Blake and Saw busted through the wooden door, which was hidden by leaves. As the entered, Saw glanced back at Blake, "get your friend! We're getting outta here!" He began grabbing a bunch of things, unknown to Blake, and stuffed them in his bags.
"W-we're leaving!?"
"Of course!" Saw huffed, fatigue visible as his eyes were drooping, "those stormtroopers may not be the smartest... but they'll call reinforcements!" He found his mug, muttered to himself, and stuffed it into one of his bags before continuing, "look, kid, they got strength in numbers!"
"Ah, damn it." Blake cursed. He walked over the leaves from inside, kneeling next to Claire. He brushed the hair off her forehead, feeling it. Hot. He thought, her temperature rising. He didn't understand. She wasn't hurt as far as the eye could see. She needs a doctor. He confirmed, swiping the blanket off her.
"How are we getting outta here?" Blake asked, bluntly.
Saw's eyes twitched. "How do you think I got here?" He resumed packing his stuff, throwing multiple bags over his shoulder and onto his back.
"You mean... you have a ship?"
"Of course I do. Enough talking, it's not far from here. I've got everything I need, so let's leave." Saw walked next to the door, "hurry!"
Blake groaned. Yet, a dull ache gnawed at his gut, twisting and churning like a serpent coiled within. But just like at the wrecked ship, he picked her up and tossed her onto his shoulders. His breathing was heavy, his chest dipping with each inhale and exhale of air. He locked eyes with Saw, saying, "let's go."
Blake nodded, the gravity of their situation settling in. It wasn't just about escaping; it was about ensuring Claire's survival. He glanced at Saw, the man's bags laden with unknown contents, and realized that Saw's burdens were different, yet they were both driven by a deep sense of duty. Saw's eyes met his, a silent acknowledgment passing between them—an understanding that they were each other's lifeline in this chaos.
They slipped through the front door, Saw leading the way with a confidence that belied the danger they were in. The forest was a dense maze of woods as thick as pillars and triple the height of AT-ST Walkers with the underbrush a tangled maze that clawed at their clothes and skin. But Saw moved with the ease of someone who knew every tree and shadow.
The sound of blaster fire was a constant echo behind them, a reminder that the stormtroopers were still on their tail. Blake could hear their shouted commands, the frustration in their voices as they stumbled through the foliage.
"Left, here!" Saw hissed, veering off the beaten path. They plunged into a thicket, branches snapping underfoot. Blake's heart pounded in his ears, each step a jolt of pain and determination.
They emerged into a clearing, and there it was — Saw's ship. It was an old YT-model freighter, its hull scarred from countless skirmishes and narrow escapes. But to Blake, it was the most beautiful sight he'd ever seen.
"Come on!" Saw was already at the ramp, punching in the code to lower it. "We're almost home free!"
Blake stumbled up the ramp, Claire's weight dragging him down. But he couldn't give up now. Not when they were so close.
The ramp closed behind them with a hiss, sealing them off from the world outside. Saw was already in the cockpit, flipping switches and priming the engines. The ship rumbled to life, a deep thrum that resonated through the hull.
Blake laid Claire down gently on one of the bunks, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "Hold on, Claire," he whispered. "We're going to get you help."
He joined Saw in the cockpit, strapping himself in as the freighter lifted off the ground. The forest fell away beneath them, the stormtroopers becoming nothing more than specks in the distance.
As they shot into the sky, the stars welcoming them with open arms, Blake felt a surge of relief. They had made it. They were free.
And on the ground, the stormtroopers, now standing in the clearing where Saw's ship had been just moments ago, looked at each other in a mix of confusion and disbelief.
The Sergeant stared at the empty space. "Did anyone get the license plate of that ship?"
"Oh, sure," Trooper TK-762 said, sarcastically, "it was '1-MP-3R1AL', right?"
Trooper TK-199 scratched his helmet. "Do we even have license plates on ships?"
Trooper TK-333 gasped, putting his hands on his helmet, "that's not the point!" He yelled, "we let them get away!"
The Sergeant sighed. "Command is not going to like this report."
"Maybe they won't notice?" Trooper TK-762 said, optimistically.
Trooper TK-199 nodded. "Yeah, it's not like they got away with some secret plan or anything."
Trooper TK-333 tried to facepalm, "we're standing in an empty field, talking to ourselves, and the rebels are probably halfway to another sector by now!"
"Alright," the Sergeant resigned, "let's just call it in. Maybe... leave out the part about the tree slide."
