Chapter 22
Wipeout
The group around the table had their attention fully on the monitor in front of them. More fully the person reporting in. The background showing the Khoonda air traffic control room. The person was looking back nervously at them, unable to see their expressions as the red and black armour covered them.
"You are certain they are gone." One spoke.
"They logged flight paths to Nal Hutta via the Veragi trade route. They went into hyperspace two hours ago. A friend on Nall Hutta will let me know if the two light cruisers show up. That is all I can tell you." The operator spoke.
"You will have your credits deposited."
The transmission was terminated and the operator shifted back in her seat. She tried wiggling her tied up legs to no avail. Two figures shimmered into view. She swallowed as the mandalorians became visible. Silently she swore at herself again for having made a deal the first time she had been approached to share flight information. The money was a lot better than the pittance she was paid, but now it somehow does not seem worth it.
"That was well done, you kept them on long enough to confirm their location. As the demagolka said your credits will be deposited. Our deal is also nearly done"
A blaster fired and she jerked in the chair. Dumbly she touched the char mark to her chest, before slumping forward. Distressed cries came from the far side of the room,
"Unfortunately you will never get to spend it." Lancelot spoke.
Cutting the retraints he pulled the body from the chair and dragged it to the second figure took the place at the terminal of the deceased operator, whimpering came from the beings held against the far wall. She nodded after a few moments of typing away.
"No tricks, they did not even bother to try and hide their location. They must be ready for whatever they planned."
Lancelot sat down in a chair, the chair groaning in protest. He produced a pack of sabac cards.
"Five card draw, a credit a point." He suggested
"Not with a pack of cards that has been in your pocket for space knows how long" A snorted reply came.
"Are you suggesting I cheat?"
"No, I just don't want to know what those came into with."
"You Kiffar are always so dramatic."
There came an alert tone from the terminal and the female turned her attention to it. The beings against the wall shuddered as the voice of their now dead colleague directed a freighter to a slot in the docking area. One tried picking at the knots keeping her tied up. The male turned in his chair and looked at her.
"Relax, it will be over soon and you can all go home, After claiming an extra twelve hours overtime of course."
Apprentice Fisher had a hobby he had to get special permission for to practise, as it kept him from sleeping at the allocated time set by the masters. He had built a telescope for star gazing from descriptions found in the archives. He had been really excited to find descriptions of telescopes in the data recovered from the first contact satellite that had been recovered, using the new data to improve on the quality of his telescope instead of having to rely on the vague data had he access to before. Behind him he heard the voices of Belaya and Juhani, another two who liked to stare at the stars. He was still slightly unnerved by Juhani's presence, despite assurances from the masters that she had turned fully from the dark side.
He looked into the eyepiece and saw the two Mandalorian light cruisers return. He swallowed as he saw them deploying craft he recognised as Kom'rk class fighters. Spinning around he rushed to the duty office . Juahani and Belaya looking surprised as they caught his alarm as he sprinted past.
One of the visiting master was doing the night watch as he rushed into the office.
"Should you not be sleeping, apprentice?" Kavar asked.
"Master there is two Mandalorian light cruisers, they are launching fighters."
Kavar jumped to his feet.
"This had better not be a prank, apprentice."
"I saw them launching while I was star gazing with my telescope."
"Show me!"
Lancelot looked up from his datapad as the comlink board showed a persistent caller. The call was coming from the enclave. He tilted his head as he received a short message to his private comlink. Standing up he turned to the now larger group of captives, a more recent addition was having their feet bound and their mouths gagged as a few had gotten rather mouthy.
"Ladies and gentle beings we thank you for the hospitality and apologise for the distress we caused you. You will be freed shortly, however it is time for us to go."
Calmly he walked to the door followed by his companion, another two bodies laid out next to the first one.
"I don't know about you but I could really go for a roast nerf and mustard sandwich right now." The female spoke.
"Sounds like a good idea, pity the Last Round is already closed. Could have used a nice cold beer or two as well, myself."
