Chapter 23: Defection
Disclaimer: Disney owns Star Wars, I only own my OCs.
Last Paragons
The next day comes with the group attacking an Imperial base on Corulag, one of the Core Worlds. The base they're currently targeting is the Sienar Advanced Research Division.
Getting past the defenses was easy, just a bunch of Imperial walkers, stormtroopers and auto-turrets, breaching the front door Leon relishes in the slaughter of Imperials. As he's having fun the others look for the base commander to interrogate for information.
Liliana fires her dual blaster pistols at stormtroopers, scoring hits at their chests. She sees one of them throw a thermal detonator at her so she throws it back at them. The stormtroopers scream as the grenade explodes taking them out. With them out of the way the smuggler continues her search. Liliana reaches the command room and is just about to enter when the door slides open revealing her target. The base commander opens his mouth to say something when Liliana covers his mouth and pushes them back into the room. The commander reaches for his blasters pistol when Liliana points one of her DL-19s at him as if daring the man to try.
He asked, "What do you want?" The Imperial slowly moves his hand towards his a hidden button underneath the desk.
Liliana said, "Answers to questions. I will put a blaster bolt in your head faster than you can blink, Imperial scum. If you value your life, I suggest you put that hand back where I can see it."
The base commander gritted his teeth, "What do you want to know?" While Liliana interrogates her target, Kenta mows down a Dark Jedi duo. His mastery of Djem So far outclasses theirs, easily parrying but holds back seeing if they can do better. Igniting both ends of his saberstaff Kenta holds off their attacks as he evaluates their skill with Form V. He concludes their level of mastery of the fifth form is Jedi Knight level. Deflecting and pinning the enemy's blade with his the Sith Warrior uses Force choke to restrain the other Dark Jedi. He throws the restrained Twi'lek into her partner.
He said, "You two are just being used by the Emperor. What lies has he filled your minds with? That the dark side is where true power resides?"
The Twi'lek growled, "What do you know of the dark side?"
Kenta replied, "More than you do. It takes pieces of you the deeper you immerse yourself in it. I would've suffered that fate had I continued going down that path but I had the strength to reject it. Using the power of the dark side isn't worth the risk. The more you use it, the more you become addicted to its power until you're a slave to its menacing grip." He twirled his double-bladed lightsaber, "But I can sense you two aren't wholly consumed by the dark side yet. There's still a chance for you to turn away. I can help you."
The male Human Dark Jedi sneered, "Never!"
Kenta said, "Guess death would be a mercy for you." Sweltering with anger, the Human Dark Jedi runs at the Sith Warrior bringing his red lightsaber above his head to execute the Falling Avalanche but Kenta swings his saberstaff, cutting the enemy in half below the waist. Not letting up Kenta restrains the Twi'lek with the Force and crushes her spinal column with Force crush. His opponents dead the young Sith Warrior advances.
Yuna aids Alec with dealing with a contagion of stormtroopers, ducking behind a crate she arms a thermal detonator and throws it, the troopers see it and take cover. When the blast ends the Imperial troopers resume fire. The lead stormtrooper arms a thermal detonator of his own and is about throw it when Alec keeps it stuck to his hand via the Force. After the 5 second timer ends, the grenade explodes killing everyone in the blast radius and staining the ground with blood, minced muscle, charred bone and gray matter.
Leon cuts down Imperial officers with his lightsabers, enjoying hearing the screams of his targets. He blasts a legion of stormtroopers with Force lightning at lethal intensity.
He taunted, "Is this the best your Emperor can send my way? At least put up some form of challenge!" He laughs afterward.
Leon ends the attack, the charred corpses fall to the ground. He shakes his head in disappointment before moving on. The ex-Jedi moves further into the base, cutting down or vaporizing everyone in his path.
