Chapter 12: Operation Emancipation
One Week Later, A cliff overlooking Bar, 24th March 16 BBY, 19:15 pm…
Weiss thanked the gods that Ruby had given her some training with snipers.
It was why she and Kanan were currently set up on a cliff overlooking Jaune's hometown of Bar; a small town roughly an hour's drive from the kingdom itself. It seemed to be your atypical small town; complete with various stores, a diner, a bar… it all seemed very dull to Weiss.
She made a mental note to ask Jaune if he also wanted to be a Huntsman because of how dull his life was.
"Manor's right at the far end of the village." Kanan said to Weiss. "Adjust your scope and zoom in on that thing."
Weiss did as Kanan had asked, ensuring her scope was adjusted appropriately as she scanned the windows.
"Nathan; me and Kanan are in position." Weiss said. "Overlooking the town; we have a perfect shot at Napoleon's study."
"Good. Wait until you have a clear shot at Commander Stonewall; then take his head off." Nathan whispered in reply.
"I plan to." Weiss replied, adjusting her grip on the rifle.
Commander Jaxson Stonewall was the commanding officer of the Imperial garrison stationed in Bar. According to the week long reconnaissance mission they'd conducted so they could plan the mission; Stonewall was a cruel, violently tempered man who often conducted summary executions on anyone who had the misfortune of pissing him off.
Further questioning had revealed that he had also married Violette Arc; Jaune's younger sister and former golden child.
Napoleon does have a knack for cruel retribution, Weiss noted as she soon saw doors opening in the office of Napoleon.
"Nathan; someone's entering the office. Waiting for a positive ID before I take the shot." Weiss said.
"Make that two." Kanan said from next to Weiss.
Weiss nodded before looking back through her scope; just in time for Kanan to say:
"Target confirmed, Nathan; Positive ID on Commander Stonewall."
Weiss Weiss glanced at the photograph of Stonewall placed between her and Kanan and studied it for hopefully the last time:
Commander Jaxson Stonewall was a middle aged man in perhaps his late thirties or early forties, with a face that looked like it'd been repeatedly rammed into a stone wall. His closely trimmed black hair was visible under the man's military cap, and cold greyish blue eyes stared out from the photo. He was dressed well; in what had to be his Imperial Officer's uniform.
A glance at the man that'd entered the room through the scope of her rifle all but confirmed Weiss was aiming at Commander Jaxson Stonewall.
"Good. Do you have a shot?" Nathan asked over the comms.
"I do." Weiss replied, adjusting her position so that she accounted for bullet drop and the Coriolis effect as well.
Taking a deep breath, Weiss fired, watching as the shot sailed through the air, finally connecting with Stonewall's head.
Which promptly exploded, causing blood, skull fragments and brain matter to splatter all over the room.
Mostly all over Napoleon Arc himself, whose stunned facial expression had Weiss smirking to herself, as she called it in:
"Nathan; this is Weiss. Stonewall's been neutralised. It's all up to you, now."
"Acknowledged." Nathan replied. "Heading inside now."
Weiss then looked to Kanan. "You think Nathan will kill Napoleon?" She asked.
"I'd be surprised if he didn't." Kanan replied. "Now come on. Jason and the Clones will need our help taking down the garrison headquarters."
Weiss nodded and followed Kanan. Tonight would be a bloody one. One she would be surprised to see any Imperial or Napoleon survive. She was further convinced none would when she heard Nathan say:
"Inside. Talk more when the Manor starts burning down."
Inside the Arc Manor…
Nathan waited for the group of Stormtroopers inside the house to disperse before stepping out of the shadows, drawing his knife and slitting the throat of the unfortunate trooper still left there.
Letting the corpse drop to the floor, Nathan stepped towards the second nearest trooper to him, kicking their legs out from underneath them before driving his knife through the top of their head.
A third tried rushing him, but Nathan soon wrapped him up in a dragon sleeper whilst stabbing him three times through the chest.
Drawing Phoenix's Breath, Nathan shot three more stormtroopers dead before a fourth attempted to attack him from behind. Spinning on his heel and engaging, Nathan pistol-whipped the trooper across the face before grabbing and using them as a shield against oncoming fire from other nearby troopers whilst shooting them as well.
Once the area was clear, Nathan took the trooper he'd just used as a shield, smashing him in the face and stabbing him with his knife, then using the knife as leverage to hurl the trooper into several more that were descending the main staircase of the manor.
