Agenord sat in the pilot's seat of the Guardian, watching the spray of hyperspace.
"That won't get us there any faster," Kira said.
"I know," Agenord replied. "How much time did we waste with that fucking satellite? How much damage can he do?"
Too much, Kira thought. "The general is calling." Agenord activated the bridge holoemitter.
"Master Agenord," the general said. "Doctor Godera has an update."
The doctor said, "I've been attempting to combine the elements of Angral's Desolator into a viable configuration. I believe he will use the Planet Prison to contain any inhabitants first. He will fire the Death Mark laser to dig holes for the Shock Drum missiles."
"Bury them deeper," Agenord said.
"Exactly," Godera said. "The shock drum will disrupt planetary defenses and break apart any local shield generators. He will then lower the Planet Prison to the surface."
"Igniting any foliage," Agenord said.
Godera nodded. "The oxygen will be completely burned off. Anyone in bunkers, behind shields, or underwater will survive. Anyone on the surface-"
"Will be incinerated or will suffocate," Agenord said.
"Heavier structures can be destroyed with the laser at full power," Godera finished.
"This is why he picked Uphrades?" Kira said. "Lots of foliage?"
Agenord nodded. "Minimal defenses. Not a lot of people. Millions will die, not billions."
"If he uses this on Coruscant-" Var Suthra began just as the Guardian exited hyperspace. And saw Uphrades.
"No," Kira said. The once green world was a seared shell.
"Receiving your sensor readings," Godera said. "Stand by... Damage consistent with the designs of the Desolator weapon."
"The scale of this... it's unthinkable," the general said.
"Where is the Oppressor?" Agenord asked.
Kira said, "No sign of Darth Angral, but we're getting an emergency transmission. It's faint- coming from the far side of the planet..."
"Republic vessel, do you copy? This is medical frigate Daybreaker. We're under attack! Imperial commandos have boarded us. Help!"
The transmission ended.
"Why leave people behind?" Kira asked.
"To slow you down," Var Suthra said.
"No," Agenord said. "We can't go anywhere, unless we know his destination. Angral wants me there. He wants me to watch the next planet burn, then he wants to kill me." He set a course for the source of the transmission.
"Where is Angral?" Agenord asked the Imperial commando.
The commando stood on the bridge of the Daybreaker, his arm around a Mirialan woman, his blaster to her head. The great Agenord Onoka stood in front of him. Behind Agenord, every Imperial commando lay dead or incapacitated. The Twi'lek Jedi wasn't even sweating.
"I can pull that gun from your hand before you can fire," Agenord said. "Then, I will tear the information from your mind. It won't be pleasant."
The commando said, "I live?"
"Yes," Agenord said.
The Imperial released the woman and dropped his pistol. "Tython."
"Take him into custody," Agenord told the Daybreaker security.
The captain of the Daybreaker said, "Those Imperial soldiers-"
"I don't have the time," Agenord told him. "We need to get to Tython. Your priority now is finding survivors. Kira, Teeseven, back to the ship."
He had run to the Daybreaker bridge, Kira thought. He had barely slowed down. He cut down Imperials like they were training dummies.
"What can we expect?" Grandmaster Satele said from the holo.
Agenord said, "The temple shields will protect you until the Shock Drum tears them down. We have until then. You will be the first target of the Death Mark."
"What can we do to help?" she asked.
Godera said, "A deactivated ship can pass through the Planet Prison unaffected. Attach chemical rockets to fighters, power down when you get close to the ion shield, fire the rockets, power up on the other side."
"Some of the satellites might not be shield generators," Var Suthra said.
Agenord said, "Fire every other rocket you have as cover. Most should make it through."
"Two-man fighters are your best option," Godera said.
"We have ten available," Satele said. "Now, we just need volunteers."
"We don't know how much of a head start Angral had," Agenord said. "Not too much. The Desolator takes time to work."
"The temple should still be intact when you arrive," Godera said. "Some surface shields were still active on Uphrades."
"Master Agenord," Satele said. "I have news. The villagers are in the temple, and the stress... got to the Matriarch."
"Ranna's in labor," Agenord said. Satele nodded. "It's been that kind of a day. Don't worry, Grandmaster. I'm not going to fail." The emitter switched off.
"Now we wait," Kira said.
"Not quite," Agenord told her.
"Captain," Corso said. "Master Agenord is on holo."
Xal and Risha looked up from the motivator.
"That's as good as it'll get without a live test," Risha said. They sealed the motivator housing and went to the holoemitter.
"Agenord," Xal said. "What's up?"
Agenord said, "I need to call in a favor."
"Oh, shit," Xal, Risha, and Corso said together.
"Are you still on Alderaan?" Agenord asked.
"We were about to leave," Xal said. "The motivator is ready for testing."
