Chapter Three- Ahsoka Meets Slade
"A galaxy at war! After the war on Christophsis, the Jedi receive word that Jabba's the Hutt's son has been kidnapped. Sensing an opportunity to forge an alliance with the powerful Hutt clan, Yoda sends Jedi Knight, Anakin Skywalker and his padawan, Ahsoka Tano to the remote world of Teth on a mission to rescue the Huttlet. Little do the Jedi know is that Count Dooku was behind the kidnapping. He intends to frame the Jedi for the crime and sign his own treaty with Jabba. Dooku's sinister agents, Asajj Ventress and Starkiller set a trap for the Jedi, and plan to kill them and the Huttlet. Unbeknownst to Ventress, Starkiller is the same boy that she captured on Yavin; Slade Wayne. Slade is secretly working undercover to deceive the Sith and decides that this is the perfect opportunity to embrace the light side of the Force and reveal his true colors to the Jedi."
Corousant; Ahsoka's POV
I was in my room, meditating, when I sensed a presence. The door opened and it was my master.
"What's going on, Skyguy?" I asked.
"I have very important news for you, Snips. Not only do we have a mission to rescue Jabba's son from the Separatists on Teth, but you also have a mission of your own. And your mission is of the utmost importance. You must help Slade Wayne break free of the dark side so that he may join the Jedi Order." Master Skywalker explained.
"Who is this, Slade?" I asked.
"He's the son of two of our best members of the order; Bruce Wayne and his wife, Selina Kyle. They lived together on Yavin and they trained Slade well. Some time later, we found out that he has an unusually powerful connection with the Force. In fact, he's even more powerful than me, which I find to be ironic since I'm known as The Chosen One. Ventress captured him and killed his family. However, he did not join the Sith willingly. The Force tells me that Slade is not fully corrupted, and is hiding the light within himself to trick the Sith. And lately, he's been living under the identity of Starkiller. He's likely to be there too." My master answered.
"So, my objective is to help Slade find the strength to break free of the shackles that bind him to the dark side, so that he can embrace the light." I said.
"Yes. But according to what Master Wayne said before he died, there's only one way to accomplish that: You must become his girlfriend. I am aware that romantic relationships are against the code, but for Slade, they decided to make an exception. Master Wayne was one of the smartest members of the Jedi Order, and unfortunately, he's right. Love is the only thing strong enough to save Slade from full corruption. And the only one who can pull that off, is you." Master Skywalker replied.
I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I'm the only one who can save Slade from the dark side, and I must use love to do so. Nonetheless, I'm interested in meeting Slade, and I'm hoping that I'll be able to save him.
"I don't understand, but I'll do my best. I just hope this plan works." I said.
"You're not the only one who hopes that plan will work. The whole order is counting on you. Slade is powerful enough to wipe out the Sith with little to no effort. With such power, he would be an extremely valuable ally for the Republic. He has a secret base somewhere in the galaxy, so we need to attach a tracking device to his ship. Once we find the location of his new home, you'll be going there to meet up with him. But don't worry, Barriss and Master Faye will accompany you. Being the wisest among us, master Faye can calm Slade's anger. Sidious and Dooku manipulated him into believing that we're the ones who killed his family, so he may not know that the Jedi want to help him come back to the light." Skyguy explained.
"He doesn't truly believe them, does he master?" I asked.
"No. While I was on my mission of watching over Slade, he had his bony skeleton surgically replaced with an endoskeleton made from Phrik. Not only does it provide superior protection for his vital organs, but it also increases his physical strength and agility. That sort of improvement combined with the Force makes him a nearly unstoppable warrior that will wipe out anything that stands in his way. His brain is linked to the CPU of his new skeleton, which in turn grants him unnatural levels of intelligence, and the ability to learn much faster than anyone in the galaxy. So Slade knows that the Separatists are responsible for the murder of his family, and he'll stop at nothing to avenge them. He can still feel emotion, despite his cybernetic enhancements." Master Skywalker answered.
I couldn't believe that the Sith murdered Slade's family and manipulated him into thinking that we're responsible for the crime. And yet, he knows that the Separatists are the ones who killed Masters Wayne and Kyle.
"I'll do it. But first, we must go to Teth and rescue the Huttlet." I said.
(Meanwhile on Teth: Slade's POV)
I waited patiently with Ventress. I knew that Anakin and his padawan Ahsoka would be arriving soon. I still hid the light within me, for I knew that the Sith take no hesitation in killing traitors. But I am still willing to show my true colors to the Jedi when the time is right.
