Severus' P.O.V
We sat huddled from above, scanning the workers pushing crates on Coruscant. We were finally going to execute the plot to kidnap the Chancellor. The Shadow watched the workers carefully, and examined every single way we can take them out. He gave orders to us to take them out.
"Take care of 'em." He said.
The hunter yanked one of them up by the neck, killing them, and Embo threw his hat into the other one, then quickly taking him out with a swift uppercut. Embo picked up his hat and put it back on. I already forgot the names of most of the hunters as we took them out.
"All clear." Bane said.
We dropped down, and Dooku walked into the hangar.
"This is it. The day of reckoning for the Republic." Dooku said. "I have it from a very reliable source that everything will happen exactly as planned. Execute your roles well, and you will be paid immensely and immortalized throughout history. The Shadow will take it from here."
The Shadow walked to a table, and we followed.
"I'm only gonna say this once, so pay attention." He threw down some devices on the table. "Each device tells you your position and essential details about your part of the plot. Derrown is going to breach the ray shield, while one of our droids will be the getaway driver. Four of you will act as Senate Guards, and Hardeen will be the sniper. Here are your disguises." He put an object down, and the images of Senate Guards appeared before us. We stepped in them, and our disguises were on. Good luck. You won't have any communication with the team. Now get out of my face." After that, we all went to our positions while The Shadow talked to Dooku.
We were set up in the ray shield, taking guard. Palpatine was giving his speech, his voice grand and powerful. To me, Palpatine always seemed a bit strange, but he had a way with the crowd. The Festival started. I looked at the Parwan disabling the shield. I couldn't make my move yet, Kenobi was the eyes in the sky. Anakin sprinted to the Parwan, but it was to late, and an explosion blasted him back. The shield was disabled. The chancellor was knocked out.
Mace pointed at us four disguised guards. "You four, get him on that speeder and get him out of there!" It was relieving to see my master again. In the corner of my eye, I saw the Parwan smiling out of control in his jetpack. Kenobi must have shot him down. Mace rushed away, going to protect the crowd. Now was the cue. As two of the bounty hunters picked Palpatine up to switch disguises, I quick drew my blasters. Yellow blaster bolts burned through them, and they fell dead. I turned my blasters towards the other disguised guard, but he kicked them out of my hand. Must've been Bane. Our disguises wore off, and it was me and him.
"Mandalorian, you have no idea what kind of pain you're about endure." Bane said, growling. The plan was ruined. The Shadow was disguised as an audience member, but he took it off, and walked towards me, his black cloak flowing through the wind.
"I knew something like this was gonna happen." He sighed. "Luckily, I'm the kinda guy who makes a contingency for his contingency."
Him and Bane circled me, then leapt into action. There were no blasters, only punches and kicks. Bane grabbed my arm and twisted it, but I gave a swift kick to his knee, making him lose his balance and stumble. I quickly turned and ducked a punch from the Shadow. He brought up his knee, and it connected with my helmet, knocking it off. I shook off the daze and tackled him, pinning him quickly. I was pulled off by Bane and he held me down. I used my jetpack to shoot up to the sky, and Bane lost his grip. I then dove back down, slamming into the Shadow. He kicked me off, then shot into the sky with his rocket boots, and disappeared in the clouds. Bane growled, and fired his blaster at me. I froze it with the Force.
"A Jedi..." Bane growled. "Now you're really gonna die."
"Padawan!" I heard a voice yell.
My lightsaber sailed through the air, and I caught it, igniting the amethyst blade.
The muscle memory immediately kicked in. Bane was skilled at handling Jedi. But not Jedi like me. My aggressive style and quick attacks kept him dodging and I drove him into the wall. I heard footsteps behind me, and then a yell. The droid was on the floor, with Hardeen's boot into his back.
"Take them into custody." Anakin growled. "I'll make sure the chancellor is returned safely." He deactivated the droid, and then walked off.
"Good job, Obi-Wan." Mace said to Kenobi.
