Chapter 164: Revival
Strength of character can defeat strength in numbers.
Recap: Death and destruction! Darth Maul and Savage Opress spread chaos as they descend on the outer rim. After rescuing his brother from despair, Savage and Maul murder and pillage at every turn. Fueled by rage and vengeance, they search for meaning in their new alliance as reports of their brutal attacks spread across the galaxy.
Storm was shown in the training grounds as he punched a wooden dummy. It was late at night, as the boy was grunting. The teen punched the dummy as hard as he could as his bare knuckles smacked against the hardened wood. In his mind, he saw flashes of something that occurred earlier.
"He's not ready!"
Storm punched harder.
"He lacks what is needed to be a Jedi Master, Luna."
The boy could hear the responses echo in his mind.
"He must learn to let go!"
"Let go."
"Let go."
"Let go."
"Let go."
Storm began to feel his emotions taking control as he growled.
"Let go, including Twilight."
The words of Master Yoda echoed in the boy's mind as he shouted angrily and threw a punch. The wooden dummy snapped and splintered into pieces as Storm sent it flying across the room. The teen has panting heavily as he glared at the destroyed target. The white tape around his bare knuckles was worn out because he let out some anger inside.
The Jedi Knight took in the words from all the Jedi Masters who watched his test that Luna put on for them to access Storm if he was ready. All of them said the same thing: letting go. Storm sighed before approaching another wooden dummy and preparing to do it again. The boy got a few punches in when he sensed something.
"It's rather late to be training," said Luna, stepping out from the shadows and darkness to see her apprentice going hard.
"Couldn't sleep. Figured I'd blow off some steam, Master," responded Storm as he went back to punching.
Luna merely looked at her student as she could see his mind was bothered. And she didn't need to use the Force to know that.
"You did well with the test, my student. But the Council is right. It would be best if you learned to let go. Especially her!" said Luna as Storm punched the dummy before stopping and looking at his teacher.
"Master..."
"Strike me!" stated Luna.
Storm looked at his teacher as he seemed stunned by what Luna said.
"Strike me!" demanded Luna.
"Master..."
"Strike me, now!" yelled the woman.
Storm sighed before putting his hands up as Luna stood still with her arms behind her back. The boy did what she asked, throwing a punch as fast and hard as possible. His punch was blocked by Luna, who caught it just before it made contact with her face. Storm threw his other hand as Luna caught that one as well.
The boy then began to throw a rapid strike flurry of punches as Luna easily blocked them. Storm was trying his hardest to land a hit as Luna caught his latest punch and twisted it. The Jedi Knight felt a slight pain that the Jedi Master was doing as she began to do her special fighting technique: Joint manipulation.
Luna was a master in bending one's joints and limbs. As indicated as she stopped her student's punch and then began to twist his fingers as Storm could feel the pain. Luna was bending Storm's arm far back as he was lowered to the floor on his back; his arm bent so that his palm touched the floor, exposing his elbow. Luna transitioned so that when she put the arm back, she placed her foot on it to hold her student in place.
Storm struggled to free his arm from Luna's foot, but it was no good. Luna stared down at her helpless apprentice as she saw him trying to fight but to no avail. The Jedi Master took a deep breath before running her hand through her hair... and quickly stopped on her student's arm without a second thought.
Storm released a high scream of pain as he rolled away and clutched his arm. The boy grabbed it as Luna merely put her arms back behind her. The boy got to a knee as he still held his arm. Luna merely looked at her student as he looked at his arm. It looked like Luna might have broken his arm, but all she did was just rough it up a bit. Storm began to shake his arm as the pain almost disappeared. Being a master of joint manipulation, Luna knew how and when to break someone's arm.
"If you are to be a Jedi Master, you must learn to let go!" stated Luna. "Let go of HER!"
The woman's voice echoed as if to get through her student's thick skull of what he needed to do.
"If you can't master this, you will never be a true Jedi Master. Nor will you prove that you're my successor."
With that, Luna began to walk away as Storm watched his teacher leave. The boy switched so that he was sitting and rested his right arm on his knee.
In her room, Celestia was shown at a desk. The Jedi Master writing something down as a candle gave her only visible light.
