The Knights of Mandalore: Rise of the Empire/Part 7

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

## Chapter 19

*Tatooine, 19 BBY*

*Responding to Fej Torra's distress call, the Sons of Mandalore have returned to their ship, the* Streller*, and recaptured an escaped symbiote blob after a heated struggle.*

FROSTWALKER: So Fej, what kind of experiment were you conducting on Blob?

TORRA: *(holding up jar with blob inside)* Oh, just trying to figure out what the kriff it is.

ASTROVIOUS: We found out what it is, dangerous!

FROSTWALKER: In the wrong hands, yeah.

TORRA: All things are dangerous when hit with the right stuff. I just need to examine it. See what makes it tick.

TRACINYA: Well, you can go out and examine it in one of the abandoned monasteries I heard they have around here, then. Not on the ship... please.

ASTROVIOUS: I don’t think you should experiment with this anymore, I don’t want to go through this again!

FROSTWALKER: There are more of us. Millions more.

TRACINYA: "More of us?" What do you mean by that?

TORRA: *(waves jar)* It's clearly sentient. Despite being a blob. With no organs, no skin, nothing. Nothing but an unknown substance and subtle electrical pulses. And you see, that's what I need to figure out. What is it made of. It's biochemistry.

ASTROVIOUS: *(clips normal saber to belt, attempts to hide double-bladed saber under jacket)* Well, if you’re gonna work on it, please have some safety measures next time!

TORRA: I have measures now. Now that I know it doesn't like sound. Training. It's capable of being trained. Humanely.

TRACINYA: *(sees Astrovious moving oddly)* What's wrong Astro? Injured?

ASTROVIOUS: Uh, no, I’m fine, just uh, nothing, I’m fine.

FROSTWALKER: When I first bonded with Ravager, I saw numerous planets devoured by the Symbiotes.

TRACINYA: *(to Astrovious, raising eyebrows)* Sure. *(to Frostwalker)* Wait, what's Ravager? ...You mean you've got a *shabla* blob attached to you?

FROSTWALKER: Yes.

TRACINYA: *(takes off helmet and absentmindedly grabs Verd, who is side-eyeing Frostwalker)* Who would want to train that? ...But it *does* sound like it has interesting capabilities...

FROSTWALKER: Training? You do not train a Symbiote. Either they bond and you live or they bond and basically eat you from the inside out. I’ve seen it before.

TRACNYA: Whoa, I'm glad it didn't have to bond with Verd'ika then. If the strill doesn't like you, Jonax... Ravager-possessed person... the blob probably wouldn't agree with it. At all. This whole *thing* doesn't make me trust you any more...

TORRA: Astro if this thing infected you, you better tell me right now.

ASTROVIOUS: No, it’s not that, everything’s fine, it’s fine. The blob's all in that jar, I’ll... I’ll be back. *(walks to his cabin)*

FROSTWALKER: Fej, if I find out that Blob has been mistreated in any way, you won’t deal with me. You’ll deal with Ravager. Got it? *(his cybernetic eye flashes eye red and his index finger transforms into a blade)*

TORRA: It's not going to be mistreated. I'm a Kel Dor. Not exactly a species for forgiving themselves after stepping on a slug. ...But if that slug kills someone else? I'll return the favor.

FROSTWALKER: Oh, well good.

*Astrovious returns, a little pale already, helmetless, without his lightsaber on his belt.*

TORRA: Learning never exhausts the mind. *(he leaves, taking the jar back into his room)*

FROSTWALKER: Hmmm... *(to Tracinya)* I’m sorry. I never caught your name. You already know mine.

TRACINYA: I'm Aroa'yr Tracinya and Verd appears to be your nemesis. I gather you're called Jonax, you've been infected by a blob or... whatever they do to you, and my strill doesn't like you.

*Torra laughs from his room.*

ASTROVIOUS: She’s the warrior of us, the one you really don’t want on your bad side.

FROSTWALKER: Ah. Well, it’s nice to meet you, Aroa'yr Tracinya.

*Having thoroughly cleaned up the aftermath of the Blob Incident, the Sons of Mandalore go about their business. Jonax goes to his cabin to speak with Ravager.*

FROSTWALKER: Ravager, why was Salazar on Tatooine. He was the absolute worst person in the Night Sentinels.

