(3rd Person POV)
The Force War has been going on for a while already, and the Je'daii were doing what they could to fight the Rataka. But it wasn't as easy as it was the first time war came to Tython. This time, the enemy was larger, had far more advanced technology and used the Dark Side of the Force. The Je'daii were spread thin, and it was showing. The question was, why did the Rakata decide to attack the Tython system and more importantly, why now? Primus had his daughter, Captio, develop a way to take away the Rakatan's control and access to the Force.
Rakatan Predor Skal'nas seeks to reverse his species' gradual loss of control over the Force by acquiring the Infinity Gate, said to exist on the planet Tython. The Infinity Gate is an ancient network of structures developed by the saurian Kwa species of Dathomir during the Pre-Republic era. Or so it is believed. The truth is that Primus created it when he was born as a Kwa. The discovery gave him immense prestige and fame among the Kwa, allowing them to travel vast distances in the galaxy with ease. The Infinity Gates enable instantaneous interstellar travel between far-flung locations and can also be used for something else, but no one knows what that is yet.
The Rakata have attacked the space station Fury Station on the edges of the Tython system and subsequently captured both planets, Obri and Mawr. Tython was defended by the Je'daii Order, so the attack on the planet could be repelled. The Infinite Empire set up their current command post on Ska Gora.
.
The Je'daii have foreseen an attack by the Infinite Empire on the planet Shikaakwa and have arranged for this to be met at the Ryo Fortress. The Ryo Fortress is Clan Ryo's headquarters on the planet and the seat of power of the clan's crime lord leader, who in this case is Baron Vonos Ryo. The very man who approached Daegon Lok with his undercover mission to kill the Despot Queen, Hadiya.
Flesh Raiders are moving through the swampy environment on Shikaakwa. They hold a lightsaber in each of their hands, using the Dark Side of the Force to power them. The Flesh Raiders are a sub-species of the Rakata. Mutated and bred as lower-caste soldiers in servitude to the Rakata-ruled Infinite Empire.
[Picture]
Suddenly, behind the small group, the former Force Hound Xesh emerges from the muddy water and attacks the Flesh Raiders.
*VROOOOM*
His Forcesaber, not the one Primus created for the Je'daii, cuts through the neck of a Flesh Raider. Xesh has forgotten much of his life as a Force Hound of the Rakata. But he never forgot the Flesh Raiders, which were bred in the thousands and used to kill and consume. Such is the nature of the Rakata. The higher station rules with cruelty over the others, turning them into monstrosities to be used and discarded.
Xesh knows what they can do, as he, being a former Force Hound, knows that they are ruthless and relentless. They destroy and consume any living being they come across, and as such, they need to die.
*BOOM*
Xesh uses the Force to push the Flesh Raiders against one another and decapitates them, cutting off heads and limbs as he goes along. During the years Xesh has lived among the Je'daii and was influenced by Daegon Lok, an even stronger bond was created between him and a Je'daii woman. He has come to understand that there is more than only the Dark Side and that there is the Light. Right now, his light approaches mounted on a Rancor-Dragon, Shae Koda.
Je'daii Ranger Shae Koda rides her Rancor-Dragon and intercepts another Force Hound before he can attack Xesh. She felt a connection with Xesh before Primus destroyed his Predor's ship, and he fled to Tython. This connection allows her to pinpoint Xesh's location. She guides her mount towards the mounted Force Hound, who charges towards her. She feels the Dark Side from him.
Through the bond to the Rancor-Dragon Butch, she guides him to fly lower suddenly and slashes her lightsaber through the Force Hounds stomach, cutting it up and killing it.
The Force Hound jumps on the ground, surviving the fall and attacking Xesh.
"Traitor!" he shouts in anger.
They clash, but Xesh used to be the best Force Hound of the Rakata. He uses the Force to push his feet aside and then knocks the lightsaber aside, impaling him in the process.
"Xesh! RUN!"