"And so another day of this war goes by. To think, nearly three years ago, this whole warfare started. So many lives have been affected by this war. Many we've lost along the way. As each day goes on, there might be no end. As much as I don't show it, I am tired of all this fighting. Perhaps, when this war ends, I'll consider retiring and giving up my position on the Jedi Council after serving many years on it. But of course, my biggest challenge lies with my current apprentice. Twilight Sparkle, a Jedi princess. Time is running out; soon, she will leave to serve her duty and purpose for her people and kingdom. I am prepared to let her go, as is my job as a Jedi, but the one thing I hope she never forgets... is me."
The Jedi Master put down her writing utensil and closed her book. The woman leaned back and put her hand to her face. Her fingers squeezed her eyes to show how exhausted she was. Celestia put the candle out with her fingers as she went to bed.
A space station was shown orbiting the planet Cybloc. Inside, many guards patrolled the place. Just then, a noise was heard as it attracted some guards as they headed toward the sound. They arrived at a control room, and the robots all looked about to see if there was anything suspicious.
"Fan out. I want a scan of the entire perimeter," said the guard in charge. "SD-357, have you found anyone in the South passage?" The guard approached the other side of the room and pushed the button to open it. He looked down the hall with his blaster aimed, as there was nothing. "357, where are you?"
Just as he turned away, down the hall, the robot he was calling was shown to be thrown onto the floor. He turned back to see the robot being stabbed by a lightsaber. Soon emerging from around the corner of the hallway was Darth Maul.
"Intruders! You are trespassing on intergalactic..."
The guard rushed at the former Sith warrior as he used the Force to lift him up and squeeze its head as its circuitry was destroyed. The other robots were taken out by Maul's partner Savage Opress as he cut them down with ease using his lightsaber. The brute was knocking objects about the room while looking for something. He noticed a small safe and used his lightsaber to cut it open; inside was some money that caught his attention.
"Look, brother, a fortune."
"True fortune will be the demise of Kenobi. Credit chips are meaningless without a plan to survive," stated Maul, not interested in the money but in getting revenge on his archrival. "The Jedi are hunting us. We will be forced to make a stand.
"And we will deal with them," stated Savage.
"They are too many. To continue, we need one singular vision. My vision."
"Brother, let us share our strength. There is no need for dominance between us," said Savage to Maul.
"Always two there are, my brother, a Master and an apprentice, and you are the apprentice," stated Maul as he put his finger on Savage.
The brute didn't like that as he snarled before turning on his double lightsaber.
"So it is time for a lesson," said Maul as he turned to face Savage and ignited his lightsaber.
The two began to clash their blades, and when Savage went for his latest attack, Maul grabbed his wrist to disarm him and held it above his head. He then put one of his metal claws on Savage's face and pushed him down while standing on top of him with his lightsaber aimed at his face.
"You have grown so powerful," stated Savage as the lightsaber was close to his face.
"And I shall complete your training," responded Maul as he got off and helped Savage up. "Not as your brother, but as your master."
With that, Maul began to leave as Savage begrudgingly followed him.
In hyperspace, a shuttle was shown. Onboard were Jedi Masters Obi-wan Kenobi, Adi Gallia, and Celestia as the trio was looking to respond to a distress signal that they received. The ship exited hyperspace as they saw the space station.
"The distress signal is coming from here, the Meridian sector, Cybloc System," stated Obi-wan.
"It is close enough to the earlier attack," responded Master Gallia.
"I have a feeling it's them," responded Kenobi.
All three Jedi Masters approached the station as they got off. They met with the one in charge as he led them to the room where Savage and Maul broke in.
"They ought to be flush. Chips were all unlocked. No way to trace 'em. All done by the two crabbiest Zabraks this side of the Hydian." responded the space station superior.
"Were they alone?" asked Celestia.
"Yup, yup. What were they, a couple of Jedi gone rogue or something?" asked the space manager as the three Jedi Masters looked at each other.
"They're not Jedi," stated Obi-wan.
"Do me a favor. Spark up that lightsaber, would you?" asked the manager to Obi-wan as he turned his weapon on. "Mm-hmm. Well, the droids that got attacked said that theirs were red."
