The Jedi Civil War (Book 3)

[Akirapryde]

Prisoners
A Brig
Somewhere within the Republic

The lights flashed red as Jedi Master Dack Nassin leaped from his bed and rushed out of his room. The door hissed open as he rushed forward and exited his room. Already there were other Jedi and Rangers in the corridor of their ship. He looked around and saw his young Twi'lek padawan. He nodded to her as she rushed up to where he stopped. Continuing to look around he saw the other members of his Jedi and Ranger group. “Anyone know whats going on” he asked as they gathered around him.

“I heard we have flown under attack” Bin-Tu-Nar said softly. The aged Cerean had more years in the Jedi order than anyone else within the group did. However, he choose to pursue the path as a Jedi healer instead of going on to follow the Master path.

A female human Jedi stepped up through the group, “Master Nassin, I just heard that our engines have been taken out and no one can reach the bridge.”

Dack looked at Jedi knight Lexi Shild and nodded, “Okay it would seem we are needed to help defend the ship. Bin, take a group of Rangers and head for the bridge. Lexi, you take a group of Rangers and head down to the central corridor. If we are to be boarded, they will surely use this corridor to control the ship.” he explained then turned to his padawan, “You are with me, Stay close and alert.” He turned to the a group of Rangers, “You follow me, we need to get to engineering and see what we can do to help.”

They started to split up and headed off in their different directions. Dack and his padawan lead their team toward the aft of the ship. The ship rocked as it continued to take fire from some unknown attacker. Dack lead his team down the corridor as they ran. He noticed the lounge and slowed his team to a walk. “Master, why are we stopping” asked his padawan.

“I want to know who is attacking us” he said as he turned and entered the lounge.

As his team stood by the door, padawan and Master walked to the large bay windows of the lounge. To their surprise they saw a pair of large Republic Cruisers attacked their transport. “Master? Why is the Republic attacking us?”

“I....I don't know....” Dack said as he backed up some from the window. “Come on, lets get going” he said as he turned and headed for the door. The flash of light blinded him and the loud thunderous roar deafened him. He could feel his body flying and just over the roar he heard the horrific scream of his padawan. Something smashed against the back of his head sending a cloak of blackness through his mind.

Dack lurched upward in shock. His mind raced over trying piece together what was going on and why the Republic was attacking them. He whipped his head around trying to see who of his team was still alive. His eyes snapped open but couldn't see much more than darkness. He had to blink his eyes over and over again till features started to come in to focus. As his eyes started to focus he felt around with his hand. He could feel the edge of what ever he was laying on. It was some kind of hard slab in the shape of a bed. There were voices around him but he couldn't identify them. “Where am I? Whats going on here?” He was confused and startled by the situation. He focused himself as he used the force to reach out. He could feel the presence of lightsiders about him but there was the touch of darkness beyond them. He heard a distant female voice, “He's awake, come.”

“Calm down, you are among friends. I am Alema” He heard a female say softly. She continued, “We all woke up just like you are now.” He felts a soft hand of reassurance on his shoulder.

“I can't see” Dack said as he felt his fears subsided.

The hand on his shoulder and leg started to guide his movements to the edge of the slab, “I know. We all experienced the same. Your eye sight will return in a few moments. Just keep blinking” he heard Alema say next to him.

“Who are you” Dack asked then continued, “Am I a prisoner?”

“You are the last to wake up. Are you a Jedi” she asked as she continued to answer his question. “We are all prisoners of some kind.”

“I am Jedi Master Dack Nassin from the Eneproness Temple” Dack explained. “Who are you all?”

Alema sighed deeply “We are all Jedi from across the galaxy. I was on my way to the Coruscant temple when my fighter fell under attack. All I remember is a Republic ship knocking out my fighter's engines and then I woke up here just about an hour ago. What is the last thing you remember?”

Dack could hear the sounds of other voices whispering around him. He could tell they were not pleased with what was being said. “We were en route to Baklid 6 from Eneproness. There had been rumors that the Republic Army was going to deploy to Baklid 6 and we wanted to help our brothers and sisters in their struggle. We had hoped that we could beat the Republic Army's arrival and hopefully force the Government Forces in to some kind of settlement.”

