—•—
Other than those named characters obviously not being the property of Disney and/or LucasFilm, all named characters are the property of Disney and/or LucasFilm.
Dear Readers:
For those who have read Ahsoka, Ahsoka and others may be out of character; if not outright AU. I am sorry about that. I decided not to read it until I can finish this story. Please do not flame me about this.
—•—
"Go With Me."
"Stay With Me."
Chapter 14
—•—
From the previous chapter:
. . . The Commodore then asked for an open microphone to all decks.
"Crew of the Decimator—"
Of a sudden, a mechanical voice overrode any sound on the bridge.
"Ship will self-destruct in two minutes."
—•—
"What the hell!"
"Turn it off! Turn it off!"
"Lassa! Get that ship out of there! Right now! Blow the tubes on your side. Marines! Close the entryways! Now!" Seconds later some muffled explosions could be heard outside. Before that, the men in the Decimator closing the gangway doors below decks were sure they saw their friend on the other side for the last time. Their opposites in the Plo Koon looked seriously sad.
"Gary! Help us out here!" As soon as he was called, Kallus ran to the control panel. He dug himself inside to take some panels off quickly.
"Escape pods have been deactivated!" said Riley.
"Get them back online!" shouted the Commodore. He glanced outside to see that the Plo Koon was leaving the scene.
"I can't!"
Kallus was working furiously to decipher the self-destruct mechanism.
"One minute, fifty seconds to self -destruct."
Some of the Imperials off to the side were fidgeting.
"I can't figure it out," Kallus said,"It seems to be a new system."
"One minute, forty seconds to self -destruct."
"Can any of you help?!" implored Lux to the Imperials.
"One minute, thirty seconds to self-destruct."
"No of us will help you—rebel."
"You mean you would sacrifice a planet's worth of people for the Empire?"
There was no response.
"One minute, twenty seconds to self-destruct."
"Gary! Keep trying!" said Saw.
There was still no response from the Imperials. Lux was exasperated.
"You've got to be kidding me."
"One minute, ten seconds to self-destruct."
Suddenly, a voice came over the intercom. It was so intense in the bridge that no one noticed that the entire ship could hear what was going on there.
"I will help!" shouted a voice over the intercom.
"Kinday!" shouted a different voice over the intercom, one that sounded familiar to the crew from the Ghost. "You better not!"
"One minute to self-destruct."
"Oh shut up Trayvis. I've got a hundred people around me who don't want to die like this. If you want to kill yourself for the Empire—no one's stopping you."
"Fifty seconds to self-destruct."
"Gall Trayvis!" shouted Hera, "This is Hera Syndulla. Lay off or we'll treat you even worse than we are planning to."
"No, I won't!"
"Yes, you will!"
"Forty seconds to self-destruct."
"We just wasted ten seconds! Kinday! Help us out!" shouted Commodore Bonteri. Then, "Hera. Trade with Gary! Now!"
"Yes, sir!" said Hera as she and Kallus switched places and Hera dove under the panel.
"Yes, sir," came the voice over the intercom. "There's a panel with four bolts at each end. You need to remove the northwest one first, the southwest one next, the southeast one next and the northeast one last. Only in that order!"
"Thirty seconds to self-destruct."
"Done!"
"Next. There is an array of wires leading to the solenoid that opens the casing. Cut the red wire and the blue wire—at the same time.
"I need some help in here!" shouted Hera.
"Ezra! Quick!" said Kanan as he motioned next to Hera. Ezra got in quickly with a pair of cutters.
"Ok Ezra," Hera said from the inside of the panel, "Three, two, one, cut! Good! Get out of here." Ezra quickly left to give Hera space.
"Twenty seconds to self-destruct."
"Next, take off the inner panel and there is a coding device. Enter seven-eight-four-nine and open the panel. You should then see a small door inside.
"Entered. Panel off.
"Ten seconds to self-destruct."
"Next. Open the small door from the left."
"Opened."
"Pull out the coil, very carefully. If you touch the side . . ."
"Seven seconds."
"Six seconds."
"Five seconds."
"Four seconds."
"Three seconds"
. . . .
. . . .
Lux and Ahsoka were holding each other. Very tightly.
