So back with another chapter for you all.
Just a quick update, I've opened a Ao3 account and will be posting the story there as well as a back up, just wanted you all be aware of that.
Anyway, with that out of the way I won't keep you all waiting and as always, all credit for this idea goes to Worldwonderer, and thanks to all those who gave their support to me this far. As I could not have gotten this far without it!
Also as always, all rights go to their owners as I own nothing!
She watched them as the ship flew away.
"Mother Talzin, the outsides have left." She was then informed by her apprentice.
The Dathomiran woman then took a moment to consider her words, while reaching out into the force.
"No, there will be more of them. Now come, I have nearly finished the ritual." Talzin stated, as she and her apprentice returned to the temple to prepare to deal with their… guests.
A laser blast hit the ship's hull as John and Wamoshoool made their way to the planet's moon.
As their shields were out and they both knew that they wouldn't escape the system with the Crimson Sun tailing them, which was thanks to the squad of Sun Guards that the two of them had been forced to deal with before they boarded their ship.
"How far out are we?" John then asked the Wookiee.
Because depending on the answer Chief got, it might very well decide as to whether they survive this situation. But it seemed that his luck was once again smiling on him, as Wamoshoool then informed him that they were less than two minutes away from whatever B.A.M. had found in that computer system.
Still there was the question as to whether they would be able to survive two minutes without their ship's shields.
"Can you send a signal out?" John then asked the AI in the privacy of his helmet.
"We are in range of the faculty now; would you like me to send the authorization code?" The Dumb AI then asked.
To which John couldn't help but be annoyed at the Dumb AI for a millisecond, as Cortana would've already have done that. But she wasn't here, and he had to make do with what he had.
"Send the code, see of you raise any defenses as well." John stated simply.
As he was willing to gamble that they would be safely inside before they opened fire.
"Sending the signal now." The AI stated simply just as another laser hit the hull, this time triggering alarms in the cockpit.
Chief checked the alarm to find that the ship was now leaking atmospheric, at which point he sealed the cockpit to ensure that the whole ship was depressurized that at the very least the cockpit would remain so.
Still this fact didn't stop Wamoshoool from roaring a complaint at the Spartan.
"Just focus on getting us inside the hanger bay." John stated simply.
To which Wamoshoool was about to ask the obvious question of what hanger bay is, when out of the rock surface of the moon a pair of camouflage mechanical doors opened revealing the hanger bay.
Upon which Wamoshoool didn't even bother asking how he had known, and simply refocused on flying the ship while the Spartan did his thing.
"Shut the door once we're inside." John then instructed B.A.M.
As they would need time to prepare to deal with the Sun Guard, and in all likelihood would need to come up with a plan to steal their ship. For John knew that the old cargo freighter wouldn't be flying again after this, unless they wanted to spend the couple of days that it would take them to return to the Mandalorian sector trapped in the cockpit while the rest of the ship was decompressed.
That John thought was just asking for something to go wrong.
But that wouldn't be a problem, because just as Wamoshoool had brought their barely flying hulk into the hanger bay, another laser blast stuck home in the TY's engines causing them to flare out and die just as the hanger artifact gravity came on.
As the ship suddenly found itself scrapping on the hanger floor and with its remaining momentum.
Slammed into the far wall of the hanger bay, in which the ship finally came to a rest.
Having extracted themselves from their now ruined ship John and Wamoshoool had figured out just what was so important on this moon.
As inside of it was a hidden shipyard with what was probably their best chance of escaping this system intact.
"Any idea what kind of ship that is?" John then asked his companion.
To which Wamoshoool replied with a couple of grunts and roars, stating that he didn't know exactly just what kind of ship it was. Just that it was from the old Sith Empire.
"Is that a problem?" The question came naturally to him.
For John had gotten the briefings from both the Historian and Cortana informing him about the dangers of Sith artifacts.
Something he was now more inclined to follow considering the fact that the natives worshipped the Sith and did live human sacrifices amongst other things they had seen at a distance.
Which had don't anything to improve John's opinion of the Jedi and Sith, in fact it only made him more worried as to what it might be to work against the Jedi.
As there was no way for him to be certain that given the Jedi's reputation and proven abilities, he wouldn't be betrayed by most people he met. Which was something that John didn't hold against those people, as give all the rumors about what a Jedi, let alone a force user could do.
