AN: Been a crazy month. Honestly didn't realize it had already been a month since I"d last posted, time really flies when you're super busy. As always, thanks for all the support to this story, and even with the slower posting schedule, hopefully you all still enjoy it. Special thanks to Tracyn, Dragomi125, and FractionalSith for their help in being betas for this story. I also need to give thanks to lordtrayus for letting me use parts of his story in this. He wrote a wookieepedia like story on the Order of Bane Sith Lords, creating backstories and timelines for the entire Order, from Bane and onward. It's quite good and impressive, and he was kind enough to let me use the Sith Lords he's created for my own story.
MaySail199 - Glad you enjoyed it! Definitely a lot of changes coming for the Order. You'll have to wait and see to see the color of the possible Kyber crystal. The battle was a lot of fun to write. It's always a treat to get to write Yoda as the warrior that he is beyond the wise and powerful teacher, and showing him surrounded by other skilled masters helps to create some great battles.
TW - Thanks! Shielding techniques to help Celeste is a good idea, and I did get some inspiration when I looked up her fight with Terrak Morrhage, since I was unfamiliar with it.
Chapter 70 - Improving Circumstances
"This is starting to get old," Obi-Wan remarked dryly, looking around the tense room.
The six Force Troopers had their weapons drawn on their 'hosts' who had just attempted to drug them, and then changed to a hasty ambush when they realized that the two Mandalorians' helmets filtered out the sedative. When the Mandos had realized that their fellow Troopers were being affected, they'd drawn their weapons and fired a burst of shots through the tent roof, allowing crisp, cool air to enter the room and chase away the drug.
It would have worked too, since the host, Baiuntu, and his servers were just as affected by the drug, and would have been knocked out as well.
They had been dining with a clan known as the Qulun, who were Alwari traders, hoping to gain information on where the Borokii might be. The initial welcome had been much better than with the initially mistrustful Yiwa tribe, but whereas the Yiwa tribe had helped them in the end, the Qulun apparently had had different designs. It was a bit of a surprise, since the Qulun had openly talked about their enjoyment of offworlders for trade opportunities, and had also mentioned how they thought Ansion benefited from being in the Republic. With no lies detected in the Force, this attack seemed at odds with what they had discerned from the merchant tribe.
"I happen to agree, Obi," Finn added. "Baiuntu, why have you attempted this?"
"Why else?" their host said with a shrug. "Profits, my honorable guests. Profits. You have nothing to fear. I would not think of harming you!" He signaled for his men to lower their weapons. "To do so would be to violate every tenet of Qulun hospitality. It is said that if the return to Cuipernam of certain offworld visitors could be delayed for two parts of a breeding cycle, a great reward would be paid. These visitors were carefully described. You can therefore imagine my surprise and delight when you appeared outside our camp, asking for directions to the Borokii."
The four Jedi exchanged grim looks, knowing the delay meant that someone was trying to stop them from returning to the Unity Council with the promised agreement with the Alwari. Clearly someone was hoping to push the vote through before the Jedi could return.
"Who is offering the reward for our delay?" Luminara asked with a frown.
"Does it matter?" Baiuntu asked with a mock confused look.
"I think it does," Obi-Wan returned, "and I say you owe us for this stunt."
"Perhaps," Baiuntu agreed easily. "However, do you want to know who has offered a price to delay you or do you want to know where the Borokii are? I'm afraid I feel I only owe you one piece of information."
"You should rethink that feeling," Vodth, the Mandalorian, responded icily, his weapon steadily pointed at Baiuntu's face.
"Surely now that my men have lowered their weapons, you Jedi will not allow your own men to kill me?" Baiuntu queried knowingly.
"He's right," Finn said, with a nod. "Though relying on us being fair, despite your actions here, shows your lack of honor. Where are the Borokii?"
Baiuntu frowned at her remarks for a moment, and Obi-Wan knew that Finn had struck true.
"The Borokii overclan you seek lies but a few days' ride north of here," Baiuntu responded finally, and the Jedi could sense the truth in his words and intent through the Force.
The Jedi, Troopers, and their guides made their way past their traitorous hosts, and back to their suubatars and belongings, all keeping their eyes on the Qulun. They mounted up, and turned to leave, wanting to put as much distance between them as they could, but before they left, Baiuntu called out.
"The poster of the reward is one who you would know! The only bossban of his kind on this world. If rumors are to be believed, you have already foiled a plot of his."
"Thank you," Luminara called back with a nod, and then they let their suubatars run, heading off to where the Borokii truly were.
"We're going to have to deal with Soergg when we return to Cuipernam," Finn called out.
"Happily," Colbert Varad replied vindictively, the Mandalorian not having forgotten the initial ambush on his team.
"I'm more curious about who hired him," Obi-Wan added his two cents. "I highly doubt the Hutt is doing this on his own."
It was a few days of hard riding with light breaks for rest at night before Kyakhta came riding back to rejoin them, having scouted ahead.
"Found them!" he announced proudly as he turned his suubatar. He extended his artificial arm to point. "Just over the next rise."
"At last," Luminara murmured. "You're certain it's the Borokii?"
The Alwari gestured emphatically. "No mistaking it, Master Luminara. They are in full ceremonial camp, pennants flying. The overclan Borokii, most influential of all the Alwari clans."
In truth, it was a more impressive sight than any of them had expected. Having been exposed to the nomad encampments of the Yiwa and the Qulun, the travelers believed they had some idea of what to expect. Neither of those previous encounters prepared them for what greeted their eyes as their suubatars topped the crest of the low ridge.
Spread out before them were not dozens of recently unfolded and erected portable structures, but hundreds. Several of the structures boasted sophisticated energy arrays for the generation of power and must have required dozens of draft animals to pull them. Thousands of Borokii of all ages milled about within the vast, elaborate camp. Beyond, uncountable thousands of herd animals grazed peacefully within perimeters patrolled by sadain-mounted handlers. The din of their passive moaning and mewling, a kind of rising "urrr" noise, dominated the sounds of the camp. Here, just as they had been told, resided the supreme power of the Alwari. Where the Borokii led, the rest of the Alwari would follow.
The Jedi eyed the large herd of Surepp, an Ansion grazing animal that was important for the Alwari for meat, milk, hides, and wool, and even their teeth and antlers were used to make tools.
Up in the lead, Kyakhta raised his long-fingered prosthetic. "Riders are coming."
There were nearly a dozen of them. They were more richly attired than Yiwa or Qulun, their lightweight armor gleaming in the sun. Two of the pickets held poles of imported carbonite composite atop which the Borokii standard snapped briskly in the morning breeze. In addition to traditional long knives, seven of them wore Malarian laser pistols. Clearly, at least some of what they had heard about the overclans was true, the Borokii had wealth, and the acumen to know how to spend it.
