Dawnbreaker Episode II: Shattered Worlds/Part 9

CHAPTER 25

Rattler wakes up, seeing the cat aim at Deathstrike, he pulls her down in time to avoid a laser blast. Taking aim with his laser pistol, he snaps off two quick shots, frying the freaky laser shooting feline. "You're welcome." He says dryly as he gets up. "And not all pilots are useless outside of the cockpit. Don't ask me how I know you think that, I have no idea. Probably this whole place is screwing with us. Let's just get the hell out of here."

The Assailant runs down the hall behind Rattler and Deathstrike. "Long story, but I know how to get out of here!" He shoots them both in the gut. "Sorry." The Assailant pulls out a knife and slits his own wrists. The three wake up on the ceiling. The Assailant looks around for a moment, looking at the smoking ruins of the last battle. He sees the Gatekeeper, just standing there.

Rattler wakes up again, this time hanging from the ceiling, with a rather irate Deathstrike next to him.

"You know... this waking up thing is getting old." Rattler growls as he works his way free of the vines. A moment later the Assailant wakes up.

"What the hell have you done?!" The Assailant cried as he jumped down from the ceiling. Now they know we're awake! We have to get out." He looks around the room to make sure everyone is free. He turned back to the Gatekeeper. "NOW!" The Assailant shoves past the Gatekeeper, and picks up Kane's saber. He looks back to everyone else, then leaves the room.

Darkon still looks quite confused, as Ty helps him to his feet. The Mercenary gives the Sith an odd look, before following the Assailant out of the room. "Lead the way, friend."

The Gatekeeper quietly follows the Assailant and Ty, as he summens Kane's mask, and puts it in his pocket.

"Listen," Said the Assailant, addressing everyone, "In case your memory hasn't come back fully, remember, these creatures are invincible in a fair fight, if you see one, run the other way. Getting out of here is going to be really difficult thanks to the genius here." He gestures angrily at the Gatekeeper. "But the sooner we get going, the better chance we've got. Let's find a hanger."

The Gatekeeper says nothing at the direct insult to him from the Assailant, however he does mutter the word "Kane" in a sorrowful voice under his breath...

Rattler and Deathstrike catch up with the Assailant just as a cloaked figure appears. The Assailant moves to strike when Rattler holds him back, narrowing his eyes.

"You're the one that tried to help me back in that simulated world, aren't you?"

The figure, who upon closer inspection is revealed to be female, nods.

"Yes I am. But there is no time to waste. If you value the countless lives in this universe, you will follow. Gatekeeper, not all of us follow your brother."

Rattler asks her about her interest in him, as she apparently never appeared before any of the others.

"You are a child of the creators, those you would call the Forerunners. But now is not the time to discuss this. Hurry!"

Rattler rolls his eyes.

"Anyone else think we she's hiding something? Cuz I don't want to be the only one."

He blinks as the cloaked woman makes a gesture, and their weapons appear.

"In case you still doubt me."

CHAPTER 26

Ty294 buries his face in his hands. "As if this is already weird enough... I think I'm gunna retire. Yah, I'll retire. Buy a nice home on Naboo... maybe get a cat... one that doesn't shoot lasers..."

"I agree with you Ty." Said Rattler, "I'll be happy to get back to fighting just the Kilrathi. But look on the bright side, she's not trying to kill us... yet." Rattler says quietly, "Besides, I think that whole Forerunner line was a cover. Unless there's a whole bunch of full moons all lined up beaming bozo rays into everyone's brains."

The Assailant raises his hand, motioning everyone to stop. He peers around the corner to see one of the 'creatures'.

He motions for everyone to step back, but the creatures suddenly turns it head and looks strait at the Assailant. It's face looked like a very pale human with pitch black eyes. "RU-!" The Assailant starts to yell, but is cut short as he collapses to the floor, grabbing his head, as the creature tortures his mind.

