A concussion missile grazed the side of his ship. Arcana veered sharply to the left,
dropped a chaff charge, and then flew back in his seat from the impact of the second
missile. His ship was tossed wildly to the side, down, and forward. He checked his
shields; half-power. He had lost one laser cannon and was suffering a slight engine
malfunction due to the explosion. Arcana called for Essex to pilot the ship as he bent
down, ripped open a panel, grabbed a toolbox, and began cutting and rewiring red and blue
cables under the console.
He felt his droid's presence as he worked with cables. It was a rather good thing that he
had learned quite a bit about his old shuttle in the past. Sentinels were not too
different from Lambdas.
'This smuggler attacking me.....what sort of pilot are they? Targets me, fires a
few shots, and then slams me with some missiles.'
As Arcana clicked wires together, he heard a distinct hum as the ship picked up speed.
"Console controls to the third Engine bank are restored," Essex reported.
Arcana crawled from under the panel. "All right, see that ship?" he said, pointing to the Bankork's Revenge. "Load that thermal detonator."
"Done."
"Target the ship."
"Done."
Arcana crawled up to the top turret. The smuggler's ship was flying around, shooting
at random TIE Fighters that came within vicinity. 'Oh, this is sweet,' he thought.
She didn't know he was there. Essex fired a space-built thermal detonator at the ship. It
shot closer, tracking in. He had been told that it used a sort of tracking device that
some computers could not detect. That pilot, whoever he was, seemed rather distracted by
the volume of TIE Fighters that suddenly seemed to target the ship. Arcana smiled as the
detonator grazed the side of the ship. It exploded, sending shock waves across the
shields. In fact, the explosion was so immense that it fragmented a TIE Fighter that was
finishing a laser run. He wasn't going to destroy her soon, however. After all, his ship
could barely move. He was too far out of range. But seeing her damaged was satisfying
enough for now.
"Domino's command ship?" he said. "I'm ready to be pulled in."
A tractor beam locked on his ship. Arcana cut the engines and let the beam pull him into the hanger of the Super Star Destroyer. About time; he needed to meet Domino.
Rachel shivered, suddenly feeling chilled to the bone. "Mara..." she
whispered, not noticing the strange looks the bridge crew gave her. She bit her lip hard;
she felt almost as if Mara had died.
The feeling wasn't quite the same -- it wasn't the flash of searing pain and brilliant
light that had accompanied her childhood friend Giveria's death so long ago -- but it
felt...felt like something just as bad.
And it felt cold.
And dark.
Then, just as suddenly as the feeling had come, it vanished completely, leaving her with a
feeling of dread. She reached out with the Force, but somehow couldn't find her
friend. She shivered again, and opened her eyes once more to the battle raging
above Sullust. She decided that if something had happened to Mara, there was nothing she
could do for her now. She had to concentrate on the task at hand. But somehow, she could
not push the feeling of dread out of her mind.
Mara laid on a flat medical table, surgeon droids worked on her wounded body. She
couldn't speak or breathe, she just let the Force run through her entire being like a
river. She remained in her trance as Mumar and Domino walked in.
Domino reached down and brushed Mara's cheek, "Nice job, m'Lady, but, what a waste of
beauty. And once again I must protest at this waste of my resources to pursue goals that
will not benefit the Sith order."
Mumar chuckled, "Come now my Lord, it can be reversible, but I intend to turn her into a monster!" She turned to Domino and sneered. "As for the resurrection of the Sith Empire, you will need warriors such as she to defend it."
Domino laughed, "My dear lady, what could you be thinking of now? What do you intend to do?"
An evil grin crossed Mumar's face. "I want my own Darth Vader, and she is my key!"
Domino turned to leave the room. "I want results, Priestess Kazar. Whether you have an army of 'Vaders,' or a race of Sithspawn, what difference will it make. I can only see this as a waste of time and resources for some personal vendetta. When you are willing to see the truth of the Dark Side and give up your weak tangent, I shall be in my grand hall attending to important matters."
Rafaella's co-pilot gave her an odd glance. The Jedi master's eyes had gotten completely blank, and there was something odd about her expression. As he was about to reach out to her, she shook her head, and the normal expression returned. "Did you feel it? A tremor in the Force." He shook his head. Rafaella just closed her eyes for a moment. She had a bad feeling about it. A very bad feeling indeed. Suddenly a vision flashed before her. She bit her tongue to the point of bleeding.
'Skywalker-in ice! Mara Jade, a new Darth Vader...' She bit back an ancient curse, and concentrated on the Imperials again, on doing all the damage she could, with lasers, and with tactics. Yet another Imperial went up in fire. The entire sky was bright with burning ships and chaos and destruction. Yet, the Empire was everywhere.
Mara awoke, her vision was hazy, her breathing was labored, her voice was rasping, "Luke...Luke, please hear me."
"He can't hear you child, he's not dead, he's in hibernation." Mara looked around in the dark. "Who's talking?"
"It's Anakin Skywalker, Mara."
