Chapter 4: Something to Celebrate

Meanwhile, somewhere in Spagonia, about the same time…

The door swung open as the hooded figure stepped in, letting out a sigh.

"Good job on your first successful mission." Called out a voice.

The figure chuckled. "You mean my first successful mission since returning to full health, Silver."

"Whatever!" The light grey hedgehog shouted back, poking his head out so that he was in the figure's line of sight.

The hooded figure laughed as he stepped further into the house, just as a purple furred cat came downstairs.

"You know, you can take off your hood now. There's no-one watching." She said.

"Got a point there, Blaze." The figure said, throwing off his hood, revealing the visage of a young red furred anthropomorphic fox in his very early twenties, with half his right ear missing, and warm brown eyes. A long scar stretched across his right cheek. Rolling his shoulders, the fox said: "Damn, it feels good to be back in action."

"Still, what took you so long getting back?" Blaze asked.

"Search of the town. Apparently the Freedom Fighters took out a key commander of the Imperial Army that arrived at the base shortly before I blew the whole place sky high, which they think the Freedom Fighters also did." The fox replied.

"Glad to hear it." Blaze said. "This mission was risky enough. If it weren't for the Freedom Fighters, we'd have been discovered for sure."

"You can say that again." The fox said, with a tinge of longing.

Blaze caught on, and raised an eyebrow. "Still think we should have done something more dramatic?"

"Yeah. Something that sends a proper message to the Empire, basically saying: 'Fuck you, I'm not dead!' Something like that." The Fox said.

"Somehow, I think blowing up a military base is enough of a 'fuck you' for now, Roman." Silver said pointedly.

"Not for me." Roman said.

Blaze sighed. "Roman, I know how desperate you are to link back up with the Freedom Fighters. But for now, that simply isn't an option. The Grand Inquisitor, and the Empire in general, think you're dead. And I know I've said this before. But for now, that works in our favour."

"It may work in our favour, but it doesn't work in the Freedom Fighters' favour." Roman retorted. "All we're doing is creating more problems for them."

"Knowing the Freedom Fighters, they'll find a way to overcome them. You and I both know that." Blaze said. "They always have."

"And knowing the Empire, they'll likely send Elias after the Freedom Fighters. Which likely means that Tails will be in the most danger." Roman countered. "He hasn't completed his Jedi training, which means he is unprepared for what is coming his way."

Blaze nodded and placed her hands on Roman's shoulders. "Rome, I know that you're itching to get back out there and help, but please. Just have faith in the Freedom Fighters. Knowing Sally, she has a trick or two up her sleeve."


In the meantime, a few hours later, Angel Island, 13:00 pm

The moment the ramp lowered, Tails walked down to find a familiar face waiting for him.

"Afternoon, Tails." Sally said. She had grown slightly in the past two years, standing at the same height as Tails, having grown to that height from her previous height of five-foot eleven. She was wearing the same ensemble as she had done for a long time, with the slight change to black combat trousers. Also, hanging from her left hip was another familiar object, one Tails had come to see as a familiar part of her gear: Roman's lightsaber. She had put the weapon to good use, having cut down many a Stormtrooper since the Freedom Fighters had sprung back into action almost a year ago. Other than that, she looked as she usually did: stunning.

Tails smiled and hugged Sally, saying: "Mission successful, Sally."

Sally sighed. "Sadly, that isn't true. Colonel Okada managed to survive our attempt on his life, and the subsequent destruction of the base."

"Which we had not part of." Espio said. "But the Empire are blaming us nonetheless."

Sally frowned. "Sounds to me like there's someone else out there resisting the Empire." She looked up and smirked. "And I doubt either of you guys had something to do with this?"

"Nope." Seth replied as he too walked down the ramp, Ahsoka at his side. "We did not."

Sally smiled and said: "Long time, no see, Seth. I see you're putting your heritage to good use."

Seth scoffed. "Not my first choice."

Sally regarded Seth with a smile before finally walking over and hugging the Mandalorian Jedi, surprising him. "I'm thankful that you decided to come, especially at a time like this."

Tails, who until then had been talking to Ahsoka, perked up at this. "Wait a second." He said, standing next to Seth, folding his arms. "You knew he was coming?"

Sally nodded. "He called me as soon as his ship entered Mobian space. I… told him where you were, so that's where he went."

