...In a galaxy far, far away, planets under no Republic or Separatist banner become a focus in the war between the opposing armies. In an effort to establish a Republic supply base within neutral territory, Jedi Master Yoda is sent to negotiate with King Katuunko on Rugosa Moon. Accompanying Yoda are a troop of clones and two Gem Knights, whose crystal brothers have fought alongside the Jedi Order for thousands of years…
A bored sigh left Morganite. "Hey? How much longer?"
"Patience, Morganite. Await on King Katuunko's invite, we must. Before entering the atmosphere."
Ironically, even after getting out of hyperspace, there was still much waiting involved. Morganite clasped his hands together behind his head and leaned back. The points of his long, fluffy pink hair clinked against the metal wall. Despite Master Yoda's assurance through the communication speaker, Morganite was itching to do something.
"His Highness sure likes to take his time," Morganite said. Hadn't this royal figure heard of a war going on? Everyone's on a tight schedule here. "Why couldn't they send Dia instead? One Gem should have been enough."
"Thinking about taking a walk?" Goshenite knew what was running through his partner's mind, teasingly smiling at the pink Gem.
They were on a mission to discuss negotiations regarding territory placement within the star system of Toydaria. Morganite and Goshenite were providing back up for the Jedi, their main negotiator, who was currently at the bow of the ship with their pilots.
"At this rate, I might just throw myself out into space," Morganite said, stretching his arms up. "Hopefully, there'll be something down there to pick off. Maybe an animal or a droid. Imagine if we stumble upon a Separatist? I'll slice their head right off! Hehe."
"Morga..." Goshenite gently shook his head. "We're not here to fight. We're here to ask for help. Even Bortz had to suffer through something like this with Master Windu."
"Yikes. I can't imagine how that turned out," Morganite craned his head to look up at the monitor. A live feed of the outside, the moon visible. "Ugh! Fine…"
They resumed their waiting in the hangar. Gray metal all around them, separating the Gems from the pilots up front, and space. The solar cores fastened around their chests hummed with energy, charged fully to endure the cold night and its distant stars. A few minutes go by as Morganite closed his eyes.
"…Nope. Can't do it." Morganite stood up, detaching himself from the charging station connected to his seat. "I'm going out."
It'll be far more entertaining floating around the ship than just staying inside.
"Ah! Wait!" Actually not expecting Morganite to do that, Goshenite turned to the speakers at the ceiling. "Um-! Trooper! Is there any contact with Rugosa yet?"
"Negative, sir." The clone trooper answered through the speaker. A wary tone in his speech as he continued, "We've established an active beacon on Rugosa moon, but we're not getting any response."
"Huh?" Goshenite said, and even Morganite stopped to listen. "No response?"
"That's right. Something's jamming our communications- What the-?!"
They heard an explosion. The entire ship shook. Something had hit them.
Morganite was tossed to the side. He slammed his foot against the wall, keeping his footing. Goshenite was saved from the recoil as he was still fastened in his seat. "W-What's happening?!"
"An ambush! It's the Separatists!"
Goshenite was shocked. How? This was a secret mission. Someone must have leaked information to their enemies. Now the Separatists intend to claim this moon before the Republic do!
Morganite smiled. "Finally some excitement. Open the hangar, trooper!"
Goshenite quickly removed himself from his seat.
"But sir! They've got battleships on both sides! There's too much firepower!"
The Gems prepared their light sabers at their belts.
"We can handle this," Morganite said with confidence as he and Goshenite stood in front of the doors. "Get Master Yoda to safety. We'll take their firing head on."
One way or another, they were getting on that moon.
"Yes sir!"
The door opened, and the Gems were met with the deep void of space and its endless stars.
Morganite was the first to hop out. Using the Force, he lunged forth and flew across the space, hearing the gun fire all around. Goshenite was close behind, and together, they saw the assault being unleashed onto them.
"How awful..." Goshenite was distraught by the sight. Heavy artillery from the Separatist against their smaller aircraft. "We've only brought one warship. They'll be destroyed if they don't retreat!"
"Then let's buy them some time," Morganite went into action. He unsheathed his light saber, and a rose pink blade was ignited.
Goshenite unsheathed his, summoning his dark silver blade. They flew into battle and began deflecting the bullets, defending their ship against the hundreds of lasers raining down on them. Some of the Separatists artillery shifted over to the gems, now aware of their presences, and fired rapidly.
