The Rebel Faction

“Hey, what’s going on now?” said Shillia as she hurried over to where the rest of the Jedi stood, gathered around Dolash who seemed to be standing completely still in front of a sealed door.

“Dolash appears to be reaching out into the Force, feeling for life that may lie beyond this door - those we’re looking for.” said Fwar, the towering Frozian, who watched Dolash with great interest.

“Neat. Convenient that they happen to have this super-secret underground prison to stick all their ‘trouble-maker’ prisoners. Doubly so that they brought us to it.”

“Convenient?” said Fwar, whose bushy eyebrows rose at this “Visions guide us to this planet, following the path of one victim, and we are taken - of all places - to a prison that appears to contain just the people we want to free. This is more then convenient - it appears the will of the Force is being carried out.”

Shillia rolled her eyes “Well sure, if you want to get all technical about it, I guess we’re following the will of the Force - but it might as well be a coincidence. I mean, we’re still pretty lucky that the will of the Force happens to be what we wanted to do. We’d be in deep trouble if the will turned out to be something like kill everyone in the prison, wouldn’t we? Good thing for us the will isn’t that, though.”

Fwar seemed to pause and reflect on this “You’re right - I guess we are fortunate that the Force wants us to do good deeds. It would be quite a curse for us if it’s will was cruel and manipulative, as it’s dark side is.”

Further discussion was cut by Dolash opening his eyes to declare “I sense... something. It is difficult to make out, a strong mental discipline is before us. From what I can tell, I would guess the prison guards have rallied their forces to keep us from reaching the cells beyond. They are lead by someone of considerable mental fortitude, we must proceed carefully.”

“We could try the ramming trick again.” said Ian, but Dolash shook his head.

“They’ll be sure to be expecting that by now. Our best bet would appear to be a frontal assault - we can only hope they have underestimated us.”

“Actually...” said Katria “I think there’s another way through.”

Dolash paused, and raised a curious eyebrow “Oh? What do you have in mind?”

“Well, Kessel is a planet of rock and sand - a sand that is fine in some places, coarser in others, but always light and dusty. If we used some of the parts from the riot gear those guards had, we could-”

Dolash interrupted, saying “I believe I grasp your plan, but it is best we do not discuss all the particulars so close to our enemies. We don’t have much time before they close in, but your idea might indeed work.” With that, the Jedi broke up to quickly gather the equipment for the attack.

“I do not look forward to fighting a foe who cannot see us.” said Jubaz “It seems excessive, and certainly unnecessary.”

“Well then we shall simply push past them. No need to slaughter the guards, we just need to get to the other side of the corridor and lock them out.” Said Dolash.

“Wait, wait, how will we see in there?” said Proq, suddenly concerned “I mean, smoke is one thing, but the whole point of this plan is grit.”

Dolash seemed to pause, and once again reached out with his senses. “Ah, here is something. I am sensing a strong Force presence flowing from a part of the cells beyond. Lock onto it with your minds, and use that to orient yourself through the other side of the corridor.”

“We’re ready here.” said Katria, hefting a heavily modified smoke-grenade launcher plucked from a riot officer’s body.

“Good, then let us begin.”

Standing before the door, Fwar, Proq, and Jubaz focused their thoughts on the sealed door. Very slowly, it began to part. Dolash could sense the sudden spike in alertness on the other side, could almost here the weapons being brought to bear. Just as the door opened, Katria braved the initial volley and fired her modified smoke-grenade round into the corridor.

A normal smoke grenade is no problem for the prepared trooper - there are a number of goggles designed to see through them. This one, however, had also been packed with Kessel sand, and a huge dust-cloud of it billowed in amongst the smoke - the tiny bits of grit clogging weapons and fogging lenses. As the guards struggled to see, the Jedi plunged into the corridor.

As the Jedi emerged one by one out of the gritty, smokey corridor, a stream of stumbling soldiers followed in their wake. The first few, regaining their sight, tried to bring up their rifles to bear - only to see a closing door in their face.

Ian slashed the door controls and melted the locking mechanism. "That should keep them for a while." The group now stood in the corridor leading to the central holding cells.

All along the walls, obvious explosives, mines, tripwires, and more had been set. It was pretty clear they were meant to slow the Jedi down, and they were going to.

