Author's Note: Merry Christmas Star Wars fans! Been a long year, I know, one fraught with all kinds of good and bad. But hopefully you're able to enjoy this festive time of year. At the very least, I hope you enjoy this little something from me to you, my faithful readership. Enjoy!
-Chapter 32: Legacy of Terror-
Location: Geonosis, 9:4-5:3632 ATC
"Sometimes, accepting help is harder than offering it."
Beyond the burning husk that was once a fearsome droid factory, the Republic had established a proper staging grounds from which to further secure this sector of Geonosis. It had been a gruelling campaign, with a high count of men and machines sacrificed in order to deprive the Separatists of valuable weapons and resources.
But now it was almost at an end, with the Republic able to claim a very great victory if they succeeded wholly.
With the factory destroyed, and a wounded Wraith taken prisoner, the Republic put their efforts into hunting down Archduke Poggle the Lesser. Clones and Jedi were dispatched to search the area, combing over the grounds of the droid factory for any sign of the Geonosian leader. Nearly a day later and they were forced to broaden their search perameters.
A change was coming to the battlefield as spent armies switched out for fresh ones. The 501st Legion and 41st Elite Corps had expended much of their men and resources assaulting the factory, and therefore limited their effectiveness. It would be up to the 212th and Galactic Marines to assume operations while the 13th Legion remained on vigilant territory patrol, rooting out any Geonosians that had survived the prior battles. As such, the wounded Clones in need of more focused medical attention were being shipped back to the Venator cruisers above the planet. Among them included Ahsoka and Barriss, whose valiant effort to destroy the droid factory had earned them a welcome reprieve from the battlefield.
As much as I'm looking forward to a hydroshower, I feel bad getting to take such a break when there's so much work left. Ahsoka thought.
"Sorry to leave you here, Rex." The dirt-covered Ahsoka apologized to her Captain. "There's still a lot to do."
"You two have done enough destroying that factory." Rex replied. "Go get some rest. We'll let General Kenobi take it from here."
"We'll be back before you know it, Captain Rex." Barriss promised. The pair of Padawans stepped into a waiting gunship as the last of the wounded troopers were loaded aboard. Then a pair of sergeants arrived with the captive Wraith; strapped to a hover gurney by shackles clamped to both wrists and both ankles, pumped full of sedatives to keep him out cold and docile, and deprived of his weapons to ensure he had no tools to fight with should he manage to break loose. Although that did not seem likely, given his bloodied state.
Upon laying eyes on the comatose super-soldier, Ahsoka felt her mind cloud. The longer she lingered on that visible, closed eye the more her mood sank until all she could think about was pain and agony… caused by her…
The doors closed and the gunship took flight while the watchful eye of Luminara Unduli tracked it across the skies from a nearby bluff. The Mirialan looked even more disheveled than her apprentice; covered with bacta patches, limbs and body dressed in bandages, and sporting many cuts and bruises. But her mind remained focused on the task at hand. The conquest of Geonosis was nearly complete, save for a few nagging issues that needed to be tended to.
A new gunship made landfall behind her, bringing with it members of the 212th Attack Battalion and a refreshed Obi-Wan Kenobi who had healed since his troubled arrival during the initial assault. "A hard-won victory." The human commented as he approached Unduli.
"Indeed. And a costly one." Luminara added, her voice heavy with regret. "We suffer a great many losses in these battles… too many."
"The battles do appear to be coming with growing frequency." Obi-Wan concurred, his brow knitting into a grim expression.
"No sign of Poggle, then?" The Mirialan master queried.
"Nothing. We have Clone squadrons spread out all over the area but no hits yet." Kenobi responded. Over a day had passed and the Republic was desperate searching for the final loose string that would tie up this mission. Taking down Poggle robbed the Separatists of another ally and would bring an end to the Geonosian aid they were receiving. The fact he was still at large did not sit well with Luminara. Leaving so much as one loose end unattended for too long could spell disaster for their operations.
We have to do everything possible to end this. We must commit.
"I'll go out and find some clue as to where he went." She stated, starting to walk.
"In your state I'm not sure if that's such a good idea." Obi-Wan countered as he pursued her. "Besides, I'm sure the Clones can handle-"
"Poggle has too much information about the Separatists to let him get away." Luminara interjected, taking a seat atop a BARC speeder. "He has no aid, no allies, no droid army to hide behind or super-soldier to protect him. If there was ever a time to tighten the proverbial noose, it would be now." She said firmly, indicating just how dedicated she was to her decision.
"Very well, Master Unduli." Obi-Wan relented despite his disagreement with her course of action.
"Just make sure to leave a bit of strategic planning for me when I come back, Master Kenobi." Luminara called out over the thrum of a starting repulsorlift thruster. "I'd hate to feel left out." With that, she eased the throttles forward and darted off across the rocky sands.
Some time later…
Entering one of the Acclamator-class cruisers at rest on the outskirts of the staging area, Obi-Wan made his way up to the bridge and found Ki-Adi Mundi studying a holomap of the planet. "What's this? I didn't expect to find you up and about." Obi-Wan remarked in greeting.
"After enough time in a bacta tank, one longs for the mundane comfort of star charts." The Cerean master responded, glancing away from the maps ever so briefly before returning to them.
