Answers to reviews:
Guest02957: Well, figured having him use more than one form of Lightsaber combat would help.
pittsacee: if I feel like it.
Dragonrule: Thanks.
Disclaimer: I do not own Star Wars: The Clone Wars. I only own the OC Jayden Shan.
Because of Toydaria's involment in helping the Republic get supplies to the Twi'leks of Ryloth, King Katuunko informed Bail Organa that he was open to negotations with the Republic about Toydaria's neutrality.
So three days after Senator Organa met with the Toydarians about getting Ryloth supplies, a meeting was to be held with King Katuunko and the Jedi on Rugosa.
The coral moon found in the Rugosa System of the Sanbra Sector in the Outer Rim Territories, better known as 'Rugosa proper', was a well-known location close to Toydaria that had a special place in the species' history. Once it had been a moon and a vacation destination, a reprieve for all Toydarians when they toiled under the Hutts. Sadly, once the Hutts discovered their secret, a plague dried up Rugosa's oceans and exposed vast coral forests to a dry and arid environment.
And now, centuries later, Rugosa was to be the site of another stepping stone in Toydarian history.
The King's yacht touched down at the appointed time and Katuunko and a pair of his royal guards disembarked, hovering across a dried up coral bed as they floated patiently.
"We are getting no signal from the Republic, Your Highness." One of Katuunko's guard announced after trying to contact them.
Katuunko frowned before lowering his scanning visor and turned it to the skies above, sweeping across the space around Rugosa as he sought out some sign of the Republic's arrival.
"I don't see anything…" he murmured, his voice filled with mixed concern and confusion, "it is not like the Jedi to be late."
"Greetings King Katuunko." A female voice said, causing the Toydarians to turn and see four individuals; a bald Rattataki woman, a pair of B1 battle droids, and a masked man in silver attire with a red hood, who stood beside the woman. the two bowed respectfully, a passive display that was far less hostile than anticipated. The guards raised their blaster rifles, but Katuunko ordered them lowered, determined to find out the meaning of this gathering.
"Who are you?" Katuunko demanded with narrowed eyes.
"We are only messengers, your majesty." The woman said
"Our Master wishes to speak with you." The masked man said, his voice disguised and modulated due to the mask no doubt. The voice modulator filled Katuunko with a sense of unease as it sounded cold, devoid of warmth. The masked one looked at the woman, who used the Force to levitate a simple holocom from her belt to a position between the two, the device following every movement of her hand. Within moments the display flickered and a holographic figure of another familiar face from the political realm appeared before the King.
"Katuunko, great king of Toydaria. Please forgive my intrusion." The old man cordially bid as he bowed respectfully. Katuunko's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Count Dooku." He replied in a slow, measured tone.
"I am aware Master Yoda hopes you will allow the Jedi to build a Republic base in your system, in exchange for protection. Correct?" The Count inquired.
"Your spies serve you well, Count." Katuunko affirmed, slightly unnerved by Dooku's perfect summary of the situation. The truth was that there were no spies involved. The Confederacy's new listening post, Skytop Station, had intercepted the message between Palpatine and Katuunko and relayed the information straight to the Count. Dooku could tell he had unnerved the Toydarian, he could see it in his eyes as well as sense it through the Force.
"I ask... how can the Jedi protect you if they cannot protect themselves?"
Meanwhile, above Rugosa…
In truth, the Republic envoy was running behind schedule. But now the Consular-class Charger c70 cruiser bearing Master Yoda to his destination was swiftly approaching Rugosa. But even they could tell something was amiss. "Toydarian royal delegation, this is the Republic envoy. Please respond." Clone Captain Zak repeated for the second time over his comms. All he got was static and silence in reply. Already considering possibilities, the arrival of the Jedi Grandmaster to the bridge was well-timed. "General, the Toydarian's beacon is active on the moon but all our transmissions are being jammed."
Yoda hummed thoughtfully, considering their options. Jamming could only mean one thing: someone had intercepted their plans and made to interrupt them…
A fact soon realized when a Munificence-class frigate emerged from hyperspace right atop them and opened fire.
"Evasive maneuvers! Raise the shields! Battle stations!" Zak barked as alarms began to blare. The cruiser shuddered as multiple turbolaser rounds struck the hull and the ship lurched as the pilots dove under the hull of the cruiser. Suddenly, a second frigate dropped out of hyperspace and opened fire with its bow cannons, striking the engines as the cruiser bobbed and weaved its way around the Separatist ambush. Attempting to fire back with its own cannons, the Consular cruiser was woefully under-equipped to combat a pair of mainline battle frigates. "We're losing our shields!" Zak cried as more turbolaser rounds struck them from every direction, the view out the forward screen revealing a maze of crisscrossing crimson salvos.
"Too late it is. Sprung is the trap." Yoda mused.
"I must get you to safety, General." Zak stated.
"Retreat you must. With reinforcements you will return." Yoda countered. "On the moon below is my mission, there I must go."
Rugosa...
"I suppose you and your droid armies can do better?" Katuunko asked with doubt as he stared at Dooku.
"Without a doubt." Dooku nodded. Jayden and Ventress stood to the side, watching. Jayden had his arms crossed over his chest, Ventress keeping hers at her side. "I sense you are one who respects strength, your highness. Our droid armies outnumber the Republic Clone 100 to one."
"Perhaps...but I have heard that a single Jedi equals 100 battle droids."
"Master Yoda's powers have been greatly exaggerated." Dooku said.
"That remains to be seen." Katuunko retorted.
"Indeed." Dooku said. "But when you decide to join us, my Apprentices will contact me." He gestured to the silent Jayden and Ventress before the hologram disappeared, the communication ending there.
