CHAPTER FOUR
Jerec watched the stars fly past his ship's viewport as he traveled through hyperspace. Time flies, he thought. It felt like it had only been a few years since he left the Jedi Order and became an Imperial Inquisitor after the Clone Wars. Trained in the dark side by the prophet known as Cronal, Jerec became one of the Emperor's greatest servants and Jedi hunters.
During his Jedi hunt, Jerec found two Force-sensitive beings whom he saw potential in. The first was Maw, a Boltrunian Jedi Knight and Shadow whose selfishness and brutality led to his own fall and became one of Jerec's Dark Jedi. The next was a Twi'lek named Boc Aseca, who was quite the mad one and was skilled in the lightsaber combat style of Jar'Kai-the practice of using two lightsabers.
Cronal would then lead Jerec to find his third Dark Jedi apprentice; Cronal's daughter, Sariss. Sariss was quite firerce, but was also skilled in infiltrating, having gone under the alias of 'the Prophetess' while on Tatooine. She then later trained the next three Dark Jedi: the Sithspawn duo Gorc and Pic, and the Epicanthix Yun.
These six Dark Jedi were part of Jerec's plan to find the fabled Valley of the Jedi on Ruusan, which was a powerful Force nexus made during the New Sith Wars. Unfortunately, ever since the Republic's reformation, Ruusan was mostly inaccessible, with only a handful of people knowing its location. However, if Jerec was unable to reach the Valley, he would find a way into Marka Ragnos' tomb and take the Dark Lord's scepter.
So, Jerec thought, either way, I win.
-Mygeeto-
Once the Millennium Falcon was clear out of the fog, Han could see the Imperial forces that were waiting for them.
"Lando, Nien, man the turrets!" he called towards the ship's back. "And clear a landing, too!"
Laser bolts fired at the Imperials, destroying three of the twelve AT-ST walkers and wiping out many stormtroopers.This allowed the Falcon to land on one of Mygeeto's city platforms, and the Republic troopers ran off the ship, charging towards the remaining stormtroopers.
As Lando got out of his turret tower, he shouted towards Han, "You should go and help Wedge! I'll handled it here!"
"Gotcha', pal," Han replied. Once Lando, Nien Nunb, and the rest of his team was off the ship, the Falcon took off.
* * *
"Rogue Five, did you get that Star Destroyer?" Wedge asked through his fighter's radio as Rogue Squadron regrouped.
"All taken care of, Rogue Leader," Wes replied. "Now what about those big guys?"
Wedge observed the large Star Destroyer Dreadnaughts, which were similar to a normal Imperial-class Destroyer, except with two, large cannons attached to each side. After a moment's silence, Wedge managed to find his voice.
"We'll have to attack one at a time," he said. "Wes, Hobbie, you attack the bridge's deflector shields. Rogues Two and Three, you handle the cannons on one side, Four and Seven the other."
"What about you, Rogue Leader?" Wes asked.
Wedge adjusted his targeting computer. "I'm heading for the bridge."
"You can't!" Ibtisam cried. "That's what Arvel Crynyd did on that Super Star Destroyer at Endor, and it killed him!"
"And his death wasn't in vain," Wedge replied. "Now move out, Rogues. Let's give them what they deserve..."
-Dantooine-
"Cad Bane, huh?" Luke asked, unfazed by the Duros slightly dramatic introduction. "Not sure if I've heard of you."
Cad Bane scowled. "You should have, unless you just spent more time fighting Imperials and not getting out more."
"Well, I have had a lightsaber duel here and there," Luke said with a slight smile.
"Good for you, kid," Bane replied. He turned to Dengar and Kerran. "Get that astro droid over here."
"What do you want with Artoo?" Luke demanded.
Bane chuckled. "Nothing much. We just need him to get a few Imperial info from the computers."
Luke raised an eyebrow. "Then what?"
The Duros mercenary smiled. "Then we turn you in to the Boss for credits."
Luke did not reply as Dengar and Kerran unchained R2-D2 from a nearby corner. Walking into the room at that moment was a short Gand with a binary translator, which the Gand attached to R2-D2.
"All right, tin can," Bane said to the astromech droid. "Search the databanks for any Imperial blueprints."
R2-D2 shook his domed head in refusal, prompting the Gand to electrocute him with a restraining bolt. The astromech finally complied, and rolled over to the base's computers to access them with his interface arm.
"Is he picking anything up, Zuckuss?" Bane asked the Gand after a moment.
"Yes," the bug-eyed alien replied. "He's found something quite interesting. It appears to be some sort of...weapon."
"Weapon?" Bane asked, his red eyes narrowing quizzically. "What do you mean?"
Zuckuss kept reading the record. "Apparently, it was made top secret, but it's labeled under the codename 'Blue Harvest'."
Bane stroke his chin. "Interesting...I think I might look into this. Well then, let's take this info and Jedi to the Boss. He's waiting for us on Nar Shaddaa."
"I'm sorry," Luke said. "But I'm not planning on going anywhere."
Bane whipped out a blaster pistol and aimed it at Luke's forehead. "Look, kid, you've got three options: Nar Shaddaa, starve here, or I shoot you right now. Better choose now, 'cause we aren't waiting!"
Luke paused for a while before giving another small smile. "All right. Nar Shaddaa it is."
"Wise choice," Bane replied as he unchained Luke. Dengar brought out a pair of binders and handcuffed his arms behind his back. Zuckuss then used a caller to have R2-D2 forcibly follow him. As the astromech passed Luke, R2-D2 beeped worriedly.
"Don't worry," Luke whispered. "I have a plan."
* * *
"P-please...don't...I don't know anything!"
Lord Nemesis stood over the rogue Jedi Master menacingly, his lightsaber's crimson blade hovering dangerously over his face.
"You know of the Valley of the Jedi, correct?" Nemesis asked his victim.
The Jedi gulped. "Y-yes...it's on Ruusan."
"What are Ruusan's coordinates?" Nemesis demanded.
"I don't know..." the Jedi whimpered. "Honestly, I don't know! Please, don't kill me! Please, don't! Don't!"
The crimson blade lowered, ensuring nothing but silence.
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