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(4.5) Coming of Enemies (Part Three)
Coming of Enemies (Part Three)
Borsk Roc'ag Complex
Korriban, Galactic Republic
Lysire blinked in surprise as she activated her comlink, "Biggs, the power just went out!" She said in a bit of a panic and add, "I didn't do this” she claimed cutting off the accusation.
Biggs replied rapidly, "I know Lysire, the prisons under attack! There is an assault shuttle shooting at the towers and guards. The security cams are off line as well. From what I can tell someone hacked the system and has locked the guards down." Lysire could weapons fire in the back ground and she had fear for the man she loved.
Lysire didn't want to hear this. "Damn our luck! The one day we choose to conduct our operation here, it gets attacked." She started to play with the controls for the elevator. "The elevator is completely dead. Though I think I am on the ground floor." She said using her multi tool to open up the control panel as she continued to hear sounds of combat over Biggs comlink, "I think I can get power to the doors. Just give me a moment.” she could no longer hide her fear, “Baby, please be safe."
"Can't you just force the doors open" asked Biggs, "that shuttle is moving towards your neck of the woods. Lysire I want you out of there." It was in that moment that she could hear sounds of a engines over his comlink, which told her that the shuttle was moving away from Biggs. It only confirmed what her husband was saying.
Lysire shook her head as she answered, "the sedatives we used will leave the guards unsure of what happened and their memories blank. We took every caution to ensure that no one will suspect that the database was hacked. I don't want to mess this up now. We worked so hard for this. Anyway, the reactionary force will be more then enough to handle the attackers. We just need to slip out of here undetected." She explained while trying to mask her fear for her beloved husband, "I can use my datapads energy source to open the doors." During the years before she had learned to embrace emotions. Recently she had learned that most emotions can lead a person towards the path of darkness. Especially the emotion of fear. She remembered his words so many months ago as it he was whispering it to her now, 'fear is the emotion fueled by refusing the Force and unwillingness to let go. Trust in the Force and accept the fate that has been laid out before you, for you both.' Since that day, she had tried really hard to put fear behind her. But learning to change one's self is harder then it sounds. She tries so hard to walk in the light once more. Its just so hard to face the temptations every day.
Biggs' frustration was growing, "you know I hate these plans of yours where I am helpless and have to sit by and watch you do all the risk. This is just like Telnis VII, and I still hate it!”
She cut in on his comment, “But baby, if you were not watching my back. Then who would rescue me, like every time I get in to trouble.” Her fear finally back under control she was able to be playful once more.
“I do love saving your sweet ass baby.” he joked, “These links you set up are all dead along with the security network. I am going to clean up here and move to meet you." The sounds of combat faded in the distance which meant that the shuttle was indeed moving further away from Biggs' location.
Lysire smiled as she worked, "okay baby, I will meet you at my exit point. Just be ready so we can get out of here. With the attack going on the reactionary force will be touchy. As long as we can remain out of sight of the attackers and the reaction force, we should be okay."
Biggs laughed, "yeah I would say touchy" he said as she heard him closing cases and moving things around, "I will be there, don't you worry about that!" He promised.
Lysire continued to work on the control panel. She had remembered glancing at the blue prints while they planed this mission last week. Now that memory was coming back to her as she worked. She could see the blue prints in her mind as if she had just looked at them. She knew what she had to do as she pulled out her datapad and ran a cable from it to the control panel. However, this attack added a new dimension to their plan and so she had to start thinking on her feet now. "Okay, give me about ten minutes baby and I will be out of here. The datapad needs to charge the door's power supply."
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The guards knew that something terrible was going on when all their computers, security and power went out. Red Six cell block was cut off from the rest of Red Detention Level once the massive riot blast doors sealed them in. Luckily for the guards, it was between shift change so their numbers were doubled from three to six. Their local comlinks only had a range of a couple of kilometers so they were able to find out that the complex had fallen under attack and that their primary systems had been shut down and that they were unable to call for help from other Garrisons. Luckily for the guards, the blast doors were sealed and without power they can not be opened unless a special code cylinder (which only three guards throughout the entire Red Detention Level possessed) was used. They each knew that they were safe behind the blast doors.
