Chapter 29
To Hunt Inquisitors
RUUSAN
Ruusan was a planet in the Mid Rim most famous for the Ruusan campaign, the last stand of the Brotherhood of Darkness under Lord Kaan and the birthplace of Darth Bane's Order of the Sith Lords. The planet lent its name to the Ruusan Reformations enacted after the battle. Centuries later it had been all but lost to the Galaxy, and it's residents a small population of humans had become pastoral farmers in the sparse lands that could grow food, as Ruusan was a world of deserts, long rivers in sunken canyons rife with caves still not fully recovered from the great war fought there.
On one such farm, a young man tall and strong drove a plow through the dirt, he wore simple brown trousers and boots, his chest bare shein with sweat as he plowed the field. He finished his work as the sun began to set on Ruusan and walked over to a nearby water barrel to quench his thirst, a chain with a cup was attached to it, the farmer reached down into the water pulling out a cup when he saw a shadow over him.
There were no clouds in the sky.
But when he looked up he saw it, a Star Destroyer descending out of the sky from Hyperspace, having blotted out the sun.
Up above in the Chimera, Grand Admiral Thrawn stood behind Jerec, Yun, Sariss, Maw and they all smiled. Jerec if he had eyes would close their hands up "Can you feel it my apprentices, the force is strong here…"
"Yes… I feel it." Yun said.
Sariss shut her eyes rubbing her neck basking in the dark side, and Thrawn stood there pleased, "We will be at the exact coordinates at the Valley soon, I will give you command of a battalion of my troops for you to secure the sight for the Empire."
Jerec lowered his arms, "Yes, the Empire, its future is about to change forever, and it will forever be grateful to those who help build that future." Jerec turned around and approached Thrawn, "Most grateful." He held out his hand as if Thrawn were to kiss it but Thrawn held his hand out and shook it instead "Indeed, a bright future for the Empire indeed."
The blind man smiled licking the sides of his lips, "Indeed, come the Valley is within our grasp."
HYPERSPACE
Ghost
The Ghost had fled Mustafar in a hurry after getting Ahkilleon back, Hera laid back in the pilot seat after they had made the jump stressed but alive, "Can we never come back here, please."
"Seconded." Ezra said in the front gunner seat.
"Third-ed." Zeb said from the gunner seat at the top, Turok had taken the bottom seat and the chopper was in the Phantom II. Kanan got up from the back seat of the cockpit "I'm going to go check on him."
Kanan walked to the back of the ship in the cargo hold where he saw the Militia and New Jedi gathered around the lounge, parting for him, Ahkilleon was sitting down in front of Lord Asimov who was looking him over "You were sloppy getting captured." Lord Asimov said.
Ahkilleon got to his feet, Kanan was about to intervene but Turok grabbed his arm "I know"
"You are alive, that is all that matters." Lord Asimov said, patting him on the shoulder, Asimov looked over to Kanan "Thank you for your assistance Master Jarrus, we will depart once we arrive back at the Endeavors position." Asimov said.
"We can't." Ahkilleon said.
Everyone looked to him, Ahkilleon still had his helmet on "Why not?" Tai asked.
"Jerec has the location of the Valley of the Jedi." Ahkilleon told them "How?" Asimov asked.
Ahkilleon looked to him "I could feel it when they were leaving the base, I was leaving just as I was escaping."
"They found the Kalikori had the coordinates?" Kanan asked, as Hera and the others came in "The what?" Hera asked.
Kanan went rigid, "Uh… turns out your mother's Kalikori was a secret holder for the Valley of the Jedi's location."
"And you're telling us this now!" Both Tai and Hera shouted at Kanan in the same instant.
"We didn't tell you because the less people who knew the better." Ahkilleon said to the rebels and Jedi, "But now he does, and we have to stop them."
Ezra scoffed, folding his arms, and Zeb asked "How, if they know where it is, how do we get to it?"
Everyone looked to Ahkilleon, "I… don't know."
Scoffing Ezra held his hands up "Well that's great, the Empire is about to have control over a mystical place in time and space, I'm sure that will go over great."
It was then Turok lit his pipe "It very well could be?"
"What do you mean?" Lord Asimov said.
Turok huffed on his pipe "Jerec is a Sith, and what do Sith always do to one another?"
"Lie, betray, destroy?" Yumi asked him confused hands behind her back, "Got a smart padawan Uzuma, this is an opportunity."
Kanan gapped at him "You can't be serious."
Turok nodded "I am, if we just wait, Jerec will find this Valley of the Jedi, I don't know much about the force, but if it's as powerful as we think it-" "It's the souls and force essence of thousands maybe hundreds of thousands of Jedi and Sith trapped in a force nexus, if a Sith gets control of it he could be… unstoppable?" Kanan barked at him.
Turok pointed the tail end of his pipe at him "Unstoppable enough to take on the Emperor?"
Everyone got very silent at that, an it began to sync into everyone exactly what Turok was saying, "Jerec will make a play for the Throne?" Ahkilleon said behind his helmet.
"There can only be one Dark Lord of the Sith, Jerec could never defeat the Emperor on his own, but if he turns Thrawn and the seventh fleet with his new found power, the other Moffs will have to pick sides. Civil War, a divided Empire." Turok explained.
Lord Asimov began to see it too "All forces in the Empire would have to withdraw to the core and mid rim, to control key sectors."
"Giving the Militia time to rebuild." Jay said seeing the strategy of the long term gains of doing nothing.
"We can't." Kanan objected, "If we do this, we doom the entire galaxy to a war that could go on for years, we need to stop Jerec now." Kanan argued.
"How, we do not have the coordinates to Ruusan?" Turok said seeing his way as the only path forward, "And if Jerec wins, what then?" Kanan asked.
Turok shrugged "The Empire will be weak, resources exhausted from fighting one another, that gives us time to retake lost territory train even more Militia, build a Droid Army twice the size of the Separatists, we'd win."
"We'd all loose, how we fight is as important as why. All this scheming, this plotting it's what destroyed the Jedi and the Republic, Asimov you have to see that if we take this road the New Jedi's foundation will be one based on blood not peace." Kanan looked at Asimov who turned to Ahkilleon, "Padawan, what do you think?"
Ahkilleon had been oddly quiet during the argument, but he said nothing.
