Jedi Insurgency 200

“So be it.” Corvus said with great solemnity. 

At the same time, he had finally landed the Falcon, and it was at that moment that Tann & Ventress chose to make their appearance. 

“You are a fool, Revan, but I would expect nothing less from a Jedi.” Ventress hissed as she strutted towards the ramp. “If you break my sister's heart, I'll bring you back to life, and then kill you myself.” 

The Dathomiri woman was all scowls as he left in a huff. 

A crooked grin spread across Corvus’s face. He imagined what a Yon x Ventress pairing would look like, but swiftly shook his head, then rose from his seat to approach Tann. 

Standing next to the Alderaani couch with her arms clasped behind her back, the famed tactician's crimson eyes bored into him. 

“Make them hurt.” She finally said, then swiftly turned on her heel, and marched out of the ramp without another word. 

Corvus [Shadow Hopped] in front of her, onto the landing pad. 

The wind fluttered across his torn robes, and the neon lights shown down upon her grimy uniform. Although she hid it well, Corvus could see that his evil blueberry was well and truly exhausted. 

“Thank you. For everything.” He muttered softly. 

Tann didn't stop in her strut towards her secret CIS stealth bomber for a second, practically ignoring him. However, she did spare him a glance, and began to talk down to him like a commanding officer to their enlisted men. 

“Your thanks are unnecessary. My arrival was the best, most optimal decision. Should Vader have succeeded in his capture of the Infinite Engine, it would have-mmph?!” Tann got out, before her words were silenced by a kiss. 

Mask fully off, Corvus pulled the back of her neck, and held her like they were dancers under the moon. Her eyes went wide in surprise, and her eyes roamed his face as if they were discovering an entirely new continent ripe for exploitation. 

“Childish.” Tann got out during a brief lull, before she was pulled back for a small twirl. 

Corvus slowly guided her in a dance under the neon lights, and thanks to their Force Bond, their movements were flawless. For the next five minutes, not a word was spoken. Guiding her towards her ship, his final step pressed her back against the stealth bomber. 

“Go, make more nightmares for the Imperial High Command.” Corvus kissed her on the forehead, and when he was about to pull her away, he saw the amulet hanging around her neck flash. 

Seconds later, three identical Tann's appeared around his sides & back. Two of them grabbed him by the arm, whilst the one on his flank rested her head on his shoulder, and pushed him forward. Corvus felt her soft, well toned body pressing into him, and the original-who was still leaning against the bomber-gripped his face with both her hands. The gloves had come off, and each one of her delicate blue fingers refused to let go. 

She didn't say a single word as this time, she moved in for a kiss. 

The noise of passing speeders seemed to fade into obscurity during this private moment. For once, the galaxy felt still.

“You’re brooding again.” she said, her tone equal parts amused and chiding.

Corvus allowed himself a faint smile as he slightly pulled away. “I prefer to think of it as strategic contemplation.” He joked. 

Tann stepped closer, her chin tilting upward as she examined him with pride, as if his accomplishments in life were her doing. That this was the man she had chosen. 

“Of course you do. Always the philosopher General. So quick to fight with words, when a fist would be more effective.”

Corvus reached out, brushing a stray strand of her dark hair back into place. The gesture was gentle, and he felt her breath hitch. For a moment, she didn’t speak, and didn't posture. She simply watched him.

“You hide it well. The weight of it all.”

Corvus’s hand lingered against her cheek. 

“Not from you, my brilliant Supreme Commander~”

That earned the smallest, most satisfied smile. Tann leaned into his touch, just enough to acknowledge it without surrendering her composure entirely.

He chuckled softly, then drew her closer. She did not resist. Her hands came to rest against his chest, fingers curling lightly into his robes as she pulled into the hug. 

For a woman who commands fleets without fear, there was something unguarded in the way she looked at him now.

“You were brilliant today.” Corvus said, his voice low.

