Chapter 38
Return of Vader
NABOO
Imperial Retreat
The Retreat had fallen to the Militia, its great towers had crumbled and the gates broken with smoke rising from the interior of the yard. The Militia had taken the retreat in a matter of hours but it had all been a trap, standing outside the gates among the dead stormtroopers who had fought valiantly for their Emperor and his sanctuary. All for the Emperor's enforcer standing outside the battlements lightsaber in hand was Darth Vader.
Lord Asimov stood in the middle of the gates with Commander Sigma along with Ventus one of his bodyguards, the rest of the strike force amassed behind Lord Asimov, Ahkilleon ran out a burgundy bundle under his arm, hiding the jewel of the Jedi Order, the Great Holocron. "Master?" Ahkilleon ran up to him with Sabine who had her arm in a sling now, they pushed their way to the front of the battalion.
Ahkilleon froze when he saw Vader, the Dark Lord was standing there at the halfway mark of the long bridge, his black cape flowing in the wind, Commander Sigma started barking orders "I want every sharp shooter and grenadier on the walls, gunships, prepare to do fly over-" "No." Lord Asimov said.
"No, he's right there, and who knows what other forces are following." Sigma stated.
"He's right Master, there has to be more, this is like Ryloth." Ahkilleon argued.
Sigma looked at him "Ryloth was a fluke-" "No, it was a trap like this, we took the planet to easily, the Empire would respond somehow, this is it, we took the bait the Emperor's retreat, our force in Theed and around the planet, scattered and unprepared for a siege."
"We can conscript the populace, build droid factories." Sigma countered.
"And lose our entire army in the process, Master, we must withdraw."
"I say attack." Terro said pushing through the crowd, "He's a monster, he's right there, all alone we just need to attack." Terro argued.
Ahkilleon gritted his teeth "If we do that, we play right into his hands."
"Isn't that the same monster who killed your father, your mother, the entire ORDER!" Terro shouted at him, Ahkilleon ignored him "And this is the future of the Order, but not if we lose it." Ahkilleon held out the treasure "The Great Holocron?" Ventus gasped seeing it.
"Enough." Lord Asimov silenced them all, "Commander Sigma send a message to Theed to order planet wide evacuation, Padawan get our remaining gunships here now and see to the evacuation of our men wounded first. Ventus, Terro with me."
Ahkilleon half sighed in relief, "Wait, what are you doing Master?"
"We are going to buy you all time, Padawan." he replied as he walked towards Terro and Ventus following "No, Master, that's what he wants."
"And all I've ever wanted for the past fifteen years, was to fight him." Lord Asimov said drawing his lightsaber, "First he desecrated our Temple, then he hunted us like animals across the stars, he laid the foundation for the Emperor and nearly two decades of suffering all because of this- thing!" Lord Asimov said, raising his lightsaber pointing at him "If we lose you Master we-" "Will have lost one jedi, but if we kill him we gain an Empire, now do as I say- GO!" Asimov shouted to all of his men, Terro and Ventus walked with Asimov down the bridge, lightsabers drawn.
Sigma slipped his helmet on "You heard em ladies, get moving, Sigma to Theed, Evac now all forces to evacuate the planet." he said into his comlink in his helmet, Ahkilleon watched his Master and the other two War Jedi head down the bridge.
"Ahkilleon." Sabine shook him, and he looked to her she pointed up to gesture to something in the sky, Ahkilleon looked up to see a small triangle shaped spec and then another, and another then a dozen a full Imperial fleet, Ahkilleon pulled his helmet on "Commander Tano to all gunships, we need immediate pickup at our location." Ahkilleon ordered "The Empire has returned."
At the middle of the bridge, Lord Asimov flanked on each side by Terro and Ventus stood down Darth Vader, "Do not let his size fool you, he's faster than he appears, remember your training, strike hard, strike fast." Lord Asimov told them.
"We will be careful, my lord." Ventus said, drawing his blue one.
"With pleasure." Terro ignited his green saber.
Lord Asimov raised his saber "Dark Lord, whatever you hoped to find here, all you will find is your end." Asimov turned on his yellow greatsaber and pointed at Darth Vader, who had his red lightsaber already on.
"The end is all that is left for the Jedi." Vader replied.
