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The blaster bolts hailed down towards the Jedi.
Cal was barely able to avoid the deadly bolts by rolling away, twisting his feet around the unexpected Bounty Hunter, the ginger shoved his strength into staggering him off balance.
The Mandalorian tripped, a snarl of irritation, which furthered to fury as Cal ignored the biting restraints and in one swift kick, he knocked the blaster from the other's slackened grip.
Lunging forwards, Cal bit back a scream as the barbed wire slickened with blood, ripped into his poncho as he awkwardly clutched onto the fallen weapon.
The blaster pointed directed at the Mandalorian as he took another threatening step.
Deep breaths consumed him as he fought back the waves of pain, silence echoed with hatred as the Bounty Hunter's eyes narrowed behind his helmet; a deep scowl of irate anger.
"Don't move or I will shoot you." Cal threatened, thankful that his voice remained unwavering, ringing with a falsified strength that he currently did not possess; emerald eyes boring into the Bounty Hunter.
A harsh bark of laughter erupted with sheer disbelief and anger.
"You are Jetti, you will not shoot me."
Everyone knew Jedi were the manifestation of good, they never resulted in trickery or uncivilised methods.
Annoyance suddenly rushed through Cal, the stones beneath him digging painfully as he tightened his grip on the blaster, struggling to remain upright.
"If you really believe that then take another step."
The Bounty Hunter hesitated, hearing the conviction within the Jedi, vice-like grip on the blaster as his finger curled around the trigger, daring him.
Resigned, he gradually lifted his arms up in surrender.
"I want you to untie me." Cal commanded.
"Now." He added after a beat of silence.
A harsh, snarling curse was swallowed by the roaring winds; muffled by his helmet as he reluctantly stepped forwards, stones crunching underneath his boots, towards the Jetti.
Against every fibre within his being, the Bounty Hunter clutched onto his dagger, unsheathing it with a metallic hum that seemed to reverberate within the air.
Suddenly, in one unpredictable movement, he easily slashed through the wire as if it was nothing but frayed rope.
"Take me to your ship." Cal ordered as the last of the restraints had fallen away, gun pointed as he forcefully yanked the knife from the other's grip.
"No." He growled, shaking his head.
"That wasn't a request."
The gun recoiled, the shot scorching the wall behind him, a whisker away from hitting the Mandalorian, a shock coursing through the Bounty Hunter at the lack of hesitation.
"Take. Me. To. Your. Ship." Cal repeated. An unwavering resolve barely hanging onto each word and although the Dark side swarmed around him, desperate to tempt him; Cal did not waver.
Grumbling to himself, the realisation finally seemed to sink in that this was no ordinary Jetti. This man did not care about the values and code that the Jedi seemed to value more than their life.
The weight of the blaster sunk into the crook of his armour within the small of his back, mocking him with each movement.
Hands curling in furious, unkempt anger that he was somehow bested… by a Jetti!
.
.
A deathly silence descended upon the two as they walked, each step setting Cal on edge.
Of course he didn't trust his hostage; there was nothing he would expect more than the man attempting to escape, or leading him to his death.
But he was desperate.
He stiffened, flicking the hood of his shredded poncho to hide his striking ginger hair, lowering his gaze to the ground as a shadowy figure approached.
The alien glanced curiously at the two, shooting a quick greeting in a language that Cal couldn't place.
Red piercing eyes bored into the Mandalorian, a wide hat upon his head barely hiding his fierce scowl.
"Answer casually ." Cal stressed, every muscle in his body tensed in the possibility of a fight.
"Tell him everything is fine."
"I could tell him the truth, you would not know." He sneered.
"Do you think so?" Cal mused, digging the gun deeper into the man's back.
"Did you forget I am a Jedi. I will be able to tell if you're telling the truth."
A bated breath passed, hoping the man would fall for the bluff.
Words dragged reluctantly from the Mandalorian and with a sigh he didn't realise he was holding, Cal watched as the alien left.
"This better not be a trap." The Jetti reminded him for the umpteenth time.
Were all Jedi this impatient?
The Mandalorian let out a huff of annoyance, rolling his eyes underneath his helmet in response.
What he didn't know was that Cal was barely holding onto consciousness. With a forced effort, to stifle the desire to sleep, Cal shook his head, desperate to stay awake.
.
.
"Here." The Mandalorian gestured.
The ship had the husk of an old cargo ship, old rusted steel obscured with seemingly new plates welded haphazardly across the entire belly of the ship.