Morganite and Goshenite guided themselves through the chaotic hail of scorching bullets. Through their efforts, the Republic ship behind them was able to avoid extensive damages, retaining its shields and their men.
"Let's get to those big ships!" Morganite said as he swung his saber. "We'll take out their guns, and-"
"Morganite. Goshenite. Return, you must."
"-eh?!"
They heard Yoda through the Force. "Our mission is with King Katuunko. Provided excellent cover for our ship, you have. Now regroup with me. Meet his highness on the moon, we shall."
"How? There's no safe route to bring the ship down for landing..." Goshenite said worriedly. Even if Morganite and Goshenite separate to take on each battleship individually, there's just too much space left to keep the defenses. Yoda's ship will be shot down!
"Ride on an escape pod, then. Hmm? To distract the enemies, released all the pods. Retreat, this ship will. But Rugosa Moon, we will resume for."
Yoda was set on answering to his meeting with King Katuunko. The elf wizard was never one to break a promise in his entire life.
"Meet you down there, I will. Stay vigilant. Awaiting us, an ominous presence I sense." With that, they watched as an escape pod was separated from the Jedi Master's ship, and descended for the moon.
Morganite and Goshenite shared a look, and with a nod, they abided the order of the Jedi. For a Jedi's word, is their Master's.
They deflected more blaster bullets before reaching one of the detached escape pod, gripping its edges as it heads for the moon.
"Guess there's something to pick off, after all," Morganite smirked. An ominous presence. Could it be...?
A laser slipped past them, and it struck the side of the pod they rode on. The gems clung to its surface as they felt the pod be ripped away.
"We're going off course!" Goshenite watched as their pod grew further away from Yoda's. They used the Force to guide them back on route as they continued to defend their pod and themselves. They were still designated to land on the moon, but much farther from Yoda than anticipated.
"We'll catch up to them," Morganite stated. He hadn't been enthusiastic about negotiating before, but now, he was more than eager to, if it meant yanking the rug off of these Separatists' feet.
"Perhaps your droid army surpasses the number of Republic clones from one hundred to one. But I have heard that one Jedi equals the strength of one hundred droids, while one Gem Knight equals the strength of ten Jedis. Their resilience is enough to take down a single Separatist battleship, and more importantly - unlike your droids and their clones, the Gem Knights cannot be killed."
King Katuunko hovered above the red soil of Rugosa moon with two guards floating behind him. Their wings keeping them in the air as the king spoke to their uninvited guests.
"I assure you that the stories you hear of the Jedi have been grossly exaggerated. As capable as they are, their numbers continue to dwindle the longer this war resumes." Speaking as a hologram on top of a small, circulator communicator, Count Dooku spoke to King Katuunko. "As for their Gem Knights. They are immortal, yes, but not invincible. As soon as they are put out of commission, the strength of their army is cut down by half. It only takes a moment for a pillar to be knocked out before the rest of the building collapses. One can only imagine how soon the Jedi will fall after. Would you truly feel secure in an alliance as unstable as theirs?"
Katuunko had no response to that. The count certainly made a valid point, especially if one considered the limited numbers of Gem Knights there were. However, Katuunko had given his word. Unless the Jedi himself were to betray his trust and expectations, Katuunko would not go behind the Jedi's back and make deal with another.
After conversing with Dooku, the count decided to leave Katuunko to regard the offer and ended their call. The Sith apprentice then approached the king with a respectful bow of her head. "My lord, I received news that Master Yoda's warship has fled the system. What further evidence do you require of the Jedi's weakness?"
It was then that Katuunko heard the chime of his communicator, and he answered it. "This is King Katuunko. Speak."
"Master Yoda would like to talk with you, sir," the clone trooper said before his image was switched to Yoda's. It seemed they had just landed.
"Fled you say…" Katuunko smirked at Ventress's words.
The look of confidence did not leave the Sith apprentice's face. As if she was perfectly prepared for this to happen.
After the pod crashed onto the moon's surface, Morganite stood on top of the pod to look for a path while Goshenite spoke with Yoda through the holoprojector.
"A Sith?! Then, if they're here..."
"Lunarians, there will be. Meet us halfway into the forest, I wish for the two of you. Be cautious. Noticed, let none of yourselves be."
