The time of the republic

Chapter Thirteen

Rose stared down at Paro's body. She had told him everything she knew about the man, and the Sith had killed the girl anyway.

"You monster! I told you everything."

"I dropped him on Coruscant, surprisingly doesn't help much. It's a big planet. Finn, care to comment? You seen any Jedi wandering around Coruscant?"

Finn met the Sith's gaze, holding it. Poe yelled obscenities but was quickly silenced by a droids metal hand.

"Coruscant is massive, I wouldn't even know where to look."

"Bad answer."

Rose struggled against the invisible hands that held her. The Sith raised his hilt once more, the emitter aimed at Rose.

Master Sith'ari. There is a situation with the Yuuzhan Vong.

B4 stood in the doorway, her black frame accentuating her red eyes. Sith'ari held Finn's gaze another moment before turning to his droid.

"B4, what is it? Have your scans found him?"

Master, the Vong are here. On Coruscant, they are ravaging the world.

"What? They can't be, I released them on the Outer Rim."

Sith'ari ran out of the room, Rose falling to the ground. Super battle droids grabbed her by the arm and placed her back with Finn and Poe. The droids backed off, guarding the prisoners. Finn leaned close to his friends.

"Anyone got a plan?"

"He won't kill us, he needs a location and we're apparently the best bet."

"I don't know where the guy went though. He booked a ride, very expensive to stay very secret. I just dropped him at some side port, on the other side of the old temple."

Finn thought about that. From that port, he only had access to some of Coruscant. If he was a Jedi, he may have searched the temple. From there, he could be anywhere. But this Sith'ari could find a clue in the temple.

"Tell him where you dropped him, maybe he can find a clue, and he'll let us go. Or give us time to make an escape plan."

Finn sat back and glared at the doorway as Sith'ari reentered the room. He looked disheveled. Rose flew into the air, stopping inches from the now activated blade.

"Wait, wait! I dropped him near the temple. If he's a Jedi, he probably stopped there. You could use your Force powers to find him from there."

"Thank you for that. I'll make good use of it."

Rose started to speak again but was cut off as the blade burned through her. She gasped, her face now inches from the mask of the Sith'ari. He pulled his lightsaber from her and let her body fall at his feet.

"No witnesses."

Finn felt Poe begin to rise beside him.

Chron stood at the table staring at a holomap of their current location. Marly circled where she had parked the Skyburn. They had a short ways to go but the outside was more and more dangerous. He outlined a path through a nearby alley, that could take them by the Zillo beast but they would have to risk it. Rey vetoed this and pointed out a different but longer route. Marly argued that they needed to leave as fast as possible, Chron's plan was that.

"Sorry to interrupt, but where did you get that lightsaber?"

"Hmm? That would be this family, they had it. I'm just borrowing it."

"Interesting. I know of tunnels that could lead to near your ship. The entrance-" the man stepped closer, his finger tracing a path. "-is right here, it loops under here and comes out almost right beside the ship."

Chron stared into the hood, trying to see the man's face. Something about that voice. He recognized it.

"That seems like a plan. How do you know about these tunnels?"

"They were popular when I was a younger man. It was an escape from our lives for a bit."

"Master Windu?"

The man froze and looked over at Chron. He reached up slowly and lowered his hood. A face from Chron's past stared at him. The Jedi master was scarred, as though lightning had struck his face. He stared at Chron with recognition.

"Knight Runa. Did he bring you here too? I thought I was the only one to escape."

"Escape? You escaped Order 66?"

"Look Jedi people, have your reunion on the way. We gotta go."

Marly pulled the family up and opened the door slightly. She checked the area and moved out, beckoning the group behind her. Chron ran close to Mace Windu.

"How are you here? I was told all the Jedi died."

"They did. I did."

"You look good for a dead man."

"I was warned of the Supreme Chancellors betrayal by Anakin Skywalker. Myself and three other masters went to arrest him. We underestimated the power of the dark side. I had Chancellor Palpatine, he was almost in custody. Then Skywalker arrived. Palpatine twisted the young Jedi's heart. Pulled him over the edge. Anakin cut off my hands, and Palpatine launched me from his office with Force lightning. I hit the building next door, then another. Smashed through an awning. And I died on the streets of Coruscant."

"Skywalker truly fell then? I had hoped that Rey was mistaken. But you survived? You're here?"

"No. Someone pulled me here. Before I died, I was grabbed by the most powerful Force user I have ever felt. And pulled through the most painful transition you could ever imagine."

"I'm sorry Master, but this is good. Another Jedi will increase our odds greatly."

"I am no Jedi. No more."

Finn stared at the body of his friend. She lay unmoving as Poe was pulled up. Finn felt something. An energy he had felt before but never utilized. He accessed it now. Anger burned in his mind as he reached out, pushing Sith'ari with the Force. The man stumbled back, Poe falling back to the floor. Blasters armed and aimed at the two prisoners.

"Well done Finn. No more of that."

Finn snapped up, his back rigid. Invisible hands held him in place, barely allowing any movement. Poe rose into the air once more, floating in front of the Sith.

"You were right Finn. We should have helped them. I'm glad I met you on that ship."

Finn stared at Poe unable to speak.

"Touching."

Crimson burst from Poe's chest, his eyes widening in pain and shock.

"AHHHHHHH!"

Finn screamed, emotions rushing to his mind. Anger. Hate. Suffering. The droids crumpled around him.