CHAPTER THREE
The first time Anakin Solo felt upon leaving the portal was his face hitting the cold, icy ground. Next he felt that same ground shake violently as Animus, in his Duinuogwuin form, landed as well, crushing what or whoever was unfortunate enough to be right underneath the portal.
He then heard the sound of several plasma blasters being fired only to be silenced and immediately followed by frightened cries of terror. He felt a hand grab onto his shoulder as Sev Nep helped him up to his feet.
Over the howling of the wind, he heard a gruff voice say, "And just who do you think you are, falling out of the sky like that?"
"We are of the Galactic Alliance and the Imperial Remnant," Sev cried over the blizzard. Anakin couldn't see who he was talking to due to the snow in his face.
"I am Lieutenant Sev Nep of Rancor Squad. I have with me three stormtroopers, a Jedi Knight, a GA officer, a smuggler, and a Wookiee."
"And a Duinuogwuin?"
"Er, he's merely our ride."
Anakin heard murmuring, most likely from other beings he could not see, until finally the gruff voice said, "All right, let's get you inside before you get frostbite. But the Duinuogwuin stays out here."
"Actually," Animus growled, "you will find that I am quite adaptable when it comes to size."
Anakin's vision finally cleared in time to see the Duinuogwuin shrink in size, assuming the form of a burly, dark-skinned man, which Animus has appeared as on Mortis. He then turned to see a group of Alliance troopers staring in awe and disbelief at the phenomenon.
The lead trooper, a bearded man who fit the gruff voice Anakin had heard earlier, cleared his throat and said, "Er, right. Good to know..."
* * *
As his stealth ship slipped past the Glorian fleet orbiting Rhen Var and evaded the scanners of the Alliance fleet positioned between Mash Shareo and Dungal Lem, Shadow began plotting a course for the Kuna's Tail system.
He was rather surprised that Lumiya and Carnor Jax, the two 'wannabe' Sith he was hunting after, would bother exploring the Sith Lords of the Draggulch Period. Compared to the older Dark Lords, the rulers of the New Sith Empire were regarded as petty warlord-like rulers. Only a handful of them, such as Darth Ruin and Skere Kaan, were still remembered, and even then merely for starting and ending the New Sith Wars.
But what Shadow found more puzzling was how Darth Eradicus' tomb had led the two Sith to Sarafur. The Moddell sector itself had been considered Unknown Regions territory until Chancellor Frix's administration allowed it into the Republic, centuries after Eradicus' reign.
No matter, Shadow thought as the hyperdrive started to kick in. All will be clear in short time.
* * *
Sakul sighed heavily as he sat down at his so-called 'desk', which was actually just a corner of the war room table. Across from him stood the Sullustan lieutenant Sev Nep, the Jedi Knight Anakin Solo, and the large shape-changing being who had introduced himself as Animus.
Before speaking, Sakul removed his right boot from his foot and then deliberately stubbed his big toe with the left one. Squeezing his watering eyes shut, he let out a string of Huttese curses, no doubt to the shock of anyone within earshot- which would have been everyone in the vicinity.
He then opened his eyes only to see that they were still there, the Sullustan and the Jedi having their hands covering their ears.
He let out another sigh. Unfortunately, today was not another bad dream.
"Sorry about that," he said, clasping his hands in front of him. "Now then, I would quite appreciate an explanation on what the heck just happened."
"It's...a very long story," Anakin said, rubbing the back of his head. "But as for the sky-falling thing...well, see, we were taking a...shortcut."
Sakul stared at him. "Oh, sure. That totally clears things up."
"The details on our arrival are irrelevant," Animus growled. "There is a war going on and we know how to end it."
Eshka Dan'yar, who stood at Sakul's side, let out an irritated snort. "And just how exactly are we supposed to take your word for that?" she asked dryly. "You just randomly fall out of the sky, save our lives- for which we are grateful, don't get me wrong- and you just so happen to have the means necessary in ending this war?"
Animus gave her a humorless smile. "I should have rephrased that. We know, or rather, have an idea on how to end this war. However, I can not guarantee it will work."
Sakul leaned forward in his seat, suddenly intrigued. "I'm listening."
"I think it would be best if I spoke to your leaders instead," Animus said. "That way we can conceive a strong strategy."
Sakul grudgingly nodded in agreement. "Very well. It's just a matter of defeating the Glorians here on Rhen Var." He cocked an eyebrow at the shape-shifter. "Don't suppose you can turn into some rancor hybrid thing and eat them all?"
Animus responded with a grim smirk. "I'm afraid not. My shape-shifting capabilities have their limitations."
"That's what I thought," Sakul muttered. To a nearby Duros officer sitting at his station, he said, "Send a message to Admiral Chaar for reinforcements once the blizzard clears enough to do so. And while you're at it..."
He paused, stubbing his toe a little again to make sure he was still awake and not losing his sanity.
"Try to send a message to Bastion and request for Imperial Remnant assistance."
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