Meanwhile, above Rugosa…
"Quickly now, reach the planet's surface we must." Yoda commanded before turning for the escape pod, flanked by his Clone escorts from the Coruscant Guard.
"In an escape pod, sir?" Zak exclaimed incredulously. "The enemy will fire at anything we launch!"
"Then launch all of them you will." Yoda responded with an almost cunning smile.
Moments later, Yoda and his three-man entourage were hurtling towards the coral moon in one of half-a-dozen escape pods launched from their cruiser. Given the amount launched, the Separatists attacking them had no idea which one to focus fire on and so their concentration was divided and Yoda managed to successfully avoid the droid gunners.
"That was a close one!" CC-0183 'Rys' remarked from the pod's controls.
"General, I think we're out of range." Lieutenant CC-4477 'Thire' determined.
"I agree. But entering another trap we are." Yoda mused, without a hint of worry in his voice much to the surprise of the Clones. His nonchalant behavior was not what any of them were expecting.
"Are you sure?" CC-1414 'Jek' queried of him.
"A disturbance in the Force there is…" Yoda cryptically replied and said nothing more.
Moments later…
On the planet's surface, King Katuunko checked the skies again to watch as the Republic Consular cruiser was chased off by the pursuing Munificent frigates, the three craft exchanging turbolaser salvos all the way. Sensing his thoughts on the matter, Ventress made to press her position. "My lord, Master Yoda's warship has fled the system. What further evidence do you require of the Jedi's weakness?" She queried softly.
Suddenly, the King's personal holocom began to beep and Katuunko toggled the display, revealing a Clone trooper with lieutenants markings adorning his armor. "This is King Katuunko. Speak."
"Lieutenant Thire of the Republic diplomatic service corps, sir. Master Yoda would like to talk with you." The Clone replied, shifting the display as he knelt down then disappeared before being replaced with a render of the Jedi Grandmaster. Katuunko smiled, pleased as his faith was renewed. He had truly begun to worry for a moment.
"A pleasure it is to hear your voice, your highness. Master Yoda of the Jedi Council this is."
"Master Jedi," Katuunko returned with a cordial bow, "I thought perhaps Count Dooku had frightened you off."
"Delayed, have I been. Not too far away am I now." The Tridactyl replied. "Unaware I was that Count Dooku had been invited to our meeting."
"The Count invited himself, claiming it was to 'keep me from making a grave mistake'." Katuunko responded, shooting a glance at Ventress and her masked and hooded compatriot. "He assures me that, in this time of war, his droids can offer my world greater security than the Jedi."
Yoda hummed thoughtfully. "A matter of debate that is." He determined after a moment.
Ventress glanced at Jayden and he her, before Ventress stepped forward to intervene before the Jedi could win this one. "Your Majesty might prefer more than words." She offered. "If the matter is up for debate then let us have some conclusive evidence." Yoda and Katuunko regarded her.
"What do you have in mind?" The Toydarian inquired.
"If Yoda is indeed the Jedi warrior he claims to be and you believe he is, then let him prove it. Let us see if a Jedi is really worth a hundred battle droids." Ventress suggested, using the Toydarian's own claims against him. "This decision is not to be made lightly, oh King. You really must make the best decision for your people."
Katuunko paused, mulling over the notion. Fairness was indeed a Toydarian precept, so long as the Separatists were willing to play by the rules.
"Let me send a division of my best troops to capture him. If he escapes then such claims are well-founded and the Republic proven worthy of joining. But if he is caught then you will see that the Confederacy is well and truly the better choice for Toydaria." Ventress continued.
It was simple and straightforward, yet Katuunko had a feeling something else was afoot. He did not trust the Separatists, not after the showing Lot Dod made on behalf of the Trade Federation… which tended to be quite cozy with the CIS despite his opposing claims and denial of Nute Gunray.
"I did not request Yoda's presence here to test him in battle." He refuted. "I see no reason to oblige you when you have no business being here." Ventress frowned, but to her delight, Yoda thought differently.
"Accept the challenge I do, your highness." He stated. Yoda's gaze then settled on Ventress and he offered her a slight smile. "Arrive by nightfall I will." He added, seemingly goading her. The transmission ended and Ventress fixed her posture as King Katuunko hovered close to her.
"Master Yoda must be given a fair fight." He insisted.
"My dear King, I would have it no other way." She promised with a smile.
The escape pod had crashed over 10 miles away from the rendezvous point, from what Thire could tell. Using the surveillance equipment in his helmet's macro-binocs, he could trace the Toydarian delegation's beacon with his onboard sensors and map a route for them that would be both quick and direct.
"Beautiful this moon is, hm? Amazing, the universe is." Yoda mused, seemingly unconcerned with the enormity of the task at hand.
A droning rumble accompanied the massive shadow that temporarily blocked out the sun as the droid transport ship made landfall close to the rendezvous point. "There's gotta be a full battalion in there!" Rys gasped. "I bet they're packing armored units too."
"We'll have something for 'em." Jek promised, spooling up his personal Z-6 rotary cannon.
"I'm starting to understand why you packed that thing along." Rys remarked.
"Oh I didn't know there were gonna be Seps. I wanted to bring this just because." Jek explained with a chuckle.
"Carry only what you need. Too much weight, slow you down it will. Destroy Ventress, your weapons will not." Yoda cautioned them all. "Come come, lieutenant. Hurry we must." He urged as he started walking. Thire paused, visibly confused.
"Sir… the rendezvous point is that way." He stated, pointing in the opposite direction of the Jedi.
"As is our enemy." Yoda responded. "To reach our goal a straight path we will not follow." His advice was sage, but Thire still couldn't wrap his head around the Jedi. Seeing as there was no use arguing, perhaps it was best to simply follow Yoda's lead.
"Let's move it, boys." He ordered, Jek and Rys shouldering their equipment as supplies before promptly falling in line.
