The Knights of Mandalore: Rise of the Empire/Part 2

*The Knights of Mandalore: Rise of the Empire*
Chapters 1–3 | **Chapters 4–6** | Chapters 7–9

Written by: Gridlock007 (Gridlock), Astrovious (Astrovious), Octology (Fej Torra), Ocarina451 (Tracinya), Jonax Frostwalker (Jonax Frostwalker), Grant Holifield (Gjante Skirata)

Edited by: Ocarina451

## Chapter Four

*Crait, 19 BBY*

*Astrovious lunges at the dark Jedi, blade aimed to go through him. The dark Jedi dodges immediately and swipes the blade away. Nearby, Gridlock has collapsed from the force of the dark Jedi's earlier blow.*

TORRA: Ha! That lightsaber always comes in handy, Astro! ...Grid!

ASTROVIOUS: You get Grid out of here, I’ll take him on, there’s no way he’ll be better than me!

TRACINYA: \*draws sword\* I'm almost at the ship. *(under breath)* This is when I wish I had ranged weapons... Oh yeah. *(to strill)* Go get him, Verd! Help Astro!

ASTROVIOUS: No, get Verd away, he’ll be cut down immediately, I’ll deal with him. *(begins deflecting and dodging attacks, looking for an opening)*

*Verd hangs back, unnerved by the lightsaber.*

TRACINYA: Well a lot of use you are, strill. *(waits for an opening)*

TORRA: Hold on, I'm gonna grenade this karking glowstick-wielder! *(switches rifle to micro-grenades, and speaks into his comm so the dark Jedi can't hear)* ASTRO! JUMP OUTTA THE WAY!

*Astrovious leaps away, and lands in a guard position*

TRACINYA: *(whistles for Verd)* Good idea, Fej-

*A massive THOOM shakes the area as a stream of three grenades approaches the dark Jedi. Gridlock groans.*

TRACINYA: Someone distract him before he uses the Force to deflect them or something- *(grabs Gridlock and pulls him out of the way)*

ASTROVIOUS: *(looking at smoke)* Did he survive?

TRACINYA: Uh, I sure hope not. Can I send Verd in?

TORRA: *(adjusts magnifying visor)* -I can't see! Any other perspectives on this current issue?

ASTROVIOUS: I don’t know, give me a sec. *(uses the Force to sense him)* He’s alive! Go!

TRACINYA: Okay, but where? Grid's a little heavy. *(starts circling around towards the back of the ship, dragging the much taller Mandalorian)*

ASTROVIOUS: Fej, you provide range support, I’ve got a plan.

TORRA: Kriff. *(switches visor back to 1x magnification and runs off to try to find Tracinya)*

TRACINYA: *(into comms)* I'm on the opposite side from you, *di'kut*... I was trying not to give away your position. I'm approaching the stern of the *Agitator*.

ASTROVIOUS: I’ll get around behind him, if your aim is good he can’t block both of us

TORRA: Final decisions?! *(switches visor on again, activates rapid fire explosive plasma)*

*Tracinya stops to give Gridlock first aid.*

ASTROVIOUS: Go for it, I’m in position, just be sure to have cover in case he blocks them, Aroa’yr get down

TRACINYA: *(takes cover with Gridlock and Verd behind some boulders)* Sure, glad to.

TORRA: AEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAA!!!!!!! *(fires 35 bolts of explosive plasma at the mysterious cloud of smoke, right as a glow of light activates inside)*

TRACINYA: I sure hope that got him...

*Astrovious rushes into the smoke and thrusts his lightsaber near the glow of light, hoping to hit the Dark Jedi's body.*

ASTROVIOUS: Umm... Fej stop shooting, we're good, he’s down, missing his arm, he’s defeated.

TRACINYA: Missing an arm? I won't be sure until he's in pieces, and then some.

ASTROVIOUS: He’s defeated for now, that’s all that matters, we can cut him to pieces later, for now, he’s ripe for questioning, though he won’t have much intel, maybe a better place for a base?

TRACINYA: Yeah, go ahead and question him. Gridlock's waking up.

Gridlock: *(to Tracinya)* Ok

TRACINYA: You sure? I mean, that looked pretty serious

ASTROVIOUS: *(over comms)* Alright, I’m bringing him back to the ship now

TORRA: -Off to the ship, then! *(runs off to meet the others)*

## Chapter Five

*The warriors meet up at the* Agitator*.*

ASTROVIOUS: We have a brig, right?

TORRA: You—y—you brought the maniac with you?!

*Tracinya and Gridlock arrive.*

ASTROVIOUS: He’s missing an arm, just a sec. *(cuts off the prisoner's other hand)* See, how he can’t do anything!