"Understood. We'll be there as soon as we can," Goshenite ended the call and looked up at Morganite. "It looks like we're putting aside negotiations for now."
He grabbed his pale chin and looked down thoughtfully. "A Sith is already here with the king, along with their droid armies..."
If they tried to get to him first, the king's life could be in danger. It'll be an intergalactic incident, and most certainly, the Separatist would try to put the blame on the Jedi.
"That's better, isn't it?" Morganite laughed as he hopped down. "We'll show his Highness just how serious we are. Let's go. We'll take down all those clankers, and their Sith, before our troopers and Master Yoda do."
"But you heard Master Yoda. He told us to be cautious."
"What's the worry? We've destroyed thousands of their droids and lunarians already. This will be a cinch!"
The gems then darted into forest, using the force to propel themselves forward and moved even faster.
"-Stop! I said STOP!"
The command of the leading battle droid was finally heeded. The army of robots and their tanks ceased before the forest. Where a clutter of purple trees stood in the way. One of the droids attempted to break through anyway, but he ended up stuck.
"Next time, listen to orders!" The leading droid said.
Beyond the forest, the small troop of clones and Yoda sat hidden behind the trees. Their weapons drawn, but at Yoda's command, they did not fire a single round.
"Those tanks are too big to follow," the lieutenant of the troop, Thire, said.
Yoda chuckled. "See, see? Size is not everything. Smaller in number are we, but larger in mind."
"…Do you have any idea what the general is talking about?" Another trooper, Jeck, whispered to his fellow soldier, Rys.
"How should I know? There's no figurin' a Jedi Master."
"There's one thing we can be sure of," Thire spoke up as he pointed through the trees. "It'll take more than trees to stop the tanks we have."
A shimmer of rose pink and silver-grey under the light of day. Morganite and Goshenite arrived promptly. Their arrival was quickly noted by the droids, and the commanding robot pointed to them.
"It's the Gems! Blast them!"
Another droid from below looked up to his commander, "But sir. Aren't they resistant to our-"
"Just blast them!"
The droids followed as commanded, firing at the approaching gems as the tanks moved their cannons into positions.
Morganite swung his blade at the coming blasts, deflecting the bullets, some of them he redirected back to the droids, and penetrated their shells. He and Goshenite rounded the blasts fired by the tanks, unwavering as the impact exploded behind them, destroying several trees.
Goshenite was the first to reach the army. With elegant, swift movements, he sliced through the first wave of the B1 battle droids. His gentle eyes sharpened with focus, his attacks precise. Morganite was as equally competent, slicing off the heads and arms of the droids before reaching the bulkier counterparts; the B2s. The B2s were taller, and have much thicker armor, yet that still wasn't enough to save themselves from the gems' sabers.
Despite the hail of bullets over them, the gems pushed on, their hardness level enduring the blasts from smaller weapons, and leading the tanks to fire at one of their own, the gem knights fleeting figure too swift for the tanks to properly aim at.
"Hah! That's it!" Rys said as he looked through the binoculars. "It shouldn't be too long now. They might just cleave through this army themselves."
"Should we still give them some assist, sir?" Thire asked the Jedi Master.
"Hmm…" Despite the evident victory that was at hand's reach, Yoda did not look pleased and shook his head. "Stubborn, they are. For these gem knights, the price of immortality, that is. Act only, all they know."
"Sir?"
"To rein them in. A Jedi duty, it is. A crystal within a lightsaber, much like honing the power of. With care, their abilities must be handled. Else…"
The gem knights jumped over the battalion. Their sabers raised.
"Be susceptible to darker forces, they will. Enough to break them, by those stronger."
His elf ears perked up, and he raised his head. "Arrived, they have."
In an instant, something had shot through the leg of Morganite. It pierced the back of his knee, and his leg was broken off. "Huh?!"
The clone troop were shocked by the scene. Another arrow was shot and pierced through Goshenite's arm, breaking his limb off as well.
"What?! What just-?!" Goshenite gasped before he spotted something in the distance.
At a tree, a pale, ghostly-like figure floated behind the branches, readying its next arrow.
"A Lunarian!" Goshenite shouted as he landed in front of the mostly destroyed army, now standing defensively. He used his other arm to summon his lightsaber, and it returned to his grip quickly.
Behind him, Morganite bounced across the ground until he was stopped by a tree. Slamming against the bark on his back. "Oof-!"
