After he was pushed into the arena, with several adversaries advancing toward him, Iroh accelerated himself with his Firebending, dodging their blaster shots. One hit him with a vibrating blade, dealing a painful but non-debilitating cut on his left leg. Iroh blasted several with his flames, engulfing them completely and taking them out of the fight. One shot at him, and Iroh managed to absorb it into his right hand and redirect the energy into a lightning bolt right back at his adversary, scorching the thug's skin off. Another shot him in the back while he was distracted, and it was extremely painful. Before he could react further, he felt a prick from under the armband attached to his left arm, and he lost consciousness. Sometime later, he awoke with one of the human-like machines having finished looking him over, though he still felt some pain in his leg and back. The T'Surr standing close by picked him up, as Iroh was too weak to resist even without the device they'd planted in his head, and dropped him back in the slave pen.
"This little armband," the T'Surr in front of him waved, smirking as if he was very clever. "Is what keeps you alive. When you reach a certain point, it knocks you out, and then the droids look you over for injuries. We don't want to lose our investment, after all. You gave a good show, but if you want more than this," he dropped a tray of brown slop in front of Iroh, "you'll have to do better. Thankfully, some of our clients are happy to have gotten an idea of how to fight your kind, so they're paying well."
As Darth Vader shot through hyperspace, he meditated within his starfighter. The Sith had never lost his love of flying and tinkering with machines, as he always connected to them better than animals. Perhaps that was why the other Jedi were always so disgusted with him, in addition to his superiority as a duelist and force-user. Now, however, he was reaching out to better feel for the children he'd just learned of. The fact Organa hadn't even returned Leia to her grandparents on Naboo confirmed she wasn't a daughter to him but a sacrificial pawn, like Zaheer attempted to make Korra into. Vader knew Leia wouldn't be easy to free from her conditioning, and dreaded what he might have to do to his daughter. But she would come out of it better for it.
As for Luke, Lars would have raised him to look down on the Jedi and all outside the moisture farm, as Vader experienced when he went to find his mother, long ago. He wouldn't be hard to turn, especially when Obi-Wan's failures as a teacher mounted. But perhaps Kestis would be able to better sway Luke to the Jedi way, meaning Vader might have to again do what he'd prefer not to.
Vader then shifted his focus to the battle at hand. Early in his reign as a Sith Lord, he purged many T'Surr organizations, all of which were involved in the slave trade, from the galaxy. Most notably, he led the liberation of Orvax, a slave market with a massive number of T'Surr living and working there. After rescuing the slaves, he had his star destroyers commence Base Delta Zero, a concentrated bombardment of the world's surface, scorching the planet of life. This time, he would use a different method, which, if he couldn't do on his own, he'd call on Kuvira and Baatar to assist.
At that moment, he exited hyperspace, knowing he was extremely close to the Lucrehulk, past the outer defenses around it. Before anyone could react, he flew inside the left arm of the circular vessel, weaving and turning inside, blasting several fighters on the deck, and a munitions truck, causing a huge explosion which wiped out an entire squadron on the deck. Flying deeper into the ship, Vader spotted the engine core and fired his proton missiles at it before rapidly turning around. His torpedoes hit their mark, and soon erupted in flame. As he sped back to the entrance, the explosions spread throughout the ship, with the old Trade Federation battleship exploding as Vader roared out of it, much like he had done at Naboo.
Right behind Vader, the Star Destroyers emerged, the Devastator and Ultimatum in front, with the Accuser guarding the Interdiction in the rear. Unlike other officers, who operated their Imperials as if they were Venators, Commodore Corsin and Captain Sloane rushed their ships to the front, unleashing their full firepower at their targets, knowing the Imperial-class's armor would stand up to anything their enemies could bring to bear. The CR90 was blown in half by a single turbolaser shot from the Devastator. The Interceptor frigate began maneuvering to lightspeed, but the Interdiction activated its gravity well generators, halting all hope of escape. As the shuttles carrying the EUA detachment raced to their destination, accompanied by the full fighter complement of the Ultimatum, the Devastator's starfighter complement deployed to help Vader.
"My lord, Black wing is ready to assist," Commander Contail affirmed as he flew his TIE Interceptor to the Sith Lord's flank. "What are your orders?"
"Cover the bombers as they target the Recusant," Vader ordered. As the Munificents crumbled under the fire from two star destroyers, Vader led the fighters on their attack against the Recusant. As many of the enemy fighters were still in their bays when Vader destroyed the Lucrehulk, most of the fighters the enemy had left were still on the surface and yet to launch. The TIEs easily shot down what remaining fighters were still flying around the Recusant, as they were largely outdated or makeshift craft. Vader headed for the surface of the Recusant, as the destroyer which once served the Commerce Guild fired its anti-starfighter weapons in desperation, but the Sith's Force-sensitivity allowed him to easily dodge the blasts. Vader easily destroyed the anti-starfighter weapons, allowing the bombers to come in virtually unopposed. They quickly released their payloads, bombarding the ship's heavy weapons, bridge, and engines. Soon, the Recusant went up in flames, and as Vader led the TIEs away from the vessel, it exploded.