Quickly shooting them, Nathan rapidly ascended the steps of the manor, reloading as he did.
Oncoming fire drove him to hug the banister before he shot several more Stormtroopers, continuing his ascent to the first floor of the manor.
A lone stormtrooper tried shooting at him from the sides, but Nathan's aura caught it, allowing Nathan to shoot them through the head.
Turning to the door at the top of the stairs, Nathan smashed the window and tossed a grenade through there, taking cover as it exploded, killing whatever Stormtroopers were in there.
Dropping back down to the ground floor again, Nathan spotted one final Stormtrooper rush over with a blaster rifle. Grabbing the weapon by the barrel, Nathan smashed the trooper across the face with a harsh right hook, ripping the blaster from their arms and firing several shots into them.
Seeing several more Stormtroopers approaching, Nathan fired on all of them, killing all of them before hearing:
"Intruder! Show yourself and face me!"
Smiling, Nathan jogged into a place where he could be hidden; yet retained a clear view of the main stairwell as he watched Napoleon waddling down the stairs.
The past six months had not been kind to Napoleon. Drunk from the power he had once again wielded over his family with help from the Empire, Napoleon was now even fatter than he had been the last time Nathan had spoken to him.
But that was not what caught Nathan's attention.
What did was the fact that Napoleon was carrying a double barrelled shotgun with the barrel sawn off, and behind him he was dragging a familiar face:
Violette, Nathan thought.
Violette didn't look good. Her face was bruised from several beatings; likely from her late husband or her father. Her face was pale, and covered with dirt, indicating that she had likely not washed for ages.
Despite all this though; Nathan still considered Violette to be rather beautiful. Were it not for Blake and Violette being younger than him; Nathan would have considered courting her.
But he pushed that aside as Napoleon levelled his shotgun at Violette, shouting:
"Intruder! Come out and face me, or my daughter and unborn grandchild will die!"
It was then that Nathan noticed Violette's belly was slightly swollen; meaning Violette was a few months pregnant. Better add rapist to the list of war crimes Commander Stonewall was just executed for, Nathan thought to himself.
Drawing Phoenix's Breath, Nathan loaded explosive rounds into the revolver, levelling it at Napoleon and firing.
The bullet tore through Napoleon's left elbow and exploded on impact, as did Napoleon's elbow itself.
As such, the hand that had been holding Violette in such a vice grip now slackened, no longer attached to its owner.
Napoleon responded with an agonised howl, dropping his shotgun momentarily as he clutched the stump of his left arm. "Who's there?!" He demanded, anger becoming fear.
Nathan then finally picked his chance to reply; igniting his lightsaber, bathing his face in a ghost blue light. "Your worst nightmare…" Nathan snarled.
Nathan stepped out from the shadows as if they themselves had manifested him, staring daggers at Napoleon, whose eyes widened in terrified recognition.
"No… no… you're dead! The Baron told me you were DEAD!" Napoleon screamed, somnolent with fear, terror and dread at the sight of a man long considered to be dead.
"Yet here I stand; in the flesh, alive and very well." Nathan responded darkly. "And you owe me a pound of flesh."
Napoleon then reached for his shotgun, as he scrambled to his feet, only for it to fly from his fingertips and into Nathan's hand.
Taking the shotgun, Nathan levelled it at Napoleon's right leg and fired, blasting a massive bloody chunk out of the knee and upper calf.
Another agonised howl escaped Napoleon as he dropped, clutching his near completely severed leg, doubly so when Nathan violently stomped on it.
"Quit your fucking squealing, pig!" Nathan snapped, savagely soccer-kicking Napoleon full in the face, watching as blood, cartilage and teeth flew everywhere.
Ejecting the remaining shotgun shell from Napoleon's shotgun, Nathan dropped to one knee, making sure he was on Napoleon's chest, pinning the fat bastard to the floor. Gripping his collar, Nathan slapped the abusive Arc Family Patriarch across the face. "Focus on me, you fucking piece of shit!"
The moment Napoleon's eyes focused on Nathan, they remained wide with terror and disbelief as Nathan said:
"I've been dreaming of the things I would say to you now… but I'm done wasting words and breath on you. You're so drunk with the power you've had over your family after so long that no matter what anyone does; you will always try and force your way back into complete control. So I won't waste my breath." Looking up to face Violette, Nathan said: "Go upstairs and gather your sisters. Leave none behind. Get them to pack anything they can fit into a backpack and a carry-on case. I've got people to get you guys out of here and to safety."