A new voice come in to clarity, “I am Jedi Master Sel Cusk from the Temple on Oulaven. “Master Nassin, what I am about to tell you will be shocking but it is important that you listen.” Dack could feel the fear rising up as the tone of Master Cusk's voice told him something horrible had happened. “It would seem that I have the most recent of memories. I was leading a group of refugees from Oulaven during the siege of our world. There were three ships in our group. Two didn't make it, but we did. We slipped in to hyperspace and we thought we had escaped. However a few hours after we thought we were away, we hit a gravity well that knocked us from hyperspace. We fell under attack from a pair of Republic ships. Their were boarders stunning the crew and refugees. I woke up here, just like you did.”

Dack shook his head, “What do you mean siege. The Republic would never place Oulaven under siege.”

“It wasn't the Republic. When we were fleeing, we saw Azgard warships bombarding the planet.” Master Cusk said coldly.

“Azgard” Dack said in confusion. “I...I don't understand” his mind raced as he tried to understand how Azgard had been drawn in to their little war. Then something more important crossed his mind, “Where is my padawan. Where's the rest of my team?” he asked as he remembered being told he was the last one to 'wake.' His eye sight was indeed returning. The figures were starting to become a bit more clear. He was in some kind of prison room with a number of beds in two lines. The light was dim but he could make out the faces of the others around him. He could see the Kel Dor and Twi'lek before him. Behind them stood two humans, a male and female, as well as a female Kel Dor. The Kel Dor female and human female seemed to be the youngest of the group.

Alema looked down, “All that you see is who is here. There are no others sleeping in this room.”

Dack reached for his comlink and found it missing. He figured it would be gone but still hoped. He was surprise to find his lightsaber right where it belonged. He heard Master Cusk speak again, “It is the same for us all. No datapad, comlinks or anything else. Just our lightsabers remain.”

Dack was even more confused, “If the Republic took us prisoner, then why allow us to keep our lightsabers?”

“Not all of us are members of the Oulaven Order. I was the personal pilot for Grand Master Tra Vae just as the brush fires were getting underway. He had sent me on a secret mission and I was returning to inform him the woman I met with was not Master Bevurn'Age. I was rushing back to inform him in person. From what we can tell, each of us was captured some time ago at different times and were kept unconscious till we woke up here. Preena there,” she said pointing to the human female, “was taken before the failed assassination attempt of the Chancellor nearly two years ago. She was just taken as a Padawan while studying at the Korriban Temple. She said that she was attacked in an ally just outside of the temple by a group of Rodians. She has no other memories till she woke up here.”

“Master Nassin, I am Jedi Knight Crev Repness” the last human spoke up, “This is young Kel Dor is a close friend and student of mine. Her name is Plo Murl and she is not a Jedi. But she is a skilled Force Adept. Her family in trusted her safe keeping with me. From what I understand, we were captured just before the fracture of the Jedi Order. Neither of us were members of either Order. I left the Order nearly two years ago. I got sick of the politics so I left in hopes of better understanding the Force free from the politics.” He turned and looked around the prison they all were being held in. “I guess you cant run from such things. But what I don't understand is who has captured us and why do we lack memories?”

A voice boomed over head, “That, my guests, shall be answered now that you all have awoken. Greetings and welcome to the Republic Heavy Cruiser Shadow Streak. I am your host, the Puppet Master and you are going to help me test a new set of weapons against Jedi and Force users.” Everyone on the prison just looked up at the speakers that now explained why they were captured and being held. Some were shaking their heads. “It doesn't matter to me rather you live or die, just that you fight with all your heart and give us the best results possible.”

Dack leaped up from the table waving his hand, “We will not fight for your entertainment!” The whole idea sickened him as he waved his fist in the air.

The voice laughed, “Oh this is hardly for my entertainment. Think of this as an advancement of Science. And make no mistake Dack Nassin, each of you will fight or I will vent the entire compartment in to space and each of you will surely die. As for our Kel Dor friends, death will take days before your bodies will fail. Trust me, I know, I have ran test on Kel Dor Jedi in open space before.”

Plo stepped forward, “Why are you doing this to us! What have we done to you!” There was clearly emotion in her voice as she spoke out.