"My lord, we have obtained space supremacy," Corsin stated. "What are your orders?"
"Bring the Interdiction closer," Vader order. "But maintain the gravity well. The Accuser will target the enemy spaceports, outside where the extraction force is headed, and bombard them with their turbolasers at full power. The fighters will focus on shooting down any ship which attempts to flee. I will be joining my apostles in their mission, now."
"Yes, my lord," affirmed the officers as Vader sped toward the surface in his TIE Advanced. Soon, he was at the main spaceport close to the arena, too close for a major bombardment, like the other areas. The Sith fired a missile into a hanger, destroying the ships within before they could even launch. Spotting a group of T'Surr rushing for a ground turret, Vader strafed them with his laser cannons, vaporizing them with the green blasts before destroying the weapon they were moving for. Vader decided that, once the captives were rescued, Kuvira and Baatar would help him dislodge the moon. It would be an excellent addition to their training.
The ride to the surface was much more turbulent than Katara or Zuko were used to. They had ridden on dragons, sky bison, and even airships, but the Sentinel shuttles were far faster and bumpier than anything they had ridden before. The EUA soldiers, however, didn't seem bothered, as they had trained for such an insertion. On a different Sentinel, Bumi saw lights flashing red on the ceiling, with the EUA soldiers hooking up lines close by. He was reminded of an idea he pioneered early on during his career in the Republic Forces: Paratroopers jumping out of airships, with their cords pulled as they leapt out. It was rarely used, given the slow speed of the airships, but Iroh had advocated building this setup into the new cargo planes of the Republic Forces. This time, however, Bumi would be using his new Airbending to land safely.
"We'll be landing less than a mile from the main arena!" Baatar yelled over the intercom within the shuttles under his command. "Four AT-STs will be providing close fire support, but it's up to us to get into the arena! Half the captives will be there, so be careful what you hit!" As the shuttles slowed down, the cargo doors opened and the EUA leapt out, landing safely thanks to their cables. Katara Waterbent a slide down, allowing her and Zuko to quickly reach the ground, while Bossk and Bumi leapt out of their own shuttle, as did Baatar.
A couple miles away, Kuvira led her own assault force to the secondary holding area. This included Suyin, Kya, the Mandalorians, and Ezra Bridger, now wearing Stormtrooper armor with a jetpack. This was where the captives who'd yet to be moved to the arena were held. Upon reaching their target, Kuvira leapt out first, lightsabers drawn. As the regular troops hooked up, Su quickly descended with her own Metalbending cables, Boba leapt out with his jetpack, and was quickly followed by Sabine and Ezra, still getting used to his jetpack. In the distance, they saw several enemy fighters flying toward them, but the scream of the TIEs drowned them out. Before the enemy fighters could get close, the TIEs opened fire, shooting many of them down. Their adversaries tried to fight back, but the TIEs twisted and turned around them, easily shooting them down.
After landing close to the arena, Bossk saw several AATs, still painted in Confederate blue, heading toward them.
"Shield!" Baatar ordered, and the Earthbenders in the EUA detachment immediately raised a wall in front of the detachment. Bumi noticed how several rockets emerged from the six tubes on the 'foot' of the hovering tank and exploded when they hit the wall which the Earthbenders had erected. The four All-Terrain Scout-Transports, as he heard the two-legged walkers were called, were taller than the wall, however, and fired the laser cannons mounted in their 'mouths' at the tanks, as well as firing rockets from their 'earbud' mounts, blowing many tanks apart. Bumi saw the main turret of one was turning toward an AT-ST and fired. At the last moment, the Airbender shot a massive gust of wind in the path of the shell, pushing it away before it could strike the walker.
"Thanks, Commander!" one of the pilots shouted from the top of the walker. At that moment, Baatar had leapt over the wall on top of the tank, slicing it's hatch off with his lightsaber before blasting the crew inside with Force Lightning. He dropped a bomb inside before jumping away and sending it flying at an advancing infantry column using the Force. The explosion killed most of the goons making their way, and the remainder were quickly picked off by the walkers from afar. With their main adversaries destroyed, the Earthbenders took down the shield wall and the detachment advanced, with green blasts flashing through the sky as the Star Destroyers targeted other places on T'Surr.
A tank column rushed forward from the secondary holding site, prompting Kuvira, Ezra, and Suyin to erect a wall. Before the tanks could fire, Kuvira leapt into the air and Lavabent a clump she tossed at one of the repulsorlift craft. It quickly burnt through the armor, blowing it apart, to which Suyin Metalbent the popped-off turret and slammed it into the next. Sabine shot a lightning bolt at an approaching skiff with a half dozen T'Surr, electrocuting the occupants before blowing the craft apart. Boba targeted a second skiff and fired a rocket from his jetpack, blowing it apart. Ezra Magmabent the shield wall and blanketed the rest of the tank column with the lava he'd crafted, obliterating them.