Ty294 quickly activates his cloaking device and vanishes from view. However, his voice is heard by the everyone.

"Run you fools! Go! Go!! Go!!!"

The Gatekeeper walks over to the Assailant, and starts dragging him toward the creature. The he raises his hand and fires a bolt of red lightning at the creature. The creature absorbs the lightning, but in doing so, he temperarily releases his hold on the Assailant.

"You can't...fight it...RUN!" The Assailant screams as he gathers the energy to raise a gun and fire at a window, revealing a hanger.

"GO!"

Rattler snaps up his laser pistol, and fires at the creature. Instead of a blue bolt, a golden one lances out, and slams into the creature. The creature collapses.

"Wait a minute, I thought these things were supposed to be invincible?"

The cloaked woman responds. "I made a few alterations to your weapons. Unfortunately they are only able to stun them. We must hurry."

The Assailant starts to get up. "WHY AREN'T YOU IN THE BLOODY HANGER YET?" He throws himself through the broken window down into the hanger.

The Gatekeeper calmly walks into the hangar, leaving a trip mine on the door and broken window.

"Those trip mines will create a loud explosion when the line is crossed. They will temporarily stun the target, so they will buy us some..."Suddenly one of the creatures dives over the trip mine and onto the Gatekeeper's head, wrestling him to the floor, shreading at him with his claws. The Assailant gets onto one of the ships and uses the ship guns to blast the creature. "GET ON THE SHIP YOU IDIOT!"

"I'm already on the ship, Assailant." Said the Gatekeeper, standing behind the Assailant. "That was a dummy I postioned to distract them. Now you have revealed our location. Great job."

Everyone boards the ship, and they take off.

"But what about this place?" Captain O'Neill asks. "If we just leave, they will just capture more people and do this all over again."

The Gatekeeper replies, "I can answer that. We find out what planet this is, I take a massive fleet of Star Destroyers and the Uberweapon, we mop up resistance, then use the Shadow Laser to blow it up. Fair enough?"

"As long as they get taken out, fine by me." Rattler says.

"The Shadow Empire is gone." The Assailant said, as he looked at the Gatekeeper. "No-one can control the force near them, and neither could the Uberweapon. Until they are all dead, your precious Uberweapon is useless."

"Never underestimate me. I can summon a new Uberweapon in an instant as well as an INFINITE number of Star Destroyers. Assailant, you have my word. They can't win. Just tell me who needs taken out, and it will be done. It will take awhile, if they are as powerful as you say, but keep this in mind: Even if my Empire is gone, my fleet and the original Uberwerapon destroyed, I can still use the Force. As well as other sources of power. It is clear to me that we can only make it out of this war alive if we work together. I can provide the military, as well as a master tactical strategist. I've been doing this since long before you were even born. So, what do you say? Unending fleet? Invincible battleship? Perhaps even peace when this is all over...?"

"You still don't remember, do you?" Asked the Assailant, clearly frustrated that no one else remembered. "You became powerless in their presence before, and it almost cost you your life! Now you want to do it again?"

The Gatekeeper would not listen, so he teleported out of the ship.

"You damned idiot!" Yelled the Assailant.

CHAPTER 26

Lord Darkon realizes that he missed the escape. However, a strange... presence... can be felt through the Force in this facility.

"Typical. Well, up to a True Sith'ari to rid the universe of this menace!"

At a sudden sound behind him, Lord Darkon rolls, just in time to avoid a black power-bolt fired by another of the human-like creatures that has just entered the hangar.

Teras-Kasi piercing kick - with the Force still blocked, and weaponless, Darkon has to revert once again to his mastery of Teras-Kasi. However, the creature is unharmed.

Another of the black power-bolts catches Lord Darkon in a grazing blast to the side. He staggers, moderately wounded. He feels the power of the crystal he absorbed earlier pulsing through him once again. He looks back up at the beast with an evil smile on his face.

