Author's Note: Spoiler: When I watched the trailer of Tales of the Empire, I was really expecting to see Darth Vader have speech lines as well as seeing cool scenes of Barriss as an Inquisitor. Unfortunately, I am sort of disappointed with it since none of the Episodes had any of that. Also, it was weird how the show is called "Tales From The Empire", but yet General Greivous has more screen time than Darth Vader and Admiral Thrawn combined. In addition, the Tales of the Jedi was a side project with very little input from Disney executives. Disney saw its success and instantly decided to ruin Tales of the Empire.
I don't own Star Wars or its characters, but Nadia Aomori and my other OCs I own only.
Enjoy!
Fire of the Rebellion
Chapter 6: The Empire's Most Wanted
(19 BBY)
Former Padawan Barriss Offee woke up in her prison cell after experiencing a nightmare of lightsabers and screams.
She stepped out of her bunk bed and peered through the viewport.
In the distance, explosions engulfed the Jedi Temple, marking the beginning of the Jedi Purge.
Barriss headed towards the red force field door and shouted for the guards.
"Guard! Guard!"Barriss shouted."What's going on?!"
Two Shock Troopers went up to Barriss' prison cell.
"Keep quiet."the first Shock Trooper snarled.
"Tell me what's happening."Barriss demanded."Has there been an attack?"
"Just be glad you're not a Jedi anymore."the second Shock Trooper retorted."By tomorrow they won't exist."
Barriss became shocked while the two Shock Troopers walked away from her prison cell.
She couldn't believe it.
Had the Jedi failed the Republic and now were being wiped out for causing the Clone Wars just like she said to the Senate when Anakin and Nadia had her arrested for bombing the Jedi Temple and framing Ahsoka for her crimes?
Barriss then quietly went back into her bunk before falling into a deep sleep.
Later, rain fell on the Imperial Inspectorate HQ and its surroundings.
Barriss was then visited by a former Jedi named Lyn Rakish, who was now an Inquisitor known as the Fourth Sister.
"Stand up, Barriss Offee."Fourth Sister ordered.
"Lyn?"Barriss said in confusion.
"I don't go by that name anymore."Fourth Sister declared."Things have changed."
"What does the Jedi Council want?"Barriss questioned.
"I am not here on behalf of the Council."Fourth Sister answered.
Fourth Sister goes to the viewport which showed the ruined Jedi Temple in the distance.
"You are serving a life sentence for crimes against the Republic."Fourth Sister commented."But at your trial, you accused the Jedi of murder and treason. It seems you were right after all. The Jedi tried to assassinate Chancellor Palpatine."
Barriss was surprised at what Fourth Sister told her.
The Jedi attempted to assassinate Chancellor Palpatine?
"What does this mean for me?"Barriss asked.
The Fourth Sister glanced at Barriss.
"It means I'm here to present you with an opportunity, Barriss."Fourth Sister stated sternly."A rare and precious opportunity. Will you take it?"
Noticing the two Shock Troopers aiming their blasters at her, Barriss nodded at the Fourth Sister before she released her binders to set her from the shackles that the Jedi Council put on her.
She wasn't a Jedi or the Padawan of Jedi Master Luminara Unduli anymore.
The only thing she had now was the opportunity that laid in front of her.
(18 BBY)
The Imperial Fair was being held on Coruscant.
The Fair was held along Glitannai Esplanade and incorporated dancing, acrobatics, shopping, technology exhibits, food pavilions and a massive parade of military might.
From the surrounding spires, thousands watched as the parade ended in Pliada di am Imperium.
There, at the base of the Imperial Palace, dignitaries would bestow blessings on the crowd from an open-air balcony.
The Imperial Fair was also the site of the Grand Display which included exhibits created by various planetary governments.
After showing her ID with her false name to the guards, Nadia stepped into the Pinnacle; a luxury restaurant on Coruscant and was the highest point in the Federal District, providing magnificent views of the Imperial Palace, the Senate Building, and the neighboring ministries and monuments.