Cutting down his last target, which was an Imperial officer, Leon sighed, "This is boring. Why can't I have the Emperor standing before me? I want to wrap my hands around his wrinkly neck and watch the life fade from his eyes as I strangle him" His ears pick up the familiar snap-hiss of a lightsaber and whips around blocking a strike from a male Zabrak Dark Jedi. They clash blades with Leon upon observation of the enemy's movement discovers the Zabrak is using Form II Makashi. Having learned the second form of lightsaber combat Leon knows one of the main weaknesses of Makashi is that it's useless against more strength oriented forms like Djem So.
Leon switches to the dueling variant of Form V, battering at the Zabrak Dark Jedi's defense until it's broken and beheads the Dark Jedi. He moves onward.
After setting the base self-destruct sequence, the group exits the base seeming empty-handed.
Kenta said, "Well, that was disappointing."
Leon replied, "To you, maybe. I had fun, well at least for a little while, then it got boring."
Liliana said, "I was successful. According to the base commander that I managed to interrogate, the Empire is developing a new chemical weapon and some ragtag of rebels are trying to stop them. The weapon's being made on Ord Mantell. Let's head there next and see for ourselves." Leon quietly replays the information in his head.
A ragtag of rebels besides them are taking arms against the Galactic Empire? Did someone else grow a pair and chose to rebel? They'll have to remain alert in case it's a trap. Boarding the Forgotten Star, Liliana types in the coordinates for the planet.
While the ship jumps to hyperspace, the others do whatever they want.
Kenta sits in the cargo area meditating, his connection to the light side is so powerful it manifests around him in a strong blue aura.
Without looking, he asked, "Did you need something, Yuna?" The fiery redhead leans against the wall with her arms crossed.
She said, "Nothing much. Just wondering what you're doing. I never expected your power in the light side to be this powerful, it'd give a Jedi Master a run for their money."
Kenta smiled, "Why? You jealous that you don't any Force sensitivity?"
Yuna shook her head, "Not at all. You don't need the Force to combat another Force user. You just need wits, skill and a plan to take down the most skilled opponent." Alec meditates in his quarters where nothing will disturb him. During the session, Alec wonders how his life would've been had his parents not been killed that fateful day. Would he still have become the Sith Warrior he is today or would his life have taken a different course? Would his life been normal?
'No. The past is the past. The Jedi got the punishment they so desperately needed, to show their hubris and complacency led to their inability to learn the Sith had changed until it was too late. Should the Jedi decide to return, perhaps they'll learn from their mistake and be active protectors of the galaxy instead of being lapdogs for politicians. I chose this path, no turning back.' Alec thought.
After setting the autopilot on, Liliana searches for Alexandra and finds the young Sith apprentice laying on her bed in her room lost in thought. Her green eyes meet Alexandra's angelic blue ones before the black-haired girl sits up. Her cloak and armor are near her bed.
Liliana greeted, "Hey there, sexy. I was looking for you." A faint blush appears on Alexandra's cheeks, even though they're in a relationship now, there's still tension between them due to being apart for what seemed like an eternity.
Alexandra pats the spot next to her silently asking the smuggler to join her on the bed. Liliana complies with enthusiasm sitting next to her love, basking in the quiet atmosphere between them. Cupping Liliana's cheek, Alexandra leans forward kissing the slightly older woman. Liliana happily accepts it, wrapping her arms around her love's slender waist and Alexandra's circle Liliana's back, pulling the smuggler close and pressing her against Alexandra's frame, their kiss deepening. Alexandra threads her fingers through Liliana's hair and the other stays put on the smuggler's back. On her end, Liliana lets the young Sith apprentice explore her body, each touch affectionate and gentle. Alexandra falls onto the bed bringing Liliana with her, the former's arms holding her close and takes one of Liliana's hands, interlocking their fingers. The smuggler kisses the young Sith apprentice again, each one lasting a second. Liliana stares into Alexandra's eyes, her heart leaping with joy with being in her love's embrace. Liliana gently caresses Alexandra's cheekbone with the thumb of her free hand. While she craves this to go further, this moment alone suffices for her. The smile on Alexandra's face makes it all the more enjoyable.
Liliana confessed, "I love you, Alex."
