Deep
within the jungle sub-levels of the Ithorian capital of Tofanda Bay,
Xol and the crew await the decision of the Rebel Alliance and Jedi
Order in regards to the Yautja's proposal of an allegiance between
them.
Despite
his service as not only a fierce combatant but also a recognized Jedi
Master, the delegation assembled at Tofanda Bay weigh every point,
taking into account Xol's past acts, but also his more recent actions including the death of
the Quarren Jedi Knight, Ateyru.
The debate
becomes heated to such a point that the assembly is split and they request
Xol and his crew return to their ship and allow them to have more
time to make a decision.
Reluctantly,
the crew do so and bring The Hunter into orbit around Ithor after
buying much needed supplies at the Ithorian capital's sizable market.
Now
aboard, taking leisure time in the galley, Xol, Dex, and the others
patiently await the verdict...
“Come
on big guy,” Dex angrily says slamming his mug of Corellian Ale on
the table. “We can't wait our whole lives for these guys to make up
their minds. They've failed against the Empire time and time again
and I honestly believe we are better off alone then draggin' their
dead weight around.”
Nodding
in empathy but not agreement, Xol places his clawed hand atop the cup
of his friend. “Dex, now is not a time for impatience. I agree that
this proposed alliance between the Rebellion and ourselves has many
variables, some of which make me uneasy but we must allow them the
time to mull over their options as well. Open war against the Empire
has brought both of our groups nothing but pain and sadness however,
united we may stand long enough to bring a glimmer of hope to this
galaxy.”
“Ya
know Xol,” Dex says in a much more relaxed tone. “For an alien
that on a physical level makes a Gundark look downright sexy by comparison, deep down inside I think you may have more
humanity that any of us.”
Dex
stands up from the table, pats his Yautja friend on the shoulder and
in a half-drunk state, stumbles his way toward the exit. Xol is about
to leave the table himself when a communique comes through on his
helmet.
“Master
Xol, this is ATA-22 reporting. We have just received an encrypted
message on our private holonet channel. It appears to be a
holographic file of measurable size.”
“Excellent
work droid.” Xol says with a glint of hope in his eyes. “Download
the file to an Astromech and send the unit to my quarters I will
review it there in privacy. In case this is an attempt by outside
forces to triangulate our position, I would like you to disable all
communication systems until I've had a chance to review the message.”
“As
you wish, Master Xol.”
Excited,
the Yautja proceeds to his sleeping quarters and calmly waits for the
Astromech droid to arrive. He sits on his bed and goes over hundreds
of scenarios in his mind on how this unknown message may go. He
drifts between the positive and negative and just as his mind can no
longer take the suspense, his chamber door slides open. Beeping and
whirring as it enters is a stout R4 unit which positions itself just inside
the room allowing the door to close behind him before it fires up
it's holographic emitter. With a flicker, a light blue image flows
out from the droid's lens and onto the floor. The hologram is of Luke
Skywalker with his sister Leia Organa.
“Master
Xol, many factors had to be discussed before sending this message”
Skywalker begins. “Please understand, that the outcome of this
message was based on a majority and is not the express feelings of
all those involved. I have known evil, Master Xol. It took our father
away when Leia and I were just born. You, although troubled and
constantly straddling that which is described as the dark side, are
not an evil creature. Master Yoda's posthumous words of advice speak
enough of that. You are however, dangerous and not accustomed to obeying any of the laws that exist in this galaxy which worries us for the future. That being said, you are just as brutal as you are wise and we wish to
extend to you the hand of allegiance on one condition. You must
follow the orders of myself and the Rebel commanders when it comes to
our course of action. You will have a voice and your words will be
heard Master Xol but, the final decisions will be ours and ours
alone. If you deem these conditions agreeable we will once again ally
with you though be warned, should you jeopardize our mission in any
way we will treat you the same as any of our enemies and show you no
mercy. Once this conflict has finally come to an end, we may have a place for you in this galaxy where you will not harm anyone and no one shall bring you harm for the rest of your days."
“Finally,
these rebels have leadership.” Xol says to himself as he reaches
for the comm system on his wall and presses to talk. “ATA-22,
reinitialize communications and send a message back to the Rebellion,
ask them for coordinates to our next location and tell them I will be
up in the command area shortly to receive their response.”
“Confirmed
Roger, Roger.” the droid responds.
Xol
proceeds to the bridge as a slower than usual pace, deeply reflecting
on his thoughts. He runs his clawed fingers across the bulkheads
feeling the powerful Force energy pumping through the mechu-deru
systems. He feels that the Hunter is now an extension of himself and
like a rider inspecting a steed before battle he wonders if his
sturdy companion will pull through or be crushed to ruin along with
him.
A
short time later he emerges on the bridge where ATA-22 waits
patiently for him. Once the Yautja seats himself in his command
chair, the droid starts briefing his master.
“Master
Xol, the Rebellion has sent a response to your request but cancelled
communications afterward.”
“That's
acceptable 22, we have the information we asked for and that is
what's important. Where will these coordinates place us?”
“Coruscant
sir, the Rebellion is going to Coruscant.”
“What?
Get me Skywalker now!”
“It
is impossible sir, they have already made the jump to hyperspace.”
“Pursuit
course now! I will talk to Skywalker.”
At
that moment, Xol reaches out with the Force desperately trying to
reach out to Master Skywalker. His strain is great as Skywalker is
clouding his mind and is very adept in the ways of the Living Force
but eventually he does make a connection.
“Skywalker,
I know we have an agreement,” Xol begins. “However, what you do
now is suicide! Your plan is to attack the Emperor head on! In his
own star system? Are you insane?”
