Author's Note: Dearest readers, I would like to thank you all for the support and patience that you've shown me. All of your kind reviews and messages have all been read and are so appreciated. It means the world to me that you're sticking it out through the best and worst times. Because no matter what, it is our hope in a better tomorrow that keeps us here. That belief keeps me seeking help and still standing here. For while I am open about the bad, I will gladly be open about the good. My friends, it is my honor and sincerest PLEASURE to announce that "The Frozen Force" will be returning to weekly chapters as of today. I feel confident enough to manage my time now that my life is leveling out without sacrificing quality. This journey carries on, and just in time too. Because next week, we hit 100 chapters!
Thanks for sticking with me and enjoy the show.
~ Michael
Chapter: 99 Blighted Order (Part I)
"A tragedy can unite more pieces than it shatters."
A quest for the truth! In an effort to uncover Hans Westgard's origins, Anna Dellian ventured with him to Takodana. But upon discovering his father, Hans learned of their family's dark past. In a fit of dark rage, Hans murdered his father before being quelled by Anna. After professing their love for one another, they returned to Coruscant. Believing the worst was behind them, the duo was left unprepared for the sudden explosion in the temple hangar...
Coruscant's ecumenopolis was unparalleled. It was such a massive, planet-wide city, that entire hemispheres hardly caught wind of specific incidents. However, the sudden turn of events had garnered the attentions of millions. The eyes of the Republic, both dwelling and beyond Coruscant...were on the Jedi Temple. Stories were clashing over the HoloNet, racing to uncover the truth. Anything from chemical leaks to reactor failures were pitted against theories of terrorism. Tremendous, ominous smoke clouds billowed out from the hangar's entry point. They climbed high into the Coruscant clouds and shrouded nearby skylanes. The likes of which Belle O'Har was flying directly through.
The reporter clenched the arm rests of her passenger seat. Her tight ponytail swished with her airspeeder's evasive maneuvers. The rising smoke threw nearby pilots into a panic and had them breaking skylane formation. Some even crashed into one another amid the blackness. "This is too close, Madam!" her shining protocol droid worried. His metallic digits clenched the speeder's controls as he weaved between incoming vehicles.
"It's not close enough, LM-3R." Belle intoned. "Decelerate and get us just below the smoke."
"I hope you know what you're doing," her droid fretted, yet obliged. He steered the ship downward as airspeeders screeched above. "Please don't tell me you want to land in the burning hangar."
As tempting as it was, Belle had to face the facts. Peering out from her viewport, she could see how unstable the structure's remains were. "Not now," she confessed. "But keep us level." Belle unbuckled her seatbelt and ventured into the airspeeder's bulkhead.
"Madam?" LM-3R worried while steadying their craft. "What are you doing?"
"Chip," Belle beckoned. "Go live." Her C1-P camera droid hovered over as she opened the airspeeder's back doors. Any surge of brisk wind was quickly replaced by the thick scent of soot and ash. Unafraid of her altitude and determined to get her story out, Belle began her broadcast. Chip zoomed in on her face as she clung to the speeder's edge for stability. The tiny droid worked to keep the ashy destruction in frame as his owner spoke up.
"This is Belle O'Har with the Coruscant Rose," she declared. "I'm live in the Senate District with a developing story..."
Senator Padmé Amidala scurried across her suite. Her eyes were glued to the datascreen as Belle continued. "Some sort of explosion seems to have been triggered within the Jedi Temple. We're looking at the smoke now. If these flames keep rising, it'll make it difficult for emergency services to enter quickly."
On the planet Avinaria, Idrial Finc gasped at the news report. While they were no longer part of the Republic, her husband insisted on consuming all forms of media. "Ryx," she uttered. "Ryx, dear! Come look!"
Ryx set their youngest daughter back in her crib and joined Idrial on the couch. His eyes widened at the site of the temple hangar in flames. "It has yet to be revealed if the blast was accidental or intentional." Belle reported. "But given the amount of military munitions likely aboard several craft in the hangar, it's possible that their could be more blasts."
"We don't know how many people are in the wreckage, but I do hear emergency vehicles."
Belle's voice crackled throughout the Deliverance's training chamber. Commander Frost, Elsa and Stel looked on in horror. They remained fixated on their portable datascreen, letting the chilling images take hold. A sudden clatter startled Elsa when Stel dropped his lightsaber in shock.
"Admiral Taka," Elsa called to the bridge. "Set coordinates for home. We need to get back to Coruscant immediately."
In a Corellian tavern, Jee leaned in alongside several frightened patrons. They watched as news footage showed first responders racing towards the hangar. The headline read:
EXPLOSION AT THE JEDI TEMPLE
It was enough to get patrons spouting their theories to one another. Betwixt the disarray, Jee remained focused on the screen. The Rodian's bulbous eyes looked on with deep concern for the only Jedi she cared for. Please tell me you weren't in that, Red, she thought.
"Hans!" Anna screamed into the rising inferno. Her shouts were cut short as her throat strained. She felt as though her chest would burst with how much she was coughing. Weakness took hold amid the disorder and she succumbed to lightheadedness. Anna dropped to her knees and felt several dented metals beneath her. "H-...Hans," she croaked. Her squinted eyes burned within the thick smoke cloud. She let her gaze wander across the wreckage, desperate to find her love. Her heart sank at the sight of someone's boot protruding from the ashes. It was as black as Hans' and spurred Anna onward. "Babe," she wheezed and gripped the Jedi's boot. "Hold on, baby. I'm gonna get you-" As she lightly pulled, her subject was lifted with disturbing ease. Anna's sense of touch kicked in before her eyes could process what they were seeing.
Her gaze slowly widened as she looked at the exploded, severed limb in her hands. Anna's wrists siezed up as she dropped the leg. She resorted to a series of manic and distorted babbles. Nausea and dizziness bombarded her as she collapsed into a pile of debris. While her right side was met with dented tiles, her left struck a softer surface. Fearful, yet curious over the bizarre sensation, Anna dared to roll over. Still in shock, it took her a moment to process the figure sprawled beside her.
Of all the Aqualish Anna had encountered during her travels, none had been more prominent than Master Beetra. She recalled the elder taking her apprentice to the Corellian Cup, celebrating Jedi excellency along so many others. Now, the light had fled all four of Beetra's eyes. Part of the master's robes had been crisped over in the blast while metal fragments lay embedded in her back. A broad gash scraped through one of her tusks and ran up across her temple. Fresh, scarlet blood trickled down across her face. It split into streams between Beetra's lifeless eyes, all staring at Anna in the darkness.
Anna whimpered impulsively at the sight before her instincts kicked in. She rolled over and forced herself to stand. Any attempt to do so had her instantly falling over. "I've...gotta find him," she whispered. Despite her blurring vision, Anna continued to crawl through the destruction. "Hans," she barely mumbled, believing she was yelling. "-ans..." she winced. Her fingers clawed at ash and bundled wires. Between shock and profuse smoke inhalation, Anna had become as disoriented as she was numbed. At one moment, she even believed she was on her feet and screaming for Hans. In reality, Anna was hardly inching forward. Her bloodshot eyes focused on the debris ahead and she didn't even notice the other corpses and limbs around her. She shuffled past them all, out of options and out of her mind.
"Move it, you moof-milkers!" Cadet Officer Lyn Ferix roared. The mighty, uniformed woman shoved her fellow non-Jedi guards forward. "This is not a drill! Go! Go! Go!"
Members of the Temple Security Force scrambled out on her orders. While some stuffed medical supplies into their backpacks, others prepped their blaster rifles. Despite the harsh circumstances, Kristoff Bjorg steadied his breathing. He desperately tried not to compare the situation to attacks he experienced on Aren. But such dissociation was easier said than done. The sights and sounds of foreign or domestic terror were a traumatic blur. Kristoff dashed alongside Sven and nodded to him for reassurance. The Cevrian snorted proudly as they formed up with the others.
"Officer Ferix," Maku panted. The Duros cadet's scarlet eyes were wide with panic. "What the hell's going on?"
"Explosion in the hangar," Lyn answered as a group of Jedi Sentinels sprinted across the upper floor. Kristoff peered down and saw masters evacuating younglings from the atrium.
"Are we under attack?" Maku asked and cautiously clenched his DC-15 rifle.
"I don't know," Lyn replied while leading her team. "I wasn't informed of any assault."
"We can't be under attack," Maku said, more so for himself. "Coruscant has never been attacked! The Seppies wouldn't dare!"
"They bombed the power generators a while back," Kristoff recalled and it was enough to make Lyn snap.