Trooper TK-762 chuckled. "But that was the highlight of my day!"
"Mine too!" Trooper TK-199 joined in on the laughter.
"Only in the empire would stormtroopers enjoy a tree slide more than catching rebels." Trooper TK-333 shook his head.
Starting to walk back, the Sergeant said, "come on, let's go report our... 'successful' patrol."
The stormtroopers, walking back, some smiling, others annoyed; still, they walked back. However, one of them hit the rest of the group with reality. "Wait," Trooper TK-333 began, "didn't they blow up the outpost...?"
The stormtroopers stared back, blankly.
"..."
"Great."
**********
After Cal received the information about the Shadow Collective, he realized there was no time to waste. He was just outside one of the five bases. However, before entering, he turned on his hologram, waiting for the other side to click on, which it did.
"Master?" Zane wondered, grunting noises appearing from behind.
"The kids are doing well, I imagine?" Cal asked, smiling.
"If you mean my padawans," Zane glanced back, "then, yeah, I'd say their doing great. Kali definitely won the first challenge." He nodded his head, quickly hearing Ken make a fuss from behind.
"You know, you really shouldn't say one or the other is 'winning'."
"How else can you expect them to be competitive?" Zane said, snobby. "But we both know that's not why you called... what seems to be the problem?"
Cal scoffed. "It's been one day. I'll be honest, I've made nearly no progress. However, I believe that's about to change. Nevertheless, that's not the real reason. The real reason is that someone; someone I don't know, is out here. They're a force user."
"So, what, you scared?"
"Me, scared? As if. I'm going to call you out sooner than I meant to. This'll be your padawans real first mission."
"What the, you want them to fight this young?"
"What? No." Cal smacked his forehead, "they're to watch you duel the person. Show them what you excel at. Battle."
"Oh, that makes more sense. Hmm," Zane crossed his arms, "alright. Send me your coordinates. We'll be there soon. Stay safe, Master."
"Always." The transmission shut off, and Cal stuffed it into his bag, where suddenly, a little two-legged robot appeared out from it and onto his shoulder.
Beep-boop-beep.
"Hey, BD-1." He petted the little robot, "mind giving me a hand?" He said, pointing with his eyes towards the metal wall in front of him.
BD-1 glanced at the wall then back at him. "Yeah, yeah, I know... but you know how long that would take? Cutting through it like that?"
Boop-Beep!
BD-1 hopped off his shoulders, and spat out some Koboh Matter, which melted the wall in a matter of seconds. BD-1 immediately hopped back onto his shoulder, but Cal pushed him into the bag. "You're not gonna like the sight I'm about to make, so stay in there." He said, crouching through the melted hole.
He found himself in front of a door, so he closed his eyes, and with a wave of his hand, the door opened up. He felt BD-1 move around inside the bag, but Cal didn't mind. He wasn't alone, that's all that mattered.
Walking inside, the corridor was pitch dark. He sighed, "alright, fine, come on out." He playfully rolled his eyes, and BD-1 once again emerged. It made a clicking noise as a bright light flashed out from it.
Cal carefully walked, feeling BD-1's legs anchored into his shirt.
There were multiple doors throughout the hallway, but none struck anything to Cal.
Call it idiotic and ruthless, but Cal had planned on killing the men inside this building. Not all of them, just those he would have to.
There were many things that feared him, but he knew the old ways of the Jedi are what led to the downfall of the Republic and the Rise of the Empire.
You shouldn't fear, fear. That only breeds more fear. You should, however, ride it. Make it yours and control it, but if you try to abandon it, then it'll eventually catch up with you.
That's how Cal felt, a turbulent whirlpool of emotions churning within him. Despite his newly acquired status as a Jedi Master, an unshakeable sense of inadequacy lingered like a stubborn shadow, casting doubt upon his abilities. His power, though considerable, paled in comparison to that of his former comrade, Cere Junda, a fact that gnawed at his soul with relentless persistence. Yet, amidst the tumult of his thoughts, a somber acceptance settled upon him like a heavy cloak. Cere's absence, a painful void in his life, served as a stark reminder of the fleeting nature of existence. But even as grief threatened to consume him, Cal knew that dwelling on the past served no purpose. She was gone, and he understood that he must forge ahead, guided by the teachings of the Force and the memories of those who had touched his life.
With what he believed to be the true ways to ensure peace as a Jedi, he would make sure his temple reflected that, raising the next generation.
It was okay to be scared, and he knew that. Yet, in his current situation, he was undoubtedly confident.
