"So," Mical said as he and Mira headed for the others clustered at the Mandalorian camp's gate, "is everything okay?"
"Yeah, sure." He caught her glancing at him from the corner of her eye. "Just worried about heading into Iziz with, uh, her."
Ah. Mira must be in on the Kreia issue.
"Understandable." They reached the group, and he settled his robes with more nerves than he wanted to admit.
"Before we begin," he started, "I want to clarify that I am only here to coordinate. If you have a suggestion or a concern during our mission, please voice it. Are you all comfortable with the roles Trista suggested in the command center?"
His answer was a series of shrugs from most of the group.
"She did not mention me," the Handmaiden observed.
"Because we know what you're good at," Mira said, then made a swinging motion. The Handmaiden frowned, caught herself, and nodded.
"That is… fair."
"I was assuming you would take point in combat," Mical said. "If you would prefer—"
"No, that is the most logical place for me."
He turned to Visas. She stood staring into the jungle silently, still save for the breeze toying over her clothing. "Visas?"
"If you are concerned, I will be fine," she said, her voice no louder than the mid-morning breeze. "I serve the Exile now, not my master."
"Of course. But you do not need to push yourself — step back if you must. We can adapt." She nodded.
"Know what we're in for?" Mira asked.
After a brief silence, Visas turned back. "My master would not send forces here without reason. The Sith likely pursue a source of power, something he may feed upon. It will be heavy with the dark side, and we should be cautious."
"Can you gauge how deeply embedded they are?"
"I cannot."
"So, an unknown amount of bad guys," Mira said. "Great."
"We could go to Iziz," Bao-Dur said.
Mical glanced back at the command center as a gold-armored Mandalorian carrying a large field pack exited and headed toward them. They fell quiet.
"Name's Xarga," he said. "You lot ready to head out?"
Mical glanced at the others before answering. "I believe so. The two we're meeting — they're scouts?"
"Some of our best. You'll get along with 'em. C'mon." Xarga headed out of the camp, and they followed.
"What do you think he means?" the Handmaiden whispered.
"I'm not sure."
They made their way through the jungle, creeping behind Xarga as he followed small markers they barely noticed until they headed into a long, tunneling cave. He stopped halfway down.
"We're close to our objective. We should have Mandalorians securing the trail behind us." He cocked his head, as if listening to something. "And judging by our comms, we've already started harassing the camp. This is a back route in, so I'll follow you further and set up command near the cave mouth. That way, I can keep Bralor in the loop."
"Understood," Mical said. "And the two others that Mandalore mentioned?"
Xarga tapped the side of his head. "Aay'han, where are you two?" He listened for a moment. "Right, we're about there." He lowered his hand. "They're up ahead in the clearing."
The Handmaiden frowned. "That would place them in the Sith camp."
He seemed entirely unperturbed. "They're scouting. Where else would they be?"
"We should just keep moving," Mical interrupted, as the Handmaiden looked posed to reply. "Come on."
They crept further forward along the tunnel, toward the dim light gleaming ahead, until something glinted on the ground ahead of them. Mical stopped, just in time to avoid Mira throwing her arm out to stop him.
"Minefield," she hissed. "Let me deal with it."
"Go ahead."
A quick fiddle with her belt put her into stealth, and Mira crept into the minefield. She knelt next to the first one, examining it until she caught the brand. Czerka. Stupidly easy. She was halfway through scooping them up when she spotted something up at the cave exit.
"Stay back there for now," she hissed into her comm. "Looks like there's a, uh, Type 2 perimeter motion relay up ahead. Outdated, but it'd do the job."
"A Type 2?" Bao-Dur replied. "That model has several security vulnerabilities."
"Including my stealth gen."
"Amateurs shouldn't even bother building security tech. If you get close enough, I know the override code. We can shut it down without them noticing."
"How do you have the override?"
"The legal term is 'eco-terrorism.'"
"Huh. I'm almost up there — give it to me, and I'll disable it."