"How long do you think it would take to dismantle the explosives and get into the cell block?" said Dolash.

Jubaz, who was more familiar with military-grade explosive devices then his companions, examined the nearest few. "This looks like quite a job. It was rushed, but the materials are of the highest quality. I'm guessing at least a half hour to - "

"Step aside, boys - and Katria" said Shillia, who removed the more cumbersome of her robes and stretched her legs. "I can handle this."

No one dared speak as she twisted her way through the narrow spaces between tripwires, tip-toed around mines, and carefully leap detection radiuses. Every so often, though, this silence was broken by Jubaz calling a warning about an especially sensitive bomb or other such thing.

Precariously wobbling, she still managed to make it to the other side unexploded, and let out a sigh of relief. That is, until she realized, the cell block was occupied by quite a number of soldiers.

"How long did you say again?" whispered Dolash to Jubaz, in the ensuring silent moment where each side was surprised.

"Half an hour."

"Too long." said Dolash. At the end of the corridor, Shillia had leapt out of sight while dodging fire from soldiers. Planting his feet firmly on the ground and allowing the Force to flow through him, Dolash called for more strength then he had ever asked before. He felt it build within his being, and it took all of his concentration to keep it in check. Finally, nearing the breaking point, a blast of force energy came from his palm, tearing the entire minefield set up to stop them right up into the air, and out the other end - the exit becoming a giant ball of fire and shrapnel that filled the central space of the prison cells harmlessly overhead.

As Dolash collapsed from the effort of the channelling, the other Jedi charged forwards, lightsabers at the ready, into battle.

The jedi battled the retreating guards, driving them from the cell-block area. However, one of their number was not taking part. Still collapsed in the hall, time suddenly slowed to a halt for Dolash, as in his moment of weakness, he heard the whispers of the Force.

It was a strange, almost disturbing experience - far more then he had ever felt before. In the past he and other young Jedi he had known could sense danger, or detect a presence, but for the first time he saw the world itself solely through the Force itself. With it, came a thousand whispers and echoes, the past, the present, and even some of the future. In a moment he could tell sinners from saints, could see blows before they were struck, could read thoughts that hadn't been thought yet. It was a moment of revelation that was mostly incomprehensible and completely indescribable. All he knew for sure, was as he regained his footing and his vision returned to him, was that they were in trouble.

"We are victorious." said Jubaz evenly, keeping his lightsaber at the ready position. "The prisoners are now ours to free."

"No..." muttered Dolash, who staggered out of the corridor they had enetered from. "No! Don't you see? This is a prison, it is meant to keep prisoners in. They intend to trap us in here and surround us!"

As he said this, doors began to close all around, sealing corridors and rooms. With lightning reflexes, Fwar dived forwards and braced himself in the last open door - one poorly repaired passageway leading to various mining tunnels.

An average being would have been crushed, but the huge frame of the Frozians combined with force-augmented strength allowed him to hold the door open. Ian once again worked his magic by slashing key componants of the door until it went limp.

"One door... and I imagine it doesn't lead to a way out." mused Dolash. "No time left... Ian! Get to work on finding the override for these cells! We shall head into the mines and see where they take us. The Force will not have guided us this far to fall now. The rest of you, take up positions to defend the prison - we will have to keep them out until the prisoners have escaped. May the Force be with us."

Dolash, shaking off the last lingering effects of his moment of Force clarity, drew his own sword and stood across from the Inquisitor. The entire prison was silent, no one dared move a muscle, and every line of this tension, every tense nerve, came together around the two figures that now faced each other in the middle of the room.

His sword was Azguard made, a proper blade of metal instead of energy. He gently brought the sword up to the ready position and locked eyes with his foe. In a measured voice that nevertheless echoed around the cells, he said "We will be freeing these prisoners, wether you want to stop us or not. If you or anyone else for that matter tries to stop us, your lives will be forefit - that will be my one warning on the subject."

As he said that, the hum of lightsabers seemed to fill the room as each of the Jedi turned to face a corridor full of soldiers. Still, no one so much as flinched, as dolash and the Inquisitor still stood in silence.

"Very well. You were warned."

