--

- ‘The End’…Prison Orbit….

The need for doing something ‘drastic’ finally came to pass. The message was everything the Warden could have hoped for. Vindication, that what he did and what he was doing was not completely in vain. That Colonel Rickter’s entire plan to take and hold the prison, to subvert the orders the Warden was following from Vowrawn, were delegitimized. Looking over at the Captain, he could see the other Officer sink slightly. They doubted him, doubted the Warden when he was rescued and brought on board.

Those on the prison asteroid made their intentions clear in the message sent by Darth Retuvisa. They intended to escape. It also made the order from Darth Vowrawn crystal clear. They now knew their duties. Without waiting for the Captain, the Warden moved toward the center of the bridge. He had never held command of a starship or any other post within the Imperial Military. The Warden, as Colonel Rickter once said, was a bureaucrat. But he saw others do it. Knew the positions they took when they were about to give a significant order. Mimicking the pose he watched so many times, the Warden stood in front of the Command Chair and locked his hands behind his back. Looking out the forward viewport on the bridge. In the distance, the prison loomed silently.

“Tactical…” The Warden spoke sternly. His head snapping down toward the pit where the various ship station officers monitored their terminals. “…coordinate with the rest of the fleet. Begin a synchronized attack on ‘The End’…” The Officers all looked up toward the Captain. The officer turning back toward the front of the bridge. He didn’t like the Warden, didn’t like the career government servant giving orders on his bridge. But after the message from Darth Vowrawn, could hardly dispute him or his claim.

“Begin firing when ready….”

--

‘The End’…Administration Level….

Anger didn't even begin to describe what Mrysti was feeling after the Warden answered her message and her orders to the fleet. The Force was not going to allow this to be the end. Even if she had to come back from the after life, she was going to get that man. For a moment, she actually looked down at the saber which contained the last essence of a long dead Dark Lord. She understood that level of hate now. But it wasn't directed at any one thing. It was hate on a galactic scale. Of getting so close to something fought so hard for and still being denied.

That was not going to be her.

Mrysti felt it before it actually began. Something out in orbit shifted. Seeing the ships on comm scan begin to take formation around the prison in a very familiar arc verified what she felt in the Force. The fleet was moving into position to destroy the station.

Kneeling down next to Talia, Mrysti adjusted the cuff which she placed over the stump at the end of Talia’s arm. It beeped, injecting another dose of kolto into the wound. Talia looked over as Mrysti stood and smiled weakly. A smile that quickly faded once Talia looked past and toward the scanners which showed the ships moving in space.

“That son of a bitch…” Talia whispered. Her voice barely a whisper. Hoarse from over use by the entity. Talia was exhausted. Sion’s use of her form drained Talia to a point she could barely sit up.

Colonel Rickter had only been conscious for a day as Mrysti scrounged medical supplies and began planning a new way off the station. Contacting Cornelia and Canton to continue their move toward the main hangar bay. A trip that under ordinary circumstance would have only taken a few minutes from the Admin area was now going to take several hours. Lifts and passageways were still out or blocked off. Power still fluctuated sporadically throughout the prison complex. Even being in the administration and control center made no difference. Mrysti managed to get several of the systems they needed on line; near the hangar bay. But the rest of the prison was still non-functional. Taking the time to check every system she could in the few hours she been there; seeing the fleet move into position, Mrysti knew their time had run out.

“We have to get out of her—” The Control Center was going to be one of the first targets. The prison shook violently as the fleet began their bombardment. Dust and debris cracking and falling from the ceiling. Reaching down, Mrysti scooped Talia up into her arms and ran from the command center.

--

The vibrations reached a pitch, echoing through the whole of the asteroid. Cornelia sat up. Raising her head off the armored chest of Canton as he half lay and half-leaned against the wall, still sleeping. She reached over and popped his helmeted head hard. Canton jerked awake, looking at her through the visor of his helmet. About to ask—the vibration stopped him. A second one, then a third. All of them in sequence and getting faster, stronger.

Words were interrupted as the wall next to them exploded outward. Durasteel framework of the prison getting swallowed by the rock of the asteroid. The two rolled away, falling down the hall. The asteroid began a slow tilt sideways. The vibrations and explosions increasing in intensity and repetition.

“They’re starting!!!” Cornelia yelled. Both scrambling to their feet, they ran for the far lift shaft. Canton looked up, raising an arm toward the top of the shaft and into the darkness.

Cornelia wrapped herself around Canton. The launcher in his wrist shot out the lanyard and piton upward within the empty shaft. He felt it hit and imbed. His HUD system verifying the strike. Canton wasted no time, only pulling the lanyard once he set the retractor on his wrist to full. Both he and Cornelia sailed upward. Increasing speed as the retractor pulled the lanyard back into his wrist unit.

Canton’s head snapped toward Cornelia. Those armored systems, he knew them almost as well as he knew his own body. Before the HUD in front of his eyes issued the warning, he felt the lanyard he was holding give way. Jets on his legs and boots ignited instantly. Cornelia screamed and crawled away from the side of him; wrapping her legs around his waist and her arms around his shoulders; Canton planted the other hand once around her waist firmly on her ass; holding her up into his arms. She slapped him.

“You could have told me!!! I almost got burned!!!”

The lanyard gave way. For an instant, both looked at once another. The feeling of momentarily weightlessness grabbing them. Canton could see Cornelia’s eyes go wide. His own narrowing as he looked at her. Letting go of the lanyard, Canton grabbed Cornelia pressing her into himself. The jets on his boots and legs firing off the last big burst of kinetic energy. They landed, rolled and tumbled through the opening at the top of the shaft, landing against the shattered wall of the Logistics Corridor.

