The Jedi King II: War for the Rim

by Blitzkrieger

The Militia have made their move plunging the Galaxy in a new war, with the Rebels caught in the middle. After Ahkilleon chose stayed in Militia and the New Jedi, he enters an arena of politics, light and dark. Facing either his past he left behind or going forward to seize a future as prophecy fortold to become the Jedi King, but nothing is ever certain and no one can be trusted.

11. Secrets & Demons

Chapter 11

Secrets & Demons

SERENNO

Outside Carannia

Ahkilleon had never been in such agony, not the loss of his hand or the torture of the Inquisitors, this, was by far the worst pain, his first hangover. "Oh stars make it stop." Ahkilleon begged as he puked out behind the tree. Turok sat on an overturned log in the early morning Ahkilleo hurled up another of what he'd consumed the night before "I told you to pace yourself." Turok sighed and then yawned.

Stumbling out of the tree's shadow, Ahkilleon rubbed his face "You handed me the drinks."

Turok shrugged in agreement, "Come on, let's get breakfast."

The two walked back to the camp which was set up in the remains of the forest outside Carnia, Two of the Militia dreadnoughts were landed and had droids, troops and supplies coming in and out of it. Tents were set up for additional forces and charging stations for droids, Ahkilleon followed Turok through the tents and felled wood to make cabins. He looked at droids and regulars who were building the camp "I thought we already took the capital, are we staying long?" Ahkilleon asked.

"Didn't you hear your Master, Serenno is the gateway to the northern reaches, we'll be using it as a staging point for future campaigns besides there are still some sections of the planet that have Imperial presence, it'll be mopping up these holdouts for the next few days." Turok said as he walked ahead.

The lizard turned back, "You know, I'm tired of rations, let's see what they got in the city." he said pointing to a speeder.

"I should go check with Lord Asimov." Ahkilleon said.

Turok shook his head, "I already talked to him, mornings yours to do with what you will, like having breakfast with me." Turok put his mechanical arm over Ahkilleons shoulder and led him across the camp, a fleet of Hawk fighters were lined up on the edge of the woods, and Ahkilleon spotted something that made his heart shatter. Their was a wing of a Hawk fighter stuck up straight, a hologram of the quarren ace Nemo was in front of it with small offerings of flowers, incense and scrolls. Standing in front of it like a sad hound was his R5-unit, Beetoo. The blue and yellow droid stood their it's rounded dome bowed making low sad beeps. "Beetoo survived?" Ahkilleon asked.

"Yeah, the blast that hit Nemo vaporized his cockpit, they picked up Beetoo in the wreckage, shame, Nemo was a great pilot, hell of card player too." Turok sighed as he dragged ahkilleon along till they came to some speeder tanks before they got in and drove off.

From a distance Sigma was watching, he turned away and headed back to Lord Asimov's tent, Ventus and Terro were outside. Sigma walked in and saw Lord Asimov fitting his armor on and looked over his shoulder "Boys heading into the city with Turok, we should go now."

"Anyd word about the Inquisitors bodies?" Lord Asimov asked Sigma, a hologram of Admiral Zygote wasp resent and had been silent till now, "The TIE advanced evaded our fighters and boarded one of the two remaining Star Destroyers before they jumped to hyperspace, as for the creature you call Maw…" Zygote trailed off and looked to Commander Sigma.

"All we found were his legs." Sigma replied.

Lord Asimov dropped the curtain and paced the room "Continue the search for the other half, and prep a squad for the journey to Dooku's palace, droids only." Lord Asimov said.

Later, Ahkilleon and Turok drove the speeder across the remains of no man's land, broken Imperial weapons and trenches were tangled with destroyed Spider Tanks, battle droids continued to pile the dead imperials while taking away Militia fallen. The fires from the battle yesterday had turned into pillars of fading black smoke, many buildings still standing but nearly all of them damaged in some way. Broken windows on many buildings and piles of rubble from where rooftops and walls had been demolished pushed up against the buildings. Militia forces patrolled the streets, the Serennians digging out their homes from the rubble and destruction. Ahkilleon looked back at Turok, "What are our casualties?"

"Don't worry about that." Turok said as they turned a corner to stop at it, there was a restaurant sticking out of the corner of a building the holosign was broken but many Militia were inside eating and drinking their fill. Turok parked the speeder and Ahkilleon got up shaking his head and rubbing his eyes before he followed him as they did a column of captured Imperial Stormtroopers marching disarmed and defeated with a Militia escort passed them. They saw Ahkilleons helmet tucked under his arm "Demon." One of them spat.

Ahkilleon heard him repeat it "Demon?"

He heard Turok snickering, "Your war name."

"War name?" Ahkilleon asked.

"Immortal Dragon, Demon." Turok said pointing to himself and then back to him.

Ahkilleon frowned at the nickname, "Not sure if I like the sound of that."

"Take it as a compliment, the way you fought yesterday, it was like fighting alongside Leo." Turok said walking in, Ahkilleon was glad he didn't see him blush. They were greeted by a loud hoorah of regulars, Ahkilleons eyes adjusted to the inside to see it was a dinner of something, he saw many of the Militia who were sitting get up and start to applause, welcoming him "Alright, alright you dogs, lads got a hangover not so loud." The applause turned to laughter before they found an open booth and sat down.

"Didn't think the speech was that good last night?" Ahkilleon asked, looking out the broken window of the street.