He passed the code along, and Mira crept through the remaining mines. Up ahead, she saw hints of a clearing — and heard the whir of equipment and the quiet hum of voices beyond the cave exit. She stepped out to loop around the motion relay and risked a look as she disabled it.
Up ahead stood a massive structure composed of sloping black walls leading to a terrace, with a tall, pyramidal tower and decorative spires rising out of it. Towering stylized structures on the top platform flanked a ramp leading up. She could make out the black stone it was built from, but moss and foliage had rendered it more an aged green.
And, scattered throughout the clearing, was a veritable army of silver-armored troops, tamed Dxun animals, and droids. She recognized that armor, at least by reputation. Mira deactivated the relay with a frown.
"What the hell am I doing here?" she grumbled before opening her comm. "Relay's down. I got a look at the clearing. It's got some sort of, like… pyramid or something in it?"
"Could it be a tomb?" Mical asked.
Of course the nerd would know. She slipped back inside the tunnel and met them as they stopped by the exit. "Yeah, maybe, I guess."
"Did you see anything else?" Bao-Dur asked.
"A lot of guys in silver armor. Looks like they've got droid and animal support."
"G0-T0?" Mical turned to the droid who, despite the lack of features, seemed displeased. "Can your sensors give us any further information?"
The droid was quiet for several minutes before answering.
"There appears to be a staffed surveillance post between this cave exit and an extensive structure ahead. Most life and technological signs appear clustered at said structure."
"Thank you."
"There you are," Xarga interrupted. "'Bout time."
Two blue-armored Mandalorians entered the cave as Mical looked back. Both hesitated for a second before coming closer — though whether it was their presence or something else, he couldn't tell.
"We are dealing with this installation, then?" the taller figure asked, looking from them to Xarga.
"We are. Hopin' you have more information for us."
"And the attack on Iziz?"
"Another group is dealing with that. Mandalore wants the two of you to help this group with the Sith."
"Hm." The two Mandalorians exchanged a look, and the taller one sighed. "Belaya, stay with Xarga and help pass us information. I will go back into the clearing."
Mical frowned. That name — hadn't it been on Atris' list of missing Jedi?
"I see we've dispersed with disguises," Belaya replied.
"I see no reason to continue the charade." She looked toward Visas, standing near the back of the group. "It is good to see you again."
"And you as well," Visas replied. The Mandalore removed her helmet, revealing a Cathar that was only familiar due to the time Mical had spent pouring over Atris' roster of missing Jedi. "I am Juhani, one of the missing Jedi you've no doubt heard of."
"I assumed as much," he replied. "You're both recorded as missing in Jedi records."
"I am not surprised." She didn't elaborate. "When we began receiving Sith signals at the camp, I determined we would be best suited to scout it."
She turned back and waved them toward the cave exit. "Belaya is more equipped to help Xarga," she whispered, once away from Xarga and Belaya. "She narrowly escaped the Sith attack on Dantooine, and I worry her nerves will not serve her well here.
"The Sith have discovered an ancient Sith structure here. Since the breakout of the war this morning, we have observed several Iziz-bound shuttles loaded with Sith, their troops, and several trained or suppressed war beasts. There are a few listening posts, but most of them are dealing with the Mandalorians. There's only one between us and the structure."
"Do you know what it is?" the Handmaiden asked.
"I regret that history was not my forte," Juhani replied, "but there are only a few options, and I have cross-referenced with Kex."
They stepped out of the cave, and she motioned toward the towering monolith peering over the rocks ahead of them. "I believe this to be the tomb of Freedon Nadd, an old Sith Lord with ties to Onderon. We knew it was on Dxun, but not how close it was."
Mira eyed it with a frown. "It seems hard to miss."
"Covert salvage is the Mandalorian priority here, and…" Juhani frowned. "Mandalore took my request for protection seriously. If he had been here, he wouldn't have allowed me to scout it."
"So what do we know about Freedon Nadd?" Bao-Dur asked.
"He was a fallen Jedi," Mical said, "much like all of our recent Sith. Many years ago, he conquered Onderon and made himself its king. The royal line is a direct descendant of him, though I understand they and Iziz's citizens have distanced themselves. Visas, is this why they're here?"
