt it. Besides, I'll be dead in no time at all. A flicker in the endless tide of galactic existence. But, a flicker I intend on making memorable when ten ten thousand years have passed."

"My you have a chipper attitude." Leia intoned sarcastically. Viathan merely smiled a small smile with an indiscernible emotion behind it.

"I am a pragmatic realist, milady. Perhaps I recognize too easily the bleak realities we exist within. Or, perhaps you see a different galaxy and a different reality than me. Either way our goals are similar, and so we work together do we not?"

"If I recall correctly, you and your master barged into my palace and home and got me mixed up in all of this Force business and war in not so gentle of fashions." She retorted causing Viathan to nod slowly.

"True milady. Yet," Viathan declared rising to a stand and snapping the collar back across his wrist with a snap before he stretched himself slightly. "I would have it no other way." He again smiled very thinly and walked over to her extending a hand to help her up. She rolled her eyes for the final time and took it coming to a stand.

"Just don't push yourself to that bleak end goal too quickly okay? Whether you like it or not we're friends, and I guess you'll have to suffer through that and thus my worry." Viathan bowed gentlemanly.

"Of course, milady Vader." Leia playfully slapped Viathan's shoulder causing him to chuckle as they both readied then to duel one another. No further words need be spoken between the two friends after what was said before. Even if lingering disheartenment hung within Leia as she looked upon her Imperial friend who stood across from her as they readied themselves for friendly combat. As she realized she had glimpsed another far more self destructive side of him.

(Kuat)

Raydonn spun himself to the right and fell to the grassy ground beneath as Grievous slammed his pronged foot into the wall of the shop he and Raydonn had found themselves fighting by. The clawed foot tore into the stone used to build the structure and Grievous growled lowly as he tore his foot out and slashed down towards Raydonn with an overhead slash. The Sith apprentice sent out a wave of energy through the Force towards Grievous who merely stumbled, but allowed Raydonn time to get up and break into a run into the street.

Grievous' pounding legs sounded behind him as did his mechanical laughter. Raydonn came to a sudden stop and ducked as he sensed Grievous slash at his head. Raydonn swung low left sweeping at the general's feet but Grievous jumped over with both legs and slashed down with both sabers. Forcing Raydonn to block both sabers against his one. The clashing saber beams sounded out and sent sparks flying about them as Grievous landed back down on his feet and again made to overpower Raydonn.

Activating his second blade Raydonn angled and pushed his hilt inwards and the second beam made for Grievous' face. The general ducked and swung his neck down right and under Raydonn's swing but broke their clash and he spun around and away from Raydonn by a few feet. Raydonn sneered as he stared down the cyborg general. Grievous in kind spun both hands once more and fell into a goading defensive stance with a chuckle.

Raydonn growled lowly and charge with both ends of his purple saber activated. Leaping up and throwing the saber over his head behind his back he made to stab down towards Grievous who brought his sabers together into an X and caught the purple beam even as it slid down his two beams close to his face. Grievous pushed Raydonn off and slashed left which Raydonn blocked and then he slashed right which Raydonn also blocked. The General did so over and over again but Raydonn blocked each swing and parried. Grievous then swung both sabers to his left and slashed both right hard against Raydonn. The Sith caught them with one side of his saber and again angled the second beam in under his arm around their clash towards Grievous but he smashed hard against their clash and forced Raydonn off and thrust to the ground.

Grievous swung each saber under his arms and slashed both outwards attempting to hack Raydonn's head clear off his shoulders, but the Sith threw his body to the ground and fell into a roll after quickly deactivating his saber. Grievous ran towards the man as he came to a stop and jumped back into a hasty stand and just got one end of his saber activated as Grievous came upon him with a hard smash down from overhead. Raydonn blocked and pushed him off, but grievous came again. Slashing left then right and then a swing over right and stab under left each time Raydonn parried the attack away. Finally Grievous swung around and slashed both sabers down from the left, right and across Raydonn who caught both slashes with his saber but Grievous then in a flash deactivated his left saber placing it to hip and connected an unimaginably hard fist to Raydonn's right temple as the cyborg swung around again.

Raydonn staggered back with a gasp as the pain ripped through his head. Grievous laughed and rushed upon him with one saber in both hands swung overhead to hack down. Raydonn couldn't keep his right eye open and began seeing spots across his vision, but with great effort he grasped his hilt with both hands and charged Grievous who was stopped in his tracks by the sudden movement. The man slashed from his left across grievous' chest and the general slammed down catching the attack. However, Raydonn forced himself to slide of the clash and pushed the saber across the general's saber and then immediately swung back right causing Grievous to turn and angle his own saber to block. Raydonn freed his left hand and sent another wave of energy into the general who was thrown back as the wave slammed into his exposed right flank.