Curiosity overcoming his natural reserve, the leader of the half a dozen riders impelled his equally impressively attired sadain forward, halting in front of the lead suubatars. The considerable difference in the heights of their respective mounts forced him to look up at the visitors. To his credit, he did not seem in the least intimidated, and if anything, openly friendly, at least on the surface.
"Greetings, offworlders and friends." The Borokii briefly pressed one hand across his eyes and the other over his chest. "I am Bayaar of the Situng Borokii. Welcome to our camp. What do you wish of the overclan?"
While Obi-Wan explained their purpose, the rest of them studied the welcoming party, noting that they all held no hostile intent, but merely had confidence and professional readiness. It was clear they knew that with their numbers and technology, they did not have to fear strangers. Still, they sat ready to move as necessary. While their leader listened courteously to Obi-Wan, the members of his troop sat imperiously in their saddles. But their eyes were always moving. Bayaar did not have to retire to mull a response when Obi-Wan had finished.
"This is not something to which I can speak. I am an outrider—a sentinel, and sentinels do not make decisions of such magnitude," Bayaar said finally.
Obi-Wan smiled in that slight, knowing way of his and nodded understandingly. "As a kind of sentinel myself, I appreciate your position."
"We will convey the news of your arrival, as well as your reasons for seeking out the Borokii, to the Council of Elders. Meanwhile, I invite you to follow me, and experience Borokii hospitality."
So saying, he neatly turned his mount and started back down the gentle slope toward the bustling, milling encampment. Splitting up, the rest of his troop assumed flanking positions on either side of the line of visitors. They were an escort, meant to honor, not threaten. The latter would have been difficult for the pickets to do in any case, given the disparity in size between their sadains and the visitors' suubatars.
The differences between the Borokii encampment and anything the travelers had encountered thus far were both striking and immediately apparent. Though entirely mobile, the community had been laid out like a permanent town, with temporary streets and designated areas for residential, commercial, and manufacturing activities. The latter consisted largely of processing large numbers of surepp carcasses for export.
Soon, they had been escorted to the 'visitors house' where they could rest while they waited.
"I will convey your request to the Council of Elders," Bayaar said, as they all dismounted their suubatars. "Meanwhile, you will be made comfortable, and be given food and drink."
"Do you think they'll give us an audience, your council?" Luminara asked politely.
"It's not for me to say. I am only a sentinel." Placing hands over eyes and chest, he departed, leaving the visitors to wait for a formal response.
It was only a few hours later when Bayaar returned, to their surprise.
"The council will greet you," the sentinel informed them.
Barriss's face broke out into a wide smile. "We're all set, then."
As she spoke, Bayaar turned his attention to her. "I am not entirely certain what you mean by that, but I think you are confident too soon. When I say that the council will greet you, that is all they will do. Not to do so would be ill-mannered."
Obi-Wan worked to interpret their host's meaning, as opposed to his words. "Are you saying they will receive us, but not listen to our proposal?"
Bayaar nodded. "In order for that to happen, you must present the council with an appropriate conventional offering of their choosing."
"Oh, well then." Obi-Wan relaxed slightly. "What would satisfy the council? We have access to some funds that can be used for trade. If something more substantial is required . . ." He left the question open.
"Actually, the council requests that you present them with something smaller." Bayaar let his gaze travel over the group. Having encountered only a few human traders before, he was fascinated by their tiny, squinched-up eyes and individual follicular variations. "They wish one of you to hand them a handful of wool taken from the ruff of a mature white male surepp."
"What's the catch?" Finn asked, shrewdly.
"You cannot buy it." Bayaar was uncomfortable in the position of diplomatic go-between. He would much rather have been out on the prairie, patrolling a picket line, weapon in hand. "One of you must take it, by hand, in the traditional manner and without the use of any marvelous offworld devices or other forms of assistance such as a suubatar mount, from the back of a white surepp."
"Seems too easy," Barriss muttered, getting a nod from Trooper Merna Sy and Ranger Elarel.
The Jedi and the Force Troopers all exchanged glances, suspecting that there was still a trick to this request, something that would make it much harder than it sounded.
Obi-Wan again addressed their host. "We'll be happy to comply with the council's request." He hesitated. "I take it that wool from one of the surepp in the Borokii herd will suffice, and that we don't have to go looking for a wild one?"
"That is correct. It is allowed to cut from the ruff of a herd animal."
"Then we're wasting time. There's still ample daylight outside. If you'd be so kind as to escort us?"
Bayaar sighed, letting them all know that there definitely was some sort of catch to this request.
"Come with me."
The stroll through the nomad town was interesting, and Bayaar was happy to point out highlights and explain the sights. Before too long they found themselves on the outskirts of the bustling community, gazing across strands of recently unspooled, electrically charged superconducting lines at thousands and thousands of Borokii surepp. The herd was an impressive sight, mewling and moaning as it nibbled at the high grass. Grazing close together guaranteed safety, if not much room for individuals to move about. Catching a male and cutting off a handful of its neck ruff might require a healthy sprint on the part of the would-be wool trimmer, but it wasn't as if a lengthy dash across the plains was going to be necessary.
There was only one problem. Bayaar had told them that the council demanded a handful of white wool . . . the fur of every one of the dozens, of the hundreds, of surepp within view was mostly either blue or green. There was not a white animal in sight. Not even one that was a pale green.
Luminara was quick to point this seeming discrepancy out to their host.
Bayaar looked embarrassed. "I don't make the laws. I am only serving as a vehicle for the council's directives."
"How can we cut white wool from an animal that doesn't exist?" Obi-Wan indicated the milling herd.
"It does," Bayaar told them. "The albino surepp is very real, and there are some in the Borokii herd."
Luminara's gaze narrowed as she studied their discomfited host. "There are thousands of animals foraging out there. How many is 'some'?"
Bayaar turned away, visibly uncomfortable. "Two."
Letting out a long sigh, Barriss found herself nodding knowingly. "I knew it sounded too easy."
"Do the Borokii keep their herds in corrals close together at night?" Finn asked Bayaar, thoughtfully.
"We do," Bayaar acknowledged.
"How close together?" Luminara asked, seeing Finn's thought process.
"Very close." Holding his hands out in front of him, Bayaar brought the slender palms almost to the point of touching. "This close. Crowded up against one another, the surepp feel safe and secure. They sleep standing up."
Barriss studied the herd. "Packed that closely together, they'd have to."
Luminara nodded thoughtfully. "With the animals concentrated in one place, it would be much easier to find the white ones than during the day, when the herd is spread out over hills and vales like they are now. I know the Force would guide us in our search, but we would likely still have to travel quite far to find our prize." She eyed the polite sentinel unblinkingly. "How would the surepp be likely to react to someone moving among them?"