"It's settled, we will return to our fleet, alert the Militia of the coming power struggle." Lord Asimov said looking to Hera, "If you would please be so kind as to return us to our ship, Captain Syndulla?" he asked Hera.
For a brief moment Hera realized they could keep them in the Ghost, but at the same time both Lord Asimov, Turok and Ahkilleon could fight the crew, it would be a bloodbath to see who would come out on top "Fine."
Lord Asimov nodded in thanks and turned back to Ahkilleon, Ezra who had been eerily silent and brooding stepped forward "I think you forgot to say thank you, not just for this but risking out lives, again to save you."
"Ezra no." Hera told him clutching his arm.
He snapped his arm away "No, I've had enough of your arrogant attitude, we dropped everything to come and save this jerk, and he hasn't even bothered to say thank you?"
"Ezra." Sabine said, trying to stop him, "No, let him finish." Ahkilleon said behind his helmet.
"Oh I haven't even started, don't think I haven't noticed you haven't taken your helmet off." Ezra pointed out, Ahkilleons expression hidden behind the face plate.
Jay scratched his head, "I mean lot of soldiers forget to take their helmets off after a fight, whats the big deal?"
"Can't you feel it, the chill in the air, the hole that's sucking at the back of your minds." Ezra asked Kanan, Tai, Corto and Yumi.
"You want me to take my helmet off?" Ahkilleon asked him taking another step "Humor me, Ahkilleon." He gurgled the name like he was tasting acid.
Ahkilleon reached for his helmet and lifted it off, his white and blue hair was slicked on his scalp and he brushed his bangs out of the way to reveal his once emerald green eyes, were a deep yellow with red around the iris, "Whoa…" Yumi whispered reaching for her lightsaber but Tai put a reassuring hand on her padawans shoulder. Jay came around "What's the big- oh damn." Jay said as they saw Ahkilleons yellow eyes, a clear sign he had gone into the dark side so deep only fallen Jedi had gone.
"Kanan?" Zeb asked unsure what to do.
"You see, I knew something was up you traitorous bastard." Ezra snapped at Ahkilleon, helmet tucked under his arm fist clenched tight, "Ezra that's enough." Kanan told him.
"No, no it's not, all of you think this is okay, but it's not because I know what that kind of power does to people, I've done it and it's wrong, it's perverted, how many did you kill to get out of that prison huh?" Ezra asked Ezra, "Tell me?" he barked.
Ahkilleon gritted his teeth and growled "All of them, every-last-one." Ahkilleon took another step now in arms length of Ahkilleon, "Not just the guards, no, the technicians, the staff, every Imperial who propped that godforsaken place up to torture, break and kill Jedi and I'd do it all again."
Ezra scoffed looking back at the others and the Militia, "Real hero you have on your hands, Ahsoka would be so proud-" "RAAAH!"
Ahkilleon leapt at Ezra throwing a fist punching him in the face, Ezra reached for his lightsaber and so did Ahkilleon before both Rebels and Militia held the two of them back, from tearing them and the whole ship apart.
"Stand down, both of you." Hera thundered between them, "We'll take the Militia back to their ship, and prepare for the worst…" She sighed seeing they were more divided than ever. Ezra and Zeb pulled Ezra out of the room and back to Kanans room.
Kanan grabbed him by his collar, "Get in there." He snapped pushing Ezra in and shutting the door locking it, "What had gotten into you, I thought we were past this?"
"Past what Kanan, you all are treating it like Ahkilleon didn't abandon us, didn't betray us for the Militia." Ezra argued.
Kanan sighed and walked over to the bed sitting down to calm down, "Sit."
"I'll stand." Ezra said crossing his arms in defiant angst, "I know you and Ahkilleon were close, probably closer than all of us, you trained together, slept together, ate together I had the same thing with Tai for a time, my padawan clan and I were inseparable-" "I don't need another story Kanan, the fact is he betrayed us."
Ezra looked up "No, he left us, and all that time he never once gave up Atollon to the Militia until they sought an alliance, that has to count for something?"
"Yeah, he only called us when he needed something." Ezra told him.
"He lost his mother, his nanny droid and his arm all in the same day how would you have reacted, huh-" "I wouldn't have run away!" Ezra shouted reaching to his shirt clutching the Nexu fang under his jacket.
Kanan didn't respond, "I know this isn't about us Ezra, it's about you and him, maybe if you actually tried talking to him and not picking a fight every time something pisses you off, it could get better?"
"Talk, what's there to talk about he's all Militia Victorious or whatever, he doesn't want to defeat the Empire he wants to make them suffer just as much as he has." Ezra snapped.
"Sounds like someone I knew, someone who learned to let go of his anger and his hatred instead of letting it fester." Kanan said getting up and walking to the door "We'll talk again when he comes back." Kanan said leaving Ezra alone in the room.
Hera stood outside the door with Zeb, Sabine and Chopper "You were listening?" Kanan asked her, "I mean… we are pretty full." Hera said, looking over to the lounge where the Militia were having their own little meeting. "Ezra has to figure thiis thing between him and Ahkilleon out."
"Don't you think we have some other serious matters, like how a Grand Inquisitor has access to a mythical force whatever?"
Over in the Lounge Ahkilleon was sitting on the lounge sofa while everyone else was around him, "Can you do anything for him Corot?" Jay asked as Corto knelt looking at his eyes, "I'm a healer not a miracle worker, Jay, he's only got a few scratches but this… Ahkilleon what did you do to yourself?"
Ahkilleon didn't answer, "I'll be alright."
"LIke pooda you will, Padawan." Tai said looking over to Asimov, "We need to take him back to Arcadia now, this is serious Asimov he's gone to far into the dark side he needs to get as far away from conflict as possible to balance back out." Tai told Asimov who stood over his apprentice.
Asimov was silent, "My lord?" Corto asked.
"This rift between you and Bridger, it must be mended." Lord Asimov told him, "What, after all that jerk said?" Jay asked.
Lord Asimov glanced at the Cadet, "Sorry sir, shutting up."
"We are New Jedi, we do not shy away from attachments they make us stronger but this animosity is a cancer Padawan, apologize." Lord Asimov said to Ahkilleon, who shot him a glare with his yellow eyes "Apologize, to him, for what?" getting to his feet.
Lord Asimov held his hand up "Like it your not, you left the Rebellion for the Militia, when and how I will not go into, you made your choice but all choices have repercussions the same as a battle strategy, but the way it gets to you, it has only helped cause this imbalance."