"Cut the chatter!" she barked. "Or so help me, I'll smack each and every one of you!"
Although Lyn's words were stern, Kristoff caught a glimpse of her wild eyes. At the end of the day, their security team was still a group of non-Force users. Regardless of where they came from, they had all been civilians at one time. And as Kristoff peered into Lyn's ferocious stare, he saw the same look many of the Trolls once had. Lyn, like everyone else around her...was afraid.
As soon as the group arrived at the scene, Lyn immediately threw up a fist. "Hold!" she commanded while several figures emerged from the hangar. A bruised Padawan could be seen helping his barely-conscious master limp out. Behind them, two clones pulled a Twi'lek engineer out on a makeshift stretcher. Despite Kristoff's best efforts to avert his eyes, the Twi'lek's agonizing screams made him look. Kristoff's stomach dropped when he realized one of the engineer's forearms was missing.
Lyn stood at attention as Master Cin Drallig emerged from the chaos. "Awaiting orders, sir!" she brayed.
"We still have people trapped in the debris," Cin explained while ashes puffed from his robes. "Establish a system and get them out. Be wary, as structural integrity may be compromised from the blast."
"Do we know what caused it, sir?" Lyn inquired.
"Cadet Officer Ferix," Cin intoned. "There are wounded Jedi who need our help. The cause is not my highest priority at the moment!"
Cin rushed back into the inferno, leaving Lyn to sneer. Her brown bun swished as she shook off her frustration. "Alright team!" she yelled back. "We're going in! Grab who you can and get them to the atrium upstairs. Once they're safe, get back here because there's plenty to do. Understood?" Her words were met with swift and dutiful nods. Gritting her teeth, Lyn thrust her arm towards the door. "Keep your heads down and follow me!" she yelled before running in. Kristoff took a deep breath before accompanying his team. Running straight into such a crisis reminded him of the destruction back on Aren. He saw his Troll village burning once more and desperately fought to focus on the present.
The initial hangar explosion had been powerful enough to send shockwaves rippling throughout the temple. Even the most sacred and hidden rooms in the temple quaked below. Yelena kept her apprentice secure while pondering what she'd heard. Grogu tilted his head inquisitively as the elder checked her comlink. With multiple missed calls from Elsa and Mattias, Yelena answered just as the latter transmitted again. "Hello?" Yelena answered.
"Mar," Mattias sighed in relief. "Thank the Force."
"What's going on?" she asked, knowing he hardly used her first name under pleasant circumstances.
"I'm not entirely sure," he confessed. "All I know is that explosions have gone off in the hangar. But where are you?"
"I'm...secure." Yelena whispered and looked down at Grogu. "Do we know where the girls are?"
"Elsa called me when she couldn't reach you," Mattias said. "We don't know where Anna is. I'm heading towards the hangar to help and Elsa is still enroute to Coruscant. How soon can you meet me there?"
"I-" Yelena bit her lip while staring at Grogu. Concern for Anna clashed with her secretive duty as Mattias grew impatient. "Destin," she imposed. "I-..."
"I don't have time," Mattias sighed in remorse. "Wherever you are...Whatever you're doing. Just stay safe. We're going to look for Anna."
"Mattias-" Yelena sighed just as he cut the transmission. Although she'd chosen duty, Yelena somberly hung her head. Grogu hobbled to her side and she calmly patted his head. "We'll be safe here," she assured him as another thought crossed her mind. Hold on, she questioned herself. Mattias said we're going to look for Anna. If Elsa's still on her way, who's he with?
Mattias huffed while trying to keep up with Master Zodra. "You Nautolans...really do age better than us," he panted.
"We're almost there," Zodra said as they hurried down a flight of stairs. The duo winced as their connection to the Force drew them closer to all of the hangar's excruciation.
As Mattias stared past that pain and into the flames, he thought to himself, Don't be in there, Anna. Please don't be in there.
A sudden crack snapped the elder free of his thoughts. His head craned upward as portions of the hangar's roof bent and plummeted. "Zodra!" he warned and threw up his hands.
"I've got you!" the Nautolan assured and slid to his side. Her violet tendrils swished as she too called upon the Force. Together, they used their abilities to keep the ceiling from collapsing. As more surrounding Jedi caught on, they rushed over to aid the duo. While Mattias watched the other Jedi raise their hands and assist, he hoped that at least one of them would be Anna. The last he'd heard from her, she was back on Coruscant nearly a day ago. If she was still in the temple, Mattias hoped she'd been nowhere near the hangar. And if Anna had to be there, perhaps she was helping survivors just as he was.
Sharp hisses emanated from beyond the hangar's outer points of entry. Emergency vehicles hovered along the structure while fire crews blasted water to douse flames. Yet even with their profuse amounts, the inferno kept rising. Back inside, Lyn dragged an ailing clone from the wreckage. She hauled him over her massive shoulders and said, "This section's clear. Return to the Jedi."
"Don't have to tell me twice," Maku huffed and hurried back to the front.
"But Officer Ferix," Kristoff inquired. "How can it be clear if we left a whole back half unchecked?"
"Blondie!" Lyn roared while carrying the clone. "Do you not see the amount of fire and debris? If anyone's back there, they've been burnt to a crisp or skewered." Although Lyn was shouting in his face, Kristoff's gaze shifted elsewhere. He observed a distinct silhouette shimmying behind the flames. "Even the damn fire crew can't get through yet. Now fall back to the atrium for further-"
"Someone's still in there," Kristoff uttered even as the flames obscured the figure from view.
"What?" Lyn blurted.
"Someone's there!" Kristoff shouted. "I can't just-"
"I am not losing civilian cadets over doomed victims!" Lyn brayed and Kristoff gasped. "Look around you! This whole place is coming down! Everyone, on me!" Without another word, Lyn bolted for the exit. The other cadets followed their orders and dashed behind her with the victims they'd saved. The group made it past the Jedi holding up the ceiling and exited towards the main corridor. Lyn rushed the clone towards the atrium, where the Circle of Jedi Healers were tending to wounded.
"Bring him here!" Knight Rapunzel Crin beckoned while bandaging someone. Lyn set the clone beside his fellow survivor and nodded to Rapunzel. The atrium's once pristine carpet had become a gruesome collection of death and dust. Ash and blood stains swirled alongside each other as more victims were set down. Their agonizing wails echoed beyond the atrium and down the hall...haunting those most attuned to the Force.
Lyn finally gave herself permission to cough. The hangar's smoke had reddened her green eyes as she tried to readjust. She observed the wounded around her and ultimately focused on another Jedi Healer. Dr. Der Sheparr raised an open palm over a victim's forehead. The man's visage was solemn as he looked down on his fellow Jedi. While Lyn expected Sheparr to utilize some form of supernatural healing, his patient's wounds were too great. Instead, Sheparr honorably closed the deceased Jedi's eyes. "The Force will be with you, Knight Mara," he whispered and tried to conceal his own grief. Tucking it away, he rolled a blanket over his fallen friend and moved on to help another.
Lyn sighed as she came to terms with their horrid predicament. She could feel the heaviness of her fellow cadets just staring at her, wondering what to do next. Despite Lyn's harsh behavior, the others had come to respect her. With her towering physique and and resolve, she was seen as a titan among streetrats. More than half of the civilian guards couldn't even shoot until they had met her. Noticing her choice of words from earlier, Lyn took a deep breath and sighed. "Look," she huffed. "You people forget that I knew you all before the Jedi. The Senate or the Order can call this security position whatever they want. But at the end of the day, I only owe so much to the Jedi. We're still less to them and I don't doubt that they'd leave us behind just like the government did before we were hired. None of those suits nor Jedi are my brothers and sisters. You folks are. So keeping you alive is my greatest priority." She was relieved to see the security guards agreeing unanimously with her philosophy. Her heart only sank when she realized that she was missing two of them. "Wait," she murmured. "Maku..."
"Ma'am?" the Duros inquired.
"Weren't the Aren boys right behind you?"
"Well yeah," Maku assured and turned. "They-...oh."
The team braced as Lyn's blood boiled. "BLONDIE!" she screamed throughout the atrium. "Damn it all!" She stomped back towards the lower staircase. "Everyone stay here," she demanded. "I'll get them."
"Buddies to the end," Kristoff panted as he and Sven ran into the inferno. The Cevrian barely made it through without getting his fur singed. "I saw the figure down this way," he assured while coughing.