The young Sith apprentice replied, "I love you too, Liliana." She brings the smuggler's head to her chest making Liliana smirk and playfully rubs her cheek against Alexandra's breasts for a little bit then stops.
She said, "My, my, being bold today."
Alexandra giggled, "I wanted some company."
Liliana felt her love caress her hair, "That feels nice. I want a day where it's just the two of us, Alex. No Empire, no Sith Masters or Leon. Just you and me having a day to ourselves."
Alexandra smiled, "I'd like that." The two lay there on the bed, content with each other. For a while, it's blissfully quiet until they hear the notification they're nearing Ord Mantell. After getting to their feet, Alexandra dons her armor and cloak, Liliana steals a kiss before they head for the cockpit. Sitting in the pilot seat, the smuggler brings the Forgotten Star out of hyperspace, the planet Ord Mantell coming into view as the others enter the cockpit.
Liliana gestured with her hand, "There it is, folks. Our objective. I'm bringing the ship down to a safe landing spot." With masterful skill, the smuggler steers her ship down to the surface of Ord Mantell.
Powering down the engines, the group disembark taking in the scenery. They venture into town, asking citizens if they heard word of a ragtag of rebels standing up to the Empire, to which one citizen, a Rodian, said they heard no such thing. The gang continues asking residents until they stop for lunch.
Later that day, Alec probed the mind of an Imperial and obtained the information the group was looking for and the young Sith Warrior meets up with his comrades after he killed the Imperials.
Alec said, "From what I obtained from the mind of that Imperial, the Empire is developing a new chemical weapon. It's a neurotoxin designed to attack the central nervous system, rendering the victim's limbs paralyzed so they can be taken away for interrogation. The Empire's scientists are developing lethal variant as well. The base where this chemical weapon is being made at is about ten miles to the north of this place. As for the rebels, that was pure gossip. It turns out the Empire has been testing this weapon on the people."
Leon said, "Okay, that's all the incentive I need to break this new toy of the Emperor. Let's set out." The group sets out to the base, sneaking into the base, reaching it by night fall.
Inside the structure, one of the lead scientists packs his stuff in a duffle bag, purging the files from his computer's data base. Over the past several weeks, he's grown disgusted over what he's developing for the Empire. Thinking about his daughter, he had to come home to her putting on a cheerful facade when in reality he is being forced against his will to develop the chemical weapon. Once he's done with that, he plans on taking his daughter and leave the Empire to start anew somehow somewhere. When the man opens the door, he is greeted with a silver lightsaber. Leon points his primary blade at the scientist's face as he backs the man into the office again.
The scientist said, "Please, don't kill me!"
Leon replied, "Lots of Imperials said that same thing. The security of this facility is shitty."
The scientist asked, "What do you want?"
The ex-Jedi told him, "I heard you assholes are testing a neurotoxin chemical weapon on innocent civilizations. Tell me. Do you enjoy watching those people choke on the toxin as their limbs become paralyzed so that you fiends can interrogate them?"
The Imperial asked with fear, "Did the Emperor send you to kill me?"
Leon sneered, "Like I'd ever serve that walking fossil! But he'll be joining you in hell soon!"
The Imperial scientist's eyes widened in fear, "No, please have mercy! I have a daughter! She's all I have left! Please, spare me! I'm developing this weapon against my will. The Emperor ordered my wife to be killed because I wouldn't willingly make the weapon." Leon advances on the scientist and the latter moves toward to cabinet that he uses to hold his stuff.
Liliana and the others enter the rather spacious room. She watches the interrogation and looks into the scientist's eyes to see no deception, he's telling the truth.
The smuggler stepped forward, "Lower your blade, Leon."
Leon looked over his shoulder, "Why? He's an Imperial, he doesn't deserve any mercy. Are you just going to sit there and let this guy harm more innocent people?" Hearing that makes the scientist feel more disgusted with himself.
