Don't judge a book by its cover.
Unexpected allies! During a battle against a Separatist fleet, a mysterious ship piloted by Kairi and company appears in the middle of the conflict, ending up under the protection of the Republic.
On Coruscant, the group of visitors and the Jedi discovered that the artifact they had come to look for was on the planet Xylos, where they are heading to find it after dealing with the criminal syndicate controlling the planet.
At the same time, Count Dooku and his mysterious ally also arrive on the planet, ready to seize the fragment, while a sinister threat looms over the group, which advances slowly over its scrap metal wastelands.
Edea was climbing a large mound of scrap metal and garbage, disgusted by the pitiful state of the planet, but a piece of scrap metal slipped under her foot, causing her to lose her balance and begin to fall backward.
But a hand catches her hand before she falls. Rena looked at her savior, seeing the clone trooper grabbing her hand as she pulled him to help her up the mound. All while more clone troopers around her advanced through the extensive scrap field.
Kairi was breathing tired after walking for a long time next to Skywalker and Kenobi, stopping to catch her breath.
"How long until we get there?" Kairi asked. "I feel like we've walked for hours in this place."
"You are right, lady," Obi-wan said. "We would have arrived faster if the Rameks had lent us some transportation."
"It's a shame you forgot to ask the fairy for that before," Anakin said.
"And why do I think we are taking a detour?" Nina asked landing near them.
"Because that's what we're doing," Kenobi said. "If we had gone straight, we would have come across a huge mountain of scrap metal, which would have been very difficult to climb."
"Right, Eve mentioned something about that," Kairi said.
"What I would like to know is why she hasn't teleported us onto the target." Anakin wondered.
"It's not my fault," Eve said through the communicator. "The teleportation system only works at certain specific points, and to create a jump point you need to have the specific coordinates. Unless you want to be teleported up inside a pile of scrap metal or something worse."
"Understood," Anakin said.
"And by the way, can you tell me again why I have several of your troopers still on board? Moby and Reby are getting nervous with them." Eve asked.
"I'm sorry, but with the Separatist fleet so close, I thought it was best to leave a platoon in case they try to assault the ship," Kenobi said.
"Okay, but you could have already told them not to touch anything without my consent, don't you think?" Eve asked.
"Give them time. You'll see how everything will be fine. Meanwhile, keep your eyes on the radar and let us know if something to worry about comes up." Kenobi said.
"You mean the enemy fleet that is flying over the other side of the planet?" Eve commented.
"Besides that, of course," Obi-wan said.
Ending the communication, everyone continued to advance through the scrap field for a long distance, until clone Rex stopped by raising his hand, causing the entire battalion to stop.
"And now that?" Asked Priere who was right nearby.
"I sent two men ahead to reconnoiter the area," Rex answered. "I haven't heard back from them in a while." Rex bent down to pick something up.
The abandoned helmet of a clone trooper.
"And I felt I knew why," Rex said, before activating his communicator, informing Kenobi and Skywalker.
"Understood. Take extreme precautions." Skywalker said.
"I have a feeling we are not alone in that place," Kenobi said. "But I wonder what it could be."
"I just hope it's not what I think," Kairi said.
"It would be bad luck if those things were here too," Nina said.
"That doesn't make sense," Kairi said. "The Fallen will not become active until after the attack on the Order of the Phoenix in a few years." She said, feeling regretful when saying that sentence.
"Just because chronologically they weren't active until then, doesn't mean those things didn't exist now," Kenobi said. "We have to be alert." Kairi and Nina nodded.
The two companies continued advancing through the scrap metal fields for a long time, until suddenly Rena, who decided to advance to the front, stopped by extending her arm, causing Rex and Priere to stop.
"Something happens?" Rex asked.
"I don't know…" Rena frowned.
Rena stared ahead until she noticed how something among the scrap moved until she came out of the piles of garbage something... strange. What came out looked like someone had tried to put together all the pieces of scrap she had on hand to form a parody of a man made of metal. The 'thing' shook a little until its 'thing's head came towards them, letting out a horrifying 'roar' with glowing red 'eyes'.
Rena was alarmed when she saw this and shot a mana arrow into her head, causing her to dismount on the spot, but more of them began to rise from the ground in different shapes.
"Brilliant. Now we have to fight clanker zombies?" Rex took out his blasters at the same time the clones readied their weapons.