And as he turned one corner, Cal found himself face to face with two imposing figures. They epitomized the very essence of high-tier criminality, their appearance a testament of intimidation and danger. Metal implants glinted menacingly beneath their tattered clothing, a stark contrast to the intricate web of tattoos that adorned their skin like ancient hieroglyphs. Scars, jagged and disfiguring, crisscrossed their bodies in a brutal testament to lives lived on the edge of chaos. With a predatory gleam in their eyes, they exuded an aura of menace that seemed to suffuse the very air around them, warning all who dared to cross their path of the peril that awaited.
"Huh, who're you?"
Cal nearly laughed. In his old self, there may have been a feeling of hesitation in this type of encounter. But because he didn't, he grabbed his weapon with both hands.
"Hey... wait a minute..."
"That's a freaking Jedi!"
With the press of a button, a blue light emerged from two sides of Cal's hilt. It hummed in the darkness, lighting up the area more, except one thing.
His face remained hidden.
"Run, man!"
With the swipe of his hand, one of the men went flying backwards right into Cal's lightsaber. It burned through his skin, causing him to scream at the top of his lungs, but soon feel silent as his body slipped out and onto the ground. The searing noise from the burn continued, creating an acrid smell in the room.
The other man, the only one left, wept. He put his hands up, surrendering himself. And a liquid begun to spill from his pants. "P-please." He begged.
Cal raised his lightsaber high, "no!" The man roared, his vision turning blurry as he feinted.
He had been knocked unconscious.
Cal looked further out the room. "I'll bet that made some noise." He said, walking out and back into the hallway. His lightsaber continued humming in the darkness, and despite it giving enough light, Cal kept BD-1 out as well.
But after only a few turns, Cal finally found the end to the maze. Twin double doors stood before him, and he pushed them open with the Force.
His footsteps echoed through the silence, his gaze piercing at thirty men in front of him. He held his neck, "this many? Jeez... you guys didn't have to."
But from the crowd of men, one emerged on the top balcony, which surrounded the entire upper floor. It had pillars crawling up the walls with intricate patterns that waved back and forth.
But that man, Cal knew he was thanks to some of the intel he got yesterday.
Malakar.
He possessed a rugged and weathered countenance, his face marked by the scars of countless battles and betrayals. Sharp, piercing eyes, the color of storm clouds, held a calculating gaze that missed nothing and hinted at a lifetime spent navigating treacherous waters. His jawline, chiseled and angular, spoke of determination and resilience in the face of adversity. A mane of unkempt, jet-black hair framed his features, adding to his aura of roguish charm.
Draped in a tattered leather duster, adorned with patches and insignias from his numerous affiliations, he moved with a confident swagger that belied the danger lurking beneath the surface. In the dim light of a cantina, his smirk held a promise of trouble, a tantalizing invitation to join him on the wrong side of the law.
"A Jedi? Oh, how grand."
"Just who I was looking for." Cal said, "I've heard you got quite the intel market set up?"
The man flipped through some cards in his hand. He sighed, "do I? That'd be the first time I heard that."
"I don't have time for these games." Cal said, "you will lose everything you've built up if you don't give me what I want."
"Ah, let's be honest with one another, Jedi... we both know you'll destroy it anyway. That's what you Jedi stand for. Or I guess it would be what you DID stand for." Malakar chuckled, walking into the abyss the balcony entailed. And as he did, the men in the room begun to surround the Jedi Master.
"A game of cat and mouse, huh? Feels better as the cat, anyway." Cal stated, suddenly jumping and thrusting one side of his lightsaber into a man.
"Get him!" One roared.
A tall, yet stubby, man approached Cal, but Cal, with ease, rigorously pulled the lightsaber and out and spun, striking the tall man. His entire upper body had been severed, and few of the men in the crowd had faces plastered in fear.
They ran, a wise choice.
But some didn't.
And they simply stained Cal's clothes. One after the other, Cal ripped through the henchmen, limbs scattered out across the room. The pillars, once having interesting patterns, had now been covered in blood.
And in less than ten seconds, only one man was left.
What I did, Cal thought, reminded of the time he tapped into the dark side, it's stuck with me. But that's alright. I carry it with me, but never again will I ever...
The Jedi code said killing is wrong. To only use it as a last resort. But they've failed me, and so many others. The path of Jedi that I take now... it's different, but similar.
Slowly, Cal walked up to the last man standing. He pointed his lightsaber at him, "if I let you live, will you change your ways?"