The three Jedi attacked Darth Vader all at once, the sith slid his foot back ready for them. Asimov went for a piercing thrust, Ventus went high and Terro swung low, Vader dodged Asimov, he blocked Ventus and grabbed Terro by his face mask slamming him into the ground, and like a whirlwind he swung his red lightsaber at Asimov who broke off. Terro howled in fury using the force to push Darth Vader off him before he rolled back. Asimov swung at Darth Vader who met him, not pushed back he went forward and Ventus tried to outflank him, Darth Vader blocked him and Terro attacked again head on. Vader's lightsaber moved faster than their eyes could see as he blocked and parried each of their blows.
Back behind the walls of the Retreat's Citadel, gunships were landing kicking up dust and sending leaves flying, Ahkilleon had his arm wrapped tightly around the bundle of cloth holding the Great Holocron, but he and Sabine were helping a wounded Regular into the gunship, "Gently, gently." Ahkilleon said as they rested the man down, his helmet had been knocked off and he was bleeding from her forehead and eyes, wrapped around in a bandage, the skin around her cheeks and jaw was pale "What's your name soldier?" Ahkilleon asked.
She looked at the sound of his voice, "Reese…" She whispered weakly, Ahkilleon pressed the holocron into her arms "Guard this with your life."
She wrapped her arms around it and the gunship was soon full of wounded, "Go, go." Ahkilleon said hitting the gunship on the side, other Gunships landed to take its place. Militia forces were gathering in the yard in units of a dozen or so lining up to board Gunships as they came in.
Ahkilleon could hear the sounds of lightsabers bouncing off one another and he continued to fight the urge to go and join his Master in combat, Sabine had her arm still in a sling and looked at the pain on his face. "Ahkilleon." She looked up and they saw a squadron of TIE fighters strafe the skies, their roaring engines like banshees screeching along the sky. They took out one of the gunships but it wasn't the one Reese was on. "We're wide open here." Sigma shouted from cover.
"No we aren't." Ahkilleon ran to the steps of the walls and used the force to propel himself onto one of the domes, he took out his lightsabers and twisted one of the nobs controlling the intensity of the blade and its length pushing them to the max. Two of the TIE's were coming back for another pass, Ahkilleon leapt into the air and just as it passed over he turned on his lightsabers passing between both of them slicing both TIE's wings off sending them into a wild tail spin outside the palace walls.
All the way back across the planet's surface in the streets of Theed, the Militia forces were scrambling to the landing fields boarding the troop transports, TIE fighters had descended down on them and were opening fire on the city, dropping bombs and lighting up buildings with green cannon fire. Lt. Breacher was in the landing field waving men onto one of the larger transports, the Militia while under duress were moving in sync lines of three aboard the ship, "Come on come on-" Breacher looked up to see a row of bombers fly overhead and start to drop bombs on the city "Stars in heaven." he said as his men got aboard.
He boarded the vessel too and held onto the outer door as it rose up, the Militia Vanguard returning to the skies once they came, among the men with them. On his knees handcuffed behind his back was Moff Panaka, "No… no, why are they attacking the city they do anything?" Panaka asked, he tried to stand as if to give orders, but the Militia forced him to his knees to watch.
Back at the Retreat, Vader held his own against Asimov and his disciples, Vader moved in between the three, Terro swung madly at Vader who kicked him in the chest sending the War Jedi off his feet and into one of the fallen AT-AT's, Ventus came at him and Vader forced the other jedi back on the defense, moving like a juggernaut of black iron toward Ventus who stepped back defending himself. Asimov appeared, breaking Vader's advance, meeting him blade for blade. "You're command of a lightsaber is most impressive, but I sense the darkside with in you all." Vader told them.
"Fear." he looked at Ventus, "Anger." He said looking at Asimov, "Hate." He said as Terro rose coughing.
Asimov broke the blade lock before he used a blast of force lighting at Vader, but the sith deflected it into Ventus with his lightsaber, Ventus nearly flew off the bridge grabbing onto the ledge before he could fall to his death.
"Help him." Asimov shouted at Terro, "I'll help him by killing this son of a bitch!" Terro roared rushing Vader, the Sith Lord parried Asimov and caught Terro's lightsaber, he twirled his red sword against the Jedi's green one and with one upward slice took Terro's left arm at the shoulder and then almost taking Terro's leg as he fell before Asimov stopped him "Terro!" Ventus shouted, pulling himself back up onto the bridge.
Darth Vader went for the killing blow but Asimov pulled Terro away with the force, "Get him to the gunships."
"But my Lord." "Do as I say!" Asimov barked as he faced down Vader, Ventus helped Terro to his feet "I can still fight." Terro protested, his right arm still clutching his lightsaber, "Go." Asimov said, engaging Vader alone.