As the metal zombies emerged from the ground, they began to advance towards them roughly but directly with their scrap metal arms extended towards them. This forced the clones to fire at them with their blasters, but they kept appearing.
"All! Fall back!" Rex ordered as he shot at the metal zombies at the same time he backed away like the others.
Rena fired her arrows at the metal zombies while Priere used her demonic magic to keep them at bay, but there seemed to be no end to them.
And the worst of all is that some of these metal zombies came out of the ground right next to some of the clones who were surprised by them, being unable to save themselves from the attack.
Soon all the clones began to fire and retreat to the center of the formation, while Kenobi and Skywalker ran to the front where Rex and the others were.
And the worst thing is that the metal zombies that fell reassembled and got up to continue their attack.
"I see what happened to the explorers," Kenobi said, using the Force to push several of the metal zombies back.
Kairi soon arrived at the front, seeing what was happening, and contacting Eve.
"Eve! Do you see any way out? "We are surrounded!" Kairi asked over the communicator.
"What do you mean, surrounded? I'm barely detecting signs around you." Eve said.
"Well, down here we have metal zombies for everyone!" Exclaimed Edea, who was using the black magician profession, using lightning magic against the metal zombies while she was covered by the clone troopers around her.
"There are more of those things here too!" Makoto exclaimed, sending the head of one of the metal zombies flying that had gotten too close.
"If you don't believe us, look at this!" Skywalker activated a holo-transmitter and launched it among the metal zombies.
On the Gummi Ship, one of the clones activated his holo-transmitter, showing Eve the metal zombies that had appeared.
"Okay, now I see them," Eve said, looking at the holograms of the metal zombies. "That explains why it didn't detect anything. "They are not generating any kind of energy."
"Well, for some reason they are moving!" Anakin exclaimed as he cut down several metal zombies.
At that moment Nina launched one of her lightning attacks against a large number of the metal zombies which were destroyed. Then she noticed something coming out of some of the remains that were destroyed.
"I think I have something," Nina said. "It seems like they have something inside them. "A kind of sphere of light or something similar that only comes out when they are destroyed suddenly."
At that moment Anakin split one of the metal zombies in two vertically, causing it to crumble and release a strange white orb.
"Listen everyone!" Kenobi called. "Try to destroy them so that they cannot be repaired. Aim for the head or its vital points that serve as a nucleus."
"Easier said than done," Makoto said, hitting one of the metal zombies in the head.
Both the group and the clone army began to defend themselves against the metal zombies, this time trying to target their attacks on the possible weak points of said beings, or in cases like Nina, Airy, Priere, and Edea in the black magician's profession, using his magic hoping to cause as much damage as possible to the metal zombies and thus completely neutralize them.
Rena was the one who seemed to have it easier because with her aim she was able to destroy the vital points of the metal zombies with her mana arrows, but in Makoto's case she had to settle for hitting them with enough force to dismantle said parts with her blows.
In Kairi's case, she had to summon Ramuh Form, much to the surprise of those present, to use the enhanced Electro attacks to damage as many metal zombies as she could.
As the battle progressed, they were able to see where the strange orbs seemed to be heading, deciding to advance in that direction but always keeping their attention on the metal zombies that kept rising from the scrap floor.
After advancing a good distance during the constant combat they came across an amalgam of orbs of light floating in a circle. As soon as they prepared to attack, the remaining metal zombies crumbled, releasing more orbs of light, all gathering at the same point until they combined, transforming into a specter in the form of a ghostly head with several faces carrying a large black robe that seemed to act as if it were his body.
"What is that, sir?" Rex asked pointing his weapons at the being.
"What has been bothering us all along," Kairi said pointing his keyblade at him. "A Fallen without a doubt."
Legion screamed terrifyingly, and as he moved his 'arms', a large amount of scrap began to rise and surround him, forming a huge ball of scrap that covered him completely. The clones began to fire in an attempt to damage him, but apparently, their shots did little against it, unable to hit the Fallen inside it.
Then the enormous ball of scrap compacted tightly, suddenly forming what looked like two legs of scrap under the orb and two huge arms of scrap at the sides, at the same time as what looked like the front of the orb disfigured into the shape of a face of scrap metal.
"Okay, does anyone have a plan?" Skywalker asked.
