"Oh I'm not heading for the Tower. I trust that group to be fine. I'm gonna try and cut Stoneheart off, stop him before he makes a suicide run. One person won't be able to fell that psycho, we already know that."

"You're right. It's gonna take all of us." I ponder a moment, trying to think of something quickly. "Stoneheart has a massive head start. It may already be too late to stop him. But even if that's true, he may at the very least help to exert some of Sucal's energy. If we can catch him before he's had time to breath, we might be able to deplete him enough to capture him and sever his connection to Darth Traya. Then he'll just be a mortal man with no Force abilities." I bite my lip. "Oh, I wish we were better prepared. I'm afraid that even you and Stoneheart's combined strength won't be enough. You'll need Jakito and I, and Zar'kun as well to finish off Sucal. The kids... I'd rather they stay as far away from this as possible." I tap my foot on the stair anxiously. "Ah, nothing to be done about it now. Get over their as quickly as possible. I'll come up with a plan and meet you there. Just... don't get yourself killed. By Sucal OR Stoneheart."

I grin as I walk. "You know me, Becca. Dying just isn't on the to-do list."

[END SCENE]

The Rancor's Den exits hyperspace over war torn Coruscant. In space over the planet, the Republic fleet continues to hold out against the much larger Mandalorian fleet. Either they had superior shields and firepower or Ava was purposely holding something back. I imagined the ground battle was likely just as chaotic, and after transmitting the proper codes and given permission to land, I could soon find out.

I turn to Hank, who is seated next to me. "Here we are. Better late than never. I was afraid we'd miss the whole battle, but it looks like things are still pretty hot. Not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing."

"Statement: This is a war, Master HJ. Winning it is more than one day of fighting." Looking around, I begin to calculate where we might be the most use. "Suggestion: We should find where the Gressh twins are and offer them our aid. Explanation: Repairing relations with them is the best course of action."

"Right. Let me see..." I scroll through my list of contacts before choosing Cosen. "Good thing I never deleted my ex's number." I punch in the keys on the ship's holo console.



I am still sitting in the medical bay when I feel the buzzing from my holo communicator. I take it out and activate it, causing HJ's upper body and head to appear. "HJ? Was'nt expecting to see you."



"Hey, Cosen! How's it going?" I frown when I notice the bandages. In the background, I can also hear screaming. "You okay? I'm not interrupting a fight, am I?"



"No no, you aren't. You missed the fight, actually. It's all... a very long story." Not far from me is Hayden, who is talking to her father. "A lot of us are banged up pretty bad, actually. You coming with reinforcements?"



"Nah, just me, Hank and Huntress. Alderaan might be joining us soon, but they're supposed to wait until the battle is pretty much over. Its all part of some big plan. In the meantime, we're here to help as best we can. Any idea where we should set down?"



I can't help but wince at the volume of his voice, and the brightness of the hologram is starting to give me a migraine. "I'm out of commission for the moment, but word is my brother is hold up at the Senate Tower. Hayden says he's rallying Revolution forces there. He'd probably appreciate your assistance." I pause a moment. "Does uhh... does Ava know you're here?"



I scratch my head. "Not entirely. Word will probably get back to her, but you were the first person I called. I figured she'd be too busy to bother anyways. Last time I interrupted her mid battle, she nearly chewed my head off."



"That's what you get for dating a Mando, HJ. Didn't I warn you?"



"Yeah, you probably did, but you know me. I never learn. And judging by the girls I've dated, a Sith then a Mandalorian, guess I just have a way of attracting the problematic types."



"Accurate."

"Reminder: There is a battle to be fought." I indicate the Tower as we break through the atmosphere. "Statement: There is the tower, and it seems there are clear landing pads." I turn back to Cosen. "Query: Is there anything we should know about before we land?"

“Now that you mention it, the Republic does have a few new toys they’ve cracked out special for us. Hayden says there are these feline Sith Hunter droids. Supposed to be pretty dangerous.”



“How is Hayden, by the way?” I grace at Hank. “Sorry to get off track. I just... well, you know.”



“I know. She’s... okay. This battle is really getting to her. We need to end this soon before she does something drastic.”



I smirk. “Well, lucky for you all, I just got here. We’ll have this battle wrapped up in no time.” The ship flies down to the senate tower landing pad. “Get better soon. See ya after we win the war.” I end the call and begin keying in the landing sequence. “Hank, do a scan of the area. See if you can pick up any signs of those feline droids Cosen mentioned. I should also get in contact with Gavin to let him know we are coming.”

"Reminder: The Sith Hunter droids can't be picked up by conventional sensors." Still, I tried to see if I could get something on the scanners, even an estimate of if the landing pad we were approaching was safe. Unfortunately, nothing came up. "Statement: Scanners are finding nothing."

