Star Wars CLOSED Knights of the Last Republic

Combo with @Sinrebirth for the memories.

Osiran Tek Orrin
Exocron

Not much scared Osiran. He'd seen more than his fair share of horror in the galaxy and wasn't one to let them hold him back, especially from a job.

He turned to look and realized the voice hadn't been someone standing behind him. It had been in his head. It was then that a burst of information, knowledge, power, coursed through his mind and showed him the Barabel he was hunting. A Jedi Master.

He fell to his knees as it burned through his mind. This was what he feared. the Force and it's users, and he had a very good reason to be afraid.

The connection triggered memories he'd long buried.

Osiran sat alone. his tears had long dried up and anger was setting in. His mother and father were dead. Killed in a terrorist attack by former Imperials attacking the New Republic. Ben Solo sat beside Osiran.

"I'm sorry, Osiran."

"For?"

"We're Jedi. We should have been out there protecting people like your parents. One day, we will. We'll be the ones to stop this from happen to others."

Osiran smiled sadly. Ben was always trying to find the good in things.

"Don't give in to that anger, Osiran, or they win. We're stronger than them. We always will be."

Another memory bubbled up. Several rolled together.

The Jedi Temple was Master Skywalker's latest, his contribution to the Order as its lapsed Grandmaster, and 'retired' too. Han and Leia had retired more traditionally, leaving Jaina Solo, Ben Skywalker, and the Jedi Council to continue the investigations into Vestara Khai, Mortis, Abeloth and the Keshiri Sith, trusting the future to their successors at long last.

Luke could not turn his full attention to his nephew, Ben Solo, who had long dove in and out of formal training following whatever crisis interrupted. But age was not an indication of progress, and there were both older and younger apprentices here, and indeed advanced Padawans that ran classes while their Masters attended to more serious missions. The campus was large enough that Knights and other Masters, usually Tionne and Kam Solusar, frequented the Temple, leaving Luke to focus upon smaller classes, keeping in mind that there were some four hundred Jedi here - half the New Jedi Order.

Today, Osiran was in class with four other student - Ben Solo - who was always present at whatever class Luke ran - and Tai, Hennix and Voe, who were often sent on missions together as necessary. They were due to leave for a mission later today, and were having their own short meditation before doing so.

Luke looked up at Osiran as he saw the young man. "Welcome to the circle. Please, join us." He indicated a spot for him to settle.

Osiran sat with the others in awe. His family had been nomads, taking one job then moving on.

When they found out that Osiran could use the Force, they saw a better life for him.

Now he was meeting a true Hero, and going to learn from him.

The others seated were young and old alike and Osiran felt peace. He felt at home.

For a time, they mused and meditated. There was a ripple, and the three other students left to begin a mission, and Ben, Luke and Osiran were left. The meditation bubble seemed to continue for both hours and seconds; days and minutes; eternity, and a moment. But then it grew dark, as an errant thought entered the white, coloring it red and black.

It was blood.

Blood on black armour.

Crimson.

The meditation was becoming a stormtide -

Malice. It was pure hatred and malice in the storm.

Something was very wrong. Osiran struggled within himself.

He wanted to run screaming but also felt so heavily weighed by the roiling emotions he thought he'd be pinned in place and crushed by it.

Consumed.

Panic set in as he stood and shouted.

The bubble broke, and Luke stood, staring at Ben. The latter ignored Osiran and stalked off, leaving Luke to sooth and calm Osiran. He looked troubled by the interaction, and promised he would speak to Ben about it later today.

Warmth flooded their bond as former Grandmaster and apprentice, lessening the damage done by Ben. There had been harm done by the sheer violence that had filled the Force, but Luke took the time with Osiran to undo it, and reassure the younger man, leading him to rest and sleep off the moment.

Of course, that night the Temple was destroyed, and Luke left, so devastated that he cut himself off from the Force and from what few survivors made it...

There were flames everywhere. Osiran was laying in a ditch, badly burned, but alive.

He had seen Ben, felt his anger and then the flames had erupted.

He was scared.

How long he was there, it was difficult to say. How many others came and went; worried; cackling; searching; crying.

In time, a small New Republic scout ship discovered him, and he returned to the galaxy at large to discover the Galactic Alliance and Imperial Remnant gone; the Jedi Order sundered; a new and small First Order nibbling at the edge of the galaxy and a Resistance trying to oppose it.

So much had changed, in so little time, but he would always carry in his heart that fear, and see it’s face transform from Ben Solo’s into a masked man in black; he would eventually discover the name of the monster that haunted his nightmares.

Kylo Ren.

The memories were gone as quickly as they had come, and as the connection with the unknown being flashed away, a roar was heard from the direction he needed to go.

He felt the lightsaber at his back, hidden by his cloak. He wasn't a Jedi, and yet, he still held onto his lightsaber.

He ran back to the Pegasus. The R2 unit already had the engines fired and up the ship ready for take-off.

The little guy truly was amazing.

Osiran climbed in and took off towards the coordinates. They didn't have time to worry about violating laws, he didn't want to lose out on this bounty, even though he was probably going to regret this.
​

TAG: @Sinrebirth

 

IC: Eleanor Magnus
Aboard the Pulsar Skate, triggered

Eleanor had opened her mouth to comment, when the floors shook; and she barely had time to turn her head and react until she was being charged by six droids and grabbed, one going for her arm and one going for her leg. Eleanor felt the shift of gravity as she was lifted off the floor; struggling against the iron clad grip of the droids.

"Let me go!" Eleanor yelled out throwing her arm back and hitting her elbow against the hard metal of the droid. Eleanor grit her teeth, and realised that a bruise would more then likely form. She drew a sharp breath, and tried to calm herself; although she definitely didn't want to go to with them, and freed one of her hands, pushing back with the force to try to get them away. "How did we not know about these things?" She kept trying to fight them, and looking around for any means of escape. What do they want with me? And who put them on attack mode?!

Tag: @Sinrebirth @HanSolo29 @Kev-Mas_Colcha @greyjedi125 @Kahn_Iceay

 

IC: Ashban to Ashmet
Aboard the Pulsar Skate, triggered!



"I thought Vergere helped push Jacen Solo into becoming Darth Caedus a few years back, but y'know."

Ashban’s blind folded visage turned to ‘look’ at the bird woman. That was a serious accusation the little jedi had leveled at her. He couldn’t quite suppress the suprise the words had caused in him, but he certainly hope she could refute the charge. He’d been a prisoner all that time and only learned about Jacen Solo’s fall sometime after.

"I encouraged Jacen to choose, and not follow the narrow dogma of the Jedi Order, which seems prone to birth monsters, Master Tekli," Vergere said calmly. "Kylo Ren merely being the latest..."

She hadn’t denied the accusation. Why wasn’t she denying the fact that she may have corrupted a Skywalker?

The alleged act and its implications began to run like wildfire inside the former Jedi’s mind. Ashban felt Tekli’s cresting vexation, but then the floors shook and the shafts exploded with….DROIDS!!??

