===Jarek===
As Bo-Katan and Jarek slinked through the shadows, the storm continued its unrelenting assault. The torrential rain masked their footsteps and the low hum of their equipment. They had circumvented the primary entrance, finding an auxiliary access point—a maintenance hatch tucked away at the rear of the facility. It was locked, but Jarek had already set to work, his fingers dancing over the security panel with practiced precision.
The hatch clicked open with a soft hiss, revealing a narrow hallway dimly lit by overhead fluorescents that flickered sporadically. The air was thick with the sterile scent of machinery, a faint trace of something else—chemical or medical—lingering in the background. Bo-Katan's eyes darted around, her instincts on high alert. They were inside now, and there was no turning back.
The silence of the facility was unnerving, only broken by the occasional clank of distant machinery or the soft whirring of cooling systems. Jarek led the way, his movements measured, his helmet reflecting the dim light as they pressed forward through the sterile corridors.
After what felt like an eternity of winding hallways, they finally arrived at a set of sealed doors, marked with an insignia Bo-Katan didn't recognize—stylized, geometric, and ominous. The security on this one was tighter, but Jarek was ready. He leaned against the panel, quietly bypassing the lock, and the doors slid open with a soft whoosh.
Inside, the sight was nothing short of horrifying. The room was large, sterile, and filled with rows upon rows of chambers, each holding a clone. Thousands of them. These were not the typical clones Bo-Katan had learned about throughout the years. No, these were different—taller, more imposing. Their bodies were broad and muscular, the kind of physical form that could overpower even the most seasoned warrior. Their skin was smooth and pale, almost ghostly, but what made them truly unsettling were the faint, glowing tendrils under their skin. They pulsed with a soft, eerie light, like veins of energy running beneath the surface of their flesh. Some were still suspended in tanks, floating motionless in nutrient-rich fluids, while others were standing at attention, their eyes blank but seemingly alert.
Bo-Katan's breath caught in her throat. These were no ordinary clones. They were far more advanced—altered. Whatever the Kaminoans had been doing here, it wasn't just the production of soldiers; they had taken their work to a terrifying new level.
Jarek was already stepping forward, his boots making no sound against the floor as he moved deeper into the chamber. Bo-Katan stayed close, her eyes scanning the figures in the rows. The clones, despite their unnatural silence, seemed to exude a raw, barely-contained strength. Their muscles were larger than any she had seen before, their bodies perfectly sculpted for combat. And those glowing tendrils—those pulsing veins—were the most unnatural feature of all.
Bo-Katan's hand went instinctively to her blaster, but she resisted the urge to draw it. These weren't enemies, not yet. They were soldiers, creations of the Kaminoans, born for a purpose they didn't understand.
As they made their way through the rows, one of the clones—taller and more imposing than the others—shifted slightly in his chamber, his eyes suddenly snapping open. For a moment, his gaze locked onto them, and for a heartbeat, Bo-Katan felt time slow. The clone's face was expressionless, but his eyes burned with an intensity that suggested he was more than just a weapon. He was aware, alert, capable of thought.
The clone blinked, seemingly confused by their presence. His massive frame shifted slightly, his hands gripping the edge of the tank. His muscles rippled under his skin, the glowing tendrils pulsing with a soft, unsettling light. Bo-Katan held her breath, praying that the clone would remain silent, that he would not alert the others.
Jarek, sensing the tension, stayed still, his body rigid with anticipation. His hand was near the Darksaber, but he did not draw it. The clone's gaze lingered for another moment, and then lowered his head, seeming to fall back into unconsciousness.
The two captains moved past him quietly, their hearts pounding in their chests. Every step was calculated, every breath hushed, as they navigated the maze of tanks. The clones remained still, oblivious to their presence, though Bo-Katan couldn't shake the feeling that they were aware on some level—that they were watching, as though waiting for a command. It was as if they were all tethered to something deeper, something more sinister.
