Chapter 54
Several hours have passed after the lone stealth vessel had hastily landed aboard the Nephilim. Thea looks over a datapad then looks down at the patient before her. Anhiel’s breaths are steady and it was clear it would take some time before the woman would wake from her slumber. Dark circles have formed under Thea’s eyes and she rubs them tiredly then sets the datapad down while addressing Mirr, “She is as stable as she is going to be. I need to rest or I'll collapse, please let Athin know the news once he wakes.” Mirr remains silent and only nods once in acknowledgement before Thea exits the room. She manages to navigate the unfamiliar corridors while in a daze and comes to the basic quarters that had been prepared for her. Though exhausted, she rinses off quickly in the refresher before donning a grey nightgown and crawling into the bed in the corner. She brought with her the war torn saber of Joash’s and curled up on her side with it gripped tight to her chest. Though her emotions were still a maelstrom, exhaustion overtook the woman and she succumbed to sleep within minutes.
Aboard the bridge, the elder commander settles into a seat and on the console before him he opens a blank message. The bright orange light of the holo console illuminates his grizzled facial features along with the swirl of hyperspace. As the final keystrokes are made, the helmsman calls out “Exiting Hyperspace now. Coordinates for next jump are prepared. Hyperspace drives will be ready for jump in five minutes.” Stars stretch before snapping into place; no planetary bodies are within sight and the darkness of the void is expansive. After glancing up to gaze out the viewport, the commander looks down to hit send on the drafted message when a notification pops up on the console. “Secured message: Eyes only” Surprised, he opens the message and reads the words within. “Nephilim, we have arrived in the Tatooine system. The enemy’s presence is greater than anticipated and I have ordered the fleet to hold just outside of the system. A squadron of commandos and myself shall infiltrate the planet’s blockade and secure the remaining enclave’s members. Therefore I recommend the rendezvous be set at the coordinates attached to this message. Should we not be present within two standard days of your anticipated arrival, send the might of our forces for us or return to base. I leave the decision in the hands of you, my master.
- Commander Veruna”
The words are read once more to confirm their intent before the commander picks up his datapad and swipes along the console to transmit the only copy of the message. As he strides quickly towards the bridge’s main exit he barks out, “Commence jump immediately and tell Lieutenant-Commander Barnes to squeeze out every ounce of speed she can manage. I will inform the General of what awaits us.” The order is acknowledged immediately and the crew sets to their tasks while the commander strides quickly down the metallic hallways towards the General's meditation chambers, datapad gripped tightly in his hand.
Back in her quarters, Thea’s face tightens in her sleep and she unconsciously grips the large saber hilt more tightly. A somewhat foggy image fills her mind; a red planet of rock and dirt, cliffs, and at the top of one such cliff is a curmudgeon of a man that can only be Joash. His features are solemn and his thoughts fill Thea’s mind as if they were her own, “My time is coming…” Before the words can be processed, the visions flashes forward to a war torn battlefield that was all too familiar. Once more Joash’s thoughts consume Thea, “There is another…very well.” With that, the somewhat obscured Jedi Master turns towards her position, now on the ramp of Mirr’s ship. All distractions seem to fall away and the following words ring through clearly, “Thea, keep the child safe, she needs you more than you know.” For a final time, the vision jumps forward and there is only darkness consuming all of the woman’s senses until a sharp pain stabs through her chest as the man she had grown to love crumpled on the surface of Korriban. Thea cries out in her dream but it transfers to her body and she sits upright rapidly, breathing heavily while still clutching the old saber. After several moments, she thinks to herself, “I have to know why.” and with that thought she nearly leaps from the bed and departs her room in what she wore, still clutching the saber. The sound of bare feet against metal fills the hall as she sprints towards the medical bay where she sensed Athin. Halfway there she rounds a corner and nearly collides with Rend who was speaking quietly with the Commander. Thea apologizes quickly but does not break stride and the commander moves to say something but Rend places a hand on his shoulder, “It is alright, Commander, I sense what this is about. Continue preparations and I shall speak with you again once I tend to this.”