"I have little doubt. The strength of this place is evident, even from here. We should be cautious — they will draw strength from it, and it may weaken us."
Juhani nodded. "I agree."
"Thank you," Mical replied. "We are just waiting for Trista's signal. She intends to use her entrance into Iziz to divert Sith attention from this camp, and which point we and the Mandalorians will move in."
"I hope she is planning something spectacular," Juhani said.
Bao-Dur chuckled. "Trust me, Trista is rarely quiet."
Trista paced the command center as she waited, second-guessing every decision she'd made so far.
Could Mical handle field leadership? Should she have handed it to someone else, like Bao-Dur? No, she wanted as much pressure off him as possible, given the Mandalorian presence. Would a diversion even make their progress through the Sith camp easier? Should she have gone there herself and sent the others to Iziz?
No, she had faced a more terrible war than even this. They had not, not even Bao-Dur. It was taxing, and dealing with relaxed, unsuspecting Sith would be far easier than dealing with fanatics and Sith. It would also go faster than a full-blown assault on an enemy flank and, while they had spirit, she didn't know if they had endurance.
Two droids, three combat veterans (if Mandalore was available), and Kreia. It'd have to be enough.
"Jedi." Her head snapped up as Zuka darkened the command post doorway. "We're ready. Follow me." She headed out, glancing at the gate to see the others already gone. "Xarga says your people are about halfway there. Trust me, this is well worth the wait."
"I sure hope so."
The hangar next to the Hawk, which had been closed, now stood open. They rounded the corner, and she stopped dead with a gasp.
It was part panic, as old habits borne of facing things in battle died particularly hard, and part shock. The Mandalorian surrender was supposed to have destroyed every remaining Basilisk, but here she was — face to face with something she hadn't seen since one tried to rip her apart in one of many fierce battles. Four-limbed and perched on massive foreclaws, every gun on its "face" pointed at her.
One of them twitched, and she echoed it.
"Here you are," Zuka said, and she heard him across an ocean of distance. "A salvaged Basilisk war droid. Mandalore said he'd make it available for your insertion into Iziz. I assure you — they won't know what hit them."
The biggest difference was modifications to its midsection, where she remembered Mandalorians riding as they dropped into battles from orbit. The wings turned inwards for stability, with what appeared to be an installed cockpit instead. Atton nudged her, knocking her out of her staring contest with the massive droid.
"Tris," he whispered. "You okay?"
The gun twitched again, and she winced. "I'm fine. Where did you get this?"
"Well, we may have gotten crushed at Malachor, but you don't think we brought every Basilisk to be scrapped? Our clan — Ordo — had a few sitting around that we brought with us, but this one's modified. She'll serve you best."
The gun twitched again. Set intervals. A malfunction, not a threat. She relaxed.
"So, wait, we get to use it?"
"Yes, just like a new Mandalorian recruit proving themselves. Into the heart of a war, too — Mandalore's given you a great honor." Judging by the tone, he grimaced. Trista pushed past the last of her shock to step forward, cautiously, like she was approaching a wild animal. Atton went closer, eying its propulsion systems.
"Unfortunately," Zuka continued, "its weapons systems aren't functional yet, as are a few other unimportant support systems. But she'll get you to Iziz in one piece, and their fighters won't be able to stop that."
"What 'unimportant' systems?" Atton asked.
"Minor ones. Nothing you need to be concerned about."
"Consider me concerned," he grumbled, looking back at the droid suspiciously.
"Three people can fit inside the modified interior, but it's a little snug."
"We should leave immediately." Mandalore dropped off the back of the droid, wiping oil off his metal gloves. "I hear your people are almost at the camp. Prime time to drop."
"Agreed," Zuka said. "Expect considerable resistance — Iziz comms have been hot. They'll remember the last time Basilisk war droids visited their planet." He saluted. "Fight ferociously. And if you die, take as many as you can with you."
Trista nodded and turned back to Mandalore. "You used to ride these out of orbit, right?"
