Chapter 4
The New Code
Sitting in the guest chambers, Ahkilleon was using the force to make the inquisitors rotary blade float in front of him, the screws began to come undone and metal unlocked wires receded until the metal was orbiting around a blood red crystal in front of him. Ahkilleon opened his eyes and looked at the red stone. It glowed with dark side energy and he held up both hands one to hold the crystal the other to push the bulky inquisitor parts away. Or a small chest Ahkilleon let the force guide the part he needed to ride up out and around the crystal aligning with one another from emitter, hilt, wires and butt till the clicking and scraping of metal stopped. He let the saber fall into his hand if had a slight curve to the hilt and unlike his other saber which was stainless metal with the two diamonds and indented hilt this one was made of dark iron, the hilt wasn't curved but a straighter body with a thick butt narrow hilt and cupped emitter, together the two we're polar opposites. Red and blue, light and dark.
He stood and clipped them to his belt before he got up to seek out his Master for their first lesson. Walking out of the guest room he headed down a few steps and into a large room there were lounge chairs where he saw both Ventus and Terro sitting on to opposite couches, they were stacking various items on top of one another in a game of some sorts, each time one would take a random object, a book, a decoration or something and balance on top of one another "Where's Lord Asimov?"
"He's in the courtyard." Terro said, pointing to two glass doors with steps leading out.
Walking in the direction Terro pointed, Ventus added "Good luck, you'll need it."
Ahkilleon walked down the steps into Lord Asimov's castle courtyard, there he saw a large monk of a man sitting in a teal robe in a yellow cowl hood with black pants sitting alone. "Um excuse me, I'm looking for Lord Asimov?"
The monk rose to his feet broad shouldered and muscular, his teal robe was cuffed at the wrists and when Ahkilleon saw his eyes he realized who it was "Oh… Lord Asimov I didn't recognize you without your armor."
"No, few do, but that's a lesson for another time, you said I haven't been training you, then you have already failed as a student, we will remedy this." Lord Asimov held up his hand and clapped it, and suddenly holograms appeared around the courtyard.
Asimov stuck his thumbs into his matching yellow sash "What did you think of the Militia Union?"
The Warlord asked, walking around his student.
Ahkilleon looked at the holograms, there were three each one was someone who spoke at the Senate house. Among them Lord Asimov in armor, the devaronian cyborg General Kleeve and the green skinned alien woman Voe Atell, "Bunch of people talking, trying to make them sound more important than the last."
Asimov stopped behind him "That's not untrue, but did you listen, did you see?"
"See and listen to what, I thought the Militia High Command was about beating the Empire not talking politics?" Ahkilleon asked him.
Lord Asimov shook his cowled head "Both, the Militia is not a formal democracy nor a military-state, we are both the General as he is often called." Another Hologram appeared of General Fives Freeman, the clone trooper and brother of Rex "His official title is Supreme Commander of the Militia I am but one of the twenty seven Warlords who run the military, and by all accounts his equal is the Emperor and us the Moffs." Asimov said.
Ahkilleon listened and Asimov continued "Yesterday you saw the three ruling factions of the Militia." Lord Asimov pointed to Magistrate Voe Atell, a hologram appeared above them it was a symbol of purple red and white, the same symbol that was on Atells clothes with the three strips dipping in "The Merchant Alliance, years ago they were the Corporate Alliance, their survivors were hunted by the Empire they assumed new identities to smuggle what the militia needed to build our fleet and army. They believe in a business without borders policy, are anti Jedi and want democratic rule… by money."
Then he gestured to Kleeve, an orange and blue logo appeared in the form of a broad polygon cut into triangles with oranges and blue, "The Neo Iron League, led by Kleeve a veteran of the clone wars and so are majority of its members, though rare the separatists did have volunteers and enlisted soldier like Kleeve and Trench, the Neo Iron League are adamant abolitionist and pro veteran making them highly popular among our own troops, organic and emancipated droids."
"Abolitionist? Slavery is illegal in the militia?" Ahkilleon asked.
"For the droids who fight at our side, to Kleeve and his party they are equal to organics." Lord Asimov said before he walked over to his own hologram.
The final symbol appeared over Lord Asimov's head, it was similar to the Jedi orders symbol, a winged sword but with a crown painted in the same colors as Asimov, teal and yellow. "Sovereign Destiny, my faction and the one with the most Jedi."