"Morganite down!" Jeck announced. In that split moment, their coming victory was averted.
The clone troop acted at once. They lifted their blasters and fired, pushing back whatever remained of the droids to save their gem fighters.
With a thrust of his hand, Yoda stopped the Lunarian's next arrow's, defending Goshenite and flicked it back towards the nearest droid. The Lunarian quickly evaporated, touched by the Force Push of Yoda despite their distance.
"Retrieve Morganite, quickly now!" Yoda commanded as he ignited his lightsaber, deflecting the bullets and slicing away arrows from other hidden lunarians. He used the Force to pull the severed leg and arm of Morganite and Goshenite, and the limbs were moved over to them.
The clone troop reached Morganite and pulled him by his arms to safety. Goshenite and Yoda resumed holding the defense as Goshenite steadily backed away, until the final bullet was redirected into the last droid, and the last Lunarian was exorcised. The gray gem and Jedi rejoined the group behind a boulder, hiding themselves away from the Lunarians line of sight.
Morganite winced at the sight of his broken, severed leg. Red-pink gem shards beautifully glistened under the light of day, as if crystalized blood then something grotesquely fleshy.
"Get the brace ready, hurry," Thira commanded. Rys removed his backpack and pulled out the tool. A mechanical brace designed to adjust around any limb. He proceeded to connect the gem's leg to Morganite's wound while Jeck worked to prepare the second brace for Goshenite's arm.
"How'd it cut through you like that?" Jeck couldn't help but to ask. These gems were tough enough to endure even a tank's bullet. It takes a lot to break the exterior of Gem Fighters like these.
"I... I don't know," Goshenite said with a disturbed expression. "They've never taken us down that fast before."
"No battle is the same, in war," Yoda calmly lectured as he hovered his hand over Morganite's wound in inspection. "Always evolving the enemies are, and so must we. A lesson this will be, for you my knights. Think twice before jumping into action, perhaps next time. Hmm?"
"Y-Yes Master..." Goshenite lowered his head as Morganite pouted, embarrassed.
"Sir! I retrieved the arrow!" After shooting down the last remaining droid, Thire returned with the weapon that shot down Morganite. "It looks like its head's made out of gem."
He showed it to them. Indeed, the arrowhead shone in front of them. A yellow-orange color crystal, a familiar one to the oldest three of the group.
"That's… That's Heliodor's color!" Goshenite reached out for the arrow. The distress in his voice brought out sympathy from the troop as Jeck clasped Goshenite's shoulder. "Heliodor was around the same hardness level as Morganite. That's how that Lunarian broke through! How could they do something like this?"
Suddenly, enemy blasters were heard. They looked over and saw more of the droid army approaching.
"Clankers!" Thire shouted as he and his brothers in arms prepped their weapons, firing at the closing army. "There are too many of them. Fall back!"
"The Jedi and the Gem Knights have destroyed our advanced troops..." The B1 Droid gave his report to Ventress.
Katuunko lets out a laugh. "It seems the stories are not as exaggerated as your Master claims."
Ventress frowned before he questioned the droids. "What is the state of the Jedi's group?"
"We've confirmed that two of the Gem Knight's have been wounded. They're using braces just to keep going."
Hearing that wiped the smirk off of Katuunko's face, easily picked up by Ventress who was pleased by the news. Her Master's plan was working...
"See how easily their Gem Knights fell? How quick the Jedi and his troop were to retreat?" Ventress smiled as she held out the holoprojector, displaying the battle happening from afar.
"Yes..." Katuunko turned and glared at the Sith. "And yet they still fight."
It was a hectic battle. At the continuing surprise assault from the Lunarians and their newly manufactured arrows, the group was forced to retreat. A surprised bomb from one of the R2 Droids took on Morganite head on, his presence protecting the clone lieutenant from serious injury. While it wasn't enough to deter Morganite in the slight, the clouds of the explosion was enough to blind him, and he failed to deflect the next Lunarian arrow that shattered his next leg. At some point, Goshenite lost his left foot as well. What was a strong beginning, soon deterred the longer they fought against the Lunarians and the Droids.
"Damn-!" If Morganite could sweat, he would. Yet he still wore a grin as his spirit refused to break under the pressure of enemies before him, even as he was dragged away once more by the clone troopers and hid behind cover. "But... This is perfect."
