Ch9 - The Rebellion
Imperial Headquarters, Lothal, Lothal Sector, 4 BBY
"Admiral, the Rebels seem to have found another superweapon," Kallus reported, appearing aghast.
"Kallus, you've already told me about these seemingly indestructible V-19s and some sort of nomadic fleet that you claim is able to evade even your most powerful vessels. What are you going to tell me that they've found now?"
"A starfighter with the firepower of a small fleet," came the strained reply.
"Show me," Percy sighed. That he disliked the Empire was enough of a strain on him as he was charged with the putting down of a rapidly growing insurgency that was already being described as an open rebellion. The fact that they continues to grow in credibility and strength wasn't making it any easier.
Already he had identified three separate 'squadrons', each of which was an amalgamation of smaller cells that had once been small problems. Now, however, they provided a significant enough threat that Star Destroyers had to be deployed to counter them.
The first was the one that his niece, Sabine, seemed to be a part of. By their distinctly Danaan style of of fleet combat, he could only assume that it was being commanded by a native of the Mykapo System. Thrawn had suggested the name of Jun Sato, who had gone missing since his dismissal from the Mykapo Planetary Defence Forces.
The second was easily enough identified to Percy, seeing as he had worked alongside a great deal of its Officer Corps; the style of Jan Dodonna was unmistakable, and his controlled aggression, as well has the freedom that he gave his Capital Ship Commanders made him a formidable foe. His Massassi group did not involve itself in Percy's sector all that often, but on the rare occasion that he received reports of their involvement, it tended to be Thalia who was given the task of heading them off.
The third, however, was the one that he feared the most. For as much as Percy wanted to protect the troops under his command, how could he deal with what appeared to be a ghost fleet? Whenever the 'Shadow Squadron' entered a battle, it was like being thrown twenty years back, with the V-19 Fighters and Aethersprite Interceptors guiding obscenely up-armoured shuttles and freighters into battle. Each time he saw the squadron, it seemed to have gained a ship of some sort, be it a new variant of old Republican kit, or captured Imperial equipment, and always in that paint scheme, like the sunset over Coruscant.
There was only so long that he could continue to fight against former allies for an employer who sought to crush his own people; all that was left was the right moment to execute his carefully crafted plan.
The new fighter that Kallus was showing him was a specimen of its own, a narrow attack profile and heavy armament allowing it to act as a shock component of the otherwise rather blunt Phoenix Squadron blockade-running capability.
Its performance against Kallus' blockade over the planet of Ibaar had been impressive, albeit against a Cruiser, instead of a Destroyer.
It was a threat, and a threat demanded a counter.
"Trials for ISD Interdictor are progressing acceptably," he informed the ISB Agent. "It will prove essential should raids of this type continue."
"Agreed, Grand Admiral," Kallus replied. "Admiral Brom Titus has commented favourably regarding its performance in the field."
"We kriffing well knew that already," Percy replied, "I made it, and I tested it for years before that blond idiot ever got near it."
Kallus seemed to huff in amusement, though he chose not to comment. "It will enter operational missions in the next few weeks," he said, and Percy nodded.
"See what survivors you can get from the downed Cruiser, and you will receive reinforcements in the near future, not as if it matters to Tarkin's objective.
"Yes, Sir," Kallus saluted, and the message was cut out.
Tritonis Stronghold, Krownest, New Kleyman System, 3 BBY
"You're sure, Father?" Percy asked, wincing. "You really can't make it happen any faster?"
"Unfortunately not, Perseus," Poseidon replied, "unless you're able to fake your death without it causing war on Mandalore any other way.
"Well, theoretically it'll cause war on Mandalore anyway," Triton pointed out matter-of-factly.
"A war that we are unprepared for, my son," Poseidon replied harshly. "I refuse to allow my clanspeople to die on a whim, and certainly not when it can be avoided.
"Yes, Father," Triton replied. "Though the sanity of your son could be spared."
"I know my place, Triton," Percy told the man, "and what little I can do to dislodge Imperial power from my station in the Outer Rim will have to do, until we are able to seize the initiative and retake Mandalore in the name of its own people."
"You know, Percy, you're allowed to do stuff for yourself, too, right?"
"And what would that be, Triton?" he shot back. "I can't leave the Empire because they'll come right here the moment I do. If I retire, then we'll find our planet crawling with their spies and probes, all our plans sent to the dogs. I can't spend too long with my own wife, for fear of the Empire discovering our marriage and killing her. Shab, she has to hide that she's coming here at all!"
Triton grimaced, muttering an apology under his breath.
