Not wanting to watch Obi-Wan be crushed into paste, Satine desperately kicked a nearby metal canister into the grinding mechanism. As the container bounced off the industrial crusher's gears, the disruption caused a system malfunction that released Obi-Wan from his restraints.
He quickly used the momentary chaos to his advantage, employing the canister as an impromptu springboard to launch himself directly at a Death Watch operative who was attempting to attack Matt from behind. His precise kick sent the armored warrior crashing to the ground with considerable force.
Meanwhile, Matt seized the wrist of his current opponent, twisted it with practiced expertise, and used the man's own momentum to swing him as hard as possible into another stunned Mandalorian. He made certain the armored figure hit the tunnel wall helmet-first, the impact ensuring he wouldn't be rejoining the fight anytime soon.
The three allies quickly reached a nearby industrial elevator and hurried inside, the doors sliding shut just as more Death Watch reinforcements began converging on their position.
"For a woman who has dedicated her life to nonviolence, you didn't seem particularly concerned that I might actually die down there," Obi-Wan observed with pointed irony, glancing toward the Duchess.
"But you didn't die. And yet, I still haven't heard so much as a simple 'thank you' for your rescue," Satine shot back.
"Well, you certainly haven't changed much over the years," Obi-Wan muttered.
Matt remained diplomatically silent, simply observing how the stress of their situation was affecting both of his companions' behavior and bringing their complicated history to the surface.
He smiled slightly behind his mask and shook his head with quiet amusement.
"What exactly do you find so entertaining about our current predicament?" Satine asked, having noticed Matt's barely suppressed smirk.
"Nothing important," Matt deflected with a wave of his hand, then reached into his utility belt. "By the way, you're going to want this returned to you."
Kenobi blinked in surprise as Matt produced his lightsaber from seemingly nowhere.
"Thank you, Matt," Kenobi said with genuine gratitude, carefully taking his weapon back. "How did you manage to recover this?"
"We retrieved it from those two guards we encountered while searching for your location. Seemed like something you might need."
Before Obi-Wan could express his thanks again, the elevator shuddered to a halt and the doors opened, revealing yet another Death Watch sentry standing guard at this level.
The Death Watch Mandalorian barely had time to register their presence before he found himself facing two sets of fists coming directly at his helmet.
A split second later, he was unconscious on the floor as Kenobi quickly assessed their new tactical situation.
"This definitely isn't the route we used to enter the facility," he noted grimly, his hand instinctively moving toward his lightsaber hilt.
"Obviously not—we're somewhere completely different from our entry point," Matt confirmed, his enhanced senses already mapping their surroundings.
They found themselves standing at the edge of what appeared to be a temporary military encampment—a staging area filled with Death Watch operatives, equipment, and weapons.
"Look there! It's the Jedi!" one of the armored figures shouted, pointing directly at their group and immediately alerting the entire camp to their presence.
Obi-Wan smoothly ignited his blue lightsaber, its familiar hum filling the air as he began deflecting the immediate barrage of blaster fire that erupted from multiple directions.
Matt relied on his enhanced agility and reflexes, rolling and dodging as crimson blaster bolts whizzed past him with deadly precision. Kenobi attempted to activate one of the elevator's control panels, only to discover that it had been remotely disabled.
"We have no choice but to stand and fight our way out," Obi-Wan announced, looking toward the Duchess with concern. "Or in your case, Satine, take cover and stay as safe as possible."
"Of course you would assume I'm helpless—"
"Please, both of you, shut up for five minutes," Matt interrupted with obvious irritation. "Stop bickering like an ex-lover and focus on the armed hostiles trying to kill us."
"We are not ex-lover!" they both protested in perfect unison.
"Of course you're not," Matt replied with dry sarcasm as he and Satine took defensive positions behind some industrial equipment while Obi-Wan continued deflecting the increasingly intense blaster fire.
Below their position, a Death Watch Mandalorian bearing three distinctive yellow markings on his T-visor began coordinating the assault, pointing toward several nearby warriors.
"You three—airborne assault. Eliminate the intruders immediately."
The designated Death Watch trio activated their jetpacks with synchronized precision and rose into the air, firing coordinated volleys at the Avenger and Jedi below.
Obi-Wan continued deflecting blaster rounds with masterful efficiency, but Matt lacked any conventional means of defending against airborne attacks. This by no means left him defenseless, however.
He withdrew his billy club and quickly adjusted the weapon's configuration, transforming it into a precision-balanced boomerang. Using the advanced targeting system integrated into his helmet's HUD to lock onto the three aerial Death Watch operatives, Matt rolled out of cover and hurled his weapon with calculated force.