"I thought Jedi didn't take part in politics, wasn't that the whole reason we were hunted by the Empire?" Ahkilleon asked.
Lord Asimov nodded "Partly, the Jedi were more focused on the status quo of the Old Republic Senate, we had no say in dictating politics then. Now we do. I created Sovereign Destiny to give the Jedi a voice as the spiritual leaders of the Militia and the nation we hope to build, promoting the arts, science and rights of all citizens high and low under the law and the protection of a single leader."
"Let me guess, you?" Ahkilleon asked.
Lord Asimov shook his head "You."
"Me- wait, as the Jedi King?" Ahkilleon asked.
"Yessss." Lord Asimov said turning back to him hands behind his back "There's much more to training than combat and fancy force tricks, if you are truly to become powerful you must learn many things, politics especially if you are to become the Jedi King, gain the support of the high commands majority, prove yourself to Sovereign Destiny, show them you are not some upstart rebel Jedi but one of us and they will follow."
Ahkilleon had a question but didn't ask it, "Something to say?" Lord Asimov asked.
"Yesterday, in the Hall when I protected the Imperial Agent, what did they think?" he asked.
Folding his arms against his chest, "It has become the talk of the Union, that and your so called 'victory' on Selucami, some think Kallus should be dead, others saw a young man leap to the defense of our sworn own enemy, that ads more questions."
He looked at the Cooperate Alliance and Neo Iron League, "What about the other two?"
"They will come later."
Ahkilleon looked at the other two faction leaders, "So I'm going to be a politician?"
"You must decide what you want to be, but if you want to be the Jedi King a politician is but one of them, you must be a warrior, a scholar, everything needed to lead." Lord Asimov said waving his hand making the holograms go off.
"We've talked about politics now we begin with the second." Asimov dropped his lightsaber out of his sleeve and turned on his yellow lightsaber, Ahkilleon unsheathed both his lightsabers red and blue. Ahkilleon reached for the blade's intensity dial dimming the energy "No." Lord Asimov said.
Puzzled, Ahkilleon didn't understand "We always lower the intensity of the blade-" "I am your Master now, you will not lower the intensity of the blade any wounds you suffer in our training will be a reminder."
"A reminder of what?" Ahkilleon asked before the Lord rushed him wielding his great saber with both hands "The enemy will show no mercy!"
Ahkilleon barely had time to reset his sabers to full power and caught the golden blade, Lord Asimov hit Ahkilleon so hard he fell backward, "And when you face me, you will get-" Lord Asimov paced around him before attacking again "None!"
Ahkilleon parried and despite Asimov's imposing side he was faster than a speeder, "When you were still suckling at your mothers training with the rebellion you were first of two padawans." Asimov attacked again and Ahkilleon tried to counter and attack but Asimov threw an open palm strike and hit Ahkilleon in the shoulder making him lose his balance. He had to roll away to avoid Lord Asimov's lightsaber "You thought you were the best at the Temple because you survived Inquisitors, Vader, here you are nothing until I say you are." Asimov ripped up his lightsaber from the courtyard, sending chunks of melted stone at Ahkilleon.
He dodged it, swinging his legs around using momentum to fling himself back to his feet. He flipped his left hand into a reverse grip with his blue saber and the right the red saber in a forward grip. Asimov paced, continuing to lecture and fight "Admiral Trench told me you have a fondness for history, the history of Jedi, you are familiar with the history of the Mandalorian wars?"
"Which one?" Ahkilleon asked pacing himself when Asimov advanced left and right before Ahkilleon blocked his attacks "The one where Jedi forgot to wear armor." Asimov broke the lock and spun kicking Ahkilleon off balance and with one savage thrust impaled Ahkilleon through the left side.
Ahkilleon looked down and saw the lightsaber stuck into him like a pig, Asimov turned it off and pushed him down to the ground, Ahkilleon hit the hard rock with a thud yelling through his teeth. "Now before you pass out, remember how talking and keeping your enemy thinking of one thing while doing another is always a sound tactic, that is the art of distraction, a favored tactic of many Jedi and Sith." Ahkilleon looked up at him before the pain was too much and "As well as good armor when fighting a superior opponent." he was going to pass out.
