Chapter Two: Worlds Colliding

[Akirapryde]

(OOC: Changed Orar which means Pray, to Presa to cover the actual meaning)

Amassing an Army (Part One)
Headquarters of the Trade Federation
Colonies World of Neimoidia
Date: 2919 AOK (Six Months after Auro’s Birthday)

The vast complex of the Trade Federation would normally be considered a place of refuge for the leaders of the vast empire. However, not today. It all started when a Republic Cruiser made an uncommon request to land directly at the complex. The cruiser stated that they had experienced engine troubles and needed to land. While the request was unexpected and uncommon, it was granted.

That was when things went wrong. Instead of a Republic crew, a group of strange aliens attacked the landing pad crews. At first it appeared that the Trade Federation was under attack by Jedi, but then it became clear that these were no Jedi. They moved fast and overwhelmed the droids that were guarding locations around the complex. As the group started to fan out, a group of six headed straight for the heart of the complex and the location where the leader of the Trade Federation.

The droids were unable to stop the groups as they continued to march forward. The Cruiser was blocking all transmissions from the complex. The Viceroy of the Trade Federation was cut off from his massive armies and soon would be at the hands of these strange attackers. It wasn’t long before the group of six were at the door to the safe room, where the Viceroy had sought protection.

The blaster fire from beyond the large blast door was muffled, yet it was enough to strike fear in the hearts of those in the room. In the large room, a group of Neimoidians stood hoping that their droids would do away with these intruders. Woven in to the sounds of blaster fire were sounds of lightsabers whooshing about. It was the hail mark of an intense battle just beyond the door. It was clear that their hopes would not be fulfilled.

“I told you,” Nute Gunray said. “We should have never allowed him to land.”

Some of them stood around a large table listening to what was going on outside the room. A few set down at control consoles trying to get a signal through to jamming. The last four cowered in the far corner.

“We should try to reach the Republic,” Lok Durd said with fear in his voice.

“And invite the Republic to search our laboratories!” Viceroy Hask said with a huff. He turned to his techs, “where are those droidekas” he cried out as the blaster fire started to trail off.

A tech looked up from her station, “they have already arrived!”

The Viceroy turned to the large monitor. “Show me,”

The monitor came alive and showed the hallway just beyond the door. The corridor was filled with smoke from the massive amount of blaster fire. As the smoke started to clear, everyone inside the room saw that the corridor was littered with burned and destroyed droids and droid parts. Four Driodekas laid smashed and broken on the ground.

“Turn the image” the Viceroy ordered.

Slowly the images started to turn to reveal more destruction and more broken droid parts. A band of six cloaked figures walked up the corridor towards the camera. Five were of a race none of them had seen before. It was their leader, they knew all too well. Despite his glowing red eye, and cybernetic arm, he was unmistakable. He was Graff Tirrel, the grandson to the late Supreme Chancellor of the Republic.

Graff walked up to the moving recorder, “open the door Viceroy, or I promise you. You will not live to see these negations completed. NOW OPEN THIS DOOR!”

The Viceroy turned, “seal the blast door!”

On that order the massive inner doors of the blast doors slid in to position. This section of the complex was now cut off from the rest of the complex. It was a last-ditch effort to protect everyone inside from the attackers outside.

Gunray turned and watched the door carefully, “it will not be enough.”

On the monitor, Graff reached and through the Force ripped the recorder off the wall. Within a minutes five little red marks started to glow through the thick blast door. As the marks started to grow in brightness, two more emerged in the center of the door. To everyone’s horror the lightsabers were burning their way through the door.

“They are still coming,” cried a tech.

The Viceroy turned to the droids in the room, “if they step through that door, kill them!”

The B1 battledroids nodded and said “Roger Roger” in unison as they advanced forward in formation. The twenty battle droids formed a double line in front of the door. The first rank dropped to a knee while the rank behind them raised their weapons. Within seconds all twenty droids were pointing their weapons at the door.