"Not that, a story spread about how you fought last night, how you took a salvo of rockets, buried alive, some said you were dead for a few seconds before you went on the attack, moved so fast I had a hard time keeping up, then again I am getting old." Turok said as a seronnian woman came up. She was young, brown of hair with a slender frame dressed in a purple tunic and apron.

She handed them menus but kept her eyes down, "Whatever you want in the house."

"Much appreciated." Turok said, taking the menu without looking at her.

Ahkilleon could feel the fear coming off her and didn't stop looking at her, "Are you alright?"

"Yes my lord, fine my lord." she said, her voice quivering.

Ahkilleon chuckled, "My Lord?" he asked.

"Yes my lord, sorry my Lord, I didn't mean to offend you my- I'm sorry what can I get you to eat." she said taking out a holopad to write on.

"Two of the specials, whatever that is." Turok said, tossing the menus to her, "Yes sir, right away sir." She said before she hurried back behind the counter, a few of the soldiers leering at her.

Ahkilleon watched her disappear behind a spinning door to the back, "Did you see that Turok, the woman, she's terrified?"

"Well." Turok said, lighting up his pipe "We invaded her planet, sacked her city, and are not paying for this meal." Turok said as he chuffed on his pipe.

Ahkilleon looked out the window to see Militia 'patrols' all had their arms full of boxes, crates, stolen art or bottles, he saw a group coming out of one building carrying stuff, furniture, jewelry, metal cases of maybe credits. He looked around the dinner and saw many of the Militia were the same. "How dare they-" "Lad." Turok grabbed his hand.

"I know what you're thinking, but these men fought hard yesterday, so did you, they deserve something." Turok said.

"And so do the people who live here." Ahkilleon pulled away and got up before he hopped up on a table, "OI!" he shouted. All the militia regulars with their caff and breakfast looked up to him, "All of us fought hard yesterday, do we deserve a reward?" he asked

Lots of nodding heads and replies of agreement, "Good, glad you all feel that way that's why you have the honor of paying for your meals and respecting the Serennians' homes. Take whatever you want from the Imperials, but leave the citizens to be if any of you have an issue with my orders…" Ahkilleon put his hands on his lightsabers but didn't draw them "Speak up." There was a long pause, and Ahkilleon noticed Lt. Breacher sitting in a corner booth smoking his cigar with other officers, Ahkilleon waited for him most of all to say something.

"Good, enjoy your meals." Ahkilleon said before he sat down.

Turok shook his head "You do yourself no favors by denying them spoils." Turok said.

"Seronnians didn't ask for this war." Ahkilleon said.

"Maybe, but don't be so quick to make enemies in our ranks" Turok said, gesturing over to Breacher, who sipped a dark cup of caff.

"Who, Breacher, man's an ass." Ahkilleon grunted as the waitress came back with their breakfast, two plates of bacon, eggs and some fruit. "Thank you, my lord." The waitress whispered.

Turok took the pipe from his mouth, "He's also a veteran of the Clone Wars, and was fighting the Republic when he was your age."

"He was Separatist?" Ahkilleon asked.

"He was a rebel." Turok corrected.

"You mean he-" "No not that rebellion, Breacher's home seceded from the Republic at the start of the Clone Wars, when it became the Empire, he fought them too, I found him when I was still working with your mom, she wanted him to join the rebellion but I new he wanted nothing to do with restoring the old regime." Turok said sipping on his caff.

Ahkilleon looked out the window at the ruined city, "Was it… was it really that bad, the Republic, I know you said it a lot and I never got to see it but my parents fought for it?"

"They fought the ideas of the Republic, but your mother never wanted to admit it, your dad saw the corruption, I… didn't care enough to do anything, I was just along for the ride." Turok said.

"Can I ask you something? "Ahkilleon asked, wanting to change the subject.

"Shoot." Turok replied.

Ahkilleon leaned in "Doesn't all this… seem too easy?"

"You thought last night was easy?" Turok asked.

Ahkilleon shook his head "No, it's just… this, winning against the Empire, I new it would be hard but… we're doing it?"

Turok looked at him long and hard with his one good eye, "It's not over yet, we prepared for a long war Ahkilleon, we watched the Empire, we learned their tactics, their weaknesses, the've been conquering for so long they forgot to defend but it won't be long before they send you know who after us."

"Grand Admiral Thrawn, is he really that dangerous?" Ahkilleon asked.

"Did you really blow up a stormtrooper's head with force lightning?" Turok asked.

Tracing back his memories when he went into a rage he he said "... I think so, yeah."

"Then yes." Turok replied.

Ahkilleon paused and looked at his plate, he had half finished it when he saw the young jedi, Corto, Yumi and others following Master Uzuma. They were following an elderly sereonnian woman and a young child. Getting up Turok noticed Ahkilleon leaving "Where are you going now lad?"

He stopped, "To clean up my mess."

DOOKU'S PALACE

Far from the Capital

A Militia Gunship flew down to the former palace of the long dead Sith Lord and leader of the Separatist Alliance, Count Dooku, his palace was a large structure with a grand tower with two smaller ones sticking out of the main compound. Located on a cliffside overlooking an abandoned city the gunships landed with Commander Sigma, Terro and Ventus walking out of it with Lord Asimov. "What did the scans show?" Lord Asimov asked.

"Abandoned, the intel we took from the Imperial Center said this area was off limits, coming here is a capital offense." Commander Sigma said.

"Good." Ventus said as he kicked a rock, Terro was behind him unloading the B5 droids who came online and marched into position. They had about a dozen in all, "Have two stay with the ship the rest follow us." Lord Asimov ordered.

