The Forced Rider 555

by Codey-Wraith

A boy unable to wield the force, finds another way, with knowledge gained from a past long forgotten and heritage all people of his species wish to forget. He'll learn the truth of the past to find the light towards the future, as the saying goes, 'those who learn from the past never repeat the same mistakes.'

18. Chapter 18

Forced Rider 555 C18

I own nothing

:Chapter Start:

Kronos-Three hours later-Dark Fortress hidden passages

Clank and R4G3R was standing still as Tiny Tina was walking back and forth completely lost even though the two droids know where they are going. Tina was not lost in a sense as she was actually trying to think of a way to help her friend. Her muttering eventually turned into her shouting, "How can we help him," as if to answer R4G3R created a hologram of the castle causing Tina to 'Whoop' at a possible plan before following the two droid through the secret tunnels.

Dark Fortress' Prison cells that moment

Junk Wolf rested with his head in Ahsoka's lap due to the limited space in the cell while Anakin and Obi-Won spent time trying to make an escape plan. Anakin suggests, "None of these criminals are Force Users like the three of us."

Obi-Won frowns before thinking, aloud, "Junk Wolf has already explained that any attempt to remove the collar will kill Ahsoka," Junk Wolf opened his tired eyes at Skywalker with an animalistic glare. Obi-Won continued, "You can feel it, can't you? The Force is trying to tell us something."

Anakin frowns before saying, "Why do you think, we should find a way to escape? The last time I felt this was," Anakin's worry was showing.

Obi-Wan nodded and says, "The day Quigon died, I know, but that means we have to be her to at least discover why the Force is trying to warn us at this time."

Ahsoka absentmindedly brushed Junk Wolf's hair calmly before she finally spoke, "The tests in the Vault, we could find a way to escape or even a method to remove the collar first."

Junk Wolf sighs and says, "Actually it is possible, but we may run out of time at this rate. If the king decides to end us and cut his losses."

Anakin asks, "What are the risks of completing these childish tests?"

Junk Wolf covered his eyes and says, "Besides having access to enough weapons that could destroy the galaxy? A fortress capable of invading planets and travelling across the Galaxy and able to attack the entire galaxy."

Obi-Wan leaned back on his shared bench and says, "You mean he could become an ally to the Republic."

Junk Wolf shakes his head and says, "He hates everyone and wants all those with access to the Force. His first target will be the Jedi Temple on Coresaunt. His friendship with Dooku is a farce so that he may destroy the Sith when he does not realise he will be stabbed in the back. Not that my mother will let him."

Anakin finally had enough and finally asks, "Who the hell are you getting out of those damn binders?"

Junk Wolf sighs and looks to Anakin and pointed his handless robotic arm and says, "What do you think?" which was when they heard a click from Obi-Wan's binders opened and he revealed Junk Wolf's mechanical hand holding Obi-Wan's wrist before waving a finger before leaping back to Junk Wolf who reattached his hand easily and sat up. Junk Wolf comments, "Listen, there is nothing stopping you two from escaping."

Skywalker with his hands still bound behind his back glares and says, "I can't leave Ahsoka as a captive of your demented family."

Junk Wolf did not argue with him as he agreed completely before Obi-Wan comments, "That is the problem, is it not? As long as that collar is on Ahsoka's neck is our only plan. Is there anything in that room that could help remove it."

Junk Wolf frowns while thinking deeply only to realise that his memories have fractured and he was missing parts and segments of his memories. Junk Wolf frowns as they hear footsteps outside the cell as he says, "I am not sure. I don't remember much of the past."

Obi-Wan frowns before asking, "You know, I do remember you knowing more facts about the galaxy then the Jedi Archives. Is something wrong?"

Junk Wolf looked down to the ground sadly before stating, "Sorry Ben, today is not a good day for me. I stopped healing," and showed his torn and dusty fingers. "I am in the final stages of full death."

Skywalker asks, "What is full death?"