However this didn't change the situation on the inside. Sadly only being armed with stun rifles, batons and cuffs were little match against attackers using blasters and military tactics. “Red Six, be advised that the attackers have engaged our forces along the Red Raceway, we have lost communication with our forces beyond the Red Raceway. We believe that the attackers are heading your way. The network is still down, but we are working on it. Sit tight, the blast doors WILL protect you”
"The entire network is down! No links, no power, nothing!" Cried one of the guards at the center station in wing six of Red Block. Unlike other Red Block wings, here the most dangerous of POWs were kept. Smaller than the other wings, it was the most secured from escape being in the heart of the Red Block. “They're coming for General Graff” exclaimed the the guard as he turned to the other guards, “I just know it!”
"Break out the rifles" said the most senior of the guards as the sounds of combat seemed to get closer. “They wont get through the blast doors. But just in case they do, we will be ready to fight them off. We could hold them off here for hours if we have to.” The veteran Guard was right, the wing was designed to give defenders a clear advantage with intersecting fields of fire and covered positions. They could easily hold off a much larger group even with stunner rifles here in the wing. Plus they had their backs against the walls and home field advantage. These also gave them a high sense of do or die. “Our boys will get the network back up soon enough and help will be on the way” he reassured them.
"What about the reaction force" asked one of the other guards.
The leader of the relief guards shook his head. "There was some kind of crisis at the Spaceport. They were sent to help out a hour ago. They talked about it during our briefing before we headed here. I don't think we can count of them."
The guard at the console continued to check what he could do, "From what I can tell and hear what everyone else is saying, the Warden has everything locked down. Maybe they are attempting to trap the attackers before they get in too deep."
The two leaders shook their heads at the same time. "No the system had to have been hacked. The Warden would have never shut down the Comlinks and power like this." The senior guard said. It was clear that they were trap in their wing and had nothing to do but wait. He looked around as the last stunner rifle was passed out. He walked over to the console and inserted his code cylinder and turned it, “I am clearing the key codes. IF they breach the blast doors, they will never get the cells open.” he said pulling his cylinder from the console. “Alask and Inder get up on the catwalks. Cover the door and use these riot stun grenades should the doors open.”
Rann stepped forward, “Sir, with all do respect. Alask is horrible shot. I am a much better sharpshooter. I should go with Inder.”
The veteran guard looked at Alask who nodded back, “Fine, Rann go with Inder. Listen you two, we only have four of those stun grenades so make sure you make each one count.” he said turned to the others, “Okay, listen guys, this will be our finest hour. Even if they have control of this section, they have to be working on a tight time table. Surely by now, our forces are working to corner them. If we can hold them at that door” he said pointing at the blast doors, “then we will buy time for our troops to flank them. All we have to do is make sure they don't get past that hallway” he said pointing at the kill zone between the blast doors and the cell block wing. “We can do this guys! Now lets go!” he said.
Rann and Inder both took off for the two catwalks along both sides of the wing. It gave them a great field of fire. The rest of the guards took up positions along the console and walls. The veteran guard set them up in such a way that they could provide a concentrated field of fire down the hallway and at the blast doors. The sounds of combat fell off drastically with the sound of an explosion. The guards prepared to fight off the attackers as they lowered their visors on their combat helmets. “Remember guys, check your targets and control your rate of fire. We are not looking to win this fight outright, just hold them back and eat up their time.” the veteran guard said as he slid down behind one of the large banks that made up the central console.
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Col Kerish and his troops rushed up the Red Raceway and took up positions along the walls. He smiled as he looked at the large blast doors with a white six painted in the center of the door. He checked his watch, “We are ahead of schedule” he said turning to his troops. He nodded and waved one of his men forward. He trooper pulled a gaged and bound guard along with him. The trooper kicked the guard in the back of his knees forcing him down before the Colonel. The Colonel nodded, “Normally I would give you the courtesy that a prisoner of war would get, however, the war is over. This means you are not a POW. Isn't that correct Sergent Zurel Noor.”
The guards eyes went wide as he knew that his name was not on his guard uniform and there was no way this attacker could have known the guard's name. The Colonel continued as he grabbed the guard and ripped his shirt open exposing the code cylinder underneath, “I will be needing this” he said ripping the cylinder from the man's neck as the chain gave way. He motioned for the trooper holding the guard to follow as he waved his troops to secure the two approaches to the area. His troops fanned out in proper military fashion as they took up positions to guard the blast doors. “Oh let me see” he said walking up to the data access port and started to place the cylinder inside. Col Kerish's eyes were on the guard's eyes as his grin grew. There was no reaction to the guard and Kerish wasn't expecting any. He knew that Sergent Noor was a veteran guard had highly trained, he had respect for the guard's profile and training.
