Chapter 34: The Knight and the Next Mission
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Dantooine - Cerimonial Hall
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The great hall of the Dantooine Enclave was illuminated by the warm glow of torches and the soft hum of ancient lightsabers lining the chamber walls. Jedi Masters Ver An, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Kastus Korc, Elon Musk, Shaak Ti and Anakin Skywalker stood in ceremonial formation, watching as Hannah Niimo, once an Acolyte of the Sith, knelt before them. Her transformation had been nothing short of remarkable. She had walked the long road from darkness to redemption, and today, she would be recognized for her new path.
Obi-Wan stepped forward, igniting his blue lightsaber and resting the blade lightly on each of her shoulders. "Hannah Niimo, by the will of the Force and the authority of the Jedi Order, I name you a Jedi Knight. You have walked the path of atonement with courage, and now, you shall serve the light."
Hannah lifted her gaze, her eyes filled with gratitude. The red synthetic kyber crystal, which she had forged in Dantooine’s forges alongside Will, remained an ever-present symbol of her past—but now, it was a beacon of her transformation. She rose, and the chamber erupted into respectful applause.
After the ceremony, Major Ikarus and his clones approached her
. They had been training to resist Sith mind games, fear, and manipulation, and now, Hannah would serve as their instructor, teaching them firsthand how the Dark Side ensnared and how to resist its corruption.
"We’ll be working closely, General Niimo," Ikarus said with a respectful nod. "I trust you won’t go easy on us."
She smirked. "I wouldn’t dream of it."
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Meanwhile, Wilhelm Kriss and Betsy Tay stood in the central hangar, preparing for a new mission. It was unusual for Will to take on an assignment without his fellow Paladins, but this time, the Council had requested he take Betsy Tay as his sole companion.
"Mandalorian extremists? You know they’re some of the worst fighters to deal with, right?" Betsy remarked as she adjusted her elegant blue dress, her aristocratic yet commanding presence a stark contrast to the usual Jedi warrior attire. Despite her refined demeanor, she was far from fragile.
Will smirked. "That’s why I need you. If I just went in swinging my saber, it’d cause a war. Your diplomacy is what’s going to keep us alive."
She crossed her arms, a playful glint in her eyes. "Flattery will get you everywhere, Gran-Paladin. Let’s see if you can actually keep up."
The two boarded the Nebula’s Grace, a sleek battle and reconnaissance vessel
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The once-thriving plains of Cathar now bore scars of conflict. The remains of cities and villages stood as silent reminders of the planet’s troubled history, the distant growls of native predators echoing across the landscape.
Will and Betsy landed their vessel under cover of night, moving swiftly through the ruins toward their source of intelligence—a captured mercenary who had divulged the whereabouts of the missing Pantoran senator, Riyo Chuchi. The Mandalorians had been hired by Cathar warlords who sought to use her as a bargaining chip against the Republic.
Their approach led them to a fortified Mandalorian outpost, where they spotted Riyo Chuchi, shackled to an iron column in the courtyard, surrounded by guards.
Her royal purple outfit, now looking like a slave outfit clung to her form, accentuating her slender figure. The tight-fitting bodysuit was a far cry from her usual elegant robes, and her long blonde hair had been styled into side-buns at the top of her head, adorned with silver ornaments.
She was visibly defiant, her golden eyes sharp and unwavering, despite the evident exhaustion on her face.
"There she is," Betsy whispered, her hand tightening around the hilt of her saber. "And heavily guarded."
Will scanned the area. "That’s at least twenty Mandalorians. Some veterans, some new blood. We can’t go in blindly.
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Betsy smirked. "Who said anything about blind? We’ll just have to be creative."
Will gave her a side glance. "I’m guessing you have a plan?"
She nodded. "Let’s cause a distraction. If we can draw them out into the canyon pass nearby, we can pick them off one by one."
Will exhaled. "A strategic battle. I like it. But first, let’s make sure Riyo doesn’t lose hope."
Betsy arched an eyebrow. "And how exactly do you plan to do that?"
Will grinned, reaching out through the Force, gently touching Riyo’s mind.
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Bound to the pillar, Riyo Chuchi shivered slightly in the cold night air, though she refused to show weakness. Her captors sneered at her, talking amongst themselves in their guttural Mando’a tongue, but she paid them no mind.
Then, she felt it.
A warm presence in her mind—a whisper, a promise of hope.
Hold on. We’re coming.
Her breath hitched, her heart pounding.
She straightened, her lips curling slightly. The Jedi were here.
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