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Casualties on both sides…
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Droid limbs are tangled into piles and clones rest eternally in their own blood across the battle front…
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Who can tell from observing the field who the victor is?
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No one can.
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On the other side of the targeted facility, the band of survivors from Pandem have been forced to retreat.
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“I’ve got a bad feeling about this.” Harvis Traper grumbled.
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“I do too, son” Quito Traper added, “but we have to trust Captain Kyberstrong’s instincts.”
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“Yes, father.” Harvis replied.
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“I just wanna blast a couple of shots up ‘em droids,” Penn-Att-Tubo chuckled, “Me and Cortarra haven’t satisfied ourselves yet. Isn’t that right, pal?”
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The Wookiee replied with a boisterous warble of grunts and growls.
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Okc-Tai-Vius clad in blue leaned towards Landon Kyberstrong, his sweat running nervously, “Landon, you and I both know this retreat was everything but tactical. We need to move.”
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“Understand that the decision to retreat wasn’t Landon’s idea,” Tendo Nin stepped in, “It was mine, however I convinced Landon to take us here. The Force has called us to this-”
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Suddenly a flurry of lasers burned the air in its path as battle droids rushed in for the kill!
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With incredible speed, Cortarra repelled the lasers with his blaster, sacrificing his primary weapon to save his Nikto friend, Tubo.
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Countering abruptly, the survivors returned fire, blasting the droids into molten metal. The sky rained sparks as laser blasts screamed across the battle field.
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At that same moment, a team of super battle droids marched in sending explosive burst of fiery energy…
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Master Nin, Cortarra and Military Operative Chanto Vos respond swiftly, repelling the blasts…
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…And destroying the droids.
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“We can do this!” Tendo cried out, then suddenly a knifing pain tore into his gut as he felt the tide change.
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In a flash, Thrad is grazed in the chest by an incoming blast…
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…As droidekas’ roll onto the scene!
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“Incoming!” Harvis yelled over the blaster fire as he is take down beside his father under the rampage of blaster fire.
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“Cortarra cover me!” ordered Tubo as the Nikto returned fire and the Wookiee deflected lasers with his vibro sword.
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But the droids have overwhelmed the ragtag band of survivors, and the military operatives suffers with them.
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“Get behind me!” Landon demands Nava, “Shoot the eyes!”
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Landon’s tactic works as one of the destroyers is blown to pieces.
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However one more droideka remains and it doesn’t slow to mow down it’s assailants.
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“Watch out!” Landon grunted as he shoved Nava out of the way, using his body as a shield as he is blasted several times.
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“We must be stones, gentlemen,” Chanto ordered as the number of survivors began to decrease.
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“Roger roger, bantha fodder!” Tubo remarked as he fired a shot at the droideka…
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…Which was enough to take down the droid.
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But the fighting doesn’t stop.
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They are soon confronted by a man.
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Standing tall and confident, the figure challenged the group that still had the strength to stay on their feat.
“My droids have you surrounded. I challenge those who wield a blade. If you deny me, you will be destroyed.”
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“Limited choices.” Chanto growled.
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With a smile, Tendo replied brandishing his blade, “Challenge accepted.”
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“Cover me, Tubo!” Chanto ordered as he rushed for the swordsman.
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His moves elegant and swift, the human attacked with a Form III thrust…
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However easily repelled by the mystery man.
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His strength nearly twice as the soldier, the figure threw Chanto into the wall rendering him unconscious!
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“So fast!” Tubo marveled as he fired his weapon at the expert swordsman.
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However, the blast was easily knocked away like a mere nuisance.
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“You, mighty Wookiee!” the figure offered, “Do you cower behind your comrade’s blaster?”
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Rushing the man, the roaring Wookiee upraised his sword…
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But was soon slashed across the waist, wounding the beast!
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“Enough!” Tendo cried out as he bashed his weapon against the human’s. However, the vibro sword had traits of a cortosis blade, and deactivated the light saber!
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It was long before Tendo was knocked to the ground beside his fallen brothers.
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Dropping his weapon, Tubo holds his hands out in front of the powerfully skilled human, “Look man, we surrender, no need for anymore-”
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The ruthless man counters to the Nikto’s comment by slashing him across the face, being sure that his blade was enough to stop the rebel without killing him.
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“Halt, human!” a voice called from behind,
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Standing before the lone being was Master Tay and his team of Jedi.
“In the name of Pandem, drop you sword.” Ora Tay warned.
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“You have no idea who it is you are dealing with.” the human replied,
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“And depending on the result of this battle, you won’t be around to find out.”
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With that, an explosion of good vs evil has erupted. Knights of the Republic clash against operatives of the Confederacy.
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However they’re soon surprised as each of them clash blades against the mysterious being’s cortosis blade, deactivating their light sabers!
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“You all show promise,” the man smiled under the breather mask, “but in the end…”
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A concussion detonator set off by the human knocks the Jedi unconscious.
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“…The Hunter always wins.”
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Moments later, the wounded wake up from the detonator…
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Just as the Clone team led by Commander Armatum meets up with them.
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“What happened here?!” Captain Chance gasped, seeing all the bodies on the ground.
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His eye caked and clogged with dried blood, Tubo reports with a strained tone, “We were overwhelmed, all of us are hurt real bad. No casualties but…”
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“But what, Tubo?” Armatum questioned anxiously,
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“We were attacked by one man with a cortosis sword. He took Master Nin, as well as the Jedi Team.” Chanto stepped in.