"I thought you wanted me to use the dark side?" Ahkilelon held his hand up and summoned bolts of force lighting in his hand, it crackled and zapped in a cold blue light.
Lord Asimov held up his own hand "Use the dark side, not be used." Asimov summoned his own force lightning. A small surge of electrical current appeared in his hand but it was softer a smooth rhythm, channeled, controlled, balanced. "This is not balance, this addiction, you must let go of this grudge you have." Lord Asimov turned off the surge in his hand and instead used the force to bring out the nexu fang around Ahkilleons neck, "Renew your oath."
"No." Ahkilleon said walking off.
Within the hour they were out of hyperspace docking with the Militia Corvette, the Endeavor, as they docked, everyone got off one at a time first Tai and Yumi, then Jay, Turok and Corto, then Asimov looked at Ahkilleon to go up the ladder "Padawan?" he stopped Ahkilleon before he could climb "We are not going."
"Huh?" Zeb asked from behind, "Turok may be right, but he could be wrong we must stop Jerec, somehow."
"How?" Ahkilleon asked, Lord Asimov looked to Kanan "I have a plan."
"Still doesn't answer how we're supposed to find the Valley, if we don't have the coordinates." Ezra said.
Ahkilleon turned to him, "Master?"
"There are those who could?" Lord Asimov said "Captain Syndulla, will you and your crew accompany aboard the Endeavor we must contact Admiral Zygote."
THE ENDEAVOR
Deep Space
Back aboard the The Endeavor the rebels were gathered aboard the Endeavor's bridge, it was similar to the Corvette Bridge's the rebels used except of the pill shaped bridge it had a long narrow bridge with a holotable in the center and command consoles all around it with a commanders chair, Lord Asimov being the ranking Jedi and Warlord sat in it. A hologram of Admiral Zygote, the cyborg Quarren and second to Lord Asimov stood in front of them "I can only keep the other Warlords and the Union at bay for so long sir, but I have what you asked for."
"What is this?" Kanan asked.
"A lead." Lord Asimov said as Zygote continued, "We've had reports all over the fronts that this Grand Inquisitor has been handing out lightsabers to stormtroopers who showed force aptitude, Lord Caliban believes this was a way to try and find other Inquisitors, fortunately for us they aren't like our Jedi, a good enough amount of blaster fire usually cuts them down. But two have stood out." Zygote pressed a button.
The hologram changed to show two dark black clad Inquisitors who couldn't be more different, one was big and bulky with a long lightsaber of blood red, in the classic rotatry hilt style. The other short with a small shoto, "They look like a Kowakian monkey-lizard and a Gamorrean, or both?" Sabine asked.
"Good eye Mando." Zygote said, both of them wore a sleeveless short leotard of black leather with imperial shoulder pauldrons, but the big one wore a massive helmet like that of an Imperial technician would wear but without the glass visor. "They took out a whole patrol under the Free Company, one lucky piece of shrapnel cut them, we took a sample analyzed it these things are experiments, clones of both species, the short one is Picaroon C. Boodle and the big one is Gorc." Zygote said.
"Ew." Ezra said "Where does the Empire come up with these things?" Ezra asked.
No one laughed at his joke "Where are they now?" Ahkilleon asked.
"Selucami, like I said the Free Company has been their latest victim, Admiral Mar Tuuk would appreciate getting rid of them." Zygote said to them, "Tell the Admiral, I will see to it personally." Lord Asimov said.
Admiral Zygote saluted his metal claw over his chest, "I'll buy you time, but the Union and the General want answers. As to why you ran off, they can accept you getting your padawan back, but you can't stay away from Vanguard forever sir."
"Roger, Roger, Admiral, Militia Invictus." Lord Asimov said and Zygote took his que to end the conversation, "Militia Invictus."
The transmission was cut, "Selucami, I thought you all had that under control?" Zeb asked them.
"We did." Ahkilleon said "But the Empire's counter attack has dug into Selucami." Turok added, the rebels looked at one another "So why are we going after these 'twins'?" Hera asked.
Lord Asimov leaned back "The Inquisitors are all connected not just in ideal but through transmissions, if we can get to them, steal their key codes we can send a signal to the Chimera, Admiral Thrawn's flagship and maybe, just maybe track their signal." Lord Asimov said.
"That…. Could work?" Sabine said thinking it over, she looked to the two adults Kanan and Hera, "It's a gamble but we'll take it."
SELUCAMI
The Ghost dropped out of hyperspace alongside the Endeavor, "Whoa." Sabine said as they saw two fleets, at one another the Militia Golden Company, Militia MK II dreadnoughts fought tooth and nail against one another in dogfights and down below on the surface they could see fires raging through entire swaths of the planet, some charred black in dark patches of gray black with small ember spots. The fleets hammered away at one another "We have to help, everyone get to your stations." Hera said as the Endeavor flew alongside them "Belay that Captain." Lord Asmov said.
"We can't-" "The fleet has there job, and we have ours, follow me we'll avoid the fighting, Admiral Tuuk has the north western hemisphere under his control, we'll safe to land at his base." Lord Asimov said.
The rebels looked over their shoulder, "Base?"
The two ships flew down to the surface of Selucami, in the distance more flak could be seen being fired in the air, Hawk starfighters flew overhead and from the cockpit they could see that Selucami's lush forests and plains had been ripped apart with many scars of battle, craters from explosions, fallen tanks on both sides. But sticking out the most jutting out of the ground was a dark iron fortress with a series of walls one was a large rectangular wall with an airfield with hangars and barracks in it, the next was a inner citadel that was standing on a higher hill before a final wall with a large tower. The walls were lined by turrets and cannons that watched the skies, as the two ships landed in the airfield, everyone got out.
"Wow, things really have changed since we were last here." Ezra said.
"They aren't the only ones." Kanan said.
It was on Selucami that Ahkilleon and Ezra had sworn their oath of brotherhood by the blood of the Nexu, an oath that Ahkilleon had broken, and one Ezra wasn't eager to forget. As everyone got out of their ships, Asimov walked out first with a honor guard of the Golden Company, approaching them on a holographic platform was Admiral Mar Tuuk, he was in a commander's chair showing he was far above the surface. The hologram was shaking every other second "Apologies I could not greet you in person Lord Asimov." Tuuk said.