*FFFFTTUNK FFFFTTUNK*
*BBBOOOOOOMMMM*
Three Rakatan annihilators have arrived. These are large walkers used by the Infinite Empire in their conquest. Their shape is similar to the Star Forge, and like most of their vehicles. The central sphere fires destructive beams of energy fueled by the Dark Side and deals massive destruction to any world it lands on.
[Picture]
"Rakatan Annihilators! Lok, you've found the main Rakatan position. You need to call down an airstrike," Xesh says as they run away.
"But their position is now our position! Too much fog and too much smoke! Our fighters will never be able to tell who is who," Lok answers.
"No. But without it, we stand no chance! Do you know what the Rakata do to defeated enemies?"
"Enslaved?"
"No. They eat you, after they cook you alive!"
They run forward but stop abruptly, as they almost run into a man. They know the man's race, as Lok has years of experience with one of them. This is a Veriteran. The Veriteran looks at the Rakatan Annihilators. His eyes flash with a cyan light and his presence fills the area. Daegon Lok and Xesh feel the Veriteran's power through the Force; his presence alone shines in the Force and affects the surroundings.
"Who are you?" Xesh asks.
The Veriteran doesn't answer and observes the Rakatan Annihilators. The two look at him and frown. After a moment, Lok grows angry and impatient.
"What are you waiting for?! They are killing us, he-"
"Silence, you failure of the Je'daii way! Lumin will not bother himself with a power-hungry and mentally weak creature like you. Now move, Lumin will do what he does best."
The Veriteran takes a step forward and raises his arms. A wave of power travels forward as he takes control of the three Annihilators and stops their movement. The Rakata inside the spheres attempt to force their technology and aim their weapons at Lumin. They fire their destructive energy weapons at the Veriteran, but all he does is fluidly move his hands.
*BOOOM BOOOM BOOOM*
The three beams of energy move around Lumin and impact the ground behind him. But he's not finished, he lifts the Annihilators in the air and turns them around. Then he claps his hands loudly. The two Annihilators on the sides follow his movement and crash into the one in the middle.
*KKRASBOOOOOOM*
Lumin grabs his walking stick and watches as the wreckage falls to the ground. He nods his head and moves forward, disappearing into the mist and smoke.
.
In the Ryo Fortress, Je'daii Rajivari oversees the battle.
"No, Master Ketu, the battle is far from certain! Although the seers predicted the direction of the attack, they couldn't predict the numbers. Something is constantly disrupting their senses and predictability. We are uncertain what it is. Win or lose, we will have a high number of casualties," Rajivari says to the hologram.
[Keep me apprised of the situation there, Master Rajivari. Thython is massing forces for defence should Shikaakwa be captured. And we seem to have help from ancient times as well. We may yet win this war.]
"In what way, Master Ketu?" Rajivari asks.
"Veriterans were seen on the battlefield across the Tython system. They are dealing great damage to the Rakata Infinite Empire's war effort.]
"The Veriterans? That's a myth, is it not?"
[Sigh... still you don't trust the Force and call yourself a Je'daii. Ketu out.]
Volnos Ryo arrives in the room.
"My Generals report that the battle is not going well. Know this, Rajivari - If Ryo Fortress falls, so will Shikaakwa!" Volnos Ryo says.
"Lord Ryo, we repelled the Rakatan attack on Tython, and we will prevail here," Rajivari answers.
"You Je'daii couldn't prevent the fall of Ska Gora!"
"No, and many Je'daii fell in that battle, but that was before the settled worlds took the Rakatan threat seriously... and before the ancient leaders of our Order started supporting us. Now, all the settled worlds have united with the Je'daii, and if what Master Ketu says is true, the Veriterans have also arrived. We will defeat the enemy here," Rajivari says.
[*ZZZKKKTT!* Rajivari! This is General Lok! *ZZZKKKTT!* ...repeat! Encountered main Rakatan army *ZZZKKKTT!* ...Veriteran blunted their attack *ZZZKKKTT!* all units converge on me! Now! We must *ZZZKKKTT!* this chance! *ZZZKKKTT!*]
"Acknowledged! Masters Tave, Quan-Jang, Madog - Bring your units to Master Lok's position! We will determine the battle's outcome there!" Rajivari tells the other Je'daii through the comms.