“The
Alliance will not be attacking the Emperor,” Luke replies. “You
are the one to do that. You always have been. That show of protocol
at Tofanda Bay was just that, a show. You are our greatest chance of
success in bringing down the Empire. Your ship has weapons they
cannot defend against and you are a warrior beyond their knowledge.
Myself and the Jedi will aid you in gaining entry into the throne
room aboard his personal Death Star in high orbit while our ships
will keep theirs at bay. In a drawn out fight we will fail but once
you kill the Emperor they shouldn't be a problem anymore.”
“You
really think that killing one political figure will stop them? If you
recall I ended Darth Vader's life and brought his rule to an end and
the Empire still kept going like a wild, headless beast.”
“My
father was freed that day and I thank you but his Empire was still
secretly controlled by this new ruler, or at least that is what our
intelligence suggests. This Emperor is the true power behind their
tyranny and with his death, the citizens of the Empire will become
our allies and crush their oppressors as they did when the Sith
fell.”
“I
don't know how I feel about being used as the Rebellion's weapon
Skywalker but in truth I don't actually care. Whether it be for you
or anyone else, I want that bastard's skull mounted on my wall. Such
is the way of my people and so, such is my way.”
Without
a word more, Xol ends his conversation with Luke and returns his
focus to his command console and the front view screen. He sits
calmly contemplating his strategies while watching hyperspace part
and float by in a stream of stars. He thinks about all the things
that have brought him to this moment and all the people he had
touched along the way, for better or for worse. So deep are his
thoughts that he fails to realize that Dex has come into the room and
is trying to get his attention. With a shake of his head he turns to
his friend and focuses his attention.
“There
you are big guy,” Dex jokes. “I was beginning to think that you
were losing your hearing in your old age.”
“Apologies
DX, how can I help?”
“That
was going to be my question. Rumour has it among the crew that we are
going to Coruscant. Is that true?”
“Yes
Dex, we are going to execute an attack run on the Emperor's Death
Star.”
“Yes
because that seems to be the wisest course of action,” Dex says
sarcastically. “Are you out of your frellin' frakkin' mind!”
“A
strong argument could be made my friend. On the other hand, I will
need you if this mission is going to succeed, so my insanity must be
growing by the moment.”
“Really
Xol? This is the time you decide to exercise your sense of humour.
What exactly do you need me to do?”
“Once
we break through their defenses, I will turn the ship over to ATA-22
and embark with you and the Wayfarer crew along with as many
droids as we can carry. We will gain access through a hangar bay or
make an opening that befits that dimension and then from there, make
our way through the structure to the Emperor.”
“Blast
through a full regiment of Imperial Stormtroopers and somehow make it
to the Emperor's personal throne room. All before either we're
killed, or the Emperor makes an escape or both. Is it too late to say
that I have a bad feeling about this?”
“We
will have the assistance of the Jedi as well once we gain entry.”
“Great
those guys and their lightsabers did really good against the Empire
the first time around, we should be fine.” Dex scoffs. “But if
you think it'll work big guy then I am your clone...well not your
clone but your guy.”
“Glad
to see you're with me to the end Dex Kamino.”
“Of
course, and don't think you can butter me up by saying my adopted
name, I already said yes, don't push it you scaly bastard.”
“Fine,
I will not press the issue. I must go to my quarters for a time, take
over the command console until I return. We are still hours away from
Coruscant.”
“Can
do big guy, I will try to put my butt groove back into the chair that
you ruined.”
Without
another word, Xol steps down from the chair and trades places with
Dex. He pats the chair like a faithful pet and exits the bridge
proceeding back to his quarters.
Hours
pass uneventfully upon the bridge until a loud alarm sounds and images
begin to flash onto the front display. It is an alert that they not
only are coming out of hyperspace but gravity wells are present in
the star system ahead. Based on their experiences with Interdictor
cruisers in the past, Dex knows that once they drop out of hyperspace
they will unable to escape to lightspeed due to the severe
gravimetric forces.
“Redirect!”
Dex demands yelling at the pilot droids. “Drop us out of lightspeed
and make a course correction of...”
“Belay
that order droid,” Xol shouts in response as he reenters the
command bridge. “This is what we should expect from the Empire but
what they fail to realize that once you trap an animal it is usually
then that they have the most fight in them.”
Dex
relieved that his friend has returned at the most opportune time
steps down from the chair and runs through the door, towards the
hangar area of the ship to prepare for their impending attack.
Xol
now seated in his command chair breathes slowly in and out whilst
attuning himself to the Force powered main weapon systems. He can
feel the life pulsing from the Imperial fleet awaiting them and
although it is vast, he has no fear, a trait he learned while among
the Jedi. All grows quiet and still as the Hunter breaks free of
lightspeed.
With
a violent shunt the small Gladiator class Star Destroyer grinds to a
halt crashing against the gravity wells like a wave against the
rocks. Shaken from his seat, Xol resets himself as he and the Rebel
ships that are also exiting hyperspace come under a heavy barrage of
ion cannon and turbo laser fire. The shots are so concentrated that
many of the smaller Rebellion vessels are incinerated before they can
return fire. The Hunter deflects a majority of the incoming bolts but
a few hit the hull directly causing ruptures in the fuselage. Droids
quickly spill out of these breaches and begin mending them unaffected
by the cold vacuum of space. Swarms of TIE fighters spill from the
hundreds of Imperial Star Destroyers and Dozens of Super Star
Destroyers surrounding the Death Star. The fighter groups are so
clustered that they almost completely obfuscate the moon size battle
station behind them.
A
communique from the Rebel fleet comes to Xol who is trying to hold
his focus and repel the ongoing torrent of enemy fire.
“Master
Xol,” the voice of Luke Skywalker clearly states over the channel.
“we underestimated the severity of the Emperor's response, if there
is anything you can do, do it now!”