Nadia donned a long Cheongsam-like gown whose colour scheme was a combination of green, red and gold with green being the primary and most prominent shade of the dress, red as a secondary colour and gold acting as an accent throughout. Her dress was adorned with gold outlines of traditional depictions of clouds and flowers with the majority seen on the top-left and bottom-right sides of the dress. She also had a pair of white silk gloves with a lace pattern and a pearl necklace going around the neck twice paired with pearl earrings and a large fluffy white fur boa. She even wore two green and gold bracelets on her left wrist. A small blue flower pin could be seen decorating the upper-right side of her chest, pinned to her dress. Her raven black hair was styled in a low bun held in place by a golden hairpin which was designed to resemble a gold red flower. In addition, the pin was embellished with red rubies as well as several small beads which hang from below it.
On her right hand was a fan adorned with gold and was predominantly white, though it had red flower petals on the edges of it. A tassel which hangs from the handle of the fan was a vibrant red and decorated with several small beads. There were several gold swirls and embellishments on it as well.
As Nadia walked on, many people couldn't help but stare at her, feeling charmed by her beauty, mostly the men which made their women partners jealous.
"I am not here to take part in the celebration."Nadia thought with a stern tone."But hopefully someone can provide me with the intel I need to find Captain Fordo and where the other Clones are being prisoned in."
Nadia went over to the bar area of the Pinnacle which was where an 23 year old Imperial Officer Lorth Needa was.
"I'll have a Quanya, please."Nadia declared.
The bartender nodded and started preparing the beverage that Nadia ordered as Officer Needa smirked at the raven haired girl.
"Are you an actress or just trying to make an impression?"Officer Needa asked.
"Looks like I found what I am looking for."Nadia thought.
Nadia smiled smugly as she used a small cocktail stick to pick the sliced piece of fruit in Officer Needa's bubbly alcoholic cocktail.
"I try nothing."Nadia replied.
Nadia ate the sliced piece of fruit before taking out her small purse to pay the bartender, making Officer Needa raise an eyebrow at her.
The bartender handed Nadia the bubbly rose-coloured beverage served in a fluted glass before she walked away.
Officer Needa went closer to Nadia when the bartender walked away.
"Let's start again."Officer Needa insisted."I am Imperial Officer Lorth Needa."
Nadia took a sip of her Quanya before moving the fluted glass away from her lips.
"Ah, yes. I heard of you."Nadia answered simply."You're were an officer within the Strike Group Five of the Coruscant Home Fleet during the Clone Wars."
"And you are?"Officer Needa asked.
Nadia smirked. "Unimpressed."
"You're not gonna make this easy, are you?"Officer Needa asked.
Nadia drank a bit more of her beverage before placing her left white silk gloved hand on Officer Needa's shoulder.
"Would you like me to?"Nadia asked in a gentle yet seductive tone.
"Let's start with your name."Officer Needa insisted.
Nadia let out a fake sad sigh.
"I rather talk in private."Nadia admitted as she placed her fluted glass down."People here are eyeing me like some sort of very expensive sexual harassment lawsuit."
Officer Needa offered Nadia his arm.
"Then we go to my office?"Officer Needa suggested.
Nadia smiled lightly and put her left hand around Officer Needa's arm.
"Sounds assuring, Officer Needa."Nadia answered.
Officer Needa began leading Nadia out of the Pinnacle.
With her right hand, Nadia carefully held her fan over her face as she and Officer Needa past Colonel Yularen, who came inside the luxury restaurant.
The raven haired girl remembered Yularen had aided her and her fellow Jedi during the Clone Wars, but the man was now a Colonel in the Imperial Security Bureau following the Proclamation of the New Order which meant he was convinced that after the Galactic Empire was established, the Jedi had plotted to overthrow the Supreme Chancellor and seize power.
"Are you alright?"Officer Needa asked.
"Yes. Just felt a little warm."Nadia complemented and thought anxiously."If I didn't hide my face, Yularen would immediately recognise me and have me arrested."
