Chapter 37
Retreat
NABOO
Royal Palace of Theed, Dungeons
"His name is Quarsh Panaka." Lord Asimov said outside the cell, even in the depths of the Royal Palace of Theed, the dungeons were fashioned in the baroque architecture, red marble floors with reinforced metal beams on the ceiling. The red laser wall of the cell had a crimson tint to it on one side Lord Asimov and his padawan Ahkilleon Tano stood, the other side was the dark umber skinned Moff Panaka, he sat in a single cell when the other cells were all packed with Imperial Officers, stormtroopers and more. "He was the Captain of the Royal Guard of Naboo almost thirty years ago, three terms as the Queen's personal bodyguard, he even pushed for more robust security after the Ion Pulse." Asimov said as Ahkilleon looked at the man, he sat hunched over looking at the floor.
"I know, he fought at the battle of Rendili, alongside my father." Ahkilleon said, looking at the man with an uneasy stare.
Asimov placed his hands behind his back, "He didn't hesitate to accept the position of Moff when the Empire came to power, he's been the systems governor since the founding of the new order." Asimov said, turning to walk away.
Lingering a moment, Ahkilleon met Panaka's gaze before he followed his Master, "Do we still have enough room to hold all the prisoners Master?"
"The fences we've set up in the landing field will suffice, a handful of more impassioned officers have fled into the jungles, but they'll not be a problem for long." his lordship said, "When we began this campaign you were clear in your intent to what was it, raze it to the ground?"
They entered into a turbo lift and began to rise up the levels of the palace, the lift rose fast with a soft hum of the machines pulling it"A moment of passion, Master." Ahkilleon said, fidgeting a bit as he held his helmet under his arm, the elevator doors opened to the hangar.
"Tempered by a moment of grace?" Asimov asked as the elevator door opened to the starfighter hangar, the hangar had gray floors with marble walls, metal slots held up by Imperial TIE fighters that hadn't launched from the hangar and a few old Yellow Nabooian starfighters, covered in dust. The hangar now had dozens of Militia Gunships that had landed with Imperial Prisoners of war mostly officers being loaded up onto transport ships by B5 battle droids, one of the ships that had landed, was carrying Sabine who got off the ship and looking around, before she spotted both Jedi.
"Isn't mercy a jedi quality?" Ahkilleon asked, "Yes, so it is…" Asimov stopped and Ahkilleon stopped, both of them felt a sudden surge of the dark side rush through them, brought on by the opening of two blast doors to the plasma generator room, "Master?" "Yes, I assume you know the story?"
"Maul, faced two Jedi masters, only one Jedi survived." Ahkilleon said as Sabine approached them, "We'll speak later, the city is rife with your Miracle, Commander." Asimov said.
Ahkilleon blinked "Commander?" he asked as Sabine came up, Asimov walked a few steps ahead "Yes!" He said loudly for the Militia soldiers, pilots and droids to hear him "This victory couldn't have been possible without brave actions of my apprentice and his chosen men, therefore as reward for his act of valor under duress, and the taking of the city. I hereby promote you to the rank of Commander Ahkilleon Tano."
A cheer went up from the men around the hangar and Ahkilleon gapped hearing the praise and promotion, "Master I-" "Graciously accept the promotion, now come we've summoned the Queen to tell her the terms of our occupation."
"Occupation?" Sabine asked.
"I thought Mandalorians were warriors, they are familiar with what happens after territory is taken?" Asimov asked, Sabine and Ahkilleon followed him out of the hangar and down the marble floored hallways. They went up a flight of steps that rounded to another level with Militia forces already patrolling the palace, some with large crates full of 'liberated' items. "I thought we agreed not to loot anything Master?"
"Not from the Naboo, no, but anything Imperial is up for grabs." Asimov said as Ahkilleon kept pace beside him, Sabine took the other side.
Sabine looked at Ahkilleon with a narrow gaze showing she wasn't thrilled about it "What's going to happen to the prisoners?" Sabine asked.
"Your concern for your enemy is very un-mandalorian." Lord Asimov teased, knowing Sabine had a habit of bringing up her culture when it suited her.
"They've surrendered." Sabine pointed out again.
"So they have, that will be discussed with the Queen as Moff Panaka is our prisoner, like his men." They arrived at the doorway to the palace and Asimov turned to Sabine, guarded by two Militia soldiers "I ask that you wait outside Lady Wren, as you are only an observer here."
Sabine scowled at Asimov who entered, "I'll come find you later, I promise." Ahkilleon said, reaching for her.
"Don't bother, I'll find you." She said storming off.
Ahkilleon sighed before he walked into the throne room, the broken table still lay against the wrecked pillar as Lord Asimov took his seat on the throne of Naboo, Ahkilleon stood at his right side and Commander Sigma on the left, "So, you promoted the kid?" Sigma asked.
"Jealous Commander?" Asimov asked, besides Sigma the room was filled with Militia officers, armored or unarmored, humans, Umbarans, Nemodians, Quarren, recently joined Mykapoians, and other Militia races.
The clone grunted as he stiffened, they saw a squat bellied man with curly white hair in a flamboyant dark blue robe waddle up the step, Ahkilleon cocked a brow before the man cleared his throat, a herald. "Presenting her Royal Majesty, Dalné Queen of Naboo who speaks on her people's behalf." The herald finished the sentence and walking up the same steps Ahkilleon had fought through, still stained with the blood of Imperials, a woman dressed head to toe in an outfit that spoke of royalty, it was a dress of dark purple with a frilled white collar, puffed up sleeves that went all the way down to her wrists before they were tapered, the gown fell down like a mountain of swirling purple, her face was painted white with two red dots on each cheek and a small streak of red under her lip, her black hair was held up in a ludicrous headdress that arched out giving her an extra foot of height. Held up with a golden arch and two golden trinkets on the end, that matched the piece of gold around her neck, she was followed by a dozen women dressed in similar purple gowns with hoods, the purple fading into red around their feet. Ahkilleon leaned over to Sigma and Asimov as they approached "Watch the handmaiden's, they're bodyguards and probably have weapons hidden on them." he whispered.