"Did so myself when I was cutting my teeth on war."
"You want to do it again?"
His voice belied a broad grin. "Thought you'd never ask."
"Good. See if you can get HK mag-locked on the outside with you, and we'll squeeze inside. T3, think you'll fit?"
T3 looked at her, then at the Basilisk, then back. "/T3 (if) fit = Atton's lap?/"
Trista laughed. "I don't think he'd like that, and he's flying. Let's see if we can squeeze you in."
"Wait, what wouldn't I like?"
"He wanted to ride on your lap."
Atton scowled. "Trash can." T3 responded with an unflattering raspberry.
They loaded into the shuttle — it was tight, but Trista sacrificed her footwell to squeeze T3 in. Atton went over the controls, familiarizing himself with a small frown.
"Think you can fly it?"
"Yeah, looks like a standard shuttle system. I doubt this was original."
"Zuka said it was modified." She opened her comm. "How are you doing?"
"We're latched in," Mandalore reported. "The droid mag-locked onto the flap here."
"Tell him he's free to take pot shots at fighters on our way in."
"Statement: Master, you say the nicest things."
"Let's get moving."
Atton switched on the droid, which hummed to life and stood up with a lurch. "I'm not gonna lie, I've always wanted to fly one of these things."
"Yeah, Revan and I always wanted to drop out of orbit on one. Guess she can eat her heart out."
The droid trundled out of the hangar to an audience of several Mandalorian onlookers. Atton chewed on his lip.
"You read Mando'a, right?"
"Yeah, what're you looking for?"
"Whatever 'flight' is."
Trista skimmed the console. "This one here." Atton flipped the switch, and the droid powered up, the hum around them growing in intensity. "Thrust is this one."
Atton tapped the button, and the droid shot upward. Trista slammed her hand into the side of the cockpit to steady herself, and Atton gripped the controls.
"We going in heavy?"
"Atton, we're a distraction. Take us in hot."
He glanced at her, one side of his mouth twisted upward. "If you're here, we're always—" She slapped his arm. "What? It's true."
So was Kreia's radiating disdain. "Just get us in, flyboy."
Atton leveled the droid out high above Dxun's trees and scanned the console again. "This looks like the drop." He gently tapped a large red button next to the steering column. "You ready?"
"I'm good. Kreia, Mandalore?" Kreia nodded.
"We're good. I'll keep control of her when we land. She might not have her weapons operational, but she's still got teeth."
"Understood."
"Hold on," Atton said. "I've always wanted to do this."
He hit the button, and the Basilisk rocketed off, gathering speed as it left the fringes of Dxun and Onderon's shared atmosphere. They screamed past fighters scrambling to intercept them, without ever showing up on their ladar. Trista gripped the side of the cockpit and T3's top as the Astromech beeped a mixture of alarm and excitement.
The droid slowed, jerking them in their safety harnesses, and settled on the ground a moment later. Trista and Atton burst into laughter.
"That's one off the bucket list," Atton said as he unstrapped. Trista followed suit, with snapping indicating that Kreia had too. She opened the door, letting T3 roll out, and someone outside yelled.
"—here?" A soldier wearing the signature brown mask and black hat of a Vaklu loyalist stumbled away from the droid outside. She stepped out, with loud, heavily armored thuds announcing Mandalore and HK landing next to her. "Mandalorians are attacking the city!"
"Looks like they still remember us," Mandalore said.
Trista flicked open her lightsaber, blocking a series of incoming blaster shots.
"Looks like. T3, let them know we landed. They should be good to move." T3 chirped as the Basilisk rose behind them, reaching out with the clawed hands she remembered so vividly from the Wars. "I thought Zuka said the weapons weren't operational."
They looked so small from this angle.
"The guns aren't," Mandalore clarified. "Those work."
Several more soldiers appeared from the side and opened fire as the droid slashed through them. Trista ducked behind a half-ruined building as Mandalore and HK opened fire.
"We'll make for the Sky Ramp," she said. "Looks like we landed close by."