"Another column!" yelled one of the EUA soldiers, pointing at several tanks and skiffs headed their way. Before they could get any closer, however, Darth Vader's custom TIE Fighter screamed out of the sky, blasting them apart with a barrage of green lasers. The troops on the ground, T'Surr as well as some Aqualish, could only fire in vain with handheld blaster rifles and pistols.
"Advance!" Kuvira ordered. At that moment, the detachment under her command rapidly sped toward the holding area, using their Bending to achieve great speed. At the same time, Baatar and his group made it to the arena. The AT-STs quickly blasted the guard towers into scrap before their occupants could do anything. Katara Waterbent the moisture in the Air and turned it into icicles which she stabbed into several human adversaries, while Zuko Firebent a giant wall of flame and engulfed a large number of Rodians before they could use their rocket launchers. Baatar blasted a group of Aqualish with his Force Lightning while the EUA troops sliced, crushed, and smashed a collection of Quarren with their Bending. Bossk went up to the door of the holding cells and pointed toward his eyes. After the EUA nodded in affirmation, he tossed several smoke grenades within.
After the smoke bombs went off, the EUA troops, having turned on the infrared setting of their goggles, smashed in through the walls with their Metalbending, and quickly pulverized the guards within. Bossk charged in the front and quickly shot several disoriented T'Surr, as well.
"Stop!" one of the guards yelled through the smoke, having grabbed Iroh as a shield. "I'm leaving here, and if you try to stop me-"he was cut off by a single blaster shot to the side of the head, fired from the pistol Boba had let Bumi borrow. The Airbender then blew all the smoke out of the building, with his Airbending. He rushed up to his son, accompanied by Katara who started examining her grandson for injuries and started applying her healing water. As the captives looked in awe, Baatar walked up to Iroh, who was hugging his father back, and spoke.
"Hold still, General," he said, focusing on the tiny explosive implanted within Iroh's skull. After a moment, he grabbed hold of it and crushed it with the Force. As Bumi went over to the other captives, one of the Airbenders taken from the Western Air Temple spoke up.
"Thank you so much, Lady Katara, Lord Zuko," he said, before turning to the EUA soldiers and Baatar, quickly thanking them as well before they could get unhappy. "But, uh, how are you here?" Upon noticing Bossk, he stumbled back in fear before Zuko stepped forward.
"Bossk is a friend we could never have found you without," Zuko stated. "As for how we are here: try not to panic." At that same moment, Kuvira was charging at the secondary holding area, bouncing several shots back at her attackers with her lightsabers. Boba rocketed forward, shots bouncing harmlessly off his armor before he engulfed several Twi'lek men with his flamethrower. Sabine quickly shot multiple adversaries, whose species Suyin didn't recognize, with her dual pistols. Sabine's adversaries looked somewhat aquatic in nature, with large eye stalks curving away from each other, three-fingered hands, and beak-like mouths, with green skin.
"Stupid Ishi Tib, there's no saltwater here," Kuvira dismissed the dead green creatures, before Metalbending restraints for several Devaronians, pulling off their grenade pins, and tossing them into a group of blue-skinned horned beings, wiping out both Rebel squads in an instant. Upon a closer look, Su saw that the blue-skinned beings had massive 'earlobes' for lack of a better term, with horns coming out the end and over their chests. "Those are called Chagrians, just so you know," Kuvira piped up, answering the question in her adoptive mother's mind. "Come on, the captives are right in there!" As they advanced, the EUA soldiers used their Earthbending to sink about twenty up to their necks, though several T'Surr were only up to their waists. Before they could react, Kya drenched them in water, and Sabine sent a lightning bolt into the radius, electrocuting them all.
"I was going to freeze them in place," Kya muttered as they continued on their way to the holding area. One of the EUA soldiers blasted a guard tower with a rocket launcher, while Boba shot the guard in another with his disruptor rifle, disintegrating him. Sabine fired a rocket from her jetpack into the last one, destroying it. As they approached, no one noticed a new vehicle landing. Suyin and Kuvira tore open two different walls with their Metalbending, surprising the guards within as Ezra, Sabine, and Boba opened fire with their blasters, gunning down the majority, and hitting the release for the pen the prisoners were in.
"Goron, what are we going to-"a guard was cut off as his employer grabbed him, pulling the thug in front of a blaster shot. "No closer!" Goron yelled, holding a remote. "If I let go, their heads explode!" Before anyone could react, a spinning flash of red sliced off the hand holding the remote, though the button remained pressed down even with the finger off it. After Kuvira caught the remote with the Force, she flipped a switch back into the off position, meaning the button no longer had to be held down. As Goron was shocked by what had happened, the spinning red flash sliced off the heads of the last guards before vanishing with the handle being pulled back into the dust cloud. Goron then fell to his knees, his remaining hand grasping at his throat before a snapping sound rang out and he fell on his face, dead.
The terrified captives had no idea what had just happened, until a menacingly familiar silhouette appeared through the smoke accompanied by the sound of mechanical breathing. One of the captives, a new Airbender from the North Pole who remembered the terror of the Obsidian Knight all too well, panicked and rushed for the perimeter on an Air Scooter, ignoring the loud buzz inside her head before Kuvira Metalbent a restraint on her hands while Suyin did so on her ankles.
