The Old Loop T Loop

They knew they couldn't hide behind the boulders for long. Someone would eventually come and find them. They continued through the series of stones. The ground crunched every time they stepped on the gravelly ground.

Tensions were high and their clothes were soaking wet. Because he couldn't walk, Lon focused on healing his body. His cybernetic weave bound all his torn muscle fibers and released an electrical discharge.

The current stimulated his cells and promoted healing. This was originally how he was meant to adapt and increase his strength, but he only had a few days.

The bright side of the Sith lightning that damaged his internals is it indirectly increased his shock resistance to the next level. While not much, he was looking at the positives in this encounter.

He also had a record of Khan's lightsaber fighting style verses that Sith Lord.

"We need to find a place to rest and recuperate." The Duros spoke.

"Where are we going to hide in a forest? Find an animal hole or something?"

"We can't head for the landing site." Lon suddenly spoke up. "That's exactly where they would expect us to go."

Everyone looked at him curiously. "If not there, then where should we go?" The Rodian was the first to question him.

"I've learned over the years, and I'm sure you have too. Sometimes the most dangerous place is the safest. I think we need to double back towards the destroyed base. We may find some useful equipment and the area should be evacuated."

Everyone lowered their heads and pondered his words. "If we're seen, it's game over." The Human looked at everyone before his eyes stopped on Lon. "My name is Vikes. I thought I'd let you know if we're going to die together."

"Dash, that's what everyone calls me." The Zeltron smiled. "I was always the quickest one to the party, now here I am, Dashing into danger."

"I'm Cadan" The Duros thumped his chest and pointed at the Weequay. "This is Vossill, we were bounty hunters that happened to be on Eriadu."

Everyone turned their eyes to the Rodian. His eyes were shifty, they glanced between Cadan and Vossill "Koobis, the names Koobis."

"Shit! You're Koobis!" Vossill stepped forward and grabbed his shirt. "You're the target I was on that damn planet to capture."

"No point in being upset now." Jido raised his hand and stopped him. "The main thing is whether we agree to turn back."

"Why bother asking, the only difference is the place we die." Kom'seca waved his hand.

Everyone nodded in agreement and chose to circle back. To avoid patrols, they crossed the river and went in the direction away from the mountain.

--

At the planet's Royal Capital, a sprawling city surrounds a historic stone castle. Instead of streets filled with jubilant citizens, Sith troopers were cracking their whips at their backs. Driving the slaves to transport supplies to build up the city's defenses.

Inside the castle, a Sith sat on the throne. He wore heavily armored gauntlets and boots, but anyone's attention would automatically be drawn to the skin of his face and chest.

It appeared so corrupted and dry one could mistake him for a zombie. Even his original race can no longer be discerned.

His deeply sunken eyes suddenly opened, they glowed with the light of a yellow star.

The doors to the hall were pushed open, a wave of heat rushed out and light illuminated the dark hall. It revealed blackened walls and melted stone bricks of the entire room. Three Sith in black robes walked in side by side.

"Darth Cindur, Outpost 11 has fallen." The Human Sith in the middle stepped forward to report.

Cindur's eyes turned towards the Sith.

With a simple glance, the Sith Lord felt his body temperature started to increase.

"Is that base not in your sector? Was it not guarded by Lord Tinis?" His voice was low and raspy, every symbol seemed to increase the temperature of the room by another degree.

"He's dead." The Sith bit his teeth and spoke with great difficulty.

"So he failed." Light seemed to burst from his eyes. "That means you failed too. The battle has just begun and I already lost an outpost? Are you trying to make me look like a fool?!? To undermine my power!!"

Cindur didn't even wait for him to respond. His right hand raised slightly and his fingers twitched; A dark red flame emerged from the void and rolled towards the Sith.

The air was distorted by the high temperature and the stone floor began to melt. All three Sith Lords tried to dodge but their bodies were locked in place by a great force. The Sith in the middle was engulfed by the flames almost instantly, only letting out one painful scream before his body turned to ash.