Inside Trace Martez's repair shop, Ferus was waiting impatiently for Nadia to return.
The Jedi Knight didn't like his girlfriend going out by herself in Coruscant.
The planet used to be safe, but now it wasn't since the Empire took over.
"I'll wait a bit more longer."Ferus murmured."The sooner that Nadia gets what we need, the sooner we can leave."
Ferus then stood up from the crate he sat as he went over to Rafa and Trace, only for the two sisters to finish off fixing his landspeeder.
"Have you two heard anything from Nadia?"Ferus questioned.
"Not yet, Ferus."Rafa replied."She's probably still in the above area of Coruscant."
Ferus looked down with a troubled expression.
"Hey. Don't worry, Ferus."Trace insisted with a smile."Nadia knows what she is doing. If Ahsoka trusts her, you should too."
Officer Needa brought Nadia to his private office within the Senate Building.
"Is this more private now?"Officer Needa asked with a smirk.
"Yes."Nadia replied gently as she put her arms around Officer Needa's neck."It is."
Officer Needa closed his eyes to kiss Nadia, only for the raven haired girl to take out an injector from her dress pocket and jab something onto his neck which knocked him into unconsciousness and collapse on the floor.
Nadia scoffed as she moved away from the unconscious imperial officer to go to the computer.
"I guess the damsel in distress act works on some imperials too."Nadia complemented.
Using Officer Needa's computer, Nadia started to do research on the whereabouts of the Clone Troopers that refused to follow Imperial Orders.
"That's where you and the rest are, Fordo."Nadia murmured.
A smirk appeared on Nadia's face when she saw Captain Howzer and his brothers among the other Clone prisoners on the list and were being held in the factory planet, Balmorra.
Nadia used the USB hidden in her purse to steal this data before carefully powering off the computer.
Before leaving Nadia glanced at Officer Needa's unconscious body.
"Don't worry. I haven't killed you."Nadia retorted with a frown."The syrup I injected you with will make you not remember the evidence that occurred for the last few hours. If I simply knocked you out, you would've gotten chocked to death by Vader for letting me escape your custody."
Nadia then simply shrugged in respond.
"As if I care."Nadia commented with a unfazed look."Anyway, nice knowing you."
Nadia carefully left Officer Needa's Office and casually began walking around the Senate Building.
She became relieved when she arrived to the office that belonged to Senator Riyo Chuchi of Pantora.
"Senator Chuchi, Commander Aomori is here to see you."A Pantoran Guard declared.
Riyo smiled as she and Nadia hugged each other.
"Hey, Nadia."Riyo responded."It's good to see you are safe."
"Thanks, Senator Chuchi."Nadia thanked and took out her USB from her small purse."After a bit of manipulation, I was able to get information from Officer Needa's computer on the whereabouts of the Clone Troopers who got arrested by imperials."
A concerned look appeared on Riyo's face.
"Do you and Ferus really attend to help the Clones, Nadia?"Riyo questioned."Even after they suddenly turned against the Jedi?"
Remembering the horrific events of Order 66, Nadia let out a sigh.
"What happened can't be changed, Riyo. I know that clearly."Nadia commented."But I have became close friends with several Clones before Protocol 66 happened. They are good men that deserve better and have a say in their own future. Even have rights as all beings in the galaxy should."
Riyo smiled in approval.
"Thank you, Nadia."Riyo replied."I'll keep fighting for the Clones as well. They deserve to have someone speak in their behalf."
Nadia nodded, agreeing with the Senator of Pantora.
Darth Vader stood meditating inside the hyperbaric chamber within his palace, meditating and cultivating the dark side in an attempt to heal his damaged lungs temporarily.
His palace was the same category of height as Emperor Palpatine's Imperial Palace and Prince Xizor's Palace, though the Emperor's remained the largest of the three monoliths.
All three residences were within walking distance of each other accessed through the highly protected corridors.
While Prince Xizor and Emperor Palpatine relished their abodes with many treasures and luxurious artifacts, the interior of Lord Vader's Palace was much less glamorous.