Then, as they reached the far end of the room, they found a door leading deeper into the facility. This was where the real answers would lie. Bo-Katan's hand tightened on her blaster as they moved toward it. Jarek stepped forward first, cautiously placing his hand on the door's control panel.
Before they could proceed, a strong voice—low and gruff—came from behind them.
"You don't belong here."
Bo-Katan's spine stiffened as she turned, hand still on her blaster. The clone who had looked at them earlier was now standing, his feet planted firmly on the floor. His towering form was framed by the faint glow of the tendrils beneath his skin, and his eyes locked on them with an intensity that was unnerving.
The voice was calm, devoid of any emotion, yet something about it sent a chill down her spine. This wasn't just a soldier following orders. This was something else entirely.
"You're not the first to come," the clone added, his gaze flickering briefly to the others, still standing frozen in their chambers. "And you won't be the last."
Jarek studied the clone carefully, taking in his towering form. The clone was about six feet tall, shorter than Jarek himself, but there was no mistaking the raw strength that radiated from his muscular frame.
"You've seen more of us?" Bo-Katan asked, her voice steady despite the tension.
The clone nodded, his expression impassive. "Two of you. One in blue and silver armor, and one in armor much like yours—blue and gold, though he didn't look comfortable in it."
Bo-Katan and Jarek exchanged a brief, knowing glance before turning back to the clone.
"Can you tell us where they are?" Jarek asked, his tone direct.
The clone's eyes flickered, and a small, almost imperceptible shift in his posture signaled a change. "I can do better," he said in a low voice. "I'll show you."
Without waiting for a response, the clone turned and moved toward a set of nearby doors. His large frame seemed to glide effortlessly across the room, his tendrils pulsing faintly under his skin with each step. Bo-Katan and Jarek exchanged another look, but neither hesitated. They followed the clone through the doors, their footsteps silent in the sterile hallways.
As they walked deeper into the facility, Bo-Katan couldn't shake the feeling of being watched, as though the clones were always there, their silent eyes tracking their every move. The strange, glowing veins beneath their skin pulsed in rhythm with their heartbeats, adding an eerie glow to the otherwise dim corridor.
The clone led them to a small control room, a nondescript space filled with monitors and data panels. The room was dimly lit, with a few consoles humming softly in the background. The clone approached one of the terminals and activated it with a series of quick keystrokes.
A map of the facility appeared on the screen, highlighting various sectors in bright red. The clone pointed to a location deep within the complex. "This is where they are. They're not far."
Bo-Katan leaned in closer, scanning the map. Her heart quickened at the sight. This was it. They were on the right track. "How do we get there?" she asked, her voice low.
The clone's gaze flickered, and for a moment, something almost resembling hesitation crossed his face. Then, he turned back to the console and keyed in another set of commands. "There's a maintenance shaft," he said, his voice cold. "It will take you directly to where they're room is."
Jarek stepped forward, his tone clipped. "And you're not going to stop us?"
The clone's expression remained stoic, his body unmoving. "I'm not your enemy," he said simply. "The Kaminoans have not given us any orders. We may do what we please for now."
Bo-Katan regarded him for a moment, her gaze softening slightly. "Thank you." she said.
The clone gave a small nod before turning and walking out of the room as if nothing out of the ordinary had occurred. His departure left Bo-Katan and Jarek standing in the cold, sterile room, both grappling with the unsettling nature of what they had just witnessed.
"This is stranger than I thought," Jarek muttered, his tone low and contemplative. "They're building an army, but for what, I'm not sure." He kicked open a panel in the floor, crouching down and disappearing into the shaft beneath, motioning for Bo-Katan to follow.
Bo-Katan hesitated for only a moment before dropping into the maintenance shaft after him. The air was thick and damp, a stark contrast to the sterile atmosphere they had just left behind. Their journey was brief, but tense, the distant echoes of their movements reverberating down the winding passages.