"Relax, Perseus," Poseidon told him gently, "your time shall come, all we can do is wait."
"Yes, Father," he nodded.
"Now go, Reyna has been waiting to see you."
He didn't need to be told a second time.
Tritonis Stronghold, Krownest, New Kleyman System, 3 BBY
"It's been so long," he breathed as he found himself in her arms, her face buried in the crook of his neck and her form so real in front of him. "Holograms don't do you justice."
"And what's the flattery for?" Reyna laughed, looking up to meet his eyes.
"Hey, can't a man say nice things about his wife when he's meeting her after a year?" he shot back. "I can hardly tell Triton that he's looking particularly beautiful in his armour, now, can I?"
"And there we are," Reyna deadpanned, giving him a friendly shove. "I've heard so little from you of late. How goes your brave counter-insurgency campaign?"
"A lot of sitting behind a desk in a dark room," he admitted, sitting down on the sofa in the corner and stretching out his aching limbs. "Trying not to blow up my niece."
Reyna gasped. "You found Sabine?"
"She's grown into a fine warrior," he told her, a proud smile spreading across his face. "Never have I seen someone with quite her talent for blowing stuff up."
Reyna laughed, passing him a steaming cup of caf. "So life as a Rebel is treating her well enough, then?"
"Better than a life on this side of the line is treating me," he grumbled. Reyna leaned against him, patting his shoulder comfortingly and pressing a kiss to his cheek.
"It's just a case of biding our time, Percy," she told him. "Ursa is mustering her forces, as is Poseidon, but there is only so much that we can do when Saxon takes our young warriors as they come of age."
"Oh, the things I would do to that man given ten minutes in an enclosed space with him," he snarled.
"Now, now, Tritonis," Reyna laughed, "I'm going to get jealous."
"You know it takes more than ten minutes in an enclosed space with you," he jibed back.
Reyna hummed, kicking her feet up and leaning casually against the backrest, arms crossed.
"Sounds like something we can check right about now," she remarked.
Tritonis Stronghold, Krownest, New Kleyman System, 3 BBY
"He did what with my Interdictor?" Percy demanded, storming out of his room and into the cockpit of his Kom'rk-Class Fighter-Transport. "Because there's just the one of the damn things, and if some third-rate Admiral has gone and lost it, I'm going to make sure that the next job that they get is aboard a Manda-damned shuttle."
"I'll let Admiral Titus know, Grand Admiral," Kallus replied. "Let it be known that I warned him that Ezra Bridger was not one to be trifled with, let alone placed under a guard of mere Stormtroopers.
"He can fund the construction of the next kriffing Interdictor too," Percy told him, only half joking. "Manda alone know what Tarkin's doing with the budget, when the actual useful weapons are getting neither head nor tail of the funding that they're due, and this Stardust is pulling millions of credits a day."
"I won't pretend to know," Kallus replied, shrugging. "Though I have it on good authority that Thrawn has requested five of the new Interdictor vessels for his Seventh Fleet, and will receive two each year from now."
"Well that's reassuring, at least," Percy said. "What news of Shadow Squadron's activity in the region?"
"Not much, Sir," came his reply, "They seem to have gone silent, though for what reason is unknown.
"Have you had any success in locating their base?"
"None, Sir, all evidence continues to suggest that they are nomadic, using their Stock Freighter and Shuttles as some sort of mobile home. Considering the modifications that they have made already, I would not be surprised if that is the case."
"Possible," Percy nodded thoughtfully. "Other Rebel cells certainly operate in similar ways."
"You're thinking of the Ghost?" Kallus guessed.
"Among others," Percy nodded. "It seems to be the Modus Operandi of the entirety of Phoenix Squadron. The longer we can keep them from securing a base, the better. If we can cut off their fuel or food supplies, even more so."
"Then I will make that my priority, Sir," Kallus replied. "When can we expect you back?"
"Tomorrow, Agent," Percy told him. "We are due a visit within the next weeks from an Alderaanian envoy, and it would be poor form not to be present, as Martial Command of the Sector."
"Then I will see you when you arrive, Sir."
"Good, Kallus," he told the man, nodding at the salute that he was offered and disconnecting the call.
Outermost Moon of Umbara, Umbara System, Expansion Region, 3 BBY
"You know, Snips," Nico remarked, "you've spent enough time here of late that I really could just start calling you Master Tano."
"You know why that isn't possible, Nico," Ahsoka told him, though there was a serene smile on her face that only meditation over an issue like this one could bring. "I am no Jedi, even if it would be easier to call me one. Besides, I'm having far to much fun running around on missions with Kanan and Ezra."
