Bellassa:
Kara immediately moved forward, ripping the power cables out of Via's back. Via pulled herself to her knees, shaking with relief. She grunted in thanks, struggling to stand up. Her lightsaber had fallen from Thane's hand before he'd toppled over the edge and Via quickly retrieved it. Kara loaded her last power pack into her rifle. She had seven shots left. KT returned to her shoulder just as they begun to make their way to the door.
'Let's hope Wes is still around and we can get out of this place' called Via, leading the way out. They hurried down the corridor, their footsteps echoing loudly ahead of them. If anyone was waiting for them around the corner, they would almost certainly be heard. They made their way down a maintenance shaft, hurrying down the stairs and into a conference room. The doors behind them slid shut, locking automatically and Kara instinctively knew it was a trap. They had been cut off.
Her suspicions were confirmed moments later. From in front of them, the remainder of the Phantom Order entered into the conference room, fanning out around the table. She saw Selethen limping, and Clips angrily rubbing his chest. All of them had their weapons trained on Kara, which Kara knew was a mistake. The real threat, was Via. Via ignited her lightsaber and took a defensive stance, eyes flicking back and forth.
Kara placed a hand on Via's shoulder. 'Sometimes, you have to pick your fights.' Via looked at Kara angrily.
'Everyone! Thane lied! I didn't desert. I was shot down by space raiders' explained Kara pleadingly, looking at her comrades.
'You aligned yourself with a Jedi,' scorned Diano, who had returned to consciousness.
'You have to understand. Vader is going to execute you all. The Imperial Inquisitors are going to replace you. You have to trust me,' begged Kara, looking at each of them. They were looking at each other, not sure what to do.
'Then I am with you, Commander' called Clips, stepping from the ranks of the Phantom Order. Brock stepped forward. Selethen. Rodin. Filler. Chaff. Sadie. One by one, the rest of the Phantom Order joined Clips. Just as Diano stepped forward, the door behind them slid open.
He was large and broad, with black armour covering his torso and legs. A black cape fluttered out behind him and he had a triangular mask, that looked like the head of a raven. Dark shadows flickered around the edge of his cape, colouring uncertainty all around him. Kara didn't know who he was, but he was trouble.
The warrior ignited a red lightsaber in his hand. Via's eyes narrowed and Kara's jaw dropped. 'You will pay for your treason' he stated, confidence and power resonating with his voice.
With savage ease, he tossed his lightsaber at the nearest Phantom Trooper. His blade spun through the air, carving a path through several of Kara's friends and comrades, curving through the air. One after the other, the troopers collapsed. The lightsaber returned to the man's hand and he spun it around his fingertips as though it was a toy.
'No' screamed Kara, running towards where Clips had toppled over, his right arm completely severed. Via raised her hand in Kara's direction and Kara was pulled off her feet, pulled away from the lightsaber wielding warrior. Clips looked up from where he lay and drew his pistol, pointing it at the new arrival. Before Clips could take a shot, the man stepped forward and sunk his saber through Clip's chest, instantly killing him.
'We need to get out of here' called Via, already breaking into a run for the doors behind them. Kara spun around, sprinting after her. Via used the force to open the doors behind them. Clips' killer chased after them, his long strides carrying him towards them with incredible speed. Kara broke out of the conference room through the door opposite the way they had come, only a second behind Via. The man raised his lightsaber above his head, breaking into a run.
Before he could get through the doorway, an emergency blast door sealed the doorway, locking automatically. Kara looked down to the manual override, where KT was. She had initiated the lockdown sequence. Not even the force could break through that blast door. Unfortunately, a lightsaber could.
Kara moved forward, scooping the droid up and the second she had stepped away, the red lightsaber blade emerged from the doorway, ploughing a small hole through the door. Kara swore, running away, closely followed by Via. Kara arrived at the elevator first, spinning around and using the buttons to shut the door. Via slipped inside. Kara continuously pressed the button, jabbing her thumb into it. The trooper had already carved his way out of the conference room and was chasing after them in pursuit.
The elevator doors begun to slide shut, just as the man drew closer. He leapt up, raising his blade to cut them down, spinning his weapon through the air with wicked speed. The doors slid shut, hissing just as a red burn mark appeared in the door. A moment later, the elevator was trundling downwards, moving painfully slowly.
'Who was that?' Kara asked, breathing heavily.