"Yes... yes of course!" The man said, beginning to ramble on about how he'd changed his ways.
But as he did, Cal continued thinking: The Jedi Code that was set up... it's not an objective fact. You don't have to follow it to be good. What is a fact, is that the Force has respect for all living beings. And I do too. I must.
"Fine," Cal accepted the man's pleads. "You've been given a second chance, don't waste it."
The man scurried off, pulling his pants up as he did.
Cal cranked his head; the entire room empty now. He closed his eyes, momentarily, and connected with the Force. Eyes closed, he surrendered to the gentle whispers of the living energy surrounding him, drawing upon its boundless power to aid his quest. With a deep breath, he felt the familiar hum of the Force guiding him, leading him along the winding paths of destiny. Through the dense roof of the building, he tracked the residual echoes of his adversary's presence, each step a silent prayer for guidance. In the fading light, Jaren's connection to the Force was his compass, guiding him unerringly towards the elusive shadow that threatened peace.
And then, he came back, eyes snapped open. "Found you."
Full speed, he ran through the halls. It was as if he knew Malakar's every movement, because he soon sliced through a door and landed upon some tiny rocks, grinding across his feet as Malakar and a few other men stood there too.
Next to Malakar was a speeder bike.
However, it was the only vehicle there, despite there being multiple of them.
"Hmph." Cal inadvertently remarked.
Abruptly, the men charged at him, knives in hand. This time, Cal sent a hand downwards, and into the ground, an enormous gash of wind pressing against them. They all went flying meters away, passing out with the impact.
And a weird sputtering noise sounded out through the air. "Ah, come on!" Malakar struggled to turn the bike on. He continued trying, but he heard Cal walking next to him.
Cal, lightsaber now turned off, put a hand on one of the handles. "Looks like it won't work." He said, and from behind the bike, BD-1 emerged.
Beep-boop-beep.
"Shucks." Malakar put his hands up, "I guess I lost?" He nervously chuckled, but Cal gripped his shirt, and threw him on the ground.
Malakar stumbled to his feet, wiping the dirt off him. "I-is this how all you surviving Jedi are? Not how I read about you guys at all." He jested, cautiously stepping back.
Cal scratched his head, "so, about that intel?"
"W-well, what is it you want to know... haha... my good friend."
"I heard there's a force wielder out here. I need everything you know about that."
"Oh, come on." Malakar fanned with his hands, "nobody really knows anything about that person. They've just... I don't know... showed up here and there."
"Here and there?"
"U-urgh... yeah, well, I imagine you're not familiar with the names of the cities here, are you?" Malakar asked, Cal shook his head. "No worries, haha. I won't bore you with the details," he gulped, "but we believe their looking for something." Cal quickly looked determined, which made Malakar put his hands even higher, "we don't know! We don't what they're after, okay, so don't ask. We do have an idea of where they're headed, though."
"..."
"Garel City. I'm sure you at least know of there, right?"
"Yeah, I've heard of it." Cal replied, BD-1 making beeping noises as it climbed onto his back. "You did good."
"Is... is that it?"
Cal begun to wonder. Should he really ask a question about some unknown temple, or Jedi. Would that be too obvious? He wasn't sure, and he painfully admitted from within that he should have thought of something on the way here.
So, he chose a safe route. "Anything else that I need to know about? You know, something that has stood out recently?"
"Not really..."
Cal groaned. Was this all for nothing? just wher--"
"Other than something happening on Lothal."
"What?"
Malakar shrugged. "Yeah, apparently some crazy stuff going on over there right now."
Cal bit down on his thumb.
"Not sure what as that's not exactly a part of my intel. But I know someone who does." Malakar slowly lowered his hands, "just promise not to kill me?"
"I don't know. Let's hear about what you speak of..."
"Alright, alright." Malakar sighed, dramatically. "My leader... The phantom. He knows."
"So, I'm supposed to what, schedule a civil meeting with him or something?"
"Ah, come on... we both know that's not what I'm saying."
It makes sense. Cal thought, an Imperial Officer. It'd be nice if Juno told me more, but, he groaned, I don't have the funds for that. Guess this guy'll be my funnel of information, then.
"So... am I free to leave?" Malakar wondered.
How long would it take for me to wipe out every base like this? A few hours? A day? This one was fairly easy. Yeah, I guess I can do it fairly quick.
Cal used the Force, and like a magnet, his lightsaber appeared into his hands. "I won't kill you... I just need you to be asleep for some time."
"Urgh... damn it."