The droid's unloaded from the transport under the oversight of Jayden and Ventress, the Rattataki drawing her holocom and contacting Count Dooku. "We are deploying our forces, Master. A division should be sufficient against Yoda and a few Clones."
"He has made a grave mistake straying this far from Coruscant." Dooku remarked.
"I will ensure the Jedi gets his 'fair' fight." Ventress responded.
Dooku nodded, then addressed both of his Apprentices. "Do not underestimate Yoda, my students. He can be as clever as he is strong in the Force."
"I will take all the necessary steps, Master. Yoda will be our prisoner before nightfall." Ventress promised, collapsing the holocom. She turned and looked at Jayden. "I heard of how things went on Ryloth, including the part of you killing a Jedi Master. Impressive."
"Jedi Masters have fallen and died before, I see no hint to them being all powerful and indestructible." Jayden remarked with his arms crossed. "They are overconfident in their abilities, which will be their undoing."
Ventress chuckled. "And I'm sure there's a desire to fight the ones on the Jedi Council and end their lives, yes? Well, have to fear my friend... you get your chance with Master Yoda, just be sure to let me have a few shots at him. Two-Two-Four, find Master Yoda and bring him to me." She ordered the battle droids.
"Roger roger…" the droid responded in monotone as it turned to leave. But after a few steps it paused and turned around, "uh, what does he look like?" 224 wondered.
"He'll be the small, shriveled green one with a lightsaber." Ventress described, holding out one of her own blades and igniting it for the droid to see and understand. Unfazed by the weapon dangerously close to its face, 224 analyzed the weapon briefly.
"Small, huh? Don't worry, supreme leader, we'll take care of him." He promised, moving on his way shortly after. Ventress tucked her weapon away as she watched the droids join the column of tanks and mixed B1's and B2's moving out on the hunt for Yoda.
Some time later…
The mechanized onslaught moved invincibly through the coral forest, the environment standing no chance against the heavy AAT tanks as they cleared out a vast path for the footsoldiers to follow. Driven by their programmed initiatives, the droids were relentless and unstoppable, never once giving up until either their objective was complete or they had been reduced to scrap metal.
Stationed in one of the leading tanks, 224 scanned the horizon with a pair of electroscopes, searching for any sign of the Jedi. They had been at this for hours and weren't giving up any time soon. Suddenly, a brief register on his scans detected motion on the otherwise barren moon. "I think I see them! They're hiding deep in the trees," he called out to the tank commanders, "fire on sector eleven!" A row of four tanks slowed to a halt before taking aim and opening fire with their main batteries, laser shells slamming into the ground, cliffs and towering coral foliage.
From their position, the Republic envoy could see the droid advance and even count the blaster scoring on the front armor of the tanks. Worried about impending conflict, Thire ordered his men to ready up, weapons hot. "At ease be, my friends. Within range, we are not." Yoda stated calmly. Sure enough, the tanks rounds fell nowhere near them and even the direct fire from their side turrets failed to punch through the thick coral webbing. Using his marcobincos, Thire scanned their path was a comforted to find Rugosa itself was working in their favor.
"Those tanks are too big to follow."
"See? See? Size is not everything. Smaller in number we are, but larger in mind." The Tridactyl commented with a chuckle before scurrying on his way. The Clones watched him go, still befuddled by the Jedi's attitude.
"You uh… either of you know what the General is talking about?" Rys wondered, using the private comms his helmet offered so Yoda couldn't hear.
"How should I know? There's no figuring a Jedi Master." Jek responded. With a collective shrug, the Clones stood and followed after Yoda, the Jedi Grandmaster leading them on with the Force as his guide. Despite it's arid nature, the moon was teeming with unique forms of life. It all lent itself to the Living Force, painting a unique signature only a Jedi could sense. Yoda appreciated it, he always did enjoy worlds that went largely untouched by sentient civilization. A shame this meeting had to bring so much otherworldliness to it.
"Sir, there are two patrols coming in on foot." Thire suddenly reported, interrupting his thoughts. "Looks like infantry can do what tanks cannot." Yoda nodded in understanding.
"Now is the time to face the enemy, Lieutenant." He stated. "Ambush them we will."
"We'll go flank them from the south, General." Thire responded, already urging Jek and Rys to move out as Yoda hobbled off in his own direction.
The company of two dozen battle droids moved through the coral forest, completely oblivious to the Clones using rocks and native foliage for cover. The droids learned too little too late about this, when precise shots from Thire's rifle rendered two of the headless. "Blast 'em!" The company commander ordered, a hail of crimson blaster bolts leaving scorch marks on the terrain as Thire sprinted from cover to cover. It took a sudden flash of green for the droids to halt, their attention drawn away from the Clone to a little figure bouncing around the coral webs.
"Look at that little green life form…" One of them muttered in awe.
"You buckethead! That's the Jedi!" The commander chided.
"Huh. He is a little one. Blast 'im!" The droids opened fire once more, rounds always coming close but never close enough to the Jedi as Yoda's superior agility had him making a mockery of the droids. He soon disappeared into the wild and the droids were hellbent on following him.
"Split up by squad and spread out. Report your positions once you make contact with the enemy." The commander ordered, the remaining crews splitting into equal teams as they fanned out.
The lacking numbers worked out well for Jek and Rys, the two Clones having to deal with far less droids than before. Priming his rotary cannon, Jek was spoiling for a fight. "Okay, clankers… suck lasers!" He cried, leaping from behind his cover and unloading into the droids with a rapid-fire salvo. His weapon allowed him to almost single-handedly wipe out the droid company as Rys picked off the last few with his own blaster. Thire rejoined them, surveying their success.
"Where's the General?" He wondered.