Soon enough, they arrived at their destination—a nondescript door, barely visible among the many others.
"I'll be glad to leave this stormy planet behind," a voice called out, startling Bo-Katan and Jarek both.
From the shadows emerged a figure that Bo-Katan instantly recognized. The man was a new aspirant to the Azure Talon legion—someone still in training, not yet initiated into their ranks but well on his way. She tensed, her hand instinctively reaching for her blaster. She was about to charge, but Jarek's hand shot out, stopping her.
"Now that our business has concluded, we may part ways. I hope to never see you again," another voice—gravelly and familiar—drifted into the corridor, followed by the sound of something heavy being hauled toward the exit.
Bo-Katan's eyes narrowed, and Jarek muttered a single word under his breath, "Jango."
Her stomach twisted at the sight of the bounty hunter. But Jango Fett wasn't her primary concern right now. The aspirant was. He was a new recruit, one who hadn't yet proven himself, but one who would face judgment soon enough, should he live to see it.
"He's not my concern right now," Bo-Katan said in a hushed voice, her fingers tightening around the grip of her blaster. "That's one of my aspirants to my legion. He needs to be kept alive to face judgment."
Jarek nodded once, understanding her resolve. With a quiet gesture, he signaled for her to move, and the two burst through the vent in unison. The aspirant and Jango Fett were taken completely off guard.
Bo-Katan wasted no time. She lunged at the aspirant, catching him off guard and slamming her forearm into his stomach. He staggered back, his breath knocked out of him, but before he could recover, she spun him against the wall. The impact of his skull hitting the hard surface made a sickening sound, but she wasn't done.
Jarek wasn't far behind. He tackled Jango, throwing him toward the door, the two of them tumbling out into the downpour of rain. Bo-Katan barely registered the cold, focusing only on the task at hand.
The aspirant recovered quicker than she expected, his training kicking in. He tried to land a right haymaker, but Bo-Katan was ready. She slipped under his punch, pivoting on her heel, and drove a hard fist into his exposed stomach, her knuckles connecting with a sickening thud. He gasped, stunned, but didn't back off. Instead, he tried to swing at her again.
Bo-Katan didn't give him the chance. She struck him in the face with her left fist, the force of the blow snapping his head back. He staggered, winded, but still trying to recover. Before he could react, Bo-Katan brought her knee up, slamming it into his groin. His face twisted in agony as he bent forward, clutching at himself.
That was when Bo-Katan moved in for the final strike. Both of her fists came down hard on the back of his head, the blow sending him crashing to the ground, unconscious before he could even let out a grunt of pain.
Jarek, meanwhile, found himself locked in a fierce struggle with Jango Fett. The bounty hunter was a formidable opponent, his movements sharp and precise, but Jarek was the captain of the Obsidian Crusaders. Their clash echoed through the storm, the sound of their blows blending with the roar of the rain. Jango's helmeted face remained impassive, his skill evident in every strike, yet Jarek's raw strength and experience made him a worthy adversary. The two exchanged quick jabs and powerful blows until Jango managed to land a low kick to Jarek's stomach, sending him slipping backward in the slick rain.
He quickly recovered, rolling back onto his feet just in time to narrowly dodge a follow-up knee aimed for his face. Before Jango could land the strike, Jarek grabbed the bounty hunter by his stomach, lifting him off his feet and throwing him to the ground with all his strength.
But Jango wasn't finished yet. With a flash, the bounty hunter activated his jetpack, lifting both of them off the ground. The air around them became a chaotic swirl as Jango dragged them both into the sky. With a brutal slam, Jango threw Jarek against the hull of the Slave-1 nearby, the ship's metal surface ringing with the impact. Jarek grunted in pain, but he didn't have time to recover before Jango released him, sending him crashing back to the ground with a heavy thud.
The rain poured down as Jango landed lightly on his feet nearby, pulling his blaster. His tone was casual, but there was a cold edge to his words. "Well, well, well. If it isn't my old friend. It seems being with the Astartes has been good for you, Jarek."
