Chapter 9: A Student Can Teach
Author's Note: In this chapter, I'll be assisting in transporting Viceroy Nute Gunray to Coruscant for trial. How will my involvement change things? That you'll need to find out. Enjoy. P.S. Sorry for the delay. I'll try to upload the next chapter sooner.
The war continued on multiple fronts, and several systems were drawn into the conflict. However, we were making significant progress against the Separatists with the aid of good and trusted friends. Padmé managed to capture Viceroy Nute Gunray on Rodia with the help of her surrogate uncle, Senator Onaconda Farr of Rodia. He had been a family friend for years, and she had always regarded him as her uncle. She even called him her Uncle Farr. As I understood it, Gunray was trying to get Farr to declare Rodia's support to the Separatists and leave the Republic. The Viceroy even brought some battle droids to force Farr into it. His loyalty to Padmé prevented him from doing that, and they captured the Viceroy in the process, despite the ongoing fighting on the planet. I was also told that Jar-Jar was mistaken for a Jedi, and his bumbling luck helped to save the day. I'll admit that Jar-Jar is clumsy, but he's not stupid. He also has a good heart. The Council sent Master Luminara Unduli and Ahsoka to retrieve the Viceroy from Rodia aboard a Consular-Class Cruiser. They were then to rendezvous with Alex and me on the Jedi Cruiser Tranquility. I had our Aspirants, our very best clone troopers, and even Senate Commandos. The Senate Guards were not clones. They were normal men from various systems who volunteered to help protect the Senate on Coruscant. They were dressed in blue armor, and their helmets had a distinct form from those of the clone troopers. They had been in service even before the Clone Wars. Until that time, they were primarily used to guard high officials, such as the Chancellor, Senators, and others. They also helped the Jedi keep law and order in the capital. However, they soon gained use in helping to guard high-profile Separatist prisoners. The commander of the Senate Commandos accompanying us was Captain Faro Argyus. His family had served on the Senate Guards for five generations. I believed that he was proud to carry the family tradition in serving the Republic. I was on the bridge with Alex, Fox, and Argyus, waiting for Luminara and Ahsoka to arrive at the rendezvous point just beyond Rodia. "Captain, has General Unduli's ship made contact with us yet?" I asked. "Yes, General, they should be patching through any minute," Argyus answered. As if on cue, Luminara did just that. "Jedi Cruiser Tranquility, this is General Luminara Unduli requesting permission to land," she said. "You are clear, Luminara," I answered. "We eagerly await the arrival of your prisoner." "Thank you, Master Jones," she said. "I look forward to delivering him to you and Captain Argyus." We made ready to allow Luminara's ship to land on the lower docking. Argyus, his men, and I went to meet with Luminara, Ahsoka, the Viceroy, and her clone commander, Commander Gree.
"This is an outrageous miscarriage of justice," the Viceroy was complaining. "I demand my litigator." "Keep moving," Gree said, pushing the Viceroy along. We already had a lawyer waiting for the Viceroy back on Coruscant. "Greetings, Luminara, Ahsoka. It's good to see you both again." I said. I bowed to both of them, and they bowed back. I turned to Gunray. "It's good to see you again, too, Viceroy. I'm sure you wish it were under different circumstances." "We have the brig all ready for this traitor," Argyus said. "Very good, Captain," Luminara said. "Commander Gree, let's get underway." "Right away, sir," answered Gree. "Let's move." He said to Gunray. "Captain, take him away," I ordered. Gunray walked over to the Senate Guards, and they started to lead him to the brig. Luminara, Ahsoka, and I followed close behind. "Senate Commandos, Aspirants?" Ahsoka said, clearly astonished by the high security we were taking for this. "How does a money-grubbing worm like Gunray rate all this security?" she asked. "He doesn't look that dangerous." "The Viceroy is a crucial catch, young Padawan," I answered. "He has numerous secrets of the Separatists that we can use to end the war quicker." "Master Jones is right," Luminara added. "Don't let your overconfidence give Gunray another advantage, Ahsoka. Even now, his allies may be conspiring against us." "I'd say that's a guarantee," I said. "Dooku isn't going to let us subject Gunray to interrogation. It would surely mean the end of the Separatist movement." I had ordered Argyus and Alex to take a great deal of security measures to prepare for a possible attack. At the same time, Luminara and Ahsoka interrogated Gunray in the brig. Alex and I were on the bridge waiting for the results and plotting our course back to Coruscant. We knew we needed to take a safe route back, so the Separatists didn't have a chance to intercept us. Before we could get started, we were attacked by droid fighters escorting boarding ships. I launched the fighters we had on standby for precisely this reason. I had my clones and Jedi ready to hold off any enemies that managed to board. The enemy fighters came at us quickly, before our fighters even launched. "General, status," I heard Gree say. "Droid fighters, incoming with boarding ships," I answered. "All personnel on red alert, repeat all personnel on red alert." Our fighters engaged the enemy as the ship fired all turrets. They managed to destroy some of the boarding ships, but a few managed to get through. They penetrated the main hanger. "All available personnel to the main hanger," I said. "Let's go, Alex; they'll need us." "Right behind you, brother," Alex said. We rushed as fast as we could toward the main hanger. I could sense Ventress's presence among the enemy. If we could capture her too, that would make it a great day for the Republic.