Liliana said, "I don't like seeing innocent people being killed by the Empire any more than you, Leon, but think about what you're about to do. This scientist isn't lying, he wants to leave the Empire with his daughter."
Leon replied, "He's working for the Empire, as such he is associated with every crime the Emperor commits."
Liliana said, "Stand down, Leon."
The ex-Jedi replied, "I don't take orders from you." Liliana walks over to stand in front of the scientist aiming one of her blaster pistols at him.
The smuggler answered back, "It wasn't an order, Leon. If you kill this man, you'll leave his daughter fatherless and an orphan. Can you live with the guilt of that weighing on your consciousnesses? If you go through with this, it makes you no different from the Emperor." She meets his challenging gaze with no fear.
Leon closes his eyes with a low growl, with the Force he reaches into the scientist's mind sensing fear, desperation...truth. He sees the memory of his wife's death because of his initial refusal to assist on this weapon. He can hear the Emperor's laughter in his own mind, cackling, taunting fueling his rage, but then he hears another. Thalia. Her hand on his shoulder guiding him down from his hate, the warmth a feeling long since gone, but never forgotten. The former Jedi deactivates his lightsaber.
He whipped around to stare at the Sith Warriors, "You three with me, sparring time!" The four head outside the facility's main gate, each entering their opening stances.
Kenta stares down the ex-Jedi, his hazel brown eyes boring into Leon's icy blue ones.
With a burst of speed, Leon charges, throwing slashes and strikes at Kenta, alternating between Form V and Form VI while keeping the two other Sith Warriors at bay with his shoto saber and Force abilities. Kenta uses the Falling Avalanche not once, not twice but three times, each impact testing Leon's defense. Leon sidesteps a fourth Falling Avalanche and looks to retaliate when he evades a surprise attack from Alec, the Sith Warrior is on him in an instant. The two engage in a dance of blades, parrying each other's strikes. The distinct hum of twirling lightsabers fill the night sky. Alec blocks a strike from Leon's primary blade, halting the stab attempt from the shoto with the Force. Leon feels a kick connect with his temple. The blow briefly stuns him but quickly recovers to evade a Cross Strike from Alec's blades. Yuna sprints toward Leon and utilizes the precision and fluidity of Makashi, Leon keeps his opponent's blade away from his vital points. Leon retaliates with Force lightning and Yuna uses her lightsaber to absorb the current. She grabs a flash bang from her belt and throws it at Leon, the ex-Jedi looks to repel it with the Force but it detonates before he can react. His vision goes white and ears ring. Alec takes this opportunity to form a lightning ball and hurls it at the target. Leon's vision returns in time to see the sphere coming at him. He uses the Force to stop the lightning ball in its form. The sheer kinetic energy of the sphere's movement pushes Leon backwards, making the ex-Jedi relocate some of his Force energy into a Force assisted grip to root himself to the ground and with some strain veers the lightning ball off-course, sending it to the left. A massive explosion ensues afterward. He gets hit by a charged Force push by Kenta. He rolls on the ground then kicks-up with a big grin on his face.
This is more to his liking.
He deflects Alec's thrown lightsabers, looking up to Kenta coming at him, crashing down at the young man. Using his height and physique to his advantage, Kenta utilizes the domination aspect of the Form V dueling variant that is Djem So, using the acrobatics and footwork of Ataru to compensate for Djem So's lack of maneuverability due to the strength orientated nature of the fifth form of lightsaber combat.
Switching to the Shien reverse grip on his blades, Leon begins using maneuvers and abilities the Sith Warriors haven't seen before. Minutes tick by and the trio are pushing Leon to the limit he hadn't been since his first battle with Darth Sidious at the end of the Clone Wars. While he was able to fight Sidious to a standstill, it pushed Leon to his limit.
During a bout of reprieve, Kenta asked, "Those moves, I've never seen them before. Where did you learn them?"
In a rare moment of non-hostility, Leon explained, "I learned them from the holocron of the Sith Lord Tulak Hord."