Just as the cylinder was about the enter the data access port, a panel popped open around the corner of the wall next to the blast door. “Opps!” Col Kerish said with a broad smile on his face as the guard looked at his other hand which had triggered the secret panel. “What is this?” Col Kerish said as he moved the guard around to see the other data access port and a scanner. He slid the cylinder in and turning it and activating the scanner. Col Kerish waved at the trooper who gripped the guard and forced his head in front of the scanner while holding his eye wide open. “Oh, now how did I know this?” he said as the door started to open. “Its a shame that you are not willing to work for us Sergent Noor” the Colonel said then drew out his blaster and shot the guard in the side of the head. The body fell over lifeless as he waved his trooper back to the line.
The Colonel checked his watch and nodded, “Right on time” he said softly and looked at his troops. “Lt Tualin, you wanted to know why I knew we would get to our General. Here let me show you our most important assets in this operation.” He said as he waved the female Twi'lek forward with him. “Come on” he said as he started to walk in to Red Block Six Wing.
She followed nervously with her weapon at ready, “The guards Sir!”
The Colonel only laughed as they walked down the hallway to see Guards Rann and Inder kneeling in the center of the room with their hands on their heads and a red and white arm band on each of their left upper arm. The Colonel reached over and placed his hand on the barrel of her blaster rifle. He slowly lowered Lt Tualin's weapon, “They are our friends” he said with a board smile then called out. “Second hold the corridor, the rest of you start getting the other wings cleared and make it fast! LETS GO! TIME IS THE FACTOR!” He issued his orders as he continued to walk up to the guards while his troops rushed around and started to secure the area. They found the other guards unconscious and bound at the center station. He nodded, “You boys have earned your place within the Flail” he said with pride looking at the two guard who smiled back at him.
One of the Colonel's men yelled out, “The access codes are gone!”
Inder smiled, “Colonel, I took the liberty to copy them during my shift. I figured that they would get deleted as normal procedure” he said pulling out a code cylinder and handed up to the Colonel.
The Colonel laughed as he took it. “Good job boys” he said and tossed the cylinder to the tech. “Kill those men!” he ordered pointing at the other guards. It was Lt Tualin who carried out the order with a smile on her face. He turned to the two remaining guards as blaster fire filled the wing, “Get up boys. You are among friends.”
The two guards rose up with pride as they took the hand offered by Col Kerish as the two techs started rapidly wiring up portable power supply. A trooper tossed a bag to the two guards who started to remove their clothes and change in to rebel outfits. Col Kerish walked over to a large man size blast door. This cell block was by far the most secured area in all of Red Detention Level. Here the prisoners are kept in a state of isolation their entire stay. He found the thought of his leader locked away like some rabid animal horrifying. He placed his hand on the door as his comlink went off, “Colonel” he heard the voice of Cordelia come over the comlink, “We have secured Black Detention. Starting our operation. Please send in the transports”
He smiled, and checked his watch, 'two minutes ahead of schedule' he thought pleasantly. “Thank you Captain. The transports are on their way. Make sure those door are opened for their arrival.” He closed the channel then opened up a second channel, “Its time for the half time show!” he ordered and closed the link. Turning his attention back to the blast door, “Get this DOOR OPENED!” he yelled.
“Yes SIR!” one of his techs called out and set the last cable. “Controls are working and codes are uploaded. Opening now!”
Colonel Kerish waited for months for this moment. Back on Jekeer when the forces of the Republic had finally cornered their forces, it was General Graff that took a group of volunteers to lead the Republic on a wild goose chase while the rest of the unit slipped away to safety. Their General had risked his life so that the rest of them would still know freedom. He remembered watching the battle fade as he led the survivors away. From the reports that were issued by the Republic, their beloved General had been killed in the battle. It was by a stroke of luck that one of the Republic Officers had been sympathetic to the plight of the Rebellion. He risked everything to get a message to them that their beloved General was still alive. He reached over his shoulder as the thick blast door started to open and pulled out a pair of double bladed lightsabers from his combat pack. Through the darkness he could see a figure rise up and then a pair of red cybernetic eyes start to glow, “General” Col Kerish paused, “brother, welcome to your freedom” Colonel Kerish said holding out the lightsabers.
As the techs continued with their other tasks and more noises from down the corridor were being heard, the mighty General Graff slowly walked from the darkness and in to the light. His large frame and prefect build told all who beheld him, that this man was Azgardian. He walked right up to Colonel Kerish and look down at the five foot elven man, “I always knew you would not leave me to rot” he said with a deep mensing voice.