Suddenly, there was a frenzied chaos within the ship and outside also. Ashban did not quite understand what was happening or why? It was clear that these strange droids were attacking! This was not a coincidence, for there weren’t coincidences in an ordered universe! This had to be some kind of TRAP!

Tekli was bowled over by an attacker! Scut had reacted quickly with his amphistaff - removing a droid head with a swift strike, but was tackled by three droids, the small group falling on Ashban as he reached for his lightsaber.

The blind man was painfully pinned against the ship’s bulkhead as incredible pain shot up his back. There was a gritting of teeth and a guttural sound followed by a scream of anger. Lightning shot from the blind man, striking all three droids - zapping them into heaps, but not affecting Scut.

“Off me Vong!”

Ashmet snarled and shoved Scut to one side, leering with delight at unfolding events.

He regarded the combat theatre with a single glance, then chose and acted.

He gestured with his free hand, tendrils of scorching lightning lanced-out, striking the droids holding Eleanor by her limbs, a split second later he threw his blood orange lightsaber in a tight arc, decapitating all four droids for good measure.

He wasn’t doing it to ‘save’ Eleanor - not really. It just happened to work out that way- this time.

“Tsk.Tsk.” He said, half glancing at Vergere, as he caught his returning lightsaber.

“You created Darth Caedus?” He chuckled maliciously. “Oh, that rich. He’s really not going to like that.”

He chuckled at her with amusement, while clearly referring to his weaker self, who was now suppressed, thanks to the liberating chaos.

Ashmet then turned to see if there were any other ‘free droids’ for him to kill.

Now that he was ‘out’ he wasn’t planning on going back 'in' anytime soon, not without having his ‘fun’ first.



Tag: @Sinrebirth, @TheSilentInfluence, @HanSolo29, @Kev-Mas_Colcha, @Kahn_Iceay

 

Osiran Tek Orrin
Exocron Wastes

Osiran was greeted with a lot on information and not a lot of time to deal with it. A giant worm like monster and his bounty were duking it out, it seemed. There was a giant upside down pyramid. And if that wasn't bad enough, some kind of new Red First Order Stormtroopers were flying out and started firing at him.

"Well then. J1, hold on."

Osiran juked hard to miss the first missile. it was way off, but, he moved in error, and got clipped by the next one. His left wing blew apart into nothi9ng and he started to spiral out of control.

J1 started beeping at him in expletives Osiran weren't even sure how the little droid knew.

"Whoa there, J1! I'm trying! No, I'm not, you're a bad driver!"

Luckily the out of control spin kept the worm from grabbing him as he crashed into the trees below. He cringed as he heard limbs snap, and other parts of the ship, too.

J1, let out a new series of beeps that were even more urgent and accusing than the ones before them.

"i didn't hit them on purpose!"

Beep, boop, beep, beeeeep.

"Okay, trash can, if it's so easy, you do it next time!"

As the ship slid to a stop, he popped the canopy and leapt free. He landed on his feet and didn't stop as he headed towards the Jet troopers.
​

TAG: @Sinrebirth

 

IC: Vincent Mikaru
The Pulsar Skate

The conversation shifted quickly, as one might expect when going from the discussion of philosophical beliefs, ideologies, and labels to being assaulted by a seeming horde of militant combat droids. For Vincent it was a bit of, surrealness. He'd felt something, like static in the back of his head just before the arrival of the droids, and it flared to the point of pain as Callista warned of ships entering the system. He was thus thankful for the slight moment of respite when the droids seemed to give pause upon looking at him, but he found it curious as well. Curious enough to try something.

As the droids Rushed at him and Leonias he ducked down low, thrusting his elbow out and impacting the torso of the first droid, doubling it over. Side stepping he let it fall to the side and planted a foot on it as he threw both his hands out and called upon the force, sending the other couple of droids heading in his direction stumbling backwards. He then looked at Leonias, "I need a moment, cover me."

Turning he knelt down, pressing his knee into the back of the droid as he pried open the plating on the back of its head through sheer strength. There was that static again, now that the shielding was down. They were linked, interconnected, a cooperative network not unlike Callista's copies. ~If you're thinking what I think you're thinking I'd advise against it.~ The AIs voice called out in his mind as he placed his hand inside the droids head, grabbing what he assumed form its appearance was it's communications bundle.

He then opened himself up, through the Force. Through his comm-link. Through his Subelectronic converter. He then issued forth a single word, a command, giving a fools hope that it might work, or at least forestall their attacks. "Cease."

Tag: @Sinrebirth and the others.

(OOC: Sorry for the delay and lackluster post, been sorta down of late)

 

IC: Leonias Colcha
Pulsar Skate

Normally in situations like this, Leonias would rely heavily on his saber pikes in combat. However, given the close quarters environment, number of enemies and the speed at which they swarmed the group, the added reach of his kyber crystal powered weapons actually was more of a detriment.

Leonias acknowledged the fellow Echani's request with a nod, and slipped into a stance that would be all too familiar to him, the Nexu Stance. He opened up with strong, sweeping strikes aimed at knocking the droid attackers off balance, enhancing it by wrapping tendrils of electrical Force energy around his fists and forearms, intended not to fully destroy any of the droids, but rather to simply keep them off of Vincent while he did his thing, at the most disabling his attackers as he slammed his fists against their chassis.

Tag: @Sinrebirth , @TheSilentInfluence , @HanSolo29 , @greyjedi125 , @Kahn_Iceay

 

Osiran Tek Orrin
Exocron Wastes

Osiran reactly quickly by reaching out with the Force and shoving the rockets away and towards the Taozin. He then focused on the Jet Troopers and yanked as hard as he could with the Force towards the ground while taking aim with his K-16 Bryar Pistol and opening fire as he dashed closer.

It wasn't going to be a great set of shots, but if he hit just right, we could damage the Jet Packs they had, and possibly cuase some explosions in his favor.

The next part gave him anxiety, but it couldn't be helped. He reached behind his back with his left hand and pulled his lightsaber from the small of his back. He activated the saber and ran right up to the Taozin and started to slash as fast as he could, while still taking pot shts at the Jet Troopers.
​

TAG: @Sinrebirth

 

IC: Eleanor Magnus
Skirmish aboard the Pulsar Skate, entering hyperspace

Eleanor breathed a sense of relief as the droids stopped for a moment, and then they started to move again; this time with no heads as Eleanor kicked and fought and realised she was cutting her knuckles open. She winched slightly, trying to use the force; anything to get free and Eleanor wondered just where these droids wanted to take her or who they wanted to take her too. Eleanor tried to look back at the others; grateful as Whistler launched the escape pods before they could get there, wishing that she could speak so she could get anyone to come and help her get away from these droids, especially now that there were more of them by the second.

Why are they so desperate to get me away from everyone else? I don't understand and I really don't want to leave this crew just when we were getting somewhere. Eleanor thought to herself. She kept trying to struggle, but found it useless; and felt herself getting more tired by the second. Eleanor realised that if she kept struggling, she was going to be exhausted by the time she was let go, if that ever happened.