"Doesn't misses Webster usually start her baking at this time?"
"You could very well be right. At the very least she might give us some good caf. There is always a chance there might be some leftovers"
" Not like we got much else to do until we hear from the rest."
The prisoners started squirming as the realised they were being left to their fate. The two ignored the sounds coming from behind them, still idly talking about food.
A klaxon started wailing as the four fighters came thundering in low, four turrets going up in flame. Searchlights sprang to life as they panned through the air and covered the ground. Three locked on as they saw figures rushing towards the manned anti aircraft positions, moving at near impossible speed. The figures effortlessly dodged the panicked shots fired at them before jumping for the platforms, bright blades igniting as they made the impossible jumps. Flashes of light lanced out, sentries died where they stood as their positions were gutted. Balls of flame and echoing explosion rocked the night as stranded spaceships met their demise.
Bright lights lit up along the ridge line marking the ignition of jetpacks and the lift off from their hidden positions. Lasers lashing out as they opened fire on the base below.
Melissa slashed through the barrel of the emplaced weapon, pushing her hand out, she force pushed a combatant from the platform to take out three more as he fell on them on their way up the ladder. Leaving them a bloody and broken pile on the ground Dropping a grenade she vaulted from the platform, ignoring the cries of those left behind on the platform. She landed in a perfect three point stand, a small dust cloud lifting from the impact, perfectly backlit by the explosion.
There came a slow handclap and a red and black armoured figure strolled into view.
"Wonderfull dramatic entry, Jetii. Extra credit for wearing proper armour. A pity I will have to kill you for defiling it. Do you know who it was stolen from so that the return to the holders family can be arranged?"
"The only one here defiling beskar'gam is you, demagolka." Melisa snarled in response.
"How curious, I never thought the Jetii would allow cosplaying. Now tell me the name of the clan, before I gut you"
"My name is Melissa Carpenter, aliit Ordo, aliit Wren. And my helmet will be the last thing you will see before the void takes you."
The red armoured figure let loose a deep laugh.
"So Mandalore's experiment got a result after all. Shall we play then? Ad of Wren."
Melissa spun and batted away two laser bolts. The red figure drew a blaster and shot one of the shooters.
"This one is mine alone."
The figure turned back to Melissa.
"I forgot my manners, please forgive my rudeness. Melissa Wren. You are facing Tamara Vesalik."
A fourth blade ignited with a snap-hiss. The blade was a dark crimson colour
"Your father was not the only one to have a Jedi plaything. My mother took hers on the field of battle. So shall we see whose teaching and training are superior. The followers of the Resol'nar or the ones who transcended the weakness it teaches."
With explosive leaps the two joined battle. Their blades clashed in a frenzy as they twisted and spun, battering at each other. Melissa tried a force push, but she felt her opponent counter it. The pressure blew them apart. Tamara threw Force lightening at her, Desperately she caught it on her blade, she retaliated with a force choke. Tamara threw it off with a choking cough.
"That was nor very light sided of you, tsk, tsk. I liked it, maybe later when I tie you down to my examination table I will return the favour." She rasped.
Melissa fell into Soresu, feeling that the style was her only hope of surviving this fight. She slightly spread her legs to distribute her weight better. Her opponent started to circle her. She resisted the urge to follow the movement, knowing she would doom herself if she did. She waited for the moment, trusting the force to aid her. She swung her blade back over her shoulder, catching the blade arcing down onto her. She spun and swung, marring the paintwork on her opponent's armour.
" Play time is over it seems."
Terri felt as if her heart was going to stop when the fourth blade ignited and the two figures closed in on each other. Melissa struggling in a clear disadvantage Bastila grabbed her shoulder.
"Let me go, she needs help." Terri tried to shake the grip
"You cannot help her now, but I can."
Bastila sank to her knees, closing her eyes. Terri felt her pushing out to Melissa in the force. She turned to Karana who was coming up on them.