They walked toward the palace and the main gates were rusted over and sealed shut, "Ventus, Terro." Lord Asimov commanded the two of the war jedi walked up and force pushed the gates down they fell with a thundering klang and the strike team entered, Sigma first with his droids followed by the two jedi and then Lord Asimov. The droids and clone turned their optical lights on, which came in the form of Sigma's X visor glowing up, sending light out and the droids their eyes.

As they walked deeper into the palace, Terro cleared his throat "Excuse me Lord Asimov, but what exactly did Dooku hide down here that the Empire… you know forgot about?"

"Theories is all we have, Caliban suggested it had to be a weapon of some kind, Count Dooku and the Separatists could have easily won the war, you know." Lord Asimov said to him.

Sigma cleared his throat "Begging your pardon sir, but there were a lot more of me back then."

"What is that clone humor?" Ventus asked as they came into a grand hall with a broken green tinted window, it let in sunlight down on a solitary desk on an elevated platform so whoever sat in it would look down at them in superiority. The Grand hall had doorways that led down on each side and a few steps leading up to the platform with the desk.

Lord Asimov walked over to the desk and looked around it, "Droids, scan the area make sure we're alone." Lord Asimov ordered.

"Roger, roger." They all said before they split up and started to go into the corridors disappearing behind them.

"The rest of us will start looking." Lord Asimov said as he sat at the desk and looked around.

CARANNIA

What remains of it,

Master Tai Uzuma had led her padawans to another part of the city where many buildings were demolished or near demolished, B1 droids had all but cleared the road for the Militia troops to walk captured Imperial Stormtroopers with their helmets off hands above their heads, but were doing nothing to help the civilians who were still digging out their homes and loved ones. "This way Master Jedi, this way." The old woman said holding the child's hand Ahkilleon had first seen them through the dinner window.

They came to a collapsed building that was a pile of gray rubble and people digging out rocks with their bare hands, "Please, please my son, my grandsons father is trapped under there, we don't know where but he was in the house when it collapsed please oh stars-" The grandmother said distraught.

"We will do what we can." Tai said as she walked forward she looked to see many civilians were wounded and huddled around small fires to try and keep warm, having to use dirty rags as bandages. "Padawan Vos?"

"Yes?" Both Corto and Yumi spoke up.

Tai sighed, "Corto, see to the wounded, Yumi head back to the Vindicator and grab what medical supplies you can, the rest of you with me."

Ahkilleon came up just as the young jedi and Tai went to work, he watched Tai, Kraggen, Urrde and Fatima use the force to lift the rubble off the ground and a half buried man appeared covered in dust and dried blood, civilians rushed in dragging him out the man moaning in pain. As Corto came up to him and put his hand on the mans forehead to ease his pain and put him to sleep.

"Your handy work I assume?" Yumi asked as she passed Corto.

"I…" "Didn't realize what playing war does, well this is it, Hero." she chastised before she passed him by.

Ahkilleon watched her go before he sighed, he walked forward and at the sight of him many civilians moved away, others flat out ran, Ahkilleon stopped a second before he held his hands up "I'm here to help."

Tai snapped her head to Ahkilleon and approached him "Master Uzuma, I came to see if I could help?" Ahkilleon asked.

Tai grabbed his arm and pulled him away, he yanked himself free "What are you doing?"

"Make sure you don't cause any more of these people to get scared." She said seriously.

"Scared, of me, I helped liberate their city?" Ahkilleo snapped.

Tai looked around at some of the more damaged buildings and folded her arms to her chest, fixing her jaw "They don't see it like that, while you were celebrating the night away with your soldiers the retreating Stormtroopers and civilians who followed were talking about a Demon, who carries two lightsabers, red and blue. They saw he rose from the earth and slaughtered stormtroopers by the hundreds." She said repeating exaggerated stories.

He glanced at some of the civilians, "But I can help you dig people out, I may not be able to heal but I can lift, please?" Ahkilleon asked.

Tai glared at him long and hard before sighing "The padawans and I can dig out the rubble, Yumi is getting medical supplies but what I could really use is logistical support, have the Militia send what droids you can to help the relief effort, food, medical supplies. If you and Asimov really wanted to win this war you'd focus on the people, not the planets." she said before she walked away.

"Consider it done." Ahkilleon replied before he hurried off to go do as she asked.

DOOKU'S PALACE

The droids had taken up positions by the main chamber, Lord Asimov kept feeling around the desk and the others looked in every coroner and had found nothing. "My Lord?" Ventus asked.

"Something has to be here, something…" Lord Asimov paced around the table and looked up at the window when he stopped, he looked it long and hard, the green triangular glass was encased in an intricate design with a round center that looked like and eye, he followed it's gaze to the throne behind the desk with had a narrow slit in it that he walked around and looked at it where it ended on the floor. Commander Sigma stood there and Lord Asimov walked around it before he went into the sunken floor "Ventus, Terro with me."

The two war jedi approached their leader and he held out both hands, the other two shrugged and did the same, Commander Sigma moved and the whole ground began to shake. He heard a loud crack and the sound of metal moving that hadn't for years, the floor split in a straight line and then fell down an inch before receding under the rest of the floor and to all of their surprise a stairwell into darkness appeared. Lord Asimov walked forward "Ventus, Terro guard the entrance, no one passes." Lord Asimov said.