Cornelia pressed off of him, looking down as he still held her. Canton was laughing. She slapped his helmet again.

he continued to laugh. Both stood up, taking off at a run. The vibrations and explosions still predictable, they seemed distant further up into the complex. But it wasn’t going to stay that way.

Another explosion, directly in their path sent them flying. Cornelia projected her power in front of them. Shielding them from the smaller debris. But it could do nothing to stop the megaton force of a single turbolaser blast. Sending both Canton and Cornelia flying once again. He snatched her up, even as her arms were still thrust out in front of them; wrapping his arm around her waist and spinning her away from the blast. Shielding her from the most lethal parts of the explosion. The concussion.

Standing up, his armor smoking. Sparks flew from a few shattered parts of it across his back. Cornelia gave him a sad look; this was it. Finally seeing not only the veneer of weakness in Canton's armor, but the first signs of real damage brought all of it home. She was already feeling it. ‘The End’ was reaching its end. And so where they. Canton still offered his hand. She smiled and reluctantly took it. Finishing what he was trying to say in reaching the hangar level before the explosion.

--

--

- ‘Soulcatcher’…’The End’, Sector G-7….

Repairs on the ‘Soulcatcher’s’ hyperdrive computer did more than just save the ship time. It completely replotted all of the calculations for one final jump into hyperspace. It appeared that Waylon and the rest of them had been going the last few jumps in a big loop, around Sector G-7. Aurore tried to explain with some strange Zeltron math, mixed with some belief and a little humor thrown in. She was no scientist. But in with her engineering acumen she eventually explained that G-7 was ‘shaped’ strangely. And that all of the other Sectors surrounding it seemed to bleed in and through certain sections of G-7. They were actually near the Sector the whole time, but the computer couldn’t calculate it because it only dealt with linear equations; straight lines. And getting there was anything but straight.

Waylon allowed Aurore in the co-pilots seat as the ship began to drop out of hyperspace. All of them were in the cockpit in some form or fashion. Deavon and Cora leaned over both Waylon and Aurore’s seats looking out as the spectral lines and ghostly image of traveling through hyperspace came back into view. The glass that typically blocked out the image while a ship hurled through faster than light speed, lightened up in anticipation of arriving. Long lines of stars and distant light streaked across the window; the ship shuttered slightly. Lines refocusing into stars and other anomalies.

“Back!!!” Waylon screamed, jerking the control yoke toward himself. His other hand was on the engine control, also pulling it rearward. All eyes got wide. “Pull back!!!” Aurore did the same on her end with her own controls. The ship dropping them right outside the formation of a large mass of ships. All of them firing on the Prison.

“I take it…that’s ‘The End’.” Cora asked softly.

“The end for somebody…” Aurore remarked. The Imperial Fleet hadn’t been at it very long. Cora scrutinized the formation and the repetition of the turbolasers as they continued to fire. Portions of the Prison asteroid exploding in showers of sparks and debris. Rock shot toward space in abnormal directions as the turbolaser blasts tried to pulverize the prison complex and its asteroid. Cora noticed something, pointing out of the cockpit toward one of the lead Imperial Vessels.

“That’s Command…right there. They just started their solution.”

Waylon’s face crunched in confusion and sarcasm. He turned around in the seat and looked at Cora. “How in the hell do you know that?”

“Because…” Cora smiled wickedly. “…I know things, Captain.” Cora pointed at the other ships and their formation. “The lead vessel will always begin a firing solution with a fleet this size. It’s not very large, patrol sized; garrison type fleet composition…” They were all still looking at her as Cora continued to explain. The Chiss waved her hand to disregard what she just said. “…none of that matters. What does matter, these ships do not have the compliment in firepower the larger Harrower does. It will lead the attack, with the other ships coordinating their firing plan with the lead ship’s tactical officer in order to maximize destructive power. They…will fire at whatever target the Harrower identifies.”

“And that means exactly…what?” Waylon asked again.

“We need to get on that ship.”

“Whoa…” Waylon got up out of his seat and walked between all of the ladies. “..I signed on to get you all here. I didn’t sign on to do NO suicide runs on no Harrowers. Sorry…not going to be me…”

“No, she’s right…” Deavon was staring out toward the prison. Her eyes lazy until she finally closed them. Reaching out in the Force, she could feel those in the Prison and finally Mrysti. They were on the run. Moving toward a certain location in the complex. Combined with the incoming fire, no one on the station had much time. Her eyes jerking open suddenly. Deavon grabbed Waylon’s arm and jerked him back toward her. “Die here…or die on that ship. Your choice.”

“What do you mean die here?”

Deavon snatched the lightsaber off her belt. Waylon’s hand going to his blaster.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa….” Aurore jumped out of her seat getting in between all of them. She was smiling, none of them could figure out why. Cora leaned into Deavon and whispered.

“It’s a Zeltron thing…”

“…so this is what I think. Let me pitch a peace flag right here, right now.” Aurore had her hands up, looking at everyone else. “…we came here to do a job. And if what the ‘Major’ says is true, then there is only one person here who can do that job.” Aurore poked her chest out a bit, placing her hands on her hips. A beautiful smile crossing her features. “…me and Waylon will board the Harrower. I think I have an idea what needs to happen.” Waylon started to speak frantically, but Aurore cut him off. “It makes sense for me and Waylon to go. I’m the engineer. If I’m right and I’m pretty sure I am. No one is going to be able to do what needs to get done to stop the firing solution but me.”