Tag: @Sinrebirth @HanSolo29 @Kahn_Iceay @Kev-Mas_Colcha @greyjedi125

 

IC: Ashmet
Aboard the Pulsar Skate, Free at last!

The dark jedi leered at Vergere delighted by her words. If he could manage it, he would stay long enough to hear her tale, on how she turned a Skywalker to the darkside. Oh, what a gift! What wondrous weapon that would be, with which to wound the weak one and perhaps do away with him for good.

But that particular piece of drama would have to wait.

Something happened to the attacking droids. They had stopped attacking? How disappointing…..

Ashmet’s Force Sight revealed things in that moment, things which Ashban kept from him. The Sun Guard for instance, how fascinating he seemed. Oh, the venerable force user, Aryan, what wonderful opportunities he presented…and of course…there was the Vong. Everyone seemed so interesting, so filled with potential were they.

Whatever deviousness was snaking through Ashmet’s mind, it was suddenly interrupted by the droids ‘coming to life’ once again. Beheading clearly was not enough to end their mechanical threat.

Snarling, Ashmet ignited his blood orange lightsaber once again and immediately began to stab the droids’ illuminated centers, running them clean through with his weapon.

As for the ones carrying Eleanor, he sliced them clean through their knee joints. All of them, in quick succession. Then he worked on their arms and finally their cores.

They wanted the Jedi female, so he would deny them- for now. What an intriguing mystery this was…and Vergere, oh….he couldn’t allow that particular fascination to distract him just now.

First, things first. Killing ‘killer’ droids, was an apt welcome after being suppressed for so very long.

Perhaps there would be a 'reward' for him to collect after the deed was done.

Oh yes, it was good being back.



Tag: @Sinrebirth, @TheSilentInfluence, @HanSolo29, @Kev-Mas_Colcha, @Kahn_Iceay

 

IC: Leonias Colcha
Pulsar Skate

No matter how many droids he had seemed to dispatch, it seemed they just kept coming. Letting out a frustrated sigh, he hoisted his saber pikes to his hands. Close quarters be damned, he needed to deal with these intruders quickly, and lightsaber damage on the ship's bulkheads was a small price to pay to ensure nobody in that ship died.

Still in the Echani Martial Arts' Nexu Stance, the whole world around Leonias faded away. It was just him, and his enemies. Nothing else at this point mattered. In a blink of an eye, he repositioned his long stavelike saber hilts so they formed a makeshift double bladed pike, gripping them together with his large hands, his long spindly fingers giving him the necessary support for the maneuver.

And then he spun the makeshift "double-pike" over his head, crouching down low, bisecting the droids who dared try to advance upon him, golden and crimson blades meeting their chassis with devastating effect.

"Keep on coming then why don't you!?" Leonias challenged, shouting boisterously, "I'll send you all to the scrap heap!"

Tag: @Sinrebirth @greyjedi125 @TheSilentInfluence @HanSolo29 @Kahn_Iceay

 

IC: Eleanor Magnus
Pulsar Skate

Eleanor hit the ground hard as she was freed from the droids, and winched in pain. She was breathing a little too heavily as she sat up, as the chaos seemed to stop and resume all at once. She looked around to see if everyone was alright, and could feel bruises start to form where the droids had grabbed her. Eleanor stood up as Whistler came towards her, telling her how they had jumped and that Aryan was responsible just before they came out of hyperspace, and everything became a mess again. There was a hard jolt and Eleanor felt herself thrown off her feet as Master Tekli hurtled toward the ceiling. Eleanor reached out with the force hard, trying to stop her and make sure she wasn't going to go flying up towards the ceiling herself. As they crashed into the planets surface, the parts of droid flew up and Eleanor ducked to try and avoid getting hit as they slowly stopped.

Standing up, Eleanor moved towards Tekli and carefully hoisted her on her back, though she stumbled a bit both by the extra weight and by something lingering out there. She stopped short, and turned toward Whistler, the others; trying to hide that she could sense something though she didn't know what it was yet. "We have to move, now!" Eleanor ordered, "Whistler, open the door controls to get us out of here." She shook her head as a wave of dizziness swept over her. "We need to get outside."

Tag: @Sinrebirth @E. L.Knight @greyjedi125 @Kahn_Iceay @Kev-Mas_Colcha @HanSolo29

 

IC: Eleanor Magnus
Years Ago

Eleanor took a slow breath as she started stood in the hanger awaiting Ben. She was nervous to see Ben after what had happened. With Jacen turning to the dark side, with Mara Jade's death; Eleanor couldn't imagine how he was feeling right now.

She wasnt sure what she could do to comfort him or help him, but Master Octa has suggested she come see him. To try and help, at least. Eleanor scanned the room, and then reached out with the force.

Ben?

He took a deep breath, and stepped out the ship. Ben's face was impassive, and the emotion hidden from the Force. "Eleanor." His voice was just as dour, and neutral as ever.

"What are you doing here?"

His eyes were the only uncertainty to his otherwise controlled exterior.

Eleanor smiled brightly as she saw Ben step off the ship and all but ran towards him. She stopped short, wanting to hug him but not wanting to crowd him. "I well...I came to see you. Or I was hoping to see you anyway..." Eleanor admitted, tucking a strand of hair behind her ears. "I heard uh..." Eleanor swallowed hard and shook her head. "Do you want to go somewhere and talk?"

Ben paused. "What's wrong with here," his monotone voice sounded. "What do you know?" A slight hurt to his voice. "Has someone else died while I've been away?"

"What no!" Eleanor reached out to Ben, gently taking his hands in hers. "I'm sorry. I'm not trying to upset you." She frowned and looked away.

Ben seemed at a loss, and looked down at her hand. "I am upset, Eleanor. My aunt died, and my brother did it. He's the Dark Lord of the Sith, doing what my grandfather did."

"And where am I? Being kept out, kept away from the frontline," Ben seethed. "This time I'm old enough to fight, and yet here I am, ferrying supplies for children."

"Oh Ben" Eleanor said quietly as she looked at him. "I'm really sorry. I can't imagine how hard this is for you." She squeezed his hand. "But please think before you leap. I don't want to lose you."

"Lose me?" Ben said, incredulous, and he took his hand from hers. "You had me?" His voice acquired a harder edge; a fleeting memory of an unspoken moment - "Do you think I'm... I'm..." his rage grew incandescent, "a liability?"

There was a myriad of Force presences, a bubbling curiosity within the hundreds of Jedi on the station -

The clearest question was from the mind of Luke, with a firm sense of calm from Leia, and an impatience from Jaina. The Force meld that fell upon the two of them was encompassing, supportive, worried, and concerned.

"Are you joking? When have I ever considered you a liability?" Eleanor argued back, feeling her face go hot. "You're my best friend Ben." She huffed, "I don't want you to get hurt you scruffy looking nerf herder. Why is it always so hard for you to believe that people care about you?" Eleanor raised her voice, and then let out a sharp breath; catching herself and trying to calm down, "Just because your angry at your family doesn't mean you get to take it out on me!"