"I don't know, we got separated." Rys answered. A cacophony of blaster fire caused him to flinch, the clones whirling around only to discover a company of B2 super battle droids had located them. The onslaught was relentless, each droid possessing two arm cannons capable of delivering rapid fire barrages sufficient to deal with entire companies of Clones.
"Fall back! There's too many of them!" Thire urgently ordered, he and his brothers beating a hasty retreat moments later.
Meanwhile, the other droid patrol followed the last possible position of the Jedi, tracking him through the wilds through sheer determination and guesswork. "He's got to be around here somewhere…" One of them murmured as it pried apart foliage on its quest to find the Jedi.
The last thing he was expecting, however, was for said Jedi to drop down from above and perch on his back.
"Hey! What the…!" Whirling around, the droid struggled as Yoda clung to him with a chuckle. The droids turned at the commotion and started firing. "Wait!" The droid managed to cry before a stray bolt took his head off. Yoda promptly lept to another droid, using their own firepower against them as his rapid hopping around caused the droids to shoot each other one by one until they all lay dismantled on the ground.
The comm Ventress received was not what she was expecting. "The Jedi destroyed our advance troops, ma'am." 224 reported. Katuunko laughed heartily, causing Ventress to grimace.
She looked at Jayden, who gave a small nod of his head. "Commander, have you pinpointed the Jedi's location?" She queried.
"Affirmative, the Clones gave away their position. Our heavy troops are moving to engage them now." Now it was Katuunko's turn to frown and Ventress smiled inwardly at the shift. The Toydarian donned his scanning Victor and quickly picked out a series of explosions several miles away…
"I hope the General… reaches… the rendezvous point!" Rys panted as he and the others sprinted down a narrow path flanked by coral on either side of them. Behind them, the super battle droids marched onwards, constantly following and shelling them with relentless, murderous intent. They would pause to lay down covering fire, but the droids just kept coming. The trio lept over a rise, narrowing avoiding the incoming salvos. Thire turned to open fire only to be struck by an explosion as a B2 with a rocket attachment fired its payload on his position. The Lieutenant was thrown to the ground and Rys dove for him, Jek laying down cover fire with his rotary cannon.
"Lieutenant can you walk?" Rys worriedly asked.
"I think I'm okay." Thire sputtered. He needed his rifle, this delay was giving the droids time to advance.
"Die Republic dogs!" A B2 growled in monotone, the thunderous choom choom of his wrist cannon almost as deafening as the shots whizzing past him. Suddenly, Yoda appeared behind the B2's and lept into the fray, his lightsaber igniting with a snap-hiss as he went to work deflecting incoming rounds and buying the Clones the time they needed to get to cover. Yoda joined them, the envoy now standing a better chance against the droids as they opened fire from behind a protective front. But the supers kept coming, for every one they shot another seemingly took its place in the column.
"What're we gonna do sir?" Thire asked. Yoda remained silent, switching off his saber as he sat on the ground and assumed a meditative posture. Salvos whistled past overhead, Yoda undisturbed by the clamour as he sank deep into the Force and immersed himself in the natural aura of Rugosa.
"What's the General doing?" Rys wondered in dismay, thankful again for private helmet coms.
"How should I know? Just keeping firing, it's the only thing working so far!" Jek retorted. The Clones popped up and started shooting again, the supers having closed the gap immensely.
They'll be right on top of us in no time. Thire realized. They'll pump us full of shot and that'll be it. Well, better make this worthwhile then. His expression grimly set beneath his helmet, Thire pulled the trigger on his rifle as fast as he could.
None of the Clones noticed Yoda lifting his hand.
A single B2 at the front was suddenly lifted into the air, rotated around and opened fire on its comrades with both arm cannons. "Run, all of you!" It cried in a deeply synthesized voice. "I'm having a serious malfunction here!" None of the B2's listened, all of the casually gunned down by the one manipulated by Yoda. The Clones stopped shooting, watching in awe. They'd never seen something like this before. Eventually, the supers got wise and shot their offending comrade to pieces, just in time for Yoda to unleash the scrap still under his control like a wave of razor-sharp shrapnel, the hail tearing the remaining supers to pieces and adding their scrap to the piles of droid bodies littering the forest floor.
"Well, how about that." Rys remarked. "Didn't even have to lift a finger."
"I mean, he did, but… whatever." Jek muttered.
"I'd say you found us just in time, sir." Thire mused, thanking him in his own way.
"Left behind no one will be." Yoda promised as he stood. A new noise entered the scene; a constant whirring of mechanics and the sliding sound of metal in circular motion. Thire turned and registered familiar shapes rolling onto the scene through his scope. He grimaced. Destroyer droids. They must've packed everything… bet there's a kitchen sink in that ship! He thought to himself.
"Rollies inbound!" He cried out in alarm. Yoda was already moving as the droidekas assumed a bipedal position, activated their shields and then opened fire. The Grandmaster's green lightsaber was a whirlwind of motion, deflecting rounds back and forth but failing to penetrate their deflector shields.
"Retreat! Cover you I will!" Yoda ordered. The Clones wasted no time bugging out, Yoda leaping onto Rys' back and hitching a ride as he deflected the next volley into the coral outcrops towering above them. Ricocheting rounds struck the coral and broke it into sections, the pieces falling hard and crushing the trio of droidekas under them, neutralizing yet another threat to the envoy.
But the day wasn't over yet.
Ventress popped open her holocom once more as 224 appeared before her. "The Republic troops are injured! The Jedi is in full retreat, supreme leader." The droid exclaimed. Now that was progress she wanted to hear.
"Good. Pursue them without delay." She ordered crisply. Katuunko believed there was too much pride in her voice.
"The contest is not over yet." He chastened. Ventress balked, a hand over her chest as if to say 'who? me?'