Grievous spun in air feet over head but when he landed it was on one knee with saber loosely held in left hand as his boney right claws dug into the ground beneath him to stop his momentum. Raydonn had also fallen to his right knee as he nursed his right temple with his hand and audibly seethed in pain as his whole head and neck radiated in muscle numbing and pain. Grievous rose to a stand and snatched his second saber up once more and activated it before charging full speed towards Raydonn with sabers held out at his sides. He growled as he came near to Raydonn downed figure and slashed low inwards with both sabers forming a low crossed X as he did, but Raydonn suddenly activated his second end again and swung up.

Grievous connected with the lower end of the double-bladed saber as Raydonn held the hilt in both hands and clashed. The Sith almost yelled as he pushed with the Force flooding into his muscles back on Grievous and forced him off. Then he swung right and the left then right and left. Then swept low left and swung up right into a spin and stabbing back around towards Grievous abdomen with both ends of his saber. Each move the general parried and as Raydonn spun to stab with one end of his saber Grievous curved his sabers into a downwards X as he stabbed into the ground and angled Raydonn's saber safely away from himself.

Raydonn tore the saber end held to the ground by Grievous down through the street beneath them and spun himself around back to his left and swung fully around. His saber made for Grievous's head but the cyborg ducked down and growled once more as he swung left and kicked his left pronged foot out and connected it hard into Raydonn who was thrown back with an audible gasp. Landing on his back Raydonn barely heard Grievous stomping towards him before he swung his legs up and rolled into a kneeled position in time to slash across from left to right and keep the cyborg at bay. Grievous connected with the slash with both sabers and pushed back on Raydonn who again fell into a backwards roll only this time he jumped into a stand and charged Grievous with an almost feral expression of rage.

Swinging his saber to his left Raydonn spun it furiously and swung his body around slashing at Grievous as he came full circle. His saber spun and twirled in his hands and across Grievous' vision. The cyborg general blocked the furious wild blows as Raydonn came to a stop and continued the wild spinning of the double blades of his saber against Grievous across right to left up and down with swings and slashes. Each of them connecting with Grievous' sabers and forcing the General back for once as he attempted to connect with every flurry and feint.

Raydonn's face was the image of rage and seemingly stuck etched into the embodiment of hatred and wrath as he fed more on the dark side of the Force and let it flow freely into his every action as he adopted the most pure tenant of the Juyo form. Finally Raydonn swept the double bladed saber from down under his left arm across up to his right along the General's front. Grievous connected both sabers upwards to his own left and once more clashed in an X formation with Raydonn holding the Sith there as both once more braced against the other in a duel for dominance. His eyes going more and more yellow Raydonn growled lowly and clear from the throat as he pushed down on both of Grievous' sabers. The General in kind grumbled as the strain became audible upon him and his metal joints began to whine.

Without warning Raydonn only heard a small pop as Grievous' right arm disjointed half of itself and produced one of his secondary arms. The three fingered new arm swung up and connected hard with Raydonn's ribcage. He again gasped in pain and swung both legs up off the air and slammed them into the general's metal chest sending him falling over backwards with what strength Raydonn could muster.

Dropping his saber into his left hand Raydonn began nursing his ribs as they rung out across his body and broke him from his rage fueled stupor. Grievous grumbled and picked his head off the ground to look at Raydonn still standing with sabers in hand. Only then did Grievous notice he had dropped his two hilts on the ground. As then did Raydonn who's face turned from pain to surprise. He immediately though slower than normal charged the downed figure of Grievous.

The cyborg thrust himself into a leap onto his knees and he reached for the fallen hilts but Raydonn sent a small wave through the Force and they both flew passed Grievous further down the street they found themselves in against a fallen droid body. Grievous growled far more audibly than ever before and stared Raydonn down for a moment as the Sith took on a smirking expression and held his saber at the ready to his side with both purple ends still active and humming menacingly. Yet, only then and there did Raydonn finally have a moment to look into the eyes of Grievous and finally realized he saw no pupils. Indeed they only glowed yellow and held no semblance of those diamond shapes expected of Kaleesh.

"Wha-" Raydonn muttered but then Grievous on all fours charged towards him like a feral beast! Like a Reek charging towards a rival on a grassy plain Grievous charged Raydonn who attempted to swing his saber but Grievous ducked and pounced into Raydonn. Wrapping his boney and metal arms around the man Raydonn felt his body become squashed against the cyborgs metal frame and he lost his grip on his own lightsaber as his ribs cried out in renewed pain.

The both of them tumbled to the ground and the momentum of Grievous threw them into a second roll until they landed with Raydonn on his back gasping for breath and Grievous atop him pinning him to the ground. A rumble escaped from the General as he looked down to Raydonn beneath him and he lifted both of his right arms snapping them together. Raydonn opened his eyes in time to see Grievous raise his right metal fist and slam it down towards him. With barely in room to maneuver Raydonn cried out and jerked his neck to the right and Grievous punched the ground leaving an indent as he did.