"I know," he sighed. "It's an interesting galaxy that we live in, where there are Jedi of the old order, all in hiding, Jedi of my order practicing our ways in the open, and then "Jedi who are aware of both, and yet choose to remain in hiding. What's this latest discovery, then?"
Master Yoda told us that we need to go to a planet called Malachor," she replied, "We're told that we'll find answers there."
"An old battlefield," Nico noted, "Be careful there, Snips. Though I do wonder why the Grand Master's sitting alone in some trees. Force alone knows I've tried to find him enough times."
"The war left its scars on all of us, Nico," Ahsoka reminded him. "Just because you're able to bury that doesn't mean that everyone else can too."
"Is that not the basis of what we were taught?" he argued, "To forsake our attachments, our emotions? To surrender it all to the force?"
"And to what end, Nico?" she retorted. "My master was married, his wife was heavily pregnant when I last saw her. Your own master wasn't as innocent as most believed. Take one look at Korkie Kryze and you can see Kenobi all over him. I'd be surprised if he wasn't concealing some kind of affinity for the Force."
"Alright," Nico conceded. "But you can't blame me for hoping that we could restore it."
"You already have," Ahsoka reassured him. "Already, your order brings hope; faith in the idea that there is a force pursuing peace in this world."
"Once you look past the guns and laser swords," the Umbaran deadpanned.
"There is no peace without War, Nico," Ahsoka told him, expression darkening. "That is a reality of our Galaxy."
"A reality of galaxies everywhere," he agreed. "Thanks for this, Ahsoka."
"Everyone has the right to talk openly, Nico," the Togruta told him with a smile. "Even if it is just the two of us. I get the responsibility that you've taken on; I've taken on some of my own. We need each other, otherwise we'd go mad."
"We'd start talking in circles like Master Yoda," he huffed, and Ahsoka cracked a smile; a real one.
"I do wonder sometimes how he ever managed without Master Windu to help him," Ahsoka mused aloud.
"Are you sure we're thinking of the same Master Windu?" Nico chuckled, "He'd sooner have jumped out of the Council Chamber windows than hold a long, drawn out conversation with anyone."
"Well, there's no windows here, Ghostie," Ahsoka cut back, a smile still tugging at her lips.
"Master, I-" a Padawan ran into the room, freezing as they realised that they'd interrupted a conversation. "-I, ah, what's going on? You're smiling! You never smile!"
"As gratifying as it is that I am allowed to smile in the presence of my oldest friend, Djeria, I believe you had a message to deliver me."
"Oh, err…" the Padawan stuttered, and fished a piece of paper from within her robes. "I wrote it down in case I forgot."
"Relax, young one," Ahsoka reassured the young Nautolan, "speak freely."
"Like she wasn't before," Nico muttered petulantly, drawing a scoff from the Togruta.
"Kanan Jarrus requests aid upon the planet of Takobo. They suspect that it is a trap laid by Imperial Inquisitors. Atalanta reported evidence of a similar attack a few minutes prior on a transport."
"Have they been confronted yet?" Nico asked, on his feet in an instant.
"No, Master," the Padawan replied.
"Then we have time. Djeria, ask the Masters to meet on the Mist. Today is the day that the Galaxy regains its hope."
"Yes, Master."
Takobo City, Takobo, Outer Rim, 3 BBY
"Master Phaeris, have you found them?" Nico asked, scanning the faces around him in the Lambda-Class Shuttle. Ten Jedi in all, each of them ready for what was to come.
Where the small group that had once formed the basis of his order were now experienced in the art of duelling, this was the first time that many of their own students would face a hostile opponent. He had no idea how this would pan out, and so all he could do was place his trust in the Force.
"Kanan Jarrus and his apprentice are within the tower at the ninth intersection, Master," Achilles replied. "Their shuttle, the Phantom, is docked not far from there."
"Good," Nico nodded. "Enter the fight, Achilles. Bellerophon, Orion, Atalanta and Menelaus will take their Padawans and form a cordon, protecting us from enemy reinforcements. Ahsoka and I will join you shortly."
"Yes, Master," came Achilles' reply over the comlink. "The enemy's reconnaissance droid has been destroyed; your route is secure."
"Our cordon will be in place within a few moments," he informed the Onderonian. "We are free to work without disturbance."
Takobo City, Takobo, Outer Rim, 3 BBY
"C'mon, Pipey," Ezra groaned at the babbling child as they fled, "If you keep this up, we'll never shake them."
"Wait," Kanan replied, pausing at the top of a flight of stairs. "Maybe that can buy us time - keep moving, and keep your comlink on."