In a time when he was a scrapper, he had heard snippets of conversation about the space freighters. Rumours were that they were favoured by Bounty Hunters with their ability to carry such large loads.
But this one…was sourly lacking.
Cal stared at the ship with disdain.
"Can it fly?"
"Of course she can." The Mandalorian sounded offended.
"She can even outrun your puny Jedi fighters in an instant."
Cal shrugged, unconvinced.
It would have to do, it wasn't like he had much of a choice.
"We'll see." Cal gripped tightly to the Bounty Hunter, the blaster shifted to prod him as Cal urgently prompted him towards the ship.
"You're not going to let me go?"
"Of course not." A wry grin twisting on the ginger's face, scoffing at the sheer thought.
"I can't risk you chasing me."
However, before the Mandalorian could utter another irritated curse at the Jetti, Cal's smile pulled down into a thin, serious line.
The Jedi shoved them to the side, a harsh growl as the blood-red, deadly shot that would've hit him; scarcely fell short.
"You lied to me." Cal huffed, jaw clenched in concentration as two Bounty Hunter's inched closer.
The blue alien from before was accompanied by another Mandalorian.
"I didn't." The hostage snarled with venom and in an instant Cal had forced him to face the two Bounty Hunters as a shield.
The arching shots rapidly approached closer, deafening any other attempts of conversation.
Readying his blaster, with a twisted grip upon the Mandalorian's cape, in order to stop his attempt of escaping, Cal instantly stopped their approaches with a well placed shot.
The other Mandalorian staggered to the ground, clutching his shoulder in agony.
One down, one to go…
"Blast." Cal cursed, barely dodging a shot flying too close to his ear, heart beating frantically with panic. Instantly responding with his own shots, failing to stop the man's pursuits.
"You're a terrible shot." His hostage laughed, barely fazed as the shots bounced off of his armour.
"You talk too much." Cal snarked back, more to himself than anything, his eyes narrowed in concentration.
The Jedi stopped firing, hand slackening as he slipped his hand behind his back, gripping tightly onto the hidden weapon. Seemingly unfazed as the Bounty Hunter sprinted forwards, gaining towards them.
"What are you doing?!" An inch of fear bled through the Mandalorian's voice.
"Cad Bane will kill both of us."
Cal ignored him, tugging at the weapon as it finally came free, with a quick apology to the Force, he finally attacked when they were almost face to face.
Twisting around, Cal flung the concealed knife towards the enemy.
He lunged with deadly accuracy, the knife buried itself into the Bounty Hunter's leg.
And although the howl of agony tore from Cad Bane's lips, it didn't didn't halt his attack.
A lump within his throat, Cal yanked his hostage towards the ship, shoving them both inside.
Heart beating frantically at the thought of escaping, Cal managed to fumble around; gripping onto handcuffs.
Icey restraints bit into his gloved wrists, tighter than needed. Perhaps retribution for what the Jedi had to go through at his hands.
The Mandalorian tightly secure, a warning growl rushing forwards, unfazing the Jedi; Cal rushed to the front, hands blurring with practise of an experienced scrapper. Instantly, the ship answered with a gutteral groan.
Lights flickering, engine humming, the ship left the atmosphere within a passing second.
.
.
Cal sighed, sagging in the seat. Bringing his trembling hand to his feverish head, he scrubbed at his face, wearily.
"Thank Kriff." Cal sighed, sagging into the seat as he left the atmosphere.
Hands trembling, the Jedi desperately searched through the navigation system. Text blurring before his eyes as he shook his head, mentally reprimanding himself.
He had to focus.
He had to find a way to get in contact with someone.
Anyone.
The synthetic blue screen flickered, a beat passed as he released his luck.
Jaro Tapal had sent out an encoded message.
Not only that, but his Master was close by.
Answering the message, Cal inputted the coordinates.
Taking an unsteady breath, his body trembled as the adrenaline gradually wore off, leaving him with barely enough energy to stop himself from collapsing into sleep, eyes fluttering shut.
The fleeting second passed as Cal's expression fell, an icy dread plummeting as he shakily sat up, eyebrows pinched in fear.
He still couldn't feel the Light side of the Force.
Trying to tear his mind away from the terrifying possibility that his connection was forever destroyed, Cal stumbled from the seat hoping to distract himself with another task.
His search was a success, clumsy hands digging through belongings had resulted in dry clothes and bandages.
