Chapter 9

Kaeden was gasping for air, she had inhaled too much dust and couldn't breathe. "Hang on Kaeden." Ahsoka said determined not to let her die. "Nadoe, Nadoe, this is Ahsoka. I need to get Kaeden on board the ship. Can you come down?" Ahsoka asked.

Only Nadoe was not the one who responded, it was Miara since she was in the pilot's seat. "Kaeden! What's wrong with her? Is she shot?" Miara kept asking questions until Ahsoka stopped her in the middle.

"She must have inhaled too much sand and we need to get her out of the dust storm." Ahsoka wasn't sure she could physically lift Kaeden although she wasn't much bigger than she. Ahsoka thought about trying to put Kaeden on what was left of the Recluse in with Hedala whom she realized she hadn't checked in on in quite some time. But before Ahsoka attempted to pick Kaeden up, Borra came and lunged towards them stopping with a bit of a slide right in front of the two girls.

Borra looked sadly at Kaeden who was still struggling to breathe. Borra picked up Kaeden like she was nothing and carried her in his arms and waited for Miara to land the ship. Borra was also having trouble seeing in all of the dust which was finally starting to settle.

Miara landed the ship several yards away from Borra and Kaeden's position. By the time Borra saw the ship, there were more tanks and troops entering the area. Borra wasn't nearly as fast on two legs as on all fours but he managed to run towards the ramp of the hunting vessel with Kaeden in his arms. He still managed to jump over some of the troopers that had gotten in his way.

Ahsoka jumped to grab the edge of the ramp of the Recluse that wasn't completely sealed and she slipped through. She ran down a hall and into the compartment where she'd hidden Hedala who was still in there and was now crying from all of the commotion from outside. Ahsoka picked her up and held her in her arms and tried to comfort the young frightened girl. "It's okay little one; I'm going to get you out of here, somehow." She said confidently. Ahsoka knew now that there was no way she was leaving on the Recluse, she grabbed a small pack and threw some of her accessories into it. She slung it around her shoulders and then picked up Hedala. She lowered the ramp and exited the Recluse. She noticed that there were more troops in the area again. "Ugh, great." She muttered. "This is going to be difficult." She muttered to Hedala although she didn't reply. Ahsoka was trying to gain consciousness of her surroundings and then she headed off in a dead sprint with young Hedala in her arms clung to her shoulders.

She was able to dodge laser fire for a while, but as more and more troopers entered the area, it was becoming more difficult for her to protect the exposed child and keep running at her pace. She moved Hedala to her left arm and pulled her right lightsaber into her hands and ignited it. She was much more skilled with her right than her left. She couldn't do any fancy flips or major jumps with Hedala clung to her neck. She deflected several laser blasts that were fired at her with her lightsaber from all sides, her right arm flailing back and forth, it almost seemed like it was flying around her body. Troopers didn't even see what was coming to them as she slashed them as she passed. She was beginning to catch up to Borra who was still carrying Kaeden and also running towards the hunting vessel. Ahsoka could see a large object through the dust that Borra was heading towards, it was not the hunting vessel. A large red laser blast shot straight at the ground.

The laser blast hit Borra almost directly. Borra was knocked way off his feet and sent Kaeden flying, although she was now closer to the vessel.

"Borra!" Ahsoka yelled becoming very concerned as she saw the blast hit Borra. She headed in their direction.

Miara ran out of the ship to retrieve Kaeden who was still conscious but barely. Miara was helping Kaeden to her feet as best as she could.

Ahsoka met up with Miara and Kaeden and set Hedala on the ground. "Get her to the ship as well. I'll take care of the tank." Ahsoka demanded. Just before she left the three girls, she ran over to where Borra was lying. She was feeling for a pulse and felt nothing. She put her montrels to his chest.

Miara and Kaeden just stared with fear in their hearts as they watched Ahsoka check Borra out. Miara's eyes filled with tears when Ahsoka finally lifted her head off of Borra's chest.

Ahsoka turned her head to face Miara and the others, with a sad expression on her face, she shook her head confirming that Borra was dead.

The two sisters grabbed ahold of each other and let the tears roll down their faces. They soon turned as Miara also grabbed Hedala's hand and walked both her and Kaeden back to the hunting vessel.

Once the girls got back onto the ship, Miara sat Kaeden down on the couch in the comfort quarters and gave her an oxygen mask. "R11, take off!" Miara shouted but with a rather sad voice. She continued to sit there with Kaeden for a moment just to make sure she had all she needed, after all, she wasn't the nurse, Kaeden was.