Suddenly he felt his heart beat racing twice as fast, he shot up and felt his eyes burn like someone had thrown sand into them, his belly growling the pain burning like fire in him, "Aaaah there it is." Lord Asimov said, seeing Ahkilleon on his feet.
"Agent Skell reported you had the same gifts as your father, battle meditation, and when turned inward-" Ahkilleons instincts took over and he lunged at Asimov like a wild beast "A Berserker Rage."
Asimov blocked the attack, parried and Ahkilleon circled around before he dropped his lightsaber to Asimov's surprise, Ahkilleon stopped and fell to his knees like he was being pushed. "Do not fight it padawan, this power could save your life-" "It's- rrrrr a curse-" Ahkilleon gurgled out through clenched teeth spit slipping down his lips like rabies.
The boys eyes flickered between green and yellow, as he refused to succumb to his anger and pain, to use the dark side. "You deny yourself power then." Lord Asimov said before Ahkilleon felt himself fall over, finally passing out from the pain.
…
…
…
…
…
He was back in the dream again, Ahkilleon was lying on the ground of sand or floating in the oceans of water in the ever changing beach, a mix of clouds spiraled above him, the sky changing from blue to orange. He felt his side was warm, and reached for it looking at his hand a flame was lit in it, and the fire was coming from a hole in his side.
Ahkilleon looked left and saw the spiraling coral reef in the distance, the ever setting sun and rising moon behind it casting an ever changing background of sky but the silhouette of the coral reef was always the same. Soon he was moving far from it, the ground and ocean carrying him away across the dune waves before he dropped into a pit of a whirlpool of stone hitting the ground hard with a splash he rolled onto his side before sitting up.
A monstrous figure was looking down at him with eyes of silver, "What are you?" the beast asked, despite the size and monstrous features he couldnt' put into words he felt no malice nor purity from the creature, but true balanced curiosity.
Ahkilleon opened his mouth to answer but nothing came out, he didn't know.
"He's waking up."
Ahkilleon sat up and looked around the courtyard and saw standing over him were some familiar faces, Corto, Yumi, Urrde and Fatima the four Jedi who had come with them from Selucami were there. "Dammit." Yumi hissed.
"Pay up." Corto said, holding out his hand.
She dropped him a few credits before Ahkilleon sat up clutching his side, "What are-hnnn." He gripped his side to see a hole in his tunic front and back from where Lord Asimov had stabbed him "What are you doing here?"
"Good to see you to." Corto said smiling, "Lord Asimov informed us you had an accident while training, what, stab yourself, Ahkilleon?" Corto asked him.
"If only." Yumi muttered looking around the shattered stone floor, Urrde and Fatima snickering behind him.
Ahkilleon said nothing, he just got up and felt his side stiffly move against him "Just an accident." Ahkilleon muttered, Corto reached to help him up but Ahkilleon pushed him away, Corto retracted his hands holding them up nonchalantly.
"Where's my Master?" Ahkilleon asked them.
"Getting scolded by ours." Fatima said.
Meanwhile, inside Lord Asimov's castle's study, a single solitary tower in the west wing, adorned with a table for work, large stained glass window and other various items brought in by Asimov or left behind by the previous owner. Tai Uzuma was letting the Warlord of the Jedi know in her mind "YOU STABBED HIM?" She screamed at the top of her lungs so loud Ventus and Terro who were outside heard.
"Told you." Ventus whispered.
"Shut up." Terro replied.
Back in the study Lord Asimov was wearing his armor again, hiding his body and face in metal was sitting at his arm chair while Tai paced the room, "Dammit Asimov, this is exactly what the Council was afraid of, this kind of training is… is-" "Sith Training, I know."
"Then why in the bloody hell are you doing it, we're Jedi!'" Tai snapped at him.
"Fighting Sith, the Empire can call themselves Imperial all they want, they're Sith plain and simple, they are led by the Dark Lord and these New Inquisitors are popping up like roaches, we must be ready to fight them." Lord Asimov pointed out.
Tai walked over to the window and looked down into the courtyard "You can't win like this Asimov, the Council had ordered me to tell you to return to Arcadia, with the Tano boy to assign him a new master." she told him.
"No." Lord Asimov said.
"This isn't a request." Tai told him.
