Chapter 56

Summit

ATOLLON
Bendu's Grove

Ezra rode his speeder bike into the usual area they would find the large strange being known only as Bendu, Ezra pulled his bike in and came to a screeching halt, "Bendu!" he called out hands pressed around his mouth "Bendu, come on I need to talk to you!" Ezra cried out like a boy looking for a lost dog. Ahkilleon looked around but Bendu remained in the ether, sighing he rolled his eyes and shut them till he heard the shifting of rocks and felt the ground shudder, when he opened them Bendu was there in front of him.

"You know, this popping up when people aren't looking is getting old?" Ezra said to him, Bendu smiled down at Ezra with his milky blind eyes.

"Such is the way of beings with only a finite understanding of time, I sense you are distressed Ezra Bridger, what troubles you, I saw your triumph against the dark sider in the desert, would this not be cause for celebration?" Bendu asked him.

Ezra processed it for a few moments, "That's not why I'm here, it's about Ahkilleon he's going to leave again, I've tried talking to him but he won't listen."
"And has before, your friend?" Bendu asked him.

"Not always, but Maul is gone, the rebellion and the Militia are so close to a real alliance, but I'm… I'm afraid he's going to make a mistake, one he won't come back from." Ezra said up to Bendu.

Bendu hummed to this, "Hmm, you fear him, it is your greatest strength, your desire to protect others Ezra Bridger. You are a protector, to those around you. Always offering to help even when unwated. Perhaps that in lies the problem?"
"Problem, that I don't want one of my best friends, my sworn brother, to die or worse?" Ezra asked him, "He finally listened to me, we fought together, we won. Now he wants to go back to the Militia to face Asimov, alone."

Bendu listened to him, "He won't listen, he said he gave up his revenge and anger when Maul died, but with Asimov he's got even greater reason to hate him than Maul."
"Where there are protectors, their are also destroyers. Powerful light like you and powerful dark, like your so called brother?" Bendu asked him.

Ezra gawked at him, "So what, Ahkilleons fated to fall to the dark side, and then what I have to…" Bendu looked at him with a stern but serious glare, the look on the stone groillas snout was as imperious as Kanan when the teacher had something the student had to listen to. "No." Ezra said, "No, no, no it's can't be like that. Ahkilleon has had every chance to go to far and everytime he refuses."
"One cannot walk the razors edge and remain pure, light and dark are separate for a reason."
"Then how do you explain you, Bendu?" Ezra asked him, "You're the one in the middle. Why can't we be too?" Ezra asked him.

"To broach that, is the path to madness young Jedi." Bendu warned him, Ezra shook his head and headed back to his bike "I don't know why I came here." Ezra grumbled getting back on his bike to drive off. He watched Ezra shrink into the darkness "Things are in motion young jedi that cannot be undone, blood begets blood, master begets student, and one final lesson is yet to be learned."

Back at the base, General Kleeve stood next to his starship, Farbrooke's Hope. Turok sat on a crate smoking is long wooden pipe smoking as Ahkilleon was speaking with Hera and Kanan, "This this modified offer from Mon Mothma, wordings been changed but hopefully it's more appeasing to the Militia." Hera said as she handed the holopad to Ahkilleon who skimmed it briefly "If there still is a militia to ally with." he said.

"This is a bad idea." Rex said behind them, "You don't have to go junior."
Turok huffed his pipe "Lads made up his mind, we have only one more day until the Union is called into session. I already contacted Admiral Trench he's enroute to Raxus now, so is Commander Sparta and half the Dragoon core."

"General Gererra is moving to, half her fleet is coming. I've given the order to Kalani to muster the Devils." Kleeve added on, as the forces of the Militia were moving to a breaking point, "You're not ready to face Asimov, you're still off balance to go in to this, what Asimov did to you was wrong but getting revenge against him won't change anything."
Ahkilleon handed the datapad to Kleeve "This isn't about revenge anymore Kanan, if the Militia breaks, if turns to infighting the Empire will sweep in. You think they'll care about who's Militia and Rebel alike, the only reason they haven't launched a heavy counter assault is because the Militia is on guard."
"You don't know that, Ahkilleon, you're just a teenager, you think you can do this but what happens if you can't?" Kanan asked him.

Both of them heard and saw Ezra coming into the base, he got off the bike and walked towards them. "Please tell me you aren't considering this, I know your lightsabers are important to you. But we can find you other kyber crystals, right?"
"That's right." Kanan reiterated, Ahkilleon handed the datapad to Kleeve and faced the other jedi "My lightsabers, are more than just my weapons. They are my tools, they are me, red and blue, light and dark they are a symbol. I can't challenge Asimov to a duel if I don't have them."