Mara lifted her head. "Anakin,,,Anakin, can you help me?" She saw Anakin's Spirit through the Force.
"I'm here with you now Mara, but you must look inside yourself and find your way back, you are not beyond redemption."
Mara took a deep breath. "What should I do?"
Anakin whispered, "Release Luke."
Mara sighed. "How can I release him, I can't get up, my whole body is in a brace, I can't do it Anakin."
Anakin shook his head, "Let the Force flow through you, close your eyes and open yourself to the Force."
Mara turned away. "I don't want him to see me."
Anakin sighed. "He won't care, he will help you, but you must rediscover yourself." Mara nodded, she closed her eyes and let the Force flow through her.
Mara laid still, she concentrated on her inner strength and busted out of the brace.
She used her powers to reach the switches on the ice cylinder that held Luke.
'Blue Button, Red Button, Green Switch, he's free! It's turning to water, now to
activate the drain.' Mara turned on the drain switch, the water flushed out, she held
Luke in suspension and warmed him with the Force.
Luke coughed and opened his eyes, "Mara, it was a trap! Mara! Mara!" Luke found himself outside of the cylinder.
"It's okay Luke, now please go! Warn Leia and the others! This is important."
Luke paced around, "Mara, where are you? I am not leaving you here, I will not let her have you!"
He heard Mara's voice, he felt her near him, he tried to see her, but all he saw was darkness. "You must take an imperial shuttle and flee, Luke, go now!"
Luke cried out, "NO! I can't leave you here. You are my student, my responsibility."
Mara snapped back, "Stop it! If you do not leave now, I will be lost forever."
Luke nodded. "I will go then, but I will not forget you! I'm going to warn the others."
Mara whispered, "Take a shuttle and leave now before they find you. The
shuttles here should give you the safe path through the Deominian cloud."
Luke nodded and left her in the chamber. Mara closed her eyes and made sure he got
out safely. In her mind's eye, she saw Luke's Shuttle lift off and vanish. Mara gave a
sigh of relief and laid down to rest.
"General Tamar." Admiral Daliwhel said, "I'm going to meet up with the pilot of that Sentinel shuttle. He's a smuggler of Lord de Devastator's whom the Dark Lord would wish to extend every luxury. You have the bridge."
Tamar replied, "Understood, Admiral." The seasoned General began giving orders and analyzing the battle with his experienced eye.
Daliwhel entered the hangar that had received Arcana's ship. He marveled at the
amount of damage the Sentinel had been able to sustain and still be able to fight back.
'Arcana will be wanting to meet with Lord Domino. No matter, we depart for Deominia
soon enough.' Daliwhel observed as the smuggler stepped down out of the shuttle. Four
stormtroopers stood on either side of the Admiral as Arcana looked from one end of the
hangar to the other.
'At long last, this so-called Sith Priestess gives of her time to practice Sith techniques.' Domino and Mumar were finishing an ancient Sith meditation ritual as the disturbance was felt.
"SKYWALKER!!!!!!!" Mumar called out in rage.
"How is it that the spirits of dead Jedi can find my secure keep at Deominia?" Domino asked her.
Mumar touched him lightly on the right shoulder, "My great Lord, this disturbance is nothing. Anakin can not help Jade now! She is ours, just as Vader was Palpatine's!"
Domino shook Mumar's hand from his shoulder as he glared into her eyes. They stood that way for the longest time, then Domino spoke. "You go and check on Mara Jade's condition. I must attempt to stop Skywalker from taking the secret of Deominia's location to the Rebellion."
"Lord de Devastator," she replied, "I had not even considered that! Can you ever be merciful enough to forgive my lack of insight?"
Domino only shot Mumar with a look of anger as he paced from the room. He could hear her hate-filled chuckle as he moved quickly down the hallway.
Entering the hangar, Domino boarded his personal shuttle and followed Luke off the planet. It didn't take him long to catch up to the Jedi Master, and several ships of the 2nd Fleet surrounded Luke's shuttle as well. Domino reached out with the Force and swept the memories from Skywalker's mind that had anything to do with Deominia, including any knowleedge of Mara's location or situation. 'It could all provide the Alliance with the location of Deominia, and then there would be death in the universe the likes of which has not been felt before.'
After the Sith Lord wiped those memories from Luke's mind, an Imperial Star Destroyer tractored the Jedi's shuttle into the hangar and transported him through the nebula. Domino was thoroughly satisfied as he returned to Deominia.
Arcana stepped off of his ship. He saw an Admiral, escorted by a generous amount of stormtroopers. "I am Admiral Daliwhel," the Admiral said coldly. "We are to prepare a shuttle to depart for Deominia."
Arcana sighed. "He's not on the damn ship here?" he asked.
"No, I am sorry."
"Hey, I know how to navigate that cloud, Admiral." Arcana took one step
onto the ramp of his shuttle "The shuttle makes an easy point-eight past light speed.
Think you trust my skills? If not, bring on some more guys and we'll outfit my Sentinel
with a proper
crew. Gunner, pilot, tactician..." Arcana trailed off as he looked into the Admiral's
set face.