“Then you go!!!” Waylon screamed out, walking further out of the cockpit. “Makes no sense for me—”

Grabbing his arm, Aurore spun the former Mandalorian around. Draping herself over him. Pulling him into her. She wrapped arms around his shoulders and head, melting into him. Kissing him long, hard and passionately. Both Cora and Deavon exchanged looks. Their eyes getting wide, with a hint of humor. What started as shock, dissolved into Waylon placing one hand on her back and pulling her tightly. When Aurore let Waylon go, he looked shell shocked. Stumbling backward, his hair in shambles; nodding his head. “I-I—got this…me and her, we’ll go….”

“Good.” Cora said smiling. “Get Deavon and I close to the surface. We’ll find a safe place to enter once Aurore does her part and get to Mrysti and the rest of them.”

--

- ‘The End’......

The fleet was fully synchronized. Firing in a predictable repetition. But it felt anything but predictable on the surface of ‘The End’. Entire sections were being destroyed as whole parts of the asteroid were separating and flying off into space. The outer buildings gone, smoking holes where parts of the once tremendous complex once stood.

Mrysti ran as fast as the Force would allow. Slinging Talia up on her back in order to move faster. Being able to see things before it happened in the Force just made it worse. Feeling the incoming blasts and moving left then right to avoid only the worst parts of it. But knowing she was going to have to endure some of it. Mrysti fought against the concussion of the storm. The turbolaser blasts sending shards of rock and phased plasma cascading down hallways and crushing everything under the might of their power. Another was incoming with yet another in close proximity. Mrysti threw her hands out to her side pushing back against the blasts as she continued to run. Grabbing Talia with an arm thrown over her head; knowing she was going to have to move in a way that would threaten to lose the Colonel. Mrysti did it to hold the injured Colonel in place.

Mrysti shook her head and bared down. Knowing what was coming. Two consecutive blasts on top of the other sent them flying backward. The Mirialan skidded to a stop. Throwing her hands out to the front; as her power tried to force through, but it was all too much. They were both headed toward solid rock. In the slow-motion haze of the Force; Mrysti was spinning. The air hazy with her Force imbued foresight. Reaching up and grabbing Talia to brace the Colonel from an impact that would have surely killed the smaller woman.

Mrysti took the full brunt of it. Hitting the wall and feeling every bit of the pain of the impact. Her eyes started to close in darkness. The pain of it all. It was too easy to just let go. Just give in. Why not? She was trying to convince herself in the haze of near unconsciousness. Even waving off Talia’s attempts to get her up and moving again. Feeling the smaller woman pull on her, but being unable to move the massive Mirialan behemoth.

On all fours, Talia sat up on her knees. Reaching over herself with her one good hand, she slapped Mrysti hard across the face. Mrysti looked up suddenly. Her mind clearing. An angry look she shot at the Colonel.

“Get…your ass moving, ‘My Lord’….I am not going to die here and neither are you!! You sit here, they win!!! And I am not going to die before I see that man crushed underfoot!!”

Mrysti stood slowly, the vibration of the station coming apart getting more violent. Reaching down she scooped Talia back onto her back and set off again. Pain wracking every part of her body.

--

Entering the hangar, Cornelia slid to a stop. They weren’t alone. Everyone who knew procedure and Imperial protocols was there. All of them desperately trying to find something to fly or some way to get off the station.

An Imperial Officer lifted his arm and fired at Cornelia. Canton launched forward, pushing past her. His arm jutting outward as the lanyard shot from his arm again. Grabbing the line with his other hand, he pulled the hapless Imperial toward him after the piton penetrated his torso. Jerking the uniformed officer toward him; Canton punched the man into the afterlife with the added force of armor enhanced crush gauntlets.

That death got the other’s attention. The rest of the survivors turning. Prisoner and guard alike. All of them coming to a realization that their own disagreements no longer mattered. All that mattered was survival. Like a wounded animal grasping on to the last vestiges of life; all of the survivors launched into attack. Canton pushed Cornelia behind him, even as she fought to get by. She watched the front of his armor light up. The sound of a repeating heavy cannon firing in the distance. And Canton was taking the full measure of its destructive power.

It wasn’t a scream of pain, but of anger. Every weapon in Canton’s arsenal came to bare. The shoulder cannon swiveling up over his right shoulder firing repeatedly. Rockets launched from the small pods embedded in the shoulder plates. Both arms launched out, the slug launching rail gun firing off to the side toward the group as the pulse blaster and launcher under his other arm fired off shot after shot. Cornelia stood stunned for a second. Canton’s entire system activated and firing was like nothing she ever experienced. Jumping into the air she landed next to him.

Cornelia landed to his side. Moving like a blur that no one could see much less track. But the assault cannon didn’t have to. Its repeated blasts were meant for quantity not quality. It hit Cornelia dead center of the blur she was creating with her movement. Sending her flying past a collection of crates and other hangar equipment stations. Shattering the area before refocusing on Canton.

He shouldn’t have. The HUD telling him all he needed to know. Seeing it out of the corner of his visor, he already knew. But he turned his head anyway. Watching her fall. Not knowing what happened as she disappeared into a shower of sparks; the containers around her exploding. Canton shook his head, gritting his teeth.

Mandalorians did not fall. They did not simply die. Family, it was forever. And you did whatever you had to in order to ensure that family survived. Even at the cost of your own life.

Leaping up into the air, Canton came down with a shatter of sonic power. The last of the power cells which gave life to the jets in his legs and boots cycling out, but activating to slam him into the surface of the hanger with tremendous Force. Several more of the offenders died. Failing to move out of the way. Thinking the heavy cannon was their only refuge. But Canton was moving toward it. His HUD beeping the never-ending tone of . The impact of his armor was enough to disrupt the heavy cannon for a moment. The power generator connected to it blinking as it cycled off and then back on again. The cannon sputtered.