Oftentimes many beings saw it as easier to simply work with the Jedi in question, just to avoid all the rumored abilities they were supposed to have.
'Obviously, we can't be certain,' John then thought to himself.
As he knew that most people in their lives would only hear of the Jedi but would never encounter one, which only helped to spread more rumors about them.
The fact that he had confirmed that the Jedi did indeed take children away from their parents for training was of course alarming to the Chief. But as Cortana had pointed out to him, even if half of what they heard then it was probably best that the Jedi took them.
Still, this had been another point against them in the Spartan's mind and wondered just how ONI would've handled this situation in there place.
But John put those thoughts aside for later; as he was just informed by Wamoshoool that there should not be any issue with the ship. As problems with the Dark Side from what he understood come from place where the Sith had inhabited for centuries, such as the planet's the moon was currently orbiting.
Which news came as something of a relief to him knowing that he would not have to try and figure out just how to deal with whatever supernatural issues might arise should this taint be on the ship they were looking at escaping on.
Still, this were probably thought that he and Cortana were going to have to talk about later, as he continued making his way towards what B.A.M. had identified as the Era of Reclamation currently in the dry-dock.
But as they made their way out of the hangers control room and to a nearby elevator, the whole base seemed to shake.
In response John pulled his data-chip and plugged it into the nearby computer to see if B.A.M could figure out what had just happened. Needless to say, the news was bad.
"The Sun Guard ships had breached the facility; the rest of the stations security systems are coming online now." The AI then informed the Chief.
To which the Spartan silently grimaced. As he knew the security systems would be targeting them as well, despite B.A.M.'s best attempts to rewrite the system and have them tagged as friendlies.
Knowing this John pulled the chip and slipped it back into his helmet.
"Which way to the ships bridge?" John then asked.
As he knew that the only way that they were getting out of this place alive was on the warship. Because even if it were crippled and just had engines, it would be enough for the plan that John had just thought of.
"I'm calculating the best route there, be advised, despite my best efforts we will still have to fight our way into the Era of Reclamation." The Dumb AI informed him.
"We'll make it work, just set a waypoint." John stated simply as B.A.M. set a waypoint for him just as he and the Wookiee started making their way into the elevator.
Once inside, John then pressed the button that would take them to the main work area, in which he hoped that they could find a way to gain access to the ship currently sitting in the dry-dock.
John and the Wookiee had finally reached the bridge of the Era of Reclamation when a bolt of blaster fire came in from behind them.
Knowing who was most likely firing at them, they immediately ran to cover as they started trading fire with the Sun Guards trying to make their way onto the ship's bridge.
At which point it became obvious to John that there were more of the Guard than he had been expecting.
As he had been expecting the shipyards and the Era of Reclamation own defenses to thin out the ranks to something of a manageable size. Especially considering the fact that they had gone through those defenses themselves to reach the bridge.
The fact that the Sun Guard had managed to reach this area with seemingly little in terms of casualties was something of a problem for the two of them, as they continued to return fire while the Guard continued to push into the ship's bridge.
Knowing that he had to do something to change the situation, John quickly started to make his way over to one of the computer terminals. As he knew that the only way to turn this situation around now was to get the ships' security systems on their side.
But when he tried to start making his way to the nearest control station, the Guards opened up on him. Pinning Chief down, as the amount of fire coming his way was more than enough to overwhelm his armors shields.
Even so John knew that he had to reach the terminal before the Sun Guards were able to flank them. Because if that were to happen then John knew that they would be isolated from one another and quickly killed.
Knowing this and having run out of good options, John then armed and threw a grenade into the small crowd of Sun Guards.
To which he was rewarded with slacking of fire coming his way.
But before John could exploit this opportunity, an alarm went off across the ship's bridge. As the explosion from Chief's grenade had set off some of the bridge's defenses, as moments later several turrets rose up from the deck and opened fire, forced everyone to take cover, as they were forced to deal with this unexpected threat.
Still where others might see danger, John saw an opportunity.
As with the Sun Guard momentarily distracted by this unexpected threat, and Wamoshoool safely in cover. John made his move towards the computer terminal.
Seeing this a couple of Sun Guards attempted to stop him but were cut down by the bridges defenses turrets for their troubles.
While for his part, John used this distraction to make a dash for the computer console. Allowing himself to let loose as he did so, as it almost seemed as if he wasn't there one minute then there the next.