Sending every ounce of the Force within him into his arms Raydonn straightened his neck just as Grievous raised his right fist and made to punch into his face again. Raydonn caught the fist in his left palm and immediately began gritting his teeth as he barely held the General back. Grievous growled yet again and raised his left; and previously stabilizing, left hand and balled it into a fist to slam down into Raydonn's face as well. Raydonn raised his right arm across his face and caught Grievous just under his balled fist and connected with his underarm and forced his punch to go off course into the street just above Raydonn's head with another audible connection.

As Raydonn heard and watched Grievous again realize he needed to use his secondary arm and disconnect it from his right arm he gathered more energy through his fear and anger and sent it into his free right hand and unleashed a new powerful blast of energy. Grievous' whole form was sent flying up into the air and backwards allowing Raydonn to gasp for a gulp down air he hadn't realized he so desperately needed. His heart pounding, body aching and bleeding and drenched in sweat Raydonn painfully and weakly turned onto his right and placed both hands against the street and shakily pushed off and up to an equally shaky stand. Coughing, Raydonn turned and easily searched out Grievous with his eyes. The General himself was rising back into a stand and seemed a vision from a nightmare. His cloak draped down across his shoulders as the tall figure rose with glowing yellow eyes staring him down from afar in silence save for the whir of his metal joints sent a renewed shiver through Raydonn.

"Well? What's your next move...you karking droid!" Raydonn spat as he once more nursed and hugged his right arms across his chest. Grievous cocked his head to the side silently causing another shiver of fear and anticipation to shoot through Raydonn. Then Grievous merely shoved aside his cloak along his right and produced his two arms. They snapped together once more and the General merely stretched and curled his fingers a few times in continued silence before hiding the once more whole arm under his cloak. Raydonn swallowed as he felt his throat go dry as he silently cursed the fear in himself. However he simple began feeding on the radiating pain rippling across his body and that fear as he turned his eyes away from the killer cyborg and to the three fallen hilts spread across the ground. Grievous also seemed to notice where Raydonn's attention turned, and his glowing yellow eyes seemed to dim and narrow in an odd fashion to Raydonn.

Nonetheless, he took his hand off his ribs and stood as straight as he could and stood with ragged torn clothes and beaten body opposite Grievous. Both of them waited for the other to make the first move for the saber hilts, and Raydonn flexed slowly and subtly his fingers calling on the Force while Grievous merely began to hunch himself lower and lower where he stood.

With a flash of movement Raydonn extended both hands and called the three sabers to him. Grievous pounced and slammed foot after foot against the ground towards the hilts as they shook and flung up into the air away from him. Slamming a clawed metal foot down and leaping up some, he fell down and immediately into a roll. This gave him enough time and momentum to reach out and grasp one of the hilts and hold onto it with all his immense strength. Raydonn caught the other two and was elated to see one was his own. He snapped both of them on and his usual purple beam was added to by the crimson of one of the fallen inquisitors. Grievous again raised himself to a full stand and swept aside his cloak activating the one crimson saber in his right hand.

Raydonn fell into a Jar'Kai posture with both sabers at the ready. One angled in a stabbing position over his right shoulder and somewhat away from his face with the second saber in his left hand also pointed out towards Grievous lower and level to his chest. Grievous seemed to look Raydonn and his form up and down once before laughing again, and before Raydonn could goad or insult him again he charged him.

With his one saber Grievous charged left shoulder first towards Raydonn with the saber swung down cleaving every other step into the ground beneath. Raydonn swung both sabers from right to left and Grievous ducked and swerved under his swinging arms slashing up from his right. Raydonn slammed both down right and tossed grievous to his right. The general carried the momentum and again Raydonn only caught it too late as the General's left backhand connected with an audible crack to the left of Raydonn's face sending them man stumbling away. He swung around and slashed wildly at Grievous in immediate reprisal.

Both spinning and flurrying about the center of Grievous forced the general to commit to defensive parries away with his one saber as he held the single hilt with both hands and swung left and right. The General turned his saber horizontal with every slash and stab Raydonn committed and vertical with every feint from the side both left and right of his flanks. Raydonn swept across Grievous' footing with both sabers along the ground right to left and caused Grievous to jump back slightly. Raydonn pushed and swung one saber after the other up across Grievous' left from down right. The General slammed from over his left shoulder down and connected with the first of Raydonn's blades. He in turn swung the left handed saber back out and swung up across towards the Generals' neck. Grievous in kind sidestepped left and threw his weight against his and Raydonn's clash forcing the man away

Raydonn spun towards Grievous and charged with both sabers spread out from his sides. Grievous lead him on backwards towards the wall of another shop nearby. Grievous planted his back against the shop stone wall and crossed the saber across his form in defensive posture. Raydonn leapt up and slashed both sabers downwards hard as he fed upon his anger and fear. Grievous at the last moment swerved himself left and caused Raydonn to tear into the wall with both sabers. He, however, immediately swung both down and right hacking towards the General, but Grievous spun right himself and connected with both beams with his own.