Ben seethed, but his rage collapsed over a black hole of guilt. She was right; absolutely right - Eleanor had been nothing but supportive of him. He sensed that his sister was under fire, and grew anxious. "Sorry, Madelyn, it's just that -"

There was an alarm, and Ben Skywalker's voice came across the comms. "Decoy fleet, launch."

Eleanor's comlink activated; it was Master Ramis. "You won't have time to rejoin the decoys - take Ben's ship and join the convoy. We need to convince Caedus that the younglings are fleeing the station."

The Jedi Council had explained the plan before. Jaina and Zekk were to antaognize Caedus when he arrived with whatever Imperial ships he had, and then the convoy was to lure him down the Throat - the narrow band that led between an ice field and an asteroid field. When he followed, the Hapan fleet would pounce on him, and then the ambush would be fought and won.

The convoy was to flee to Shedu Maad, the site of the Jedi base, presently reinforced by Hapan ground troops.

Ben turned back to the Grimtaash, annoyed at being bossed around. "Jedi Solo?" Octa's voice reached for him.

"Yes, Master Ramis," Ben said, looking back even though it was an audio-only.

"You are to stay away from Darth Caedus; that is an explicit order from the Grandmaster."

Ben stared at Eleanor, as if his opinion was validated. "Of course, Master Ramis," he managed to say sarcastically, before squeezing with his hand and shattering Eleanor's comlink.

"Come on then," he said, that rage surrounding him anew.

Eleanor sighed as her comlink beeped, interrupting Ben's apology. She answered Master Ramis, and nodded in herself at the new instructions. "Yes Master Ramis." Eleanor answered, still looking at him even before Master Ramis called out to Ben, giving him instructions as well. She watched his expression change with a cautious one of her own, how it went back to anger so quickly.

And then he shattered her comlink.

"Really Ben?" Eleanor scowled at him. "You owe me a new comlink when we get back." She told him, trying to keep her own emotions under control. She knew it was a silly thing to me mad about, but he didn't go around destroying her things. Not in the past anyway. She moved past him to get onto his ship, and started to walk up the ramp. "Actually you owe me a new comlink and dinner." Eleanor turned to look at him, her gaze softening a little. She thought back to the last time they had actually spent time together, without the fear of war and it seemed so long ago. "Let's go Ben." Eleanor said, more gently and softly then she had before, feeling her anger lessen.

Ben actually smiled, in-spite of himself. "Dinner it is," he managed to say, completely off-balance. "Let's make it a date in the calendar - after the war is over, right?"

"Sorry, Eleanor," he said wryly, that Solo grin to her face. He strapped in, and indicated where Eleanor could sit. "I fly like I'm related to two of the greatest pilots in living history, so you may want to strap in."

Flying, that was simple; it always was. When he piloted, he need not wonder about the politics or even feelings of it. His family was a dim memory when he was in the zone. Without necessarily checking she was secure, Ben gave her a goofy expression and gunned the ship out the hangar, joining the convoy of freighters - a dozen Sharmok-class troop transports, each carrying thirty Jedi students and their families.

The ultimate bait, essentially.

He keyed his sensors, and looked at what Darth Caedus had brought - what Jacen had brought. He couldn't feel his brother in the Force, nor his sister. Both were hidden with a technique only they, Luke and Ben Skywalker knew, which vexed him but at the time he was focused on something bigger.

Much bigger.

Down the Throat was the black-hulled Star Destroyer named for his late brother that Caedus used as his flagship, the Anakin Solo, as well as half-a-dozen modern Turbulent-class Star Destroyers, a handful of Imperial II-class Star Destroyers, and what heavy cruisers and frigates that the Remnant had left after the week-long Battle of Roche. All of it was very impressive, but the center-piece to it was the massive Super Star Destroyer, the Megador, and Ben could only wince.

"I don't think the Hapans can ambush that, Eleanor."

The troop transports headed off into the ice field, and Ben turned to follow. The Remnant-GA fleet was too far away to open fire... unless they had those new long-range turbolaser batteries... Ben swallowed in concern.

Eleanor felt her heart skip a beat and followed him to sit down near Ben. "A date?" She managed to get out, feeling very warm. "Force Ben you really know how to catch a woman off guard."

She let out a slow breath at the mention of flying, his flying in particular. "I swear if you pull any of those crazy flying maneuvers I'll throw you out of the airlock myself."

Eleanor strapped herself in, and glanced at Ben after they took off. The battle was going on around them, and she turned to see what had Ben so worried. She paused for a moment, and then added quietly. "No. I don't think so either Ben."

He turned the Grimtaash to keep up, as they entered the ice field. The Megador, a massive wedge of firepower and dozens of hangars, held at the top of the Throat with the Anakin Solo, as the Remnant flotilla followed after them. There was a wave of launches, and a dozen modern TIE Interceptor - a shielded, hyperdrive equipped variant called the Starhunter - were heading after them.

The Megador, for it's part, headed down the Throat, but was still far out of range. There was a surge in the Force as the Jedi wing launched, some seventy StealthX's that were invisible to sensors led by a Mandalorian besu'liik piloted by Luke himself. Ben watched the scanners, seeing the Falcon launch not a few seconds before the Megador opened fire -

It did have long range turbolasers!

The station was struck several times and exploded, Ben conscious they had been there a few moments ago. "Not good," Ben muttered. "Eleanor, there is a turret up-top, would you?" He reached out with the Force to open a meld between them, so they could intuit and coordinate better.

Eleanor felt horrible as the station was ripped apart, and turned to Ben as he spoke; nodding as she stood up and allowed a meld to open up in the force between them.

"I'm on it Ben. They won't know what hit them!" Eleanor turned and ran up towards the top turrent, strapping in and getting the turret guns online. She reached out to the force again to make sure Ben was ready and then focused on the battle outside the ship. "I'm ready!"

Ben allowed warmth to flood into their bond, but it was tainted at the edges by a bitter jagged darkness. Nonetheless, he reached out for a Starhunter and lead them under it's fire, and then up, bringing her into line to shoot, even as his mind sought out the next. Two Starhunters crept beneath them, but Ben had three above, meaning they were unable to move much without exposing the freighters heading into the ice field.

They only had to hold on for a little more -

Eleanor shook her head slightly at the darkness that came through there bond, and moved her turret into position. She quickly spotted three fighters above her, and sensed the two below. Eleanor figured she may as well deal with the ones she could see right now, and waited; reaching out with the force so she could be as accurate as possible. Eleanor fired quickly at the first fighter, swivelling around to catch the second one and then the third in rapid succession. She let out a triumphant yell.

