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Bo-Katan Kryze was angry as she ducked through a flap in the command tent. The leader of Death Watch, Pre Vizsla of Clan Vizsla, had allowed two mercenary Sith brothers to persuade him into going along with their plan. And no matter what she said, Bo-Katan’s concerns would always be dismissed as nothing.
Inside the command tent stood around a dozen beings. Most were either Death Watch Mandalorians in blue armour, Black Sun agents, or Pykes in yellow and purple armour. There were also the two Sith brothers, the leader of Black Sun, the leader of the Pykes, and Pre Vizsla, all standing around the holographic map displayed on the holoprojector. Bo-Katan also hated that the filthy Pykes and the Black Sun agents stood on sacred Mandalorian ground. They were wretched criminals that worked for the Pyke Crime Syndicate and the Black Sun Crime Syndicate, and had no sense of right and wrong. Only power and money. Scum, thought Bo-Katan. It was foolish to trust these criminals with something so important as returning Mandalore to its former warrior glory. But she would not disobey Pre Vizsla for as long as he stood as leader of Death Watch.
Bo-Katan took her place to the left and a little behind Vizsla, just in time to hear the Sith brother called Maul’s question. “Where are my targets?” Maul asked, in that calmly menacing voice of his.
“We’ve identified them at these locations,” replied Pre Vizsla, gesturing for one of the Death Watch to mark the targets. Immediately several glowing red dots appeared on the holographic map. “However, as I’ve said before,” continued Vizsla, “if we try to take Mandalore by force, our people will turn against us.”
Maul brought a hand to his chin and studied the map carefully. “I will use my army of crime lords to attack different targets across Sundari and sow chaos to undermine the Duchess’ rule,” said Maul eventually, each word articulated perfectly. Bo-Katan saw a furious hate in Maul’s red eyes that chilled her to the bone. As soon as Death Watch can stop colluding with these foul Sith brothers, the better, thought Bo-Katan. She purposely ignored Maul’s mention of the Duchess of Mandalore. Bo-Katan would not think about Satine until she had to. “Our gangsters will make her look too weak to maintain control. Then you and your Death Watch will capture and arrest us, bringing order where Satine’s weak government could not,” finished Maul.
“We’ll be saviors,” said Pre Vizsla with a smile.
“Exactly,” replied Maul.
“A good plan,” complimented Vizsla.
Bo-Katan nodded, then tried to steer the conversation away from Maul’s brilliance. “Indeed. I’ll prepare the troops.” She turned sharply away from the gathered group and followed one of her fellow Death Watch out the flap from which she’d entered.
Outside she waited with one of the Death Watch until Vizsla exited the tent. As she was one of his lieutenants, it was her duty to report when something felt amiss. When he approached her, she turned away in anger. “It’s a risk to trust those monsters.” She turned back to him, the fury clear in her green eyes. “How do we know they’ll keep their end of the bargain?”
“We need those Sith and their thugs to cause some pain and show the Mandalorian people how weak Satine really is,” replied Vizsla. It was as if he was mocking her, but he didn’t know who she actually was. He couldn’t. “After this is done, no one will doubt why we’re in power.” He sounded too happy, too controlled. Not like himself, thought Bo-Katan. “Most will welcome us.”
“Then what?” asked Bo-Katan, annoyed. It was if he was blinded by the most positive outlook on everything. This wasn’t who her leader was supposed to be. He was supposed to be strong, smart, and, above all else, clear-headed.
“Then we execute Maul and those thugs. Those criminals will scatter and Mandalore will be ours,” Vizsla finished enthusiastically. Bo-Katan narrowed her eyes suspiciously, but grinned to let him know she was on board. And she wasn’t lying. It was a brilliant plan, but she realized Maul was too quick for them. Sooner or later, something was bound to go wrong. She turned away from Vizsla to go prepare the troops.
Soon Bo-Katan was with a group of the best warriors of Death Watch, some of her own Nite Owls, in one of the starfighters that was preparing to take off towards Sundari, the capital of Mandalore. She stood tall and proud in the cockpit of the starfighter in her blue Mandalorian armour and helmet that were her favourite possessions. “Bo-Katan, how long till the thugs attack?” cried one of the Death Watch in the back.
Bo-Katan turned around and faced the inquisitive little fool. She said to her, and to the others around her, “The Black Sun and the Pykes are currently attacking the targets that Maul gave them. We go in to stop those thugs. Nothing is more important than regaining control of Mandalore.” A chorus of agreement rang out from around her, which filled Bo-Katan’s warrior heart with a courage that could only be felt when she trusted those who fought beside her. The Nite Owls were her sisters in everything but blood. Then they were off, flying in the starfighter away from Death Watch’s base and towards Sundari, which, if everything was going according to plan, should be overridden with those criminals who Bo-Katan disliked so very much.
Once they got to the city, it was dark and citizens were running, panicked, in the streets. Eventually the Duchess got her citizens rounded up in the main square, which was when Pre Vizsla called two of his lieutenants, Bo-Katan and another Mandalorian to join him. They were quick to join the crowd in the square, using their jetpacks to fly in and join the Duchess on the balcony overlooking the worried citizens. Pre Vizsla started to speak as they flew towards the balcony, interrupting the Duchess’ foolish pacifist speech. “The Duchess Satine has led us to ruin!” Vizsla called out.
Bo-Katan used her momentum to pull up sharply with her jetpack. Then she pushed against the air repeatedly, keeping her altitude. “Death Watch,” said the Duchess, making a fist at her side. She sounded frustrated and tired, which made Bo-Katan even angrier. It was Satine’s fault they were in this mess in the first place. If only the Duchess had held a tighter grasp on her planet, if only she’d been stronger. But no, Satine Kryze was weak and stupid, and had made many terrible mistakes. “Guards, stay back,” said the Duchess to her guards. “Vizsla, you must be the one responsible for these attacks.”
“No, I’m not responsible,” replied Vizsla, landing gracefully on the balcony in front of the Duchess. “But I can offer a solution.” Vizsla turned around to face the crowd and Bo-Katan descended elegantly to land beside him. “People of Mandalore!” called Vizsla to the crowd of Mandalorian citizens. Much to Bo-Katan’s surprise, he took off his helmet, showing his true face to the people gathered. “I am Pre Vizsla of Clan Vizsla. Death Watch is here to save you from these intergalactic gangsters that threaten our great city. This is a war, and we will win.”
The crowd burst into cries of delight and relief, all according to plan. Save the people, kill the thugs and those evil Sith brothers, rule Mandalore. The plan was simple enough to think and to say, and so far, it was proving to be easy to fulfill. But Bo-Katan knew not to be too optimistic. She would continue to be cautious, and she would never trust Maul and Savage Opress, no matter what they said or did to prove their allegiance.
“Join me, and let us defend Mandalore against the criminals. We need action, not pacifism!” continued Vizsla.
“Do not listen to him!” cut in Duchess Satine. “His war will cause the end of Mandalore as we know it.”
“We are under attack! There is no time for discussion,” said Vizsla angrily. The crowd cheered loudly at this, clearly they were done with Satine’s weak rule, too. Vizsla took a moment to gaze at the crowd, then put on his helmet and pushed off from the balcony. Bo-Katan followed his example and soon the three Death Watch were flying with their jetpacks. Once they were up in the air, Vizsla slowed and looked down at the people on the ground. “The name Mandalore should send fear into the hearts of these gangsters.” The crowd began to form a single word with their cheers; Vizsla. Yes, the people of Mandalore were definitely on board with Death Watch now. Satine didn’t stand a chance.