"Who's that?" Ezra asked.
"Mar Tuuk, former Separatist Commander, he disappeared after his defeat over Ryloth lost favor with the Separatists, guess he found a new job?" Hera said with disgust looking at him.
Turok came out of the Ghost, hitching a ride with them "The Admiral is also one of the best strategists the Clone Wars had, but after Ahsoka kicked his ass he took it hard."
Back over with the two Warlords, Asimov said "We will deal with these Inquisitors, and I've already sent word to Admiral Zygote to send any ships he can spare to Selucami to reinforce you."
"Greatly appreciated Lord Asimov, happy hunting." the transmission ended and Lord Asimov walked over to the rebels, "Admiral Tuuk has given us permission to use whatever resources we need to find these 'Twins'." Lord Asimov said.
Sabine spoke up then "You all have been busy here?" she said looking around the fortress.
"Yes, Saleucami is the gateway to the Foundry worlds of the Militia, the Empire knows this it's why they've come back." he said shooting a glare at Ahkilleon, who was responsible for being unable to secure Selcuami from his daring charge many months ago.
Hera skeptical looked around "And this fortress, it's staying?"
"Of course it will, but for now we need to focus on the Inquisitors, they were seen roaming the front lines of no mans land to the east, Padawan." Lord Asimov said looking to Ahkilleon "You and Bridger will find these Inquisitors, capture them and bring them here for interrogation."
"What?" Ezra snapped, "Yeah… what?" Ahkilleon asked.
Kanan stroked his beard seeing what Asimov was doing, "I thought we were all going after them?" Sabine asked.
"If every single one of us goes after the Inquisitors, they will run, but two padawans out on their own, it's the perfect bait or a trap." Lord Asimov said, Hera turned to Kanan "No way, there's no… my gosh you're considering it?" Hera asked Kanan.
He glanced at her, even though he was still blind "It's a sound strategy."
"But Kanan we-" "Can't afford an argument, Ezra, go with Ahkilleon to find the Inquisitors, get them cornered and we'll come to assist?" Kanan said looking at Asimov.
The Lord shook his head "No, any movement by a large force would be noticed, we'd start an entire new battle with the Empire, this is there task alone." Lord Asimov said.
"You got to be kidding me?" Zeb protested, "The Last time we sent them out after Inquisitors they didn't all come back, those that didn't were barely themselves, Kanan lost his eyes, junior his arm and Ezra-." Zeb cut himself off as everyone looked to him, he was going a bit to far and Zeb was snarling not wanting to back off "It's suicide."
"No." Ahkilleon said helmet under his arm, "It's what I was trained for, stay behind if you wish Ezra, I move faster alone."
"No." Lord Asimov said again "You go together."
Ahkilleon slipped his helmet on, "Yes, master." he growled. Lord Asimov walked up to the boys and held out a holodevice, "This map will show you their most recent sightings, there are Imperials and regulars in the area." Ahkilleon took the map and glared at Ezra saying nothing.
Ezra followed begrudgingly as Ahkilleon headed toward a row of Mustang Speeder bikes, they were lined up being fueled by B1 droids, each painted a deep shade of blue to show they were Militia, getting on, Ezra and Ahkilleon both glanced at one another before taking off at the same time out of the base. The rest of the rebels and Militia watching, "Are you sure this is a good idea?" Sabine asked "Fate of the galaxy being put in the hands of two teenage boys who don't like each other, what could go wrong?" Turok said, smoking his pipe.
Out in the wilds of Selucami, Ezra and Ahkilleon road down a muddy road made from days if not months of Militia or Imperial troop movements, the ground had been made by hundreds of boots stomping the ground flat and the trees cut down or blown apart to make the impromptu road. Ezra looked around Selucami the scenery just as drastic from the atmosphere now on the surface he saw the scars of war. In the distance he could see towers of smoke, flak guns still going off. The towering round rock structures had been scared by cannon fire and some had even been toppled.
Ahkilleon signaled him to stop, "What?" Ezra asked, annoyed.
They had slowed at the top of a large hill in the distance they could see a small battle being fought two Imperial two legged walkers were moving forward on a fortified position, carved into the hill of treeline green laser fire from Militia forces were trying to hold them off. "Two walkers, at ten squads of the Imperial army and stormtroopers."
Ezra looked around the speeder and found a pair of militia binoculars taking them out they confirmed Ahkilleons estimate, the Militia were dug in deep with sandbags and rocks used to barricade the treeline, and the walkers were advancing, behind the armor weren't stormtroopers but dark greyish green clad soldiers in light armor with cloaks, there were a few stormtroopers at the front moving ahead of them. "Who are the other troops?"
"Didn't you hear me, their Imperial army, we need to help." Ahkilleon said.
"Thought we need to find the Inquisitors?" Ezra asked.
Ahkilleon didn't answer, he just road down into the valley turning on his blue lightsaber, "Guess we are helping." Ezra muttered the following.
The stormtroopers saw him coming and some turned to fire, Ahkilleon zoomed past them slicing the man in half, he then took out one of the legs of the walker, he wheeled around as the walker turned and opened fire on him, Ahkilleon pushed his speeders repulsor engine to make it fly off the space on the ground and leapt from it, sending the mustang speeder into the walkers head making it explode. Taking out his blue lightsaber he crashed into the imperial forces army troops held back taking up a position to open fire. The stormtroopers ran forward at Ahkilleon blasting hoping their numbers would overwhelm him, Ahkilleon cut down the closet three before Ezra leapt from his speeder deflecting additional fire "Are you crazy?" Ezra snapped as they were now in the crossfire of the Militia and Empire.
Ezra deflected their shots before he heard a shout "Militia Invictus!" the regulars in the treeline came running out of their trenches attacking the stormtroopers at their flank, they had hatchets and spiked clubs breaking the plastoid armor. The army troops kept firing at them until a heavy militia soldier with a minigun unloaded into their position sending them running. Ezra lowered his saber after Ahkilleon dispatched the last stormtrooper, not a single one of the white armored soldiers had fled.
Ezra looked at all the bodies for a moment feeling sick but it ended when he felt the shouts of victory from the Militia Regulars. Ahkilleon sheathed his lightsabers and breathed easy, he turned to a Militia officer, he was dressed in armor like Sigma with a kama showing his rank and a shoulder pauldron, two antennas at his side holding a blaster rifle, "Captain Tano, we heard you and Lord Asimov had joined the party, much appreciated."
