Chapter Text
HOURS BEFORE THE EXECUTION OF ORDER 66
A pair of Jedi Starfighters zoom back and forth in gracefully in the sky of Plardel—a peaceful planet in the Gorio system plagued by the vermin that are the Separatist and their droid army—cutting through clouds and leaving smoky trails in their wake. From a bird’s eye view, you and your Master, Zal Karos, watched the battle on the surface. It was only a matter of time when the two of you have arrived into the planet after departing from the Republic command ship, Ultimatum, flanked with a company of pilots to aid the aerial assault.
A hologram of the admiral in the Ultimatum crackled into both your comms.
“General Karos, the blockade has been cut!”
“Just in time for the relief convoy!” the Kel Dor responded enthusiastically.
“We better start cleaning house then, Master!” you chirped through your radio.
“I was about to say the same thing, my Padawan!”
Zal Karos began instructing you to already engage in the standard operating procedure for the ejection sequence, programming your own astromech droids to override the ship and activate auto-pilot, flying lower and closer to the surface.
“Get ready to eject, [y/n]!” Master Karos radioed you through your ship’s comms.
“Ready when you are, Master!”
You pulled the lever at the bottom side of your seat and sent yourself flying out of your own starfighter. Using your Jedi reflexes, your landing was smooth—the same goes for your Master—now you’ve caught yourself in the crossfire between the 89th Legion and the droid army keeping the capital city from you.
The troops drew the droids’ fire while you and Master Karos charged onward, keeping up with your own vanguard, aiding them at the same time. Battle droids of all types—B1 battle droids, droidekas, and super battle droids—poured out of the city.
Just how many are they keeping in there!?
You continued deflecting the projectiles of the lanky battle droids back and forth, advancing as you thinned the numbers of their frontlines together with your Master, the Kel Dor looked over his shoulder and beckoned the troops to break through.
“Onward, child!”
You wanted to show Zal Karos how much you have learned from him, you applied every technique from close contact to long range combat, you were side-to-side with your Master. He saw that you’ve become more skilled with the lightsaber than before.
“Keep it up, [y/n]!”
“The Jedi have breached the city gates!” one battle droid reported through its built-in commlink but wasn’t able to request reinforcements in time. Your lightsaber had severed it into half before it could do so.
Once broken through, Master Karos barked orders at a handful of troopers to secure the locals held hostage in the residential areas and the central business district.
“The rest of you, keep pressing on!” the Kel Dor barked through his mask. He then turns to you, softening his commander-like bark into his normal voice while retaining that firm tone. “We’re heading straight to the Prime Minister’s Palace, child. That’s where the Separatist leader will be. Be ready!”
“Yes, Master!”
More battle droids marched to your general direction and there was no other alternative but to fight. Their numbers are significantly smaller, although they have deployed more super battle droids than the generic ones, the opposition was also accompanied by walkers.
Normally, your side would be overwhelmed as you’re only accompanied by ARC troopers and regular troopers.
“We’re outgunned!” a trooper, faceless in the crowd, cried in despair.
“Not if I have anything to say about that!”
Using the Force, you carried a metal beam large enough to sweep-kick the walkers off their feet—consequently crushing the droids in its path and thinning the herd altogether.
“Exemplary thinking, young Padawan!” Karos commended.
You smiled back at him as thanks and with the big problem out of the picture, the tables have turned for the droid army. The sniper troopers have finally reached their vantage points in the ruins of the city and took down the droids as the army cut through. Eventually, you’ve reached the Minister’s Palace and arrested the Neimoidian Separatist leader after taking down his small dispatch of guards outside the office.
Although you’ve secured the Palace and rescued the hostages, resulting to this campaign’s victory, something doesn’t feel right. The master and apprentice stayed in the office room watching LAAT gunships filled with reinforcements and medical support arrive.
“I sense there is something troubling you, Padawan [y/n].”
“I’m sorry, Master. I’ve been sensing something since this morning, though I can’t exactly say what it is—it feels ominous,” you shake off the thought. “I’m sorry again, that is quite pessimistic of me to say.”
“Not at all, child. Likewise, I thought I was the only one having that sort of feeling. The Force is unpredictable, but never mischievous,”
“Something tells me there’s a gloom lingering about this victory, Master,”
“You have become more insightful of your feelings and visions of late, Padawan. It seems to be serving you well. Not many have reached that point, especially in your age. I don’t think you should be apologetic about it.”
“Is that a good thing?”
“I strongly believe it is. To see beyond plain sight and looking ahead are vital aspects of a Jedi’s wisdom.”
A smile played along in your face, even through your master’s mask, you can feel the warmth of his compassion for you. The master and his apprentice continue to watch the gunships dot the sky as they approach the city. From behind, the office door could be heard opening, a clone and his commander let themselves in.
“General Karos, the reinforcements have arrived for the troopers and the refugees. We’re just conducting a clean sweep of the palace in case of any stragglers—whether droid or Separatist.” Reported the commander.
“I leave it in your capable hands, Commander Pollux.”
“Thank you sir, this is another victory of the Republic!”
“Hey kid,” the Clone Trooper called. “Nice fighting out there!”
“Thanks Wade!” you beamed.
Wade dismissed himself out of the room whilst Commander Pollux remained in the room, he was Karos’s guard after all. Meanwhile, you and the master began conversing on the subject of the supply convoy.
“Do you think there are enough for the refugees?”
“About ten transports are deployed, I think it will be more than enough for the—agh!”
Suddenly, the demeanor of your master fumbled, he back hunched as he pinched the space between his brows, fighting back a burdening sensation in his head.
“Master!” you cried out, startled with his abrupt disoriented state. “Are you hurt?”
Within Commander Pollux’s earshot, his holodisk beeped. Upon answering, a cloaked figure crackled into existence.
“The time has come. Execute Order 66!”
“It will be done, my lord.”
“Padawan… there’s something… wrong…” the Kel Dor struggled to speak.
In the corner of your eye, you saw Command Pollux raising his rifle right at Karos’s heart.
“Pollux, what are you doing!? NO… WAIT!!!”
Albeit weakened by the violent pain in his head, the Kel Dor’s Jedi reflexes never betrayed him. He banked the shot from Commander Pollux’s blaster, killing the clone in the process. Everything happened so fast you didn’t even know what to make of it. From the other side of the door, the clones’ distant voices echoed across the corridors of the palace. Karos glanced once more at the office window and found your Starfighters sitting by the recently-arrived LAAT.
“Master! Pollux… he…!”
“There’s no time, child. Get ready to fight!”
Drowned in your own confusion, you don’t know where to put your finger on it. Relying your master and him alone, you did as you were told—you ignited your lightsabers in unison, Karos counted to three before opening the door.
One…
“The Jedi are in there!”
Two…
“They’re both trapped in the office!”
Three!