Plo Koon: Senate Crisis

Chapter One: The Upper Hand

"You will be rewarded handsomely, bounty hunter. The capture of a senator could prove most useful in gaining an advantage over the Jedi. Once you've subdued Senator Tol Ganar, bring her to my bunker in the Coruscant Underworld. I'll relay the location to your ship. Any further questions?" Dooku's ominous robed figure stood in a darkened room, speaking to seemingly nobody. "I'll do it. But it won't be a clean or quiet job." Durge leaned out of the darkness towards the hologram. "I hope you know that." Durge watched in silence as Dooku collected his thoughts on the matter. "This is acceptable. As long as you get her to me alive, use whatever you can to get the upper hand." The hologram flickered off, and Durge stood to gather his supplies.

Durge clad himself in his signature battle-torn armor and made sure he had an ample amount of ammunition. This was no ordinary capture, this was the Kel Dor senator of the Republic. Durge had dealt with clones and Jedi alike, but going into the heartland of the Republic itself could prove to be tedious. But the pay was well worth it. Dooku would be nothing if not generous to his allies and assets, especially when it gained him an advantage in the war.

The hunter knew that the Jedi would not be taken for fools, and would soon discover who took the senator. Durge planted explosives all over his own hideout, just in case the trail led the Jedi there. He stepped from the doorway onto the landing pad, which was drenched with rain. His sleek ship glistened under the water and lights. As the entrance ramp lowered, Durge checked for any tracking beacons that could've been stuck to the bottom. He stepped into the cabin and input the coordinates for Coruscant.

A blinking light followed by a pinging noise on the control board holds a transmission from the Count, and Durge answers. "Have you made your way to Coruscant, Durge? Time is of the essence." Dooku's gentlemanly demeanor always bothered Durge. "You pay me and I'll get the job done. I don't need you interfering with my job." Durge sneered at the hologram. "You forget who you speak to, bounty hunter. I am no Jedi. I am a Sith Lo-" Durge slams the button to drop the transmission and turns back to the controls. He has bigger concerns than Dooku right now, and he needs to prepare for them.

Durge gazes upon the massive planet, radiant with life and civilization. This was much different from Durge's isolated and normally placid hideout. Stealth was not an option. His ship slowed as he reached the top of a massive skyscraper near the Senate building. Dooku contacts Durge again, this time with critical information. "I've assigned another hunter to assist you. I'm sure you're familiar with Aurra Sing." A speeder lands alarmingly close to Durge's ship, even scraping against it. Aurra Sing steps from the speeder, bearing an extremely long scoped rifle on her back. "Dooku. Durge." Aurra greets her accomplices as she throws Durge a communicator. "You'll need this for when you're on the inside. Pick your targets and I'll empty their heads." Durge turns to the Senate building and loads his blaster. "No time to waste."

Durge ignites his jetpack and soars to the nearest platform. He motions for Aurra as several Senate Commandos charge him, their blasters raised towards the hulking Durge. In flawless succession, several bolts blow through the Commandos, all headshots. "Pretty nice shot, huh? I'll meet you inside." Aurra chimes through the communicator. Alarms sound all around the building, and the doors to the building are sealed. Durge uses several rockets to destroy the entrance and steps in. Senators shriek as he trudges down the hallway. Several clones charge towards him, riddling him with laser bolts. Durge uses his wrist mounted flechette thrower, ripping the clones to pieces, armor and all. He opens his holomap of the Senate, and finds the Kel Dor senator's office a floor above, and further down the hall. Durge removes a thermal detonator from his belt, attaching it to the ceiling. He throws himself behind a statue as the detonator blows a massive hole to the next floor.

As Durge ignites his jetpack, something holds him back. He spots a Roonan Jedi holding him down through the force. The Jedi force pushes the bounty hunter, only to be met with a plume of flames coming his way. The Jedi swiftly redirects the flames, but not before Durge is already atop him. The iron-clad giant lifts the Jedi off his feet and slings him to the ground. The Jedi is gasping, as a sharp piece of rubble penetrated his throat. Durge shows no remorse, and finishes the job by stomping the Jedi's head, obliterating his skull. He continues through his self-made entrance, and stomps towards the Senator's office.

***Meanwhile at the Jedi Temple***

"Master Jedi." Palpatine appears on a hologram in the room of the High Council. "We have a massive security breach and immediately require assistance. Senator Tol Ganar has been taken, and there are many casualties including Jedi. Please send help at once." Palpatine is then rushed from the image by two guards, escorting him to a saferoom. "Most disturbing this is." Master Yoda announces. "Mace. Send for Masters Koon and Koth, will you? Much to discuss we have."

Mace's footsteps echo through the glistening halls of the temple towards the sparring room in which Plo and Eeth practice. As the doors slide open, Mace is greeted with an astounding sight. The two Masters perform sequence after sequence of deft bladework and refinery. Koth's green blade being met with the force of Plo's own cutting blue. Their forms impeccable, neither one gaining an advantage over the other. Eeth's mastery of Makashi is evident through his light yet solid footing. His blade, like a green lace, searching in the dark for a weakness in Plo's guard. But the Kel-Dor was not so foolish as to let Eeth's ribbon past his defenses. Koth leaps in the air, utilizing his knowledge of Djem So to possibly create a diversion. But this is his mistake. At near light speed, Plo rotates his own blade, sending Eeth's flying from his hands, and to the temple floor.

"The optimal way through one's defenses is the correct balance between finesse and patience, Master Koth. Else you'll find yourself rushing to an early end." The pair turn their attention towards Windu, not noticing his presence during their match. "Wise council, Master. I did seem to get a bit overzealous, didn't I?" Plo and Eeth chuckled, still exhausted from the seemingly endless duel. "Indeed. Master Yoda has summoned you both to the Council chambers as soon as possible. We have an urgent issue." Mace didn't seem as jolly as the others. Instead, a grim and somber expression clouded his face. "We'll be there at once."

Koon and Koth stepped into the bright room overlooking Coruscant, followed by Windu. "Masters. You require our presence?" The duo bowed in respect as they stood in front of the small green Grandmaster. "Hmm. That we do. Infiltrated, the Senate has been. Need you to track down the ones responsible I do." Yoda's expression turned slightly more gloomy as he uttered the next sentence. "Careful, you must be. Multiple Jedi killed there have been. Rush not into this conflict. Instead, formulate a way to triumph you shall." As Yoda's words ceased, there was a momentary silence in the room. A shock among the Jedi that Coruscant hadn't been the scene of major conflict in years. Much less a senator's kidnapping. "It will be done, Master. May the force be with us." Plo and Eeth turned and walked from the room, minds already on the task at hand.