To everyone’s surprise, the automatic glass door nearly slammed open as Thea approached, causing Mirr to reflexively reach for his blaster but he holds the motion once he sees the woman enter the room. Breathing heavily, clad in a nightgown and with dishevelled hair, Thea steps in front of Athin. Her breathing and the beeps of Anhiel’s monitoring equipment are the only noises for the better part of a minute until Thea speaks, “W…wh…why?” Taken aback, Athin merely tilts his head slightly as he looks for the true intent of her question but Thea continues, “Why, Athin? Why did it have to be him that you called?” The Miraluka’s features fall deeply as the truth of her feelings become clear in his mind and in the woman’s aura. He stammers nervously, “I…I didn’t know who els……” Before the sentence finished, the door hissed open once more and Rend entered gracefully, wearing his usual armor. Without a wasted moment, he takes a few long strides towards Thea and places his left hand on her right shoulder from just behind her. After giving her shoulder the slightest squeeze, the General speaks somberly, “I believe I can answer that question, Miss Tragonus.” The eyes that greeted Rend as Thea turned were sad beyond belief; filled with tears that were ready to overflow and representative of someone on the brink of despair. Rend’s face and voice are filled with compassion, “I cannot say that he saw exactly what I did, but I suspect the bond between master Joash and my master transferred the Force’s intent all the same.” Not understanding, Thea moves to respond but Rend squeezes her shoulder once more, “I shall show you, Miss Tragonus.” Before she could comprehend the words, her sight was filled with a vision. A young child with silvery-white hair and an ornate lace eyewrap flashes by so quickly Thea could barely keep up followed by the armored hand clutching an ornate saber hilt as deep blood pours through the groves. The armor is clearly recognizable as Anhiel’s as Thea had helped craft it. Once more the vision changes and a now young woman, no more than twenty-three years of age stands tall before the viewport of the bridge of a mighty ship. She wears armor of light but strong woven metal of silver with deep purple accents laced about. Her white and silver hair is pulled back in a high and tight ponytail and the ornate dark eyewrap with lace accents reflects the lights of hyperspace until the stars stretch then snap into place. Arrayed before the young woman is a massive fleet of unknown origin but it is clear she is unswayed as the remainder of her ships exit hyperspace. With a slightly turned head, a confident voice laced with deadly intent eerily familiar to the one Thea now called Grandmaster and friend was unleashed, “Proceed as planned, Commander. Ad Bellum.” The unseen personnel respond loudly, “Ad Victoriam!”
As the vision fades away, Rend’s voice comes into focus while he removes his hand from Thea’s shoulder, “The Force has made it clear that the child Anhiel carries is important. Though you have only known Joash for a short time, it is clear to me that you understood his principles and values. My heart is deeply saddened by his loss but I know he would not have chosen any other way to become one with the Force; engaged in combat protecting one he considered his child and her own child that will serve a grand purpose.” Thea’s head bowed, shocked and overwhelmed by the loss and what she had seen. Rend’s left hand gently lifts her gaze until they lock eyes and he offers a reassuring smile, “What would Joash say if he was standing here now?”
The sound of Joash’s voice was unexpected by all gathered and they simultaneously turned around to look for the origin. In the center of the open area just at the foot of Anhiel’s bed stands an apparition bearing the visage of the late Jedi Master. He dons his usual shit eating grin, “I tell you, Miraluka cannot mask their emotions to save their lives. Athin, your discomfort was so palpable I dare say fallen Jedi from a thousand years ago can sense it.” He chuckles jovially, quite pleased with himself until his face becomes more serious. Without the sound of footsteps, Joash moves in front of Thea and his features fall some. “Miss Tragonus, I am deeply sorry for leaving you in such a manner and I thank you for the time you gave to an old man such as myself. But stand strong and steady yourself! Trust in our Grandmaster, trust in the Force and most importantly don't cry Miss Tragonus. It is not polite to master Athin nor should you set such an example for the young woman that will enter this universe soon.” He pauses, chuckling a bit while glancing back at Athin who did his best to roll his eyes despite not possessing them. “Though our time was short, know that I loved you, Thea, as much as I loved the woman that lays before you, though in a different way. All I ask is that you pass on that love to the young one that grows within her womb. Be there for her for we know the trials her mother will put her through. Do not let her forget that her Grandfather Ca’JoashichuBanaKeda is always looking on and supporting her.” The tears that had built within the ducts of Thea’s eyes could not be held back any longer and they began to flow freely. She could not form words amongst her emotions but she nodded several times in acknowledgement of the man’s request. Joash smiles widely then turns to face the unconscious Grandmaster before bowing low, “Thank you, Anhiel, for showing me the way that I was too blind to see on my own. I gave my life for the child you bear in payment to the debt I owe you. May she grow to be as mighty and wise as you are, Grandmaster. I shall await you on the other side.” Stunned gazes were turned upon Joash’s apparition but the slight movement of Anhiel’s body pulled their attention. She remained unconscious though she clearly responded to Joash’s presence when a single tear fell from her left eye. Deep within her mind she cried out for her fallen comrade and mentor but the weight of the injury she sustained kept her comatose.
