Former Padawan to Mace Windu, Apprentice to Count Dooku, Minister of the Intergalactic Shipwright's Guild. Y/N L/N is a former Jedi who following the battle of Naboo, left the Order in search of his idol, Count Dooku. Upon accomplishing this, he was...
As soon as we'd reached the old Progate temple, it was clear that both Poggle and Y/N had been here. The munitions crate we found indicated they'd come through here and upon our arrival, we found a damaged AAT tank as well as the remains of some Battle Droids.
Disembarking our speeders, we entered the temple quickly to both investigate further and to escape the sandstorm which had completely engulfed the area. At first, it seemed to be just as I'd thought.
The temple was an utter ruin now. I failed to see what would bring the two to this location. Either way, there was no sign of them outside. The Clone who'd accompanied me continued to look around while I reached for my communicator.
With it, I tried to patch myself through to the others back with the fleet. The storm made it difficult to gain a clear signal at first however soon I managed to get hold of them, Master Kenobi and Master Mundi both appeared in hologram form. I informed them.
"Master Kenobi, we tracked Poggle and Y/N to the Progate Temple but now there's no sign of them." Master Kenobi instantly informed "Go no further until we can send support. The storm is making things difficult, we can barely read your transmission as it is."
Master Mundi went on to ask "Are you sure they went IN to the temple?" I explained "Yes, we saw them both enter. But we think they've gone down INTO the catacombs below." Master Kenobi stated. "Those catacombs go on for miles. I fear we may have lost him. Get yourself out of there."
Before I could even think of a reply to that, I heard the investigating Clone let out a scream. I turned around and ignited my lightsaber to face my attacker...
Y/N POV
I had no idea how long I'd been following Poggle through the catacombs. I'd given up trying to get any further answers from him, he seemed adamant about being tight-lipped regarding both the reason for us being here and now, what was wrong with those Geonosians we'd just faced.
I'd encountered many Geonosians before in my visits here, none had acted like that. It was as if they were in a trance-like state, bumbling aimlessly and only lunging when I got too close. Then there was the fact that I literally cut one at the waist and it continued to move as it would without the wound.
No, Poggle had gone completely silent as he escorted me through the dark catacombs. The two 'normal' Geonosians still at either side of us, clutching their pulse blasters. I emphasised they were normal because along the way we encountered more of those stranger ones.
This time though, they didn't attack. Instead they just kept lumbering about, making weird gurgling noises. However I was paying less attention to this now as a new sound began flooding the corridors.
A shriek, unlike that of any other. I resonated throughout the network, as if it was calling out. It was in Geonosian, however even so I was having trouble understanding it due to the fact that it was in a loud, screechy yet slow tone.
And it was after what felt like an eternity, seemingly drawing closer to the loud shrieking that we finally found ourselves in a large open area. Quite possibly the lowest point in the entire network.
It was here we found hordes upon HORDES of Geonosians, all of which were in the same state as the ones we'd encountered within the tunnels. All of them were congested within the space, leaving only a narrow path between them.
Poggle wasted no time walking down it, I uneasily followed, suspiciously eyeing the Geonosians on either side. The discomfort I perhaps felt now was nothing compared to the discomfort that came when I saw IT!
At the end of the room, towering above the Geonosians and myself was a HUGE figure. Cleary, it was of Geonosian origin. However it was far larger than any I'd seen before, its entire lower body was consisted of a large mass. It didn't take a genius to know what this was.
As soon as we'd reached the creature Poggle spoke up, dropping to his knees in a bow. "Your highness, I have come before you just as I promised." The figure that I now knew was the queen looked down, but rather than answering Poggle's pledge, her eyes were fixed on me.
They narrowed into a glare before the queen spoke, to my surprise, she spoke in the universal language and I was able to understand her CLEARLY! Her comment though, made me uneasy. "Whyyyyy have you brought an outsiderrrrrr before meeeee?"
Her words were spoken in a manner that stretched out the ends of certain words. Her tone held distain as she glared into my very being. Around me I could hear the Geonosians becoming restless, I was prepared to have to cut them down. But for once, I suppose Poggle had my gratitude. As he intervened.
"Your Highness." He spoke in Geonosian. "This is Minister Y/N L/N, an ally to our people. I brought him here because he has demonstrated himself trustworthy and dependable." At this, fortunately, the Queen's expression didn't soften, but her eyes were no longer narrowed.
She went on to commune with me, again speaking the universal language, even though I could understand Geonosian just fine. She spoke in a tone now that spoke volumes of her ego. "Outsiderrrrrr, you stand in the presence of I, Queen Karina the Great of Geonosia! Whyyyyy have you come hereeee?!" She pointed a slender finger at me.
Image of Queen Karina:
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This 'Karina' was a grotesque creature to be hold. But even then, I knew that I should be polite. Stepping forward, I bowed, not to my knees like Poggle did, but enough to show my respects the Geonosian Monarch.
"Greetings your highness. It is good to meet you at last. I apologise for my abrupt, unannounced arrival. I was merely advised to accompany your Archduke here. He refused to tell me anything in advance."
This time Poggle's eyes narrowed as if I'd said something I shouldn't, not that I cared. He turned his attention back to the leering Queen Karina and informed her "In addition, I have brought you a tribute. As we speak, a Jedi who has tracked us to this very temple will soon be swarmed and apprehended. I believe SHE will be a worthy offering for your gift."
At this, my eyebrow raised. I asked "Gift? What do you mean? Please, explain to me why you brought me here?" Poggle turned his attention to the queen and it seems she'd somehow given him the 'okay' without a word or gesture.
After this, one of the Geonosians approached. In its hand was a small round object that it held out to me. I took it and began inspecting. It appeared to be some kind of egg. I didn't even need to ask before Poggle explained.
"What you hold there, is something beyond mere weaponry. What you hold is the key to our hivemind." Now this made me turn to him and ask "And what does that mean?" At this Queen Karina instructed "Look around."
Doing that, all there was were the bands of Geonosians, their eyes all white as they staggered about. The Queen went on to fill me in, giving me the answers I'd wanted. "Behold, these Geonosians around you should not be standing. Long since deceased. Yet, they live on. Through meeeee."
Turning to her I asked "So, they're undead?" Poggle clicked "You could say that. The worms you witnessed, they are connected to our queen. Those who have fallen rise again, and those who live become an extension of her glory."
As if on cue, one of the Geonosians closest revealed the worm-like parasite. It Wriggled out of one nostril before retreating into the other. My last question was "How does it function?" To that the Queen went silent.
Poggle answered "You shall see, when our Jedi guest arrives..."
Author's Note: And that's it for this chapter, if my estimation is right, we have two more chapters left of the book. The finale of 'Legacy of Terror' and the epilogue. I really hope you enjoyed and as always, thank you for reading.