Canton took off at a run as the cannon picked back up. The Inmate behind it, turning the cannon upward to track Canton. The others scattered as Canton came down. His fist shattering the face of the Cannon operator.

They regrouped, coming back from the other side. HUD was blinking red in all areas.

- DEPLETED

- COMPROMISED

- LOW

Reaching over, Canton ripped the cannon from the mount. His armor whined under the strain of holding it. Strong as Canton was, he would not be able to hold the large tripod mounted cannon with his own raw strength. They were closing in. Closing on him—he looked at the still smoking containers.

They were closing in on her.

Canton fired into the crowd. Screaming as he did so. The hangar lighting up with the light of large caliber green phased plasma bolts. Bolts usually meant for large targets, vehicles; starships. The other side of the hangar began to shred and come apart from the direct fire. Canton taking steps forward as he continued, stopping once he was along side of her. He didn’t know if she was alive or dead. But it didn’t matter. He was getting her out of there in any case.

Cornelia. The flower in an otherwise barren concrete world. His reason for living. Losing his family to the Empire, Cornelia was the only family he had.

The Clan. That was forever.

- 0%

- 0

The scream turned to pain. Canton held the large weapon with his own strength. His muscles whined in his ears almost as loudly as the alarms going off in his armor's systems. Pain wracked him, numbness setting in as the intensity increased to the point of ringing in his ears. The armor giving out as the weight of it and the weight of the cannon began to pull him downward.

“I almost…” Canton whispered. His eyes darted over to the containers, still no movement. He smiled, looking up. The last of the inmates and guards running through the access. “…I’m so sorry, Cornelia….”

--

It was the echoes of the fight that brought her back. But also, the voice. Cornelia could almost hear him. That shouldn’t be possible, Canton was not possessed of the Force. Every part of her hurt. Blackened and charred flesh cracked as she grimaced. The sound of a repeating heavy blaster made her forget the pain as she pushed and launched out of the shattered equipment, back out and into the fight.

Canton was on one knee, trying desperately to hold up the cannon which would no longer be held. She started to run toward him. The hangar lit up in flame.

It wasn’t the guards or the weapons. It was the fleet outside. They were targeting the hangar area.

“NO!!!” Cornelia launched a hand out, diving toward him as the first blast hit. Cornelia could sense it coming. Every part of her being telling her go the other way. But she couldn’t. Dropping her light saber as she placed every bit of the power that remained in her to try and get to him. And was blown back the way she came.

The smoke cleared. The access where the guards and inmates were attacking. Gone.

But so was Canton.

--

There was a serene part of Mrysti that no one saw. A part that once existed on a level outside that of the Light or Dark. Where she was just a girl. A girl that twirled and danced in the sun. Sucking in all the life. She shared that with only one other person and knew what that kind of happiness felt like. To share something, a bond so strong that when it was gone you lost a part of yourself. The Force punished her for that one time. Stealing the color of her hair. Scaring her nearly to death with the fear of what that loss felt like. Killing love. That's what it felt like. You lost everything.

As Canton was blown away, Mrysti felt the lost for someone else. Knowing what losing Canton would do to Cornelia. Mrysti knew what that felt like. And how devastating it would be. A part of her, the part that was all Dark Lord had no opinion what-so-ever. Cornelia would survive, she would grow stronger. Channeling that loss to eventually become even more powerful. The hate and rage of having something so precious taken away would jade her for the rest of her days.

But there was another part, the one that Mrysti often listened to that felt the incoming turbolaser. The part that still had the lustrous red hair. She saw the future. Not just in the present, the phased plasma hurling itself toward oblivion. She saw the two versions of Cornelia. The two versions of a life without Canton. The part of Mrysti that loved the Sun and soaked in happiness won. No one should lose that kind of bond. A bond that was just so rare it had to be protected. Cornelia didn’t know it yet. She only felt it. But Mrysti did, because she knew the loss. And not once, but twice.

Dropping the Colonel, Mrysti leapt across the chasm as the floor opened from the blast. Every ounce of her being, all of her strength and that of the Force hurled toward the other side. Through the blast, she felt her skin sear; her clothing melt. Canton was already falling. Down a deep chasm which opened into the power level of the Prison.

Mrysti leapt, she dove into oblivion. No doubt. There was never any doubt. Hands outstretched. Canton had nothing left, no strength to save himself.

And she grabbed him. Holding him with all of her might.

A bond that was too precious to let go.

--

The hangar area was ripped apart. Opening up into the power shafts which supplied the entire facility. Like cracking open a shell to get to the juicy center, that part of ‘The End’ had finally exposed its vulnerability. The fleet started a slow turn, angling toward the cracked center of the station. A few shots and that was it. Complete annihilation as the reactors would overload from the sudden influx of turbolaser blasts at one-million degrees.

Canton looked up. The last bit of power remaining in his helmet winking out. He had been hurled thrown down the other side of the hangar hanging over the shaft. But he wasn’t falling. Held by something. Through the pale lens of the visor he saw the arm. Green, strong. Mrysti held him. Having dove through the fire and explosion to grab him as he sailed through the air.

But he could not help her. Not because he didn’t want to. Even if his armor had power, he was done. Canton could feel the bones and the muscles torn and shattered throughout his body. As he suspended in air looking up, he laughed. Tasted the blood in his mouth. He was, for the first time, literal dead weight.

