ANGEL'S MORTALITY

i

SEVEN YEARS LATER

CORUSCANT
LEVEL 2046

"So, where's the handoff?" one CSF officer asked.

Five members of the Coruscant Security Force walked through the dampened area. Their black and yellow armor shined in the glow of the neon signs.

"Docks," the Captain replied.

"This kind of deal is best done in the shadows," the Sergeant added.

"Sure, but what's to stop the senator from taking our prisoner and chucking us into a skylane?"

"He needs to keep this quiet."

"That's right."

"Side-stepping Inquisitors, one-upping Vader. This guy's playing a dangerous game."

"So are we."

Two CSF Bruisers stood behind said prisoner.

They walked, and the three CSF employees made conversation while the prisoner stayed quiet. It was like that until they approached an elevator lift.

"Get over here, Jedi."

Cal Kestis gave them all looks before walking toward the entrance. A security droid grabbed him by the shoulder roughly, but he couldn't do anything since his hands were cuffed behind his back, and his lightsaber was tucked away in a case.

"The rest of you will stay here," the droid said.

"That wasn't the deal," the Captain said.

"Deals change."

"Not this one. I come along, or we walk."

"Only you. The others must wait."

He walked inside, with the small case in his hand and stood beside a Stormtrooper. The doors closed, and the elevator started moving.

"Terrorist," the Stormtrooper said, looking at Cal.

"You're gonna let him call you that?" Cal said, glancing up at the tall security droid.

The droid punched him in the gut, causing Cal to fall to the ground.

"That's enough," the Captain said.

"So where'd you find him?" the Stormtrooper asked, trying to make small talk.

"Night market. He was trying to buy a crate of electro-proton bombs from a Chagrian arms dealer."

"How'd you make the arrest?"

"Jedi have to sleep, same as us."

The Stormtrooper looked at Cal. His expression was unknown to most but Cal knew what it must've looked like when he spoke to him in a vicious tone.

"When the senator gets ahold of you, you'll wish you were dead."

"Always nice to meet you," Cal said as he was shoved forward when the lift came to a stop.

The droid grabbed his leather strap and a bit of his vest. Whether or not the droid managed to hold his skin and lift him from the ground... Cal would never say. As they reached the end of the platform, the droid pushed him forward and kicked the back of his knee, causing Cal to fall to the floor.

The droid forced him on his knees, and Cal groaned as he used his bruised knee to get ahold of himself.

"Is this district secure?"

Cal looked before him and scoffed as he saw the senator standing in front of him wearing a ridiculous green patterned outfit, with two Stormtroopers behind him. Worst of all, he had a cape.

"Yes, Senator."

"Good. Vader's dogs are always sniffing about."

The Senator looked at Cal and smirked.

"A Jedi is a rare quarry these days. What else have you brought me?"

The CSF Captain presented the case he'd been holding.

Cal glared at them.

"See that he is paid," the Senator told the Captain.

"It's been a pleasure, Senator. Hope this isn't the last time we get to do business together."

Cal didn't bother to look at the Security droid and the Captain as they walked far behind his view.

"The renegade Jedi, Cal Kestis," the Senator said, not bothering to look at him.

He chuckled. "You have made quite a name for yourself. Sabotaging weapon depots. Disrupting supply lines. The failed coup on Norsid. That was your doing, wasn't it?"

Cal said nothing as the Senator stared him down. He sighed.

"What do you want, Senator?" he asked, bored as he tried to mask all emotions that the angel beside him had stirred up. "A confession? You already know I've been working with Saw Gerrera."

"Before I deliver you to the Emperor, you will lead me to the remaining Jedi."

"I can't," Cal said. "Just me."

"No use resisting," the Senator told him. "I'll find out one way or another. Sometimes all it takes is a speech! Or a few trinkets... Maybe I'll use this."

He ignited the lightsaber and put the blade towards Cal, who looked utterly bored with his antics.

"Your Master. Jaro Tapal. A traitor like you... And to think one day our children will ask what is this thing? This relic of a corrupt institution, destroyed by its own arrogance."

In the distance, Cal saw a little blue light.

BD-1 slid it off of his head and ran away.

"Arrogance is a trap a lot of us fall into, Senator."

The Sentor's grip around the hilt tightened.

"I'm sure the Emperor won't mind if I deliver you to him in pieces!"

Then, the lightsaber switched off. The Senator wore a baffled look.

"What?"

Cal did his best to hide the smug smile on his face as he got off the ground to stand.

"Did you really think you could capture me?" he asked. "You've got classified military intel stored on your yacht."

The Senator turned around, and at that moment, the little BD unit plopped onto his back.

"And you just brought it right to me."

The cuffs on his back fell to the ground.

"Thanks, BD."

"Boop!"

"You'll burn for this," the Senator said.

"That's mine," he said, reaching his hand out. The lightsaber obeyed, and Cal pushed one Stormtrooper off before striking down the other. The Senator ran to the yacht, and a wave of Troopers came running down.

He held out his hand and used the force to push some of them back and then used his saber to defeat whoever was left. From an outsider's perspective, it was like he'd done this dance before.

"Alright, BD. Hit it," he said.

As the yacht tried to fly away, a massive blue explosion erupted. Cal's smug face was wiped clean as it began hurling toward them.

He felt the floor beneath him shift downward, and memories of Bracca resurfaced.

"Here we go again," he muttered as he began sliding down.