Once they were out of the square, Vizsla and the other Death Watch man left to go on their own starfighter. Bo-Katan rejoined her best warriors in the starfighter she’d flown in on, and they continued to make their way to one of the planned locations that the thugs would be attacking. They arrived at the location, which had citizens fleeing for their lives, soldiers doing their best to protect, and Pykes and Black Sun criminals advancing on the helpless citizens. “We go in, now!” instructed Bo-Katan. “Capture those thugs, protect the people. And as Pre Vizsla said, put on a good show.” The Death Watch around her murmured in agreement, then they all flew out from the starfighter on their jetpacks. They made their way towards the dark scene; children hiding under benches and one of the Black Sun crime lords on his way to eliminate them.
Bo-Katan flew in quickly and shot out a grappling line that twisted its way around the filthy Black Sun crime lord. He was instantly trapped and shocked, and fell on his back. The children let out a gasp of relief as they realized they were being saved. Bo-Katan gestured forward for the rest of the Death Watch around her to capture the Black Sun and Pykes still free on the street, and Bo-Katan herself headed for the children, still hiding under the bench.
She bent down next to the children, held out a hand to the little boy, and said, “You’re safe now.” Both the girl and the boy emerged from under the bench, less afraid than they were before.
From around her, she heard people murmuring, “It’s the Death Watch. Death Watch are our saviors. Our saviors! Death Watch saved us.” And she couldn’t help but smile, knowing that this brilliant plan was working. Not that anyone could see her smile from under her helmet.
Bo-Katan helped the children return to their parents, then flew up into the air again, on her way to the palace. Once she was there, she rejoined Pre Vizsla and his group of Death Watch. Then they prepared to enter the palace, to formally take control of Mandalore, and bring an end to Satine’s rule.
The door slid open seamlessly, and inside sat the Duchess on her throne, guards and advisors gathered at her side. Bo-Katan held one of her blasters up as she entered the palace along with the other Death Watch. “No!” cried the Duchess as her guards began to move into a defensive position around her. “There will be no bloodshed.”
The advisor to her left, an ugly old man with a mustached, began to argue, “But Duchess…”
“I will not be provoked to violence by these terrorists,” said Satine defiantly.
“Listen, Duchess,” began Vizsla, hands on his hips, “Do you hear the people? They cry out for change. Your weak-minded rule of Mandalore is at an end.” Vizsla became more animated as he spoke, shaking his finger at Satine and gesturing for the rest of the Death Watch to stream inside the palace beside him. “The resurrection of our warrior past is about to begin.” Soon the Death Watch had overtaken the throne room, and Satine knew she was outmatched.
A few minutes later, another assembly in the main square had been called. Vizsla asked the people to meet him there and Bo-Katan was asked, personally, by Vizsla himself, to oversee the presentation of the captured crime lords. In a flash she was standing on that same balcony, this time without a helmet covering her face, and she pointed her blaster at the captured crime lords, including Savage Opress. “Duchess Satine and the new Mandalorian leaders have fled in cowardice while the Death Watch have brought these criminals to justice. Your new Prime Minister, Pre Vizsla, leader of Death Watch, exiled governor of Concordia, true son of Mandalore, presents you with the lords of the most feared crime families in the galaxy,” proclaimed Bo-Katan, bringing a hand majestically to her chest, a smile brightening her face. The crowd began to cheer, “Vizsla, Vizsla, Vizsla!”
Bo-Katan returned with Pre Vizsla to the palace after the assembly. Soon she was entering the throne room next to two Death Watch soldiers and Maul.
Pre Vizsla was standing in the centre of a circle of Death Watch members sitting on chairs, going into detail about the transfer of power when they entered. “The transition of power will be seamless. We now have the support of the people, and Satine to bait Kenobi. With his demise, our deal will be complete,” said Vizsla.
Maul stopped a few feet away from Vizsla, and Bo-Katan stopped beside him. She looked at him closer as he crossed his arms over his chest and said, “Your oversight requires correction. We now have a base, an army, and the means to expand to other neutral systems.”
Vizsla chuckled and replied, “It wasn’t an oversight. It was intentional. I don’t have an interest in the other systems. Your vision no longer matters.” Bo-Katan grinned. This was what she’d been waiting for all along; a chance to turn against Maul. She pointed her blaster at his head, exactly like the Death Watch soldier on the other side of Maul did. That same soldier grabbed the Sith’s lightsaber from his belt, and a Death Watch soldier behind them fastened chains around his wrists. “Oh, don’t fret, I’ll still honour our deal, Kenobi will be dealt with. But now you’ll do as I say,” continued Vizsla, pointing his finger at Maul. Bo-Katan smiled wickedly. This was what she’d been waiting for.
Then they called yet another gathering in the square. Pre Vizsla began with, “The violence is over! The last of the parasites infecting Mandalore has been caught.” He gestured beside him to where Bo-Katan had a grip on Maul’s arm, leading him across the balcony, parading him in front of the entire Mandalorian population. “The Duchess has abandoned her duty to protect Mandalore. Her political dream only encourages aggression against our planet!” exclaimed Vizsla. With that, Bo-Katan used the back of her blaster to hit Maul, bringing him to his knees in front of the gathered citizens. Maul grunted as he fell to his knees, and Bo-Katan placed a sturdy hand on his shoulder to make sure he would not rise again. “We have learned from this beast the consequences of pacifist principles,” continued Vizsla, also placing a hand on Maul’s shoulder to keep him on the ground. “It’s now time to restore the traditions of Mandalore. No one will ever threaten us again!” The crowd began to chant his name again, much to Bo-Katan’s satisfaction. The sooner they got to gaining the full support of the people, the sooner they could execute Maul and Savage Opress. Then Mandalore would truly be free.
Once they were off the stage, Maul was taken by another Death Watch to join his brother in the prison. The rest of the Death Watch went back inside the palace, where they began to determine how exactly the Death Watch would rule Mandalore. While they were talking in the throne room, Vizsla now sitting on the throne, they received an urgent transmission from another Death Watch member. A huge holographic image of the Mandalorian man appeared, and he said into his comlink, “Sir, they’re attacking.” Then the man was lifted off his feet and began to gasp for breath. Exactly at that moment, the palace doors slid open, revealing the yellow Sith monster choking the same Mandalorian man using the Force. Behind Savage Opress walked Maul and the former Prime Minister Almec. Then Savage Opress used the Force to throw the man across the throne room so he ended up on the floor, dead, in front of Vizsla and the gathered Death Watch. Bo-Katan snarled angrily and pointed her blaster on the intruders, just like the others were doing.
Maul stepped forward, pointing his finger at Pre Vizsla, and cried loudly, “I challenge you, one warrior to another. And only the strongest shall rule Mandalore.”
All eyes turned to Vizsla, who stepped forward off the dais on which the throne was positioned. “So be it,” Vizsla said dramatically. “Give him his weapon,” he ordered.
Bo-Katan groaned internally and shut her eyes in fear, but did as she was asked. She knew this was a terrible idea, to give a Force-sensitive, angry monster his lightsaber, but she was already throwing the weapon to him. Maul caught it perfectly and growled as he ignited it. The foul red blade shone like blood in the green-lit throne room. Vizsla ignited his own weapon, the powerful Darksaber, ancient weapon of the Mandalorians, and shouted, “For Mandalore!” Then Vizsla rushed across the throne room to engage the Sith in combat.