So, before anyone could stop him, John then plugged B.A.M. into the ship's systems.
"See if you can override the ships systems, and if you can, seal the ships bridge." John then instructed the AI just as a couple of blaster bolts were absorbed by his energy shields.
Seeing that his shield was about to fall, the Spartan returned to cover as he returned fire onto his attackers while B.A.M. worked on the ships system.
Needless to say, the Sun Guard was proving themselves worthy of the reputation they had built up over the centuries. As despite everything that had been thrown at them, the remaining Sun Guards remained a potent force despite everything that had happened to them.
A fact that made itself know as John watched as the shoulder guard on Wamoshoool get hit, as the Wookiee was forced back into cover as two Sun Guards moved up on his position.
Seeing this and having a clear shot at them, John opened up on the advancing Guards to take the pressure off of Wamoshoool as he recovered from that blaster bolt, he had taken.
Still John would have his work cut out for him, as despite taking down one of the Guards, one managed get to cover and started returning fire.
Which once again put them into something of a stalemate.
As the Sun Guards could not advance without either John or Wamoshoool having a clear shot at them. While on the other hand the Spartan and the Wookiee couldn't make a push, as the Sun Guard outnumbered them at least four to one.
What was worse was the fact that from his position John could see another group coming to reinforce the Guards already here.
Seeing this John knew that he had to make a move now!
But before he could do so, B.A.M. cut into his private channel.
"I have gained access to the ships mainframe; would you like me to register myself as the ships main administrator?" B.A.M. then inquired.
Which meant that B.A.M. for all intentions and purposes would take full control of the ship. Which would not have been a problem on a UGE built ship, but here was a different story.
As John was not sure what would happen once the B.A.M. undertook this action, as such, the Spartan took a moment to think this over, but after a moment he decided that allowing B.A.M. to go through with what he was suggesting was the best option. Despite any possible risks that this option might entail.
"Yes, shut the bridge doors the moment you are able to." John said as then poured fire into a couple of Guards that had attempted to move up on Wamoshoool position.
"Confirm, I'll get to work on it right away." The AI informed the SPARTAN as it when dark.
For a moment John wondered just how long it would take B.A.M. to do this, which was surprisingly not that long.
As unexpectedly, the doors to the bridge suddenly slammed shut, leaving a couple of unfortunate Sun Guard trapped in the bridge with John and the Wookiee.
Seeing this, John and Wamoshoool took the opportunity and took the fight to them, as less than ten minutes later they had secured the ship's bridge.
Once that was done John made his way over to one of the ships' computer terminals to go over just what B.A.M. had done to the ship's systems while he had been plugged in.
"Give me a full systems report."
"The ships engines are at two-thirds capacity, more then half of the weapons are operation, and shields are currently offline." B.A.M. informed him.
Which was better than John experience honestly, as given how long it had been since the ship had gotten proper maintenance. The fact that most of its major systems were still operational was nothing short of a miracle in his eyes.
Still, he wasn't going to question it, as he then asked the next big question.
"Is the hyperdrive online?" John then asked, as Wamoshoool had finally finished securing the room and started making his way over to the Spartan.
"I can confirm that the hyperdrive is a hundred percent operational." Chief was then informed.
Which was good, as this made things easier for them.
"Start making calculations for Concordia, also rewrite the security systems so that they don't consider us a threat. Also sent whatever available to deal with the remaining Sun Guard." John stated simply.
To which B.A.M. stated he would inform the Spartan when he was done, to which John then made his way over to inform Wamoshoool about their current situation.
"My AI is working on the ships systems." John then explained to the Wookiee as he then gave him a completely run down of what he had been told by the AI.
Wamoshoool for his part remained quiet, listening closely to what John had to say, only stopping him with questions when he didn't understand something.
As the Wookiee knew that he needed to know just what the Spartan had done. Because he knew that a misunderstanding could prove deadly in these circumstances.
Wamoshoool then listened as John explained that B.A.M. had taken over all the ships' system major systems.
To which Wamoshoool asked if this was even safe, as he had no idea what it might mean for them to have an AI running the ship. John assured the Wookiee that there were no reasons to be worried.
In fact, he went as far as to reveal that AIs had been a part of his peoples ships for years. Though John would have liked to reveal this fact, he saw no other way to convince Wamoshoool that this was perfectly safe.