“LEH ME GO!!!” Canton yelled. It didn’t sound like him. Something was wrong with his voice. His eyes darted to the side of his helmet, where light was peeking in. A shard of metal was shoved through the side of his helmet. And through the side of his face. He smiled again, at least in his mind. The place was doing everything it could to kill him.

Mrysti grimaced. “NO!!!” And with a scream she hurled Canton up and over her head. The Mandalorian rolled to a stop and landed in an unmoving heap toward the center of the smoking ruin. Painfully, Mrysti stood. Holding her side as blood shot from wounds along her torso. Cornelia was on her knees, over the top of Canton as she looked up at her Master. ‘Thank You’ she mouthed. Mrysti waved her off and shook her head. Looking up in the sector space above them. The fleet hovering ominously overhead.

They had them and the station dead to rights.

Why hadn’t they finished?

--

- Imperial Flagship, ‘Endeavor’….Engineering section.

“Oh my….” Aurore exclaimed with glee. The repeating heavy cannon she carried, with the assistance of the brace she created which wrapped around her waist; was giving her chills. It was almost as good as sex. The thought made her glance at Waylon. That kiss gave her a little tingle down below. Something she hadn’t felt in another organic in years, almost a decade.

Known for only being into droids. Aurore hid a painful truth about herself. Why she was only into things that couldn’t hurt her. Not unless she let them. Aurore wanted control and people, you couldn’t control them. Everyone had their own wants, needs. Waylon, the most needy and self-serving man she ever met. Hid his own pain. And covered it with a veneer of not caring. But he did. If he didn’t he wouldn’t be there. That was what the kiss was all about. Reaching that last part of him. Seeing if what Aurore thought about him was true and to answer the question she had about herself.

She loved him. She had to admit it and now he knew. If he didn’t he was just stupid and she determined to explain that part to him later. Aurore never gave up on Waylon and she wasn’t going to stop now. In a way, Waylon was her ultimate droid. The project that never got finished and something she could always work on. Glancing out at him from the corner of her eye, she smiled; continuing to fire the cannon down the hall as the Imperials scattered and ran toward exits.

Thank the maker for Cora. That woman knew everything about those ships. After dropping off the others, Waylon and Aurore followed the instructions given to them exactly. Coming up on the underside of the ship and behind. Dangerously close to the thruster and exhaust ports of the main engines. Waylon’s ship started to give heat warnings. That the skin of his own vessel was going to reach critical temperature. But under Cora’s directions, the alarms quickly went away. They flew in between the main engines of the larger ship, attaching themselves to one of the exhausts. One that Cora said was only used if the ship launched into hyperspace to release excess plasma from the engine manifold.

All of that jargon made total sense to Aurore. Waylon had to just trust Aurore’s judgment and after the kiss, he had. His mind completely reversed from wanting to run. He was staying for her. If Aurore was going down there, Waylon was going to protect her. The argument could have been made that Waylon was just interested in getting into Aurore’s pants. It was quite a claim, risking one’s life just for a piece. And anyone who knew him, knew that Waylon was not hurting in that department. Any woman he wanted, he got. It was something deeper. Something was happening between Waylon and Aurore. Something new and exciting.

Waylon’s coat parted in a rush of depressurized air. The flow blowing back on them as the engineering bulkhead doors started to close. He drew both blasters after only having one pistol drawn to take aimed shots at those who escaped the web of Aurore’s continuous fire. Attack hard and fast, that’s what Cora said. Don’t give them time to respond and if the doors start closing, you know you did your job. The doors were going to lock them in, but the Imperials out. It was the doctrine response to an attack on engineering. Securing the engines from saboteurs.

But they weren’t headed for the engines.

Aurore shook and detached the waist harness off herself. Shaking the mount off and dropping the cannon. She called to Waylon as she took off at a run. Identifying which door they needed as all of them started to close. “C’mon!!!” she yelled, sliding under the door. Waylon was close, sliding in next to her and under the door. Coming up firing as the Chief Gunner’s Mate turned, blaster in hand.

Waylon put him down. The main terminal lit up and linked in to the rest of the fleet. Aurore walked deliberately toward the panel. Spike in hand. She jabbed it down though the main terminal as the panel exploded in a shower of sparks. The programming embedded in the spike already flowing through the main gunnery controls.

The ‘Endeavor’s’ guns fell silent.

--

Deavon pointed toward a part of the smoking ruin. It wouldn’t be long before the shielded part of the prison asteroid they were walking on became subject to vacuum. Not a lot of time to traverse the surface. Already the shield was fluctuating. Both women taking off at a run.

Cora fired at several stragglers. Running from the remains of the hangar. There was not much of it left. The stragglers had no idea where they were running, they just ran. Soon the vacuum of space would become their new home.

Deavon stretched out a hand toward Cora. Stopping her. Activating the blue plasma of her lightsaber, Deavon held it in a reverse grip. Cora knelt down in front of the cloud of smoke aiming into it. Figures were approaching. Parting the thick smoke as they stumbled and made their way toward them.

In her arms, Mrysti cradled what remained of a warrior in red shattered armor. Next to her, a woman badly burned and showing the scars of a battle well fought and won, held up the uniformed figure of an Imperial officer. The officer’s arm thrown over the shoulder of the smaller woman as the other held her up. They walked slowly, resolute that this was not going to be their end. Stopping once they saw the other two.

Cornelia activated her saber with a grimace of pain as she looked at Cora and Deavon. But Mrysti shook her head ‘No’. Stepping forward. A weak smile starting to cross her face. Cora and Mrysti locked eyes as Cora stood up, holstering her blasters. They all met in the center of the shattered quad. Mrysti nodding down to the other two. She recognized Deavon, a warrior of times past when Mrysti once led the greatest Coaltion of warriors in the galaxy. The two nodded to one another unspeaking. There were no words to be had. It would have cheapened the moment.