Sigma eyed him and then the women before he gave a curt nod.
Queen Dalné stopped five feet from Asimov, and gave a soft bow, and Ahkilleon thought she'd topple over because of the headdress, "Great Ahkilleon." speaking with a clear mid rim accent. Sigma glanced at Ahkilleon as did many of the other of Asimov's officers, some even snickered, Queen Dalné continued, "You have taken my palace, and Moff Panaka has surrendered Naboo to your armies of the Militia." she said, speaking directly to Lord Asimov who leaned back one arm up rubbing his thumb on his fingers. The men continued to snicker even as Queen Dalné stammered "I come to negotiate, whatever and hopeful peaceful intentions you- you have for my people and our world."
She glanced at Ahkilleon who forced his lip into a line, looking at the floor he couldn't help but smile, he did sit on the throne not too long ago, he gripped his lightsabers clipped to his chest ot rest his hands, and Lord Asimov turned in his chair "Well, what say you Great Ahkilleon?"
The officers all burst out laughing at Asimov playing along with the charade, "Your highness." Ahkilleon returned her bow, "May I present, my Master Warlord of the Jedi, leader of the mightiest fleet in the Militia." He said loudly to the men's approval "The liberator of Raxus, Serenno and Mykapo, scourge of Selecuami, and champion of the Sovereign Destiny, Lord Asimov." he said saluting his fist over his breastplate, the men all responded with a clapping of their fists against their chests.
Dalné was breathing heavily out her nose, embarrassed she held her composure, "Lord Asimov, I-" Asimov held his other hand up to silence her, "'Queen' Dalné…" he said the title with such dismissal "I do not sit here to negotiate anything with you, Moff Panaka was the power here and he is our prisoner, along with his army petition what you will and I will listen."
The Queen straightened up "I ask that you and your army leave Naboo Lord Asimov, we are a peaceful people but we are not easily cowed."
Another chorus of laughter, Asimov waited for them to die down before he spoke "Almost two decades of Imperial overlordship says otherwise. We will leave when we are ready if we don't decide to stay, is that all?"
"If you are to stay, I ask that you spare my people any indignity you have caused any other worlds you've conq- liberated." She corrected herself.
Asimov leaned forward, hands interlocked. "Yes I'm sure your Masters from Coruscant have been hard at work spreading their propaganda of us Barbarians, put your mind at ease Queen, my men have been ordered to secure the city nothing more, once we have what we want."
The Queen looked puzzled, and Asimov nodded to Sigma, "Out." The officers all started to head to the door in a steady flux, Dalné turned to her handmaidens and nodded, "But my lady?" One asked.
"Do as I say." Queen Dalné whispered.
The Handmaid's all turned to leave and then it was just Dalné standing in front of Lord Asimov, Sigma and Ahkilleon. "If I can alleviate any suffering for my people, I will gladly do it."
"So compassionate." Lord Asimov teased, "Very well, tell me the location of the Emperor's Retreat, his hidden fortress on Naboo where he hides his most valued treasures."
Outside the Throne room, Sabine sat on the long end of the hallway up against some steps spinning her helmet in her hands. She looked out at Naboo and saw Hawk fighters in the air before she got up and started to walk around the place, she passed by stained glass windows, with women in dressed of orange and crimson like fire, then she stopped in front of a beautiful window with a woman in a bright red dress, golden headdress, white paint on her face surrounded by blue. She cocked a brow knowing it wasn't her style, but she did smile at the striking colors. She looked over her shoulder and at the top of the stairs looking out the window was Terro, the armored and masked War Jedi was looking down at something. Sabine sat up to peak over the window to see what he was looking at, it was a column of smoke rising, she traced it to its source piled in the courtyard of the city were the bodies of Stormtroopers, and Imperials who resisted, stripped of their armor the Militia had droids throwing the carcasses onto a pyre, conceding their remains to flame. Sabine looked back at Terro and felt something off about him, Ventus came up holding two cups of something, he offered it to Terro but the War Jedi jumped when he noticed his fellow bodyguard, he slapped the tea away and stormed off.
She stood up helmet in hand and walked up the steps, she was looking for someone, something, and she spotted Beetoo rolling through the corridors of the palace, "Hey little guy."
The droid beeped at her, with curiosity and she said "I was hoping you could help me send a message to my rebel friends."
Beetoo replied with a series of beeps and boops before Sabine rolled her eyes "Yes, I promise not to divulge any secrets, you're worse than Chopper… well not that worse. Here are the codes." She said giving Beetoo the codes. Beetoo beeped and rolled over to a balcony and its small antenna and satellite rose out of its dome and it started to search for the signal.
ATOLLON
Chopper Base
Ezra and Kanan were locked in intense training back on Chopper Base, beads of sweat ran down each of the jedi's faces as they spared in different forms to try and match one another's offense to defense. Zeb came out of the Ghost nearby and hollered "We got word from Naboo!"
Both Jedi stopped their sparring and headed into the modified freighter, Chopper had already plugged into the lounge's computer so the hologram came up on the kitchen table. Hera was sitting at it and Sabine was standing there in a small miniature hologram version of herself. "Words coming from Imperial chatter: the Militia took Naboo, the Emperor has called an emergency meeting of the Senate?" Hera said to Sabine.