[Acknowledged! Master Quan-Jang, summon your beasts! All units attack!]
.
Above the battlefield, in Shikaakwa's sky, a Rakatan Flagship is staying. On it, Sub-Predor General Ceh'let, the current Battle Leader of Shikaakwa, is in contact with Predor Skal'nas.
[Picture]
"Our attack was broken before it began, Predor Skal'nas! Our supposed 'victims' knew about it before we arrived and penned us in the accursed swamp! Not only that, I have lost contact with three of our Annihilators. All in the span of a few moments," Ceh'let says.
[The Infinite Empire knows only victory, Sub-Predor Ceh'let.]
"Half our troops are dead, and the attack is stalled! And another type of enemy has arrived, capable of dealing with our heavy weaponry with seeming ease. I defy you to get a victory with that!"
[You defy me, little sub? There are all kinds of victories, Ceh'let. In a war of attrition, we will ultimately win. Pull our troops back to our main base on Ska Gora. Let the Flesh Raiders cover the withdrawal. You and I, we will talk more on your return.]
"As you-"
"Well, well, well. Would you look at that?" a new voice says.
The Sub-Predor and the Predor on the screen look at the alien of an unknown nature and race. It is all black, and its eyes shine in a dark red light.
"Who are you?! What is it you wa-- kkaackk..." Sub-Predor Ceh'let is Force Choked and lifted into the air.
Predor Skal'nas looks at the scene in apathy and observes the stranger as it kills his subordinate with ease and crushes the Rakatan's body into a ball of flesh.
"Now, we're alone. Shall we have a talk?" the alien asks with a grin.
[Who are you and what is it you want from the Infinite Empire?!]
"A talk of strategy, shall we? Hehehehe."
.
Primus and the Force are lying on a large bed made of comfortable Force Clouds, next to one another. Both are... undressed... in a way. This has been a long time coming for both of them, and since they won't see each other for a while, this was a priority. In a way, the two of them connected through this on an even deeper level than before.
"You should go, no?" the Force asks.
"No."
"Primus."
"I don't see why I should go back there? It's so bothersome to deal with the scheming type," Primus says.
"And what about the Rakata? You do remember what they did to dearest Clio, don't you?"
"Right. I did say they would perish, didn't I? Oh, well. No time like the present," Primus says and is about to stand up, but the Force stops him.
"One moment. We won't see each other for years. I want to enjoy this a while longer."
"Sure."
"Tell me, Primus, what are you going to do after? Do you have a plan?"
"Indeed. After I have taken care of everything, gotten rid of the Rakata and removed the Dark Jedi and Jedi from the Je'daii Order, I will purge the Tython System of its filth. It is time I take matters into my own hands," Primus says and places a kiss on her head.
"An Empire?" she asks.
"In a way, yes. Complete freedom hasn't worked out at all. The politics have turned our Je'daii Order into a replica of the future Jedi Order, and that bothers me. I'll not allow that anymore."
"Hehe, I'm glad. What about afterwards? Any plans?" the Force asks.
"I'll reincarnate again."
"Oh, is it time finally?" she asks, interested.
"It is. You have told me about taking action, and you're right. I will go ahead and experience different races, which I haven't yet. It'll be fun, I'm sure."
"And I'll be there with you," the Force coos.
"Alright, my love. If I don't leave now, I'll never leave. So let's rip off the plaster quickly," Primus says and stands up.
They look at one another for a long time. Words pass between them without either uttering a single word. Finally, they express their intense emotions through a kiss.
When Primus opens his eyes, he finds himself on Rakata Prime, the place used to trap him.
*SIIIIGGGHHHH*
Primus sighs and smiles. Shaking his head, he gets his head back in the game.
"Alright then, adequate effort."
______________________________
This arc is about to come to a close. New adventures coming soon.