“On little Plo Murl, taking you was more about your family than you personally. To think that the Jedi Terrorist's Daz Murl's own half sister is in my control was just too much to pass up. However, I need a Force Adept and you happen to be the only one I have on hand right now. I am sure I will find a new way to toy with him after you are dead. So allow me to address the rules to each of you. They are simple. If you will look to the red door on the far side of the compartment. That is a hatch that leads in to space and death for all of you. If you look to the other side of the compartment, you will see a blue door. On the other side of that door are three of my newest creations. The door will open for only one minute. Then it will close and seal. Anyone that remains in the compartment you are currently in, will be vented in to space as the red door opens. Those who pass through the blue door will have a chance for freedom. If you manage to kill all three of my new soldiers, I will set you free. This is a battle to the death. I have ensured that each of you are in the best possible shape considering your ages respectfully. I have also ensured that your own Jedi weapons are at hand. This shall be as fair as possible with all respects for your possible victory. You have my word, I shall set you free should you kill them.”

Each of them looked at the rest as they looked at the two doors. The large slabs that had been tables started to drop down to the ground till there was nothing in the compartment other then the prisons and the two doors. Not one of them doubted what the voice had said about venting them in to space. And there was a chance to gain freedom if they were to work together. They looked around their circle and saw what they all had to work with. There was an older Jedi Master Master Sel Cusk, who had a varied degree of skills and understanding of the Force. There was Master Nassin, a experienced warrior and veteran. Jedi Repness and Alema could help out as both held the ranks of Jedi Knight and had gained a good level of experience along the way. The young Padawan Preena and the Force Adept Plo could both be used to protect flanks while the others fought.

“It is clear that darkness awaits of either way we choose to go” Master Cusk said softly. “However, the hope of survival should we win is clearly a fabrication. I do not believe this 'Puppet Master' intends on letting us go should we win.”

Repness stepped forward, “We have to do something because in a few moments we are going to die once that red door opens.”

Preena cut in without hesitation, “maybe the red door doesn't lead to space. Maybe its a trick too.”

While the others were talking Alema had left the group and walked over to the red door. She looked out the thick window and reached out with the force, she knew the horrific truth. “Its no trick. This door leads to our death. The Blue door is our only chance.”

Dack shook his head, “There has to be another way.” Before he could continue a set of numbers lit up over both the blue and red doors. The numbers were counting down with the numbers above the red door one minute ten seconds behind the blue door.

“It is clear that we have little choice other than fight” commented Alema as she rushed forward and readied her lightsaber, “Either we die here or have a chance to survive and deal with what happens after that.” She stood by the blue door, “Do we die in here or out there” she asked motioning beyond the blue door.

Dack shook his head as he got up from the bed and grabbed his lightsaber, “Preena, you remain close to me no matter what. If I turn around I want to see you there.” She nodded as she moved to follow the Jedi Master while he led her to the blue door.

Master Cusk turned to Repness and Plo, “IF we work together we should be able to best what ever is waiting for us.”

Repness nodded and turned to Plo as they started to walk for the blue door, “Listen, just like what Master Nassin said, stay close to me.” He watched her nod her head in reply. “We are going to get through this. Trust me” he said placing his hand on her shoulder, “You just have to trust in the force.”

A pair of blue lights started to flesh over the blue door as the timer ticked down the last few seconds before it opened. Slowly the clock counted down from five, four, three, two, one. Then it started to open. As it opened the entire area on both sides of the door filled with a white smoke. Each of the Jedi could feel the darkness awaiting them beyond the door. Each took a moment to clear their thoughts and hearts before stepping through the door. With one more last look behind them, one by one starting with Alema they stepped through the open door way and in to their own personal destinies.

Preena and Plo stood back to back as three armored figures circled them. It had been a horrific battle for the Jedi and now the last two standing were the two youngest of the group. Master Nassin had been the first to fall. The attackers moved in so fast that he was unable to react fast enough. They murdered him while splitting the party in two smaller groups. The murders were just so fast and they were unable to score any good hits on them. Alema got a lucky hit but it wasn't enough to kill one. She was killed next by the one that she hit in its counter attack. Master Cusk tried to swoop in and take advantage of the situation but had leaped in to a trap laid by the other two monsters. He was killed while Repness tried to save him from the attacks that were costing Master Cusk his own life. Repness died in the same exchange. The entire battle lasted nearly five minutes, but for Preena and Plo, it was a life time ago when they were still talking about doors.

