Chapter 290
**Dagon POV**
The ancient B'omarr monastery on Teth was a labyrinth of narrow stone corridors, vertical shafts, and shadowed alcoves that had seen centuries of silent contemplation. Tonight, it echoed with the scream of blaster fire and the clash of lightsabers.
Zule stood at my side, breathing hard, her restored arm gripping her own blade tightly. The Huttlet Rotta was secured in a reinforced carrier slung across the back of our medic, Patch, who moved with practiced efficiency despite the chaos.
"So your lightsaber," Zule asked between breaths as we pressed forward through a smoke-filled hallway, "because it is bleeding, is the reason it is far more powerful than a regular Jedi or Sith lightsaber?"
"Yep," I replied, eyes scanning the next intersection. "The bleeding process concentrates the kyber's energy. With color filters it appears bluish-black, like those ancient Jedi swords of old. But it still has the noise, the lightning arcs, and the heat dripping from the blade."
Zule let out a short laugh, the sound surprisingly bright amid the danger. "Yes… I remember the way it hissed when you activated it. Beautiful and terrifying at the same time."
We rounded the corner and the air turned electric.
Three dark acolytes materialized from the shadows — Kadrian Sey, Karoc, and Kyle Darkshard — their red blades igniting with a vicious snap-hiss. Lightning crackled between their fingers as they advanced.
"You will pay for killing our friends," Kadrian Sey snarled, her voice dripping with hatred. "Dooku demands it."
I shifted my stance, the bleeding kyber in my hilt humming with barely contained power. "So right. So far I've killed six… or twelve? I've lost count of Dooku's dark acolytes. You won't last long either."
Zule moved instinctively closer to the medic and the Huttlet. I raised my free hand and used the Force to create a protective bubble around them, a shimmering sphere that deflected the first barrage of Sith lightning.
"Zule — get the Hutt to the transports. I'll handle this wind-breathing trash."
She didn't argue. With a sharp nod she grabbed Patch's arm and pulled him and Rotta toward the extraction corridor. "Stay behind me, little one," she murmured to the frightened Huttlet.
I turned back to the three acolytes.
They attacked as one — lightning and crimson blades lashing out.
I dropped into a low stance, drawing deeply on the Force.
**Fourth Form: Shifting Flow Slash.**
I exploded forward in a blur of motion, blade whipping in a seamless, flowing arc. The first strike caught Karoc across the midsection, slicing clean through armor and flesh. Kyle Darkshard tried to parry — my blade slid along his with a screech of energy, then reversed in a lightning-fast return cut that took his head. Kadrian Sey screamed and unleashed a storm of lightning directly at me.
My bleeding blade drank the dark energy, crackling with violet arcs as it absorbed and redirected the lightning back into her. She staggered. I closed the distance in a single leap and brought the blade down in a diagonal slash that bisected her from shoulder to hip.
All three dark acolytes were down in multiple pieces before their bodies even hit the stone floor.
I deactivated my lightsaber with a sharp snap-hiss. The corridor fell eerily quiet except for the distant rumble of battle outside.
"Clear," I commed to Zule. "Move to the landing zone. I'm right behind you."
**Scene 2 – Bridge of the Finalizer **
Lichtendahl clenched his fists furiously as he stared at the tactical holotable. The Separatist Hutt frigate had finally broken through the upper atmosphere, and landing craft were now separating from its hull like parasites. A Recusant-class light destroyer was falling on the *Finalizer* from above, its long, predatory frame silhouetted against Teth's sky. The fate of the last of the four CIS ships was already sealed — but the barges, protected by swarms of vulture droids, were dangerously close to reaching the monastery.
"Sir, one of the transports was shot down by fire from the defenders…" Ceri reported, voice tight. "The TIEs have engaged the frigate. I am detecting missile launches… Sir, both barges were shot down by surface fire."
"Ground forces are requesting immediate evacuation!" another officer added.