She put her hands on her hips. "Well, they took it somehow."
"Are you okay?" Ezra asked worriedly.
"I'm fine Ezra, and the good news is the Militia haven't looted or torched the place… yet." Sabine said sheepishly to her crew.
Hera frowned upon hearing it, "That's not their style, I doubt Asimov can keep his rabble in line for that long."
Sabine looked out across the city from the balcony she was on and looked back down to Beetoo, "Hera, I'm not sure the Militia are planning on staying that long, the force they have isn't nearly large enough to fight off the entire Empire's Mid Rim forces, and majority of the fleet has stayed in orbit." She said looking up at the clouds that went by showing the Vanguard Fleet on guard above them in the upper atmosphere.
"Naboo was a secondary objective?" Kanan asked.
"I'm not sure, but Ahkilleon didn't outright say it, this is more than just revenge for the assassination attempt." "WHAT?" Ezra snapped.
Hera and Kanan's faces darted towards one another before Sabine sighed, "Kark, I… may have almost been- I mean I was shot at by an ISB agent who was on Raxus, but I'm fine I swear." Sabine gestured to the burn mark on her armor she'd painted over it, without her drawing attention to it, they wouldn't have noticed it.
"How the hell did an ISB agent get on Raxus?" Zeb asked.
"Lothcat's out of the bag now… from what I can tell this was meant to be a message, a message to the Emperor." "The Emperor, that's it." Hera said standing up and pacing away from the table.
Sabine cocked her brow "What about the Emperor?"
"Naboo isn't just his homeworld, it's also where he hides his Retreat, a sanctuary that the rebel command has been looking for for years."
Ezra turned to his Master, "Kanan?"
"I've heard rumors, mostly from Hera." Kanan added.
"But if they know it's on Naboo why wouldn't a rebel cell try to find it?" Zeb asked, "The Mid Rim suffered a great deal during the early years of the Clone Wars, Naboo… is tricky." Hera explained, she refocused on Sabine.
"Sabine, please be careful the Empire won't let an attack like this go unanswered for long." Hera told them, "At the first sign of trouble, get out of there."
Sabine nodded "I know, I know, I'll be careful."
Back in the Throne Room, Queen Dalné stared at the conquerors "I'm afraid, I know nothing of the Emperor's Retreat, his High- I mean the Emperor did not honor me with an audience, rather he would come here."
"You mean to tell me in the years since the Empire seized power, that you never once visited the Retreat?" Sigma asked him.
Queen Dalné fidgeted looking at the clone, she scanned him up and down "No, Moff Panaka would know which is why I stand here before you to plead for his life."
"You plead for an Imperial Moff?" Ahkilleon asked, "It's his rank and his duty to govern the system, I cannot speak for the treatment of your systems in the Outer Rim, but Moff Panaka is a honorable man who has always treated his people with justice and fairness." Queen Dalné explained as her head bowed, Ahkilleon noticed her neck strain as she kept the position in submission. "Perhaps the Moff knows." Asimov said.
Lord Asimov stood waving "You may go Queen Dalné, we will call for you if we have any need of a puppet."
The Queen rose and backed away before she turned to walk down the stairs, Ahkilleon frowned at his Master and his blunt rude comments, "Don't pity her, the only necessary triumph of evil is when good people do nothing."
"What does that say about Moff Panaka? I sensed she was telling the truth and… my mother told me stories of the Naboo, how they always fought bravely when pressed." Ahkilleon said following Lord Asimov to the exit, the doors opened and Sigma followed him rolling his eyes.
Lord Asimov passed through his officers who followed him at a distance, "The Naboo have had over sixteen years to fight bravely against the Empire, look at this place." Sigma said with disgust gesturing to all the fine art on the walls, the carved pillars, stained glass windows "They've grown fat from the Empire's power, while they sip wine in the shade slaves across the Outer Rim toil away in spice mines." Sigma said.
"Then how about we put a stop to those mines after we leave here." Ahkilleon said.
"Not before we go to the Retreat, which we must still find." Lord Asimov said cutting him off, he looked to the two of them, "Commander Sigma, see where the Imperial forces are gathering the Retreat will be well fortified and our orbital scans may show something."
Ahkilleon stood up straight "And me Master?"
"You Commander Tano, have a special mission." Lord Asimov said, "Take the day off."
"What?" Ahkilleon asked.
"This is your victory Ahkilleon, walk the streets you conquered, I would have the men see their Champion." Lord Asimov said, arm aloft gesturing out into Theed, "We will summon you when we have a lead on the Retreat." Ahkilleon blushed a bit at the praise, he noticed Sabine standing by Beetoo near the balcony "If you… say so Master."
Ahkilleon moved away from his Master, Sigma and the other officers who started to disperse behind him, and he approached Sabine, "Glad to see you two are getting along." He said, rubbing the top of Beetoo's head.
"I never figured you'd take a liking to an astro droid?" Sabine said looking at Beetoo, the yellow and blue R2 unit beeped at them with his green eye blinking orange.
"Well, something about them and the Jedi just fit, my mothers Master had one, and my father had a probe droid." Ahkilleon said as they started to walk down some steps, Beetoo rocketed down them and kept pace as they strode to the Palace exterior.
Sabine didn't speak for a while, "So what now?"
"I'm not sure I can tell Sabine, but we won't loot the city or accost the civilians here." Ahkilleon said as they came to a side door that led out the palace and down an inclined walkway. Sabine smiled hearing that and brushed some of her hair behind her head as they walked into the outer grounds of the palace, surrounded by Militia who saluted as Ahkilleon came by others' cheers and hollar's of victory for him.