Ezra and Kanan almost threw their hands in the air, "Then what's the point of bringing evidence against him?" Ezra asked him.

Taking the pipe out of his mouth and spitting black, Turok answered "The evidence won't mean anything if Asimov has the whole Vanguard at his back, but an accusation and a challenge from his own 'dead' protege, it'll take the Vanguard by surprise. It was Asimov who told them the lad died, so they'll question their orders. That descent followed by a challenge for the right to command, our most sacred law it's our only chance of stopping all out civil war." Turok slipped the pipe back between his lizard lips and blew out a cloud of smoke.

"This isn't goodbye, but I can't risk any of you for this. The Rebellion needs you, and if the Militia falls so will the Galaxy." Ahkilleon said, turning around and heading up the ramp of Kleeve's ship followed by the others.

RAXUS

Orbit

The Farbrooke's hope dropped out of hyperspace, and immediately they were hailed by the Home fleet of Raxus alongside it stood the full force of the Vanguard "Unidentified starship, name yourself or be fired upon in the name of the Militia." a series of Hawk fighters and Vulture droids surrounded the ship.

Kleeve was in the cockpit, flying with Turok and Ahkilleon in the back out of sight."This plan of yours is crazy Tano, just crazy enough to work but still crazy." Kleeve said as he started to reply "Let's just hope Breacher will trust me." Turok muttered.

"General Kleeve, One Eyed Devil's this is my personal starship, transmitting clearance codes now." their was a pause before the squadron leader replied.

"Apologize General, your ship is not on the register. We are scanning three life signs aboard your ship, please identify sir." the escort asked.

Kleeve pressed a button, "My escort, I've got a meeting with General Freeman you're delaying, let me pass or I'll have a word with Lord Asimov about this." Kleeve said, winking back at them.

"Only doing my duty General, you are cleared to land." the pilot said.

"As all are we all pilot, as are we all." The Hope flew down onto the nightside of Raxus where Raxulon was in the distance, pulling down into a wooded glen the starship's ramp powered with Ahkilleon walking out poncho hood up the wind wiping at his poncho, "Be careful lad." Turok said before the hope flew off.

Ahkilleon returned the warning with a nod and started to jog into the darkness of the woods, he passed through babbling brooks, trees till he made his way to the edge of the vanguard camp. Ahkilleon climbed up to a tall tree and staying in the shadows scanned the fire light of the camp, the barracks lights that were on and he could trace the war camps lanes and paths all leading up to Temple Asimov high up on it's perch on the hill, surrounded by walls and guns. But that wasn't what he was looking for, not yet.

Among the many lights of the Vangaurd camp there was a small fire outside the camp in the fields, no barracks, only tents and bedrolls where tigers would rest.

Smiling, Ahkilleon slipped out of his tree and headed toward the light, because in that field Lt. Breacher of the Tano's Tigers stood there with the soldiers hand picked to follow Ahkilleon, Breacher smoked his cigar as the men either sharpened their knives and axes, cleaned their rifles or slept soundly to the crackling of the fire. "Where are we going next Lt. I'm tired of shore leave." one of the men asked.

"Hopefully by the end of the summit, we'll know." Breacher said when they heard a twig snap.

Breacher drew his pistol, followed by those away arming themselves, those asleep shot up knives and guns out when they saw the hooded figure approach them. "You lost a stranger?" Breacher asked with his cigar burning bright.

The stranger got closer, "That's far enough." Breacher said before Ahkilleon pulled back his hood, and Breacher's cigar fell out of his mouth "My Lord." he said all the men dropped to their knees "Stop that my Tigers." Ahkilleon said before Breacher could to the same, "We thought you were dead, Lord Asimov-" "Lord Asimov killed me, but I came back I can't explain right now but I have to know, Breacher, all of you."
Ahkilleon held up his hand out a palm open "Are you with me?"
Breacher looked down at the hand, and then at the men "It wasn't Lord Asimov who led us on Naboo, or fought his way through Starweirds to bring back our fallen comrade." Breacher took his hand in his own "We are yours my Lord." Lt Breacher said taking it.

"Good, I need you to do something." Ahkilleon told him, "Anything." Breacher replied.

Breacher nodded "Anything." Ahkilleon looked down at the cigar and smiled.