"It seems like it did you some good. Your wounds look almost healed." Obi-Wan noted. Mundi nodded in agreement, casting a glance down at the hand missing several fingers thanks to his close encounter on Barab. The stumps had healed but remained a stark reminder.
"I wish I could say the same for most of my men." He said wistfully.
"Well, let's make sure we don't have to take Geonosis a third time." Kenobi proffered, joining him in his examinations. "Poggle's forces seem to have come from the Northern Hemisphere."
"And where was Master Unduli's last contact made from?" Ki-Adi inquired.
Obi-Wan's hand reached out and his fingers highlighted a small sector of desert. "This region further to the west, but there's nothing out there according to our latest intel." He stated.
"Perhaps. But we cannot afford to leave anything to chance. Poggle is running out of options, there are very few places left for him to retreat to." Mundi replied. Obi-Wan cast a sidelong glance at his ally, a moment of familiarity coming over him.
"You sound just like Master Luminara." He commented with a soft smirk.
"Yes, well, I have no fond memories of Geonosis and would like to see this campaign completed as soon as possible." The Cerean explained. "You know as well as I do, Master Kenobi, that this planet has cost the lives of far too many troopers and Jedi."
"On that we can agree." Obi-Wan concurred quietly with a solemn nod.
"Generals, we have an incoming priority communication. It's General Unduli." One of the bridge personnel suddenly announced.
"Patch it through, trooper." The holomap before the Jedi winked out and was replaced by a render of the Mirialan master, her holographic form flickering intermittently as static clouded the comms frequency. "Master Unduli, I trust you have good news for us?" Obi-Wan inquired.
"Indeed I do, Master Kenobi." Luminara affirmed. "We have discovered a non-native object while patrolling sector forty-eight. It appears to be a munitions container of some kind."
"It could just be debris." Mundi cautioned.
"I don't think so. There was no battle in this area." Luminara countered. The Mirialan's head turned, as if heeding someone just out of view. The voice of a Clone filtered through the feed.
"It looks like Poggle was on a direct course: eleven-mark seventy-two."
"Headed directly for the Progate Temple. Good work, Buzz." Luminara complimented. Obi-Wan and Ki-Adi took that information in stride, digesting it for themselves.
"That makes no sense. Nothing in the temple could have survived the munitions we used in the first wave of our attack. Why would he risk exposure to go there?" The Cerean questioned.
"I'm not sure. Perhaps he doesn't realize the extent to which we cleared that area." Unduli theorized.
"Sirs, atmospheric scans indicate a merging pressure system near General Unduli's position. Could be violent."
"Master Luminara, we're tracking a sandstorm that's heading your way." Obi-Wan warned his colleague.
"No matter. Poggle is out in the open and I intend to grab him before we get off-world." The Mirialan stated determinedly.
"I advise against it. You might get lost in storm." Ki-Adi differed.
"Then we'd have to find both you and Poggle." Obi-Wan remarked, a teasing lilt in his voice.
"I feel it is a risk worth taking." Luminara responded. The men could see there was no deterring her from her decision, despite their misgivings and desire to improve the situation.
"As you wish." Mundi relented before the transmission cut out. The Cerean loosed an audible sigh. "She's determined, I'll give her that."
"Stubborn is the word I'd use." Obi-Wan countered and Mundi nodded in agreement.
With little else to do, the Jedi waited. The storm came, thick clouds of choking sand rolling over them, concealing everything outside the main viewports within a heavy haze of churning particulate. Anakin arrived, freshly showered with robes free of sand and debris, his wounds from the factory battle bandaged or healed and shared a few words with Obi-Wan and Ki-Adi. The Masters brought him up to speed and then Anakin was left to the mundane. He paced around the bridge, waiting anxiously for another report from Luminara. The notion this campaign could conceivably come to an end today kept him on edge.
We've put so much work into this. I'd hate to wallow here for another week while we track down that scumbag bug Poggle.
The bridge grew dark as the storm outside intensified. Sunlight almost vanished entirely leaving the Jedi to be lit by glowing consoles, blinking toggles, and the constant brightness of the holotable. Mundi and Kenobi remained still and observant, pouring over telemetry data as the conquest progressed. Anakin continued pacing. The Knight moved in shifts, glancing at the holotable, peering over the shoulders of the bridge crew to study their incoming readings, staring out the viewport at the swirling vortices of sand hemming them in. Anakin never liked to sit still. His patience was as in short supply as his temper was.
I hate this planet. I'd love nothing more than to be out of here. Hell, I'd love to help Master Unduli so we can speed things up. But no way I'd be caught dead in all that. If there's one thing worse than sand it's a sandstorm.
His pacing continued until he lost count of how many laps of the bridge he'd performed. The sand outside turned minutes to hours and Anakin finally couldn't take it anymore. "What could be taking her so long? Something must've happened." He said, approaching the Masters.
"Patience, Skywalker. It's a delicate operation." Ki-Adi gently chided. "I'm sure we'll have more information soon." With that, he made a nodding motion to Obi-Wan and the two Masters took their leave of the command deck. Anakin followed, unwilling to wait around here any longer.
"I must admit I am troubled we've not heard from her." Obi-Wan confessed in a low voice.