"You seem excited to face Master Skywalker and his little pet." Ventress said.
I glared at her.
"Watch that insolent tongue of yours, or it will be ripped out of your mouth. I know that you can sense how powerful I am. I can easily wipe out you and your Separatists with little to no effort. So I suggest that you be careful with what you say to me." I snarled.
Ventress looked shocked. No one has ever spoken to her that way. Sensing her feelings however, Ventress knew that I was right. I really am powerful enough to destroy the Separatists with a wave of my hand. So she wisely decides not to push her luck.
"You are wise to be silent, Ventress. And it's like I told Dooku and Grievous, if I used my full power, you would already be dead. If you wish to fight Skywalker, be my guest. Ahsoka is mine." I said.
Timeskip: Teth cliffside, Anakin's POV
Ahsoka and I were riding on tanks to scale the cliff. I could sense that Ventress was here, and my feelings were right. She wasn't alone. Slade was with her, and even from far away, I could sense that he was planning to reveal his true colors by helping us.
"Are you okay, master?" Ahsoka asked.
"Yeah. I'm fine, Snips. But I was right about Slade being here. And the Force tells me that he's planning to help us rescue the Huttlet, to reveal his true colors. Not just to the Jedi, but the Sith as well. He carries the lightsabers of his parents, as a reminder of his promise to avenge them." I answered.
"He probably doesn't want to forget them. So another part of the reason why he keeps those lightsabers with him, is to remain close to the family that he lost." Ahsoka replied.
"You're right. That's another good possibility." I said.
We reached the top of the cliff and I saw Ventress' ship. But next to it was another ship in a completely different design.
"What kind of ship is that?" Ahsoka asked.
"I don't know, Snips. But my feelings are telling me that it belongs to Slade." I answered.
"That's because it does." Another voice said.
A mysterious figure was standing behind us, and he had a pair of lightsaber hilts attached to his belt.
His eyes were cobalt blue, and his jawline length hair was light brown. He stood at 5'10" tall and was very muscular. It was Braedey Martin.
"Good to see you, Braedey. It's been a long time." I said.
"The feeling is mutual, my old friend. I have come to assist you and Ahsoka with your mission." Braedey replied.
"I suppose that you also sensed that Slade's here." I said.
"Yes. And I believe that he intends to help us as well. I've been spying on him and I learned that he intends to reveal his true colors by helping us rescue the Huttlet." Braedey replied.
Ahsoka threw a tracking device onto the back of Slade's ship and activated her comlink.
"Master Kenobi, we haven't found the Huttlet yet, but we did find something else that is equally important; Slade's ship. I secured a tracking device to it." She said.
"Well done, Ahsoka. That tracking device will help us find the location of Slade's home. I'm on my way with reinforcements to assist you when needed." Obi-Wan said from the other end.
"We'll call you when we require assisstance. Ahsoka, out." Ahsoka replied before deactivating her comlink.
I smiled at her.
"Nice going, Snips. Now we'll be able to know where Slade lives. Because I have a feeling that he ventures to his secret base to embrace the light without the Sith noticing. The planet where his base is located must be too far away for them to sense Slade's connection to the light." I said.
"I may only be a padawan, but that would be my guess. Slade's secret base must be on a planet that's too far away for the Sith to sense his connection with the light. Wherever it is, he's probably safe there for the time being. But there's no doubt in my mind that the Sith will eventually find that base and it won't be safe anymore. So I'm hoping that we can find it before the Sith do." Ahsoka replied.
"You're right. The Sith are relentless when it comes to hunting for a target. And I have a feeling that they're trying to find Slade's base. But for now, we've gotta get moving. We must find the Huttlet and rescue him. With any luck, we may come across Slade along the way." I said.
"I agree. And I hope that we can save Slade in time before the Sith betray him. If there's one thing I know about the Sith, it's the fact that they always betray one another. So if they betray Slade, I fear that he may be killed." Braedey replied.
"He won't be killed that easily. He has a metal endoskeleton under his skin as a replacement for his bones. It's made of Phrik, so lightsabers won't do any damage to it. That new skeleton does a much better job of protecting his vital organs, and enhances his physical strength and agility to inhuman levels. His brain is linked to his CPU, so he's much smarter than he looks and can learn faster than anybody else in the galaxy. And most notably, it's powered by the Force. Slade's connection with the Force is much stronger than anyone could've expected, but right now, it is unbalanced." I said.
"Yeah. I also heard that Ahsoka's love is the only thing that can save him, and I hope it works." Braedey replied.
