CHAPTER SIXTEEN
CORUSCANT
JEDI TEMPLE
Revan stepped gingerly over the wreckage and shattered glass as he entered one of the dormitory rooms where a missile had struck. It was totally destroyed, the metal of the twenty odd bunks twisted and shredded. The force of the explosion had ripped through the wall into the adjoining dormitory, crushing the six bunks that had been directly opposite the wall. The gaping hole in the side of the Temple was easily six meters across and two meters high. Coruscant security forces, as well as two Mandalorian gunships hovered just outside the massive hole, keeping the casual onlookers away, and directing the speeding repulser craft around a safe zone. They also served to keep the HoloNet News crews at a distance. There had been a confrontation between a HoloNet News crew and a Mandalorian patrol outside the main entrance to the Temple. The two newsmen had ended up in the infirmary for several days, and now the HoloNet crews kept a respectable distance.
Revan and Bastila had rushed to where their two younger children still at the Temple were training. They had been caught on the fringes of the blast, and suffered only minor scratches and bruises and after insuring they were safe, Revan had left them with their mother and come here.
Revan turned as two Jedi Knights entered the room behind him, their faces grim and drawn tight with anger and sadness. “Casualties?” Revan asked.
“The majority of the younglings from this dormitory were in training Master Revan, thank the Force.” One Jedi replied. “The others were not so lucky. They were just returning from lightsaber training when the missile hit. Thirty of them were protected from the blunt of the explosion by the corridor shielding. Nineteen were already inside the dorm and were seriously injured. They are being moved to the medical facilities now.”
“How many?” Revan asked again softly.
“Twenty-three were killed Master Revan. An additional six are unaccounted for right now. The second blast also seriously injured seven Jedi Knights who were escorting the younglings back.” The Jedi replied, gulping back the anguish he felt.
Revan shook his head. “I don’t understand this. Why target the younglings? The Sith would want to convert them at this age, not kill them.”
“The Chancellor has ordered a complete lockdown of the Temple Precinct Master Revan.” The second Jedi reported. “We have forces moving out into the Precinct to secure a perimeter.”
Revan looked at him. “I want a list of everyone allowed access to the Temple for the last three weeks!” Revan barked. “This is no random act. Whoever did this knew when to hit the Temple and where.”
“I will see to it at once!” The first Jedi replied, bowing his head slightly before exiting the blown out room quickly.
Revan moved to the still smoking hole in the duracrete and Neutronium wall and peered out into the lanes of repulser lift traffic, and the towering buildings in the distance. He could make out 500 Republica, and the Senate building off in the distance, as well as many smaller structures between those buildings and the Temple itself. Revan turned as the second Jedi stepped up next to him.
“Give me your macrobinoculars.” Revan asked.
The Jedi dug the small set of powerful binoculars from his utility belt and handed them over. Revan brought them to his eyes and began sweeping the lanes of Repulser lift traffic searching for anything.
“Witnesses report the smoke trail of the missile came from the eastern Repulser lane Master Revan.” The Jedi told him. “We have agents moving there now, but it’s unlikely the attackers would have remained behind to see their work.”
“That depends.” Revan spoke calmly, centering the binos and adjusting the focus.
“On what Master Revan?”
Revan handed him the glasses. “On whether they intend to hit us again when the rescue crews are all in the area. Point three four one nine, a Class five SKATE-Class skimmer. It’s sitting on the other side of the lane, trying to stay hidden among the traffic.”
The Jedi brought the binoculars up and directed them on the spot Revan had told him, and when he focused through the milling traffic of the lane, he saw it; a slim open backed skimmer with three individuals on it. “I see it.” He said. “Three individuals. It appears to be… they are…” He dropped the binoculars. “They are preparing another missile!” He turned to look at Revan, but all he saw was his Jedi cloak for a brief instant before his eyes tracked him as he made the thirty meter leap to the open side hatch of the nearest Mandalorian gunship hovering nearby.