"Let's not start worrying yet. Luminara's not one to take unnecessary risks." Ki-Adi responded. Passing through the open double-doors, the pair entered the comms centre, soon joined by Anakin who hovered impatiently in the background. Obi-Wan could sense his unease. It was a flared, blinding version of his own. The bearded Jedi had learned to temper his emotions a long time ago.
Despite promotion you're still a student in many ways, Anakin. I'd tell you as much if not for your inability to listen… and then you'd probably say something about Master Yoda claiming we're all life-long learners.
"Generals, we have an incoming transmission from General Unduli. The storm is wreaking havoc with our transponder arrays so we'll try our best to give you a clear signal." One of the comms officers promptly announced.
"Very good. Do what you must." Ki-Adi Mundi responded. The officer ordered the comms troopers to raise everything to maximum level before the holotable flickered and Luminara's render appeared before them again.
"Master Kenobi, we've tracked Poggle to the Progate Temple but now there's no sign of him." She reported, a hint of dismay in her voice.
"Go no further until we can send support. The storm is making things difficult, we can barely read your transmission as it is." Obi-Wan ordered her.
"Very well, Master. This temple will provide sufficient shelter in the meanwhile." Luminara promised.
"Are you quite sure Poggle went into the Temple?" Ki-Adi questioned.
"Yes. We saw him enter but I think he's gone down into the catacombs below." Luminara explained. The two Jedi shared a look of disgruntlement, knowing exactly what the Mirialan was describing.
"Mm, those catacombs go on for miles. I fear we may have lost him, get yourself out of there." Said Obi-Wan. Luminara opened her mouth to reply, only to be cut off by a scream of raw terror from somewhere out of sight. She whirled around, drawing her lightsaber.
"Buzz?" She called out, blade igniting with a snap-hiss. Her expression turned worried. "Buzz!" She cried out just before her holorender dissipated.
"Master Unduli? Master Unduli!" Obi-Wan called after her, attempting to raise the transmission again.
"We've lost the connection." Mundi announced.
Anakin turned to leave without a word. "Where are you going?" Obi-Wan demanded. He already knew.
"Take a guess." Anakin retorted over his shoulder.
"Anakin, we'll never get to her in this storm! The gunships can't handle it." His friend insisted.
"We can't wait!" The Knight exclaimed.
"I'm sorry, Skywalker. We have no choice. We must be patient and trust in Master Unduli." Ki-Adi added. Obi-Wan watched as his jaw muscle clenched, either biting back a retort or one of his many physical tells to reveal just how agitated he was.
"We'll leave as soon as the storm lifts." He promised, hoping to pacify Anakin. "In the meanwhile, go get Ghost Company ready to depart as soon as things clear up. I will see if we can make contact with Master Ty'ga and explain the situation. She may be able to offer some aid." He added, phrasing his words in the vague shape of a command.
Keeping his mind busy with something significant will keep him from doing something reckless. I know him well enough to have learned that.
With barely a nod, Anakin trudged off deeper into the ship and left Obi-Wan and Ki-Adi to contemplate what fate had befallen their fellow Jedi…
It was hours before the sandstorm abated. Too many hours, according to Anakin. Nevertheless, the Republic was on the move as clear skies marked their path forward. A LAAT carried members of the 212th to the Progate Temple, the last corresponding transmission from Luminara Unduli. They made landfall and Commander Cody's Ghost Company was first to emerge, securing the area as Anakin and Obi-Wan departed shortly after.
Waiting for them at the entrance to the temple stood Padawan Myri Lachiec and the 13th Legion's Rogue Company. The Twi'lek, her red skin yet-unsullied by the harsh environment, made to greet her superiors. "Master Kenobi. Master Skywalker. Master Ty'ga sends her regards."
"Very good, Padawan. Have you managed to uncover anything?" Kenobi inquired.
"We've picked over the surrounding terrain, couldn't find anything apart from a few vehicles almost buried by the storm." Myri explained.
"You haven't been in the temple yet?"
"No sir. The commander figured it was best to wait for you before doing so." Captain Jolt piped up.
"A wise decision." Obi-Wan complimented. "Stay alert, everyone."
"Spread out and look around, men." Anakin ordered. Ghost Company promptly entered the temple, as did Rogue Company. Troopers in black and orange covered the perimeter of the dome-shaped building from side to side. It was Cody who found something first.
"General, over here." Obi-Wan and Anakin moved to investigate and soon discovered a grisly scene. "Buzz is dead." Cody announced, revealing the body still dressed in 41st armor. The body glove had been torn around his neck where bruising and irregular abrasions suggested his neck had been broken.
"Any sign of Luminara?" Anakin asked.
"No sir." Cody replied. Obi-Wan began looking around, attempting to track down more evidence.
"Evidently there was a struggle. Buzz did not go down without a fight." He surmised.
"Ambush?" Anakin questioned.
"Possibly." Obi-Wan murmured.
"Master! Over here!" Myri's sudden outburst had the Jedi jogging over to her position. The Twi'lek was kneeling, handling a small silvery cylindrical object she had discovered lying the floor. Her eyes looked up to meet Obi-Wan's. They were full of worry. "Is this-?"
"Master Luminara's lightsaber." The human finished for her as he took the hilt in hand. "This is not a good sign." He muttered worriedly. Anakin took the hilt from him, looking it over.