Timeskip; Teth dungeon, Ahsoka's POV
After fighting our way through enemy troops, we managed to rescue the Huttlet. We found ourselves in a room with a trapdoor that led to some kind of colosseum-like pit. The pit was large enough to hold a rancor. Ventress and Starkiller arrived. Ventress was smirking, but Starkiller's face was hidden by the hood of his cloak.
We activated our lightsabers and Braedey's blades were Cobalt Blue, but Starkiller's blades had a unique design. They looked like the blades of metallic swords, but they were red with a black core.
"Master Skywalker. I've been so looking forward to another encounter with you. I see that you found yourself a couple of pets." She said.
"Careful. They both bite." Master Skywalker replied.
"We're no pets." I said.
Starkiller held one of his blades to Ventress' neck.
"I thought I told you to watch your tongue." He snarled.
The venom in his voice was enough to send chills down my spine.
"Right. But I haven't forgotten our agreement. I'll handle Skywalker. She's all yours." Ventress replied.
Starkiller looked at me and I could sense conflict within him, but Ventress didn't seem to notice.
"Just give us the Huttlet, Skywalker. I will finish you first, so you won't have to watch your silly youngling die." She said.
R2 used a nearby terminal to open the trapdoor and send us into the pit. Ventress and Starkiller fell in with us.
"Ahsoka, Braedey, the droids!" Skyguy ordered, as he activated his lightsaber and engaged the Hairless Harpy.
It didn't take long for Braedey and I to destroy the droids, but Starkiller got in our way before we could go help my master.
"I'm afraid I can't let you help him, Ahsoka." He said.
We engaged in a fierce duel, and he was demonstrating skills beyond anything that I have ever seen. Soon, we found ourselves in a blade lock.
"Slade, I know you're in there. You don't have to be a slave to the dark side anymore. The Jedi can help you." I said.
"She's right. Ahsoka's your only hope of breaking free of the dark side, and she's standing right in front of you." Braedey replied.
Starkiller hesitated. But then he lowered his hood, showing his face to me. His eyes were not a fiery yellow like those of a Sith. They were a handsome blue. He smiled.
"You don't know how long I've waited to meet you, Ahsoka. And what Anakin told you is true. I have been working undercover to deceive the Sith. And I have decided that now is the time to act, and reveal my true colors." Slade replied.
Braedey and I looked behind him and saw that my master was putting up a good fight against Ventress. Slade noticed this and looked over his shoulder. Suddenly, his face shifted into a look of intense fury and anger. He ran towards the battle. Thinking that he was lying to us, Braedey and I ran after him. But then Slade did something that we didn't expect. He leaped into the air and directed his attack at Ventress.
"Out of the way, Skywalker!" He exclaimed.
Anakin hears this and gets out of the way just in time. Slade begins to attack Ventress with intense fury, the latter struggling to keep up. Slade sends Ventress flying into a wall with a powerful Force Push and she breaks through it. As master Skywalker, Braedey and I look at him in surprise, Slade turns to us.
"I'll take care of Ventress. In the meantime, all of you, get the Huttlet out of here! Fast!" He said.
"Are you crazy? She'll kill you!" I replied.
"He'll be fine, Snips. He's beaten her before." Skyguy said.
Ventress emerged from the hole in the wall and she was furious.
"You will pay dearly for your treachery!" She yelled.
Ventress threw her lightsabers at us, but Slade quickly deactivated his own lightsabers and attached them to his belt before reaching out with the Force to catch them. One of the blades was an inch from my face.
"No! You may have killed my family, but I won't let you hurt Ahsoka!" He screamed, as he used the Force to throw Ventress' lightsabers right back at her.
The Sith Assassin barely had enough time to dodge the attack. She went into a split and ducked. After she stood up, Ventress telekinetically summoned her lightsabers back into her hands, while Slade pulled out the lightsabers of his parents and activates them as he prepared for battle.
"Go!" Slade yelled urgently.
"Come on! Let's get outta here!" Anakin said.
We ran for a nearby door and opened it. But a rancor came out of the room and entered the pit.
I looked back at Slade. He was holding his own better than I expected. Slade used Force Lightning to slow Ventress down.
Ventress was forced to use her blades to defend herself from the lightning, but this left her vulnerable to Slade's next move. He sends her flying with another Force Push.
"Begone!" He yelled.
Ventress smashed into the wall with tremendous force. While she struggled to stand, Slade looks over his shoulder and sees the rancor coming.
