Sorry for the delay, life gets in the way sometimes. The story only has a few chapters left, and this one is a short one.
"You said to trust you!" Ahsoka yelled in frustration.
She and 418 were on their way to a penal colony on Garen IV. At least 418 was able to get some much needed medical attention, that was after they found the rogue doctor 418 knew about that apparently was good at secrets, as she explained. He was well known to pirates and those living on the edge of the outer rim, criminals and the like were apt to turn to him for aid, and apparently 418 as well. Ahsoka had a bad feeling about the whole situation, and was more comfortable just relying on the facility the alliance had, even trying to change identities and going to a regular medical facility anywhere would have been better than this. When they got there, 418 was well known there, and they used a name for her, Rizel, which Ahsoka assumed wasn't her real name anyway. Ahsoka again used Ashla, but having used that name so often in the past, she was beginning to wonder if using another name would be safer in the future, if there even was one at this point. She had left her docked ship and with her lightsabers on board to avoid detection. It was both a blessing and an annoyance that she had, as if she had them, they would have made her even more suspicious. Most people didn't own lightsabers anymore.
When they first arrived there, imperial presence seemed to be everywhere. Apparently, where 418 had taken her had recently an incident involving some rebel activity, and it caused a garrison to take over the sector. She was sure they didn't know who they were or who they were with, but they had been in the doctor's facility at the time of the raid along with two Sullustans and the doctor himself. The doctor was being investigated for stealing Imperial property. Weren't they all though at this point? They were merely accomplices in the wrong place at the wrong time. How strange it was to be taken by the Empire when they were actually innocent of something. There of course was no trial. They all were just taken to a small cell in the garrison, and packed away without any questioning.
Although treated for her injuries, 418 was still in bad shape and in recovery. The doctor was able to give her a bacta bath and put her back together some what, but she had needed more time to recover when the facility was over taken. The ship itself was small, and Ahsoka has been knocked out and was, just starting to get her bearings as to where she was. She assumed correctly that the ship that they were being held on was small, there were only four stormtroopers guarding the 5 of them, and who knew how many were piloting the ship. They were bound in binders behind their back, and Ahsoka had a brief moment of panic remembering her lightsabers, and hoped that they were still on her ship, and that her ship had not been searched. That would have been a red flag as to her possible identity, and being in Imperial custody was enough of a worry, without them having evidence that she was not only a Force user, but Ahsoka Tano, former Jedi and the former apprentice to Anakin Skywalker. The others were still barely conscious, it probably helped the stormtroopers drag them aboard, and from the chatter, she knew where it was headed. She concentrated on releasing her binders, reaching out to the Force, and doing so in such a way as to not draw attention. It was obvious they were already in hyperspace, which was a disadvantage, but a minor one. Once she released the binders, she pretended to still be in them as the stormtroopers watched. She tried to reach out into the Force to sense who or what other lifeforms may be on the ship, and it appeared that there were only two in the cockpit that she could sense. Now, what to do? They could try to take the ship, it was possible, if she could subdue the four here in the cargo bay. She thought a moment. 418 was basically useless at this point, and she didn't know enough about the others. Think, Ahsoka, think.
Mind tricks? It could work to an extent, but then she would still find herself having to deal with them after that wore off. It wasn't like she could put a mind trick on them and walk away. It would work for a short term, but a more long term solution was necessary. She looked up at the top of the ship. There was some duct work, knocking it down onto the stormtroopers could work to knock them out. Would it create a noise? Maybe that mind trick could come in handy.
"You will line up along the port side cargo wall." Ahsoka commanded, waving her hand.
The stormtroopers looked at her confused, as if they had only half heard it. Then one too the butt of his blaster and knocked her in the shoulder.
"Quiet prisoner!"
"You will line up along the port side cargo wall." Ahsoka commanded again.
All four of the stormtroopers did as told.
"You will drop your weapons."
They dropped their weapons.
Thinking about what that duct actually did, recycled the air in the ship, Ahsoka knew it would make the ship uncomfortable, but that couldn't be helped right now, and could be remedied at some point. She would think about that later. Reaching out to the force, she pulled the duct down, knocking out all four of the stormtroopers. She stood up, dropped the binders and kicked the blasters to the other side. 418 who had by this time been fully conscious, smiled quietly, as Ahsoka released her binders.
They both grabbed a blaster and 418 blasted the stormtroopers.
"Were they on stun?" Ahsoka asked.
"Does it matter? Let's get them out the airlock."
The commotion brought attention from the cockpit as the two Imperial pilots, both looking like low ranking officers, entered the cargo bay.
"Hey, what's going on in..."