"Well Luke," Junk Wolf starts getting widened eyes from Skywalker and Kenobi as Junk Wolf continues, "Full Death is where there is no chance of revival for those like me. We become the dust that gives us our form."

"You're made of dust?" Skywalker questions with sarcasm.

Obi Wan and Ahsoka look at Junk Wolf as he says, "In a sense, when we heal, our wounds heal by expelling parts of ourselves into dust. Until we reach a point where we can no longer heal ourselves. Or Old age gets to us."

"How old are you?" Ahsoka questions while appear awkward.

"Seventeen to your sixteen, Ahsoka," Junk Wolf answers before having a haunted and tired look on his face, "About four years ago by this point, I think, I lost my most of my hand to the Dark Sabre."

Ahsoka frowned at that before remembering one fact, "Ventress attacked you with a lightsabre though and it did not seem to even slow you down. What is difference with the Dark Sabre?"

Junk Wolf was tired as he answered, "It was made to kill my kind," causing Ahsoka to gasp while Skywalker and Obi Wan had their eyes widened. Junk Wolf continued, "Even the tiniest scratch can cause us to decay over time," he opened his shirt and showed where the robot arm attached to his torso only the was obvious signs that the arm was not enough as large grey patches were seen leaving from under the metal plating. Junk Wolf fixes his shirt before saying, "Where the hell is my vest" slowly getting lost in thought rubbing his head with his injured hand.

Ahsoka answered, "Those weird servant girls took it"

Junk Wolf blinks before looking around trying to spot something horrorifing. Skywalker still bound and confused why he was called 'Luke' but asks, "What are you looking for?"

Junk Wolf simply says, "They always showed up whenever they weren't wanted. I never could find out how they did it." He was looking around standing.

The answer came from behind him as Ahsoka stood looking at him in concern as one of the Queen's maids appeared behind him and says, "Because we only appeared when we were needed," the head maid appeared scaring the two full Jedi's and Junk Wolf who was suddenly in Ahsoka's arms being held like a small animal. The Head Maid then continued, "The guards are being distracted outside. You have a few minutes to give me a list of everything you need for your escape."

Junk Wolf was still in Ahsoka's arms when his eyes narrowed before he sighed and says, "Well, really we only need one thing that collar gone."

The head maid's covered face turns to Ahsoka and her eyes narrow at the collar before she says, "zero point six seconds, that is the delay no matter the range or security feature," with that the maid suddenly vanished as all four prisoners suddenly blinked at the same time.

Skywalker suddenly comments, "What the Sith is wrong with this planet? Little girls the most dangerous life form on the planet. Maids who can appear inside a locked room. All of which is a side point as a castle from a piece of fiction turned out to be true. What next? Giant Robots?"

"I hope not," Junk Wolf starts, "Giant Robots are dangerous," Junk Wolf's comment caused Skywalker's eye to twitch.

Before Skywalker could even question Junk Wolf on that comment, the guards arrived and pulled the four out the cell and back to the vault. They didn't bother with the cuffs as so far they were yet to realise how Junk Wolf was freeing himself and his allies.

Darth Sidious' inner sanctum-That moment

The cloaked Dark Lord of the Sith was pacing waiting on news from his apprentice when Count Dooku appeared on the holographic platform kneeling and says, "The fleet I sent to Kronos has failed."

Sidious sneers and shouts, his power felt through the holographic terminal only for Dooku to shrug it off as Sidious asks, "Why have you failed me."

Dooku simply says, "The Dark Fortress holds many weapons of immense power. An orbital defence that no one can bypass other then Junk Wolf." Dooku sighs sadly before saying, "It appears that we have to believe that Junk Wolf will manage to defeat his father, otherwise we will be facing a third faction in our war against the Jedi." With that Dooku disconnected the transmission before Sidious proceeded to scream in anger and unknowingly releasing an Ancient Sith Spirit sealed away by its own followers and it has plans for the time it found itself in laughing silently with evil.