'An Imperial Inquisitor' responded Via, holding her lightsaber out, but refraining from igniting it in close quarters. Kara shuddered. The Inquisitors, with their advanced mastery of The Force, were certainly more powerful and menacing than the Phantom Troopers.
The elevator reached the twelfth floor and Kara followed Via out. Four stormtroopers were barricading the hallway ahead of them, but Via raised her hand up. All four troopers were thrown together, their heads slamming against one another. They fell to the ground, disoriented. Kara still thought Via's powers were uncanny, but couldn't complain when Via dashed forwards, clearing a path through the troopers. They sprinted forward, the doors sliding open in front of them, omitting them into Hangar Six.
The force field at the edge of the hangar had been deactivated and rain poured through the gap, slicking the floor with water. The wind howled through Kara's hair as she emerged and she immediately knew that it had all gone wrong. The Vigilance was gone. Wes had escaped.
'No' Via muttered, looking around the hangar. It was empty. They turned to go back the way they had come, not wanting to be cornered, but it was too late. The Inquisitor was already coming their direction, following them down the hall. Kara and Via ran backwards, into the middle of the hangar. Rain pelted Kara's back as the Inquisitor emerged into the hangar.
'Do you really think you can escape the Third Brother' he hissed through his mask. His lightsaber was already ignited, the red glow reflecting off the water. He held it in front of him, before igniting a second blade, emerging from the bottom of the weapon. It was a double-bladed lightsaber and had a circular guard surrounding the hilt. The Third Brother begun spinning the lightsaber around his hands, a blur of red revolving around his head.
'Double-ended saber. That's new' Via commented, her words drowned out by the rain. She ignited her own weapon, rushing forward to meet the Inquisitor. Their blades clashed together, the sound resonating through the hangar over the top of the pounding rain. A flash of lightning illuminated the hangar. Kara felt useless. There was nothing she could do. If she fired on the Inquisitor, there was a chance she would hit Via. She considered escaping, but didn't like her chances. Via had to defeat the Third Brother before any more Imperial forces arrived.
Their blades flashed back and forth, the Third Brother's blade coming dangerously close to Via. Kara kept her rifle trained on the Inquisitor the whole time but it was clear that Via was losing. She was being pressed back towards the edge of the hangar. Via swung overhead and the Inquisitor easily parried the attack, using the opposite end of the blade to force Via back. The ground became slipperier as they moved closer to the edge. Kara closed in, her rifle trained on the Inquisitor's head. Via stumbled back and Kara took her chance. Without even looking, the Third Brother raised one end of his weapon to deflect the blow. Kara swore, moving in closer, firing on him again. The Inquisitor suddenly looked up at her and raised a hand to the incoming laser. It slowed out of the air, hovering in front of the Inquisitor's hand. The laser ejected from his hand, fired straight back at Kara. Kara dived aside, swearing as the bolt arced towards her. It skimmed over her head, scorching the ground. She looked down at her rifle. Four shots left.
Via leapt up, taking the chance to strike. Her blade slashed near his head. He dodged back, but it was too late. Her lightsaber carved his helmet open, shattering the side of it. The man raised a hand to protect his face.
'Give it up, brother' Via snarled, gripping the lightsaber with both hands. Her clothes were drenched in sweat. The Inquisitor snarled, tearing the helmet aside to reveal his face. Kara immediately recognised it. It was exactly the same as Via's and Kara knew she'd seen him before. Audric's face was unchanged from Aeos.
'I see you have taken my former blade, sister' Audric commented, lowering his weapon. He continued. 'The Dark Side is strong with me. And it can be with you. Join me.'
'Why?' Via snarled, her shoulders locking together in anger.
'Together, we could lead the Inquisitors, and maybe overpower Vader' Audric responded. The rain was pouring down onto the two siblings. Rain drops clung to Audric's hair, and ran down his face.
'You have chosen your side, brother. I have chosen mine. I don't want to kill you. You can still come back to the light.'
'No!' Audric yelled, slashing his weapon at Via. Via deflected it with ease.
'Please, Audric. Come back to the light.'
'It's too late.'
'It's never too late.' Audric swung his weapon again with vicious speed and Via was forced to retreat to evade the powerful blow. They returned to their fighting, blades flickering back and forth, darting in and out.