Ahsoka, who was still on the ground, jumped using the force onto the top of the closest walking tank. She admired the tank's armor and started using her lightsabers to slice through it. Her plan was to get inside the tank, and single handedly eliminate the soldiers inside until she had control of the tank, despite the fact that she had no idea how to operate a battle tank. She was getting a fair way through the metal when she heard smaller ships entering the atmosphere. She couldn't tell who's ships they were or even where they were coming from with a large amount of dust still hovering in the air. She soon saw the troopers that were still on the ground suddenly get blown away from blaster fire that was coming from these new ships. They were indeed, the rebellion, Bail Organa's rebellion with their X wings had finally joined the battle. Ahsoka let out a sigh of relief, the X wings started taking on the remaining walking tanks while she continued to do her damage to the one.

"She's on top of the tank. Get her off." Demanded Admiral Ducken who just happened to be commanding the walking tank.

His troopers just looked at him. "You get her off sir." They responded.

"That's an order gentlemen!" The Admiral demanded again.

"Umm, fine. Let's go men."

"I got a bad feeling about this." Another trooper said.

The Admiral spun his chair around to face the troopers. "Men! Get on top of this tank and eliminate her now." He demanded angrily.

The trooper ran down to the hatch that led to a staircase that lead to the top of the tank. They turned and opened another hatch and pulled themselves up to the top. They started firing on Ahsoka.

She jumped up and blocked herself with her lightsabers. She blocked shot after shot while staying right in the same place. She'd almost made a hole to get inside. "This isn't getting me anywhere." She said to herself as she threw her arms behind her and took off in a sprint in the direction of the troopers.

"Oh, great, here she comes. What do we do?" One trooper asked.

"Run!" a couple of troopers yelled at the same time. Before they knew it, Ahsoka had leaped into the air and landed right in front of them slashing three of them and throwing them off of the tank.

This was a full out battle now. There were now dark troopers with their dark armor and jet packs, and also heavy troopers with their missile launchers. There were now rebel soldiers on the ground now as well and with many different types of artillery. There were troops setting up automatic turrets, some also with missile launchers and others with standard blasters. Most of the dust had now settled but there were more and more explosions sending more dust flying into the air.

Ahsoka kept slashing at the troopers on top of the tank. She killed the last one and threw him off of the tank and noticed the hatch was opened. These hatches only opened from the inside of the tank. She was about to drop in when she heard a clanking noise coming from behind her. A dark trooper had flown up to take matters into his own hands. He had his shock ray with him and attempted to shock Ahsoka. She quickly engaged the lightsaber in her right hand and not only blocked the bolt of electricity that was emitting from the dark trooper's gun, but she deflected it back at the trooper covering him in the white bolt of electricity. The trooper fell to his knees and Ahsoka kicked him off the tank. Then she hopped down through the hatch.

She snuck around the inside of the large tank looking for the cockpit. She finally came up to a door with a window and she looked in and could see Admiral Ducken sitting at the control panel. She quietly opened the door. The Admiral didn't notice her since he was so focused on firing the cannons. "Looking for me Admiral?" Ahsoka said with an intimidating voice.

Admiral Ducken spun his chair around to face Ahsoka. "Ahh, look who finally made her way in. What was your next plan going to be, Jedi? I know you won't kill an unarmed man." Admiral Ducken stated.

She ignited her lightsabers and said, "you know Admiral, I'm not a Jedi anymore." She walked toward him trying to scare him with her lightsabers out.

The Admiral started to panic as he backed away and into the corner of the cockpit.

Ahsoka stood right in front of him with her blades out. Then she retracted them both. "Alright Admiral, I will spare your life on one condition and only, one condition." Ahsoka was beginning a negotiation.

The Admiral stuttered. "Www… what's that?" He asked.

"You and your forces retreat and leave this planet alone." Ahsoka demanded with her eyes looking angry.

"And what if I don't?" Admiral Ducken asked.

"Oh, I will have no problem finding you Admiral. And I won't spare your life. You may not have a personal blaster, but you have an entire army as your weapon." Ahsoka said as she began to back away from the Admiral.

"Very well then." He stated as he reached for his communicator. "All commanders retreat. I repeat, all commanders retreat."

"Very good Admiral." Ahsoka said as she left him there.