Their sabers met again and again, Asimov held a high guard and switched into Vapaad stance, each time their lightsabers struck one another the force escaped each of them, in mighty bursts like thunder. Asimov locked lightsabers with Vader but the sith lord flung his elbow into the man's helmet, it scraped against Asimov's helm breaking the animal jawbone around his helmet. He drew his lightsaber back and slashed downward on Asimov, the lightsaber cut through Asimov's armor "GYAAH!"
The Warlord fell backwards onto one knee holding his chest "Impressive, you dodged just fast enough it only cut your skin?"
Asimov rose holding his chest, "There were no Asimov's in the Order, a fake name? Who were you?" Vader asked him.
"I am… JEDI!" Asimov unleashed a blast of force lightning and Vader held up his lightsaber deflecting it, the bolt strayed into one of the retreats towers making it crumble. "A jedi, no, I see you… a frightened boy, yes you were captured by the Inquisitors, Petro."
Asimov raised his lightsaber, "That name means nothing to me."
"I remember your screams, but you never begged for death." Vader said, Asimov rushed Vader attacking him, but Vader's defense didn't break instead it hardened flexing his arms hep ushed Asimov back "No, we had hopes for you as an agent, but you escaped."
Asimov attacked again "I freed myself, and I've come for justice."
The Sith belated Asimov with a force push that knocked the Lord off his feet and nearly back to the main gates before he rose again, "But do you know what happened after?"
"What?" Asimov asked, getting to his feet, his arm bent and chipped "The Emperor deemed your escape to great risk for the other Jedi we had imprisoned."
"... no." Asimov said sensing the truth "Yes, your freedom condemned all others to their deaths."
Asimov clenched his open hand into a fist, he rose up and walked forward lightsaber in hand "The Jedi do not believe in death, the Jedi will NEVER DIE!" Asimov shouted attacking Vader again.
Back in the Retreat, Ahkellon atop the domes drawing the Imperial TIE fighters, he deflected their incoming laser blasts that nearly knocked him off the bronze domes, and when he had his chance he cut the wings off the TIE's. One TIE fighter flew at him full speed lighting up the dome, Ahkilleon clipped his lightsabers to his chest as it flew at him he thrusted his hands forward and caught the last TIE with the force, his boots skidding back against the dome the TIE's engine still roaring, Sigma, Sabine and some of the soldiers yet to evacuate saw him.
He yelled furiously pushing back and the TIE's cockpit shattered, the metal ripping back like unpeeling a fruit and the tie exploded ""Ahkilleon!" Sabine shouted before the black smoke cleared and Ahkilleon stood up, his armor burned slightly but otherwise alive. The Gunships started to take off with the remaining troops, Ventus pushed Terro onto the gunship "No, let me fight." Terro said.
"Shut up you mad fool." Ventus said as Sigma and others held him down, Ventus ran back to the outer gates to join Asimov, "Go, go get out of here." Ventus shouted as he ran back into the fray.
Ahkilleon watched as more tie's were descending from up above, Sabine rose up in a gunship "Come on!" Ahkilleon looked back at Asimov and Ventus before he leapt onto the gunship and it took off. The gunships raced up through the clouds and sealed their bay doors. "Go back, we have to go back, we can't leave them." Terro howled while Ahkilleon crawled up to the front of the gunship, he looked out the cockpit to see the Vanguard fleet surrounded by more Star Destroyers then he could see. Gunships and Militia landing ships were getting blasted to smithereens trying to board the Dreadnoughts. Suddenly the whole gunship they were in took a massive hit, their own gunship got clipped by a rocket "We're hit!" Sigma said.
"Almost there." The droid pilot shouted before they crashed into the Shatterpoints hanger with one wing, the gunship came to a skidding halt before Ahkilleon cut them out with his lightsaber. He helped Sabine out and then Sigma with Terro.
Breacher came running up to help the wounded out, the whole hangar was filled with ships that had frantically tried to land, "How many of our men are left on the surface?" Ahkilleon asked.
"Everyone we could get out of Theed is out, even the Moff but the Imps, they- they bombed the city." Breacher said as Ahkilleon saw Beetoo rolling up "Get the Revenant ready."
"What are you doing?" Sabine asked "I won't leave my Master behind, not again- I won't lose another." he said as he ran to his ship.
Sabine followed him "That place will be surrounded by the Empire, I'm coming with you." she said before he could protest, "Warlord's still down there, why?" Breacher asked following him.