Kara tried to watch when a sound pierced her thoughts. An engine. She looked out into the rain, to see the Vigilance. It was hovering just outside the hangar, and slowly approaching. Kara could make out Wes' form in the cockpit and grinned. He had returned for them. He had evidently been in a fight of his own, given the damage one of the wings had taken. The Vigilance slowed just at the edge of the hangar and IG appeared at the side, pushing the bay door open.
'It is time to escape' stated the droid, reaching a hand out. Kara grinned and KT let out a whistle. Via was still ferociously engaged in her duel, not even aware of the Vigilance. She was duelling with Audric dangerously near the edge of the platform.
'I see you kept my master's ship as well. You have become the image of my old self. Weak and pathetic' Audric snarled as he swung his weapon at Via who parried the blow, breathing heavily. Kara knew Via could escape. In the meantime, Kara had to get on the Vigilance. Turning her eyes away from the fight, she threw herself off the edge of the hangar, her mind flashing back to their escape from Salaarg. She landed in the hold, sliding to a stop. She rapidly pulled herself to her feet.
'We thought you might need some help' Wes explained, emerging from the cockpit holding a pistol. At that moment, Audric delivered a powerful blow at Via; his weapon glanced away from her hand and Via screamed. Her lightsaber spun away, sitting right near the edge of the hangar. Audric held the blade above his head, ready to deliver the final blow.
'No!' Kara screamed, dropping KT and throwing herself back towards the hangar. Wes leapt off the edge after her. Kara's prosthetic leg buckled under her and she fell to her knees on the hangar floor, but Wes landed better, immediately facing Audric and pointing his blaster at her. He fired three shots and Audric easily deflected all three. Audric turned to face Wes. Via was lying on the ground in front of her brother, trembling. Audric raised a hand towards Wes like he had to Kara earlier.
Wes' pistol crumpled in his hands and he dropped to his knees shaking in pain. Kara scrambled up, running across the slippery floor. She leaned down to scoop up Via's lightsaber before sprinting at Audric. Kara ignited the weapon and leapt at him, swinging the blade at him. He easily caught the blow on his own weapon and flicked his hand, throwing Via's saber away. Via let out a howl of anger as her lightsaber rolled to the edge of the platform and slid off the edge, disappearing down the side of the tower.
Audric grinned, stepping forward and driving his blade straight through Kara's leg before she could react. He leaned in close to her, snarling horribly, his breath hot on her face. 'Can you feel the pain? The burn?' he hissed, shaking with pleasure. Kara could count the droplets of water hanging from the thick curls in his hair. Kara looked down to see the red blade passing straight through her lower leg. The leg that was disguised as armour. Her prosthetic leg.
'Actually, not really' Kara responded, swinging her thigh away from the wreckage of her prosthetic leg, driving her knee directly into Audric's groin. Audric stumbled away, groaning in protest as he dropped his lightsaber to the ground. Kara stumbled away, falling over. Her prosthetic leg was gone, ruined. She unslung her staff, limping away. Wes had been relieved from his knees and as they made their way towards the Vigilance, Kara turned to watch Via.
Via had stood up, shaking with anger. 'I waited for you. I risked myself for you, brother. For so long, I blamed myself. You were always one to give in.' Audric hissed in contempt. Via raised her hand, summoning Audric's lightsaber to her hand. She caught the lightsaber and ignited it. She let out a smile, but shook with anger, hatred flowing through her. She shook with power.
'She's using the Dark side' Kara muttered, watching as red energy sparked out of Via's fingertips. She swung the lightsaber back and forth, snarling. Kara sprinted towards her. 'Via, no!'
'Get out of my face, Kara' Via snarled. Kara sprinted but found herself sliding backwards, against her own will.
'You can't give in. You told me on Salaarg, you can't give in' Kara screamed, her hair fluttering in the wind.
'It's too late' Via responded, holding the blade against Audric's neck. Audric was on his knees. Kara could hear the buzz of the blades and felt herself slow to a stop by some unseen force. Via was going to give in. She was going to kill her only brother. Kara had to stop her.
'It's never too late' said Kara, quoting Via's words. Via stopped in her tracks, her snarl beginning to falter. Audric looked up to her, pleadingly. Via retracted the blade. She looked back to Audric, reaching a hand out to him.
'Come to the light, brother' she called. Audric looked at Kara and then back to his sister. Kara could tell he was conflicted, and felt a surge of pity. Audric looked up at Via, tears sliding down his cheeks. He raised his hand up, reaching for Via when a red lightsaber blade punched through his chest. Via screamed, stumbling back to the edge of the hangar. Rain poured in, lightning flashed and thunder sounded.