He had to smile. "I see what you're thinking. It is a dangerous notion. It is possible to walk among sleepy surepp without panicking them, but one has to be very careful. They are nervous creatures, easily agitated. If they feel disturbed, or threatened, or even nothing more than uneasy, their mood and manner can change abruptly. Anyone trying to walk between individuals could find himself gored by an abruptly irritated male, or crushed between many suddenly shifting bodies."
Obi-Wan spoke up once more. "Is there anything else you can tell us that would help us to single out these rare white surepp? Do they tend to congregate in any single place, any one part of the herd?"
"Actually, they do," Bayaar admitted. "Unfortunately, because they stand out so prominently, they naturally tend to seek the safest place—which is in the exact middle of the herd."
"Figures," Merna Sy muttered.
It was going to be a very difficult task, looking at the massive herd.
"We'll come back here at evening time, just before sunset," Obi-Wan informed their host. "At least," he muttered more softly, "whatever we eventually try and whoever tries it will have a better chance of locating one of the albino animals when the members of the herd have clustered together for the night."
"And since we're not allowed to use advanced technology, we'll need a Borokii knife." Luminara spoke absently, as if her thoughts were focused elsewhere. "To cut the wool."
It was a few hours later, after much discussion back in the visitors' house, before Bayaar escorted them back to the provisional corral. It was clear, looking at their guide, that he was uneasy with the task before them, and perhaps even pitied them. The Jedi, guides, and Troopers briefly glanced at the small crowd that had gathered, many of them likely hoping to see a trampling, if nothing else.
"I'm still not sure this is a great idea," Obi-Wan said, glancing at the two other Jedi Knights. "The risk of a stampede, where the rest of us can do nothing is greater than I would like, since we don't really know these animals."
"I don't like it either, Master," Barriss added apprehensively.
"Not really another option," Finn said with a sigh.
"Not if we want to return to Cuipernam in a reasonable time," Luminara agreed.
Obi-Wan sighed unhappily. "Are you sure you can do this, Luminara, Finn?"
"It will be challenging, but no more so than Master Ana's Art of Movement course," Luminara replied, giving a reassuring smile. "We can't convince the Council of Elders to persuade the rest of the Alwari to agree to our position if we never get to speak to them."
"You have more faith in your feet than I do my own," Obi-Wan replied wryly. "I think this will be fairly different than even Fy-Tor-Ana could come up with."
"I have faith that you would have managed almost as well as me, Obi-Wan," Luminara said, with a teasing smile. "Besides, I trust the Force."
"As a youngling, you would have been wise to have the same wariness," Finn added with a slight grin, remembering Obi-Wan's cruel childhood nickname, Oafy-Wan. "The Master that stands before me, has more than enough grace for this."
"You flatter me, my old friend," Obi-Wan replied, though he let out a small thankful smile. "Still, I do not envy either of you."
"Just being positive, since Siri's not here to beat it into your skull herself," Finn replied, matter of factly, and Obi-Wan snorted in amusement at that.
"Stay safe, my friends, and may the Force be with you," Obi-Wan said, exchanging firm hugs with both female Knights.
"Master . . .," Barriss began. Turning, the Jedi put a reassuring hand on her Padawan's shoulder.
"Not everything is assured in advance, my dear." Her hand slid off the strong shoulder. "I know what I'm doing. I just don't know what the surepp are going to do." Taking a couple of steps back, she took a deep breath and nodded at Bayaar, as Finn too readied herself, the two of them being the most graceful among them.
Raising a hand high, Bayaar signaled to his right. Down the fence line, the operator in charge of this section of the corral responded with a gesture of acknowledgment.
"The barrier here has been shut down," he told the visitors. "If you really mean to do this thing, you have to do it now."
Finn and Luminara both nodded, ensuring their borrowed Borokii knives were secure in their belts, and then both leapt onto the backs of the nearest surepp.
Rising above the twilight clamor from the town and the communal mewling and burbling of the tightly packed beasts, the collective intake of breath from the audience of watching Borokii was plainly audible. Finn and Luminara sped over the top of the herd, touching down only long enough to kick off and launch themselves to the next expansive, woolly spine. Both raced off in mirroring angles, heading generally towards the center of the herd, but with Luminara favoring the right side of the herd, while Finn favored the left.
Occasionally, disturbed by the contact, a sleepy surepp would look up in surprise. Unable to discern any threat or danger, it would then lower its head and return to its quiet dozing.
While the two Jedi Knights' friends were able to monitor their progress via their macrobinoculars, Kyakhta, Bulgan, Bayaar, and the other observing Borokii could only strain to see with their eyes.
"How are your friends doing?" Bayaar asked Obi-Wan, interested.
"Moving like the wind," Obi-Wan answered, without lowering his binoculars.
"Impressively fast," Elarel agreed, from where she was observing. "I think they are moving so fast that the surepp are barely realizing someone has stepped on their back before they're gone, preventing a stampede."
"I think my master has found it!" Barriss exclaimed.
"Yes, there!" Obi-Wan agreed. "She's got it."
"I'll signal Master Ertay to return," Vodth said quickly.
"So soon?" Bayaar was all but struck dumb with astonishment. "She moves very swiftly indeed, your female."
"Not my female," Obi-Wan corrected him. "A friend and a colleague. Like your fellow warriors."
"Ah," murmured Bayaar without quite understanding the offworlder.
"Here she comes – osik! Nice save, Master Ertay!" Colbert said, admiringly.
"What happened?" Bayaar asked.
"Master Luminara slipped, but Master Ertay managed to catch her, and prevent a fall," Barriss answered with relief. "Here they come!"
They all moved back slightly to give room for Finn and Luminara to and jump off of the surepp to safety.
"That was close," Obi-Wan observed, and Luminara's lips curled slightly upward.
"I was surprised that the back of that surepp was wet. Must have been grooming recently. Thankfully Finn caught me . . . and thankfully I have this."
Luminara reached into her tunic and pulled out a small tuft of fur from the albino surepp, the color of dirty snow. Turning to Bayaar, she displayed the small, seemingly insignificant prize that could have been quite costly.
"You saw how it happened," she told the sentinel. Behind him, other Borokii were crowding around, each eager for a glimpse of proof of the extraordinary accomplishment. "It was done as demanded. Will the Council of Elders confer with us now?"
The sentinel gestured approvingly. "I fail to see why they would not. This is a moment I will remember for my grandchildren, as you may do the same for yours."
"Perhaps I will," Luminara responded with a light smile, and the Jedi all exchanged amused glances that her acknowledgement would have been unheard of only a few short years previously. "For now though, I think it is time to clean up and relax in a nice hot bath before we hope to meet with your Council."