Despite the vast wealth and resources at his disposal as Supreme Commander of the Imperial Military, the Dark Lord of the Sith displayed no riches or decorations. Not even holo-framed pictures on the walls. Most of the furnishings were simple greel wood structures.
Darth Vader's hidden Sith yellow eyes slowly opened when he suddenly sensed a disturbance in the Force.
He felt the presence of somebody.
Somebody he knew.
Someone he hasn't seen since Mustafar.
It was Nadia.
She was here in Coruscant.
Nadia wore a dark brown robe as she casually walked among the civilians in the market place in Coruscant.
Thanks to Senator Chuchi, the raven haired girl was able to change out of the dress she wore to put on her usual outfit and leave the Senate Building without being caught by the eyes of the Imperials.
Though didn't mean she was now safe from danger.
It was obvious that there were imperial spies or Inquisitors in the areas of the Imperial City.
Watching her every steps or likely waiting for the right moment to attack her.
The emerald crested golden cross-shaped medallion around Nadia's neck gleamed a bit as she walked around the Uscru Entertainment District.
If there were people following her, she realised she couldn't go to Level 1313 that was within the Coruscant underworld.
The last thing she wanted was to put Ferus and the Martez sisters in danger.
The Uscru Entertainment District housed clubs and bars that hosted gambling, drinking and various other entertainment.
The area had large crowds, constant traffic and lit advertisement boards that announced the various services available.
It made for a perfect area for fugitives to escape into and for criminals or those who did want attention to sell illicit goods and wares. It was the site of the popular Outlander Club, where people could bet on sporting events that were going on around the galaxy.
Nadia began to walk further away from the Vos Gesal Street and eventually arrived in an alleyway that appeared to be empty despite giving a cold atmosphere.
After taking a couple of more steps, she suddenly stopped before a glare formed on her face.
The female Jedi Knight turned around and saw a figure.
The figure wore a black jumpsuit with moulded pieces and boot tops. She had on a black mask that covered her mask and had a belt that held red double-bladed spinning lightsaber behind her back.
It was the Sixth Sister.
"Nadia Aomori."Sixth Sister responded.
A scoff escaped from Nadia's mouth as she removed her robe to reveal her outfit.
"Well, well, well. One of Vader's lapdogs has finally found me."Nadia praised in sarcasm as she placed her robe down on the floor."Do you intend to make me surrender and join the Dark Side?"
The Sixth Sister moved to grab her weapon from behind her back.
"You don't intend to join the Empire?"Sixth Sister questioned.
Nadia moved to remove her lightsabers from her around her waist.
"Why should I? Seeing that the Sith will always betray one another besides having had read the tales of the Old Republic? I think not."Nadia responded."Though what it is clear that the Sith follow the darkness and Jedi serve the light."
The Sixth Sister scowled at Nadia's declaration.
"The Jedi were nothing but self-centred cowards that had fallen from the light so many years ago."Sixth Sister retorted."I'm surprised you to attend to bring back the Fallen Order after everything they did."
Nadia frowned and rolled her eyes.
"Defend the Fallen Order? Give me a break. I have no desire to honour the dead Jedi Council members for their hypocrisy and bring back that corrupted Jedi Code that made them do more harm than good."Nadia complemented in a firm yet stern tone."Despite their differences, both the Jedi and Sith orders are ancient religious orders that comprised of Force Sensitive beings. I may be an offspring from both these Ancient Orders, but I don't belong to neither of them. So, I am clearly an outcast."
The Sixth Sister did a pose and activated her red double-bladed spinning lightsaber.
A swift crimson streak, a searing surge of agony such was the last image seared into the minds of the 'insurgents', who crossed their path.
Though clad in a shroud of absolute darkness, their figure loomed ominously.
"If you think that way, I will have to kill you."Sixth Sister informed coldly."If you don't join the Empire, you are clearly a threat to the Emperor."