Achilles smiled as he heard the exchange over the net, realising the Knight's ploy, and increased his speed. Jarrus might not have known that he had help incoming, but his actions in delaying the Inquisitors hadn't hurt.
"Master, do not enter the building," he told Nico, "they plan on escaping from the top floor."
"And how do they plan on doing that?" the Umbaran asked back, the amusement in his tone evident.
"By jumping, presumably."
"I'll have something ready for them," Nico reassured the Onderonian. "Now go and help them."
"I'm on my way," Achilles replied, cutting off the comlink.
Takobo City, Takobo, Outer Rim, 3 BBY
"HEY!" Kanan shouted, igniting his blade, interrupting the Fifth Brother's rage-fuelled attempts at skewering his apprentice.
"Ah, Kanan Jarrus," the Seventh Sister said, stepping forwards as her partner took his guard, "you've crawled out of hiding, at last."
Igniting her own crimson blade, she charged, and Kanan made to block, driving her blade to his right and allowing Zeb to engage the male Inquisitor.
For all that he had improved, through his efforts to teach Ezra proficiency with his own blade, he knew that he was outclassed. Even with a single blade, the Mirialian was able to drive him back, sweeping slashes of her sabre forcing him to abandon his favoured, more composed style of Makashi, and resort to a more defensive Soresu. Conceding ground, after all, was irrelevant in a scenario when he was merely playing the distraction.
His composure, however, was rattled when Zeb was sent flying past him, courtesy of the second Inquisitor, and he backpedalled faster, rounding the corner.
At the opposite end of the corridor, however, he noticed a figure, stood stock still, arms by their side.
Another Inquisitor? He muttered to himself, blocking another agricultural hack at his neck, Ezra had better have made it out by now.
Spotting an opening, he pressed forwards, looking to counter and end the duel quickly. His extension, however, cost him his balance, and the Inquisitor capitalised with a spinning kick to his ribs, throwing him back into Zeb's arms.
"Time for a new plan," the Lasat growled, "Run!"
"Not so, Captain Orrelios," a voice replied, not spoken loudly, and yet powerful enough to carry over the hum of three ignited sabres. A fourth, in a shimmering purple, was ignited. Kanan smiled.
"Mace Windu," the Fifth Brother snarled. "It was said that he died at the end of the War."
"It's a good thing that I am not Mace Windu, then," Djoser Phaeris mused, stepping into the light. "Though it would be quite something if I were to fight as the Master did. I recall that he was a fearsome opponent."
The Fifth Brother said no more, charging at the new combatant, sabre spinning in his hand and lending momentum to his first strike. The pair locked blades, sparks flying, until the taller Inquisitor was pushed off with a push of a splayed hand.
"Kanan Jarrus, there is a speeder waiting outside for you," Master Phaeris informed him as he advanced on the recovering Inquisitor, "The Order has secured the surrounding area. You are free to escape."
"He will do no such thing," the Seventh Sister snarled, reigniting her blade.
"Zeb, get out of here," Kanan instructed, "Make sure Ezra reaches the Phantom safely."
The inquisitors charged, and Kanan found himself locking blades with his opponent once more, throwing her off and sinking into his preferred Form 2 stance. Across the corridor, Achilles had done much the same, using his feet to outmanoeuvre his opponent and place himself between the two Inquisitors. A lightning-fast leg sweep put the Seventh Sister down, and suddenly there was nothing between the pair of Jedi and their escape route.
Takobo City, Takobo, Outer Rim, 3 BBY
"Ah, Kanan, Djoser, nice of you to drop in," Nico greeted as the pair landed in his speeder, gunning the vehicle's engines and setting off towards the hangar bay where the Lambda-Class was docked, next to the Spectres' shuttle, the Phantom.
"Anytime, Master," Kanan replied, "Thanks for the assist."
"Believe me, Kanan, we wouldn't be here if it wasn't important," Nico told the man, "I can only thank you for alerting us to this mission. Today is the day that the Galaxy regains its hope."
"You're letting the Empire know?" Kanan guessed, and Nico nodded.
"It isn't as though they haven't noticed by now, with my fighters engaging in so many aerial battles of late, but for Bail Organa's rebellion to have the name of the Jedi Order as an ally could swing the odds into its favour.
"You're fighting, then?" the Rebel pressed, passion evident in his voice.
"No, Kanan," Nico replied. "Djoser, Ahsoka and I did not spend decades reforming this order, only to see it destroyed just as the one that came before it was."
"But the Jedi are a force for good!" Kanan argued, "We do what is right, even though it is hard."