Grievous' pronged feet slammed down and cleaved into the ground as he pushed full force down on Raydonn and his lightsabers. Raydonn grit his teeth and felt his body shake in a powerful mixture of pain, adrenaline and rage as he angled his sabers and pushed back against Grievous with his right and freed his left. Almost yelling once more in pure adrenaline he swept the second free saber up under their clash and made to stab through and impale the cyborg General. Grievous suddenly threw Raydonn back slashed hard left threw Raydonn's right arm out from himself and exposed his center. Grievous swept back slashing low right and connecting with Raydonn's saber with a mighty sparked clash that sent it also out from Raydonn hitting the wall.

Raydonn threw himself into a roll to his right away from Grievous and the wall and regained his footing just as Grievous ran upon him again. Hacking and slashing the General swept up left and then down right feinting at Raydonn's flanks and causing him to parry each blow and sweep it away with a clash of their sabers. The sounds of the saber connecting, sparking and sounding out filled the air around them as they fell into a series of parries, feints and jabs. Grievous on the attack and Raydonn defending with the two sabers. He angled both left and blocked a feint then swept both down and caught Grievous foot aimed slash then angled right and blocked as Grievous swept up and made to cleave downwards towards Raydonn's shoulder on the same side.

Grievous threw the saber in both of his hands over his right shoulder angled to slash down and Raydonn nearly mirrored his pose with his two sabers. The both of them swept out and angled to slash down left flank. They collided and the sound of their clash rung out as sparks rained from the clash once more and light illuminated their faces. Raydonn glared into those odd eyes of Grievous who seemed to do so towards him in kind. Only then was Raydonn again reminded as he had seen before that the eyes were nothing like that of a Kaleesh. As he looked into them he could see nothing but a distinct yellow glow to them that seemed more like lights than actual glowing reptilian eyes. They seemed to dim and light in small distortions, but the light of their conflicting sabers obscured his observations.

"There's something wrong about you! What happened to your eyes General Grievous?! Or is it true? Are you just an imposter? Nothing but a karking droid made in the likeness of-" Grievous roared and the Force cried in warning too late for Raydonn as The General threw every ounce of his magnificent strength into throwing Raydonn's sabers left fully. Raydonn stumbled to his left and in a flash of movement he felt the underside of Grievous' left arm smash against his upper back.

He seethed out in pain but stumbled further towards the shop wall with his back exposed to the General. Before he could swing back to defend he felt unbearable pain rip into him and he roared out himself in even further pain. His body was thrown against the shop wall and pinned as he felt four claws pierce his flesh and dig into his back. He screamed out again as his grip on the sabers failed and he dropped both to the ground while his body exploded in pain unlike any before.

Grievous growled like the beast he was as he held Raydonn pinned against the wall with his left foot planted against and now into his back. Blood pooled and fell around each of his metal prongs as he dug into flesh, muscle and tendon and forced the Sith hard against the wall almost crushing him.

"Perhaps you realize now Sith who I am!" Grievous seethed as he held his one saber loosely at his right side. "Like the rest of your kind, like the Jedi before you, the master's knight's and apprentice's you will fall beneath me and become just another hunted down and killed mark of my legacy! I have killed mightier warriors than you, and like them you too will die all the same! Now die little Sith, and join them in oblivion!"

Grievous began thrusting his left leg buried into Raydonn to the left and Raydonn felt the claws dig into his flesh causing him to gasp at the sheer pain that disallowed him from even crying out any further.

Raydonn felt his chest and face being scratched and torn into as Grievous pushed him along the wall and swept him out left as he threw him away and released him from his foot now covered in his blood. Raydonn was thrown back out towards the street covered in scratches, body nearly refusing to work scratched along his entire front from being carried along the wall, and with no sabers at hand. He rolled hard a few times each one smashing into his face or now exposed and bleeding back as his armor chipped and clothing tore. Until finally he came to a rest planted against the ground with his right cheek bleeding from the wall scratches against the road.

"Get up...get up...get up Raydonn!" He growled forcefully to himself within his own mind, as his eyes opened and the yellow of the dark side remained though dimmed in his weakness. As he retained what strength he had by feeding into the darkness with the pain rippling across and through him.

"Move your karking backside! You've had your back, beaten, and bleeding before! Get up and fight!" He groaned and felt his stomach churn the sounds of Grievous' gears moving as he stomped near rung in Raydonn's ears. He placed both hands against the ground and his back burned and radiated that pain to his neck, shoulders and down his arms. Fighting the urge to vomit from sheer pain the ex-Inquisitor forced a shaking left leg into the ground under his abdomen and pushed himself up into a kneel on that leg as he felt blood trickling down his back and legs.

Raydonn looked through blurred pained vision forward to see Grievous approaching with not only his second saber back at his hip but also Raydonn's, and the one still active ready to strike him down at the ready. Grievous chortled aloud as he zoned in and stalked towards Raydonn again seeming the predator stalking its prey. Raydonn coughed harshly and his whole body simply exploded in pain with each hack as his muscles; even as torn as they were, shook and contracted.