Kronos-Vents-That moment

Bif was running silently through the vents using the information gained from R4G3R searching for the necessary components needed for Junk Wolf's back up plan. A plan even he forgot. Bif was making his way to the Vault with everything he needs to ensure escape.

The Vault-Moments later

Junk Wolf was shoved rather violently as they made their way into the vault where the King was speaking with Pre Visla on a communicator saying, "A pity you cannot be here for the beginning of the restoration of our people."

"When I become Mandalore we will be unstoppable," Pre Vizla disconnected before Junk Wolf chuckled in good humour at one of the funniest thing he had ever heard.

The king glared at Junk Wolf who says, "So you haven't told him you are going to kill him" junk Wolf continues to laugh only for the king to have thorny tendrils extend from his hand and whip Junk Wolf heavily scaring his dying body.

The King simply says, "The only reason you are even alive is because of your traitor of a grandfather. Now complete these final challenges so I can be rid of you," The king stepped away while Junk Wolf struggled to stand with none of his wounds healing properly.

Ahsoka stepped next to him and helped him stand before asking, "Do you really need to antagonise him?"

"Yeah, it is all I can do. His suit amplifies his abilities store large quantities of sun light to fuel himself," Junk Wolf states before noticing Ahsoka's lost look before admitting, "He is a Plant Orphenoch. If he went serious we would all be ash in his presence, one of the few types that can kill our kind with but a gesture."

Ahsoka whispered to him, "Then how do we beat him?"

"Don't know, have yet to think of a way," Junk Wolf states as traces of grey dust leaked from his nose and mouth causing him to notice this time, "Or ever."

Ahsoka helped him stand as they were forced forward and past the large bubbling green fluid in the centre of the room as they were pushed towards the next challenge. Kenobi simply asks, "What is your plan for this challenge?" looking to the large symbol painted on the floor for some reason reminding him of something from his youth.

Junk Wolf frowns before having Ahsoka let him go before he says, "It is a trail by combat," with that he looks to Kenobi and says, "Ben, I need you to hold Ahsoka back from entering. This is a challenge that no one can stop until it is over." Kenobi frowns but concedes Junk Wolf's request. Ahsoka was distracted long enough for Junk Wolf to reach the centre of the ring before suddenly his eyes glowed white and he fell to his knees shocking Ahsoka.

Ahsoka called out to Junk Wolf only for nothing to happen as slowly a spectral form of Junk Wolf appeared his arms and chest exposed only they did not have a robotic arm and looking around like he was in a dark room not seeing anyone. The King snarled at the sight only to blink and smirk as he sees a shadowed figure begin to form behind Junk Wolf.

The dark realm of the mind

The ancient meditation circle did it's task, it forced Junk Wolf into the darkened realm as he was unsure what his task was though he was thankful the deterioration of his body was not sensed at the moment. The fact that he apparently still had his actual arm and was lacking all of his scars and his facial markings disturbed him before he felt a heavy breath on his neck before he rolled forward to avoid the wild claws of his own Wolf Orphanoch form that started growling at Junk Wolf. The young man kept his eyes on the Monster Wolf that howled forcing Junk Wolf to cover his eyes before being knocked back. His real body fell back from the shockwave like he was punched in the chest, the grey dust falling out his mouth.

Junk Wolf groans before rolling to the side to avoid five claws impaling his chest. Junk Wolf dodged a wild swipe from his other half. The wolf clawed at it's own head and howled a Junk Wolf and attacked like a wild animal. Junk Wolf struggled to hold the Wolf back only to be over powered as the Wolf grabbed his throat lifting him up with his grip tightening and the wolf snarling.

Ahsoka was scared for Junk Wolf as she shouts, "TAKUMI!"