The red marks continued to grow until they all joined in to one large red hot mark on the door. As the red glow continued to grow, the heat from the door could easily be felt in the room. The heat radiated off the door and it could be seen with the naked eye. Within seconds the door started to melt from the center while those inside watched with horror. After a few more moments, the metal started to melt from the entire door. Then without warning the door exploded inward hitting the droids with molting metal. Everyone in the room dove for cover in hopes of nothing behind hit by….anything.

As the droids scream and people drove for cover, two strange creatures leaped in to the room through the door. At first everyone focused on the red lightsabers their carried, but then other details came in to focus. While these strange aliens appeared to be humanoid, they had fur all over their bodies. Their faces appeared to be human faces covered with fur. But it was their teeth that drew the most attention. Their teeth showed that they were clearly carnivores. Those white jagged, sharp teeth gripped one’s worst fears. Their fiery red-rimmed yellow catlike eyes seemed to only make these creatures more terrifying.

Each had long horns that appeared to be ridged as it to mark the ages of the horns. Each of their horns appeared different in lengths, they all held the same general shape. A wide slightly inward curve facing away from them. While the backside of their horns curved in to a rounded edge. These horns twisted and bent in to a slightly circular shape on either side of the head. Their surprising mobility was thanks to their backward bent legs. These legs were nearly twice as long as their body and gave them remarkable flexibility in their reflexes. These legs allowed them to leap from side to side with great ease.

Within seconds, the five strange creatures dispatched the remaining battle droids with ease. To the observer, they moved and fought like Jedi, but they were no Jedi. This much was clear to those within the room. They seemed to crave the destruction that they had brought. Their advance in to the room was only halted when a deep sinister voice called out, “Detener!” The disappointing look in their eyes when they were forced to stop before killing those inside caused the Neimoidians to move towards the back of the room.

The creatures stopped half from the burned blast door and the large meeting table. They stood there with their red lightsabers activated. They wore cloaks that were pelts of black fur. The hoods of their cloaks were that of some strange canine creature. As if their own image wasn’t terrifying enough, the hoods had long white fangs that dropped down to cover a part of the upper face. The creatures smiled out from under their hoods waiting for the order to kill.

The group stood in a V shaped formation with a female with shorter horns at the point. Her eyes shifted from one Neimoidian to another. She caught the eye of one of the male Neimoidians. He looked at her with fear. In return, she slowly licked her fangs as if to indicate, he was her next meal. A soft giggle slipped from her lips as he withdrew deeper in to the group. “Presa,” she said and the others laughed.

Within seconds the large man known as Graff stepped through the burning, red hot opening. Like the others, he too wore a black fur cloak with a strange canine head. Unlike theirs, his seemed more pronounced, more ceremonial. He called out in a deep booming voice, “Viceroy!” At the same time, he reached through the Force. The Viceroy screamed as he was pulled forward while Graff continued. “I warned you,” he spat coldly and slammed the Viceroy down in to the puddle of molting metal.

The Viceroy screamed out as his clothes started to smoke. Hask fought trying to get up from the metal which was burning him alive. Smoke continued to rise from his flesh as the others could do nothing but watch. Horror continued to fill their faces as they watched their leader being burned alive. His screams filled the chamber as Graff stood over him holding him through the Force. For those in the room touched by the force, the movement of the darkside couldn’t be missed. The light was being corrupted and twisted with each passing moment.

The strange alien creatures only offered a slight smile as their eyes shifted from each other then back to the other Neimoidians. The red glow of their lightsabers cast a red glow in their catlike eyes. The effect seemed to have a fearful effect on the Neimoidians. It was those facial expressions that sent pure terror through the other Neimoidians. This only highlighted the delight in the creatures’ eyes.

As the flames erupted from under Viceroy Hask, his screams intensified greatly. Graff only smiled at the suffering. Graff pressed Hask down in to the melted metal forcing the frail body merge with the metal as it cools. Hask finally stopped moving and his screams ended. In that moment, Graff felt the life leave the Neimoidian. He released the pressure that was holding the body over the pile of metal. Graff felt the darkside around him as he turned to face the other. Like the strange creature, Graff’s eyes were also fiery red-rimmed yellow.

The Neimoidians all tried to move back in to each other as Graff moved forward. He pointed to Nute Gunray and said, “Come here, Gunray.”