Now, it was Preena and Plo standing back to back with their lightsabers out and ready for the coming attack that will end their lives. Each took one last moment to look back at the other and nodded. There was no doubt in their minds that this was the end for them. Both knew that they were no match for the armored killers that now were reading the strike. As they glanced over the arena, they saw the other Jedi laying dead where they had fallen. They both feared death and neither wanted to die but there was simply nothing either could do to stop it. They would meet death together and bravely. “Hey Plo” Preena said. The fear in her voice was clearly heard.

“Yes” Plo said in reply. She had a couple of years of Jedi training under her belt but still her voice was filled with the same fear that Preena suffered from.

Before either could speak again, the figures moved in for the kill. Their weapons out and moving like lighting. And had it not been for a loud booming, “HALT!” Plo and Preena would have been killed in that second. “Disarm them!” The voice from the shadows demanded and the attackers easily disarmed the two young Padawans and secured them.

Neither padawan understood what was going on. A group of figures walking up to told them that that would be explained soon enough. “Get them on their knees!” The voice demanded. It was clear as the two were being forced to their knees that the voice belonged to one of the men in the group walked up to them. He came in to vision as the lights increased a bit. He was a handsome human male flanked by a group of warriors dressed in similar armor as their attackers. “Its amazing what turn of events just happened.” He said clapping his hands, “Normally I would not care killing beings like you regardless of your age. However something remarkable just made you,” looking right at Plo, “more valuable than you were just moments before.”

Plo shook her head, “I..I don't understand” she said looking down almost confused but grateful she is still alive.

“Oh trust me, you don't have to understand. Your half brother has just made a move that I would have never guessed.” he said then turned to on of the other beings with him, “Take her back to the carbonite prison and freeze her. We WILL have use of Daz's half sister in the future.” Two of his guards grab Plo and pulled her away as she screamed and fought against their grip. The man speaking bent down and picked up the pair of lightsabers. He looked Preena in her eyes as she teared up. She was not the sister of someone important. Her family was poor and barely had enough money to send her to the Academy to train. For her mind, there was no reason why she would be spared. No one would miss her nor could she stop what was surely going to happen to her. She mouthed the word, 'please' as she shook her head. There was terror in her eyes. She didn't want to die.

“Sir shall we kill this one?”

The Puppet Master looked at her as his head tilted to the side. Her eyes were were flowing with tears as he knew in his heart that she was in complete fear for her life. “Tell me child, how old are you?”

Preena looked down, “thirteen”

“Its a shame, so young and you have to die like this” he said as he watched the terror cover her face. He didn't have to look as he heard the Shadow Stalker who currently held her helpless tightened its grip on her as it brought up its energy weapon. The sound of buzzing filled the air as Preena closed her eyes and flinched her head. “Yet, you wont die today child” he said softly. Preena opened her eyes to see him waving off the attack. “You will serve me as your Master child” he demanded and she nodded her head while trying to wipe the tears from her eyes. He got up and turned to another shadow stalker, “Take her to my ship. I have other uses for this one.” he said coldly.

Preena didn't fight as she lead away. She didn't scream like Plo did. She only looked back at the man that had saved her life. She made a promise that she would never make him regret this moment. She would do anything to prove her worth to him. Preena turned her head as she followed the man in armor. Her legs shook with fear but she was still alive and that is all that matter to her right now. 'Thank you for letting me live. Thank you Puppet Master' she thought as she was lead down a corridor and away from the arena and the bodies of the other Jedi who she watched die. She looked back once more and saw the body of Jedi Master Nassin laying face down. She had tried to do what she could to help him but she had never been in a duel before. She felt guilty that she had failed him, but at the same time she was grateful that she was still alive.

The Puppet Master turned to the three new Shadow Stalkers, “When I woke up this morning, I never imagined what events would happen today. Who knew that Daz would not only show up, but show up right under our noses. This is simply too good of a day” he said with a smile on his face as he handed the two lightsabers to the waiting hand of one of his guards. A group white coated men and women walked up. “Take off your helmets” he ordered and the three new stalkers removed their helmets and reviled their female faces. “That is what I had thought” he said then turned to the group walking up, “Females Stalkers?”

“Yes Sir,” Adi-Somo-Ka, the leader of the group said. The tall Cerean stood proudly of his teams work, but before he could continue he was cut off with a wave of the Puppet Master's hand.

“Identify yourself” he ordered one of the female stalkers.

“Stalker Model Gamma, Serial Number zero, zero, zero, zero, zero, two, Sir” she said coldly and bluntly.