“Naturally.” She said, glowing at the praise. 

To outsiders, it might seem like she was being perfunctory, but Corvus knew she basked in the praise like a flower finally blessed with both sunlight and water. With the kind of upbringing a noble Chiss went through, then training under Sith Dooku, and then to spend 90% of the Clone Wars in prison…her psyche must be severely damaged. A girl like that, she deserved all the love he could muster. 

“And you.” She added, almost reluctantly. “Were…acceptable.”

“High praise.” He said, rubbing her back. 

“Do not grow arrogant.” Tann replied, though her tone lacked its usual bite.

He smiled, then closed the distance between them, pressing a soft kiss to her lips.

When they parted, she didn’t step away.

Instead, Tann rested her forehead against his, her voice barely above a whisper. “We should not have moments like this. Every minute wasted here is one in which we could be growing stronger.” 

“Perhaps not.” Corvus admitted. “But you, Sev’rance Tann, are not a waste.” 

His aura of pure love was so blinding in the Force, that the ever strict Supreme Commander ducked her head in embarrassment, unwilling to look at him. 

Her fingers tightened slightly against his robes. For once, the ever-calculating tactician did not argue. She simply closed her eyes, allowing herself the rare luxury of feeling protected as he held her. 

Then, without another word, Corvus donned his mask again, then [Shadow Hopped] back into the Falcon. 

Tann stood in place, and closed her eyes. A small smile-one so minimal in size no one could tell-spread across her lips. Jumping into her ship, she exchanged glances with Ventress from across the hangar, and exuded an aura of triumph. In that look, it was as if she was saying: ‘This is Supreme Commander Sev’rance Tann's most prized conquest. Bow down to me, for am I not great?’ 

Ventress rolled her eyes, and then took off in her own ship. 

Meanwhile, Corvus-who had returned to the Falcon’s cockpit-glanced at his crew. 

“Ahem. Once I take us into hyperspace, I want you super commandos to come up with a rescue plan, as well as VIPs or other important targets that could be struck during our trip to Coruscant. Because not only will we rescue Omega…but we'll be kicking that old prune in the Palpatines with our boots so hard, he'll be coughing up blood once we're through with him!” Corvus raised his voice to increase everyone's morale, and then began to invisibly fly the Falcon towards the egress point, allowing the navcomputer to calculate their route through hyperspace. 

“Oorah!” Wrecker joined in on the fun. 

“I've dreamed of returning to Coruscant.” Yon darkly grinned. 

“Be careful, Master. Wherever there is mass healing, the Emperor is certain to notice, and send his Inquisitors after you.” Jax cautioned. 

Corvus stroked his chin in thought, the ghost of a smirk spreading across his face. 

“Yes, I think I might be the perfect bait and distraction for the rescue.” Corvus replied. 

“What?! That's too dangerous. We should stick together, Master. If we channel our power together, you could even challenge the Sith mastermind!” Yon emphatically denied this plan. 

“Haha, you sensed that Darkside aura last month. That all consuming hunger isn't something we could contend with.” Corvus laughed, and then ruffled the teen's hair, this time, much to his displeasure. 

“Yon, recall our escape from Coruscant the first time. Master raided the prison system, the Inspectorate, and Galactic Bank all in one day. He accomplished all this because he didn't have to worry about us. Likewise, have faith that Master can do so again.” Jax calmly countered Yon's energy with facts and logic. 

Yon pouted for a second, before reluctantly nodding his head. “Heh, you're right, Jax. Master is Master. I bet he'll find a way to cure himself before we arrive on Coruscant, and will awaken more of his dormant power.” 

Once the short brat said that, everyone else in the cabin gave Corvus appraising looks, and couldn't help but nod along. 

‘Oi!’ Corvus silently thought to himself, and felt a bit of sweat fall down his neck. Checking his quest one more time, he felt his eyebrow twitch. 

[Class Promotion Quest

Master of Shadow: 

-25% All stats & abilities. 