"I wouldn't dream of celebrating too early, your highness." She promised in a soft tone. Katuunko frowned, withdrawing his own holocom as he connected with the Jedi Grandmaster. A holorender appeared before him depicting Yoda perched on the back of a Clone trooper.
"Master Yoda, I hear you're having trouble with the droid army." He queried.
"Trouble? I know nothing of this trouble." Yoda coyly responded, sounding not even out of breath. "Look forward to our meeting soon, I do." He stated in promise.
"I'm pleased to hear it." Katuunko responded with a smile. The transmission ended and Ventress crossed her arms.
"Celebrating early, your highness?" She queried in a mocking tone as she threw his own words right back in his face.
"I wouldn't dream of it." Katuunko stated flatly. The silence that followed was awkward at best and it even made Katuunko feel uncomfortable. Ventress remained calm and cool, not showing even a hint of equatable discomfort.
Hours later…
Thire's injuries proved more detrimental as the day wore on, forced to be helped along by Rys as he hobbled across Rugosa's wild terrain. The sun had crested its apex and was now on the verge of sinking. Nightfall was coming, evening was at hand, and the Republic envoy had yet to make their rendezvous with King Katuunko.
They came upon a valley in which multiple small caves had been hollowed out within the walls. By natural means or some subterranean creature none of them could tell. Yoda led them down, "Stay here we will. A respite we need." He told them. Despite his limping, Thire was determined to stay on top of things and pinged the cave with his scopes. It was shallow, no way out through the back.
"Are you sure we should go in there, General? There's no way out." He cautioned. If the droids happened upon them, there would be no escaping.
"Now rest we must." Yoda calmly replied. Seeing as there was no point in arguing, the Clones followed him inside all the way to the back until it was too dark to see. They made a brief camp as they took the General's order to reset themselves, Rys set up a glowlamp and tended to Thire's wounds as Jek checked their supplies.
"We're low on ammo, sir. Only two grenades and one rocket for the launcher." He stated grimly after rooting through his supply pack.
"Against an entire battalion." Rys deadpanned, huffing a forced laugh. "Forget it, we've lost." He muttered.
"So certain of defeat are you?" Yoda queried. He sat down with Thire's ammoless rifle in hand, igniting his saber and slowly began to cut the weapon into pieces.
"With respect, General, maybe you should go on. Let us slow them down." Thire suggested. Yoda did not respond immediately, too focused on his task it seemed. The same superheated edge that had cloven the weapon into parts also welded them back together, Yoda diligently working until he had forged a makeshift crutch for the lieutenant.
"All around us is that which we need to prevail." He stated sagely while handing over Thire's new reprieve. "Come, sit. Your helmets, remove them. Your faces I wish to see." Sharing a brief look, the Clones pulled off their headpieces one by one, Yoda watching with wizened green eyes as he studied them both with his vision and without it.
"There's… not much to look at here, sir. We all share the same face." Thire remarked. He and Rys even shared the same haircut, but his brother had a tattoo under his ears. Jek stood out a little more with his head completely shaven. What remained the same to him were the look and shape of the face of Jango Fett, a permanent feature of every Clone trooper.
"Deceive you, eyes can." Yoda countered. "In the Force, very different each one of you are." Rising to his feet, the little Tridactyl summoned his staff and started walking around the glowlamp, pausing by each trooper as he went. "Rys, always focused on the enemy are you." He mused, tapping the trooper's chest with his hand-carven walking stick. "For inspiration, look to yourself and those beside you." He offered, moving on to the next Clone. "Jek, concerned about weapons you are. Weapons do not win battles. Your mind, powerful it is. Out-think the droids you can, hm?" Yoda moseyed on, letting Jek dwell on his words. "Thire. Rush not into fights. Long is the war, only by surviving it will you prevail." He instructed. Rounding the glowlamp, Yoda stood across from the men, all three quiet and attentive. "Clones you may be, but the Force resides in all lifeforms. Use it you can to quiet your mind." Such was a lesson he'd taught many dozens of Younglings beforehand and the same principles could ring true for others as well. Yoda believe in the omniscience of the Force and its ability to affect all, even those who stood no chance of being as gifted as Jedi were. It was for everyone, from the greatest of ways to the smallest of ways.
A loud rumbling outside the cave drew their attention. All of them knew in an instant that the droids were on them again and the last thing they needed was for an army to surround them. Scampering outside, Rys and Jek dropped low and watched the column move through the valley beneath them. Dozens of droids and heavily armored tanks stretched out in a long line before them. "Tanks…" Rys muttered. Then he scoffed, "Is that the best they can throw at us?"
"Yeah… but I've only got one shot left." Jek stated ruefully. They lacked the necessary ammo to ward off a whole column. As they scouted, Yoda trotted up behind them with a limping Thire in tow.
"Greet them I will." He determined after a moment's observation.
"General, you don't want to take that whole column by yourself." Thire quickly countered. But the Grandmaster merely chuckled.
"Have you three I do, outnumbered are they." He stated with a confidence the other Clones wished they had. "Know the time to help me you will." With that, Yoda bounced down the cliffside, leaping from rock to rock with an agility that genuinely surprised the three troopers. Moving without a care, Yoda dropped down right in front of the approaching column and calmly sat down, letting his cane drop to the ground as he assumed a meditative pose, seeming undisturbed by the droids rapidly closing in on him.
224 poked his head out of the lead tank, his photoreceptors quickly highlighting the little green imp seated on the ground before him. As it turns out, his scanners weren't lying to him and their target was indeed right in front of them.
"It's the Jedi! Block his escape!" He cried. The column came to a sudden halt as droids scrambled to take up firing positions and tanks moved around to flank 224. Every droid on site took aim at Yoda, blasters primed. "Prepare to fire!"
