chapter 33

Tatooine

A small town was seen away from the bustling cities on Tatooine in the middle of nowhere. It seemed like any other town on Tatooine if it wasn't for the many guards stationed around it.

The amount that was guarding the town was reasonable since a small dust storm had appeared making visibility a pain. They weren't looking out for just raiders, but also for unwanted visitors.

This small town held mostly only slaves that had escaped the cruel life they once had. Many of them had started families throughout the years of their escape and this was the only safe haven they had. But what really had them on guard was the hutts were showing no mercy to those that were caught with barley any surviving the punishment.

If it was because the assassinations on them or because more slaves were escaping from them, the hutts were being more harsh to those under them and many of them didn't want their new life to be mixed with them again.

They had once made plans to help other slaves with some even working, but one escape plan they made had failed badly costing the lives of many of them. Because of this another plan to free slaves hadn't been made again.

But that was about to change because a squad of marines were slowly making their way towards the town with the sandstorm still blowing. Their mission was to train them and future freedom fighters into a well organized group along with the Spartans.

But for now the marines were going to be the ones to make their presence known to them before the Spartans made their appearance known to them. The main reason for this was because the marines wouldn't straight up immediate the ex-slaves just by looking at them. After all. None of them had seen a Spartan before and conversations was not their strong point.

As the marines make their way towards the town one of them sighs in frustration looking at his weapon as dust and sand flew everywhere.

"Why it had be in a desert? All this sand is going to take ages to clean off of my weapon." The marine says not happy at all.

"It could be worse. We could've been freezing our asses off in the middle of nowhere." Another says.

"We are literally doing the same thing out here. But instead of freezing we are sweating. How does that make us lucky?"

"Alright calm down ladies. The town is right up ahead. Once we enter we follow by their rules for now. We don't want any misunderstandings for them." A marine leading the group says.

As they make their way towards the entrance, a group of guards walk up to them.

"Outsiders are not welcome here. I suggest you leave before we make you leave." A Twi'lek man says to them.

"We didn't come here to create any problems with you. We just want to talk with your leader. That's all." The lead marine says trying to ease the tension they have with them.

"And why should I let you in. For all I know your just another bounty hunter looking for trouble." The man says as they all of them ready their weapons thinking a battle was about to begin.

Seeing this the marine puts both of his hands up in a none threatening gesture trying to calm them down.

"We are with the Terran republic. We just want to speak to your leader to work out a deal and free the rest of your people. We see slavery as a sin from where we come from and we want to change that. But in order for that to work we need to speak to your leader." The marine says.

The man slowly relaxes, but was still on guard. He looks towards the rest of his men before he hesitantly nods his head.

"You and your men can come in, but your weapons will have to be taken away."

The marine agrees as the rest of his squad leave their weapons in a container. The marine that was complaining earlier reluctantly put his in as well.

"If something happens to my baby someone's gonna to have their bones broken." The marine mutters to himself.

Once they enter the small town it felt more like a ghost town. The sandstorm had went down and it felt like they were the only ones outside.

What they did notice were the curious and frightful eyes of those in their homes staring at them. The thing that they noticed the most thought was that most of the species here were almost all Twi'lek.

After a few minutes of walking they make it towards a tall spiral building. Once they make it inside they see a middle age Twi'lek sitting down looking over various things on a hologram.

The most noticable thing about him was the various scars and burns scattered on his body and face. If he got them because of his life as a slave or the battles trying to free others, they knew he had been through some things.

As he looks up from his work he narrows his eyes at them not trusting them at all.

"Who are these people. I thought I specifically told all of you that we can't take in outsiders." He says his voice heavy and loud.

"They say they are with the Terran republic and that they've come to help us all."

"Help us. Like the galactic republic said they were going to do. They turned their backs on us once they got what they wanted. You really think they wouldn't do the same you naive boy."

"We are not like the republic. Unlike them we keep our promises as best we could. We are doing something the republic could only dream about doing and that's abolishing slavery in this galaxy." The marine says.

"That's impossible. Not when the hutts are in control of all of this. What makes you think you stand a chance against them when others like you failed for years." He says fully thinking this fight to free slaves was lost.

Before the marine can answer a small Twi'lek girl peeks her head out a doorway which the marine notices interrupting what he was going to say. The Twi'lek leader turns to see what the marine was looking at only to have his eyes go wide a little.

"Eila what are you doing here. Why are you not with your mother?" The man says as his voice goes soft speaking to what they presumed was his daughter.