"Guard duty but we… yes my lord." Ventus sighed.

The two disappeared down into the darkness and the other two remained up above, "Twenty questions?" Terro asked.

Ventus looked at him, turning his head slowly "... Are you a tank?"

"... dammit yes." Terro replied.

"My turn." Ventus replied.

CARANNIA

Militia Forward Camp

Ahkilleon had returned to the ships and tents outside the city, he moved quickly and saw that the whole camp was on the move. Barracks were being broken down, crates loaded on to speeders. He spotted Jay, Gabi and Rulf the Cadets he had shared bunks with for about a day helping move stuff. "Jay!" Ahkilleon called out, Jay turned around but both Rulf and Gabi dropped their stuff and saluted fist over their chest, "Captain, sir."

Jay just smirked, "Uh at ease." Ahkilleon said.

"Whats going on?"

"Admiral Zygotes orders, we're moving base into the city now that it's secure, the Imperial Center will be turned into HQ going forward while we secure the planet." Jay said holding a crate.

Ahkilleon blinked "Where's my Master?"

"Dunno, Gabi spotted him, his two bodyguards and Sigma heading west, why?" Jay asked.

Ahkilleon paused, "I need droids to help with the cleanup of the city, Master Uzuma and the other Jedi are tending to the civilians."

Rulf scoffed, "Something to say Rulf?" Ahkilleon asked.

"No, Captain uh… just dust in my nose." Rulf scrunched up his freckled face and acted like he was fighting a sneeze, to hide what he scoffed at.

"Where is Admiral Zygote?" Ahkilleon asked.

Jay gestured over to Lord Asimov's tent, "He's still aboard the Shatterpoint in Orbit, but his hologram is in a war meeting." Ahkilleon nodded at Jay before he headed to the tent, "Oh and Captain, congrats on the promotion must be something being Asimov's apprentice too." Jay winked before he headed off.

Later Ahkilleon was in Lord Asimov's tent, and a short conversation he was still unsure where to find Lord Asimov "What do you mean Lord Asimov is indisposed?" he asked Admiral Zygote who was still a hologram, as he was aboard the Shatterpoint still in orbit. There were a few of the Vanguard's senior officers in the room all looking at Ahkilleon, "Admiral, all I need is one platoon of battle droids, to help Master Uzuma."

"Master Uzuma has been given adequate resources for her… relief effort." The quarren said his eye patch glinted a bit to make the senior officers laugh.

"We almost destroyed the city, the least we can do is-" "Least we can do, Captain?" Admiral Zygote snapped.

He turned around his green hologram walking toward him, "Hundreds of Militia spill their blood to save these boot licking Serennians from the Empire and now you want to give them free handouts?" the Admiral asked, now Ahkilleon new what Rulf was scoffing about.

"No, but I-" "Are a Captain in the Militia, and your main priority will be getting your squad ready to take the southern hemisphere from the Imperial holdouts, that is all Captain." Admiral Zygote said curtly turning around, Ahkilleon felt his anger rise but something in the back of his head told him he could fight his way out of this. Jay, yes being Lord Asimov's apprentice must have some weight.

Ahkilleon thought of something that he and Ezra had perfected, lying "Roger, Roger, I'll be sure to relay to Lord Asimov and the Jedi Council who requested we take more humanitarian focus on the civilians here, that my request for battle droids was denied." he gave salute and turned to leave.

"Wait…" Zygote sighed turning, he eyed Ahkilleon his tentacles waving as if he were pursing his lips, "One platoon." he said holding up his mechanical claw, "As you wish, Admiral but I will need additional Militia personal to direct the droids, three cadets come to mind."

Back in the western district of the city, Uzuma and the young jedi, they had set up a makeshift hospital in the shell of a building that was still standing, The sound of clanking battle droids deafened Corto's concentration before he got up and walked out to see Ahkilellon with Jay, Rulf and Gabi standing in front of the tent, "Platoon halt!" Jay shouted, "Platoon, turn!" Jay commanded as all the B1 battle droids who had followed them from the forward camp stood at the ready. Uzuma and the other young jedi came out to see the battle droids and Ahkilleon smiled "Ready and able Master Jedi." Ahkilleon said up to Tai.

She walked up to him, she didn't smile "Good, start with clearing the rubble from homes, and bringing any wounded you find here."

"Roger, roger." Ahkilleon said before he turned to Jay, the cadet sighed under his beret "Clankers! Clean up and search and rescue, any civies we bring'em here?" The droids all saluted in the Militia form to Jay before they started to spread out like ants and start to dig into the rock.

Rulf and Gabi stood there watching, "At least we get a break from work?" Gabi said, "Heads up." Ahkilleon had tossed both of them a shovel and picked one up himself.

"Us too, come on." Ahkilleon said following the droids.

Yumi sneered as they walked away from the hospital, Corto smiling next to Jay, she walked up with them "Jay." She said, "Yumi." he replied.

"Oh and Corto's here." Corto said leaning on Jay's shoulder smiling, "How'd he convince old squid face to let us borrow droids?" Corto asked.

Jay shrugged, "No idea, at least someone's taking an interest in the people here."

"We were already here?" Yumi hissed hands on her hips "Yeah, who else then a Jedi would?"

Yumi gritted her teeth "He's not a jedi like us."

Bending his neck and groaning through his teeth "Oh you don't have to tell me." Jay said, "Rumor has it he fought like hell, you should here what the men and the enemy are calling him."

"Darth Smugface?" Yumi asked.