This seemed to trigger a response from Napoleon, who bellowed:
"YOU TAKE ONE STEP UP THOSE STAIRS, AND SO HELP ME, I WILL-"
"SHUT YOUR FUCKING MOUTH!" Nathan snarled, driving a vicious right hook across Napoleon's face. "Last I checked; you're the one pinned to the fucking floor with part of your leg blown off and your left arm next to non-existent! So I suggest you keep your fucking mouth shut unless-"
Nathan paused to grab Napoleon's right arm as he attempted to throw a punch at Nathan, only for Napoleon to kick him in the back in an attempt to break free.
At that, Nathan skilfully spun around, drew his knife, and drove it straight through Napoleon's left knee, dragging the blade around the joint before ripping it free as Napoleon once again howled in agony.
Smashing him across the face to silence him, Nathan took one of the grenades off of his belt and rammed it deep into Napoleon's mouth. Looking back at Violette, Nathan nodded. "Go…"
Violette nodded and rushed upstairs to do as Nathan asked her to, leaving Nathan alone with Napoleon.
As Violette could be heard rounding up her sisters, Nathan took the time to tourniquet Napoleon's wounds, preventing him from bleeding to death.
He then dragged Napoleon into the dining room, tying him to the chair with a mixture of duct tape and thick ropes found in the kitchen.
By the time Napoleon was completely restrained, Violette, now dressed for travel alongside her sisters, had rejoined them with her sisters.
"Nathan… we're ready."
Nathan nodded before pulling the grenade out of Napoleon's mouth.
Napoleon dared not say a word, merely glared at Nathan with a look so withering that Nathan would have dissolved had it been a weapon.
Nathan took that moment to gesture to Jaune's sisters; saying: "Take a good look, Napoleon. Take a good look at your family. Because after tonight… this will be the last you ever see of them…"
Napoleon shook his head. "No… I'll recover… I'll be back. And when I am… these… 'family' will discover the true consequences of defying their father."
Nathan shook his head. "No you won't. Because I promise you this… if you come for these girls to seek revenge for all of their alleged transgressions against you… I will come for you in return. And you will spend every waking hour terrified of the shadows… Because one day… I will be hiding within them. And I will emerge from those shadows and kill you." Pausing, Nathan added: "Provided the fire doesn't do it, first."
Napoleon's eyes narrowed in confusion. "What fire?"
Nathan smirked, raised the grenade he had just tore from Napoleon's mouth, pulled the pin, and tossed it towards a nearby set of curtains.
It quickly exploded, setting the curtains alight.
Making sure Napoleon's eyes were on him the whole time, Nathan began hurling similar grenades across the manor, setting different part of it alight.
"No… no…" Napoleon whimpered as he started to struggle to free himself from his bonds. "Don't leave me here! I can't die like this!"
"Too bad. Because this is exactly how you are going to die." Nathan snarled. "Watching helplessly as everything you ever knew and loved burns to the ground around you until you eventually burn alongside it... Goodbye… Napoleon Arc." Setting one last incendiary grenade on the table, Nathan pulled the pin and turned away, hearing Napoleon starting to cough amidst crying out for help, begging Nathan to show him mercy. But Nathan ignored him.
Napoleon had made his bed… now he had no choice but to lie and burn in it.
The Imperial Garrison, 20:30 pm…
The Arc Manor was now completely aflame by the time Nathan and the Arc sisters joined the others at the Imperial Garrison.
Which hadn't stood a chance against Jason, the clones, Weiss and Kanan.
Bodies of dead stormtroopers and Imperial officers littered the ground around them, victims of a losing battle.
Ghira stood by the entrance ramp to the clones' ship, looking on at Nathan and the rescued family members of Jaune.
Nathan eyed him and nodded in greeting, a gesture Ghira returned before Nathan turned to Jason.
Jason's gaze was on the burning Arc Manor, an impassive look on his face. "Won't Jaune want to live there when all this is over?" He asked.
Nathan shook his head. "Too many memories. He and Pyrrha can build a new place; with happy memories for their family when the time comes for them."
Jason nodded.
Turning now to the clones, Nathan gestured to the Arc sisters. "Blaze; new orders: You and your men are to ferry these six women to Argus and drop them off there. My team leader's elder sister lives there with her family. They'll be safe there."
"Very good, sir. Will we still be ferrying Chieftain Belladonna back home as well?" Blaze inquired.
