There was a lot of activity at the imperial base in the capital. Apparently, they were preparing for something huge. Even some high-ranking officers were helping with the preparations at the base.
While all this was happening, Director Prar, accompanied by the agent Hercules and Ochô, were walking around the base's landing platform, where several stormtroopers and black knights were in position.
At that moment they saw a large imperial ship approaching the landing zone, landing in front of Director Prar and his entourage.
“About time, Agent Hercules.” Shador Prar said. “I was already worried that they weren't going to arrive.”
“Don't worry. Everything will go as planned, sir.” Agent Hercules said.
But just at that moment, an Imperial shuttle landed right next to the large ship that had landed. Prar was confused about who would be coming too at this moment. His eyes widened when saw who got down from the ship, approaching them.
“Lord Vader?” Prar asked, looking surprised at the Sith Lord walking in his direction. “What are you doing here? I didn’t know you were coming.”
“I’m here by order of the Emperor, Director Prar. I’m here on a mission to make sure that our control over the planet is inviolable.” Darth Vader said to him. “Besides, I'm interested in what you have planned this time to deal with the rebels.”
“Oh, don’t worry, lord Vader. You’re about to see a part of our plan.” The agent Hercules said.
“We will see,” Vader said, standing with the others.
When the large ship’s hatches opened, a pair of stormtroopers went down the ship, followed by the bounty hunters Cad Bane and Diara.
“Welcome, Cad Bane,” Prar said to the bounty hunter. “I hope your mission was successful.”
“Of course, Director Prar.” Cad Bane said, biting a toothpick, soon looking at Vader. “Well, well, and who’s this one?”
“That’s none of your business, Bane.” Prar interrupted. “They’re with you?”
“Delight your eyes with what we bring you,” Diara said, signaling the ship.
From the interior of the ship came a group of bounty hunters of different races, which consisted of a male Aqualish, a male Devarorian, a female Falleen, and to Prar’s surprise, a male Lepi.
“Allow me to present you to Van Daliyuha, Laos Grazisk, Xad Bed, and Zats.” Presented Cad Bane to Prar.
“Oh, Zats? I heard about you.” Prar said looking to the Lepi, who held a rifle on his back. “The Torturer. You like to make lethal shots on your targets. Not killing them immediately, but making them feel an agonizing death.”
“That hell they suffer is what they get in being my target.” The Lepi bounty hunter simply commented, glaring for a second at the Sith Lord.
“Enough talking.” Said the female Falleen. “Bane said you had a job for us.”
“And I have a job for you.” Said Prar, before looking at Diara. “I hope you did the stop I asked you.”
“Yes, and there’s your package, boss,” Diara said, signaling a box that a pair of black knights were carrying out of the ship.
“Excellent!” Prar said. “Go with the agent Hercules. He will tell you what you need to know.” He said as he went to the box carried by the black knights.
“Please, follow me.” Agent Hercules said, beginning to walk with the bounty hunters following him.
Vader walked close to Prar while Ochô watched them silently while the director opened the box.
“What’s in this box, Director Prar?” Vader asked him.
“Oh, it’s very simple, Lord Vader,” Prar said, taking a white horned helmet. “My latest masterpiece.” He made a sinister smile as he looked at the helmet on his hands.
Meanwhile, in the Tengu, everyone was reunited in the Lounge, except Lop and Kota.
“Okay, does anyone want to tell me what we're doing here together?” Asked Frall with his arms crossed.
“Don’t look at me. This time I have not convened this meeting here.” Brad said, shrugging.
“Erm, I think it was Kota,” Byte said.
“And where’s he? And Lop?” Yavis asked as he was sitting on the couch.
Soon Lop and Kota entered the Lounge.
“I am sorry we kept you waiting, even though we were the ones who called this meeting,” Kota said.
“What’s going on, Kota?” Drasha asked the old Jedi.
“I've been talking to my apprentice, and I think we have an idea of how to seriously hurt the Empire. And if what she said is true, we might even drive them off the planet.” Kota said to them.
“Well, this might be interesting,” Brad commented, rubbing his chin.
“Okay. We’re all ears.” Frall said.
Kota nodded at Lop, nodding to her before she began to speak.
“As we all know, Tao allowed the Empire to occupy the planet in exchange for helping them to modernize itself and advance technologically,” Lop explained.
“Yeah, we know the story.” Said Drasha.
“Not all,” Lop said. “Before the Empire could establish itself on the planet, it had to negotiate with the Great Families the conditions of the occupation, which ended up being known as the ‘occupation treaty’, which established the points the Empire could exploit Tao’s resources up to a certain degree.”
“But as we saw repeatedly, in secret the Empire is ransacking the planet’s resources for their own benefit while hiding all the damage they’re doing to the planet. The things the people see aren't nothing compared with the damage they really cause.” Lop said.