Nadia glared at the Sixth Sister as she activated her own lightsabers, the orange and gold yellow colours from her blades' kyber crystals shimmered on her ruby red eyes.
"I would love to see you try, Barriss."Nadia challenged in a venomous tone.
Hearing her past name, the Sixth Sister let out an angry yell before she and Nadia started duelling against each other.
Inside the landing bay of his palace, Darth Vader made his way to his Lambda-class T-4a shuttle.
The workers in the landing bay at the Palace were trained to get Vader's private shuttle ready as quickly as possible, usually within the time it took for the Dark Lord of the Sith to use the turbo lift to the landing bay floor.
There was one account of a time when the Supreme Commander arrived and the shuttle was not ready in which he promptly executed those responsible.
Ever since, preparations for Vader's shuttle were always punctual.
Inside the shuttle was an Imperial pilot.
"Lord Vader, we got a report that the Sixth Sister encountered a Jedi at the Uscru Entertainment District within the Lower levels."the pilot reported.
"Report to Commander Fox and his squadron to surround the spaceport."Darth Vader ordered sternly."I want Nadia Aomori taken alive."
The duel of Nadia and the Sixth Sister led them to the rooftops above the buildings within the Vos Gesal Street.
Nadia leaned to the side, unleashing a quick flurry of attacks that force the Sixth Sister to back up before her opponent leaped over her, lashing her wildly with her lightsabers.
The raven haired girl barely dodged her swings, turning around to face her, but she lands and reacts much faster, kicking me away to the ground.
The Sixth Sister jumped into the air and swiped her blades down on top of Nadia with a growl.
Nadia, blocked the Sixth Sister's red blades, although struggling to keep her own blades away from her face as they inched closer and closer.
Before the blades could hit her face, Nadia kicked the Sixth Sister hard on the stomach which made her opponent stumble back and give her the opportunity to go back on her feet.
"First you bomb the Jedi Temple and then you framed Ahsoka for it!"Nadia retorted as she held her two lightsabers tightly."But this you have gone too far, Barriss!"
The Sixth Sister rushed forward and swung her red double-bladed spinning lightsaber at Nadia, making the female Jedi Knight use her lightsabers to block her attack.
"Quit calling me by that name!"the Sixth Sister snarled."It means nothing to me!"
The Sixth Sister attempted to stab Nadia with her double-bladed spinning lightsaber, but the raven haired girl cart wheeled out of the way.
The Dark Side Wielder then used her free hand to start throwing nearby crates at the Jedi Knight.
Nadia slashed the crates in half with her lightsabers before she began to make a run for it with the Sixth Sister hot on her tail.
Her comlink went on as she ran from the Dark Side wielded.
"Nadia, where are you?!"Ferus demanded.
"At the Uscru Entertainment District!"Nadia declared."One of the Inquisitors are onto me!"
"I'm on my way!"Ferus answered.
Nadia used the Force to do a big leap off the building she was on and landed on top of a shuttle that made its way to the skylanes of Galactic City.
The raven haired girl glanced at the Sixth Sister and saw her opponent heading to another direction.
However, she wasn't convinced that the Jedi Hunter gave up on her hunt.
"Just what the hell are you up to, Barriss?"Nadia muttered.
Nadia spotted Ferus on his landspeeder at the opposite side where she was, making her leap off the shuttle she was on before it went to another direction.
She deactivated her lightsabers as she landed next to her boyfriend.
"You okay, Dia?"Ferus questioned in concern.
"I am fine, Ferus."Nadia replied."But it's best that we get out of here fast."
The two Jedi Knights became alarmed when they noticed Darth Vader's shuttle flying toward where they were.
"Hang on."Ferus warned sternly."This is going to be a bumpy ride."
Nadia immediately held on tightly on her seat as Ferus started driving the landspeeder out of the traffic and zoom forward to the side where it showed the red light.
From his shuttle, Darth Vader watched Ferus' reckless driving as the Imperial reinforcements chased after them.
His former brother-in-law was either very brave or being overconfident that he and Nadia would escape his grasp.