"Yes, Captain." Nathan responded. "Take some time to rest in Menagerie, too; we'll call you guys in as soon as you're needed."
"Will do, Commander." Blaze said respectfully before he walked up to the Arc sisters. "Ladies; my name is Captain Blaze. Me and my men will be taking you to your older sister in Argus; where you'll all be safe." Looking to his fellow clones, Blaze said: "Stow their baggage on board and get them comfortable. We're leaving in ten minutes or less. Move it!"
The clones nodded and moved to follow Blaze's orders, helping Jaune's sisters aboard.
Violette lingered though, facing Nathan.
Nathan noticed, and walked over. "Everything alright, Vi?" He asked.
Violette smiled. "Yeah… just… when Dad told us you were killed at Beacon… it… it broke us. Knowing you wouldn't be there to save us this time… Save me from being forced to marry Stonewall… I… I'll be the first to admit that I had a lot of sleepless nights as a consequence. Between that and… everything else… seeing you were alive made all of that vanish. I'm glad you're alive, Nathan… and I'm glad that my baby has a chance to grow up free from everything they would have suffered had they been born into… all that back there."
Nathan nodded. "How far along are you?"
"Just about to enter my fifth month." Violette replied. "It's… really the only good thing to come from me being forced to marry Stonewall."
"You'll be a great mom, Violette. Just a matter of finding the right guy to raise the baby with." Nathan responded.
"I know." Violette said. "And… if it's a boy… I'm planning to name them Nathan. After the man who gave them a chance at a better life."
Nathan blinked as if he'd been slapped. "Wait… really?"
Violette nodded. "I'm… pretty sure it is a boy, too." She added with a smile.
Nathan then chuckled. "Violette… I… I'm honoured."
Violette smiled. "Blake is lucky to have you, Nathan. Any woman would be."
"Now it's just a matter of returning to her." Nathan replied.
"Why not join us, then?" Violette asked.
"Because Blake would never forgive me if I forswore our friends and went straight for her." Nathan responded. "So me and my friends are gonna hitch a ride from an Imperial shuttle when one drops by."
Violette nodded, before then stepping forward and pulling Nathan into a hug.
"Good luck with the baby, Violette. May the Force be with you." Nathan said as he returned the hug.
"Thanks." Violette replied. "See you soon… I hope."
Nathan nodded as he broke the hug, walking Violette up to the shuttle, easing her up the ramp before looking to Ghira.
Ghira glanced behind him at the still burning Arc Manor, then at Nathan. "I'll make sure to tell Sienna of this when we speak upon my return."
Nathan scoffed. He'd heard what Sienna had said to Blake from Kanan; and it was still angering to him whenever he heard it. "No. With Sienna; there's still a chance to defeat her with words alone. Napoleon refused to listen; and that's why he's currently being roasted alive like a chicken."
Ghira snorted. "Very well. With that said…" He then pulled Nathan into a warm, loving hug. "Good luck, Nathan… I shall give Blake your love and regards the moment I see her."
"Thank you, Ghira." Nathan replied. "I'll see you in Menagerie sometime soon."
With that, Ghira and Nathan broke apart, and Ghira headed up the ramp into the ship.
Before long, the shuttle lifted off and was soon flying off into the distance.
Just in time for the familiar visage of an Imperial shuttle to become visible, flying in towards the garrison.
Nathan smirked as he found himself joined by Jason, Kanan and Weiss. "Time to join our friends, ladies and gentlemen." He said.
Damn, Nathan... you scary!
I should preface this with a highly sincere apology for failing to upload last Sunday. It may have been Easter and all; but it's no excuse.
I'm still recovering from attending my first Sabaton concert, so I'll only be uploading the one chapter tonight since I'm still slightly tired.
However; that won't stop me from answering any reviews!
Guest: We shall see.
keybladelight: It definitely will be interesting; especially given Jason and Winter's child will likely also inherit the Schnee Family semblance as well as the Force. As for the Bad Batch; we'll have to see about that.
Sharnorasian Empire: Stubbornness, ego; you name it, Ironwood created problems because of it. Also, thank you for the message of concern you sent me. I am fine, just recovering from my first Sabaton concert. It was an absolute blast.
That said; thank you all so much for taking the time to read this chapter. If you enjoyed it; you all know what to do.
I shall see you next week with chapters 13-14, which sees more good finally come to the gang.
T-Rock14