Morganite brought attention to himself as he struggled to stand up, using the boulder as his support before Jeck quickly went under the Gem's arm. "Sir! You're heavily injured! Your brace isn't going to hold much longer standing on one leg!"
"I'll make it work," Morganite said determinedly. "If they're using Heliodor, then we'll take back every last piece! Let's find those Lunarians before that Sith thinks of escaping!"
"Calm yourself, my knight." Yoda halted that show of passion at this simple address. He placed a hand over Goshenite's, gripping it gently and with compassion as the gem clutched around his severed ankle. The shaken turmoil of his earlier discovery lingered within him still. "Here and now, is our task. Here and now, your troop, and the Republic, is in dire need."
He reminded the gems of their current priority. Of those they must dedicated themselves to. Of those that are still around.
"To lose focus means to stray our eyes of that which is in front of us. Will never be forgotten, Heliodor's sacrifice. Never cease our efforts, encouraged he would have. For the sake of others, and yourselves. Come. Sit with me. Come, come."
Despite the hectic battle, despite the injuries most of them were sustaining, Yoda with a calm air assured his knights to sit with him.
Morganite and Goshenite were baffled, but as they looked to the reassuring look of Yoda, completely freed from fear within him, the absolute faith that nothing will harm them, they felt themselves be relieved as stress as well. They glanced at each other, nodded, and sat down in front of the Jedi Master.
"Let go of your aggression. Your fear," Yoda waved his hand towards the Gems. "Close your eyes. Feel into the Force."
"What are they doing?!" Rys was dumbfounded how their strongest three were just sitting casually.
"Just keep shooting!" Thire commanded. While he's known plenty of Jedis having their "quirks", they usually meant well.
The Gems followed as they were told, taking a deep, meditative breath, and exhaled.
"Good. Reach out, now..."
The Gems lifted their retaining arm. A wave of tranquility filled them. The gentle voices of thousands, of life, of peace... The Light Side of the Force.
"Concentrate..."
Behind them where the droid army were approaching, the Lunarians on top stilled. Their arrows frozen at their strings, and with their bodies trembling, they began to dissipate.
Several of the 2B Droids were lifted off the ground, surprising the droids as they turned their blasters against their own.
"One with the Force, we are. The Force, one with us, it is."
More and More droids were destroyed, steadily clearing the battlefield as the clone troop looked on in awe.
"The crystal is the heart of the blade. The heart is the crystal of the Jedi. The Jedi is the crystal of the Force. The Force is the blade of the heart. All are intertwined: the crystal, the blade, the Jedi. Together, we are one."
The last remaining tank was slowly crushed, until it became nothing more than a ball of ruptured metal, and crushed droids inside.
"Are you sure we should go in there, General? There's no way out," Thire stated as he and Rys helped Morganite walked. Jeck stood beside them, helping Goshenite walk while he carried the gem knights' limbs in his other arm, thankful of his armor with its obsidian accents protecting him of the shards.
"Now rest, we must," Yoda answered. The troop and gems followed after the Jedi into the cavern, hiding themselves out of sight, and hoped that the Droids would never stumble upon them. But Yoda had no fear of such a thing happening. Either way, this may be their only chance to gather themselves.
"Nice job lasting this long, fellas," Morganite said with a smile as he was sat down against the cavern wall. "If we make it past that Sith, you've got bragging rights for a lifetime. I call dibs fighting her, though!"
"Looking forward to seeing that, sir," Thira said as Jeck handed him Moganite's leg. It was impressive, and an inspiration, how relentless the gems were despite their serious injuries. He owed it to Morganite after taking on that blast that would have hit him instead.
Jeck looked through their inventory, and was dispirited with what he found. "If we can make it that far. We're low on ammo. Only two grenades, two obsidian swords, some emergency prosthetics, and one rocket for the launcher."
"Against a battalion? Feh! Forget it. We've lost," Rys stated the facts.
"What? You're giving up? I thought you- ow!" Morganite winced as he felt the connection between his wound and his leg, Thira tightening the bolts around the brace as he apologized. "-I thought you guys are all about fighting to the end? Are you that soft?"
It's like giving themselves up to the Lunarians for them to take as jewelries, you'd have to be crazy or downright suicidal to do that.