"How long will it take you to get to Tython?" Agenord said.
"With the new motivator and the new computer, not too long. Why?"
"We're about to assault the Oppressor," Agenord said. "My team will be able to get to shuttles or escape pods. I don't know if that will be an option for the three of us. Angral will be on the bridge, and we might need a pick up."
Xal narrowed his eyes. "What kind of pick up?"
"Hover ball," Agenord said.
Xal's eyes snapped open. "Hover ball?"
"You've done it before," Agenord said.
"With cargo."
Agenord said, "I trust you, Xal."
"Don't say that!" Xal said. "Someone might hear you. What are you saving this time?"
"Every living thing on the surface of Tython," Agenord said.
"Shit, Agenord!" Xal said. "Could you downgrade some time just for variety?" Xal groaned. "Corso, power up the engines. We're going to Tython."
"See you there, Xal," Agenord said.
"Hover ball?" Risha asked.
Xal said, "I'll show you when we're in hyperspace." First real test of the system. He input the destination into the new computer. By the time they reached the lane, it had its course. He pushed the Visitor into hyperspace and watched the systems.
"Well?" Risha asked.
Xal whistled. "You have impressed me again, Miss Risha. That new computer cut four hundred parsecs off route. The droid brains are taking it as a challenge. They're trying to outdo each other to find the best configuration to match the course."
"Now it makes sense," Risha said.
Corso said, "Do you think we'll make it in time?"
Xal shrugged. "It's the best chance we've got."
Risha said, "Hover ball."
Xal took them to the cargo pod, opened a panel that should not have been there, and pulled the lever behind it. Struts that should have been solid and fixed slid back like bars on a gate.
Xal said, "I added a couple of doors to the cargo pod that most people wouldn't notice." He pulled a second lever. More panels opened and a magnetic shield activated behind the doors that weren't there. They looked at him. He pulled a third lever, and a cargo net snapped into place behind the shield. They really looked at him. Xal said, "This was Agenord's idea."
"What do we do, Captain?" Corso asked.
"Corso, Bowdaar, I want you two on the guns," Xal said. "Miss Risha, I want you on the shields. Keep them aimed at the Oppressor at all times. Otherwise, strap in and try not to throw up."
"Kira, Teeseven, I need you two on the guns," Agenord said. "Keep those fighters safe. Seetwo, once we're onboard the Oppressor, get the Guardian away. You don't need to land. Just get out of the range of the Oppressor's guns."
"Yes, sir," Seetwo said.
"We just got word from Master Satele," Kira said. "They're sending up the fighters on the far side of the planet. They'll be in position when we arrive." She listened to the comm. "Eight fighters made it through."
They dropped out of hyperspace, and two dozen fighters and a dozen turbolaser locked onto them.
The comm buzzed, "Master Agenord. This is Master Zizer. Orders?"
"Stay alive," Agenord said. "This is not a fighter battle. I need everyone onboard the Oppressor. Use us as cover, and sacrifice your fighters if you need to."
"Understood," Zizer said.
The best pilots in the Order had volunteered for the mission. The Imperial fighters didn't have much chance. The first two dozen were gone with barely any damage to the Guardian. By the time the next group engaged, the Jedi were almost at the landing bay. The Guardian blew open the landing bay doors, and magnetic shields activated at the nearest safe line. Agenord piloted into the bay tearing armor panels and the comm array off of the ship. Agenord jumped through the maintenance hatch on top of the Guardian, while Kira and Teeseven fired on any walker droids nearby. Agenord rushed the Imperials, cutting through the troopers and a Sith apprentice like they were standing still. The bay was empty by the time the other Jedi landed.
"Master Agenord," an Iktotchi Jedi said. "Master Zizer. What are your orders?"
Agenord smiled briefly. Four of the pilots were part of the Twenty-Four. "I need three teams, one to stop the Shock Drum, one to stop the laser, and one to set the reactor to overload. Don't worry about the Planet Prison. It will deactivate when its power supply is shut off." He scanned the eight masters and their Padawans. "And don't hold back. If we fail-" Two dozen Imperial troops reached the nearest entrance. "Are you afraid, Padawan?" he asked a Kel Dor girl of sixteen. She nodded. Agenord turned toward the troops, and a dozen grenades dropped from a dozen different belts. The Imperials scrambled to reach them or to run, but failed. The grenades detonated, leaving a charred mess. Agenord said, "Teach them your fear."
They fought their way to a collection of lifts and separated into groups. On the way up, Kira said, "You've got to stop giving speeches."
"I wanted to inspire them," Agenord said.
"That's not what that speech did," she said.