Jarek gritted his teeth as he pushed himself up, one knee on the slick ground. His hand instinctively brushed over the hilt of the Darksaber, feeling the weight of its presence at his side.
"It's been very good," Jarek replied, his voice low but firm. "Wished you had taken my offer and joined us."
Without warning, Jarek lunged, igniting the Darksaber with a snap-hiss. The blade cut through the air with a vicious hum. In a fluid motion, he sliced through Jango's blaster, cutting the weapon clean in half before landing a powerful kick to Jango's chest, sending the bounty hunter sprawling to the ground.
Jango reacted immediately, his jetpack flaring to life and lifting him off the ground once again, creating distance between them. He hovered in the air, hovering with cold, calculating eyes focused on the Darksaber.
Jarek stood his ground, the blade of the Darksaber crackling with energy. His voice grew more impassioned, his conviction rising. "Join us. You know what this means. Mandalore will be reunited under the light of the glorious God-Emperor, and there is nothing anyone can do to stop it. No more hunting bounties. No more working for people who see you as a liability. Just a legion of brothers and sisters who want nothing more than for you to be reunited with them."
His words rang with a fervor that surprised even him. The vision of Mandalore's future, united and under the banner of the Emperor, filled him with an unshakable zeal. He saw the endless possibilities—Mandalore reborn, his people no longer scattered, no longer fighting amongst themselves. The dream of unity felt so close now, almost within reach.
Jango shook his head slowly, his voice steady and unwavering as ever. "You know I can't do that. I enjoy the hunt more than anything."
Jarek's eyes narrowed. The bounty hunter's path was clear; it was the one he had chosen long ago, the life of a lone wolf, free to roam and pursue his own code. Jarek's heart burned with frustration. How could Jango still be so blinded by his need for the hunt when Mandalore's true glory was waiting?
"You always were stubborn," Jarek muttered, his voice low, but his grip on the Darksaber tightened. "But you'll see. In the end, you'll see that this is the only way forward. Mandalore will rise again, and the universe will kneel before us."
Jango's gaze remained steady, his silent defiance clear. He didn't speak, didn't try to justify his choices. He had always walked his own path, and no amount of words or zeal would change that.
The storm raged on, the crackling energy of the Darksaber humming through the air as they circled each other, both ready for the next move. The ground was slick with rain, making every step a calculated risk, but neither fighter gave ground. Jarek's grip on the hilt of the Darksaber was firm, the blade's dark glow casting eerie shadows over the two of them. Jango had pulled another two blaster pistols, which glinted in the rain. His stance poised and calculating, every movement precise, like a predator waiting to strike.
Without warning, Jango fired first, the twin blaster bolts streaking through the torrential downpour. Jarek reacted instantly, twisting his body to the side as the bolts sailed past him, the heat of them still palpable in the air.
Jarek charged forward, Darksaber raised to strike. Jango's eyes narrowed, and with a flash of his jetpack, he propelled himself into the air, narrowly avoiding the sweeping arc of the blade.
The Obsidian Crusader launched himself into the air with his own jetpack, the powerful thrusters sending him rocketing toward Jango. The two Mandalorians clashed high above the rain-soaked ground, their weapons a blur of motion. Jango fired again, his blasters expert extensions of his hands, but Jarek was already spinning, the Darksaber blocking the incoming fire with a precision honed over years of combat.
As they fell back toward the wet ground, Jango attempted a low kick, aiming to take out Jarek's balance. But Jarek anticipated the move, countering with a twist of his body that allowed him to dodge and swing the Darksaber in a vicious arc. The energy blade missed by inches, but Jango's jetpack flared once more, pulling him backward and out of harm's way.
"You're still too slow, Jarek," Jango called out, his voice laced with the arrogance of a man who believed he held the upper hand.