"We are only made of flesh and blood, sir," Rys said with a shrug. "Too bad none of us are Jedi. But don't mistake what I said as coward talk. I'm going out guns blazing before I'd ever give a knee to those Separatists scum."
"Amen, brother. Respectfully, maybe it's best if you, Goshe, and the General go on ahead," Thira offered as he finished fastening Morganite's second leg brace. "We'll stay behind and slow down their droids, buy you some time until you reach the rendezvous point."
"You mean sacrifice yourselves?" Goshenite softly rubbed against the crack around his ankle. "Isn't there another way? We've lost so many in this war already..."
"Like hell I'd turn tail and run," Morganite said. "I haven't before, and I don't plan to now."
Yoda nodded. "All around us, is that which we need to prevail. Yes. Sit now, the three of you. Your helmets, remove them. Your faces I wish to see."
The clone troopers looked to each other before following their General's orders.
"Not much to see if they all look alike."
"Morga..." Goshenite sighed.
The clone lieutenant removed his helmet. "It's alright, sir. He does have a point."
"It's not so bad," Goshenite said with a soft smile. "There's a lot of us who couldn't tell apart the Amethysts twins for centuries. We still sometimes don't."
"Deceive you, eyes can," Yoda said. "In the Force, very different, each one of you are. In each one of every Gem Knight, a different cut, type, mineral, it matters not. Morganite, face your battles head on, you do. Yourself, eager to prove, hmm?"
"Ah. Mm..." Morganite shifted his gaze away sheepishly.
"Arrogance diminishes wisdom. In humility, train yourself. For allies who come close, soften your edge," Yoda instructed. "And to victory you will lead many. Goshenite."
"Yes?" Goshenite sat up straight attentively.
"Gentle you are. Kind you are. Often amiss in war, this is. But firmly you must stand, and in others this will reach. Brave through the trials of battle, and in the line of fire, you will help friends out of it."
Yoda then turned to the clones, "Rys, always focused on the enemy, are you. For inspiration, look to yourself, and those beside you. Jeck, concerned about weapons you are. Weapons do not win battles. Your mind, powerful it is. Mm. Outthink the droids, you can. Thire, rush not into fights. Long is the war. Only by surviving it, will you prevail. Yes."
He gestured towards the group, "Clones you may be. Fighters, you all are, but the Force resides in all life forms. Use it, you can, to quiet your mind."
"Yes, Master Yoda." Although Morganite was not a patient gem, and doubt still clung to him that he would ever be that collected, not even he would dare talk back to a Jedi Master.
"Doubt, I still feel in you, Morganite. Incapable of change, you may believe, but I do not. All things are possible through the Force. Capable of reshaping your immortal selves, you are."
Morganite gave another breath. "Well... if you say so, guess I got no choice. Ah, what the hell, I'll give it another go."
The gems and clones exchanged a look, a share of understanding between them, reigniting their confidence, and new level-headedness.
"Let's get back out there, boys."
"It's the Jedis!"
"Block their escape! We got them cornered!"
Sitting on the ground was Yoda, and standing on both sides were Morganite and Goshenite, fearlessly facing the army of droids and their tanks. Their eyes were closed in mediation, hearing the rumble of war without wavering.
They felt the presence of Lunarians surrounding them as well, up on the canyons, their arrows pulled back.
"-Shoot them! Shoot them now!"
They felt Ventress's intention, the sensation of every weapon charged, and all three of them immediately moved.
Yoda used the Force to bid away all the Lunarians at the top of the canyons. The Gem Knights sliced through the machinery, providing cover for Yoda, and quickly dispatching their enemies in moments.
"Doesn't seem like they need much help from us," Rys spoke at another point of the canyon on top, away from the Lunarians that were swiftly exorcised by Yoda's powers. "These Jedis sure are something else, especially the Gems..."
"You better just be talking about their skills when it comes to the Knights, Rys," Thira said as he watched the battle ensue through his binoculars.
"It's hard not to notice it, Lieutenant. You have to admit those two are a pair of beauties."
"Hey, keep it professional. Those are our superiors down there," Jeck admonished, although he wasn't in disagreement with Rys.
Thira then shifted his focus over to the other end of the canyon. "-! Oh no... We've got trouble."
Reinforcements for the droid were approaching, but due to the intense focus of battle from their three strongest below, they won't be able to notice them in time.
