And I have returned HAAHHAHA. Like some of you may have seen, Now that Return of Hope is finished, A New Origin has come back to take that slot and will not be updated on the regular again, Took longer then I would have thought but we got there in the end.
Sabine's legs gave under her and she fell forward, the rough gravel grazing against her knees, but she didn't care. It was over now. He was down for the count. All around her, the others started to pick themselves up. Marrin went over to Cal and gave him a once over, making sure he was ok before moving to Maul and trying to pick him up off the ground. Knocked out, she wasn't too surprised by that. Ezra really did a number on him. She felt a hand on her shoulder and turned to see Able give her a knowing look, she nodded back, letting him know that she was ok.
She looked up to see that Zeb had moved over to Kanan who was on the ground, seemingly doing everything he could not to let the pain get to him. He was holding the stump where his hand used to be and was almost wheezing from pain. She found her gaze back on Ezra who was being watched closely by Ashoka who had moved to stand in front of him with her blades ready, just in case. Thankfully he seemed to be down for the count now.
"We need to leave" Cal spoke getting everyone's attention "The imperials won't be distracted for much longer"
"Nor will he be knocked out for long" Marrin added as she bent down and started to pick Maul, with a strength that did surprise her. She stood up and carried the Zabrak over her shoulders. Zeb doing the same with Kanan, while she didn't doubt the Jedi could walk. He also looked like he was in too much pain to do that, though he wasn't over his shoulder. Instead, Kanan had his arm wrapped around Zeb's shoulders and he was being dragged along.
Together both she and Able moved over to Ezra and she took a moment to look at him up close. Of course, she goes over the last encounter every chance she gets and the footage that Cal's droid BD took as well but to see him up close with her own eyes. His skin was pale and sunken, there seemed to be a permanent frown on his face and his flowing dark blur hair had been reduced to a simple buzz cut.
She placed a hand on Ashoka's shoulder and slightly pushed her aside so she and Able could step forward. The Jed... no longer Jedi moved to the side to allow them but kept her blades ready just in case. Sabine looked down to the ground and saw the dark sabre lying there, she stared at it for just a moment. She knew she should pick it up but in the moment, it wasn't a priority for her. So, she ignored it and moved with Able to pick Ezra up, each of them holding an arm around their shoulders.
Just when she thought they would be able to finally get him away from the empire, the familiar sound of jet pack reached her ears and many of them turned to see the cause. Fen landed roughly, his armour still smoking from what must likely be blaster fire that hit him "We have to leave! Right now!" he yelled as he jogged the last couple of meters towards the group.
"What is it?!" Cal asked, becoming on edge again, adopting a stance with his sabre though it was much weaker than it was before all this started.
"Troopers are coming, a lot of them. They're different to the ones we've faced so far. All of them wearing a type of black armour" he informed the group.
"Purge Troopers" Cal said to the group as a whole.
"Time to go" Able said as he and Sabine both turned around and started to drag Ezra forward towards the meeting point where Hera would be waiting for them. The others followed closely, most of them carrying someone else. None of them wanted to deal with Purge Troopers, they were in no state either.
But they were too slow.
As the group started to move away, Sabine and Able froze mid-step. They tried to move forward but were stopped, it was as if Ezra's foot was stuck on something but it was way worse than that. Without warning they were both yanked back and they both fell on their backs, despite keeping a tight grip on Ezra, he fell from their grips.
The others all turned around just in time to see Ezra fly through the air in the opposite direction back towards the city "NO!" Sabine shouted as she turned around to see what was happening. Then all the hope in her disappeared. Both she and everyone else could only look on in shock as the unconscious body of their target, landed roughly on the ground. Rolling a couple of meters before a black boot stomped on his chest stopping him.
Everyone looked on to see a woman with flowing red hair look down at Vader's hand with a small smirk before she turned to look at the rest of them. Before her, a large squad of purge troopers walking in a formation on either side of her, those that hand blasters aiming them at the group.
They knew this woman, she was the same one who attacked Ezra the last time they met on Ryloth. Sabine and everyone else could only look on in desperate shock as she smirked at the downed body before looking back up at them, her smirk seemed to intensify as her eyes landed on Ashoka "Kill them all" was she heard before waves of blaster fire could be heard.
