I don't own Star Wars or its characters, but Nadia Aomori and my OCs I own only.
Enjoy!
Fire of the Rebellion
Chapter 37: Starkiller
(3 BBY)
In space, the Star of the Empire was slowly flying around the galaxy.
The Star of the Empire was an enormous hangar bay that was more than 2 kilometres long and equipped to carry five thousand passengers in addition to her considerable crew.
It was painted bright blue with decorative lights.
With forty decks, it had the capacity to carry five thousand passengers and was staffed by a large crew and droids.
It had an enormous hangar bay where shuttles or smaller ships owned by wealthy passengers, could dock.
All kinds of ships were there from fighters and pinnaces, two barges and skids, plus the service auto carts.
It took half an hour to close and pressurize the bay.
Space-suited crew received passengers; accommodations were welcomed and escorted to their staterooms, whereas the others, carrying their own luggage, were herded by purser droids.
The hangar didn't have an energy field, but pressure doors operated by the Hangar Control; ships couldn't depart at any time, but pilots had to fill requests thirty standard hours earlier.
The Star of Empire had forty staterooms on either side of the hull, each having a large portal viewing into open space; suites were large and spacious with vases decorated with stasis-fresh flowers, well-secured crates of Caridian glassware and Empire-style furniture.
Other places of interest included a low-paying passenger area called the 'Starlight Deck' with no viewports, an observation deck, sabacc lounges such as the 'Corellia Room', the expensive 'Nebula Room' restaurant, cheap cafeterias for the more common passengers and exercise rooms.
There was also a small but extensive library with millions of electronic books in thousands of languages for remote access or download as well as tutorials and virtual reality games.
It even had a raised area for readings or VR performances and cubicles.
Among the many rich guests attending the rich hangar were Ferus, Nadia and Maybelline.
Ferus wore a prussian blue plaid coat with a white silk handkerchief in his lapel and gold-buttoned cuffs over a collared white shirt with a matching jabot with gold embroidery and a gold brooch, matching trousers, white stockings, white tuxedo gloves and leather dress shoes. The white streak on his dark brown hair was dyed brown like the rest of his hair.
Nadia wore an evening gown made of two layers. The base one was black with golden circular pattern, matching her gloves and the top one was in a dark green shade with golden bamboo embroidery. It wrapped around her left side and showed at the bottom. The gown was finished by black feathers and decorated with fuchsia black feather flowers. Her neck piece was connected to gown. It started with a green collar from which hang golden-pearl pieces with emeralds and ended at the neckline. Her bracelets and hanging earrings were matching the necklace. She also had a transparent green shawl decorated with gold leaves and fringes. Her raven black hair was upped into finger waves and secured by golden net combined with pearl headpiece decorated by red flowers and a single white feather.
Maybelline wore a black dress with black lace covering the upper chest, neck and shoulders. At the hem was an indigo gradient with ruffled, sheer fabric. Flowers were designed on the dress with some of which glowed a bit due to the lights in the room. Attached on the shoulders of her dress was a long dark grey cloak worn over the shoulders. On her feet were shiny black pumps with a gradient of other colours. Black strings wrapped around the ankle with a few tiny beads hanging from them. On her ears were metallic blue oval-shaped earrings with a design on each, hanging from a small gem stud. A dark gradient tassel hangs from the oval. Her hands had on a pair of short black lace gloves. Her sandy brown hair wavy curls were worn loose with two buns on the corner attached to a braid across the top. The thick straightened bangs had a split off-center.
In the casino area within the Star of the Empire, Nadia was playing a chess match against Admiral Feyet Kiez.
There were a crowd of people around them were wearing luxurious cloaks, elaborate headdresses, bold prints and form-fitting dresses.
Ferus stood next to Nadia on her left side while Maybelline stood in her right side.
"I'll need 9 minutes."Nadia replied.
"9 minutes, Miss Romanova?"Admiral Kiez scoffed in amusement as he held his fingernail filer."You've only got twenty seconds per move."
Nadia looked at the admiral and then back at the chessboard, picking up her king chess piece with a deadpan facial expression to her first turn.
"It's enough time."Nadia assured with a grim tone.
Admiral Kiez looked at the chess piece Nadia was holding and felt very uncertain that her first move was to move her king.
"Hmm, you start with the king?"Admiral Kiez inquired.
Admiral Kiez laughed at the 'foolishness' Nadia was doing causing some in the crowd to laugh as well.
Nadia smirked about his comment before placing her king upon the square rook.
"Chess has been around for centuries. It's a far better game. Besides, the metaphor behind it is much more symbolic."Nadia exclaimed."The pawns are great in number and their separate value is very minimal. And yet a good leader knows they cannot win without them. Because a bad leader will soon find them their downfall."