With a deep breath, she spun out and blocked several more incoming blasts as she rushed forward. Surges of strength leeched through the bond she shared with Kreia, and a second lightsaber hummed as she joined her. Between the Basilisk and them, the Vaklu resistance didn't stand a chance.
As the fighting ceased, though explosions elsewhere promised that the war had not, they recollected by the Basilisk. Trista looked it over. "You may want to send it back to the camp. It looks like it took some hits from the ships."
Mandalore studied the droid for a moment before nodding. He stepped closer to it and reached out his hand, stroking the side of the droid's massive side and whispering to it in Mando'a. After a rumble that reminded Trista of a low, extended chirrup, she took to the sky.
"I'm sending her back to Dxun," he said as he rejoined them. "She'll be fixed up in no time."
"Good, let's get to the Sky Ramp." Trista looked around. The war, however brief, had not been kind to the city. "That's the A-D tower your friend was in, so this…" She pointed. "That should be the Ramp over there." T3 chirped in agreement. "Good. T3, keep yourself safe — we might need you to take down systems on our way up. HK, you've seen what Vaklu's soldiers look like, correct?"
He looked at a body pointedly. "Affirmation: That is correct."
"Good. Unless any of them surrender, do your thing. Let's go."
She wasn't sure what to expect as they turned the corner — bodies? Nothing? Mass destruction? Unfortunately, her first guess was correct. Bodies lay scattered across the plaza and, at quick glance, had been so for hours. They made their way through — there wasn't anything she could do now.
They rounded the corner to the Sky Ramp itself, and a small force of soldiers swung their guns up to meet them. No masks, no hats — these weren't Vaklu's. She held up her hands.
"Wait, we're on your side."
"No, no, hold your fire!" An older man pushed his way through the line. Somehow, she recognized him as the man she'd briefly spoken to about the Sky Ramp the last time she was here.
"Captain?" she asked, having long forgotten his name. The soldiers looked at him, then lowered their weapons.
"We got word from the Palace that we might get reinforcements. I take it that's you."
"Probably. Kavar likely knew we were coming."
"Thank the stars," he muttered. "Vaklu's supporters overran us hours ago — we just took this position back. We've been keeping them from reinforcing, but it's been hard. The beasts have all gone mad — and they're answering to these Sith!" He frowned, dabbing sweat off his forehead. "Where the hell did Vaklu find Sith?"
"I wish I knew," Trista said.
"The Sith will have dominated the beasts' minds," Kreia mused. "That will make this approach difficult indeed."
"It won't be easy, that's for sure." Bostuco. That was his name. "We received a transmission that they've breached the grounds. If so, there's not much time."
"How long ago?" Trista asked.
"Not long — thirty minutes or so. We can still make it."
"Great."
"I'll come up the Sky Ramp with you. Keep this position. Don't let any Vaklu troops up the Ramp." He motioned them after him, and Trista stopped him.
"I'll lead the way, Captain. Stay behind us. That way, we'll draw most of their fire, and I won't have to justify your death to the Queen."
He had been poised to argue until she brought up him dying. "Fair enough. Lead the way, Master Jedi."
For a moment, as she met Atton's eyes, the urge to correct him fought its way to the surface. She forced it down instead, smiling tensely and turning toward their long walk up the Sky Ramp.
"How long have you been training?"
Despite the lack of judgment in Juhani's tone, Mical couldn't help feeling self-aware. Their few months of training suddenly felt inadequate, compared to Juhani's experience and the ominous structure in the clearing. He had definitely not been expecting a full-fledged Jedi on this mission, and it only added to the pressure he felt.
"I believe Bao-Dur and I have been training for a few months," he answered, with a nod from Bao-Dur. "It otherwise ranges between a few days to…"
Mical trailed off, not sure how to bring up Visas' history without her consent.
"I have been…" Visas interjected, before trailing off. "It has been approximately a year. It is fine. Juhani and I have spoken before, on our last visit to Dxun."
"There is nothing wrong with experiencing the dark side," Juhani said. "It takes strength to walk from the darkness, and more to face it again."
