Wrath of Trandosha

Chapter 24 - Old friends

Valon was receiving a transmission, the red light of the dull grey shuttle, glowing bright within the dark cockpit. He opened it, what he saw was chilling and he felt a great disturbance in the force. A hologram projected on the control panel, it was Skaar but something was wrong. He wore a black hood that cast a shadow over his face, he was ghoulishly grinning, his sharp white teeth were a strong contrast to his charcoal coloured skin and cloak.

Skaar's experience on Wasskah, scared his heart, staining him with a demonic evil presence. Valon said nothing, he was shocked, he had not suspected anything like this. Throughout his student's training, he had known that Skaar would be powerful but this change was deeply disturbing.

"Where is Joi?" asked Valon, firmly.

His padawan simply laughed, reaching his arm down and pulling up the end of the ceremonial spear. It was an intimidating object, the screaming skull sent a shiver down Valon's spine, then something truly shocking happened. Skaar pressed down on a button below the skull, igniting it and presenting a flaming rosy blade.

This deeply troubled Valon, a Sith had killed his Master and now his apprentice, had fallen to the dark. To construct a red lightsaber, a person must bleed the crystal, projecting their pain and suffering into its heart. Skaar had used the loss of his mother to pour his torment into the crystal, the blade itself was unstable in appearance, it looked rugged and dangerous.

With his left hand, he hoisted Joi into frame, placing the hot saber against her vulnerable neck. Joi did not whimper or cry, she only peered up at Skaar with a look of disgust and strong disdain.

"Come get her." The transmission ended with that threat, Valon needed to find his old crew more than ever, they could help him recover Joi while he defeated his new enemy.

It wasn't long before Valons, stolen shuttle was touching down on Naboo, the wings folding towards the sky as he descended amongst the wild trees. He had landed a mile out, to avoid alarming his friends, they wouldn't take kindly to an imperial shuttle. Also he hadn't left on the best of terms, so it was important to be diplomatic, while being as fast as he could.

Sprinting through the dense jungle, he finally reached the edge of their base, the caves mouth was on his left and their frigate was on his right. They were loading the ship, with all their supply crate, it seemed like they were about to leave. Z sat on top of the craft cleaning her modified E-11 blaster, Leon and Rico were moving the crates, from the cave to the hold.

The Wookiees were nowhere to be seen, so Valon assumed they were either taken to a safe place or that they were in the ship, he moved from the thick tree line. As he took two steps forward, a blaster bolt struck the dirt, stopping Valon in his tracks. Above, Z casually aimed her blaster at him, the barrel smoke unwinding from the muzzle.

Rico and Leon took their hands of the cargo in alarm, then relaxing as they saw their old friend, standing in shock at the edge of the jungle. Valon stepped forwards with caution, swiftly receiving another warning shot from Z, he looked up at her apologetically.

"I need your help." he said.

"Why should we help you, when you left us, when we needed you most." said Z, Leon matched her shameful look.

"Please, I have no one else to turn to."

That night Valon and the others sat around a fire within the cave, the blue and yellow lights flickering around the cavern, competing with each other. Valon explained the last couple of months leading up to Skaars betrayal; finding Keir, finding Joi, Desera, Suuta, Skaar and finally the hunt for the kyber crystals.

"So what you're saying is that you've failed and now we have to risk our lives to help you." Z said angrily.

"I just need you to rescue Joi, while I defeat Skaar." Valon explained.

"Can you turn him?" asked Rico.

"I fear he is too far gone but I will try."

"I'll help you - under one condition, you come back and you join us. A group of rebels called Phoenix squadron reached out to us, they say they want us to fight in the rebel alliance. It's what we dreamed about!" said Rico excited by the prospect of fighting alongside real rebels.

"If you protect the girl, I'll join you, I promise."

"That's all well and good Rico but Leon and I aren't coming." said Z.

"I'm your captain, Valon is our friend, you're coming with us!" commanded Rico, waving his four primate-like arms.

Z replied by spitting into the fire, walking out of the cave and into the jungle.

On an Imperial class star destroyer - Within the galaxy's Core.

A shrouded figure lurks within a dark throne room, the circular glass window behind him, looks out into the ominous wilderness of space. The distant bright stars, the only form of light, casting a half shadow across his withered face. It is Sidious, he waits for his apprentice on his large throne, the seat of all the Empire's power.

In front of him, two doors separate automatically, with a mechanical hiss. The tall apprentice who steps forward is taking deep, intimidating breaths, the troops guarding the door feel deathly cold. The apprentice's name is Darth Vader, he is a ruthless tool of the emperor, a man who is feared throughout the known Galaxy.

He wore shiny armor that was as black as night, on his chest were a combination of buttons and wires, he appeared half man half machine. A Sith apprentice who feared no one except perhaps his master, a man driven by heart break and suffering, a man who craved power. Vader knelt before his master, showing his undying servitude, it had been sixteen years since his fall to the dark side. 

"My apprentice, the boy must be brought to me, as for the Jedi - kill them both." demanded Sidious.

"Yes Master." replied Vader.

"Something troubles you - say it!" shouted Sidious.

"This Trandoshan boy, is he really as powerful as you say?" questioned Vader.

"No, he is weak."

"Why do you make him believe he is?"

"Because I refuse to waste our time and power to destroy these feeble Jedi!" snapped Sidious.

"So why ma-"

"Silence! You will obey my order and return the boy so that he can become the grand inquisitor's latest pet."

With that, Vader boarded his Tie fighter, setting a course for Fallowan.