Nute Gunray slowly advanced toward the creatures that stood between Graff of the Neimoidians. “I am sure that we can strike some kind of arrangement.”

“Gato!” Graff ordered.

The female creature who was at the point of the V leaped forward with blinding speed. She spun in midair at Nute Gunray. Her lightsaber only made the slightest of a hiss when it passed through his neck. She landed on the other side of Gunray with prefect balance. Her attack was masterful and would have made any Weapons’ Master impressed. Before the other Neimoidians knew what had happened, Nutt Gunray head slid from his neck and dropped on to the floor. The creature shivered with delight as she let out another giggle.

“I am not looking to strike deals,” Graff said as the female creature slowly shifted her eyes from one Neimoidian to the other while she returned to her place in the formation. “I am in need of an army, and you have one of the finest that are not regulated by the Republic.” He walked forward as the V formation moved forward with him. “My family,” he said then paused and remembered that his family was no more. The pain in his voice was clear, “my family many trade dealings with the Federation. I am told that it was the Federation that betrayed them.”

“That’s a LIE!” cried out Lok Durd.

Graff thought about killing the man, but choose against it, for now. He reached the table as his minions fanned out in a protective posture. The small female from the point leaped up on to the table and walked with confidence. Graff ran a finger on the table as he final spoke, “I sense someone among you.” He said softly closing his eyes and reaching out with the force. “I can feel you” he added with a smile. He opened his eyes and scanned his hostages. He then saw her. He pointed a finger at her, “you, come here” he said taking a seat at the head of the table.

Terror filled her eyes as she was pushed, shoved forward by her fellow Neimoidians. On weak legs, she walked towards the table as the small female creature watched her. The creature smiled showing off her jagged teeth. The female Neimoidian backed up a bit from the table as she tried to move to where Graff was seated. Fear kept her eyes locked on the small female creature on the table. From behind her, one of the other creatures stepped forward and whispered “Presa.” The poor Neimoidian about came out of her skin as she screamed and jumped. The creatures laughed.

“Déjala ser” Graff said calmly and rose from his chair. As he spoke, the creatures backed away from her. He placed a soft hand on the Neimoidian’s shoulder. “Ella es como nosotros” he added speaking to them once more. Then he turned to face her, “we are like you. Oppressed,” he said softly. He guided her to a chair at the table, “I know you are a clone.”

Her face lit up with shock, “how……how can you know that?”

He nodded as he set in a chair next to her, “the Force is an amazing thing.” He reached forward and brought her hand to the table and cupped it in his. “Like you, my friends and I were oppressed as well.” He glanced at the creatures, “Their story is truly a sad one. Driven from their homes and in to the wastelands of their word at the hands of a religious cult. That cult was aided by a fanatic wing of the Jedi. The very same Jedi that murdered my Grandfather and sister.”

He saw the fear in her eyes, “no no, don’t child. I am not here for revenge.” He then turned towards the other Neimoidians, “unless you feel that that is required.”

He turned back to her, “Please tell me your name. I am Graff Tirrel.” His voice was soft, reassuring and filled with compassion.

She shook with fear as her eyes shifted glanced over at the two dead bodies. “Mik….Regrap” she stuttered, “Please.....please.... I am just a liaison.” She couldn't bring herself to look at the large Graff. “Please, don’t kill me.”

He smiled as he placed his hand on her shoulder. He felt her terror raises he spoke, “I am not here to kill you. I am here to liberate you. No longer will you be forced to serve masters. You and your fellow clones will finally be able to stand side by side with other races, as their equals.”

He got up from his chair, “while we are around, you will never have to fear again.” He walked passed her as she dropped her head in thought. “Now, you will transfer command of all your droid units to me.”

“We can’t do that,” one of the other Neimoidians said as he stepped forward. “There are protocols in place. That simply can’t be done.” The man stopped just short of the table where Graff was standing of the other side. Between them was that smaller creature that had killed Gunray.

The man was lying, and Graff picked up on it. Anger crossed over Graff’s face as he commanded, “Gato!”