"Well, how about it, Admiral? Let's get this baby warmed up and we'll be there in a
mere matter of hours, heck, maybe minutes!"
The smuggler looked towards the Admiral with a query marking his face.
Mumar and Domino walked into the medical chamber and saw that the brace had been
broken and Mara was lying down on the pallet
draped in a black velvet cloak. Mumar was shocked, "By Athena's shield! She's more
powerful than before, stronger!"
Just then Zannah rushed through the door, "Your ladyship, the Jedi Master has escaped! Hecate and the others are looking for him!"
Mumar growled, Domino held her back, "DRAT! This is Rama's Fault, she must have
gotten out and released him! Well, when she awakens,
we'll prepare her for the shock of her life."
Domino smiled, "Don't worry My Dove, I've already taken care of him. Zannah, call your women back and instruct them to do as they please for now." Mumar turned to Zannah before dismissing her, "Is the armor ready?"
"Yes, the crafters are done, you can proceed with the process."
"Good, I want her ready. Zannah, bring the armor here. You and Domino will help me finish on my specimen, I want this to go according to plan."
Zannah bowed and departed as Domino and Mumar gazed down at Mara. Mumar took
the velvet cloak from her body, Mara awoke and gasped,
"He escaped Mistress, it wasn't my fault!"
Mumar snapped, "Don't lie to me Rama, Mara Jade Skywalker, is still alive and well."
"She is not, she's dead, you killed her."
Mumar hit her square in the jaw with his arm, "You are still with the light, but we can fix that!" Mara fell to the floor, "You will pay for this Jade, you will pay for ruining my life."
"YES MISTRESS!"
"Now get up Rama, and move into the meditation chamber. We have work to do!" Mara did as she was told, as Mumar and Domino followed her.
Tashannoc watched as the Rebel ships grew more and more helpless in facing the mighty Imperial Armada. ~Tashannoc!~ It was Ackbar.
"Yes Admiral, go ahead!" Tashannoc replied.
The Mon Cal continued, ~I am sounding the general retreat! The situation here is hopeless. If we don't leave soon, the Imperial Navy will wipe us out of existence, leaving the Rebellion with no fleet to fight for them!~
Tashannoc roared his disapproval, but began to call in his few remaining ships.
Ackbar knew his Wookiee friend was not pleased with his order, but what choice did
they have. In studying his enemies, He found out that the captain of Omega group, Tjern
Delsin, read the teachings of Velthzul Tyotsu. The Great General, Tyotsu, wrote that when
in battle and faced with greater forces, always flee. For the enemy will best you at 3 to
1, capture you at 4 to one and annihilate you at 5 to 1. The Imps here were better than 6
to one currently, and the ratio was increasing in their favor! Ackbar looked to see that
all of Tashannoc's vessels were complying, then saw his ships begin their formation into
hyperspace. Just then fifteen Imperial Star Destroyers moved in on the Mighty MC2600 and
began to unleash a mighty sorty of wrath upon it! Several rebel vessels moved in to aid
the enormous Mon Cal cruiser, but were cut off by Imperial support frigates and cruisers.
The onslaught continued for several minutes, and then ended. The remains of the MC2600
nothing but debris. The Imperial vessels then turned on the remaining rebel ships, who
were now scrambling to obey Ackbar's now posthumous orders.
General Tamar observed with a twinkle in his eye. He had ordered the destruction of
one of the greatest tacticians that the Rebel Alliance had ever had. He was a hero.
The Imperial Armada began to disperse for Hyperspace, but the 2nd fleet disappeared
first.
On the bridge of the Xenomorph one of the techs stood up. He was the missile
control operator, responsible for firing proton torpedoes and concussion missiles at ships
that came a little too close. "That is IT!!!" he cried before he flicked a bunch
of switches green and clicked up the firing control. Hendrikson was too far away to stop
him from firing, but he first wanted to know the target. He looked at his datapad. Well,
at least the kid was firing at the enemy in his rage.
The other two ships that hadn't left were part of Hendrikson's command--the Retliation
and Lightbringer. They made the jump to hyperspace. But the Xenomorph
remained. They didn't care to jump into hyperspace with missiles armed. The
missile hardpoints on the ships fired a salvo of rockets, then another, all flying wildly
at various Imperial ships, causing only a little damage, since the enraged youth ensign
hadn't taked the time to actually confirm his target locks. Hendrikson knew how he felt,
but couldn't express himself the way the tech had. The gunners were also firing now,
trying to take down as many Imps as possible before Hendrikson made the jump to
hyperspace. It was futile. It was all futile. They couldn't even TOUCH the Imps in this
battle...The second the missile tubes clicked empty, Hendrikson reluctantly pressed the
hyperspace lever down, staring at the ruined MC 2600 all the while. Before the carrier
disappeared from the system. Hendrikson had time to utter one word. "Why?"
Then the Xenomorph was gone.