Basilisk Stare - the creature is turned to stone

Teras-Kasi hammer kick - and is now a pile of dust

"Well, one more down... how many more to go?"

Deathstrike suddenly jumps to her feet.

"You thought Lord Darkon was dead! He is not! I can sense him again! I'm going back!"

Before anyone can stop her, she jumps into an escape pod, launches it, and pilots it back to the hangar.

"I shall stand by my Master! I will not let him face those creatures alone!"

Deathstrike's escape pod lands back in the hangar. She joins Lord Darkon.

"Master, you actually destroyed one of them?! The hooded woman told us they could only be stunned! Your powers truly are astounding..."

"I was fortunate to find an empowerment crystal, my apprentice. The power it granted me allowed me to gain the upper hand. However, I am still cut off from the Force, and by the haunted look in your eyes, I can guess you are, as well. But, as you can see, the creature did manage to wound me. Without the Force, I cannot regenerate... I must find some healing herbs in that forest in the last plane. Let's go. On the way, you will tell me, who is this 'hooded woman' you speak of, and everything else that happened while I was... indisposed."

"At once, Master. And while you are empowered, look, I have a lightsaber. So neither of us is completely weaponless. That bodes well for us."

Deathstrike's escape pod lands back in the hangar. She joins Lord Darkon.

"Master, you actually destroyed one of them?! The hooded woman told us they could only be stunned! Your powers truly are astounding..."

"I was fortunate to find an empowerment crystal, my apprentice. The power it granted me allowed me to gain the upper hand. However, I am still cut off from the Force, and by the haunted look in your eyes, I can guess you are, as well. But, as you can see, the creature did manage to wound me. Without the Force, I cannot regenerate... I must find some healing herbs in that forest in the last plane. Let's go. On the way, you will tell me, who is this 'hooded woman' you speak of, and everything else that happened while I was... indisposed."

"At once, Master. And while you are empowered, look, I have a lightsaber. So neither of us is completely weaponless. That bodes well for us."

Lord Darkon listens as Deathstrike tells the whole story.

"So, the Gatekeeper has a brother, Kane, who drove the Jedi into two factions." Darkon mused. "And the Dark Jedi eventually began to interbreed with the ancient True Sith, and took on the mantle of the more contemporary misguided 'Sith'. Why am I not surprised that such misguided arrogance is a truism for his entire family, not just the Gatekeeper," Darkon rolls his eyes. "In any case, this situation is now beginning to make sense. This Kane is responsible for the suppression of our Force abilities, and he is likely the master of these 'creatures' that seek to destroy us. If the True Sith are to prevail in this struggle, we MUST destroy him!"

"The Gatekeeper plans to assault this multidimensional planet with the Uberweapon and his fleet, and destroy it, Master. He believes that will solve this situation."

"Typical. He even underestimates his own brother! He thinks that a simple direct assault will be enough... and I am sure Kane expects him to do just that! Still, the Gatekeeper's assault will certainly distract Kane... giving us the opportunity to act from within, and destroy him! We shall remain concealed for now, and try to find more of these empowerment crystals, as well as any other weapons available. We will need every bit of power available to take on Kane! Also, I suspect that when Gatekeeper attacks, Kane will be distracted enough for our Force abilities to return to us... for now, however, this is a waiting game."

"Yes, my Master."

Ty294 materializes directly behind Deathstrike.

"Darkon, now your the one doing the underestimating. Did you think this would be so easy? The only reason I snuck back with Deathstrike is to save you two from your foolish delusions so you don't get killed uselessly! Those crystals are a ruse! When you use them they give you a false power while draining your real power and giving to the enemy! Look!"

Points back toward the hangar, where the mysterious creature, previously thought destroyed, had vanished.

"Now great Sith'ari, you better follow me!"

Darkons makes no move.

Ty stands right in front of the Sith'ari and Darkon feels Ty's powerful grip around his throat.