Ahkilleon looked at him and his rank on his arms, a Commander, Ahkilleon pressed his fist over his chest and saluted "Happy to assist Commander, I couldn't just leave you as we passed by."
The Commander turned to Ezra looking him up and down, from his non standard attire the Commander scratched his helmet "Uh he with you?"
"Yes, we're hunting red blades." Ezra said, answering for himself.
The commander glanced at him, "The twins, you're in the right place my men and I saw them two days ago, they took out three of my squads sent to kill them, they ain't no joke." the Commander said.
"This is their last day Commander, I promise you and your men that." Ahkilleon responded, the Commander nodded he waved over to one of his droids, it was a B5 droid that was carrying a lot of ammo and supplies, it knelt and it's eyes flickered a hologram of the terrain, "This is Deadmans gorge."
"Why do they call it… oh." Ezra stopped himself as they looked at him, Ezra was the only one not wearing a helmet making him stick out, besides his bright orange top, "My men were killed here, those things seem to the close quarters my snipers can't even get close, it's 3 clicks that way."
Ahkilleon nodded, "Much appreciated Captain, Militia Invictus." Ahkilleon saluted.
"Milita Invictus." the Commander said, back with a salute, "Alright men, scavenge what we can from the imps, and patch up!" he barked before Ezra and Ahkilleon walked back to the speeder.
When they saw that it was only one bike left, hence Ahkilleon using his as a battering ram on the walker, they also noticed that the one Ezra had gotten off of was shot up by who could say? "Looks like we're walking." Ezra said.
Meanwhile, back at the Militia Fort, the rebels were sitting on their hands, Zeb was outside the Ghost with hs borifle keeping guard, in case the Militia tried anything. Turok walked forward holding two cups of smoking dark liquid, "What's this?" Zeb asked.
"Garellian Coffee, half the militia runs on this stuff now." Turok said offering him the dark smokey liquid, Zeb took it sniffing it his keen senses snarling at it, "You drink it?"
"Well there are other ways to ingest it but I wouldn't recommend." Turok said sipping it, in the distance they could see a ship crashing down from the upper atmosphere, one of the Destroyers, heading down beyond the horizon, "Should feel weird, being back in a warzone."
Turok shrugged, "Let me ask you something Zeb?" Turok asked.
"Hmph?" Zeb sipped the coffee still holding his rifle, "You were a Captain in the Lasan Honor Guard, you fought the Empire, why just settle for muscle in this?" He gestured to the Ghost and then Zeb saw itw as more than just the ship, but a metaphor for Phoenix Squadron and the Rebellion, "Because I belive in it." Zeb gritted his teeth.
Turok nodded "Good enough reason as any, I belive in the Militia."
Zeb scoffed, "Yeah but from what Hera and Kanan have told me about you're old Separatist palls you ain't much different from the Empire?"
"There you go again, tch." Turok clicked his tongue against the roof of his mouth "Prove me wrong hehe?" Zeb asked gesturing to the large fortess around them, "You can't be that naieve lasat, the Militia isn't perfect it's not meant to be, but the Empire has to be stopped any means necessary." Zeb poured out the last of his coffee in disagreement.
"Not how you want it." Zeb snarled.
Up in the ship, Hera was pacing left and right in worry in front of Kanan, "This isn't going to work Kanan."
"It will, it has to, Ezra and Ahkilleon need to do it on their own though." Kanan protested.
Hera stopped "They…. Hate each other."
"They're teenage boys, they'll get over it if they just talk about it." Kanan said leaning back into his chair arms folded.
Hera groaned through her teeth, "It doesn't help that we're in the base of the war criminal who bombarded my people when we tried to surrender."
"I'm not happy about being that close to Tuuk either." Kanan replied, "Buuuuut?" Hera asked.
Kanan shook his head "No buts, I fought against Separatists too, it's not easy letting go of old wounds or what Asimov did to the Ghost, or Sabine. Where is she anyway?"
Hera's face turned to panic she ran to the door of Sabine's room and opened it byapssing the lock to see she was gone, "Stars above, she went after them."
Kanan sighed "Of course she did."
Back out in the eastern front, Ahkilleon and Ezra were walking alone now to where the troops had directed them, the forest wasn't terribly scared and the shade from the hazy sky made the light shift between shadow and the former, "Reminds me of when we were first here?" Ahkilleon said.
"When Chopper tried to kill us?" Ezra asked him.
"How has that droid still not killed you yet?" Ahkilleon asked.
Ezra shrugged "Some things are ever a mystery, as Kanan would say."
"Kanan is… a good Master." Ahkilleon replied.
This made Ezra pause, "What brought that on?"
"Nothing, just that I judged him harshly when we first met." Ahkilleon replied.
Ezra actually smirked, "Remember that time we ran off with Hondo, got in that scuffle with Azmorigan your mom and Kanan were so pissed."
"Hmhm she made us scrub the A-wings for a week- that was a long time ago, Ezra." Ahkilleon replied curtly his tone shifting.
"As long a time as since you were any fun." Ezra said stoppin, Ahkilleon walked ahead and stopped back to him, "We need to keep moving." he headed off and Ezra grabbed him "You think I don't now what you're going through, out of everyone on the Ghost, and you turned your back on us after loosing you Proxy and Ahsoka, we all know that pain."
Ahkilleon pulled away and said "Don't press me on this, let's keep to the mission."
"You really think Kanan and Asimov sent us out here to hunt Inquisitors, they want us to hash this out so let's just get it over with." Ezra said remembering Kanan's advice, even if Ezra was going about it a different more blunt way, Ezra reached into his jacket and pulled out the Nexu fang, "We were brothers, we swore an oath on this planet, to always be there for one another. And you broke it."
Ahkilleon took his helmet off so he could look Ezra in the eye "You're going stand there, and talk to me about brotherhood, and I'm the one who sacrificed my body, my blood when I need my brother most?"
"You chose to leave, to join the Militia-" "I'm not talking about Militia, I'm talking about Malachor!" Ahkilleon shouted at Ezra, making birds flee the air.
A long silence.