RAVAGER: *(face to face)* I don’t know. I thought that this whole Slayer business was done.

FROSTWALKER: Same. Looks like my past is catching up to us.

*Frostwalker walks back to the living quarters, where Astrovious is sitting next to the holochess table and cleaning his blaster.*

FROSTWALKER: Astro. We need to talk.

ASTROVIOUS: *(looks up)* Yeah?

FROSTWALKER: About my past. Remember that guy I was talking to in the Cantina?

ASTROVIOUS: Yeah, Sal-something or other, right?

FROSTWALKER: Yeah. You know about the Night Sentinels? The pirate gang?

ASTROVIOUS: Heard of em, not much else.

FROSTWALKER: The name itself was to act all noble and whatnot but it is a lie. They are hunting the Sons. Hunting US. I heard before joining your crew about how the leader died. They considered it a major victory. The Sentinels think that you are weak.

ASTROVIOUS: Well, they are wrong, you know them inside and out, correct? We can use that if they attempt to attack us.

FROSTWALKER: I only heard stories about them. Rumors really.

*Frostwalker experiences another flashback, to a time when he was with the Night Sentinels, and a mysterious voice was talking to him.*

VOICE: Slayer, the Sons need to be eliminated so we can have their territory. It will expand our criminal empire. Got it? Infiltrate the Sons of Mandalore and eliminate them.

FROSTWALKER: But I’m a Mandalorian...

VOICE: I know, son. But this will make you, our organization rival the empire itself. Now go.

FROSTWALKER: Yes sir.

*Frostwalker shakes himself out of his reverie and returns to the present.*

FROSTWALKER: *(to Astrovious)* What do we do?

ASTROVIOUS: Rumors, you seem like you know more than you say, but, I’m familiar with that myself...

FROSTWALKER: You trust me right?

ASTROVIOUS: I trust you, to an extent, same as everyone else here, there’s an extent to it. I don’t trust everyone here with one thing, which I may have let you all in on today...

FROSTWALKER: *sigh* I hate secrets, but fine. *(storms out of the room)*

ASTROVIOUS: Well, may as well finish.

*In the living suite, Astrovious finishes up cleaning his blaster, until it is in almost pristine condition. He then returns to his room, puts on his helmet, and meditates. In Frostwalker's cabin, the cyborg activates a holotransmission and kneels in front of the hologram figure that appears.*

FROSTWALKER: My lord, My mission is going well so far. They trust me to an extent, but I need more time.

FIGURE: Slayer, lead them into a trap next time you are in space. We will capture them. You will play the part of the hostage. Then they will surrender.

FROSTWALKER: Of course my lord.

*As the transmission ends, Astrovious senses something is wrong onboard, but is unable to tell what. He continues meditating, conversing with his former master.*

MASTER: *(in Astrovious' head)* You hesitate too much!

ASTROVIOUS: I won’t do it again, never again...

MASTER: Then you will fail, fail you companions, fail your past.

ASTROVIOUS: There are other ways, killing isn’t the answer.

MASTER: That is your downfall.

*Astrovious takes off his helmet and almost throws it against the wall again, but refrains. He heads out to the living quarters with his blaster and sets up some targets around the room. He starts blasting the targets, trying to go faster each time.*

FROSTWALKER: *(entering the room)* Astro! I know what tomorrow’s mission will be.

ASTROVIOUS: *(pausing)* And what would that be?

FROSTWALKER: Attacking the Night Sentinels head on! For Mandalore, right? We need to get rid of them once and for all.

ASTROVIOUS: How do you know where they will be...?

FROSTWALKER: A distress signal I intercepted.

ASTROVIOUS: Ah, well, where are they? *(grows suspicious of Frostwalker)*

FROSTWALKER: A single ship with advanced weaponry, medical and other supplies is near Hoth.

ASTROVIOUS: Hoth, if we want to get there on time, we should leave now, I don’t think Grid would mind, as long as it’s not me in the pilot seat.

FROSTWALKER: Sure it is a barren wasteland but it is worth it. So you want me to pilot?

ASTROVIOUS: Yeah, I’m kriffing bad at piloting, I dunno why, just am.

FROSTWALKER: Good. Let me set the navigation computer.

*Frostwalker sets the navicomputer coordinates to Hoth, and the* Streller *goes into Hyperspace.*

FROSTWALKER: So. Who was your leader before their death?