Joash gives one more grin to all gathered before his apparition dissipates, leaving an awkward atmosphere behind. The regular beeping of Anhiel’s monitors is the only noise in the area until Rend exhales deeply, “I know it does not make the loss any less difficult, Thea, but I hope you see now that this is the choice Joash wanted.” Rend pauses a moment, waiting for Thea to turn around and bring her yes to meet his own, “You are a full fledged member of this enclave now, Miss Tragonus. No one shoulders a burden alone so lean on us as you need. Our Grandmaster will expect the best out of each and every one of us, but our best comes from the combined effort of the Enclave, not from individuals alone.” The General pauses once more before adding a final comment while bowing, “We are all indebted to you for your contributions thus far and I can say with complete confidence every member of our enclave will support you until the end of your days.” Rend finishes with a genuine smile and a reassuring squeeze on Thea’s shoulder before his features become more serious, as does his voice, “We shall hold services worthy of the old man as soon as possible. However, we are currently making haste towards the Tatooine system to rendezvous with Sun and the enclave. We received a troubling message that indicates she is about to do something daring…” Rend rubs his face tiredly before continuing, “It seems our Grandmaster’s teachings have been taken to heart and we have another member such as her before her child is even born.”
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Sun’s fleet sits within deep space just outside of the Tatooine system numbering a dozen vessels of various sizes from small corvettes to the Valor class vessel holding at the center. The standard elongated disk of the Valor class cruiser is sleek with the nearly equally long portion that extends downwards from the centerline just forward of midship. Unlike most of the class within the Republic’s navy, a darker paint job coats the thick durasteel plating; a base of black with silver across the outer perimeter accented by deep red on any angles. Just forward of the helmsman’s station stands a figure clad in the purest black; the long cloak and deep hood are draped around the frame of the young woman. Her chest is somewhat sizable but the overlapping miniscule plates conform to her as though they were made for her. On the screen before her are the Eternal Empire’s current patrol patterns. At the center of the regimented patrol patterns is a holding cell located just below the surface in what appears to be an alcove surrounded by artificial plants. Sun’s green eyes glance up towards Commodore Jo’Vaine from within her dark hood, “What do you think, Commodore?” The Commodore's face remains reserved for several moments as he looks over the data before him until he states flatly, “I think your plan is crazy, Ma’am.” He pauses for a moment as he swipes the console forwards twice, showing a more focused, “But I have learned that crazy is just what we need. They will not know what hit them until we are on our way home.” Smiling slightly beneath her mask, Sun commands, “Prepare the dropships, Commodore. We set out as soon as ready. We cannot wait for the others to join us.” A crisp salute is received in response prior to Jo’vaine setting about his tasks.