The aerodynamic projectile spun through the air with a distinctive whistling sound, striking two of the airborne warriors' jetpack fuel lines. Both immediately lost altitude and crashed to the ground in controlled falls, though they quickly recovered and began advancing on foot toward their position.
Matt charged forward without hesitation, weaving between blaster shots and executing a forward combat roll. Upon reaching his nearest target, he used his momentum to deliver a devastating upward kick to the warrior's chest plate, launching the armored figure several feet into the air before he crashed down hard and remained motionless.
Meanwhile, Obi-Wan had been steadily deflecting incoming fire, managing to redirect one bolt back at its source, eliminating that particular threat. However, another Death Watch operative successfully disarmed the Jedi with a precision shot that sent his lightsaber spinning away.
The Mandalorian immediately rushed toward Obi-Wan and tackled him to the rocky ground, then stood over him with his blaster raised for an execution shot.
"Target down!" The Death Watch member began to gloat before a perfectly thrown rock struck the visor of his helmet, courtesy of Satine's excellent aim. Momentarily stunned and distracted, he turned to fire at her new position. This critical error allowed Kenobi to sweep his legs and follow up with a powerful kick that sent the warrior flying across the chamber.
Finding himself temporarily without immediate threats, Kenobi quickly moved to where the Duchess had taken defensive cover.
"I'm fine," she called out loudly, pressing herself against the rock wall for protection.
Observing that his elite operatives were being systematically defeated by a single Jedi and one unidentified combatant, the Death Watch field commander made a tactical decision. "I'll handle this personally. Everyone else, execute evacuation protocol immediately."
At his authoritative command, the remaining Death Watch members throughout the facility began rapidly withdrawing to their transport vessels, heading for their predetermined fallback positions.
"Obi-Wan," Matt called out urgently, and the Jedi looked up at his ally before turning to assess what new threat they were facing.
Seeing that his forces had successfully withdrawn, the Death Watch leader advanced toward the intruders' position with three remaining elite guards. As he approached, he spotted one of the previously downed team members attempting to regain his footing despite obvious injuries.
Drawing his sidearm with cold efficiency, the leader spoke only one word before firing: "Failure."
In that split second, Matt's enhanced hearing recognized the voice patterns and speech patterns with absolute certainty.
"It was him all along," Matt realized grimly. As both he and Obi-Wan moved into the open to confront the Death Watch leader and his remaining men, Matt spoke with quiet certainty. "I should have known it was you from the beginning, Pre Vizsla."
Removing his distinctive helmet with dramatic flair, the leader revealed himself fully to Obi-Wan, Matt, and Satine, confirming what Matt had already deduced.
"Governor?" Satine gasped in complete shock and disbelief, her worldview suddenly shattered.
"For countless generations, my ancestors fought with honor as warriors against the Jedi Order," Pre Vizsla declared with fierce pride, then directed a contemptuous sneer toward Satine. "Now this woman has dishonored and weakened the Mandalorian name with her pacifist ideology. Defend her if you wish—it will only make your defeat more satisfying."
"I fully intend to defend her," Obi-Wan replied with steely determination, calling his lightsaber back to his hand through the Force. Igniting the blue blade once more, he settled into his characteristic Soresu defensive stance—lightsaber held overhead and his free hand extended horizontally with index and middle fingers raised toward his opponent.
Matt said nothing but smoothly assumed a combat-ready stance, his billy club splitting into twin fighting sticks, prepared for whatever came next.
Pre Vizsla studied his two opponents carefully before reaching for the distinctive hilt mounted on his jetpack and drawing what appeared to be a lightsaber of his own.
When the weapon ignited, Obi-Wan's expression shifted to one of profound shock and amazement. Not only was Pre Vizsla wielding what was unmistakably a Jedi weapon, but the blade itself was completely black—something he had never encountered in his entire life, let alone heard described in any Jedi archives.
"This ancient lightsaber was claimed from your precious Jedi Temple by my ancestors during the fall of the Old Republic, following the final battle of Ruusan over a thousand years ago," Pre Vizsla explained with obvious relish, brandishing the unique weapon with practiced skill. "Since that glorious day, countless Jedi have fallen to its blade, and their deaths have brought honor to Clan Vizsla." He raised the black saber menacingly toward his opponents. "Prepare yourselves to join your fallen brothers in death."
"Not today," Kenobi announced with quiet confidence. "Matt, maintain your distance. This is my responsibility to handle."
Matt nodded respectfully and stepped back, though he remained alert and ready to intervene if the situation went wrong.