"I don't care." Lord Asimov said getting up, walking around the table "My padawan has accepted my training, to stop now would make him question himself even more."
"I'll tell the Council what you said, but sooner or later Lord Asimov they will drag you back in chains." She warned him.
Lord Asimov headed to the door, opening it for her "No one will ever chain me again, Tai tell them that." Lord Asimov said before she walked out.
Outside of the castle and in the courtyard the other jedi were waiting, Asimov and Uzuma walked out "Young ones, we're leaving."
"Back to Arcadia, Master Uzuma?" Yumi asked standing up to greet their coming, "Not yet." Tai said glaring at Lord Asimov.
The Warlord passed her by approaching his padawan, Ahkilleon clutching his side, ""Ready to begin again?" Lord Asimov asked.
Tai watched for his answer, "... Yes Master." Ahkilleon replied.
"Come." Tai told her students and they all followed her out of the courtyard.
When they walked through the door, a protocol droid of teal and yellow walked out holding a metal tray, he brought it out to the center of the courtyard and set it down.
Lord Asimov paced the courtyard, "Recite to me the Jedi code."
"There is no emotion, there is peace. There is no ignorance, there is knowledge. There is no passion, there is serenity. There is no chaos, there is harmony. There is no death, there is the Force." Ahkilleon having been taught it by his mother since birth.
"Recite the Sith Code." Lord Asimov ordered with a heavy tone in his voice.
Ahkilleon didn't answer "I don't now it."
"Yes you do, your mother taught you as much." Asimov said calling his bluff.
Sighing, Ahkilleon started to code "Through passion, I gain strength. Through strength, I gain power. Through power, I gain victory. Through victory, my chains are… broken." he clenched his metal fist tight at the last word.
Lord Asimov turned around to face him "Passion without Peace, is emptiness. Strength without Knowledge, is useless. Power without Serenity, is chaos. Victory without Harmony, is defeat. Life without death, is the lie."
"This is the New Code, for a New Jedi, you will meditate on these after our training, for now, we must do something about this… ignorance of the force you have been taught."
Ahkilleon furrowed his brow, "I-will-not… use the dark side, I made a promise."
"I will not teach you the dark side, not yet, but you must learn." Lord Asimov said, walking over to the metal tray on the floor. "Of all force powers there are none like the power of force lightning." Lord Asimov said sitting across from Ahkilleon in front of the tray, between them was a small metal dome on the tray, "The Force is an energy field that encompasses all living things, we who are able to tap into this energy field mean that it is within all of us to use force lightning but only a select few can truly master it, similar to force healing its believed that one must be truly in touch with 'one' side of the force. The New Jedi do not believe this, light and dark they are one and the same."
Ahkilleon watched Asimov lift the dome and reveal a tea set, a kettle, two cups and some mixing tools with containers "Much like tea."
"Tea you're joking, Warlord Asimov is into tea?" Ahkilleon asked him, thinking this was a joke.
Asimov picked up the tea and set it on a small stand he unfolded from the set, a small burner was switched on under it and Asimov filled it with water from his canteen. Then he opened up the containers and poured in dried out leaves "Among many lessons forgotten by the Old Republics Jedi Order, allowing their followers to pursue their own interests and studies besides the art of war, and how to appease politicians. Being a Jedi is important but being yourself is greater." Lord Asimov said, making them tea.
"You're kidding, I thought this was about learning force lightning?" Ahkilleon asked.
Asimov let the tea settle in and boil, "I am not, I encourage you to find a trade or hobby you enjoy, Ganodi is a skilled pilot, Zatt's reliance on technology that was called a weakness by one master has become his strength, Byph is a skilled musician and Katooni… you get the idea." The tea continued to simmer and Asimov continued.
"To make tea like force lightning one must understand the living force and how it makes the world around us, the fire of the burner warms the water in the pot, the clay from the pot molded from earth holds energy inside and the air within releases when it is ready, and so-" the kettle spewed out hot air "Tea."
Asimov poured the two cups, "Tea is also good for the body and mind, to calm nerves and keep one focused."
"So which is it, being focused by tea or having a hobby?" Ahkilleon asked.