Colonel Kerish smiled, “We didn't know you had survived the battle till much later. Then it took time to locate which prison you were sent to. Had it not been for your new friends” he said motioning to the two newest members of the Flail, “We wouldn't have even known you were here at all. The Jedi were keeping you a dark little secret.”
General Graff grabbed the two lightsabers and nodded his understanding, “A dark secret that the Jedi will soon come to fear!” he said as he embraced his comrade in arms. Then walked completely out of the cell for the first time since he was brought to this hellish place. “You!” he said pointing to the two former guards. They both turned in fear of his very voice. “If not for your kindness, I would have gone mad in that cell. Thank you for your help and company. Your actions will not be forgotten with me.” The two former guards both nodded their reply with smiles on their faces. Another soldier presented the General with a military belt and his black and gold cape that was his trade mark. Both of which the General put on and hung his lightsabers from his belt.
Already others were being freed as will as other groups were being brought in to the wing. Within moments the wing was filled with former POWs and as their numbers continued to grow, General Graff walked over to the central console and with a high step, took a footing atop of it. “Brothers and sisters!” he yelled out, “Many of you have heard about the betrayal of Neeshana and this peace treaty signed by those very traitors to our cause! They say the war is over!” he turned around so that those behind him could see his face, “I tell you, let their war be over.” it was clear that their was some confusion within the ranks of POWs, “If the war be over, then why are you still here!” Turning as he walked around the console and stepped between the large consoles, “I will tell you why, because they feel that you are too dangerous to be set free once more. That you are darksiders bent on bringing hatred and suffering to the Republic. This peace was not done to bring order and peace to all but to serve those who had the power to benefit from it! The wealthy like those on Neeshana benefit from the peace just as they had helped murder our leader who was under their protection” Once more he turning again, “Then let them have their peace!” He he drew his lightsabers and activated them, their black and gold blades illuminated the area as he held them up high for all to see, “Let us have OUR Revolution! WELCOME TO THE REVOLUTION!” he yelled out lifting his head high to the cheers of the former POWs.
Colonel Kerish knew he couldn't say anything but the two former guards could, each yelled out, “Graff! Graff! Graff!” within moments the entire cell block was screaming out Graff's name as his rescuers starting passing out weapons. Lightsabers, blasters anything they could have gotten their hands on prior to the mission. Still the cheers filled the block like a thunderous roar echoing across the entire block as General Graff held up his hands in victory over the prison. He leaped down from his console and smiled to Col Kerish, “Let us go. How is my army doing?” as he led his new found troops out of the block.
Colonel Kerish nodded leading the way, “Your shuttle is this way sir, it be a tight fit but our ships are not far. As for the army, Captain Vicsoum should have them loading now” he said checking his watch, “In less than two minutes we will be out of here and have a army of the likes the Jedi have never seen before. Riped right out of their own nightmares!”
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Getting out of the elevator was easy enough. What really surprised her was that Black Detention Level had an atmosphere. “Biggs, something is wrong. I have an atmosphere.”
She could hear him moving rapidly, “Listen, is there another way out?”
She turned a corner which was the last leg before she reached the actual holding area. “With the power out, both of the service elevators are down. I have no choice but to head for the duck that I came in through.” she froze in her tracks as she leaped for the safety of a nearby wall, “Biggs I see a droid on the ground. It looks like its been shot.” She could hear voices echoing around the corner.
“Stop, just wait there, I will get to you. Just give me a moment and I will see what I can find in the prints.” There was genuine concern in his voice. He trusted her but also knew she was not a fighter.
“Hold on I hear voices. Let me check it out.” she creped along the side of the wall till she reached the last corner. Carefully she lowered herself down and slid a mirror out of her pocket. She used it to look around the corner. She could see five troops looking around as if guarding a tech who was working on the central console. Lysire looked more closely and could tell that of the five troops walking around two were Jedi and two were not. The other one she couldn't get a good look at through the others. “Biggs, I have terrorist in the main Black cell block. Looks like.....Oh my god!” Lysire said in shock and pulled herself back behind the corner, “Biggs its Cordelia!”
“Shit! Don't do anything! I am on my way!” she could hear him dropping things and running.
Lysire moved back to the corner and peeked around with her mirror once more, “They are working to get power to the central console and I can hear Cordelia talking to someone on comlink. Talking to some Colonel.”
“Lysire don't do anything stupid. You are no match for her. Just sit tight I am nearly there!” His voice was labored as she could hear him rushing over the roof tops and through the catwalks.