Ben the ones below us might come back up to attack now that the other three or gone, we need to move quickly-

Ben was already inverting upside-down in relation to the plane of combat, giving her a set of targets now above her -

Leaving behind the Anakin Solo and Megador, the Imperial fleet surged forward to follow them into the ice ring, and suddenly space was full of fire as the Hapans pounced from the field, ambushing them with a wall of turbolasers. Ben dove, as did the freighters carrying the Jedi children and staff. The Imperials were caught off guard, and they were free and through -

The sensors pinged that the Anakin Solo and Megador were turning to come to the Imperials aid, when the Force surged with seventy-two Jedi deploying against them. Luke in the besuliik fighter, and the rest in black-stealth X-wings, silhouetted by the ice field. Missiles hammered up and down the grey-hull of the Anakin Solo, opening geysers of fire in the smaller Star Destroyer. As Ben and Eleanor watched, the Megador swept back and down, an intense barrage shredding into the fighter wing.

One, two, six, ten Jedi died in an instant, and Luke led the survivors away.

Ben grew quiet as they reached the jump point for Shedu Maad, the world at the end of the Throat.

His pain and fear and anger for his family boiled in the Force.

Eleanor quickly disposed of the remaining fighters above them, before feeling a profound sense of loss as Jedi perished in the battle. She waited until they reached the jump point before reaching out for Ben, feeling his fear and anger in the force.

Ben? Let me know when we make the jump and I'll come back down. Eleanor told him gently through the bond. She felt tired, but Eleanor figured it was just the rush of adrenaline fading away.

It was a second after; the transports jumped, and so did they, even though Ben clearly wanted to stay. When they arrived, there was a solitary Hapan Battle Dragon in orbit above Shedu Maad, and their ships were already heading down to the surface. He quietly seethed, realising his parents weren't here either, having joined the battle against his older brother.

"They're doing it again," Ben said.

Eleanor sighed as she hopped down from the turret, and went over to Ben. "Doing what again Ben?" She asked, leaning against the co-pilots chair.

"Cutting me out," he said, carefully. "Mother and Father and Jaina and Uncle Luke are all going to confront Jacen." He was trying not to have another outburst in-front of her. "I should be there. I missed Anakin's funeral... I wasn't here to speak to Jacen before... and then Aunt Mara..."

He squeezed the controls.

"How can they treat me so poorly? They stopped me from being a hero in the Yuuzhan Vong War, kept me from progressing for years... and then I found out about Grandfather because it was leaked in the Senate!" Ben released a breath. "I am treated like some... Chiss shadow child." He seethed again. "Like I'm not acknowledged."

Let alone that Uncle Luke says the Force itself gave his son my name.

Ben was predisposed to hate Ben Skywalker.

Seeing him go down with Jacen, even at fourteen, had been immensely satisfying.

Eleanor moved closer to Ben and threaded her fingers in his hair. She could be affectionate it was true. But she felt compelled to be even more affectionate when he was like this. Unsure and angry. She didn't want to upset Ben further. She knew he had a point, but she also felt like everyone protected him too much.

"You're the strongest Jedi I know Ben. I'm sorry about what happened with your brother, Anakin and with Jacen." Eleanor told him gently. She placed her other hand on his armrest. "I don't know how to help you, with everything that's been going on besides being the one to listen." Eleanor admitted. She looked out the cockpit windows, falling quiet. She really didn't know how to help him.

He reached up and held her hand, looking out the cockpit as the ship followed the coordinates the ground Jedi had given to them. It was a massive hangar complex embedded in a hill, leading the Jedi down. Turbolasers and shield generators abounded, and they would be secure here. Ben cast out his senses and hardened again as he sensed his cousin, the Skywalker with the same as he.

They'd not seen each other for about eight months, back at that meal between the Solo-Skywalker families. He glanced back at Eleanor. "I'm not sure what to make of all this, not anymore."

The Force rumbled with danger, and the Anakin Solo decanted from hyperspace, a fair distance from the Hapan Battle Dragon, the Deserving Gem. From it's hold launched Imperial shuttles carrying Stormtroopers and Alliance dropships carrying Galactic Alliance Guards. It was a decent drop force, complete with Starhunters and X-wing and E-wing escorts.

The Anakin Solo looked like a wreck since Uncle Luke's attack run, and Ben could sense his sister aboard.

His lips pursed as the ship landed in the hangar, and he found he was squeezing Eleanor's hand.

"Sorry."

"No. It's okay Ben." Eleanor squeezed his hand back. "I understand how often you feel over shadowed by everyone else. But I still think you outshine everyone else." She told him honestly. Eleanor hesitated for a moment, looking outside at the view of ships before leaning down and kissing his cheek. "Out of all the Ben's in the galaxy, you're my favourite."

"Ha!" Ben said, laughing slightly as he unbuckled. He stood, and as he did, he caught her eye, suddenly hesitating to meet hers -

Eleanor suddenly felt incredibly shy, looking away herself but moving forward slightly to try to meet Ben's gaze when she looked back up-

He kissed her, and Ben stepped back, surprised, eyes wide. “Sorry, I -“

"Sorry? Why are you saying sorry." Eleanor was sure she was very red, with as warm as she felt. Ben kissed me! Force what do I do? "That...I mean, I thought that maybe you didn't feel the same." Eleanor looked embarrassed and shy. She glanced up at Ben, swallowed hard; nervous.

Ben went red, placing his hand on his face and breathing out through his fingers. "It's just not the way I wanted all this." He turned away, seething. "My family are going to murder my older brother today. That's what all of this is about," he pointed at the incoming landers. "We're clearly just bait."

There was a crackle across the hangar comms. "All Jedi that can fight, to the landing pad."

It was Ben Skywalker's voice; the fourteen year old was commanding!

Ben's hand's squeezed into fists again. "Come on. Let's do as Skywalker tells us."

Eleanor let out a short sigh, a little disappointed. "Yes, let's go Ben." She didn't say anything else about the kiss, and Ben clearly didn't want to speak of it right now either. She turned to leave, walking ahead of Ben.

She knew he didn't like his cousin, but Eleanor also knew that some Jedi could lead from an early age. It depended on how well suited they were for the role. But Eleanor also knew deep down, that her Ben had a short temper.

She lead him to the front.

They fought, defended, slew, and Ben revelled in it, pouring his anger into the fray. The other Jedi, they covered other approaches, leaving just her and him to the main landing pad. But even then, the heroism went to Skywalker, who discovered that Tahiri was bringing a bomb along a secret passage.

Not only did he stop her, but he also forced her to surrender and captured her.

Ben's role was forgotten.

Even though he had felt the death of his brother at his sister's hand.

The war was won now, and Ben retreated to his bunk aboard his ship as the rest of the Council headed to Roche to force the Confederation and Galactic Alliance to parley. The Moff's had joined the Jedi Coalition now Darth Caedus was dead, and the Remnant and Hapan fleets - with the Megador - could force the end of the war.

Octa gave Eleanor permission to stay behind, but wanted her to head to the accords within the hour.

There were no orders for Ben Solo.

Eleanor fought well, she knew; perhaps even bravely. But she didn't try to show off as Ben did. Even though the thrill of fighting excited her, made her keep on her toes; it was soon over.