"I think I know how to deal with them," Thira looked over to the large rock at the cliffside. He lifted and aimed with his rocket launcher. Once they spotted the reinforcements in position, he pulled the trigger.
The Gem Knights and Jedi Master turned at the sudden arrival of several droidekas. The droidekas immediately fired onto them, one half firing lasers, the other half firing gem shards.
Moganite and Goshenite faced the shards, using their body to shield Yoda. They deflect the incoming projectiles, their lightsabers strong enough to shatter the shards and deflect the laser bullets. The gems teeth grit at the sight of the shards breaking apart so easily, whittling down what was once their friend more and more. Their focus was pushed to its brink, as the pressure started to take a toll on their injures, adding more cracks to their physique.
The sound of a rocket being launched caught their attention, and they looked up to see it be fired overhead. It exploded on impact underneath a massive rock, and they watched as it fell on top of the droidekas, their shields unable to withstand the weight of the massive boulder.
"Yeah! Great shot, sir!" Jeck said as Rys cheered with him.
"That's givin' it to the clankers," Thira nodded.
Morganite and Goshenite looked over to their clone troopers at the top of canyon. Morganite waved at them, "Not bad, boys! Not bad at all!"
Goshenite gave an appreciative bow of his head to the clones as Yoda smiled behind his knights.
"You were right, Count Dooku," Katuunko said to the hologram, projected from the device that sat on the ground. "One Jedi is not worth one hundred battle droids... More like a thousand."
And if a Jedi was worth a thousand, then naturally, the worth of a Gem was multiplied, adding more magnitude to the reputation and strength of the Republic Army. The decision was an easy one.
"I'm sorry, but I will be joining the Republic."
"I urge you to reconsider, wise king. I promise you won't regret it."
"Your agent also promised me that they would get a fair fight. I will not deal with those who break their words."
"...So be it. Perhaps our negotiations will be more fruitful with your successor. Ventress, kill him!"
Ventress ignited two of her red lightsabers, she quickly forced pushed the king's guards away before they would use their blasters, and in swift motion, she swung her blades for the king's neck.
"-I don't think so!"
Katuunko closed his eyes, waiting for the burning cut to his flesh. However, it did not came. He heard the instant clash of blades in front of him, and opened his eyes to see Ventress, holding both her lightsabers against the single saber a rose pink gem wielded.
"I've been waiting all day to get a piece of you, Sith," Morganite grinned mischievously at the woman.
The woman glared hatefully at the gem, despite using the force to keep her defenses strong, she was steadily losing ground against the gem and was being slowly pushed back. Another glowing blade appeared near her neck from behind, and Ventress's eyes widened.
"Please stand down. I don't wish to take your head," Goshenite calmly warned with solemn eyes. Ventress was cornered, with both Lightsabers wielded by the most powerful force users against her, she was bested.
"I don't fear you relics..." Ventress said, and then her red lightsabers was taken from her.
"Strong you are with the dark side, young one." Ventress's lightsabers gravitated towards Yoda's hands easily as he and his trooped walked up the path. "But not that strong. Still much to learn, you have."
He then kindly threw the lightsabers back to Ventress, as if to say they weren't even a threat against them - nor her. The lightsabers blade sheathed, Ventress grabbed her weapons back, trying to hide the humiliation in her angry expression.
"Surrender, you should," Yoda kindly suggested.
Ventress holstered her weapons. Her hands parted from her hips slowly.
In her grip, a hidden switch, and she pressed its button.
The sound of an explosion from above. Everyone turned to the noise, and saw an avalanche approaching from the mountain.
"Oh you cheating opal-headed-!" Morganite started to shout as he and Goshenite puts away their lightsabers and joined Yoda, quickly standing in front of the avalanche. Together, they used the force to hold every single rock back as the troop acted quickly to pull away the knocked out guards and the king. "Argh! Lousy, good for nothing-!"
"Morga! Concentrate!" Goshenite said as he puts all his focus into the Force, pushing and holding up the avalanche.
When the avalanche was subsided, Ventress had already escaped to her ship, and she quickly fled to the sky, into outer space.
"That third-rate actually gave us the slip! I thought these Siths were supposed to be big deals?! What's with that pathetic retreat?!" Morganite complained with a stomp of his foot that made his leg clink. Despite Yoda's earlier lessons, he could not help but express himself this way.