"Poggle didn't do this." He determined as his gaze was drawn upwards of where Myri was kneeling. "But maybe that did."
His words drew their collective attention to a bust protruding from the roof. It was an ugly face, carved out of stone, seemingly resembling a Geonosian. But with a fan-shaped head and narrow, jutting face, it seemed too different to properly resemble any of the Geonosians the Republic had ever seen or encountered.
"That is one ugly bug…" Cody breathed.
"Weapons free if we see that thing, eh?" Jolt remarked.
"I… haven't seen one that looks like that before." Anakin confessed.
"I don't believe anyone has." Obi-Wan concurred. "Could be the Geonosian Queen."
"The bugs have a queen?" Anakin asked in disbelief.
"Rumoured. But we haven't found any proof of her existence." Obi-Wan elaborated.
"Until now it seems." Anakin grumbled. Myri studied the bust for a moment longer.
"A queen, huh? Makes sense. Geonosians are technically insects and most insect colonies are organized around a queen." She determined.
"Good to see you've been paying attention to Master Fai-Duva's biology class." Obi-Wan complimented. His gaze turned towards a yawning opening before them, framed like a doorway. It led into darkness, not a thing could be seen beyond the footstep of the door. And yet the Jedi knew they had no choice but to enter. "This seems to be a way forward. Let's go." Obi-Wan ordered. The 212th prepared for entry by flicking on helmet-mounted lights. Myri looked to the men under her command.
"Jolt, Backlog, you two come with us. Sixshot, you're in charge until we return. Don't let any bugs in or out of this place, got it?"
"Will do, Commander." The lieutenant affirmed. Myri then rejoined Anakin and Obi-Wan at the front, the three Jedi igniting their lightsabers to lead the way with a measure of illumination into the pitch-black catacombs.
They reached the base of a stairwell and Myri shivered as she noted a sudden temperature shift. In comparison to the men, her attire exposed more flesh to the air, making her more susceptible to detecting shifts in the environment. She shivered, "Ohh…"
"Something the matter, Padawan?" Obi-Wan inquired.
"You feel how cold it is down here? Compared to topside, this is basically a freezer!" Myri explained. The chill pierced her skin and went straight to her bones, gnawing away at her innermost being. "Something's not right about this." She muttered.
"Don't let your imagination get the better of you. Stay focused." Obi-Wan said. Myri nodded and continued on in silence… but could not shake the feeling there was something very wrong about this place…
The darkness stretched on, making every intricately-carved surface appear more creepy than it already was. The Republic's collective dislike for Geonosis was further enhanced by the atmosphere. The troopers were all creeped out to the point of loathing even Geonosian design. The Jedi desired nothing more than to find their colleague and then leave as quickly as possible. Unfortunately that was proving more a flight of fancy than a possibility with every step they took.
An hour passed as they tracked their way through the catacombs. Cody's built-in geo-sensors pinged the terrain, giving them a partial idea of whatever lay ahead. "This leads to a dead end." He announced, pausing and adjusting his position to attune the pings from his scanner. He dropped to one knee, eyeing a crawlspace that stretched on into more blackness. "This one goes down the furthest. Sir, I'd say that's our best bet." He told Kenobi.
"I'll go first." He stated, stooping low and leading the way with his lightsaber. Anakin followed, lightsaber off as Cody and Ghost Company followed suit. Jolt and Backstop brought up the rear with Myri.
"After you, Commander." The captain proffered.
"You go, Captain. Don't want you all getting ambushed." Myri countered.
"Now there's a comforting thought." Backstop remarked as he followed Jolt in. Myri was hot on their heels, trying to convince herself she was acting contrary to her base emotions.
I'm not scared. I just would rather have my men at my side. That's all.
The team assembled and Myri led both Jolt and Backstop to the front as Obi-Wan continued deeper into the catacombs. His eyes narrowed. What appeared to be berthing racks stretched across either side of this passage. The floor was littered with bones. Most were indecernible but some certainly looked like they came from a sentient organic.
I shudder to think who spent their final moments down here… some poor trooper lost during our invasion? Or maybe a wounded Jedi from the last battle for this Force-forsaken planet?
"Master Kenobi!" A staticky voice cried out, startling the group. Obi-Wan reached for his commlink and toggled the display. "If you're following me you must leave this place! Just get out!" A panicked Luminara insisted. Her wrists were bound, still alive by captured by Poggle no doubt. "I repeat, fall b-" The Jedi's words were cut short as she was dragged out of sight by Geonosian hands, shrill chittering filling the air before the transmission cut out.
"She must be close by." Obi-Wan decided. "Come on!" The team picked up speed and started jogging through the catacombs, hoping to find Luminara soon…
But they were forced to stop when something barred their path.
A swarm of Geonosians, some stalking towards them while others crawled along the walls and ceiling, were blocking their way forward. "I don't like the looks of this." Obi-Wan stated as he leveled his blade. Anakin and Myri gripped their own weapons tightly, the Twi'lek studying the creatures in the flickering lights from the Clones. They did not look like the ones she fought on the surface.
"Something's… wrong with them. Very wrong!" She exclaimed, sounding frightened. The skin of the Geonosians had dulled to a near slate-gray shade, their tongues lolled out of broken mouths while their eyes glowed a clouded milky-white shade. Their wings were frayed, useless for flight. But as much as their appearance was disturbing, their auras in the Force were even more terrible to detect.