Lysire continued to watch, she knew this area very well. Some hundred thousand violent Force users has been frozen in carbonite and were set up on either side of the main walk way. They were suspended from the ground on tracks that reached out from the walls. The levels of racks of frozen inmates reached up towards the ceiling. It didn't take Lysire long to figure that what ever Cordelia was doing it was nothing good and innocent people would suffer because of it. “Biggs, I have to do something. I can't sit by and do nothing!”
“NO, just stay where you are Lysire” he said as he seemed to leap from one thing to another, “Uhg, I am almost there!”
“Listen, the Teacher said, all it takes is for one good act to destroy evil or one act of nothing to allow it to prosper. Biggs I can't sit by anymore and let innocent people suffer. You wouldn't either.” and on that statement she clicked off her comlink. Lysire took a deep breath as she cleared her mind and pushed out all traces of fear. She knew that Cordelia was much better than she was in lightsaber combat. However, she had her own tricks up her sleeve. She put her mirror away and stepped from the corner in to the opening. She let her cloak of Force around her to fade as she lifted the hood of her red cloak. She had been using the Force to mask her presence while she was on this operation. Slowly letting out her breath she calmly walked towards the center of the walkway and in complete view of everyone. There was no fear in her heart just the simple desire to prevent the same level of suffering that she and her husband had done in the past.
Cordelia sensed Lysire right away as she got a feeling through the force, “Steady boys, we have company.” She turned around to see Lysire and started to walk foward, “My my my, its a little rat.” she waved her hand to have her troops spread out. Cordelia checked to ensure that the tech was still working. He seemed a bit flustered by the change of situation but her glare got him back to work. “Be careful boys, this rat is very tricky and there is always a tiger nearby her” Cordelia said as she checked Lysire out slowly. “Thats a new look for you, Lysire. You look like you are right out of a story book. Shall we call you, the girl in red?” Cordelia checked her men as she continued to move forward, “Thought you weren't part of the Order anymore. Even heard they want to place you on trail.”
Lysire smiled as she shifted her gaze slowly watching all five of her possible attackers, "that won't stop me from destroying evil where I find it." It was clear to her that she was out numbered and as the group slowly spread out to flank her. But she felt in her heart the need to do something to prevent them from what ever they were doing. She felt good about what she was doing.
Cordelia laughed as she through her head back, "evil!" She drew out her double bladed lightsaber and activated its purple blades, "I recall you go by the nickname Liberian of Death!" She checked her men one last time as she noted that they were in position. She personally had never faced off with the young Lysire but figured that the little scholar would not make much of a challenge to her and her men. "Enough, get her!"
On that Cordelia's men rushed forward as Lysire dropped her duffel and reached out with the force. Throughout the entire Order there has never been a Jedi with the control over move object at such a low experience level as Lysire. Even the great Jedi Master Visst fell slightly behind her abilities. As Cordelia's men started their attack on Lysire, reached out and ripped a number of the Carbonite slabs from their racks and they flew across the wide walkway. She kept some in the air by bumping them up as she let some slam down in the paths of her attackers.
As one of the male jedi rushed forward toward Lysire, he noticed the slab flying forward at him. Halting his attack he leaped to the side he slid across the floor as the slab hit and bounced harmlessly near where he was moving. What he didn't notice nor did any of the other attackers was had he not moved, the slab would have missed him anyway. Many months ago, Lysire wouldn't have thought twice about taking his life. However that was then and, today she was a different person. Another slab slid across the floor like the attack before on another one of her attackers and with the same results. Within a few seconds Lysire had nineteen large slabs moving through the air or sliding across the ground. She had affectively created a barrier between her and the five attackers. And to their frustration, they couldn't get pass the barrier.
One attacker attempted to leap over her defensive slabs with his lightsaber out and over his head ready to bring it down on her. Lysire wasn't about to take any lives but that didn't mean she would hurt them. Turning to see the attack she lifted and bump a slab up and at the attacker. The slab caught him in the lower body knocking the wind completely out of him with a loud thud and groan. The slab fell back to the ground harmlessly as Lysire turned to face another attacker as the one she just blocked landed painfully. She watched the next one rush forward with his blaster rifle at ready. He leaped up and stepped up on to a slab. She flipped her hand up with the force and sent the slab smashing in to his front and tossed him back. Lysire was able to keep them at bay for almost three minutes. In combat it was a life time, and the effort was starting to take its toll on her. She was clearly gifted with move object but she didn't have the stamina of the Great Masters yet.
