Knights of the Old Republic
Chapter 3
Endar Spire, Hyperspace
Carth Onasi
The pilot couldn't relax. Carth knew the Jedi were up to something, and it was frustrating him to no end trying to figure it out. They had some ploy they were keeping tight lipped about. Carth rapped his fingers against his console board trying not to let it get to him. The Jedi were their biggest asset in the War Effort, but working with them was one migraine constantly joining a growing collection of other accumulated migraines. A bridge officer brought a report to him, "The latest info from the Quelii Sector. We've had some losses."
Carth held in an exhaustipated sigh, "How many?"
"Four Cruisers, Eight Frigates, and a Logistics Vessels."
"We won't be able to hold it at this rate.", He looked over the datapad wondering if there was any hope for them. They were losing more every day, and whatever damage they did to the Sith showed no sign of slowing them down. Even if they took out a fleet of battle cruisers, the Sith just seem to have another in their back pocket ready to go.
"As you were.", He dismissed the officer glancing over the long list of dead. There had to be a way win this war. As much as he disliked how little the Jedi told him, they were the Republic's only chance against ruin.
I got a bad feeling about this…, He thought just before the ship lurched suddenly. He caught himself from falling, looking out in alarm as the sirens blared off.
"WE'RE BEING PULLED OUT OF HYPERSPACE!", Someone called out.
"We've been snagged by a Interdictor-class cruisers' tractor beam!", Someone else informed. Carth felt a familiar cold pain stab him, It's the Leviathan. He crushed his hand into a fist until he almost drew blood. "Everyone to battle stations!" Carth called out, "You send a distress single to the Jedi Fleet, and Someone find me Bastila! We have to protect her at all costs!" Carth could already see the gleaming silver six hundred meter long ship approaching. Shaped like the vertical sickled claw of a monster out of deep space. Fitting as it was commanded by the two biggest traitors in the galaxy. Below it and themselves was a ecumenopolis world, made up of just one large city that covered it all; Taris. He already knew they wouldn't be able to hold the ship, but they had a way out if they could just survive long enough.
Endar Spire, Above the Planet Taris
Aria Vercet
Whilst a battle began, Aria was dreaming. Where she ruled atop an ancient temple devoted to the energies she relished in. The black mountain range in the distance skewed the sky, making it bleed a lovely crimson. She was free here. Unbound by the strict rules the galaxy imposed on her. Here she felt strong, feared and at the same time adored by the scantily clad slaves that surrounded her. They refilled her goblet with wine from Pamarthe. Aria would drag the fine edge of a knife up their throat as they did, but they were well trained. Pouring it smoothly without a spill. She would take the first sip still holding the blade just under their chin. Satisfied by the powerful drink she would praise them withdrawing the blade.
"You honor me great Master….", They called her by a title she turned deaf too, the word muted; unknowable to her, but gave it no thought. Aria just poured the goblet out between the slaves' presented breasts, drinking it from the cup of her cleavage. The slave purred for her honored to be used. Aria shifted in her sleep rubbing her thighs tight together. Her hand finding its way below the sheets to touch herself. More slaves heeded their Masters' call. Surrounding her, touching her, offering themselves for Aria to ravage. All here submitted freely, lounged to be entrapped by her chains , they would gladly kill and die on her word. Aria licked her lip being able to taste the wine like it was real. Yet then the mountain range began to thunder, a terrible earthquake shook the base of her temple, and it all came crashing down.
Aria awoke to the last great rocking of the Endar Spire . She snapped up out of the bunk confused by the fading memory of her dream and reality changing place. The woosh of the door turned her attention to Trask running inside. He had broken out into a sweat, and was duel wielding blasters in each hand. When she focused on them Aria could begin hearing blaster fire echoing in the distance. "We've been ambushed by a Sith battle fleet! The Endar Spire is under attack! Hurry up- we don't have much time!"
Aria quickly threw on her gear as Trask kept talking. He had been fighting, and the adrenaline could be heard in his voice. Speaking passionately but precise with the training of a good solider.
"We have to find Bastila! We have to make sure she makes it off the ship alive! One of our primary duties is to guarantee her survival in the event of enemy attack! We swore an oath just like everyone else on this mission. Now it's time to make good on that oath!", He handed her his spare blaster with a look of stoic determination in his eyes. It made Aria's heart flutter, "Okay Trask, on your lead I'm with you."