Noticing the strain in his voice, Sven urged him to lower his head beneath the thicker smoke clouds. As Kristoff did so, he noticed a bulky mound intertwined with ashes. His stomach dropped at the sight of a protruding limb. "There!" he pointed and lunged for an arm. As he did so, the ceiling further crumbled above them. Sven helped him clear away ash as they found two bodies piled on top of each other. While the arm Kristoff had spotted was mostly unscathed, the rest of the engineer's body was as crisped as Lyn predicted. Kristoff gulped, for it appeared as though the engineer had been in close proximity of the blast. So much so, that his body had unintentionally shielded the man under him. As Kristoff rolled the corpse over, he gasped at the sight of a soot-coated Hans.
"It's Knight Westgard," he uttered as Sven snorted. Fearing the worst, Kristoff knelt down and firmly dug his fingers into Hans' neck. His heart raced as the action reminded him of normal days on Aren. He'd watched many of the planet's populace slaughter one another and spent many a day in field hospitals. Although he and Sven were typically passing through as nomads, he'd come to observe their practices. Kristoff bit back a strained yell when a faint heartbeat reached his fingertips. "By the stars...he's alive. We need to move h-" Sven grunted and dropped beside Kristoff. The Cevrian gestured to a pale and metallic plate pressed down on Hans' thigh. Given the wreckage around them, Kristoff deduced that it had come from the nearby gunship.
"It's keeping him pinned," Kristoff realized and shifted his hands under the debris. "Lift on three!" Sven nodded and gripped with his hoofed digits. "One...two...three!" Even a mighty Cevrian like Sven huffed with how heavy the plate was. After all, it was part of an LAAT's hull and meant to withstand laserfire. "Don't...give...up!" Kristoff growled through gritted teeth. Veins pulsed in his neck as he and Sven pushed. The ceiling crunched above, making their hearts pound. The rising flames had them sweating profusely as neither guard yielded. Yet no matter how much they heaved, their strength was fading. Smoke inhalation had them losing breath as the plate started lowering again.
"No!" Kristoff panicked, willing his body to carry on. His back felt as though it had been set aflame even as the inferno kept its distance. He feared his spine would snap under the plate's immense pressure, even with Sven's assistance. If there is a Force, Kristoff spoke within. Let it be with us now. Please! But Kristoff couldn't manifest an ability he'd never tapped into. Not in the capacity he needed. And yet as he felt his arms giving out, the plate suddenly shifted upward. Either the inhaled smoke had triggered a hallucination, or the bulky piece of metal was actually starting to float. Is that...me? Kristoff questioned. Sven?
As the plate tilted, Kristoff glimpsed another figure standing amidst the smoke. Her outstretched hand was bold and dutiful as she bent the Force to her will. Each, blue-skinned digit curled in an effort to assist with the plate. "Pull him out!" Tori Vica shouted. Having arrived at the scene, Tori was determined to fulfill her service to the Jedi Order and protect as many as she could. Under her guidance, Kristoff and Sven knelt under the hovering plate. As they dragged Hans out, a peculiar spurt struck Kristoff's uniform. Dark, crimson splotches dampened across his clothes as he desperately searched for the source.
Unbeknownst to Hans' rescuers, a jagged piece of the plate had impaled itself into Hans' thigh. Once removed, blood came darting out of the inflicted area. "No no no!" Kristoff blurted and lunged towards Hans. Without wasting a moment, he pressed his palms against the unconscious Jedi's wound and looked at Sven. "Buddy," he panted. "We need to act fast here. I'm gonna have you switch with me. Just keep pressure on this wound. Ready?" Sven firmly nodded while Tori ran over. "Switch!" Kristoff lifted his hands only for Sven's hooves to clamp down. While the Cevrian kept up pressure, Kristoff swiftly removed his belt. He then wrapped it above the wound and tightened it as much as possible. "Okay," he affirmed. "That should hold for now. Let's get him out of here!"
Tori braced just as a section of the ceiling came undone. "It's all coming down," she said. "Go!" In that instant, Anna stumbled into view from across the debris piles. "A-...Anna?" Tori uttered.
Kristoff's heart sank as the youngest Dellian succumbed to the smoke. She collapsed against an ash pile just as another portion of the ceiling fell. "No!" Kristoff cried out. The ensuing crash triggered a chain reaction and the rest of the hangar's integrity crumbled. Tori raised her hands just as the Jedi by the entrance did. Pursing her lips, she struggled against the pressure to keep more debris from falling. She bent and buckled, but never broke alongside her companions.
"Get Hans out of here," Kristoff told Sven. The Cevrian's concern grew as he realized what his friend was considering. With little time to argue, Sven hurriedly obliged. As he dashed off with Hans in his furry arms, Kristoff bravely searched for Anna. He leapt over chunks of plummeting metal and dove for the ash piles. He immediately helped lift her head as she coughed. "Anna?" Kristoff beckoned.
"Hans," she croaked. "Have to...find-" was all she could whisper before her head fell back.
Knowing he had to get her out of the smoke, Kristoff pulled her over. "Hang on," he said and scooped her into his arms. Anna's weak grip forced him to hold her close. "I've got you!" he assured while frantically searching for an escape route. Flames engulfed the mounting piles of refuse, keeping him from heading back towards the door. Tori's voice became a muffled shout over the roaring inferno. She was so preoccupied with holding up the rest of the hangar, that she could not properly clear a path for Kristoff.
The young guard's breaths shortened as he heard the whir of engines outside. Emergency firespeeders hovered by the entrance and worked to keep the fires at bay. Gripping Anna tightly, Kristoff knew what had to be done. "Hold on," he urged and ran towards the hangar's opening. It felt as though the flames were nipping at his heels as he weaved between debris piles. His efforts proved fruitless when a gunship's dislodged wing clanged in front of him. "No!" Kristoff grunted, having been cut off.
The firespeeder's rescue hatch opened and revealed several bronze-clad firefighters. "Come on!" one of them shouted while the others waved their hands. "We'll catch you!"
"I can't get through!" Kristoff yelled back, only to cough. Flames were closing in from behind as Kristoff eyed the immovable obstacle. "Or can I?" he whispered and hurriedly set Anna down. "I'm sorry about this," he told her weary self and unclipped her lightsaber.
Kristoff's sweaty fingers rummaged their way across the Doonium hilt. How do I turn this on? he thought before flipping it over. Maybe try the obvious red button, genius. After scolding himself, Kristoff ignited Anna's blade. Its bright, green plasma was almost overwhelming as he focused on his target. Without hesitation, Kristoff swung downward and bisected the gunship's wing. His heavy strike created just enough space for him to deactivate the blade and squeeze Anna through. The brightness of the outside world was nearly blinding to Kristoff's eyes.
"Wait a minute!" Belle reported from her speeder as Chip followed her finger. "We've got movement at the mouth of the hangar. It looks like-" Belle bit back a yelp. For as much as she recognized Anna, she didn't want to make her report sound personal. "A Jedi," she declared, her voice cracking. "By the stars, we've got survivors making their way out to the edge! Emergency crews are moving in!" Belle bit her lip as she watched Kristoff's endeavor.
"Jump for it!" one of the firefighters shouted as Kristoff steadied his feet. With an exasperated leap, he launched both himself and Anna off the hangar's ledge. HoloNews viewers held their breath until several firefighters caught the duo in midair. They pulled Anna and Kristoff aboard their firespeeder before ultimately shutting the hatch. From the moment the door sealed them in total darkness, Kristoff instantly felt his adrenaline fade. Exhaustion took hold as he dropped to his knees. The guard's trembling wrists still kept a firm grip on Anna. So much so, that Kristoff shuddered when one of the firefighters touched his shoulder.
"It's alright," the woman said. "You're safe now." Although Kristoff heard her, his wide eyes stayed focused on Anna. The firefighter knelt beside him and spoke calmly yet assertively. "Sir," she affirmed. "Sir." Her second iteration had Kristoff glancing upward. "She needs proper oxygen," the firefighter intoned and coaxed him into letting go. As Anna was carried to a portable med station, another firefighter approached Kristoff.
"Gutsy work, kid." the husky man said.
As much as Kristoff wanted to appreciate the compliment, he was still traumatized by what he'd seen. It was as if no aspect of his life would ever be free of such destruction. While he observed the hangar from the firespeeder's viewport, he couldn't help but wonder, How did this happen? His thoughts were cut short as a tremendous crumbling sounded. The hangar's support bulkheads gave out and caused a massive collapse. The ensuing collisions sent ominous smoke clouds spewing out from the hangar. The likes of which had Coruscanti screaming from near and far.
Those still inside the hangar were feeling the collapse's smoky shockwaves. "Get back!" Cin Drallig warned while sprinting through the rubble. "Get everyone out, now!"