He lifted his comlink as the gunship banked hard to the right and rocketed away. “Attention! Priority Beta Alert! Enemy is preparing to launch more missiles! Lock down the Temple! Activate all automated defensive turrets! Master Revan has boarded one of the gunships and gone after them!”
“Boarded one of the gunships?” Jolee’s voice came over the com. “How in the blazes did he do that?”
“He… he jumped to the nearest gunship from our location in the dormitory Master Bindo.” The Jedi answered as if it was the most natural thing in the universe to have a Jedi Master conduct a Force jump of incredible distance and go off to chase the enemy. “Launch the ready force from the Temple docks! Lock onto the IFF signal of our gunship and pursue Master Revan He may need assistance!”
“Temple docks confirms! Ready Force is lifting off!” The voice replied.
The young Jedi could hear several Wookiee howls of glee in the background as he turned to make his way to the nearest control room to monitor the chase. “Contact Coruscant Security Forces and have them stand down! They are not to interfere with Master Revan! Clear this order through the Chancellor’s office if you have too! He will approve it!” The young Jedi stopped for a moment, his mind racing. He then made a decision that would either get him expelled from the Order, or make him a hero, neither of which appealed to him in any way.
“This is Jedi Knight Raman ObiWan! Master Revan believes whoever attacked the Temple had assistance from inside! I want the Temple swept from top to bottom! Full array of active and passive scans! And double check the clearances of all civilians that entered today! And activate the Mandalorian and Wookiee sweep teams! Assign them a Jedi Guardian, and turn them loose in the lower levels as well!”
“Knight ObiWan there is nothing in the lower levels!” The voice came back.
“Whoever helped the enemy attack the Temple is going to need a way out! All the entrances have been locked down! The lower levels of the Temple are the only way out!” Raman answered. “I’ll take full responsibility! Now activate them!”
“There!” Revan screamed against the loud whipping wind tearing at his robes as he hung out the door of the gunship, his right hand anchoring him inside by clutching the roof hand bar. He was pointing at the SKATE-Class skimmer.
Got him!” The pilot said from under his helmet. The gunship dipped lower, forcing Revan to brace himself against the side door, as they swept under the hundreds of repulser vehicles racing by.
The pilot had followed a patrol corridor as they sped away form the Temple, his sensors locking on to the skimmer. He had waited until he was sure they did not consider him a threat before punching his engines to maximum and dipping below the horizon into the canyons of steel and duracrete. They weaved in and out of the repulser traffic for a harrowing thirty seconds before popping back up just on the other side of the main lane.
“Sith’s spit! He’s seen us!” The co-pilot screamed. “He’s bringing his launcher around to fire on his!”
“Activate countermeasures!” The pilot snapped, his voice calm and in control.
“Close on them!” Revan yelled. “The missile can’t arm if we are on top of the skimmer!”
“Hold on!” The pilot warned, wrenching his controls into a stomach flattening climb. “He’s running!”
“Follow him!” Revan screamed. “Don’t lose him!”
The Mandalorian gunship easily matched the maneuverability of the smaller skimmer, and the pilot was a veteran of countless battles and training missions. He could out fly any pilot on Coruscant. When the skimmer broke for the canyons of steel and glass below them, he didn’t hesitate and nosed his gunship over in a screaming dive to follow.
Anja walked smoothly onto the bridge of the Mandalorian cruiser in orbit high above Coruscant. The Mandalorian Commander turned to look at her.
“There was an attack on the Jedi Temple!” He explained. “Lord Revan is currently chasing the perpetrators in a gunship.”
“Casualties?” Anja asked.
The Commander’s eyes appeared saddened. “Twenty-three dead as of right now. All children. About twice that wounded.”
Anja felt her chest clench tighter. “Bastila’s children?” She asked.
The Commander nodded. “She is with them now. They sustained very minor injuries. The Ready Force from the Temple has scrambled, but they won’t get to Lord Revan’s position quickly enough. If we send two gunships down from our position here in orbit, we can arrive several minutes earlier than the Ready Force to assist him.”
Anja didn’t hesitate. “I’ll lead them.” She replied. “Full squads on both gunships! And inform the Coruscant Security Forces we are inbound!”