“And what do you suggest?” Yavis asked.
“It's simple, we must show the evidence to all the Great Families on the planet,” Lop said. “If they see the Galactic Empire is breaking their side of the occupation treaty, they will end the occupation treaty, declaring the imperial occupation as illegal.”
“And how could they do it?” Brad asked. “I don't want to rub salt in the wound, but your father didn't have much luck facing the Empire.”
“That’s true,” Lop said with a sad tone before continuing. “But the other Great Families have lots of resources at their disposal, and they only need to give the order to make all the Lesser Families band together with them to create an army strong enough to drive the Empire away. And that doesn’t work, they know the means of how to hurt the Empire pretty hard.”
Drasha thought for a moment. “Maybe we should try. What’s the worst that could happen?”
“Knowing the Empire, anything,” Frall said.
“Not to discourage you, but there is a problem: where do we find this evidence?” Byte said.
“There is only one place on the entire planet where data relating to the Empire's exploitation activities on the planet could be located,” Kota said, putting his hand on the holotable. “In the imperial base in the capital.”
“Wait a second. Are you really suggesting we attack the Imperial base? Have you lost your mind?!” Brad asked, frowning his eyes.
“I wouldn't say attack the base. I would rather say ‘infiltrate’ it.” Kota said.
“And how?” Drasha asked.
“I'll be honest with you. Ever since I joined this team, I've made contact with a few people to keep an eye on the Imperial base, observing any kind of movements they make there.” Kota said.
“You're not the type to waste time, are you?” Brad commented.
“I prefer to keep a small circle of information in case we have to approach that base,” Kota said. “I currently have a plan on how to infiltrate there. Although for this we need some things beforehand.”
“As what?” Yavis asked.
“We need to get our hands on some Imperial uniforms,” Kota answered.
“Let me get this straight, you want us to infiltrate the base disguised as imperial soldiers and steal privileged information from within?” Brad asked him. “It is clear that they will smell the deception!”
“But that will only be part of the plan. Assuming the Empire suspects that we have infiltrated their base, we will be the decoy.” Kota said, placing a hand on Lop’s shoulder. “Lop will be the key piece of the plan.”
“What?” Frall asked the old Jedi.
“He's right. As long as the Imperials are watching you, me and TD can move through the ventilation ducts to the terminal where the information is located.” Lop said.
“And what are we doing in the meantime? Walking around the base like we're at home?” Byte asked.
“Not quite. We'll be placing explosives at various points in the base as we move. As soon as Lop gets hold of that information, the alarms will surely go off. At that point we'll set off the explosives, causing explosions all over the base.” Kota explained. “The chaos should give us the maneuverability necessary to escape the ship.”
“The truth is that the plan is not so bad,” Drasha said. “But the question is who will be infiltrating it? My head can’t fit in one of their helms, and they know how we are, so we can’t have our faces exposed.”
“That's true. For this mission, you'll have to stay on the ship as a pilot. A ship that we'll obviously acquire to get into the base. Obviously, we're not going to go in using the Tengu.” Kota said.
“Yes, we would be fools to go with the ship,” Yavis said.
“So… we’re all going to do this?” Byte asked.
“Yes, you too.” The old Jedi said. “Once Javis puts a different voice chip on you, you and the rest of us will go dressed as stormtroopers, while Drasha stays on the ship waiting for us to return and Lop takes care of stealing the data.”
He stood there thoughtfully without saying a word.
“Please,” Lop said. “This could be our chance to free the planet.” She pleaded them.
After a moment, Brad sighed loudly, shrugging. “Okay, when do we begin?”
Time later in Prar’s office in the imperial base.
“Please excuse the delay, and welcome to Tao,” Prar said as he was sitting on his chair, facing the bounty hunters in the room, with Agent Hercules standing close to him. “I thank you for having responded to my request. I am sure you are busy with your work, but I can assure you that your time will be satisfactorily rewarded.”
He looked at the bounty hunters but saw that one was missing. “Where’s Mr. Bane?” Prar asked.
“During the trip, Bane received an assignment from the Hutts, but decided to continue until the task was completed,” Diara said. “He gives you his best wishes and hopes that your plan will work out.”
“Man, that bounty hunter doesn't stop,” Prar commented
“Let's cut the crap and get down to business. What are we doing here?” Daliyuha asked.
“Right to the point, uh? I like that.” Prar said with a smile. “Well, if you want to know it that bad, here’s the reason why you’re here.”
Prar activated a hologram in which Lop appeared.
“A Lepi?” Xad Bed asked.
“Not just any Lepi,” Prar said. “A Jedi one.”
“A Jedi?” Grazisk asked. “Too young to be one.”