The small girl quickly runs to his side hiding behind his leg as she peeks her head out a little.

One of the marines tries his best to keep a straight face trying not to smile. This small girl reminds him of his daughter back at home and seeing this reminds him of her.

"I wanted to see the outsiders. I've never seen their type before." She softly says to him.

"Are they the bad evil bounty hunters out to get us." She says hiding even more behind him.

"No sweetheart. They are just travelers and they were just about to leave." He says looking back at the marines.

The marine in command if the group walks forward not backing down from this argument.

"Is this what you really want? To have your people hide out in fear from every stranger that walks past here. Is this the life you want your daughter to have?" The marine says.

The man only sighs.

"What other option do we have. You must understand that we have a family now and this is the only safe place we have for them. We can't do anything without putting them in harm's way." He says.

"Than let us help you. We can take your family to a more secure place off of this planet. We will provide everything for them." The marine begins.

"We just need your help to rally your people and let them see what you are fighting for. They'll listen to someone who's been through the same experience as they did."

The Twi'lek seems to be in thought before he ask a question to the marine. "You said you will protect our families, but how do I know you will keep your word?"

"We will provide them with full communications with them and you can even visit them however you like once the resistance becomes big enough. If this isn't good enough we could still work things out." He says as he holds out a hand towards him.

He looks at his hand thinking of what the consequences coul be if they are not like they seem. But once he looks at his daughter he thinks of the life she would have to endure. Constantly hiding and lying struggling to survive like he had.

After thinking for a while he shakes the marines hand surprising the others that he would agree to this, but many agreed following his judgment.

"So when do we start?" The man says.

"We start right now. Just as I promised we will make sure all of your families is in good hands. They don't have to leave yet, but we will provide you all with supplies." The marine says.

Seconds later someone barges. "Sir you got to see this." He says out if breath.

Hearing this he quickly makes his way out the room to be surprised that there was a huge commotion of people around multiple pods that were stuck in the ground belonging to the Terrans. Inside were supplies ranging from food, medical tools, to even weapons.

Seeing this he became frozen in place. The only thoughts that were in his head was that he may have made the right choice and the lives of his people was finally going to be better for once.

Somewhere in space

A republic venator could be seen moving ahead in space. It seemed to be peaceful until a squad of Terran bombers scream under it releasing their missiles destroying the underside of the ship as clone fighters pursuit after them.

As the fighters and bombers speed by a full-blown space battle was seen happening in the middle of nowhere. It was just empty space wherever you looked at.

A small fleet of republic ships were being ambushed by the Terrans and they were losing very badly.

On one of the venators a Jedi knight was seen looking at the battle as his fleet was being demolished.

"Sir we have reports that someone is on the ship." A clone officer says.

Hearing this he contacts his clone commander that was down below in the hangers.

"Commander what is going on down there." He says as the sounds of blaster fire is heard with the sounds of slugthrower being fired.

"General a Terran trooper is down in the hangers. He's not like the rest of them. This one has some type of armor on him. I don't think we can stop him. He- what the. Get it off me! Get it of-" the sound of an explosion cuts him off as only static was heard.

"Trooper do you hear me. Trooper!" The Jedi yells.

"I think he's coming towards the bridge." A clone says.

"Everyone get into defensive positions. We can't let him take this bridge or this battle is lost." The Jedi says activating his lightsaber.

Moments later the door starts to spark as it creates a huge circle on the door before disappearing. Seconds later the door explodes ripping it off the wall killing the clones that were close to it.

The clones retaliate by opening fire where the door used to be even though smoke was still pouring out making visibility if the target hard to spot. After shooting for a while they stop after nothing happens.

When they think nothing was about to happen for a while a gun shot was heard as a clone gets shot in the head killing him instantly.

That's when they see him. A man in one of the biggest armor they had ever seen. His armor was colored green and on the right side of his chest piece a number was printed on the armor which was 117.

That was all the Jedi was able to see before the man starts firing precise shots at them all with only one shot need to eliminate his targets.

Seeing this the Jedi jumps at him ready to slice him in half only for the man to sidestep out the way and kick him from behind knocking him into the wall. Once he looks back at him all his clones under his command were dead.

"Who are you?" The Jedi says getting up ready to fight until his last breath.

The Spartan slowly walks towards him before answering him.

"A demon." He says before taking out a energy sword and a lightsaber he had from his last fight and activating them.

The Jedi eyes the strange weapon before jumping at the Spartan as the two clash on the bridge as the battle in space goes on.