To say that the Jedi were expecting more of a fight would be an understatement. The strike team dropped down onto the surface of Volik, fanning out as the Republic cruiser hovering above tore through the shield generator with pinpoint orbital fire. They had prepared for an entrenched enemy force. Coordinated resistance. Bloodshed. But what they found was a base already unraveling.
The sudden arrival of a Jedi battalion caused chaos. Mercenaries and droids ran confused orders over open comms. Defenses were only half-deployed. Barricades were abandoned. Several transports had already taken off without clearance. The Jedi tore through the gaps in their formations. Master Windu and Master Fay led the main force, pressing through to the upper causeway. Cin Drallig and Eeth Koth led the second team, cutting through the southern flank. Shaak Ti's detachment handled the communications tower.
When they reached the lower gates of the main temple, they were met by Padmè. Her tunic was torn, her hair was bloodied, but she was still standing. She led them up the steps without a word, doing as Jaden had told her and leading them to the main temple. Windu glanced at her, noting the bruises and cuts, but said nothing. There were more important matters at hand.
As the main force moved into position, Aubrie darted forward. Zule followed without hesitation, and Scout took off after them.
"Hold position," Windu said sharply, but they were already gone. Fay watched them go but didn't call after them.
"They've trained for this," she said quietly.
"They've trained, but I sense a great danger ahead, one that I believe Jaden is blinding them to," Windu replied. He clenched his fist, then gestured for the others to move. "Let's go."
...
A dozen lightsabers ignited around Jaden, forming a circle. He turned slowly, observing the acolytes approaching him, their faces concealed beneath hoods. Their movements were hesitant. Some held their sabers awkwardly. Many he sensed weren't even Force-sensitive; the rest had minimal training. They posed little danger, but considering his injuries and their ability to surround him and attack from all angles it would be more difficult than he thought.
Jaden adjusted his grip, adopting Form III, ready to defend himself.
He didn't need to.
The ceiling shattered suddenly, debris falling to the ground. Four figures dropped through the opening. Aubrie, Scout, and Zule landed first, their sabers already ignited. Master Fay followed, landing in the middle of them; though her lightsaber wasn't lit.
The fight began immediately.
Zule moved first. She swept an acolyte's legs and stabbed him before he hit the ground. Another attacked her recklessly. She deflected the strike, punched his throat with her prosthetic hand which nearly collapsed his throat, she then stabbed him.
Scout faced two acolytes. She ducked under one, kicked his shin, and drove her saber into his stomach. The second lunged forward. She sidestepped, broke his nose with her elbow, and ended him quickly.
Aubrie fought smoothly as always. She blocked a strike from the side, spun, and slashed the attacker's chest. Another attacked from behind. She sensed it, spun her saber through the air as she ducked, struck him down, then caught the returning weapon.
Master Fay didn't ignite her saber. She used the Force instead. An acolyte rose helplessly into the air before hitting a column. Another froze and collapsed. She waved her hand, sending three more flying backward.
Jaden watched with his eyebrows raised in shock.
The last acolyte tried to run, but Zule caught him, pinned him down, cut off his saber arm, and then stabbed him in the chest.
Aubrie ran to Jaden, extinguishing her saber. "Jaden, are you alright?"
Scout joined her, worried. Jaden's clothes were torn, blood covered his chest, and his arms had lightsaber injuries.
Jaden stayed silent, barely standing.
Then he smiled slightly.
"Thanks for coming," he said.
Aubrie exhaled, relief clear in her voice, and hugged him.
"You idiot," she whispered.
Scout hugged him too.
Zule stood back, her saber still in hand. She hesitated, looking at his injuries. She stepped forward slightly but stopped herself. "You did well," she said.
Jaden nodded, meeting her eyes.
Master Fay approached and placed a hand on his shoulder. "I'm glad to see you are well Jaden," she said. "I take it the destruction outside the base was you?"
Jaden nodded as he unwrapped himself from both girls. "Is the temple secured?" He asked.
She nodded. "Mostly, though there are likely some stragglers around that will be dealt with," she replied.
"But first..." she said as she turned to the ritual circle. There was one remaining acolyte and he stood within the now glowing red circle. All Jedi within could feel a pressure in the force building, it was one that made them all feel uneasy, the less experienced Jedi even felt frightened. Master Yoda and Master Windu who had been killing the remaining mercenaries and droids at the entrance felt it most.
"Stop the ritual now!" Master Windu shouted to all Jedi that could hear. Master Yoda hoped off the Jedi masters back and leaped across various people's shoulders as he tried to get towards the acolyte who kept on chanting in the Sith language.
Jaden and the others also rushed forward to the circle, using the force to enhance their bodies as they jumped across the dead acolytes. It only took a few seconds for all of them to reach there, but as they all reached out for the acolyte in the centre, red sparks of lightning danced across the lines of the ritual circle. The moment their hands crossed the border they erupted and hit each of them in the chest hitting them back.
Jaden was hit first. The bolt slammed into his chest and hurled him back ten feet. He crashed to the floor, skidding on his back before slamming against a pile of broken stone. Zule and Aubrie were at his side almost instantly, dropping to their knees.
"Jaden!" Aubrie shouted.
He sat up with a groan. His chest burned from the impact, the energy still crawling beneath his skin like fire trapped beneath the surface.
"I'm fine," he lied, teeth clenched against the pain.
"What do we do?!" Scout said, panic threading her voice. She looked from the ritual lines to the dying prisoners, then to the lone figure in the center.
Master Fay didn't answer. She stood motionless as she stared at the ritual; the waves of pain and hatred that had started to infect the environment around it like a plague was something she had never seen before.
"Break through to the prisoners, you must," Yoda said as he landed nearby on one of the broken pillars. "The fuel for the ritual, they are." The Masters moved without delay. They spread out toward the outer rings, where the prisoners had begun to convulse. Some were screaming now, others gasping as if their lungs were collapsing. The life force was draining out of them, siphoned through the runes that lit up with each pulse.
Yoda stepped forward, he extinguished his lightsaber and lifted both hands and pressed into it using the force the Force. The red lightning responded immediately, lashing toward him like a whip. He stood firm, however using an extremely advanced form of Tutaminis. The lightning struck, arced across his arms, and then flew outwards as he deflected it.
"You can't stop it!" the acolyte in the center shouted, his voice echoing over the screams. "The ritual is complete!"
Yoda didn't reply. Another bolt struck him. He raised a hand, batted it aside, and took another step forward. He was getting closer to pushing through the field; it looked as if reality started to bend around him as shimmers and cracks started to form in the barrier.
"Stop! STOP!" the acolyte yelled, as fear started to grip his heart; seeing the Grandmaster getting so close to breaking through the barrier was terrifying in a way that almost made him soil himself.
Jaden tried to get up again. His body shook and he trembled, but he forced himself upright. He looked across the temple, saw the Masters failing to breach the barrier and rescue the prisoners. He turned back to the center... and then he saw it.
The mask.
It hovered above the pedestal now, suspended by nothing, glowing red, humming as the fforve warped around it. The hum grew louder with each second. The acolyte stopped shouting at the grandmaster as he turned and saw the mask. He reached up.
"No," Jaden muttered.
The mask settled into his hands. He stared into it like it was speaking to him.
Then he placed it over his face.
Jaden shouted, "NO!"
The second the mask locked in place, the Force detonated.
(AN: This is pretty much gonna be the last few chapters of this arc, hope you enjoy them. As always you can find the full chapters on my Patreon I think this one is 10k idk.
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