"If you cross those markers, your head will explode!" Suyin yelled to the captives they had just rescued as she and her daughter dragged the fleeing Airbender back.
"What's going on!?" asked a horrified Firebender, who'd served in the royal guard the day the Obsidian Knight came to Air Temple Island.
"Your rescue," Vader stated, frightening all the captives. He turned toward the Airbender who Kuvira and Suyin had saved from herself and looked into her terrified eyes. Perceiving the cranial bomb, he focused on it, and crushed the explosive, the pieces falling out in a nosebleed. The Sith then turned toward the captives, gesturing to Kuvira to help in dismantling the explosives within their brains. "Now, I shall talk, and you shall listen."
On the Stinger Mantis, Mizuki had finished telling the story of how her grandfathers, Aang and Zuko, had prevailed over Fire Lord Ozai before he could exterminate the Earth Kingdom with the great comet's power. And how, as Avatar and Fire Lord, the two had spearheaded the reconstruction of the world, creating the United Republic of Nations out of the Fire Nation's colonies on the Earth Kingdom's western third. Along with who her parents were: Aang's oldest son Bumi, and Zuko's daughter, Izumi. "It was about fifty-six years after the end of the Great War," Mizuki began. "Most of the family and several close friends had reunited in Republic City, ready to celebrate the end of our world's worst war. No one thought much when a mysterious crystal was sent to Grandpa Aang for study. But it didn't take long for someone to come for it."
"Who?" Luke asked in curiosity.
"They were a complete mystery, outside of how their leader defeated the entire Northern Water Tribe under a full moon," Mizuki said. "So, they were only known by the moniker my father and others gave them: the Obsidian Knight, with his red sword and mechanical lungs, and his Army in White, with their impossibly fast motorcycles which defied gravity and weapons which shot red bolts as fast as lightning, wearing gleaming white armor." The faces of her audience lit up in recognition, as well as bafflement.
"That's impossible," Obi-Wan said in shock. "There were no soldiers in white armor out in the galaxy at the time. And no one in obsidian armor like that, either."
"Well, apparently there was more to the crystals than met the eye," Mizuki answered. She went on to say how the attacker maimed her father and Zuko, before killing several more people, including Aang. "And as soon as they retrieved the crystal, they vanished without a trace. Aside from the scars they inflicted on my parents and so many others." She went on to explain how, with Aang's death, the new Avatar was a Southern Water Tribal named Korra. Mizuki noticed how Cal and Greez shifted in recognition of the name but kept it to themselves.
"So, what's Korra's story?" Luke asked.
"She's about five years older than me," Mizuki said. "Her father, Tonraq, was once crown prince of the Northern Tribe, but he was disgraced and banished a few years earlier."
"For the same reason as Zuko?" Greez asked, reflecting on the horrifying background of Mizuki's maternal grandfather, which had led him to join Aang's quest.
"No, because his recklessness had endangered the tribe," the Fire Princess answered. "Or so we thought." She went on to explain Korra's adventures, her close relationship with Mizuki's uncle Tenzin and children, and her closest friends. "I met her at Air Temple Island, after the Equalists were defeated, and she was a bit proud of her skill and accomplishments, but she enjoyed healing those who'd lost their bending, even if she had quarreled with them before. My cousins looked up to her as a wonderful big sister, and she certainly loved them, while looking to Uncle Tenzin as a wise if overbearing uncle of her own. Asami Sato thought well of her, for Korra's bravery and compassion, Bolin had gotten over his crush on her and Mako, the handsome, buff, dependable Firebender, was very much in love with her." Luke felt a little jealous when hearing Mizuki's description of Mako but said nothing.
After hearing of what the Harmonic Convergence had done to the world, and how Korra's own uncle was the man behind it, Cal and Obi-Wan thought there was more to the evils of Unalaq, than Mizuki was mentioning, but she assured them she'd get back to that. Then, Mizuki reached the tale of the Red Lotus. Both Obi-Wan and Cal frowned at the explanation of the group's anarchist ideology.
"Zaheer sounds like a thief who waxes philosophical to justify his stealing, no matter who gets hurt," Luke commented, with Greez nodding as well.
"Indeed," Mizuki answered, before explaining that his attempted kidnapping of Korra when she was five was the whole reason she was isolated from the world for a dozen years. "His endgame makes it even worse." She went on to explain how Zaheer and his allies tried to abduct Korra but failed, before also failing to convince the Avatar to meet with them and learn their ideas. "When that failed, they attacked Uncle Tenzin's Airbending Academy and took him, Aunt Pema, my cousins, Aunt Kya, my dad, and about two hundred other people hostage and threatened to kill one a day until Korra surrendered to them."
"You haven't explained what they were trying to do," Greez noted.
"There is an aspect of the Avatar called the Avatar State," Mizuki answered. "At that moment, the skills of all past Avatars are channeled into yourself. Fully-realized Avatars can call upon it at will and control it. But it is often summoned unconsciously, when the Avatar is either extremely upset, or in some sort of imminent danger, with Raava herself 'taking the controls' as you might call it."