Will that, Dolash hurled his strength into a swing, and the Inquisitor met him blade for blade. Immeadietly, the air filled with noise as each Jedi leapt into the midst of their enemies - narrow corridors being a dangerous place to try and hide from a melee foe. In the chaos, however, Proq managed to slip out of the fighting.

The Twi'lek dashed to the cells, slicing each lock with a swift lightsaber cut. "Go, run! Head for the open door!" he shouted as he flashed by, and the prisoners alternately hobbled, hopped, or staggered down into the mines. As he reached the end of the row, Proq found a strangely fortified door, especially protected. It took many strikes to come off, but the instant he did, he knew why.

Quite suddenly, Proq could feel the Force emanating from the room - as before, when they passed through the smoke, only far stronger. There, a weary man sat restrained to a wall. He could barely make a sound, but Proq could tell instantly that this man was a Jedi.

"Come on, we're getting out of here." Proq said, before cutting the restraints and swinging him over his shoulder.

As Proq lead the prisoners towards the mines, the Jedi began feeling the weight of numbers. Katria and Ian fought back to back to keep a walkway clear, being driven into a corner but still managing to keep guards at a distance - for any guard who came within swinging range did not remain a guard for long. Even mighty Fwar and skilled Jubaz found themselves outnumbered and outgunned by the sheer volumn of fire they were trying to reflect, and had to take cover behind reinforced doors near the mines - allowing the guards to pour through into the main room. Shillia used her force powers to confuse the Inquisitor's apprentice, allowing her time enough to fall back and join Fwar and Jubaz near the exit.

In the middle of this all, a battle that none dared interrupt was playing out. Dolash had size and strength, along with apparently bottomless pools of energy, but the Inquisitor fought with a determination that matched him blow for blow. The clash of their swords was loudest of all, as neither gave an inch of ground in a simple flurry of strikes.

Dolash knew they were outmatched, but he had to hold the inquisitor here just a little longer.

OOC: Just a note before I post. To BDE, Kamon will not be participating in any fighting or anything of the sort so all plans you had with Dolash will not be affected by my post. Thank you.

IC:
As Proq lifted Kamon onto his shoulders, Kamon had no idea what was going on. He was too weak to lift his head and his ears were swollen from the torture he had endured on this planet. Hearing was not an option, but he could see. From the position he was in, there wasn't much to see except for the blaster bolts flying by. Either this was a very elaborate breakout, or someone had broken in. Both seemed highly unlikely. Maybe this was just another attempt by this Empire to get him to talk. Maybe they thought that if he thought he was escaping he would open up. Never. He would never speak a single word to the filth that had enslaved him here.

Then he saw it. In the hands of his rescuer there was a familiar weapon. A lightsaber. Eyes widening at the thought that this might be a rescue attempt for him, he stared at the blade. But he did not recognize the hand that wielded it. Besides, the Rogues were too few to mount a rescue for him. That meant that this band of Jedi was either pure Jedi, or some offspring of the Jedi that Kamon did not know. Staring at the saber, he suddenly realized that if they kept going, he would never again see his precious sabers. Both had been given to him by his Master's and both had been his tools in the past. Mustering as much strength as he could, he spoke.

"My... sabers...." It was broken speech, but surely it would be enough to get the Jedi's attention. "Guard.. room..."

The Dragons wouldn't destroy the weapons of their most hated enemy. No, they would keep them as a trophy of their victory for when Kamon died. Then they would place them in a museum somewhere for display as the weapons of the Empire's worst enemy. Kamon wouldn't mind that, but he would rather not die and would definately like to have his lightsabers back. His hands hung limply at this Jedi's waist. Being tied up like he had been had made him weak. He could not point to the room right in front of them of which he had spoken. He could only hope the Jedi would understand.

Kamon could only hope that they had indeed put his sabers in the guardroom of this detention block. If they weren't there then he would never again see the lightsabers which he prized so much. The pain was growing inside of him because of all the movement. He tried to call on the force, but it was too slow in coming because he was out of practice and physically unfit. His eyes began to glaze over and his head became extremely heavy. If his body could go any limper it would have as he blacked out on the Jedi's shoulder. That would be the last thing he remembered until they got away from this planet.