"Vader- Vader's alive." Ahkilleon said as the ship's ramp lowered "I don't know how, or why but… my mom failed, Asimov can't fight him and the Empire's army alone." Ahkilleon ran aboard his vessel and used the force to jump up to the second level as Sabine climbed the ladder with one arm, Beetoo rocketed in and Ahkilleon started to turn the ship on as someone else climbed aboard.
"Raising powers to shields-" "No shields, we need everything on the engine." Ahkilleon said, "But what if we get hit?" Breacher asked.
"Not the way I fly." Ahkilleon said as he took off, the ship flew out of the hangar and he hit the thrusters sending the Revenant like a bat out of hell into the space battle, instantly the comlinks came on "Tano what the hell are you doing!" It was Admiral Zygote, the Quarren cyborg.
Ahkilleon dipped under a squadron of TIE's, "Lord Asimov is still on the planet, I have to get him, don't jump till we're back."
"... Roger, roger, we'll hold out as long as we can for his Lordship." Zygote required, back aboard the bridge, Admiral Zygote was standing in front of the commanders chair "All ships holdfast, Lord Asimov needs us but if this is our end, WE TAKE AS MANY AS WE CAN WITH US!"
The Revenant flew down to the upper atmosphere and the crew heard a loud shout from the rear of the ship, "What was that?" Sabine asked.
Ahkilleon unbuckled and Beetoo took control as he ran back to see, "Terro, what the hell?" The one armed Jedi was holding onto the railing of the first floor trying to stand.
"Ventus and his lordship are still down there, I have to go." Terro growled as Ahkilleon helped him up, he grabbed Ahkilleon by his armor "I've shamed myself…. I have to make it right." "Arrrr you crazy bastard, strap in." Ahkilleon opened up one of the infantry seats and helped him into a seat.
Down on the surface, Asimov and Ventus were loosing against Darth Vader, Ventus had returned to help Asimov and the two of them tried to stay on each side of Vader, to no avail the Dark Lord was a hurricane of black and red, when ever one of them tried to seize and opening Vader either blocked them with his lightsaber or his open hand extended to either grab or use the force on them. Ventus engaged Vader with furious strikes at left and right, Vader blocked them and stepped forward, his metal helmet smashing into Ventus's, stunning him. The Sith slammed his red lightsaber down on Ventus who barely had time to block, pressing his lightsaber down Ventus felt his own start to burn through his robes and armor into his flesh, Ventus held his pain inside but Vader could feel it, "You reek of fear, Jedi, there is no escaping the inevitable."
Ventus groaned behind his metal sentinel mask, "Do you- do you see me running?" he grunted pushed to one knee.
Asimov came in quickly before Ventus could be killed, "Dark Lord!" he howled running full speed into Vader slamming his shoulder into him, Vader staggered back and the two advanced as one, Asimov went high Ventus attacked Vader's legs but all he got was a kick in the face, and Asimov helped Ventus up who grabbed his arm. Vader attacked again, Asimov pulled him out of the way and blocked before he paired and slashed upward, slicing past Vader's left arm, tearing the leather and sparks flying out, a prosthetic arm.
"A cyborg?" Ventus gasped.
Taking note of that Asimov turned to him "The suit, go for the suit!" both of the War Jedi rushed forward attacking Vader who raised his guard, they hacked and slashed but not at Vader, keeping their distance just close enough to cut the suit. Vader parried and blocked them focusing on defense now. Asimov turned to the fallen Walker and held out his hand he ripped up a chunk of metal and then flung it at Darth Vader. The Sith slicked it in half and Asimov pulled the two pieces back and Vader dodged one slicing another and then again and again until he was surrounded by metal shards. Asiomv flung dozens of pieces at Metal, some of them sliced Vader's suit until the Sith Lord burst with force energy pushing the metal away from him. "Clever, but not clever enough." Darth Vader said he held up his hand and flicked his wrist, "AAAAH!" Ventus fell to the ground and Asimov saw both his knees had been snapped back in the wrong direction.
Asimov didn't waste a chance to charge the Sith, they locked lightsabers before Vader only held up one hand using the force pushed Asimov off his feet and like a black lighting bolt he lunged grabbing Asimov by his helmet and smashing him into the ground. Asimov grabbed Vader's arm and wrestled himself back to his feet, breaking the grip.
He went for a high strike and Vader slashed Asimov across his armor's lower half and Asimov fell forward on his knees "My Lord!" Ventus howled trying to get up but fell back in pain.