"They are Sith, and we need to find them before they strike again," stated Celestia.
"Well, they took my cargo ship. The droid survivor said they heard something about the Sertar sector," answered the manager.
Celestia and Obi-wan made a face when they heard that. The pair began to walk as the latter had his hand on his beard and was thinking.
"What is in the Sertar sector?" asked Master Gallia as she noticed the expression made by her fellow Jedi Master brethen.
That's where Florrum is," answered Obi-wan.
"You've been there? What can we expect?"
"Pirates," stated Celestia to Master Gallia.
The cargo ship that Maul and Savage took was shown as it was indeed heading for the planet Florrum. They saw the planet in front of them as there was also a ship in front of them.
"Get me a readout on that ship," asked the captain of the smaller ship as he noticed the cargo shuttle.
"There are life forms aboard," responded the pirate being asked.
"The main reactor and hyperdrive generator are down. I think they're stranded." said another pirate.
"And their communications?"
"Operational but silenced."
"Mm. We'll kill anyone on board and take the ship. Let's hope they have a wealth of cargo." said the pirate in charge as he sat down.
Their ship approached the cargo shuttle as the docking tube attached to it. Soon the pirates all began to board the cargo ship as they looked about the docking hangar. They came to some crates, finding various things, including weapons.
"Pure sansanna spices," one of the pirates called out as he took the lid off a crate.
"Hondo will be pleased. We drink tonight. Now, find me those life forms." said the pirate captain to his men. As if on cue, Maul and Savage appeared behind them, and the group turned to see them turn their lightsabers on.
"Jedi!" shouted the captain as he fired at them.
The two Sith deflected the shots aimed at them before Maul used the Force to lift the captain into the air as it got the others to stop.
"Do you want to live?" asked Maul rather threateningly.
"Yes, very badly," responded the pirate as he felt his lungs losing oxygen.
The Sith put him down as he began to cough and regain some air. Savage approached the safe they took from the space station, opening it to reveal all the money inside.
"We will make you rich," stated Savage.
"Your skills and talents could serve us well. The choice is yours," said Maul.
"Are you... are you hiring us? What kind of Jedi are you?" asked the captain pirate.
"We are not Jedi. We are lords, crime lords," stated Maul as he took offense to that.
"We work for Hondo. You'll have to pay us really well to get us to betray him."
"Money is of no object for men like us. You will have all that you desire and more if you pledge yourselves to me," stated Maul.
"All right. I'm tired of working for Hondo anyway. I'll call up a couple of boys and see if they'll join us." said the pirate.
Soon two more similar ships appeared as they approached the ship attached to the cargo shuttle.
"I am certain Captain Hondo will never throw in with you," said one of the other pirates called on.
"Hondo's base will soon be ours, and he will not survive this unless he embraces the same choice I give you now," said Maul to the pirates and their leaders.
"Ha, I'm in."
"So am I."
"I am not sure. Let's see what Hondo says about that," said one of the pirates, still unsure about this alliance.
Soon, they got in contact with Hondo. The space pirate was in his base on Florrum when he received the call from the Sith warrior.
"Three of your lieutenants have already sworn allegiance to me," said Maul as he appeared before the space pirate.
"Traitors. Scum! I'm so proud... But so betrayed," stated Hondo.
"There is a penalty for resistance," warned Maul.
He grabbed one of the pirates and ran his lightsaber through him, sending a message to the pirates on his side and Hondo. The space pirate was shocked by what he saw before he leaned back in his chair.
"Let me warn you, you are not the first laser sword-wielding maniac I've had to deal with, and Hondo Ohnaka survives every time."
"We shall see," stated Maul as the transmission ended.
The Jedi were shown exiting from hyperspace as they arrived at the planet Florrum.
"We have a match on the cargo ship," said Celestia as she informed Kenobi and Master Gallia.
"It seems Maul and Savage have picked up a pirate escort," stated Obi-wan.
"Maybe to unload the stolen cargo," questioned Master Gallia.
"I'm not sure the pirate Hondo would have an alliance with Maul and his brother," responded Kenobi.