Luminara and Commander Gree met up with Alex and me in a hallway between the detention center and the hanger. "Where's Ahsoka?" Alex asked. "I had her stay in the detention level with Captain Argyus to guard the Viceroy," Luminara answered. "Very good, let's go," I said. We managed to intercept the super battle droids a few halls down as they were engaging Green Company. Luminara, Alex, and I began to cut up the droids closest to us. Then we deflected the fire of the rest of them as they continued to advance. Finally, I was bored, so I used the Force to push the rest of them down and disable them. I turned on the comlink on my right wrist. "All personnel, report," I said. "Are there any more battle droids left on the ship?" "None in our sector, Master," one Jedi said. "Negative here too, General," said a clone. Luminara, Alex, and I deactivated our lightsabers. "Looks like that's the last of them, Generals," Commander Gree said. "Yes, commander, but I sense our troubles are not over," Luminara said. "As do I," I added. "I can sense Ventress snuck aboard the ship using the fighting as cover. We need to find her and fast." As it turned out, that wasn't going to be hard. At that moment, we heard some commotion in the prison level. "The Padawan." Luminara said. "Ventress," I added. "Let's go." Even though I knew Ahsoka had faced Ventress a few times before. She would still need our help. Additionally, I now had the goal of capturing Ventress as well. Alex, Luminara, Commander Gree, Green Company, and I rushed as fast as we could to the prison center. When we arrived, Ventress and killed or knocked out all the Senate Guards. She also freed Gunray from the cell and had Ahsoka inside. "What delicious irony," Gunray laughed. "How do you like your room now, youngling?" "She'll like it better when you're back inside," I said. Ventress and Gunray turned around, surprised to see me. "We meet again, Ventress, but I don't think you've met my brother, Alex, or Master Luminara," I said. At that moment, they both appeared from behind me. "Halt, assassin," Luminara said. She used the Force to press the button on the cell door, freeing Ahsoka. Both girls attacked Ventress at the same time as Alex and I made our way around. "Four against one," I said. "Not even you can win this fight, Ventress." I didn't expect her to actually put away her lightsabers and raise her arms in surrender, but she did. I could sense something was up. At that moment, I noticed a blinking light on her wrist. Suddenly, the entire ship shook, and Ventress made her get away. We did our best to stop her, but she still managed to escape down the lift shaft. Luminara, Ahsoka, and I watched as Ventress slid down the shaft with her lightsabers. "What are we waiting for?" Ahsoka asked. I pointed up just as an elevator passed by. "Oh, right," she said. "Captain, status," I said. "Everything's running haywire," Argyus said. "The doors, lifts. Communication's down, propulsion's dead. She's crippled the entire ship." "Blast, now we can't escape with Gunray until we repair the ship," I said. "Our attacker has come for Gunray," Luminara said. "Stay here and guard him. I'll confront her myself." "Master, all due respect, but Ventress is too powerful for any one Jedi to fight alone," Ahsoka pointed out. "Let me help you." "I am more than capable of dealing with a lone assassin armed with undisciplined fighting skills," Luminara said. "I'm afraid that Ahsoka is right, Luminara," I intercepted. "Ventress is not only undisciplined, but she's unpredictable. You don't know what she's capable of. It's too dangerous for you to go alone. You stay here with Ahsoka in case Ventress doubles back. I'll go after her." "But Master Jones, you just agreed that Ventress was too powerful for any Jedi to fight alone," Ahsoka protested. "I agreed with you that Master Luminara doesn't know what Ventress is capable of, but I do," I explained. "I've faced her before, as well as more powerful opponents, whereas Luminara has not. However, I don't intend to go alone, either." Alex stepped up, knowing what I was thinking.