"But that's not why you are bringing it up," Luke noted, with Obi-Wan suspecting something horrible.
"It is believed that, if the Avatar is killed while using the state, the reincarnation cycle is broken," Mizuki continued. "This theory has never been disproven. Zaheer hates order and considers the Avatar the only lasting form of order. Which is why he took my father, aunts, uncle, cousins, and hundreds of others hostage so that Korra would surrender to him: to torture her to death. And according to my father, Zaheer didn't care she was pregnant at the time, either." That revelation shocked Luke, while the others were disgusted by what Zaheer had attempted to do. "But Korra had a plan, and her friends freed the captives while she freed herself," Mizuki continued. "All the Red Lotus were killed, except Zaheer. But before he was captured, he utilized a crystal akin to what the Obsidian Knight had once pursued. He conjured a portal and pushed Korra and Mako into it."
"Why would he have such a crystal?" Obi-Wan asked.
"It seems that Unalaq was a member of, or at least in league with, the Red Lotus at some point," Mizuki confirmed. She went on to explain how there was a mysterious falling out between Korra's parents and Tenzin's, before the Earth Kingdom fell apart and Kuvira Beifong began her war to 'bring peace' to it. "About a month ago, Uncle Tenzin, his children, Asami Sato, my dad, and Aunt Kya attempted to use the crystal they'd taken from Zaheer. And they went to different worlds, at different times. The only thing they had in common, was the presence of the Obsidian Knight. Or rather, Darth Vader, as they heard he was named."
"Wait, how did they know his name, now?" a surprised Luke asked.
"Before he went to Air Temple Island, he went to a port city, and rescued two Waterbenders expecting their first child," the Fire Princess answered. "When he learned Tonraq was the exiled prince of the North, he told them his name, that the crystals had dragged him from another time and place there, and that when he went to the Northern Water Tribe to ask for help, Unalaq had murdered his own father before blaming Vader for it. Senna revealed this story to Korra and her friends to break through the lies Unalaq had told her. Bolin revealed the story immediately after his brother and Korra had vanished, rather than let Zaheer have the last laugh. My dad and the others who heard it were too shocked to reveal it, even to my mom."
"He must have had an agenda," Cal said in response, surprised the Dark Lord of the Sith would help two strangers on an uncharted world. "Vader doesn't help anyone if it doesn't help him."
"Well, whatever the case, Vader sent my dad and the others home, where they had only been gone a minute from Air Temple Island as opposed to an entire day, in the case of Jinora and her siblings," Mizuki answered. She briefly talked about how Kuvira's army brought in new members and machines, which Cal recognized as Imperial vehicles like the AT-AT walker. And then how the Besadi Hutt clan attacked Republic City, only to be defeated by a returned Korra and Mako, with some help from Kuvira and Baatar Beifong. With Darth Vader at their side, and the four calling him master. "That radio broadcast, was as surprising as it was terrifying for our world."
"What happened next?" Obi-Wan asked.
"One moment, my mother's advisors are offering potential solutions, with word of a volcanic eruption in the north destroying the White Lotus headquarters where Zaheer and the rest of the worst are kept, and then we heard a strange hum in the sky," Mizuki said. "A giant grey dagger with a square carved into the middle, and then, a shimmering blue image of an older man appeared, large enough for everyone on Capitol Island to see. He called himself Grand Moff Tarkin of the Galactic Empire and said that Korra has summoned the leaders of the world to meet with Imperial dignitaries in the Southern Water Tribe, making it clear that my mother, not my grandfather, should attend. Well, Mom wasn't going to bow to outside pressure before the first meeting, and stayed there, with my dad and brother heading out for the Western Air Temple and a major naval base."
"From the way you are talking, it didn't go that way," Cal noted.
"Nope," Mizuki said resigned. "A short time later, Mom was meeting with her advisors, and I'm standing there with Grandma Jin as they offer solutions. And then Korra dropped from the ceiling, displeased Mom didn't honor the request Tarkin made in her name and acts casually disrespectful to everyone there. Korra threatened Mom, and when the guards tried to assert themselves, black-armored soldiers with green eyepieces, whose voices are muffled by radio static, hit them with something, knocking them unconscious. A white-uniformed man with a cape entered the room, revealing he's knocked everyone in the city garrison unconscious, and told his men they could kill my mother's cabinet if she didn't come with them. Korra didn't challenge this, saying that most leaders she met had to be scared instead of reasoned with, in her experience."
"So, your mother went with them?" asked Luke.
"Yeah," Mizuki revealed. "They also killed everyone in the Special Prison for Traitors and Terrorists, before leaving. With our communications disabled, I ran for the biplane Iroh had been teaching me how to fly, heading for the Western Air Temple. But when I got there, some blue-skinned, red-eyed alien wearing a big hat, along with a bunch of pig men swinging axes, were attacking my dad and Iroh. This guy could Airbend, and he got the better of us." She looked worried when she mentioned her father had been stabbed the last she'd seen of him, right before she and her brother were captured. "You know the rest of the story."