Albeit there was no sign of food or bacta, Cal scavenged enough to bind his raw, angry wounds and to fight off the frozen shivers that racked through his body.
A final check of the coordinates, he finally let himself relax; eyes slumping shut in exhaustion.
.
.
.
A giddy chuckle burst through from the Mandalorian, the smirk widening with each growing second.
It seemed the Bounty would be his...after all.
What the Jedi didn't know was that his restraints were always equipped with a quick release in case of emergencies.
Bending his arm at a painful angle, he forced the glove off of his hand.
Teeth gritting, he shoved his back into the pipe, hoping to give himself a better range to twist his hand and grip onto the hidden button.
After a few minutes of struggling, a hushed sigh of relief hung in the air at the soft click, the handcuffs releasing. The Bounty Hunter had to dive to grasp the handcuffs, an inch from the ground; halting the metallic noise from echoing within the room.
Mind whirring with possibilities, he had to swallow the dark smirk as he spotted his lighter.
The Mandalorian carefully slunk through the hallway, only pausing to listen for noises, he flung open the trapdoor and scampered down the stairs.
And into the engine room.
.
.
He would miss his ship, she had been there for him many times than he could count; narrowly escaping being caught on every front.
But he would be able to get a new one with ease.
Especially with all that money.
With a bidding goodbye, the Mandalorian watched with horrid fascination, amusement flickering beneath his helmet at the fire gone wild, consuming everything in its path, the fuel only aiding the brilliant blaze.
The Bounty Hunter sprinted, ignoring stealth in order to escape the fiery demise that would soon erupt into chaos.
Hands flying on the screen he stepped into the escape pod, with a laugh.
The door flew open yet Cal froze, unable to do anything but stare in shock, the escape pod tumbling back down to the planet.
You're too late, he thought, amused.
Laughter coursed, echoing within the escape pod as he craned his neck; desperate to watch the catastrophic, deafening explosion, into a hue of rageful crimson and orange flames.
Tearing his eyes from the breath-taking calamity of the burning wreckage with reluctance, the Bounty Hunter pressed the communication button.
"Inform the guild that I have fulfilled the bounty. The Jetti is dead."
.
.
Fear.
Gasping within the confines of the metallic ship, akin to a jail, Cal's hands blotched with purple and blue as he scrambled, desperate to find some way of out of this.
An emotion he had never felt before sunk its teeth into his heart.
He was going to die.
With that revelation, Cal gave up. Arms sagging as blood caked underneath his fingernails, tears smothering his calm façade as everything dawned on him.
He was scared.
The smoke coiled thickly, strangling him as he sputtered; slumping to the ground as his chest rattled with coughs.
All of a sudden, Cal blinked as the silhouette of a ship suddenly appeared.
Unable to heave a breath, lips cracked dry, he couldn't muster enough energy to move; let alone attempt to call out for help.
He slipped into unconsciousness
.
.
.
Yoda's cane echoed through the vast hallways, entering the cluttered office with a mirthful chuckle.
The sight of the office was in shambles, towers of books tilting dangerously; threatening to tumble in any moment.
Hastily written notes and scattered pieces of paper were strewn out, scattered across every surface, to the point where the desk was unable to be spotted.
Clearing his throat, the librarian nodded; smiling at the sight of the Jedi Master.
"Master Yoda." Jocasta said awkwardly, instantly straightening her posture.
"What can I do for you?"
"Busy, you seem to be." Yoda remarked.
"I apologise for the mess." She admitted. "Do you need something?"
"Tell me what this is, you can?" Yoda asked, handing the rough blueprints to the technician.
"It seems like it is some kind of scanner." The librarian replied after a beat, scanning the roughly scrawled writing thoughtfully.
"What could it be for?"
"I wouldn't know completely until it is built, but it could possibly be some kind of chip scanner." She responded.
"Easy to build, is it?"
"It shouldn't be too hard, for the droids." She responded, wondering why the Grandmaster was so interested in a simple design.
"Good. When done, it is. Let me know."
The librarian nodded.
"Of course, Master."
.
.
"It's an extractor to be exact. Brilliant design, it reduces the chance of overheating by ensuring the pressure is tight between the skin and the chip. A laser is cut into the skin and then it is removed."
The librarian explained enthusiastically, she had never seen such an intricate design before .
Yoda paused, pondering on those words.
A chip extractor.
There had to be a reason why Kestis risked his life to protect this.