"You're growing quite popular?" Sabine said as they headed into one of the main streets, passing by many beautiful buildings, fountains, trees in public gardens. The Militia had spread out across the city, the droids patrolled it while Militia soldiers lounged under the shade of trees or ate food at cafes.
A group of Militia on mustang speeders rode by and shouted "Hail Ahkilleon, Tiger of the Militia!"
"Tiger of the Militia?" Sabine asked looking him up and down, "The Jedi have always been symbols of Sabine, if these men see me as something that can inspire hope in them and fear in our enemies, I'm all the more for it."
She followed him across a bridge over a canal and stopped "That's very humble." she teased.
"What, you'd prefer I be like Kanan, hold back, hide who I am?" Ahkilleon asked her.
"That's not fair, Kanan had to hide so did you when you were with us." Sabine said walking up to him and taking his hand "We all did, we were wanted by the Empire remember?"
He squeezed her hand "Good."
"Good?" She asked.
Ahkilleon held his arm up "Look around you Sabine, we took the city, the planet with minimal casualties, I didn't lose a single man in the attack, that's not just the force with me, that's providence." he said clutching a fist "The Militia is the Way."
"I don't know, by the way where are we going?" She asked.
Ahkilleon pulled her hand "To pay our respects."
Sabine followed Ahkilleon to the very edge of the city, they passed by other Militia but as they went further to the edge it was more B5 battle droids and frightened Nabooian civilians. The people shut their doors and they could hear doors being locked as they passed, "Fear in your enemies?" Sabine asked.
Ahkilleon remained silent until they walked out of the city edge and onto a cobbled pathway passing by, large works of art, and stones with writing on them, "A graveyard?" Sabine asked him.
He remained silent, as he walked past tombstones and mausoleum till they came to another staircase carved from solid rock, it led down into a grove with a rock wall on one side, trees surrounding the rest and in the center was a lone mausoleum with four corners, a dome like the rest of the city showing it wasn't a very old tomb. There was a statue of a woman standing in front of it. The woman wore a radiant gown with a shining headdress and arched hair of a Queen, "Wait, I saw this woman in the palace on one of the stained glass windows?"
Ahkilleon walked down the winding stone steps that curved three times before reaching the statue, there was a long rectangular doorway behind the statue, and above the ground was a sarcophagus, another statue was carved on it's led showing the queen in a more simple garb, her hair laid out along with the dress. Sabine looked at the tomb's name "Padme Amidala?"
"She was the Queen and Republic Senator for Naboo, and a dear friend of my mother." Ahkilleon said walking in, he placed his hand on the sarcophagus. "The stories she told me, she was more than a Senator she was hero who fought for people of the Republic even as the Clone Wars raged, and just when I thought she was just some ordinary politician, my mom would tell me stories of her escaping a prison, spying for the Republic, uncovering sinister plots she was… heh a lot like you." Ahkilleon squeezed the stone with his right arm and his left mechano arm so tight Sabine heard the metal groan.
He breathed out a heavy sigh "And she died, right before the Empire began, just like my father, the Jedi, and so many others."
"Where are you going with this?" She asked.
He faced her and replied "We had to attack Naboo, we're going to raid the Emperor's private retreat, who knows what treasure we'll find there, and I want you to come with us."
"I'm just supposed to be an observer, I don't know if I can." Ahkilleon walked up to her "You're telling me you don't want to steal from the Emperor himself, from the man- the monster who took away everything from us, not just our homes, our family but our future, a future that she should have been in?" He pointed back to Padme Amidala's tomb.
Sabine mulled it over before she nodded.
LATER
Naboo security Tower
Deep in the Palace, Sigma stood around a holotable made up of old Republic tech with some imperial monitors added into the floor, Sigma was looking at a holographic model of Naboo, the Militia in green over the planet and fighters flying over the planet, a few small red circles were over the swamps and jungles, Lord Asimov stood over the holotable looking at it. "Commander." Ahkilleon said walking in with Sabine by his side.
"Cap- Commander, thought you had the day off?" Sigma asked him.
Ahkilleon looked to Sabine, "I want to be here sir."
"Very well." Asimov said, "We've tracked a majority of the forces who fled the city and refused Panaka's order to surrender through the swamps, west of the city of Moenia." Asimov said, pointing to a red marker on the map with red dots moving toward it.
"Excuse me my Lord?" Sigma asked as he looked at Sabine, "The Mando?"
Asimov looked to Ahkilleon, "If we're hoping to attempt to break into the Emperor's retreat, we need someone who knows how to break into places, Sabine is the best saboteur, hacker and everything else we need rolled into one." Ahkilleon said, smiling at her.
Sigma rolled his eyes, "If my apprentice vouches for her, she is welcome to join us." Asimov continued, "We sent a vulture droid to scout the area west of Moenia, there we found a lake overlooking the structure." Asimov changed the image of the planet to show a large complex structure sitting among the hills of Naboo, overlooking the tranquil lake. Leading to the retreat was a long and wide road, large enough to accommodate the Empire's All Terrain Armored Transports. High walls and guard towers surrounded the facility, and security patrols kept watch outside, there was also a large landing pad behind the main building that could fit at least a dozen small fighters or shuttles. Banners depicting the Imperial Crest insignia adorned throughout various towers. The retreat itself was a multi-story structure, styled with green-domed roofs built in the typical Naboo baroque architecture.A wide stone concourse lined the backside of the building, with a balcony overlooking the lake. The retreat's front was outfitted with a veranda around it.