"Send out the shuttles and gunboats!" Sumeragi commanded, her holographic avatar calm and precise amid the storm of data.
Lichtendahl breathed a sigh of relief as the rescue craft launched. Moments later, General Marek's voice rang out across the control room, steady and satisfied.
"Excellent work, Ceri. Prepare to receive us aboard. As soon as we arrive, prepare for immediate jump. Heading for Tatooine. Have you transmitted to Coruscant?"
"No, sir. The enemy has jammed our transmission," Mirro reported.
"Then stand down. I'll contact command myself. After that, we leave the system."
**Scene 3 – Jedi Temple, Coruscant**
Most of the Masters had already departed the Temple for various fronts across the galaxy, so Master Shaak Ti remained within the Council Tower. She was deep in meditation when the comm system beeped with an urgent priority signal.
With a graceful wave of her hand, the Togruta activated the projector. A warm smile touched her lips as the face of Knight Dagon Marek appeared.
"Knight Dagon," she greeted.
"Greetings, Master Ti. We have little time, so I'll be brief. Jabba's son is with us — safe and sound. We're heading to Tatooine."
"This is simply excellent news…"
"Master Shaak Ti," Dagon continued, tone serious, "I need to convey important information regarding this matter."
"I'm listening carefully."
"We must find and arrest Ziro Desilijic Tiure as soon as possible. He's a Hutt — Jabba's uncle. He was involved in Rotta's kidnapping, acting under pressure from Count Dooku. He needs to be arrested and interrogated immediately."
Shaak Ti's eyes widened slightly, the patterned montrals on her head tilting. "But this is…"
"Yes. Jabba's uncle. Handle it discreetly but firmly. We'll deliver the boy and the evidence once we reach Tatooine."
"I… will take care of this matter immediately," Shaak Ti replied, already rising from her meditation pose.
**Scene 4 – Aboard the Finalizer, en route to Tatooine**
As soon as the gunship docked, Zule decisively took the sleeping Rotta from the medic's arms. The young Falleen woman stomped off toward the command post with the Huttlet cradled carefully against her chest, his small form wrapped in a thermal blanket.
"Oh, how small… But heavy," she stated with a soft laugh, carefully placing the reinforced backpack carrier on a supply crate near the command console. The little Huttlet yawned widely, heavy-lidded eyes already drifting shut again.
"Teacher, can I keep an eye on him?" Zule asked, glancing over at Dagon with a mix of protectiveness and affection.
"No problem," Dagon replied, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Just don't forget to rest. The little one over there will pass out soon too." He pointed at the yawning Huttlet, who was already beginning to snore softly.
"What, something might happen?" Blam asked from his station, the clone sergeant raising an eyebrow behind his helmet.
Dagon shrugged lightly, eyes flicking toward the viewport where stars streaked past in hyperspace. "With Hutts and Sith involved? Always. But for now… he's safe. We deliver him to Jabba on Tatooine, expose Ziro, and hopefully avoid walking straight into Dooku's next trap."
Zule gently adjusted the blanket around Rotta, her red-orange skin glowing softly under the bridge lights. Through their bond she sent a quiet pulse of warmth: *He's actually kind of cute when he's sleeping. Don't tell Ahsoka I said that.*
Dagon's silent reply carried amusement and affection: *Your secret's safe. You did well down there, Zule. Both with the rescue and… earlier.*
Her cheeks darkened with a pleased flush. She settled into the seat beside the crate, one hand resting protectively on the carrier while her eyes stayed alert.
The *Finalizer* and its escorts raced toward Tatooine. The Huttlet slept soundly. Zule watched over him with quiet devotion. Dagon stood at the center of the bridge, mind already turning toward the next confrontation — Jabba's palace, Ziro's arrest, and whatever ambush Dooku had prepared in orbit.
One crisis at a time.
For tonight, the boy was safe, the team was intact, and the *Finalizer* flew true.