Repairing Beyond Ambition - Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order fanfic *EDITING*

Chapter 37

The winged creature swooped into its descent onto a portion of the tree. It remained still, allowing Cal and Altheeda climb off. Hand in hand, they jumped onto the ground and watched as it took flight out of their sight. The pair were in awe and still intertwined by their fingers that laced with each other.

"How incredible..." She murmured.

BD-1 alerted them with a short beeping sound, turning their attention towards what looked like a work bench. Cal lead her towards it and they ran their hands over the moss that had sprouted on its surface.

"I just need a moment." He explained as he laid out his weapon on the work bench.

"Is it broken?"

"No, I'm just making sure the double-sided mechanics are still working okay." He spoke as he tinkered on it. "I'm sensing that Ninth Sister is nearby."

Altheeda nodded idly running her thumbs along the straps that kept her toolbox on her back. She watched his work curiously until he backed away from the work bench and gave enough space to safely ignite both ends of his lightsaber. They both silently admired his work and he shut off his weapon before beginning to walk ahead.

"I wonder where the creature went." She thought aloud.

"Over here." He gestured.

They found the creature perched on a patch of mud and soil below them and together, they jumped down to approach it. It was calm and welcomed their presence this time around, the two of them admired it until loud explosions rattled them all.

Horror was plastered on their faces as they watched the friendly creature fall below as Ninth Sister's ship shot at them all. BD-1 wailed in terror and Altheeda drew out her blaster with one hand, feeling Cal usher her away from the gunfire with her other hand. Their eyes frantically analysed the area, the smoke from the now burning trees created a flimsy obstacle in their vision. They darted wildly around the area to avoid being hit until the Jedi sensed a sinister presence rapidly approaching them and he spun round to find Ninth Sister descending down to them from a height. His response was to ignite his double lightsaber and she broke away from him to point her blaster at Ninth Sister as she sinisterly stepped towards them with her weapon activated.

"Found you again." She smirked.

"You're done hurting this world!" Cal growled.

"I don't know what's got Second Sister thinking you're so important. She likes her souvenirs but I'm not in it for the memories and you're not worth my time. So, let's make this quick."

Altheeda heaved a breath and Cal stepped forward, springing the Ninth Sister into action. He instantly engaged and she darted in the opposite direction from the conflict, making a run towards some shrubbery and knelt down as she racked her brain to come up with any ideas. As her mind raced, she watched the battle warily, especially in the moments when Ninth Sister would drag Cal towards her with the pull of the Force. Eventually, Ninth Sister recoiled back after a block from Cal and she chortled.

"Not bad for trash."

"What about a Jedi?"

"Is there a difference?"

Craving more of the fight, she ignited the other end of her lightsaber to make it double like Cal's. Both opponents began to fight more furiously than the last time and they locked into a parry that he had succeeded in, managing to wind her temporarily. Altheeda looked up at the entanglement of branches above and something clicked inside her thoughts. It was a silly and risky idea, but she wasn't going to allow Cal to take the brunt of Ninth Sister's rage. She aimed her blaster up at the branches, firing with the grapple function to pull herself up to the tree level. This went unnoticed by the Jedi and the inquisitor and she continued to witness the battle from an aerial view.