Endar Spire, Above the Planet Taris
Trask Ulgo
They shared a tender second looking into each other's eyes. Both learning the fine details of each other's face incase of the worst outcome came to be. Then they were running out accessing locked down doors to get to the fight. As the last unlocked door open. They were greeted to the sight of a Republic Solider falling dead from two Sith Troopers blaster fire. Trask and Aria didn't give them time to celebrate; opening return fire that put sizzling hot holes through their black and white armor. Aria gave the downed Republic troop a small check, but shook her head when Trask started to ask if there was any chance he could survive. As Aria closed the man's lifeless eyes she took two of the grenades from his belt. Stashing it their communicators came to life. A man who didn't look like an officer, but certainly commanded like one. His raspy voice seeming strained from years of using it to issue orders, "This is Carth Onasi – the Sith are threatening to overrun our position! We can't hold out long against their firepower! All hands to the bridge!"
"That was Carth contacting us! He's one of the Republic's best pilots! He's seen more combat than the rest of the Endar Spire's crew put together. If he says things are bad, you better believe it. We have to get to the bridge to help defend Bastila!", Trask explained.
They hurried on, finding the next fight in a intersection hallway. Again too late to help the overwhelmed Republic soldiers falling to Sith troops. Aria put the grenades she found to quick use. Blowing a clear path through their numbers. Those that survived fell down to the pairs deadly aim.
"You're pretty good with that blaster.", Trask praised his bunkmate.
"I got a lot of practice testing products and got even more when people thought they could save some credits by killing the delivery girl.", Aria spun around putting down a Sith trooper behind them that was raising his rifle for a final shot, "I hate being shot in the back."
Trask allowed himself a small laugh, "I'm just glad you're watching mine!"
As they approached the next door they could hear powerful energy crackling, and crashing. Stepping through they witnessed a battle unlike anything else they've seen yet on the ship. Two powerful wizards fighting with blades made of light. Dressed in diametrically opposed colors of white with a blue blade and black robes with a red blade. They battled together in a skill of speed and strength that made the two Republic soldiers pause.
"It's a dark jedi! We need to stay back, we'll only get in the way!", Trask gestured Aria to stay away. She didn't argue, but kept her blaster up hoping for a lucky shot. They watched as the Dark Jedi overpowered the Woman he fought. Almost claiming victory with a powerful blow, but he over reached. The Jedi took the slight opportunity and defeated him. Separating his head from his neck in a single decapitation. Aria cheered the gory victory as they ran up to her. The Jedi only gave away how tired she was by a small sway she corrected immediately. She squared her shoulders back, "Soldiers, we must hurry to the bridge! That's where the majority of the fighting resides now!"
Aria spun her blaster in her hand, "Lets not stand around then. Let's show those Sith the mistake they've made coming unto our ship." The sour look the Jedi gave her killed the Scoundrel's good mood, but before the Jedi could beret her cocky attitude a look of alarm crossed it. The Jedi punched out with the Force knocking the two back down the hall. Safely out of the way of the death that exploded out of the wall they were all standing by! Debris buried both Force users out of sight.
Trask cursed as he got back to his feet, "Damn we could have used her help!"
"She already did. A second slower, and all three of us would be goners.", Aria coughed. They had no time to grieve. Aria grieved most for the lost chance to grab one of those Lightsabers. They climbed over the debris once they were sure another explosion wouldn't happen. Fighting through a small bit of resistance to the Bridge.
Inside was the largest bout of fighting they'd seen yet. The last of the surviving Republic troops fighting to the last against overwhelming odds. As soon as they stepped in they were greeted by Sith armed with Vibroblades. Trask rapid fired his blaster cutting them short. Aria took care of their backup. Somewhere from the front of the deck was another explosion seasoned with the scream of the last Republic troops in the room. Trask didn't let himself get distracted, finishing off the final few Sith firing at them. After the fighting came to an end the two took count of the dead.
"Is she here? Do you see her?", Aria kicked over a pile of dead Sith only to find the Bridge Officer who had ran embarrassed from their room the day before.
Trask shook his head, "Bastila's not here on the bridge, they must have retreated to the escape pods! We better head that way too. The Sith want Bastila alive, but once she's off the ship there's nothing stopping them from blasting the Endar Spire into galactic dust!"
The pair started running. Leaving the deck behind with the dead. Both were refusing to admit how exhausting the fighting had left them, but they could see it in the way the other moved. More sluggish, more jittery at every little sound of something on the ship breaking down. Trask rubbed the knot back in his neck, "You know Taris isn't the worst world to crash land on. I got family there. They should have an extra room for us."
"You're bringing me home to the folks already? Don't you think you're moving a little fast there Trask?"