Agenord tore through the Imperials as easily as he'd gone through the commandos on the Daybreaker. He crushed walkers into inactive spheres and threw them at lines of troops. He detonated grenades from a distance and redirected blasters. Imperial weapons killed more troops than his lightsaber. Only the occasional apprentice slowed him down but not for very long. When they reached the bridge, he wasn't even breathing hard. He was about to cut through the doors, but they opened on their own. A line of troops stood between Agenord and Angral. They had the look of anti-Force Sensitive commandos. Agenord threw droid corpses at them from the corridor then rushed them. They didn't last long.
"Impressive," Angral said. "Master Orgus taught you well."
Agenord advanced on Angral.
"You will not steal my victory," Agral said. "Not now. I have sacrificed too much for this. I will avenge my son, on you and all the Jedi."
"It's over, Angral," Agenord replied, still advancing.
"I foresaw this confrontation," Angral said. "I welcome it. Today, I forge a new era for the Sith. One where the Jedi are finally extinct."
Kira walked past Agenord to Angral's side. "Finish this, Angral," she said. "I command it."
That presence was not Kira.
Angral nodded. "With pleasure, my Master."
Kira shook her head. "What... what was that? I felt... the Emperor..."
"You are his Child," Angral said. "His eyes, his ears... his weapon to command. Come, Child, fight by my side. It's where you belong."
Kira stepped away from him. "I'd rather jump out an airlock naked."
"Fight the Emperor's control," Agenord said. "Remember who you are."
"I feel him in my thoughts," Kira said. She staggered away, clutching her head. "We have to end this fast."
Angral said, "If you will not serve, you will die." He swung at Kira. Agenord jumped forward and blocked the attack. They grinned at each other.
The lightsaber battle was Agenord's best to date. Angral used the minimalist style of an experienced warrior. When Agenord began to gain an upper hand, Angral added lightning and heavy objects. He threw a bridge console at Agenord, but the Jedi stopped it in the air and pushed it back toward Angral. It crumpled between them. The shock stopped the Sith Lord for a moment, then he attacked again. The whole time, Kira fought the Emperor's control. When she recovered herself, she helped Agenord. When she couldn't, the Emperor helped Angral. In between, she struggled and screamed. After an hour, Angral and Agenord could barely stand. They pushed themselves up, and an alarm sounded. The main reactor had been set to overload.
"We die together," Angral said.
Agenord shook his head. Ten minutes earlier, he felt Xal arrive. Time to end it. He did this so rarely. He'd allowed himself, briefly, with Nefarid, pushed by the death of Master Orgus. The power scared him at times, but he could not win without it. He snarled at Angral and let his full power come out. The Sith Lord gasped and stepped back. Agenord was on him before Angral could react. Angral fought with all he had left, and all he had left was two minutes. He died as Tarnis had, with Agenord's blade in his heart.
"Now you will die," the Emperor said. "Even if my Child must die with you."
"No!" Kira said. "I won't kill for you!"
"Fight him, Kira!" Agenord said.
"I see futures in you," the Emperor said. "Futures I will not allow. Your future ends here."
Kira yelled, "The dark side has no power over me. I am a Jedi!"
"That's right!" Agenord said. "You are the most stubborn pain in the ass in the entire Order! No one has a chance to beat that!"
"What the hell was that?!" Kira said. "I'm the most stubborn Jedi in the Order? When did I win that title from-?! He's gone. I won. I'm finally free."
"Great," Agenord said. "Let's go." He tossed Angral's lightsaber at the bridge window and threw a massive console at the hole to break the window and hold open the emergency doors. Agenord and Kira activated emergency shields, and the three of them jumped through the window. Agenord pulled Kira and Teeseven to him, and they all curled into a ball. The emergency shields would last ten minutes. Xal only needed three. The Visitor, covered with scorch marks but intact, turned and decelerated rapidly. The pod doors already open, the ship twisted and spun and caught them as gently as possible. Even with that, they hit the cargo net hard.
"We have them, sir," Xal's protocol droid said. They hit the net again as Xal accelerated away. Agenord and Kira staggered to the cockpit in time to see the Oppressor detonate on the scanner.
"I guess you got your guy," Xal said.
"We got him," Agenord said. At the cost of three Jedi. He'd felt their deaths. The rest made it off the ship.
"Where to?" Xal asked.
"The Guardian," Agenord told him. "Seetoo has it somewhere in orbit."
"We'll find it," Xal said.
Agenord sighed and leaned against a bulkhead. Kira slapped him on the arm.
"Most stubborn pain in the ass in the Order?" she said. "Me? Do you want me to start telling stories?"
Xal said, "I've got a few. He has had that stick rammed up his ass since grade school."
"I believe that," Kira said.
"It worked," Agenord said.
"Shut up," she told him.
Once they were docked with the Guardian, Agenord told Xal, "They'd be happy to thank you."