TRACINYA: I'd still advise that you tie him up and keep him where someone can have an eye on him... or both eyes.

TORRA: Yeah, I'm sure that will do the trick. *(lightly kicks prisoner)* Humph.

GRIDLOCK: Uhh... I have a headache

ASTROVIOUS: Well, now that he’s missing an arm and a hand, there's not much to tie up.

TRACINYA: Taking Grid to the medical bay. I mean, unless he wants to stay here...

TORRA: Yeah, that's normal after getting a body thrown at you.

ASTROVIOUS: *(gesturing to prisoner)* I’ll find a holding cell, I’ll keep an eye on him as well, or a camera.

TORRA: Oh, uhh, our cell is under.. well.. 'maintenance' at the moment... *(he scratches the back of his head, helmet now off)*

ASTROVIOUS: *(takes off helmet)* Well, then I’ll find a room or something, or should we just take him with us? Wait a minute, what did you do Fej?

TORRA: I'm, well.. "collecting".

ASTROVIOUS: Collecting what Fej?

TORRA: Eggs... of.. things

ASTROVIOUS: Eggs, this isn’t at all dangerous to the rest of us, is it?

TORRA: Well, that's why I keep them in the cell..

GRIDLOCK: *(gesturing to prisoner)* We need to leave him here

ASTROVIOUS: *(to Torra)* Well, keep em locked up, if they get out or cause damage, I’m holding you accountable

TORRA: I can make room if necessary...

GRIDLOCK: We need to leave him here, with the *Agitator.*

ASTROVIOUS: Well, Grid is saying to leave him, we should at least question him first.

TRACINYA: *(gesturing to alert strill)* Verd seems extremely willing to help guard the prisoner. If that's any help.

TORRA: *(returning from the holding cells)* Alright, I've cleared a cell. Hopefully my eggs don't hatch while they're crowded like that. Well, I have the incubator on them. That way the stimulation of the zygote won't activa—wait, cells. Oh, hello, angry armless guy. Verd should watch him over.

DARK JEDI: *(to Astrovious, furiously)* Who are you? WHO ARE YOU, JEDI?

ASTROVIOUS: *(to prisoner)* Well, I’m no Jedi, just a Mandalorian, and I am now the one who has imprisoned you.

*Prisoner falls silent.*

TRACINYA: Intimidation tactics? *(draws her beskad sword)*

ASTROVIOUS: Alright, let’s take him to the prison, Verd can watch him.

TORRA: *(gesturing to the beskad)* I'd talk, Sith. That thing is sharp.

DARK JEDI: Nasty travelers.

ASTROVIOUS: Go ahead Aroa'yr, not my thing.

DARK JEDI: After your beloved republic fell, I killed every one of your clones.

TRACINYA: Well that's a bold claim. Anything else for the record?

DARK JEDI: FINE. *(waits for a beat)* Kill me.

TORRA: OUR clones? We're no government ash-rabbits.

ASTROVIOUS: I wasn’t against the republic, just didn’t work with or for it.

*Verd hears the word "ash-rabbits" and pricks up its ears.*

TRACINYA: *(gestures to Verd)* Oh look, I now have extra motivation for you to explain what exactly is going on here. Why did you kill the clones? Is there anyone else here? And you might want to hurry up. My strill seems hungry.

DARK JEDI: I am the only one here. The funny thing is, eating the red salt of Crait causes one to lose one's mind.

TORRA: Yeah, we can see that. *(crosses arms)*

ASTROVIOUS: I saw some rations in that canyon, there looked like there were plenty, what happened?

DARK JEDI: I killed them when the Chancellor executed Order 66.

TORRA: He doesn't seem too smart, Astro. We might need to speak slower. WESK, HERF, YIRT?!

TRACINYA: Order 66? What's that number got to do with mass murder?

DARK JEDI: The rations are traps. they are micro grenades capable of blowing ones innards out.

ASTROVIOUS: *(to prisoner)* The clones, I saw that, but the amount of food that was there, it looked like enough for the whole squad of clone helmets I saw? Are you sure you’re alone? *(to group)* Yeah, he’s not sane, when I was a padawan, the rations were fine, pretty tasteless, but fine.

TRACINYA: *(to prisoner)* And what caused your rations to become so... indigestible? *(prisoner remains silent)* Ugh, I give up. He said he's alone, now can we kill him already and set up a base? Or do we need him to guide us to a more hospitable location?

ASTROVIOUS: That’s the thing, they weren’t, they were healthy, but bland, which is why the clones were happy to get something other than them, he’s either truly insane, or lying.

TORRA: *(to prisoner)* You're human, right?