Bo-Katan watched the duel enfold like a well-coordinated dance. Vizsla would advance with the humming Darksaber, and Maul would counter with his glowing red lightsaber. The two men danced around the throne room, parrying and slashing, defending and slicing. It was a ruthless, evil, mad dance. Where every blow could mean serious injury or death. And it was beyond exciting. Bo-Katan held her breath fearfully as she watched. She would not let Maul win. An outsider would never rule Mandalore. Not that there was anything she could about it. A challenge from one warrior to another was regarded as the most serious of any Mandalorian traditions. It was to the death in most cases. She just had to hope Vizsla was in luck today.
Soon Maul seemed to be winning, and Vizsla noticed that, too. Vizsla used his jetpack to push off from the floor and quickly turned off the Darksaber and tucked it beside the jetpack at his back. He grabbed his twin blasters and began to fire on Maul, who blocked the fired shots with his red lightsaber. Then the red Zabrak rolled across the floor, away from Vizsla, holding his double-bladed lightsaber out like a shield. Vizsla flew back down to the ground and switched his blasters for the Darksaber. Just in time, too, as Maul ran forward to slash furiously with his lightsaber. Vizsla’s Darksaber rose to meet the red lightsaber, and the blades clashed with a magnificent sound.
The fight continued for a long time; filled with intense dueling and Vizsla’s fired shots. Maul and Vizsla punched and headbutted one another, and even used enough force to knock each other back several feet. Maul fell to the ground in front of Bo-Katan and four other Death Watch soldiers. Bo-Katan smiled in satisfaction as the Sith’s back hit the ground with a thump. She turned her head to look at Vizsla, who was panting. He was recovering from his own fall, and still held the humming Darksaber in his hand. He rose to his feet shakily and fired a sharp piece of metal designed to penetrate skin, even damage Mandalorian armour. However, Maul ducked and the metal barely grazed his cheek. Somehow that seemed worse, as it only angered the Sith further. They engaged in some more complicated lightsaber manoeuvres, swinging their respective weapons with great skill and even greater fury. Then Vizsla began to rise, using his jetpack, once again. Except this time Maul was ready. The Sith jumped into the air and kicked Vizsla down, ruining his jetpack when he hit the ground with a grunt.
Bo-Katan was worried now. She looked from Maul to Vizsla, her face awash in hope, fear, and anger. Pre Vizsla had to win. There was no other way.
Vizsla tore off his jetpack, shattering it with the Darksaber. Maul shielded his face as the jetpack exploded, then Vizsla shot out a grappling cable that wound itself around Maul’s legs. With one swing of his lightsaber, Maul was free. However, Vizsla grabbed his blaster and with a well-aimed shot the red lightsaber flew out of Maul’s hand, landing a few feet away. Vizsla rushed at Maul with the ignited Darksaber, but Maul was ready. Maul caught Vizsla’s hand, the one holding the Darksaber, and held him in place. Vizsla punched Maul’s face, trying to free himself, but it was no use. The Sith bent Vizsla’s arm at an unnatural angle and threw the leader of Death Watch on his back. Vizsla landed with a grunt and began to scramble away from Maul.
Bo-Katan was disappointed. She had thought Vizsla was stronger. She had thought she’d trusted him not to make foolish mistakes. But now here they were, Vizsla cowering in front of Maul, the empty throne behind Vizsla. With a few more punches, Maul had Vizsla bent over on the floor, his face downwards. Maul reached out with his hand and the Darksaber came flying to him, thanks to the Force. Then the Sith was in control, holding the Darksaber proudly above Vizsla’s cowering form. Maul brought the weapon up to his cruel face and ignited it.
Bo-Katan knew what was going to come next, but that didn’t make it any easier to handle. Maul’s yellow-red eyes glowed with hate as he brought the Darksaber up. “Like you said, only the strongest shall rule,” said Vizsla in a raspy voice, fully knowing he was about to be decapitated. Maul brought the Darksaber down, sending Vizsla’s head flying away from his collapsed body. Bo-Katan’s eyes widened in horror, and she hugged her helmet more fiercely to her side. No, Vizsla can’t be dead, she thought, immensely afraid. She felt tears threatening to spill, and trembled with sadness and anger.
“I claim this sword, and my rightful place as leader of Death Watch,” declared Maul, his voice filled with vicious victory.
The Death Watch around Bo-Katan began to kneel in front of Maul, pledging themselves to him. Bo-Katan felt a different kind of betrayal this time. These were men and women she’d considered to be her brothers and sisters. Even some of the women from the Nite Owls knelt, bowing to Maul’s chains. What had happened to the defiant soldiers she’d fought beside, who never let anything block the way to greatness? Death Watch wasn’t supposed to be run by Sith who had thugs running at their heels; it was supposed to be a clan of the best warriors, a family. Bo-Katan shook her head fiercely and said, “Never. No outsider will ever rule Mandalore.” Her voice was filled with all her suppressed rage, and it felt good to finally be able to yell at Maul. He’d ruined everything for her.
“Hmm,” said Maul, bringing a fist to his chest, then gesturing with it at Bo-Katan, who began to back away. Several other Death Watch around her, mostly her Nite Owls, also backed away. “If you will not join me, you will all die.” The Death Watch kneeling in front of Maul rose and aimed their blasters at Bo-Katan and the Death Watch who’d backed away from Maul with her. Bo-Katan felt an intense stab of betrayal as the people she’d known for years turned against her.
“You’re all traitors,” Bo-Katan told them, gesturing with the hand that held her blaster at the Death Watch surrounding Maul.
“Unfortunately for you, history will not see it that way. Execute them!” Maul exclaimed, gesturing with the Darksaber at Bo-Katan and the soldiers around her.
Quickly, Bo-Katan put on her helmet and fired her blaster on one of the Death Watch with Maul. Of course she knew all of the people she was betraying, but they’d been the ones to betray her first. Plus, they were now all shooting at her, so she had no other choice. She tried to forget about the guilt that nagged at her; after all it wasn’t her fault. It was Maul’s. Everything, absolutely everything, was Maul’s fault. Bo-Katan fired up her jetpack and began to fly away with the remaining of the loyal Death Watch soldiers. She threw explosives at the traitors who chased after her, shattering glass all around them. Then she and the rest of the loyal soldiers flew out of the palace, with an explosion behind them making them fly even faster away from the building.
Bo-Katan and the remaining Death Watch loyalists flew out into the open air above Mandalore’s beautiful green and blue towering skyscrapers. She caught up to one of her closest friends in the Nite Owls, a woman named Koska Reeves. “Koska, we need to keep an eye on Maul,” Bo-Katan told her friend as they kept flying away from the palace.
“Do you mean spies, m’lady?” whispered Koska back fearfully. Koska was the only one in Death Watch who knew Bo-Katan’s true family history; that she was the sister of Duchess Satine Kryze. Bo-Katan looked sharply at Koska, warning her not to use the “m’lady” term again. “I’m sorry, Bo, but I’m afraid,” apologized Koska.
