I don't own Star Wars or its characters, but Nadia Aomori and my OCs I own only.
Enjoy!
Fire of the Rebellion
Chapter 42: Rescue Mission on Kashyyyk Part 2
In space, the Arcturus jumped out of hyperspace and flew towards Kashyyyk.
When the ship arrived to the home planet of the Wookiees, Ferus and Nadia saw the sky was dark.
But the couple immediately sensed the evil that was enslaving the planet as well as the suffering of the Wookiees.
Ferus glanced at Nadia.
"Nadia?"Ferus asked with a soft yet concerned tone.
A deep frown appeared on Nadia's face while narrowing her ruby red eyes a bit.
"I sense it too, Ferus."Nadia answered."We need to hurry."
RG-G1 let out a soft yet nervous beep.
Once the Arcturus safely landed in a jungle area of Kashyyyk that hadn't been touched by imperials, Ferus and Nadia stepped out of their ship.
"G-G, call us if anything comes up."Ferus ordered.
RG-G1 beeped in agreement before closing the ramp of the Arcturus before Nadia and Ferus began running their way to the deepest parts of the jungle.
The foot of an AT-ST walker then came down right down in front to where they were.
Neither Ferus or Nadia didn't break stride.
The two Jedi Knights had timed their run perfectly, dodging the concussion grenades and energy bolts fired by the gunner and approaching from underneath, where the plating was weakest.
The bulky head swiveled and turned above them, trying to get a bead on the unarmored couple who dared single-handedly attack it.
Ferus took a deep breath and executed an acrobatic aerial somersault that brought his lightsaber into range of both knee joints, three control junctions and the drive engine.
The AT-ST shuddered mid-step as the damage he had inflicted registered in its complex systems.
The endless pounding of its weapons faltered.
Ferus then used his blue blade lightsaber to cut the legs of the AT-ST off, sending the broken walker tumbling down to the ground below with its pilot.
Nadia immediately went to deal with the other two AT-ST walkers before leaping up and unleashing her Force Judgement on them to devour their energies.
After her attack, Nadia touched the ground and paused at where she landed.
With a groan of tortured metal, the AT-ST walkers dropped nose-forward into the ground.
Dust rose up from the blasted soil.
Before it could settle, Ferus and Nadia were moving again, dodging a stream of blaster fire from a stormtrooper cannon emplacement to the right of the lodge's main steps.
Two more AT-STs were closing on them from either side, hoping to surround them.
Ferus and Nadia simply smirked at each other upon realising what was going on.
The stormtroopers' aim left a lot to be desired.
Every projectile that came within reach he deflected back at either its point of origin or the lodge's main door, but so many of them were missing completely that the rest discharged uselessly into the dirt.
Nadia ran toward the stormtroopers to give them her next attack.
The Force streamed through her like a lightning bolt, fuelling her instincts and filling her with strength.
For a full second, the raven haired woman closed her eyes and let her arms move in perfect synchrony with the energy bolts.
The stormtroopers screamed as Nadia then used her orange lightsaber to slash them down with Ferus aiding her.
After deactivating their lightsabers, Ferus and Nadia continued their journey to Captain Sturn's imperial base.
The couple paused when they came across to be a ruined yet abandoned hut that had the mark of the Jedi Order.
"Isn't that-"Ferus started.
Nadia shut her eyes in silent grief.
"The old home of Kento and Mallie Marek."Nadia responded with a sad frown."I was told Mallie was killed by a group of Trandoshan slavers that infiltrated Kashyyyk with the intention of capturing Wookiees in order to sell them into slavery. To think a few months after her death, Kento would perish as well."
Ferus gave Nadia a kiss on the forehead.
"There was nothing you could've done for them, Dia."Ferus reminded with a sad frown."We can't save everyone. You know that."
Nadia opened her eyes to look at Ferus in silence.
"Wait!"A male voice shouted."Father! No!"
Both Ferus and Nadia immediately became alarmed at hearing an unknown voice coming from the hut of their deceased friends causing them to go in and check who was in it.
To the couple's surprise, they saw him.
Galen Marek.
Kento and Mallie's son.
"I know who the two of you are."Galen declared."You're Nadia Aomori and Ferus Olin. Two of the Jedi Knights that fought in the Clone Wars."
Both Ferus and Nadia simply frowned in respond.
"Charmed that you know who we are."Nadia complemented.
"But the more important question is why are you here in Kashyyyk, Galen Marek?"Ferus questioned.
A stunned look appeared on Galen's face.
"You know who I am?"Galen asked.
"We knew your parents."Nadia admitted."But we'll talk more a long the way. We've got a mission to complete."
Inside Captain Sturn's quarters, Maybelline poured Leia a cup of tea while Artoo stood nearby watching them.
The room the two women and their droid were in was luxuriously appointed and tastefully so, considering its mad owner.
Dozens of different woods provided subtle contrasts among walls, cornices, floors and ceilings with a huge bay window on the far side overlooking the forest.
In the distance, clearly visible against the blue sky, was the bright line of the skyhook.
The room was located in a long wooden corridor lined with two-dimensional ceramic artwork.