"So you know this Hondo personally?" asked Master Gallia.
"Unfortunately, yes."
"Oi, Hondo, there's a Jedi contacting you. Says his name is Kenobi," said one of Hondo's men.
"Kenobi? Ha! My, aren't we popular today?" chuckled Hondo as he approached his desk and sat down. "Put him through. Go. Go. Go." The space pirate shooed his pet away as Obi-wan appeared before him.
"Greetings, Hondo."
"Greetings? What kind of menace have you brought to my planet now? First, you lose this system, and Grievous comes in and destroys my entire stronghold, leaving me here to just rummage through the leftovers of my once great empire. And now these two horned men show up, " Hondo said to the Jedi Master. "Who are these horny-headed maniacs? They don't seem like normal Jedi."
"Not Jedi, Hondo, Sith. We tracked them here," stated Obi-wan.
"They just threatened to attack with a group of my men... My own men!" exclaimed Hondo as he got up from his chair.
"Yes, we are looking at them right now, a cargo vessel and three of your starships. They are heading toward you, Hondo."
"Da-da-da, more to the point, are you going to help me when you get here?" asked the space pirate to the Jedi Master.
"There's nothing we can do about your men, but we can certainly do something about the Sith," responded Obi-wan.
"Good. I'll deal with my men. You deal with those tattooed crazies," stated Hondo.
"Right," responded Kenobi as the transmission ended.
Hondo's men, still on his side, were all scurrying about. They were clamoring as they were getting ready for the incoming invasion from Maul and his followers. Hondo appeared as he looked up at the sky and saw some of his starships coming at him as they began to open fire. The ships began to gun down some of the men and fired some explosions, taking out some more.
"Well, that settles it," said Hondo to his pet while two lines of gunfire zoomed past him. "Those traitors are no longer my men."
The cargo ship and the starships all landed just outside of the ruined village as they began to open.
"I want their tongues!" shouted Hondo to his loyal followers as they rushed forward.
The ships opened, and out came the pirates turned traitors as shots were fired from both sides. The cargo ship opened as Maul and Savage appeared before walking down the ramp. They took in the fight between all the pirates before a ship passed overhead.
"The Jedi, brother, they've found us," said Savage.
"No, it's too soon. My plan isn't finished yet. Too soon." stated Maul as the pair began to head toward the cliff to confront the Jedi.
The shuttle opened as out rushed the Jedi Masters, who looked over the edge of the cliff to see the massive warfare happening below with the pirates. Soon both Sith brothers appeared behind them as they turned to see their enemies.
"Throwing in with pirates now? Oh, how the mighty Sith have fallen," stated Obi-wan.
The Jedi turned on their lightsabers as they exchanged with their foes. Maul quickly lunged at Obi-wan as they had some unsettled business. Which left both females to deal with Savage as the brute was swinging his double-bladed lightsabers at both Jedi Masters.
Obi-wan and Maul were quickly climbing higher up on the hill they were on. The Sith attempted a roundhouse with one of his metal legs as Obi-wan ducked; the Jedi Master retaliated by doing some blocked fast swings before spinning in place and turning to block a surprised downward slash from Maul. Eventually, all three Jedi Masters leaped off simultaneously and touched down on the ruined village below to get some distance from their foes.
The Sith jumped down as they began to fight once again. All the while, the pirates were still fighting amongst themselves. Obi-wan stared down Maul before him as he twirled his lightsaber and gestured to his archrival to attack him. Just as he looked to do that, the Jedi Master leaped onto a tall structure, but Maul jumped after him.
"No. I have plans, Kenobi, and you will not stand in my way this time," stated Maul to his nemesis.
The two continued their fight as they traded swings and attacks. Meanwhile, Celestia and Master Gallia were dealing with Savage. The two females had to mostly duck and dodge Savage from all the twirling and rapid spinning he was doing, as they couldn't get much offense in without being careful.
They jumped back at the last second when he went for a side swipe that took out some tent pillars. Both dodged another swing as they did a simultaneous assault. Master Gallia attempted a leg sweep from below while Celestia went for a straight punch to Savage's face. However, neither attack phased the giant brute. Master Gallia was stunned that the brute didn't budge from her attempting to sweep him off his feet while Celestia merely shook her hand as it kinda hurt from punching Savage.