“I know. I am, too. Maul is a monster, but we need to make sure we know what horrors he puts into place for the Mandalorian people. I don’t necessarily mean spies, we just need to sneak into any assemblies he calls,” explained Bo-Katan. She was surprised she could think this clearly in the middle of the greatest crisis she’d ever experienced.
“I understand, Bo,” replied Koska. Bo-Katan knew her friend so well that she knew Koska was smiling underneath her blue helmet. “We’ve got ourselves a monster to spy on,” Koska joked.
Bo-Katan sighed. “Yes, I suppose we do.” She kept on flying beside Koska in a straight line in silence, then added, “We’d better explain all this to the others.” She gestured to the Death Watch soldiers flying around her. Koska nodded in agreement. Bo-Katan flew a little faster to get to the front of the group. Then she turned around and held out her hands for them to stop. “We need to get to a safe place, everyone,” she called, hovering in midair in front of the group. “I have news to share with you.”
She turned around and led the group to one of the nearby skyscrapers, where she crashed through one of the windows to land in an empty conference room. Perfect, she thought. She landed on her feet gracefully and moved to the far wall to allow room for the others to land.
“Everyone, we have been betrayed,” Bo-Katan started by saying, as the warriors around her began to land and take seats at the chairs around the table. Many began to grumble and mutter in annoyance, frustration, sadness, or anger. “I understand your anger, and anything else you may be feeling, but we cannot go hide and disappear from Mandalore. We need to fight against Maul and his tyranny. We need to protect the people of Mandalore against this chaos,” said Bo-Katan. The warriors murmured their agreement or exclaimed how impossible her ideals were. Finally, she held out a hand for order and said, “I know it will be hard, and I know we are not strong enough for a full-out attack. Hell, the people of Mandalore would not be able to take another attack!” Bo-Katan cried. Many soldiers nodded around her. “But we need to do what we can to regain control. We need to keep a close eye on Maul. We need to know of anything he proposes and anything he destroys. We need to defend the people of Mandalore, and our history. We cannot let Maul take away our lives, our stories, and our planet. He already has too much power. We must try to stop him as best as we can!” Bo-Katan called out defiantly to the warriors around her.
There were ten of them altogether, including Bo-Katan. Far from enough to regain full control of Mandalore. Not even enough to regain control of the palace. But they could still inform themselves of Maul’s treachery. And Bo-Katan would call for reinforcements; she was sure other Death Watch members would join them when they heard of Pre Vizsla’s fate and of Maul’s tyranny. “What will we call ourselves? We are no longer Death Watch,” pointed out one of the warriors, a man named Krit Stoll.
“No, we are not. We are just warriors, but we have a purpose. We are true Mandalorians now; descendants of our great warrior ancestors, altered by the new Mandalorians like Satine. We are better than all of them. We are powerful. And we must protect ourselves and our people. Perhaps we’ll be called rebels, or the Mandalore resistance,” said Bo-Katan. She removed her helmet and smiled for her group of Mandalorians. They could now see her real face, and within that, her fear, her horror, her sadness, and her anger. A chorus of agreement rang out around her, filling her with courage. “And there are more of us than those here. There will be others who join us. More Death Watch members will have a change of heart and more will come from the rest of the system where they are in hiding. I will call them for aid.”
Koska nodded from beside Bo-Katan and removed her helmet, as well. Then the eight others also removed their helmets. They were all smiling defiantly, even though traces of sadness and anger remained on each of their faces. But they were together, and they were strong.
“I think we need to have someone go to the main square. If I know Maul, he’ll be calling an assembly shortly to display his power through Almec,” explained Bo-Katan.
“I will go,” volunteered Krit Stoll.
“And I will go with you,” added a young woman named Vi Wir. “We will report everything we learn to you.” Vi saluted Bo-Katan in a gesture of respect, then walked with Krit towards the broken window. Together they flew off towards the main square. Bo-Katan had faith that they would remain out of sight, and that they would report everything they learned to her.
She turned back to the seven who were left. “Now, does anyone wish to add anything else?”
Koska waved a little to get Bo-Katan’s attention. When she had it, she said, “I think you must tell us a little about yourself, Bo-Katan. We can help you.” The way Koska said those words made Bo-Katan think that she should tell the gathered Mandalorians about her family history. Perhaps they would be able to help Bo-Katan. Perhaps they could even free Satine Kryze from the prison. Bo-Katan didn’t want her sister to be regiven control of Mandalore, but at least she still held some sort of authority. It would help the people of Mandalore settle down and recover from this chaos that Maul had started.
Finally, Bo-Katan nodded slowly. She looked at Koska as she spoke. “I must tell you all that I am related to the former Duchess Satine Kryze. I am her sister.” A sharp intake of breath from one of the Mandalorians seated to the left of her told her that she had not been discovered before now. But that made telling them now that much harder. “I’m sorry for not telling you sooner. But I can assure you I haven’t been keeping anything else from you. And I will not betray you, unlike our traitor Death Watch brothers and sisters and those foul Sith brothers; Maul and Savage Opress.” There were some reassured nods from around the table. “But I have a suggestion to make,” added Bo-Katan.
“What is it, m’lady?” asked Koska. Some of the warriors around them furrowed their brows in confusion. Then when they realized why Koska had said “m’lady”, they became angry.
“No, no! Settle down,” called Bo-Katan amid the conflict in the room. “You do not have to call me ‘m’lady’ or ‘Lady Bo-Katan’. You can continue to call me Bo-Katan. Please, I don’t want anyone to be upset about this. My suggestion is this,” she continued, more than a little afraid of how the Mandalorians around her would react. “To rescue Satine Kryze from the royal prison, so we can establish peace with the Mandalorian people. We can show them that we care, and then they will be the ones to overthrow Maul and Almec.”
There was silence when she finished. Even Koska was silent with surprise. Finally, Koska said, “That… actually does make a lot of sense. As much as I hate to admit it.” A murmur of agreement rippled through the other Mandalorians.
“Thank you for listening to me and not discarding my suggestion without a thought. I don’t want Satine to rule either, but if we can restore order for the people of Mandalore, we will regain their trust,” Bo-Katan explained.
“That is a good plan,” agreed Koska, and the others all voiced their agreement.
“How should we proceed?” asked another of the Mandalorians, a man named Cinn Kord.
“We will need to find someone Satine trusts to help us break her out of the prison. Otherwise, she will not come willingly,” replied Bo-Katan. She thought for a moment, then added, “Korkie.”
“Uh, excuse me?” asked Cinn with an annoyed expression on his face.
Bo-Katan came out of her daze and looked at Cinn. “Oh, Korkie Kryze, my nephew and Satine’s nephew. Satine trusts him completely. If we get him on board, then Satine will trust us.”
Cinn still seemed confused, but he nodded anyways. Koska thought for a moment, then said to Bo-Katan, “What about Korkie’s friends? Soniee, Lagos, and Amis? I believe they would assist Korkie. That is, if Korkie trusts us.”
“How will we make him trust us?” asked a woman in the Nite Owls named Ursa Wren.
“We let him know we plan to rescue Satine. He’ll readily join our cause when he knows that. And he’ll bring his friends, too, hopefully,” replied Bo-Katan to Ursa Wren.
“Where should we start?” asked Cinn.
Bo-Katan studied him, her brow furrowed with concentration. “We should let Korkie know. I want Koska and Cinn to go recruit him.”
Koska and Cinn both nodded, then got up from their seats to walk to the broken window. “Where will we find Korkie, Bo?” Koska asked.