"We are keepers of the peace, Kanan," Nico retorted. "We were never meant to be commanders. While we may have grown up in the heat of battle, with blaster bolts instead of temple bells, it was not by the will of the Order that this happened; it was the will of Palpatine and his Sith allies that we found ourselves in such a scenario. We were pawns in a great game, with Sidious playing both sides."
"Then teach, or train," Kanan urged, "Help us in whatever way you can. If preventing Vader's agents from harming innocents is what you can do, we'll take it. If your pilots are going to lay waste to Imperial Fleets, even better."
"This is not a discussion for this moment in time, Kanan," Nico replied gently, "A battlefield is not a place of rational thought. Let us escape this planet first, and then we shall speak."
A shot whizzed overhead, blaster fire directing their attention towards the pursuing Inquisitors, not far behind them. Nico sped up, the speeder's engine being pushed hard as they soared ahead. "Not far to go, Master," Achilles told him, peering through his binoculars. "Captain Orellios and the Bridger boy have reached."
"Good," Nico said, "Call the others back, and take the wheel. Get the shuttle ready to escape once you reach."
The pair switched roles in an instant, Nico balancing along the side of the craft to make his way to the back.
"Jarrus, ensure that your apprentice and companion are evacuated from this place quickly," he instructed, "The Order will cover your retreat. We will make our rendezvous with the Phoenix Fleet."
"Yes, Master," the Knight replied, firing off a blaster bolt at the Inquisitors' speeder and knocking out an engine. Nico whistled appreciatively.
"Good shot."
"I try my best," the man smirked.
Achilles landed with a few yards to go, allowing Nico to jump off the back as the other occupants of the craft made their way over to the hangar bay where both the Phantom and the Order's shuttle were docked. The Inquisitors mirrored the move, and Nico moved to head them off.
"And who exactly would you be?" the female Jedi Hunter asked, pressing a button which parted the visor of her helmet. "So brave to face us both. So handsome."
"Last I saw you, you were under the tutelage of Master Secura," Nico told her. "It is a shame to think that a youngling so talented should go astray."
"And who might you have served?" she mused aloud, "Sweeping the Temple floors, perhaps? Or even a Separatist agent?"
"I was once the Padawan of Obi-Wan Kenobi," Nico replied, moving aside the folds of his dark grey robe to display his lightsaber.
"Impossible," the Fifth Brother snarled, "Niccolò di Angelo was caught in the Purge of the Jedi Temple."
"And yet here I stand," the Umbaran replied, "Quite alive, last I checked."
"That can be changed." the Seventh sister ignited her double-bladed sabre, the crimson illuminating her face in the darkness, her companion mirroring the action.
Nico did the same, a smirk tugging at his lips. "It has been a while since I've had a good duel. I do hope that the pair of you live up to expectations." He ignited the blade, taking a Soresu guard. Where Ataru had served him well in the heat of battle, there was only so much that he could use the more aggressive form against a pair of double-blade wielding opponents. His master's teachings had been influential, after all.
The Inquisitors charged, blades held high. He sidestepped the first blade, striking at the Fifth Brother's neck. The man blocked, and Nico pressed his attack, whipping his blade from right to left across his midsection. The Inquisitor was forced to evade, and Nico made an instant switch, removing his left hand from the base of his hilt and favouring Makashi over Soresu. Where the trademark aggression of the Inquisitorious worked against the unrefined, defensive styles of the Bokken Jedi who they so often faced, he was a veteran; even more so than the Inquisitors were.
Spinning his blade behind his back to deflect a strike, he pushed out hard with his left hand, driving the Fifth Brother away from him and facing his new assailant.
"Do you not know that it is poor form to attack an opponent to his back?" Nico taunted as he clashed blades, with her, driving the Seventh Sister back with a barrage of strikes, twirling his wrist and using the momentum it generated to add power to his strikes.
"And hiding like a snivelling coward is just as good form, is it?"
"I did just as the Jedi of old did," Nico replied. "Under the nose of your Empire, and of your Lord Vader, an entire Order of Jedi has emerged; one which grows and flourishes, even if you choose to ignore it."
The whirr of shuttle engines alerted him to the Phantom leaving. "Lies!" she screamed shrilly, slashing at Nico's head. The Umbaran deflected her blade off to his right, countering with a jab and falling back to the intersection..
"Everyone, fall back to my position; it is time to take our leave of this place."
A chorus of affirmatives flurried back over the net, and Nico smiled, looking to a nearby roof, where he knew Ahsoka waited. Fortunately, it was just as well that she was, because the Inquisitors had backup.
