Chapter 17: Orders
Barriss' POV
After forming an alliance with Asajj Ventress, Barriss had suggested that they go to the Jedi Temple on Coruscant so that Ventress could have a weapon to fight whatever battles lay ahed for the duo. Reluctantly, Ventress had agreed and they set off the Imperial Capital planet.
Barriss' TIE Advanced prototype didn't have the room to fit both of them in the one place but with a little force wielding, they had salvaged an old droid Tri-fighter from during the massacre of Dathomir.
After setting in the coordinates for Coruscant, Barriss let the ship fly smoothly as they entered hyperspace and took the time she now had to meditate. She closed her eyes and shut off the noise of the ship's engines while plunging deep into her connection with the force. She got an unusually strong feeling that something was up with Ventress but she knew she would have to wait and find out what it was.
Thrawn's POV
After much discussion with the rebel cell's commanders, they had decided that Thrawn would tell the bridge officers that he was heading down to the surface of Takodana to investigate a few suspicions and that he would rendezvous with two crew members, Sabine Wren and Zeb Orrelios at the decided destination of Maz's Castle who would escort him to the rebel base.
What the rebels didn't know was that Thrawn would be meeting with Mas Amedda a little earlier to give him Lord Vader's dead body. Thrawn wasn't sure what the Emperor wanted with a dead corpse but then again, he didn't know much about him.
It wasn't easy getting a dead body onto a shuttle without anyone noticing but with the help of the Royal guards, who he had found out where there to keep an eye on Vader's activities, they just managed to load him onto the shuttle.
As Thrawn set course for Maz's Castle, he accepted the incoming transmission from Emperor Palpatine and bowed before him, even though there wasn't much room to bow.
"My Lord" Thrawn addressed the blue transparent image that formed the small old man before him.
"I trust everything is going smoothly, Grand Admiral Thrawn" Palpatine said, the cold voice as meaning as it would be had they be talking in person.
"Of course my Lord. However I need ask one question," Thrawn started, not waiting for a nod of approval from Palpatine. "What do you need Darth Vader's body for? If I may ask" Thrawn added.
"Do not worry my dear Admirial, you worry about your plan and I'll worry about mine."
Ahsoka's POV
The two wondered down the Jedi Temple corridors, or what was the Jedi Temple. It was mainly just rubble and debris lying around everywhere. Only the main doors worked while the ones that led to smaller room, were fried. With each new room Ahsoka came across, more memories filled her head of the clone army executing Jedi Knights, some she hadn't known, others she knew she would miss dearly. Every now and then she would feel the presence of Anakin slaughtering Jedi Masters as they struggled to defend their home.
"It's a wonder this place is still standing" Rex commented as they reached the Jedi Archives. They had decided to see if there was any relic worth saving before they ended this once for and for all.
"Look Rex, you don't have to come if you don't want to but I need to do this." Ahsoka exclaimed as they exited the archives room, deciding there was nothing worth recovering.
"Ahsoka you do realise this is suicide!" Rex blurted out.
"I know it seems that way but..." She didn't get to finish as Rex interrupted her.
"No! Once we've done what we need to here, than we are leaving and going back to Takodana and that's an order!" Rex yelled, dirt falling from the ledges above. Ahsoka just stood there, obviously in deep thought, a small smile spreading across her face.
"What happened to experience outranks everything?" Ahsoka asked. She watched as Rex blushed, embarrassed about the way he had acted out just then.
"But no, your right, I was acting out of grief and anger. We'll meet back with the rest of the fleet after we make a quick stop at Mandalore..." Ahsoka once again was interrupted as there was a loud bang from the room outside that made them whip out their weapons.
Maul's POV
As his grapple gun launched him upwards, he activated his lightsaber and slashed it against the glass when he reached the top of the Palace. He rolled through the opening and landed in the centre of the room that was filled with Imperial officers and Stormtroopers. They were slow to react as Maul had already defeated the white armoured troops before the Imperials could even grab their pistols.
Maul sat in the throne after killing the last of the Imperial officers and waited for them to come. He knew news travelled fast on this planet and he knew it travelled faster between his former allies. After about twenty minutes of waiting, the sounds of jet packs echoed from outside and in a few moments, more glass was shattered as they emerged into the room.
"Maul!" The leader spoke in shock as they all aimed their weapons at him.
"You know it's been a while since I was last here. My oh my how things have changed" Maul exclaimed as he stepped off of the throne and took a few steps over the fallen soldiers.
"You've just guaranteed your death by coming here!" She spoke.
"Oh no, I don't think so my dear Bo Katan. Mandalore will once again be mine!"