"I…." Ahkilleon felt the emotions start to surge, his voice cracking "I didn't want to go Ezra, I warned you all it was a bad idea and still I followed, loyal to you and my mother and look where it got us." Ahkilleon raised up his left arm, the metal mechano arm clear even under his vambrace. "I didn't want to leave Phoenix Squadron, I had to leave to become stronger so that when another Malachor happens like on Ruusan we all come back." Ahkilleon snapped at him.
Ezra's eyes looked sorrowful then hardened. "You didn't come back stronger, using the dark side you're just- just a shadow of my friend, so contemptuous about all of us, that I don't even recognize him anymore."
Ahkilleon got closer "You can't understand the darkness I've fought, the terror of what I've done just to survive, to fight the Empire."
"We all fight the Empire in our own way-" "Stealing, running, hiding, that is not fighting Ezra, that's not living, it's just surviving!" Ahkilleon yelled at him "I wanted more than just a bunk in an old ship and I have seized it with my own hands." Ahkilleon said, clutching his hand into a fist. "A Temple full of Jedi learning, training, happy like we should have been. Raxus is a beacon of freedom in the Galaxy, and the soldiers who cheer my name- My mothers Name, when they see me I can feel their hope that we'll win the day and I see fear in the eyes of our eyes of our enemies, for once they are afraid of us." Ahkilleon said, turning around to continue the hunt.
Ezra followed "That's not the way of the Jedi."
"No but it is my way." Adrian said to him.
"Right, right always have to get your way." Ezra snapped.
Ahkilleon stopped "I'm done following the orders of dreamers and know it alls, get use to it." he pointed back at him, "You aren't ready, you were never ready your mother, Kanan they were right about you all along. You're cocky, arrogant and one thing I know for certain is that I'm better than you." Ezra said
Silence.
"Come again?" Ahkilleon asked.
Ezra pointed his thumb to his chest "I'm a better rebel, a better friend and a better Jedi."
"Prove it." Ahkilleon said turning around grabbing his sabers and holding them at his side not turning it on "Don't, push me." Ezra growled.
Ahkilleon shook his head, "We're all alone out here, anything could happen."
Ezra thought it over, "Looking for an Inquisitor, maybe the red blades got lucky?" Ezra said taking out his lightsaber and turning on the green blade accepting the challenge "Never get another opportunity, lothrat."
"Princess!" Ezra snapped, they started to circle one another in the clearing then they stopped, waiting for the right signal, that same star destroyer that had been falling from the sky was about to make landfall and when it hit, they heard the sound of explosion then felt a gust of wind, advancing both Ezra and Ahkilleon's sabers clashed, dancing off one another. Ezra went high and Ahkilleon blocked his blow. Force pushing Ahkilleon's feet, he almost fell. Rolling the last second in the air Ahkilleon landed and deflected another attack.
Getting to his feet, Ezra went on the offensive, aggresively attacking Ahkilleon who parried then countered with two strikes that sent Ezra wobbling, now Ahkilleon went on the offensive. His two lightsabers of red and blue slashed at Ezra's green defense and parrying. They crossed swords Ezra's green one pressed agasinst a cross guard by Ahkilleons red and blue, "I knew we could never trust you again." Ezra barked.
"I never asked to go back." Ahkilleon said "I didn't want to." he broke the lock and Ezra backed up as Ahkilleon attacked from all sides spinning and hacking, low to high. Ezra leapt up to one of the nearby trees.
Rushing Ahkilleon hacked the tree down in one slice, before Ezra leapt off it. He saw Ahkilleon try to attack him in the air but Ezra force blasted Ahkilleon back into the ground. Using the force Ezra saw a series of vines drapped over the ground hurling them at Ahkilleon, he sliced through some but others coiled around him. Like yanking invisible strings Ezra cacooned his opponent in the vines before Ahkilleon used a force repulse to rip them apart.
"Better than me?" Ahkilleon asked "BETTER THAN ME!" He shouted taking his arm up and summoning force lighting, he blasted Ezra with the surge of electrcity and at the last second Ezra deflected it with his lightsaber. The sheer power of the force storm sent Ezra skidding back in the dirt.
"I never asked for this Ezra, not the force, not the rebellion, none of it!" Ahkilleon yelled through the force lightining attack, Ezra shifted his blade and sent the lighting back at Ahkilleon with no time to dodge Ahkilleons cortosis durasteel armor took the volts and the sheer power behind the attack sent him flying into a tree.
Ezra yelled running at Ahkilleon, he impaled the tree that Ahkilleon hit before he rolled over onguard, "You think I wanted any of this?" Ezra asked.
"I wanted you by my side, we'd fight the Empire together but no, you could never follow orders you always had to be the center of attention!" Ezra yelled at him.
Ahkilleon flipped his sabers in reverse grip, "Don't get angry Ahkilleon, you need to be more careful Ahkilleon, you're such a danger to everyone else Ahkilleon, at least they right about that?" Ahkilleon bellowed.
"We wanted to help you, all of us!" Ezra and he met again in a dance of red, blue and green sabers glancing off one another "I didn't need your help, I needed you to stop judging me when I was trying to do what I thought was right."
"What was right, HA?" Ezra gave a forced laugh "You always wanted some heroic last stand, when we met Rex you would have died if we hadn't come back for you, or on the Medical station you almost got us killed." Ezra barked.
Ahkilleon and Ezra broke into another exchange of slashes and hacks beofre relocking "I'd rather die, fighting for what I belive in then spend another day pretending everything would be alright?"
"You're such a hardheaded jackass." Ezra barked at him "You're a sancitmonous prick." Ahkilleon yelled back before they heard a
Thump-
Looking down they saw something rolling between them a thermal detonator?"
Both of them broke off and expected to see a set of Inquisitors or Stormtroopers but no, way worse "Are you two FUCKING KIDDING ME!" Sabine screamed at them blasters drawn on the both of them, "You two are doing this now, when the fate of the galaxy is at stake?" she hollared.
"He started it." Both boys snapped like children.
Sabine shot at both boys with surprising accuracy, they deflected her shots off their lightsabers but Sabine didn't let up as she kept shooting them "Of all the bratty, obnoxious, immature things you two scuffy looking nerf herders could do you have a cockfight in the middle of a warzone."
Sabine stopped shooting as she got between both of them, "It was a duel-" "SHUT UP!"
"Alright, it was a cockfight, but he needs to get his ass kicked." Ezra snapped still holding his saber, "Well I'm right here, bring all five feet of you pipsqueak-" Sabine answered both of them with more blaster shots that they had a hard time deflecting.