A large slab landed by the central console causing the tech to leap from his tasks with a whimper. As her frustration and anger both grew, Cordelia was getting more and more enraged with this annoying little rat. She heard the tech's sound and looked back to see him not at his post, "GET THOSE DOORS OPEN!" She yelled at him. Her anger of the situation was clearly heard in her voice as those force users about could feel her anger drawing on the dark side.
"I almost got it Captain" replied the tech as he moved back to the consoles and resumed his work with renewed vigor.
Lysire froze in her tracks as she looked around at the hundreds of thousands of frozen criminals. It had taken the Jedi thousands of years to capture them. They were the most evil and dark beings in the entire galaxy. Lysire turned her gaze upward to the set of large blast doors over head. Beyond that the force showed her a vision of the two large transports with their bellies opened. Their tractor beams charged and ready to retrieve these very inmates. In the back of her mind she heard the cries of millions of innocent victims brought to suffer if those doors were to open. In that second she had a choice to make. She could easily hold off the attackers and wait for Biggs or stop the tech from opening those doors. Her vision fell down upon the tech as her eyes narrowed, "not one more victim" she said under her breath.
Reaching out with the force to seize the moment and forsaking her own defense for something greater than herself. Lysire could feel the tech's fragile body in her grip through the force. He tried to resist her, but her control was simply too great over it. With great care not to harm him, she gripped him then snatch him from the console and tossed him out of her way. She glanced at a pair of slabs and flung them at the central console. As the slabs smashed in to the console, it erupted in to a large shower of sparks and debris. The slabs cleaved the console station from its base as they slid across the ground while sparks rained down from the portable power supply. Lysire smiled as she watched the tech slowly get up unharmed from the attack.
Cordelia turned to the destruction of the station just as it was happening. She let out a scream of anger as she turned to face Lysire. Drawing heavily on the dark side, Cordelia leaped high and fast in to the air as she moved to attack Lysire. "You little rat, you're going to pay for that!" She yelled on the attack.
Lysire exhaustion was getting the best of her and she had to drop her focus to stop the tech. Cordelia was rushing her and Lysire had one chance to stop her. She snatched up a slab and moved it to bump her attacker from her course. Lysire felt it was a good plain but when she saw Cordelia's purple blade cut the slab in half and killing the helpless prisoner trapped inside, she stood in disbelief. It was too late, Cordelia was on top of her with her double blades already swinging she landed next to Lysire. Lysire turned her focus to defending herself from the lightsaber attacks rather then the slabs around her. She had just enough time to activate her own yellow lightsaber and used it in her own defense. Her slabs started to rain down as Lysire's concentration was broken.
The duel between sabers had been joined finally while the rest of Cordelia's men dodged the raining slabs. Lysire was horribly out matched as she put all of her focus in to defending and blocking Cordelia's attacks. Cordelia's attacks were very fast as they were driven be anger and fueled by hate. Lysire could feel her opponent's dark energies pulsating through each new attack against her, as her own fought to be released. Dodging and parring each blow as they came in, Lysire had to give up ground as she continued to defend herself. It was a fight that Lysire knew she couldn't win. However, she didn't fear the defeat. She knew she had prevented a great evil from occurring and that was enough for her.
Cordelia pushed her advantage with each new set of attacks on Lysire. Cordelia twisted her blade as it caught Lysire's own blade. Taking advantage of it, Cordelia continued rotating her blade. Cordelia smiled as Lysire's lightsaber slipped from her grip. Cordelia could have shifted her blade with a twist of her wrist and sunder Lysire's lightsaber. However she was out for the blood of this little rat. Cordelia instead shifted her weight and swung her blade to remove Lysire's head. Cordelia felt the dark side calling through her mind for the death of the rat and she was not going to deny it. Her whole mission had been compromised by this rat and it was time to kill it before it could cause anymore problems.
As Lysire's lightsaber flew from her grip, she shifted her weight back and stumbled. With her weight unbalanced, Lysire fell backwards as Cordelia blade swung and nicked her shoulder and the side of her face in a double tap motion. Cordelia spun her double bladed lightsaber once as she leaped up drawing on the dark side to hone her attack this time. Finishing spinning her lightsaber, Cordelia aimed her blade right at Lysire's heart. "DIE RAT!" She yelled.
Lysire hit the ground hard as she just narrowly avoided the last attack. She was disarmed and fear raced through her mind as she looked up to see Cordelia's purple blade rushing down at her. Lysire threw her hand up more out of fear then anything else. Her mind was not focused on any dark act while fear gripped her. Bluish lighting leaped from her hand and flashed in her eyes as it slammed in to Cordelia. Lysire had used dark powers many times before to cause untold suffering and pain. She had used them to achieve horrible things in the past. This was the first time that she felt the horror of what she had just done. Just as she let loss the lighting she forced her will to pull it back. The tried to control what had happened. She closed her eyes as she fought hard to pull it back. The darkness within her soul fought hard for its released once more and now it had a taste of freedom, it would not be denied.