Cora took the officer draped around Cornelia from her, stretching the arm around herself and turning back the way they came.

Mrysti looked up at the silent and dormant fleet. Closing her eyes to the silence of it all. Only….There was no silence at all. The last parts of the prison destroying itself behind them. The damage from the fleet having done most of its work well. But she was out. They all…were out.

And it was time to go….Home.

--

--

- Sector G-7, Site formerly occupied by ‘The End’…..

“Pull the fleet back to a safe distance….” Captain Tanis moved toward ‘The Pit’. Flight Officers began moving their hands quickly over their terminals.

“What are you doing?!?!” The Warden looked over, moving off the raised area of the Command Section. “Captain?!?! I’m talking to you!! We have boarders, the ship is under—” The Captain turned on the Warden and pulled the blaster from his hip.

“Do take a seat, Warden.” There was no time to explain to someone who had no idea what needed to be done concerning flight operations. ‘The End’ was damaged critically. Ship sensors detecting a build-up to critical mass. The power systems on the asteroid on a path to certain and sure destruction.

Bridge lift doors opened. All eyes turning as the bridge fell silent. Only the sound of terminals and ship systems the background. Mrysti stepped out. Medics from the bridge staff rushed to her side, taking the load of Mandalorian off her back. Mrysti had not put Canton down the entire time. Even while on board the shuttle sent by the Captain to retrieve all of them. Something the Warden had no idea the Captain had done. The Captain, a career Imperial Officer also answered to a higher power.

Looking toward the Warden, Cornelia activated her lightsaber again. Her face twisting into rage. Mrysti placed a hand on Cornelia’s chest pushing her backward; shaking her head. “Go see to Canton.” Cornelia pushed forward in defiance. “Now…Cornelia.” Stepping back into the lift with the medics, Cornelia glared the Warden’s direction. The man stepping back and stumbling off the raised area. Other medics and auxiliary personnel tried to take Colonel Rickter as well. She waved them off, but not before giving Mrysti a glance. Unlike Cornelia, Mrysti did not presume to give orders to the Colonel.

Straightening herself up as well as she could, Colonel Rickter limped toward the Captain and the Warden. Both men, eyes wide watching her as she walked slowly. Tucking the cuff over the stump of her arm up and into her chest. Stopping, Talia stood up straight. Looked at the Captain, who snapped to attention. Before turning her gaze to the Warden. Mrysti walked slowly, all of them looking like they been through the meat grinder; coming up behind Talia and placing her hands on her hips to glare down at them all.

Still holding the blaster, Captain Tanis flipped it backward offering it to Colonel Rickter. “Colonel, I surrender myself to your judgment. I was under the impression you were dead. I have no excuse for my actions.”

“That won’t be—” Colonel Rickter’s voice strained and still hoarse, she cleared it quickly before continuing. Her voice cleared up, slightly. “That won’t be necessary, Captain. I do not hold you responsible.” Her eyes turned toward the Warden. He was steadily backing up toward the front of the bridge. But there was no where to go. “But you—” The Colonel started to limp toward him, a wicked smile starting to emerge on the injured woman's face. “—you…there will be no end to the punishment you shall endure before we return to Imperial Space.”

“Oh, there will be an end.” Mrysti spoke up.

Turning slightly toward Mrysti, the Captain holstered his blaster and bowed slightly. “My Lord, it is an honor to have you on board the ‘Endeavor’. I have the ready room set up. Darth Malgus has requested you make contact with him after our first jump.”

“Very good, Captain.” Mrysti nodded and looked at Talia, who was still glaring at the Warden. “Admiral…” Talia didn’t turn around. Not realizing Mrysti was addressing her. “…’Admiral’ Rickter…” Talia turned around, continuing to limp as she turned. Her eyes slightly wide, she tucked the cuff of her arm into herself a bit tighter. “Every Dark Lord requires a high-level officer to exert their will. I am assuming you will accept my nomination. The compensation is lousy and the last two Admirals I’ve had were killed, but…I can promise you will never be bored.” Talia smiled, she half bowed. Grimacing from the pain, even as she smiled weakly.

“Captain, please take ‘Admiral’ Rickter to the infirmary. And thank you for seeing to my team. I will express my gratitude to Darth Malgus for his foresight when we speak. And ensure he knows that there are still loyal Imperials within the Ranks.”

“Very Good, My Lord…” The Captain wrapped an arm around ‘Admiral’ Rickter, escorting her to the lifts. Mrysti turned back toward the Warden, who was backed up all the way to the forward viewport. Mrysti started walking toward him, slowly. “I told you…you were never in control. Dealing with forces you could not possibly fathom. But you will, Before we reach home, I guarantee it.” Mrysti gestured over her shoulder. Two fleet guards moving in beside the Warden to drag him away. “Safeguard him. He is to be unharmed until I have a chance to consider his fate.”

Moving up to the raised platform, Mrysti looked behind herself before sitting down. Still injured, some wounds still seeping from the torn and melted clothing she wore; Mrysti flipped her white hair out of the way and sat down, stretching her hands over the arm rests as the seat groaned under her weight. She looked at ‘The End’. The asteroid was tilted strangely. Explosions were distant flashes. Sparkles of light. Medics moved up alongside her chair. Mrysti waved them away. Leaning forward, she smiled glancing down at the pit.

“Set course for Dromand Kaas…”

“Fleet stands ready, My Lord….”

“Best possible speed.”