"You two are done, NOW!" she yelled at them.
Ezra and Ahkilleon looked at one another, and Sabine stood between them "Like hell." Ezra growled "Right-" "AAAAAHH!" Sabine raised her pistols again and both boys held up their sabers "I will kill both of you right now, if you don't put away your weapons?"
Both Ezra and Ahkilleon looked at one another before they did as she commanded, "This- stops-now. You two were brothers, you fought together, you laughed together, you are meant to be more than this." she shouted at them, lowering her pistols. "Well?" She asked.
"Oh don't stop now it was just getting interesting?" A wirey little voice said, the three of them looked up to see The Twins, Groc and Boodle standing on some rocks, the sound of Ezra and Ahkilleons fighting or Sabine's pistols must have drawn them over. Groc was a massive behemoth in his black inquisitor suit with the shoulder pauldrons, and his technician helmet. Boodle on the other hand was a short gangly creature with one shoulder pauldron and a holding a lightsaber like a baton. "This was just getting interesting." Boodle chirped as Groc growled.
"Hmm two little jed island a Mandalorian, I feel a joke coming on?" Boodle said giggled.
"Great, it's a funny one." Ahkilleon said.
Ezra lowered his lightsaber "I think I liked it better when they just had number, and threatened us." Ezra said.
"At least most of them hid their ugly faces behind masks." Sabine replied.
Boodle growled at that "Groc, I think they're ignoring us."
"The rotating sabers were kind of cool." Ezra said and Ahkilleon flung his hands in the air still holding his lightsaber "You would think that, wouldn't you."
Ezra scoffed, "At least I don't run around with two separate colors, red and blue, could you take the literal imbalance any more seriously, copying my blue lightsaber."
"Copying, you don't have a copyright to blue lightsabers?" Ahkilleon snapped back as they started to argue again, "Oh please, you always trailed after me when we were kids, what want to be like big brother Ezra so bad?" Ezra asked walking toward him, Ahkilleon walked to him two "Only thing I want so bad right now is to pummel that face." they stormed toward one another as Groc and Boodle jumped off the rock.
"Hey?" Boodle said riding on Groc's large shoulder "We're still here you jedi punks-" "Atatata- we're talking." Ezra held his hand up to them shushing them like children. Groc snarled as Ezra and Ahkilleon kept talking "Well let's finish this right here, right now?" Ahkilleon asked him.
"Wouldn't have it any other way, right?"
"Right?" Ezra asked.
"HEY!" Boodle snapped "RIIGHT!" Ezra and Ahkilleon both shouted at the same time drawing back their fists and hitting Groc and Boodle with a force push so viscous they sent Boodle flying off Groc's shoulder and drew their lightsabers, "Remember we need them alive." Sabine said as she opened fire on them with stun rings. Boodle and Groc drew their red lightsabers deflecting the stun rings and attacking the Jedi. Ezra and Ahkilleon attacked in unison, lightsabers bouncing off another, Ezra attacked Boodle while Groc faced off against Ahkilleon.
Boodle leapt around like a force sensitive angry monkey bouncing off the ground and trees while Ezra blocked and attacked him, cutting branches and trees down. Groc was a bouldering juggernaut hacking at Ahkilleon who sidestepped and avoided the large lightsaber before being locked in a cross. Groc let out a grumbling roar behind the helmet and Ahkilleon roared back under his helmet. Ahkilleon lifted his leg and kicked Groc in his right knee as hard as he possibly could but it was like kicking against a statue.
Groc grabbed Ahkilleon by his armor and hurled him over him, Sabine leapt over Groc and hit him with two thermal detonators that only made Groc stagger backwards. Groc roared at Sabine before Ezra saw them struggling, "Sabine?" he cried out, Groc swung his lightsaber hitting Sabine her armor taking the blow but Groc was so big she was knocked over.
Groc went for the killing blow when Ahkilleon blocked with both his lightsabers, he parried and leapt kicking Groc once and then again, flipping in the air, Ahkilleon slashed Groc across the chest and the monster inquisitor roared.
Ezra watched Groc get sliced and focused on Boc who was bouncing off the tree limbs swinging from the branches, Ezra saw where he was going and used the force to snap the nearest branch before he could make it. Boodle fell to the ground and Ezra rushed him pointing the saber at his neck "Yield."
Boodle laughed "Not today little boy." He through dirt in Ezra's eyes, Ezra covered his face before Boodle leapt at him with the saber, Ezra caught him with the force "My turn."
"Uh oh." Boodle said before Ezra slammed Boodle on the ground like a rag doll and heard a loud scream, Groc had one of his legs severed by Ahkilleon and fell to the ground, when he hit the ground Ahkilleon cut off his saber arm. Ezra flung Boodle over onto the dirt and the Inquisitor gave a frightful laugh.
The Jedi stood over Gorc and Boodle, "Hehe, okay… okay good fight Jedi, we give up." Boodle tossed away his lightsaber, Ahkilleon walked over and stomped on Boodle's knee making the creature shriek.
"Is that necessary?" Sabine asked.
"These monsters don't deserve mercy, let alone to live." Ahkilleon said as Ezra ran up pushing him off "We've won, it's over." Ezra said before he looked down at Gorc and Boodle. Both of them were battered and beaten, the outnumbered duo were exhausted.
Ezra turned to try a good cop over Ahkilleons insane cop, "I'm not sure how long I can keep my friend at bay, how about you give us your keycodes to Jerec." Ezra suggested.
Boodle looked at Gorc who nodded, "Okay, Okay, never liked Jerec anyway… but you patch us up, real good."
"Real good." Ezra said smiling looking back his mercy having worked, Ahkilleon watched sensing danger and saw Boodle pull out a dagger from behind, Boodle leapt at Ezra and Ahkilleon moved"LET SEE YOU PATCHED UP AFTER I-URK-" Ahkilleon had drawn his blue lightsaber and Boodle's knife was inches from Ezra's blue eyes before Ahkilleon had run the short sith creature through, Groc roared attacking both boys Sabine shot him through his helmets visor through the head.