"Guard us." She ordered.
She sank to her knees and opened fully to their bond adding herself to Bastila's effort. If she had had her eyes open she would seen Bastila looking towards her with a beautiful unrestrained smile. A slight shimmer covered them both.
Melissa was being pushed back. She was relying on all her limited skill to stay alive. She parried the unrelenting blows coming from seemingly everywhere by the merest of moments. She could feel herself tiring quickly, she knew she would get no respite
"Let me in, let me help." Bastila's voice spoke in her mind
"Bastila?" She gasped softly
"Let us in, little sister." Terri's voice came along
"Trust the Force, trust in us." The voices mixed.
Tamara Vesalik noted immediately when the tide turned. The girl seemed to calm before her onslaught, she straightened, her grip on her weapon firmed. The return parries suddenly carried more power. She screamed in her helmet as the blade slipped through her leg plates. She skittered back, swinging wildly. Her blade was knocked aside. The next set of agony was doubled when the silver blue blade punched through a chink in her amour and out through her back. The girls helmet was right in front of her.
"I told you that my helmet will be the last thing you see."
Tamara dropped to her knees and her opponent swung around in a circle, The Silver blue blur cutting through the neck piece with ease.
The body fell forward, the head fell back.
There was a momentary lull in the fighting before the attackers attacked with new vigour. Melissa spun around looking over the battlefield. Spotting Terri and Bastilla getting to their feet she force jumped to them and grabbed them in a hug.
"Thank you. She nearly had me."
Kanara cleared her throat.
"Keep it for later, we have a vipers nest to eradicate."
She walked past the trio, before lashing out with her fist and hitting Melissa's shoulder
"Good job, little sis. You did your fathers proud."
The door to the ATC tower room was pulled apart in a flurry of sparks and Kavar and Zhess Khai Ell rapidly entered the room. Muffled screaming erupted at their entrance, the tapping sound of a walking stick followed them in more sedately.
"Pressed the button, you could have." Vandar stated idly.
The two masters ignored this as their attention was drawn to a hologram of a Mandalorian waving them over. The one foot image being displayed from a datapad left on a table. Vandar hobbled over to the chair and settled himself before reaching a clawed finger to activate the recording.
The figure pulled her helmet off revealing Melissa's face. She gave a friendly wave, helmet tucked under her elbow.
" Hi, master Vandar. If you are watching this you have gotten my message. I would like to have relayed this in person but my family, friends and I am currently busy attacking a large raider camp. You will find the coordinates at the end of this message. You should all come and take a look. Could you please pass on our apologies to the poor people in there with you and tell them we owe them a few free drinks. They can collect it by showing their id at the Last Round. Bye "
The message flickered out and a set of coordinates appeared. The image of the girl reappeared after a few minutes.
"If it is not master Vandar seeing it first, please destroy the camera observing you know. It is right on top of the main server. I really cannot afford to lose this bet to Mission. Thanks for the help."
The coordinates reappeared. Zess Khai Ell turned to Kavar.
"Am I imagining it or did she seem really anxious not to lose the bet."
"I don't want to know. It does not matter Jedi, Mandalorian, civilian, the teenage girls mind should not be known to mere mortals."
The tied up operators were now starting to make noises of annoyance for being ignored.
The location would have been easily found despite the given coordinates. A large column of smoke stood up against the early dawn light. The fact that the Ebon Hawk circled over the approaching convoy also played a part. Vandar spryly hopped from the landspeeder and approached the group patiently waiting on him or more likely more wrapped up in their argument to pay attention.
"I am not paying the forfeit. I saw the second message, you were trying to cheat."
"The bet only said he has to see it first. Nothing was said about covering my angles. Besides I won anyway, the camera proved he saw it first."
"Children, behave. Mission you will pay the forfeit for losing the bet, then Melissa you will pay yours for trying to cheat." Marina spoke out
"Yes, Buir." They sighed in unison
Karana nudged Terri.