Wamoshoool for his part seemed unconventional of this fact, but merely said that the Spartan would have to show him one of those ships should the opportunity arise.
With this issue dealt with for the moment, the two of them started working on the computer console, running systems checks while doing a quick scan for lifeforms aboard the Harrower dreadnought. Knowing that any remaining lifeforms had to be Sun Guards, John then directed B.A.M. to use all available security measures including the security droids to deal with them.
With that done he then turned to Wamoshoool.
"We need to prepare this ship for combat." John stated simply.
To which Wamoshoool responded with a questioning grunt, asking just how he was expecting to fly and aim the guns of the Harrower at the same time.
"I'm planning on plugging B.A.M. into the ships targeting systems. All we have to do is fly the ship." John assured the Wookiee.
As he was certain that between the two of them, they could rig some kind of bypass so that his dumb AI to run the weapon systems while they flew the ship. A fact that Wamoshoool asked him about.
"Yes, I was hoping that you could help me with that." John admitted.
Because he still wasn't familiar enough with this galaxy's technology to know how to do this. As such he would need Wamoshoool's help if they were going to pull this off before more Sun Guards arrived.
As those currently on the ship were being dealt with by the security forces now under B.A.M.'s personal command.
To which the Wookiee said he would help, as he also knew that this was probably their best chance of getting off this rock alive. Even so he did ask John about their backup plan should the Era of Reclamation engines or hyperdrive be damaged in the upcoming battle. To which John already had an answer for the Wookiee.
"We only need to disable the Crimson Sun. Should the Era of Reclamation take damage, we can use one of the other hyperspace capable craft in the hanger should the hyperdrive be disabled on this ship." John once again assured Wamoshoool.
As they could scavenge parts from all the ships to make a working hyperdrive if they really needed to. For there was a working one on their wreaked YT-1000 in sitting in the dry docks' hanger.
A fact that Wamoshoool had also seemed to reach as well, as he grunted in agreement with John's plan. At which point they turned their attention to what John had suggested they do.
Which was rigging a bypass that would allow B.A.M. ships targeting and weapons systems. As both functions were handled at different stations much to John's own confusion.
As on UNSC vessels all weapons systems were located in one station.
But then again, he had to remind himself that despite some of this galaxy technology being ahead of their galaxy in certain areas. Their galaxy was definitely ahead in certain areas, such as computing and AI.
Which was why John was going to keep it that way if at all possible.
Still, that was something that he could worry about later, as Wamoshoool then left the computer and made his way over to what John quickly identified as a maintenance locker.
At which point the Wookiee shot the door where the lock would've been and forced the door open, revealing a several extensions cables they would need to pull of this crazy plan.
Upon seeing this John then made his way over to help Wamoshoool, as the two of them started to prepare the Era of Reclamation for maiden lunch and for the combat that was to come immediately afterwards.
Talzin felt the floor shutter under her as she continued to work in her chamber on what she had foreseen was her key to leaving this world and returning to her home.
But this might very well be for not, as they had came. Talzin was familiar with the Sun Guard, as they had been with the Muun when she had first met him.
He claimed that the force had brought him to her, for her part Talzin had been unsure as to what to make of this claim.
But the long-necked alien had made her an offer that she could not refuse. For he had offered her passage off her home-world and to this rock in which he had promised her a greater understanding of the Force, but as they had called it, the Spirits or Magic depending on which Clan you came from.
For Talzin however, they were one and the same, in fact she would say that they all steamed from the same place. Her time here opening her eyes to the nature of these powers.
Still, it was from the Spirits that she felt a small tug on her, as Talzin then left the chamber to look outside. As she felt that there was something that she needed to see out there.
So, despite the present danger, she made her way to one of the secret entrances that was located at the top of the temple.
Talzin guessing that she would be able to sense anyone there.
Once she had reached the doorway, she then used the force to trigger the locking mechanism that would allow the door to open. As the door opened, she then reached out and finding nothing made her way through the doorway.
To which she was treated to a great view from the top of the ancient pyramid that served as her home.
But the view wasn't what held Talzin's attention, as the force drew her attention towards the sky above her. But it took her a moment to figure out just where she was supposed to look.
That was until her gaze landed upon the planet's main moon, at which point she knew why she had been drawn here. As there was a battle taking place amongst the stars above them.