“The thing is that she has a lot of potential, and I want her for one of my projects,” Prar said. “I want to capture her, and you will help me with that task.”
“Do you really expect us to start looking for her now?” Daliyuha asked.
“Don’t worry. She’s part of a rebel cell that is acting on the planet. If we can find the rebel cell, we will find her, and capture her.” Prar said.
“And where do you want us to look for this group?” Grazisk asked.
“I think I can help you in that matter.” Agent Hercules said.
“And how?” Diara asked, crossing her arms.
“You see, a while back I hired several people in town to act as informants for me, as well as acting for one of the rebels at the same time. I have to be informed every time this rebel contacts him to obtain certain information related to us. And I just received a very juicy tip.” Agent Hercules said.
“Seriously?” Prar asked, rolling his eyes.
“If my contacts are correct, the rebels will try to infiltrate the base.” The ISB agent said, making Prar look at him.
“And why would they try to get here? What can they win with that?” Prar asked.
“Our presence on the planet indeed is more than firm, but this presence has a small weak point: the occupation treaty.” Agent Hercules said.
“Oh, that?” Daria asked.
“What’s that?” The Lepi bounty hunter asked.
“It’s a deal between the Galactic Empire and the Great Families of Tao that allows us to stay here and obtain their resources in exchange for helping the planet’s development. But always with a very clear limit.” Prar said.
“But of course, the Empire needs the resources and is willing to acquire them at any cost, so they secretly violate that treaty,” Daria said.
“And that’s a weak point the rebels might exploit against us.” Agent Hercules said.
“Are you saying that the rebels plan to get hold of the reports that reveal the real impact of our exploitation on the planet to show it to the Great Families?” Prar asked.
“If what my contact has said is true, that could be the case.” Agent Hercules replied.
“Well, that changes things. But I think we can take advantage of it. There's only one place in this base where that information can be found.” Prar began to think.
“So, what do we do now?” Xad Bed asked.
“Oh, the idea is simple. As soon as the rebels enter the base and begin their plan, there are a couple of points to keep in mind. They have to make sure that Lepi can't escape, and make sure that her rebel friends can't help her.” Prar said to them.
“Don’t let her escape? and why not capture her?” Zat asked.
“Oh, believe me, I have a plan, and I want to be the one to capture here,” Prar said, looking at them with a vicious glare.
The Tengu was flying over a dense forest far from Imperial influence, while Yavis and Brad looked out of the cockpit at the same time that Byte piloted the ship and Kota guided him.
“Are you sure that contact of yours is trustworthy?” Brad asked. “I'm not very keen on having to fly over a forest at this altitude.”
“Don’t worry, we will get there at any moment,” Kota said calmly, looking at the forest, until he signaled with his hand to a forest glade. “Over there!”
The ship landed on the signaled place soon after. The team got out of the ship and faced what they were supposed to be looking for: an imperial Lambda-class T-4a shuttle.
“A Lambda? Nice.” Yavis said, looking at the ship.
“But why is there no one here?” Frall asked.
“Better this way, so don't ask,” Kota said, getting inside the ship.
The group shrugged and entered the transport as well, and inside they saw some stormtrooper armors, and a few pilot armors ready to be taken.
“Seriously, who is this contact of yours?” Brad asked the old Jedi.
“One with lots of resources,” Kota said, looking through the armors. “You should look in the cabin’s computer if the passwords are there.” He said to Javis without looking at him.
Javis nodded and went to the cabin as the rest of the team inspected the armors.
“Hmm, what bad luck,” Kota said. “They were unable to get an armor for you, Drasha.”
“Figure, they don’t do helmets for Togrutas these days,” Drasha said, crossing her arms.
“Yeah, it seems you have to stay in the cockpit,” Frall said.
“I’m sorry, Drasha,” Lop said, looking at her.
“Yeah, right. It's a shame I can't infiltrate the Imperial base with the others.” Drash said. “But if anything happens, let me know so I can help you.”
“Thanks for the offer, lady,” Kota said, before turning to Byte. “Is your vocabulator properly programmed?”
The BX droid gave some hits to its neck before beginning to talk. “I think it works perfectly fine, thanks,” Byte said using a more human voice.
“Wow! If you get into one of these armors, nobody will be able to guess you’re a droid.” Lop said amazed.
“Oh, you should have seen what we were like during the Clone Wars,” Byte commented.
“Just do us a favor and don't start making awkward movements and saying 'roger, roger' or anything similar to every question they ask you, okay?” Frall asked.
“Preferably that's why he'll stay here on the ship while we go around the base,” Brad said, taking a stormtrooper helmet.
“Yeah, good idea,” Kota said, tossing a pilot helmet to Byte who nearly missed catching it. “You will stay on the ship, and make sure to send away anyone who tries to get into the ship. We don’t want the imperials to find Drasha or Lop inside.”