They hit them both with the blasters. Ahsoka undid the binders on the doctor and the other two prisoners, all three still coming out of whatever was used to subdued them. She pulled the stormtroopers and the pilots out to the airlock, and took over the ship command. It did seem distasteful to do, but necessary, war being what it was. The destination on the hyperdrive was to go directly to Garen IV, so she had to figure out where to come out of hyperspace and where they were as far as coordinates. Coming out of hyperspace in an aircraft such as this one was different than she was used to, and she wasn't familiar with the computer on the panel. Luck would have it though, and she was able to slow it down, figure out where she was in space, and find a familiar location in the depths of space where they could then figure out their next move. Landing anywhere near Garen IV without the proper identification would have been a disaster.
"We could go back and get my ship?" Ahsoka said, thinking about how attached she had been getting to that messed up bag of bolts, not to mention her lightsabers on board.
"Don't be ridiculous. Don't worry about your ship right now. If we went back there, we would just be caught again. We might be able to send someone for it. I have an idea." 418 stated.
"I hope it's better than your last one." Ahsoka said.
"It is. Try and fix that duct work if you can."
They reached a planet that Ahsoka didn't know. When they entered the planet's atmosphere, a small corvette hailed them. "Identify yourself, or be fired upon! I don't care if you are an Imperial vessel, you will be fired upon!"
"Rigda?" 418 replied.
"Inkeena? Is that you?"
"It is. Now, let me land." 418 responded.
"Inkeena? Is that another alias?" Ahsoka questioned.
"No, Ahsoka, not this time. Pleased to meet you."
They landed on a lush green planet on a pad with various different ships, many of which appeared to be of the type owned by the wealthy and the powerful. Inkeena spoke with the doctor, a human, and two Sullustans who apparently were just supplying the doctor with contraband medical supplies, and may not have been so innocent to the Empire at all and may have been followed to the doctor's doorstep causing the raid. They were obviously on their side though, and not friends of the Empire. Inkeena suggested they stay on the ship for now, with only Ahsoka accompanying her. As they walked towards the very large and grand building in front of them, an elegant, beautiful, middle-aged human guarded by a small entourage, greeted them.
"Inkeena, my dear, I do hope you checked that ship for tracking devices." The woman questioned in an annoyed tone.
"Well, Cilburna, you know me better than that. Just think of it as a new ship added to the collection." 418, or well, Inkeena replied with a smirk.
"What brings you here? Trouble again?"
"My companion here took this ship after we were captured. I went to the medical facility on Florrum, got pretty banged up on Tattooine, and well, we kind of got captured by the Empire. Was hoping for a little help here if I could?"
"What is it that you need now?" Cilburna sighed.
"Well, to start, I need someone to go back to Florrum and get the ship, and second, a place to crash for a bit? You see, I'm still technically in recovery." Inkeena said as she pulled up her tunic and started to show her bandages.
"Oh Force!" Cilburna's mood suddenly changed from annoyance to deep concern.
Inkeena proceeded to pass out. Ahsoka was surprised she was able to hold her own as long as she could.
Arrangements were made for everyone on board. When Cilburna learned that one of the passengers had been the doctor, she immediately requested that he be placed on Inkeera's care and in an adjoining room. Cilburna also had a medical droid on the premises and made arrangements for Ahsoka and the Sullustans as well. Her home was very grand, almost a palace. There was something very familiar about her, but Ahsoka just couldn't place it. She reminded her of someone, more than being someone she actually knew. She didn't want to be one of those Togrutas who thought all humans looked alike, but this one did look like someone else.
"I know I seemed rude, upon your arrival, but you see, well, it's a bit personal. Inkeena was raised here as one of our wards, as one of our children. Along with my natural children, you see. I think of her as my daughter, but as often as it is with children, sometimes there is a bit of awkwardness when adult children return home, usually wanting something, rather than a warm homecoming. I assure you though, it was no offense to you, and I do love the girl." Cilburna explained.
Ahsoka just nodded, and wondered if she was yet again, dragged into another family's drama.
"I'm sorry dear, I didn't get your name." Cilburna finally asked Ahsoka after all the chaos of Inkeera's care and arrival had been managed.
Ahsoka thought a moment, should she give the alias? Should she use her real name? Why hide at this point. The woman was obviously not connected to the Empire, and she was Inkeera's sort of, well, emotional mother. "It's Ahsoka."
"Not THE Ahsoka? From the Clone Wars?" Cilburna asked and shook her head and let out an short laugh.
Ut oh. Ahsoka thought, maybe saying her real name wasn't a great idea.
Cilburna just stared at her for a moment, took her arm, and bid her to follow her into a dining room.
Ahsoka was offered a chair by a droid, and noticed that the Sullustans, the doctor, two Twi'lek teenagers and a young human male were sitting at the table. She hadn't taken a good look at any of them, but when she looked over at the human male, again, there was some kind of familiarity to him as well. Cilburna took her seat, next to Ahsoka. Cilburna clapped her hands, and droids brought out the food and the drink.