"We're not used to dealing with these things, so I'm open to suggestions," Kenobi said.
"I have one," Priere said as she stood next to him. "Hit it with everything we have and open that thing anyway!" At that moment Priere swung his staff hard at the scrap metal construction.
Only for the staff to get stuck in the metal like a stake.
"Oops," Priere said with a hand on his head. "I don't think I've thought it long enough."
At that moment the rest of the girls in the group gathered with the others, seeing the monster that Legion had transformed into.
"Hello! That thing is huge!" Edea exclaimed.
Rena fired one of her arrows into the scrap metal shell, hitting the bark. "And extremely tough."
"I highly doubt we can damage that thing with the weapons we have," Rex said. "Our missile launchers will barely be able to open that thing."
"Then let's find a way to damage that thing," Anakin said.
"Watch out!" Edea exclaimed, pointing at Legion.
The walking scrap orb raised its hand intending to crush them, forcing them to retreat and stay away from it while the rest of the clones fired at the walking construction with everything they had, hoping that something could break through that airtight shell of scrap.
"This thing is making things too complicated," Nina said.
"Well, as long as we don't open that walking piñata, there's little we can do," Edea said.
Anakin glanced at them both when a voice sounded on his communicator.
"This is Admiral Yularen. Respond, General Skywalker." He said Yularen's voice through the communicator, making Anakin's eyes widen and he turned to it.
"Admiral! "You don't know how happy I am to hear his voice right now!" Anakin exclaimed.
"What's happening?" Rena asked.
"It seems our fleet has finally arrived," Kenobi said. "Which means that Jusgar has already gotten rid of the Fallen invading his ship."
"The fleet has just emerged from hyperspace and is engaging the Separatist fleet, although it seems to be trying to keep its distance. Plus the strange ship of her new friends is not present." Yularen reported. "How's the situation going down there?"
"About the ship, it's on the other side of the planet. And down here we have a very peculiar monster that we can't do anything about with the weapons we have." Anakin reported. "And if you don't believe me, look for yourself." Anakin activated a system so that the fleet could see what they were up against.
"My God! What is that thing?" Yularen exclaimed behind the communicator.
"A little friend that we barely do anything with that armor," Anakin said, backing away to avoid the giant scrap hand. "Send several bombers to destroy the shell. "His explosives should be forceful enough to break that defense."
"Right now, sir!"
"How long do we have to wait?" Airy asked when the conversation ended.
"I hope not too much," Obi-wan said.
The group and the clones continued to stay away from the scrap metal golem until they began to hear a noise approaching.
"Bombers! Take cover!" A clone trooper exclaimed, pointing to the sky.
Several Y-wing bombers appeared from the sky and deployed several bombs that fell on the area, several of them hitting the large walking orb of scrap metal, whose explosion was enough to destroy it, leaving the Legion exposed and stunned by the explosion.
"Well done!" Anakin exclaimed, raising his arm to the Y-wing pilots.
Priere was quick to grab the staff that was free after the explosion, directing her gaze to the Legion.
"Well, let's finish him off before he tries another one of its tricks," Kairi said.
"Fire!" Rex ordered.
All the clones, and anyone who could attack from a distance, began to shoot at Legion, who was trying to cover himself with his tunic against the shots coming from all sides. He even received elemental magic attacks from the group's female magicians.
But after taking enough fire, Legion ducked under the scrap metal. The group stopped attacking and remained alert for anything. Suddenly out of the ground came what looked like a huge dragon made of scrap metal that flew using a pair of enormous wings also made of scrap metal.
"First a piñata with legs, and now a flying dragon?" Makoto asked. "That thing is starting to tire me out."
"You're not the only one getting enough of that thing," Rex said.
"Yularen," Anakin called over the comm. "Send another wave. That thing just has turned into a dragon."
"I will do it as soon as I can, because we have our own problems here, sir," Yularen warned.
"You send the bombers whenever you can," Anakin said.
"Watch out!" Edea exclaimed.
The scrap dragon swooped down on them, forcing much of the group to run to avoid its onslaught, though unfortunately, the monster grabbed several clones with its paws before releasing them from high above them before preparing itself for another diving attack.
"Priere!" Makoto exclaimed throwing a pile of scrap metal at the demon girl, who using her staff hit the pile of scrap hard enough to hit the scrap metal dragon's head, causing it to deflect and stop its attack, although she prepared to launch another stroke.