*The Will of the Force*
Anakin admired the Lars Homestead as their ship landed. It was a nice moisture farm, especially for Tatooine. Not large, but still clearly a farm that had been successful and well maintained.
Anakin smiled wide, as he saw four figures making their way out of the homestead.
"I'll continue landing procedures," A'Sharad said, his voice sounding a bit wistful. "You go greet your family."
"Thanks," Anakin said, as he rushed out of the cockpit, through the ship, passing the rest of his team and Ferus, who was trying to keep their new Tusken companion, Reirin, company, and then he lowered the ramp and raced down it.
"Annie!" Shmi called out excitedly, and Anakin's worries melted away for the moment, seeing that his mom was safe and healthy.
Anakin ran up and hugged her tight, enjoying having her arms around him in the comforting manner that only she was able to manage.
"Hey, Mom," Anakin greeted, pulling back. "Owen, Cliegg, Beru, great to see you all."
"Good of you to come all this way," Cliegg said gruffly but there was no missing the fondness in his voice. "The Tuskens have been getting extremely aggressive lately. Attacked the Darklighter farm a few days back, Thankfully no casualties, but it was close. Took some potshots at me yesterday, and Bantha tracks were all over the area your mother usually walks."
Anakin felt a twinge at that, feeling some fear that his mother could have been taken or killed, and quite possibly would have been had he not made it here in time. He put on a false confident smile, and gestured back towards where his team was coming off the ship.
"Well, we're here to help."
Cliegg smiled tentatively at first, but as he got a look at Reirin and A'Sharad coming down the ramp, it melted away completely.
"You brought two of those monsters with you?" he asked in anger and amazement.
Anakin frowned, recognizing that his step-father had reason to be wary but also recognizing that much would have to be done to help create any semblance of peace between the moisture farmers and the Tuskens, but he could start right here. Thankfully, he'd had years watching Obi-Wan lead peace talks. His master was one of the best negotiators in the Jedi Order.
"May I introduce Jedi Knight A'Sharad Hett," Anakin pointedly said, and Cliegg flinched, while Owen and Beru winced, and Shmi shot him a disapproving look. "With him is a young Tusken woman, named Reirin, that we encountered in Mos Espa. Both have agreed to help with peace talks with the Tusken people."
"We are thankful that the Jedi Order agreed to help us," Shmi said honestly. "I figured with who rules our world that . . . well . . ."
"Ha, don't lie to your mother, now, Skywalker."
Anakin shot a glare back at Vrang Wren, who just smirked.
"Annie . . ." Shmi said warningly, catching on quickly.
"Well, let's just say this mission isn't exactly sanctioned . . ."
Owen snorted, while Beru covered a light laugh, her eyes wide in amazement at how bold he was.
"Oh, Anakin!" Shmi huffed.
"We all signed up willingly," A'Sharad said easily, stepping forward. "We're happy to help."
"What's done is done," Cliegg said curtly, eyes never leaving A'Sharad. "They have come to help, and we'd be fools to turn them down. Thank you." He finished softly after holding the Jedi Knight's gaze for a brief moment, his eyes losing their hard edge and his tone going softer but no less sincere.
Cliegg's gaze was firmly on A'Sharad as he thanked them, and Anakin admired the man's ability to jump into change. Anakin doubted the man was all that comfortable with the two Tuskens in his home, but because of Anakin, and because of what they were trying to attempt, he was trying to accept them.
"Of course," A'Sharad answered, before he made some grunts at Reirin, who grunted back and immediately started to walk out to the desert and away from the homestead. "She's going to go look for tracks and any sign of Sand People in the area, and will also try to identify which tribe is assailing you."
"We'll help as much as we can," Rialis, the other Mandalorian in Anakin's team, said. "I can somewhat communicate with basic hand signals with her."
"Oh! I think we can help with communication," Shmi exclaimed, and then she walked into the Lars home, and they all exchanged looks, with Owen, Cliegg, and Beru all smiling mischievously at Anakin.
It wasn't long before Shmi came back, but she wasn't alone.
"Oh my! Oh, my maker! Master Anakin! I knew you would return! I knew it!"
"Threepio?" Anakin asked in amazement, seeing the droid who was a little more put together compared to how he'd left him so many years ago, metal covering his once exposed circults.
"Oh, my circuits! I'm so pleased to see you!"
"You kept him all these years?" Anakin asked in shock, glancing between his mother and his old protocol droid friend.
She shrugged, with a half smile. "For a long time, I'd hoped you might come back to finish him yourself, but then I decided it was time to put him together for you."
"So that's where Sparky gets it," Latai, the Echani Force Trooper, remarked blithely as she appraised the protocol droid, and then the elder Skywalker. "Like mother, like son."
"Oh, I never had the same level of skill with droids," Shmi disagreed shyly, "but I'm capable."
"Threepio, can you assist Corporal Shovo," Anakin gestured to the Pantoran Antarian Ranger, "Rodrick, Latai, Ellale, and Rialis," he gestured to the three Force Troopers, humanoid, Echani, and human, and the Mandalorian respectively, "with translating for our Tusken companion?"
"Oh, of course I can!" Threepio exclaimed, happy to be used as a translator and protocol droid. "As you know, I'm fluent in over -"
"Yes, yes, I know Threepio," Anakin cut the droid off, albeit fondly. "Thank you for your help."
"Of course, Master Anakin, of course!" the droid cried out happily, before he hobbled off after those that Anakin named, and Anakin took note of some upgrades he'd love to do for the droid.
Shaking his head in a not-so-fond way as he stared after the droid, Cliegg led the rest of them in. As they went, the Lars patriarch started to outline the growing hostilities between the Tuskens and the moisture farmers, the attacks that had occurred, the small skirmishes where Tusken raid parties were chased off, and the instances of property destruction in some cases.
"So, you have no idea what might have increased tensions?" A'Sharad asked, after the story was done. "My people don't like outsiders, thinking you don't belong here, but they've generally gotten used to you being on this planet. While they are certainly known to attack every now and then when they see an opportunity to cause damage or to take something of value, I just don't see why this violence would come about?"
"You understand your people better than we do," Owen responded diplomatically, since his father had tensed up. "Truthfully, we have not changed anything in the past months which would put us at odds with the Sand People."
"You haven't," A'Sharad agreed absently, "but it's certainly possible others did. Could have even been the Hutts or one of the drug running syndicates that operates on this planet. We'll have to investigate to try and find an answer . . . but if things are as tense as you say, approaching a Tusken camp in order to parlay will be more difficult than normal. Outsiders, even those from different tribes of Sand People, could be labeled as enemies on the spot."