"Well if you prefer a dingy gizak infested apartment in the lower levels we can do that instead.", he countered.
"They're better to make love in.", They allowed themselves another small moment to forget about the incoming doom and joke. Ending with the sound of something coming their way.
"Wait a second," He raised his blaster up and ready. "I hear something! Cover me from back here. I'll check it out." They were so close to the Starboard escape pods. The doorway was just to their left, but he couldn't risk someone coming up behind.
"Wait!", but he didn't. Trask hurried to the blaster doors. They swooshed open revealing his worst nightmare. The Sith wielded a double-bladed red lightsaber taking strong powerful strides forward. Trask swallowed his fear, the anger at the never-ending bad luck, and said goodbye to Aria.
"Damn, another Dark Jedi! I'll try to hold him off, you get to the escape pods! Go!", he charged forward in a desperate charge. Trask would certainly die, but he would buy her every extra second that he could.
"TRASK WAIT!", Aria cried out. He didn't give her a chance to chase after him. Trask destroyed the access panel. Before the doors slammed down locking behind him, she heard him yell out, "FOR THE REPUBLIC!"
Endar Spire, Above the Planet Taris
Aria Vercet
Aria told herself she was a cold-hearted self-centered user. She couldn't be about to cry over him. The only thing she would let herself feel was rage! Without wasting the opportunity he gave his life for Aria raced. Not slowing down once as she came across Sith Troopers in her way. Charging the blaster Trask gave her to its max power. The shot struck with so much strength they lifted the Troopers off their feet. Flying them into the walls with a thud that echoed down the halls. The blaster creaked and whined glowing hot with each shot. It wouldn't last much longer, but she would use it till it broke getting her revenge. The last Trooper blocked her shot with his own weapon. The shot cutting through his weapon, cracking against his armor, but he was still up. Aria charged him, cracking his helmet with the butt of her blaster. Striking it off with the next hit. Giving Aria the pleasure of the Trooper's terrified expression.
"W-Wait please!"
She planted the barrel right against his forehead and smelt the singed burnt hair as her communicator beeped.
"This is Carth Onasi! I'm tracking your position through the life support systems. Bastila's escaped pod is away. You're the last surviving crew member of the Endar Spire! I can't wait for you much longer; you have to get the escape pods!", He shot off screen scoring a kill by the scream Aria heard.
Poor Trask, She took the hurt, and channeled it. There was going to be a body count before she left this ship. Aria was just one room away from where the escape pods were, alone except for the company of a powered down war droid in the corner. Already knowing before Carth piped up again what he was going to warn. "Be careful! There's a whole squad of Sith Troopers on the other side of that door! You need to find some way to thin their numbers!" On the nearby console she could view them on the security camera. Carth wasn't downplaying the numbers, it was a whole squad. Just standing around discussing what they should do. It looked like Carth gave the impression there was more then just one man beyond the door. There was a power conduit tucked away in a corner… No, that would be too fast… Aria turned her attention to the droid. With some nearby parts she had restored all of it's systems; it came alive with powerful shields covering its metallic body, raising its rifle ready for the fight.
The door opened with the final grenade she had sailing through it.
"Explosive! Get do-", Aria fired alongside her killer companion into the smoked-out room. The Droid's shields acted as a bright target for the Sith to fire at. Letting Aria to rush in around the back. Taking out the Commander in his red marked armor with one shot. After that she and her droid closed in on the Troopers caught between them. They just managed to put down the droid before Aria used up her blaster placing two shots into the back of their heads. The gift from Trask was running so hot the barrel was melting.
"Goodbye Trask Ulgo. You have my thanks.", She tossed the weapon. The final doors opened and Carth swept the room making sure it clear.
"You made it just in time! There's only one active escape pod left. Come on, we can hide out on the planet below!"
"Thanks for holding out till I got here!", They threw themselves into the pod. Carth slammed his fist on the big red LAUNCH button. The pod blasted off before they could get comfortable as it sped away from the Endar Spire. As they were spinning Aria caught herself managing to get a good look at the Sith flagship begin its final salvo. Destroying the Endar Spire in spectacular destruction. Ripping her gaze away to the quickly approaching planet. They locked themselves in for a rough landing. They were going to hit any number of skyscrapers, walkways, or traffic like an orbital missile leaving destruction wherever they hit. Aria tried not to think about the odds of them not making it, only comforted by the grim hope if they didn't, it be too fast to feel anything.
"Hold on! This is going to hurt!", was what she presumed Carth was saying, but Aria couldn't hear it over the deafening winds of the crash, not over the nothing that everything became over the sound of a crash landing!