After it was over, after Jacen had been killed by Jaina, Eleanor had been given orders by her Master that she would leave within the the hour. And she decided to seek Ben out before she left.

Eleanor boarded his ship and sensed Ben in his quarters, moving quietly and then knocking on the door. "Ben? It's Eleanor. Would it be alright if I came in to say goodbye? I'm leaving in an hour."

Ben didn’t answer; but in the Force, his emotions rolled and roiled and boiled. If he had a lightsaber in hand, he would have cut a violent and terrible path, destroying everything in his way. But he didn’t.

She would be able to sense that; through a bond that had risen up unnoticed, across the years. Eleanor would know the rigid self-control - self-loathing - that filled the young man.

Eleanor felt his anger, the rage that boiled up. She sighed softly, but didn't enter. Not yet. "I know your angry right now. But I don't know when will see each other again. I'm going to miss you Ben." Eleanor told him, although she knew that the only part of Ben deep down she would miss wouldn't be this angry brooding man he was being right now. She stood by the door then and waited to see if he would allow her into his room.

He didn't.

There was a yielding to his personality - he did want her to come in, but he couldn't say it, couldn't admit it, not when he wanted to be left alone forever. But he didn't say a word, he simply grew smaller and smaller in the Force, his anger and despair focusing into a single point.

Ben breathed in, breathed out, still functioning, somehow, merely not dead, not alive any longer.

He wasn't Ben anymore, it almost felt like.

No more agony.

Just resolve.

He left Eleanor outside his room, rolled over in his cot, and slept.

His dreams were filled with what he intended to one day do.

Tag: @Sinrebirth

 

Osiran Tek Orrin
Exocron Wastes

This was not what he had signed up for! Too many people, too many Troopers, and a blasted Jedi was his target. He could cut and run., but he really needed the credits.

The barabel urged him to hurry. "WHAT THE BLASTER FIRING BLAZES DO YOU WANT ME TO DO!?!"

He shoved his blaster into it's holster and quickly engaged the troopers with his lightsaber. They were fairly easy to engage as he moved into them blocking blaster shots. With close proximity he was able to simply eliminate their advantage and move among them, letting them shoot themselves.
​

TAG: @Sinrebirth @TheSilentInfluence @Kahn_Iceay @Kev-Mas_Colcha @greyjedi125 @HanSolo29

 

IC: Ashban or Ashmet
Aboard the Pulsar Skate

He’d been taken their measures all along, feeling the strength of in the force as individuals, even attempting to glean from their interactions their level of familiarity, the strength or weakness in their bonds. What could he exploit? From what angle could he unleash his plans?

What was so important about this…Eleanor? Perhaps it was her history with the Skywalkers?

Why did the Sun Guard feel so….strange?

It didn’t matter. He would find a way. He always did.

Ashmet’s half disguised sinister smile did not last however. Suddenly, the ship exited hyperspace, then hit atmosphere, which jostled everyone inside the ship and caused it to shake. Violently.

“No…!”

Ashmet felt himself jerked from where he stood and was almost slammed against the ship’s bulkhead. Had he not stopped himself with the force…

There was no time to ponder what would have happened.

The sound of the ensuing commotion all around him drew his attention immediately.

Ashmet deftly deflected several careening and broken pieces of Gemini droids. At that moment, the Skate pierced through some kind of fleshy mass, tearing through it. Ashmet heard and felt a jolt of crippling sympathetic pain, which momentarily overwhelmed him as he cried out himself. He now failed to stop one of the droid heads he had severed earlier from hitting him in the face. His concentration faltered, and he ended up crashing along the inside of the ship just the same.

Once the Skate had come to a halt, he found himself on the floor, grunting in pain and wincing, shaking his head as if to clear it. His manner and gestures seemed to shift as if he were having trouble settling on a dominant personality.

He’d not realized that they had crash-landed quite yet, or the exact nature of the situation all around them. He could somewhat sense danger, ‘friends’ and ‘foes’.

The force was in flux, and depending on what or who interacted with him first, one of his personalities was sure to react to it by sheer instinct.


Tag: @Sinrebirth, @HanSolo29, @E. L.Knight, @TheSilentInfluence, @Kev-Mas_Colcha, @Kahn_Iceay

 

IC: Eleanor Magnus
Exocron Wastes

Eleanor found herself outside quickly, but at a price. Tekli had passed away, and Eleanor looked to the other Jedi as she lowered her to the ground, watching them fight and feeling a tug towards the monolith.

I guess I have to go. Eleanor thought, with a little encouragement from the newest Jedi. She looked at the others, still waking up and nodded. "I'll be back soon." Eleanor told them, and motioned for Whistler to come along.

"Let's go buddy."

The marshes weren’t treacherous, but they were boggy. The astromech tootled, unsure. Unnoticed, the droid levitated and was across the bog in a moment. Vergere stepped besides Eleanor, sniffed, tasting her air almost, and brushed at her whiskers.

With a knowing eye, she flounced forward, skipping after Whistler, twirling and spinning as if without a care in the world.

Nobody from the monolith intervened.

None of the Jedi noticed her.

Eleanor walked across the bog, startled when Vergere appeared and Whistler levitated across the bog. She nodded her thanks, and quick and sure; jumping and trying to avoid the mud as best she could Eleanor followed.

"Slow down." Eleanor called after them, almost sliding across the bog as she landed wrong. "Wait!"

They reached the edge of the Monolith, an upside-down pyramid which stood out with some oddity. It was dark and cavernous, but it had a slight resonance in the Force. Vergere vanished into the dark, and Whister tweetled uncertainly. He could detect a lot of technology inside, but not anything he could identify.

Metal, glass, liquid... flesh?

Eleanor sighed as they made it, but felt like something was very wrong in the force. She reached out with it as Vergere disappeared. There was something not quite right.

Opening her eyes as Whistler made a noise, Eleanor frowned. "I don't like this either." She turned towards the darkness. "Let's go a little further."

There was a shift, and Whistler vanished with a screech, drawn into the dark by the Force. There was a voice.

It was cold.

It had a rough tone to it.

It spoke in her ears and her mind and her heart.

Do you truly not remember what happened to you as a child? Before you joined the Jedi Order?

There were glass cylinders all around her, as she progressed, but she could not see within them; there was no light.

"Whistler?" Eleanor asked our loud, feeling very cold all of a sudden. She let out a slow breath, seeing it appear and vanish before a voice spoke to her.

Who...is that?

Eleanor walked forward, feeling cold still; almost unfeeling. "What are you talking about? I grew up on Dantooine until the Jedi took me. It's where I was born."

That throaty laugh, guttural, cruel, again.

"That's what I wanted you to think, my child. You had some time on Dantooine, of course, as your parents experimented with how to embrace your Jedi legacy... it was either you or your mother, attending the then-praxeum on Yavin 4... but a death rather interrupted that..."

That chuckle.

"Mental scars, so simple to exploit... terribly so. Take one, apply oneself, they become a fracture and the person so easily reshaped..."