The Imperial pilot glanced at the Dark Lord of the Sith.
"Lord Vader, the Jedi appeared to be heading off to Docking Bay 84."the pilot declared.
"Is Commander Fox and his squadron in position?"Darth Vader questioned.
"Yes, my lord."the pilot replied.
Ferus sneered in triumph as he made the landspeeder drove out from the Galactic City and to the Coruscant Spaceport.
He glanced at Nadia, who appeared to be completely shocked due to his driving.
"See, Dia?"Ferus chuckled."We made it."
Nadia let out a heavy sigh as she brushed her raven black hair.
"Yes."Nadia scowled with a glare."But next time, let me take the wheel. You're a terrible driver."
"Fine."Ferus responded simply.
Ferus and Nadia jumped out of the landspeeder and made their way inside the Coruscant Spaceport, only to come across an imperial officer that had several Clone Troopers with them.
"Stop, Jedi!"the imperial officer demanded.
As a respond, Nadia and Ferus both used the Force together to throw them back against the wall, knocking them into unconsciousness.
The couple began making their way to Docking Bay 84.
There weren't any civilians around the spaceport since they were all attending the Imperial Fair.
A frown suddenly formed on Nadia's face as she and Ferus headed to their destination.
"Do you sense it, Ferus?"Nadia questioned.
"Yes."Ferus answered."We're about to have company."
The two Jedi Knights took out their lightsabers as they arrived to Docking Bay 84.
There Ferus and Nadia saw Commander Fox and his squad aiming their blasters at them.
"You're not going anywhere, Jedi."Commander Fox stated sternly.
"Hello again, Fox."Ferus replied in a casual tone.
"Fox, you don't have to do this."Nadia commented.
"Sorry, Commander Aomori."Commander Fox declared."But good soldiers follow orders. All Jedi are traitors and must be executed."
Nadia scowled at what she just heard.
"So that's more important than following your own heart?"Ferus retorted.
Suddenly, a mechanical breathing was heard which sent cold shivers going down both Ferus and Nadia's spines.
Ferus and Nadia slowly turned their heads to see Darth Vader approach in the entrance where Commander Fox and his squad stood.
The cyborg warlord activated his blood red lightsaber as he glared at his former friends.
Nadia struggled to hold back at her tears as she stared at the being that once been a close friend of hers in an another life.
Though in her mind, she silently cursed the Jedi Council and Darth Sidious.
"What the hell have they done to you?"Nadia murmured.
"I am what the Jedi made me, Nadia."Darth Vader retorted.
Ferus shook his head.
"We know you don't have a heart anymore."Nadia said with a sad frown."But neither of us didn't forget you were once human, Anakin."
"Anakin Skywalker is dead."Darth Vader retorted."I destroyed him."
"Padmé would never believe that."Ferus informed.
From behind his mask, Darth Vader's Sith yellow eyes narrowed in fury at the mention of his dead beloved.
"You are unwise to mention her name!"Darth Vader growled.
Darth Vader rushed forward to slash Ferus with his red blade, but the male Jedi Knight immediately prevent his attack with his blue lightsaber.
Nadia immediately sprung to action and wielded her blades when Commander Fox and his squad began to open fire at her.
The raven haired girl kept her eyes on the Clone Troopers as well as deflecting their shots.
She actually wanted to help Ferus against Darth Vader.
But she knew that she had to first get rid of Commander Fox and his squad.
Ferus held his lightsaber as he fought against Darth Vader that was eager to cut him in half.
Even though it hurt him inside having to fight his former brother-in-law, he knew he couldn't get his emotions get the best of him.
The figure he was fighting wasn't Anakin anymore.
Just a rattled man that was now a slave of the Dark Side.
"You were a Jedi once!"Ferus protested as his blue blade bashed against Darth Vader's."Please, Anakin! Remember everything we've been through!"
Ferus dodged Darth Vader's red blade as it attempted to slash his legs.
"That name has no meaning to me."Darth Vader replied sharply.