In an orderly manner, those holding up the ceiling slowly started to let go. They released it in waves and fell back to the inner atrium. Mattias was about to join Zodra when he noticed a Jedi still battling the structure. "Master Drallig!" Mattias warned and gestured to the young Pantoran.
Cin huffed. "Padawan Vica! Fall back!" He jabbed a hand forward to aid with her withdrawal.
Tori cautiously backed away from her spot as flaming debris crashed around her. Once she was clear, Cin swiftly beckoned her back to the exit. Understanding that she couldn't keep the hangar together any longer, Tori made a run for it. She could only hope that Kristoff and Anna had made it out in time. Regardless of how quick Tori was, she couldn't beat a section of the wall from destabilizing. She Force-pushed it back...just as a gunship's dented engine tilted from behind.
"Look out!" a voice hissed while Tori was still turning. By the time she'd fully looked back, a pair of black-scaled claws were Force-pushing the turbine away. Tori glanced over to observe a young, Trandoshan Jedi. His scarlet, reptilian eyes fixated on her as he asked, "You alright?" Her nod sufficed as he ushered them to the door. "Then let's go!" With a desperate leap, Tori and the Trandoshan barely escaped the hangar and slammed against the carpeting. A final smoke cloud puffed over them as they buried their heads.
Any eerie silence following the structure's collapse was short-lived. Apart from the crackle of ongoing flames, the sounds of those still trapped in debris started to break the quietness. Their muffled and agonizing cries echoed beyond the hangar doors and left the Jedi outside feeling uneasy. Seeing as her task was far from over, Tori took a deep breath and rose to her feet. Upon recomposing herself, she joined the shaken guards and Jedi around her. Together, they ventured back inside the hangar.
By the time the 213th reached Coruscant, they'd found their capital in mourning. The gunship ride aboard LAAT-5 was as haunting for those aboard as it was for the temple victims. As the gunship breached the planet's atmosphere, Elsa steadied herself on a handhold. She kept glancing at her apprentice and remained unsure over how she'd explain the situation to him. Being patient, Elsa chose to quell her anxieties and gather more information for herself.
"D-" Frost stopped himself from hollering to the cockpit. Countless missions aboard LAAT-5 had made him fond of Donz. He still missed the old clone dearly. As did all active members of the 213th.
Toto was still far from any semblance of 'alright.' The younger clone had given up his co-pilot's seat to inherit Donz's mantle. Yet as he flew the craft, he refused to take on a co-pilot of his own. Alone with his grief, Toto continued to fly silently towards the Jedi Temple. Smoke still billowed from its hangar hours after the morning's explosion. "Will the death ever end?" Toto whispered to himself. "We're on approach," he alerted his passengers. "Seeing as the hangar's out, I'm gonna set us down in the courtyard."
LAAT-5 opened its hatches and the lingering scent of smoke reached those onboard. "By the Force," Elsa uttered as she set foot on temple grounds. She could sense the culmination of shock and grief which had befallen such a sacred place.
While Stel's senses were still growing, he could feel a surreal chill in the air. "Wh-what are we gonna do now, Master Dellian?" the Theelin asked.
Elsa took a deep breath. "In times of great suffering, sometimes the only thing we can do...is help. However and wherever we can." She patted Stel's back while looking at Frost. "The briefing said that dozens have been severely injured and moved into the Halls of Healing. We can start there."
While the Jedi Temple had always been a sanctuary of tranquility, this ongoing silence was different. Hushed tones teemed with anxiety and frustration. Many halls remained vacated as Elsa, Stel, and Frost progressed. In time, the neatly-vacuumed carpeting transitioned into a ravaged mess. Stel gasped at the side of blood and ash stains. Any time to process these sights was shredded away by the sounds of the wounded. A medical droid zipped over Elsa's head and hurriedly entered the Halls of Healing. With so many victims to tend to, the top staff from Coruscant Medical Hospital had been pulled to assist. Its finest doctors teamed up alongside Jedi Healers to provide optimal care for patients.
"What happened here?" Elsa uttered while shaking her head.
"There you are!" Master Mattias hollered from across the medical center. His frantic wave had Elsa, Stel, and Frost rushing over.
"Mattias," Elsa greeted. "Where's-" she followed him to a nearby recovery room and leaned in. "-Anna?"
Exhausted, bandaged, but far from defeated...Anna knelt at a patient's bedside. She sprawled her arms out across the blankets and rested her head near his limp hand. Monitors displayed the man's stabilized vitals overhead as Elsa got a closer look. Hans was comatose and hooked up to a ventilator. While the ashes had been wiped from his face, bacta supplements were starting to heal his cuts.
"Anna," Master Zodra beckoned. The Nautolan knelt beside her while Mattias guided the others in. "Your sister's here to see you." Anna didn't answer. Instead, she kept glaring at Hans' expressionless face. "Anna?"
While Elsa worried that greater animosity had sparked between them, Mattias changed the subject. "The Deathchasers are inbound as well," he assured. "They called me when you didn't answer, but I've assured the squad that you're alright."
Anna slowly raised her head and twitched her lip. She had to resist every urge to express her love and take Hans' hand. "Coward," she hissed and left her companions perplexed.
"Anna?" Mattias inquired.
"I mean, that's what type of person does this...right?" she growled and rose to meet her peers. "Only a filthy coward would attack people like this." Elsa's confusion had Anna scoffing. "You haven't heard yet, have you? Analysis droids are saying the temple was bombed." Elsa's heart sank as she watched her little sister break down. "Bombed." Anna forced an exasperated cackle. "H-...how does that even happen? Guards constantly patrolling this place. Endless inspections and doctrine all to have a-" Anna pulled at her hair as tears swelled in her eyes. Sorrow turned to rage as she glanced back at Hans. "We've got to find this kriffing sleemo."
"Let's just take a moment," Elsa said.
"Oh I've taken plenty," Anna grumbled. "And for all we know, there could be more bombs in the temple."
Stel gasped and looked to his master. "Is that true?" he worried.
"No," Elsa hurriedly responded.
"Don't lie to him," Anna asserted. "He's old enough to be in a war zone, so he's old enough to hear the truth."
"Truth and speculation are very different," Elsa retorted while rubbing her Padawan's back.
"Fine," Anna murmured. "Tell him everything's alright. Shower him in hugs and-"
"General Dellian," Frost defended. "That's enough."
"You know rumors are going around," Anna continued. "HoloNews outlets are already rolling with them. People think a Jedi was behind this. You think public opinion was garbage before? Get ready for a whole new mess because if it was one of us-...they'll...I'll-" Anna's face reddened until Mattias moved in.
Her old master gripped her shoulders and pulled her into an embrace. "Hey," he assured as she angrily wept in his arms. "I've got you."
"But Hans-"
"I know," Mattias spoke in a quieter tone. "And we will be there for him." As he calmed Anna down, Mattias glanced back at Elsa. His eyes spoke volumes, as he suggested some space for her sibling. Elsa acknowledged and departed alongside her companions.
Taking note of the situation around her, Master Zodra approached Mattias. "Perhaps things are more dire than we first perceived," she whispered. "It may be...time."
"You think so?" Mattias whispered back.
The Nautolan nodded and made for the door. "I will speak with the council first," she said. "Wish me luck."
As Elsa returned to the main healing chamber, she could sense her apprentice's rising stress levels. "Courage, Stel," she intoned in an effort to steady him. "Courage for our friends."
The young Theelin gulped while observing so many wounded victims. "Wh-what if your sister's right? Is the temple unsafe? Did a Jedi really do this?" His panic caught the attention of several non-Jedi doctors. They looked to one another and cautiously backed away. The sight broke Elsa from within. When she was younger, she recalled a faithful society. The likes of which put their trust in the Jedi Order to keep them safe. After what Elsa had witnessed on Carida, seeing similar fear in Coruscanti was disheartening.
"Stel," she said calmly and dropped to his level. "I don't have the answers to all of your questions."
"I'm scared," he confessed.
"Believe it or not, I'm scared too. I'd bet Commander Frost is as well." Elsa peered up at the clone, who nodded sympathetically. "You're not alone in this, Stel. In fact, now is the time for us to be more united than ever."
"And if there...are more bombs?" Stel winced.
"Frost and I will protect you," Elsa insisted. "But don't sell yourself short. When we first met, you were taking on two bounty hunters."
A faint smile passed across his pale purple lips. "That's true," he sighed.
"You're stronger than you think, apprentice." Elsa assured as a monitor suddenly rang. The trio's heads turned to see Dr. Der Sheparr rushing over to a patient's bedside. Elsa recalled her first memory of the Jedi Healer, back when he was tending to Mattias' spine. Yet no matter how much time had past, Sheparr's blue eyes remained calm under the heaviest of pressures.