"I may be able to handle fighting Ventress on my own, but the goal is to capture her as well. To do that, I will need some help," I explained. "As I said, Ventress is unpredictable, which not only makes her dangerous but also difficult to catch. Master Alex and I will go after Ventress. You girls stay here and keep watch. Ventress made return for the Viceroy." "Yes, Master," Ahsoka said. I looked at Luminara, who didn't seem happy with the arrangements I had set. However, she didn't have much choice because I was in charge as a member of the Jedi High Council. Being on the Council gave me rank over her. The only ones who outranked me were those who had served on the Jedi Council longer than I had. "As you wish, Master Jones," she said at last. "Very good. Come on, brother," I said. Alex and I jumped down the shaft together and followed the cut marks to where Ventress had gotten off. She left a trail of dead troopers in her wake, so her path was an easy one to follow. We tracked her to the hanger where the boarding ships had breached. "It's useless to hide from us, Ventress," I said. "We can sense your presence." Suddenly, she jumped from on top of a ship with both lightsabers drawn. Alex and I activated our own and countered her attack. I kept Ventress busy while Alex made his way around to her side. We began to back her up to the wall. Once she was cornered, then we would have her, or so I thought. When her back was to the wall, we stepped back a bit. "Surrender, Ventress, and maybe we can grant you some mercy with the Senate," I said. "I don't take mercy any more than I give it," she said. She used the Force to pull a bunch of containers towards us. Alex and I had to scatter to avoid them. As I picked myself up, I saw Ventress had escaped through a vent, likely the same vent she had used earlier. "Blast," I said. "Quickly, we can't let her get away." Alex and I rushed through the halls using Ventress's force presence to track her. We came to the engine room, which was on fire. We heard fighting up ahead. We rushed forward and looked down. Luminara seemed to disobey my order of staying behind. She was trying to fight Ventress on her own, despite my warning. It didn't take Ventress long to pin her underneath some cut-up pipe pieces. Thankfully, Ahsoka had the wisdom to pursue Luminara and prevented Ventress from killing her. She force-pushed Ventress into another pipe. Alex and I jumped down to pursue Ventress while Ahsoka freed Luminara's leg. When we landed, I swung at Ventress, and she parried. We exchanged blows before she jumped away. Alex and I turned our attention to the girls. "I know, I know," Ahsoka said. "You told us to stay, but Master Luminara felt she could handle Ventress, and I couldn't just let her go alone." "You did the right thing, Padawan Tano," I said. "As long as you gals are here." We all smiled at each other. We saw Ventress jumping up to higher ledges. "We have to find her," Luminara said. "We can't let her get to Gunray." "Agreed, let's go," I said.
We all jumped up to the higher ledges in pursuit of our quarry. I could sense Ventress was still in the engine room, and I was determined not to let her escape again. However, I felt a disturbance in the Force. Ventress had something planned, but I couldn't figure out what it was. "Be on guard," I warned the others. "I sense something amiss." "I feel it too," Alex said. We all activated our lightsabers. The girls took the front while Alex and I watched the back. We proceeded slowly and carefully. We all knew that Ventress could be hiding anywhere in that mess. We found a service droid under some rubble, but nothing else yet. "Ahsoka," Luminara said. "What happened to Padawan Tano?" Ahsoka asked. "Not now, Ahsoka," I said. "Let her speak." "This assassin, I've-" Luminara began. "I've never faced an adversary like her. I should have listened to your advice and obeyed Master Jones." "Even a master can still learn something, Luminara," I said. "Like how to put aside your pride and listen to the wisdom of others." "Master, I never meant to overstep my bounds but," Ahsoka said, but she was interrupted. Commander Gree called on the comlink. "General Unduli," he said. "We've been betrayed. Argyus has freed Gunray." Suddenly, everything made sense. Argyus needed the girls out of the way; that's why he encouraged them to follow us. "I've been a fool," Luminara admitted. "We've all been fools," I said. "Let's get back there," Ahsoka suggested. We all began to run toward the prison level. Before we could get very far, Ventress launched an attack. She used the Force to throw a piece of pipe at us. Luminara sliced it in half. We all turned to face our adversary. "We'll take her together," Ahsoka said. "I'm going in first," I said. I charged Ventress, and we all took turns attacking her. After one backed off, another came in. We had her surrounded, yet she didn't seem worried. Actually, she was laughing. She managed to jump out and used the Force to throw more debris at us. As Alex and the girls deflected it with their lightsabers, I reacted by using my stronger Force Power to push the debris back at her.