She was so shocked at how bad the situation was "GET DOWN" she heard Able shout before she was tackled behind some cover. It was the motion that seemed to snap her out of it, quickly getting to her feet she grabbed her weapons. Not even bothering to wait for the opportunity, she leaned out of cover and started to fire. Not many others were doing the same. Cal and Ashoka were still standing in the open, using their sabres to block the attacks from the blasters. Marrin was behind cover with Zeb who was carrying Maul and Kanan separately and so unable to help. Able was next to her and Fenn was just behind him, they started firing as well. Though Sabine was aiming for the woman. Many of her shots nearly hit her but she simply kept looking down at Ezra's body, her purple sabre moving side to side to block the attacks. Her body wasn't even moving and she wasn't even looking at her while she blocked.
"EVERYONE!" Cal's voice shouted for them all to hear, his sabre switching to the double-bladed version to block more of the attacks "GET BACK THE GHOST!" he ordered as everyone started to back up.
They would need to. Ashoka leaned back to dodge the Bo-staff of one of the troopers. Not that she didn't kill him immediately after that "NO!" she shouted back, reaching for her pocket and throwing a grenade at them "We're so close!"
"Not anymore" Ashoka grunted as she used the Force to push a handful of troopers back a couple of steps "I'm sorry Sabine" she added.
There was the well-known sound of thumping coming from above them, Sabine looked up in time to see two Star Destroyers in the sky and a third appeared, dropping out of hyperspace "SABINE!" she could hear Zeb shout from across the killing field of blasters "we got to go!"
She wanted to argue, but as Able started to force her away. Grabbing her arm, all she could do was watch as the red-haired woman reached down and grabbed Ezra's ankle. Dragging him away, not even turning around she blindly reached behind her and she watched as the Darksabre flew from its spot in the ground and into her hand. She just kept walking further behind the wave of troopers. With tears in her eyes, she turned and ran as fast as she could. She was using her blasters to help where she could.
But the level of hopelessness filling her was more than ever because she knew what would happen. This was their last chance, the squad wouldn't allow them to try and take him back again.
His red eyes jolted open and he struggled to get out of whatever restraints they put him in, there were none "MY LORD!" a voice shouted from beside him and he looked to see that his arms were being held by two Dark Troopers. Each of them struggled to do so. Looking around the room he was in, he could see that it was the hotel lobby. All around him was a wall of Dark Troopers, each one having their weapons ready for any threat that may come.
He was still in the city, despite of terrible he felt, the pain and the sickness. Starkiller forced the pain to the side of his mind and sat up "Where are they?" he snarled.
"Gone" a new voice called to him, one that he hadn't heard before. Turning his head to the sound, his eyes narrowed even further as he saw the familiar sight of the Emperor's hand, the sight of her caused him to stop struggling which in turn allowed each of the troopers to let go of him. He wasn't afraid for his life, he was knocked out, if she wanted to kill him she could have done that "They ran very quickly. Whoever pilots that ship is good" she commented, kicking herself up off the wall she was leaning against.
"Why are you here Jade?" he asked, sitting up as he did so. When he did, he could see the Darksabre was resting on his stomach and his other sabre was connected to his arm.
She walked over towards him "Leave us" she ordered. As one each other Troopers all moved out of the lobby of the hotel and stood in a line in front of the blown-out wall of the front of the building "Penance" she admitted as she stared at him.
He let out a scoff as he swung himself off the table and stood on his own two feet "And what penance is that?" he asked, letting his anger roll off of him. How could he be so foolish as to not expect the Nightsister to be present, he lost the two Jedi, Maul and Ashoka Tono. That was a complete failure, and it couldn't be allowed to happen again.
"You" she said to him, earning his attention "I lost to you in front of the master and everyone else. I had every advantage over you in that moment but I failed. The master was most...displeased" she admitted, her yellow eyes narrowing at him. Blaming him for it which earned another scoff from him, the only one she had to blame was herself "Thus you are my penance" she ground out, clearly not happy with the situation "I am to serve and do what I can to ensure that your mission is a success. Apart from directly intervening of course" she smirks that last part.
Starkiller quickly turned to look at her with confused and narrowed eyes "How did you..." he started to ask but stopped when she interrupted him.
"The master has informed me of your mission, the death of Lord Vader will not be an easy thing to achieve" she commented as she stepped forward until they were only separated by the table he was just lying on.
"To redeem myself in the eyes of the master for my failure to kill you, I will serve you until this mission is complete. I will do your bidding, but I will not directly assist you in the death of Lord Vader" she explained to him.
A dry laugh escaped him as he heard that last part "As if I would want your help in that battle" his head ached as whatever that witch did must still be affecting him. Leaning forward on the table he closed his eyes and let out a breath "Gather the ones that were in charge before my arrival, bring the ones that lived to me and prepare for imperial evacuation" he ordered.