"We need to keep him stable," Sheparr told his medical droid. The hovering assistant nodded and swiftly administered a bacta supplement.
"Bacta?" a woman called from the second aisle of patients. Sheparr turned and glimpsed a surgeon from Coruscant General. "I was tending to this man earlier," she said. "Bacta may provide relief, but it isn't going to address the underlying damage."
"How do you figure?" Sheparr asked.
"Because Mon Calamari bodies are at extreme risk for infections once their skin is breached. More so than humans. This man needs a pack of provotin cystate if he wants any chance of lasting the next few hours."
Sheparr squinted at the non-Jedi doctor and then glanced at his Mon Calamari patient. Concluding with her reasoning, he ultimately agreed. "Get the provotin," he told his droid before it zoomed off. "Good catch," he told the doctor as she joined him. "Might I ask who you are?"
"Dr. Mardeth Grey," she answered. "And you, Master Jedi?"
"I prefer Dr. Sheparr," he said. "Well, Dr. Grey...it looks like we've got a long day ahead of us." Even as the droid administered provotin to their patient, he observed how many others still needed care. "It's a beautiful day to save lives," he sighed and nodded to his observers. "Knight Dellian," he greeted.
"Dr. Sheparr," Elsa answered. "Thank you for all of your services. Although I must admit, I don't see anything beautiful about this day."
Even Dr. Grey looked to Sheparr for an answer as he said, "Sometimes, we have to make our own beauty. We search for hope without realizing that we can create it for someone else. We stand here amid a horrible tragedy-" Sheparr continued. "-but still...we stand. Because somebody has to, and people need someone to believe in." He departed with a kindly bow as Dr. Grey paused.
"Dellian," she recognized. "Elsa Dellian."
"That's correct," Elsa cautiously responded while sensing something familiar.
"It's good to see you alive and helping others," she said. "Things were...hectic at the time, but I'm the one who saved you from that buaroshade infection a while back."
Elsa's eyes widened before she bowed humbly. "Dr. Grey," she realized. "Thank you. I don't know how I can ever repay your kindness."
Mardeth simply smiled. "Keep paying it forward," she said before rejoining Dr. Sheparr.
As Elsa and her companions took in her words, a weary voice croaked beside them. An injured, Twi'lek mechanic extended her blue-skinned hand. Fear swirled amidst sorrowful eyes as she uttered, "P-please. I don't want to be alone. I'm s-scared."
Before Elsa could even respond, Stel approached the woman's bedside. The young apprentice took her hand and said, "I'm scared too, but you're not alone in this." He looked back at Elsa as if seeking approval for his actions. She merely nodded as the Twi'lek wept. Elsa, Frost, and Stel remained at the mechanic's bedside...keeping her company through her pain. And with each passing moment, the Twi'lek didn't feel so alone. No additional words of comfort were needed, for their very presence was enough. Enough to remind Elsa of what the Jedi could stand for. As Stel continued to hold the Twi'lek's hand, Frost gave Elsa a nudge. The commander subtly motioned for Elsa to observe who else had entered the chamber.
The eldest Dellian squinted, watching as Anakin Skywalker and Ahsoka Tano passed by. Unlike the others tending to wounded, these two were fast-paced and stern-faced. Their eyes darted from patient to patient before probing several for unheard answers. "Think they're looking for something?" Frost whispered.
"Or someone," Elsa considered.
Master Zodra never imagined that getting time away from her solitude would come at such a cost. Still, she persisted for the security of her Order. The Nautolan stood before the Jedi Council to plead her request. The great masters were also accompanied by holograms of Anakin and Ahsoka. "Our sanctuary is facing an unprecedented threat," Zodra said. "The hangar has been bombed and none of our enemies have claimed responsibility for this attack. Not only could this be a new threat to the Jedi, but an active one as well. There could still be more bombs in the temple and our attackers could strike again."
"Your concerns are noted, Master Zodra," Mace Windu said.
"But what is it that you'd have us do?" Kit Fisto inquired.
Zodra looked at her fellow Nautolan and said, "It is my belief that we need as much help as we can gather to confront this threat to our home." She withdrew a personal holoprojector and displayed a miniaturized version of her invention. Intrigued council members leaned in as she explained, "I have constructed a mass-signal broadcasting beacon. The likes of which can be used to recall all Jedi to the temple in an emergency. Members of the council, this is an emergency!"
Anakin scratched his chin while examining the unique device. Rather than comment on it, he let the council make its deliberations. The masters appeared divided on Zodra's request until Master Yoda spoke up. "A powerful beacon, this is. What you propose, help us it can. But wary...we must be."
"Respectfully, Master Yoda-" Zodra began. "-that is precisely why I'm calling this plan into action."
"Not wary of this," Yoda elaborated. "Wary...of the war. In the Outer Rim, many conflicts the Republic is in. Leading the counteroffensive, many Jedi are."
"To call them back would weaken our forces against General Grievous' offensive," Mace added.
"Public opinion continues to sway against us," Ki-Adi-Mundi said. "People believe a Jedi was behind this bombing. Even if it is an absurd accusation, we must consider the repercussions of how we'll be viewed. Seeing so many Jedi return to the temple could spark thoughts of mistrust or I dare say...insurrection."
"Because we're looking out for each other?" Zodra blurted.
"Your intentions are noble," Obi-wan Kenobi assured, seeking to quell everyone. "But we must observe the conflict faced on all fronts. We must also put faith in the Jedi that we have here, while leaving the rest to carry out their duties on the front."
Zodra sighed while deactivating her hologram. "And what if one of or some of the very Jedi you're putting faith into...is behind this bombing?" Her question prompted grim glares and mutters. "Dismiss the theories all you'd like, but you must consider the possibilities."
"We have," Anakin spoke up. "My Padawan and I have been tasked with investigating the bombing. After interviewing victims, we've learned of a possible suspect."
"Jackar Bowmani," Ahsoka explained. "A munitions expert who oversaw all gunships in the hangar."
"With his whereabouts unknown, it's imperative that we find him effective immediately." Anakin concluded.
"As Master Kenobi said," Mace told Zodra. "Your plan is well-intentioned, but the council does not approve of recalling all Jedi. We must keep the situation under control and trust those assigned to seek justice."
Realizing she was outnumbered and outvoted, Zodra swiftly bowed. "And so we shall," she resigned and stepped out of the grand spire.
Anna's eyes burnt from the amount of tears she'd discreetly shed. She remained at Hans' bedside even as Dr. Sheparr checked his vitals. "How is he?" she asked.
"No different than when you asked me a minute ago," Sheparr replied. He observed Anna's exhausted appearance and huffed. "Knight Dellian, your friend is in good hands. You really should get some rest."
"I'll rest when he wakes up," Anna insisted as the sound of footsteps came to the door. Kristoff peeked in and tried to hide his disappointment at Hans' condition. "Have they found anything?" Anna asked him. Impatient with his silence, Anna protectively gripped Hans' forearm and turned. "Well?" she intoned.
"Nothing yet," Kristoff admitted. "Master Drallig has all security staff performing active sweeps for the bomber. Or any suspicious activity for that matter."
Anna shook her head frustratedly. "You guards had to have been on patrol before this," she considered. "No one can just plant a bomb in the Jedi Temple. Didn't anyone see anything?" Kristoff's uncertain response had Anna somberly biting her lip.
"We've all been questioned," he said. "Heck, we guards are still getting probed for answers. The Jedi have us looking for one of the engineers now. Just put out a bulletin on a Jackar Bowman as as a possible suspect. I'm afraid there hasn't been much luck finding him though."
"He couldn't have gotten far," Anna grumbled while watching over Hans. "We'll get him. I know we will. And then he'll pay for what he's done to us." Keeping her anger in check, Anna took a deep breath. "Thank you, by the way." She looked back at Kristoff and offered a gentle nod. "I don't remember much, but thanks for pulling me out of that mess."
"Of course," Kristoff answered. "I'd do it again in a heartbeat."
His boldness brought a soft smile to Anna's lips as she returned focus to Hans. Dr. Grey read over one of the patient's datapads and said, "According to the reports, a security guard's belt was fastened to this Jedi's leg." Kristoff tensed up as she stared him down. "Did you apply the tourniquet?"
All eyes fell to Kristoff as he earnestly spoke the truth. "Yes, ma'am."
Grey and Sheparr exchanged grins. "Nice work," she told Kristoff. "There had been a laceration along his femoral artery."
"Your quick thinking saved this man's life and his leg," Dr. Sheparr added. "Nice work, kid."