"No, Demon."

DOOKU'S PALACE

The Necropolis

Lord Asimov and Commander Sigma made their way down a winding corridor of steps that led ever deeper into the cliffside, Lord Asimov's yellow greatsaber led the way with Commander Sigma's optics on his helmet lighting their flank. "My Lord, permission to speak freely?" Sigma asked as they waded into the darkness.

"Granted." Lord Asimov said walking holding his saber up high the hallway leveling out and they walked across ancient dark stone.

"You said you wanted to be a better Master to the kid, right?" Sigma asked him "And I'm all for you being the best version of yourself, but…"

Lord Asimov stopped, "But what?"

"I just don't want you loosing sight of our plan, for the Militia, for the future, we know the other factions won't go along with us when we… do it." Sigma said lowering his blasters.

Lord Asimov turned, "Do you have faith in my Commander?"

"I trust you with my life, my lord." Sigma replied.

"Then trust my judgment." Lord Asimov replied.

"I would, but if the kids going to be your apprentice, then we shouldn't hide this from him, yeah I didn't like him much when we first met him, but he's part of the Vanguard, and if Sovereign Destiny's goals are to happen we can't be distracted with worrying if the kid goes along with it or not?" Commander Sigma said.

Lord Asimov was silent, "When you told me the plan, the real plan to defeat the Empire I thought you were talking about you my Lord, my K-"Enough." Lord Asimov said quickly.

"I can not wear such a title, if the plan is to work, Ahkilleon must not know about it, we must prepare him to be the leader the Galaxy needs, not the one it deserves."

"Galaxy?" Commander Sigma asked, "To hell with the Galaxy, the Core and the Mid rim could burn for all I care, we're the Outer Rim- no the Frontier, the future is ours." Commander Sigma turned around "And if we are to have a future, we must find the secrets of the pass, come, I sense we are close."

Commander Sigma followed Lord Asimov deeper into the necropolis passing by tombs and graves of mummified Dooku's of bygone eras. Finally the came to a great door it was made of stone and not metal lie most, showing just how ancient it was. Lord Asimov held his hand out and for a second the door trembled before Asimov raised his arm up and the door rose revealing the final crypt. "Is this…?" Sigma asked.

"No." Lord Asimov said walking in "Nobody knows what happened to Dooku's body, he died at the Battle of Coruscant at the end of the Clone Wars, but that's it, this was going to be his tomb." The entered a dark chamber and a single sarcophagus lay a statue of an imposing man in his sagely years stood in front of a single lit brazer, it illuminated the fire and then Asimov slashed his lightsaber across the tombs top and pushed it off with his boot.

"What is it-" suddenly they heard a loud stiff crack of stone, the statue moved. The Statue of Dooku's eyes cracked open with red light and its rock frame cracked as the joints began to move and walk toward them, Sigma opened fire but his blaster bolts only chipped the stone. Lord Asimov grunted "His booby trap was himself, stars Dooky was pretentious in his old age." Lord Asimov dodged the statue as it smashed the sarcophagus's upper area sending rocks everywhere.

Both Sigma and Asimov dodged it and Sigma kept firing, the statue moved with surprising speed to smack Sigma away hitting him against the wall before it turned to Asimov, it rushed him swinging it's massive rock fists at him before Sigma stepped aside and pressed an open palm on the statue's chest, it looked down and Asimov said "Shatter." The statue froze, the whole stone cracked like glass and fell off revealing the metal skeleton of droid parts and wires underneath before it fell apart in an explosion of gears and joints.

Groaning Sigma got up "Lord Asimov what-" "Shatterpoint Commander, an old Jedi trick finding the weakness in an otherwise impenetrable object."

"The coffin, whats in it, I didn't see." Sigma said as they walked back over and looked inside "Whatever it was, it's gone now." they looked inside to see it was empty.

CARANNIA

Western District

Back in the city, the sun had started to turn into the afternoon and Jay slouched down on a large piece of rubble, his sleeves rolled up beret sweaty from hours of shoveling rocks. "So here we are, Serenno, former capital of the Separatists alliance, shoveling rubble, this is life." Jay said as Gabi and Rulf snickered while Ahkilleon shoveled rocks into a bucket for the droids to carry away, the other droids had formed a line of ant like workers moving the rubble. They had cleared the streets and helped the Jedi set up a proper hospital tent in the skeleton of a partially demolished buildig.

"Beats doing nothing." Ahkilleon said.

"Guess so, but what do we do after?" Gabi asked.

"After?" Jay asked.

The nemodian girl shrugged "Yeah, after the war, come on you all have plans right?" She asked.

Rulf tossed a large chunk of rock off some rubble saying "Yeah well first we need to get to the end."

"You want to go first, come on Rulf, what do you want to do after the war, you don't want to stay in the Militia forever, do you?" Gabi asked him with her bug eyes wide.

Dusting off his hands Rufl hummed to himself, "Militia said they'd offer land to any of the planets we liberate or find, when I find the right one, I'm gonna take a claim and build a house, then a town, be Consul maybe."

"Your dream after the war is to… be a politician?" Ahkilleon asked him.

"Hey every world needs one, they get a Consul for the people, a Warlord for the planetary militia, and then a Jedi." Rulf said.

"Jedi?" Ahkilleon asked him.

Rulf nodded, at him "Yeah, didn't they tell you, to help protect the planet, Selucami already has settlers moving in, they named General Kleeve Warlord and are holding elections for the Consulship, probably send a jedi there too any ideas."