Master Gallia quickly got up as the pair blocked some more of Savage's attacks before the giant brute used the Force to push them back. The pair collided with some debris as Savage quickly charged ahead. The brute made contact with Master Gallia as he pierced the Jedi Master with his horns as she gasped.
Obi-wan managed to kick Maul away as he turned to see what happened. Celestia was coming out of the wreckage as she saw what had happened. Master Gallia groaned before she fell to the ground as her lightsaber rolled from her hands, as Savage delivered the final blow by running his lightsaber through her.
"No!" shouted Obi-wan with his hand out.
Celestia was shocked as she felt her heart hurt, knowing another of her comrades was gone. The Jedi Master felt their life force leave as the emotion and pain coursed through her body. Celestia lifted her head as a set of determined eyes came over. Obi-wan responded by kicking Obi-wan in the face as he jumped down. He knocked the brute to the ground and was looking to kill him when Maul stopped his downward slash and pushed the Jedi Master back onto his knees.
Maul looked to strike down Kenobi as Celestia blocked his attack. The female Jedi Master had a serious expression as she thrust her hand out, using the Force to send the Sith flying back with some serious power. The two remaining Jedi Masters stood their ground as both brothers engaged in another round of fighting.
Celestia was now attacking more fiercely than before, as seeing the death of Master Gallia fueled her. As such, the Jedi Master could land more blows and strikes than before. She attacked and then quickly spun in place to block before spinning and blocking while her back was turned. She angled her lightsaber so that while her back was turned, she could quickly spin back to face forward while guiding Savage's blade upward and quickly blocking the sneak attack from the other end and then quickly the upper one, all while having the advantage in terms of strength and handgrip position.
The Jedi Master made an attack coming from down below as her lightsaber swing had more power behind it; she repelled Savage's attack and, in the blink of an eye, quickly switched hands to grab her lightsaber. By doing that, she blocked the other end from slicing her legs off and could rotate and deliver a high knee to the brute as that had some effect, causing him to stumble back. The Sith growled as he charged at the woman; Celestia ran and kept low to the ground as she ducked his swing while going for her own. It was blocked, but she quickly switched which hand she was holding her lightsaber from blocking to attacking, all in a swift, fast motion.
Celestia kept switching, holding her lightsaber from her left and right hand as she showed off why she was labeled as one of the best Jedi Masters to exist. The woman was toying with the brute that she began to put more power behind her swings as she hammered away. She even kicked one of Savage's knees in the back as he dropped to one. Celestia quickly threw a punch as the brute turned from the impact. He didn't like that and fired back with a punch to Celestia's face.
The Jedi Master turned from the punch before looking back at the brute, as it didn't seem to affect her. Celestia merely looked at Savage with an unamused expression before turning her neck to crack it; the brute suddenly shook his hand as it hurt when he punched the Jedi Master in the face. Celestia quickly delivered a fierce headbutt as their skulls collided. Pain shot through Savage as he gripped his head, but Celestia just took it and ran her hand through her hair. She delivered another one so soon after her first one, with more power. That should have hurt the Jedi Master, but it didn't, as Celestia showed just how tough she was.
Savage got to his feet as Celestia didn't seem to care and began to swing again. The Jedi Master was in control of their struggle as it seemed the brute couldn't handle how skilled Celestia was. She swung downward from high before quickly going down and using her long legs to sweep the giant brute off his feet. He hit the ground hard as Celestia quickly went for a stab, to which he rolled away to be on his hands and knees. Celestia came at him with a strike as he blocked with one of the ends. What followed next was Celestia angling the blade she made contact with down and leaping into the air to avoid the other blade from stabbing her. In the air, she twirled, curved her body, and came down with one of her feet, making contact with Savage's face.