A chirp from her comm prompted Ventress to open the transmission from 224. "Supreme leader, we've found the Jedi." The droid excitedly told her. Ventress smiled.
"Excellent. Where is he?" She questioned.
"He's just sitting here, in front of our tanks." 224 answered, sounding rather mystified. Ventress' eyes shot wide open. The treachery of the Jedi knew no limits, she knew in her heart of hearts that this was a trap. Her last chance to claim the Jedi hung in the balance and these stupid machines hadn't acted properly!
"Shoot him! Shoot him now!" She bellowed.
"U-Uh, yes ma'am! Right away ma'am!" 224 shakily replied, closing the comm seconds later. Shoving her communicator back into its place, Ventress' brows knit with concern as her thoughts ran rampant.
Idiot droids! They should've vaped him on the spot! How foolish of me to think these things could get the job done, I should've just gone myself. Yoda will destroy them all. I do not trust them to do what must be done. Not now. She needed a way out. Ventress suddenly realized she was panicking. What she needed to do was clam down, focus, find her centre. King Kattunko's jeering certainly wasn't helping matters.
"Concerned you didn't bring enough droids? I think perhaps all those stories about the worth of a Jedi are true after all." He teased with a grin. Ventress regarded the bloated monarch with a sharp, brief glance. He wasn't helping…
"I will deal with the Jedi." Jayden said, breaking his silence. He had decided to let Ventress do all the talking on this mission, but he would break his silence when he feels like talking. His words caused Ventress and Katuunko to look at him, the masked Sith's gaze trained on the King. "You say a Jedi is worth a hundred droids, your highness... but a Sith is worth a hundred Jedi."
With that, he turned and walked away, Force jumping away to go find Yoda... and kill him.
Yoda waited only a moment longer before he made his move, leaping high into the air as four tank shells exploded right where he had once been sitting. Dropping down into a crouch, he ignited his lightsaber and struck hard and fast, bouncing between the droids as he cut them to pieces with quick swings of his weapon. Sliding low, he ducked under the tank and promptly cut open a hole with his lightsaber, using the Force to tear it open and launch himself inside. The droids within started shrieking in terror as Yoda cut them to pieces, the back of the tank snapping open as a hail of shredded droid parts came spewing out. 224 struggled to move before he felt a saber hacking through his legs. "But I just… got… promoted…!" He whined, his body disappearing from view as Yoda finished terminating him.
"Doesn't look like the General needs our help." Rys remarked, earning a round of chuckles from his brethren as they watched the Grandmaster spring up out of the tank and resume cutting up the droid army. He went so far as to use the tanks against each other, a single shell obliterating another tank and taking out a dozen droids in the process.
Piece by piece, Master Yoda successfully dismantled the droid army and the watching Ventress and Katuunko had opposing reactions. In the distance they could see small explosions and vast plumes of black smoke reaching into the sky, true signs of a deadly exchange udnerway.
"That's a lot of smoke for a surrender." The King remarked with a chuckle.
"The fight isn't over yet, majesty." Ventress countered, using a wrist-comm to send a single to the squadron of droidekas she had lying in wait. Even with Jayden on the move and en route to intercept that attack, she was convinced the extra firepower wouldn't go amiss.
The approach of the destroyers did not go unnoticed by the Clones. Even as Thire and Jek were chortling at the sight of Yoda cutting up the battle droids, Rys noticed the incoming reinforcements and alerted his brothers. "The General's too busy with the tanks, he won't see them coming." Thire realized. "But I think I know how to deal with them." His scopes passed over an overhang jutting out from the valley wall, a perfect target for their remaining rocket shot.
As Yoda cut through the final tank, he came across the invincible wall of destroyers approaching him. Hopping up into walker mode, their shields deployed and their heavy twin cannons opened fire in an absolute hailstorm of energy salvos. Yoda's blade flashed back and forth with expert ease, an absolute blurr of emerald light deflecting incoming rounds. But a loud whoosh and roar drew the Grandmaster's attention skyward where Jek's sole rocket streaked through the air and struck the cliffs above him. Detonating against the valley wall, the explosion triggered a landslide that came crashing down to crush the droidekas where they stood. None had a chance to escape and were lost beneath several metric tonnes of rocky debris.
"Yeah, that's giving it to the clankers!" Rys whooped.
"Great shot, Jek!" Thire applauded.
"Eh, it's all in the wrist." Jek teased. With that, the Clones slowly made their way down into the valley, Jek and Rys helping Thire along until they were standing before a tranquil Yoda, the Jedi seated atop the landslide pile as he entertained a few native birds. They perched on his ears and on his extended fingers, twittering away in perfectly chipper tones as Yoda basked in their lively Force signatures.
"Learned something today have you lieutenant, hm?" He queried with a knowing smile.
"I think we all did, General." Thire relented. Nodding in acceptance, the Grandmaster bade the birds farewell and hopped down to the ground, retrieving his walking stick with a wave of his hand.
"Come, behind schedule are we. Not polite to be late is it." He urged, starting to toddle on his way.
But then he stopped in mid-stride, the Force flashing in his mind like an alarm. Immediately, Yoda knew they were all in danger. Stretching out his hand, a Force push knocked the three Clones away and onto their backs before he lept out of the way… moments before a red crossguard Lightsaber struck where he had been.
"What the hell?!" Jek cried out, scrambling to his feet along with his brothers as Yoda ignited his Lightsaber.
Jayden landed in a roll and stood, grabbing his Lightsaber and assuming a stance.
"Handle this I will." Yoda declared as he twirled his Lightsaber. The Sith's gaze was on him and him alone. "Hmm, trained in the Jedi arts by Dooku, you have been. Yes?"