"You idiot! This Assailant knows more about these forces then you will ever know! Now you attempt to take them on yourself? If you wish to die Darkon, I guess I cannot stop you. I only wish you wouldn't drag this girl to doom with you."

Ty activates his cloaking device and disappears. He swiftly moves to another hangar where he can only hope there is a ship that is still pilotable.

Deathstrike stares after the Mercenary, which she believes to be an illusion.

"Even as an illusion, he is still a coward. Run, rather than face the enemy and conquer!"

"Ignore him, my Apprentice." Darkon said as wto creatures - different than the ones before - walked up behind the two sith. "Looks like more minions of Kane are attempting to waylaid us. Take the demonic beast to the left, I'll dispose of the right one."

Deathstrike charges the left beast, as it fires some sort of toxic dart out of its mouth. Deathstrike throws herself to the side, transferring her forward momentum into a sideways roll, still toward the beast. Before the beast can shift its aim, Deathstrike's right foot catches it behind its knees, toppling it to the ground, as Deathstrike's lightsaber slashes through its skull.

The right beast traverses sideways from Lord Darkon, discharging a volley of toxic darts with unerring accuracy. Darkon leaps straight up, entering a horizontal spin in midair, as he catches two of the darts between fingers of both hands. The rest are being evaded or deflected by the torque of the roll. As he falls back to the ground, he kicks off, and launches himself directly towards the beast. Now below the beast's initial aim level, it takes the beast a quarter second to shift its aim... far too long. With a flick of the wrist, both darts previously caught bury themselves in the midsection of the beast, sending it staggering backwards, stunned. Half a second later, Darkon's left heel connects with the beast's nose in a devastating backward snap-kick, with a force that drives its nose almost fully inside its cranium. It collapses, dead before it even hits ground.

Lord Darkon and his apprentice's eyes meet, echoing the unspoken thought.

"Never underestimate the power of Teras-Kasi!"

Moments after the demonic beast's corpses reach the floor, they merge into one twoering creature. It stands there, it's gaze moving from Deathstrike to Darkon then back to Deathstrike. In an instant, it breaks apart into a swarm of tiny insects, these insects seem to disperse for a moment, then they reform into a swarm and head straight toward Deathstrike. Unable to do a thing to stop them, the swarm envelopes Deathstrike completely. Darkon attempts to free his apprientice but only after the bugs scatter does he realize: Deathstrike is gone.

CHAPTER 27

Slowly coming back to consciousness, Deathstrike is still for a moment, listening. A faint clicking sound can be heard coming from behind and to the right. Opening her eyes and slowly turning her head, she can see one of the Creatures behind her, working at some sort of computer console in the right corner of a strange room, the room's walls seemingly made of pure flesh, alive and pulsing. She can no longer feel the weight of the lightsaber at her belt, it is gone. Something is driving in her back, and she pulls out a small orange crystal. The crystal infuses in her skin, granting her a non-Force power.

As the bugs disperse, Lord Darkon is shocked that his apprentice has seemingly vanished. All that is left behind is her lightsaber, which he picks up. There is no sign of any kind as to what might have happened to Deathstrike, and without the Force, he cannot even tell if she is alive or dead. Searching the scene, he finds another small crystal, violet this time. As before, the crystal infuses into his skin, granting him a new non-Force power.

"Deathstrike's disappearance must be connected with that illusion of the Mercenary, somehow. Kane is more manipulative than I anticipated... I should follow that illusion. Perhaps more clues will be revealed."

He runs off in the direction he saw the illusory Mercenary take. Darkon enters a hangar, similar in appearence to the one that the others had found their ship. As he does, he sees the duel engines of a small-fighter craft rocket to life and propel the ship out of the hangar.

Ty294 sits in the cockpit of a small fighter he located in one of the hangars. The controls are similar to his Z-95 so he has no trouble getting the craft to function. As he exits the planet's atmosphere, he begins to talk into the radio.

"This is Ty294, Assailant, are you still here?"