Realizing that Ahsoka really had no idea where exactly in the galaxy she was, she asked, "Excuse me, but Inkeena brought me here, and I have no idea where here is exactly."
"Officially? It's a moon of a planet known only for a bunch of numbers, mostly forgotten, however we like to call it, New Raxus. We have been able to control the whole moon." Cilburna replied while drinking her wine.
"New Raxus?" Ahsoka shivered thinking of her own experience on the original planet of that name. The moon did match it's beauty, however.
"Yes, I was raised there. My husband made this our home. I have heard quite a bit about you, Ahsoka Tano."
"I hope good things, I mean, Raxus was the center of the Separatists, and well.. I.." Ahsoka started to say, but was cut off.
"My dear, please, allow me. I'm Lux Bonteri's wife. This is the center of our operations. I am aware of you, more than you realize."
Ahsoka dropped her utensil and stopped chewing her food with a gasp.
"Oh dear, I didn't mean to scare you. I should have said when you arrived. I'm actually hoping you can be of service to us on a little mission, and I want you to know that I have someone returning your ship to you as we speak. Lux actually was going to approach the subject when you both were on Cerea. It involves Suprine, our daughter Minra, and it's quite interesting that you have brought a couple of Sullustans with you, because it involves the planet Sullust."
So that explains the familiarity she had with Cilburna and what she assumed was her son. She looked a lot like Minra, and the boy was very similar in looks as Lux was when she first met him. She felt almost guilty now having those girlish feelings on Cerea while spending time with Lux there. Cilburna seemed to know she was there with him alone though, and didn't seem phased at all.
"We dedicated our lives in trying to improve the galaxy and ridding it of the oppression of the Empire. We have raised 12 Twi'lek orphans here as our own children, all refugees from Ryloth, all destined for slavery. Inkeena being one who joined the Rebel Alliance, as well as our Minra. We really don't have too much against the Rebel Alliance in spirit, we find it almost necessary, however, we have in our own mind how to take down the Empire, that we have often clashed. It does seem natural though that we had lost some of our children to the Rebel Alliance, and I have to admit that right now, it seems that the rebellion as a greater whole may actually be getting somewhere with their war with the Empire that now is the time that we help each other. Our private factions have all promised to give aid to whatever operation the Alliance has planned. In the past, we have often clashed, we have lost so many though, so many great warriors. The Rebel Alliance just seem more polite about it maybe? I admit, we have made quite a living on exploiting the Empire as a whole, but I can say we have never done so in the name of slavery. I'm actually almost relieved at times that Minra and Inkeena both have chosen the Rebel Alliance, we would have never allowed them to join as spies in our own networks. It was the way they were raised, but I had hoped they would help on the side lines and not in the middle of it, a mother likes to protect her cubs. Seems they have had their own rebellion against us? I don't know."
"Did you know I was working with Inkeema?" Ahsoka asked.
"I did not, but what a happy accident. Lux was actually going to try to seek you out again, via Minra, of course. It helps to have a friend who may have the Alliance leadership's ear."
"I can try. I haven't been in contact with them since Tatooine. Why Sullust?" Ahsoka asked.
"My dear, I take it you haven't been updated on the latest news. The Rebel Alliance has taken Sullust." Cilburna took another sip and looked at Ahsoka and laughed. "It really is a pleasure to finally meet you. How often I have teased Lux about you when he would talk about you. I believe you may have been his first love. You needn't worry, I won't hold that against you." Cilburna laughed.
It was a couple of cycles later when Ahsoka's ship arrived on the moon, brought in by someone that the Bonteri's already had in place where she had left it. It sounded like they had their own spy network of sorts throughout the galaxy among their various factions that they supported. Apparently, Suprine's group was just one of many that they aided, and even to some extent, a bit of the Rebel Alliance when necessary. Cilburna said that Princess Leia could be very persuasive in gaining various levels of support at various secret conferences, and Ahsoka, knowing the Princess, was not surprised by that.
Inkeena was improving greatly under the medical attention of the doctor, Cilburna's resources at her compound, and a bit of maternal love. It was almost as if 418 and Inkeena actually were two different people.
418, or now as she knew her, Inkeena, gave her the channels in order to contact Cracken and to get in touch with the forces now on Sullust. Cilburna kept insisting she trade her ship for one of her own fleet, Ahsoka's own ship being, well, so debilitated, but Ahsoka told her she liked it and had become accustomed to it's quirks and enjoyed doing the repairs. She was relieved to find it untouched, and her lightsabers exactly where she had left them. The Sullustans, apparently a pair of blockade runners for the doctor, would join her. Cilburna did insist upon filling the cargo bay with medical supplies and some food for the galley, and wished her good luck. Ahsoka only hoped that the story that Sullust was now free was really true.