Star Wars Invasion: Episode X, Chapter Six

A NEW HOPE

   The choirs of Coruscant's heart were singing.

   At least, that was what Zerev felt was happening. Distant, disembodied voices were chanting with Trek, emitting from the lowest part of the Undercity.

   "Khara syada rathamah dai ya," they were saying. The more Zerev listened to it, the more he began to make sense of it.

   "Any idea what they're saying?" Durus asked.

   "No, but I believe it is the forgotten language of the Zhell, Coruscant's former inhabitants." Zerev stared down the portal. "But don't ask me what he's trying to achieve here."

   Suddenly, the chanting stopped. The ground then began to rumble as an indiscernible shape rose towards them. 

   "What is that?" Durus asked. The Zilkin leaped from Dah's shoulder and onto Trek's. "Will you give us a straight answer for once?"

   The Jawa turned his head, his golden eyes shimmering. "Wait."

   Durus opened his mouth the retort but thought twice when the ascending object came to a stop. Hovering before them was a large, disk-like pate of metal. In its center, a blue portal came to life.

   "What... is that?" Zerev asked.

   "Eons ago, the ancient Rakata visited this world and left behind this: a fail-safe." Trek turned to face the other Exiles. "Our ultimate defense."

*  *  *

   The Battle of Coruscant's surface had resumed, fiercer than before. Alliance and Imperial troopers, Jedi Knights, Mandalorian Supercommandos, and Hapan warriors fought without pause against the countless Glorians. No matter what they threw at them- whether it be tanks, walkers, or even bomber starfighters- the enemy proved to be relentless.

   As much as he hated to admit it, Kyle Katarn knew that there came a time where, when all else failed, the dignifying thing to do was to throw down one's arms and surrender.

   But now was not that time. Not yet, anyway.

   He could not tell what made him think that, but something- whether it was the Force or his heart- told him that not all hope was lost. That somehow, they could get through this war.

   Until then, all he and everyone else could do was to keep fighting. Because if he was wrong, then they would have at least not have died without a fight.

*  *  *

   Animus opened his eyes, albeit with some difficulty, to see Anakin Solo standing over him. From what he could tell, he was no long out on the battlefield but rather in some sort of building; a barely lit one, at that.

   With a groan, he said, "Where... are we?"

   "The Works," Anakin said. "I summoned a medical speeder to take you somewhere safe- well, relatively safer than out there."

   Animus' face contorted with anger. "I thought accepting one's death was part of your Jedi mantra. You've wasted your time trying to save me."

   "You say that as if my absence makes a difference," Anakin muttered. "I don't think I can help us win this war."

   Animus stared at him, his anger subsiding for the time being. "You still don't get it, do you?"

   "Get what?"

   "What did the others and I tell you at Mortis? You have a great destiny to achieve. We have foreseen it, and I am going to ensure that it becomes a reality."

   He groaned as he felt a jab of pain near his shoulder. "Even if it means I have to die."

   Anakin smiled. "You're not."

   Animus glared at him. "What does it take for you to understand, boy?"

   "Hold still," a voice said.

   Animus turned his head to see a two-headed Troig standing over him, stabbing the needle of a syringe into his arm.

   "Janus?" he murmured. "What are you doing here?"

   Both heads chuckled. "The Dark Jedi were kind enough to give me a ride," one of the heads said. "I was able to convince them of my usefulness."

   "I take it you two know each other," Anakin said.

   "Yes, he is a member of the Exiles," Animus said. To the Troig, he said, "Why are you here?"

   Janus' heads grinned as he pulled out the syringe. "I was clever enough to keep a backup serum in case your deterioration started at an, ah, inappropriate time."

   Animus' eyes widened. "Wait... you mean you're...?"

   "Yes," Janus said, his smile(s) fading. "I am the one who turned you into the engine of destruction that you are now. Now it is time for you to be that engine of destruction."

   Animus stared at his fellow Exile. A mixture of emotions and thoughts rage within him: confusion, resentment, realization... but there was no time to sort them out. Instead, he nodded. "You remember the plan?"

   "Indeed," Janus said, turning to Anakin. "Listen closely, boy. The fate of the galaxy is now relying on your attention span."

*  *  *

   The siphoning had started.

   Shadow could see it all the way from the planet's surface. A beam of energy was emitting from the Star Forge's lower hemisphere, directed at Coruscant's distant sun. He had no idea how long it would take for the star to be completely drained of energy, but he was not keen on waiting to find out.

   Dashing through the deserted streets, he finally reached the site of the battle and made his way to the Glorian command post recently established by General Sogi, leader of the invading ground force. Entering the war tent, Shadow found the general, sans helmet, reclining in a chair, humming a traditional battle song.

   Shadow cleared his throat to get his attention. "General, where is Agent Eclipse?"

   Sogi looked up at him. "Agent Shadow? I thought you were running errands for the Watcher."

   "Where is Agent Eclipse?" Shadow repeated, his patience visibly thinning.

   The general waved an airily hand. "How should I know?  He's always teleporting this way and that. Why is it so important to you?"

   Shadow paused for a moment, considering whether he should confide the general with his knowledge or not. Finally, he said, "Do you know what's going to happen?"

   Sogi grinned. "Besides total victory?"

   "No," Shadow said coldly. "Total destruction. The Watcher- whom you call 'the Magnificent'- is going to sacrifice us, as well as the entire galaxy, for his own needs."

   Sogi blinked, staring at him confusedly. "Who told you that?"

   "Agent Umbra. I need to find Eclipse to confirm that he was telling the truth."

   Sogi's grin grew wider. "It's sad when you agents can't even trust one another."

   Shadow had been about to leave when this statement gave him pause. "What do you mean?"

   The general rose from his seat. "You think I don't know what you did to Umbra?"

   Shadow stared at him, his green eyes wide. "How could you? You weren't even-"

   "There's more than one way to spot a traitor." Sogi's voice had changed suddenly and realization began to dawn on Shadow.

   "Eclipse?"

   "You're not the only one though," the faux Sogi said, donning a black cloak as his figure began to morph slightly. "Agent Phantom relayed this knowledge to General Sogi as well, planning on forming a coup. I had no choice but to eliminate them both."

   Pulling his cloak's hood over his head, Eclipse's emerald eyes gleamed in the darkness. "I'm sorry, Shadow, but it's for the greater good."

   Shadow could feel the breath of a Syren as it approached him from behind. In spite of this, he smiled.

   "You forget about one thing," he said. "Unlike Phantom and General Sogi...."

   He could feel the Syren's tendril-like strands of hair brushing his shoulder.

   "I am not a coward."

   The moment the Syren lunged, Shadow shape-shifted into a Tatooine scurrier and dashed out of the tent.