“Okay, and who goes with who on this mission?” Frall asked.
“Very simple,” Brad said. “I’m going with Kota, and you will go with Yavis. And we will be roaming around the base, placing explosives in determined points to cause confusion when they blow up.”
“Meanwhile we will stay in the ship, and wait for the moment to deploy Lop when nobody's looking,” Drasha said.
“And when you get out, try to locate an entrance to the vents and reach the central storage computer,” Kota said facing Lop. “That's where the evidence we need must be.”
“Understood,” Lop said.
“And be careful. Who knows what could be in there with so many stormtroopers and black knights.” Brad said.
“Don't be a doomsayer. We'll worry about that when we get to the base.” Drasha said.
Brad just shrugged, raising his arms, just when Yavis returned with the other.
“Okay, everything seems to be alright. Let’s get dressed and get into that base.” Yavis informed.
“Okay, I will go with Lop to the cabin. The rest get dressed before we get there, okay?” Drasha said, taking Lop and TD-4 with her to the cabin.
With everyone getting ready, the Lambda shuttle took off and began to fly away from the place, flying high enough that it seemed like they weren't coming from that close.
Before long, the stolen ship began to fly over the capital and began to approach the Imperial base. After acquiring permission to access it, the ship landed on the designated landing pad. After landing, the ramp extended, and four stormtroopers stepped out, but were not greeted by anyone as some imperial soldiers were going here and there on the platform.
“Is no one coming to greet us?” One spoke, this being Yavis within the armor.
“All the Imperials are too busy to notice who's coming unless it's someone very important,” Brad said, before facing the others. “Okay, Frall, Yavis, you know what to do, right?”
“Correct. and you try to not get caught.” Frall nodded.
Then the disguised Rahm Kota turned to the ship’s ramp, where the disguised Byte was visible. “You stay here, and as soon as you see that it is safe, let Lop and TD-4 go out and look for an access point, understood?”
“Roger, roger.” Byte said, making the four facepalm and groan. “Ups! Sorry! Understood!”
The four rebels went in pairs in different directions while Yavis commented. “Why do I think Byte is going to expose us at any moment?”
“You're not the only one who thinks it, pal,” Frall said, both sighing loudly.
As both groups left the landing platform, Byte peered over the ramp, looking around waiting for the stormtroopers who had been standing far enough away to not easily spot anything.
“Do you see anything from up there?” Byte asked through the communicator with Drasha in the cockpit.
“Everything looks peaceful from up here. And from down there, Byte?” Drasha asked, looking through the cockpit’s crystals.
Byte made a last look around, before facing the inside.
“It’s safe now! Quickly!” Byte called waving its hand.
Soon Lop ran out of the ship with TD-4 floating close to her, hiding behind any box or container she found, trying to get herself hidden, until she found an access to the base’s ventilation ducts, and making sure that no one was looking, both of them got inside it.
“Okay, TD. Now we’re alone here.” Lop said to the small droid. “Let’s find that terminal. Hope the map you have works.”
The two began to move through the ducts, trying to make as little noise as possible so as not to be detected. Without knowing that an ID9 seeker droid was following them at a distance.
Meanwhile, Brad and Kota were walking through the base’s corridors, trying to avoid drawing attention to themselves, while at the same time every so often they would place a well-hidden explosive charge somewhere where they were at that moment.
Brad acted naturally with the armor, but Kota seemed to have certain problems with the helmet.
“Seriously, how can they see with these helmets?” Kota commented, adjusting his helmet a little.
“It doesn't bother me. I'm used to them.” Brad said.
“Really?” Kota asked him. “You were a stormtrooper too?”
“Oh, right. The first time you saw me, I was like them.” Brad signaled with his head to a pair of black knights passing nearby, ignoring them. “All the black knights I know received basic stormtrooper training. I and others were assigned to that 'team' because of our physical abilities.”
“You don't seem very happy to be around these people,” Kota said.
“It’s just a bad memory,” Brad said. “Believe me, the indoctrination to be a stormtrooper does not compare to the methods of the black knights. What's more, of all the groups that enter that corp, only 30% of them manage to complete the process. You either get kicked back to the stormtroopers, or you just die.”
“And it’s worse when you practically lose everything,” Kota said, getting a glare from Brad. “Your last name, Vulgar, it’s Serennian, right?”
“Yeah, you’re right. But that was long ago.” Brad said. “Everything changed when the Empire attacked the city and my people, destroying many cities in the process. And those in age they caught, like me, were forcefully enrolled in their army to be stormtroopers. Never saw my family again, and doubt they survived. And later Prar put me with his black knights.”
“I'm sorry to hear that. But at least I understand a little more why you wanted to escape the day we met.” Kota said.