“At the Royal Academy of Government. He is most likely up late studying there, as he’s almost finished his schooling,” replied Bo-Katan. “Tell me his answer, and bring him here if you have to. Also, try to get a speeder or something. We don’t want to be left with nothing to ride in if our jetpacks stop working.” Bo-Katan smiled at her own joke. Koska smiled, too, then put on her helmet and flew out the window with Cinn. Once they had left, Bo-Katan turned to the five Mandalorians left. “Now, you five, anything to add?”
The five that were left were Ursa Wren, a woman named Anash Rook, a man named Xenn Kord (Cinn’s brother), another man named Njin Illyss, and a woman named Merle Vic. “Who do you fight for?” This question came from Merle Vic, a studious and tech-savvy woman who was far smarter than Bo-Katan. This was clearly a psychological question, even if Bo-Katan thought the answer was obvious.
“I fight for myself, for the Nite Owls, and for what Death Watch stood for. We are Mandalorians; we are warriors. We must not forget that. But we also can’t stay stuck in the past. We must move past our traditions and continue to adapt, in order to survive in a world controlled by those who have too much power and are afraid to lose it,” said Bo-Katan. Her answer seemed to please Merle, whose face softened and she nodded. The others looked impressed with Bo-Katan’s answer. Ursa Wren, Xenn Kord, and Anash Rook all smiled. Njin Illyss didn’t smile, but he patted Bo-Katan on the back in encouragement. “So,” added Bo-Katan, “as soon as we hear from Koska and Cinn, we break into the royal prison to rescue my sister. From there, we can figure out how we’ll continue to fight back against Maul and aid the people of Mandalore. And remember, all who choose to fight with Maul have betrayed us, and will not help us in the future.” The five Mandalorians around her nodded in acknowledgement.
They waited for their fellow warriors to return. The first pair to return were Vi Wir and Krit Stoll. When the two Mandalorians flew through the broken window and removed their helmets, everyone knew that they brought bad news. Vi Wir landed next to Bo-Katan and shook her head sadly. “Almec is now Prime Minister, and he’s told the people that Satine murdered Pre Vizsla and is now imprisoned,” Vi said.
Bo-Katan snarled angrily. “That filthy hypocrite! Even someone like Maul should know not to trust Almec,” she exclaimed.
“I’m sorry, Bo-Katan, but he’s already been reinstated as the Prime Minister. There is nothing more we can do about it right now, we can just try to free Satine from prison and hope she knows what to do,” said Krit Stoll in a calm voice. Bo-Katan nodded sharply at him. Of course she knew the limitations of their resistance.
The sudden noise of a speeder’s engines roared past the window. Bo-Katan turned to face the noise, and saw a speeder slow to a stop at the window. Driving it was a young woman with blonde hair, who Bo-Katan recognized as Korkie Kryze’s friend, Lagos. Riding in the speeder were Korkie Kryze, Cinn Kord, and Koska Reeves. On either side of the speeder were two speeder bikes, ridden by Korkie’s other two friends, Amis and Soniee. All three vehicles came to a stop outside the window and the people riding in them hopped out into the conference room.
“Aunt Bo-Katan,” greeted Korkie in a stern voice as he approached her warily.
“Korkie. It’s been a long time,” Bo-Katan replied with a sigh. “Do you know why you’re here?”
“To rescue Aunt Satine, of course,” Korkie said proudly. “Soniee, Amis, and Lagos will help.” He gestured to his three friends who strode towards Bo-Katan with him.
“It will be a dangerous job, Korkie. Are you sure you’re up to it?” Bo-Katan asked.
“Yes. Anything to stop Almec from being Prime Minister,” Korkie replied.
“He is too corrupt to rightly rule the people of Mandalore,” added Soniee, who wore a band of grey metal around her head that clearly had a technological purpose. “We discovered that the hard way a little while ago.”
“Well, it’s worse than that. When we were a part of Death Watch, we made an alliance with two Zabrak brothers who call themselves Sith. But they betrayed us, and so did some of our friends. That’s why we must put Satine back in power to restore order for Mandalore.” Bo-Katan’s voice was weary as she explained everything to Korkie, whose eyes widened in shock and he shook his head, terrified.
“Then we must rescue Satine, and we must fight back against Almec and whoever is working with him,” said Lagos, her face filled with determination. Korkie, Amis, and Soniee all nodded along to her words.
Bo-Katan smiled sadly at them, then turned back to her warriors. “We need a plan.”
“I think I have the beginning of one,” offered Merle Vic, now holding a datapad. “I think Bo-Katan and Korkie should be the ones to perform the actual rescue, while the rest of us stand on watch at the front of the prison.” Merle looked to Bo-Katan for her response, and she nodded in agreement. Then Merle typed furiously at her datapad and brought out a holoprojector. When she pressed a few buttons, a holographic map of the prison complex appeared out of thin air. Merle pointed at the entrance. “Bo-Katan and Korkie will enter here. There should only be a few guards there, and you’ll be able to shoot them down.”
“Oh,” interrupted Vi, “we have news about the Death Watch who joined Maul. He calls them his Mandalorian super commandos and they have new armour. It’s red and black, and some even have a crown of horns on the helmet, to imitate Maul’s crown of horns.”
Merle snorted and added that to the plan. “At least we know who we’re fighting now! Well, what they look like,” she said. “So, you enter, then Satine should be held in one of the cells around here,” continued Merle, gesturing vaguely at an area in the middle of the complex. “Korkie and Bo-Katan will get Satine out of her cell and bring her out to the front again. Then we’ll make our escape.”
“The comm system appears to be down,” added Cinn Kord, “so if Satine has someone to call for help, we’ll have to get her all the way out of the city.”
Bo-Katan rolled her eyes. “Great, just to make things more complicated.”
Korkie looked at her sternly in the eye. “We can do it, Aunt Bo-Katan. We will rescue her,” he said firmly.
“I sure hope so,” muttered Bo-Katan. “Let’s put this plan into play.”
Not long after, Bo-Katan and Korkie were headed off towards the prison complex, riding in the speeder, guarded on either side by a flying Koska Reeves and Cinn Kord, and Amis and Soniee on speeder bikes. Lagos, who was driving the speeder, pulled up at the front entrance to the prison complex. There were two Mandalorian super commandos in red and black armour, just as Vi had predicted, guarding the door.
When the super commandos noticed them, Bo-Katan jumped out from the back of the speeder and began firing on them with her blaster. Beside her, Koska Reeves and Cinn Kord began firing as well. Korkie, who had bought a blaster sometime in his life, joined in the fight as well. It was only when both guards had fallen to the ground, dead, that Bo-Katan realized they were all armed with at least one blaster, even the non-fighters, Amis, Soniee, and Lagos.
“Come on!” called Bo-Katan to Korkie, gesturing for him to follow her into the prison. The two of them ran into the prison complex and started down one of the hallways. Soon they came to a stairwell which they ran up, always on the watch for other Mandalorian super commandos. Bo-Katan shot one down, luckily quietly enough not to raise any alarms. Eventually they came to the section of cells that held Satine.
However, it seemed that there was a super commando standing in front of the door of Satine’s cell. Bo-Katan gestured for Korkie to sneak up on the super commando and to free Satine, while Bo-Katan covered for him. Korkie nodded in acknowledgement, then moved into position behind the traitor in red and black armour.