"There is going to be a war soon." The child had said.
"Be careful who you trust."
"Create as many as you can, you must. Urgently."
"At once, Master Yoda." She nodded.
.
.
.
Cal couldn't help but let out a groan of pain as he awoke from his drug induced slumber, the agony thrumming through his body disorientating him.
The realisation was sudden, jolting him awake, sobering him.
He was alive?
Gritting his teeth, a silent cry emitted from his throat, Cal struggled to prop himself up, trying to recognise the room.
Gently, a hand pushed him back down into the bed.
"Wha.." He winced at the grating raspiness of his voice, unable to maintain the strength to fight back.
"You need to rest." The familiar voice rumbled and Cal blinked, the world sharpening as the concerned face stared down at him.
"Master Tapal? What…happened?" Cal's mind was a mess, unable to make sense of what occurred for his Master to rescue him.
"You responded to my message, I managed to pinpoint your location and came to meet you. Just in time too."
"Oh." Cal responded lamely, all other words escaping him as his head pounded feverishly.
"Cal when I said look after yourself, I did not expect to hear news that you had a Bounty on your head, or to pull you from a burning wreckage." The exasperation hung heavy with disappointment.
A laugh bubbled from the young Jedi's throat. Wincing as the simple action sent him into a gripping agony. The sudden pressure forced him to calm himself down, deep breaths greedily gasping.
"In my defence, Master. I didn't intentionally plan any of this."
"Yet somehow, you always seem to find trouble." Jaro Tapal responded sternly, his tone thick with worry.
"No more laughing. You have broken ribs."
Cal hummed in agreement.
"Where are we?" He asked, eyelids weighing heavily.
"My ship."
Just as Cal was about to embrace the restless sleep, his Master's words pierced through his hazy clouded mind, jolting him upright with a frenzied panic swimming within his eyes.
"No, no. I can't be here." Cal's voice was a feeble mutter, laced with terror. Struggling to shove the tangled blankets off of him.
"Cal, stop."
"Please Master, I can't be here." The cracked pleadings broke Jaro Tapal's heart.
"Calm down." The Jedi Master said softly, placing his hands onto the trembling shoulders in the hopes to provide comfort.
"Tell me why."
Cal shook his head, instantly regretting it as his vision tinged black.
"I can't…I can't stay here, please Master."
"Cal you've been shot twice, you have broken ribs and cuts all over you. I am not going to let you go anywhere alone." Jaro replied sternly, guiding his former apprentice to lie back down.
Cal deflated, protesting weakly.
"Apprentice, what are you so scared of?"
"Who else knows I'm here?" Cal's voice was a feeble mutter underneath his breath as he choked back a groan of pain.
"Nobody." Jaro Tapal reassured.
"Everyone believes this is an emergency mission."
"Where is…"
"He's meditating." Jaro Tapal answered.
"And the clones?"
"I have sent them to look for information around the town."
" All of them?" Cal pressed, a frown pinched at his expression with wariness.
His mind fleeting back on the snarling promise from the Chancellor.
"All of them." Jaro Tapal promised firmly.
"Good." Cal muttered, allowing himself to sink down into the bed.
" Good ."
A ragged breath passed and slowly the tension eased, a ragged, haunted look passing upon his face almost as if it was never there.
"Do you trust me?" The younger Jedi asked hesitantly.
"Of course." The reply was instant.
"If Jango has done as I paid him too, then you should receive a message from Master Yoda shortly. Once you do, then leave this planet without the clones ."
Cal stressed the last words with deep urgency.
"I can't tell you more than that, not until I'm sure…"
"Alright." Jaro agreed, although he trusted his former apprentice, it did not help the barrage of questions that arose with each further conversation.
But Cal was in no state to answer them.
Instead he would wait until he was better, until the man would willingly let the truth from his clutched grips.
To trust him.
"I cannot feel your presence in the Force at all, do you know why?" Jaro Tapal asked.
"I don't." Cal confessed. "I assumed it was the planet, but it seems someone is trying to cut off my connection."
The uncertainty within his voice was not lost on the Jedi Master.
"I don't know what to do if I can't restore it, Master." He confessed, a croaked whisper barely audible.
"Only a skilled Sith is able to forcefully remove a Jedi's presence within the Force."
Cal flinched violently.
He knew that somehow Chancellor Palpatine was behind this.
"However, although the Sith may try to cut the connection, it is never truly gone. You will need to find it again through meditation."