“Skywalker,
I notice you call me master only when you truly are in need of my
assistance and I shall not fault you for it. This situation is out of
your depth. I will use my powers to complete our mission. Though if I
am to be successful with my secondary attack I will require the focus
of you and the rest of the Jedi Council.”
“You
aim to use Battle Meditation on the entire Imperial Fleet?”
“You
yourself claimed that you were trained by Odan Urr, the first Jedi to
master the technique.”
“Yes,
but on a scale such as this is totally unprecedented.”
“The
choice is absolute death or the Force... it is your choice Master
Skywalker.”
“The
council is with you. Do what you must Master Xol. Skywalker out.”
The
com channel closes and the Yautja's focus can return to the battle
at hand.
“All
hands,” Xol commands. “Retract all fighter craft, repeat all
fighter craft return to the hangar area. Battle droid regiments to
your dropships, prepare for boarding maneuvers.”
With
a firm clenching of both fists, Xol can feel his power flowing
through the mechu deru circuits and flood them with energy. Then with
an outward flare of his two hands, lightning arcs crackle along the
hull of the Hunter. The red whips of Force energy seem calm but with
a violent burst of fury the bolts course through the hundreds of
fighters swirling around them. Like a swarm of Corellian paper wasps
engulfed in a flame, the small craft and their pilots are
eviscerated. The larger capital ships seem to absorb most of the
remaining energy once it courses through their fighters though a
couple of smaller, weakened Star Destroyers sprout plumes of flame
from several areas of their bulkheads.
The
Imperial fleet clearly angered by what they have witnessed turns in
full force to engage the Hunter ignoring all other vessels. The full
hellish power of their batteries stabs at the small ships shields
with all the ferocity of a thousand Krayt Dragons. The Gladiator class
ship glows vibrantly from the energy being held back by it's
deflector shields.
Meanwhile
in the command bridge, Xol can barely hold on as he uses his
abilities to stave off the destruction of his ship.
“Now
Skywalker!” he orders as his eyes glow green with blood from the
exertion he is undergoing.
Just
as he is at his weakest, he can feel a sensation like thousands of
hands lifting him up from a dark chasm that his powers have plunged
him into. He senses a dozen minds or more, the minds of the Jedi
Council all thinking in unison. They say to the Empire that they
should stop fighting. They say that all this violence will end in
their own demise and that the only solution is to stop the fighting.
Stretching
out with the Force himself Xol can feel the thoughts of the Imperial
crews on their respective ships one by one turn to tranquillity and
non-aggression. He is surpised to see some if not all, power down
their weaponry. Others, including the Interdictor cruisers that stop
the Rebels escape have fled into hyperspace.
“You
were right to put your faith in the power of the Force Master Xol.”
Luke Skyalker say telepathically.
“I
had not nearly as much faith in the Force Skywalker, as I did in the
people who use it. Make preparations for our final attack run.”
Severing
his connection to the Jedi council, Xol instructs the command bridge
droids to engage the engines on full and drive forwards towards the
Death Star hanging over the cityscaped planet of Coruscant below. The
rebel fleet follows close behind The Hunter as it surges forward. A
feeling of impending danger cascades over the Yautja Force-user and
he orders his ship to take evasive action while simultaneously
ordering the rebels to do the same. However for the Mon Calamari
cruiser behind him it is too late as the Death Star's main cannon
erupts to life and decimates the capital ship, sending fragments
hurtling in all directions from the colossal explosion that is
produced.
“Master
Xol sir,” a solitary pilot droid reports. “Urgent message from
Admiral Ackbar of the Rebel fleet. He states that they cannot repel
firepower of that magnitude and is informing us that he is going to
be pulling back.”
“The
Admiral may be wise to do so droid,” Xol replies. “Though I am
not his commander send a response instructing him to stay in our
baffles. We shall neutralize the threat. Inform the Rebel Alliance
leadership and the Jedi council to ready their troop vessels for
boarding. Full speed ahead droid.”
“Roger
Roger, but wait Master Xol. I must advise that that would put us on a
direct collision course and at our current speed we won't be able
to...”
“Exactly
droid. Execute my orders.”
With the engines to
full, The Hunter streams headlong towards the gaping port where the
Death Star superlaser emits from. Xol retains his focus as the
distance between the ship and battle station narrows. He can feel the
energy pulsing from the metallic moon's core. They are going to fire
again. The Yautja braces himself for the storm yet to come.
With
a flare of it's dish emitters the forward beam of the Death Star
deploys sending a concentrating green blast of energy hurtling
towards The Hunter. The blast connects and clashes against the ship's
shielding. It's emerald beam envelops the entirety of the ship's
surface, surrounding it like a shell of destruction force before
finally dissipating outward away from the vessel and those following
it.
Xol,
slumps into the command chair unable to resist much more but feeling
he will not need to for much longer he musters one last blast of
lightning from the forward weapons arrays and sends it racing down
the superlaser's port. Unlike conventional blaster fire or torpedoes
when the Yautja's fierce Force powered attack collides with the
internal superstructure, it keeps flowing down into the near
core systems and rains arcs of red energy down on the operations crew
eventually making its way to the weapons itself shattering it's
focusing lenses and overloading the powered systems. Once Xol is sure
that the weapon is down, he stumbles from his command chair, orders
his droids to take over manual weapons and controls and rushes
towards the hangar bay and the waiting Wayfarer.