. . . .
. . . .
"Two seconds."
. . . .
. . . .
"One second."
. . . .
. . . .
"Got it!"
. . . .
. . . .
"Self-destruct, deactivated. Self-destruct, deactivated."
. . . .
The cheering throughout the ship was heard through the intercom. Even some of the detainees were crying at the close call.
Lux and Ahsoka were still holding each other. They could barely breathe.
"Thank you! Thank you!" came the voice of Kinday, "You saved a lot of lives down here. Thank you."
The cheering continued for a long time, or at least it seemed so. Even though they were Imperials they obviously didn't want to die that way.
It took a while for everyone to calm down. After all, it wasn't everyday that even the most battle-hardened were forced to face what these people had just faced. Even Rex was fazed.
Saw looked towards his friend, still holding onto Ahsoka tightly. "Hey, Terry! What'cha two doin'?!" he shouted with a smile, getting the attention of everyone on the couple.
Before Lux could respond:
"We're lallygaggin'!" shouted Ahsoka happily.
Everyone couldn't help but laugh, especially the Ghost crew, Aktay and some of the Marines who were in that hangar bay just a little while ago; in addition to Saw. Even some of the detainees smiled. Half of this was of the funniness, half was to relieve the tension of almost becoming small particles floating in this area of space.
It took some time before Commodore Bonteri decided to continue with what he had started to say. During this time, Marshal Syndulla's group returned.
"Crew of the Decimator. I am Commodore Bonteri. I am now with the Captain Hera Syndulla with the Amalgamation for . . . . No. That's not right. The Allegiance with . . . . No. That's not right either." Hera was starting to get very impatient, but the Commodore still pushed on. "It might be, "The Agglutination of . . . ."
"Commodore. If I may," forced in Hera. Ahsoka was again hiding her face in her hand.
"Certainly, please."
"Thank you. I am Captain Hera Syndulla, of The Alliance to Restore Democracy in the Republic," she said with a side glance to Lux, "We are not rebels but we fight against the tyranny that has become the Empire. Many of us have lost family and loved ones and we want to leave a better life to our children. We fight for them, and the free future they could have. (When Hera said this, it seemed that Lux became deep in thought about something.) You can join us in this fight. You have seen the value the Empire had for you. Tarkin did not mind killing all of you for his own aggrandizement. ('Now that's a big word,' Lux thought.) Be with us, and be a part of history."
Those of the Plo Koon and the Ghost clapped at Hera's words. Her father, nearby, was extremely proud.
However, Commodore Bonteri needed to start back the business of the day. "CeeCee, do you have the plot out of here?"
"Yes, sir."
"Riley, can you send a signal out of this muck?"
"I will do my best, sir."
"Maybe if you relay off the Plo Koon, you can get a better signal."
"Way ahead of you on that, sir."
"Why am I not surprised," said the Commodore under his breath. Ahsoka gave a slight snicker. "Captain Syndulla. Can you please give us the contact info for Commandant Sato's group?" Hera nodded in response. "CeeCee, please give Captain Syndulla the coordinates when you have them."
"Right away, sir."
Commodore Bonteri looked to the group of Imperials. "Would any of you like to help?" To his surprise, a group, composed half of men and half of women, started towards the pit. They were followed by shouts of "Traitor!" but they didn't mind. Some were even tearing off the Imperial insignia on their uniforms as they came towards the pit. The Marines and Zouaves took care of the shouters and those who would stop them.
There was a silence as people got themselves into positions.
"Everyone in position?" the Commodore asked as he looked around and everyone looked to him. All looked at him very proudly—especially one woman with montrals and lekku. He was standing tall and proud with his hands cliched behind his back and everyone was looking to him as if anyone could trust their life to him. They were signaling with their eyes that they were ready. Commodore Bonteri would have said something, but held back. He then stepped back a few steps. "Captain Acham?" he said as he turned to that person.
"Yes sir?" that person questioned.
Lux then looked back ahead, towards the bow. "Take us out."