Kenta said, "Tulak Hord. My master told me stories about him. The Lord of Hate, a master of the lightsaber and ultimately rose to become Dark Lord of the Sith of his era. You must've been inside his tomb on Korriban."
Leon nodded, "Yes, I crash landed there. My stay there wasn't exactly friendly. You three are giving me the chance to use those new techniques I learned from that holocron. I haven't used these moves since the end of the war." The Sith Warriors continue their sparring match with Leon as the latter works to get the anger out of his system. As the match continues, the Sith trio notice something in Leon's eyes. They see something is holding the ex-Jedi from wielding his full potential.
Kenta catches Leon's Force lightning with Tutaminis, Leon pumps more power into the lightning making the bolts change more into a purple color as a result of the increased output. He plants his feet firmly on the ground, tanking up. He can feel the heat from lightning beginning to build on his palms. Kenta digs deeper into his connection with the light side, letting its soothing nature grant him the strength needed to withstand the assault. Leon sees Kenta's irises take on a luminous hue. It isn't the result of dark side degradation, though. The irises aren't turning the infamous yellow all dark side users take on. No, Kenta's irises are becoming a vibrant hue of hazel brown. What he doesn't realize is that Kenta unlocked a new ability. By immersing himself in the light side, he obtained the light side's version of dark side degradation called Light Side Presence.
Kenta thrusts his arms forward, sending the Force lightning back at Leon. The ex-Jedi cuts off the attack and sidesteps the oncoming current. Using Force speed to rapidly close the distance, Leon with his lightsabers strapped to his belt, entering a fist fight with Kenta who blocks Leon's strikes. The younger man gets behind Kenta and hops onto his back, applying the sleeper hold, however, Kenta grabs hold of Leon's arms preventing the ex-Jedi from locking in the hold. The Sith Warrior uses a Force repulse on Leon, rocketing him off. Leon quickly recovers and targets Yuna. The fiery redhead Sith Warrior goes on defense, doing everything she can to keep openings in her defense closed but the ex-Jedi uses his agility to bypass Yuna's defense. He sees a grin form on young woman's beautiful face then she ducks, outstretched hands grab Leon's arm, and Judo slams him to the ground. He rolls away from a fist and stand up. Alec clenches his fist, hearing his knuckles pop. Popping his neck, Alec gives Leon the bring it gesture. His electric blue eyes drilling holes into Leon's icy blue.
Leon sidesteps a punch, grabbing the outstretched arm pulling Alec to him and driving his tricep into Alec's cheek, the Sith Warrior shakes it off and nails a Force imbued open palm thrust to Leon's chest, placing an extra kick of Force energy. That strike is payback from their last sparring match. The two enter a grapple lock like two bulls, both refusing to give the other an inch. That's when Alec sees chains appear in Leon's eyes, they were holding the ex-Jedi from unlocking his full potential. Leon throws a Force imbued punch and Alec forms an X to block, while the energy is dispersed, it still rockets him backwards. Bringing himself to a halt, the Sith Warrior charges at his opponent. They land a simultaneous punch, quickly igniting their primary lightsabers, deflecting each other's attack. Pinning Leon's silver blade to the ground, Alec displays his skills with Niman. They exchange blade strikes when Leon pulls out his shoto again to block a surprise attack from the side by Yuna. He Force pushes Alec away from him and engages the female Sith Warrior, using the techniques he learned from Tulak Hord's holocron. Yuna falls back on Form III, Soresu against Leon's attacks. The ex-Jedi finds himself driven onto his back foot against Kenta who joined the fight, the latter using devastating power attacks with the intent to break through his opponent's defense. Leon grits his teeth, actually feeling a bead of sweat form on his face but his stubbornness keeps the ex-Jedi going. Breaking Leon's guard, Kenta nails a strong kick to the chest, making him stumble away before he stops his momentum.
Leon laughed, "This is it. You three are finally getting serious. I'm actually having fun for once." Yuna returns to the fight using Form II, Leon uses the Force to knock the Sith Warrior off her feet, but Yuna catches herself and jumps back a few feet. She holds her blue lightsaber in front of her and sprints toward Leon. The two clash blades again, Yuna using her wealth of experience to fuel herself. The two nail hard swings and blade lock.