“Oh well. At least you tried, buddy.” I pat Hank on the metal shoulder. “Let’s see if Gavin can give us some information.” I key up his holo signal next.



A few of the Revolution reinforcements had arrived at the tower. I was doing my best to get them organized. “I need an astromech droid. Can someone find me one?” My communicator pings, and I answer. “HJ? What’s going on? I’ve kinda got my hands full right now.”



“We’re here to help. Me and Hank, that is. We just landed at the tower. If you need help clearing out those cat droids or you need us for anything else, we are ready to do our part.”



“The cat droids are an issue, but we seem to be holding them off fine for now. Haven’t destroyed any yet, though. Whenever they get too weak, they run off, only to come back later fully repaired. We should probably route the last of them out at some point, but we don’t have the manpower to commit to hunting them all down. Our current tactic is to avoid them as best we can.”

"Observation: The tower seems to have some kind of importance to them outside of standing orders. Morbid Theory: Perhaps they are not all mechanical?"

I shudder. “Making killer droids is one thing. Implanting living animals with cybernetics against their will is another. Makes me sick.”



“It is a horrible thought. I understand you have an affinity for beasts. You connect with them very easily in the Force, as Cosen tells me.”



“You could say that.” I think fondly of Huntress rearing in the holding pen below me.



“Perhaps that is why fate has brought you here at this moment. A skilled mechanic and a master of beasts. Seeing as how these creatures fall into both categories, you may be specially qualified to assist us.”



“Well, we don’t know for sure these things are part organic. That’s just Hank’s theory. But we can definitely look into it for you.”



“Excellent. The removal of these droids will allow us a much more secure position. Call us if you need any assistance. Kamari Ordo has most of her hunters close at hand to help protect us, but I’m sure she can spare a man or two to aid in such an important mission as yours.”

I remain silent until the ship has set down and the ramp lowered. "Suggestion: Huntress should wait here. I'm detecting...strange interference in the air."

"Good idea. I don't want her getting hurt... again." I lower the ramp so that we two can disembark. I grab my equipment and head out. "Hopefully she'll be alright until we get back. What kind of interference are you picking up?"

"Confused Answer: I cannot yet determine it, but my sensor suite indicates that it is this way." Leading the way into the tower, I switch on the flashlight on my blaster rifle. "Thoughtful Observation: Perhaps we should inquire as to the nature of the armor on these models?"

I can hear Hank’s question through the open channel HJ left open to his comm. “The armor is similar to that of the other Sith Hunter droids. It is extremely resistant to lightsabers. Perhaps even more so than it’s predecessors. It’s weaknesses are in it’s joints, I think. At least that’s where we’ve had the most success of damaging it.”

"Gratitude: The information is appreciated, Gavin Gressh." Turning back to the halls in front of me, I carefully sweep my rifle side-to-side, attempting to find the source of the interference. "Statement: Master HJ, I suggest your lightsaber stay hidden for now. Don't want to attract unwanted attention." From another direction, the sounds of occasional blaster fire can be heard from one of the halls to our left but silence reigned elsewhere. "Nervous observation: They prefer to operate a lot quieter from other models we've encounter."

I pull my blaster pistol. "They were probably designed to be stealthier. Kinda like real cats, especially if they are partially organic like you said. That probably also means they aren't tricked out with as many weapons. That being said, they aren't going to be as easy to full as the big Mark One Hunters, and their patterns aren't going to be as predictable as the shielded Mark Twos. If we ever manage to destroy one, we should see if we can preserve it's remains for analysis."

"Agreement: A better understanding of the droids we're scrapping would be good." As we pass a stairwell that leads down, I get a spike in the interference from that direction and stop and turn that way. Shining my light down, dried blood stains the walls and I want to grimace despite not being able to. "Suggestion: Extra fighters might not hurt."

I tap my earpiece. “Gavin, you mind sending us a little backup? Things look a little dangerous down here and you know what they say about safety in numbers.”



“I hear ya. I’ll send some of mine to meet you down there.”



I overhear Gavin, and I walk over. “I can lead a couple of guys to help them out.”



“Not sure that’s a good idea, Mom. Those droids are pretty nasty. I don’t want you getting hurt.”



I raise an eyebrow. “Kid, I’ve fought Jedi Knights, Sith Lords, monsters and droids of every kid, and that was just the first year of dating your father. You really think this scares me?” I wave to two Revolutionaries sitting nearby, and they quickly grab their weapons. “I can handle myself just fine. Don’t you worry.”



I know enough not to argue. “Just... be careful. After everything you’ve been through, it would be very anticlimactic for you to die here like this.”



I smirk, holstering my blasters. “A very disappointing ending to the most famous Twi’lek in history.” With another wave to the two Revolution fighters, I head off towards the stairs.