"Attack with everything! Interrupt any attack that thing launches!" Kenobi ordered.
All the clones present began to concentrate their shots on the scrap dragon so that it could not attack, although sometimes even that was not enough, all of them being forced to move to the sides to avoid the downward sweeps of the scrap monster.
"Sir, we're just wasting ammunition!" Rex exclaimed.
"Keep pushing! We must hold out until they can send more bombers!" Anakin exclaimed.
"Well, if that thing doesn't stop moving, there's little those bombers will be able to do to hit it," Makoto said. "You'll just have to hold it so that the bombs aren't wasted."
"We have a plan for that," Kenobi said.
"Seriously, why don't you use your Esper form and do something?" Airy asked Kairi.
"I'm not sure I can damage that thing," Kairi said, launching a Thundaga at the scrap dragon. "Furthermore, it is clear that this is a distraction. Who knows what we will find later."
Rena continued firing her mana arrows at the scrap dragon until she noticed something on the horizon approaching.
"There they come again!" Rena exclaimed, pointing in that direction.
The scrap dragon turned its head watching the Y-wing bombers approaching there, and tried to fly away from the place.
"Oh no! Nothing of that!" Skywalker exclaimed, using the Force to grab him so he wouldn't run away.
At the same time, Kenobi also grabbed the scrap dragon through the Force so that he couldn't escape. The two managed to hold it off long enough for the bombers to make their pass and drop their bombs on the scrap metal abomination. Upon impact, the explosions caused him to fall to the ground, dismounting and revealing Legion, stunned again by both the explosions and the fall.
"Let's not leave time for him to recover!" Kairi threw her Keyblade at Legion, teleporting to the spot upon impact, and beginning to hit him hard.
But even with those blows, Legion began to raise rubble around him, ready to create another scrap construction.
"Shit!" Kairi cursed, looking around him.
"Duck!" Anakin exclaimed, throwing his lightsaber in his direction, and cutting through the scrap metal between them.
Kairi descended just in time for the lightsaber to pass over him, and due to Legion's weakening, the weapon managed to decapitate him at head height. Scrap metal began to fall to the ground, just as Legion vanished in an explosion of light, releasing every heart and soul he was formed from, leaving no trace of having ever been there.
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief that the Fallen had been eliminated, even Makoto sat on the ground breathing heavily.
"Every day that passes those things become more stubborn," Rena said.
"Don't rest yet," Kenobi said. "We still have to get to the temple, and surely with the time we've wasted here, the place will be full of droids and these things."
"That's right," Eve said over the comm. "I am detecting many signs in the temple area. It is clear that they have been ahead of us."
"We must prevent them from taking the fragment," Kairi said.
Anakin nodded his head. "Admiral, could you send reinforcements and heavy vehicles to our coordinates?" He said into the transmitter.
"I guess I can generally, but what will the Rameks say about that?" Yularen asked into the transmitter.
"I think as long as we don't get into their comfort zone, they won't care," Anakin said, before looking at Kairi who was approaching. "Oh, and by the way, send a cruiser to the position of our companions' ship. It's better to prevent any possible attack from the enemy on it."
"Right now, General."
Anakin then looked at the others. "If everything goes well, the enemy will believe that this thing will have delayed us too much, so we can launch a surprise attack."
"And how will we do it?" Edea asked with her hands on her waist.
"Very simple. We will enter the temple while the clones attract the enemy's attention. Hopefully, they won't be able to focus on us." Anakin said.
"Hopefully?" Nina asked.
"It's Anakin's typical plan. It can always get something out of control." Kenobi said.
"Don't worry," Cody said. "We will take care of keeping the enemy distracted."
"We will make sure they can't focus on anything else," Rex said.
"I hope so. We are not playing much in this battle." Kairi said.
"Calm down," Kenobi said. "Everything will be fine, you can be sure of it." Then he looked up, watching as several transports approached his position.
The droid army and the Fallen had taken over what appeared to be a huge temple made of scrap metal shaped like a ziggurat, while inside the upper part of the temple, Dooku and the possessed tactical droid were watching as some droids were trying to force a heavily armored door.
"In truth, I have to admit that the construction of this place reminds me a little of the Jedi Temple on Coruscant," Dooku said with his arms crossed.