In that instant, a sudden chime came upon Kristoff's vambrace. "All security personnel-" Cin Drallig called in. "-report to the temple's grand ascendance immediately."
"Something's going on outside," Kristoff worried. "I gotta go." He dashed out of the room while the doctors finished checking over Hans. Once their work was complete, they departed to observe less fortunate patients.
Anna embraced the momentary silence. Tuning out the periodic beeps of monitors around her, she finally siezed the opportunity to take Hans' hand. "Hey baby," she whispered, her voice cracking. "It's me." Her lips quivered as she watched him laying motionless. "You take all the time you need, but you gotta wake up for me. Maybe they're calling the guards outside because they've found the bomber. But don't worry...I'm not leaving you. I won't let anything happen to you, Hans. I love you." She gently leaned past his ventilator and placed a warm kiss on his forehead. Her lips quickly parted as another person entered the room.
Anna used what senses she possessed to try and comprehend who had entered. Frigid feelings had her stiffening up as a robust Jedi loomed over her. His robes were as crimson as the blood shed in the temple. His thick black tresses were neatly tied behind him as he observed his former Padawan. "How is he?" the Jedi bellowed.
"M-master Gaston," Anna uttered while protectively blocking him from Hans. "He's recovering."
Gaston's piercing blue eyes scoured over both Anna and Hans. "How could this have happened?" he asked. Gaston attempted to get closer, but Anna shimmied to block him again.
The master furrowed his dark brows as she said, "He needs his rest."
"So he does," Gaston scoffed at her gesture. "Quite the protective little lady, aren't you."
"My name is Anna," she asserted. "Jedi Knight and General in the Republic Army."
Gaston chuckled as if her titles were supposed to threaten him. "You know," he murmured. "Protectiveness often masks guilt."
"Wait, what?" Anna queried. "You don't actually think I-"
"Perhaps not." Gaston shook his head and sighed. "Hans however..." The master sucked on his teeth. "I tried to train that boy the best I could, but I never could've imagined him turning out to be such a disappointment."
Anna's face reddened as she clenched the mattress behind her. "You're wrong about him," she growled.
Ignoring her comment, Gaston made his way to the door. "Hans never liked the Jedi Order. Maybe all of his complaining was a cover and warning for his true plan. And we all know how awfully unskilled he is. The reports say he was the Jedi closest to the initial blast. Damn fool probably couldn't get clear of his own detonation in time-"
"Hans did not do this," Anna defended.
"And what makes you so sure?" Gaston asked. "Can you explain why he was in the hangar without an assignment then?" Anna's shoulders hunched as her reality sunk in. To tell the truth was to reveal where she and Hans snuck off to...and that would only lead to Welm Westgard's murder. "Better yet-" Gaston continued. "Why were you there too? Holofootage is circulating as quickly as rumors are. There's some clear images of you just stepping outside of the hangar entrance and waiting by the door."
"What are you implying?"
"And when the blast went off, you go running back in."
"To look for Hans!"
Gaston tilted his head. "So you knew he was in there. Which brings me back to the first thought. Why were you both in the hangar?"
Anna rose from Hans' bedside and dared to stand up to the master. "You are no officer, nor are you an analysis droid. Rumors aside, the Jedi already have a suspect to search for. I don't have to answer to you, Master Gaston. Neither of us do." She jabbed a hand towards Hans' comatose body. "He's taken enough of your abuse, so just leave him alone!"
Gaston simply nodded and slowly backed away from the door. "My my," he remarked while heading into the corridor. "What would Master Mattias think? His prized pupil...a traitor."
Anna shook off Gaston's jeers and returned to Hans. "He's just trying to provoke us," she whispered to him. "We'll all know the truth soon enough. You'll see. Maybe he kriffing did it." As Anna cared for her love, Gaston's words seared their way into her mind. The unseen venom had her cautiously looking over at Hans and thinking, He couldn't have done this. He was with me the whole time. But was I just a lovesick pawn who'd let her guard down? Some alibi in his long-awaited plot against us? Get a grip, Anna. Hans loves you. He said so...right?
Elsa, Stel, and Frost observed the temple's grand ascendance from an upper balcony. It felt like all of the elevation in the galaxy couldn't drown out the sounds of civil unrest. A massive crowd had formed on the temple's grandiose steps. Friends and family of those impacted by the bombing had assembled for peaceful protest. At least, Elsa hoped it would stay peaceful. The memory of what she'd seen on Carida was still fresh on her, Frost's, and Stel's mind. A daunting Republic gunship hovered over the crowd, but Elsa hoped its troops would never have to be deployed.
"What if they attack?" Stel worried. "If they charge forward again."
"That won't happen," Elsa assured. "As long as we listen to them."
"People protest because they're angry or saddened by something, Stel." Frost explained. Memories of the pandemic on Rodia flashed through his head. "And in that desperation, they seek to make their voices heard."
"STOP THE WAR!" the crowd chanted. "STOP THE WAR!"
"But why do they want to stop the war?" Stel couldn't help but ask. "Aren't we protecting them from the Separatists? It doesn't make sense." While many Coruscanti flailed their fists, others held up holographic signage. Stel observed one sign which showed a clone trooper behind a red slash. "That person hates clones," Stel commented. "But what did Frost do to them?"
Frost and Elsa glanced at one another. The commander was reminded of Senator Ryx Finc and his words back on Avinaria.
"Believe it or not, soldier...before Avinaria seceded from the Republic, your brothers weren't the nicest folks around here. The Republic stuck around long after aiding us with our post-civil war reconstruction. We didn't notice the impacts until simple trade proposals became 'extreme mining efforts.' The Republic had little disregard for our natural ecosystems and customs. When our people refused to move, it wasn't uncommon for clone troopers to up the intimidation factor. Please understand, I don't directly blame you for what happened. But you need to see that this is all about perspective. You may see yourself as a hero, but how do your opponents see you? More importantly...why do they see you like that? There's a disconnect between civilians and faceless, armored troopers. People can't trust what's behind that cold and unfeeling visor."
The memory prompted Frost to speak first. "Stel," he began. "Everyone has different experiences with clones. While we are united as brothers, we are separated based on our actions. We can't forget that these are the people we're fighting for. And if they don't support us-"
"-something's wrong," Elsa concluded.
Stel observed other Aurebesh signs in the crowd. The likes of which read 'Stop Cloning Violence' and 'The Jedi are Corrupt.' The young Theelin shook his head. "But we can't be the problem," he said. "In Brith Clan, Master Adersen taught us that we've been the guardians of peace and justice for billions-"
"Thousands," Elsa corrected.
"Thousands of generations!" Stel blurted.
"We were," Elsa assured and wrapped an arm around Stel. "And we still can be. There will always be darkness in the galaxy, but that's why we need true Jedi. Noble and brave individuals like you, willing to stand."
"You still believe that?" an all too familiar voice asked. Elsa's fingers tensed as she gripped Stel tighter. The trio's heads turned to see Padawan Barriss Offee. Hooded and somber-faced, the Mirialan made her way to the balcony's edge. "Look at them all," she said. "Crying out for justice that doesn't exist. For deliverance from a Republic which has forsaken them."
Seeking to defend Stel from Barriss' negativity, Elsa rose to meet the Padawan. "This is a time for mourning," she told Barriss.
"Can you really be so blind, Knight Dellian?" Barriss countered. "I pity your apprentice if you think this grief has only begun. As Jedi, we share our mourning with the galaxy, and it has been riddled with death for years." Elsa watched as tears puddled in Barriss' eyes. Still, the Mirialan focused on the protesters below. "Twenty-six people lost their lives today. But hundreds died on Carida, thousands on Umbara...and more bloodshed will come to-"
"That's enough," Elsa intoned while observing Stel's discomfort.
"That's just it, Elsa." Barriss murmured. A single tear rolled against her patterned, facial markings. She looked her acquaintance in the eye and lamented, "Don't you see? It'll never be enough."
As Barriss stepped back inside, Elsa and her companions were left to observe the ongoing protest. Kristoff and the rest of the non-Jedi security division had assembled behind a line of Jedi Sentinels. All Elsa could keep thinking was, By the Force...please don't let them hurt anyone. This planet's been dealt enough damage.
Tori's adrenaline never seemed to cease. Still covered in soot, sweat, and blood, the Pantoran persisted to help her fellow Jedi. She was willing to do anything and everything the Order needed. After calling her parents to confirm her safety, Tori had been assisting medical personnel within the Halls of Healing. She Force-pushed a fresh stack of medicinal stims towards a group of Jedi Healers. "Thanks again, Tori!" Rapunzel Crin hollered before returning to a patient.