--

Slowly the fleet made a turn toward the hyperlane. Moving away from ‘The End’ as the asteroid went critical. Exploding in a brilliant flash of light. Rock and debris cascading across the sun which gave it distant light. Creating another bright spot across a beautiful landscape of space. All ships launching into the hyperlane and darting away from an area of space that no longer held any meaning for the Empire. Or those who once called it home.

--

--

Cornelia was pacing. Not knowing what to do with her hands, she clenched her fists and screamed. There had to be someone to tell, someone to inform. But Canton had nothing, no one. Cornelia knew a little of the history. His clan was betrayed at the Enclave. Acina used all of the Mandalorians as patsies to hide her own betrayal. It started a war, not only with the Eternal Empire, but the Mandalorians. All of them. Some of those rifts were repaired after the Empire officially declared war on the Eternals. And even more rifts were repaired after Acina met her untimely death by Mrysti’s hand.

Continuing to listen to the droid list Canton’s major injuries, she turned on the unit. Progress was already underway to somehow remove Canton’s armor. The unit stopped, backing up as robotic arms from the ceiling retracted. A system wide-medical bay alert sounding.

>

“What?!?!” Cornelia moved to the droid.

It paused looking Cornelia up and down.

“Then wake him up!!!” Cornelia pushed on the droid.

Gritting her teeth, Cornelia clenched her fist and backed up; turning around.

“If he dies…I will destroy you.” The droid didn’t seem to take the threat seriously. Ignoring it as it backed up and folded into a traveling configuration. One of the Doctor’s approached, looking at the screen. She started to walk off as Cornelia grabbed her. “Doctor…” Cornelia was trying to control herself and her emotions. “This man is more important to me than you or anyone else on this ship. If he dies, I will kill everyone in this med bay, do you understand?”

The Imperial physician’s eyes got wide. A strained look of confusion set in. “M-My Lord…what is it you wish us to do?!?! We can’t treat his major injuries without killing him and nearly half the ship?!?!”

Cornelia shoved the Doctor away. “You think of something…” She moved next to Canton and brushed a bit of the hair out of his face. His helmet sitting on the bed next to him. She looked at it, wondering how it was so easily removed and not the rest of his armor. Cornelia bent down and kissed his forehead, smiling at him weakly. "...I'm here, Canton. I know you can hear me. And I will never leave you, not ever."

--

Well underway, Captain Tanis finally convinced Mrysti to leave the bridge and go to the infirmary. Like a massive weight being placed upon her, when she entered everything they been through the past few weeks; as well as the past couple of days caught up with her. The droid approached, as well as several of the physicians. Speaking out loud, the droid began to recite all of the ailments. Mrysti held up a hand for the droid to stop. It fell silent. No need to add more to already long list of things that Mrysti collected over the years. Laying down on one of the medical beds, Mrysti stretched out and relaxed for the first time in over a year.

Looking over, the ‘Admiral’ watched as the droids and medics started pouring over the Dark Lord. Mrysti promptly stopped all of them. “One droid will suffice.” She had been through all of it before in worse circumstances. She was up and walking. More than Mrysti could say about the other times she found herself in the infirmary.

Sparks flew from the interface in her arm as the ‘Admiral’ jerked, sucking in a breath sharply. Slowly, Talia rotated the cuff which now capped off the end of her arm just below the elbow. The droid was still working on the neural interface.

Seeing the sparks Mrysti looked over. Talia smiled slightly. But it was Mrysti who gave a return grimace. She started to speak, sitting up to look at the Colonel. That was something Talia didn’t want the Dark Lord to do for several reasons. One if which was interrupting her convalescence.

“It’s not necessary, My Lord…” Talia hopped off the table. The droid had not finished, but it didn't matter. Talia was holding the stump of the arm in the other hand; walking over. “…I know what you’re going to say. And it’s unnecessary.” Talia gave the droid a nod. It moved back over Mrysti; the Dark Lord laying back down. Both women looked over at the other table and the young woman who sat in the alcove next to it. Canton lay motionless, monitors beeping incessantly as they monitored the Mandalorian's vitals. After Cornelia’s display, Talia walked over to the Doctor that Cornelia pushed before walking back to her seat. Corneila was bent over, not paying attention. Her head in her hands.

“She’s refused treatment, Admiral.” The Doctor spoke, looking back over his shoulder toward Cornelia.

They glanced at Canton again. His life signs getting weaker. Talia was thinking about the problem, walking over to the table to look down at the red armored Mandalorian. “Place his helmet back on. Power up his armor and link it into the diagnostic computer.” The Doctor gave the Admiral a strange look. “Now, Doctor…we don’t have time.”

Doing as she was told, the Doctor went over and sealed Canton’s helmet back on his head. Plugging the armor into the table with a few power cords linked into the power cell ports of his systems. The screen flashed and blinked. But changed into a virtual view of the HUD system which was Canton’s constant companion while inside the armor. The system began diagnosing the occupant once it fully rebooted. Signs and Mandalorian language spelled across the screen.

Activating on its own, the chest plate opened up. The droid hovering nearby in a traveling configuration suddenly came to life. Commanded by the armor's systems and resumed it’s original treatment plan, guided by the armor’s HUD.

Looking up, Cornelia jumped from her seat and ran toward the table. Talia smiling as she walked away, passing by Mrysti as the Dark Lord and the new Admiral exchanged a look.

“That’s why you’re the ‘Admiral’…” The last words the Dark Lord spoke before a pressor field descended around Mrysti's form and sedated her. Talia hopped back on her own table and presented the stump of her arm, looking down at the shiny new neural plate. Nodding at the droid near her station.