"Will you be all right?" Shmi asked nervously, glancing at Anakin.
"We'll be fine, Mom," Anakin assured her, doing his best not to roll his eyes.
"He's right," A'Sharad agreed. "My father's name still carries a lot of weight, and our band should draw enough curiosity to avoid immediate conflict."
Further conversation was cut off as the door opened and excited grunts and shrieks filled the air as Reirin came running in. She grabbed ahold of A'Sharad's sleeve, and started dragging him towards the door, babbling something that none of the others could understand.
A'Sharad started replying, and then Anakin noticed A'Sharad's tone becoming excited, and he gestured for them all to follow them as he let Reirin drag him out of the home. They made their way back out, and then Reirin dragged them to the back end of the Lars Homestead, away from the ship, and Anakin was amazed to see a small, but fairly large for Tatooine, plot of land that had several different types of plants growing and sprouting from the soil in neat rows.
Anakin was surprised himself, never having seen that many plants nor that much variety growing in one small plot of land on Tatooine. It was unheard of. Water was just too scarce, unless Cliegg was buying water from town . . . but that would be a large gamble.
"How have you done this?" A'Sharad asked in awe.
"Your Order deserves most of the credit," Cliegg responded, but with a hint of pride in his voice. "When we visited, they sent us back with some seeds to test, and even gave me a way to deliver soil samples. Some back and forth communications, and we found that the atmosphere and soil was heavy with certain types of minerals and natural compounds. So, Master Slagistrough was able to send us a few different plants, ones that thrive off the minerals in our soil, and burrow deep to draw up the water buried deep beneath the sand."
"It was some sort of project between the Jedi AgriCorp, the Ithorian Restoration Project, and the MOn Cala Agricultural Center," Owen continued with a smile. "These plants produce water vapor and oxygen. As they remove certain minerals, they're also helping to soften the soil and make it better for other types of plants . . . if they could get enough water and nutrients. With enough of these and a long time . . . well, we could really start making a difference on this planet.
"This . . . this is worth far more than any of the items for trade we acquired back in Mos Espa," A'Sharad said slowly. "If you would allow us to take some seeds and what you have done to accomplish this, then we could end the tension. I'm sure of it."
"Well, if you think it would help, then of course we'll let you take some seeds and tell you what we did," Cliegg replied. "This was never meant to be just for us. We just wanted to see if it would work before spreading it out among the other farmers . . . but I'll admit I never really thought of the Sand People."
"You're not the only one," A'Sharad said quietly, "and my people don't help, with how they act, but this is something we've never accomplished, and perhaps, this might be what helps them see you as worthy of being out here among them."
*The Will of the Force*
"Dagger One, veer left, I'll get those two on your tail," Siri ordered, taking her starfighter into a dive to get into position.
"Copy, Star Two!" Antoc Merrick replied, pushing his ship hard to avoid the heavy fire coming from the two Sabaoth Defenders.
Siri lined up, and released a volley of blaster fire, striking right where Antoc's Z-95 had been, and hitting the first to the Defenders, her shots hitting the ship from its fore to its aft, causing the whole fighter to go up in a ball of flame. The second Defender bailed out, but she pursued, not wanting to let the dangerous craft move to engage one of her other wingmates.
"Orsai, keep that missile frigate occupied!" Nym ordered angrily, and Siri glanced at her scanners to see Nym, flanked by Reti and Jinkins, was making a run for the three Trade Federation freighters that were being shielded by a fleet made up of Trade Federation and Sabaoth ships.
Orsai and his Mere Cruisers were laying down suppressive fire on a Trade Federation missile frigate, creating a breach for which to strike at the Federation freighters which were carrying supplies to be delivered to the main source of trihexalon left in the system. The Force Troopers' own fleet was split in two areas, engaging the rest of the enemy fleet. Captain Elbrick Antilles's Arquitens heavy cruiser, flanked by both Crusader corvettes was trading blows with a Sabaoth Destroyer and two Sabaoth frigates. The other two Arquitens light cruisers were providing a screen, separating and isolating two Federation Landers and a Federation Captor-class carrier. Nova Squadron, mostly Fang fighters, with a few Delta-7 Aethersprites, was swarming the carrier and landers, ensuring that any fighters or bombers launched were pretty much immediately destroyed. Dagger Squadron, with Adi and Siri, were taking care of the fighters that had managed to deploy, and were sweeping them out in short order.
They had been battling the Trade Federation and Sabaoth Squadron for several weeks now, and the Karthaak System was getting close to being liberated. However they still had a few major issues. One was the production of trihexalon. It had taken them weeks to find the last major production facility, since Nym had destroyed a facility at Mount Merakan. It was at Nym's old base on Lok. However, one could not just fly into Lok.
There was a veritable wall of orbital defenses, from orbital defense platforms to planetary guns. Siri already had a request for more aid, which was being granted, but still took time. While awaiting aid, they'd been trying to effectively blockade Lok, stopping shipments of trihexalon from escaping, while conducting raids on the few remaining Federation military outposts in the Karthaak system, which were the sites helping to resupply the base on Lok.
"Dagger One, target those landers," Adi ordered, her voice completely calm. "Captain Antilles, have your light cruisers focus all firepower on that carrier. Shooting Star 2, we're making a run on that missile frigate."
"Understood, Shooting Star 1," Siri responded, firing off a volley of shots, and destroying her opponent before she diverted her flight path, and came up beside her former master's ship.
"We can't hold out much longer!" a panicked voice filler the comms, and Siri mourned as not moments later one of the Crusader corvettes started imploding from various sections of the ship.
"Furious!" Nym crowed in victory, as he, Reti, and Jinkins unleashed a volley of turbolaser bolts and proton bombs which destroyed one of the Federation freighters. "One down, two to go."
"Nym! They're powering up their hyperdrives. They'll be making the jump if we don't hurry!" Jinkins advised.
"All forces, target the engines," Elbrick ordered.
Both Federation landers started to fall, and one of the Sabaoth frigates started to implode from the concentrated fire, but Siri cursed along with Nym when the remaining ships made the jump, and fled the battlespace.
"All forces, head for the surface," Nym said bitterly. "We may not have stopped that resupply, but that port is good as gone. This will be the last time that the Federation base on Lok gets resupplied. Am I understood?"
"Read you loud and clear, Nym," Orsai and Nym's Revenants answered.
"Agreed, Nym," Adi added.
Siri got into position with Adi, Dagger squadron, Nova squadron, Nym, Reti, Jinkins, and the rest of the Lok Revenant starfighter squadron and they zoomed through the atmosphere, pushing down towards a small spaceport that was little more than a few anti-starfighter cannons, a large landing field, a flight tower, and several warehouses.