"Hey big guy, ya want something to eat? Chew on her." He said, pointing at Ventress.
The rancor tried to grab him, but Slade was too fast. He leaped onto the rancor's back and jumped off. As the rancor went after Ventress, Slade looked at us with concern.
"Go, now!" He said.
"Like master Skywalker said, Slade will be fine. Let's get outta here!" Braedey replied.
(Teth dungeon; Slade's POV)
Ventress lunged forward, and managed to hurt the rancor badly, despite its efforts of trying to grab her. I felt sorry for the creature. Dodging an attack from Ventress, I ran to the rancor's side. The poor animal was dying.
"Don't worry, big boy. You did your best. I'll take it from here." I said calmly.
Ventress attacked me, but I blocked the attack and hit her with a Snap Kick.
"Surrender now, and you may live, boy!" Ventress snapped.
But I stood firm and refused to give in.
"Never!" I snarled.
Ventress and I traded blows, while Anakin, Braedey and Ahsoka made their escape. I sensed them departing on a freighter ship called the Twilight. However, I knew that there was a fleet of enemy ships waiting for them in space. I had to end this battle and help them.
"So, you have feelings for the young Togruta? How touching. But you'll never be able to save her." Ventress taunted.
This angered me greatly.
"Shut up and fight!" I snapped.
I lunged forward and attacked Ventress with extreme ferocity, the latter trying to keep up. I scored a hit on her leg and held one of my blades at her throat.
"Surrender." I said.
Ventress sent me flying with a Force Push and fled. I leaped to my feet and ran after her.
"Come back here, you murderous witch!" I yelled.
(Meanwhile; Obi-Wan's POV)
Anakin informed me that he and the padawans managed to escape. I let him know that my troops and I would do what we can to distract the Separatists on the surface of the planet. Anakin then warned me that Ventress and Starkiller were still here. As I walked through the castle, I sensed Ventress' presence.
"Ventress, I know you're here. You can't hide. I feel your frustration. Let me guess. You're after Jabba's young son too." I said.
Ventress emerged from the shadows and attacked. I managed to block the attack, but she threw her robe at me. I destroyed it with my lightsaber and blocked her next attack.
"You'll have to do better than that, my darling. But shall we continue?" I said.
"It would be my pleasure." Ventress replied.
We traded blows until she disarmed me.
"Now you die, as all Jedi must." Ventress said.
But then another voice broke the silence.
"Not so fast, Ventress!" It said.
Another man came out of the shadows and began to attack Ventress. It was Starkiller. It didn't make sense. Starkiller was using the lightsabers of masters Wayne and Kyle, and he was attacking Ventress. I was puzzled at first. But what happened next caught me by surprise.
"Now you're gonna pay for your betrayal." Ventress snarled.
But Starkiller was far from intimidated.
"You murdered my family, now you will pay for that mistake. And I'll say it again. Talk is cheap. Just shut up and fight!" He said.
After hearing those words, I realized that I was actually saved by Slade. Summoning my lightsaber into my hand, I rushed to help him. We traded blows and Ventress retreated. She flew away on top of a vulture droid. I looked at Slade. But he pressed a button on his comlink and his ship came flying towards us with the cockpit open.
"I must go, now. Anakin, Braedey and Ahsoka need my help to return the huttlet to Jabba. I look forward to our next meeting, master Kenobi. And by the way, I no longer use the title of Starkiller. From now on, you can call me, Raven." He said, before jumping into the cockpit of his ship.
I watched as Slade flew into space to assist Anakin and Ahsoka with returning the Huttlet to Jabba on Tattooine.
'It seems that Starkiller has been Slade all this time. Slade must've taken the name of Starkiller to hide the good within him and has been working undercover. Now that he's come out of hiding, I hope that we can save him in time. Because the Sith will surely kill Slade if they find him.' I thought.
One of my troops contacted me through my comlink.
"Sir, there's an unidentified ship appeared on our radar system. It's following General Skywalker and the padawans to Tattooine. Should we engage?" The trooper asked.
"Negative. That unidentified ship is Slade. He's on his way to Tattooine to help Anakin, Braedey and Ahsoka return the Huttlet to Jabba. Stand down and focus your fire on the enemy ships. Slade's on our side, and he no longer uses the identity of Starkiller. His new codename is Raven. It turns out that he's been working undercover all this time and has decided to come out of hiding. We must find his base and bring him to the Jedi if we are to save him." I answered.
"Understood General." The clone replied.
Bạn đang đọc truyện trên: AzTruyen.Top