"It's balance, when you used force lightning the first time you hurt yourself and others because you did not understand it." Lord Asimov said finishing the pour steam rising from the tea "The sith begin to develop a resistance to the withdraw from the dark side of the force, their minds are not effected but their body is, they become pale, the iris of their eyes bleeds and turn yellow from rot inside, and so on."
Ahkilleon remembered the reason he swore off force lightning after he hurt Sabine, "I used it once more, against Vader my hand didn't burn that time?"
"Yes after he took your other hand, you had rage, pain, fear, all emotions that fuel the dark side and you were too weak to stand after, yes?" Asimov asked him.
Ahkilleon took the tea and didn't answer, his silence conformation enough, Asimov sipped his tea and so did Ahkilleon, "Pain is a teacher, we do not forget pain but we must not fear it, anger is different it's stronger but it clouds the mind, turned inward you become its slave, peace is the opposite of anger it is between anger and peace you must find your balance." Lord Asimov said sipping his tea.
"Lord— Master Asimov I swore I'd never use the dark side again." Ahkilleon blurted out.
Asimov continued sipping his tea "And I promise will not make you, I am trying to teach you that the force is not is not light and dark like your old teachers would have you believe." Lord Asimov stood up and backed away. He faced one of his stone pillars and faced it he held his hand aloft palm open and a bolt of force lightning burst out of in a blast of powerful energy shattering the pillar.
"Did you sense the dark side energy in me?" Lord Asimov asked him.
Ahkilleon thought about it, focusing on the force around them and in Asimov he stood "No…" Ahkilleon whispered.
"How, Kanan told me-" "Kanan Jarrus is not your Master, I am." Lord Asimov silenced him and hid him to stand.
Ahkilleon did so approaching his teacher, stepping out of the spot he was Lord Asimov pointed at one of the other pillars, "Remember anger and peace, find the balance and hold onto it." Lord Asimov held up his other arm and lighting appeared in his hand if it wasn't the erratic charge of electricity but a flowing current of energy "You are but a vessel for this power, do not try to control it, be its guide and direct it." Lord Asimov said as the lighting ran through his arm and then out the other into the sky.
"Now, let's see what you can do." Lord Asimov stepped back, Ahkilleon looked at the pillar in front of him, he held his hands up and focused.
He focused.
Focused.
Focus.
Beads of sweat spat off his brow and nothing happened, not even a spark "Enough." Asimov said.
Dropping his arms "I… I can't do it unless I'm angry."
"Anger is a natural emotion, the same as fear, happiness, anxiety and relaxation. When I learned this from the Jedi who finished my training she found that it was memories that helped. If you hold one powerful enough in your mind it will be the first step into a larger world for you." Lord Asimov explained.
Nodding, Ahkilleon looked at the pillar and got ready, "Hold the memory in your mind, and focus once you have released the energy."
Thinking back to happier days, he thought of the first time he got to fly a starfighter and how nervous he was, sparks licked his fingertips and when he released it the lightning was erratic and flew out missing the column and Ahkilleon ripped his hand back like he'd touched an electrified fence, "Dammit!"
"What was your memory?" Lord Asimov asked.
"…. First time my mom let me fly a starship, I was so nervous." Ahkilleon said bashfully.
Lord Asimov smacked him on the back of the head, "What was that for!" Ahkilleon barked.
"I said a powerful memory, not one of you playing with a toy, go deeper." Lord Asimov snapped pointing at him.
Growling Ahkilleon bit his tongue and continued, he looked into his mind thinking of a memory that matched anger and peace, he tried to think but everything he was looking for was either one feeling or the other, he reached for his nexu fang necklace and thought of the time Ezra and Ahkilleon fought the wild nexu. The fear he felt when it chased them, the anger when it attacked Ezra but also the pride when they won, when Turok had them drink of its blood and swear an oath of brotherhood to one another. Force lightning came from within him and burst out of his hands striking the the pillar. The stone exploded in a dozen pieces and Ahkilleon staggered back looking at his hands totally unburn "YESSS- Yes that's it!" Lord Asimov shouted at the top of his lungs.
He grabbed Ahkilleon shaking him "Do you see what happens when you open yourself up to the force, to command it from within to do what others say you can't, that is strength, that is power!"
Ahkilleon couldn't hold back his smile, he turned to Asimov "Teach me more."
Lord Asimov faced him and starkly said "No, that is enough for today."