Two stormtroopers and an Imperial Guard stood watched over the locked door of their room.
Leia looked at Maybelline.
"I am not thirsty, Aunt Meibe."Leia declared.
"I know, moonstone."Maybelline replied."But the last thing I want is to see you is get thirsty or hungry."
The Princess of Alderaan gave her lady-in-waiting a reassuring smile despite the situation they were in.
"You know I am not that young pre-teen who would think of her stomach before anything anymore, right?"Leia sneered.
Maybelline smirked at Leia.
"It seems the palace education and blaster training had paid off then."Maybelline joked.
Artoo let out a happy beep.
Just as Leia was about to put the tea cup in her lips, the sound of stormtroopers firing was heard outside their room before the sounds of their shouts and lightsaber slashes were followed in the background.
Then the lock of the door was burned out before someone used the Force to push the door in.
Maybelline became surprised at who she saw while Leia didn't turn her head to see the people that have come into the room.
"I should have expected that the Emperor would send an assassin."Leia said, sounding more irritated than worried."It's a coward's tactic."
"Now, now, Leia."Ferus' voice chuckled."I usually thought you would be happy to see us."
Leia's mood immediately brightened up as she turned her head to see Ferus and Nadia.
"Uncle Fairy."Leia remarked in a firm yet excited tone."Aunt Dia."
Leia got off her seat to embrace Ferus and Nadia, happy to see them again.
"Hey, Leia."Ferus replied and noticed how much his niece resembled his deceased second older sister even more."You've grown bigger."
Maybelline then walked over to her older half-sister and brother-in-law.
Nadia smirked at Maybelline as she gave her a small hug.
"Glad to see that your captor have been treating you both well."Nadia joked.
A scoff escaped from Maybelline.
"Don't start, Dia."Maybelline retorted."Besides being a madman, Captain Sturn made it clear that he would kill me and Leia, if Bail didn't stop protesting against the Empire."
Artoo beeped as he went over to Ferus and Nadia to greet them.
"And hello to you too, Artoo."Ferus remarked lightly."Long time no see."
Nadia went down on one knee to stroke Artoo's head.
"Thank you for keeping any eye of them."Nadia thanked.
Leia then noticed Galen behind Ferus and Leia.
"I do not serve the Emperor."Galen assured."I'm here with Master Kota."
This earned both Leia and Maybelline's attention.
"I thought Master Kota is dead."Maybelline complemented."Killed above Nar Shaddaa."
"No. He survived Nar Shaddaa. We were sent to find you."Galen explained."I think you two are supposed to come with us now."
Leia shook her head.
"Me and my lady-in-waiting can't leave, not while the planet is enslaved."Leia admitted.
Ferus frowned. "Leia…"
Nadia stood up as she looked at Leia and Maybelline.
"Is that what you two are here for?"Nadia assumed.
"No, Aunt Dia."Leia replied with a hint of anger."I'm a Senatorial observer appointed by the Emperor himself. My job is to oversee the construction of that monstrosity."
Leia cocked her head at the view of the skyhook towering over the forest.
"It's revolting, isn't?"Maybelline scolded.
"I can clearly see that."Ferus answered.
"He can't kill me, but he can keep me busy and send a message to my father at the same time."Leia informed."A coward, as I said, but a clever one, well versed in the arts of coercion and manipulation."
Galen nodded his understanding.
Leia looked at Ferus, Nadia and Galen.
"If you're truly are Jedi, then you three understand why I can't leave."Leia stated."Once the skyhook is complete, the Empire will be able to shuttle Wookiee slaves in earnest. Entire villages will be taken offworld in a matter of days. Artoo?"
Artoo rolled over to come closer to the group.
Chirping and whistling, the astromech droid projected a standard bluish white hologram of a massive construct, circular in shape, with buttressed sides and reinforced anchors digging deep into exposed bedrock.
The image rotated slowly in the air while Leia talked to the group through her plan.
"Artoo, Meibe and I have been studying the skyhook from here. I think I know how to take down. These are the moorings."Leia exclaimed."Disable them and the skyhook will detach from the planet causing a chain reaction that should destroy the orbital platform before it can be put to use."
Ferus, Nadia and Galen studied the image, looking for some way of discerning the construction's scale.
"Destroying it won't stop the Empire for long."Galen reminded."They'll just build another one."
"Eventually, maybe. But you'll give the remaining Wookiees a chance to disappear."Maybelline admitted as she folded her arms across her chest as though daring Galen to disagree."Back the way you came, there's a tube transport that leads down to the forest floor. It'll be crawling with Imperials, clearing out the undergrowth, but it'll take you to the base of the skyhook."
A sigh escaped from Ferus' mouth, understanding if he, Nadia and Galen wanted to get Leia and Maybelline off Kashyyyk, they would need to do as they said.
"All right, Leia."Ferus answered, despite his serious misgivings."But what about you?"
"My shuttle is still on the landing platform, I presume."Leia suggested.
"It is."Nadia agreed."But I won't make any promises about the pilot."
Maybelline raised an eyebrow.