She waited a moment before nodding "As you wish" she said before turning to leave.
It took her five minutes, five minutes to gather the captains that still stood when everything was said and done. Five minutes of him standing in the same place, both his hands placed on the table in front of him staring at the Darksabre. After five minutes of him seething in anger at his loss, he lost a battle, it might have been through trickery and witchcraft but it changes nothing. He didn't even realize everything around him was floating in the air until the sound of someone clearing their throat behind him.
When it did all the boxes and leftover scrap from the explosion were crushed until nothing was left but small clumps of metal. Standing up straight he turned to see Jade standing there with her hands behind her back. She didn't say anything else, she didn't need to. He let out a growl before grabbing the Darksabre and placing it on his belt.
Walking out of the lobby, the two squads of Dark troopers that were standing guard all moved as one and stood behind him. Looking around him, the parts of the city he could see were in ruin. He didn't see any civilians, though he wasn't surprised by that, no doubt they were hiding away in the buildings. The dead bodies had yet to be picked up yet.
In front of him, in the same spot that the hologram of the dead woman was playing. He saw three imperial officers all on their knees with their hands tied behind their backs and their heads down. Two officers wearing the standard uniform, Meero on the right, her white uniform dirty and mostly torn off, her hair no longer in the neat bun but flowing down her back in dirty knots. Right next to her was a man that he didn't recognize wearing civilian attire.
The Dark Troopers formed a circle around them all, their weapons at the ready. When he looked up at the sky, he saw three Star destroyers hovering calmly in the sky "I thought it would be best to have them ready for you" Jade said as she moved to stand behind them.
'First things first' he thought to himself, Rising his right hand the officer who started this mess flew through the air and his throat landed right in his grip "My... Lord" he choked, doing his best to breathe.
"All of this could have been avoided" he started "You just needed to keep your nerve, but you couldn't handle a dead woman speaking about rebellion" he snarled that last past as the strength of his mental prosthetic showing itself and the man neck wasn't so much snapped as it was crushed.
There was a noticeable flinch from those kneeling though the Purge troopers didn't even move an inch, they didn't even turn to look what they heard the sound. He threw the body to the ground and he rolled until it stopped in front of the remaining four people, the mans face stopping just in front of Meero, his eyes bleeding tears as it did so "Is this how officers are expected to react when the situation gets stressful, just shout orders in blind panic" he walked forward until he stood just shy of the dead body.
That was when his eyes locked on the man next to Meero, the one who looked the most out of the place. His eyes were glued to the ground just like all the others but there was something that stood out to him. Walking a couple of feet to the side he stopped in front of him "Who the fuck are you?" he asked with a voice of confusion.
Seemingly knowing who Starkiller was talking about, the man looked up and it seemed that it took a lot of effort to not shake in fear as he starred into his bright orange eyes "Syri... Syril Karn my lord" he spoke with a stuttering voice "former Preox-Morlana" he was about to explain.
He raised a finger and Syril stopped talking, Starkiller looked to Jade who seemed to be doing what she could not to laugh. A smile on her face and she brought her hand up to stop herself "Why is he here?" he asked the assassin.
Calmly down slightly, enough to talk at least, she spoke "I don't know, I found him and her in a nearby storage unit" She nodded to Meero "They were fucking like there was no tomorrow"
For a moment he thought that he might have misheard that last part but based on the way Jade was smirking at him and the feelings he could sense through the two on their knees in front of him. She was telling the truth. Looking down at the woman who refused to look into his eyes, instead thinking that the bloody eyes of the dead body in front of her were the better option.
"So, despite how badly you wanted to prove yourself to the empire" he started to speak "When all this started to descend into chaos because of this useless prick" brought his foot up and used the force to increase his strength, he brought it down and the skull of the man was a little match from him. Blood, brain and everything else in the man's head were splattered around in a two-foot radius "When you had a chance to really prove it, that you had what it takes, you couldn't because you thought 'nah, a fuck would be better?'" she still refused to look at him "WELL!?" he shouted.
The way she flinched her head even further in on herself seemed to be enough for the man next to her who despite the rage coming off of Starkiller, stood back up "That's enough!" he shouted back "It wasn't her..." he was about to go but stopped when he felt his airway tighten and he himself was lifted into the air.
"You're joking" Starkiller said, his eyes locked onto the man who couldn't get any air past the Force grip he had. This little welp of a man dared try and interrupt him while he was berating these failures "Well, I hope it was worth it" he said to the man.