"Time to die, little Sith!" Grievous announced as he came ever nearer. Raydonn, however, turned his head back up to Grievous and glared with renewed hatred for the creatures. A power, like the winds of a hurricane swirled around and through him as the dark side sung in his mind, and fed on the anger, pain and fear once more. Forcing himself into a stand Raydonn glared down Grievous who came to a momentary stop to once more cock his head sideways

Silently Raydonn simply raised his right hand and extended the fingers outwards. With no warning the blue tendrils erupted form his fingertips and exploded forwards through the air. The sound of crackling and distant thunderous pops echoed into the air as they flew towards Grievous. The General took a shocked step backwards but the bolts ripped into him. A howl escaped and the sound of his voice became disjointed and shaky as his body began contorting. Grievous held his ground and hunched his back even as the bolts rippled through and about his form. His arms shook and hands curled into fists, the one holding his lightsaber nearly seeming about to crush the hilt.

Grievous turned upwards and glared with a rumbling growl towards Raydonn who sneered and raised his second hand and loosed more bolts of lightning from those fingertips as well. They flew into Grievous, and the general was thrown into the air and back towards the shop and an alleyway between it and another building. Raydonn faintly heard the sound of a hard thud and crash in the distance and pulled his fingers into fists and stopped the lightning from erupting from his fingers.

Raydonn swooned some where he stood as he waited without movement for Grievous to come again. His mind nearly relenting to his fate as he began to wrestle with the possibility of death as he idly tasted blood in his mouth. He heard a rumble in the distance and imagined the scene of tanks battling tanks, walkers tearing men and their bodies to pieces, and men desperately fighting through fear and hate against unfeeling machines far too adept at killing them. Only as he listened the rumble neared and became louder but static. His brow furrowed and he groggily turned his head up towards the sky to his right. There in the distance rose the smoke stacks and sounded the booms and explosions of war.

Yet, in the sky he could make out the approach of a ship. It wasn't a fighter or bombers and loomed more in the sky rather than burst forwards with speed. Indeed Raydonn recognized it as a gunship as some kind, but couldn't make out the model. It grew closer until it hovered but a few dozen yards away in air and lowered down. It had two large jet-drives which was odd to Raydonn, since every other gunship he'd ever seen used repulsor engines. The underside of the gunship sported a likely swiveling repeating cannon, and what looked like ports for rocket launchers on the rear sides of the gunship.

Raydonn stared at it for a moment still within a bit of a fogged daze before he heard his ear comm crackle to life.

"This is Imperial gunship TR-55, requesting Imperial call sign for identification. Please comm back." The sound of a masked Imperial pilot came to him. Raydonn managed to move his right hand up to his ear and activate his comm.

"Negative call-sign. Unregistered agent in field under command of...Lord Exar Kun. The name is Raydonn." He almost whispered out sounding off death as he barely remained standing.

"Confirmed agent. You're my objective. Lord Kun received your distress signal. It was, however, garbled upon reception. Please clarify your situation for report." Raydonn made to grab at his ear comm again when he heard a loud banging and thudding coming back from the shop and alleyway. He gulped down hard and noted just how dry his throat felt as he turned back towards what he knew was coming.

Jumping back into the street onto his left knee with his right hand planted against the street Grievous reappeared. Raydonn looked and noticed through narrowed foggy eyes that his left arm...it was broken. Halfway down the left forearm Raydonn saw the metal was broken and twisted almost fully backwards. The fingers jerked where they remained. The beast growled audibly once more and showed small burns across the rest of his white body as he glowered towards Raydonn.

"What the kriff?!" The pilot broke all semblance of propriety and levelheadedness. "Is that who I think it is?!"

"Confirmed pilot. Fire on him or we're both done for!" Raydonn found it within him to yell into his comm as Grievous chuckled at his words.

"Need help, little Sith? I should have expected it since I can still kill you with this one arm!" The cyborg stood up and grasped at a saber from his hip quickly activating the crimson beam. The gunship whirled left and thundered out a sudden crack as blaster cannon fire fell to the street below slamming all around Grievous.

The General's cloak whirled around him as dirt, debris and smoke flew across his figure from the pelting shots. Grievous' figure flew out from the fog churned up by the loud shots of the cannon slamming to the ground. The gunship fired on after Grievous as he broke for it and pelted all about him and behind him as he dove for a nearby store down the street. The gunship followed after even as Grievous tore left and into that store diving in through the glass windows. Yet, it fired nonetheless in after him tearing the stone from the shop and ripping more out of its forward face.

"Fire rockets if you have them!" Raydonn commanded through his pain-filled voice. The ship relentlessly fired into the shop unknown if he ever hit Grievous or not, and then those two panels along the side opened and two rockets fired out; one from each, and flew down into the shop. Successive explosions rocked out as the store and street surrounding it shook and more thicker plumes of smoke and debris exploded out from the cracks, holes and broken shop window of the store. The rumbling died down and Raydonn fell back to his left knee and grunted as he lost his standing.

"Pilot, does that vehicle of yours have a passenger seat?"

"Uh...negative sir!" The pilot announced as he unleashed another bout of cannon fire into the shop and Raydonn could hear the disbelief in his voice over the comm.