The flame stopped and Darth Cindur's eyes looked at the other two sith. Their skin was blackened and blisters boiled just from the residual heat of the flames.

They stood there trembling in pain but dared not scream.

"Go! Don't fail me again!" A wave of power erupted forward, throwing the Sith out of the hall and slamming the doors shut. Only the glow of his yellow eyes seemed to remain in the hall.

"I hope you come soon, Master Aulat. I'm getting tired of waiting for you." His eyes tilted upwards and his cracked lips bent slightly.

He touched his blackened abdomen, where his skin had been seared shut after taking a lightsaber stab to the gut.

--

Lon and the gang knew nothing of this.

After circling around and taking things slow, they eventually made their way back to the outskirts of the attacked base.

They hid behind trees and watched the troopers sort through the wreckage. Most of them had left, but a few remained.

"That looks like the vehicle depot over there. It seems like the Republic fighters targeted it first." Vikes pointed towards one of the larger buildings. The roof had collapsed and the walls fell inward.

"The vehicles may have survived." Cadan's big red eyes squinted. "It's going to take more than that to destroy military-grade vehicles."

Lon stared at the building. His right eye rotated and the rubble seemed to turn transparent before his eye. He could see the outline of the mechanical vehicles inside.

While some were penetrated by the metal roofing falling on them, three vehicles were okay. One small hover tank and two airspeeders.

He glanced around the rest of the outpost and saw twenty-three troopers were still present. They appeared to be transporting supplies from the armory and setting them outside.

If he had to guess, they should be waiting for a transport craft to move them.

"Guys if we want to dig out those vehicles, we either hope they leave or take them out before they call for backup."

"I was never one to leave my fate to hope or chance. If we want something, we have to grab it with our own hands." Kom'seca shook his head.

"Then we light this place up." Vossill held up his gun and aimed at the troopers moving the distance.

"Let's do this smart. We can't get into a firefight." Cadan pushed Vossill's gun down. "They're at the armory and have missile weapons and grenades."

"Put me down." Lon climbed off Jido's back. All his indicators lit up the moment his feet touched the ground but he stood.

"You guys sneak around. I'll show myself and draw their attention, then you gun them down from behind."

"You are brave." Vossill placed his arm on his shoulder. "Better than most."

Everyone nodded towards Lon before taking their guns and moving. When he saw them moving around, he gripped the hilt and began limping towards the armory.

"Stop! It's the Republic Soldier!" A sith trooper saw him and raised his blaster.

The others rushed out and saw Lon standing there. They could see his skin was cracked and his body seeped blood.

Lon ignited the blade and held it at his side.

"Don't be fooled, he's not a Sith! We have orders to kill him on sight, open fire." The highest-ranking trooper fired first.

Lon waved the blade in front of him, his speed wasn't fast but he accurately hit the bolt. He knocked it back like a baseball right into the face of the trooper, killing him instantly.

"Wha-" Before they could process what happened, fire rained from behind them. Mowing down the unsuspecting troopers.

Each of them were hardened criminals or mercenaries, their skills with a blaster were top notch.

They rushed forward as they gunned them down, hitting some people twice to make sure they were dead.

Lon put away the saber and clipped it to his waist. He limped forward and took a blaster from the ground. "Let's move the bodies and set up a trap. Someone should be coming to move this stuff."

They checked the weapons and took a few rocket launchers after moving all the bodies inside. Getting ready for whoever or whatever came next.

Not long after the hid, a long rectangular troop transport drove in from a trail in the forest. It was heavily armored and had a turbo laser atop it.

Bunkers were placed on the sides for six people to aim and shoot at all angles.

Lon's lips rose when he saw this. There were only two people inside to make room for transporting supplies.

The vehicle stopped in front of the armory and the two people walked out. They didn't even take two steps before they were shot down.

"Come on! We have our vehicle!" Jido walked out of hiding with a smile on his face. Excited they don't have to dig through the rubble.