“Resume, please…”

Hydraulics descended from the ceiling. A suction sound emanated as the droid near Admrial Rickter placed the new arm on the neural plate of her stump. Standing, The Admiral looked down at the shiny black hand that replaced her flesh and blood appendage. She smiled at it, flexing the fingers in and out, testing the interface. The action, smooth. Refined and delicate. Rickter snapped her fingers. It sounded more like metal hitting metal. Rickter narrowed her eyes, reaching down to grab the tattered rag that was formerly her uniform top.

"When she wakes up..." Talia looked at the unconscious form of Mrysti. "...inform Darth Retuvisa I will be on the bridge."

--

Everyone getting the care they needed. The Physicians and Medical Staff onboard the ‘Endeavor’ did not notice Canton’s armor activate his distress beacon. An automated response built into the system to warn those of his clan that a Mandalorian was critically wounded.

The ‘Endeavor’ dropped into real space, prompting the beacon to activate. The fleet spreading to a defensive formation to await communication from Dromand Kaas, as scheduled. But another communication was already being sent.

--

--

Zakuul, Mandalorian Enclave; Clan Ta’aaka Expeditionary Headquarters….

Renatta moved to the holo-screen and moved the display around; prominently displaying the last vestiges of the data sent to her by the contacts within the Column. Any communication from ‘higher’ was important enough to supersede all others. And as the medic for the small squad, it was imperative that she; of all people, understand the technology and what they were looking for. Mandalorians called them ‘Medics’ or ‘Corpsmen’. In Mando’a, they were known as ‘Baar’ur’. Renatta was much more skilled than the average medic. At the level of Physician by any outside organization standards.

‘The Column’ was the home for Clan Tu’aaka after the war with the Eternal Empire. Peace was made with both the Empire and in some ways, the Republic. And it was the Clan Leadership that decided they were not going to go back. The Empire had betrayed them. The Republic was no friend to the Mandalorians. They chose the lesser of two evils. Going neutral in hopes that neither side would decide to hunt or label them as ‘enemy’.

But there was a bigger reason for Tu’aaka deciding to go their own way. One of their own, the last to die by Acina’s hand the day she betrayed all Mandalorians. Blood was forever. And the stain it made on those who chose to spill it never washed off. The Empire sealed their fate the day Canton was killed covering not only the Mandalorians escape, but also performing an honorable duty. To escort the Sith Empress back to her throne. Only to be betrayed and murdered by the one he was sent to protect. Acina explained her action once the Sith Empire allied themselves with the various resistance factions scattered throughout the galaxy.

But Renatta never forgave the betrayal.

Canton, was her husband.

“Mark these as read…” Renatta spoke outloud. Looking toward the door; it slid open to the expeditionary team leader striding in and nodding curtly. Renatta turned back to the screen after returning the nod. Moving her hand over the surface to manipulate the image. Coming up behind her, Ivan folded his arms over his chest and looked down, shaking his head. The other Mandalorian couldn’t make heads or tails of the very technical data. Looking over at Renatta, he shrugged.

“This is why you have all the brains of this outfit, Vod….” Renatta looked up, placing a hand to her mouth as she studied. Her eyes narrowing.

“This metal, it’s…” Renatta shook her head again. Shaking off the thoughts of trying to find a new way to synthesize it in order to make tracking it easier. That was her task as given by the Column's higher command. And there was no one better suited on the ground to do it. She turned, leaning on the desk to look at Ivan; placing her arms on the surface behind her to rest. “…are we still ‘hiding’?” The comment made both of them smile. The Column’s involvement was supposed to be secret in order to confuse anyone who would be tracking the Republic team who was sent to Zakuul to locate the manufacturing site. Even as ‘The Column’ already showed its hand by involving one of their newest members in the form of ‘Cypher’.

“I don’t hide.” Ivan said sharply, closing the distance with Renatta slowly. He leaned down and kissed her forehead. Renatta bending it slightly to allow him to do so. “Besides, Colonel La’chance knows we’re here. If they need our support, she’ll let us know. All of them have no idea how to conduct hidden surveillance. The Sith channels are lighting up with information flowing back and forth about the Republic being on the ground. I don’t know why she just didn’t put an ad on the holo-net…” Ivan made a show of his hands. “…’Attention: Republic Special Ops team on Zakuul, inquire within…” They both laughed.

Renatta lost the smile turning back around to the screen. “I don’t like working with the Republic. Any big government always brings up—” She stopped the rest of her statement and shook her head looking down. Ivan closed in again and placed his hands on her shoulders squeezing them.

“That was a long time ago, Renatta.” She nodded, looking back up to move her hand over the screen. It blinked and blanked out a moment causing her to stand up straight. Incoming transmission, a distress beacon interrupting the projected image. Those kinds of transmissions were always sent to a Clan’s higher headquarters; more importantly the medical personnel terminals. It was ‘that’ kind of beacon. Somewhere a member of their Clan was in distress. Medical distress.

About to dismiss it, Renatta reached forward. The team on Zakuul was all accounted for. No one could be in distress if combat action was not taking place. She narrowed her eyes looking forward. Then opened them wide. Renatta stood straight up, still staring at the screen as her mouth dropped open slightly.

IN all of their time together, Renatta was known as ‘Rock’. In her line of work, she had to be. The life of a field medic was not one that allowed for shock or fits of uncontrollable emotion. They were dedicated professionals that worked in the worst situations and sometimes during the worst parts of an operation. She stood and stared, her face blank in stunned silence. Falling backward as she fainted away.

“Whoa, whoa!!!” Ivan caught her, laying her down on the floor gently as he looked up at the screen.

>

>

>

Canton was alive.