It seemed that despite everything, the man was able to look right into the Sith's eyes knowing full well what he was talking about "...honestly?" he asked back with a very quiet voice though he somehow still raised an eyebrow at the question.
Now apart from being pissed off, Starkiller was wondering whether or not this man was being serious. Did he just admit that sex with Meero was worth his life? He looked to Jade who herself seemed lost as well. The smirk was gone from her face and she opened her mouth to speak but stopped herself and looked back at Syril with a head tilt. She looked at him and all she could do was give him a shrug in return.
Before he could allow himself to be too amazed by the balls of this man, his closing hand turned into a fist proper and the man's neck was snapped. He was dropped to the ground.
Starkiller moved past the other two imperials on their knees and instead started to walk away "We're done here" he said to everyone and as one. The Purge Troopers, were the only ones under the banner of the empire that were still alive as all the Storm Troopers were dead. Jade was walking by his side and the Troopers walking in sync behind them, all around them they could make out many of the towns' people looking at them from their cover. Some still held weapons, but they wouldn't dare try and attack them now, they knew it wouldn't do them any good.
Standing on the bridge of the Star Destroyer. Starkiller stood with his back straight and his hands clasped behind him "My lord" the captain of the ship said "We are ready" he said. The ship they were on and the three others were currently in high orbit above the planet.
"Fire" he said with a blank face.
"...er, my lord we still have imperial signatures on the surface" a new voice called from the side of him, in one of the two crew wells that handled the controls. Despite hearing the words, he didn't look away from the front window.
Jade on the other hand turned her head and looked at the crew member "Are you questioning him?" she asked with narrowed eyes, the bright orange shining down at the man. Making him sweat with fear.
"No, my lady" the man said with sweat dripping from his head. He didn't wait for a response and turned his head downwards, typing quickly.
Starkiller looked on as he could feel the rumble from the ship's weapons, the familiar green flash entered his field of vision. He didn't know how much death he just inflicted on the town below him, how many people were dying in the rains of plasma right now? He just didn't care. He turned around and started to walk forward "We're done here, set a course for Admiral Thrawn's ship" he ordered.
"Yes, my Lord" a voice called from behind him, he didn't care to remember who the voice belonged to.
Andor could only watch from the window of the ship as the three imperial ships fired down at the town he grew up in, after he witnessed that monster kill the only people he cared about with whatever magic weapon he had. Lightening, how could he fire that from his hand? He leaned forward against the window, his hand closed into a fist as it supported him as he looked at the destroyers, a look of complete hatred upon his face.
He was going to find and kill that Bastard, even if it was the last thing he did. He didn't know anything about the others, the ones who wielded the laser swords, maybe he could find them. They seemed ready to fight him as well, they didn't do well but maybe he could convince them that he could help them succeed next time "That's a sight you have to get used to" a voice called from behind him.
Turning his head, he saw the owner of the ship Luthen Rael standing in the doorway to the cockpit with a grim look on his face. Without waiting for a response he walked forward and took a seat behind the controls "The empire does this far more often than people believe" he added "didn't expect him to be here though"
Andor didn't say anything for a moment, not until the ship turned around and they started to fly away "The one with the metal arm?" he guessed.
"Yeah" he nodded back "I don't know who he is but I was told by a contact of mine that he recently had an audience with the emperor" he was told.
Andor frowned in confusion as he heard that "Palpatine?" he said wanting to make sure.
Luthen nodded and pulled a lever back, taking them into hyperspace "Whoever he is, he's someone we are going to stay clear of. Someone who has the ear of the emperor is not someone we can take on in any way, shape or form"
The man crossed his arms and leaned against the wall while he watched the ship fly through Hyperspace "Those others didn't seem to mind" he muttered.
Luthen clearly hearing him turned to look back at him "It was that type of attitude that got their kind extinct" was all he said back before turning back forward out the window.
He sat in a meditative pose within the captain's quarters that he took over without asking. It's been hours since they left the planet behind them. Everything within the room that was not bolted down was floating around him, he was unable to gain control of himself, and his emotions were running around in his head unchecked. He lost. Not only had he failed in his mission to bring in this Andor but he had also lost in his battle to the Jedi and Maul.