“Yes, it was very difficult for me to get in touch with you without being discovered,” Brad said. “And now look at us, we're in the lion's den trying to free an entire planet.”
“Well, in theory, the planet is free. Just that the people allowed the Empire to stay here.” Kota said.
“Yeah, I know the story. I only hope the information we get here can be enough to kick the imperials out of this planet.” Brad said.
The two then stopped when they saw Diara arguing with a few imperial officers who were having some problems with Xad Bed.
“Xad Bed?” Kota asked, confused.
“You know her?” Brad asked him.
“I know her from the Clone Wars. It’s a bounty huntress. I had problems with her in the past.” Kota said. “I thought the only bounty hunter they had was the female Azun. And speaking to her, I’m still not used to not feeling her with the Force even having her in front of me.”
“Yeah, you’re right,” Brad said. “What is she doing here?”
“Boss, old man. Can you hear me?” Frall called through the communicator.
“What happened?” Brad asked, trying to keep himself calm.
“We just found a pair of bounty hunters in our position. A pair of big guns. Fortunately, we took another route to avoid running into them head-on.” Frall explained.
“Yeah, we found one here too,” Brad said. “It seems that they are preparing something big.”
“And not only that.” Yavis began to speak. “I believe we’re being followed.”
Kota then began to make gestures to Brad as if he was telling him something, forcing him to look behind them as he aimed there signating in that direction for any reason, before beginning to walk.
“You’re right,” Brad said. “I just saw a squad of stormtroopers with two black knights with them a few meters away from us. You have the same.”
“Yeah, and now I have a bad feeling, boss,” Frall said.
“Me too, Frall. Just keep going, and be wary of anything funny from our hosts.” Brad said, before cutting communication. “I highly doubt this is a coincidence.”
“Me neither,” Kota said. “Either they don't trust some of their own, or this is all a trap.”
“But how? They weren't supposed to know we were coming.” Brad said. “Unless one of your informants is not as honest as they seem.”
“Are you suggesting I’m being double-crossed by one of my informants?” Kota asked him. “Because if that’s the case, then…”
“Then we’re all in a trap, and they’re waiting to activate it,” Brad said. “I wonder why they're just following us.”
“They’re waiting for something to happen. Maybe from us, or…” Kota said, just before both looking at each other and talking at the same time.
“Lop!”
Lop wandered through the ventilation ducts following TD-4’s map to not get themselves lost in the labyrinth of ducts running through the base while avoiding any trap they could find on their way. When they reached their destination, the young Lepi jumped down one of the vents to the room connected to it.
It was a large room filled with many computer terminals, all showing lots of data and information on their monitors.
“Okay, one of these must contain the proofs we need,” Lop said. “And if I remember right, it must be… that one!” She said as she signaled one of the terminals.
Both she and TD approached the terminal, indicating to the droid to access its data. For a few seconds the droid connected to it, but then disconnected itself.
“TD, what happens?” Lop asked, with the small droid beeping and shaking its limbs. “What do you mean it's empty? The real data is supposed to be here!” She exclaimed, hitting the terminal. “What’s going on?”
“You lost something, Lop?”
Lop turned around to the room’s door, finding Ochô standing there.
“Ochô? What are you doing here?” Lop asked her.
“That's exactly what I was thinking of asking you, Lop,” Ocho said to her. “Trying to find something against the Empire, maybe?”
“Ochô, you must understand.” Lop began to speak. “The Empire is causing more damage to the planet than they agreed with the Great Families, including Father. And that’s the reason why Father fought the Empire by himself. They’re hiding information of what they’re really doing on the planet, so the other Great Families must know it so they can expel the Empire from the planet.”
“You still don’t understand, right, Lop. So stubborn like Father.” Ochô said coldly. “When you will understand that we need the Empire to help our planet’s growth and prosperity, and without them we wouldn’t be where we are now. We wouldn’t have progressed anything without them! And the other Great Families should understand that!”
“Is that what you really want, Ochô? To sell the soul of our planet to the Empire? You really want to destroy our home only so you can live better?” Lop asked.
“They’re not destroying the planet, they’re just doing what is needed to achieve prosperity on our planet,” Ochô said, crossing her arms. “And let me tell you something. If it wasn't for that mentality and the look for progress, that droid of yours wouldn’t have been invented in the first place.”
Lop looked at TD after her words, having problems to reply against that affirmation. But then the door behind Ochô opened.
“Forget about it. Rebels like her will never understand the good the Empire can do for the galaxy unless we show it to them properly.” Said Shador Prar as he entered the room.
Lop narrowed her eyes as she saw how Prar was clothed differently this time, not wearing an imperial uniform. Instead, he wore the same armor as the black knights, but this one was white instead of black, with a multi-horned helmet with a skull-like mask under his arm, and a pair of rapier-like swords on the sides of his belt.