No one paid it too much mind except for Junk Wolf who heard her, he grit his teeth before suddenly slamming his fist into the Wolf snout before kicking the wolf back. Junk Wolf flipped back before taking a stance, of an ancient fighting style. The Fist of the Wolf. Junk Wolf charged forward twisting his fist as he put his entire body into the punch knocking the wolf back and angering it further.

Unknown to everyone, besides two, Junk Wolf started peaking an ancient tongue long forgotten except to those who refuse to forget and one unknowingly understanding what was said, "We are two halves of the same coin, you are our power, I am our control and together we are stronger then the sum of our parts! NOW CALM DOWN SO WE CAN PROTECT HER!" With that the two speed forward and punched their fists together turning the dark realm to light.

That moment outside the illusion.

Junk Wolf's eyes stopped glowing allowing him to groan in pain returning to his own body while the meditation circle flowed into the seal of the test unlocking it and revealing the next set of relics opened this one filled with book shelves of ancient texts millennia old. Kenobi was stopped at blade and blaster point as he raised his hands not wanting to be killed due to his curiosity.

Ahsoka rushed to Junk Wolf's side and helped him to his feet oly for him to grab her hand and say, "Thank you," before Ahsoka gasps and places a hand on his cheek looking at Junk Wolf's eyes. He was blind.

Ahsoka whisper, "What happened?"

"Blindness is a common affect for most animal Orphanochs," Junk Wolf states in exhaustion.

Ahsoka assisted Junk Wolf to the next challenge as she whispers, "What happened in there?"

"I was forced to face my inner monster. I was always taught that it was pointless to fight yourself. It just hurts yourself," Junk Wolf states, "Damn I can't see," it finally reached him.

Ahsoka frowns before whispering, "I can be your eyes, let's do what we can for now."

With that the two were directed to the next challenge while the books were being looked through and dumped on the floor though unknown to anyone the books were silently and slowly vanishing from the room.

The Queen watched her child silently as he was helped and sadly closed her eyes before looking towards the green fluid with a determined look before following after the group to the next challenge. What they found was a single pedestal in the middle of a large circle. The King shouts "Complete this challenge, or the two Jedi get what is coming to them."

Ahsoka glares at the King only to realise he was looking at her. Ahsoka sneered before helping Junk Wolf to the centre only for the circle below them to extend a cylinder wall around them along with a roof that started lowering in a quick rate. Ahsoka spoke, "The roof is coming down slowly. What do we do?"

Junk Wolf simply asks as they move to the pedestal, "What else is in the room?"

Ahsoka and Junk Wolf reached the pedestal where Ahsoka sees, "Nine square plates with strange symbols, next to a square grid three by three and two strange symbols different to the nine pieces, two horizontal lines parallel and a vertical line with a symbol with a right angle arrow connected to a half circle."

Junk Wolf frowns before stating, "Pass me one of the plates," Ahsoka passes Junk Wolf a plate with a '88' on the face and says, "These feel familiar but I don't remember where," with that a minute past and a tenth of the wall was gone as Ahsoka noticed.

"Oh great, the roof is coming down," Ahsoka states as she went to the pedestal.

Junk Wolf frowns still blind before he states, "You are going to have to work this out," before suddenly raising his arms and catching the roof as it came unbearably close to their heads.

Ahsoka curses to herself, Skywalker had been teaching her Huttese so that she would know when someone was talking about them on the more enslaved and Hutt controlled worlds. Junk Wolf struggled as Ahsoka had to crotch partially to avoid hitting her head on the lowered roof as she looks at the pedestal and sees writing that she recognises as Basic before saying, "Found something some writing," she didn't wait for Junk Wolf to respond before reading aloud, "Look past reflection and give all directions the same resources," She thought for a moment before growling, "This must be the test of Wisdom. It is as vague as most Jedi I know. Why can't they just give us a simple first step!"

Junk Wolf simply states, "They couldn't, these tests are to," he stopped suddenly before speaking, "The plates examine them, see if there are any markings or hidden meanings."