"Target those cannons and that control tower," Siri ordered. "Nym, do what you do best. Take out that airfield."
"Consider it done, Siri," Nym said.
Siri and Adi used the speed of their interceptors to speed past the rest of the squadrons, drawing the fire of the six anti-starfighter cannons positioned around the small base.
"The northern gun is mine," Siri said.
"I'll take the northwestern one," Adi responded.
The two Jedi aces never slowed in their descent, masterfully controlling their starfighters, and at the last minute, they both leveled out, lined up their shots, and decimated the enemy turbolaser towers. They then broke their line, and deliberately diverting to keep the focus of the four remaining towers.
They didn't have to draw fire for long before Nova and Squadron came raining down shots and even a few proton torpedoes, destroying the remaining towers, including the command tower.
"Alright Orsai," Nym said. "Get down to those warehouses. It's time to see what the Trade Federation left for us."
*The Will of the Force*
"Why am I coming with you again?" Asuna asked dryly.
"Because you enjoy my company," Fay responded with a teasing smile.
Asuna huffed. "Sure, but the library, Fay? Do I really like you that much?"
"Yes," Fay said brightly with a light laugh.
"Wayii…My buir, my father, would be in stitches right now," Asuna muttered. "He always had to fight to get me to do my studies."
"As smart as you are and diligent in your pursuits, I suspect you're exaggerating," Fay retorted.
"Debatable," Asuna argued back. "I was dedicated to being the best verd, the best warrior, and that meant parts of my studies were important to me. My buir needed me to learn politics, and it was important, but I didn't enjoy it. If it was a choice between hitting the books or sparring with one of my vod'e, my brothers, I think you can guess what I did. The first opportunity I had to run off with one of my vod'e and my cousin on an adventure, I took it."
Fay laughed lightly, and Asuna grinned.
"Buir didn't help himself though. He always loved that I was able to put my vod'e on their asses."
"Knowing your father, that doesn't surprise me," Fay said, as they entered the Jedi Temple Library.
Fay smiled, looking around seeing various people, Jedi, Mandalorians, Rangers, and Force Troopers alike, utilizing the library.
"So, what are we doing here?" Asuna said quietly. Even she respected Madam Jocasta Nu's domain. "You just dragged me along when you came across me happily enjoying my day off."
"Oh, hush," Fay mock scolded. "Madam Jocasta has something for me, though I don't know what."
Asuna huffed impatiently.
"Surely this is a nice break from the high operational tempo we've been on recently?" Fay asked, glancing at her friend.
"Yes, and no," Asuna replied. "Rest and recuperation is always nice, and is a necessity, especially with this line of work, but I do enjoy the action, and even the planning before the action. The preparation of the battlefield can be just as important as the battle itself, if not more so."
Fay nodded in understanding, smiling slightly.
"You're not exactly different, Lady Fay," Asuna said teasingly. "You may take the time to meditate and rest when you're off, but the Jedi life, despite a Jedi 'not craving adventure' is often adventure and work in the service of others. Clearly you all enjoy the action too."
Fay chuckled. "Some of my fellow Jedi might disagree, but I can't argue with your assessment."
A Knight approached, and Fay smiled at the Kel Dor Jedi, Sha Koon.
"Greetings, Knight Koon," Fay said with a slight friendly bow of her head. "Are you keeping your uncle in check?"
"Greetings Master Fay," Sha responded warmly. "I try, but you know how he is."
Fay laughed, knowing that the level-headed Plo Koon was anything but someone who needed to be kept in check.
"Master Nu and my uncle are waiting for you," Sha said, and Fay nodded in understanding, and she and Asuna started following Sha back to one of the more private chambers in the library, where more sensitive material could be viewed safely. Sha bade them goodbye, and then made her way back towards the main library, where she was likely covering for Jocasta.
Plo and Jocasta were waiting for them, around a table where four old journals of some sort had been laid out.
"What's this?" Fay asked, with interest.
"A giant leap forward in our search for the Sith," Jocasta answered, and Fay and Asuna exchanged surprised glances.
"These were recovered by Domru the Hutt," Plo continued. "These are the journals of a member of the Line of Bane who had a change of heart and attempted to sabotage the 'Grand Plan' as the Banite's call their plan for revenge and conquest."
"One of the Sith had a change of heart?" Asuna asked in shock.
"Something of the sort," Jocasta agreed. "That was the summary that Domru provided, but we have yet to delve into these journals ourselves. What we know is that these were apparently his last ditch effort to expose the Sith, should his plans to destroy their cause fail."
"So, he outlined the history of the Sith up to that point," Asuna breathed out in understanding.
"Indeed," Plo answered. "These journals are from Sith Lord Gravid, as he was called. He was born under the name Clide Barcsdale, and ruled as the Dark Lord roughly 550 years ago."
"Each one of these journals outlines the lives and actions of his predecessors all the way up to this last journal, which includes his own actions, and who he chose as his apprentice," Jocasta said concisely. "This journal includes a comprehensive history of Darth Bane, Darth Zannah, Darth Cognus, and her true successor, Darth Heritor."
"The furthest we had made," Fay muttered.
Through many historical contacts, painstaking research, Domru the Hutt's vast networks, and even some private collections, they'd traced enough history to only find two other Sith, Darth Cognus and some her actions, and her apprentice after Millenial, Darth Heritor, whom they only had found a little on. It was a testament to how well the Sith had hidden themselves and a source of great frustration for the Jedi and their allies.
"The next of the four journals outline the next four Sith Lords in the line of bane, Darth Inquiris, Darth Mesmer, Darth Nolun, and Darth Axes. The third journal tells Darth Taral, Darth Rapax, Darth Praetor, and Darth Segraetor's history and actions, before the fourth journal ends with Darth Opes, Darth Vectivus, Darth Gravid himself, and he names his apprentice, Darth Gean."
"So, we need to read all these journals to help surmise what plots the Sith were involved in and might still be involved in, and map out the worlds they established themselves on, and their known aliases to help try and pick up with Darth Gean and what the Sith might have done," Asuna finished, frowning.
"Exactly," Plo said.
"This takes us halfway through the Line of Bane though," Fay said, bracingly, to her Mandalorian friend.
"Yes, it does," Asuna agreed, but then she grumbled lightly, "but I suspect that this Darth Gean and her successors worked overtime to undo the damage done by Darth Gravid. Finding the rats in the rest of their lineage is going to take more than an act of pure luck."
*The Will of the Force*
Kastor stared at where Bant was sweating profusely, in pain, strapped down to a medical bed, and a doctor was doing everything he could to try and monitor and treat her to the best of his abilities.
"Best guess?" Kastor asked, looking over at the healer that had been working almost non-stop to try and help the people of Taris and cure or eradicate this disease.