"My name is Darth Khan. Apprentice of Dooku." Jayden said before twirling his Lightsaber as he readied himself. "But you can call me your executioner."
Jayden leaped, as did Yoda. Their Lightsabers clashed, though Yoda used acrobatic moves and jumped around as Jayden swung his Lightsaber at the Jedi. Jayden went on a mix of offensive and defensive as he duelled with Yoda, knowing the Jedi Grandmaster was far more skilled than him. After all, this was the one who trained Dooku.
Jayden continued to twirl his Lightsaber around, blocking Yoda's attacks before he went on the attack, forcing Yoda to block. The Jedi Grandmaster continued to jump around while blocking Jayden's attacks before they entered a saber lock.
"Powerful you are, I sense." Yoda said with a frown. "Strong with the Dark Side, you are."
"You will not succeed." Jayden said as they broke the saber lock. "Toydaria will become part of the Separatists as my Master planned."
"Faith in your Master, misplaced may be." Yoda said before he assumed a stance. "As is your faith in the Dark Side of the Force."
Jayden said nothing as he swung his Lihtsaber when Yoda sent him off his feet with a Force push. Jayden crashed through a tree with a grunt and hit the ground hard.
"Quickly, General! We'll cover you! Get to that meeting!" Rys urged. Thire hobbled across the distance to reach Yoda and invite him onto his back for quicker transportation… but he started to choke and lift off the ground as Jayden got to his feet, one hand outstretched while his Lightsaber was in the other. Yoda saw what he was doing and quickly engaged Dooku's Apprentice, causing Jayden to break his hold on Thire.
"Thire, you alright?!" Jek asked as he helped his brother to his feet.
"Y-Yeah..." Thire said, coughing a few times. The Clones watched as Yoda continued to duel and battle Jayden. "I'm alright."
the fight between Jayden and Yoda continued, with them hopping onto a rock, swinging their Lightsabers. Yoda continued to jump and flip over Jayden while swinging his weapon, but Jayden continued to block and parry before giving his own attacks. Their sabers clashed back and fourth, Jayden remaining on the defensive, then their sabers clashed in a lock.
"Fought well, you have." Yoda complimented. "Trained you well, Dooku has."
Jayden smirked underneath his mask, using the Force mentallity to lift several rocks before he sent them at Yoda who had to turn and quickly deal with them before they could strike him. Jayden leaped off the rock and looked towards the Clones that were with Yoda.
"Oh no." Thire said upon seeing the Sith was looking at him.
"Let's scrap him like the clankers!" Jek shouted as he raised his chaingun and fired. Jayden raised one hand and stopped the laser blast with the Force until there was a lot frozen in front of him. "Oh no."
"Duck!" Rys shouted and the Clones did so just as Jayden sent the laser blasts back at the Clones, nearly killing them. Jayden sensed danger and whirled aroound in time to block Yoda's Lightsaber, and the Jedi Grandmaster hopped over him, landing between him and the Clones.
"Sir! Move!" Jek shouted as he lifted his rotary cannon. Yoda quickly jumped out of the way but Jayden used the Force to throw Jek back and away.
"Jek!" Thire shouted before paling as Jayden turned his gaze to him. He suddenly turned his attention to Yoda and blocked his Lightsaber before he shot his other arm out and blasted Thire with Force lightning, causing the Clone to scream as he was hit with the lightning.
"Lieutenant!" Rys gasped in horror. Jayden stopped his assault and Thire laid unmoving, smoke coming off his body. His armour blackened and destroyed. He was dead.
Yoda frowned, reaching out with the Force as he pulled Jayden towards him. The Sith whirled around with momentum of the Force, nearly hitting Yoda with his Lightsaber but Yoda jumped out of the way before he barreled into him with a cry, The Jedi Grandmaster swung his Lightsaber at the exposed arms of Jayden, but the Sith Apprentice blocked the Jedi's strikes as best as could with Yoda on him. Yoda slammed Jayden to the ground in the end. The Sith loosed an audible groan as he started to slowly roll over. Yoda landed on the ground, but did not retract his blade, standing ready in expectation of another assault.
Jayden did so, picking Rys up with the Force and threw him towards the Jedi Grandmaster, whose eyes widened and reached out with the Force, taking hold of Rys before he could impact him and levitating the Clone in place without injuring him.
Taking advantage of the situation, Jayden surged ahead and landed a dropkick between Rys' shoulder blades, shooting his body forward and bowling over Yoda in the process.
The two tumbled to a halt near the wrecked tanks, Yoda grunting and groaning as he picked himself off and even took a moment to dust off his robes. The Grandmaster looked to see Jayden approaching with purpose, Lightsaber clenched in his hand. Yoda reached out and Force pushed Jayden off his feet, caught him in a Force grip then swung him towards one of the wrecked tanks. The back of Jayden's head bounded off the metal and he went limp as he hit the ground hard, out for the count... for now.
However, Yoda would ensure the Sith would stay down a little longer so he wouldn't bother them much longer. Reaching out with the Force, Yoda hefted several large pieces of scrap that used to be tank turret and hurled them hard. The hail of metal slammed into the Sith, flattening him against the tank husk. With Jayden pinned, Yoda then focused his attention on another burnt-out tank. With both hands raised and eyes closed, Yoda levitated the entire piece of scrap into the air before he sent it hurtling towards Jayden, sandwiching him between both pieces.
The Sith Apprentice disappeared from view as the crumpled pieces fell in a massive heap. Breathing a sigh of relief, Yoda relaxed, bending over with his hands against his knees as he caught his breath. Jek and Rys staggered over to him. "Nice work, sir." The Clones praised.
"Too dangerous to linger it is. Even down pose a threat this soldier does." The Grandmaster replied. "Come. Late we are. Unwise to keep a King waiting it is." The Clones dutifully followed his word as the shattered envoy started moving again.