"Give up, Ventress. You can't escape this time," I said. However, she proved me wrong again. She jumped to the disabled turbine and from there jumped to the vent. Ahsoka tried to follow, but Ventress used a thermal detonator, causing an explosion that knocked her off course. Luminara and I each had one of Ahsoka's hands, and Alex held on to us. We pulled Ahsoka up and had to catch our breaths. Though, I sensed it was too late. Argyus, Ventress, and Gunray were long gone. We rushed to a window and watched Ventress take off in an escape pod toward the Consular-class ship where I sensed Argyus and Gunray were. I wasn't looking forward to reporting this to the rest of the Council. After we made the necessary repairs to our ship, we contacted Coruscant. Anakin and Master Yoda answered our call. We explained everything that had happened. "I'm sorry that despicable wealth-worm Gunray got away," Ahsoka said. "It's okay, Snips," Anakin said. "I know you did your best." "Troubling is the treachery of the Senate guard, Captain Argyus," Master Yoda said. "Revealed all around us, our enemies are." "Yes, Commander Gree claimed that Argyus said he felt it was a life of empty servitude. I can sense the money persuaded him," I said. "I'm not sure all is lost," Luminara said. "Gunray and his accomplices stole a Republic ship to make their getaway." "It could be tracked," Anakin put in. "Indeed," Luminara confirmed. "A coward Viceroy Gunray is, but powerful allies he has," Master Yoda said. "Swiftly we must move if we are to recapture him." "Master Fisto's fleet was near Gunray's position," I said. "We already contacted to follow the signal." "Ahsoka, I'll meet you at the rendezvous point," Anakin said. "Yes, master," Ahsoka said. With that, we ended the transmission. Ahsoka turned to Master Unduli. "Master Luminara, I guess this is goodbye for now," she said. "I owe you my life, Ahsoka," Luminara admitted. "Protecting a Jedi Master is the role of the Padawan," Ahsoka said humbly. "And teaching is usually the role of the master," Luminara said. "Master Skywalker should be proud." "I know I am," I said. "You'll be a Jedi Knight in no time, young one." "Farewell," Luminara finished. "Thank you, Masters," Ahsoka said. "Now let's get going," I said.
We sent Ahsoka to regroup with Anakin as we made our way back to Coruscant. Master Fisto and his former Padawan Nahdar Vebb had traced the ship to the Vassek system. However, it turned out to be a double trap. Dooku, it seemed, had gotten tired of Grievous' recent defeats. He used the tracking beacon to lure Master Fisto, Nahdar, and their men into General Grievous' lair. I could sense that, regardless of the outcome, Dooku would benefit. If Grievous succeeded in defeating Fisto's group, then he would prove himself again. However, if Fisto had managed to catch Grievous, then Dooku would be rid of a useless pawn. Grievous did manage to come out victorious, and Master Fisto was the only one to return alive. He reported to the rest of us in the Council Chamber. "What of your former Padawan?" Master Windu asked. "His heart was in the right place, but he tried to answer Grievous' power with his own," Master Fisto reported. "To answer power with power, the Jedi way this is not," Master Yoda said. "In this war, a danger there is of losing who we are." "But we can't let such dangers stop us from doing what we believe is right," I added. "We need to use caution when doing so." With my network of informants and spies, I managed to locate our stolen ship, which had been abandoned not far from Vassek. We found Argyus' dead body in the cockpit. It looked like after he had served his purpose, Ventress had killed him. I guess it showed that you can't expect anything good from serving the Dark Side of the Force. Grievous' lair was also abandoned when we went back to check. I suppose he was smart enough to know that Vassek was no longer safe for his fortress. As to where he moved his base of operations, we'd have to figure that out later. In the meantime we needed to be ready for the next phase of the Clone Wars.