"The Force Trance she is in will help buy some time," Rig Nema replied softly, eyes closed, one hand on Bant's arm, using the Force to scan her. "The longest reported length was two days, but I don't know how that might affect a Jedi. We also don't know if any other factors could accelerate the process. She's running out of time, that I do know. We have seen promising results in our trials to prevent the transformation, but it's not ready yet."
So, their best guess was that Bant had another day and a half, at most. Was it possible a cure would be done in time? Perhaps, but he didn't like taking that chance.
"Then we need to take the only other option we might have," Allara said firmly. "If we can get the talisman and force the spirit back into it, the talisman wearer might be able to remove the disease."
"Agreed," Rhys said swiftly.
"I've got a score to settle with that karking dar'jetti," Koba added, angrily, with Coria nodding in agreement.
All three of them, along with Kastor, were still mourning the loss of Deng. Revenge wasn't the healthiest of mindsets, but Kastor knew the three were experienced enough to not let it take control of them. He could trust them to act as needed.
"There's no reports of that being true," Kastor said slowly.
"But it's our best chance," Allara returned, and Kastor nodded in agreement.
"Alone, accomplish this, we cannot," Yoda said, with a sad shake of his head.
"Then we get help from the ORSF," Kastor said grimly.
Koba grunted in annoyance, "Lock-stepping hut'uunla di'kute."
"They're not going to want to help us," Allara cautioned.
"No," Kastor agreed. "We need to offer them something in return."
"Need our help, they will," Yoda said slowly. "Believe this, Captain Argus may. Speak with him, we must."
"I'll keep you apprised of the situation," Rig said, "and I'll be prepared should the worst occur."
Kastor glanced at his friend who was trying to fight the disease with all her strength, and hoped he wouldn't be saying goodbye to another friend. Bant was a steady presence in her friend group and in the Order, and her loss would hurt many.
Kastor murmured a prayer to the Force and then he followed Yoda and his daughter out of the medical bay. As they made their way to the government building where the ORSF and Taris security forces were set up, all three pondered on how this meeting would go.
When they got to the command center, they found a debate among the leaders of the ORSF, with the Taris security forces seemingly staying out of it, which Kastor frankly thought was foolish, given it was their homeworld.
"We lost enough men down there," Lieutenant Commander Edmon Rampart stated with confidence. "It's time to scourge that sector of the planet. An orbital bombardment will clear out those abominations, and then we can sweep in after to ensure that everyone died."
"If the Jedi are to be believed, the Sith will likely escape with that amulet and then we'll just have a repeat of this on other worlds," Captain Gideon Argus responded with a shake of his head.
"I agree with Captain Argus," Captain Visler Korda said. "We must do a forward assault, destroy the Sith, and seize that amulet. If it is the cause of this whole debacle, we must study it."
"Bah, forget the Jedi," Major Merillono Tarko responded with distaste. "What matters is that we end this situation here and now. Who cares if the Sith take the vile thing back to the backwards worlds that they control? If we bomb that sector into oblivion, the Sith will likely perish and the ORSF will have resolved the situation."
"There is no guarantee of that, Major Tarko," Allara interjected, and the ORSF leadership turned to the Jedi with various expressions ranging from disinterest to annoyance. "I happen to agree with Captain Argus and partially with Captain Korda. A full ground assault to push through the rakghouls and remove the source."
"And why should we care about your advice at all?" Korda responded with derision. "You failed, and didn't provide all the information to us."
"Provided you with what we knew, we did," Yoda disagreed. "No knowledge of the host, did we have."
"But now you do?" Rampart asked skeptically.
"Still technically only a theory," Kastor admitted.
"Then lay the cards on the table, Jedi," Tarko said forcefully.
"We don't fully know who the host is, but I suspect she may be the last known person to have possessed the Murr Talisman," Allara answered. "If my theory is correct, she is Celeste Morne, a Jedi Shadow that was last seen almost 3700 years ago."
"How could she still be alive?" Argus asked with a frown.
"The amulet," Korda said in vindication. "It must be more important than you let on."
"I don't think it was the Talisman," Kastor disagreed. "I suspect it was the box, the Jebble Box, that she reportedly was trapped inside. We'd have to see it to confirm, but I believe it might have been an oubliette, a Sith stasis casket. That would be how she survived."
"Think, theory, maybe," Tarko said mockingly. "This is all fascinating, but we've a planet to cleanse. If you have nothing important –"
"Need your help, we do," Yoda said, cutting him off. "Stop the Sith alone, we cannot. Stop the Sith and the plague alone, you cannot. Together, strength we have."
"I think that's debatable, Master Jedi," Rampart responded. "While I will not discount the stories of Jedi prowess, the fact is that an orbital bombardment and our forces can certainly overpower the enemy."
"And yet, the Sith might still escape, and sow further destruction across the galaxy," Allara returned. "We need proof of the Sith's involvement in this. It cannot just be the Jedi and our Coalition along with factions like your own that stand against them. The Republic must choose to counter the Sith aggression."
"What do you gain from us helping you, Jedi?" Korda asked, looking at them critically. "I'm well aware of Jedi and their beliefs in doing the right thing, but what you ask will cost more lives than it might save, since the Sith and their possible escape is a separate factor from the orbital bombardment."
"Several things," Allara admitted. "The talisman has the power to end this curse and save those who are infected."
"Including your colleague," Argus said, and Allara nodded in agreement.
"We will have a chance to contain the talisman, and possibly save the victim."
"Also a Jedi, or so you believe," Korda observed cooly.
"Indeed, though we don't know if she can be saved or not," Allara contended. "However, that talisman must be contained, and the Sith Lord must be captured. He is a great danger to the Republic and the galaxy as a whole."
"So, what do you offer us in return for our aid?" Tarko inquired, eyes narrow.
"We will be happy to let the ORSF take all credit for saving Taris, and will even give credit in our reports to the Senate," Allara said. "Our Coalition will merely have been doing our best to assist you and deal with the Sith, while the ORSF had the situation well in hand."
Tarko sat back in interest. That could lead to concessions and contracts for military support for the ORSF in the future. More direct funding and support from the Republic would be of great value, both for the ORSF and his career. Commander Tarkin would like this a great deal, and it would give him greater political pull with Chancellor Palpatine.
"We also want the amulet," Korda said, eyes narrowed. "We'll help you defeat the Sith, save your Jedi, but we take the amulet for the ORSF."
"Force-imbued objects fall under the purview of the Jedi Order, by direct order of the Senate," Allara returned. "You have no claim to it."
"You want our aid, that is the price, along with what you promised," Tarko said, after a moment. "While I don't see the value in some trinket, if it can be of use to us, then our scientists deserve the chance to study it. If we can't, it will be returned to the Order."