The smaller of the creatures on the table shifted forward and brought her lightsaber up cutting the man up the center. It wasn’t as graceful as her killing on Gunray, but it was effective to let the others know what would happen to them. It also allowed the others to realize that Gato was the name of this one creature. Or it meant a kill command that one would use with a monster.

“You don’t understand the situation,” Graff said coldly, “I have been sent by the Force to liberate the galaxy from the oppression of the Republic. Those at the top of my list, are clones. Those at the bottom of my list are those who have abused those on my list. There are only two places for anyone in my galaxy. You either stand beside me, or before me.”

He scanned their faces, “in short either you are of use to me, or I have no need for you.” Graff could see the message was well received. “So, I will tell you again, Transfer all your droid commands to me.”

One of the techs walked over to his station and started to carry out Graff order. Graff smiled at the compliance of the Tech. When he finished, he turned to Graff, “like her, I too am a clone.” He said and pointed to another tech, “so is she.” He turned his attention back to Graff, “I have set up what you have asked for. But one of them needs to be the one to execute the command.” He looked down, “please, liberate us.”

Graff smiled and motioned for the two techs to come over to his side of the table. “See gentlemen,” he said to the remaining Neimoidians. “We can work together,” he scanned their eyes once more. “Who will be the first to raise from those who abuse to those who are righteous.”

For a moment, it appeared as if the Neimoidians wouldn’t cave. But then suddenly, one ran over to the tech station and initiated the command. His hands moved over the station as if he was fearful someone would try to stop him or beat him to salvation. When he was finished, he turned to Graff, “there, it’s done. You will have command of every Trade Federation droid and ship.” He stepped forward in hopes of joining those who would be saved.

The small creature on the table reactivated her lightsaber and blocked his movement. Graff smiled and nodded, “good. Good” he said but the Force warned him of treachery.

Mik rose from her chair, a movement that caught the eyes of Graff’s little friends. She turned him, “did you mean what you said about liberating the Clones?”

Graff turned in surprise, “yes” he said truthfully.

Mik nodded as she walked towards the tech station, “there is a security protocol in each of the droids to prevent someone from doing what you are attempting.”

“TRAITOR!” the man who fulfilled Graff’s request yelled and pulled a knife from his cloak. before anyone could say a word, the whooshing of a lightsaber filled the air as the one called Gato removed his arm at the elbow. The man let out a scream of pain as he fell back to his group.

Graff smiled, “please, correct the issue.”

Mik nodded as she finished walking over to the station. “Can I ask you something?”

Graff followed her over to the tech station, “yes.”

As she worked to fix the trap she asked her question, “what do they call you?” she said speaking of the creatures in the room with them.

He smiled, “Rey del cielo.”

She nodded as her fingers worked over the control, “what does that mean?”

Loosely translated, “Sky King.”

She stopped what she was doing and turned to him. “Thanks to his” she said speaking of the man who lost his arm, “command password, I was able to correct the issue. You NOW have full command of the Trade Federation armies. And no one can change it. I made sure.” She looked down for a moment then back in to his eyes, “You also have my loyalty and service.”

Graff took her hand, “you don’t need to serve me.”

“I was created to serve,” she said softly. “I had no choice before today.” She slowly backed up and bowed, “I do this of my own free will, My King.”

He smiled and motioned her to follow him. With Mik just behind him, he walked up to the two tech clones, “server her well or I will return.” On that, they both nodded. Graff, Mik and the two techs walked towards the breached blast door. The other Neimoidians watched as the creatures walked backwards as they followed Graff’s departure. Graff helped the three clones through the melted door before following them. He reached down and picked up Hask’s Viceroy Hat.

As Graff stepped through the burned hole of the door he vanished from sight. The creatures stopped at the door facing the Neimoidians. One of the Neimoidians turned to another, “is it over? Are we free now?”

In the corridor, Mik glanced at Graff, “you know, My King, they’ll betray you at the first chance they get.”

Graff nodded, “I know,” and fell silent. Then without Graff called out, “Gato, matalos” On that command, the corridor erupted with sounds of lightsabers in action and the screams of the dying.