CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
--Mandalore--
The Resistance gunship shuddered as it flew through the barrage of enemy fire. Mandalorian fighters attacked from all sides, bombarding the vessel. It was only thanks to the retaliation from Black Squadron did the vessel hold together.
Within the gunship, Kadar looked upon his fellow commandos. While only nine presently, Goran had said that others in their cause were waiting down below, having already pressed an assault on Keldabe now that the city's defenses were lowered. Kadar wondered if it would be enough, even with the Resistance's help.
He heard the distinct sound of chattering teeth and looked to his daughter Vessin, who stood by his side. Although she had donned her helmet, Kadar could still see her fearful face through the t-shaped visor. Tentatively, he placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Are you all right?" he asked in a hushed whisper, low enough so the others would not hear.
"I'm fine," she said sharply, although there was enough hesitance in her tone for Kadar to know she was lying.
"Vessin, it's okay to say you're scared," he said. "Admitting one's weakness is a sign of strength."
Vessin scoffed. "Platitudes like that aren't going to make me feel better."
"I learned that 'platitude' from your mother." Kadar could not help but smile at seeing the embarrassment conveyed through his daughter's body language. "I learned a lot from her. I probably wouldn't be half the Mandalorian I am today had I never met her."
Vessin fell silent at that. The gunship shuddered again just as the voice of Black Squadron's leader crackled through the intercom.
"Hang tight, Mandoa One. We've gotten pass the atmosphere but these guys aren't letting up. I know it's a lot to ask, but I think you guys will need to use your jetpacks to get down to ground."
"We are prepared, Commander Dameron," Goran responded. As he said this, he opened the gunship's side doors, exposing them to the nighttime sky of Keldabe. "Just tell us when."
As the other commandos situated themselves to jump from the ship, Kadar looked at Vessin, who looked even more nervous than before.
"Have you flown with a jetpack before?" he asked.
"Once, when I was seventeen," Vessin murmured. "I nearly crashed and Orde vowed to never let me use one again."
"Well, it's never too late to learn," Kadar said, finding a spare jetpack and attaching it to her back. "You'll be safe. I promise."
Vessin was quiet for a moment, staring out at the star-filled night. When she spoke again, her voice was even softer than before.
"Would she be proud of me? Mother?"
Kadar stopped as he felt his heart flutter. He closed his eyes as he fought back the tears threatening to break out.
"Yes, ad'ika," he whispered back. "She would be more than proud of you."
It had only been a minute when Goran gave the command. Taking his daughter's hand in his own, Kadar followed the other commandos out of the gunship and down towards the city below. Letting go of Vessin's hand, he yelled at her to activate her jetpack...
...Just as the gunship exploded above them. The force of the blast propelled the Mandalorians away from each other and Kadar lost sight of Vessin as he fell faster to the ground....
--The Resurgent--
Kylo Ren stood in the entrance to Darth Taral's chambers, staring at the emptiness that greeted him. Just seconds ago, he had sensed the Dark Lord's presence, but as soon as the door had opened for him, the Sith had fallen off his radar.
Kylo was not in the mood for this. If he had to tear the entire ship apart to find Taral, he would do so.
Drawing his lightsaber, he let the crimson blade illuminate the dark room as he stepped inside. He prodded with the Force as he searched for Taral, knowing there was no way the Sith could have evaded him that--
The Knight of Ren spun on his heel and met Taral's blade with his own. Through the flare of the interlocked sabers, Kylo saw Taral's masked face staring back at him.
"Nice trick," Ren said dryly. "Did you learn that one yourself or did your master teach it to you?"
Taral simply snarled as he pushed the blades towards Kylo. The knight broke off from the stalemate and stepped back, beginning to circle around the Sith.
"You saw this coming then," he said. "I'm impressed by your foresight."
"That makes one of you," Taral muttered as he paced counter to his opponent.
"Granted, one does not need to be a genius to put two and two together. I had hoped that my execution of the Moffs conveyed my... distaste in your plan clear enough."
"It did. It certainly did. But I must ask, why did you see it fit to take matters into your own hands like that?"
"As if it was my decision," Kylo retorted. "I would have been perfectly content in letting you wallow in your inevitable failure. But my master had insisted that your operation was salvageable for his own plans. It just needed a few adjustments."
Taral sighed. "It would appear everyone has been planning against me. I guess being Dark Lord of the Sith is more difficult than I thought."
"Allow me then to relieve you of your burden."
With that, Kylo raised his blade and lunged at the Dark Lord....
--The Alderaan's Requiem--
"You're certain it was him?"
"Han, I would recognize his presence anywhere," Leia said as she walked down to the hangar bay with her husband. "I know it was him. It had to have been. It couldn't have been anyone else."
"But Leia... you said you felt his death--"
"It must have been a trick. The dark side can cloud one mind's easily."
Han frowned. "When you sensed him... did it feel as if he...?"
He left the words unspoken but Leia caught his meaning anyway. She closed her eyes as she exhaled slowly.
"I felt cold," she said quietly. Han didn't need anymore than that.
The couple eventually reached the hangar bay, where they found their children Anakin and Jaina waiting by the Millennium Falcon. Upon seeing his parents, Anakin looked at them in concern.
"What's going on? Why did you ask us to meet you here?"
"We're going to infiltrate the enemy's flagship," Leia said candidly.
Jaina's brow furrowed. "We? As in just the four of us?"
"Well, Chewie's coming along too," Han muttered.
"And Rancor Squad as well," Leia added. "But yes, all four of us are going."
"But why?" Anakin asked. "Is Taral on the ship? Because I think there are Jedi more suited for a mission like that... no offense."
"We don't know if Taral is present, but it's not him we're after." Leia looked to Han, who merely shrugged. She took in a deep breath before turning back to her children. "It's your brother."
Both Anakin and Jaina stared at her, mouths agape. "You mean Jacen?" the latter asked, sounding almost hopeful.
Leia shook her head. "No. Your other brother. Ben."
"You told us he had died," Anakin murmured.
"Yes, we did, because we thought he had," Leia said sadly. "But I can feel him now. He is on that ship... and he is in danger. We have to save him."
"Aren't you needed on the ship though?" Jaina asked.
"General Hawk shall assume my duties in my absence," Leia said. "We haven't got time to lose. We must go now."
Seeing no reason to protest, the Solos hurried on board the Falcon. In moments, its engines came to life and it flew out of the hangar -- followed closely by Rancor Squad's gunship -- and out into the fray.
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