"What makes you think we need one?"Maybelline asked with a frown.
Nadia placed her hands up in defence.
"I am not doubting your piloting skills, little sister."Nadia assured honestly."Just want you and Leia to be careful that's all."
Maybelline nodded. "Okay."
As she began leaving the quarters, Leia flashed Ferus a smile over her shoulder.
"Please tell my father I'm safe."Leia instructed.
"I will."Ferus answered.
Then Leia, Maybelline and Artoo left the quarters, leaving the three Force users by themselves.
Not long after, Nadia, Ferus and Galen headed back to the jungles to go and destroy the Skyhook.
"I heard that after the Empire took over the planet, Kashyyyk was opened by the Imperial authorities to slavers from neighbouring Trandosha and Mytaranor."Ferus declared and glanced at Galen."You haven't met this imperial, correct?"
"Yes."Galen agreed with a frown."But I only heard that Captain Sturn hunts Wookiees for sport too."
Nadia, however, was lost in her thoughts as she, Ferus and Galen raced to the Skyhook's location.
"I honestly can't believe Vader would allow the Empire to practice slavery."Nadia thought with a hint of disappointment."Even if he was a slave himself a long time ago."
Suddenly, a trio of TIE fighters shrieked down through Kashyyyk's atmosphere, attacking the blackened jungle area with needles of fire.
With a well-timed nudge on the lead TIE fighter's port solar gather panel, Galen sent it tumbling into the permacrete, where it exploded instantly.
The impact shook the ground beneath his and his companions' feet and sent cracks spreading across.
When the two remaining TIEs came around for another pass, Nadia sent them both crushing away by using her Force Judgement.
Upon arriving to the Skyhook's gateway, the trio became aware of the clanking of an AT-ST coming from behind them.
Ferus, Nadia and Galen turned just in time to deflect a barrage of precision weapons fire from the nose of a walker that was sprinting at them as fast as its two mechanical legs could run.
A flurry of concussion grenades detonated them all before they could arrive and repulsed the furious blossoming of hot gases in a sphere around them.
The AT-ST didn't take the hint.
It was moving fast, bearing down with its flat footpads as though trying to physically trample the trio.
The walker had registration markings identifying it as belonging to Captain Sturn and had come to finish the job at which his underlings had failed.
so apprentice dodged the stamping feet as they went by and zapped the rear of the walker with lightning. Nothing happened.
Captain Sturn's walker obviously possessed a layer of shielding above and beyond that provided to his grunts.
The AT-ST's armaments also set it apart from the others, including a long-barreled hunting cannon and what appeared to be a net launcher on its left flank.
"Attention, intruders! This is Captain Ozzik Sturn, and you, my friends are in violation of quite a few Imperial codes! But I'm guessing you don't care!"Captain Sturn declared, making Nadia roll her eyes."I should like to arrange a personal meeting...if you're game..."
Nadia glanced at Ferus and Galen.
"I'm surprised they gave him another command post after that nasty business on Malastare."Nadia muttered with an unfazed look.
"Give me the history lessons later, Commander Aomori."Galen requested.
Ferus activated his blue lightsaber, making Nadia and Galen do the same.
"Well, now, this is a surprise...three Jedi."Captain Sturn sneered."I always hoped to be able to hunt one of your kind."
"I can only say be careful what you wish for, Imperial scum."Ferus insulted with a grim look.
Captain Sturn's walker jogged ponderously toward the three Force users.
Ferus, Nadia and Galen deflected another round of cannon fire into the mooring and noticed only then that the thick cable leading up to the skyhook station was visibly vibrating.
Strange surges rushed up and down its length as though it had been plucked by a giant hand.
The skyhook was faintly visible as was a cloud of debris coming down from above. Small specks quickly resolved into objects as big as boulders.
They were growing rapidly in performed a quick mental calculation.
The debris would arrive about the same time as Captain Sturn's walker.
Wielding her two blades, Nadia reached out and crumpled the walker's cannon and grenade launchers.
For a moment, the only sounds came from her lightsabers and the heavy tread of the straightened.
Through the command viewport, he saw a man with a red face wearing what looked like Wookiee fur trim on his uniform.
The captain's mouth was open, bellowing orders at his hapless gunner.
With Nadia distracting Captain Sturn's walker, Ferus and Galen saw the opportunity to disable the Skyhook and sabotage the orbital platform.
At that moment the debris hit with all the force of a hundred shooting stars, striking everything around the base of the Skyhook.
Nadia simply went out of the way after she destroying Captain Sturn's walker into scrap metal and killing the madman along with it.
Debris went everywhere.
The noise was unimaginable.
Ferus, Nadia and Galen didn't flinch or move in the slightest as rubble rain impacted about them.
They only watched, with satisfaction as the Skyhook base ripped free of the planet and recoiled like a whip into the upper atmosphere.
The station exploded shortly thereafter, briefly outshining the sun, even through the dust and smoke of his rain of rubble ceased.
The three Force users then made their escape as the Skyhook got destroyed for good while the crying cheers of the Wookiees were heard in the background.
See you all in the next chapter and have a wonderful day!