The
Yautja has never felt so drained in his life but he pushes forward,
his gaze firmly set on destroying the Empire that has brought him so
much hardship since being brought to this accursed galaxy. His two
personal droideka guards Rolly and Rondo once the personal protectors
of Mok Sur Tinn, now reprogrammed to watch him ever since Darth
Maul's betrayal ages ago. It take a little bit longer than usual but
Xol eventually reaches the Wayfarer and climbs aboard. As he scales
the gangway and emerges in the cargo bay area, he can see his Patrol
craft being brought out of a lengthy period of disuse by Typ and a
crew of pit droids. Wompit, and Booma play catch with a powered down
remote droid at the far end of the space. When the Yautja and his two
droids fully enter, the whole crew of them stop what they are doing
and approach him. Helping him to the bridge of the Wayfarer. With a
rush the door slides open and just on the other side is Dex whose
face turns from one of pleasant greeting to one of worried shock.
“By
the cloners ol' buddy, are you feeling okay?” Dex asks with
concern. “I haven't seen you this bad in a long time. Are you able
to fight in this condition because we have a mess of that comin' up.”
“I
will be fine 1165,” the Yautja responds with a grunt. “Today the
Empire falls, and even at my weakest I can still crush it.”
“If
you say so big guy. Strap yourself in and we'll make our run just as
you planned.”
Xol
can feel his strength returning but only slightly as he seats himself
and fastens in for the presumably choppy ride. Dex checks on him one
more time before turning around in his pilot chair.
“All
wings this is General Dex Kamino of the Hunter, ” he
announces over the com channel. “Master Xol is aboard the Wayfarer
and we will be making our attack run now. Flights keep a tight
pursuit formation, and expect heavy resistance from the Imperial
turret emplacements. Once clear we will coordinate our boarding and
make a break for the throat of this here Krayt Dragon and bring it
down. Engage on my mark. Three, Two, One, Mark.”
The
shields and blast doors of The Hunter's hangar retract as the
Wayfarer and a dozen smaller transports rocket out into the open
space between them and the Death Star. Almost immediately after
exiting the safety of their ship, columns of turrets begin to shower
anti-spacecraft blasts down upon them. Veering in between the
Wayfarer even with all her modifications isn't agile enough to avoid
getting hit. Though they fail to penetrate the armoured plating, the
shots do neutralize some of the pursuit craft and a few Rebel escort
fighters, sending them spiralling off into the exposed structure of
the battle moon. Before long the available space for maneuvering
greatly diminishes as the attack craft funnel down the emitting
tunnel that once belonged to the functional superlaser. Though the
turret defences are nonexistent inside the narrow tunnel, the danger
grows ever more severe with every parsec. A miscalculated move by Dex
slams the ship into an energy conduit and triggers a small plasma
explosion that blows off their side gunnery turret.
“Whoops!”
Dex exclaims. “Xol, as you can see we are runnin' out of room real
quick.”
“Understood
DX,” The Yautja concurs. “Get to the end, that is where the
Emperor is I can feel it.”
“No
can do big guy, I am going to be wedged tighter than a Hutt in a
cocktail dress in minutes.”
“Then
Dex, please instruct all crew members to evacuate the cargo bay. I
will make it their myself. You will breach as close as you can to my
position. All crew except Rolly and Rondo will go with you, the droidekas will get mag-locked
to my fighter.”
“Done
Xol but hurry because we are running out of room.”
With
haste, the still fatigued Yautja runs to the cargo bay with the two
droidekas in tow. Once there, he uses the Force to open his fighter's
canopy and move it into launch position. A procedure that usually
takes several minutes if done by hand. Grabbing a couple of cargo
mag-locks he fastens the two droids to the underside of the craft and
hops in.
“Dex,
open the cargo bay.” Xol orders over the commlink.
Without
a reply the doors in front of the Yautja's craft open, sucking out
the atmosphere present in the loading area spilling loose cargo and
trash out into open space that is rushing by. With a hard thrust
forward of the throttle the fighter exits the pod. Rushing far ahead
of the Wayfarer which slows to begin boarding procedures.
Xol's
fighter veers gracefully in and out of obstacles without nary a
scratch on its exterior hull. Just ahead amidst the ruin of his
earlier Force attack, Xol can see a way in that would accommodate his
attack craft. With a quick flip of his piloting toggles, the
diminutive fighter rolls to an upside down position before passing
through the last shattering lens and veering straight down to a
service area just beyond it.
Now
landed and planted in place. Xol can see that beyond the network of
maintenance bridges that lie ahead there is a clear doorway securely
sealed and reinforced. This is the door that will lead him to the
Emperor and victory. He pops the hatch on his pilot's compartment and
exits the fighter. Though there still is no atmosphere present, his
armour is keeping him alive for the time being. He unseals the two
droidekas from below his fighter and proceeds with both of them up
the nearest ramp towards the door he desires. Though the ramps and
bridges remain unguarded, as he approaches the Emperor's vault like
door he can sense a great disturbance in the Force. A dark wave of
power tingles across his senses and he knows to expect a fight. With
a flick, Xol ignites his pair of lightsabers and soldiers forth.
As
the door draws near, the immensity of it becomes apparent. It is so
large that a fully erect AT-AT troop transport would be able to walk
through without fear of collision with anything. Though the size of
the opponent he senses on the other side of the door is not nearly as
large he knows their power is three times as big. Leading to the door
is a large balcony area able to accommodate one hundred or more, an
obvious stage for where the Emperor could show off his Death Star's
capabilities.
Xol
leaps down to the balcony and walks to the door but hesitates to open
it as the dark presence he sensed is fast approaching.
“Rolly,
Rondo!” he shouts over the comlink “Cease action, do not proceed
until I say so!”
With
a squeal of metal plates rubbing together, the gargantuan circular
door opens with mechanical complexity rippling out from the central
portal until all the metal has retracted. What can be seen from
behind is lone figure in red armour and beyond them, a
transparisteel barrier that leads to the Imperial throne room. Xol
knows immediately who this crimson coloured enemy is and leaps into
the air toward him.