The brute was down as Celestia stood over his body and was about to end him before she sensed something. Leaning back as she could, she avoided a sneak attack from Maul, who looked to stab the Jedi Master in the back. Celestia rolled through after bending backward as she flipped to her feet. The Sith threw his hand out to use the Force to send her flying. Celestia felt his attempt's weakness as she clapped her hands together to deliver a booming sound. The Force responded to her power, stopping Maul's push and sending him back a few meters instead. Celestia twirled her lightsaber as she slowly walked toward the Sith, the pair looking to engage in combat for the first time ever.
Meanwhile, Hondo and his crew were overrun by the men who betrayed him. The space pirate shot one of the traitors as he realized how close they were getting.
"Kenobi, this way!" shouted the pirate to the Jedi Master.
The Jedi Master stuck his hand out to grab Master Gallia's lightsaber and pulled it to him. He quickly leaped to where Hondo was running to as he turned to block some shots from the pirates.
"Celestia!" shouted the man.
Celestia was staring down both Siths as she growled. The woman knew she could take out both of them herself. A chance to make them pay for what they did to her fallen comrade. A chance to end their tyranny. She could kill them. She knew she could.
"Celestia!" shouted Obi-wan, trying to get her to retreat.
The Jedi Master continued to stare down her foes before she sighed. Celestia turned her lightsaber off and twirled her hand as the dust on the ground began responding. It created a veil around the Jedi Master, and when it died down, Celestia disappeared.
"Take this cannon down the hole. We will ambush those traitors there," said Hondo as he was inside his old base and instructed some of his remaining men on his plan. He and a few others heard some footsteps as they turned to see Obi-wan and Celestia come to a stop.
"Where are the rest of your men?" asked Kenobi.
"They are setting up an ambush. We can use your help. Where is the other Jedi?" asked Hondo as he noticed it was just them.
"She's... she's dead," responded Celestia, putting her head down.
"She's d... They are too powerful for even you two?" stated Hondo as he thought that being the Jedi Masters that Celestia and Obi-wan were, they could handle both Maul and Savage with no problem. "I am semi-speechless."
"I think they went this way," echoed a voice as the Jedi turned around and turned on their lightsaber.
The sound of the voices indicated that the pirates and the Sith were right on their trail.
"Let's go down this hall here!" said another pirate.
"We shall draw the brothers away. Once that's done, blast the passageway closed," instructed Obi-wan.
"And leave you alone with the two crazies? Well, okay," said Hondo to the pair.
Just then, Savage and Maul appeared as they turned the corner.
"Retreat! Retreat!" shouted Hondo to his men as they turned tail and ran. Obi-wan and Celestia did the same.
"Do not let them escape!" shouted Maul to the pirates on his side.
Obi-wan and Celestia ran behind Hondo; when they came to the end of the hall, Hondo and his men made a right while the Jedi Masters turned right. The pirates all went after Hondo, leaving Maul and Savage to go after the Jedi. Hondo turned to shot at the ceiling as several explosions occurred, burying some pirates chasing them. However, he did what Obi-wan said as Maul and Savage looked back while running to see they were sealed off from coming the way they came.
"Now!" shouted Hondo to his men as they powered up the cannon with the pirates chasing them, immediately putting their hands up.
With the Jedi, they turned to face both Sith as they had their lightsabers out.
"Surrender. We are two, and neither of you are no match for us both," stated Maul.
"You are mistaken," said Obi-wan as, in addition to his lightsaber, he also turned on Master Gallia's.
With Hondo, he approached the pirates that turned against him.
"Are you still willing to fight me? The horned men aren't interested in helping you. They are only interested in Kenobi." stated Hondo.
"They promised us wealth and power, boss. Please forgive us. Please don't kill us. We beg of you." pleaded one of the turncoat pirates.
"Kill you? Oh, I would not kill you," said Hondo as he lifted him up before addressing everyone. "Everyone, the horned men's ship is filled with valuable goods. As your restored leader, I say we celebrate our reunification. To the landing pad!"
"Right, Hondo, right!" shouted the pirates as they followed their fearless leader.
With the Jedi, they were currently engaged in a fierce battle with both Sith warriors. Maul managed to grab Obi-wan and lift him into the air before flinging him into Celestia as both hit the wall. Savage and Maul swung as Celestia and Obi-wan put their lightsabers before them to hold back the pair. The light from the blades lit up both Jedi Master's faces as they struggled to hold back.