Bo-Katan distinctly heard Satine’s ever-so-formal voice when she said, “What do you want, you traitor?” Korkie fired a shot into the back of the super commando, who fell to the ground.
“I would never betray you, Auntie Satine,” Korkie said with a smile. “I’m here to rescue you.”
“Korkie!” exclaimed Satine joyously. She ran to him and hugged him. That was when the Mandalorian super commando appeared.
“Freeze!” he yelled. Korkie and Satine both raised their arms in the air. Then Bo-Katan fired her blaster, and the man tumbled down, a hole in his red armour smoking as he fell.
“Death Watch,” said Satine viciously as she turned to face Bo-Katan, who strode forward to greet her sister. Bo-Katan removed her helmet and grinned. “Bo,” whispered Satine in shock. “It’s been a long time.”
Korkie held out a hand in a gesture of peace. “It’s okay, Auntie. She’s on our side now.”
Satine curled her lip in disgust. “Why are you helping now?” she asked warily.
Bo-Katan couldn’t blame Satine. Bo-Katan would be wary if she was in her sister’s position, as well. “The enemy of my enemy is my friend,” she said simply. But the weight of those words was a heavy burden.
“There was a time when we weren’t enemies. Perhaps that time has come again,” suggested Satine. She turned around to face the direction of their exit. “Come on. Let’s go.”
Bo-Katan put on her helmet again and grabbed a blaster in each hand, scanning for any Mandalorian super commandos headed their way. There were none, so they made their way back to the entrance of the prison complex. Outside, the speeder and speeder bikes were waiting for them, along with the warriors Bo-Katan had brought, Koska Reeves and Cinn Kord, and Korkie’s three friends.
Bo-Katan went onto the landing platform first and gestured for Korkie to stay back with Satine. She waited for Amis, one of Korkie’s friends, to call over to them, “It’s all clear. Come on!” Then Bo-Katan gestured for Korkie and Satine to cross the landing platform to get to the speeders.
As they walked forward, Satine said, “We need to contact the Jedi Council. Korkie, give me your comlink.
Korkie passed his comlink over to her, but told her, “It won’t be any good unless we get outside the city. All the frequencies are jammed.”
Satine turned around to face them all, but mostly Korkie and his three friends. “You are all taking a terrible risk by helping me,” she said.
“Nothing we haven’t done before. Right, Auntie?” joked Korkie.
Bo-Katan hated to disturb her two family members, but she knew they had to get moving quickly. “Let’s get going,” she said.
Korkie and Satine jumped into the back of the speeder, and Lagos jumped into the front. Soniee and Amis hopped back onto their speeder bikes, and Cinn and Koska flew out on their jetpacks. Bo-Katan also jumped into the speeder to guard Satine.
They were an interesting escort, the lot of them; two flying Mandalorians, two speeder bikes, and one larger speeder. But they would make it work for their situation. Everything to keep Satine safe, so she could restore order.
Suddenly, three flying Mandalorian super commandos began to chase after them. The red-armoured traitors fired on the speeder, and Bo-Katan sprang into action. She jumped onto the back of the speeder and gestured with both hands at the traitors. “Take ’em out!” she called to Koska and Cinn. They each flew back and tackled one of the traitors, which left Bo-Katan to deal with only one.
She shot a grappling line at the man, which wound itself around the man’s armour. Then Bo-Katan turned back to Korkie and said, “Get the Duchess clear.” Korkie nodded in understanding, then she flew off the back of the speeder, dragging the man tangled in her grappling line with her. She flew in a zig-zag sharp enough to knock the man into a building, which immediately shattered the glass. Bo-Katan turned back to look at her two warriors, busy fighting their own super commandos. Koska was first to knock hers down, while Cinn punched the man he was fighting. Eventually both the commandos had been dealt with and the escort flew on.
It wasn’t long until more blaster shots rang out behind them, fired by six more super commandos. Bo-Katan turned sharply and fired back at them with her own two blasters. However, the speeder in which Satine was riding was blaring an alarm. Bo-Katan turned back just in time to see Lagos crash the speeder in the open docking bay in one of the tall buildings. Soniee and Amis leapt off their parked bikes and began firing on the approaching super commandos. Bo-Katan, Koska, and Cinn all kept firing. And it seemed Korkie was staying with Satine as she made her way further down the docking bay. Satine held her comlink out, trying desperately to get a signal. But there was nothing Bo-Katan could do to protect Satine now, it was all up to Korkie.
Bo-Katan fired back fiercely against the Mandalorian super commandos, but she was an excellent warrior and therefore knew when she and her friends were outmatched. “Fall back!” she cried to Koska, Cinn, Soniee, Amis, and Lagos. Lagos abandoned the damaged speeder, and instead jumped behind Amis on his speeder bike. Soniee hopped onto her bike, then drove over to where Korkie lay, injured, on the floor of the docking bay. Soniee helped Korkie get on the back of her bike, then Amis and Soniee drove off, with Koska, Cinn, and Bo-Katan flying behind them.
The group made their way back to the abandoned conference room which they’d set up as their base. Soniee and Amis parked their speeder bikes against one of the walls. Lagos got out a small medkit and began to treat Korkie’s bloody, bruised face. Bo-Katan strode over to where the rest of her warriors were huddled, talking quietly amongst themselves.
“We failed,” she announced sadly. “The traitors were able to recapture Satine, and we just barely escaped.”
Merle Vic shook her head. “We’d better try again, as soon as possible,” she said.
“But we are not strong enough!” complained Xinn Kord.
“No, brother, we can and will fight!” countered Cinn Kord.
“How can we fight? There are only ten of us!” exclaimed Vi Wir.
“What about us?” added Amis. “We count, too! We’ll help you fight.”
“Silence!” cut in Bo-Katan sharply. “Stop arguing, all of you! We must work together, as a team, if we are to have an impact.” She turned to Korkie, who was just finishing getting treated by Lagos, and asked, “Did Satine get a transmission out to the Jedi Council?”
Korkie groaned with pain, but nodded slowly. “Yes, I believe she made a call to an Obi-Wan Kenobi. Does anyone know him? He must be a Jedi Auntie Satine knows,” said Korkie.
“I don’t know him,” lied Bo-Katan. She knew that Kenobi was the Jedi who Maul wanted to bait into coming here, and now she knew how Maul was going about that. “But if Satine knows and trusts him, we must trust him, too. He’ll be arriving sometime in the next few hours, if Satine’s transmission got through to him. I will watch for him at the shipment docking port. If he wants to arrive inconspicuously, as the Jedi don’t have any jurisdiction here, he’ll arrive there,” explained Bo-Katan. “I will bring Ursa Wren and Vi Wir with me.”
Koska looked up sharply. “I will go, too, Bo.”
Bo-Katan turned to face her friend and replied, “No, I can see you are injured. You must stay here to regain your strength. You too, Cinn.” Koska looked down, ashamed, but Cinn nodded in understanding. “Let’s go,” Bo-Katan said to Vi and Ursa. The two women followed Bo-Katan to the broken window, then they were off, flying towards the shipment docking port.
Once they arrived, Bo-Katan picked a spot high-up and barely noticeable from the ground where they would keep watch for the Jedi. “Remember,” she said to Vi and Ursa, “the Jedi will want to be anonymous. He won’t be wearing a cloak or robes, he’ll probably be dressed in Mandalorian armour. If he can get his hands on it.”