"At first we thought it was the Moff's residence, but he has a Chalet on one of the moons, and this one has these insignias."
They zoomed in on one banner on one of the towers, it was a red outlined banner with the imperial insignia in crimson on a black field, "That's the crimson guard, specifically utilized by the Emperor's Royal Guard." Sabine said, looking at it.
"Very good, the Royal Guard are handpicked from the Stormtrooper corp, the best of the Empire." Sigma said.
Sabine leaned on the table, as Asimov continued "We're expecting a large force at the retreat, more and more arriving there every day so we need to move fast." Asimov said.
"It'll be protected by a sophisticated security system, and heavily defended." Sabine stated looking it over "And if they've defied the Moff's order, they'll dig in and hold out till the Empire sends reinforcements?" Sabine added.
"Then we attack now, Sigma and I will lead the main assault, Lady Wren. Do any of your expertise see a way in?" Lord Asimov asked her.
Sabine narrowed her eyes at the holotable walking around it, she looked at the wide bridge that would be where the defenses would be the heaviest, in addition the high walls would have snipers, and the towers too. She looked at the waterfalls and smiled, she looked at Ahkilleon with a twinkle in her eyes and he smiled back "Really? Again?"
"It worked last time."
"Yeah, but that was an asteroid with purgill?"
"Scared?" she asked him, Ahkilleon rolled his eyes and she just smiled "I'm not going to look at you Sabine."
She leaned over still smiling, "I know you want too."
"What are you two talking about?" Sigma asked them, which made Ahkilleon look over at him with a smile "You're going to love it Sigma."
The clone glared at the two teens "No."
"Yes." Lord Asimov replied, "What did you have in mind, Lady Wren?"
WEST OF THE CITY OF MOENIA
A fleet of Militia Gunships were flying towards the Retreat, the bay doors open, behind them had Hyena Mark 2 bombers and a swarm of Vulture droids, the Retreat itself was heavily fortified the Imperials had brought out every metal guard and battlement they could, with two AT-AT walkers and when they spotted the Militia alarms started to sound and the bombers flew ahead with the Vulture droids. Anti Aircraft guns that had yet to be reinforced opened fire on the fighters taking out a few of them before the bombers dropped their payloads down on the large walkway taking out an AT-AT walker's head in the process, it wobbled and slammed into the second sending the second off the walkway.
The majority of the gunships landed outside the retreat and four more flew around with their bay doors opened, E-web turrets had been welded onto the sides and they were using the gunships as mobile turrets opening fire on the Stormtroopers who now had to hold off a ground assault. Lord Asimov and Commander Sigma leapt out of their gunship with Ventus and Terro, "Shield Wall!" Sigma shouted the Militia forces forming up in the same lines as Ahkilleon and his men used during the assault on Theed.
The bulk amassing behind them, Asimov knelt behind Sigma, "This is Asimov to Shatterpoint, send the droids."
From up above the Stormtroopers on guard heard thunder, but the sky was clear dropping down from the sky itself like giant metal meteors were Militia Droch boarding pods that crashed into the ground outside the walkway, three of them and they were larger than the Separatist models, jumping out of them were B2 battle droids that started to form a line opening fire taking the bulk of Imperial laser, "Advance." Lord Asimov said activating his lightsaber, Sigma and Terro activated theirs, the jedi leaping over the shield wall and leading the charge.
Up in the skies above, Ahkilleon and Sabine were in a lone gunship, "I think my Master got their attention?" Ahkilleon said, helmet under his arm, the bay doors open.
Sabine slipped her helmet on, "Been wanting to try this out." She said gesturing to her jetpack, she looked at Ahkilleon "Where's yours?"
"Jedi don't need jetpacks." He said as he put his helmet on, "Besides, it's too late for falling, I already fell for you, Rainbow."
Sabine groaned, leaning back, "You're lucky you're cute." she said before she jumped out of the gunship hundreds of feet in the air, Ahkilleon and Sabine in a dead drop, the battle raging around them. TIE fighters had taken to the air against the Vulture droids and a few Hawk Fighters that had joined the fray. Lord Asimov was halfway across the bridge with the Stomtroopers not giving any ground except for their blood. Even though the Militia had shields, vibroswords and hatchets the Stomtroopers fought savagely using their knives using their blasters as clubs. Five of them rushed Asimov and he swung his greatsaber into all of them, cleaving them in half.
Up above Sabine had caught up with Ahkilleon and the two of them were face to face, upside down free falling before they started to spin. "We're getting close?" Sabine asked.
"You'll pull up before I do." Ahkilleon said as they fell towards the main dome.
"With what, the force?" Sabine asked him.
"Catch me if I don't?" Ahkilleon asked.
Sabine was smiling under her helmet as they were about to go splat on the roof of the Emperor's retreat, only for Sabine to pull up at the last second before Ahkilleon somersaulted in mid air using the force to slow his descent, landing on both feet. Sabine flew up landing gracefully on her jetpack "Show off."
"You love it." He said taking out his lightsaber and starting to carve a hole.
"Master, Sabine and I have reached the roof now." Ahkilleon said into his comlink, Sabine looked down and saw the Militia were pushing the stormtroopers back those who had chosen to try and fall back near the main battlements outside the entrance, the walls were manned by more stormtroopers who were opening fire behind to massive blast doors of reinforced durasteel. "No codenames?" She asked.
"We don't hide Sabine." Ahkilleon said as he cut the hole in the roof and slipped in, Sabine followed and they landed inside a garden?
The main dome of the central keep was a garden, they landed on soft grass full of flowers, small stress, a man made stream with a sandy center, with small tables in the corners around rocks that the stream fell into. "What is this place?" Sabine asked, taking out her blasters, "A meditation chamber?" Ahkilleon observed before he stood up lightsabers out but not on.