Xal said, "The only thing worse than a room full of angry Jedi is a room full of grateful Jedi. I owe you one less. That's as much as I need. While I have you, Ter'viro's gone silent. He must have his target. I'll tell you as soon as I know more."
"I'll know before you do," Agenord said.
Xal scowled at him. "That's cheating, you know." Agenord shrugged. Xal sighed and started to shut the airlock.
"You're not going to tell him?" Kira said.
"Tell me what?" Xal asked.
"I'm not ready for that yet," Agenord said.
Xal blinked. "You are not ready for something?"
Agenord sighed. "If you stay, you will be able to see my son."
After a moment, Xal said, "I am going to pretend I never heard those words. Good-bye." He closed the airlock door. The Visitor disengaged and departed.
"He has your coloring," Ranna said. She looked worse than he did.
Agenord examined the baby in his arms. "And my mother's patterns," he said. Dax'l was an Onoka through and through.
"What would have happened if you'd lost?" she asked.
Agenord said, "Darth Angral would have destroyed the temple and everything within fifty kilometers, then incinerated the surface of Tython."
"Oh," she said. "Is that all? I can tell him his daddy was there for him." Agenord gave Dax'l back to her. "You're not done, are you?"
"War is coming," Agenord said. "The devastation of Uphrades, the attack on Tython. The Republic can't ignore it."
"And the Jedi need their best," Ranna said. "What are they calling you now?"
"The Hero of Tython," Agenord said. "I'm not sure if I'm happy about that."
Ranna said, "As Matriarch of the Kalikori village, I can say we are grateful to you."
"He'll need to be tested at some point," Agenord said.
"I know." She stroked Dax'l's lekku. "What are the odds, really?"
"One in six," Agenord said.
That made her pause. "Oh. Well, you turned out okay."
"I need to go," Agenord said. "The Council is waiting."
Outside Ranna's room, he spotted Bhaqri Anuuc, the Kel Dor Padawan. She was learning how to use her crutches. She saw him and smiled.
"How's the leg?" he asked her.
She sighed. "They think they can save it. Lots of rehab, lots of kolto, but I should be able to keep it."
"Good to hear it," he told her. "And good job up there."
A moment later, an alarm went off. Doctors and nurses appeared and rushed to Master Yuon's room.
"Problem?" Agenord asked.
"Lord Vivcar has been defeated," a Jedi healer said. "But he left something behind. A final sick joke."
Agenord heard something strange from Yuon's room and approached it.
"You shouldn't," the healer said. "Master Yuon and Master Fain are... well... succumbing to Vivicar's revenge."
Agenord listened at the door and identified the noises. "Oh. Thank you for the warning." He thought, This wasn't Vivicar.
He passed more Jedi from the Oppressor, some better off than Bhaqri, others worse. They nodded their respect as he passed. Villagers, Jedi, temple workers all thanked him as he walked by. If they only knew. Angral was just the beginning.
He met Kira outside the Chamber, and they went in together. The Council stood as he entered the Chamber and bowed to him.
"Master Agenord," Grandmaster Satele said. "The Jedi owe you a debt of gratitude we can never repay."
"I only wish Master Orgus could share in this victory," Master Kiwiiks said.
"He was a great man," Agenord said. "When he wanted to be."
Satele smiled and nodded. "We've lost one of our noblest Masters, but in his place stands a Jedi without equal. And you, Padawan... I knew you'd remain true to us."
"The Emperor himself couldn't turn her," Agenord said. "I saw it myself."
"The Emperor?" Master Kaedan said. "You didn't think to mention his involvement sooner?"
"Sooner than what?" Agenord said. "This is our first meeting after the attack."
"It's a long story," Kira said. "But the upshot is I'm a Jedi... and I always will be."
Satele said, "You've earned our trust, Kira. You deserve recognition of that. As leader of this Council, it's my pleasure to promote Kira Carsen to the rank of Jedi Knight."
Kira said, "So this is what it feels like, being respectable."
Agenord said, "Did you ever think you'd get there?"
She scowled and smacked him on the arm. "So, do I get my own Padawan now?"
"Now is not the time," Satele said. "We're getting fresh reports of hostilities all over the galaxy. Another war with the Empire seems inevitable."
Master Kiwiiks said, "Darth Angral was the spark that lit the flame. Even in failure, he inspired the Sith to violence."
Master Satele walked around the table and stood before Agenord. "But he also forged our greatest weapon against the darkness." She put a hand on his shoulder. "The futures of many rest on your actions."
"I know," Agenord said. "Angral was... more difficult than I expected. I saw, for the first time, why I needed this power. Angral, the Emperor, the Desolator, the war. I am beginning to understand why the Force needed me. But I still don't know why the Force needed two of us."