Ahkilleon blushed, embarrassed he wasn't more informed, "I uh… couldn't say."

"What about you Jay, career or something else?" Rulf asked seeing he wanted to change the subject, Jay wipes sweat from his brow and cocked his brow, "Dude, my dads the General, I have to stay in the Militia."

Gabi walked over to him and wrapped her long green arm around his shoulder "Oh come on Jay, you don't have to, but if you wanted to try something else, what would it be?"

Jay smirked at her, "Musician."

"Musician?" both Ahkilleon and Gabi asked at the same time, "He's actually a really good singer." Rulf said digging out some pipes and throwing them back into the ben for the droids to take away.

Gabi snickered "Well you'll sing at my promotion then, me, I keep it simple, get me a bright blue starship and we fly till the hyperdrive comes off." She said as she walked up the small mountain of rubble, "And you all come with me, we'll make a trip from here to the Chiss Ascendancy just nothing but the open hyperspace lanes, we'll fight pirates, smuggle spice, meet some Zeltrons haha-"

KA-KRAAK!

The smile on Gabi's face was the last thing they saw before she looked down to see a searing hole in her chest that Ahkilleon could look right through to see the scope glint of a "SNIPER!" Jay screamed, tackling Rulf and pulling him down behind the rubble. screams from the civilians around the medical tent skyrocketed and Ahkilleon slid down the rubble behind it as Rulf screamed "Gabi! Gabi!" the big red head tried to climb over the rubble to get to her but Jay pulled him back.

Looking over Ahkilleon saw Gabi roll over; she was still alive, blood running out of her mouth as she coughed up holding her chest, Ahkilleon saw the glint coming from the city's outer forest, opening no man's land between them and it. He heard the crack of the sniper. He ducked down feeling the laser bolt zap the rocks just above his head sprinkling him with dust and gravel, "GABI!" Rulf shouted before Jay tackled him back down.

Thinking fast Ahkilleon got back and held his hand up he focused on Gabi lying two meters in away from them up on the rubble and he pulled, she screamed out feeling invisible ropes pull her down behind the rubble with her and she rolled over at the feet of the boys, the green skinned neimoidians greenish gray blood running down her lips "Medic!" Jay shouted.

With her safety Ahkilleon grabbed his helmet with the force and slipped it on, running out "All droids to me, focus fire on the tree line!" he shouted drawing his sabers, he saw the medical tent was over crowded with civilians who weren't already behind cover, Corto squeezed his way out with a med kit and ran through the sniper fire, past Ahkilleon giving him a brief look before he slid behind the rubble and pushed Rulf off Gabi, "Hold still, I got you, I got you."

Ahkilleon sensed danger and deflected another sniper shot into some rubble, "There, open fire!" Ahkilleon shouted pointing at the trees the droids opened fire, but the sniper was gone and out of the trees rolling straight toward them were three TX-225 GAVw 'Occupier' combat assault tanks and behind them almost a full battalion of stormtroopers.

"Oh shit." Ahkilleon said before he shouted "DEFENSIVE POSITIONS!" Ahkilleon barked at the droids who all got to cover as the tanks opened fire on the crumbling buildings, Ahkilleon looked over to the medical tent, the civilian were in danger he saw Yumi outside with Master Uzuma, Kraggen, Urrde and Fatima "Get the civilians out of here." Master Uzuma said, taking out her lightsaber.

Yumi looked at the small army of imperials and the sounds of battle making her freeze, "Yumi, go." Tai barked, shaking her. Yumi snapped to attention "You heard Master Uuzma, move, move." she said as they started to hurry the civilians down the street and into a back alley to give them cover to escape.

Ahkilleon looked at Tai who came up to join him. "We can't hold this position against that, we only have a hundred droids and the two of us." She said,

"Two jedi against an army?" Ahkilleon said under his helmet "I like those odds." he said pressing the comlink button behind his helmet's ornamental lekku "This is Captain Tano, we have contact with the western district, tanks and infantry I need reinforcements!" As he said it, he saw Uzuma's green lightsaber flash over his face deflecting a shot from the sniper.

"And artillery on the forest lines." Ahkilleon added.

He lowered his saber arm, the tanks were pulling over the craters of no mans land and opened fire on the two jedi, they split heading to rubble as droids opened fire on the tanks and stormtroopers who were using the occupier tanks for cover. Ahkilleon had returned to the cadets, Corto was wrapping up Gabi's chest and she kept coughing up blood "Get her out of here." Ahkilleon told them. Rulf and Corto picked up Gabi and started to carry her away into one of the alleys. Jay had picked up an E-5 blaster and was using it over the rubble.

"Jay, get moving."

Jay slid back down and let his blaster rifle vent before it overheated, "All do respect Captain, shove it up your ass." he said before he opened fire again.

The tanks were forming a line and started to blast into the droids thinning out their numbers, "We need to take out those tanks before the stormtroopers can get a foothold." Tai shouted at him. Ahkilleon got up and ran to the nearest building be broke down the door and ran up a flight of stairs, he dashed to a nearby window facing the next building and jumped through it, and then again and again before he landed in the upstairs room of the building closest to the first tank, he backed up a few steps and ran out to the street facing window bursting out he landed behind the tank and dragged his lightsaber tips across the fuel reserves in the back before he force pushed himself away to the next tank the first one exploding. He landed on it and drove his sabers down into the roof, slicing it open and scissoring off it's turrets. The stormtroopers behind the tank opened fire on the jedi, quickly deflecting it he jumped out in front of the tank and slashed it's guns on each side. But rolled out of the way to avoid getting rolled over. With the second tank all but weaponless and a giant battering ram the third tank had wheeled around and opened fire on him. The ground ripped out from under him just after he backflipped away.