Calling on the force; Talzin used it to sharpen her eyesight and even though she couldn't see who was fighting, all she knew was those brought flashes she could barely see where that of weapons fire similar to that used by the Sun Guards.
Still Talzin had not been ready for when she saw the bright flash of light come from near the planet's main moon, as it took her a moment to realize what had happened.
Be she eventually figured out that one of the ships had been destroyed. Having seen this, Talzin then retreated back into the temple, thinking over what she had just witnessed.
Not only in the physical realm, but that of the force as Talzin felt a subtle shift through it, as if a stone had been placed in the way of this small stream. As in a flash of insight she saw herself falling to the vile outlanders.
But now she lived, as an unknown force had changed the stream, perhaps unknowingly.
Still, this was something that Talzin could ponder over later as one of her followers entered into her chambers. As she had one last thing to put in place before she settled the score with her tormentor.
When she had returned to the main chamber; Talzin found one of the women that would oftentimes act as her assistant waiting there for her.
"Do you have what I asked for?" She then asked.
"I do, though many of our warriors have fallen." The attendees then informed her.
Still, this hadn't come as a surprise, as Talzin knew that their warriors would fall to the superior weapons of the outsiders.
But there was one last question that she had for her assistance.
"Have they managed to breach the outer perimeter?" Talzin then inquired.
"No, so far our warriors had managed to keep them away from the main temple." Talzin was pleased to hear this.
As from the visions she had been granted, they had shown her dying in multiple ways, but in the end, she knew that so long as the Sun Guards were unable to beach this line, then she had nothing to fear.
"Very good, now, place what you have brought around the altar. Ensure that their placing is correct. We shall have only one chance at this." Talzin instructed the servant.
But she did not do what Talzin told her to do, as she had news for the self-proclaimed Mother.
"I'm sorry Mother, but your apprentice has fallen in the battle." Talzin was informed about the fate of her apprentice.
For a moment she didn't say anything, letting the news wash over her as a wave would all the while scratching out with the Force. And yes, she found that her presence was quickly fading.
Feeling this, she then reached out and tried to ease her passing from this plane to the next.
Once that was finished the Dathomiran woman couldn't help but fume.
As this was another thing, she would have to pay him back for this!
As Talzin knew just who was behind this attack on her and knowing this she would see that he would be forced not only to pay for robbing her of a promising despise, but also for what he had done in using the force in ripping what knowledge he had wanted straight from her mind.
Then once he had gotten what he had wanted from her, he had left her for dead. But surprisingly she had survived that and had broken away from the prophets of the dark side and had returned to her heritage, using her new knowledge to dig deeper into the Spirits and the night spells, only to find a deeper understanding.
Which she could only call Night Sorcery, combining everything she had learned and had been forced to give to her captures.
But they had not gotten everything, as even now she was making the last step into true mastery of this new art that she had found. Which was why she had retrieved the body of the Sun Guard sent to kill her.
As Talzin knew that despite the risks of what she was about to do, it was the only way that she could leave this world without alerting her capture that she had escaped.
In fact, she had already planned for this eventually, though at the time she had struggled to figure out just how she would convince one of Sun Guards to aid her. But now she had found it, as the table the corpse was on started glowing.
As Talzin started to work in the Night Sorcery that would allow her to begin to enact the first part of her revenge against the Sith that had ripped the secrets of her people's powers from her very mind.
"Now, rise and we shall see that my capture's understand the truth gravity of their mistake." The Dathomirian Witch said, as the armor of the once dead Sun Guard started to move once again as he returned to life.
Once again, the flow in the force shifted all so slightly, setting fourth consequences no one could foresee.
That is all she wrote; I hope that you all enjoyed it.
Still, I hope that you are all not too bothered about Talzin's new origins. But I felt that it was better this way, also gives me a lot more creative freedom for her going forward. Also, shows why she was a threat to Palpation more, considering that she can do this.
So, another rip creates a wave, first on Mandalore, then with Ijaat, now with Talzin.
John's making quite an impact in the galaxy already, isn't he?
Speaking of John, he's managed to get himself quite the ship.
Can't wait to see the reaction of everyone when he returns to Concordia in it. That should be a fun time, as John has a lot of business to deal with once he is there, the growing Reclaimers following, and meeting with Roroa and Liscia.
It should be interesting to see what happens there, but anyway that is all I have to say for now, and until next time, have a good one.