ASTROVIOUS: He was Whit-Ke Strell, great leader, father figure to Fej and Grid, allowed me and Aroa in, great warrior, pilot, person, got me to accept my dark side, but not rely on it. A shame that he was killed by a fallen Jedi.

FROSTWALKER: Hmmm... well, that is a shame and this Dark Jedi, what happened to him?

ASTROVIOUS: I attempted to take him in, to interrogate him, he destroyed our old ship, although I prefer this, our last one was too big. He was killed by me, Aroa and Verd.

FROSTWALKER: Ah. Beeping. We made it to Hoth. There it is. Almost reminds me of home.

ASTROVIOUS: Yeah, but we should wait for the others to wake up before we head in, cold weather isn’t my... specialty.

FROSTWALKER: Alright. Tomorrow: we destroy the Night Sentinels!

ASTROVIOUS: Yeah, now, let me continue my target practice.

*While Frostwalker returns to his cabin, Astrovious converts his blaster to sniper configuration, uses the Force to move his targets, and begins blasting again.*

## Chapter 20

*Gridlock wakes up and goes to the cockpit of the* Streller*, to find that the ship is orbiting an icy white planet. He runs back to the living suite and sees Astrovious sleeping on the couch and Frostwalker sitting nearby.*

FROSTWALKER: Good afternoon. Welcome to the orbit of Hoth.

GRIDLOCK: WHAT ARE WE DOING HERE! ...And who flew us here?

FROSTWALKER: Me. Astro and I were talking about a Night Sentinel distress signal I found on Hoth.

GRIDLOCK: For the last time, I am the pilot. And the acting captain.

FROSTWALKER: Well you went to your cabin and Astro asked if I was a good pilot and I said yes. Besides, Astro said that we needed to get to the stranded ship and steal the supplies.

GRIDLOCK: Ok, then we will travel there on Tauntaun. Still, we don't have enough supplies.

FROSTWALKER: Well that’s why we are here. To steal them from the Sentinels. We should get Astro.

GRIDLOCK: K, but its frickin cold. I will stay here in the ship. Also, can you bring some Tauntaun Eggs? Fej would like that.

FROSTWALKER: K. Get Astro then we will go.

ASTROVIOUS: *(wakes up, blaster still in hand)* I’m awake!

FROSTWALKER: *(to Astrovious)* We travel by Tauntaun and Fej wants some of their eggs. For some reason.

ASTROVIOUS: Kriff! I hate the cold, oh well... let me get my armor on...

FROSTWALKER: I still have the distress signal. It is near the equator of the planet.

*While Astrovious prepares to head out into the icy wastes, Frostwalker heads out to the* Streller's *loading ramp.*

GRIDLOCK: You found the ship yet?

FROSTWALKER: Astro is getting ready. The ship is near the equator of the planet. We may lose signal from time to time. Be warned.

*Astrovious comes back from his cabin, now in armor, but still with no saber. He meets Frostwalker at the ship's entrance.*

FROSTWALKER: You ready?

ASTROVIOUS: Yeah, I’m ready.

FROSTWALKER: Let’s go.

*Several hours pass as the two Mandalorians make their way across Hoth's surface, having acquired two Tauntauns from a nearby settlement.*

ASTROVIOUS: *(shivering)* Are w-we almost there?

FROSTWALKER: *(also shivering)* Y-y-yes. Just a little further.

*The strength of the distress signal's beeping increases. Five frosty minutes pass as they ride on.*

FROSTWALKER: We are here! We need to go on foot from here.

ASTROVIOUS: A-alright, how much further?

*They tether their Tauntauns and walk forwards until they see a very alien Star Destroyer half buried in a nearby snowdrift.*

FROSTWALKER: This is the ship. Let’s head inside.

GRIDLOCK: *(over comms)* Ah, nice and toasty!

FROSTWALKER: *(over comms)* That’s because you didn’t want to come with, Grid! Don’t rub it in.

ASTROVIOUS: *(over comms)* Kriff you Grid! *(to Frostwalker)* This it?

GRIDLOCK: *(over comms)* Can you get some Tauntaun Meat?

FROSTWALKER: *(ignoring Gridlock)* Yes. This is the ship. Beautiful in its own way, no?