Dead
Ezra panting at the knife before it dropped out of Boodle's lifeless hand,
Back at the command center, Ezra, Ahkilleon and Sabine walked back into the sights of their Masters, and a very pissed off Hera, who was scowling at Sabine as she walked up, as they approached the command center the rest of them waitied, "We didn't get the keycodes, Boodle and Groc refused to cooperate." Ahkilleon told them.
"So you killed them?" Kanan asked.
He glared at Kanan with his yellow eyes, "To save me." Ezra said before anyone could say another word.
"While I am happy you two are alive, this doesn't change the fact there's nothing stopping Jerec from taking the Valley's power." Lord Asimov said sternly as he paced, he turned to Commander Sigma "Commander, get a ship we need to warn the Warlords of what's coming."
Sigma nodded "Roger, roger." Sigma replied.
Ahkilleon stood idle "Dismissed padawan." Lord Asmov said "But Master I-" "Dismissed." Asimov barked. Ahkilleon turned away slowly till Turok came up to him.
"This way lad, hurry." he grabbed Ahkilleons arm and pulled him to the Revenant, "So now what do we do?" Ezra asked the rebels, "We prepare for the worst."
Ahkilleon followed Turok aboard the ship "Whatever it is Turok it can wait, we need to get ready for Jerec."
"It's worth it, I swear I still have a few contacts in the underworld, a few brokers and one of them sent me a message for you." Turok said.
Puzzled, Ahkilleon looked at the trandoshan who led him to Turok's room, "What message?"
Turok stood outside the door and Ahkilleon looked at him, he opened the door and he saw the hologram monitor was already on, and standing there on the holographic table was none other than the blue skinned and red eyed Grand Admiral Thrawn. Ahkilleon looked to Turok face fixed and Turok shrugged, before Ahkilleon walked in, as he came into view of Thrawn the Admiral acknowledged him, "Captain Tano, we meet again."
"What game are you playing, Admiral?" Ahkilleon asked, Thrawn had the decency to call Ahkilleon by his rank and Ahkilleon did the same.
"Before Jedi Master Q u Rahn's demise, at your hands I might have left me with what I would call… jedi humor, his last words were 'Your move'." Thrawn said, smiling up at Ahkilleon who was betting he was taking the message from Thrawn's own private terminal.
Ahkilleon wondered if Qu Rahn was watching and if he was he probably had a smug proud grin on his face, "Here to gloat then, for your 'new' Emperor?" Ahkilleon asked Thrawn.
"You are as perceptive as I thought, yes, though he has not said it outright, the Grand Inquisitor's actions are clear enough that he will change my own Master for dominance of the Empire, that I cannot allow." Thrawn said.
Ahkilleon folded his arms not sure what to make of this, "Why not let the two Sith fight it out, I'm sure a cunning man like you would come out on top?"
"I thank you for the compliment, but alas my time has not yet come, however I am familiar with the old saying the enemy of my enemy is my friend?" Thrawn explained smiling, his red eyes never leaving Ahkilleon's now yellow ones "Curious?" Thrawn said, looking at the eyes.
"What do you want Thrawn?" Ahkilleon asked putting the conversation back on track, "I have no more patience for these Inquisitors anymore, Jerec's actions will be treasonous against the Empire, but if this power you jedi claim is so great, it will be enough to sway less loyal Imperial fleets to his cause, so I offer you this." Thrawn pressed a button and Ahkilleon saw his comlink terminal come up with hyperspace coordinates "Is this…" "Yes, the location of the lost world of Ruusan and your Valley of the Jedi." Thrawn said.
Ahkilleon looked at Thrawn "Why?"
"As I said, the enemy of my enemy is my friend." Thrawn said as he bowed his head "Farewell, Captain Tano." Grand Admiral Thrawn said before he disappeared, Ahkilleon looked at the coordinates, and turned to Turok, "Come on, let's go we got the coordinates."
"Whoa, whoa, Lad." Turok stopped him "We can't waste another second." Ahkilleon argued.
"I know, I know, but I ain't letting you rush off into another Malachor, this could be trap by that blue faced bastard, so we ain't going alone." Turok said to him, Ahkilleon nodded "I won't risk anyone else, not again." Ahkilleon said before he grabbed Turok and shoved him off the ship with a force push. Turok watched Ahkilleon shut the door, he ran up to the cockpit and got into pilot seat. Without waiting Ahkilleon took the Revenant into the air and took off.
RUUSAN
The Valley of the Jedi
A Gonzati class cruiser flew down from space, the Chimera still in Orbit. The ship flew down over the barren plateaus and deserts of Ruusan up over the hemisphere when it began to descend. Jerec stood at the front of the bridge as they neared something, in the distance like a great scar carved into the earth a beacon of light rose up swirling and swirling in the air. "Master?" Yun asked looking at it, "We are here."
The ship flew down to the surface and landed on the outskirts of a massive canyon, lowering it's ramp stormtroopers piled out following the Inquisitors who walked toward the edge to behold the sacred and lost Valley of the Jedi, refound at last. As the sun began to turn, Yun and Sariss noticed all the great plateaus they thought were rock formations were in fact statues carved into the rock itself, hooded Jedi in robes holding lightsabers pointed down instead of up, glowing crystals in their hands making the blades. With every step closer they got they saw rocks floating of their own volition and Jerec held his hand out, several of the rocks flew toward them and caressed into a platform for the Dark Jedi to step on. Yun looked amazed as the rocks floated down into the valley, they landed in the bottom and passed by the towering statues of Jedi, their faces weathered off to be unrecognizable, and as they got closer they saw it the beacon of force energy, the nexus where the convergence of force energy rising from a great mound. Jerec approached it eagerly, moving "After all these years… the power that was denied to me by those fools, Yoda, Windu, Mundi…" he muttered, licking his lips as they entered a great archway. Maw, Yun and Sariss followed down stairs, curving to the right, leading to an arch, and the cavern's floor the walls of which where adorned with carvings of Jedi and Sith doing battle. The monument itself consisted of hundreds of slabs, made from the chamber's ceiling, spires with hieroglyphics, statues, tombs, even miniature temples. Radiating from the Valley were corridors leading to satellite caverns but those were nothing to the convergence point. A light was like a golden flame with silent sentinel statues surrounding it. Jerec walked toward it. The room was immense with the light spiraling out of the cavern into the sky above. Jerec held his hand up and the stone around the converge cracked, it blew apart with blinding and Jerec walked toward it, his cape blowing behind him "Yes, the power- IS MINE!"