"I've got you," Tori panted, staving off exhaustion. "Dr. Sheparr," she called. "Need anything?"
"Tori," he sighed. "Why don't you sit down for a bit? Hydrate. You've been at this all-"
"Do you need anything?" she enforced.
Realizing that there was no stopping her, Sheparr sighed. "We could use some more bacta bandages. Just don't strain yourself. I don't want to put you in one of these rooms."
"I'm on it," Tori answered dutifully. She jogged towards a storage room and found a wide container of bandages. Calling upon the Force, she pried it free from the upper shelf. Doing so accidentally dislodged several canisters. "No!" she winced until a clawed hand emerged behind her. Using the Force as well, a Trandoshan Jedi saved the canisters while she retrieved the bandages. Tori observed her helper and recognized him from the hangar. "You again," she panted.
"You looked like you could use some help," he hissed while reorganizing the equipment. "You've been going at this all day."
"Yeah well...the Order needs me."
"I admire your commitment," he said. "But that doesn't excuse you from taking a breather."
"Look," Tori huffed while carrying the bandage crate. "Just because you saved me back in the hangar doesn't give you some right to tell me what I need."
"I know that," the Trandoshan confessed. Tori's tired arms almost gave out and he rushed to help lift the crate. "But I also know that your mind is exhausted. Otherwise you'd be using the Force to lift this container the entire way back. Please, Tori." the reptilian hissed. "Let me help you."
"Fine," the Pantoran grumbled and let him carry part of the crate. "Say...how do you know my name?"
"You're more popular around here than you think," the Trandoshan said.
"Ah yes," Tori snarked. "I'm sure temple gossip loves talking about the masterless Padawan who's lost three mentors. What fun."
"You're not alone," he said. "While I can never feel precisely what you've gone through, I too am masterless." Tori glanced at the Trandoshan as they concluded their bandage delivery. "My name is Vedkan Nublar," he declared while pressing his claws to his navy blue robes. "Padawan to a murdered master. Left to endure in a temple where mentors are as scarce as the hope we don't seek. When I hear rumors about Tori Vica, they do not speak of a masterless reject. They speak of a hero who, despite all odds, still boldly serves the Jedi Order." Tori composed herself with a deep breath. "Like you, I refuse to remain stagnant. With or without a master, my duty is to the Jedi. And while I know not what the future holds, I too shall protect them."
Tori sighed heavily. "My first master cast me aside...then he was murdered for betraying the Republic. My second mentor was one of the kindest Jedi that I'd ever met, and I let her go. The third master to train me...lost her life ever so cruelly. You're right, Vedkan. Still, I am here. Because I must. When I think of the people I helped save today, I am reminded of my purpose beyond any linear doctrine. The same is true for you. We don't need masters to further our training. Nor do we need to wait on a council who's far too preoccupied with ending the war and pleasing the Senate. We know our value," Tori affirmed. "And that alone should be enough to find our destinies."
"Yes," Vedkan devotedly agreed.
"The Order needs us now more than ever," Tori said. "Whether they see it or not doesn't matter. We'll watch each other's backs," she proposed and exchanged a nod with the Trandoshan.
The sun was setting over a troubled Galactic City. And as the temple succumbed to shadow, Anna refused to sleep. Her weary eyes focused on Hans as she caressed his hand. A heavy yawn fought to flee her lips, but she held it back. No matter their trespasses against the Order, Anna would remain ever faithful to her love. She raised her brows as another presence entered the recovery room. For a Jedi fighting in the war, Anna never thought she'd be so relieved to hear a droid's inner workings. The medical unit clunked in and administered new supplements of bacta.
"Do you need assistance, ma'am?" the droid inquired while observing her haggard appearance.
"No," she murmured and pinched the bridge of her nose. "Unless you're gonna tell me that a temple bacta tank opened for Hans."
"Bacta tanks were prioritized for those in critical condition," the droid computed. "At this recovery rate, Knight Westgard may awaken soon."
"But he'd be better a lot sooner with a bacta tank!" Anna snapped and the droid shuddered. Recognizing her reaction, she slouched back. "Sorry. It's just been a long day. I've heard theory after theory. Everything from Jedi masterminds to nano-droid explosives. And yet no one can find a solid suspect." Anna huffed until she noticed the droid setting a Republic-issue container down. "What's that?" she asked.
"Analysis droids and recovery teams have been sweeping the hangar," the medical unit explained. "Although the process is slow, they are recovering personal items from those involved in the blast. These are designated as Knight Westgard's." The droid departed, but not before adding, "Your friend needs rest to recover. So do you."
Anna scoffed at the droid's remark and sat beside Hans. She embraced the dark silence of their room and gently caressed his head. Suddenly, a faint chime emanated from the container. That almost sounded like a communicator, Anna thought. Her heart pounded as the broken chimes persisted. Maybe it's someone important, Anna considered. Or just more of that spam Hans was talking about. She glanced at her unconscious lover while his device kept ringing. Curiosity got the best of her as she rose to investigate.
The crisp stench of burnt metal emerged as soon as Anna opened the container. She wrinkled her nose in response, yet persisted to find the communicator. All but Hans' lightsaber had been damaged in the blast. Its Haysian smelt hilt still gleamed amid the ashy remnants of his gear. Hans' communicator was reduced to a dented and cracked mess. Its thin screen displayed nothing but static as a call desperately tried to come through. "I hope I don't electrocute myself," Anna grumbled. As she reached for the device, dwindling remnants of her phobia tried to sway her. But like her other electrical encounters, Anna calmed herself with a deep breath. She steadily retrieved the communicator and dared to answer it. Anna didn't even get a chance to say anything. As soon as she accepted the call...Celenia started weeping.
"Hans?" the Twi'lek beckoned. "Please tell me you're alright! I saw the blast on the news and have been trying to reach you all day!" Anna froze while listening to the worried woman's voice. Her eyes darted back to the comatose Jedi until Celenia continued. "Hans? Hans!"
"Who is this?" Anna asked as silence filled the static.
"You're not Hans," Celenia responded.
"No kidding," Anna snarked. "I'm his partner. Who are you?"
Celenia stammered, fearing that telling the truth could get her beloved Hans expelled. Whoever this Jedi was, she sounded angry. "I-I am a good friend of his." Anna's stomach dropped at those words. "I just wanted to make sure he was alright."
"He'll be fine," Anna mumbled.
"I didn't know he had a partner," Celenia said.
"Well...now you do." Anna snapped. "How do you know Hans?" she inquired. In that instant, Celenia dropped the call. "Hello? Hey!" Anna attempted to dial back, but Hans' damaged communicator gave out. "Kriffing hell," she hissed. Her frustration quickly turned to confusion as she stared at Hans. Who was that woman? she worried.
Police sirens echoed throughout Coruscant's undercity. While underworld police struggled to keep citizens away from a crime scene, several members of the press slipped through. "Come on, Chip!" Belle urged as they dashed towards an apartment complex. The camera droid equipped his flash and immediately started broadcasting in the shadows. "Belle O'Har here with a developing story on level 4180, where two Jedi have just taken someone into custody. While I've been denied further comments, you can see the apartment where the incident took place just above me. Thirty-two year old Letta Turmond is being held under suspicion of treachery against the Republic. Jackar Bowmani, a worker at the Jedi Temple and Letta's late husband, is also believed to be behind this morning's tragic bombing. As we all search for the truth behind these events, I will strive to keep Coruscant sincerely updated. Belle O'Har...Coruscant Rose."
Once a symbol of hope, the sunrise brought only more grief and confusion upon the Jedi Temple. While certain members of the Order saw funerals as necessary traditions, others struggled to make peace during the ceremonies. To gather people in mourning and then ask them to forego attachment was inconceivable to some. Elsa could sense this frustration and anguish as she stood alongside her fellow Jedi. Hooded in solidarity, they gathered in the ceremonial crypt. Six of their fellows lay in the central chamber, blanketed in the great veils. Each was a silk coverings adorned from fabrics of the High Republic. Grand Master Yoda walked beside each fallen warrior and addressed his fellow Jedi.
"One with the Force, they are. And our job it is to remember...that we will in time, also pass on. Luminous beings are we. But temporary vessels, our bodies are. And we shall all find ourselves here in time. A moment of silence I ask...to remember and to move on."