"Great...the hard way then." Raydonn coughed out as he idly gazed towards the building being torn into. "He's not dead." He intoned and stood back up.

"We're going to have to do this a bit differently then pilot. Lower altitude and near to my position. I'm going to need to hitch a ride back to HQ. I'm...badly wounded and bleeding badly." He idly noted his clothing was drenched in blood along his back.

"Copy, sir. Just let me make sure he's put down!"

"No time! He's not dead, and he's survived through worse! Now get over here and pick me up we have to warn everyone else that Grievous is back!" The gunship fired a few more rounds before it stopped and turned back towards him and lowered its altitude.

"Confirmed, sir. It'll be a bumpy ride."

"I've lived through worse...pilot." He coughed out. And reached into his hip pouch producing a small magnetic clip that he tied around his waist with the connecting cord. Raydonn checked around himself and only then numbly recalled he didn't have his lightsaber and his heart began pumping a little more faster at its loss.

"What...where..." Then he remembered seeing grievous grab and take it. He looked to the shop and sneered, but nonetheless he threw the magnetic clamp up and onto the gunship. The audible sound of it connecting with a thud sounded out and Raydonn prepared to repel himself upwards. The Force sounded out in warning within his mind and compelled him to look back to the shop. A sense of dread shooting through him, but no surprise as Grievous jumped back out the shop through a hole punched through by the gunship. His cloak was tattered and ripped and his body seemed slightly more scorched than before. He glowered towards Raydonn and began charging towards him once again. Raydonn felt an instinct to simply run there and then, but as he glimpsed his saber he reached out with what strength he had left with him and extended his left hand outwards. The Force flowed out from him and Grievous was caught and thrown back once more as Raydonn's saber was ripped from his hip into his extended hand.

"Go!" Raydonn yelled and began repelling up as the gunship began rising back into the air and angling its jets backwards. Raydonn repelled and clutched to the side of the gunship along an armored metal plate extending out from the nose and found a spot for him to lean against as he looked back to the town below and slowly going into the distance.

Grievous stood with saber active still in right hand and cocked his head as the gunship escaped into the distance blasting its engines. He deactivated it and re-clasped it to his hip and yanked his torn cloak around his broken and now sparking arm as his two Magnaguards seemingly arrived from nowhere behind him.

"Take me to the new command center." He intoned growling and turning on his heel passed them who then followed in tow. As both combatants retreated from one another this day. As General Grievous returned to the knowledge of the galaxy by way of Raydonn soon enough.

---

The day of Kuat began to wane. Through the smoke, and firing cannons and blasters the star of the system grew dim and began fading into the distance. The two armies remained static from one another with an open field of dead men and broken droids mingled with walkers and tanks between them. They fired upon one another endlessly, but neither army seemed ready to advance on the other. Thus leaving Exar Kun to believe that despite their losses the Imperials had forced those in command of the droid armies to await reinforcements.

"My Lord, the gunship I sent is in en route and landing as we speak." Kun, who stood on a forward command post with binoculars to his eyes looking out where his interest was captured heard Nidrini speak behind him.

"Ah, very good. I assume everything is well?" He said in a questioning tone despite his presumptuous words.

"Um...well not entirely my Lord. It would appear the pilot was forced to pick up your agent and carry him atop the gunship back to base. He's very badly injured, and though I haven't fully comprehended what the pilot said to me there seems to be some...urgent news regarding the local enemy Commander you should hear of. Immediately." Nidrini added.

Exar turned with a perplexed expression about him. He handed the binoculars to a nearby officer and motioned for Nidrini to lead him. The Colonel moved swiftly back through the Imperial lines of men, material and stacks of ammunition, and about the immense legs of walkers around them. Indeed, as they went columns of men passed them with blaster rifles in hands towards their new positions as men filed up from Kuatac city. All of them making efforts to salute Kun who would indulge them even if sloppily as his mind became fixed upon Raydonn from afar.

As he reached out through the Force to him Kun was stopped in his tracks. The wave of pain and fear that rushed through him into his mind nearly took his breath away. In his pause his brow furrowed and he lightly touched his head causing Nidrini to turn questioningly.

"My Lord?"

"It's nothing. Continue please, Colonel." Kun motioned and though seeming skeptical Nidrini nodded and moved forward with Kun in tow once more.

The two of them passed a line of SPMA long range artillery walkers firing into the distance when they came upon the ground-side makeshift Imperial landing pads. Upon all of them were cargo and troop transports, either MAAT's or Lambda-class shuttles. Only one supported a strange looking gunship obviously meant for trooper support. Around the vehicle there were several dozen officers and troopers and Exar could sense confusion radiating off them all.

Nidrini bounded forward ahead of Kun suddenly and rushed to the fellow Imperials.

"Step aside all of you! Show your respect due for Lord Kun!" The Colonel commanded and caused all the men to turn Exar's way. They all stiffened and quieted from their previous state of whispering and conversation. They saluted him all and Exar merely reciprocated another lazy salute and put them at ease.