“Lady Anja… you are… you are carrying a child!” The Commander spoke.
Anja grinned. “I’m pregnant Commander… not crippled.” She answered. “And I can still fight if need be.”
The Commander smiled and nodded his head. “I’ll have the gunships ready when you get to the bay.”
Anja turned quickly and walked out of the bridge. The Commander turned as his executive officer came up.
“Are we sure she isn’t part Mandalorian?” The man asked.
The Commander matched his smile.
“… No!” Brose snapped at the man on the communication screen. “The Jedi are far better equipped to handle this than the CSF! Have them fall back to support positions only! Two other gunships are coming from orbit to assist Master Revan!”
“Understood Chancellor.” The Commander of the Coruscant Security Forces spoke, though he was not happy about it.
Brose softened his tone. “They’ve killed children Piotr. Jedi children. On our planet; under our watch. I find that terribly offensive! Let the Jedi handle the apprehension of those who conducted the act. I understand that one of the Jedi Knights in charge of Temple security has ordered the lower levels be locked down. I would much appreciate if you directed most of your forces to the lower levels and apprehend the butchers who assisted in this act.”
The CSF Commander leaned forward in his chair, his face tightening. “An inside job sir?”
Brose nodded. “It would appear so yes. Which means we still have one or more active Sith terrorist cells operating on Coruscant. Do me a favor and find them. Then feed them to the Kath Hounds.”
“Rules Chancellor?”
Brose paused. “They have killed children Piotr. You have no rules. Find them… and destroy them.” He answered coldly.
The CSF Commander nodded his head confidently. This type of mission was more suited to his people anyway. They could go places the Jedi could not.
“I’ll see to it Chancellor.”
Anja held the handle by the open door of the gunship as it rocketed through the right angle canyons of steel and duracrete. The wind whipped her hair back, tossing her robes to and fro. She could smell the decay and waste of the lower portions of Coruscant, feel the lives of thousands of beings within the Force, it was exhilarating.
“Lady Anja!” The pilot did not turn his head as he directed their gunship around corners, deftly avoiding collision with repulser lifts and commercial lifts. “They are slowing, within the Uscru Entertainment District!”
“How close are we?” Anja asked.
“Twenty seconds! No more!”
“They are landing!” The co-pilot yelled.
Anja turned her head and reached out within the Force.
Revan! We are coming!
Revan grinned as he felt Anja reach out to him. He stepped lightly from where the pilot of his gunship had landed, scattering hundreds of civilians in the process. His lightsaber found his hand as he dashed for where he had seen the assassin’s skimmer land. His pilot had kept them nearly on top of the skimmer, not allowing the assassin with the missile launcher to fire his weapon. This was not the case now as Revan watched the man raise the weapon to his shoulder and fire.
The smoke and flame from the backwash of the weapon engulfed three civilians not fast enough to escape the deadly kill zone. Revan stopped and reached out with the Force, nudging the missile speeding at him into a screaming path straight up. His brow furrowed as he heard the assassin swear in a language he had not heard in decades. Revan covered the remaining sixty meters of distance to the skimmer in one Force assisted leap. His violet blade ignited, and deflected three heavy blaster bolts fired by the Trandoshan opposite the skimmer. The bolts ricocheted back at the mercenary, punching through his body and tossing him several meters back. With catlike quickness, Revan leaped aboard the skimmer, his blade spinning faster than the eye could follow. The Rodian still sitting in the skimmer had tried to rise when Revan landed on his craft, but suddenly found his upper body was no longer attached to his lower body. His head and shoulders tumbled from the craft to the ground below.
Revan turned quickly, facing the lone remaining assassin. He watched as the figure dropped the missile launcher, his lightweight fiber armor sparkling in black polish from the lights of Vos Gesal Street. Revan jumped nimbly to the ground, his eyes never leaving the assassin as he reached up and removed the helmet he wore, exposing his Vurk warrior features. Revan watched him toss aside the helmet and pull the lightsaber from his belt, igniting the crimson blade.