“What’s that?” Lop asked him.
“Oh, this? Just an invention of mine. My personal black knight armor. Only that I made it white, with certain external alterations, miss Lop.” He simply said.
Lop attempted to reach the ventilation duct to escape, but looking up she spotted a few ID9 seeker droids blocking the way out.
“There’s no escape from here, Lop. The only way out it’s just behind us.” Prar said as he walked past Ochô.
“You knew we were coming?” Lop asked him.
“Oh, yeah. I must admit that the ISB agent’s counterintelligence tricks make good miracles.” He said with a smile. “Your master never figured out that one of his informants worked for him too! And now, you’re in my hands now.”
“You must be nuts if you think you can capture me that easily,” Lop said, getting her lightsaber for the incoming battle. “I’m not scared to fight both you and Ochô!
“Ah, she will stay away from this. This is between you and me.” Prar smiled. “By the way, you know how special my body is, right? The fact is that this armor was made taking into account that peculiarity.” Prar said, placing his helmet on his head. “And trust me…” He grabbed the rapier-like blades with his hands, crossing both blades in front of him, throwing electric sparks with the collision. “It fits me like a glove!”
Lop kept her grip on her lightsaber, keeping her eyes on the weapons Prar was holding.
“Oh, don’t worry, they’re not made to cut or stab. They’re made to conduct the natural electricity of my body, like an electrostaff, but without their usual weakness. Which means…” He advanced and attacked Lop with one of his swords, forcing Lop to block it with her weapon, both clashing with the electricity protecting the blade from the lightsaber’s cutting blade. “I can defend myself from your lightsaber!”
Lop saw how her weapon was only able to block the electrified weapon used by Prar, but she had to jump away to avoid an attack from Prar’s other weapon.
“So? Let’s see how good that old man trained you.” Prar said before jumping over Lop.
Lop began defending herself from Shador’s style of battle with two swords, initially staying on the defensive against his fast attacks, until beginning to push back using everything she knew to counter his blades. But then he stepped aside when she attacked him, making her miss the attack and pass at his side, and he soon simply hit her back with one of his swords, sending an electric shock that made her scream in pain for a moment.
Lop stumbled after suffering that shock but she turned around facing him with her lightsaber.
“And with just a simple touch. Just imagine if I’m able to keep my blades touching you.” Prar said to Lop.
“That was just a lucky hit. It won’t work again.” Lop snarled facing him.
“Oh, you think you can keep your mind calm? I don’t think so.” Prar said. “Miss Ochô, give the order!”
Lop turned her head to her sister, who had a communicator at hand. “To all forces! Attack!” She ordered.
Lop’s eyes widened when she understood what that meant, before turning her attention to Shador’s incoming attack.
The stormtroopers and black knights following both Brad and Kota received the order and prepared to attack them, but both of them felt the danger and Brad turned around to shoot at some of the stormtroopers to at least get one or two of them down and to surprise them and have some advantage as they began to run away.
“It seems the jig is up!” Exclaimed Brad as he ran through the corridors.
“I think you’re right about that,” Kota said running with him.
The two reached a crossroad and they turned a corner, getting surprised to see a few stormtroopers there, forcing Brad to fire at one of them and being forced to run in the other direction.
“I think I don’t need this anymore!” Kota said, taking the helmet off, and taking his lightsaber in time to deflect a few blaster shots from two incoming stormtroopers, taking them out.
“Yeah, in cases like this better have a good view!” Brad said, taking his helmet but keeping it in his hand.
The two kept running until they were surprised by a few blaster shots, forcing them to hide behind some walls, finding that both Daria and Xad Bed were shooting at them.
“You have no escape, dear! Just surrender!” Daria exclaimed with a smile.
“Long time no see, General Kota!” The Falleen exclaimed, shooting in the direction where the Jedi hid.
“Is there anything wrong with saying that I was hoping I'd never see you again?” Kota asked.
“You think this is the moment for that?” Brad asked, shooting a few incoming stormtroopers coming from the corridors.
“Boss? Can you hear me?” Frall asked through the communicator.
“I hear you!” Replied Brad, getting the helmet closer.
“We’re in trouble right now! We have the imperials over us, including these two bounty hunters!” Frall explained.
“Yeah, we have the same problem! It was all a trap all along!” Brad said.
“And what do we do now?” Frall asked.
“Follow the plan! Let’s give the imperials some diversion, and try to reach the landing platform!” Brad ordered.
“Okay, boss! I hope this works.” Frall said.
“Me too, Frall, or we’re all toasted!” Brad said.