He started to deflect the stormtroopers' fire too a barrage of lasers blasting at him, then Tai appeared beside him taking the flak with him before she used the force to overturn the last occupier tank in a show of great strength. "Show off, we need to fall back." She said,

"I never could do things subtle." he said while the stormtroopers pushed them back, the droid numbers were less than half and the B1's were starting to back up with them, Jay kept falling back but everytime he opened fire he got at least one or two stormtroopers. "Captain Tano, be advised reinforcements are on their way, eta fifteen minutes."

Tai overheard the coms in his helmet "What they say?"

"Fifteen minutes till reinforcements get here."

"We don't have fifteen, we need to fall back." Tai said, deflecting more shots.

Ahkilleon saw the stormtroopers kept advancing, the piles of rubble they had made to be cleared were being used as cover and there were so many they filled the streets like they were on parade, "If we fall back then the imps could overrun this whole part of the city."

"Fine, we hold." she said

"No, we attack." Ahkilleon said running at the stormtroopers, he let out a blood curling roar and unleash his fury. His red and blue lightsabers became a whirlwind of energy that severed limbs and heads, he cut down the stormtroopers closest to him deflecting their shots knowing they were so close any deflect would hit a stormtrooper. These stormtroopers hadn't attacked the militia's landing sight, they hadn't chosen a military target.

NO.

These imperial bastards had attacked the weakest part of the city, a civilian hospital.

Innocents caught in the crossfire who didn't ask for the Empire, or the Militia. "You want war…." Ahkilleon used a sweeping fore push to knock back the stormtroopers around him, he twirled his sabers "I'LL GIVE YOU WAR!" leaping like a tiger he bit down with his sabers into them, he poured all of his anger and malice into each strike, feeding on their pain and fear. It pushed him harder, faster, stronger and he relished in the suffering he was bring back to colonizers who deserved as much mercy as they gave.

None at all.

Soon the bodies started to pile up and the stormtroopers who were still brave enough to push forward soon had their own men turning on them and running "Run, run He's a Demon!"

"Cowards- traitors!" Ahkilleon heard a thick core world accent shout, he saw an Imperial officer in armor with an open face helmet holding a pistol, he turned the blaster pistol on the fleeing stormtroopers before Ahkilleon grabbed him with the force. He dragged the Imperial Commander toward him legs kicking with an invisible noose around the commanders neck.

Lifting him up the remaining stormtroopers started to run away "What kind of man attacks a hospital!" Ahkilleon shouted at him.

"Hospital ha-, you barbarians think you can defeat our Empire, our ships will blot out the stars and we will burn you in your own cities till-ACK" Ahkilleon grabbed him with his metal hand and crushed his windpipe before he sense the glint of the sniper. He used the dead imperial's body as a shield before dropping it. Suddenly three Hawk starfighters flew overhead dropping ordinance on the tree line lighting it up with explosives. Canonfire echoed in the distance and imperial stormtroopers in full retreat ran through it to get back to the now burning woods.

Letting go of the battle rage Ahkilleon looked back to see the Militia reinforcements had arrived, Turok pulled up on his speeder with a dozen militia regulars, Lt. Breacher one of them, repurposed imperial troop transports opening with other regulars getting out. Or driving past them to pursue the enemy. Ahkilleon walked past them taking off his helmet his hair glossy from sweat he looked at the helmet seeing some blood on the glass visor, wiping it with his thumb he saw two yellow sith eyes staring back at him, he blinked and saw they were green again.

"Lad." Ahkilleon looked back to see Turok, and he sighed "Right time, right place." Turok said walking up to him, Ahkilleon looked around to see the civilians' homes were now all but rubble from the skirmish.

"At what cost." Ahkilleon muttered.

Later after the Militia had refortified the western district, the civilians had returned to the hospital tent, more supplies being unloaded from transports to set up makeshift homes and soup kitchens. Gabi was laying down next to a sitting Rulf who held her hand, Ahkilleon and Tai stood apart before he approached them "Cadet Jay will be alright, that sniper didn't know much about Nemodian biology, missed her heart."

"She was lucky you were here Corto." Ahkilleon sighed in relief as Jay came over to check on his friends, "Lucky you dragged her to safety, Ahkilleon." Corto said patting him on the shoulder.

The young Jedi Captain looked at the civilians receiving food, shelter and aid, "You think they'll be able to rebuild?" Ahkilleon asked Master Uzuma.

"I sense they will, so long as there are those who can offer a helping hand." Tai said, hands behind her back. Ahkilleon looked on as more assistance was handed out from the transports.

"Thank you for letting me help Master, it was the least I could do and for what it's worth I'm sorry, this happened." Ahkilleon replied.

She nodded "I hope this helps you understand that as Jedi, we are not soldiers, we are peacekeepers, healers."

Ahkilleon looked down and took a breath "With my utmost respect Master, I disagree, if we are keepers of the peace doesn't that mean we should fight for it, if you and I hadn't been here who knows how far those Imperials would have gotten into the city?"

"Fighting for what you believe in is admirable but I fear you enjoy it too much, to revel in the chaos of war, and bask in the glory it brings you." she said, eyeing him suspiciously.