"Surely whoever hid the artifact here relied on that temple to form this place, although clearly on a small scale." The possessed droid said.
At that moment the droids managed to open the sealed door.
"It's now open, sir." One of the droids said.
The possessed droid raised his hand, displaying an image of one of the sought-after fragments. "I need you to search the entire temple and find a small fragment that looks like this. Either they find the object, or they remain like another piece of scrap from this place."
"You have already heard him. Search the place." Dooku ordered the droids.
At that moment hundreds of droids began to enter the temple.
"How important is that artifact?" Dooku asked.
"More than you could imagine." The droid said. "With that fragment, and the others when they are in our possession, it will allow us to unleash the full power of the Fallen over all of reality itself." The droid clenched his metal fist. "At least in my time. But don't worry, when you do your part, I will do mine."
Dooku nodded without saying a word. At that moment an explosion was heard outside, at the same time that the temple shook a little, surprising the possessed droid.
"What's going on?" The droid asked, looking around.
"They are already here," Dooku said, looking askance at the exit.
Outside, the clone army had reached the vicinity of the temple and had begun firing using the cannons of the AT-TE walkers and artillery cannons, hitting both the surroundings of the temple and the temple itself.
"What are you doing?" A B1 droid asked to a pair of crossbow armors. "Attack!"
The droid army began firing at the clone army, but it didn't take long for them to slowly start advancing towards them.
"Here come the clankers," Cody said.
"But those fiends are keeping their position," Rex said pointing to the Fallen.
"Then let's force them to come too," Cody said.
Then the artillery began to fire, focusing on the Fallen who were still holding the position. Despite holding their position, eventually, the Fallen became enraged and began to advance in the direction of the clones, with the wraiths and flying Fallen being the first to arrive.
"Here they are! Blast them!" Cody ordered.
The clones began firing their blasters at the flying Fallen approaching them from the air, trying to keep them occupied, but they were not the only ones to reach their location. Dozens of Red Heads and Skeleton Soldiers began to reach the front rows.
"Contain them!" Rex exclaimed, starting to shoot alongside the other clones.
Despite taking down dozens of them, the faster Fallen began to jump on the clones, although they managed to contain them and eliminate them quickly.
But despite everything, the battle intensified when the droid army got close enough to start firing their blasters at the clones, starting a crossfire between both sides.
Taking advantage of the distraction, the group formed by Anakin, Obi-Wan, Kairi, Edea, Rena, Nina, Priere, Makoto, and Airy managed to approach the temple from one side and began to ascend the stairs of the temple.
"I can't believe this worked," Airy said flying close to the group.
"Believe me, we are used to this more than you think," Kenobi said.
As they ascended, the group dealt with any droids or Fallen that had fallen behind to prevent them from raising the alarm and turning around. Finally, the group reached the top of the temple entering its interior.
Dooku and the possessed tactical droid turned around, watching the newcomers enter the room.
"Dooku. Why I'm not surprised." Kenobi said on guard.
"Master Kenobi, young Skywalker. "It is a surprise to see you here," Dooku said, before turning his gaze towards the girls. "I must assume that you are the ones who have arrived in our galaxy through time, am I wrong?"
"You are not wrong, mister," Rena said, pointing her bow at Dooku.
Kairi frowned, but she looked confused as she looked at the droid, for the robe he was wearing… It was clear that she had seen that robe before.
"Actually, I'm surprised you're cooperating with those things," Anakin said. "Isn't your droid army capable enough of winning this war?"
"Who says I need the Fallen to take on the clone army?" Dooku asked.
"Let's put these inconsequential discussions aside." The possessed droid said. "It is time for the daughter of the Phoenix to be wiped off the map."
Dooku was surprised for a moment when he heard the droid, directing his gaze towards it.
"The daughter of the Phoenix? I think you forgot to mention that the girl was an Esper." Dooku commented.
"Any problem with that, Count Dooku?" The possessed droid asked.
"Let's say that can change the situation a little. Especially when it comes to the daughter of an Eidolon." Dooku said.
"If you're so worried, why don't you distract yourself with the Jedi while I take care of her?" He proposed the droid, causing Dooku to direct his gaze from him to the Jedi.
"Given the choice, I would prefer to take care of both of you at the same time," Kenobi said.