All because of his own hubris, he had every single one of those enemies dead to rights many times. But he let them go because he was enjoying the fight too much. Even Ashoka Tano herself was present who was able to escape. Lord Vader would be most displeased with that little piece of information, though he didn't know how the master would react when he was given word that not only was Maul still alive but also seemed to be working with the rebels. What an interesting turn of events, not that he would seek to overthrow his master, such is the way of the Sith after all. But that he would work with Jedi to do it.
That would require some more thought, he would need to do some research on Maul and where he was before joining those rebels. It shouldn't be too difficult, though he would need access to the ISB database. It would not be possible... he stopped that line of thought immediately, he couldn't do that. He didn't have the time. He had six months to become the strongest he possibly could, he would need to practise his skill with a sabre and his control over the force.
In six months, he would battle his master, to determine which of them was the worthiest of becoming the true apprentice. He opened his eyes and looked down, everything around him dropped to the ground. He raised both his hands on his knees and looked down at both, he would need to think about what the best way to beat his master would be.
Throughout his training with his master, he had a lot of time to observe Vader and how he fought. What would work for him and what wouldn't? When the thought first entered his mind, two things immediately made themselves clear. Lightening would be the best weapon to use against him and he couldn't brute force him in any way. His master was a tank fighter, so he would need to use his agility to beat him. He would also need a strong weapon.
He brought his arm forward and looked at the red blade that was attached to it, with his organic hand he looked at the Darksabre. It was clear from the get-go that the Darksabre was far stronger than a normal lightsabre, not just that it was old but the crystal within it was powerful as well. It was a potent combination when compared with his other cross-guard sabre.
Looking at what he had open to him, he started to think about what his loadout should be. He did want to use them both, but he would need to get past the defensive form that Vader can use, having two weapons instead of one was a boost, no doubt about that. But with that also came the weakness, using a sabre in his organic hand made using the force with it difficult. If he wanted to use lightning against Vader then he would need his organic hand free of the constraint of a sabre.
But he would still need both, that was when a thought accord to him 'the weapons the Mando and clone were using' he thought to himself. He started to go over the idea in his head. It could work, it would be difficult but it could be done.
It did seem like the best alternative, he would get his free hand and get to keep the weapon. The only downside would be that the weapon wouldn't be as usable as a true sabre would but with training, he could get it done. Standing up he made his way over towards the door, he needed to head over to the engineering bay. It wouldn't be the best he went to, but it would get the job done.
Mara Jade sat in her meditative pose within the confines of the ship's rafters, hidden from view from her spot above the ship's primary hanger. Not wanting to have a room to herself and wanting to not be found unless she wanted to be. She would wait in this spot until the time was right. As for now, she had completed her mission, met up with Starkiller and informed him of her presence and her aid in his mission.
What she would do now is up to him, a part of her felt that she should hate the idea of taking commands from the Hand of Vader. But to her surprise, there was not, she was content in her mission for the moment. Perhaps it was her double loss to Starkiller that made it easier for her, he proved his strength at the very least and every Sith respects strength 'though he did lose to those misfits' A part of her mind spoke to her, though it was quickly crushed by the rest of her.
Yes, he did lose and was at the mercy of the rebels 'and Ashoka Tono herself' but she was about to defeat them all. If it wasn't for the Nightsister sorcery then she was sure that he would have been able to beat them back 'Not very sporting, is it?' she asked herself. Though a small smirk came onto her face, not that the Sith don't do that from time to time, or most of the time.
Starkiller on the other hand, seemed to be one of the very rare Sith that did have some sense of honour. She found herself wondering if it would get him killed one day. Not to Vader, she decided. Say what you will about the dark lord, but Vader does have... she didn't want to say honour because he didn't, it was more along the lines of stubbornness. If Starkiller challenged him to combat, then Vader would answer. His pride wouldn't let him deny the challenge, such could be seen as a flaw in the Sith lord but Jade knew all too well that it was most likely the reason that he was still alive, he didn't allow himself to die despite all of the master's attempts.
Either way, she clearly understood why she was instructed by The Master to watch over him and make sure he survives until he challenges Vader. It helped that he was easy on the eyes as well, she didn't admit it yet but she would be lying if she said the amount of power that Starkiller could give off when he wanted to fight or show his strength didn't send a shiver through her body.
Perhaps she would claim him herself if she was given an opportunity, she could think of worse ways to pass the time. For now, she will keep her distance and see how he handles his recent failure, after all, failure is the truest test of character.
She smirked slightly, she couldn't wait to see it.
There we go, sorry guys Ashoka and Starkiller and not going at it just yet. Let me know what you all think and I'll see you all in the next chapter.
Next Story update: A New Origin