Hidden behind his mask, a large plotting grin forms on Alec's face.
Leon and Yuna continue their duel, entering another blade lock. He prepares to counter when he both hears and sees Yuna's shirt rip, exposing her chest to him. This distracts Leon, allowing Kenta to land a Force imbued punch hard enough that Leon's lightsabers rip out of his hands, his body bouncing off the ground 3 times then recovers, standing up as Yuna uses an arm to cover her chest.
Yuna asked, "You satisfied now?"
Leon said, still recuperating from what happened, "Not sure, maybe a second glance will help me make up my mind." All four combatants deactivate their lightsabers.
When Yuna walked to her comrade's location, she lectured, "That was a dirty move, Alec."
Alec smirked, "You really think we'd win our battles playing fair? Besides, it did its job, didn't it? We won."
Leon commented, "Okay, I'll admit you caught me off-guard with that move, Alec. It won't happen next time." He noticed the Sith Warrior staring at him, "What? Want round two?"
Alec said, "You are weak."
Leon replied, "I'm not weak by any means, Sith."
Alec went on, "You aren't as powerful as you believe yourself to be or how powerful you can become. You have chains weighing you down, Leon. Failures you have yet to overcome. Ghosts of the past haunt you and the guilt that lingers with them. Those chains are what keeps you from unlocking your full potential. Unless you break these chains, the Emperor will always elude you. Unless you overcome the guilt of your past, you won't ever defeat the Emperor no matter how much or how hard you train, Leon. That is why you're weak. Break the chains and you will become truly powerful. Your greatest enemy is yourself, Leon Solstice." With his piece said, Alec walks away with his comrades.
Leon watches them leave, pondering on Alec's words. What ghosts of the past is he talking about? Did he somehow probe his mind to discover Leon fighting in the Clone Wars and the major events that still haunt him like the death of Edge and Thalia, the betrayal of the Jedi Council over Ahsoka's trial, his burning hatred for Sidious and Vader?
Leon looks at the ground, "They're not holding me down" he told them, "Those chains are holding me." His voice lost its usual hostile or taunting tone it always had when he spoke to them, "They're all I have to hold on to, all I have holding me up. Like I'm on a ship threatening to capsize and the chains are keeping me tied down so I won't fall into the sea and drown."
Liliana gives the defected Imperial scientist some credits for him and his daughter to purchase a ticket to leave Ord Mantell and start anew somewhere else away from the Empire.
The group is able to convince the scientists inside the facility to cease production of the neurotoxin chemical weapon and Leon warns if he hears they resume production of the weapon, he'll hunt them down one by one and kill them.
That night, Leon sits in the cargo hold watching a recording from a Jedi holocron he obtained while he was still on his own, his mind replying what Alec said.
Leon said, "Unless I overcome the ghosts of my past and the guilt, my chains will remain. I won't be able to unlock my full power." Memories of Edge and Thalia play through his mind, sacrificing their lives to save his. The betrayal of the Jedi Council over Ahsoka's trial, his failure to save Edge and Thalia, his failure to see the Chancellor's betrayal coming.
The weight of those memories crashes down on Leon. A tear runs down Leon's cheek that turns into quiet sobbing. He cries himself to sleep.
A/N: Chapter 23 done. I'm sorry for my hiatus and lack of updates for this story, I've been busy working on a story over on Wattpad. That doesn't mean I have abandoned this story. Far from it.
Here, the group discovered the Empire was developing a neurotoxin chemical weapon and Leon would've killed the scientist if Liliana didn't intervene. He later had a sparring with Kenta, Yuna and Alec with the latter winning.
Alec told Leon he has chains holding Leon back from unlocking his full potential and unless he overcomes the ghosts of his past and break those chains, Leon's target will always escape.
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Stay tuned for chapter 24.
Vader 23A