Hope flickered upon his face, eyes shining with poorly hidden joy as the words hit Cal.
"That's it? Meditation."
Jaro Tapal nodded, a small smile at the overwhelming relief, blinking back tears as his smile widened.
It was horrible to have the Dark side constantly twisting around him, terrified that his connection was permanently destroyed.
But now, he could somehow restore his connection to the Light.
"Aside from that, where is your lightsaber?"
The smile faded into flushed shame. Grimacing; Cal braced himself for the lecture.
"I…may have sold it."
"You did what ?"
"I did it for a good cause." He tried to explain.
"You sold your lightsaber."
Cal nodded sheepishly and Jaro Tapal couldn't fathom another thought beyond shaking his head in bewilderment, pinching the bridge of his nose.
A Jedi's weapon was precious, it symbolised hope and strength within the Force.
And Cal had simply sold it.
His next words were cut off as the Jedi-Master's comm cut through the disappointed silence. A pointed glare directed at his former apprentice, as if to say I will deal with that later.
"Master Yoda." Surprise blooming within his greeting, Cal shifted, eager to listen in on the conversation.
.
.
"Do you understand now?" The Jedi asked seriously, torn from his futile meditation attempts with a budding frustration.
Jaro Tapal nodded grimly.
"Unfortunately, I do."
Yoda's admission that there will be a war soon was only strengthened by Cal's sagging shoulders, a vacant, resigned look crossing his face.
As if he was remembering something beyond the present.
"The council thinks you're dead."
"Dead?" Cal furrowed his eyebrows in confusion. "Why?"
Jaro glanced at him, a raised eyebrow as if he was serious.
"I suppose it might have something to do with your claimed bounty."
"It's been claimed?" Cal grumbled sourly, lip upturning at the escape pod hissing; leaving him to his demise.
"My hostage."
"Your hostage?… Nevermind, I don't wish to know." He said hastily, shaking his head at his apprentice's curling smile, emerald eyes shining with laughter. Bewilded at how he ever becoming involved with this ginger.
Cal was the epiphany of danger, somehow it always flocked to him.
The depths of what his Master was saying finally twisted with nausea, his thoughts immediately tracing to his friend.
Anakin .
If Anakin thought he was dead...
"I need to contact the council."
"Wait. If everything you have told me is true and I believe you are telling me the truth. Then, perhaps this is the best.'' Jaro Tapal said firmly, watching the flitting confusion.
"I don't understand? How?"
"If everyone thinks you are dead, isn't that the best way to help distribute this prototype you have created? To help stop the clones."
And to stop the one who seemed to terrify his former Apprentice so much.
The Sith that had forcefully torn Cal's bond to the Force into shreds, so much so that the man was terrified of what came next.
"You mean pretending to be dead?" The sheer thought was absurd and he could already feel the crushing guilt yearning to stifle him.
He couldn't do that to Anakin…
The Jedi Master nodded. "It would be the best solution for you to restore your connection to the Force."
"But.." Cal hesitated, he hated to admit it was a good idea. It would allow him to help stop Order 66 and yet, he couldn't stop the guilt of lying to Anakin.
That the repercussions of his death could be the result in Anakin turning to the Dark, that everything he had fought so hard to help him, would all be for nothing.
"I'm sure you will not have to do it for long."
Cal nodded, relenting but glancing at his former Master with apprehension and doubt.
I'm sorry Anakin. He said to himself, hating the thought of leaving him alone.
The guilt constricted around him, biting his lip, Cal could do little but hope with every inch of himself, that he had made the correct choice.
.
.
"How many have you created so far?" Cal questioned, shifting uncomfortably as the bandages tightened around his chest.
"800." Master Yoda responded, the hologram crackling as they focused on the Young Jedi.
"That's nowhere near enough. You need at least 7,000." Cal advised, shaking his head at the sheer number of clones that would result in the ravaging elimination of hundreds of thousands.
"7,000?" The shock was evident in Jaro Tapal's voice.
"Even that might not be enough." Cal muttered, cursing as his concentration waned, the Light side of the Force vanishing without a trace as he reached out to it.
"Make as many as you can, then send out an encrypted warning to all the Jedi, if that is possible."
The agreement came instantly, the connection disconnecting, leaving Cal sifting through his thoughts.
Please be alright, Anakin.
We definitely needed some comfort after the last few chapters haha, so I hope you enjoyed :D
Sorry it was so slow, we'll pick up the pace next chapter!