"I hope your family is alright," Obi-Wan said, with Luke quickly following. Though Obi-Wan believed that, if it was Cad Bane like he suspected, Mizuki's father was dead.
"Thank you," Mizuki replied. At that, with them coming up on their next hyperspace junction, Luke and Mizuki stretched their legs around the Mantis while Cal and Greez charted the next stage of their course.
"It sounds like Korra really changed in the time she was away," Luke commented to her.
"Yeah," Mizuki replied. "You have to wonder what happened with her and Mako while they were out here. It's almost like she became a different person."
"Perhaps," Obi-Wan said as he walked out of the bathroom. "Or perhaps Vader and Palpatine knew how to play on her fears until she did what they wanted." After they reentered hyperspace, Cal and Greez decided to reveal what they knew of the Benders serving the Empire.
The rescued captives, save for Iroh, were all suitably terrified at the revelation that, not only was the Obsidian Knight and his Empire now on their homeworld, but that the Avatar and many others were now in league with him. Iroh, having heard the radio broadcast from Republic City as Darth Vader made his return alongside Korra, was just relieved his father had survived the alien abduction he'd tried to stop at the Western Air Temple. "I helped Mizuki escape the ship before they cut open our heads!" he frantically told his father as he was helped onto a Sentinel shuttle. "Did you-""She's alive," his grandmother reassured him. "We just don't know where your sister is, at the moment."
"Don't worry, I won't stop looking," Bumi reassured his son as they strapped into the passenger seats. "We'll get you back home, soon, and then we'll be back to looking for her." A similar scene was happening as the second half of the eight hundred captives were loaded onto the various shuttles. In addition, many other slaves had been rescued from holding areas across the planet by Stormtrooper fast-attack squadrons, who, being lower-value slaves with no easy way to fight back, hadn't been fitted with cranial explosives. Needless to say, the rescued Elementals were far more reluctant to board Darth Vader's ships than the other rescued captives, but they knew it was the only way to get home. Kuvira had elected to take a different shuttle than Suyin, so she could practice flying this Imperial craft. Baatar did the same with his own detachment, or so they said. As the shuttles lifted off, Kuvira and Baatar took their ships somewhat off course, at Darth Vader's instruction.
"In position, master," Kuvira affirmed through her comlink, with Baatar doing subsequently doing so as well. They were rather close to T'Surr's largest moon, with Vader having positioned his TIE Advanced close by as well.
"All spaceports have been bombarded, my lord," Corsin affirmed over the comm channel. "The TIEs have reported no ships attempting to flee, either. The shuttles which rescued the secondary captives have returned to our ships, where the slaves are being looked over by our medical personnel. Meanwhile, the Gravity Well projected by the Interdiction remains in place, stopping any chance of escape."
"Recall all fighters to the hangers," Vader ordered. "And prepare for the jump to Axxila, but don't drop the field until I give the order." He then switched over to Baatar and Kuvira exclusively. "We will dislodge this moon and send it crashing onto T'Surr."
"Yes, my lord," Baatar affirmed. "We don't want to do this mission again, in the future, after all." Kuvira nodded, knowing the galaxy would be better off without the T'Surr. As such, the Sith Lord and his two Apostles meditated and began pushing the moon out of orbit, using the Force. After a good thirty seconds, Vader opened his eyes and saw the moon was now caught in the planet's gravity well. With one final push, its descent was accelerated.
"Now, shut down the gravity well projection," Vader ordered over the open channel. "All shuttles, follow me to Axxila. The star destroyers and interdictor will move back to safe distance and witness the completion of our mission."
"Yes, my lord," Corsin affirmed as the star destroyers picked up the last of the TIEs, with Vader leading the shuttles in a mass jump out of the system. As the four star destroyers swiftly moved beyond the close orbit of T'Surr, the Interdiction turned its gravity wells back on, just in case any ship tried to flee the surface. Not that they would have much time to, as the moon was engulfed in flames as it sped toward the planet like a comet. It smashed into the surface with tremendous force, rupturing the mantle of both the planet and the moon. Soon, the moon itself shattered, with red cracks appearing all over the planet, and a massive number of fragments were hurled out into space. When the cloud of debris cleared, the molten core was exposed, and the atmosphere was stripped away. A short scan revealed the planet's core was now unstable, and in the process of breaking apart. Satisfied that T'Surr was destroyed, the Interdiction turned off its gravity well generators, and the four Imperial capital ships soon made the jump to hyperspace, the planet exploding into a million pieces shortly after.
As Cal was about to speak of the Benders in Imperial service, both he and Obi-Wan had a massive headache all of the sudden, to the point where Obi-Wan sat down. "Is something wrong?" Mizuki asked, with Luke also concerned.
"Something just happened," Cal said, noticeably upset. "I'm assuming a massive number of people dying at the same time."