I-It's like they're not even there… Holes in the Force where sparks of life should be… They're… They're dead!
A gurgling squeal from behind drew their attention to another pack of Geonosians approaching from the rear, looking the same as those in front. The Clones opened fire and Anakin and Obi-Wan moved to attack, their blades cutting into the insectoids and splitting them to pieces. Myri lunged to strike the one nearest her, cutting him neatly in two. His legs fell away and his upper torso fell to the floor… where he promptly began crawling towards Myri with an unearthly shriek from long-dead lungs.
Myri cried out in fright and stumbled backwards as the Geonosian pursued her. "What the kark are these things?!" She screeched in fright. It took Jolt's intervention to put an end to the scene, the trooper crushing the bug's skull underfoot in a splatter of dark blood. He opened fire on another approaching, blue bolts riddling the walking corpse to no effect.
"Don't like suckin' lasers, huh?" He wondered, snapping up his arm. Twitching. His wrist, a dual prong shot out on a tether from a box-shaped device strapped to his gauntlet. The prongs dug into the Geonosian moments before a high-voltage electric shock rolled through Jolt's electro-grapple and into the bug. The Geonosian twitched violently for a moment, muscles spasming as intense electrical impulses stimulated whatever was left in the corpse. The bug eventually fell back, something thin and wormlike exploring from its nasal cavity as it lay still and steaming on the ground. "Up you get, Commander!" Jolt urged, helping Myri to her feet.
Cries and screams from two Clone troopers, Jeo and Turner, echoed around them as multiple undead bugs dragged them into holes in the walls. Despite the Jedi's efforts, they were lost from view and never seen again. "Back, everyone, back!" Obi-Wan shouted. "Take out the tunnel supports! It's the only way!" The Clones fought to their original entry, half of them shooting at the ceiling while the rest dove through the crawlspace. Debris began to plummet, filling up the room and burying the zombified Geonosians where they stood.
Anakin rolled to his feet in the dead end they'd come from, his robes stained with dust and blood. "What were those things?" He questioned aloud. "We couldn't kill them!"
"Th-They just kept coming…" Myri whimpered, hyperventilating. "A-An enemy we can't kill… w-w-will always keep coming…"
"Easy there, commander." Jolt urged, helping her lean against a cold wall for support. "Take some deep breaths."
"Yes, panicking will get us nowhere." Obi-Wan said, back to his usual calm and collected self. "Now, I've heard stories of a Geonosian hive mind so strong, so powerful, that it can maintain its connection with its warriors even after they've died."
"You think that's why we couldn't kill them?" Anakin pondered. "Because they're-"
"Already dead. Yes."
"That can't be true. That's impossible!"
"Impossible or not, these creatures keep moving after cut them up or shoot them down." Obi-Wan countered. Having stated the obvious, both Jedi could concede that, whatever they were dealing with, it was wildly more complex than a simple hunt for a fleeing Archduke. Obi-Wan was quick to plan their next steps. "Call for reinforcements." Anakin raised his wrist comm to do so, only to receive a negative response when he tried to key-up the device.
"Ugh, no signal." He grumbled.
"We must be too deep underground." Kenobi surmised. He turned to his men and singled out two troopers beside Cody; Gearshift and Rusty. "You two head back to the surface and make contact with General Mundi. Tell him we need reinforcements." He commanded. The troopers were quick to respond, crouching down and disappearing into another tunnel.
"Um… Master Kenobi? Is that really such a good idea? I-I mean, splitting us up? You saw what those things can do." Myri stammered in question.
"We don't have a choice, young one." Obi-Wan responded. "You must learn to control your fear, even if it is the mark of a good leader to be concerned for the safety of others. Either we get support or we all suffer. We have no choice but to split up." His response, firm but honest, forced Myri to swallow back her fears.
"Yes Master." She said quietly.
They waited there for a moment, hoping to hear from the troopers soon. Myri fidgeted in place, shifting her weight from one foot to the other as her lightsaber trembled in her grasp. A reassuring hand on her shoulder from Backstop helped her calm down a little, but not by much.
Just think about the men, Myri. They need you to lead. Can't do that if you're-
Blasterfire erupted form close by, shireks of terror following close behind. The team raced to investigate only to discover the corpses of Gearshift and Rusty lying dead on the ground. Gearshift's head lay tilted at an awkward angle, his neck limp and twisted. Rusty's neck had been torn open, revealing bite marks in the black of his bodyglove in addition to mangled red flesh. "Told you it was a bad idea!" Myri exclaimed.
"Obviously this thing is a lot more powerful than we assumed." Said Anakin. "I'm going to the surface to alert General Mundi myself."
"I'm inclined to agree with Myri now, that would be a foolhardy move. These things appear to be everywhere." Obi-Wan interjected. "We can't divide our troops again and we don't have time to double back to the surface. Every moment we waste puts Luminara in greater danger."
"Well, what do we do then?" Anakin demanded, his impatience rising.
"Sticking together is already a good idea." Myri piped up.
"I agree. We should press on. Find another way down, we'll stand a far better chance if we work together and keep trying." Obi-Wan stated. He looked to his resident commander. "Cody, take point. See if your scanners can pinpoint a different deep-running passage."