“Blades!
You will no longer stand in my way.” Xol yells from behind his
helm.
With
a flick of his wrist Dark Lord Blades unsheathes his lightsaber to
parry Xol's pair bearing down on him. The two exchange blows with
neither injuring the other. They circle each other, the dead eyes of
their helmets staring each other down. Then, in an explosion of rage,
Xol strikes out with lightning from his hands throwing the Dark Jedi
that opposes him to the ground. The arcs of Dark Side energy sizzle
and squeal with every second of contact against Blades' body armour.
Blades
lying on the cold metallic floor begins to laugh and slowly begins to
pick himself up off the ground even though Xol's lightning surrounds
his entire body.
“Your
belief in your powers my old apprentice is a blind faith.” The Dark
Lord says over Xol's own com channel. “You were ignorant to think
that I wouldn't prepare myself against you the next time we met. Now
I shall bring you before my new Emperor as my sign of allegiance.
Once again, a pure Dark Jedi regime shall exist where only impure
Sith trash now stands.”
“My
old master,” Xol replies. “You have not come prepared. I have
become stronger since last we met and I only allowed you to believe
you could resist my power so that I may do this.”
A
peace falls over Blades' mind as he realizes his own pupil has lulled
him into a trap. “It is complete then.” He says as Xol lifts him
up and flings him full force through the transparisteel barrier and
into the throne room.
With
the clear wall shattered by the impact, a secondary blast door begins
to close. Sensing this already, the Yautja uses his Force powers to
speed through the ever closing gap and rolls into the throne room.
When he arrives he finds the Rebel Alliance leaders including Luke
Skywalker and Leia Organa have just arrived as well. They step over
the slain bodies of stormtroopers as they flood into the room. From
the opposite side of the room, a similar doorway heaves and juts out
as though it were being rammed from the other side until finally with
one final smash, the door is flung from place and send rolling into
the throne room striking one of the royal guards protecting the
throne. The crimson guardian it sent screaming into an open disposal
tube and falls deep into the superstructure below.
“Bad
Empire troopers! fight for Master Big Guy!” Wompit roars as he
barges through what remains of the doorway. “Wompit crush tiny
Empire guy!”
Following
the enraged Savrip is Dex, Booma, a swath of red and black
battledroids and lastly Typ.
“Sorry
we're late,” Dex remarks to Xol. “Gets a little crowded by that
second or third hallway.”
Xol
stands mere feet away from the slumped over body of Dark Lord Blades.
Through his helmet he can see that the Dark Jedi's vital signs are
very low, almost near death.
“Dex,
once the Emperor is defeated we'll turn over Blades to the Rebels,”
the Yautja speaks aloud disregarding the Emperor entirely. “They
should be able to find a good use for him.”
Once
confident that Blades poses no threat, Xol stands before the Imperial
throne alongside Luke, Leia, and Master Kuro. The three remaining
Imperial guards are not moving and the throne itself is still turned
around gazing out of a window overseeing the chaos that rages outside
the battle station.
“Excellent
work,” a raspy, crackling male voice says from behind the
impressive seat of power. “You have defeated my fleet, my most
powerful weapon, and now my guard. You've reunited my once shattered
enemies and brought them to bear against me. I am going to assume
that you seek my surrender?”
“I
say in earnest that that is not what I yearn for Emperor,” Xol
replies. “I wish to mount your skull upon my wall as a trophy and a
reminder to those who threaten this galaxy in the future. However, I
believe my allies in the Jedi council would see that as unwise so I
leave them to decide your fate.”
“I
shall not be taken so easily, you grotesque monstrosity. My young apprentice
will contend with you and your pitiful Jedi.”
“Master
Xol slew your apprentice Starkiller!” Master Kuro snipes back. “You
are alone.”
“On
the contrary, no Sith is ever alone, there must always be two.
Starkiller was the last remnant of that traitorous and ultimately
weak Vader. The misguided alien unknowingly did my bidding by killing not only
Vader but Starkiller as well. My new apprentice is much more powerful
than those mechanical shadows ever were.”
“Perhaps
you fail to see his fate because your chair is turned away,” Xol
replies smugly. “But your apprentice is down as well, lain at my
feet by a single blow.”
“Dark
Lord Blades is no apprentice of mine. He is a shallow old fool that
is more Jedi than Sith and therefore nothing more than an amusement
to me. My pupil is exactly like his father before him. A true Dark Lord of the Sith.”
With
that closing statement, the throne begins to turn toward the
assembled foursome. The Emperor still seated in the chair remains
hidden by shadow as his hood covers his face save for a small but
noticeable maniacal smile bristling with blackened, sinister teeth.
With a wave of his hand, two twenty foot by twenty foot sections on
either side of his throne open up, revealing hidden cargo elevators.
Wary of what the Emperor may have in store the three Jedi and Xol
draw their lightsabers.
“Master
Xol,” Luke says as he turns to the Yautja. “I have a question.”
“Yes
Master Skywalker?” Xol answers without turning his head.
“How
could you give it up?”
“Give
up what?”
“All
this power!”
Sensing
a change in the Jedi next to him Xol turns to Luke, only to see the
Dark Side swirl into his eyes as he simultaneously chokes the Yautja
and pushes his own sister and Master Kuro across the room. At this
precise moment flooding from the newly revealed elevators are dozens
of Stormtroopers that were lying in wait. They emerge already firing
their blaster rifles and repeaters cutting down Rebel soldier and
battledroid alike.
“Luke,
why are you doing this?” Master Kuro questions as she brings
herself to her feet alongside Leia.”