Rafaella was busy giving orders. She would leave. Ackbar was right. They were
outnumbered, and besides, the itch was getting worse. She couldn't afford to get killed
here. Not before Azrael was dead. Then she would die gladly.
To her surprise, only four of the other eight Blades obeyed her orders.
Rey's voice crackled through the comm unit. There were tears and sorrow in her voice. "Leave, master. We will make the Empire pay for what they did to Ackbar."
Rafaella nodded and left. Rey turned to the Imperials, letting her rage build
up and join with the rage of the others. Then, something began to build up near the
Imperials; A Force Storm. In her rage, Rey had chosen the Dark Side, and her brother
and sisters had chosen with her. Their souls did not matter. Revenge mattered.
As the pent-up rage was loosened, as they allowed their hate to well up, the Force Storm
grew, swallowing the fringes of the Imperial fleet, eating
its way in, sneaking round any rebel stragglers...
Rama sighed as she emerged from a state of meditation. Domino had been trying
to get her to enter a state of Rage, but she dropped into emptiness to befuddle his
efforts.
After meditating, Mumar, Domino, and Rama walked out. Zannah approached with black
armor, boots, a mask, and a helmet.
"Master, where is my lightsaber?"
Domino produced a lightsaber for Rama from beneath his cloak. "Take this one."
Rama took the saber from his hand. Mumar began to unravel Rama's bandages, revealing soft, freshly regenerated skin where there were scars only a few hours before. Rama dressed in the black armor and then kneeled before Mumar. Mumar lifted Rama's Helmet with the Force and put it on her head, "It is done." Mumar smiled at Domino.
"You did a wonderful job, my little devil, she is our ultimate weapon to destroy the New Republic."
Cleopatra, Mumar's spy ran through the door, "Your Ladyship and Lordship, I have heard that Admiral Ackbar is dead."
Rama turned her head and bent it low, she was beginning to feel like Vader, "Ackbar is dead, that's a dent in the leadership of the Rebellion isn't it."
Mumar looked to Rama, "Yes, and more will follow him."
She closed her eyes and bit her lip. 'Not Leia, NO! Not Leia, Luke, not my friends.' Then Rama nodded, "Yes, more will fall."
Domino, Mumar, and Zannah left Rama alone as she looked out the doorway to see Mumar's Henchwomen head to the dungeon.
"Damn," Aria swore as she threw down her blaster. There was no way she was
going to get them all in such an enclosed space. She would have to save her other treats
for later. Raising her hands above her head and lacing her fingers behind her head, Aria
was shoved off the ship.
"Hey, don't harm the merchandise," Aria bit out.
"Move it traitor."
Aria found herself in the detention cell moments later. On the way in she spotted two
guards at the turbo lift. Three stormtroopers at the command post with a Lieutenant it
looked like. On the way to the hall about every fifteen feet was a pair of stormtroopers.
To make her odds even worse there was a dead end down the hall guarded by another
stormtrooper. Getting out of here wouldn't be easy, but she could do it if no one else
could.
Aria felt the shift in the force before it even hit her. Someone had let loose a rage in the Force that made it seem like Aria's head was gonna split in two. Before she could recover from a sheer show of Dark Side power, Aria passed out. Her body sunk to the ground. She never felt the end of the Force Storm that was wreaking havoc with the Imperial Forces.
Tashannoc quenched the fire that raged within him, calling for retaliation on those who had killed his friend. He instead reissued Ackbar's order. "All remaining fightercraft and capital ships enter hyperspace as soon as possible." He glanced at the report he had just received from Rebel Intelligence, with a corroborating note from Lerma. "Everyone regroup around Mon Calamari. We have a bigger problem on our hands than just the loss of Sullust!" However, Tashannoc himself wouldn't leave the battle until he had seen the other ships to safety, then he activated the hyperdrive on the Gift, just as a slew of Imperial craft moved in for the kill.
Once in orbit around Mon Calamari, Tashannoc met with the captains of the present Rebel Fleet, as well as acting fleet commander, Admiral Wedge Antilles. Tashannoc had met with Lerma and Dalon Marr and caught up with them, and knew what Wedge was going to say as he stepped up to the lectern. "Friends, we come together under the shadow of a great loss, and yet we have no time to do more than acknowledge that loss and move on. I have recently learned that a portion of space on the periphery has broken off from both Rebel and Imperial influences, and a new Warlord has taken over this region of space. In itself, this would seem trivial, however, one of these worlds had a large Imperial Garrison, and every ship, every troop surrendered without a fight and joined this new warlord. As if this massive show of charisma wasn't bad enough, it also appears that the Warlord is in command of a Sovereign class Star Destroyer, the same one that we captured not long ago, and later lost when Captain Neb Calluna went mad. If this new Warlord is Neb Calluna, then he is force sensitive, and in possession of a power which neither General Tashannoc or Master Skywalker understand. However, General Tashannoc has led me to believe that Calluna was not acting on his own, and that a greater power has taken over his mind. If this is the case, then may the force help us all." There was a pause, which signaled the end of the current briefing, and led into a question and answer period that was fairly banal until someone asked something that Tashannoc knew nothing about. "Admiral, what about rumors that Master Skywalker is missing, or even dead, along with his wife? How can we face this new enemy without his aid?" Tashannoc had heard nothing of this, and was suddenly alert. Wedge answered, "Luke's whereabouts are currently unknown, however that is no cause for alarm. He has been known to disappear before. I wouldn't be too worried about it now. When we need him, he'll show up. And besides, the whole purpose of the training of the new order of Jedi is so that we won't have to rely on him forever. I'm sure that if push comes to shove, Kyp Durron and General Tashannoc and others can pick up the slack. I'm afraid that is all that we have time for this afternoon. There will be a memorial service for Admiral Ackbar in two days. I would hope that you all can attend." As the meeting ended Tashannoc rushed to catch up with Admiral Antilles. "Wedge, what's this about Luke disappearing?" "Look, General, I realize that you and Ackbar had a close relationship, but I am not Ackbar. I'm afraid that I can't give you any more information than I already have. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm in a hurry." Tashannoc just stood and watched the back of the retreating Admiral and muttered, "I miss Ackbar more already."