Later, Ahkilleon was sneaking through the barracks of the Vanguard War Camp, he passed by the prison where Colonel Yuralen had been taken and peaked inside. The Colonel laid their on a cold dirt floor he'd been stripped of his uniform and wasn't even given a blanket to cover his naked body, the signs of scars from torture all over his body. Ahkilleon didn't look again; he had to keep moving, making his way past B5 droids on patrol, Vanguard regulars singing songs till he made it to the base of the wall surrounding the Temple. Using the force he propelled himself like a shadowy grasshopper springing from rock to rock till he made it to the outer grounds of the Temple. Staying low to the brush he moved around one of the new annexes on a gravel path to see a flash of blue and green. Ahkilleon froze when he saw a familiar set of lightsabers, Fatima and Kraggen were both standing there in front of him.

"Identify yourself." Kraggen said Ahkilleon still had his hood up.

Ahkilleon held his hands up to show he held no weapon, Fatima slowly came up and pulled his hook back and the two padawans gasped "Ahkilleon?" Kraggen said, pulling his blade away.

"You're alive." Fatima gasped.

"But Lord Asimov said you were killed by Caliban?" Kraggen asked him, the two still had their lightsabers "It was asimov who killed me, but I can't explain that now. Asimov is the spy, I know it's a lot to go on but I need to get in there and get my lightsabers back." Ahkilleon said to them.

The two padawans glanced at one another, "I told you something wasn't right, why would our Masters both go to Raxulon without us?" Fatima siad slapping the quarren on his big arm.

"We're on shore leave." Kraggen told her, "We… how could Lord Asimov be a spy, where's your proof?" Kraggen asked turning off green his lightsaber, Fatima turned her blue one off too.

"Dead with Caliban, look I know this is a lot to go on. But Asimov is planning a coup, he'll make his move tomorrow at the Union meeting, I'm not asking you to side with me or your Masters."
"What are you asking?" Kraggen dared him to say, Ahkilleon looked at the two "Run, run as far away from this place, they'll know you've seen me. Hide in the woods till this is over." Ahkilleon said. He slowly started to walk forward passing by the two of them and the two padawans shared a brief but intense look "How can we help?"
"No, I don't-" "No, we joined the War Jedi to fight for a better future. We'll have say in how it's won." Kraggen said Fatima nodded "You told us the truth, let us help." Fatima asked.

Ahkilleon turned to them, "The woods, find Breacher, you can help him with the distraction."

Meanwhile, up in Temple Asimov, Lord Asimov was at his holotable in the communication tower. "Battalions one through twelve are in Raxulon, the rest are on 'shore leave' across the planet at the other cities and key ports. Our fleet registered that General Kleeve had arrived early ahead of his own escort in that old ship of his." Sigma read on a holopad, Asimov paced around a hologram of the capital of the Militia, Raxulon the large city with a dozen indicators of the Vanguards presence in the city "Ventus and the other War Jedi are… what in the stars?" Sigma asked looking out the window to see the large woods outside the Vanguard war camp had turned into a roaring inferno and the wind was spreading fast. Shouts and alarms were starting to spread across the war camp as men and droids began to rush out of their barracks and charging stations to form fire brigades, breaking out water supplies into buckets and douse the fire before it could spread.

"A fire?" Lord Asimov asked, "Some stupid idiots must have left one of the campfires going." Sigma said dropping the datapad and running out the tower to manage the response to the invading inferno. Asimov watched and hummed to himself almost in amusement, he watched as the fires grew and grew before removing himself from the tower heading into the garden. There the wind blew fiercely rattling the trees knocking loose leaves into the air whistling through the branches like the wails of banshees or ghosts.

Asimov stood there, he waited and looked around to see no one in the garden among the statues, "Lord Asimov, the fire is spreading rapidly, we need to order dropships to bring more water." Commander Sigma said into the comlink, Lord Asimov held his finger to his helmet "Roger, Roger make it happen. Contain the blaze and find whoever did it…" Lord Asimov stopped when he looked over at the statue of Ahkilleon, to see that both of Ahkilleon's lightsabers were gone.

Seeing both blades gone, Lord Asimov chuckled and then clapped his hands, laughing "About damn time."

Far off into the hills the Tigers had broken camp, and were standing with their armor on and weapons over their shoulders. Breacher lit a new cigar and Ahkilleon came up panting his lightsabers in hand, "Nice work." Ahkilleon gasped out of breath, Fatima and Kraggen were wearing their robes as they stood by some rocks "I hope the cigar wasn't too expensive?" Ahkilleon asked.