Yoda, Kastor, and Allara exchanged glances.
'Fear what would happen, should the amulet fall into the wrong hands, I do,' Yoda spoke into both Kastor and Allara's minds.
'I agree,' Allara responded. 'For that reason though, we must keep it away from Nox.'
'I don't like it,' Kastor said.
'Need the help we do,' Yoda said.
'What if we destroy the amulet?' Allara asked.
'Can we do that?' Kastor asked. 'It has survived much destruction.'
'We can try,' Allara said firmly.
'And, if wrong, you are?' Yoda asked.
'Then we figure out what to do when we get there,' Kastor stated grimly.
"Your demands are accepted," Allara stated aloud, looking back at the ORSF leadership. "How quickly can we leave?"
Kastor had to give some credit to the ORSF. They were efficient and eager for combat. It had only taken a few hours to maneuver forces around the perimeter so they could reallocate what was needed to establish the assault force required.
ORSF starfighters had started doing reconnaissance flights to help pinpoint where the Sith were the most likely to be, and to help plan their assault, helping their planning process immensely.
"Move!" Koba ordered, as a light orbital bombardment hit the back of the rakghoul forward area, and they all rushed with the ORSF troops to secure positions of cover, with their tanks providing cover fire.
Once set, the Jedi remained ready to cut down any rakghouls who made it close, while Koba, Rhys, and Coria assisted the ORSF troopers with more targeted shots at rakghouls that were hiding where the tanks were struggling to see.
Their offensive was swift, but controlled, with the tanks clearing most of the way of the enemies, and the infantry and Jedi seizing the key positions before creating their own defensive line and providing time for the tanks to move up and secure the new positions.
The rakghouls had been real threats against the infantry alone, but in the face of the tank support, they fell short. Even those that managed to flank could do little damage to the machines of war, and simply were gunned down by anti-personnel weapons or ran over.
It was close to where they had been last time when the Sith revealed themselves and thousands of rakghouls poured forth from nearly all directions, attempting to envelop the ORSF forces.
"Do your jobs, Jedi!" Argus ordered, and the Jedi barely nodded as they rushed forward, with the ORSF troops and Koba, Coria, and Rhys covering them.
Kastor, Allara, and Yoda cut a swathe through the rakghouls that tried to stop them, and then Kastor made his way straight for who he was sure was Celeste Morne, while Yoda intercepted the four remaining acolytes, clearing the path for Allara to engage Nox.
Kastor raised both blades, deflecting the lightning that the spirit of Karness Murr sent at him, while he charged forward with effort, and then finally jumped, forcing the Jedi to stop her assault and raise her blade to defend herself.
Kastor started a relentless assault, doing his best to keep the pressure on her, not giving her time to use the Force against him. The Jedi, Morne or not, was a skilled duelist, but perhaps because of the Spirit being in the pilot's seat, her reactions weren't quite as polished as he felt the woman was normally, and slowly, but surely he started pushing her back.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Allara and Nox exchanging fierce blows with the Force, the air around them crackling as Nox used lightning and dark energy that Allara deflected, reflected, or absorbed, while returning her own electric judgement and Force whirlwinds and waves. The ground was starting to shake around them from the pressure that the two powerful Force users were exerting, and all Kastor could feel was immense pride in who his daughter was.
Yoda was a maelstrom of destruction that the four acolytes were unprepared for. Kastor knew well that Yoda was an incredibly difficult opponent to fight. It didn't help that he was a blademaster, of course, and could change forms on a dime, but his size and connection to the Force just made dealing with him incredibly difficult. When he got moving, he was so fast, his size helping him to maneuver in tight controlled jumps, taking advantage of getting in close, where most opponents couldn't properly defend from. Two of the acolytes had already dropped to Yoda's attacks, and the other two were desperately trying to hold on.
'Just a bit longer,' Kastor thought to himself, as he struck swifter and stronger, doing his best to batter his opponent down.
Kastor saw an opening when his opponent hesitated for a fraction of a second, and he struck, knocking her blade out of her hand. She leapt back, and then immediately opened up with a powerful bolt of Force Lightning, which he blocked with his lightsabers. Slowly, he put one lightsaber away, and then started using the Force to absorb the lightning, allowing him to put the other saber away, and move slowly towards her, extending with the Force out towards where he could sense the Spirit of Karness Murr and his victim touching.
Murr felt his probe and lashed out with a psychic attack that caused Kastor to halt immediately, and he almost lost his concentration which would have allowed the lightning to pierce the barrier he effectively had raised in front of him.
Then, he felt Yoda leap next to him, bolstering his strength, and the two of them melded and assaulted the bond between Murr and the host. The ancient Sith Lord almost seemed to hiss at them through the Force, but soon his entire focus was in trying to fight off the two Jedi grandmasters, and in putting up that wall of defense, his grasp on the host fell.
Kastor almost wanted to cheer as he felt the Jedi, whoever she was, raise her mental defenses, cut the line between her and Murr, and then slam a wall in place. The spirit of Karness Murr screamed into the Force, but Kastor felt only relief, as he turned his focus back onto the battlefield, noting that the rakghouls were less of a directed force, and now really an unruly mob, with some of the creatures turning on their own if they bumped into them.
The woman stumbled, finally being in control of her own limbs, and that's when the Force exploded in the air, and a scream of rage from Nox gained all of their attention. Nox's aura grew dangerous and cold, and Allara raised a barrier to try and contain the darkness that was trying to drain everything around him. Kastor could even see rakghouls starting to wither away, their life essence flowing into the Sith Lord.
Kastor and Yoda reached out with the Force themselves, augmenting Allara's efforts, and to their surprise, the woman they'd just separated from Karness Murr too weakly reached out and added her strength.
Rakghouls converged towards them, and Nox snarled in rage before he turned and fled.
"FALL BACK!" Kastor ordered, and he grabbed the woman who had recovered her lightsaber and threw her over his shoulder before he started running back towards the line, Yoda and Allara right with him.
"MOVE, JETTI, MOVE!" Koba yelled at them. "Argus, give the order! Rain hellfire on these sithspawn!"
The three Jedi made it to the line, with the tanks and soldiers unleashing destruction on the uncoordinated rakghouls, who weren't smart enough to flee without direction. The ORSF troops immediately moved to the tanks, running past them as the tanks started to move to the rear. Then, turbolaser bolts started to rain down from the atmosphere, decimating large swathes of land in front of them.
"Did you get it, Jedi?" Argus called over to them.
"Yes, we did, Captain," Kastor responded. "We got the source."
Argus nodded at them, and immediately started ordering his troops forward as the bombardment ended, his intent to wipe the rakghouls out completely.