STAR WARS/PREDATOR: MASTER XOL'S SAGA (PART NINETEEN)

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.”