Goshenite gripped Morganite's shoulder, suddenly stilled in place, his expression frozen. Morganite promptly turned to his partner and saw his reaction, then followed his line of sight. "-!"
The anger instantly quelled within Morganite as he saw the hologram. The familiar face of the ex-member of the Jedi, and Morganite glared.
"Childish, unrefined, and arrogant as always, Morganite..." Dooku spoke, conveying his dissent through the projector. "The Jedi have spoiled you rotten. You and the other gems should have been buried in a chest a long time ago. There's no saving something so far removed from humanity as you..."
Goshenite felt his throat tightened, not by some external forces, but by his own internal pain he quickly did his best to hide.
"In the end, cowards are those who follow the dark side. On this path, lose your humanity." Yoda approached the communicator, a distant look on the elder Jedi's face.
"It's a pity I wasn't there in person, my old master."
"A pity, indeed, my fallen apprentice."
The communication ended on Dooku's side, and Goshenite could finally let his shoulders relax, letting go of Morganite.
"You all right, sir?" Jeck walked up to the gray gem.
Goshenite nodded steadily, "Yes. It's just... That was the first time I've seen him in a while..."
"You knew him personally?"
Goshenite smiled, though it was strained. "A lot of us did."
Morganite seemed to cool off considerably, losing his fire as he looked away. His mood soured after seeing Dooku again. "Hmph. That's a shame... I was hoping he'd croaked after all this time."
From aside, King Katuunko greeted Yoda warmly, "Jedi Master Yoda. I am very pleased to meet you, at last."
Yoda respectfully bowed his head, "Share the feeling, I do, King Katuunku. Perhaps now, begin negotiations, we can."
"That is not necessary, my friend." The king unsheathed his sword. "-You have my faith. Toydaria would be honored to host a Republic base."
He offered his blade as a symbol of good faith. "My people... are at your service."
Yoda accepted the gift with appreciation, "Your Highness, fail you, we will not."
Morganite and Goshenite stood on top of the cliff side, watching as the construction of the supply base proceed as scheduled.
"We'll get him back, Goshe," Morganite stated in an uncharacteristically calm voice. "By pieces or whole, we'll drag him back to the Temple, and make him answer to everything he put us through."
"I hope so..." Goshenite said. "Although, I don't think he'd be alive if he were in pieces. But even though he turned... do you think the Order could still reform him?"
"...Who knows?" Morganite sighed. "I know for one thing, we're never, ever letting him go again. Heck I'll be the one burying him somewhere. Leave him there until he learns his lesson."
"I'm pretty sure that would still kill him, Morga..."
"Attached you are, to my old apprentice, I see."
The gem knights jumped at Yoda speaking up behind them.
"Ah-! Master Yoda! W-We were just-! Um..." Goshenite attempted and failed to come up with an explanation.
"Discussing Count Dooku, yes?" Yoda answered for them, holding his cane in front of himself. "A friend, he used to be. But no longer, is he. Remember this, my knights. The dark side, difficult it is to escape its allure. Difficult it is, to detach yourself from your once fellow Jedi."
Yoda lifted his hand and Goshenite grabbed it. "It is forbidden to form attachments, but understand I do, the way you feel. Connection between a Gem and a Jedi is strong, it is expected. One in the force you once were, fought together, you once did. Not so easy to sever, unlike others. Be at peace, my knights. Meditate on this, we will. Learn to detach yourself. Less he will harm you further than he already has."
"Yes, Master Yoda..." Goshenite and Morganite stood upright, abiding the Master Jedi's words.
"Let us begin. Come. Come. With me, sit. You as well, Morganite. In patience, still have much to learn, I see. Hmhm."
"Ah... Yeah..."
They sat down on top of the cliff, folding their legs, they entered into a meditative state as their clone troop watch over them from afar, ensuring they'll be well guarded even at this day's Republic victory.
Author's Note: I've started binge watching Star Wars the Clone Wars TV Series (my childhood!) and might have gotten into Star Wars as a whole. Around the same time, I've began watching Land of the Lustrous anime. Let both series stir in my mind and boom! This fic was born.
Lots of lore implications in this chapter, although nothing's really intact yet, or set in stone in terms of plot, lore, and etc. Just writing for funsies.
I also probably won't be updating this story so often too. It was kind of a struggle writing this chapter, but I just felt compelled to get it done and post it.
Thank you everyone for reading! Please leave a review and let me know what you think! :D