“To
free us Anya!” Luke shouts angrily. “To free us of this burden of
war, the Empire is the only true way to bring peace to the galaxy. My
father knew this, and so should you. This alien interloper killed
mine and Leia's father on some dirty little world and for what? More
chaos! Without the Empire the galaxy will destroy itself and the only
path to salvation is by its Emperor and through the Dark Side.”
“I
am sorry Leia but Luke must be stopped, will you aid me?”
“I
can't Anya,” Leia says stifling a sob. “I love him too much, he
is my only family.”
“I
understand. I will spare his life if I can.”
With
a rush of speed towards Luke, Master Kuro ignites her lightsaber and
lunges at the fallen Master. Still holding his focus on choking Xol,
Luke turns to Kuro's attack and unleashes a storm of white-hot
lightning from his fingertips. The arcs surge into her body, slowing
her progress eventually bringing her to the ground just before his
feet. She struggles to stand up but as she attempts to, Luke recalls
his lightsaber from the ground beside him, deploys the blade and
plunges it into Master Kuro's back. A painful final scream exits her
lungs before she falls to the ground, her form dissipating into the
Living Force leaving only her ragged Jedi robe and violet lightsaber
behind.
“Foolish
Jedi,” Luke says in Leia's direction. “Nothing can stop the
children of Skywalker. Sister, join us and no longer will you be
afraid. The power of the galaxy shall be ours!”
“No
Luke!” Leia shouts tear swelling in her eyes. “You are a monster
just as our father became. You're corrupted by the Dark Side, no
better than he ever was. I used to believe just like you did that creatures like Xol were the worst thing in this universe but now I know that the real
answer is this feeling I have in my heart. This sadness is what
killed our mother Luke, don't let it destroy you too.”
“Nothing
can destroy me Leia, not even this repugnant creature that killed our
father. I know you are my blood but if you do not join us. You will
die.”
While
the Jedi face-off against one another in the face of Skywalker's
treachery, a violent skirmish have been raging all around them. Bolts
of red, green, blue and yellow whizz by as blaster fire is exchanged
between the Emperor's soldiers and the alliance of Rebels and Xol's
crew. Dex charges into the fray laying down round after round that
sends Stormtroopers falling in front of him, burning holes in their
chest plates and helmets. Stopping to reload, he is attacked by an
ambitious soldier who not only misses the veteran clone commando but
has his weapon taken from his hands, then is struck across the helmet
by the butt stock of the blaster rifle which sends him face first into the ground and
while the trooper attempts to regain his footing, Dex plunges his
vibro-knife deep into this spine killing him instantly.
Booma,
just a few feet behind Dex lobs Gungan energy orbs at the troops
advancing from the elevator area while firing an Imperial blaster
with his left hand taking down a few more Stormtroopers that come too
close. In an inattentive moment, he is struck by a blast that pierces
his right shoulder, exited the rear and even shredding a hole through
his right haillu. In pain he falls to one knee, launches one more
boomer into an oncoming Stormtrooper group killing one.
“Wompits,
meesa needin' yousan help right now, okeeday!” the Gungan screams
out for assistance.
Answering
the call with ferocity, the thrashing Mantellian Savrip crashes
through groups of Stormtroopers throwing some into others or otherwise just
stomping them down like grass. Stood atop Wompit's left shoulder,
firing his scrap-built ion cannon is Typ who lets out a gleeful
“Uteeni!” with every hit. The pair cut through the enemy to their
Gungan friend and Wompit flings him over his right shoulder
presumably to keep him safe from harm.
Dex,
seeing his crew struggle and his best friend Xol suffer, rushes the
throne itself. There, awaiting his attack are the Emperor's personal
guard who immediately engage the clone before he can come too close
their leader. Dex has fought their kind before and he knows that one,
let along three is dangerous. Nevertheless he ducks the first guard's
force pike and sweeps his legs out from underneath him. Not allowing
himself to remain still, Dex flips backward as to put some distance
between himself and the remaining two that are standing. As he
motions towards them he takes the opportunity to shoot the fallen
crimson a couple times before he can get up. Unphased, the two guards
flank the clone commando on either side. Foregoing blasters altogether for such a close quarters encounter, Dex unsheathes both of
his wrist vibroknives and assumes a combative stance. The Royal
guards are deadly with their force pikes and come close to striking
their clone adversary more than once. Dex parries with his gauntlets
and returns a few strikes himself only to hit the air. After numerous
exchanges, it is the clone's aging physique that loses out as he is
struck in the leg and in the torso. The energy of the pikes punches
into his body with such intensity that he can barely withstand it.
The next blow will definitely take him down. In desperation, Dex
executes a Teras Kasi move that allows him to kick both guards in a
swirl motion whilst propelling himself backward. Though the strike
can't damage the Imperials beneath their heavy armour it did allow
Dex to clear the reach of their force pikes. As he advances back
towards his attackers he can hear the sound of rolling metal from
behind him coming up really fast. He turns to see what approaches
from behind and is relieved to see Rolly and Rondo storming towards
him. The two droidekas unfold in front of Dex and deploy their
shields with a loud pop of the emitters coming online. The Royal
guards seeing this turn to protect their Emperor and in doing so are
cut down by the quad blaster cannons fired from the droid pair. Dex
seeing his opportunity to attack the Emperor, pats the two droids on
the backs and runs full speed toward the throne.
The
Emperor, most displeased by this recent turn of events can not longer
delight in merely spectating but must act. With a flit of his
sleeves, he courses lightning through Dex Kamino and the two droids.
Rolly and Rondo overload and burst into flame from the energy surge
while Dex falls to the ground, his armour pouring with steam from
between the gaps. The clone lies motionless just feet away from the
throne.