"Hold all entrances to this intersection," Nico instructed, "Achilles, let R-3 take control of this ship; I'll need you out here. There is an inquisitor that requires your attention."
"More?" the Onderonian asked, though the protest was followed by a muttered set of instructions to the aforementioned Astromech droid.
"It appears as though this 'Vader' has been summoned."
"Ah, excellent," came his reply. "Then we all get a nice fun duel, eh?"
"If that's what you're after," he replied, watching as an Imperial Lambda-Class Shuttle touched down in the centre of the busy street. "All we must do is hold them long enough that the others are able to return."
"Then that's exactly what we'll do," Achilles agreed.
Vader took his time advancing on Nico, his Inquisitors flanking him on either side, predatory grins on their faces as they sought a modicum of revenge.
"Anytime now," Nico muttered to himself, sending another glance out of the corner of his eye as he tried to find where Ahsoka had gone. Reaching out in the force as he took his stance, he noted that the Togruta had made her way across the rooves, now behind the trio of Dark Side users. Achilles was fast approaching, though there would be a moment where he was outnumbered.
He could deal with that.
Igniting his blade, he closed his eyes for a moment, taking in the familiar hum that it emitted, revelling as the Kyber Crystal sang in the force.
"Come, Sith Lord, let us fight."
Vader said nothing, merely igniting his blade and closing the distance.
Their blades locked with the first strike, and immediately Nico knew that this was not a fight he would win on strength. Sparks flew from the point where red and green made contact, and Nico found his face distorting into a grimace with the effort. Finally, calling all his strength, he broke contact, planting a kick into his opponent's midsection and vaulting backwards.
"You are strong," Vader observed, his modulated voice coming out low and failing to betray any sense of being caught off guard. Composing himself once more, Nico took a defensive guard. Duelling this man would not work; this was a fight, and not one that he could use guile and agility to win.
Vader closed the distance once more, striking down at Nico's head, and the Umbaran deflected the strike to his right, spinning inside the Sith Lord's arc and attempting to bring his blade around to strike.
However, he found his momentum arrested, a vice grip in the force fixing him in place, first halting his sabre, and then hoisting him into the air, with a simple choice; relinquish his blade, or die. His opponent seemed to know his choice before he had made it, and the pressure increased, the mammoth Sith Lord advancing on him.
Roaring with the exertion, he strained against the grip, breaking it as Vader closed to within a metre of striking distance and scrambling to his feet, ignoring the burning of his muscles as he retreated, retaking his guard and facing off against his foe once more.
"So much of your Master in your manner," Vader remarked, still seeming to stride forward at the same leisurely pace. "And yet Kenobi remains in hiding."
Nico couldn't help but notice the twinge of bitterness in the Sith's tone.
He had an idea.
Before he could use it, however, he needed to buy himself some time.
"He's alive, then?" Nico smirked, "Means you couldn't catch him last time he showed his face. He was helping a youngling to safety, wasn't he?"
"He fled like a snivelling coward," the Sith dismissed. "I will plaster the image of his beloved apprentice's head over every wall in every city in the galaxy."
"A shame, too," Nico drawled, pretending not to have noticed the Sith's enraged words, "considering how many times you fought together. Kriff, even I'd be able to duel my - oh, sorry, our Master to a standstill."
"Lies!" the Sith bellowed, storming forwards and hacking brutally across Nico's midsection and forcing the Umbaran Master to backtrack "He is my master no longer. I am more powerful than Kenobi ever was." His lackeys, mercifully, didn't follow.
Good, Nico thought, just a few more steps. "I was at the fall of the temple, don't you remember?" he taunted, "Escaped with no less than fifteen of the Jedi you were meant to kill."
"Then they will die, just as they should have on that day."
"It really is funny, though, don't you think, Lord Vader? That you forsook the Order that raised you, that nurtured you, just to become a lackey to the Empire?"
"I am the right hand to the most powerful man in the galaxy," Vader replied, the modulators applied to Anakin Skywalker's voice transmitting his growl as a static-filled sound that caused Nico to grimace.
"But the Right Hand is not the head," Nico replied, igniting his blade and taking a Soresu guard. His Master's guard.
Vader charged, and Nico found himself crowing with victory inside as powerful, as precise strikes gave way to something that he could recognise.
He could recognise it because this was Skywalker. The grace of movement, the aggression, the poetic motion of the blade that had once been the trademark of the most feared General of the Grand Army of the Republic.
And yet, it was limited. Hindered by prosthetics and breathing aids, blinkered by a helmet and blinded by a rage directed at the man who had taught him, trained him, raised him and then beaten him.