"Obi-wan!" shouted Celestia as she gestured to Savage's leg.
The Jedi Master nodded as he extended his leg and kicked Savage in the back of his leg. The brute felt the kick, which was still weak from when Celestia brutalized it during their earlier skirmish. It allowed the Jedi a split second to move. Obi-wan slid under both blades in that split second while Celestia went through the space in between. While sliding, Obi-wan sliced one of Savage's arms as he screamed in pain and dropped his lightsaber.
"Savage!" shouted Maul, seeing his apprentice in pain. He growled in anger before putting his hand out as he pushed Celestia into Obi-wan once more and sent both Jedi all the way down the corridor and into the wall at the end.
The male had to take the worst of it as he had to be sandwiched between the hard rock wall and the back of Celestia; both fell to the ground in slight pain. The corridor collapsed as it separated the Jedi from their foes.
"Come, my apprentice. This plan has failed, but we will have another opportunity," said Maul to Savage, who picked up his lightsaber with his only arm left.
Obi-wan and Celestia grunted as they managed to pick themselves up. Once they shook the dust off them, they began to book it down the hall. At the same time, Hondo and his men emerged just as Maul and Savage did. Both sides looked at each other.
"Jiro, ready the men! We're leaving!" stated Maul to the pirate.
"My men aren't going anywhere with you," said Hondo as he emerged from the back. "Look at them. How powerful can they be? They are running away from Kenobi."
"Filth, you'll pay for your insolence!" shouted Maul.
"Insolence? We are pirates! We don't even know what that means. Open fire!" shouted Hondo.
Both Sith began to run as Hondo and his men chased them while firing.
"If we kill those two, their riches will be ours!" declared Hondo to his men, giving them more motivation.
Maul and Savage were running toward their ship as they were deflecting the shots from the pirates. They flung some stuff and redirected some shots back as it took some out. Obi-wan and Celestia emerged and saw them as they were giving chase. During their escape, Maul took several shots to his legs; the latest shot managed to take his leg off. Savage rushed over to him as he picked him up, and now both disabled warriors were running while Maul continued to block shots from Hondo.
Maul noticed the shuttle the Jedi arrived on. He stuck his hand out and made it fall over the edge as it landed in front of Hondo and the Jedi to slow them down. The pirates climbed over the ship, giving them enough time to return to their cargo shuttle. It began to take off as Hondo ordered one of his men to take the shot with a rocket launcher. He bent down and fired as the missile hit one of the engines; the ship started going down in the distance.
"Our engines have been compromised. Get to the escape pod," instructed Maul to Savage.
"It's too late," groaned Savage as he clutched his shoulder where his arm was cut off.
"Trust me, apprentice," said Maul as Savage helped him.
The Jedi and Hondo continued to see the small object in the distance as it went beyond the horizon.
"Well, Kenobi, let's get out there and see what riches have fallen from the sky for me... and you," said Hondo with a chuckle. "Shall we?"
"Very well," responded Obi-wan begrudgingly.
The pirates and Jedi got on speeders and headed toward the crash site. They arrived as Hondo's men began to search the wreckage. All that remained of the ship were the goods Maul and Savage stole but no sign of either.
"There's no sign of those two, boss," said one of the pirates to Hondo.
"Well, if the condition of these goods is any indication, ah, your friends have been vaporized," stated Hondo.
"I wouldn't be so sure. I cut one of them in half once, and he survived," stated Obi-wan, knowing that defeating a Sith warrior wasn't as easy.
"Well, isn't that interesting?" responded Hondo as both Jedi Masters began to think about where Maul and Savage could have disappeared or what might have happened to them.
It was nighttime on Coruscant as Obi-wan and Celestia had returned. A meeting was held inside Chancellor Palpatine's office in the Senate building. The Jedi present were Master Windu, Yoda, Obi-wan, and Anakin, along with Celestia and Luna, as they all sat in pairs before the Chancellor.
"I think we have closure on this matter, Master Kenobi."
"I disagree, Chancellor. Everything we've learned from this is that the Sith are persistent. They will not die."