Within a standard hour, Sun and a squadron of commandos sat upon a dropship that hurtled through the atmosphere of Tatooine. The Axios had exited hyperspace for the briefest of moments to allow the smaller vessel to depart for the planet with haste. No planetary defenses resided on the sand-ridden planet and the descent was less than eventful. The squad’s target was a subterranean compound filled with plants not of this world; several levels penetrated into the sandy surface and within a particular hallway resided Rajavia, Altiyanah a purebred sith female turned to the light, and Shea, a human female clad in armor similar to Anhiel. A few other members of the enclave’s council and core members sat quietly within the makeshift prison as armor soldiers patrolled outside. As the drop ship hurtles towards the surface Sun addresses the commandos under her command, “No one moves unless I command it. Secrecy is our greatest ally in this mission and I shall take point.” All those gathered nod once in response acknowledging he order without any concerns. The ship barely slows as it reaches the surface and opens its doors; Sun and the commandos all leap from the vessel and roll to absorb the momentum they carried. It takes a few moments for them to dust themselves off and check their gear before Sun motions forward with her right hand. The squad moves forward with nearly silent footsteps for a dozen minutes until they move into an alcove just outside to the compound. Sun evaluates the area until she turns to her soldiers, “They have established a fuel depot here. Move out and place charges on the fuel caches and any other key items you can locate without exposing yourselves. I will infiltrate the makeshift prison and secure the council members.” The soldiers salute silently moments before moving about their tasks, disappearing into the darkness like apparitions.
Sun watches for a moment to confirm the team has moved onwards before she closes her eyes and exhales deeply. The Force begins to swirl around her and her visage begins to warp until it disappears into the surroundings. The combination of the elite camouflage built into the Sith armor she wore and the Force cloaking technique rendered the woman nearly invisible. A pair of golden armored soldiers stool at the head of the long underground hallway were not aware of the woman who walked between them. The remoteness of the planet clearly gave the enemy confidence to lessen their typical guard protocols as Sun was met with nearly zero resistance through the elongated hallway. At the end, she peered around the corner, still cloaked, and observed a pair of soldiers standing on either side of a reinforced door; on the other side rested the core council members and auxiliary staff. Though reinforced, the door had a large piece of military plexiglass in the center, allowing those on the inside to see the ongoings outside. As Rajavia meditated within, the nudge from the Force caused her to rise and move towards the viewing port in time to see the closer guard drop from an unknown ailment. He trashes about on the ground, grasping at his head until blood begins to run from his nose. His compatriot moved to assess him and after several moments it became clear this injury was not natural and he stood quickly, raising the thick shield and long staff in defence. Despite the man’s readiness, the snap-hiss of the deep green saber was so quick it could not be registered before the blade relieved the soldier’s head from its neck. As the head tumbled to the ground, the black clad figure of Sun revealed itself before she strode over to the first soldier who still struggled with pain. A quick thrust of her blade punctured the man’s heart, ending his suffering in an instant. After deactivating her sword, Sun steps over the bodies and keys open the door to be greeted by stares of confusion and mild horror, mostly from Rajavia but the young woman remains unphased as she addressed the small group, “I am here to take you away from this place at all costs at the order of our Grandmaster. I suggest we move quickly before they recover, after which I will answer all questions you have.” A moment’s pause hangs in the air as the council members look at each other until they all silently agree to follow.
The young Jedi watches the final member slip out the large hole she had previously cut in the red clay wall that surrounded the compound as several large explosions shake the area. Sun’s way through the hole is blocked by the stunned council member before her, causing her to halt while trying to move through the opening. A vice-like pressure grips her shoulder before the young Jedi is ripped backwards and thrown to the ground. The base of the guard’s large pike crashes straight down, nearly striking through her abdomen. In an instant she backflips onto her feet just to sense the blade of the guard’s armorment being thrusted towards her now exposed back. She pops her second blade from its socket on the green saber’s hilt and ignites it just in time to deflect the strike. Before the council members on the other side could respond, several enemy soldiers form a shield wall at the opening in the wall, their saber tipped pykes angled horizontally over their shields. Sun stands there waiting for her assailants next attack when an apparition forms just beside her. She slowly looks at its face and notices an all too familiar scar along a grizzled man’s face. While both Sun and the enemy soldier stand stunned and confused, Joash speaks a single word to Sun, “Run.” Though a simple word, it filled her entire mind with Joash’s voice when he dispersed into a dense fog so thick none could see more than a quarter meter in front of them. A single path was left to Sun’s left that she could follow while the disoriented soldiers screamed as they struck each other in panic. Still confused, Sun sprints along the path and leaps over a wild slash of a staff and she launches herself off the head of another unsuspecting shoulder. After a smooth somersault, she contacts the ground on the other side of the tall wall and rolls to absorb the shock. Rajavia moves instinctively to examine the younger woman but Sun waves her off and straightens, speaking in a commanding voice despite addressing those second only to Anhiel, “We must move, quickly. A large force is sure to be en route.” Even though Rajavia was unfamiliar with Sun, she could tell by the young woman’s actions and demeanor that she truly was sent by the Grandmaster and she turns to the rest of the group while the commandos came bounding from a nearby outcropping, “You heard her, let’s move quickly and we can sort out the details later.” Blaster fire flies past the group to cover them as they start to run from the compound.