"What is there to worry about? He is nothing more than a droid." Anakin said, using the Force to pull the droid towards him.
But the possessed droid summoned a crystal orb covered in flames that was grabbed by Anakin and flew towards him, but Rena was quick and shot that orb down with an arrow.
"Okay, I didn't expect that," Anakin said with surprise on his face.
"Wait, I've seen that attack before," Kairi said thoughtfully.
Kairi thought for a moment until she remembered where she saw that attack, and who generated it, staring in disbelief at the droid.
"Shaft?" Kairi asked, barely believing she was asking that question.
"You mean the necromancer cat we dispatched in Luxendarc after trying to fool my parents?" Edea asked.
The possessed droid began to laugh, catching the group's attention.
"That's right, Kairi. I have returned from the afterlife to torment you and seek revenge." The droid said as a ghostly apparition of the necromancer cat Shaft appeared superimposed over the droid's body.
"How the hell are you still alive?" Edea asked, pointing her gun at Shaft.
"My connection to the Fallen allows me to do things that could be considered unnatural. Even if that means I must be a Fallen too. And all because of you!" Shaft said, pointing at Kairi.
"Actually, all this caught me by surprise when I met him," Dooku said with his arms crossed.
"You were asking for it by trying to damage my world!" Edea exclaimed furiously.
"It does not matter anymore." Shaft said. "Today I have a chance to redeem myself, and put an end to that brat once and for all."
"We'll see that," Kairi said seriously, transforming into her Esper form, which surprised Dooku quite a bit seeing her looking like that.
"Well, so you can use your father's power, right?" Shaft asked. "This will be interesting."
"Do you forget about the two of us?" Anakin asked.
"And you forget that I have a Sith Lord at my side, Jedi?" Shaft asked.
"In truth, a couple of things have been revealed here that change the entire situation," Dooku said. "Lies exposed, truths revealed. One would think too much about this."
The droid possessed by Shaft looked at Dooku. "Do you forget that we have a deal?"
"Yes, we agreed to cooperate to acquire this fragment in exchange for getting the strange ship from these ladies," Dooku said. "Although I can't help but show certain reservations about fighting with a daughter of the Phoenix."
"Then take care of the Jedi! I will do what needs to be done!" Shaft exclaimed. "And if you continue to obstacle me, I will have no choice but to expose your master's identity, I'm clear?!" He commanded the possessed droid before advancing a little to confront Kairi and the others.
Dooku frowned seriously at Shaft's words, closing his eyes.
"Do you know something? For someone who knows about Sith culture, you have forgotten something very important," Dooku said, advancing to stand behind the possessed droid.
"Oh yeah?" Shaft asked as if he didn't care what Dooku said. "And what is it precisely? Not offer him a worthy rival?"
"No, Shaft," Dooku said, activating his lightsaber.
Without warning, Dooku pierced the possessed droid from behind, surprising everyone present at this betrayal, while Shaft's ethereal face showed confusion and shock, watching the red lightsaber pass through him.
"Never give orders to a Sith Lord," Dooku said.
Shaft's specter looked at Dooku with anger in his eyes. If looks could kill, that look would have practically struck Dooku down on the spot.
"I guarantee it, Dooku. "You will die in the most unlikely way possible, because of the person you least expect." Shaft cursed at Dooku.
"I don't believe in threats from a dead person," Dooku said, drawing his red lightsaber from the droid before delivering a direct slash to the droid to destroy it.
Before he could deliver the final blow, Shaft's cape separated from the droid, beginning to fly ominously around the room trying to escape.
Kairi then pointed her Keyblade at Shaft's cloak. "You should have sent something stronger than that being," Kairi said, before sending a huge fireball from the tip of his keyblade.
When the fireball hit the living cloak, it burst into flames while a ghostly scream of agony was heard, which lasted until the cloak turned into ashes that fell to the ground.
"Well… honestly, I was hoping to take care of him," Edea said, looking at the ashes on the ground.
"Believe me, I don't feel like repeating the fight we had with him in Luxendarc," Rena said.
At that moment, everyone turned their gaze towards Count Dooku, who simply looked at them.
"The truth is, it still surprises me how you treat your allies, Dooku," Kenobi said.
"You know you're alone against all of us now, right?" Skywalker asked.
"Frankly, I like those odds," Dooku said, preparing to fight.