The Cathar adjusted her stance, glancing again toward the tomb ahead. "It will be difficult to center yourselves here. Whatever shortcomings you have, whatever insecurities, doubts, vices — it will prey on them. If it is greed, it will promise you power; fear, it will make you afraid. If anger, as it is for me, it will offer it a voice. If it is none of those, it will find something else."
"So, what?" Mira asked. "We just… don't feel anything?"
Juhani scoffed. "Force, no, that is impossible. No matter what the Jedi teach, emotions are natural. But you must not allow them to control you."
"As much was said by the Exile," the Handmaiden stated. "If I may ask, what is your method?"
"I acknowledge and accept what I am feeling. I have found that once I name it, I can focus past it. But…" She drew a deep breath, adjusting her position against the cave wall. "It has taken me years to reach this point. I suggest a stronger choice for your first time. And you are with allies — trust them to keep you grounded, and you will be fine."
"Just got word," Xarga interrupted. "Sounds like Mandalore and your friends made their entry into Iziz. We're taking the landing pads."
"That is our cue," Mical said. "Mira, can you handle security up ahead?"
"I will go with her." Mira opened her mouth to argue, and Juhani held up her hand. "I trust in your skill, but I do not trust the Sith."
"That's fair."
The two disappeared, Mira with the shimmer of a stealth generator, and Juhani into thin air.
"And Bao-Dur, there's a turret controller around the corner. Can you handle that?"
"If it's a manufacturer I know. If not, well…" He shrugged and started out of the cave. "That's what the lightsaber is for."
"G0-T0," Mical continued, "please start examining their droid forces. Do what you want with them."
The droid hovered wordlessly for a moment. "Turning them on their handlers feels appropriate."
"Handmaiden, when we advance, can you take point with Juhani?"
"I can."
Bao-Dur slunk back into the cave, and a burst of blaster-fire erupted from around the corner. "That batch is handled."
"Did you get a look ahead?"
"I spotted another controller up ahead, near the tomb. Number of troops, several droids."
"How many?"
"Four turrets and approximately eight droids." Juhani appeared next to them, Mira following a moment later. She met Mical's eyes and pointed at Juhani, mouthing "she's terrifying." "I could not estimate their forces from here, but the bulk is likely inside the temple."
"We took out that post, though. They've got a ship right there." Mira pointed. "There's enough room between it and the cliff face for us to use."
Mical nodded. "Bao-Dur, would you be able to reach the turret controller?"
"If I get close enough."
"I see no reason to look a gift ship in the mouth. Juhani, would you be opposed to taking point with Handmaiden?"
"I would not be."
"Then that is what we will do. Bao-Dur, wait for us to reach them, and then access the controller. We'll come up along the cliff face and attract their attention. Visas, Mira, follow Handmaiden and Juhani. G0-T0, take your time on the droids. I will provide support." Mical paused. To say that he was worried about Trista placing him in charge would be a lie. He believed that Handmaiden or Mira, with their combat and infiltration skills, would have been more capable — certainly not him. "Is that acceptable?"
He received a series of nods in reply.
"You won't have much left if you keep sitting around," Xarga interrupted.
"Mira, show us where this passage is."
"Alright, just watch your step. We did a number to that security post."
They left Bao-Dur and slipped along the cliff wall, moving behind the Sith ship until the tomb, and its ramp up to the superstructure on top, was visible. The black-green stone sat, glistening and damp in the Dxun humidity, and he was thankful that it didn't look steep.
Juhani eyed several Sith troops and trained boma ahead with a frown before glancing at Handmaiden. "Are you ready?"
She nodded, resting her thumb on her lightsaber's ignition. "Yes."
Juhani took a few running steps, the Handmaiden a step behind her, and disappeared. Up ahead, a few soldiers shouted an alarm as the guardians reappeared in their midst. Visas took off at a healthy jog after them, lighting and throwing her weapon ahead when she was halfway there. Mira wheeled out, launching a grenade at the far side of the growing melee.