As Lysire laid helpless on the ground, her eyes were transfixed on the bluish lighting still dancing over Cordelia's body. Horror still filled her heart as she felt the pain of her own betrayal. So much had she tried to deny the dark energies that surged through her, and in a moment of weakness she failed herself. The blast of lighting had hit Cordelia just moments before Cordelia's lightsaber had found its target on Lysire's own chest. Even as Lysire was pulling the darkness back from its attack, Cordelia flew through the air backwards as the lighting danced across her body. Now she laid dazed and convulsing from the attack. Lysire never saw the two other Jedi who had been able to flank her on either side. Both men had ever intent on making Lysire pay for what she done. They rushed her swinging their lightsabers on the attack. Lysire never took her eyes off the suffering she had caused. For so long she fought to deny the darkness within her self, now she felt betrayed.
As they swung their lightsabers in on the attack, neither attackers noticed Lysire's own lightsaber tremble and then flip up in to the air above her. Had they noticed, they would have seen the trouble descending upon them. Instead they were more focused on exacting revenge for the trouble she had caused them. Lysire heard the sounds of the blades come rushing in then all of a sudden the sounds of four lightsabers clashing against each other. She looked up in a daze to see Biggs stand over her with his and her lightsaber in his hands. Like a mighty sentential, he stood with his legs stretched out so that he stood directly over her while blocking to two attackers. The sounds snapped her out of her from daze but she couldn't seem to control her trembling. His eyes met hers in that moment, and with a smile, "told you I would never leave you."
The eyes of her attackers were steadfast focused on that blade. It was one of the rumors that had spread through the rebel factions and it was impossible to miss. The blood red color wasn't enough, as it set there blocking one of their own lightsabers, small pieces of flame seemed to dance across it as if it was on fire. It was the proud symbol of Jedi Knight Saab, but to the rebels he had become known as the Tiger Prince. Turning his eyes from Lysire to one of the attackers Biggs said, "hope I am not missing the party!" On that, Biggs engaged both jedi at the same time with a combination of attacks that forced them to withdraw from Lysire. The sound of lightsaber combat filled the room as Biggs showed them why he had earned his neck name. His attacks were both fierce and fast as the two Jedi were forced away from the helpless Lysire. Even while engaging the Jedi, The Tiger Prince was able to deflect blaster fire coming in from the other two troopers.
Lysire rolled over on to her knees as she pulled her arms in under her body. She wanted to join the battle to help her husband but she couldn't attempt it. She could feel the power of the dark side surging through her once more and she knew that she couldn't afford to let it slip more. She fought and struggled to bring it back under control. She barely succeeded in controlling it and dared not tempt fate again. Her eyes glanced at Biggs as he fought heroically defending her with both his lightsaber and her yellow lightsaber. *'He won't survive long! Release me and we can save him together'* her own voice tempted her from the back of her mind. She wanted to help him but she looked at her hands as they trembled as the darkness fought for control over her. She struggled to will it away but the draw was simply too much for her. Her eyes fell upon Cordelia, who was struggling to get back in to combat as well. The bluish lighting still surging over her body. *'He can't hold his own against all of them. Release me!'*
She rolled her head over trying to clear the thoughts from her mind. She knew that it was the temptation of the dark side calling on her. She also knew that she couldn't fear their fate or else they will both become lost again. *'Feel the power we once shared, how much we were able to do with it. Release me and we can be great once more.'* her voice beckoned in the back of her mind once more. Lysire pulled herself tighter in to her ball while she still fought the dark temptations. She closed her eyes as she heard her own voice temping her to return to the path of darkness once more. The memories of the past few months flashed in her mind. How hard both of them had worked to become free of the darkness. A sound of a pair of lightsabers activating broke her concentration. She looked up to see Cordelia slowly standing up as she made ready to engage Biggs. She was wounded but still dangerous, Lysire felt temptation reaching her heart as she stretched her hand out towards Cordelia once more.