"Where is he, and this pilot, Colonel?"

"Over here, my Lord. I called for a medical capsule for his injuries. They'll be placing him in a bacta tank as soon as possible after closing some of his wounds." This only sent more confusion and an odd sense of anxiety into Exar who pushed passed the men into the landing pad zone itself. Once he moved by the last man and came next to the gunship he found who he thought to be the pilot wearing the usual black gear of an Imperial pilot slumped against the ship and sensed dread and horror coming off of him.

More shocking, however, Exar found Raydonn sitting along the edge of the gunship slouched back against it. He looked dazed and pale, but his face was scratched and torn and his clothes were ripped and tattered with scratches along the whole of his chest and arms showed through. His presence reeked of fear, pain and dimming hatred.

"By the Force...what happened to you?"

"Ah, there you are...master." Raydonn groggily spoke and picked himself off the side of the gunship. As he did Exar saw blood trails running down the vehicle wall, yet Raydonn still jumped off the side. As he did he fell onto hands and knees allowing Kun and everyone else to see his black clothing underneath his armor soaked in blood the distinct smell rising around him into the air as distinct claw like tears could be seen having gone through that armor. Two officers ran to help him up and grabbed his arms pulling him to a stand, but Raydonn shoved them off as he looked into the eyes of his master. Exar remained stunned in his silence and struggled to find words for the state he found this more than capable man in.

"Wha...what happened Raydonn?!" Raydonn moved his hand up as if ready to declare something but he simply began falling forward again. This time Exar moved forward and grabbed hold of the man. His hands clasping onto his back and arms around him lowering to a kneel as Raydonn seemed to almost pass out there. The ex-inquisitor pushed back on Kun some and angled to look up at him through a haze that Kun could sense stemmed from his pain and blood loss. He sensed his presence fading and silently began using the Force to help sustain his newest apprentice.

"I did as asked...nearly killed the Commander. She wasn't hard..." Raydonn trailed off and his head slumped some. Exar again flooded his apprentice with his own presence utilizing some rudimentary healing techniques he recalled as a Jedi knight so long ago. He perked back up only slightly and continued where he left off in a near whisper.

"Had her beat. But, then Grievous showed. He's just as tough as everyone said...Grievous is the real Ground Commander, master...I couldn't beat him. Just couldn't beat-" Raydonn slumped forward again and Exar checked for his presence as he registered numbly what he said.

"Where's the medical capsule?!"

"Here, my Lord!" Four stormtroopers came through escorting the medical troopers who were stamped with the medic badges of the empire and stripes of their designation.

"Get him stitched up as needed and into a bacta tank at once! Inform me as to any change whatsoever! I mean the slightest." Exar commanded as he allowed the medics to take Raydonn up onto and over into the capsule unit floating off the ground.

"Right away, Lord Kun." The troopers and medics began pushing passed the men hurriedly and calling back to the medical station.

Only then did Exar register the wetness of his hands and raise them up to his face. Looking down onto them he saw they were drenched in blood and the crimson fluid dripped off from his fingers and stained the front of his clothing. Along down his tunic shirt, parts of his cloak down his back and it ran down his armor some of it splattered on the ground around him. The sickening sight and smell sent him into a mild daze as he numbly realized the very life giving blood of Raydonn lay splattered across him.

An odd feeling rose in his chest into his throat and his brow furrowed as he registered it.

"Is it the blood? No, I've seen blood plenty." He thought as he remained staring at his hands with officers and troopers still surrounding him. He searched his mind as the sight of this blood oddly froze him. He couldn't understand why. He still sensed the fear and pain associated with whose blood it was. He still registered the words Raydonn had spoke, but what he most thought of was just the man himself as he thought about it and it confused him.

"It's what a master feels when they fear for the life of their apprentice, Exar."

Kun snapped his head right as he heard a voice echo in his mind. He saw nothing, but then a prickling sensation rose up his spine and dully into his neck as he felt suddenly compelled to turn then left.

As he did he saw nothing but his men. Some of them giving him quizzical looks and whispering worriedly and quietly on Raydonn's words. Yet, Exar swore then for a moment his eyes almost registered the shape of an image amongst the men yet not of them, nor seen by them. A hunched shorter figure with an all too familiar staff in hand and large beady black eyes nearly forgotten to him, yet never so.

"Master Vodo?"

"My Lord?"

Kun was shaken and slightly startled at the sound of Colonel Nidrini's voice as he cocked his head looking at him.

"Wher...where's the pilot?" Kun rose to a stand stiffly as Nidrini turned his head towards the man still beside the gunship. The Colonel motioned him over with a jerk of his neck and the still uniformed man came over and saluted Kun who waved him off.

"Speak as to what you saw..."

"Pilot GH-7, my Lord."

"Right, speak as to what you saw then." Kun ordered sharply as he sensed a looming fear and horror in the man who seemed almost hesitant to speak.