Hey Major! 'Sup?" Thix yelled across a hangar bay as Major Hendrikson descended the ramp of a shuttle. Despite the fact that Admiral Ackbar was no longer alive, the plain happiness of surviving yet another battle and returning home overwhelmed the dire fact. Thix and Hendrikson clasped hands and laughed. "Where's Becky?" He asked, having met one of his two missing friends and looking for the other. "Behind me." Hendrikson answered, grinning. She dropped her bag and sighed. "Did you know this is the first battle I've gone through with out damaging my X-Wing or myself, physically or mentally?!" She said, smiling. "You mean you were grounded in the carrier the whole battle?!?" Thix said; joking. She laughed and then surprised herself and Thix by hugging him. "What's your excuse for missing the battle, Thix?" Hendrikson asked Thix as the three left the hangar. "First off, I didn't know about it. Second, I was making a couple extra stops." "Oh yeah," Hendrikson asked "Where did you stop without having to be reported AWOL?" "Well, my whole squadron was in the mood for Corellian food so I thought I'd let them make a stop while we were there, and I went hunting for a secret." Thix explained. "What about the other place?" "Well, seems I've been making a good impression on the Brass, and they thought a little interview was in order. Check this out!" He pulled back his cloak, revealing a shiny new Commander insignia. "Good job, Thix!" Becky said. "That's SIR to you!" Thix said, laughing. At least some things turned out well from this devastating battle. (And Thix was sure that the Dark Lord would be happy with the pun)
Arcana was watching from one of the observation decks. He was waiting for the Admiral's order for his departure. As he stood and watched the battle, he noticed that the Rebel Fleet was retreating. Arcana shrugged. He thought as much. After all, they were hopelessly outnumbered.
However, as he watched, he noticed that one of the cruisers was cut off from the
hyperspace route. He heard some of the officers around him shouting,
"We've got Ackbar's ship!!!"
The MC2600 cruiser was annihilated in an instant. Arcana stopped for a moment as he
watched the cruiser settle in pile of scrap dust. He was amazed at the power of the
Imperial Fleet. Amazed, or scared?
Arcana looked down at the watch that he had on his wrist. That, among other things, guaranteed that he was on Domino's good side.. as well as the Empire's.
Officers began cheering as the ship was destroyed. They were commenting on how they
had destroyed one of the greatest tacticians of the Rebel Alliance and how it was such a
great blow to them. One by one, Arcana watched the other cruisers retreat from the battle.
He couldn't help but to feel sorry for them. They seemed too weak already. And they just
suffered another hard loss.
Arcana turned from the observation deck and sighed deeply. He wandered around on the deck, mind absent from his body.
As the Imperial Armada began to pull off into multiple hyperspace formations, four of the Blades began to approach. Grand Admiral Emago barely acknowledged the threat as trivial. Feeling charitable, he ordered full engagement into hyperspace for the Armada. The Blades triggered several impotent shots at the Imperial vessels before they were left alone over Sullust. As Rey and the others surveyed the debris, they noticed one thing that definitely should be! The wreckage from the MC2600 was no where to be seen!
Rachel stared in numbed shock as Admiral Ackbar's ship vanished in a sudden violent ball of flame. "No..." she whispered. No one heard her. Tears stung her eyes; she just barely kept back the rivers that threatened to betray her. _Not Ackbar..._ She barely noticed when the _Knightfall_ made the jump to hyperspace, barely remembered excusing herself from duty and rushing to her room, where she sank down on her bed and wept for the friend lost in battle--something she knew she could have prevented, if only she had known... Her last thought before falling into a fitful sleep was that another friend's blood was on her hands. Would she ever be fully redeemed? She wasn't so sure, not with all the things she had done, all the things she could have prevented but hadn't...
The four Blades hovered in space for a moment, then the
furious Rey decided that they'd try to find the Imperials,
and avenge Ackbar.