"Do you know what the bet was?"
"Judging from the way they were arguing about it something embarrassing."
"So we should stick around and have the holorecorder ready?"
Marina cleared her throat.
"Master Vandar. A pleasure to finally meet you."
" At a disadvantage you have me. Lady?" Vandar asked leadingly
" Duchess Marina Wren of clan Wren. To my left is Countess Daria Ordo of clan Ordo. I believe you are familiar with the rest of my companions."
Atris came bustling up. Her face set in indigation
"I believe we should focus more on the violation of the peace accords than social niceties. This was clearly an unprovoked attack deep withinRepublic territory."
" Since when does vermin extermination constitute an unprovoked attack, if I may ask. Or have you already made a determination in the three minutes you have been here." Marina mildly retorted." Master Vandar, I must express my disappointment. The wisdom and neutrality of the Jedi has been greatly over exaggerated."
Zess Khai Ell, cleared his throat.
" If you would be so kind as to provide us with your version of events, so we can try to achieve clarity."
" Thank you, seems not all are as opinionated. My apologies master Vandar."
Daria stepped forward and pointed to a smaller line laid out apart from the larger pile of bodies. Their own injured and dead, having been removed already.
"My son and granddaughter have received intelligence that a group of Vesalisk traitors may be active on this planet. As all true mandalorians have the duty to pursue the filth wherever they show themselves, they have contacted their clan for assistance. This duty is recognised by agreements with the senate you serve."
Marina continued.
"The intelligence has been proven to be correct and we facilitated a clean up operation."
" Then why not inform us before hand, and why murder three residents of Khoonda." Kavar stated
Kanara stepped forward and handed over a datapad. Daria taking her turn again
"The second part first. All who associate with the vermin shall suffer their fate, also agreed to by your senate. As for letting you know, there are thirty names on that datapad, all of them in your employ. We hand them over to you as stepping into the enclave to deal with them will trigger a diplomatic event. You will also find the plans for overthrowing the ruling government and destroying your enclave. The conspirators on the council will have been dealt with by now. Be assured no innocent has been endangered by this operation"
Marina took the lead again. She bowed deeply to Vandar and the council members present.
"It shames us all to have to admit to yet another atrocity commited by these animals. During single combat my granddaughter has learned that she is not the only force sensitive. The one she defeated had bragged over the knowledge that the vermin had forced themselves on Jedi prisoners and beaten combatants. The now nameless one was proud of her ancestry. We will let the council of clans know of the further stain they had perpetuated."
Marina straightened and stepped back.
"We will now leave the area for your own investigations. We will be available for further questions later. For now we have to honour those of us who gave their lives to clean the stain from our peoples honour."
Melissa walked up to Hissk and offered the lightsaber of Tamara Vesalik up to him.
"Master, of I may impose on you to see hold on to this for me. I do not feel I am ready to deal with it appropriately, I will need to meditate on what to do."
Hissk took it and activated the blade. There was a hiss of disgust from within the group on seeing the colour. He shut the blade down.
"Again you have shown growth on your path, I will have it ready when you decide on a course."
Melissa nodded to him in thanks and giving him a half bow of respect She gave a slightly deeper one to Vandar before rejoining her group. Atris walked up to Hissk
"The audacity to ask you to act like a servant and you accept." She huffed
"What you see as audacity I see as sign of respect to her teacher. I see a student who has shown wisdom by creating a path to ask for advice when she has been denied access to find the correct way." Hissk replied, mildly
He shot a look at Vrook and the knight who had tried to berate her that night.
"If nor for others, I would have gladly taken her as my padawan learner. But it seems we are doomed lose the exceptional ones who would have set a blazing path forward to a better future, in order to keep the mediocre ones who will keep us stagnant. It seems it is not only the young who have much to learn."
With his piece said, he pushed the lightsaber into the pocket of his robes and walked to the landspeeder he came in with.