There was a flash of light, and for a moment all of the cylinders were illuminated; a series of humans floating in them all, before they were no longer visible, swaddled in shadow.

"But we needed you, Eleanor Magnus, because your parents shared bloodlines with that of the Outlander... one of eight whose genome gave them control over the Eternal Fleet, an armada of droid battlecruisers... you've met them, more than once now..."

The voice was growing closer, and there was a strong and powerful presence in the dark side of the Force, a hulking shape in the dark.

"Do you not remember when you left home? Took the name Eleanor Magnus to prevent people from treating like you were special?"

A growling laugh.

Eleanor stopped as she listened, trying hard to remember as the voice told her what she was. It was hard. Eleanor reasoned, because she couldn't even remember her parents.

"I don't really remember anything." Eleanor said quietly, trying not to think of the bodies floating next to her but feeling scared all the same "what are you saying? I can control the fleet?"

There was a glint in the distance, as he held a capsule up. "There is the last two genetic components within this vial, my child. With this, you will be able to control the Eternal Fleet... for me." He drew himself up, a tall, over-sized shape. "You escaped this place, but I knew, if I left breadcrumbs that a Jedi Master was here... you would come, eventually, as the gallant hero you were always meant to be."

His voice was quiet, soft, his hand reaching for her cheek, not close, not touching, just rising from his side. "I know it's hard, but do you remember?"

There was a low light above them, casting shadow but not yet illuminating the cylinders around her.

It did, however, reveal who was speaking to her.

Impossibly so.



Snoke smiled gently.

"Leia Shysa-Vizsla."

"You want me to control the fleet for you? Are you out of your mind?" Eleanor took a step back but stopped when his hand came up to her face. She felt her heart lurch at the name Leia.

That's my real name? My parents...I think I can see them. And my brothers and sisters? How many did I have?

Eleanor made a face. Did they really leave me? She wasn't so sure that was the truth. "So you're saying I'm some kind of key then?" She asked.

He stepped after her. "When I took you in, my child, you were broken, upset by what happened to your beloved Ben Solo. I made you blank, and filled you with the rest of the genetic samples... made you into a living test tube..."

Snoke chuckled, a hoarse sound. "And then you escaped... or perhaps you were freed..." He turned his eyes briefly, as if searching the shadows for an accomplice.

"I'm not out of my mind... I simply need you to accept... to become..."

"Will you..." Snoke's hand reached for her face, the Force holding her from stepping back, holding out the vial of blood that he had concocted from the tomb on Chandrila. "Take this... and become?"

Eleanor felt sick at his words. She hesitated, angry for a moment at the thought of Ben. At herself for becoming a willing victim. She tried to step back, but found she couldn't and scowled at Snoke. This isn't right.

"No." Eleanor answered, or maybe it was the person she used to be. Leia. "I will not take anything from you." This feels wrong. It's so dark and cold. Everything about the darkside Master taught me about resides here. "I would never join Kylo Ren, and I will never join you."

"Don't do it for me, my child," Snoke spoke softly. "You should do it for yourself. With the Eternal Fleet at your command, you could save the galaxy. You could force Kylo Ren to stop and listen... to save him..."

He openly leered at her.

But that wouldn't work would it? Ben can't be saved anymore then I could be saved from what happened to me.

If I can't trust in the force, then what do I have?

"I can't save him." Eleanor admitted. She looked confused. "You're just trying to use me. I will not command the fleet for you."

Snoke glowered. "Girl, you are in no position to demand."

He thrust out his hand, holding her off the ground in the air, his Force grasp incredibly powerful.

"If not you..." He arched a finger on the hand which held the vial. The lights lit, and revealed the room in-full.

It was full of cylinders of liquid.

Easily fifty.

Tanks of clones.

They all had her face.

"... then another will do, surely?"

"Hey! Put me down!" Eleanor snapped. She looked around as the lights came on and recoiled in shock. There were so many faces, of her. Staring back. Watching.

Eleanor felt like she was going to be sick. She called on the force to help her calm down and looked at Snoke.

"Look, I'm sorry. I just want to make the right decision okay?" Eleanor pleaded. "Put me down. Please."

Snoke dropped her, and held out the vial.

There was a whisper.

You don't have to do anything, or be anything... but true to yourself.

It was Vergere's voice. She was there, somewhere, hiding.

A flash of memory.

Those words, she had said to Eleanor...

... when she broke her out of this place.

But how can I be? I don't even know who I really am anymore. I don't remember who I am anymore.

Eleanor thought back, before the flash of memory crossed her mind.

She felt Vergere's prescence as she looked at Snoke. You freed me? But why?

Because I wanted you to choose who you were, her voice purred, feline again, as if in her ear.

That's all I ever want for my pupils.

Snoke's eyebrow raised, quirked in thought, as he tried to divine what was going through her mind. "Hmmm?"

I'm not his pet. I'll choose my own path. Eleanor thought back. She glared at Snoke, sharply and called on the force to help her escape and push back against his grip.

I need to get out of here. I am not a tool to be used.

There was a sudden gesture in the Force, and Eleanor's lightsaber flew into the hands of Vergere, a snap-hiss as she leapt. Snoke turned, raising an over-sized hand to ward her off and sent her tumbling away -

He released Eleanor -

Vergere's threw the lightsaber to her, allowing herself to be sent away into the cloning chamber -

Eleanor was relieved that Vergere had acted and dropped to the ground as Snoke released her, catching herself on her hands before she looked up in time to see her lightsaber being tossed to her.

She stood up and caught it, turning towards Snoke and taking a swipe at his legs while he was distracted-

Snoke tumbled backwards as he tottered away, howling as the blade cut through the hem of his robe, the tip catching his ankles. He raised a hand, warding Eleanor away, and sending her tumbling to the left, slamming into the glass tubes. They shattered, and suddenly she was covered in the ichor-like water which sustained the creations.

Half a dozen were free, and the white-eyed clones began clawing at her, even as Snoke struggled to get away, shuffling. Seething, he snarled out. "Darth Traya! Come out! I will kill you for interfering in my design!"

Eleanor yelled out in surprise and pain as she was thrown away into the test tubes. She scranled away from the clawing hands and began to fight her way out of the mess.

It felt strange to be attacking herself, clones of herself; but she felt like she had no other choice. Eleanor was in survival mode. And she intended to fight her way out if here.

The clones were ill-formed, and seemingly all blind. Perhaps in a decade or so, they would be functionally the same as her, but for now, they all had malformations and were only just like her.

Vergere's voice echoed back.

"Yes, I am Darth Traya. The true Sith Lord... not whatever you are pretending to be, Snoke, in league with those idiots on Korriban."

There was a sound of glass shattering, and a clone collapsed, met with inexplicable death. Snoke, shuffling up the steps to the platform above the area, glanced over, but there was no Vergere to be seen. He was, at least, moving further and further away from Eleanor.

"Everyone goes on about how Darth Bane invented the Rule of Two... some complain that he misinterpreted what Revan meant... and yet fail to see that Rivan duplicated his efforts... fails to see that the Temples of Malachor predate even Revan and are built upon the ideas of Two..."