On Metārian, Rafaella was busy gathering all her forces, preparing
for another war, but not against the Empire. A war against Azrael, on her beloved Dalleth
Aria paced…..
her cell, she could use her small explosives but she didn't know who and how many were watching her. Besides, she preferred to be a real pain in the rear. She went to the door and proceed to kick and scream. "Let me outta here. I've done nothing wrong...okay, I blew up a couple of your ships, but so did everyone else. I have no ties to the alliance. LET ME OUT!!!" Worn out Aria slid down beside the door and waited to see if that would get someone's attention...
"Uh-huh.... what?? Really? Oh, brother." Hendrikson was talking to another
officer via comlink. It seemed there was something brewing and the fleets were supposed to
move to Mon Calamari. "Okay, anytime? I'll be there in twelve hours." He shut
down the comlink and opened the door to his room. He meandered towards the hangar and flew
a shuttle over to the Xenomorph. Once there he relayed the fact that they would depart for
Mon Calamari in one hour. Techs and Troops groaned at having a one day respite. "Such
is war, boys." Hendrikson said. When the countdown was at ten minutes, Hendrikson was
still busy getting his ships pilots and personnel together. This time Thix and Green
squadron would be coming along. Some pilots joked that Green squadron was living up to
it's color, but it did have Thix and he was a pretty decorated pilot. He'd already earned
the Crynyd Award for Valor in combat. Thix was respected for the fact that he now
outranked Hendrikson, and was half his age. Secretly Hendrikson knew that he could easily
be a colonel now with double his current forces, but had declined two promotions. He was
satisfied with Major. Oh, if he ever had to go and accomplish some daring feat where he'd
most likely die (kinda like Sullust) he'd take up those promotions and maybe get command
of some extra firepower...
When his four ships arrived over Mon Calamari, Hendrikson immediately shuttled over to the
Gift to see what was up. He regretted that he couldn't shuttle over to the MC2600. Once
inside he wound his way through the corridors. He knew how a Mon Cal worked. He found
Tashannoc on the bridge. The first thing Hendrikson noticed was how the Wookiee seemed
troubled. Troubled was the only word for it. No, tense was another goodie. "So,
General." Hendrikson said, approaching. "What's this 'situation'...?"
Luke landed on at the Rebel base on Dantooine and Leia rushed to meet him. "Luke! Luke, I'm glad you're safe. Did you hear about Ackbar?"
Luke shook his head, "I lost Mara. I lost a student, not just to the Dark Side, but to the Dark Lord himself."
Leia touched Luke's hand, "Admiral Ackbar is dead. His ship was destroyed in a battle at Sullust. We've just now received word of this."
Luke shook his head, "I can't believe this has happened. Mara is lost to Darkness, Ackbar has been destroyed..." Luke paused. "Where is the fleet going from Sullust?'
Leia frowned, "Where else? They are coming here, then we will divert a third of the fleet to the orbital base at Kashyyyk."
She stood alone in the middle of a dark room, surrounded by a small pool of bright light. She found herself staring through the darkness at another figure, lit by harshly glaring spotlights, pale and sickly. IT was a man chained to a wall she could not see, dried blood smeared across his face and wrists, his clothes in slashed and burned tatters. With a sudden shock, she recognized him as her husband Kyp, bruised and battered. She nearly ran to him, but discovered that something held her back: her own set of chains, keeping her away from her lover.
"No!" she yelled, desperate to help Kyp. "Lemme go!"
"I am afraid that is not possible, child," a voice she vaguely remembered announced out of the unseen darkness. "Only you can free yourself. These bonds are of your making. They bind you to the darkness with an undeniable strength and surety. You cannot escape your own handiwork."
She sagged, as if drained of all energy. "I did not create this!" She spat the words out with visible effort, but knew it was a lie.
A cold voice replied, "But of course you did." A figure stepped out of the darkness, revealing...herself. The woman she had become: curly black hair, brown eyes, Imperial uniform, ruthless heart, merciless soul -- Rachel O'Conner. Her creation. Her facade. The part she played so well she had BECOME. she shook her head weakly. "I am not her. NOT her..."
The cruel figure sneered. "You are now. Look at what you have become! Someone who doesn't even know the difference between fact and fiction anymore! Someone who is now more Imperial than Jedi. You have become me, Dawn Marina Skywalker Durron. You let your anger slip, you let your little fantasy take control, and now you are me." The figure paused, then pointed one slender finger at Kyp's limp form. "And I want you to kill him."
"No..."she whispered.
"Kill him! You have killed countless others! Why does the blood of one more man matter to you?"
She sank to the ground as a deluge of images washed over her, all the while hearing her own voice demanding her to kill her husband. Ackbar was first, accusing her of letting him die needlessly, and then the people of Alderaan--she had been there, she could have stopped it, why hadn't she? Her father's voice, claiming that darkness was her heritage and destiny, that evil ran in her blood. Darien's face, just before he had been shot in that cantina back on Nar Shadda so long ago; the bodies left in the street on Orestes by the stormtroopers she had commanded -- and worst of all, the charred, blackened face of her ten-year-old best friend who had died nearly 30 years ago, fallen to the Emperor's dark-side lightning as she had stood by and watched in horrified anguish. The images and voices swirled by in a whirlwind, accusing, living, dying, hurting, hating, crying. She slumped to the floor as the terrible visions faded away, feeling drained and guilty.