Blades met at a blinding speed, and Nico blocked, right, left, right, right and then he ducked under a cross-strike at his neck, dropping into a roll and appearing behind his opponent.
Behind him, he felt Ahsoka and Djoser drop down from the roofs, the pair of them igniting their blades and engaging the Inquisitors one-on-one.
"Is this how he beat you, Vader?" Nico asked, pressing forward with his own attack. "Letting you tap into your rage? Forcing you to be sloppy?" A vicious jab of the red sabre was knocked aside, and with a spin of his blade and a roll along the Sith's open left side, he landed a strike on Vader's shoulder. "Is this the power of the Dark Side that you were drawn to?"
"The Dark Side is far beyond anything that you have ever experienced, you fool," Vader muttered, pressing forward with another barrage of strikes. Backpedalling as he evaded the strikes, Nico reached out, hurling a crate of Yogans at the advancing Sith.
Vader brushed them off, slashing his sabre through the wooden crate and sending jogan berry juice spraying across his armour.
Nico used the distraction to counter, twirling his blade on his right to block a strike before spinning into a barrage of his own, ghosting inside Vader's arc and unloading with a trio of kicks and backflipping off his opponent, landing on his feet to press his advance.
"LORD VADER!" the voice of an inquisitor pleaded from behind. Nico spared them a glance, backpedalling to create distance.
Surely enough, both Inquisitors were beaten, pinned down by Ahsoka and Achilles respectively. He fought back a smirk.
"The day is yours, Niccolò di Angelo," Vader growled. "It shall not be, the next time that we meet."
"I look forward to it," Nico replied, sheathing his sabre and bowing to his opponent. "The Order is not weak, as you might assume; not with the Apprentices of Skywalker and Kenobi at its helm."
"Your paltry order will fall," Vader promised, clenching his fist, "just as the one that came before it did."
Nico bowed and left. His mission had been a successful one.
Imperial Headquarters, Lothal, Lothal Sector, 3 BBY
"Grand Admiral!" an Ensign cried, entering Percy's office.
"What now," he sighed, placing the holopad he was holding on his desk and looking expectantly at the entrant.
"Lord Vader was summoned to confront a Jedi," the intruder said, clearly animated.
"And your point is?" he asked, "is it within my remit of governance?"
It is said that he has claimed to be Niccolo di Angelo," the man said, "He has formed an order of Jedi. There are more than ten on the scene. They have endorsed the Rebellion."
"Concerning," Percy observed, "If it is in fact the Jedi in question, then we face a dangerous foe."
The Ensign merely stood there awkwardly, and Percy raised an eyebrow at him, waiting for him to say more.
"Anything else?" he asked, and the Ensign appeared to be caught by surprise. "What's your name, Ensign?"
"Khalkeus, Grand Admiral," the boy replied. "Harley Khalkeus."
"Your station?"
"I'm a TIE Pilot, Sir."
"Good. There's an open spot on the Fist. Report to Captain Grace by 1300 and it's yours."
"Y- yes, Grand Admiral," the young Officer nodded, shocked.
"Just don't stutter in front of Thalia," he said, grinning, "You won't get the job like that."
Imperial Headquarters, Lothal, Lothal Sector, 3 BBY
"Hey, Rey," Percy greeted over the encrypted signal, smiling as his wife's face appeared on his own holodisk.
"Hey yourself," Reyna replied, smiling.
"You heard the news?"
"There's lots of news, Percy," Reyna sighed, "you're going to have to be more specific."
"Nico's shown up."
"Nico?" Reyna asked incredulously, "Like, our Nico? Jedi Nico?"
"With a whole Jedi Order of his own," Percy confirmed with a proud smile. "Our moment may be closer than we thought."
"Then our patience is going to pay off," she smiled back. "Hold on there, Percy, we'll get you out soon."
Jalath City Depot, Lothal, Lothal Sector, 3 BBY
"Princess Leia Organa," Percy greeted, bowing out of respect for the Alderaanian Princess. "It's certainly been a while; it's a pleasure to receive you. How is your father?"
"He is well," the Princess replied, smiling. "He asked after you."
"I'm doing well, Your Royal Highness," Percy nodded, "Now I believe that you are here on a mission of sorts?"
"Merely an envoy," Leia replied, "Though I must ask why you've had my ships locked down!"
Percy raised an eyebrow, folding his arms. "And what would be wrong with a little added security on this planet of rebels?" he asked her, smirking. "Do tell, little Leia."
"My father told me about your involvement in securing the Rampart Trial," the Princess told him. "Annabeth reiterated it on the flight over."