Snoke snarled. "You speak of the Dyad, of which the original Rule of Two was based... and there hasn't been one seen for generations..." He turned, flexing a hand, and a whole channel of cylinders shattered, the death of dozens filling the Force.

All this gave Eleanor time to escape. There was a clatter as one cylinder was toppled by her struggles, and it crashed into another. Snoke's eye turned, remembering her. He patted himself, realised -

"Where is the sample!"

The clones were easy to cut down, and Eleanor half-heard the conversation. Darth Traya. The Sith lord? Eleanor felt her stomach lurch.

I have to get out of here.

While Snoke was distracted Eleanor used the force to push the remaining Clone away and took off running down the nearby corridor. She sent a small thank you through the force towards Darth Traya and set out to find a way to escape.

But first she had to find Whistler.

Now the lights were on, she could see the droid was at the edge of the room, switched off, on his side.

Traya's voice continued.

"Unseen?" Traya chuckled, her voice reflecting off the cloning cylinders. "You don't think Eleanor and her connection with Kylo Ren is special enough?"

As Eleanor reached Whistler, a clone tackled her to the floor, this one the most similar looking of her, and not blind, clearly. It tried to reach for her lightsaber -

"She's special enough as the descendent of two Outlander's," Snoke sneered, and he sat heavily at the top of the stairs at the opposite end of the chamber. "Does she need to be anything else? Why have two revelations, when we already have one."

He was sagging, a hand bracing himself.

"Whistler!" Eleanor called out, before she was blindsided and fell to the floor. She pushed against the Clone, it wasn't blind and was reaching for her lightsaber. Eleanor reached down and punched the clone in the face, pushing it away as she grabbed her lightsaber, activating it with a sudden motion.

She pushed the blade into the Clone and scrambled back, and then half limped and crawled over to Whistler as she tried to gain her footing again. She could still hear Darth Traya and Snoke, and wondered what they meant by "descendant of two outlander's". What two outlander's? That doesn't make any sense.

"Imagine if Eleanor had the blood of the Outlander, control of the Eternal Fleet and a Dyad? Wouldn't that make her a Chosen One?" Traya's voice echoed again in the broken cloning center.

Snoke snorted, guttural. "You think her bond with Kylo Ren to be that strong?"

"I think it could be bridged..."

"Is this why you have invested in the girl?" Snoke sneered, his hand reached out, but at this distance, his power was reduced, but nonetheless he sought to yank at Eleanor's neck as a surge in the Force from Traya caused Whistler to be switched back on, and he rolled himself to his front and used his third-leg to right himself.

Outside there was a violent Force context on-going between her friends and the ersatz Knights of Ren, but Traya continued. "I betrayed you, Snoke, because you are not Sith. I heard you died at the hands of Kylo Ren and that scavenger girl."

"Obviously not," Snoke said, growling. He was growing irate, distracted by Darth Traya - by Vergere.

"But death is the ultimate test of the Sith... without death... what threat is there to you? How can you strive for more power? The Rule of Two is violated, and I would enact it with your death -"

"- with Eleanor as your successor?"

There was silence in response, just the slow crackle of sagging and broken cloning cylinders...

Eleanor grinned as Whistler was switched on and moved forward to him, only to find herself yanked back by the neck. She tried to turn, throwing her hands out to stop herself and get Snoke away from her.

She could still hear the conversation however-

"Do you hear, Eleanor," Snoke said, before lowering his tone softly. "Leia." His hand reached out. "Do you want to see Ben? To reconnect with him, after everything he's done?" A snort. "Do you want to be Vergere's successor? The next Darth Traya? A thirty-five thousand year old title, bequeathed in secret since time immemorial?"

Vergere's voice. "Everything I tell you is the truth, Eleanor Magnus... you are the one who will decide who are plants, and who are weeds. Jacen Solo? He became obsessed with Changing things... he didn't want to stop the war, just to use it. He was twisted... my greatest pupil and failure."

"Do you want to have the power to force the galaxy into peace?"

They were calling to her, at the edge of the room.

Eleanor gave them a frightened look. "My name isn't Leia. It's Eleanor. Eleanor is who I choose to be." She paused as she considered both their offers. I can't see Ben after everything that has happened. How do I know he wont try to kill me again? And becoming a Sith for anyone is out of the question.

How can I turn my back on the Jedi Order? They raised me.

"I don't want to force the galaxy into anything. Peace is relative. You could have peace in some places, but not in others. But not all in the same place, not all the time." Eleanor looked at them. "And I don't want to see Kylo Ren. I lost him...I lost Ben the day he chose to follow the dark side. I couldn't help him then, and I can't help him now."

She scowled at them, every bit a Mandalorian and a Jedi. "I can be no one but myself. I don't want to be anyone but myself."

Eleanor gave them an even look. Confident. A little bit daring.

"You have failed."

Tag: @Sinrebirth

 

IC: Ashban
Light pierces Darkness

Once again, he was seeing familiar images, of himself watching holos of the Skywalker family. How they were, as they played with their children, how inspired he was by them. Luke was a great father and leader, he was a shining example of the entire Jedi Order, and Mara Jade, his wife and a kind mother, was the beautiful red jewel at his side.

A placid sigh escaped his lips.

Then war came. Red Pain and Red Anger and Red Lightsabers. Red Blood and Red Rage. Red Savagery and Red Despair.

A sharp pang of pain made him grimace.

Everything was becoming fuzzy again, the force churned, the light and the dark vied to reach the surface.

That’s when he felt it. A gentle tug.

One recoiled and retreated while the other reached out for a lifeline.

Ashban found himself regaining consciousness.

“Ohhh…..” He exclaimed, feeling somewhat disoriented. A hand reaches up to stop his head from swimming , even as he realized he was on the ground and no longer on the ship.

“What has happened…? Where…..?”

Ashban felt the distinct presence of a jedi and was thankful for it.

“Thank the Force…..” he whispered.

Then he heard the humming of a lightsaber blade. His senses filled-in the rest.

’The cycle remains unbroken. We must break the cycle.’

An old spoken promise crossed his mind, even as he gathered the force to energize his limbs and clear his mind and heal any damage he may have sustained. There was still so much work to do.

With but an erg of his will, Ashban employed Force Body and Force Valor to work in-tandem upon his form.

Now standing at his full height, he need not glance to ‘see’ those that were around him.

“Master Jedi.” He intoned respectfully with a nod at Saba Sebatyne.

With his Force sight, he could clearly see the Chagrian and the five armored knights. Ashban moved quickly and without hesitation.

I know how to even the odds. he quipped mentally.

Inside a hearbeat, Ashban was kneeling next to the Sun Guard, he placed a hand to the man’s shoulder and further nudged him into full consciousness.

“Rise to the challenge Master Colcha. Our work is never done.”

Indeed. But, only until the cycle was finally broken.



Tag: @Sinrebirth, @Kev-Mas_Colcha