Everyone prepared to face the Sith Lord who was in their way from the fragment, knowing that even if it was just one, Dooku would be a rival to be reckoned with. And even more so if any droid came to support him in the fight.
"Sir!" He exclaimed a B1 droid that was emerging from inside the temple, carrying a small black triangle in its hands. "We have found the object we were looking for! Only I have managed to survive, but I hope that…" At that moment he noticed the girls and the Jedi who were in the room, now directing his gaze at the droid. "Oh, my." The droid said as he backed away.
"Well, what a coincidence," Airy said, looking at the rest of the group. "Shall we let the Jedi deal with the old man while we steal the shard and run away?"
Airy's suggestion made the struggling droid B1 'shudder' and run into the temple to hide or not.
"You," Dooku said to the droid without looking at him, catching the latter's attention. "Give them the fragment."
The B1 droid looked at Dooku 'confused', just as Kairi and the others looked at each other confused, not understanding what was happening.
"I didn't expect that," Anakin said looking at Obi-Wan.
"What are you waiting for!" Dooku exclaimed to the droid who was startled.
Droid B1 began to walk 'in fear' towards the group slowly, even extending the hand with which he was holding the droid. As soon as Priere took the fragment, the droid quickly moved away from them while Priere looked at the fragment.
"The truth is that this has been a surprise," Kairi said.
"Yes, I didn't expect something like that coming from you, count." Kenobi said to Dooku.
"You could say that, if possible, I would prefer to avoid having problems with an Eidolon in the future. And even more so if it is one of the three supreme ones." Dooku explained. "So as you say, from a certain point of view, abdicating in this meeting is the most correct thing possible. Besides, fighting now would be a waste of everyone's time."
"Actually… that's a good idea," Kairi said, vanishing her keyblade and returning to her normal form.
The rest of the group lowered their weapons except for the Jedi until Dooku deactivated his lightsaber, followed by Anakin's and Obi-Wan's.
"I hope that with this we can each go our own way without problems," Dooku said.
"Don't get your hopes up, Dooku," Anakin said, after looking at Kairi for a moment. "Next time you won't be so lucky."
"I'm looking forward to our next fight, young Skywalker," Dooku said.
Count Dooku began to walk around the group until he left the cabin, followed by the droid B1 that did not leave him, looking down at everyone present.
When Dooku was no longer visible, Edea and Makoto sat on the floor, breathing exhausted.
"Goodness," Makoto said, wiping his forehead. "The thought of having fought against Shaft and this Dooku had me on edge inside."
"Yes, we have been very lucky that things have turned out this way," Edea said. "My body is still exhausted after facing that Fallen. I wouldn't have minded facing Shaft, or maybe that Dooku. But both at the same time…"
"Well, at least we have what we came for," Kairi said, looking at the fragment Priere had in her hand.
"You have to see the problems we have had because of a simple triangle," Anakin said.
"Oh, you don't have no idea!" Rena said. "We've been in trouble like this all the time."
"I suppose," Obi-wan said.
"General Skywalker," Rex called over Skywalker's communicator, who answered the call.
"What's wrong, Rex?"
"The droids are attacking the Fallen and ignoring us. Has something happened up there?"
They all looked at each other for a moment.
"You could say that until the Fallen are no longer a problem, let's say we have a truce with the Separatists right now," Skywalker said. "As crazy as that sounds. You let them do their job, and return fire if the droids turn their attention to you."
"Understood sir," Rex replied before cutting the communication.
"Well, I guess there's no silver lining," Kairi said.
"From a certain point of view, yes, that's right," Kenobi said.
"Now we just have to contact Eve to get us out of this mountain of scrap," Rena said. "You don't know how much I want to get back on the grass!"
"And don't forget to take everyone off the planet afterward," Airy said. "We promised the Rameks that we would leave the planet as soon as we were done here."
"True, they won't be happy if we leave some detachment to clean up," Kenobi said. "I would like to ask you to allow us to collect some of the planet's scrap from time to time."
"And I can know why? It's nothing more than rubbish after all," Nina said.
"Don't underestimate this pile of junk. "Sometimes you find hidden treasures among the junk," Skywalker said, as he bent down and picked up what looked like a dirty chip. "Look, an R2 astromech droid chip."
"You mean it?" Priere asked.