Tails' eyes narrowed. "There's a thing such as a heads-up, Sally. Maybe if I was expecting Seth to arrive, things may have turned out differently."

Sally raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

"We lost Dillon." Chuck said. "Elias struck him down, while Tails and Espio made a break for it."

Sally sighed. "Another friend gone." She said. Looking to Tails, Sally said: "I guess I could have given you a bit of a warning. I guess I was so excited about Seth's arrival, it slipped my mind."

"No offence Sally, but your excitement got a good person killed." Chuck said.

Sally nodded "I'm aware of that, so no need to remind me, Charles." Looking to Tails, she asked: "So, what's your decision?"

"On what, exactly?" Tails asked.

"Resuming your training as a Jedi." Sally said. "It was one of the subjects me and Seth discussed after he called."

Tails nodded with a frown. "Now that I've thought about it a little, I think that I'll pass."

Sally's face fell into one of disappointment. "Tails-"

"Kidding!" Tails shouted, his face now a grin. "I am going to resume training. It's like Seth said: guns won't cut it against Elias. Lightsabers will. Guns can be a last resort."

Sally breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank the Goddess. You legitimately had me worried there."

Tails smiled and patted his friend's shoulder. "It's not a problem. Besides, I think it's about time I brushed the dust off my lightsabers."

"Glad that you decided to take them up again." Seth said. "With Roman's death, I'm going to need all the help I can get."

"You're forgetting another Jedi here." Tails said, jerking a thumb towards Ahsoka, who looked at Seth.

"You didn't tell him?" She asked.

"Tell me what?" Tails asked, curious.

Ahsoka sighed, punched Seth on the shoulder and said: "What we're getting at is that Seth lied when he gave his reasons for me not being there when he rescued you."

"I suspected as much." Tails replied. "So, why weren't you there when Seth was helping?"

Ahsoka placed her hands on her hips, saying: "First of all, while I'm still not officially a Jedi anymore because of my leaving the Order before Order Sixty-Six, I'm still a very good Force user, meaning I'm one of Vader's main targets when it comes to Jedi. Second of all:" As she said this, she pulled off the cloak that she had been wearing until then, revealing a slightly swollen belly. "I'm pregnant."


Tails blinked as if he'd been slapped before his face curled into a grin and remarked: "That's awesome! Congratulations!" as he hugged the young Togruta.

Ahsoka smiled. "Thanks." She replied as she hugged Tails back.

"How far along are you?" Sally asked as she walked over.

"About four months along." Ahsoka replied.

"Sweet." Tails said, stepping away as Sally hugged Ahsoka as well.

"Totally called this reaction." Seth said as he stepped next to Tails, smirking. "She'll be like this for hours now."

"You got to admit though. It is cute." Tails remarked. "Besides, we could certainly use something to celebrate other than another successful strike against the Empire." Turning to face Seth, Tails asked: "So, you excited to be a dad?"

Seth nodded. "I remember the day she told me she was pregnant. I literally threw a mini celebration right there and then. Especially since we'd been trying for a baby for a good while before then."

"Aren't you guys a little young to be having children though?" Chuck asked.

Seth shrugged. "It's not too much of a problem for us. We got a lot of money together via me and the clones doing work as mercenaries. Some of that went towards buying the Empire's Bane." Seth said, gesturing towards his ship as he said so.

Chuck nodded, realising how responsibly Seth was taking his upcoming role. Patting Seth on the shoulder, Chuck said: "I'd better go. Sonic's likely waiting for me with a plate of chili-dogs." At this, Chuck walked off.

Seth watched him leave before walking towards Ahsoka, saying: "Okay, okay. Give the girl some space." Once he got close enough, he wrapped an arm around Ahsoka. "You okay, 'Soka?"

Ahsoka nodded, placing a hand on her swollen belly. "Yeah. Guess my excitement to be a mother just skyrocketed."

Seth placed his own hand over Ahsoka's belly, saying: "As if you weren't excited enough."

Ahsoka giggled. "True. But you're not exactly a saint in that department either." As she said this, she kissed Seth.

Tails watched this little moment unfold with a small smile. It was high time the Freedom Fighters had something to celebrate.


So Roman is alive and Ahsoka is pregnant.

Sorry for the delay in updating. I've been at sixes and sevens ever since the Easter Holidays began, what with me and my family in the middle of moving.

Other than that, please leave your reviews, and May the Force be with you. Always.

T-Rock14