"So what are we looking for?" Sabine asked.
Ahkilleon noticed a nearby doorway and headed to it, Ahkilleon walked into a hallway with mouse droids squeaking as the battle raged outside, "The Emperor's inner sanctum." Ahkilleon said as they ran past large windows seeing the exterior, on the inside of the walls the stormtroopers were running up and down flights of stairs while the Militia advanced relentlessly on the walls. Sabine followed Ahkilleon and as they ran down a flight of stairs three stormtroopers spotted them "You there-" Sabine shot one and another was cut down by Ahkilleon before he used the force to blast the other into the wall.
The fighting brought more stormtroopers, most likely the reserves in the palace who opened fire on them, Ahkilleon activated both his lightsabers and started to deflect them running toward them while Sabine followed shooting. The young jedi was a storm of red and blue laser swords hacking off limbs and deflecting laser bolts, Sabine joined the fray with ferocity only a Mandalorian would have, kicking and shooting as she rolled out of the way of blaster fire and got back to back to back with Ahkilleon cutting their way free till Sabine turned to another stormtrooper who dropped his blaster "Don't shoot!" he cried.
Sabine hesitated before the Stormtrooper pulled out a thermal detonator and rushed her in a suicide attack, "Sabine!" Ahkilleon used the force to blast the stormtrooper off his feet back down the hallway, before the detonator exploded sending bits of armor and flesh everywhere in a bloody mess. "What-?" Sabine gasped.
"Sabine, are you okay?" Ahkilleon rushed over to her, helping her up. She looked over at the stain on the floor that was once a stormtrooper and she shook off the shock, "F-fine." She stammered, "Let's keep moving, what are we looking for?"
"We're looking for a door, a vault, the Emperor's inner sanctum where he keeps his private computer, holocrons, we steal everything." Ahkilleon said walking into another chamber, the doors opened for them and the two froze.
At the end of a long corridor, with baroque architecture lining the walls were pillars of crimson and gold, was a great black marble door with the Imperial seal on it, and standing out in front of it were two men, equal height garbed in bright crimson cloaks and plastoid helmets with a narrow black visor, the Royal Guard.
Two of them both holding force pikes, "Force Pikes," Sabine whispered "They have a vibro-edged head. They also have a stun setting, and are capable of causing immense pain at their lowest setting. At the highest setting, the pikes can cut through durasteel."
"Don't get cut, get it." Ahkilleon whispered following Sabine glanced at one another behind their helmets visors and slowly approached them, "It's over, the walls will be breached and this place will be overrun." Sabine said, raising her blasters "Lay down your arms and surrender."
Neither Guardsman moved or lowered their pikes "You defile this sacred place barbarians, your transgression will be paid for in blood." One said, both walked forward and it was impossible to guess which one had spoken.
Ahkilleon raised his sabers enguard "The only blood that's going to be spilt here is yours." Ahkilleon said as they raised their force pikes, in high guards, one on the left the other on the right, focused on Sabine and Ahkilleon, "We will gladly die in service to our Emperor, sorcerer."
"Then die well." Ahkilleon said holding one saber up high the other low, Sabine cocked her blasters and the two versus two dual began.
Outside the Sanctum, Lord Asimov force leapt up the walls of the Retreat and onto the battlements, Terro and Ventus did the same not far off and the jedi cut their way across the ramparts, stormtroopers and Imperial officers trying to fight off the waves of Militia that were pouring over the walls. Terro rammed his green saber into a man's chest and then used his body as a shield before he force pushed others off the walls as he laughed. "Brother?" Ventus called to him.
"Come on Ventus, there's more than enough for the both of us." Terro cackled as he jumped off the wall, "This isn't the plan of attack!" Ventus shouted.
"THEN ATTACK!" He shouted landing in the courtyard, Terro engaged a group of Stormtroopers, some of them dropped their blasters hands up in surrender only for Terro to slice their arms off the last thing they saw under the eyes of Terro's mask were yellow.
In the Sanctuary Entrance, the two Crimson Guards were back to back as Sabine and Ahkilleon attacked them, Sabine opened fire but the two guards moved almost like Jedi, deflecting her blaster shots with their force pikes, and Ahkilleon couldn't break the guard of the one he was fighting, even with two lightsabers and his great speed, the Guardsman braced himself back to back with his comrade. Ahkilleon went high and the Guardsman raised his force pike with one hand and braced it on his forearm to block Ahkilleons two lightsabers, his boot hidden by the folds of his red robe smashed Ahkilleon in the breastplate knocking him back. The Guard stabbed forward off his brother who did the same with his pike and Ahkilleon dodged at the last second before trying to take the man's arms, Sabine almost had her head taken off before she summersalted away shooting back but they moved like snakes twisting back together. They spun so fast the invaders lost track of who was who.
They broke off again on the offense, Ahkilleon caught the first ones attack and tried to counter but again they evaded, one of them even got through his defense with their hand shooting out to grab Ahkilleon by the neck under his throat, he felt them grip his adam's apple in an attempt to crush it, Ahkilleon used the force to blast him away coughing. Hearing him stagger Sabine lowered her guard "Ahki-AAHH!"