They lost track of time in the catacombs and it almost made Myri wish she had a chronometer on hand. Pressing on towards their goal, everyone was sharing the same sentiment: get in, rescue Luminara, get out.
I've seen enough of these catacombs to last me a lifetime. Nobody ever ask me to play tour guide!
Leading alongside Anakin and Obi-Wan, the young Twi'lek furrowed her brow as she sensed another shift in the air. "Do you… feel that?" She wondered hesitantly.
"The air is warmer here. We must be getting close." Obi-Wan noted, crouching to lead them under a low archway.
"Ugh, forget the heat," Anakin coughed, gagging as he switched off his lightsaber, "it reeks down here." The Clones followed, switching off their lights one by one.
"Keep your voice down." His friend hissed.
"I'm just saying. This planet is rotten from the inside out." Anakin retorted quietly.
"I agree with… that…" Myri trailed off as they entered an open chamber with high-vaulted ceilings. It wasn't so much the chamber itself that caused her to lose focus as much as it was what the chamber contained.
Seated at the opposite end, on a dias made of stone slabs, loomed the foreboding figure of a massive slug-like creature. It was framed by softly glowing crystals of blue, illuminating her freakish visage for all to see. At the head, it looked like a Geonosian, bearing a strong resemblance to the bust of the so-called queen seen at the entrance. But the rest of it was a mass of bulbous flesh that grossed Myri out.
Hutt-ugly.
"I've got a bad feeling about this…" Anakin muttered.
"Sure would be nice to have Master Mundi's flametroopers on hand right about now." Myri murmured in agreement.
"It must be the queen." Obi-Wan determined. Cody flicked on his infrared scanner, as did Backstop.
"Any sign of Luminara?" Anakin asked. His eyes had yet to adjust to the dark.
"I see her. She's suspended near the throne." Cody answered.
"Poggle's right close to her, sir. Speaking with the queen." Backstop quickly added. "But there's a whole mess of those undead bugs between us and them." Anakin nodded in understanding.
"You take the soldier and I'll take the queen." He told Obi-Wan.
"Must you always rush into things?" His friend retorted. Knowing Obi-Wan well enough, Anakin loosed a quiet groan of annoyance.
"Oh no… you don't actually want to talk to it, do you?"
"As a matter of fact, I do." Obi-Wan stated. "Come on, Anakin. Don't you want to know why they took Luminara captive? Why not just kill her?"
"She's leverage. She's a hostage." Anakin replied, as if the answer were obvious..
"Leverage for what?" Obi-Wan questioned, making him think again. "No. There's something else going on here and these zombies are connected to it."
"Fine. We'll try it your way." Anakin relented with a sigh of resignation.
"So glad you agree." Obi-Wan said sarcastically. "Cody, set the men up around the perimeter. These creatures live in darkness, the light from your helmets should blind them temporarily." He theorized. "Turn your lamps on at my signal, that should create enough confusion for us to get Luminara out of here."
"What happens when the bugs pursue?" The commander wondered. "You've seen them in action, sir, we can't kill them." For that, Anakin had an idea.
"Destroying part of the catacomb seemed to do the trick last time. We'll have to bury them. It'll at least slow them down." He stated. "Shoot out the support pillars and this whole place will collapse." Cody nodded in acceptance.
"What about me, Master?" Myri pressed, hoping to be given the duty of aiding the troopers.
"You'll come with us to stand before the queen." Obi-Wan responded. The Twi'lek snickered then abruptly sobered when Obi-Wan proffered a funny look in retort.
"Oh wait, you're being serious." She whimpered, paling slightly.
"Come now, Myri. As long as we don't attack, they won't attack." Obi-Wan promised. The Padawan gulped nervously as she rose and slowly followed after the two humans.
Boldly leading them on, Obi-Wan appeared completely without fear as he strode into the midst of the undead insectoids. Anakin appeared battle-ready, more spoiling for a fight than anything. Myri wished she shared their confidence. As they neared the swarm, the Twi'lek inhaled shakily and exhaled as quietly as she could, trying to calm her nerves.
Don't freak out. Don't freak out. Don't freak out.
"How did you know they wouldn't just attack us?" Anakin questioned in a barely-audible voice.
"Because I make observations while you think with your lightsaber." Obi-Wan replied with a cheeky smirk.
"Well, that quick-thinking of mine usually saves us when your 'observations' get us into trouble." The Knight hurriedly retorted.
"Anakin, the queen took Luminara hostage. She has one Jedi, now she has two more. I want to know what she's after." Obi-Wan insisted.
"Well, when this doesn't go as planned, which it won't, I'll be ready." Anakin shot back.
"That is so reassuring." A sarcastic Obi-Wan muttered with a roll of his eyes.
"I-I think I'm gonna pass out..." Myri gulped, glancing at a Geonosian missing an eye and an arm while sporting a gaping hole in its torso.
"Steady on, Padawan." Obi-Wan assured her.
Soon the trio was standing before the throne, almost face-to-face with Poggle himself. Slightly elevated, Luminara was held in stasis cuffs, looking just as bad as when Obi-Wan had first met her on the surface. "I thought I told you not to follow me, Master Kenobi?" She called out in a weak voice.
"Yes, well, I took a lesson from Anakin and decided not to follow orders." Obi-Wan replied, earning a frown from the Knight.