The laughter died down at Nadia's respond as Admiral Kiez and the secret Jedi began their chess match.
It appeared at first that Admiral Kiez was going to win, but soon the table turned to Nadia as she began to show her grand chess skills which she was taught by her late father, Rostek Horn.
"The rook is a piece to be relied upon. Just as its appearance dictates it is a fortress to be reckoned with. It is straight forward both in attack and ideal."Nadia complemented as she rested her on another piece."The bishop is cunning, lying in wait and striking when least expected. A crucial piece on an offensive."
Nadia moved her bishop chess piece to capture Admiral Kiez's white knight piece much to his dismay.
"The knight is both honorable and powerful. He is able to penetrate even the strongest of defenses. Yet, his nearsightedness stemming from his own pride may come to be his down fall."Nadia stated as she watched Admiral Kiez move his Bishop piece."Then there's the king. Although he may not be the most powerful, he is by far the most important. Any piece on the board is willing sacrifice their lives to protect him. For without the king, the entire army is lost."
Admiral Kiez moved his white king chess as Nadia moved her fingers to touch her black queen chess piece.
"And lastly, you have your queen."Nadia complemented as she picked up her black queen chess piece."Your indispensable ally whom you cannot rely more upon. The most powerful and most useful. Many go to great lengths to keep their queen protected at all costs. You can tell a lot about a person from how they treat their queen."
Nadia placed her queen chess piece at the three squares from the end of the chess board.
"Checkmate."Nadia declared.
Nadia placed her king chess piece at the side of Admiral Kiez's king, trapped between the rooks and the queen chess piece that Nadia had placed.
Admiral Kiez dropped his fingernail filer, looking at the chessboard with his jaws wide open and widen eyes with a face full of utter disbelief.
The crowd was shocked as well since they expect the admiral to win.
"I-I-Impossible! That's impossible!"Admiral Kiez screeched with shock in his defeat."How can you beat me?!"
"Actually, it is possible in that formation to break through with one move, but you didn't have the time to keep up, can you?"Nadia asked with a slight smirk."Now then, a deal's a deal."
Admiral Kiez looked at Nadia with a real fiasco.
He didn't believe that he would be defeated by anyone especially a woman.
He never knew that Nadia was a genius in these games and strategy like chess.
The nobleman frowned with regrets at the woman, but he complied with the obedience.
Nadia smirked for her reward, a wage of 1,000,000 credits in a suitcase for her winning.
"It was so nice playing with you."Nadia declared and looked at her two companions."Time to go."
Maybelline nodded. "Right."
Nadia handed the suitcase to Ferus before the two of them and Maybelline began leaving the shocked admiral staring at the chessboard and the crowd murmuring to try and figure what happened.
"I can't believe you just gambled."Ferus muttered in disapproval.
"Don't be mad, Ferus."Nadia scoffed and smiled at the reward they got."We need the money to feed our mouths, repair our ship and help the others back in Alderaan."
"But isn't Senator Bel Iblis and Senator Mothma already doing that for us?"Maybelline asked.
"And I am grateful for their help, little sister. Even Bail's."Nadia declared."But we can't just relay on others for our survival."
Nadia, Ferus and Maybelline went to the bar area of the casino room to get a drink.
As he sat near his wife and half-sister-in-law, Ferus placed the suitcase beneath his seat.
"And exactly how long we have to lay low, hun?"Ferus asked.
The bartender gave Ferus, Nadia and Maybelline each a glass of green champagne.
After the bartender went out of sight, the three disguised Jedi continued their conversation.
"Patience is a virtue, love."Nadia answered."But I have a feeling you know who will be sending his secret assassin out."
Maybelline removed her glass of green champagne from her pink soft lips.
"Can we try and help him, big sister?"Maybelline questioned.
Nadia frowned. "I don't know."
On board the Executor, Galen Marek (also known by his Codename: Starkiller) was down on one knee as Darth Vader looked down at him.
"You were weak when I found you."Darth Vader declared.
Galen closed his eyes.
He had heard these words before.
They were the closest thing to a bedtime story he'd had as a child.
"But now, your hatred has become your strength."Darth Vader informed."At last, the dark side is your ally."
Galen didn't dare nod or look up.
Darth Vader activated his blood red lightsaber to formally 'knight' Galen, officially recognizing him for the first time as his apprentice, something that Starkiller always believed himself to be.
"Rise, my apprentice."Darth Vader ordered.
The Sith Lord deactivated his lightsaber as Galen stood up from where he was.
"What is your will, my master?"Galen asked.