Ahsoka started looking through the different plates searching through them in search of anything, "I got tow lines a upside down triangle. I don't know what I am looking for, they are marked on one side with a strange symbol and nothing else." Ahsoka was trying everything she could think of as the pedestal started lowering into the ground as Junk Wolf was forced to his knees his robotic arm fully sparking with sparks as it started to fail. In desperation Ahsoka started rubbing the plates thinking that would work only to blink as when she covered half of them she suddenly shouts, "THERE NUMBERS!"

"Thought so," Junk Wolf states before asking, "I take it numbers one to nine?"

Ahsoka states, "Yeah, though when I cover half the plate they suddenly turn into a Arubesh Numbers then shift back when they are not covered."

"Ahsoka, the plates they have to be placed in an order where in every cardinal direction it causes three numbers to reach the sum of Fifteen," Junk Wolf states as they only had two minutes left to work everything out.

"HOW!?" Ahsoka shouts.

"I can't remember!" Junk Wolf states appearing to be close to tears as dust slowly crept from his eyes.

Ahsoka would have panicked only to take deep breaths as she waited for the end only to remember her training, not under Skywalker, he would be using the Force to fix everything, but what she learnt under Master Plo Coon. When feeling anxious or scared, take deep breaths and focus on moment and master the moment. Ahsoka calmly breathed before opening her eyes and trusting her instincts and starts selecting specific numbers to go in a specific place before finally placing the last plate as the roof would have collapsed on the pair only for it to vanish and the two to still be alive. Ahsoka comments, "Was that a trick or did it work?"

The two were next to each other as in the area, a series of blue prints were found with the designs of many deadly weapons or more specifically, how to make more of them. The King's guests were searching through the designs and failed to notice one design had been removed without notice which was followed by a series of other items that had been removed, such as the strange sword shaped drill. Junk Wolf and Ahsoka were forced up to their feet with Junk Wolf almost completely forgetting to walk. They were dragged towards the final challenge when the Queen finally talked, "You realise that my son will be probably dead before you can get any joy out of killing him. Unless," she stopped herself with a sad shake of her head.

The King glared at the Queen before stating, "Talk," as solar energy generated around his hand.

The Queen pointed to the green fluid at the centre of the room and says, "The Water's of the Desperate."

The King blinks before stating, "That will do."

Ahsoka whispered to Junk Wolf, "What is the Water's of the Desperate?"

Junk Wolf struggled to think before stating, "It is a the um," he struggled before stating, "It does something, submerging yourself is meant to grant it but as far as I know no one has ever survived. It is fatal to Orphanochs."

Ahsoka nods in understanding as they arrived at the final test, a figure was seen standing on the pedestal. Ahsoka whispers to Junk Wolf, "We have arrived at the last test, but there is already a figure on it."

"I figured," Junk Wolf states before simply saying, "Could someone please throw me into the test please. I can't move my legs." The King obliged as he used if grey throny vines to grab Junk Wolf by the neck and through him to the floor in front of the cloaked figure and says, "We should probably start this."

Everyone was then subjected to a voice that scared even those who cannot even die, "You understand what you face."

Junk Wolf frowns but understands and says, "Yeah, I fail your test I die. If I succeed against you I die. But I can accept that for her safety." Ahsoka blinks understanding what was said while everyone did not react from hearing anything other than an unknown language only understood by the one who wishes from privacy with the one they speak. Junk Wolf adds, "That is what was promised to me. I can accept my fate as long as hers is not to share mine."

"The words of a dying man for the ones they love even if it was not your choice," The figured stated.

"I wouldn't change what has already happened, if it meant never meeting her. For now though I need to face your test. So give me everything you Death," Junk Wolf's statement was met with a silent gasp from Ahsoka as Junk Wolf continued, "I may be afraid but I cannot let that stop me now."