The group ran for several minutes until they came to the open area where the transport rested, engines primed for takeoff. Sun waves for everyone to board the transport while she stands almost frozen in time save for her breathing, reviewing the ghostly figure that made it possible for her quick escape. “What was that? Why did it resemble Master Joash?” Sun thought to herself. Her internal thoughts were so consuming she nearly missed the shiver that ran up her spine. From within the shuttle, Jo’vaine calls out, “Sun, behind you!” Three women clad in white leather with golden plate accents seemingly materialize from a nearby outcropping just behind Sun. Each ignites a single blue lightsaber before launching at Sun simultaneously. Rajavia moves to pull her saber and signals for the others to follow but they all halt at the base of the ramp. Sun’s right hand waves nonchalantly and the closest attacker crumples, grasping at their neck as they thrash about. The remaining two barely slow their assault and as they fall upon Sun, the young woman in black disappears in an instant. Her whereabouts only become known once more when a green and a golden crimson blade snap to life. Before they can react, the green blade protrudes through the closest enemy’s chest before the woman is cast aside. Behind her dark mask, Sun gives a previously uncharacteristic smirk as she settles into the same stance Anhiel often uses; the left golden crimson saber in a reverse grip held in defense while the right green saber is held high angled towards the remaining opponent. After a moment, both women dash towards each other. The enemy brings her saber downwards in a strong overhead strike. Sun lashes out with her right saber, batting the enemy’s weapon aside with the very tip of the blade, leaving her exposed. Sun continues to dash forward with as much speed as she can muster, lifting the reverse held saber with her left hand. Dust rises from the rapid steps and displaced air as Sun comes to a stop two meters behind her opponent. Time seems to slow as the dust begins to settle until the enemy woman’s body falls to its knees, causing the severed head to roll off into the dirt and sand. Sun’s breaths are somewhat labored as she extinguishes her sabers and returns to the shuttle. After boarding, she sits in one of the open seats and closes her eyes, Joash’s visage coming to mind once more until Rajavia clears her throat and speaks, “What is our course heading, miss?” The question is drug out and Sun responds after a long exhale, “Commander Sun Veruna. I am Rend Vega’s Padawan. It is a pleasure to meet you all though I wish it were under better circumstances.”
She pauses to take a few more breaths as her heart rate comes down, “We are en route to our fleet holding just outside the system. If things go according to plan, my Master will be there as well.” Altiyanah had remained silent for the duration of the rescue. Her features were calm and though she appeared to be a woman of middle age, her true age was immeasurable to most as a result of dark tampering. With a measured tone, the greatly elder woman spoke “We are grateful for your rescue, Padawan. It is clear you have learned many lessons from our Grandmaster….” The longer pause is indicative of Altiyanah’s mild disagreement though she is truly appreciative but her eyes carry a different concern, “Though I sense a great darkness now shrouds out Grandmaster.” With a slight turn of her head, she gazes towards Rajavia, “We should prepare for the worst, Rajavia. I sense her injury has worsened to a point we may not be able to stabilize her.” As the transport rises from the planet’s surface, those aboard remain silent with varying emotions; the council members with their grim resolve and Sun with her best attempt to mask the despair that was growing within her. Outside the vessel, stars begin to stretch as the short hyperspace jump is initiated. Sun remains in her seat with a bowed head, emotions swirling in the same fashion as the light of hyperspace outside while her master’s ship travelled with haste to their mutual destination.