CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
--The Eravana--
"He won't break," Jesmin Tainer said as she stepped out of the cell they were holding Girdun in. "I've tried every technique and nothing."
"Not even Zilaash Kuh could snap him?" asked Trey Courser, waiting outside with Turman and Myri.
Jesmin shook her head. "He already knows it's me, which is probably why I wasn't effective enough. Maybe if Drikall was here with one of his sedatives...."
"Well, maybe we can get something of him when we get to D'Qar," Myri said as she and the other Wraiths headed for the bridge. "Speaking of which, I hope I find my sister or parents there. It's been ages since I've seen any of them."
"Wait, your dad is Wedge Antilles, right?" Turman asked. "I thought he had retired years ago."
"Oh, he did. They still manage to drag him back out every now and again."
"You think he'll come back out for this?" Jesmin asked.
"I don't see why he wouldn't."
Suddenly, the ship shuddered, putting the four Wraiths off-balance. They all grabbed onto something to keep from falling and waited for the turbulence to stop. They then rushed over to the bridge, where Han Solo, Chewbacca, and the other Wraiths were.
"What's going on?" Trey asked. "I thought we were in hyperspace."
"Something pulled us out," Han muttered, frantically working the controls. "I think we're caught in a tractor beam."
"Is it the Alliance?" Jesmin asked, peering through the viewport. "Or the Empire even?"
"Definitely not. Whatever this ship is, it's bigger than any in the fleet. Chewie, see if you can get a visual."
The Wookiee growled as he set to work. In less than a minute he had come up with a result and showed it to Han. The Corellian swore loudly.
"What is it?" Sharr asked concernedly.
Han leaned back in his seat and blew out his breath. "It's a Glorian warship."
--Ossus--
Zarin's legs weighed like duracrete blocks as he dragged himself back to the Jedi Temple. His breath came out as short, sharp rasps; he felt as if he was being suffocated, like an iron hand was pressing down on his chest.
Was this the dark side, he wondered. Did Jaden feel this when he used Force lightning against that Quarren Sith on Korriban?
He tripped over a rock and he fell to his knees, his panting becoming heavier. As he sat there on his knees, a particular smell came to his senses -- the smell of smoke. Fire.
He lifted his head up, hearing the sounds of lightsabers, the cries of death. The darkness in his heart inflated and newfound adrenaline propelled him to this feet. Igniting his saber and the one taken from Odan, he stormed back into the fray.
* * *
"Naia! Behind you!"
Anakin's warning did not come in time and he watched helplessly as the two scarlet blades came down onto his fellow Jedi. Immediately setting his sights on the tattooed Zabrak who had murdered her, he lunged at the grinning horned woman and his blade locked with her's.
As he pushed his saber against the Zabrak's, he sensed someone rushing him from behind. Breaking off from the saber lock, he performed a backflip just as Tal Natura ran past him and ran his saberstaff into the Zabrak's abdomen, killing her.
Landing on his feet, Anakin frowned at the Twi'lek. "Did you really have to do that? I thought you were a Sith at first."
Before Tal had a chance to reply, both Jedi heard a voice roar out, "Sister!" and turned to see a male Zabrak charging towards them. Pushing Anakin aside, Tal raised his blade to meet the Marked One's and blue clashed with red.
While the two dueled, Anakin spared a moment to survey the chaos around him. Everywhere he looked Jedi and Sith alike fought one another's, lightsabers of all colors flashing this way and that. He could see several knights laying on the ground, seeing faces he knew ever since he was an apprentice. If he ever saw Tahiri or his sister's face among them... he wasn't sure what he would do.
A distant cry sounded in his ear. His heart skipped a beat, his going wide as he felt something wrong in the Force.
Jaina.... Turning on his heel, he ran through the sea of fighting Force-users, heading back to the temple.
* * *
"They're trying to break though!" Master Plun Kil hollered, struggling to keep the doors closed as a massive Dashade tried to get in.
Behind him, Jaina Solo and other Jedi Knights stood with their blades ready, while experienced knights such as Valisa Tor and herself remained calm and composed, younger ones such as Bal Jal'var and Natia Dorn shook with apprehension. As she stood next to the latter, Jaina took a moment to rest a hand on the redhead's shoulder.
"Relax," she said quietly. "Calm yourself."
Natia shot her a look. "How can I be calm when we're all going to die?"
"We're not--" Jaina sighed, trying to choose her words carefully. "Everything's going to be all right, Natia."
"No. No, it won't." Natia shook her head. "I knew this would happen. This was in my vision. I saw it all."
Jaina opened her mouth to say something but stopped when she realized something: everything had gone quiet. The Dashade Sith had ceased his attempts in breaking in.
The Jedi looked amongst themselves while Plun Kil remained at the door, waiting to see if the Dashade would return. After a moment, Bal asked, "Have they... stopped?"
The Jedi Master said nothing, though his mouth hung open as his eyes narrowed. "I sense something," he then murmured. "I sense--"
He was cut off by a scarlet blade igniting through the door and impaling the Besalisk's midsection. Natia screamed as Plun Kil staggered back and fell. Then, the doors opened, revealing a tall masked man clad all in black, an unstable lightsaber of ancient design in his hand. Behind him were dozens of Sith.
Kylo Ren pointed with his blade. "Kill them all."
* * *
"They've brought down the doors!" Master Jomesh called from the balcony. "They're getting into the temple!"
Kro Sadoon started pacing frantically, giving out commands. "Master Solusar, take more knights down to help Master Kil. Master Maren, provide additional support to those hiding in the ward. If they lay a single hand on the children...."
Toah Jarsan walked away, leaving the Grand Master to his duties. He had noticed the sudden disappearance of Lord Kallus and set out to find him, fearing the worst.
After moving past several Jedi rushing to take position, he found the Sith Master slumped against a pillar, his gaunt features inexplicably more sullen than usual.
"Kallus?" Toah asked, rushing over to him. "Master Viron? Are you all right?"
"He's here," the Sith croaked. "He's one of them."
"Who is? Who are you talking about?"
"Tasen. My former apprentice."
"Is he a follower of Taral like Odan?"
"No, he was my Jedi apprentice. I haven't seen him since the Glorian War." Kallus took in a sharp, ragged breath. "But he's here now. He's among the attackers."
"Are you going to confront him?" Toah asked.
Kallus sighed. "As his master, I feel that it is my duty. After letting Koria down and failing my other apprentice... I would like to make things right with at least one of my students before I die."
Toah looked in the direction of the sounds coming from down the hall. The Sith were getting closer.
"Do you think you will survive?"
Kallus shook his head as he stood up. "I know I won't. But that's never stopped me before."
Toah nodded knowingly. "In that case, may the force be with you, Master Viron."
"And with you, Toah Jarsan."
Toah watched as the Sith Master departed. The sounds of battle were growing louder, closer. He wanted to go out there, to fight with his fellow Jedi. But if he did that and he were to die, then everything would fall apart. The Resistance didn't need him to operate, no, but they needed the Jedi. He had to make sure there was at least one survivor of this battle in order to warn the Resistance of what was coming.
An idea sparked in his mind. It was a risky one, but one that was too good to not try.
He did not need to survive. He just needed to find a messenger.
He needed to find Anakin Solo.
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