Vi and Ursa nodded in understanding, then Vi knelt down to wait and Ursa turned the other way to guard them from behind. Bo-Katan removed her helmet as she stood and waited for Kenobi to show himself. The three Mandalorians didn’t have to wait long.
Soon, a clunky old ship was landing on one of the platforms, rattling as if it would fall apart at any moment. A man in dirty yellow and green armour walked down the boarding ramp and started to talk to one of the Mandalorian super commandos on guard. Once the guard asked Kenobi (well, who Bo-Katan assumed was Kenobi) for his landing permit, the Jedi led the super commando back into his ship. There was a dull thud, then Kenobi emerged again. This time, he was in the late super commando’s red armour.
Vi aimed one of her Mandalorian Vambraces at the man in the red armour, who Bo-Katan knew was Kenobi. Bo-Katan shook her head and held out a hand to stop Vi. Vi was clearly confused, but lowered her arm as she was instructed. They watched as Kenobi made his way to a speeder and began to drive away, headed off to the prison to rescue Satine, Bo-Katan assumed.
“What do we do now?” asked Ursa Wren from beside Bo-Katan.
“I want you to follow the Jedi, at a far enough distance to remain inconspicuous. Report back to me what he’s up to, but don’t get in his way. Vi and I will stay here, assuming Kenobi gets back to his ship,” explained Bo-Katan. Ursa Wren nodded, then fired up her jetpack and flew off after Kenobi. “Now, let’s see if the Jedi has better luck rescuing my sister than we did,” said Bo-Katan, smiling. Vi looked up to Bo-Katan curiously, but didn’t say anything.
They waited a total of about fifteen minutes, before Ursa Wren flew back to them with what she had to report. “The Jedi has successfully rescued Satine from her cell. They have stolen a speeder bike and are presumably returning to his ship now. If they can make it past Maul’s super commandos firing at them from all sides,” informed Ursa.
Bo-Katan nodded. “So we’ll continue to wait. And hope Kenobi can get Satine safely back here.” The two women nodded, then they turned back to watch from all sides.
Five minutes later, a speeder bike zoomed onto the platform. Satine and Obi-Wan Kenobi hopped off the bike and began running to his ship, with its boarding ramp still down. However, it seemed that they’d been pursued by at least a dozen Mandalorian super commandos because the platform began to fill up with them. It looked like an impossible fight for the Jedi to win alone, but Bo-Katan would not get involved just yet.
Kenobi and Satine reached the ship and boarded it. But blaster fire continued to pelt the ship. Bo-Katan grimaced. The ship was already old and damaged, this continuous blaster fire wouldn’t help. The Jedi managed to get the ship’s cannons working and took out several of Maul’s super commandos that way.
But then another speeder appeared, this one behind the row of Mandalorian super commandos. And the two figures that emerged from it made the situation a thousand times worse. Maul and Savage Opress rose casually and walked towards the Jedi’s ship that was being bombarded with blaster bolts. Bo-Katan watched in horror as Maul ordered two of the super commandos to fire their flamethrowers, which struck Kenobi’s ship as it rose into the air. The ship exploded when the flamethrowers touched its surface.
Vi gasped beside her. Bo-Katan watched closer for any sign that Kenobi and Satine were still alive. Just as she’d begun to lose hope, she saw the two of them falling from the boarding ramp and grimaced as they fell to the ground with a thud. The ship exploded in the air above them, and debris rained down on Satine. Bo-Katan watched as Kenobi used the Force to levitate the debris off of Satine, but she knew that the Jedi had absolutely no chance of winning when Maul, surrounded by his minions, approached.
Obi-Wan Kenobi ignited his blue lightsaber and struggled to rise to his feet. However, Maul only had to reach out with his hand and the Jedi was choking. Maul used the Force to bring Kenobi to him, still gasping for breath, and threw him at two of the super commandos waiting nearby. The traitors caught the Jedi between them as Savage Opress picked up Satine like she weighed no more than a child’s doll. Savage flung the Duchess over his shoulder. “Take them back to the palace,” ordered Maul, then the evil Sith brothers made their way back to the speeder, surrounded by the traitors in red armour.
Bo-Katan groaned as the speeder began to drive away. “We must get more warriors if we are to rescue both Satine and Kenobi from Maul,” she said.
“Shall we head back to base then?” asked Ursa.
“Yes, but only to get more fighters. Then we will go to the prison. That is where they will bring Satine and Kenobi,” answered Bo-Katan. Then they set off, back towards the tower they’d claimed as their own base.
As soon as Bo-Katan landed, she said, “Kenobi rescued Satine, but they were both captured by Maul.” Everyone groaned at her words. Would they ever be able to actually rescue Satine? “We need to get to the prison now, hopefully we can rescue them both if we get there fast enough.”
“Who do you want with you?” asked Merle.
Bo-Katan studied the group for a second, then asked, “Koska, are you recovered enough?”
“Yes, Bo. I am ready to fight,” replied Koska.
“Then I will take Koska, Ursa, Xenn, Njin, and Vi,” declared Bo-Katan, pointing at each warrior as she said their name. All four of the Mandalorians strode over to stand beside Bo-Katan. “If we are not back in an hour, I want Krit Stoll and Anash Rook to come after us.”
“Understood,” acknowledged Krit. He bowed his head in a gesture of respect and Anash saluted Bo-Katan.
“Let’s go,” Bo-Katan said to her four hand-picked warriors. Koska, Ursa, Xenn, Njin, and Vi followed her as she jumped out the window. Then her jetpack kicked in and she flew off towards the prison. Luckily the palace and the prison were nearby, so if Maul still had Satine and Kenobi at the palace, they shouldn’t be too hard to find. The five Mandalorians in blue armour flew in a tight formation towards their destination. When they neared the prison, Bo-Katan waved a hand for them to split up. Bo-Katan and Koska landed on a ledge on one of the tall towers near the prison. Vi and Njin landed on a ledge of the building adjacent to it. Ursa landed on a higher ledge of the building directly across from where Bo-Katan and Koska were. And Xenn landed on the ledge of a building adjacent to the one where Ursa stood. There they waited, in their four groups, for any sign of the Duchess or the Jedi.
It was several minutes before a speeder drove by, carrying the Jedi still dressed in the red armour of the Mandalorian super commandos. He wasn’t wearing a helmet, and even from this distance, Bo-Katan could tell there were traces of sadness on his face. She would worry about the Jedi’s feelings later. Right now, they were focusing on rescuing him.
There were also three of Maul’s pets in the speeder; one driving, two guarding Kenobi at the back. They will be easily taken care of, thought Bo-Katan. She wasn’t wearing her helmet so that the four warriors with her would easily be able to understand what she ordered them to do. Plus, perhaps if she wasn’t wearing her helmet, the Jedi would be more likely to trust her.
The driver of the speeder turned the speeder around so it could back up and they could get the Jedi off of it. When the speeder stopped moving, the two super commandos used their blasters to hit Kenobi and make him walk forwards.
That was when Bo-Katan turned to face where Xenn was hidden. She nodded sharply at him. Xenn sprang into action, kneeling and holding out his arm so he could fire two explosive darts from his Mandalorian Vambrace.