"Believe me, he managed to build a protocol droid out of junkyard parts when he was a kid," Kenobi said.
"I don't know why I'm not surprised," Kairi said crossing her arms.
After that, the Fallen were eradicated from the planet after the betrayal of the droid army. Dooku and his fleet left the planet without causing any further problems to the Republic fleet, at the same time the girls were teleported aboard the Gummi Ship, at the same time that Eve teleported the clone soldiers that were on it, which relieved her a lot.
After a quiet trip with the Fleet at her side, and thanks to hooking up with one of the Venators with which the girls were able to have a look at hyperspace, they reached the nebula where the girls had arrived. The ship was preparing to return, but not before having a conversation on monitors with Anakin and Obi-Wan from the Venator.
"Well, I guess this is when you leave, right?" Kenobi asked.
"It's a shame. But it has been good to fight alongside you." Skywalker said.
"Yeah, I guess. "We would like to be here longer, but I don't think we can be fighting droids all the time while we have a mission to complete," Kairi said.
"True. We don't know how much time could have passed on the other side of the vortex." Eve said. "But it's probably the same one we've been here."
"We will dismiss the rest of your share," Skywalker said.
"If this is possible, could you send a message to the chancellor?" Airy asked.
"The fact that?" Obi-wan asked.
"Could you suggest that he campaign against the possible use of Fallen, Heartless, and anything like them?" Airy proposed.
"Good idea. I don't think this war is going to get any better if those things get in the way." Makoto said.
Kairi smiled for a moment.
"Well, I guess this is goodbye," Kairi said. "I am very sorry that you cannot do anything for the Order of the Phoenix…"
"You heard Yoda. "We cannot avoid what has to happen without taking into account the consequences," Obi-wan said.
"Yes I know," Kairi said with her head down.
"Well, it has been an honor to fight alongside the good guys in this war," Edea said.
"Have a good trip," Obi-wan said. "And may the Force be with you."
"And may your heart be your guiding key," Kairi said.
At that moment the communication was cut off. Kairi remained silent while the Gummi Ship entered the Nebula to access the vortex and return to his time.
On the Separatist fleet, Dooku was sitting on the bridge thoughtfully, until he stood up from the chair and knelt on the ground when a hologram of a figure wearing a robe that concealed his identity appeared.
"Lord Sidious," Dooku said. "The cooperation with the Fallen has not gone as we expected. "They were targeting someone who, if caused any harm, could have led to events that would have jeopardized our plans."
"Yeah. Who would have expected that one of those visitors would be the daughter of the Phoenix," Sidious said. "The death of her could have caused unexpected events."
"Yes Master. Still, I wonder why they were so desperate to put an end to it, even at the expense of others." Dooku said. "But if it had not been for these eventualities, we would have acquired a powerful ally in this war."
"Maybe. But considering what happened, I highly doubt that it is correct to contact these creatures and their kind." Sirius said. "We must focus on this war. We are almost ready to finish preparations to launch our final operation, Darth Tyranus. When the time comes, we will make our last move. A move that will lead to the beginning of the revenge of the Sith!"
"Yes Master," Dooku said just before breaking the communication.
Meanwhile, in another world, Goliath was flying over the city heading to the castle under the moonlight. Upon arriving, he advanced through the castle until he reached Xanatos' office, with whom he was meeting with someone.
"I understand your concern, but you can be sure that my intentions will be honest with this operation, as long as we are allowed…" Xanatos spoke until he noticed Goliath enter his office. "Ah, Goliath! Welcome."
"Why did you call me, Xanatos? "It better be important," Goliath asked.
"Certainly," Xanatos said. "Goliath, allow me to introduce my guest, Nick Fury."
Nick Fury stood up from his chair and looked at the gargoyle. "It's as surprising as I was told."
"Who are you?" Goliath asked.
"Let's say that I have come because of a mutual acquaintance that you met recently," Fury said. "A special girl with a keyblade.
"Are you talking about Kairi?" Goliath asked. "What's wrong with her?"
Fury crossed his arms. "Let's say we have received some information related to her, and I am taking action as to what might happen."
"Not to get involved but… aren't you committing what you call interference?" Owen asked.
"A good question, coming from a son of Oberon," Fury said, surprising Owen. "And yes, it could be interference. But because of what we know, some exceptions have to be made."