There was a long pause, Ahkilleon remembered how good it felt to drive the Imperial forces back, to kill the Commander who led the assault "I do."

"What?" She asked shocked, "Padawan, to take pride in violence, willingly seek to harm others for revenge; this is not the Jedi way."

"No, but it is mine." Ahkilleon said facing her he held up one fist and a hand on his chest "For as long as I could remember the one thing I was good at, no, the best at was fighting. I can fly a starship but I can't always fix it. I can speak a few different languages but I'm no linguist. I'm strong but I can't rip a droid's arms off or think of a great plan on the fly, but I can fight like a demon." Ahkilleon said the hand on his chest turning into a fist he looked at it holding the closed fist tight sparks of force lighting "I was born with something that has always pushed me further, harder than my own teachers. Last night, I finally accepted it and I was a foold to think less of it." Ahkilleon uncurled his fists and held his arms at his side while he continued "I've listened to other jedi than you, ones I respect and admire who tell me to hold back, to slow down or else I'll go too far… I've seen what that unfettered power can do to the ones I love, and it's for them I will never stop fighting until every last Imperial garrison is driven from the Outer Rim, and all know my name Ahkilleon Tano, the Demon who defied an Empire." Ahkilleon said looking up to see ai gunship land, Lord Asimov got out with Commander Sigma.

Ahkilleon gave Master Uzuma a respectful bow, "I will see to it you receive all the supplies and security you need, Master."

Tai, who was unfazed by the speech, whispered "And when you save us from the Empire, who will save us from you."

Ahkilleon stopped but he said nothing, knowing that the path of blood was the one he would walk. He approached Lord Asimov and bowed "Master."

"Quite the mess you saved us kid." Sigma said like Rex would to Ahoka.

He gave them a Tano smirk and replied "I try."

"Do or do not there… are better times for old Jedi Proverbs, come I have much to tell you." Lord Asimov said leading his apprentice away "What is it Master?"

Lord Asimov led him back into the city "It regards the Inquisitors, they both escaped with something very precious, something dangerous that was hidden here on Serenno."

IMPERIAL SPACE
The Seventh Fleet, Chimera Flagship

Far from Serenno on the borders of the Mid Rim the seventh fleet had received the two damaged warships from Serenno, Grand Admiral Thrawn stood on his bridge looking at the hologram of the planet Serenno next to Jerec, "Dooku's home world was a waste of resources, with the Militia commiting more of theirs to it they continue to stretch their ranks." Admiral Thrawn said, walking around the table.

Grand Inquisitor Jerec walked around it as well one hand brushing against it never letting Thrawn get too close, he licked his lips "Ah so that is your plan, you mean to stretch them like a rubber band before it snaps?"

"The problem when facing an enemy you underestimate is they often surprise you, as they have so many Imperial garrisons so far, but the Emperor has informed me that the Seventh Fleet will soon be needed." Thrawn said stopping, the door opened to the bridge and Yun walked in, beside him with a cybernetic hover pod holding him up was Maw, alive.

"Ah my disciples, welcome." Jereck licked his lips "Most of us at least." Yun said joking at Maw's expense, the inquisitor growled at him.

"Did you recover it?" Jerec asked Yun.

Yun reached into his robes and produced a small parcel handing it to Jerec, Thrawn said nothing he just watched with his blood red eyes "Ahh yes, during my time as a Jedi, Count Dooku was one of the most respected Masters of the Order even into his Exile." Jerec said, licking the corners of his mouth as he continued "In my youth, I would press him about his travels, free of the corrupt Councils oversight, the Count traveled far and wide to places lost to the Galaxy, one coveted by the Jedi above all else." Jerec said as he uncovered the parcels wrapping to reveal a leather bound book.

Thrawn looked at it but his face was emotionless "The journal of Count Dooku, no holodevices, no computer memories, paper, untraceable, unhackable hmhmhm, old tricks that always work." Jerec licked his lips.

"And pray tell, what was this coveted place?" Grand Admiral Thrawn asked.

"Why my Grand Amidral, the Valley of the Jedi, said to hold unimaginable power from the spirits that dwell there, Jedi and Sith." Jerec said as he opened the book and turned the pages, "With this we have our fist key to finding it."

Thrawn didn't move, but he did ask "Coordinates?"

"No, a name, here is… 'In my travels, I encountered many jedi traveled the stars, seeking knowledge, justice-' meh 'And I have met one who claims to have found the lost Valley of the Jedi, his name is Qu Rahn'." Jerec smiled up at Thrawn with his glasses glenting and continued "He alone knows the location of the Valley, and with him we will deliver the Emperor the power greater than his own Armada." Jerec closed the book with a smile

"And how do we find this Jedi, we are yet to uncover the location of the Militia stronghold Arcadia, and the fleet over Raxus is defended by Admiral Trench, who even I would hesitate to face though… I would accept the challenge." Thrawn said pacing around the table.

Yun smiled, and Jerec smiled to "Oh my dear Grand Admiral, our powers in the force give us great sight, Qu Rahn has left the the Militia and the New Jedi."

"Left, a deserter, most unlike a Jedi unless he had a good reason?" Grand Admiral asked.

Jerec nodded "Yes, a good reason indeed, as you know my former brethren were misguided in their loyalty to the Republic, a sentiment Qu Rahn holds to, for he has joined the Rebellion, we find the rebellion and we find Qu Rahn."

It was Grand Admiral Thrawn's time to smile.