ASTROVIOUS: I guess... we head in?

FROSTWALKER: Yup.

GRIDLOCK: *(over comms)* Scary haunted ship!!!!!!!! OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

FROSTWALKER: *(over comms)* Kark you, Grid!

ASTROVIOUS: *(over comms)* Alright, weapons ready?

FROSTWALKER: Just in case.

*Astrovious and Frostwalker cautiously enter the stranded Destroyer. The ship creaks and groans around them. Astrovious reaches for his saber, remembers it’s not on his belt, grabs his blaster and converts it to rifle configuration.*

FROSTWALKER: This is giving me chills.

ASTROVIOUS: Yeah *(clutches rifle)* let’s make this quick.

GRIDLOCK: *(over comms)* BOO!

FROSTWALKER: *(over comms)* AH! Grid!

VOICE: Welcome home, Jack the Slayer.

ASTROVIOUS: *(over comms)* Grid I swear... Uhh, what was that?

FROSTWALKER: No one calls me that anymore.

GRIDLOCK: *(over comms)* I do! Hi THAT

FROSTWALKER: Sentinels. We need to get out of here, now.

ASTROVIOUS: Uhh... who’s there?! *(aims rifle at darkness)* ...What Jonax? Wait, I was right! This is a trap! *(over comms)* Grid! It’s a trap!

## Chapter Twenty-One

GRIDLOCK: *(over comms)* Ok, I'll come around!

*Gridlock flies the* Streller *to the Night Sentinel base. Onboard the stranded Destroyer, a Night Sentinel pirate steps out of the shadows and aims his weapons at both Astrovious and Frostwalker.*

NIGHT SENTINEL: Surrender or die.

ASTROVIOUS: I won’t surrender to you!

*Astrovious looks around to find cover, and starts running to it. The Sentinel grabs him before he can hide and takes his comm, along with Frostwalker's.*

SENTINEL: You won’t be needing those. *(crushes Astrovious' and Frostwalker's comms)*

*Gridlock lands the* Streller *and approaches the stranded Destroyer, speeding up when he hears the comms cut out. The Night Sentinel releases Astrovious from his grip, and Frostwalker then aims his pistols at Astrovious.*

FROSTWALKER: Forgive me. I never wanted this.

ASTROVIOUS: NO! *(force chokes everyone in the room)*

*Gridlock runs into the Destroyer, A-280 blaster in hand, in time to see Frostwalker aiming at Astrovious. As he approaches, more Night Sentinels appear from the shadows, and Astrovious begins to Force choke Frostwalker and the Night Sentinels. Gridlock shoots the guns out of Frostwalker's hands as the cyborg is lifted into the air.*

FROSTWALKER: Astro- It was *gasp* never meant to be this way.

ASTROVIOUS: *(throws Frostwalker at wall)* Traitor! *(continues choking Night Sentinels)*

FROSTWALKER: GAH! Forgive me. Please don’t kill me!

*Gridlock shoots one of the hovering Night Sentinels.*

FROSTWALKER: You have to believe me! Please let me *gasp* live.

*Gridlock shoots another Sentinel. Astrovious Force throws the remaining Sentinels away, keeping Frostwalker pinned against the wall, and takes off his helmet. His eyes are now yellow.*

ASTROVIOUS: None of you will live through this!

FROSTWALKER: Astro-Please! You *gasp* have to *gasp* believe me! I must *gasp* live.

*As Gridlock shoots a third Sentinel, Astrovious reaches his hand out to another, and lightning connects the two. Still pinned against the wall, Frostwalker passes out from lack of oxygen. Astrovious uses the Force to lift his blaster, letting Frostwalker fall to the ground. He is now shooting Force lightning from one hand, and using a floating gun to fire upon the Night Sentinels with the other.*

GRIDLOCK: *(running for the exit)* Come on Astro!

ASTROVIOUS: No! They must pay for what they’ve done, with their heads!

GRIDLOCK: Astro! Tap out of it!