Mical himself was halfway there when a flash of blue caught Bao-Dur leaping to the other turret controller, slicing his lightsaber through a Sith trooper guarding it before pulling open a panel. Mira rolled behind the side of the tomb, trading fire with an incoming soldier. He hoisted one rushing the Handmaiden into the air and returned to blocking the turret's fire from the others as best he could.
The two guardians did not need much help.
The turrets slumped, then whirred to life. Above them, Sith shouted as the turrets opened fire on them. Another second later, the droids sparked and slumped to the ground.
"Hm," G0-T0 said behind him, "this code is impractical."
A burning pain seared into his arm, and Mical staggered as he threw his hand out to block any other incoming shots. No one was there. His eyes went to the platform's top.
"Get up to the next level!" he called, sprinting closer to the base of the temple. "Bao-Dur, Visas, Juhani, can you make it?"
Juhani stabbed the soldier she was fighting, used her swing to vault him as he fell, and disappeared around the corner, waving Bao-Dur after her. Visas, at least, graced him with a nod before following.
"Show off," Mira grumbled. After finishing off the last boma, the Handmaiden sprinted after the others.
"G0-T0, follow us up."
The droid replied with a disgruntled whir, but followed them up the ramp. Combat sounded thick, and they passed several dead Sith — troopers, and some in suspicious robes. Hearing the heaviest fighting on the right, he directed the others left and moved towards the main battle.
The Handmaiden was holding her own against several soldiers on the left side, wreaking havoc amid a pile of deactivated droid parts. The others had engaged with soldiers and Sith wielding lightsabers on the right. One of the latter spotted him and threw his weapon.
Mical ducked under it, blocking a spray of lightning from the same Sith, and pushed his hand out. The incoming Sith bowled backwards off his feet, and Bao-Dur threw his lightsaber into him.
They regrouped at the ramp once the Sith were dead.
"You are injured," Visas observed, attracting unwanted attention to him. Mical waved her off.
"I am fine. It's far from the worst wound I've received." He smoothed his hand over it, dimming the pain, and looked toward the doors leading deeper into the tomb. They were quiet for a while, wrestling with their next move.
"I do not like going into this blindly," the Handmaiden said.
"Neither do I," Juhani agreed. "We must be cautious."
"How much experience do you have with Sith tombs?" Mical asked.
"None, unfortunately." She frowned. "You can sense it, can you not? The darkness getting stronger as we come closer."
There were a few mutterings of agreement, save from Mira, who was checking and re-checking her wrist launcher.
"G0-T0?"
"Hm?"
Mical ignored the irritation in the droid's voice. "Do your sensors detect anything? Visas?"
It was difficult to reach out when he was nervous — the energy was already intense. G0-T0 answered first.
"I detect two life-signs halfway down the ramp."
"I agree," Visas said. "Sith."
"Is anyone else injured?" Mical followed up, answered by a series of negatives. He smoothed his hand over the blaster shot again, finishing the healing process. "Then we should proceed cautiously, especially in tight quarters."
Juhani and the Handmaiden were the first to descend, with Mical, G0-T0, and Mira bringing up the rear.
"You ever wonder how you got here?" Mira mused, quiet under the muffled fighting and jungle outside.
"Sometimes," he admitted.
Ahead, Juhani flicked open her weapon, the double-bladed lightsaber catching in the condensation on the walls and a column of deactivated Sith droids to the right of the door.
"Ready?" she asked, with a glance at the Handmaiden. She nodded and opened her own weapon, and Juhani elbowed open the door.
True to both Visas and G0-T0's sensors, a pair of Sith stood on the other side of the doors, chatting as they waited for the incoming raiders. Juhani caught a hail of lightning from the first on her lightsaber, sending it arcing back at him. The other flew backwards, with the Handmaiden charging after him.
The corridor was far too narrow for a pitched battle. Mical stopped Bao-Dur as he started forward. "Bao-Dur, can you and G0-T0 go over these droids?"
Bao-Dur glanced at the battle, now including both Visas and Mira, and nodded. "Should be easy."