"Your training is nearly complete."Darth Vader declared."It is time now to face your first true test."
A roll call of past missions sped through the Galen's mind.
Lord Vader had instructed him to dispatch numerous enemies within the Empire down the years: spies and thieves, mainly, with the occasional high-ranking traitor as well.
He felt only satisfaction at having fulfilled his duty.
His victims had brought their fates upon themselves, these vermin that gnawed at the footings of the Empire's magnificent this was different.
He could sense it in more than his master's words.
Darth Vader wasn't talking about some low-life smuggler with no awareness at all of the Force.
There could be only one foe he was worthy to fight now.
"Your spies have located a Jedi?"Galen assumed.
"Yes. General Rahm Kota."Darth Vader admitted."He is attacking a critical shipyard above Nar Shaddaa. Destroy him and bring me his lightsaber."
"I'll leave at once."Galen declared.
Galen had taken barely a step toward the door when Darth Vader's irresistible voice stopped him.
"The Emperor cannot discover you."Darth Vader informed sternly."Leave no witnesses. Kill everyone aboard, Imperials and Kota's men alike."
Galen opened his mouth to say something, but decided not to.
"As you wish, my master."Galen answered.
After giving a bow to the Sith Lord, Galen left and began making his way to his ship.
All his life he had been trained to turn fear into anger and anger into power.
It was no different, he realised, for Darth Vader.
Where else could Lord Vader look for increased power than to the Emperor himself?
People were either predators or prey.
That was one of the most basic rules of life.
Together, Darth Vader and his apprentice would ensure that their joint power only increased.
But first he had to survive an encounter with a Jedi.
That his Master had found one at liberty was unsurprising.
A handful were suspected to have survived the Great Jedi Purge, and none was more adept at finding them than Darth Vader.
The dark side infiltrated every corner of the galaxy.
Nothing could remain hidden from it forever.
On his way out to his ship, Galen was ambushed by PROXY, who was using his Obi-Wan Kenobi combat module.
Starkiller quickly defeated PROXY by stabbing him in the chest causing the droid to remove his disguise.
"Ah, master!"PROXY remarked."Another excellent duel!"
"You caught me by surprise, Proxy."Galen chuckled as he deactivated his lightsaber."I haven't fought that training program in years. I thought you'd erased it."
"I hoped that using an older training module would catch you off guard and allow me to finally kill you."PROXY sighed."I'm sorry I failed you again."
"I'm sure you'll keep trying."Galen complemented."But do me a favour, don't ambush me-"
Galen and PROXY walked through the Executor's hangar together, where the Sith apprentice caught a glimpse of a female Imperial preparing the Rogue Shadow.
The Sith apprentice hid PROXY against the wall.
"PROXY!"Galen whispered.
"Yes, why are we whispering?"PROXY asked.
"Who is that?"Galen asked.
"Ah, yes. Your new pilot has finally arrived, master."PROXY stated."Accessing Imperial Records..."
PROXY used his ability to mimic the full appearance of the female Imperial, down to the voice.
"Captain Juno Eclipse. Born on Corulag, where she became the youngest student ever accepted into the Imperial Academy."PROXY exclaimed."Decorated combat pilot with over one hundred combat missions and commanding officer during the bombing of Callog. Handpicked by Lord Vader to lead his Black Five Squadron, but later reassigned to a top-secret project..."
"Is there a psychological profile in there too?"
Galen and PROXY noticed Juno had come up to them while staring at them with a disapproved expression due to the invasion of her privacy.
With a look of barely concealed embarrassment, Galen let go of the droid and stepped away.
PROXY wobbled on his feet and turned back to his normal form.
"Actually yes. And it's restricted."PROXY admitted and glanced at Galen to whisper at him."But Master, I can tell you she'll be impossible to reprogram."
Galen brought his attention on Juno.
"Do you know why you're here?"Galen asked.
"My orders are clear."Juno replied."I am to keep your ship running and fly you wherever your missions require."
Galen, PROXY and Juno went to board the Rogue Shadow.
"Did Vader tell you that he killed our last pilot?"Galen questioned.
"No. But I can only assume that he gave Lord Vader good cause to do so."Juno answered sternly."I will not."
"Let's hope so."Galen retorted."I'm sick of training new pilots."
Galen's eyes slid past Juno to where she had been working on the Rogue Shadow.
His brows crinkled on seeing the new panels she had welded into place.
"What is this?"Galen murmured."What have you done to my ship?"
"I've taken the liberty of upgrading the Rogue Shadow's sensor array."Juno explained."Now you'll be able to spy on any suspect ships across an entire system. That is your mission profile? You are one of Darth Vader's spies?"