"Hey!"
"You… Youuuuuuu are the creatures that attack Geonosia!" The queen suddenly screeched from above them, surprisingly in basic. "Whyyyyyy have you come before ME?"
"Your majesty, it is a pleasure to finally meet you." Obi-Wan cordially greeted. "I am Obi-Wan Kenobi and these are Anakin Skywalker and Myri Lachiec. It is our sad duty to inform you that your rule is at an end."
"Youuuuuuu not dictate to ME, Jedi!" The queen retorted. "My empire is foreverrrrrr."
"I'm afraid it does not appear that way, your grace." Obi-Wan countered. "You shall release the Jedi Luminara and submit to Republic law." His words seemed to anger the queen, the Geonosian matriarch throwing back her head to loose a piercing, warbling cry that shook the walls of the chamber. Myri covered her ear cones, wishing she had something stronger to muffle the unholy noise.
She's nasty, but at least she's not as bad as these disgusting undead. Or if she's the reason for their existence does that make her as disgusting as them…?
"I no submit to YOU!" The Queen shrieked as a pair of living Geonosian drones trained their sonic blasters on the trio. Anakin snapped up his lightsaber but Obi-Wan held him back.
"No. Patience, Anakin, wait." He insisted. With much reluctance, Anakin switched off his blade as the drones collected their weapons.
"Now what?" Myri whimpered, trying to stand as close to Obi-Wan as possible. She felt defenceless against the horde. The bearded Jedi cleared his throat and addressed the queen again.
"Majesty, destroying us will only make the Republic's judgement of you harsher." The queen made a sound somewhere between a hum and a grunt.
"No, Jedi, nooooooo!" She shrieked. "I no destroy you… I devour you! I control you. I have but one Jedi before young Poggle bring me. But nowwwww… I have four." As she spoke, one of the zombies shambled over to Poggle with a small spherical egg in hand. From the egg curled a worm, the kind seen in the zombies elsewhere in the catacombs. "Now… watch as my child enters your Jedi friend… and once inside, her mind becomes miiiiiine. Her thoughts, MY thoughts." The queen hissed. Poggle allowed the worm to coil around his chitinous fingers as he held it up to the light, much to the dismay of Luminara.
"It's some sort of mind control or hive mind. She can possess us." Obi-Wan realized.
"Oh joy. That's the last thing I needed to hear." Myri muttered.
"Great. Find out everything you wanted to know yet?" An impatient Anakin asked.
"No, wait, I want to see how it works." Obi-Wan replied. Myri blanched.
"You can't be serious!" She hissed.
"I'm with the Padawan. And I don't think Luminara wants to see how it works either." Anakin added.
"No! I don't!" A freaked-out Luminara quickly echoed from within her bonds.
"Well, I'm curious. The more we know the better." A stubborn Obi-Wan insisted.
"What's more to know? They're freaky, they're performing the most indescribably horrible things down here, and they're undead!" Myri panted, on the verge of hyperventilating again.
"But that's not very accurate, now is it, Padawan?" Obi-Wan replied. "We need specifics."
"I disagree!" Luminara cried as Poggle approached with the writhing worm dangling from his fingers.
"So do I." Said Anakin.
"Come now; the nose or the ear, which do you think it will enter?" Obi-Wan asked. The very notion of having such a squirming thing rummaging around in any of her cranial passages had Myri retching.
"I think I'm gonna hurl." She whined. Anakin glanced back at the unfolding scene, watching as Poggle held the worm dangerously close to Luminara's face as the Mirialan did her best to back away.
"I think the nose." Anakin finally decided as Poggle let the worm coil around Luminara's face. Myri audibly gagged.
"I think I just threw up in my mouth a little." She groaned.
"I hope this is part of the plan!" A disgusted Luminara grumbled.
"Isn't it always?" Obi-Wan said aloud. "Cody! Now!"
His sharp command had the Clones springing out from behind cover, each and every one of them flicking on their helmet lamps and underslung barrel lights as they filled the room with blinding spotlights. Shrieks arose from the Geonosians as they were blinded, causing just enough mayhem for the Jedi to act.
The trio reached out with the Force and pulled their weapons into their grips, Anakin and Myri hacking into the walking corpses as Obi-Wan pulled the worm off Luminara's face and into his hand. Anakin lunged for the captive master and cut her down, returning her saber to her grip. Her strength seemingly returned, Luminara held Poggle at saberpoint. "You're coming with us, Archduke!" Anakin declared, whipping a pair of stun cuffs from his belt and slapping them into place around Poggle's wrists. He dragged the Geonosian off with Luminara in hot pursuit.
They rejoined Obi-Wan, Myri and the Clones as they backed out of the chamber, blue blaster rounds streaking across the expanse. The Knight spied a wriggling object near his friend's off-hand and reacted quickly, thinking he was under attack. "Obi-Wan look out!" He cried, swinging his hand around to smack his arm and knock the Geonosian worm to the ground.
"No, Anakin, wait-!" Obi-Wan cried, but he was too late as Anakin promptly crushed the worm underfoot and smeared its remains across the floor. "What are you doing?! I was going to study that!" An irritated Obi-Wan exclaimed.
"Study the bottom of my boot!" Anakin sharply retorted. "Come on! Let's get out of here!"