Her Royal Guard pressed the advantage stabbing the tip of his force pike, had rammed itself right above Sabine's breastplate and below the shoulder pieces, it had gotten caught from going directly through and the Guardsman forced Sabine back up against one of the pillars, she grabbed onto the pike but the Royal Guard twisted the handle and Sabine screamed as he channeled the full power of the Force Pyke into her, the paint of her armor, fabric of her body glove and her own flesh burned. "SABINE!" Ahkilleon roared, he raised his hand at her attacker and the Royal Guard Ahkilleon was fighting got in front to protect his comrade, but instead of a force push Ahkilleon unleashed a blast of force lightning, raising his force pike to block the lighting the metal pol shattered into a thousand pieces tattering the robes of the crimson guard before he was knocked off his feet and smashed into a pillar.
The Royal Guard who had skewered Sabine unsheathed his weapon from Sabine making her drop to the floor before he tried to out flank Ahkilleon, focusing his force lighting on the second, Ahkilleon did the same to Sabine's attacker, and he tossed away his Force Pyke knowing it would be useless and dove behind a pillar for cover the force lighting hammered pieces of stone from the marble pillar, Ahkilleon ran over to Sabine who was down clutching her shoulder blood running from it, "Sabine?" He got down to his knee, and saw she was already pulling out a bacta patch to slap onto her wound, "Look out!" Sabine saw one of the Royal Guards had drawn a blaster pistol and she pulled him out of the way to shoot at him, pulling Ahkilleon and herself behind the pillar, there were so many in the entrance it was hard to tell where the second Crimson Guard was or the second.
"Where are they?" Sabine asked.
Ahkilleon peaked his head out and saw a flash of red cloak before a blaster bolt nipped the tips of his helmet's fins, "How?" one of the Royal Guards asked.
Both Ahkilleon and Sabine looked at one another "How do you have the Emperor's power?"
Ahkilleon heard the question, "My power is my own." Ahkilleon said getting up, "Come and I'll show you why your Master fears me!" Ahkilleon shouted walking out from the pillar.
As he emerged, so did the two Royal Guards, their robes torn up but still identical, "Blasphemy." one of them said, they dropped their blaster pistols and instead produced two metal rods, bulkier than the pykes with leather grips and, it had cupped ends with four fin like spikes around it, Ahkilleon heard a gust of air and a sound like knives drawn and saw out of each end were blades, two double bladed vibroswords. Four blades against his two.
Outside the Sanctuary, Terro continued his slaughter in the courtyard even when the gates finally fell open and the Militia poured in, those who didn't run either held their ground or dropped their blasters in surrender. Ventus came down the steps of the walls and saw Terro walking toward an Imperial cadet who was dragging A stormtrooper who had lost his legs away in a bloody trail. "Terro!" Ventus called out as Terro held his saber up, his robes drenched in blood, "Brother it's over!" Ventus ran for Terro, dropping his own Saber he grabbed Terro's arms before he could strike.
"No, kill them- KILL THEM ALL!"
"Terro!" Lord Asimov shouted, making both Bodyguards freeze, Terro broke off from Ventus' saber still on and in his hands "That's enough." Asimov said sheathing his lightsaber, Terro looked at Asimov and at Ventus and at the Cadet who was still clutching the fallen Stormtrooper. Terro looked at them like prey before he slammed his lightsaber down and walked off. Commander Sigma and a line of regulars blocked his path "Let him go." Lord Asimov ordered.
Sigma grunted to the men and they let Terro pass, "Now, where's my apprentice?"
Inside the Sanctuary, the fight had become a brutal melee, vicious, fast, and unyielding. The two Royal Guards had engaged Ahkilleon one on two, wielding their double bladed vibroswords with precise strikes and slashes, Ahkilleon using both his lightsabers and all his training to hold his own against them and remain in control. Of the fight, he made sure not to let either of them get behind him or get around to Sabine who had moved from the pillar, the bacta patch had slowed the bleeding but a stream of it was running down her right arm from where she'd been stabbed and could barely lift the arm, it took all her strength to put her blaster pistol back in the holster. She tried to get a shot off on her good arm but the fighters were moving so fast she couldn't risk hitting Ahkilleon who made sure to stay between them and her. Ahkilleon blocked one of them and jumped to avoid a low slash, he parried a second blow before he flipped back to Sabine.
"Get out of the way!" she shouted trying to get a shot off.
"You're in no condition to fight!" Ahkilleon yelled back at her, not turning his head "Neither of you are leaving this place alive." The Royal Guard on Ahkilleons left said the right one held his blades up like a spear pointed at him "We vow it in our honor."
"I SPIT ON YOUR HONOR!" Ahkilleon hundred at them, his anger rising "You serve a tyrant, your Empire seizes worlds, people and futures that were never theirs." Ahkilleon spat at them.
The Royal Guards moved around him slowly, he had each lightsaber pointed at them "This is our home, our land, you're the invader sorcerer." One said in an ice cold tone he attacked hacking down on Ahkilleon who blocked the other walking watching waiting for a moment to strike as the first swung to the left right and spun back around. "We watched as boys when Droids first marched into Theed, we would rather die than suffer occupation under the hands of outlanders." the other said his words venom, he raced towards Ahkilleon lunging at him with a flurry of strikes holding his vibrosword like a spear before he backed off the other leaping over him. "We were too young to fight for our home then." Ahkilleon blocked and parried before they pushed Ahkilleon and Sabine up against the corner, "But our Emperor has given us the strength, the training and the power to defend our home from Demon's like you."