Audric toppled onto his side, already dead. A deep breathing sound echoed out of the shadows. 'You have wasted a useful asset' Vader crowed, stepping into the light. 'I will destroy you.'
Kara had never been so frightened. He had appeared out of thin air, unnoticed in his approach. He stood menacingly tall, confident and powerful, with a sense of total control. His own weapon emanated power, flicking from side to side, like a tongue licking its lips, thirsty for the kill. Via turned and ran. Kara aimed her rifle at Vader, firing three shots at him.
He easily deflected the blasts and Via was suddenly thrown into the ground by some unseen force. The Vigilance was pulled into the hangar, its wings shaking under the effort. Wes scrambled forwards, leaping for the bay door. The moment he left the ground, Vader flicked his wrist and Wes was thrown across the hangar, slamming into the far wall. Via was pulled off her feet, unable to move and Kara was forced into the ground. IG crumpled into a ball, falling from the side of the Vigilance and toppling into the hangar. There was no escape. Vader was too powerful.
Kara looked at her blaster. One shot left. She pushed herself upright, aiming the blaster at Vader when something itched in the back of the throat. With a start, Kara begun to feel her airways closing. She reached for her throat. Vader was crushing her neck. She struggled, scrabbling for her throat as she stumbled around.
Via let out a scream. Blue light shone around her and she fell from her suspended position, dropping to the ground and igniting Audric's lightsaber. She leapt forward, swinging the weapon at Vader. He easily deflected the blow, knocking Via off balance but the force on Kara's throat was instantly released. She took in a deep breath and raised her rifle, pointing it at Vader. Vader raised his weapon up above his head, bringing it down with precision and power. Via barely deflected the blow, nearly crippled under Vader's relentless strength.
Kara knew she had to act or else they were all finished. Via leapt forward, thrusting at the Sith Lord. He parried the blow with deceptive ease pushing his own saber forward. Via blocked it and they were held in a lock. Vader pressed in on Via, and Kara could see the perspiration hanging from her hair. Vader pressed down, forcing Via to take a step back. She held the weapon with both hands, bravely holding Vader off.
Leaning on her staff, Kara zeroed in on Vader and fired her final shot at his chest. He jerked aside at the last second but the blast caught him on the arm. The moment it did, the entire hangar shook. Plating and metal curled up as raw power surged through the hangar. Crates in the opposite corner shrivelled up as black streaks of energy erupted out of Vader. Via turned and ran. Kara spun around, pursuing her. Wes had already gotten back to the Vigilance with IG's remains. Via leapt up, grabbing onto the side of the Vigilance but Audric's lightsaber slipped from her grip, tumbling away from the tower.
Kara looked to Via, gulping. The Vigilance was already drifting away. On one leg, she knew she wouldn't make the jump. Kara glanced at Vader, who was still getting his bearings. Kara spun around, hopping forward, propelling herself forward with her staff and over the edge of the hangar. She reached out and Via stretched out of the Vigilance, her hand extending to meet Kara's. Kara felt a tug around and was pulled through the air. Via's eyes were narrowed in concentration as she levitated Kara towards her. Via snatched Kara's hand out of the air, hauling her inside, before hurrying towards the cockpit.
Kara looked out the side of the dock at Vader. He had recovered. The shot had barely passed through his armour, but she had seen the anger that had come from him only a moment ago. Now, he was confidently striding towards them. Kara could feel the whole ship shake and the wings curl in protest. Wes was attempting to fly out, but Vader was dragging the entire ship back in.
'Make the jump to hyperspace!' Via yelled.
'The atmosphere will rip up the fuselage' Wes cried. 'We'll collide with the force field.' Kara rolled her eyes. Even now, they were bickering. TIE Fighters were closing in on either side and stormtroopers had burst into the hangar, opening fire on them. If they didn't make a move, they would soon be blasted out of the sky.
'Not if you're moving at hyper speed' responded Via angrily. 'You'll jump straight through it. Do it!' Vader raised a hand, power exploding forward as he pulled the Vigilance back towards him. Kara nearly stumbled as the ship was pulled back.
'Shut the bay door' groaned IG's voice box, just visible in the remains of his metallic corpse. Kara nodded, grabbing the door and pulling it down, watching as Vader let out a roar or anger. The door slammed shut, and the Vigilance let out a final shudder, before streaking away.