Bane growled. "Kenobi! I should have known. Something smelled wrong from the start."
"Spending time with you was no reward either." Kenobi said.
Bane growled at him, and was dragged off.
Master Windu walked up to me. He laid a hand on my shoulder. "I'm glad you're okay." He then turned, and walked away. I blinked. That was it? I'm gone for months, risking my life, and all I get is a shoulder two and a single comment.
"Seriously?" I blurted out.
He stopped. "Excuse me?"
"I just risked my life for this mission. Besides Kenobi, I barely saw anyone. I had nobody over there. Me, your Padawan, who just risked everything for this mission, has finally returned, and all you tell me is that you're glad I'm okay? Nothing else?"
My Master stared at me for a while, then walked away. I gripped my saber tighter. I shut it off, and then caught up with Anakin. We escorted Palpatine back to the palace. We were both enraged by our masters. We walked the halls of the palace with him.
"We will leave as soon as Queen Neeyutnee's banquet is over. I also want to say goodbye to Senator Amidala. She has been a very gracious host." Palpatine kept talking to Anakin as they blended into the background of my thoughts. I kept thinking about Windu. How can he just look at me as if I was a tool for a mission. In the corner of my eye, I kept seeing Palpatine gaze at me. It was unsettling.
We walked into the banquet hall. Dooku sat at the head of the table.
"Welcome." He said.
Two magna guards came alive and surrounded us.
"Fighting off the entire security force would have been a challenge, but if it is just you, then it will be quite the success." He gave me a glare. "And you....you will face the consequences of your actions soon enough."
Anakin quickly destroyed the two magna guards. "Take the chancellor and go!" He yelled to me.
I led him out, but we were blocked by the Shadow.
"Good to see you again kid. Still wearing the armor, huh. Suits you." He said. I ignited my saber and lunged at him, but he sidestepped, and kicked my stomach, sending me flying back. Anakin and Dooku dueled to the side.
The Shadow pulled out a handle, and an extended blade popped out. "Pure beskar. Your lightsaber won't cut through this."
I got in my Vaapad dueling stance. He got into...another lightsaber stance. I could tell it was Form Three, Soresu. He knows our ways, but how, I don't know.
I leaped forward, unleashing a flurry of attacks. He blocked with ease, then using his free hand to quick draw one of his blasters, firing at me. I deflected it back at him, and he rolled out of the way. Palpatine watched my every move, like a hawk. Suddenly, Kenobi, still in his Hardeen disguise, sped past me, leaping to help Anakin and ignited his sapphire blade.
"Severus! He's taking the chancellor!" Anakin yelled, running to the outside where a ship waited for Dooku.
I pushed The Shadow back with the Force and sped outside. Anakin and Obi-Wan were on the ramp of the ship, fighting Dooku.
The Shadow followed on my heels.
"Padawan Thorn, stall him!" Obi-Wan yelled.
I locked in a clash with him.
The Shadow faltered. "Thorn? Severus Thorn?"
I felt his grip loosen. I disarmed him, and the blade went flying. I pointed my blade at him.
"It's over. Mask off."
He lowered his bandana, revealing a stubble beard and a sharp jawline. His hair was raven black, like mine.
"You're gonna have a lot of explaining to do." I said. Anakin and Obi-Wan leaped off the ramp with the chancellor.
The ship stayed. Dooku was waiting for The Shadow. He knew he could break free any moment.
"Good work, Master Kenobi." I said.
The Shadow froze. "Kenobi...you're him."
Kenobi stared at the face for a long time, then his eyes widened.
"Severus, step away from him." Kenobi had the quietest voice.
The Shadow fired several rounds at Kenobi, some hitting his shoulder or arm, others missing. Before I could swing my saber, he had already knocked me down, and grappled with Kenobi.
"You took everything from me, Kenobi. But now...I have a chance of getting it back. I'll get my revenge later." He said. He threw Kenobi down, and then flew onto the ship. Dooku's ship disappeared.
Obi-Wan was pale.
"Get me Master Windu and Yoda....now."