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“He beat them all…” Nava almost whispered, “like they were children.”
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Standing alone outside the doors of Pandem, Denny takes in the fresh air. Yes, he enjoyed being around the other survivors, but something about being absent from safety gave him this feeling of freedom.
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It had been so long since his mind felt the essence of the Force, his hands grasping the cold metal of a light saber hilt; that he has begun to feel disconnected from it. His mind is in a fog. He is blinded by the world and the mist of the galaxy. Who is Rek-Den-Gol?
“What am I?” he heard his voice say.
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“You talk to yourself often?” Aurra grunted suddenly, having walked up behind the youngling.
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“Why are you out here? They’re gonna get you.”
“The droids are busy dealing with the survivors.” Denny replied, his mind suddenly reverting to the idea of Nava not returning from combat.
“That’s not what I meant when I said ”they“, and you didn’t answer my question.” Aurra persisted.
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“You’re waiting for her; that woman you hugged in the meeting room.” Aurra assumed,
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Aurra suddenly felt at ease standing beside the boy. He was vibrant with the Force. So strong.
“You love her…you care as a son would care.”
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“Yes.” Denny replied simply. Aurra smiled, he wasn’t like other younglings; He loved the Mirilian at a level that defied the orders of the Jedi Code, yet he was confident and sure of his feelings. He had control. He had the Force at levels beyond most of the Jedi. He was special.
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“Look!” Denny gasped, “It’s them!”
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Crawling towards the entrance of the community, the survivors arrive and are dragging their wounded comrades with them!
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“Aurra go get help!” Denny cried as his eyes searched desperately for Nava.
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“Hey kid, I got it, don’t need orders.” Aurra growled as she raced inside.
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Then he saw her, the woman who took the mantle of motherhood.
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Then she saw him, the boy who took the mantle of child under her care.
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Then they saw each other, the two who took the mantle of family.
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“You’re ok!” Denny cried, Nava grasped him and held him tight.
“I’m ok. We helped this community thrive. The more we fight the safer we become.”
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“I’m sorry I left you today,” Nava comforted, “but someday I might have to do this again. You have to be ready. Do you understand?”
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“No.” Denny thought to himself,
“Yes, mom.” Denny replied.
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Outside the power grid center, two droids stand guard.
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Suddenly two blasts simultaneous strike down the two droids!
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“We get in, we get out. We don’t want the whole Confederacy pouring down on us.” Captain Chance ordered.
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“Officer, stand guard here. Don’t let anything inside.” Commander Armatum ordered.
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“Yes, sir.” the officer replied.
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“Alright boys,” Armatum concluded, “it was an honor fighting with you both. Let’s get this done.” Chance nodded, his sweating hands tightening around the grips of his blaster, “For the Republic.”
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Silent. It has been years since they heard silence. If it was their fellow survivors screaming in agony it was the dead, growling and grinding their teeth. But here…here sounded like nothing.
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“We’re clear.” Chance whispered.
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“Triangulate,” Armatum ordered, “Boozer, watch our backs.”
“Roger, roger.”
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Bracing his back against the wall, Chance comes to a slow stride as he reaches the corner of the hall, unaware of whats around the other side.
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Turning the corner, they discover a super battle droid, which they don’t hesitate to dispatch.
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Continuing down the next hall, they can hear the control center. The humming of electricity and the bleeping of scanners and monitors seemingly sped up the heart rate of the three clones.
| |
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Pausing for a breather, the trio prepare their hearts and minds for destruction…as well as success.
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“You ready, guys?” Chance whispered,
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“Let’s get in their and save Pandem.”
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Rushing inside, the three soon realize how unprepared they were!
| |
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The destroyer opens fire instantly!
| |
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But the Clones return fire just as fast…
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But their numbers are reduced as Boozer is blasted in the chest!
| |
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However, the death of one of his men doesn’t seem to phase Armatum who continues to fire at the droid until it’s shield finally deteriorates just enough…
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To destroy the bulk of the enemy’s ranks!
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“I’m down to one blaster, and it’s spitting fumes!” Armatum growls as he turns to the next opponent.
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“I am too!” Chance yells over the blaster fire, “Just keep shooting!”
| |
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One by one, the droids begin to reduce in numbers…
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“We can do this, Chance!” Armutam smiles aggressively,
| |
| 
The droids working the computers are unarmed, and are easily taken out!
| |
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“Stay tight, Chance!” the Commander warned as he fired his blaster.
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| 
“That was my last shot!” Chance informed as he blasted the last of the droids.
| |
| 
In a shower of sparks and debris, the last of the droids crumble to the ground!
| |
| 
“We don’t have much time. We gotta revert the power to Pandem stat.” Chance scrambled to the control table.
| |
| 
As the two work together to reroute the power, Armatum notices something about the controls.
“Chance,” he gasped, “This control table has communication controls streaming to over twenty different frequencies!”
| |
| 
“If you can tap into those frequencies we can call more survivors to our community!” Chance states. Armatum nods, “That’s enough reason for me to do it then. I’ll send a message to all Republic zones.” Just then, Armatum sends a voice message to every speaker in all Republic-owned areas:
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“Survivors of Bondo III, if you have survived this long, your reward is due.”
| |
| 
“There is a community of survivors in the Rurlian sector of the planet. You will find signs that will lead you in the right direction.”
| |
| 
“Those who arrive survive. Together, and only together do we have a chance to make it.”
| |
| 
“This is Commander Armatum wishing luck. We hope to see you soon, and may the Force be with you always.”
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