Asimov dropped his lightsaber and grabbed his stomach, his armor falling onto ground his skin burned, he coughed and blood flooded down his neck, Vader stood over him as Asimov wheezed. "You…. can never win…." Asimov gasped.
"But your kind will always loos-" A shadow appeared over Darth Vader, he looked up to see the Revenant, Ahkilleon swung the controls making the entire Revenant spin in a three sixty the tail end of the ships wing slamming into Darth Vader sending the Sith Lord flying across the bridge into the walls of the Retreat crumbling. The ramp lowered and Terro came running out with one arm, "Terro?" Ventus gasped, as the War Jedi grabbed him "No, no help his Lordship." Ventus protested before Terro could help him.
Terro nodded and ran to him as Ventus crawled to the ship, he made it halfway before Breacher picked him up throwing him over his shoulder, "We leave you Jedi for five minutes and it all falls apart." Lt. Breacher said pulling him into the ship. Sabine came out to help him and Ahkilleon ran over to Lord Asimov with Terro, "Master!" Ahkilleon helped Terro get Asimov to his feet both of them throwing the tall juggernauts arms over their shoulder.
"The…. the Vanguard?" Asimov gasped.
"Off planet, waiting for you." Ahkilleon said walking up the ramp "Wait…" They stopped to see rising from the rubble, his armor dusted but still black was Darth Vader.
"That son of a bitch still isn't down." Breacher gasped looking out the window of the medbay.
Terro looked as Vader headed back toward them, "Come on, Terro we-" "I'm sorry." Terro told them.
He helped them up the ramp and then let Ahkilleon take Asimov into the ship "Terro?" Ahkilleon asked, "I'm sorry I wasn't a better Jedi, I'm sorry I won't be there for Fatima, she deserves a better Master." Terro said, backing up off the ramp.
"Terro what are you doing come on!" Ahkilleon shouted.
"No, I shamed myself, I must make amends." Terro reached into his robes and pulled out a small long device and pressed a button a green light appeared blinking, drew his green lightsaber and "What is that?" Ahkilleon asked "You're a better man than me Ahkilleon, you'll be a great king."
Up in the Cockpit, Sabine saw a new signal appear on the ship, "Oh shit." Sabine gasped starting up the engines.
"Terro!" Ahkilleon shouted, Terro ran at Vader as Sabine shut the loading ramp and started to take off, Ahkilleon flet the ship rising and outside, Vader watched as Terro came at him. "I'M TAKING YOU TO HELL VADER!" Terro howled running at him, he attacked Vader but he swatted his lightsaber away like a fly, and with the other hand Vader held it up and like a tractor beam the ship froze in place.
Up in the space battle, above, Zygote was on his feet, "Admiral we've got a beacon where Lord Asimov was last reported seen?" a droid said.
Zygote looked and his cybernetic eye went wide, "Do it."
"Sabine, why aren't we moving?" Ahkilleon entered the cockpit and Sabine pressed the engine to full power, "It's like we're caught in a tractor beam, and we don't want to be here."
"Yeah, Vader I know." Ahkilleon said, trying to divert more power to the engines, "Not that, the beacon." Sabine said frantically, "Beacon, that thing Terro had?"
Back on the bridge, Vader looked at Terro who attacked him again with a leaping strike spinning with his lightsaber before Vader drove his lightsaber right into Terro's chest. Burning through armor, skin, flesh, guts and spine. He went limp and his lightsaber fell from his hands as the Revenant tried to fly away. "Hehehe." Terro was… laughing?
"I said I was taking you to hell." Terro said looking up under his mask "And I meant it." The sound of screeching echoed in the sky, no something falling Vader looked up and reigning down from the sky was the Dreadnought Shatterpoints orbital bombardment ordinance. It broke Vader's concentration on the Revenant and the ship flew away at top speed pressing both Sabine and Ahkilleon back into their seats. The ship's bombardment destroyed the bridge and the Retreat on the cliffside sending it all to kingdom come. The Revenant soared back up into the clouds the dogfighting and ships surrounding them. "Revenant to Shatterpoint, we're almost there." Ahkilleon shouted while the ship was bombarded on by all sides, the Revenant engines took a hit and Ahkilleon struggled to maintain control before it broke through the shield of the ship and he shut the engines off making the ship come to a skidding halt sending sparks up into the air, knocking into gunships and metal crates, "We're aboard, Zygote, hit it."
"All ships make the jump!" Zygote ordered, and they leapt to hyperspace.
The Battle of Naboo was over, they'd lost and down on the surface. Vader crawled out of the rubble of the retreat, still alive.