The Puppet Master nodded, “I don't like female stalkers. One thing that the Jedi and Force Users fear are the stark impression of a large male killing machine.”

“Sir, give me a second to explain.” Adi-Somo-Ka he said and waited for the Puppet Master to nod his approval, “This model has a higher levels of eye hand coordination and agility. Yes we have to sacrifice raw physical power. However with the new Codex that we have received from the base models a year ago, this is the best results we could come up with.” He walked up behind the three women who stood rigid and looked straight ahead. “The suits have been adjusted to fit their smaller frame with only a minor loss of again that physical enhancement. Did you see how they were able to actually dodge the enemy's attacks and counter in a single action. These are truly the best of the best stalkers that we could have hoped for from the Codex we received.”

The Puppet Master nodded as he walked up and down the line of three. He saw the battle first hand and was impressed with their agility. Still the Codex that Admiral Heartman had help him create was meant for male models, not females. His hand drifted up to his chin as he looked at the three women. “The Shadow Stalkers in the field need to be male. That fear that their presence causes turns many defeats in to successes” He said then thought, there was so much more that needed to be explored. “Make the changes to the Codex to produce male models. Send a copy of your original Female Codex to Falcon Base with my instruction to create twelve more models and send them to my ship. Place their codex, we shall call now Stalker Model Gamma Foxtrot, on ice for the time being. Send the male codex to Phoenix Base, with instruction to start production at once.”

Adi-Somo-Ka nodded, “Yes Sir” he said with a nod.

The Puppet Master looked at the three, “Report to my ship with your gear. You will not be returning here.” They each sounded off with a yes 'sir' turned and rushed off. The Puppet Master then turned to face Adi-Somo-Ka once more, “I asked for a special Model. Is it ready?”

Adi-Somo-Ka, nodded, “Yes Sir, just as you asked for, a pure copy of the original Codex” he said as he waved his hand.

Escorted by a pair of white coated scientist, walked a Republic Marine. As the shadows gave way to the figure, the Puppet Master smiled as he walked with pride. For all to see, Fiolla 'Talon' Heartman walked with her head held high. Her face was emotionless and her eyes were fixed before her. “My god” said the Puppet Master with surprise and delight.

“She is an exact copy of the original. We uploaded her memories up to just moments before her death. The upgrade from the codex were not used on her, but I would like to know why Sir. She could make a formidable Jedi killer with the upgrades we have now.” Adi-Somo-Ka stated with a bit of confusion.

The Puppet Master smiled as he walked up to her and slowly walked around her checking every detail. He moved the hair at the base of the neck to see the pigment of her skin changed. At the base of the neck was a serial number that all Shadow Stalkers have. He smiled and nodded, “She is not going to be just any Jedi killer. This one is going to kill Daz Murl when I am finished with him. But for her to do this, she has to pass their inspections as what we want them to see in her.” He waved his hand before her face and smiled that not even her eyes responded.

“We have not uploaded her final operational matrix. More or less she is just a shell.”

“I know, I have been doing this longer then you have been alive.” the Puppet Master said as he smiled at the craftsmanship. “And her Force Signature” he asked bluntly. They had been studying the Force for as long as the Jedi have. While they can not manipulate it like the Jedi can, the Crusade's understanding of it, is just as deep and focused as the Jedi's.

“We did our best to match it but there will be the differences as you have requested Sir.”

“Fantastic!” The Puppet Master said with excitement, “Take her to the Mid-Rim and upload the final Matrix. Time to launch Operation Talisman. Also I want you to wipe as much as you can of her experience here. The first thing that they will do, is have that Zeltron probing her mind. Make sure that the subcommands are well hidden this time. I don't want another misfire event on our hands again. At the moment, Daz is more important to me alive. Till that time expires let them play with her.” The Puppet Master turned and smiled as he walked away. 'This actually turned out to be a pretty good day' he thought.

“Yes Sir” Adi-Somo-Ka said then turned to face his team. He motioned for the two scientist to take Talon away.

“Sir” one of his assistants said, “Wont they know she is a fake. Whats stopping them from killing her right when they find her.”

Adi-Somo-Ka smiled as he turned to the assistant, “Her target, Daz Murl will ensure that they don't kill her. We're not planning to pass her off as the original. However, she is a living being” he explained as his smile grew, “You will see”