With their hearts so closely joined, Biggs could feel the struggle in Lysire's heart. It concerned him more than the life or death battle he was waging right now. He loved her, god how he loved her. He didn't care about anything else but keeping her from the darkness. They both promised to never leave each other for the darkness, and he was not about to let her slip. He turned as he felt darkness trying to get the upper hand within her heart. He saw her reaching out toward Cordelia and screamed, "NO!" He knew the temptation of darkness and how powerful it was to overcome. He felt her heart and sensed her weakening under the temptation. He reached out with the Force and gripped a slab and slammed Cordelia in the back with it. It was a painful hit and sent her flying across the floor and no longer a threat to the battle. He returned to his combat as he deflected a blaster bolt towards one of the other jedi. The blaster nailed the Jedi in the back of his upper leg as he was recovering from a blow Biggs had landed on him just a few moments before. The man fell forward gripping his wounded leg and screaming out in pain.
The second jedi leaped over Biggs hoping to flank him in a daring move, however Biggs was a highly skilled down and dirty street fighter. Just as the man landed Biggs landed a round house to the side of the man's head causing him to stumble. Then Biggs followed a knee in to the Jedi's groin with such force that the man literally was lifted up off the ground. The jedi let out a loud groan as he throw his hands between his legs. His knees buckled after the low blow attack. Biggs used the Force to hurl the man cross the walk way. The Jedi's lightsaber flew from his grip as he landed. Biggs turned to deflect another blaster bolt. This time Biggs deflected it at the lightsaber resting right next to the Jedi he just tossed. The burned and shattered lightsaber flew back even further from the Jedi as he looked back at Biggs in disgust. Biggs returned the glare with a smile as he deflected two more blaster shots.
Cordelia had heard about The Tiger Prince but never truly believed many of the rumors about him. Just watching him fight, she could tell that they were routed in truth. He was fast, powerful and ruthless. He also used both his skill as a Jedi and unconventional tactics to score hits on her troops. However she could feel that his mind wasn't in this fight. 'The secret of beating him was clearly in Lysire' she thought as her gaze shifted from Biggs to Lysire who seemed to be in some kind of pain. She moved from behind the slab and hatched a plan to defeat both while salvaging her own mission. However before she could act on her plan, she had to think fast as a pair of blaster bolts rushed in at her. She noticed just in time that Biggs had deflected the pair of blaster bolts at her. She activated her lightsaber and spun it to deflect the bolts away from her. She turned to the two troopers with the blaster rifles, "Stop firing morons!" She snapped as she had to deflect more blaster bolts away from her. "Help the tech" she added as she used the force to hurl one of the large slabs at Lysire.
Biggs saw the slab being rushed at Lysire. Fear tried to grip his heart, but he cleared it with much effort. He calmed his mind and rushed to cut it off before it reached Lysire who was still fighting with her own demons. As he moved to Lysire's side, he reached out with the Force and flung another slab at Cordelia to distract her while he used the Force to gentle stop the slab heading for Lysire. Once he had it under control, he move it away from Lysire. Finally reaching her as he slid up to her while stopping by her side. Carefully, he took her in to his arms while softly saying, "Please don't leave me baby.” His focus didn't returned to the battle at hand. In his heart, his focus was where it needed to be.
Cordelia saw the slab rushing at her and used the Force to fling it high in to the air above and behind her. She moved forward towards Biggs just as she heard a man scream and a loud thud of a slab hitting the thick metal floor. She turned to see the tech's legs stretching out from under the slab that she had carelessly hurled. Anger filled her mind and heart for in that moment her mission had failed. Without the tech there was no hope of getting the blast doors open. She was in raged as she yelled out at the top of her lungs, "NOOOOO!" as if she attempted to undo her own mistake. She heard a metal pop then a twang echo through the block. She turned to see Biggs lifting Lysire up in to his arms tightly. A grapple launcher attached to his combat belt.
Biggs smiled at Cordelia, "Master Ubeern was right," he said as he activated the launcher and he and Lysire were lifted up in towards the catwalks “you have no control!”
Before she could think to do anything as rage filled her mind, they were gone in to the shadows. She watched as Lysire's duffel bag flew up in to the darkness of the catwalks as well. Anger raged through her so intensely that she was frozen in place. Cordelia heard a computer voice echoing through the block, "Main power reboot in thirty seconds"
"Everyone! Withdraw!" She ordered. Her two troopers had to help the two wounded Jedi back to their feet and out of the Cell Block. Everything had gone so well for her, 'till that rat showed herself!' she thought as she doubled checked to make sure her people were leaving. The five terrorist left the body of the tech behind as they were forced to withdraw empty handed. Just as she was leaving the cell block, she gave a look back, "this isn't over, Tiger Prince!"
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