Terri and Bastila had been proactive and had decided to wait for the summons from the council to explain their part in the mornings event,in the meditation garden of the enclave outside the council chambers. They were growing slightly anxious and annoyed as the council had returned hours previously. That the council is in full debate could not be helped but being overheard as particularly the voices of Atris and Vrook could be clearly heard a few times. They were contemplating heading to the kitchen hall for lunch when The door to the council chamber opened. Vandar stepped from the room.
" With me you must come, our prescence requested it has been."
They followed him to the main doors. Marian and Daria waited there with a small group. The eldest among them being; Karana and Lancelot. The age of the younglings ranging from eight to thirteen a familiar set of head horns visible in the mob. Two figures in robes were hanging back slightly from the group. Vandar looked at the two robed figures, mirth dancing in his eyes. The older women and the two cousins were barely holding on to their laughter. Vandar proceeded to explain.
" Contacted me the duchess has, to ask if facilitate we can a lesson for the young ones. Happy I was to oblige."
"Master Vandar has agreed to let the lesson be filmed and as you were here he agreed to let you be the ones to do it should you agree. To prevent any claims of espionage, of course"
"Important lessons they are, a copy of the lesson the enclave will keep."
Terri started to put two and two together. She was surprised that Vandar would actually partake in this. Bastila however had not quite caught on yet.
"We will gladly help, Master Dorak is sure to be thankful for more material for the archive." She said blithely
"I would not BET on that." Terri spoke.
Lancelot and Karana happily handed over the cameras. They noticed that the recording has already started.
"We will take the cameras back to complete the lesson recording when the participants exit the gates." Karana explained.
"What is the goal of these lessons?" Bastila asked mock innocently, a small smile betraying her.
The two robed figures stepped forward.
"To always think of the consequences of what you say and do." Mission spoke
"And that you have to follow through on your words and actions." Melissa sighed
"And?" Marina prompted
"That grandmothers are evil." Mission added
Melissa punched her arm
"Do you really want to make it worse."
"Ow. Fine, that making frivolous bets will always backfire on you, sooner rather than later."
"Kids, line up nicely between the two." Karana called, grinning wildly
"To the council chambers we go, time for a recess it is."
The two sat in the corner of the tent while the party raged around them, hidden behind an empty table. Their allotted glasses of beer being ignored
"I can't believe we did that." Melissa whimpered.
"I will need to get a helmet, I can never show my face in this town again." Mission moaned.
"Relax, be thankful,bask in the moment. It is not everybody that get so good a gig for their solo apperance. You really had the crowd eating out of your hands" Karana chuckled sitting down at the table.
"Relax?Relax?" Melissa gasped" I sang the brave little freighter song and how the sun makes everyone happy song to the enclave council and the Jedi high council. On Coruscant."
"So you sang, big deal. I had to belly dance to that." Melissa groused
"So you can take the temple of your list of places to book an appearance in." Terri quipped." You are really on a roll here. First appearance on two planets at once. I do not think it has ever been done before."
"And just think there is now a permanent record of you helping with teaching the young in the Archives now. We cannot be more proud." Bastilla beamed at them
Canderous sat down two plates and helped Annaka to her seat. She gave him a pointed stare before sitting down with a smile
"The question is did you learn the main and hidden lesson." He growled
"There was a hidden lesson?" Mission asked, panicked
"Yes. Do not challenge or argue with the buir, they will find creative and unexpected ways to teach you to rather remain silent and take your punishment." Karana answered wisely
"A lesson you still seem to struggle with, dear." Daria said behind her.
Karana knocked her mug over.
"Why do you always have to do that?" Karana groned
"It always amuses me that I can sneak up on a pathfinder." Daria smiled
"You need to go back to your classes, little sister." Canderous needled her.
"Don't make me start on you." Daria stated
"Yes, Buir."
A local farmhand hired for the night as a waitress stopped at the table, holding a tray. She gave a small gasp.