"But I can do more. Master." He said eager to see what other power he could unlock.
Lord Asimov shook his head "There will be time for other talents, practice here for as long as you like but rest before the sun falls. We will be leaving for a new mission tomorrow and I want you ready, Padawan."
Ahkilleon looked at the broken column and smirked "Yes, Master."
"Oh… and there is the matter of Agent Kallus." Lord Asimov said.
"What's going to happen to him?" Ahkilleon asked.
Lord Asimov walked up the steps "You defended his life, you will decide his fate. We must extract information from him first though, meet me at the landing pad before sundown."
MILITIA PRISONER OF WAR CAMP
Southern Hemisphere
Far from the capital of Raxulon on a small archipelago of islands in Raxus's southern sea, Lord Asimov's shuttle descended down onto the surface of a large prison complex, there were no walls except for around the main compound. The shuttle landed on a large platform and when the Jedi exited with Sigma Ahkilleon saw the island's inhabitants "Imperials?" Ahkilleon asked, seeing hundreds of thousands of men and women marooned on the island, there hundreds of rickety shacks and tents set up across the islands. "Leftover from the liberation of Raxus, despite what you've heard and seen on Lothal, we will not become war criminals… if we can help it." Lord Asimov said "Follow Pdawan."
Ahkilleon followed Lord Asimov into the compound, down a long metal hallway with droids guarding the doors, passing through it into a single dark room with a one way mirror.
Inside were two people, General Kleeve and Admiral Trench, the two of them were speaking to one another before the others walked in "Ah-ha my boy click-click-click." Ahkilleon felt relief seeing the old spider and his cybernetic implants. He quickly walked up to him and hugged the harch.
"Well done at Saleucami click-click-click, using detonators to stop tanks click-click-click, classic." Trench said.
General Kleeve cleared his throat, "As much as I'd like to know how this kid did that, we have other problems." Kleeve gestured to the mirror and on the other side was Agent Kallus, he'd been given a shirt and some light medical treatment. "We have an Imperial agent here, a gift from Lord Bloodwolf himself, but any intel he has will be out of date even if he had broken to the Lothalians torture." General Kleeve said.
"So what then?" Lord Asimov asked.
Kleeve leaned on the mirror, "We can't kill him, Bloodwolf brought him here to show him off, we kill him, we look like butchers, but we can't risk not finding out what he knows." Kleeve said.
"I have an idea click-click-click." Admiral Trench said.
Trench turned to Ahkilleon, "The padawan?" Kleeve asked.
"He did save the Agents life?" Lord Asimov asked.
All eyes were on Ahkilleon, "I can… talk to him?" Ahkilleon asked.
Eyes started to exchange glances to one another before Kleeve shrugged "Do it."
Ahkilleon turned to leave the room and saw a side door for the room Kallus was in, and he entered, the room was empty, not even a chair, just a dimly lit cube shaped room. Kallus was sitting hunched up against the floor, he looked up at him and Ahkilleon felt a strange mix of emotions. No fear, but an intensity of the mind, Kallus was looking him over, analyzing him, there was something, not fear, worry but not for him. Kallus's bodies scars were a testament to his willingness to endure pain, no someone else what happened before to happen again? "Are they treating you well?" Ahkilleon asked.
"Better than the Lothalians, but you're all the same rebels." Kallus replied.
Ahkilleon looked back at the mirror, "Who else is behind that mirror, is it Bloodwolf, the butcher?" Kallus snapped.
"What happened on Lothal, after the Militia won?" Ahkilleon asked him.
Kallus gritted his teeth looking away, "What do you care?"
"I have friends, friends who are from Lothal." Ahkilleon said.
Kallus looked at him, squinting "Now I remember, you were with the Spectres, the Bridger boy?" Kallus asked.
"I….. I was." Ahkilleon said, rubbing his mechano arm, "I am Militia now, and probably the only one on this planet who doesn't want to kill you, my name Ahkilleon Tano."
Kallus didn't reply, he just stared "I know your name, Kallus. What happened on Lothal?"
"... After the Imperial forces were driven out of the capital, we fled into the wilds, regrouped and started to try and contact command… that wass our first mistake." Kallus looked down at the floor "The Rebels- the Militia your Militia tracked down our signal and started hunting us down like animals, bet you all enjoyed that irony?" Kallus chuckled.