Immediately the platform on which the Jedi stood surrounded by the super commandos erupted into chaos. “It’s the rebels!” someone shouted. Bo-Katan jumped off her ledge and flew towards the platform. As she approached, she watched as the Jedi realized what was happening and kicked one of Maul’s pets away. Just in time, because the man’s jetpack exploded seconds later, thanks to one of Xenn’s explosive darts.
As Bo-Katan descended towards the platform, she fired her blaster down below at the traitors. The bolt knocked one of the traitor’s blaster out of his hands. Kenobi was still handcuffed and had been thrown to the floor when the explosion had happened, and there he stayed for the next few minutes. When Bo-Katan’s feet touched down on the platform, she leapt at one of the super commandos, kicking him square in the chest and knocking him down. Then she moved on the next, tackling him and wrapping her leg around his neck, choking him. While she held the man with her leg, she pressed the button on his Vambrace that sent a grappling line towards one of his friends. When the line wound itself around the man, she shot out a knife from her Vambrace and stuck it into the super commando who she’d been choking’s jetpack. Off the man went into the air, his friend dangling on the grappling line behind him. Before either of the fools could figure out a way to save themselves, the super commando with the malfunctioning jetpack spiralled out of control, straight into one of the buildings nearby. A massive explosion erupted, and both super commandos were engulfed by it.
Bo-Katan turned back to the Jedi, who was only now getting to his feet. She picked up his lightsaber, which had fallen next to the super commando who she’d kicked and who’d been knocked unconscious. “Sorry, I don’t believe we’ve met,” said Kenobi as he finished getting to his feet. “You are?” he asked.
Bo-Katan strode towards him with his lightsaber in hand, ignited it, and said while cutting through his hand cuffs, “Bo-Katan. I’m here to rescue you. That’s all you need to know.” She handed the Jedi his lightsaber.
Kenobi smiled and replied, “Sounds good to me.”
It was then that Bo-Katan realized the Jedi didn’t have a jetpack. She picked up the one belonging to the unconscious man on the platform and held it out for him. “You ever use one of these before?” she asked.
“No, but in this case I’m a fast learner,” Obi-Wan replied jokingly. Bo-Katan attached the jetpack to his back and hoped that the Jedi would be able to figure it out quickly. They would be getting nowhere fast if he was dragging behind them.
“Let’s go,” instructed Bo-Katan as her warriors began to land around her. Koska, Ursa, Njin, Vi, and Xenn stood guard as Kenobi fired up his jetpack and began to rise shakily into the air. Bo-Katan brushed the red air falling into her face behind her ear and smiled. Then everyone jumped into the air, flying in a tight formation around the Jedi.
They made it all the way down one street and around the next corner before Maul’s pets started to follow them. Blaster fire erupted all around them and one struck Xenn’s jetpack, making him fall to the ground, crying for help. But they kept going, headed for the shipment docking port. Terrible sacrifices are necessary to all causes that are truly good, Bo-Katan thought to herself. They were almost at the shipping dock, anyways.
Soon enough they were at the dock, but the doors were closed and there were two Mandalorian super commandos guarding them. Bo-Katan took out her twin blasters and shot the two guards down. Then she, her remaining warriors, and the Jedi all landed on the ground and turned back to return fire on the traitors that were chasing them. Obi-Wan deflected the blasts with his lightsaber, then ran behind them to open the door. More warriors around Bo-Katan fell; Njin and Vi. Only herself, Ursa, and Koska remained now. The Jedi got the door open and what was revealed was absolutely terrifying.
Mandalorians fought Mandalorians, all in blue or red armour. There were buildings on fire, ships in the air, and explosions every few seconds. Bo-Katan heard Koska gasp in horror and sadness beside her as the door clanged open. The rest of the Mandalorian super commandos chasing them had been finished off by Bo-Katan, Ursa, and Koska. But they had lost so many friends while in the fight.
There was only one good thing about the sight on the other side of the door; there were reinforcements. Ships full of Mandalorians in blue armour (either Death Watch or formerly Death Watch, but they were on Bo-Katan’s side) were depositing their passengers in the open-combat zone. Mandalorians flew with jetpacks in the sky, firing at one another. Mandalorians punched each other on the ground. Mandalorians threw explosives and launched fire throwers at the ships rising in the air. It was absolute chaos.
Bo-Katan ran up beside the shocked Jedi and commented, “Maul must really want you dead.”
“You have no idea,” replied Obi-Wan wearily. Bo-Katan motioned Kenobi, Ursa, and Koska forward into the havoc. Bo-Katan and Kenobi rushed towards one of the blue starfighters hovering nearby, but as they reached it, two of the traitors fired their rocket launchers at it and it exploded in mid air. Frantically, Bo-Katan and Obi-Wan looked for another ship for him to board. Finally Bo-Katan spotted one, a little ways down the shipment dock. Bo-Katan covered Obi-Wan as they ran towards the ship. The ramp was extended and Obi-Wan jumped on.
Over her shoulder, still firing her blasters, Bo-Katan said, “Go back to your Republic and tell them what has happened.”
“That would likely lead to a Republic invasion of Mandalore!” exclaimed Obi-Wan in shock.
“Yes, and Maul will die,” retorted Bo-Katan angrily. “But Mandalore will survive. We always survive,” she added in a vicious tone. “Now go,” she ordered him.
Obi-Wan turned to finish mounting the boarding ramp, but then he slowed. Over his shoulder, he said, “You’re Satine’s sister, aren’t you?” He paused, deflecting blaster bolts with his lightsaber. His voice was low and filled with sadness when he spoke again. “I’m so sorry.”
Bo-Katan felt her heart lurch in her chest as her worst fears were confirmed. She instead turned her sadness into fury and began to shoot with an intensity she hadn’t experienced before. Obi-Wan boarded the ship and took off.
This conflict would be resolved. Obi-Wan Kenobi would bring the news of their failure to protect Mandalore to the Republic and they would send aid. Bo-Katan clung to that hope like someone lost in space, waiting for their ship to return before their oxygen supply ran out. Even though it felt like everything was lost, Mandalore would survive. Just as she’d told Obi-Wan, Mandalore always survived. No matter how many times they caused devastating wars, someone was left alive to tell the stories. Perhaps that was a Mandalorian’s curse. To always remember the battles past, the wars, the bloodshed, the conflict. That was Bo-Katan’s history, after all. She was a warrior. So she would fight.
Bo-Katan turned back to the chaos surrounding her and continued to fire. Then she ran to get cover. She realized that sometime when she’d been protecting Kenobi, she’d lost Koska and Ursa somewhere in the fight. Bo-Katan knew they were strong, but in this big of a mess, anything could have happened. She hoped they’d make it through the battle.
Everything had changed when Maul had taken over. He’d ruined everything and everyone good. Mandalore. Death Watch. Pre Vizsla. Satine. Xenn. Njin. Vi. Even Mandalorian history. Maul had ruined Bo-Katan’s life. And she would have revenge.
But not yet. Right now, Bo-Katan had to find the warriors on her side and gather them together. Bo-Katan and her warriors would regroup, find somewhere safe to rest, and regain their strength. And they probably wouldn’t be able to do anything even after they regained their strength, either. They could only wait and bide their time until another opportunity arose to overthrow Maul.
Then Bo-Katan would have her revenge. She would strike with deadly precision, be surrounded by the best warriors, and Maul would die. Who knew, perhaps the Republic would be a part of that battle. Maybe even the Jedi. But for now, Bo-Katan would wait.