Galen made his way to the ramp of the Rogue Shadow, only to stop to glance at Juno.
"You don't need to know anything about my missions except where I'm going."Galen informed with a stern look."Now we need a jump to Nar Shaddaa. Can you handle that?"
Juno frowned. "Of course."
As Juno went inside the Rogue Shadow, Galen gave a brief smile before following after.
The Rogue Shadow then left the Executor.
"PROXY, give me the target."Galen ordered.
PROXY then took the form of General Rahm Kota and began speaking in his voice.
"According to Imperial records, Master Rahm Kota was a respected general in the Clone Wars."PROXY exclaimed.
A surprised look appeared on Juno's face upon realising what was Galen's mission as she half turned at the controls as she prepared the ship for its jump through hyperspace.
"You're hunting Jedi."Juno said.
"I bring Darth Vader's enemies to justice."Galen declared firmly."And now, so do you."
"Master Kota was a military genius, but felt the clone soldiers were unfit for battle."PROXY continued."Instead, he relied on his own militia."
"So there were no clones in his squad when Order 66 was issued."Juno assumed.
"And after Order 66, he vanished."PROXY informed."Official Imperial records actually claim he's dead."
The hologram of General Kota faded and PROXY returned to normal.
Juno still appeared more interested in the mission than plotting the hyperspace jump.
"Why come out of hiding and attack the Empire now?"Juno asked.
Galen frowned. "He wants to be found."
"Then we are walking into a trap."Juno assumed.
Juno looked from the apprentice to PROXY and back again.
"How many pilots have you lost before me?"Juno questioned.
"Seven."Galen stated.
"Excellent."Juno muttered as she flipped a switch on the Rogue Shadow's complicated console."The coordinates for Nar Shaddaa are locked. Prepare for light speed."
Galen braced himself as the stars ahead turned into streaks and the familiar unreal tunnel opened up around the ship.
With a well-tuned whine, the Rogue Shadow and its passengers rocketed into hyperspace.
Inside the Action VI transport owned by Senator Garm Bel Iblis, Ferus and RG-G1 were preparing to the start the ship while Nadia and Maybelline sat in the back seats.
Maybelline glanced at Nadia.
"Nadia. I know we've came here together to do a mission."Maybelline commented."But there's also something special about this day."
Nadia nodded in agreement.
"I know, May and I haven't forgotten."Nadia declared simply."Today is our father's birthday."
"Can you at least tell me something about him."Maybelline requested."It can be anything."
Nadia bit her lip for a moment.
The raven haired woman wasn't one too fond to talk about those who were long gone, but knew she had to answer her younger half-sister's question since she never met their father.
"He was a kind devoted father and…always wanted the best for those he care about."Nadia explained."But one thing you should personally know about him."
"And what is that?"Maybelline asked with a hint of curiosity.
Nadia folded her arms as she glanced at Ferus and RG-G1 starting up the transport.
"He loved your mother more than he loved mine."Nadia admitted.
As the Rogue Shadow, guided by Juno's deft hand, approached the TIE Fighter Construction Facility that General Kota and his men were currently attacking,
Galen entered himself in the violence and conflict from within.
As they approached one of the facility's hangars, the Sith apprentice activated the Rogue Shadow's weapons systems and destroyed the hangar defences.
Leaping out of the ship right into the thick of the battle within the hangar, Galen killed off the combatants within with brutal efficiency, quickly clearing the hangar.
The survivors retreated through the heavy blast door at the entrance with Darth Vader's apprentice in pursuit.
With tactical updates from Juno, Galen carved his way through the facility, all the while the warring forces became progressively more alarmed by his presence.
The militia forces thought he was some kind of Shadow trooper, while the stormtroopers merely thought him a Jedi.
The militia forces became the primary focus of his rage due to their disloyalty to the Empire.
However, he noted that many of the militia soldiers were equipped with explosives and had been setting them throughout the facility, motivating Galen to hurry before the entire facility was destroyed.
Just then, the facility was crippled and began falling out of the sky.
Galen picked up the pace, now unceremoniously attacking his foes with telekinesis, either jamming their weapons or simply sweeping them aside.
Reaching the entrance to the command center, he took a moment to center himself before he gestured with one finger and the heavy blast doors slid open.
Beyond lay a room identical to hundreds in the galaxy: cold and metallic, with red display screens keeping staff updated on the facility's status.
A long, elevated walkway led to a command post where General Rahm Kota stood with his back to the door, in a gesture deliberate in its commingled confidence and contempt.
He hadn't even drawn his lightsaber, which hung diagonally across his shoulder blades in a custom-made sheath.