"I understand your reservations, Master Kenobi, but I am afraid we can no longer allow this personal matter of yours to be a Republic concern. It does not appear this Darth Maul is a direct threat to the Republic," stated the Chancellor as he reminded Obi-wan of their true objective. "We need to redirect your efforts to the cause at hand: Stopping Count Dooku and thus ending the Clone Wars."
"Maul was trying to build an army of pirates," responded Obi-wan.
"So let him. Let him play with the rabble. They're just petty crooks. It is of no relevance to the Senate compared to the Separatist threat. Good day, gentlemen. And ladies." said Palpatine to all the Jedi present.
The Chancellor left as all the Jedi got up and convened in a circle to discuss.
"Something is stirring in the underworld," stated Obi-wan.
"Indeed. The crime families have had too much free rein since the Jedi have been distracted by the Clone War," stated Celestia.
"I fear it is a fertile place for Maul to flourish, if he has indeed survived," stated Kenobi.
"Hmm, right you may be, Obi-Wan, but heed the words of the Chancellor, we must. A personal matter, this is for you. Clouded your judgment may be. In time, if he lives, reveal himself again, Maul will. And then swiftly we shall act." stated Yoda to the Jedi Master.
The Jedi all began to leave as the Chancellor put his hands together inside his office and smiled evilly.
"Is everything okay, sister?" asked Luna as she noticed her older sister having something on her mind.
"Is there no end in sight, Lulu? This war still rages on after three years. And in that time, we've lost so many comrades. When does it all end? When can we finally rest?" responded Celestia as she sighed deeply. "I just don't know how much longer we can last."
"We must hold on. No matter how much this war takes its toll on us," stated Luna, as she was also tired from all the fighting they've been doing these past years.
"Perhaps, I'm just venting some exhaustion. Come on, we have a eulogy to attend," stated Celestia.
The two Jedi Masters left as they had to pay respects to their fallen comrade. Once the tribute for Master Gallia was done, Celestia was shown walking in a hallway. The Jedi Master pulled out a book and began to scribble in it.
"You will be missed, Master Gallia. I can only hope that your death was not in vain. We will defeat Maul and his brother. As well as win the Clone War. Yet, I can't help but think that this war has no end in sight."
Celestia had stopped and looked up from her book. She looked over to see Twilight was in the library. The woman looked over the railing and saw her apprentice sitting at a table. The princess was reading over a book and taking notes to prepare for her next lesson. Celestia smiled as she knew what a young, knowledge-hungry individual was like.
The Jedi Master noticed Twilight closing the book before pulling a piece of paper from the nearby stack. It was a small drawing that Celestia couldn't fully make out, but the princess had been working on it for quite some time. The drawing Twilight did in her spare time was of her partner. The girl began to scribble on the drawing as she added some color; the drawing was very realistic as it depicted the night of Hearts and Hooves when the two Jedi Knights were on their boat ride.
Twilight sighed while looking at it; the memories of the magical night flooded her mind. And what followed when he walked her home and took their relationship to the next level. The princess was in heavenly bliss at her drawing as her eyes told the whole story. Celestia saw this and sighed rather disappointedly. The Jedi Master shook her head at how her star pupil was acting before she left.
"However, it seems my apprentice is failing. I had thought that things would be different this time. I even partnered her up with my sister's student to avoid what happened with Sunset but in reality... it's made things worst than I could imagine. Twilight is walking a dangerous road that, if even the slightest shift in balance, will plunge her into obscurity. If she's to be ready, then I must take action myself. I wanted to avoid stepping in for her to learn independently, but it seems I have no choice. Starting tomorrow, I will make sure she stays on the path."
The Jedi Master closed her book just as she approached her quarters. The doors opened as she went in, with them closing behind.
Author's Note: First off, I'm back from my trip. It was nice to take some time off and recharge my batteries. But onto more important matters. The Clone War entering its third year, meaning many things will happen as it nears its end. One of them being, this is Hondo's final appearance till the show Rebels came around. Another thing, the beginning scene of Luna teaching Storm another lesson, and Celestia showing how powerful of a Jedi Master she is. And what she saw with Twilight at the end is something she doesn't like.