"Nothing to it, shame we can't say and watch, what's next?" Breacher asked, huffing out his smoke, "Did you get the other thing I asked for?" Ahkilleon asked him. Breacher held up a bag filled with something, "Alright, that was the easy part."
THE NEXT DAY

Raxulon

A large estate in the city had One Eyed Devil's flags flying high over its walls, Turok and Kleeve were standing in the courtyard with Ahkilleon, "You're sure you weren't seen, Lad?" Turo Asked him. Ahkilleon was putting on another thing that Breacher had given him. A Militia regular uniform with armor and helmet. Both Fatima and Kraggen were in the courtyard sitting on some benches "And the padawans?" Kleeve asked.

"Our masters said we could do whatever we wanted today, they won't miss us." Fatima answered.

"What now?" Ahkilleon asked, "Asimov will most likely challenge Freeman at the Union, I've alerted General Freeman to the danger, and the Rebel offer. That will be the subject of debate, if we embrace the Rebellion or not." Kleeve explained holding up the holopad "If there's still a militia to fight with." Ahkilleon added.

Kleeve frowned "With any luck, Asimov won't risk the Militia for his pride but if he does…." Kleeve turned to Ahkilleon who slipped his lightsabers into ammo pouches "Can you beat him?"
"I have to." Ahkilleon said picking up the Militia helmet, the x visor only had one antenna on it, "Militia Invictus." Ahkilleon said "Militia Invictus." Turok and Kleeve replied.

Later, General Fives Freeman stood outside the Militia Union Hall, holding the datapad that General Kleeve had just handed him. Cadet Jay Freeman, the clone's son stood in a dress uniform beside his father "They want us to join this Alliance to Restore the Republic, they do see the Hex's everywhere, right Kleeve?" Fives asked him. They were standing on a balcony next to the Union Hall, the old Separatist Senate building. The Azure guard stood at a distance keeping watch as the Milita Union members started to enter the hall.

"I said as much, you'll find in the seventh paragraph that Mothma and other leaders of the Rebellion are willing to postpone any discussion of jurisdiction and borders after the war is won. This would be a military alliance first, with the objective of defeating the Empire." Kleeve explained to him.

Fives handed the holopad to his son, "I always knew something would come between us and Asimov, should have seen it when Caliban didn't come back, but you think he's planning a coup?" Meanwhile down below Kleeve could see the Farbrooks Hope his private vessel flying toward one of the lower landing pads, Turok walked out with the Tigers, all armed and armored. A B5 droid stopped them before letting them pass.
"You know he is, you've seen the Vanguard moving their men around the planet. His fleet is still in orbit, to 'support' the home guard?" Kleeve asked him, Freeman turned to Jay "Jay, go home." Fives ordered.

"Father, I should stay." Jay said to him "No, see to your mothers and siblings. I'm sending my guard with you too." Fives ordered and pressed a button on his vambrace, the old soldier's guard turned to him and bowed before heading toward Jay and taking up positions around him. "Roger, roger." Jay said dismissively and left with the guard.

There was a long pause, "General, you should go too." Kleeve suggested, "No, we all built this Militia together, if we can't stand as one against a traitor. We've already lost and if I run with the rebellion forming it will make us look weak."

Elsewhere in the base, Ahkilleon walked two rows back behind Breacher and Turok, they passed by Jay and the Azure guard who were heading to their own ship. Ahkilleon glanced at him but said nothing.

Kleeve turned to follow the other Union members into the Hall, First Consul Kushi was speaking with the Merchant Alliance leader Voe Atell, veteran Separatists. Walking in with a slow posture was Admiral Trench he sat down in the Sovereign Destiny side. General Gererra sat already with a large mass of the Neo Iron League, among the three factions the Merchant Alliance had diminished the most from the loss of their fleet, flocking to either the Sovereign or the League. When General Freeman entered everyone parting the floor with Kleeve who broke off to go and sit with Steela, "Where are our other… guests?" she asked.

"Coming." Kleve whispered.

Both Kushi and Atell approached Fives, Kushi spoke "What is going on, the Vanguard is everywhere their commanders are saying it's shore leave, but-" "The situation is under control, First Consul, Voe I need you to calm your members in the Alliance." Fives said as a hush came over the crowd with Lord Asimov entering into the room with Sigma behind him, and a dozen Militia Elites in Droid armor exosuits, all armed with rotating blaster cannons "Kill them all."

Down below in the lower levels of the Union Hall, alarms started to go off, Ahkilleon froze just as they heard the screams up above, Ahkilleon ripped his helmet off "It's begun."