Xol
senses his friend's pain but is unable to break his focus on
resisting Skywalker's choke. To do so would mean a certain death at
this point. From the Yautja's vantage point he can see that the Rebel
forces are doing quite well against the Stormtrooper legions and a
handful are advancing towards Luke and the Emperor.
Leia
seeing this as an opportune time, walks toward her brother where he stands
locked with Xol in a battle of ability. She approaches him with her
lit lightsaber lowered to one side.
“Luke,
you can see that this isn't the right path.” she says gazing deeply
into her brothers eyes. “Release Master Xol and fight the Emperor
with me. I know you are hurting Luke, but there is much
good in you, I can sense that even with all your hatred clouding your
mind.”
“I
am not the one with the clouded mind sister!” Luke snarls back.
“You betray me. My own sister. This appeal to my weaker side is
just a ploy so that the others can kill me and bring down the Empire.
Remember dear sister, you brought this upon yourself.”
With
fury boiling in his eyes, Luke clenches another invisible hand around
Leia's throat and begins to squeeze the life slowly out of her body.
The attack is so brutal that it lifts her off the ground, as Leia
struggles to pull the invisible hand away from her neck.
Suddenly
from the Rebel group approaching the newly outed Sith and his master,
a high powered blaster shot rings out and strikes Luke in the hand
holding Xol's throat. The shot makes Luke cry out in pain. Though it
is not enough to break Luke's focus on Xol it is enough to have him
drop Leia, gasping back to her feet.
“Hey
kid,” Han Solo shouts from the Rebel side. “Let go of my girl!”
“Han,
you and the rest of the Rebels are finished, surrender now and I may
show you mercy.”
“Not
gonna happen kid. Chewie, protect the girl! Let's move out rebels!”
In
near unison the Rebel soldiers let out a yell that is dwarfed by the
roar of the very large Wookiee fighter, Chewbacca. In a blaze of
brown fur, he charges Luke Skywalker firing bowcaster rounds at the
Emperor's apprentice whilst running towards Leia. Luke has no choice
but to draw his lightsaber and deflect the Wookiee's bolts which
allows the furry warrior to rush by and pick up Leia from the ground
where she still struggles to regain her breath.
“You
see Han,” Luke proclaims. “Nothing you can do will allow you to
win in the end. You'll have these petty little victories to keep you
warm in an Imperial cell. Nothing can break my focus.”
“No,
but apparently Wookiee bowcaster rounds can shake it enough to leave
you open Master Skywalker,” Xol says from behind his helmet.
The
Yautja seeing his chance to break Luke's hold on him, forces the grip
around neck off just enough so that he can grab a hold of Skywalker's
right hand. With a quick twist to break the bone and a swipe from
Xol's own lightsaber, the already blaster singed hand severs cleanly
off, cauterizing at the wrist and falls lifeless to the ground.
Luke
lets out a howl of pain that brings him to his knees. “No!” he
screams. “That's impossible. I must avenge my father's death.”
“This
isn't the way.” Xol says assuredly before kicking Skywalker to the
ground. “Rebels, he has lost his way but he can be saved. Punish
him with imprisonment but do not kill him. Let him reflect on his actions this day.”
The
Yautja now free, stares down the Emperor who now sits alone on his
throne. His Stormtroopers have been vanquished and although the
Rebels and Xol's forces equally suffered losses, they stand united
surrounding the Imperial tyrant.
“Good
work dark one!” The Emperor cackles. “Never in all my days have I
seen such chaos for the sake of liberty. Skywalker's mind was weak. I
see that now. However, you Master Xol are an engine of controlled
destruction that I could only have dreamed of when I formed this
Empire. Why do you think I went to all the trouble of resurrecting
those ancient Sith? I was trying to find a way to create another like
you and I thought I had. You proved me wrong yet again foul creature.
You are unique in the galaxy Xol, and if you wish it I would grant
you the power to leave this pathetic conflict behind you and perhaps
even return to your home once more.”
“Long
ago, in my youth a soft meat like you once offered me the same deal
and even at the same price. An Emperor's head. When I agreed to such
a thing, I was brought down a path so dark that a shadow would have
been like a star. No more promises of a home gone long ago. No more
promises of power and freedom dressed as tyranny. No more evil
actions Emperor. You will surrender or I will take my trophy.”
“Oh,
I'm afraid that you are mistaken so-called Master of the Force. You
speak to your Emperor. Vader could destroy my form but never my
power. I knew that headstrong fool would be defeated by one even more
ignorant than himself. My loyal followers made my new body better
than the old and now I rule once more. You and your petty little band
will not stop me! I was a senator who became chancellor who became
ruler of the entire galaxy!”
“You
are the one they once called Palpatine?”
“No
fool, I am the one called Darth Sidious and I am your Emperor!”
Emperor
Palpatine raises his head to reveal his weathered old face. Even in a
clone body, the Dark Side has taken it's toll on him physically. With
cold, empty eyes he raises both his palms in front of him and sends
out a wave of Force lightning that strikes everyone in the room. The
power is so strong and the pain so intense that even Xol is affected by it and is brought to the ground. Relentless, the Yautja crawls
through the pain and drags himself toward the throne. The Rebels and
Xol's group scream out in absolute agony as Darth Sidious' power is
killing them all slowly. So great is his malice that he even attacks
Luke as well in his injured state. Xol continues to pull himself
forward but the intensity of Palpatine's attack is such that it is
destroying him too in spite of his best efforts to hold back the
steady stream of lightning.
“Idiotic
creature,” the Emperor laughs. “Do you think that what you do now
is noble? Die like the vermin that you are!”
The
Emperor seeing Xol as the biggest threat increases the intensity
against the Yautja, cackling the whole time. A perverse happiness in
his eyes as he burns the flesh of the alien. In his delight he barely
feels a hand grab at his feet. Palpatine glances down to see that in
the battle and the exchange of words, Dex has crawled to him as well
and is now tugging at his foot.