Ferus continued using his lightsaber to fend off against Darth Vader's crimson blade.
"It does to me!"Ferus argued."Same with our family!"
"I have no family."Darth Vader retorted.
"Yes! You do!"Ferus snapped, trying his best to convince his fallen brother figure."You are my older brother, Anakin! This is not who you are!"
Darth Vader attempted to hit Ferus by the waist, but the male Jedi Knight cart wheeled out of the way.
"I will not betray my master."Darth Vader stated in a stern tone.
"Sidious used you! Just like he used the Jedi Order and the Separatists to get what he wants!"Ferus protested as his blade blocked with the Sith Lord's."Hatred doesn't make you stronger, Anakin! It doesn't have to be this way!"
With his free hand, Darth Vader used the Force to choke Ferus for a moment before throwing him against a couple of crates, making the male Jedi Knight drop his lightsaber in the process.
"You're fool, Ferus."Darth Vader declared coldly."You underestimate the power of the Dark Side."
Noticing her boyfriend in trouble, Nadia used her lightsabers to slash down the remaining squad members of Commander Fox.
The raven haired girl quickly went in front of Darth Vader to prevent him to go near Ferus and clashed her blades against his.
"You want him, you have to go through me first, Anakin."Nadia challenged.
Nadia fought against Darth Vader to lure him away from Ferus.
"Don't walk the path of the Jedi, Nadia."Darth Vader replied grimly."It will only lead to your destruction."
"So you're the saying the Sith's path doesn't?!"Nadia snapped.
"Through pain, I have gained strength."Darth Vader answered.
"That's why you bare strong loyalty to the Emperor? The path you now walk to let you see nothing but darkness!"Nadia shouted, her voice mixed with anger and sadness."I am sorry, Anakin! I have failed to see you needed a better master!"
Ferus slowly stood up and summoned his lightsaber back to his grasp before standing up to activate it.
Darth Vader sensed Ferus approaching him and made his crimson blade block his blue lightsaber.
Nadia attempted to attack Darth Vader from behind, only for the Sith Lord to Force push her back hard against the wall.
"Before you lost your mother, Padmé sent a few comrades of hers to Tatooine to find her right after she became Naboo's Senator!"Ferus admitted, his blade and the Sith Lord's created greenish sparks as they clashed against each other."She never forgot that your mother was left in slavery! But she vanished before they could find her!"
Ferus got thrown back, but he kept standing as he and Darth Vader continued fighting each other.
"When you lost her, a part of you died that day! But that didn't mean you didn't have a family anymore!"Ferus informed in a strong yet determined tone."You still have us!"
Despite hearing desperate pleas from his former brother-in-law, Darth Vader's anger grew more at the reminder of his past failures.
"Yet, you, Obi-Wan and Nadia were the ones that turned Padmé against me, Ferus!"Darth Vader scowled angrily.
"No! We tried to bring you back to the light!"Ferus declared."Obi-Wan gave up on you! But me and Nadia didn't! We believed you could still be saved!"
Ferus dodged Darth Vader's deadly blows as Nadia slowly stood up from being hit by the wall.
"The Council didn't understand you, Anakin! They never did! Things don't have to be this way!"Ferus retorted."It's not too late, Anakin! Please!"
"Why did you and Nadia come here, Ferus?"Darth Vader scowled."Your deaths will mean nothing."
Sweat rolled down from Ferus' forehead as he continued fending off the Dark Lord of the Sith.
"We didn't come here to die, Anakin."Ferus stated with a frown."Part of the reason we came here was to try and free you. But-"
Darth Vader cried out in pain when Nadia zapped him from behind with her Force Judgment.
In a few seconds, Nadia stopped using her Force Judgement to avoid damaging Darth Vader's remaining organs.
Though her attack damaged the Sith Lord's armour and life support system.
Darth Vader collapsed on his knees upon feeling his armour power down and not functioning properly.
Nadia gave her former friend a look that expressed hurt and disappointment.
"It looks like we failed."Nadia commented.