0/10 Defeat mirrored self 

0/1 Witness an Eclipse

0/100% Meditate on the Shadow Wrath State

Rewards: Shadow Wrath State

Jedi Master (mid)] 

The trip to Coruscant from Nar Shaddaa-with a First Class hyperdrive-was 9 to 12 days, hyperlane currents willing. Entering grind mode, he could maybe accomplish parts one, and three, and with a little search on the Holonet, part two should be doable if not a little time consuming. By stopping at a planet along the way that was due for an eclipse, perhaps if they bumped the trip up to 15 or 18 days…then he really could complete the promotion quest! 

Slightly scratching the back of his head, he could only agree with their expectations. 

“I'll try my best, but let's plan to limit direct confrontations during this trip. Omega's extraction should be executed with as few security breaches as possible. I want us to go in quietly, and leave as silent as a ghost.” Corvus demanded.

“Send me and the boy.” Crosshair spoke up, and gestured towards Yon. “The two of us can do what needs to be done.” 

“Based on data accumulated across Yon's missions, he does have a better stealth rating than Jax. And statistically speaking, the fewer people involved, the lower the risk of discovery.” Tech said, tapping away at his tablet, and showing figures & footage of Yon. 

“Master, trust me with this. I located and eliminated the traitor, and I took out the enemy ship all without getting caught…Crosshair is right, we work well together, and can get the job done.” Yon pleaded, like a kid asking his parents for a new console. 

“Oi'm not staying behind, while they poke and prod my ittle sister.” Wrecker crossed his arms, and growled. 

Hunter frowned, and then glared at Crosshair. “We can do the mission, General. Tech can find her location, Echo can hack the doors, and Wrecker can create entrances or exits where necessary. The extraction will be completed in less than half an hour.” 

Corvus tapped a finger on the flight stick, deep in thought. The cloning facility on Coruscant was actually on one of its moons. Unlike the targets he had previously hit in the megalopolis, there wouldn't be any fallback spots if they were caught. You couldn't simply disappear into the city, or disguise yourself as a refugee. And whilst the Bad Batch were good at insertions, they almost always had to go hot during their escape. 

During this tense silence, Jax slowly spoke up. 

“Why don't you go alone, Master. Leave me to draw the Empire's attention with acts of healing. Send Yon and CF-99 to infiltrate manufacturing hubs, and cause mass acts of sabotage. That way, you'll have all the opportunities you need to act.” The white haired Echani teen laid out his plan. 

Corvus looked at his student, and felt gratitude in his heart. The Empire, by this point, seemed to have figured out many of his abilities, as well as how he operated. As fun as it was to paint the Imperials as clownish, and cartoonishly evil idiots, the truth was, that couldn't be further from the truth. The current officers in charge were all veterans of the Clone Wars, and possessed both experience & intelligence. The act of mass healing underneath Palpatine's nose was the part of the plan that carried the most risk. 

Closing his eyes, he slowly exhaled. Each man in his group wanted to prove themselves, to do something extraordinary. To one up one another, not out of pride, but to prove that they were valuable to the team. It was for this very sense of brotherhood, of camaraderie, that he had sworn those oaths. Not only to the Bad Batch, but he had sworn oaths to both of the boys as well. His heart swelled, and the Force pulsed its approval of such dedication, and willingness to sacrifice. 

“You men, I am proud to call myself your leader. We are blessed to fight in the company of such dedicated professionals.” Corvus grandly said, subtly releasing [Inspire Followers]. “But you all have forgotten one thing, in this fight, we are not alone.” 

Pressing several buttons, he pulled up a screen, revealing the addresses of every HK droid that had been released upon the galaxy. 

“Gentlemen.” Corvus said, reaching towards the hyperspace lever. 

“Let there be war.” 

As the Millennium Falcon entered hyperspace, tens of thousands of assassin droids had received the message. 

Depart for Coruscant.