Chapter 16

Pantora – Services Sector

Mace leapt up the stairs, taking them three at a time. He could hear Fay a few storeys above him, leaping up each flight as quickly as she could. Somewhere above them, there was a sniper aiming her rifle at the one padawan that he found was actually bearable to be around.

"Hurry up, Windu!", Fay peered over the cold metal railing above, her voice echoing around the stairwell, "I can hear someone nearby."

He stopped, leaning over the edge to glare up at her. Fay was a good friend of his. She and his former Master had been friends, and during the course of his padawanship, both he and the older Jedi had also become close. She had seen him go from a youngling to a padawan, and eventually to a knight. She had even been present on the Council when he had first been elevated to Master. However, unlike him, she was a Silverine; a species that looked somewhat human, yet aged at a far slower rate, so she appeared to still be in her early twenties. He let out a groan, "Why does she need to be so fast?"

A door slammed open below him, and he glanced down over the balcony, catching a flash of black cloth hurrying down the stairs. Mace frowned, grabbing his commlink. Fiddling with the controls for a moment, he keyed in the channel he wanted, "Caloc, I need you to tell me about the person you were fighting."

"Kage Warrior.", the boy answered, "He used two vibroblades and had a blaster. It looked like a DT-9 model. I'd say it was stolen from a Blastech shipment. Probably one of the ones that went missing on Dar a few weeks back."

Mace rolled his eyes, groaning. "And what was he wearing?"

"Kage robes.", Caloc grunted. He sounded exhausted. "They were black, compared to the usual colourations. I don't know why he was off Quarzite though. I doubt it is for credits."

"Thank you for your assistance, Caloc.", Mace clicked off the commlink and switched the channel, "Fay! I may have found the mastermind. You get that sniper; I'll take care of him."

He vaulted over the stairwell railing, falling for about fifteen storeys before he reached out, swinging back over the rail. Leading with his shoulder, he slammed through the door and into the corridor. The hallway was deserted. There was some dust hanging in the air, and papers flown about by the constant explosions. He stretched out with his senses, using the Force to feel everything around him. The tiniest flutter came from the right. He gave chase.

The building was quite normal for an office. Hundreds of small box-shaped stalls were set up with piles of paper, charging datapads and writing utensils strewn across the desks. There were a few sparkling wires hanging from the ceiling. A hologram of the work schedule hovered menacingly over the centre of the room, though it was slightly askew. The lights shone brightly; down here the explosions hadn't bit into the steel and thick crystal glass quite as much as the higher floors. The walls were an immaculate blue and white pattern. Mace's lightsaber fizzed into existence, its unique amethyst blade's light emulating the walls.

A quiet noise behind him caught his attention and he spun to see a shadow of a man standing silently behind him. The thick black cloth wrapped around him was embroidered with gold thread, the intricate patterns decorating it like the shimmering blood of a murdered Huul queen. There were a few native trinkets dangling from the belt.

"You found me.", the man spread his arms wide, "Just like I hoped you would."

Mace spun his blade lazily around in a circle, "You should have been more careful, Kage."

"For the record, my name is Heron Durge of Quarzite. Both you and I have been destined for this fight, Master Jedi.", the man mockingly chuckled, pointing a gloved finger at Mace's chest, "Such a strange term that you use. Why do you call yourself 'Master'?"

"I do not know why that will concern you, Kage.", Windu stopped his blades lazy circling and levelled the tip with his opponent's chest. "You will be in custody within the hour."

"I must disagree.", Heron grinned. He reached to his belt and grabbed the hilt of the two vibroblades. They buzzed as he did, electricity arcing up the blade. "Surrender, and I will make your death painless."

Mace slowly shook his head. "Such a waste of energy, Heron Durge."

The purple blade darted forward; its hum tantalisingly loud in the still air. It slashed across the two quivering daggers, easily slicing through the electrified metal. The Kage stared at the melted blades in horror, as though they had been his only hope. In truth, the blades had been the first he had ever forged. He had carried them through many battles, he had fought countless opponents with them, and none had managed to break the blades. Recovering, he threw the shortened, useless blades aside, grabbing a short whipcord from his belt. As Mace swung the blade again, the Kage leapt back, looping the thin cord around the top of the hilt. A quick, sharp tug and he ripped the blade from the Jedi's grasp. The weapon extinguished, the hilt clattering to the floor.

"Ha!", Heron grinned, "Try to defeat me without your blade, Jedi!"

Mace's eyes narrowed, "Very well."

Leaping high, the Jedi launched a roundhouse kick into the Kage's chin, ripping the ceremonial headdress and mask from his face. The pale, scarred face shown beneath it curled into a snarl, an animalistic noise crawling out of the man's throat. He leapt forward, launching a fist at the Jedi's face. His glowing eyes narrowed as he attempted to close the gap. Mace spun, dodging the man's unrefined attempt of an attack. He reached forward, grabbing the Kage's robes and throwing him over his shoulder. The assassin landed against the wall, cracking the concrete as he slammed into it. Using the Force, Mace pulled his lightsabre back to his palm and activated the blade. Tossing it to his left hand, he pulled the Kage toward him with his right, making the man hover before him.

"You are under arrest!", he growled, shoving the tip of the blade near the Kage's throat.

"I refuse.", Heron growled back, his hand fishing through his belt. He pulled a thermal detonator out and flicked the switch.

Quickly, Mace forcefully pushed him back, sending the man flying through one of the windows. An explosion rocked the sky as the detonator exploded, taking Durge with it. Walking over to the new hole in the window, the Jedi stared down at the smoke cloud hovering below him, the remains of the Kage's cloth robes drifting away on the wind. "I would say it was a noble ending, Mister Durge. But it wasn't.", he said, before he activated his commlink, "Fay, are you there?"

"Indeed I am, Master Windu.", she answered, "I must apologise but I lost the sniper. She preferred to take her own life than be captured by me."

"The same thing happened here.", Mace kicked Heron's body, "We may never know who was in charge of the attack."

"A shame, to be sure.", Fay answered.

A buzz of static crossed the channel and Mace checked the caller. "Give me a second, I'm putting another call through."

"MACE!", Stass screamed over the speaker, "Why is the city on fire?"

Mace couldn't help a small smile slipping through his normally serious exterior, "It's Caloc's fault."

"What?!", the Tholothian screamed.

"Even I could've told you that she wouldn't like hearing that.", Fay chuckled lightly, "You need to work on your phrasing. Though I would mention her student's commendable actions. Stass, meet us down at the to the cruiser Helios. It is the only surviving transport from what I can tell. The Pantorans will need the supplies, and there may be more attackers down there."

"The soldiers can handle that, Fay.", Mace shook his head, "We need to find Caloc and get to the Assembly Building. He is probably still trying to hide from a sniper that isn't firing at him."

Enjoy