“Such
a brave clone wasted on the likes of the Rebels.”
“One
thing before I die Emperor,” Dex says with a cough.
“Which
is what traitor?”
“This
is for Order 66!”
With
a flick of his wrist, Dex slashes at the Achilles tendon of Darth
Sidious. The blade cuts right through, sending the Emperor tumbling
to his feet.
“Go
Xol Go!” Dex shouts as loud as his damaged voice can allow.
When
the Emperor falls, his lightning extends upward and all around
causing mayhem and destroying the walls and ceiling of the throne
room. In a rain of sparks, Xol rises to his feet, his body shakes
with pain and screams with every step but the Yautja forges ahead. He
draws his two lightsabers and throws them at Darth Sidious. Using the
Force, he keeps them ignited and flying through the air until the
pair pierce both of his shoulders. The Emperor lets out a scream and
in an effort to stand up instead falls back into his throne. Xol's
anger and adrenaline now fueling his march walks up to the throne,
removes his lightsabers and throws them to one side. With thoughtful
care, the Yautja removes all of his armour, setting it next to his
sabers, leaving only his clothing on his sundered body. With both
hands he picks up the pain stricken Sith Lord by the collar and
raises him to his eye level.
“You
will not know captivity nor will you be free Sidious, and I will not
even take you as a trophy. Nothing so pathetic and weak deserves the
traditions of my people.”
“What
a coincidence Master Xol,” the Emperor gasps as a trickle of blood
runs from his mouth. “You will also never be free again!”
To
Xol's surprise, Palpatine releases one last flurry of lightning
directed only at him. The pain is overwhelming and the Yautja can
feel his bones squeal and snap as the energy starts to attack him
again. The lightning dances all around his body, showing flashes of
his skeletal system and face from beneath the mask. He does not
release the Sith Lord despite being torn asunder by Dark Side energy.
“DX-1165!”
Xol shouts to his friend. “Get them to safety. Even Blades and
Skywalker! Save them all for me!”
“Xol,
what are you saying?” Dex answers back.
Before
the wounded commando can get his answer, Xol still with the Emperor
in his grip uses his Force ability to phase through solid objects and
falls through the floor.
“Xol
wait!” Dex screams out in vain, going so far as to claw at the
floor where he phased through. “Not like this big guy. Not like
this.”
The
hardened clone commando sobs heavily, and even though it is muffled
by his helmet, it is still loud enough that Wompit comes to his side.
The giant Savrip hugs Dex very tight while the rest of the crew and
some the rebels gather round him, offering part thanks and part
condolences.
Meanwhile,
rushing through the superstructure of the Death Star, Xol falls with
the Emperor in his grip howling all the way down. He is hurling them
towards the main power reactor as the station's center. With each
passing moment, his anger lessens and a sense of peace washes over
him. No longer would he be a lost hunter, a dark apprentice or a
fallen master. He will finally rest and in so doing, stop the very
thing that he was brought here to destroy in the first place.
“Release
me Xol!” the Emperor pleads. “You wouldn't destroy yourself just
to kill me would you?”
“No
Sidious,” I will be restored when you are killed and so will this
galaxy.”
With
those parting words the light of the central core is all that the
Yautja can see ahead and even though the energy is so intense it
already begins to tear away his flesh he does not feel a thing as he
stretches out with the Force one last time. All of his hate, all of
his love, all of his wisdom he drives forward like a spear of energy
into the core and just before he and the Emperor collide with the
core of the Death Star, Xol speaks one last time to Dex before the
explosion begins.
“Goodbye
DX-1165.”
“Goodbye
Gr'rit'Xol.” Dex says aloud in response.
By
the time of the collision, the clone commando has done as he was
asked and is aboard the Wayfarer along with the crew and anyone else
they could carry, the tiny ship is just moments ahead of the fiery
shockwave that rips apart the Death Star and shatters it into pieces.
The Rebel vessels fleeing the exploding super weapon scream chants of
victory over their communication channels transmitting them via the
holonet to the four corners of the galaxy. The ships plunge into
hyperspace to regroup with the main fleet.
Once
at lightspeed, Dex allows the pilot droids to take over in the
cockpit as he walks towards the cargo bay area. He opens the door and
can hear a sound that no man should hear; the cries of a Mantellian
Savrip.
“Wompit
not want Master big guy to be gone.” the hulking brute wails. “Why
he have to leave Wompit all alone Dex?”
“He
didn't leave Wompit,” Dex begins. “He took down the bad guy and
now he's out there somewhere, still fighting and you and I will see
him again some day, perhaps even in a dream. Besides ya lummox, Xol
wouldn't like it too much if you were hangin' around feeling sad
because of him now would he?”
“No,
I guess not.”
“Exactly!
Now do me a favour, I left some Corellian Sweet Cream in the galley
and I need your help finishing it.”
“Wompit
can help with that.”
With
a swipe at his tears the Savrip stands up and excitedly stomps off
towards the galley. Booma, sensing that Dex wants the cargo bay to
himself. Grabs Typ away from his droid repairs and the pair follow
Wompit out. Dex gives a thanking nod and walks to the area of wall
where Xol's old trophies hang. With care he fastens the Yautja's
armour and two lightsabers to the wall. With a heavy breath out he
taps the faceplate of the helmet and walks towards the exit toward
the galley and the ruckus he can already hear brewing from behind the
closed doors. He laughs at the sound, reminded of how Wompit gets
when you try to take his Sweet Cream away from him. As he steps into
the doorway, he takes one last look around.
“Thanks
for all the help big guy,” Dex says as he turns out the lighting.
“Thanks for everything.”