A brown cloak hung from two metal shoulder pads that only added to the physical presence of the man.
He was a warrior with every breath and wore his battle scars with apprentice had been ready to attack, but now he felt a brief moment of hesitation.
This wasn't what he had expected.
Jedi were soft from a life of privilege, outdated, spent.
When General Kota turned around while activating his green lightsaber, he became visibly surprised upon seeing Galen.
"A boy?"General Kota said in surprise."After all these months of attacking Imperial targets, Vader sends a boy to fight me?"
Grim and silent, Galen adopted a fighting crouch.
So the trap had been directed not at him but at his Master.
Galen raised his left hand and with the power of the dark side unleashed a bolt of Sith lightning at the renegade Jedi.
Raising his left hand in a move that was a mirror image of the Sith apprentice's own, General Kota sent the lightning arcing back to its source.
The energy struck both of them, hurling them back.
Galen broke off the attempt, blinking smoke away from his eyes.
His anger intensified.
He was the first to his feet and running as soon as his boots touched the deck.
He felt completely weightless, yet full of momentum, like a hurled spear.
His red blade cut a blur through the air, making General Kota duck and swept his green lightsaber up and down in a lazy attempt to catch him as he went by.
That was a move Galen had long ago learned to avoid by tucking his head down closer to his center of gravity and rolling in midair, then kicking himself back at his opponent off the nearest wall.
This time he pushed telekinetically as he came, attempting to knock General Kota's feet out from under him before bringing his blade to.
However, General Kota deflected his Force energies back at him.
Again they were pushed cautiously the apprentice circled him slicing chairs to pieces as he walked and sending the glowing fragments at his enemy's head.
Anger made Galen eager to attack, but he knew better than to give in to it.
Suddenly, General Kota was moving, charging with astonishing speed behind a furious diversity of strokes.
Galen retreated with lips pulled back over his teeth.
Green and red energies clashed as he blocked blow after blow and still General Kota kept coming, attempting to overwhelm him with sheer determination and speed.
Galen went back four steps, then stopped. He drew his blade close around him, forming a tight defence in deliberate imitation of the Soresu style that Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi had favoured.
Realising he couldn't penetrate it, General Kota backed off and tried a different style which was slow and deliberate, but with sudden and devastatingly quick strikes.
But Galen recognised this attack style as well.
The duel raged all across the control center which shook and rattled as the facility around it broke apart.
General Kota attempted his charge attack two more times, obviously hoping to force a mistake or wear out his opponent, but it was he who started to show the effects of the duel, he who took hits.
Soon his cloak was a smoking rag and one of his shoulder pads was glowing.
Galen fought harder, feeling victory and the attainment of his full power approaching.
Soon the Jedi's lightsaber and head would be his.
Then he truly would be worthy of his master's praise.
Galen caught General Kots in a choke hold and maintained his grip even though it turned partially back on him.
General Kota, however, clutched at his throat with one hand while barely managing to parry with the other.
Galen let the fire in his lungs fuel his lust for triumph.
Even as darkness crowded around the edges of his vision, he sent objects hurtling at General Kota's legs and face, battling him on all a fragment of smoking debris struck his knees from behind.
With a cry of frustration, the flailing Jedi went down, his face purple and eyes bulging.
Darth Vader's apprentice relented slightly letting them both have a little air.
But before General Kota could scramble to his feet, the two opponents pressed down on their locked lightsabers which sizzled against each other.
However, he couldn't force the red blade away.
Galen forced General Kota's own lightsaber down into his eyes, blinding him.
"Vader thinks he's turned you, but I can sense your future."General Kota declared, ignoring the pain in his eyes."Vader won't always be your master. I sense only…me?"
Blinded and agonised, General Kota scrabbled backward, his lightsaber slipping from his fingers and dropping with a dead thud to the deck.
A blast of telekinesis erupted from him, shattering every viewport in the command center and sending the apprentice flying.
A raging wind swept past them, sucking out the smoke and shrapnel of their duel. Kota, too, was sucked out and fell with a fading cry into the atmosphere below.
Or had he leapt?
Galen let the gale drag him closer to the hole where the viewport had once been.
Catching a bent stanchion with one hand, he carefully leaned out and looked down, lightsaber at the ready for any final attacks from the wounded Jedi.
Suddenly, Juno contacted Galen in his comlink which earned his attention.
"This place is going to tear itself apart at any moment!"Juno warned."Are you almost done here?"
"On my way."Galen answered.
With a vehement look on his face, Galen retreated from the viewport and headed for the door, pausing only to scoop up the fallen Jedi Master's lightsaber on the way.
See you all in the next chapter and have a wonderful day!