The sun was low and there was no sign of Yoda. Ventress was pleased. Soon his head will be presented before Katuunko and the Jedi will be thrown into chaos. This one was for you, Ky.
"Assassin." The King's demand was firm but soft-spoken. "I wish to speak with your master."
"But of course, great king." Asajj obliged, floating her holocom into place on the ground where the render of Dooku soon flickered into clarity, glowing blue before the assembly.
"Oh mighty Katuunko, what a pleasant surprise. To what do I owe the pleasure of your call?" Dooku courteously greeted, with perhaps just a hint of flair.
"I have called to tell you that you are correct, Count Dooku," Katuunko began, "one Jedi is not worth a hundred battle droids. More like… a thousand!" He declared, promptly wiping the smile from Dooku's face. "I am sorry. But I will be joining the Republic."
"I would urge you to reconsider, wise king. I promise you will not regret an alliance with the Confederacy." Dooku offered.
"Your assassin also promised that Yoda would get a fair fight. I will have no dealings with those who break their word!" Katuunko accused. One of the Count's silver brows arched and he cast a look towards Ventress.
"Is that so? Ventress, my dear, does he speak the truth?" Dooku queried in a calm tone.
"My lord, I take offence at such a notion!" Ventress replied, feigning hurt. "I merely sent out an amount I thought worthwhile. A Jedi is worth a hundred droids and so a hundred droids I sent." She answered.
"Tanks and special units aside." Katuunko huffed. Dooku sighed.
"I see there is no changing your mind, great king. Very well. The right to choose is yours alone, and I will honor the choice you make." The Count stated graciously. "While I am disappointed, I will not press the matter as you have clearly made up your mind." Katuunko relaxed, his temper abating. At least his manners make up for his machinations.
"I thank you for your understanding, Count." He said simply, wishing this to be over. Katuunko then turned back to his two guards, planning on giving orders to make the necessary preparations for departure and to finalize affairs. Negotiations would be short, if needed at all.
"As I'm sure you know, Toydaria is very close to Separatist space," Dooku suddenly began again, forcing the king's attention back his way, "and with a Republic base so close to our borders, I have no choice but to treat you as an enemy." The words were spoken plainly, but the subtle malice behind them was equally obivous. Katuunko grew tense, warily sensing treachery afoot.
Ventress sprang into action, using the Force to knock Katuunko's two guards to the ground before she ignited her lightsabers and held one at Katuunko's throat. "Perhaps we will have greater success with your successor, majesty." She mused in a taunting tone. Rearing back, she made to strike him down…
But her blades refused to follow through. Trapped by an invisible grip, immobilized, Ventress was halted in her tracks.
A pair of blaster shots rang out and her accompanying droids fell headless as Master Yoda, Jek and Rys arrived on the scene. "Jedi Master Yoda…" Katuunko breathed, "I am very pleased to meet you at last."
"Share the feeling I do, King Katuunko." The Grandmaster hummed, a wave of his hand sending Ventress reeling across the ground. Her assassin's reflexes kicked in and she sprang to her feet, ready to fight as Yoda clearly approached the flickering hologram. "Failed you your Apprentices have, Count." Dooku's gaze narrowed as Ventress moved on him again.
"I don't fear you, imp." She growled. Yoda closed his eyes briefly, testing the scene with the Force. Ventress was a dark, nebulous mass of energy, the Dark Side draining all life and light around it and replacing it with a cold aura, very similar to Darth Khan's.
"Strong you are with the Dark Side, young one. like Khan." Yoda mused. "But not that strong." He added with a teasing smile. With a flick of his wrist, Ventress' blades were plucked from her grip and pulled into Yoda's hand, the Grandmaster eyeing her curved hilts. "Still much to learn you both have." He casually remarked before tossing her weapons back to her. Humiliated, Ventress loosed a low snarl, her patience wearing thin.
However, she sensed a familiar Force signature and chuckled. "You truly believe Khan was so easy to defeat, Master Yoda?"
Yoda and the others turned to face the sound, watching as a hand pulled up a head then a whole body over the cliff ledge beside them. Jayden fully climbed up and grabbed his Lightsaber, activating it as he readied himself for round two with the Jedi Grandmaster. From what Yoda and Ventress could sense, Jayden was very angry at being defeated by Yoda.
"It appears you still have much to learn about Lord Khan, my former Master." Dooku chuckled, pleased to see Jayden had survived a fight with Yoda and looked ready for more. "Apprentices, return to me. I will have another assignment for you."
Jayden and Ventress nodded before sharing a nod at each other. Ventress pulled out a detonator and pressed it, resulting in an explosion nearby that caused rocks to start falling towards them. While Yoda, Katuunko and the Clones were distracted with that, Jayden and Ventress took the chance to flee in their ship.
Yoda stopped the crumbling rocks with the Force and threw them aside, his gaze turning back to Dooku's flickering holoform. "In the end, cowards are those who follow the Dark Side." Dooku took the goad in stride.
"A pity I wasn't there in person." He said simply.
"Pity indeed… my fallen Apprentice." Yoda mused in retort as the line ended. Breathing a tired sigh, Yoda turned back to Katuunko with a kind and friendly smile. "Perhaps now begin negotiations we can." He offered.
"It is not necessary, my friend." Katuunko replied, drawing his royal scimitar. "You have my faith. Toydaria would be honored to host a Republic base. My people are at your service." Katuunko pledged, symbolically passing his weapon to Yoda as a sign of goodwill and thanks, one of the highest honours a Toydarian could bestow. Yoda nodded in acceptance, taking the scimitar with both hands."
"Your majesty. Fail you we will not." He promised.
And that's it for this chapter everyone. I hope you all enjoyed it.