ASTROVIOUS: *(halts his rampage after a moment of internal struggle, and uses the Force to grab his helmet from nearby)* Fine, but what about him... *(points at Frostwalker)*

*Gridlock has already left. He runs across a Tauntaun nest on his way back to the* Streller*, and boards the ship with a Tauntaun and some Tauntaun eggs. Having dealt with the remaining Night Sentinels, Astrovious enters the ship soon after, pulling Frostwalker along. Gridlock and Astrovious meet Torra in the ship's living area.*

GRIDLOCK: *(hauling a disgruntled looking Tauntaun on a leash into the room)* Do y'all like my Tauntaun! Also, Fej, I brought you eggs.

TORRA: *(half asleep)* Oh! Thank.. you? I just woke up. Ate a bar for breakfast. Where is everybody?

ASTROVIOUS: *(entering with Frostwalker)* Where should the traitor go?

GRIDLOCK: The Brig.

ASTROVIOUS: I don’t think we have a Brig... how bout the storage room? *(to Torra)* Well, new guy was a traitor, that’s all I know.

GRIDLOCK: Storage room is a good idea.

ASTROVIOUS: Got it... *(uses the Force to bring Frostwalker into the storage room, then throws him at the wall and shuts the door)* So, now that he’s dealt with, where do we go- *(passes out)*

*Gridlock leads his Tauntaun to the second mate's cabin. Torra goes back to sleep, exhausted from researching all night. Tracinya wakes up and leaves her cabin to look for breakfast, and sees Astrovious passed out on the floor and Frostwalker in the storage room nearby.*

TRACINYA: I never really trusted that new guy. What did he do to Astrovious this time?

ASTROVIOUS: *(wakes up)* What-what the kriff happened? I remember going in there, new guy betraying us, then that’s it... what did I do?

TRACINYA: I don't know what you did, but you look pretty disheveled. And why do I smell... is that tauntaun musk?

ASTROVIOUS: Grid may have brought one back, but I rode one for hours, so it may be that. Where’s the traitor?

TRACINYA: You just threw him in the storage room. I think he's sulking. *(spots a puddle of melted snow and fur on the floor and goes to investigate)* Tauntaun fur... huh.

GRIDLOCK: *(entering the room, to Astrovious)* I did, it's in the second mate's cabin.

TRACINYA: You WHAT?! ...Fine, Grid, I guess I won't mind the beast as long as it isn't eating everything.

ASTROVIOUS: Ok, but what did I do in there? I-I don’t remember anything.

TRACINYA: ...Astro seems to have lost his memory.

GRIDLOCK: You started to go Dark and started force choking everyone.

ASTROVIOUS: But I, I swore that off, I never wanted to do that again, something's not right then, I would never do that!

GRIDLOCK: Well, you did.

ASTROVIOUS: Then something's definitely wrong, watch me closely from now on, never let me do that, got it?

TRACINYA: Seems like I miss all the interesting stuff. Well, you seem all right now... but I'll watch you, okay?

ASTROVIOUS: Yeah, I may know what happened, but it’s not gonna happen again, unless something goes seriously wrong, so you need to promise to not let that happen.

GRIDLOCK: Sure, like a 14 year old who quips can do anything about a Force user.

TRACINYA: *(sarcastically)* If worst comes to worst, you can always kill him with laughter.

GRIDLOCK: True, but most of my jokes are about Fej and his egg collecting tendencies.

TRACINYA: *(to Astrovious)* Okay, I promise.

ASTROVIOUS: It doesn’t require you do fight me, or harm me, just to bring me back, anyway, where’r we gonna go now? I wanna get off this icy wasteland.

GRIDLOCK: Ok, we should go somewhere else.

TRACINYA: Somewhere with trees. So far we've been to salt, water, sand, and snow. I need to see something green.

ASTROVIOUS: Well, trees, I know some Shyriiwook, but I hear there’s a wookie rebellion going on on Kashyyyk.

TRACINYA: *(pulling out her datapad and looking at a map)* Myrkr seems quiet and out of the way.

GRIDLOCK: I'm fine going anywhere.

ASTROVIOUS: I don’t know much about Myrkr, I’ll leave it up to the cap’n.

TRACINYA: I guess we could help the Wookiees with their rebellion. Doing good, causing chaos and that sort of thing, y'know?

ASTROVIOUS: Yeah, from what I hear, they’re gonna need the help. And Fej could get some good samples from there as well.

GRIDLOCK: Ok, Kashyyyk!

*Gridlock runs to the cockpit and sets the navicomputer to Kashyyyk. The* Streller *jumps to Hyperspace.*

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