Ahkilleon looked at each of them, their words cutting deeper than their blades, Sabine had been listening too, "Ahkilleon…" "No, this is the life we chose, I made my choice and so did they." Ahkilleon said changing his footing, he flipped his saber's in his hands in a reverse grip, and attacked. The Royal Guards charged and Ahkilleon caught the first blade, the other glancing off his armor, he blocked another attack from behind his back and lifted his leg to avoid losing it, kicking one of the Guardsmen in the chest. He flung both sabers behind his back blocking the other before he spun around, hacking and slashing at the second guard's vibrosword. Though he was backing up he matched Ahkilleon blow for blow, Ahkilleon change tactics spinning in a whirlwind of red and blue sabers one by one, before he sliced upward cleaving the weapon by the hilt with his blue saber and stabbing the Guardsman through the chest into the wall. The guardsman dropped his broken vibrosword and grabbed Ahkilleon by his armor and shouted "DO IT!" Ahkilleon looked over his shoulder to see the first Guardsmen had leapt into the air ready to bring his blade down on the anchored Ahkilleon, the killing blow a feint to give the first guard an opening.
But a blaster bolt ripped through the side of the first Guards helmet and he collapsed dead on the floor, Sabine's pistol smoking having finally seen her chance.
She lowered her arm and the second Guard started to lose his grip as his last ounce of strength failed him "You will… die… here." The Guard said his last breath "Demon."
Ahkilleon pushed him off and pulled his helmet off to get some air, his face was sweaty and he clipped his sabers to his chest harness, "Let me take a look at that." Ahkilleon said, walking up to Sabine, to check her wound. Sabine removed her helmet wincing from the pain "I'm fine."
"You got stabbed by a force pike, you're not fine." he said as he looked at her wound "This is Tano, I need medics to upper levels."
"Glad you're alive, Apprentice, we've nearly secured the complex." Lord Asimov said through the comlink.
Ahkilleon smiled seeing the battle was practically won, "I said I'm fine, I'll see Corto after this okay?" Sabine said looking at the black marble doors of the Emperor's Sanctuary, "How are you going to do it, hack the door?" Ahkilleon asked.
Sabine looked at him annoyed, "Right, explosives."
BOOM
Sabine had planted the charges and blown the marble door to kingdom come, before the two of them walked into the Emperor's Sanctuary, it was a large round room with windows close to the ceiling except for one, that was a giant round window that looked out across the great lake. Inside there was a desk with a soft cushioning chair, on an elevated platform a grand bed and meditation matt with incense burning. Grand tapestries and works of art adorned the walls with shelves filled with relics, artifacts and "Holocrons?" Ahkilleon said as he walked up to them, there were dozens of them, all cube shaped in varying sizes, Sabine went over to the computer "The Emperor's terminal… his private terminal, Ahkilleon, this could have information the rebellion has only dreamed of?" Sabine said as she sat down in the chair.
"Emrap." Sabine grunted.
"What is it?" he asked, "You'd think the Emperor of the Galaxy could have a comfy chair."
Ahkilleon fought off a laugh but chuckled anyway as he looked through the relics, before he saw "Stars Above." Ahkilleon said at the top of the shelves of relics and holocrons, was the holocron, thrice as big as the one Kanan had or the one Ezra had found on Malachor, shaped pentagonal dodecahedron composed of twelve regular pentagonal faces. Its transparent crystal facets revealed the inner mechanisms, and were held together by fine electrum frames. Ahkilleons eyes widened as he used the force to lift it off the mantle and float it down to him, almost as big as his head he clutched it gently like it would shatter if he didn't hold it right "What is it, another jedi holocron?" Sabine asked.
Ahkilleon shook his head slowly, smiling "Not just any holocron, THE holocron, the Great Holocron of the Jedi Temple, this has knowledge dating back to the founding of the Order, the Fall of Xendor, the first Freedon Nadd Uprising, Redemption of Ulic-Qel Droma, Sabine this is the history of the Jedi of my people." Ahkilleon rubbed its crystalline exterior and pressed his head against it.
"The Jedi Will Never Die." he muttered as he went over to the bed and started to wrap the holocron up in the blankets, he was still smiling before in the corner of his eye he noticed the bodies of the two dead Royal Guards and their words, still haunting him not about being invaders or a demon, but how they would die here? "How long do you need to hack the terminal?" Ahkilleon asked, his smile fading as he started to sense the truth, he looked over at the window and felt a presence he hadn't felt in a long time.
Sabine looked down at it, "Oh… stars I don't even know where to begin. This is the most complex system I've ever seen, I'll need… days?"
"We have to go." Ahkilleon said, putting his helmet on "Now." He tucked the great holocron under his arm, "What, but this has information that could help us beat the Empire?" Sabine asked.
He ran up to the desk "This is a trap." "What, how?"
"The Royal Guards, they said we'd die here, you saw them, how they fought they weren't trying to kill us, they were trying to stall us until we forced their hands, Ahkilleon held up his comlink "Master, we have to evacuate, it's a trap."
"What?" Lord Asimov asked.
"It's just like Ryloth, Master." Ahkilleon said urgently as he grabbed Sabine's hand she hadn't even gotten started on hacking.
Outside the retreat, Lord Asimov has his finger to his ear next to Sigma and Ventus who had their comlinks on, "You're certain Padawan?"
"He's coming Master." Ahkilleon said.
Sigma cocked a brow "He, he who?" he asked, Ventus raised his head and sensed it too, after Asimov had "It can't be." Ventus said in a hushed voice.
"My lord, who is coming?" Sigma asked, Lord Asimov looked out of the open gate of the Retreat, across the bridge that was covered in bodies and broken droids, wrecked machinery still burning smoke that shrouded his advance and emerging from the fire and black smoke like born from it, clad head to toe in a black leather with a cape, helmet black against the sky red tinted eye holes he approached and hell followed with him.
Ahkilleon ran out of the sanctum, holding Sabine's hand out into the hallway then froze, whispering "He is here."
He stood outside the Retreat alone, red lightsaber in hand was Darth Vader.