"Mission, is that really you?"
Mission looked up at the yellow twi'lek
" Lena?"
The girl put the tray down and rushed to her.
" I was so worried when I heard about Taris."
Mission sprung to her feet and glared at her.
"You were worried. Were you worried when you convinced Griff to run of without me?"
"What are you talking about? Griff said you wanted to stay, he said you said you were happy for us to be leaving alone and that you would stay with your other family. I offered to bring you along, seeing as I already paid for two tickets to here I could easily pay for a third. I was already paying for anything anyway."
Bastila put her hand on the woman shoulder.
" Perhaps it is best if you leave this be for a while. It has been a trying day for all of us."
" Sure…. Mission I am really happy to see you well."
"Where is Griff?"
"Tatooine, he heard about some scheme to make easy money working for Czerka and he was gone the next day, taking all my credits with him."
Lena walked away dejectedly. Daria looked at Lancelot and jerked her head. She will have the truth one way or another. Mission sat down at the table.
"She must be lying. Griff would never voluntarily have left me alone. She is lying, everybody knew it was just me and Griff. My brother would never just leave me." She babbled, wringing her hands
"When we get to Tattooine we will go look for him and find the truth." Melissa promised, pulling her tight agaisnts her.
Terri and Bastila shared a look with the elder people at the table, somehow they already knew what the truth is. Karana decided to try and distract them. She climbed onto the table
"Oya." She called
She was given the full attention, due to her rank.
"Today I am a proud sister." She called out," For today my little sister has made history by being the first mandalorian artist to entertain the Jetii council, on not just one but two planets at once."
Glasses were raised and cheers called out. A few suggestions for an encore performance were added to the mix. Melissa glared at Karana.
"I will get you back. I don't know when or how. But payback will be mine."
"Bring it, little ad, bring it."
The three met each other at the base of the foothills to the south. Instantly they knew something was wrong. No one would be so suicidal to walk barefoot, dressed in a night gown and two sets of shorts and shirts, and weapon less through kath hound territory. They tried speaking to each other but no words were audible. They heard the snap-hiss of a lightsaber. A cloaked figure bisected a kath hound with a green blade before calmly walking on. There was a man slightly behind the cloaked figure.
With shock they recognised a younger Malak, then still called Alak and with an intact jaw, slowly speeding up to fall in place beside the cloaked figure.
"You do know, we can still turn back. Once we walk in there there is no returning, ever again." Alak spoke.
The figures moved towards them, they were unable to move. They felt panic rising in them, they were helpless there. The figures walked through them as if they were not in their way.
The cloaked figure raised a hand and a mound of grass and rock lifted to reveal a metal door, The door grinded open slowly. The tow figures walked in and the ground dropped covering the entrance.
Melissa sat up gasping, her frame shivering. She sat in the bed taking deep breaths, feeling her matted clothing sticking to her. She dropped her head into her hands.
"What is going on? Why do I see Revan and Malak in my dreams?" She asked softly.
" No wonder you woke up, that would get me jumping from the screaming hysterically." Mission said.
"Why am I seeing this. How do Terri and Bastila enter my dreams as well."
Grabbing her water bottle, she emptied it in a few swallows. Mission rubbed her back.
"I think you need to go take a shower, you look like you need one." Mission suggested
There was urgent knocking on the cargo bay door. Mission skipped over to the door and opened it. She climbed back onto the mattress on the ground and pulled Melissa close. Terri and Bastila entered, Bastila now having a gown covering her nightdress. Both looked like they had run a marathon. Shakily they sat down on two empty crates. Bastila pulled the full water bottle standing next to the mattress on Mission's side closer with the force and downed half the bottle before passing it to Terri.
The four sat in silence looking at one another. No one willing to start the conversation; that had them all sitting on the edge of their seats. The silence grew thick with tension.
"We need to go speak with the masters." Terri finally said.
"I am not sure if even they will be able to explain what is going on." Bastila replied.