"Yes?" Percy asked, impressed by her brazenness to speak about his opposition to the Imperial cause so publicly.
"Well, I hoped that we'd find the same sort of…" she paused to consider her phrasing, "similar sentiment."
"You want the Rebels to be able to take your ships," Percy translated bluntly, and Leia turned sharply to face him, eyes wide in shock.
"Well, err…" she sent Thalia and Harley behind them a cautious look. The pair of them appeared entirely unfazed by the shift in conversation, even appearing pleasantly surprised.
"I picked my closest Officers carefully, Princess," Percy smirked, "I'm sure a convenient time can be arranged for your little present to be picked up."
"I'm sure my father will be happy that you agree with his sentiments," Leia recovered, though she couldn't hold back a slight giddy laugh. "Thank you, Grand Admiral."
"I hear that I'm not only the friend from the war that your father's kept in touch with," he remarked "There was news from… Takobo, was it?"
"Yes, there was some news from there," Leia replied. "Though it wasn't an Alderaanian envoy that was sent there."
"Indeed," Percy noted. "A Jedi Order emerging from the shadows. Only seems to give this rebellion credibility in the eyes of the populace."
Thalia coughed behind him, and Percy turned to see Lieutenant Yogar Lyste approaching, an animated look on his face.
"Grand Admiral, I am told that I no longer have a shuttle," he protested in outrage, "how am I to travel?"
"Ah, my apologies, Lieutenant," Percy replied, "but since it was you who ordered that the Princess' ships were to be denied entry to the Capital, I believe that it is only correct that she have yours."
The man made to protest, but it was Leia who interjected.
"Well, I can hardly take the Grand Admiral's shuttle, now, can I?"
"No, Your Highness," the Lieutenant stammered, "My crew will be most happy to serve you."
"Thank you," the Princess replied, raising her chin, "My droids will begin loading the aid supplies."
Imperial Headquarters, Lothal, Lothal Sector, 3 BBY
"You should know, Perseus," Fenn Rau informed him over the net, "my pilots encountered a Rebel Force while on patrol, requesting safe passage through the nearby Hyperspace Lane."
"And your reply was?"
"Two of their ships left in tatters," Rau replied proudly.
"They'll come back," Percy predicted.
"They'll face the same consequence," Rau told him confidently.
"Next time they come, Rau, grant them access."
"But the Empire-" Rau interjected, wary of what exactly Percy was suggesting.
"The Empire does not rule the people of Mandalore, Fenn Rau. We are our own masters, and the Empire would do well to remember this."
"Saxon will not like that, Tritonis," Rau warned.
"If Saxon seeks retribution, my Father will send troops to aid you."
Rau grinned predatorily. "I like your style, Perseus," he remarked. "My wings are yours, whenever you require them."
"So long as your warriors do not protest the identity of my house," Percy nodded. "Make it common knowledge that it was the forces of Maul who assassinated the Duchess, and that it was Lady Kryze who was at the helm of the liberationist force who rid our world of that tyrant."
"It shall be done, Tritonis," Rau nodded. "Go with the Manda."
"You too, Fenn Rau."
A/N
More 'Notes from the Historical Record':
Yes, Harley Khalkeus is Harley from HoO/ToA; he hasn't been given a canonical surname, so I used an epithet of Hephaestus, 'the Coppersmith'. Just like how I called Chiron 'Konik' (a Mycenaean name for him) and how Castor and Pollux are given the last name 'Denison' in my stories (Denis/Dennis being a derivative of Dionysus and using the Nordic tradition of the Father's name and 'son' as a last name)
'Go with the Manda' is actually a bastardisation of 'Adieu'/'Go with God', but obviously this is closer to 'Go with the Ancestors'. I thought it worked. Sue me if it doesn't. The Mando'a for goodbye is 'Ret'urcye mhi', literally 'maybe we'll meet again' - a warrior's farewell, if we're being entirely honest - but it didn't really work with the context.
That aside, the story's doing some moving. This is about all I really wanted to cover from Season 2 of Rebels, the revelation of the Order being the major plot point, plus Percy being entirely too invested in the Interdictor program. The last couple of episodes regarding Malachor are important, yes, but I don't think Nico would know or care particularly about Kanan, Ahsoka and Ezra messing around on Lothal and finding out about Malachor. It's not his job, so he doesn't go.
Next chapter should pick up where Thrawn shows up over Ryloth, and we'll get going with the real exciting stuff from the Rebellion.
Thanks as usual to Dudududhehe for his help in Betaing and generally being a decent chap.
Until next time, then,
Sol
(I don't own PJO, Star Wars or any related media.)