Brad took a switch, looking at Kota while hiding themselves from the bounty hunters’ shots. Both nodded and Brad threw the remaining explosives he had before he pushed the switch.
A few seconds later the explosives blew up, causing an explosion that knocked both bounty hunters out, allowing them to pass running. Besides, the explosives they placed exploded as well, causing lots of chaos in the area where they were. Soon after they began to hear some distant explosions, meaning that Frall and Yavis’ explosives were doing their work.
“You heard that?” Byte asked Drasha after they heard the explosion while inside the ship.
“I think the party has begun sooner than expected,” Drasha replied.
“Byte! Can you hear me?” Yavis called the droid through the communicator.
“I’m hearing you,” Byte replied back.
“Be ready! The imperials know we’re here, and they might send people to you!” Yavis warned.
“They what?!” Byte asked in shock.
“Oh, oh. He’s right!” Drasha said, looking through the windows, spotting a few stormtrooper squads running to the ship. “Get down there and hold them, Byte!”
“Roger, roger!” Byte said, getting down to the ramp.
On the ramp, Byte saw the stormtroopers running to the ship, so the droid began to shoot at them, forcing them to hide behind ships and containers while they replied back to the droid’s shots.
“And guys! Beware, there are bounty hunters between them!” Warned Yavis.
“Bounty hunters?” Drasha began to look through the windows, and when she spotted something she rushed to the passengers’ area, ripping one of the chairs and holding it with her hands.
The bounty hunter Zats got ready behind some crates while the stormtroopers kept firing at the disguised droid trying to hit it. He began to aim with his sniper rifle, aiming at the droid’s torso, preparing himself to fire. When he was ready, he shot at the droid.
Fortunately, Drasha got in front of Byte with the chair in her hands, using it as a shield to block the incoming shot.
Two stormtroopers looked at each other, seeing how Drasha was holding the chair as a shield to protect herself and the droid from the sniper’s shots.
“She really ripped one of the chairs?” The stormtrooper asked his partner, who simply shrugged and kept shooting at the rebels.
“Be wary, there’s a sniper here,” Drasha said as she used the chair as a shield.
“Great, as if we didn’t have enough with the others.” Byte said, trying to hide behind Drasha’s ‘shield’.
Lop kept fighting with Prar, clashing her lightsaber against the electrified blades he was using, trying to use her agility to gain a certain advantage against the imperial, but the handling of both weapons was giving her more problems than she thought.
Lop then jumped over Prar and began to move backward while blocking his attacks as fast as she could, hoping to get through the door that was now behind her and find some way to escape as she was thinking this was a battle she couldn’t win right now.
Ochô saw both of them approaching her and began to move backward, passing through the door with the other two in front of her, soon everyone was getting out of the room.
But there Lop saw that the corridors were filled with stormtroopers and black knights, with Agent Hercules keeping them on guard only if the young Lepi tried to escape the battle.
“As you can see, there’s no escape.” Prar gloated before attacking Lop with both blades, forcing her to block them. “So why don't we just stop fooling around and give up?”
“The hard way, then,” Shador said, increasing his attacks against her with his weapons.
Lop kept struggling with Prar’s attacks until being forced to use the Force to push him away to the wall to get some breath, but she had to block with her lightsaber some stunning shots from a few stormtroopers that were aiming at her.
“Don’t shoot!” Ordered Ochô, extending her hand to the stormtroopers attacking Lop. “You know the orders!”
The stormtroopers stopped attacking then. Lop turned her view to Prar who was recovering from the impact before jumping over her with his weapons, forcing her to the defensive as they moved between the imperial forces watching them, some of them moving backward when they saw them getting close to not being hurt by her lightsaber or his electro-blades.
And to make things worse, in the cases she was able to push away Prar while moving backward, some of the black knights pushed her forward while laughing at her. It was clear she had no way to escape by herself. And she had the feeling that her friends and her master were unable to help her at that moment. She was alone right now. She only had an option.
After pushing Shador away with the force, Lop turned around and using the Force as hard as she could pushed the imperial forces backward, being able to throw most of them to the ground, startling Agent Hercules who moved away from the pushed troopers.
“TD!” Lop exclaimed, looking at the droid.
The small droid doubted for a moment but then began to fly away, passing the stormtroopers and black knights who were recovering from that push, while some others tried to take down the droid with their weapons, failing miserably.
The idea was clear. If she was unable to escape by herself, at least she could help TD-4 to escape from that trap. That is all she could do right now.
Lop then turned around to block Prar’s incoming attack with her lightsaber.
“Well, well, you risk everything so that a simple droid can escape?” Prar asked her while pushing her lightsaber with his electro-blades.
“Someone like you couldn't understand it,” Lop said, pushing Shador’s weapons back.
“I don't understand it, nor do I care.” He simply replied.