"I arrived as ordered and found your agent in dire need of medical attention as he is now. While I was attempting to confirm his situation... Well I can't believe I am saying it my Lord, but General Grievous came into sight from an alleyway obscured form my vision." The men around them began whispering, and Kun sensed fear radiate off all of them. Though he sensed they had perhaps heard this before now from Raydonn moments ago and perhaps even from the pilot before he arrived' Kun figured he himself being told by this pilot what he saw made the revelation all the more real for them.

"General Grievous? I vaguely recall the name from...somewhere. Who is he?" Kun asked and the men seemed baffled by this.

"General Grievous was the former Supreme Commander of the Confederate Droid Army! He killed plenty of Jedi in the Clone Wars ranging from apprentices to full blown Jedi masters sitting on the very council! By his orders billions were slaughtered and republic armies butchered!"

Exar turned slightly shocked and confounded by the sound of a stormtrooper of all people hollering the exposition at him from among the men. He leveled his gaze on the man who shuffled where he stood as the Sith Lord sensed fear seeping off the man. Yet the men around him seemed agreeable to his explanation.

"Err...my Lord." The trooper added as Kun looked at him.

"That is mostly true, my Lord." Nidrini offered. "However, I cannot believe it to be true. General Grievous is a figure whose memory is suppressed among several others from the Confederacy. The government branch believes he serves little purpose in remembering as possible; though highly unlikely, symbol of sedition and separatism. More importantly, however, he's confirmed dead." Kun nodded, idly registering the blood still upon his hands and clothing. He balled his hands into fists in attempt to hide them and keep the blood off his mind as he cleared his throat.

"Are you sure you saw this...Grievous, as you say pilot?"

"I have no reason to believe otherwise respectfully, my Lord. I admit to being shocked by his presence and...losing my nerve. I asked your agent if who he was facing on the ground level was in fact who I presumed it to be, and he confirmed it for me. I haven' a reason to doubt his intelligence, nor my eyes. Uh...respectfully so, my Lord." The pilot added. Exar merely nodded and brought the back of his right hand to his forehead and rubbed slightly in frustration as his thoughts flew passed him a mile a minute.

Looking down onto the back of his hand he noticed smeared blood and sighed deeply as he knew he had just smeared Raydonn's blood onto his face now.

"Everyone get back to your stations and duties. Speak no more on the matter if you wish to keep your stations and perhaps even your lives. I will see to the validity of this matter personally." Exar motioned them to be dismissed and Nidrini began barking orders to return to work posts and in fear now of their Lord's wrath they all of them began filing away until only Nidrini and Kun remained. The pilot was the last to leave by way of Nidrini's accolades and dismissal, and the officer produced a rag for Exar.

"My thanks." Exar took the rag and it immediately became soiled and stained in crimson red.

"What do you make of such a claim Colonel? As is likely evident my knowledge on the 'Clone Wars,' is lacking."

"It is not my place to make opinions on such matters known, my Lord. However, were my opinion to be so asked of me-"

"It is, Colonel." Kun confirmed with a hint of sharpness in his tone.

"Then I would say I cannot be a hundred percent sure of his doom. All the knowledge regarding his death is limited to those of high rank far beyond my station. Even the information concerning the final battle at Utapau during the Clone Wars is greatly redacted for historical records and military texts for academies such as the one I attended on Corulag." Exar nodded as he continued in vain to wipe the blood from his hands and forehead. His face betrayed no emotion from him, but the Dark lord felt a small sense of foreboding and dread rise in him mingled with the anxiety brought upon by his apprentice's blood upon him.

"Very well. Keep this quiet as best you can Colonel, and deal with any troublemakers if needed."

"Understood, my Lord." Kun nodded.

"Good. You have my thanks, and my dismissal." Nidrini clicked his boots and saluted as he retreated from the Sith's presence. Thus leaving Exar to stand alone as war raged upon Kuat and above it, and so much more than before bounded through his mind. Which now included the thought that some new threat of apparent mythic proportions was perhaps loosed upon the entire galaxy at this very moment.

Yet, more importantly to him was that of the state of his apprentice. That and the blood of the very same man now stained upon him. So, as the bombs rained and death loomed all about the Dark Lord went to wash that blood; to the best of his ability, from himself. The vision of a long dead Jedi master and his voice speaking words in his mind nearest to his thoughts.

---

Authors Note: I know I know I took way too long to update and I apologize to all my loyal readers IF you still exist. But my last college quarter was ungodly hard for me so I had little to no time to write and trust me I wanted to! Either way I again apologize and hope I can update within a decent margin of time. That out of the way please let me know of any and all grammar errors and or issues as previously stated or otherwise please try to ignore them. I know they break immersion but no one is perfect.

Also I would like to thank Gunmaster again for helping me come up with some ideas throughout this chapter and story again, as well as another fellow Fanfiction author time2read for always helping me with ideas as well, and thinking through my thinking process as well as beta reading! Both of you guys are much appreciated, so thanks again! Now please read and if so inclined review, and thank you all! :)