As she exited the tank, she could see that the retreat had already been issued. Imperial ships were leaving the atmosphere, and troops were heading back to the drop shuttles. The remaining walking tanks were beginning their turn around as well. Ahsoka looked up in the sky to spot the hunting vessel which she finally found. She turned her responder on and they picked up on it.

Miara landed the vessel, lowered the ramp and Ahsoka jumped on. She then flew up in the air and awaited the next order Ahsoka would have for her.

Ahsoka entered into the comfort quarters where she could see Kaeden with her mask on, and little Hedala who was still crying at the death of her father and the noisy war. Ahsoka had a very sad look on her face as she then saw Nadoe enter in from the gunner area.

He looked around and saw all of the sad faces. He was still pumped up from all of the action. "Well, that was the first time I've gotten to use that cannon. Jem normally doesn't let me." He stopped when he realized that the crew was upset by something and not just exhausted from the battle.

Ahsoka looked at him with a tear in her eye.

He looked back at her. "Borra?" Nadoe asked.

Ahsoka lowered her head. "He didn't make it." She said sadly.

Nadoe, as stubborn as he was tried to maintain his composure before he lowered his head and slumped down in a chair next to Kaeden. "Wow. I just don't even know what to say."

Ahsoka walked over to Nadoe and put her hand on his shoulder. "He fought bravely, after all, he did save Kaeden."

Nadoe looked up at Ahsoka, and then over to Kaeden and pushed out a smile.

Ahsoka then turned and headed towards the cockpit. "Miara, I need you to head to these coordinates, we have another little stop to make. There's a family I owe a visit to." Ahsoka told her.

"Got it Ahsoka." Miara said as her and R11 entered in the direction of the coordinates.

Kaeden's lungs were finally becoming clear, although she knew she had to keep the filter mask on her face until she was completely clear. She was absolutely exhausted.

Ahsoka walked back into the comfort quarters and put her arm around Kaeden. "How are you feeling?" She asked.

Kaeden was taking heavy deep breaths to answer her question. "Much…. Better…" she stated. "I can breathe a bit now." She added.

Ahsoka smiled at her and then got up to get a view of the dusty planet below them.

Hedala followed Ahsoka over to the viewing point.

Ahsoka felt her presents and knelt down to give little Hedala a hug. "I'm so sorry about your father Hedala." Ahsoka said with sadness. "I will make note of his bravery to Bail Organa. The risks he took to save me and his family.

"Okay Ahsoka, we are approaching the coordinates." Miara pointed out as she began the landing cycle.

As the ship approached closer to the homestead, Ahsoka could see Hedala's very worried mother standing outside the house holding one of the younger siblings. Ahsoka's heart sunk as she knew what she had to inform her of. But the only bright side was that her daughter was safe and sound. Ahsoka had made sure of that even if she couldn't save her father.

Miara lowered the ramp and Ahsoka held Hedala's hand as they both walked off the ship and headed towards Mrs. Fardi.

Mrs. Fardi ran over to them and grabbed her daughter and kissed her several times. "Oh Hedala! I was so worried." She said in a relieved yet still panicked voice. Then she stopped kissing her daughter and looked at Ahsoka. "Where is my husband?" She asked.

Ahsoka looked directly at Mrs. Fardi. "I'm sorry to inform you Mrs. Fardi, he didn't make it. The Empire attacked." Then Ahsoka hung her head. "It's all my fault." She said. "The Empire was after me when they attacked."

Mrs. Fardi went up and gave Ahsoka a hug. "You saved my little Hedala. For that, I am truly grateful." She said. Mrs. Fardi smiled at Ahsoka and Ahsoka smiled back at her.

"If there's anything you need, contact this comlink. I will have your back." Ahsoka informed the family. "I must go now, a very special friend is in need of me." Ahsoka said as she walked back to the vessel.

Once Ahsoka got back on the ship, Nadoe, Miara, and Kaeden were there waiting to hear her plan to rescue Jem.

"Alright guys, where are off to now? Any leads?" Ahsoka asked looking around at all of them.

Nadoe was the first to speak up. "We have reason to believe he's being held on Hembri." Nadoe stated as he handed the coordinates to Ahsoka.

Ahsoka didn't know much about Hembri other than it's minor affiliation with the Sith. "Okay, we will need to get a strategy in place if we are going to get him out undetected." Ahsoka said even though she was sure that it wouldn't go as smoothly as she wanted; nothing ever did. "Okay Miara, let's take off."

Miara and R11D lifted the ship off and they left Thabeska.