"That's what I suspect, more or less," Obi-Wan commented. "But unfortunately, there is nothing we can do about it. I think you should tell us more about these Benders in the wider galaxy." Cal went on to say, over a year ago, there emerged rumors of a new Imperial training facility on Carida, one of the main training centers for the Galactic Empire. And how people were being trained in new forms of combat. Then, roughly ten months ago, the Emperor himself had gone to oversee an award ceremony there.
"It was for action on Maridun, some jungle and savannah world where the only business for off-worlders is mining," Cal said. "Apparently, some outsiders, perhaps with the help of an Imperial officer trying to mess with a rival, helped the local Amanin rise against their oppressors. An uprising crushed by some Imperial Auxiliaries named Mako and Korra. Based on the time frame you laid out, I'd say they landed on Maridun immediately after they vanished. Whatever the case, they, and a bunch of the other defenders, were given the highest medal that can be bestowed by Vader himself with Palpatine conducting the ceremony."
"Well, that is certainly an interesting impression," Obi-Wan said, while Mizuki was baffled upon hearing that. Greez went on to say how they were celebrated for thwarting a crime lord's plot on Corellia to sell the 'Blue Shadow Virus' as it was called. Mizuki was briefly puzzled before it was clarified this was a plague that jumped every known species barrier. Greez noted, however, that the Corellian Police claimed that Imperial recklessness caused the death of many of their officers.
"They somehow managed to infuse a large number of Imperial soldiers with their Bending abilities," Cal continued. "But Vader started teaching them new techniques, as well."
"What do you mean?" Obi-Wan asked.
"He gave them lightsabers taken from dead Jedi," Greez answered. "We heard rumors that Mako killed some rogue Inquisitor on Eriadu, but that's nothing compared to Korra."
"She joined Vader for an attack on a hideout in the Ash Worlds," Cal explained. Mizuki would later learn that, once, long ago, there was a great empire based out of the Tion cluster. And there was a fabled region called the Kiirium Reaches considered the grandest. But after the first Tionese empire crumbled, the Hutts, who'd they'd competed with, bombed every settled world in the area. The destruction was so thorough that, when the Galactic Republic discovered the area, they thought it had been scorched by a supernova and wouldn't connect the Kiirium Reaches of legend with them for thousands and thousands of years. "Vader killed Master Anya Kuro while Korra fought Quinlan Vos and a trio of reactivated Magnaguards. She killed them all on her own, according to the one evac shuttle which made it out." Obi-Wan was noticeably saddened to hear of Vos's death.
"Then she is a formidable adversary," the Jedi Master concluded.
"Yep," Cal said. "Then, something happened in Hutt Space: one of their slave colonies, Ylesia, exploded. The Hutts haven't said anything about it, but they've been less cordial with the Empire, lately. There are also rumors of something happening in that private retreat of theirs they keep everyone else out of. There are persistent rumors that Vader and Imperial Benders were involved."
"So, that's what the disturbance in the Force was a little over a month ago," Obi-Wan said, remembering how Anakin admitted he once wished he could destroy the entire spice-mining planet, though Obi-Wan kept that to himself.
"Those Benders in Stormtrooper armor have been fairly restrained in use, so far, but they are deadly," Cal continued. "About two weeks ago, there was this uprising at a prison. Many of the prisoners were Wookiees, and they got their hands on weapons. A single Bender platoon went against about a hundred Wookiees and another two hundred others and won without any casualties." Obi-Wan knew the Wookiees had great strength, and that the Imperials would have been outnumbered by just the furry giants. The fact they won so easily was rather troubling. Mizuki, however, was disturbed to hear just how deep Korra and Mako were with the Empire. She knew that, if the Avatar vouched for the Galactic Empire, vast swathes of her homeworld would feel inclined to follow.
"Hey, a newscast is coming on," Greez noted. "It says 'Benders liberate slaves from T'Surr."
After they returned to the Axxilan space station, the various captives eagerly looked for the passenger ship which would take them home. They were informed that the ship wouldn't arrive until tomorrow, and for now, they had to be looked over by medical droids. All the captives were exceptionally hesitant but too afraid to resist under the circumstances. "Ah, you must be Commander Bumi," a figure said. Suyin recognized him as Grand Moff Tarkin, from the South Pole meeting. "Along with Grand Master Katara, Master Kya, Lady Suyin, and Lord Zuko."
"Yes," Zuko stated, remembering the man from the hologram he projected himself through at the Fire Nation capitol island. "I'm not the tired old ambassador you dismissed me as."
"But you stepped down as Fire Lord," Tarkin reminded him. "What had to be said was for a ruler, not an ambassador. But I'm not here to talk about that. Today is the anniversary of the Liberation of Axxila from the T'Surr slaver king, Krayn. Given how you and your friends have rescued so many more slaves from the T'Surr, I think it is best you attend, along with the EUA detachment."
"That's a kind offer but-"Kya said, trying to be diplomatic, before he looked at her with a commanding stare.
"I insist, you deserve this credit," Tarkin said. "Besides, the passenger ship won't be here until tomorrow."