"You see," her evil twin said heartlessly. "You have killed even those you love. Why does he matter to you? He doesn't, really. You know what you are, what chains you. This is what was meant to be. You are a killer, an Imperial, a Dark Jedi. No more, no less. AND YOU KNOW IT! Now kill him!"
She suddenly found herself on her feet, a wickedly sharp ceremonial dagger clasped in her hands. She trembled, hesitated as she looked at her beloved husband -- and screamed to find thick red blood oozing over the dagger blade onto her hands. Blood. Kyp's blood.
Mumar paced back and forth as Domino watched her. "What is troubling you my dear?"
Mumar shook her head, "There is still good in her!"
Domino pointed to a secret room, "There is another plan my dear."
Just then the door slid open, Artiemis and Anticlea came rushing through the door, "M'lady, Rama has fled the palace!"
Mumar screamed in rage and grabbed her cleft blade, "Where in Hell was she last reported?"
"She fled after she let Skywalker free." Mumar threw the blade down. "I have shed too much of her blood already, gather yourselves and in the name of the Sith I want that Jedi found and I want you to bring her to me, alive!" Mumar's Henchwomen raced off.
Domino questioned her, "What are you going to do to her?"
Mumar picked up her blade, "You'll see."
Rama had changed her mind, she lowered her head and proceeded towards the palace.
She came into the throne roon and kneeled in front of Mumar,
"Mistress, I am sorry, I will never run off on you again."
Mumar smiled wickedly, "Good, because if you do, I'll erase every bit of humanity that you have."
'How dare she take away my life? But I must go along, to learn her secrets. Oh
Luke, where are you?'
"Yes, Master, I will do anything that you and Lord Domino say."
"Rama."
"Yes, mistress."
"Kill Skywalker and his family and bring the children to me."
She bowed, "As you wish, my Lady."
Mumar motioned to Rama, "Rise my servant, you are dismissed."
Rama walked away with a heavy heart, inside she knew that she was still Mara Jade." She looked out the window of her chamber and thought about how she could possibly get out of this situation.
Like 150 charging stallions, the mighty 2nd fleet emerged from the Deominian cloud, victorious after their conquest at Sullust. Admiral Daliwhel was anxious to report the details of the battle to Lord de Devastator and to present to him the remains of a fallen foe. "Domen Starport, send word to Lord de Devastator that the 2nd fleet is returned." the comm officer said into the mic.
'Lord Domino shall be pleased at the performance of the Imperial navy at
Sullust. We shall be rewarded.' thought Daliwhel, as his shuttle entered the palace
hangar. He immediately made his way to the great audience chamber where Domino was meeting
with Lady Mumar.
Domino and Mumar shared wicked laughter over a private matter as Daliwhel knocked on the
chamber door.
"Enter Admiral!" Domino's thunderous voice called. As he entered, Admiral
Daliwhel was awestruck by the beauty of Lady Mumar, and looked as if this were the only
woman he had ever seen in his life.
"Good servant, Daliwhel, report on your success at Sullust."
Daliwhel spoke, in earnest candor, of the entire battle. Leaving out not even the
most miniscule details, he painted a vivid picture of the conflict for Lord Domino. As he
concluded, Domino clasped his hands together.
"Good, good! We have done much to extend our resources, and to punish the alliance
for existing. With Rama to terrorize the galaxy, and the Imperial navy gaining in
strength, The Emperor should be very pleased with his War Machine." Domino turned to
Mumar and whispered into her ear, and she let out a seductive giggle. Then he turned back
to the Admiral.
"We have a new task for the 2nd fleet, Daliwhel..........."
Rama sat silently in her meditation chamber on board the ship Domino had provided
for her, the Executor II.
She reached out with the Force to search for her elusive soul.
"Why did you do it?" she could hear some disembodied voice ask her.
She whispered, "I had to-."
"You obey no master, Mara! Break free from Mumar, she has you under her power, you
have given in. Stop the bloodshed before it's too late!"
Rama gasped, "I,-if I don't she'll kill me. Is the Light willing to help me?"
"Mara, come back to the Light, leave everything and come back."
Rama muttered, "Yes, I will come back! I will leave right now!"
Mara Jade reemerged triumphantly, she dressed in her green dress, leaving her armor, mask, and helmet behind she rushed out of the chamber down towards the docking bay.
Zannah heard the alarm go off, "It's Lady Rama, she's escaping."
Hecate smiled wickedly, "Let her go, Lady Mumar has another plan."
Mara had taken an imperial shuttle and had left the huge SSD, she was on her way back to Yavin IV. Mumar had gotten word that Mara had escaped, "I must go back toYavin IV, to destroy her once and for all, then I can open my other plan." Mumar smiled at Domino and looked deeply into his eyes, "Everything will be just perfect."