Jarek, grinning under his helmet, didn't respond. Instead, he launched himself again, a blur of motion as he dashed toward Jango. The Darksaber crackled with dark energy as Jarek slashed downward with all his strength. The blade slashed one of the bounty hunter's blasters, cutting it in two while Jango fired his other one.
Jarek's instincts kicked in. He spun, his jetpack propelling him out of the line of fire, and brought the Darksaber around in a horizontal strike that Jango barely managed to avoid. Jango's other blaster barked again, but Jarek blocked the bolts effortlessly, the energy blade singing as it deflected each shot with terrifying ease.
The rain lashed against them, but neither of them faltered. Every movement was calculated, every strike deadly.
Jango's face was unreadable beneath his helmet. "You're still as good as ever." he said, his voice a low growl as he fired one more shot, aiming for Jarek's head.
Jarek didn't flinch. With a swift movement, he brought the Darksaber up, deflecting the bolt and closing the distance again.
Jarek's eyes locked on Jango, and his voice was low but filled with resolve. "You could still join us, Jango. We could still rebuild Mandalore together."
Jango's response was a chuckle, devoid of humor. "I'm not some soldier in your war, Jarek. I prefer the hunt."
The air between them crackled with tension, and before either could strike again, the familiar hum of a jetpack igniting filled the air. Bo-Katan appeared, blasting through the rain and landing next to Jarek with a swift, practiced motion before dumping the aspirant's body at her feet. Her blasters were already in hand, and she began firing immediately, forcing Jango to dive for cover behind a nearby piece of wreckage.
"I'm getting tired of waiting," Bo-Katan said, her voice cool as ever. "Let's finish this."
But as she and Jarek prepared to advance, a new sound pierced the battlefield—a rhythmic, synchronized marching of boots. Jarek's head snapped to the side, and his blood ran cold as a platoon of clones emerged from the facility. Their armor gleamed under the flash of lightning, the steady beat of their boots matching the intensity of the storm.
Jango Fett's eyes gleamed from under his helmet, but his expression remained stoic. "Well, looks like you've got company," he said, his voice mocking, yet carrying an edge of satisfaction as he backed away towards his ship.
"Don't die, Jarek. We still have a score to settle," Jango added, before he disappeared into the hatch of the Slave-1, lifting off into the stormy sky.
"Dammit!" Jarek cursed, his fists clenched as he turned to watch Jango's ship vanish into the clouds. "We can't let him get away," he muttered, his eyes flashing with determination.
"I've already called the Gauntlet, but we'll have to deal with these bastards first," Bo-Katan shouted, her voice carrying over the roar of the storm as she ducked behind the platform's railing, her blasters raised and ready.
The stormlight caught the glints of the clones massive blasters, and Jarek's heart sank as they opened fire.
The barrage of blaster bolts slammed into the metal platform, the force of the shots throwing debris everywhere. Jarek and Bo-Katan dove behind the railings, the explosions of fire and destruction filling the air around them. Bo-Katan fired back, her blasters spitting out blue streaks of energy as she returned fire with deadly accuracy.
But the clones were relentless, their armor gleaming under the storm's violent flashes, their blasters shaking the very ground beneath their feet. One clone charged forward, his massive blaster raised and aimed directly at Bo-Katan. Without hesitation, she leaned out from cover, her blasters barking in rapid succession. A clone's chest exploded with the first shot, but the second one ducked low, and a third clone fired from a new position, catching her shoulder.
She let out a grunt, stumbling back, but quickly righted herself, gritting her teeth. Her eyes narrowed in pain as she fired again, taking down another clone with a well-placed shot to the head.
Jarek wasn't far behind, his jetpack roaring as he launched himself from behind the railing, drawing the Darksaber with one swift motion. He swung it through the air with devastating precision, blocking incoming fire as he charged forward, using his jetpack to close the distance between him and the closest clone.