Elsa stood alongside Stel and Master Mattias. She kept her Padawan close and thanked the Force that neither of them had been in that hangar. Despite the Order's best efforts to conceal their collective emotions, Elsa felt a distinct sense of grief above her. As she peered towards the uppermost section of those gathered, she found Master Kalia. Although the old Ithorian stayed silent, her glassy eyestalks spoke volumes. Teary and short of breath, Kalia focused on one veiled body in particular. For Master Beetra had been her friend for far longer than any other Jedi.
"Live for the living Jedi, we must." Yoda implored. "Live through us...forever they will." As his eulogy concluded, each of the six Jedi descended into the crypt. Their veils briefly shined before bright beams sealed them beneath. Each solemn pulse symbolized the fallen warriors' ascension beyond the Living Force.
Where will they go? Elsa asked within. Is there truly hope for them?
"There is always hope," Evara, Wraith of the Force replied. "Even in the darkest of times. You haven't connected with me for some time, young one. Why do you...shut me out?"
Because I have an apprentice. As you can see, there's a lot more going on.
"There has always been more 'going on' as you say." Evara replied. "But you lack the faith to stand with me at all times." Elsa's brows furrowed as Evara elaborated. "You only seek me out when you feel lost. And while Light is meant to be your guide, you are meant to coexist with it. At all times."
"Master?" Stel inquired and snapped Elsa back into the moment. The funeral assembly had begun to disperse as Stel tugged on her sleeve. "Are...you okay?" Master Mattias raised a brow from beside her.
"Y-yes," Elsa muttered. "Come on. Let's get some air."
"Where's Frost?" Stel asked as they left the chamber.
Elsa held back her mild frustration, for she'd told Stel twice already. However, she understood how preoccupied her apprentice had been. "Frost is back on the Deliverance," she said. "He has to check in on his men, no matter how much he insists I need protecting."
"Maybe we should go back to the ship too," Stel murmured and picked at his braid. "Maybe it's safer up there in space."
"I saw the latest report," Mattias reassured the boy while exiting. "The analysis droids swept our entire temple and didn't find any other bombs. You're safe here." The Padawan nodded as Mattias looked at Elsa. "I'm going to check on Anna. She's still with Hans and should know how the ceremony went."
Elsa and Stel bowed to bid him farewell. As they did so, the same grievous senses returned. Elsa observed Master Kalia nearby and took a moment to dry her tears. "Master?" Elsa beckoned.
"Knight Dellian," the Ithorian croaked. Stel's eyes were wide with curiosity at her translating vocoder. "I see you finally took an apprentice," she sighed. "Good. Beetra and I always said you'd make a great master."
"How are you holding up?" Elsa asked. She placed a hand on the old Ithorian's shoulder when she didn't answer. "It's okay."
Kalia sighed. "I-" Her long, leathery digits twitched as if combatting decades of doctrine. "I miss Beetra," she whispered. The translating device was even able to replicate her broken tone. "Beetra was my best friend ever since we were younglings. We'd grown up together, becoming Knights and celebrating that honor together. When we took on Padawans of our own, we were both ecstatic. We had these group outings where we'd train for hours as one. It was all Beetra's idea, of course. Because that Aqualish was-" Tears fell from Kalia's eyestalks as she staggered back. "-so smart," she wept. "Beetra was brilliant!" Stel took Kalia's hand, just as he had done for the ailing mechanic. As he helped hold his elder steady, Elsa put her arm around the Ithorian. Although their gestures garnered attention from several onlooking Jedi, the duo only cared about Kalia's wellbeing. The Ithorian's lanky arms trembled as she cried. "When our Padawans were lost on Scarif, Beetra and I were broken. But we had our friendship to hold on to. She used to say 'Let's lean on each other, just as we always have.' But now-" Kalia's breaths shortened. "I'm all that remains. She's gone and I-...I-"
"Master Kalia," Elsa spoke softly as tears gathered in her own her eyes. "Lean on us." The Ithorian nodded solemnly, letting Stel and Elsa hold her. "We are Jedi," Elsa affirmed. "And we will get through this together." As Elsa held Kalia, she felt her communicator vibrate. After peeking at who had called, Elsa's heart sank.
Thanks to Elsa and Stel, Master Kalia had calmed down since the funeral. She sat across from the young Theelin in the cafeteria and watched him slather jam on a piece of Iktotch toast. "Isn't that a bit...much?" Kalia commented.
"Nope," Stel insisted while dumping more jam. "It's not enough." His remark coaxed a chuckle out of the old Ithorian.
Elsa watched them share a moment from just outside the cafeteria. The distraction bought her just enough time to meet with who had called. "Couldn't even make it to the ceremony?" Elsa inquired and faced Master Yelena. "Whatever you're doing must be really important."
Yelena took a moment to steady herself. "It is," she whispered. "How is everyone?"
"Where to even begin..." Elsa muttered. "Anna's barely eating or sleeping. She's at Hans' bedside, waiting for him to wake from his injured state. Kalia's grieving Beetra while I try to keep Stel calm. Mattias has been doing what he can while the rest of our Order scrambles to clasp any sliver of normalcy. So in summation, I'd say everyone has seen better days."
"Elsa," Yelena lamented. "I know that you resent me for my actions."
"I don't-"
"You do," Yelena asserted. "Whether you realize it or not." The elder clutched one of her pale braids and sighed. "Sometimes I fear that there isn't a thing I can ever do to mend relations between us again. Because while my heart guides me in one direction, my duty to the council grounds me elsewhere."
"But what duty?" Elsa asked. "What assignment could they possibly give you to avoid not just me...but everyone altogether? We rarely see you anymore."
Yelena shook her head. "You never would've asked a question like that years ago." Rather than scold her, Yelena actually smiled. "You've grown up, Elsa. And in truth, I wish I could tell you what has been entrusted to me. But I swore an oath to the Jedi Council. I know you respect them as much as I do." Yelena tilted her head when Elsa frowned. "Oh?"
"It's just that, from what I've witnessed as of late. Both action and inaction...have led me to question the beliefs and priorities of our council."
Yelena nodded. "I understand that feeling. More than you know. When you were falsely accused of murdering those people on Naboo, Mattias and I pleaded for the council to help in your defense."
Elsa knitted her brows. "Why wasn't I ever told of this?"
"Because your name was ultimately cleared," Yelena replied. "The situation never presented itself. However, the council didn't stand in favor of you. They chose not to intervene, even though we knew you couldn't have done such a thing. On that day, I learned that our Order's authority was flawed."
Elsa recomposed herself and asked, "Yet you still followed their commands? And became a member of the council?"
"Yes. Because I still hoped for improvement. And it is that hope that keeps me trusting them, even with the assignment they've given me."
Elsa hung her head. "Are we truly no different than good soldiers following orders? All in the name of a greater good half of us can't even grasp?"
"I don't have all the answers," Yelena confessed.
"Because you don't seek them," Elsa intoned. "I spent my entire apprenticeship living in the shadow of your secrets, Master Yelena. Is this assignment of yours truly that harmful to me?"
Yelena took a deep breath. She steadied her old hands and looked upon her former student. "Elsa," she uttered and battled herself to tell the truth. "I-"
"Master!" Stel blurted from within the cafeteria. The shock in his voice had Elsa's head snapping towards the doors. "Come quick!" Elsa and Yelena rushed inside to find multiple Jedi crowding around the wall-mounted datascreen. Even those gathering food had abandoned their trays in shock. Elsa weaved between huddled Jedi and tuned out their whispers to listen to the datascreen.
Belle O'Har was live in front of the Republic Center for Military Operations. The midday winds howled against her brown tresses as she glared into the camera with somber eyes. "Another tragic incident in our city," she reported. "Letta Turmond, wife of suspected bomber Jackar Bowmani, has died." Belle's words had Elsa gasping as she watched on. "As you can see behind me, clone troopers are establishing a perimeter around the base to prevent civilians from getting any closer. But I am told that Turmond was strangled by way of the Force. Jedi Padawan and Commander, Ahsoka Tano, has been taken into custody. There are no further developments at this time."
Despite the amount of confused disarray in that cafeteria, Elsa heard only muffled silence. Her blood ran cold as she glared up at the screen. Ahsoka? she thought. Ahsoka Tano? She had to reiterate the Togruta's name for her own sake. By the Force...
Author's Note: Thank you so much for reading not just this chapter, but this entire story. Your support as fans is stellar and I love you all. One of you described "The Frozen Force" as a passion project, and you couldn't be more right. This is the longest fanfic-series-story-thingy I have ever written (what are terms XD). I am going to ease back into things, but I am so happy to return to weekly chapters. So I will see you NEXT FRIDAY for CHAPTER 100! By the Force...new milestone! This is as much your achievement as it is mine.
Thanks for everything and may the Force be with you!
~ Michael