"I second that!" Myri shouted as she hacked into more undead approaching her men. Jolt fitted a fresh cartridge to his arm tether and promptly tasered another corpse back into death.
"Here they come! Blast the support pillars!" Cody barked. Ghost Company reacted, shooting out the roof as debris came hurtling down. The zombies were crushed by massive pieces, never to rise again, as even the queen was lost beneath a pile of rubble and dust began to cloud the room.
The Republic team beat a hasty retreat back through the catacombs as debris continued to pile up behind them. Anakin and Luminara led the captive Poggle on ahead, with Obi-Wan and Myri hot on their heels. "They're still coming!" Cody cried as he, Waxer and Boil laid down covering fire, blue rounds ripping into the undead Geonosians as the rotten stench was soon replaced with the scent of decayed tibanna gas.
"I know these tunnels! Come!" Luminara urged, taking the team straight to a crossroads where scant rays of daylight streamed down from above. "This is our way out!" She stated, pointing upwards.
"Everyone start climbing!" Anakin ordered. Cody was quick to get his remaining men moving, with Obi-Wan hurtling Poggle up through the shaft behind Luminara and Anakin.
"That means you too, boys!" Myri urged as Jolt and Backstop poured fire into the frothing mass of Geonosian undead. Backstop quick firing when his DeeCee ran out of power.
"You know what? Kriff this!" He exclaimed, throwing his spent weapon at the horde before he beat a hasty retreat up the shaft. Jolt was right behind him, scrambling to get clear as the horde flooded the room.
Unfortunately they moved too late and undead hands grabbed at their ankles, hampering their ascent.
"Get off me!" Jolt snarled, holding onto the edge with a free hand while his boot stomped into the bug's head, ripping an eye off. He fired off his taser again, dropping one of the creatures, but there were far too many more waiting and he had no extra hand to reload his gadget. Backstop was in similar straits, struggling to hang on as grabbing hands tried to pull him down.
Up above, Myri saw what was happening and, with no regard for her own safety, dropped down the shaft. The elder Jedi attempt to stop her, but Myri would not be dissuaded as she activated her saber and hacked into the mass of zombies.
I want my boys back! I don't care how gross and disgusting you are!
Sweeping swings of her lightsaber severed heads and limbs, free her Clones. "Move it!" She cried and the troopers quickly continued their ascent.
All of a sudden, a deafening roar of wind overtook them all. The collapsing catacombs were being sealed up, entombing their denizens down below. But with no other path to take, the concussive collapse was being funneled right to their very exit. The updraft hurtled Jedi, Clones, and Poggle into the air, blowing off the disc-shaped trapdoor up above and sending the surviving team flying within a cloud of dust.
The waiting Rogue Company above were sufficiently startled. "Holy gadunka! What the hell happened down there?!" Sixshot exclaimed as everyone came tumbling to the ground. He and the rest darted over to help Jolt to their feet. "You okay, sir?"
"Just dandy!" Jolt gruffly replied as he was helped up. Tremors rumbled under their feet as debris continued to fall from above.
"We'll explain it later, Sixshot! We gotta move!" Myri cried out as she darted past them. Rogue Company took that as their cue to leave, hurrying to vacate alongside their commander. Cody helped his surviving brothers to their feet as the Jedi rushed Poggle out of the temple. A cloud of dust followed them as statues and columns thundered to thr ground, the remaining remnants of the Progate Temple collapsing in a heap that served to seal off the queen's domain forever.
The Jedi paused to catch their breath, now caked with a layer of dust and grime as the troopers stumbled into resting positions as the adrenaline rush died down. "All things considered, that went better than I expected." Anakin remarked between coughing fits.
"I wish we could've gotten one of those worms." Obi-Wan retorted in a surly tone. "Knowing how the queen controls her minions could've proven valuable."
"Well, hopefully the secret is buried with her." Anakin said, wiping grime from his face. Nearby, Myri flopped down on the ground. "If this is what Ahsoka deals with on a regular basis… I'm happy to go back to the thirteenth. Way less stressful!" She remarked.
At least we have a thirteenth to go back to." Jolt added, sitting beside her. "All thanks to you, commander."
"Yeah. Thanks for saving our butts back there." Backstop added. "Thought we might turn into bug food." Myri chuckled.
"No way I'd let that happen to my boys." She replied. "I'm not winning this war with half a hand, if you know what I'm saying."
"You hear that fellas? We're sabacc cards to the commander." Sixshot remarked in a teasing tone.
"Oh you know what I mean." The Lethan Twi'lek snickered as she picked herself up. "I love the hand I've been dealt and I don't want to part with any of it anytime soon."
The Republic packed themselves up, ready to return to their respective duties. As Obi-Wan, Anakin, and Luminara shoved Poggle aboard their gunship, the Archduke cast a mournful glance over his shoulder at the ruined Progate Temple. With the demise of the Stalgasin Hive and the last known queen of Geonosia, his hopes for his people also died. No more queens meant no more future warriors, drones, or any caste of Geonosian. His people would dwindle until there was nothing left…
The extermination of the Geonosians had truly begun.
As the gunship departed, Poggle murmured bitterly in his native tongue, his words gone unheard by his Jedi captors, "Geonosia weeps, Karina the Great."