*One by one, the fang fighters in the* Agitator's *hangar blow up. The explosions cause a rumble which is felt through the ship.*

## Chapter Six

*The group hears the explosions from where they stand.*

TRACINYA: The KARK was that-

ASTROVIOUS: What the-

DARK JEDI: I am human...

TORRA: *(picks up gun)* Oh for the sake of—

*A second rumble rocks the ship.*

DARK JEDI: ...and one does not need arms to use the force.

ASTROVIOUS: *(drawing his A-180 on the prisoner)* What did you do?

GRIDLOCK: *(in anguish)* No! My Rogue Ranger!

TORRA: *(to prisoner)* Oh yeah? Well one does not need to talk much for me to pull this trigger on your kriffing face. *(points gun straight into prisoner's face)*

*A momentary standoff ensues.*

TRACINYA: I give up. *(slices prisoner's head off)* Ha, that felt good.

TORRA: That better not grow back. *(draws back gun)*

TRACINYA: *(realizes there is now blood all over the floor)* Uh, maybe I shouldn't have done that.

ASTROVIOUS: *(sighing)* Grid, go check the ships.

TORRA: I'm gonna check my eggs.

GRIDLOCK: We gotta get out of here! *(sees clone troopers approaching the* Agitator *and runs to the YT-2400 in the hangar, calling into comm)* There are clones, guys! Lock the blast doors!

TRACINYA: If Verd keeps eating this corpse, will it become Force sensitive? Oh kriff, never mind- *(goes to lock blast doors against approaching clone troopers)*

ASTROVIOUS: *(over comms)* Clones? I thought he would’ve killed them all, these must’ve remained loyal, or just survived.

GRIDLOCK: *(over comms)* Grab all your important supplies and load them onto Strell's freighter!

TORRA: Close the kriffing doors before they get in you *di'kute!*

ASTROVIOUS: All weapons ready on that door! Clones are crafty under the right leaders, let’s hope he wasn’t one...

*While the others ready themselves before the blast doors, Gridlock runs to his room and grabs an A-280, DL-44, datapad, and toy starfighter.*

TRACINYA: Can we take off already? The other side of the planet might be less exciting. *(hears sounds from the other side of the doors)* ...I think they may be slicing the airlock.

ASTROVIOUS: I’ve got all me necessities on me, except one thing. *puts on his helmet, runs to his room, and grabs a personal item, keeping it secret from the others*

TRACINYA: I've still got a sword and a strill, both of which are dripping blood. Nothing like a little intimidation, huh?

*Torra puts his helmet on. The group reforms haphazardly, gazing warily at the doors.*

GRIDLOCK: *(running back into the area)* Everyone, get into Strell's freighter!

TORRA: What about our destroyer? *cough* And my eggs *cough*

ASTROVIOUS: Well, we gotta get out of here, these clones are cutting through the airlock!

*The group starts running for the YT-2400 freighter, following Gridlock's lead. Torra and Tracinya split off along the way.*

GRIDLOCK: Is everyone in? Grab your eggs or they will be scrambled!

ASTROVIOUS: Yeah I’m in! You can get new eggs Fej.

TRACINYA: *(running back with a bunch of eggs)* Yeah, I'm here now. Sorry, I stopped to get Fej's eggs. They shouldn't be *too* upset.

ASTROVIOUS: Ok, well that solves one thing.

FEJ TORRA: *(sprinting up)* I got the rest of my eggs, and other stuff, I hope we see you again, Agitator! *(jumps into the freighter)*

*Fej places his eggs down carefully inside the YT-2400 freighter. Verd promptly curls around them.*

TRACINYA: I think Verd may be trying to incubate them. Now is not the time, buddy... *(starts trying to drag the strill away, to no avail)* Who's flying us out?

ASTROVIOUS: Is there a turret on this thing I can man? Gotta kill as many of those clones as possible.

GRIDLOCK: Our destroyer's hyperdrive got destroyed by the Jedi. The clones won't be able to use it.

*Gridlock runs into the cockpit, gets in the pilot's seat, and starts the engine. The freighter blast off into Crait's atmosphere.*

TORRA: Guys, I got a clone helmet! *(slides into co-pilot seat)*

GRIDLOCK: *(to Torra)* Nice, wait where did you get that?

TRACINYA: *(tries to keep Torra's eggs from breaking during takeoff, with Verd's assistance)* Great flying, Grid... are you sure your head's all right?

GRIDLOCK: Yeah, if there's one thing in my head that won't go, it's my flying.

*Amidst ragged cheers from the surviving warriors, the ship breaks out of Crait's atmosphere and heads into the vastness of space.*

*The Knights of Mandalore: Rise of the Empire*
Chapters 1–3 | **Chapters 4–6** | Chapters 7–9