Death stared into Junk Wolf's soul before saying, "Then you are truly ready for my test." Death vanished from ahead of Junk Wolf only to appear behind Junk Wolf placing both hands on each side of Junk Wolf head from behind and proceeded to force visions through Junk Wolf's mind of death, friends of old and new, and deaths of those he has yet to meet. Death spoke, "Can you accept the death of others when you being alive can save them," the visions became more intense as Junk Wolf was forced to take a knee.

"Execute Order 66." A dark voice.

"Then you are braver then all the fools before you." A modulated voice.

"Kill Him," that voice he recognised belonging to the Chancellor.

"I left you once, I will not leave you again," To Junk Wolf's confusion for some reason he recognised that voice and it was killing him not knowing who she is.

Death spoke again, "What do you want?"

Junk Wolf was then subjected to all deaths he could possibly happen or not before he struggled to speak, "I," the visions came faster than the mind could process seeing thousands of possible futures until Junk Wolf suddenly grabbed Death's hands and pulled them away punching Death in the jaw with a glare. Junk Wolf finally spoke after catching his breath, before he spoke, "You think your funny, forcing me to see the death of everyone I have ever met or could ever meet. What did you think I would enjoy something so depressing!" and Junk Wolf suddenly punches Death in the face to have no effect before Junk Wolf states with conviction, "People die, no one can change that, The only way to stop a death is to be there and to accept the final outcome. Whether they die there or they get to live another day," Junk Wolf fell down to his knee having no strength left after Death was unaffected from the punch to the face.

Death was silent before starting to slowly laugh louder and louder before finally saying, "Good," before vanishing leaving the final weapon to appear inside the vault.

The King starts laughing with evil as everyone sees strange transparent green cards with circuitry as Death's challenge vanished. The King states once he calmed down from his joy, "Well then, let's see if these are real before I end you," with that he grabbed one of the hundred green card and over to a large control panel with a platform and inserts several cards resulting in high energy coalescing into humanoid forms before from the platform revealed a series of organic monsters. The six monsters looked around in confusion, as the King spoke, "Forces of Darkness, I have released you and now you will follow me as your king."

One of the creatures looked rather plain stepped over, though he appeared to look like a mutant hoodlum, "Like hell we will follow some weak human!" and went to attack him only for the King to grab it's face before having the monster burst into blue flames before the monster fell to the ground as burning ash.

The King looks to the monsters who watched the apparent human kill the mutant and the King Says, "Today is the day that the Dark Spectre rises again."

Junk Wolf sighs at the stupidity before saying, "You realise that Dark Spectre was killed by his own followers right?"

'Dark Spectre' growls before using his vines to grab Junk Wolf by the neck and lifts him in the air. Dark Spectre angrily carries Junk Wolf by the throat and holds him above the green fluid while Ahsoka, Skywalker and Kenobi were forced to their knees as they were forced to watch as Dark Spectre speaks, "Consider yourself disown," before dropping Junk Wolf above the green fluid. As Junk Wolf fell Ahsoka shouted to him, while hidden above the Maid pulled out a strange blade before slashing her throat and falling down diving into the fluid. Dark Spectre moved away with his allies and his hostages while saying, "Now as the traitor is dealt with we prepare to leave this planet and begin my conquest of the universe starting with Coresaunt," with that he ignored the pool while the Queen stayed still watching the bubbling fluid.

Inside the green fluid, Junk Wolf struggled to keep conscious as his body slowly fell apart even his mechanical arm could be perceived turning to liquid and mixing with the fluid around him. The moment the maid joined him she ceased to exist as Junk Wolf was consumed by the fluid to the point that only his face was seen before they opened and he vanished into the fluid.

Outside the green fluid the vault was being emptied while when after several hours with the Queen unmoving until finally a clawed black arm appeared from inside the fluid as suddenly all the fluid vanished leaving a dark figure standing the very shadows around it forming it's body. The Queen just stares at the figure before it suddenly appeared in front of her and she did nothing.

:End of Chapter 18:

I hope you enjoyed this update and until next time... BEWARE THE WRAITH.