Luke saw the shuttle land. He rushed from the academy to see a breathless and beaten Mara wobble down the ramp. Luke and several students who had specialized in healing ran to her, she fell limp to the ground. There was a great deal of comradery felt as Mara's injuries, physical and mental, were dealt with.
One student asked "Will she be ok?"
Luke nodded, "Yes, but she'll need extensive medical treatment. Get her ready to move to the medical bay."
Rachel awoke with a horrified scream, the bed sheets twisted around her and clinging to her uncomfortably sweaty body. She brought her hands up, to stare at the somehow clean palms. No blood. That meant she hadn't killed him, hadn't plunged that dagger into Kyp's chest, the blood hadn't run over her hands like thick red water, staining her beyond redemption. She stumbled to the 'fresher anyway and scrubbed vigorously at her hands, trying to wash away the dirty feel of non-existent blood slicking her hands. Afterwards, she searched her room for that terrible weapon in her dream, or for a sign of violence, or chains imbedded in the wall. She found nothing, but went back to bed shaky and chilled, guilt searing her conscience like a white-hot brand. For hours she could not sleep, but eventually slumber overwhelmed her and she fell into another dream...
She stood alone in the middle of a shadowed room that reminded her of her previous
nightmare and made her distinctly uncomfortable. She looked around, trying to positively
identify this place as the room of her earlier terrors, and was pleased to find it was
different. Suddenly, a figure appeared before her, its face hidden by a huge,
overshadowing hood. She did not sense anything particularly evil or foreboding about its
presence, but she shied away from it all the same.
"Once again you stand before me," the cloaked figure said in a bland voice.
"And once again you face the same choice you did before. But this time, will you
choose differently?"
She shook her head. "I don't understand. I've never been here before."
The mysterious figure ignored her words. With a simple gesture, two women appeared
beside the man, one to his left and one to his right. In shock, she realized that they
were both actually her. The one on the right was dressed in white and light surrounded her
as if it were a part of her. Golden hair flowed to her waist and her blue eyes held a
light of their own. A lightsaber hung attached to the belt that encircled her slender
waist. The other woman's face was beautiful, but hard and cruel, with chips of brown ice
for eyes and curly brown hair framing her face. She wore a black uniform with an insignia
dictating rank and the Imperial symbol etched plainly on one forearm. She, too, had a
lightsaber--and a blaster as well--and there seemed to be an aura of darkness surrounding
her. The anonymous figure in the middle spoke again.
"There are two paths for you to take. One is dark and easy and seductive; the other
is hard and tedious. One offers peace, the other power. You stand here at the crossroads
once more, Dawn Marina Skywalker Durron. Which path will you travel?"
She stepped away as the 3 figures melted away into the blackness like shadows of
spirits. Images and voices flashed in her mind--Vader, telling her she must carry on the
tradition of dark side; Luke urging her to be strong; Emperor Palpatine tempting her with
power and glory; Kyp warning her away from the Darkness. The visions flashed in seconds,
almost too fast to comprehend. But she knew what her choices were, and what each path
offered. She squeezed her eyes shut to close out the chaotic pictures, and when she opened
them again the mysterious figure and the two very different women who were both somehow
her had reappeared.
"The time has come." The middle person whispered. "Choose your
path," She hesitated--but only for a moment. She took a step forward and extended her
hand to one of the women. She grasped that hand firmly and let the woman she had chosen to
become lead her down the path she had decided upon.
Luke stood next to the medical bed as the 2-1B droid scanned Mara and began to work on her. 'She's certainly been through a lot. She's my student. I cannot allow her to go through such tribulation again.'
He heard Mara mumble, "Skywalker, don't let me die, I need to stop that witch."
Luke gripped her hand, "I'll stand with you against her. She didn't just attack you, but the integrity of the Jedi."
Mara's breathing became labored as the anesthesia began to take effect. "Oh Luke Skywalker, you're my hero!" There was just enough sarcasm in her tone to make Luke smile, but he meant what he said. The Sith struggled to be reborn, but the Jedi would prevent it.
Aria woke suddenly in her cell. Something was different, and someone woke her
up. Taking a glimpse around, she saw her cell was the same drab menace it was since
she arrived. This wasn't a meal time, but she wasn't quite sure. Someone, whoever
captured her, was smart enough to
randomize any activity on her level so it was hard for Aria to tell when or where a guard
was or even when her next meal was coming. After a
quick sweep of the hall, Aria could find nothing wrong and laid back down to sleep.
"Can't sleep! Oh well, might as well do something to entertain myself."
Aria could sense the guard outside her door. He was as nervous as all her guards had been.
She couldn't blame them. If her weapon just
suddenly decided to drift away from her, she might be a little freaked too! She reached
out to lift the guards weapon when she felt a gentle
prod from the Force.
"Who was that?" Forgetting her game Aria focused on the presence she sensed.
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