Both Lop and Prar began to clash their weapons again.
Byte and Drasha were holding the best as they could the imperial attack and trying to keep the Lambda ship safe to escape, but things were rougher by the bounty hunter trying to hit them. And he could have done it if it wasn't for Drasha holding the chair as a shield, which was getting to give signs to break soon.
“If the others don't get here soon, we’re toasted,” Drasha said.
“Yeah, and to make matters worse, I'm running out of ammo,” Byte said.
“Me too,” Drasha said, blocking another sniping shot. “And this chair will not last for too long.”
The bounty hunter and the stormtroopers kept their attack on the two rebels, having the feeling they were about to take them down until some blaster fire caught their attention.
“Here they are!” Byte signaled in the blasters’ direction.
Brad, Kota, Frall, and Yavis reached the landing platform and began to fire at the stormtroopers there, forcing them to divide their attention between both targets. Besides, their shots were forcing the bounty hunter to hide and stop shooting.
Using that chance, the rebels eliminated the stormtroopers from the landing platform and reached the ship, beginning to climb the ramp inside the ship.
“Is Lop here?” Brad asked.
“You’re the first ones to get here!” Drasha replied.
“Where’s the girl?” Frall asked.
Just at that moment, Byte turned his view to the platform’s exit, spotting TD-4 floating into the area, being chased by three ID9 seeker droids trying to hunt it.
“TD!” Byte exclaimed, firing at the small imperial droids, taking the three of them down and allowing the small droid to get there. “What are you doing here? Where’s Lop?”
TD began to exclaim to the disguised droid what was happening right now.
“Oh, oh,” Byte said as both it and the droid entered the ship. “Lop is trapped fighting with director Prar, with lots of imperial forces keeping her from escaping! TD is here because she helped it!”
“What?” Kota asked the droid.
“And the information?” Yavis asked.
“There was no information! They knew we were coming from the beginning for that information! It was all a trap all along!” Byte said.
“Now I get it! They placed the bounty hunters here to keep us away from Lop while she’s being captured by Prar and his men!” Frall said.
“We must go and save her!” Kota said, running to the ramp but Brad stopped him.
“No! You already know we can’t do anything right now!” Brad said to him. “I hate to admit it, but the only thing we can do now is escape!”
“But what happened to her?” Yavis asked while TD made some beeps.
“We all know how obsessed Prar is with Lop! He will not kill her, but now we must escape or the ones that will die here will be us!” Brad exclaimed.
Frall gave a loud groan slamming the helmet to the ground. “I hate this!” He exclaimed before running to the cockpit.
“I’m sorry, TD,” Brad said to the small droid, who beeped depressed.
Just at that moment, more stormtroopers and the bounty hunters began to reach the landing platform just when the Lambda’s ramp closed.
“Don’t let them escape!” Daria ordered, firing at the ship.
While everyone began to fire at the ship, the shuttle took off and flew away from the platform, escaping from the base and the imperials as they tried to take it down.
Lop continued fighting with Shador in the corridor surrounded by imperial troopers. The battle was dragging on too long, and she was already feeling exhausted, feeling how Prar’s attacks against her lightsaber were stronger than hers.
After pushing him for a last time, Lop panted loudly keeping her lightsaber down, seeing how he was getting tired himself too. It was obvious the next clash would be the last one between them in this duel.
Lop rushed against him with her lightsaber up, but Prar blocked her attack while turning around, disabling her guard and leaving her wide open. He then turned around his electro-blades and pulled them back, hitting Lop’s stomach with them.
Lop screamed in pain as she felt the electricity coming from the weapon run into her through her stomach, at the same time as Ochô covered her eyes from the flashes of the current running through the young Lepi.
Prar moved his weapon away from Lop, but she kept herself standing even after that attack, but too tired to continue. Then Prar turned around and with a cross-slashing movement, he impacted his weapons between her neck and her shoulders, making more electricity run in her, making her scream louder in pain as he held his weapons on her body, while he kept looking at her face of pain and electricity covered her body.
After what seemed like minutes, Prar pulled his weapons away and stepped away. Lop stood in her place for a few seconds before falling unconscious to the ground, her lightsaber falling at her side.
Shador sheathed his weapons and knelt to grab Lop’s lightsaber with his hand, standing now over her unconscious body.
Ochô saw the lightsaber in his hand and was tempted to ask him to give her the weapon, as she was supposed to get it from her father before all this happened. But after seeing how Prar has dealt with Lop, she preferred to not taunt her luck.
“Director Prar!” Informed a stormtrooper. “The rebels have escaped! We chase them?”
Prar looked at the imperial soldier without taking his helmet out.
“No. Leave them to retreat with the tail between their legs. We got what I wanted already.” Prar said, facing the unconscious Lop on the ground.