Soon, the Five Benders, along with Darth Vader, Tarkin, Kuvira, and Baatar, looked upon a celebration in Skywalker Square. Wooden effigies of the T'Surr, a ratlike creature, and a Wookiee were being burnt in the center. At the same time, Stormtroopers and an assortment of Axxilans, mostly but not exclusively human, in civilian clothes or in local police uniforms wearing black armbands with red scratches patterned onto them led by Captain Piett were marching in the 'high step' style, each holding a burning torch while jubilant music played over the area. And now, the EUA detachment, wearing their chrome versions of Vader's helmet, were doing the same with them. Sabine and Ezra, still wearing their jetpacks, flew overhead as part of the parade.
The Benders heard that this area had once been the largest spice factory Krayn had on the planet, and that after it was destroyed, the new street was named after the Jedi hero who spearheaded the revolt and killed Krayn. Once a year, on the anniversary of Krayn's death, this rally was held to celebrate the liberation of the planet. Effigies of the oppressors would be burnt while protectors of the world and those once enslaved in the factories, led by Piett in this parade, held torches symbolizing the desire for freedom that gave them the courage to rise up against Krayn. Tarkin, having commanded the task force which moved in after Krayn had been killed, was a guest of honor, and had invited them into his spectator box close to the parade. Kuvira and Baatar were the only Elementals in the booth aware of what the hovering droids close by were: cameras sending live images throughout the galaxy.
"Why is it called Skywalker Square?" a surprised Luke asked Obi-Wan.
"Something your father did there, long ago," Obi-Wan answered. "Too many remembered his good deeds, so the new Empire wove a lie that said he was loyal to Palpatine over the Order and was murdered for it." Cal nodded, remembering how the Empire tried to rewrite history involving the Jedi as much as possible, to justify their slaughter. Mizuki, however, was shocked by the sight. Soon, Luke picked up on her distress, and that several of the people in Tarkin's booth were dressed differently, somewhat similar to how she and Cheng had dressed when he met them in the Dune Sea.
Then, the reporter chimed in how this parade had special guests from Elementia, the homeworld of the Benders. The second camera zoomed in on a new army: all of the were wearing drab green uniforms, with Imperial Army trooper armor with some metal rings on their arms just below their metallic shoulder pauldrons with grey gloves. All of them had helmets modeled after Darth Vader except they were chrome instead of black, with the eye lenses green instead of dark red. But Mizuki was more focused on the people in the spectator booth. She looked halfway between relieved, and shocked. One was a young man a few years older than Luke, tan skin, dressed completely in black with a trench coat, a prosthetic right hand, and spikey black hair with a ponytail. In close proximity was a young woman with a mole under her right eye, dressed much the same as the soldiers being focused on, with her black hair tied in a proper bun. Close to her was a middle-aged woman, with green eyes, grey hair, dark green clothes with metallic accessories, and a circlet.
On the other side of the booth was an old man in Fire Nation garb with a beard and a huge scar on the left side of his face. Then, there was an old woman in mostly dark blue clothes wearing a necklace with a hand carved pendant. Next to her was a middle-aged, grey-haired woman with similar clothes and her own necklace. Then there was a younger man with combed black hair and gold eyes, wearing a simple grey jumpsuit, looking a little in pain but was still standing like a soldier on duty. And finally, a middle-aged man with a beard, wearing a reddish-brown jumpsuit with grey sleeves and a golden collar, holding himself as a soldier. Mizuki didn't have to say it, Cal reflected, as she'd done a good job of describing her own family. And now, for reasons unknown, they were with the Galactic Empire, standing right next to Darth Vader, despite all he had done to them.
Hope you liked the battle above and on T'Surr. The villains of this battle are a mix of criminals, and Rebels too fanatical to care about right or wrong. Since Kuvira has been using the Force for a while, she's figured out Lavabending, but is still the best Metalbender there is.
Mizuki was raised to believe in the Avatar, and after what Korra has done for her family, she can't bring herself to be entirely disdainful. The rescued captives are trying to take comfort in how several of their world's greatest heroes are there but are still terrified at how Darth Vader is present. Dislodging a moon into falling on the planet below using the Force is an idea I've had for a while. And given the conditions of T'Surr, and the behavior of it's inhabitants, the Imperials see no reason to spare the planet from obliteration.
Obi-Wan is vaguely reminded of Mortis upon hearing of the Time-Traveling crystals. I hope Cal did a good job of summarizing Korra and Mako's adventures out in the galaxy, from the perspective of a Jedi fugitive. How Anakin came to Ylesia in his apprenticeship is a story for another day, while what he did on Axxila is based off the Jedi Quest comic. The prison riot put down by Benders is just something the Imperials did without Korra or Mako.
The Axxila parade was partially based on the book burning in Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade, though not as overtly threatening. The black armbands with scratch marks reference how Krayn's Wookiee enforcer, Rashtah, often clawed his captives. Iroh is wearing a simple grey jumpsuit taken from a star destroyer's locker since his own clothes are ruined. Tarkin included the Benders to make it harder for any opposed to the Empire to reach out to any Rebels.