No response.

"Damn it! Ty294 to Assailant, do you read me?"

A faint broken voice comes over the static.

"Merce ... ssailant, what were .... send cordi ... mee ... rendevous poi ..."

The radio goes dead, Ty294's scopes locate a ship at the edge of the system. A second later, it drops off the sensers; likely it's gone into hyperspace. The computer suddenly displays a set of hyper coordinates. Ty ponders for a moment whether or not this is a trap.

"It's my only chance." he decides.

As Deathstrike makes her way through the corridors of the building, voices begin to swirl in her head.

"You do not know what forces are at work here..."

"Shut up Kane! You feeble attempts don't scare me!"

As she turns the corner, she sees Darkon.

"Master!" she cries dashing toward him.

Darkon turns and faces Deathstrike. Deathstrike realizes, that it's not really Darkon. The vision laughs in a deep, raspy, inhuman voice then vanishes. Deathstrike continues, but at every turn she sees someone she knows: Darkon's officers, Grage, Patten, Rattler, Ty294, the Gatekeeper. Each time she hears the voice and the visions disappear.

"You don't understand a thing Deathstrike..."

Deathstrike begins to crawl carefully and silently toward the room's exit on the far side of the Creature sitting at its console. Unfortunately, the Creature's ears are VERY acute. It rises to its feet and turns to Deathstrike, who likewise leaps to her feet.

Deathstrike's green eyes take on a black shadow-cast, as they always do when she is furious. She snarls: "Your precious Kane is simply another miserable worm in the way of Lord Darkon and the True Sith! And now, you shall see that I am not as 'feeble' as you think..."

Dimensional Displacement - orange crystal power - The Creature's body becomes two-dimensional. Not having any width, it is no longer able to support itself, and it flops to the floor like a piece of thin paper. The effect is temporary, and the Creature is still alive, but will pose no threat for some time.

"Now, let's see what this console is all about..."

She taps a few keys at random, and suddenly a map of what appears the layout of this particular dimensional plane appears on the screen. On it are denoted two green dots, clearly herself and Lord Darkon, as well as a myriad of red dots... Creatures, their demonic minions, and probably Kane. She smiles sweetly to herself, remembering one of Lord Darkon's teachings.

"Valuable intelligence on enemy movements is the most lethal weapon on any battlefield."

Deathstrike finds a datapad next to the terminal, and copies this dynamically updating map program to it, then runs out of the room on her way to meet her Master, carefully avoiding enemy concentrations.

The Gatekeeper stands on the new Uberweapon, organizing a massive attack fleet, which has appeared out of nowhere. He turns to the Admiral. "Hold off on the attack. I can sense Lord Darkon and Deathstike down on the planet... Kane is still alive... I'm going." Before the Admiral can say a word, he vanishes. He reappears right next to Lord Darkon. "What a surprise..." Said the Gatekeeper. "Darkon, I don't want to do this, but seeing as the circumstances call for it, I don't have a choice. I'm going to give you your powers back, then I'm going to find Deathstrike and give hers back as well. As the creator of the Force, I'm still connected to it wherever I go, as it flows throughout my body. Long story short, your welcome, and don't abuse this privilage." He waves his hand, and Darkon feels his powers return, but before he can say anything, the Gatekeeper vanishes. Just as suddenly as he appeared, Lord Darkon feels his Force powers leaving him again. Clearly, Kane can easily counter any change in his domain. Only this time, he underestimated his adversary! Even as his powers fade out again, Lord Darkon can feel the connection between Kane, the Gatekeeper, and their ability to drain or infuse the Force. He can feel it... and he can now counter its effects completely! The Force once again empowers him, and this time, no one, NO ONE... could possibly negate it again! Not Kane, not the Gatekeeper, nor anyone else! In an instant, he senses his apprentice, rushing towards him with critical information in her hands. Phasing right next to her, Lord Darkon restores her Force connection as well.