Nadia silently stepped away from Darth Vader
Ferus noticed his comlink beeping and heard T7-O1 giving him a respond.
"Yes, T7. We're fine."Ferus complemented."We are coming right now."
"We are right at the spaceport."Nadia ordered.
Both Ferus and Nadia felt a wave of mixed with utter anger and hate tower over them as the couple quietly glanced back at Darth Vader, who appeared to be slowly crawling since he was struggling to get up on his feet.
Though outside the spaceport was Imperial reinforcements coming in the background.
"I…I will find you both."Darth Vader vowed coldly.
"Yes. We know you won't stop, Anakin. No doubt about that."Nadia admitted with a hint of sadness."The two of us will have to keep watching every steps we take for the rest of our lives."
A forced yet bright smile appeared on Ferus' face.
"Despite the growing eclipse on the galaxy, we don't mind the challenges ahead."Ferus remarked."Call us crazy because me and Dia actually find that exciting. There will be more horror and losses in the future, but that won't stop us. There is hope for the galaxy and…someday you'll realise what we meant."
As soon as Ferus said that, the XS stock light freighter now known as the Arcturus arrived at the docking bay.
Ferus and Nadia immediately headed inside the Arcturus and then the freighter flew away from the Galactic City.
As the Arcturus flew away from Coruscant, the one piloting the freighter revealed to be Rex.
Ferus and Nadia went inside the cockpit to join their friend as RG-G1 and T7-O1 followed them from behind.
"The mission was successful?"Rex questioned.
Nadia took out the USB she had safely hidden in her emerald crested golden cross-shaped medallion.
"Yes, Rex."Nadia answered as she attached her USB in her datapad."It turns out it is Balmorra where some of your brothers are being held in. Though there is a possibility that they might get moved to a different location soon."
Rex nodded before he noticed both Ferus and Nadia looked troubled as the two of them sat on their seats.
"Something happened?"Rex assumed.
Ferus simply smiled and shook his head.
"Just a little tired, Rex."Ferus exclaimed.
"We tried to reason with Commander Fox and his squad, but it didn't work."Nadia admitted with an apologetic look."Sorry."
"I understand, Nadia."Rex replied firmly."You and Ferus did what you can do."
Ferus and Nadia glanced at each other in silence, neither of them were willing to tell Rex that they just fought against an old friend back in Coruscant.
An old friend who fell to the Dark Side and became a Sith Lord that attempted to destroy them and the rest of the Jedi survivors.
Nadia glanced at her hands upon having used her Force Judgement on Darth Vader.
The raven haired girl sensed his dark energy and felt she devoured a bit of it which made her feel disturbed in the inside.
Darth Nihilus' blood ran through her veins, but she didn't attempt to fell to the Dark Side and become another puppet for Darth Sidious to use to spread his wrath on the whole galaxy.
She silently hoped that would never happen in the future.
Back in Coruscant, the Sixth Sister walked into Darth Vader's Castle with a probe droid floating next to her.
She was angry that Nadia escaped from the Galactic City with Ferus.
But she didn't come to her master's palace to tell him the escape of the two Jedi Knights since she knew he already did.
However, thanks to her probe droid that had actually followed Ferus and Nadia during their driving journey to the Coruscant Spaceport.
The Sixth Sister bowed at Darth Vader, when she found him in his combat arena practicing his lightsaber combat skills against modified ASP-19 battle droids.
The cyborg warlord had his suit repaired from the damage it took from Nadia's Force Judgement and was furious that two of his most hated foes escaped from him.
Darth Vader deactivated his lightsaber after destroying the last ASP-19 battle droid.
"What is it, Sixth Sister?"Darth Vader questioned.
"Lord Vader, my probe droid had discovered the hiding place of Nadia Aomori and Ferus Olin."Sixth Sister stated.
That sentence caught Darth Vader's absolute attention.
"And where is that, Sixth Sister?"Darth Vader asked.
"The planet known as Naboo."Sixth Sister admitted.
See you all in the next chapter and have a wonderful day!