Ahkilleon didn't smile or snicker, "Am I laughing?" Ahkilleon asked kneeling down, "What happened next?"
"Many of us split up, started to wage a guerilla campaign hoping the Empire would return that was five months ago." Ahkilleon blinked thinking, looking at Kallus feeling his worry not for him, for his men.
"When were you captured?" Ahkilleon asked.
"One month ago, the Lothalians… there animals, they tortured me for weeks and when I didn't break they made me watch as they… fed my remaining men to their Loth Wolves, why they were still alive.'' The fear in Kallus's eyes was as if he was still looking at the gruesome scene. "They didn't even care if I told them anything, Bloodwolf just wanted me to watch before he brought me here."
Ahkilleon looked back at the mirror, feeling the others gaze on him, "I'm sorry."
"The rebels and the Militia are all different, if you have anything you can tell me I can help you and help your men."
Kallus laughed "My men are dead."
"Not on Lothal, here." Ahkilleon said, "You had have seen the island, it's full of POW's, the conditions aren't great but if you give me something, anything, we can make sure they're treated fairly, medical aid, food, etc." Ahkilleon said.
Kallus looked at him unsure "And I'll let you go back to your Empire."
"What?" Kleeve snapped on the other side of the glass "He can't-" "He can, if he gets us the intel." Lord Asimov said, backing up his padawan.
Kallus thought it over, "My intel will be out of date."
"Maybe." Ahkilleon held his hand up and closed his eyes "But there is something, something… important…" Ahkilleon reached out with the force "I can rip it from your mind, or you can tell me." Ahkilleon bluffed with a straight face, lowering his hand.
Kallus weighed his options, closing his eyes he opened his mouth "The Seventh Fleet."
"The what?" Ahkilleon asked.
Kallus raised his head "Whatever gains you've made, whatever victories you accomplished it won't matter, by now Governor Pryce will have petitioned the Senate or the Emperor himself for the Seventh Fleet, they are the most proficient fleet when it comes to dealing with major conflicts and it's leader, the Grand Admiral has never been defeated, he will come for you all." Agent Kallus said "And his name is Thrawn."
Ahkilleon looked back at the mirror and felt Lord Asimov nod, before Ahkilleon turned back to him "We'll take you to a shuttle. There's bound to be a lambda class ship around here, but now you do something for me." Ahkilleon said, "What?"
Ahkilleon stood over Kallus, "Tell the Grand Amidral this, I am Ahkilleon Tano and he will not defeat me."
THE MID RIM
Imperial Space
Agent Kallus walked off of the shuttle holding his arm when Imperial officers greeted him aboard a star destroyer, chief among them Admiral Konstantine, "Agent Kallus, I hardly believed it when I heard the reports you were alive." Konstantine said standing across from him.
"I was… lucky." Kallus said.
"In my experience, there's no such thing as luck!" a scraping voice, out of the hangar exit strode a man with two purge troopers following him, Purge Troopers, also known as Purge Stormtroopers, were a specialized variant of stormtroopers utilized by the mysterious Inquisitorius of the Galactic Empire as special forces and expendable death squads. These soldiers were assigned to hunt the remnants of the Jedi Order, being activated after the Clone Wars and subsequent termination of the cloning operation on Kamino. Leading them was a man in black robes with leather gloves, his pants and boots were matching black but imperial official in style. Each shoulder had a red pieces of armor with the imperial seal on it on each shoulder and a breastplate of dark obsidian in color, an Inquisitor! But the man's face wasn't hidden by a ghoulish helmet or mask, only his eyes were guarded by two black pieces of slender metal with a band around his bald head with a ring of graying brown hair. He was pale skinned with tattoos running down the corners of his mouth, three black lines. He licked the corners of his mouth eyeing Kallus. But the man had no eyes, just soft tissue over where they would be. There was no sign of an operation or even wounds, there had never been eyes to begin with "A… Miraluka?" Kallus asked saying the man's species.
"Wonderful a man of culture, yes my dear Agent I am a Miraluka, one of the last but where are my manors, I am the new Grand Inquisitor, you may call me Jerec." he said giving a lip licking snicker "Now what is this I hear of a padawan killing my students."