The clone turned just in time to meet the full force of the Darksaber. Jarek's strike cleaved through the clone's armor like paper, severing the man in half with one powerful swing. Another clone fired his blaster at him from the side, but Jarek was already in the air, spinning to dodge and slashing downward. The clone barely had time to scream before the Darksaber cut him in two as well.
Another clone moved in close, raising his blaster rifle to blast Jarek point-blank, but Jarek was faster. With a roll of his body, he ducked under the fire and swept his foot out, tripping the clone. As the clone stumbled forward, Jarek's knee slammed into its chest, sending it sprawling to the ground. With a brutal roar, he brought the Darksaber down, splitting the clone's helmet open in a single strike.
Bo-Katan gritted her teeth as she fired back at the clones, her body aching from the gunshot wound to her shoulder. She ducked down, taking a deep breath before popping back up from cover. The clone who had shot her was still advancing, his eyes locked on her. Bo-Katan fired two shots in rapid succession, one hitting his arm and the other tearing through his chest, but he didn't stop until she shot him a third time.
One clone rushed her with terrifying speed, swinging a massive vibroblade that she barely blocked with her blaster in time. The blade sliced through the barrel, sending sparks flying. Bo-Katan cursed, firing her second blaster into the clone's face, sending him toppling backward.
But the clones were too strong. Jarek and Bo-Katan had already taken down five, but the remaining five advanced in a wall of fury and precision. A clone rushed in on Jarek, firing point-blank, but Jarek deflected the bolts with the Darksaber and slammed the flat of the blade into the clone's face, knocking him to the ground. As Jarek attempted to move forward, another clone slammed into him with a shoulder tackle, sending him crashing against the platform's edge.
A knee to Jarek's ribs sent a jolt of pain through his body before he saw the clone bring a massive fist down on his helmet.
The force was devastating, smashing his helmet into the ground over and over before he could react. He was able to lean to one side, causing the clone to miss before using his elbow to hammer into the clone's helmet, cracking it wide open. Jarek rolled away, barely avoiding another deadly blaster bolt aimed at his chest. But the clone was too fast, firing once more and grazing his leg.
Jarek grunted in pain but ignored it, springing back to his feet. He launched himself at the clone, his Darksaber raised, and with a single swing, cleaved the man's body in half.
Bo-Katan, meanwhile, had finished off another clone, her wounds burning with every movement. She ducked low and popped back up, firing at two clones who had flanked her. One fell immediately, his body jerking with the force of the impact, but the second clone retaliated, firing his blaster with rapid shots. The first hit Bo-Katan's thigh, the second grazing her side. She staggered, feeling the burn of the plasma, but gritted her teeth and kept moving.
She ducked under another blast, rolling to the side and firing a shot into the clone's head. It was quick and brutal.
The last two clones were relentless, closing in on both captains from opposite sides. Jarek, using his jetpack, soared into the air, spinning and bringing his Darksaber down in a diagonal arc, cutting one clone in half as he descended. Bo-Katan shot the other clone in the head, but as she did, she felt a crushing force slam into her chest. One final clone had charged from behind, slamming her to the ground with a brutal force.
Jarek, seeing her struggle, dove in from the air, landing directly on the clone, crushing his helmet into the ground with a brutal strike from his knee. He then drove the Darksaber through the clone's chest in one smooth motion.
The battlefield was silent.
Both captains collapsed to the ground, breathing heavily, their armor battered and scorched. Burnt ash mixed with rainwater as the remnants of the clone platoon lay scattered at their feet. The storm raged on, but massive lights filled the air as the Gauntlet approached, its engines roaring through the tempest. The ship's landing struts slammed into the platform with a resounding thud, a safeguard against all other threats.
Jarek's hand tightened on the hilt of the Darksaber, his eyes scanning the chaos around them.
Bo-Katan gave him a brief nod, her expression hardening as she glanced back toward the horizon where Jango's ship had disappeared. "Let's go. We've got a long way to go before this ends."
===
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