"Yes sir!" he replied heartily. He then took the command position. He then gave commands, asked CeeCee to give the course to the helm and for the helm to lay in the course. Everyone, the human now ex-Imperials included, were following his orders. Next he was giving orders for speed, ordering the thrusters to half speed. Then he was ordering the commander on the Plo Koon, Lassa Rhayme, of their course and to follow alongside, port amidships. As the Decimator perceptibly picked up speed and as some were looking for a handhold, every Twi'lek; Cham, Numa, Gobi, Hera, Risè and those in the Zouaves, were becoming very, very proud. Cham especially. With more and more of a forward motion, the Decimator moved through the Ghost Nebula. For some reason, those little things outside that could bring one's dark thoughts forward didn't seem to bother anyone at all over the entire ship.
•
Outside the perimeter of the Ghost Nebula, Commander Sato was waiting with his Phoenix Squadron.
"Well," he said, "This is where we are supposed to be. Navigator. Are you sure of these coordinates from Captain Syndulla?"
"Yes, sir. These are the coordinates. The message was a little garbled, but these came over clear."
"All right. But just what are we waiting for?"
Minutes passed. Those who could were looking out the view windows. All they could see was the giant wall of the Ghost Nebula. It was so thick that it seemed as if someone were were to stick his arm into it, he wouldn't even see his own hand. Looking, looking, looking. Everyone who could was looking out into the mire that was the Ghost Nebula. Suddenly—
"What's that!" a crew woman said as she pointed towards the nebula. Everyone was looking to where she was pointing. If they looked close, they could see something, something—unusual. After a few seconds, that unusualness took form.
"What is that?"
"I don't know," replied Commander Sato. "Let's wait."
Second after second passed. Little-by-little, what seemed like a small triangle took form.
"All hands! Battle stations!" ordered the Commander, then everything was then a rush on the little ship. As more and more of the triangle appeared, it obviously seemed Imperial. Commander Sato was confused. Hera had told him to meet her here.
More and more of the triangle appeared. Bigger and bigger it got slowly. Soon, it was so big that Commander Sato had to order his squadron to give space.
"Full astern! All ships!" he ordered.
"Why aren't they firing on us?" someone on the guns said.
"I am wondering why we shouldn't be firing on them," said his neighbor.
As they moved away from the surging pyramid of whatever it was, they started to become astounded at the size. Already it seemed as not even a tenth of the ship had yet appeared, but it loomed larger than a half-dozen Star Destroyers. More and more of the ship appeared. Everyone was nervous, ready at the trigger to do what he or she could before they were killed. Then, slowly, another ship appeared. And when it did, Commander Sato had a very big smile. One he hadn't had in a long time. And behind that smile was a lot of pride. He had seen the Plo Koon come out alongside the giant ship.
"All hands," he said almost laughingly, "Stand down. We are with friendlies."
"Yes, sir," came the tenuous reply.
"Don't worry, I know who is here."
After a short while of silence, a sparkling came from the communications. And then, it became stronger.
"Well, hello Commander Sato," came the unmistakable voice of Hera Syndulla, "Nice of you to greet us." Even as she said this, Commander Sato could see no command structure.
"Hello, Captain. You can see me, but I obviously can't see you. Are on this ship?"
"Yes, I am. And as of right now, it belongs to the Rebellion, thanks to the command of the Plo Koon, flagship of the Bonteri Fleet!"
As soon as Hera said this, cheers erupted throughout the entire squadron.
But the cheers were short-lived as they could see that the ship had yet to show all of itself. More and more it showed itself. The more it did, the more silent the crew in the squadron became.
On and on the ship came. Commander Sato was astounded. "What kind of monstrosity has the Empire hatched now?" he said out loud. It indeed was a monster they were looking at, one that needed to be put out of commission. He did take the time, however, to call for reinforcements. He knew there was no way everyone on that ship would be giving up their status in the Empire.
It couldn't take forever, he knew, but the stern of the ship never seemed to appear. Finally, after what seemed several minutes, the superstructure appeared. He could also now see a shuttle leaving the Plo Koon and going to the back of it. Perhaps there was where he should access the deviancy.
•
Hera had made the contact with Commander Sato and the Phoenix Squadron. When it was over, as Commander Sato saw, a small shuttle from the Plo Koon had arrived at the back of the superstructure.
Everyone from that little shuttle was led to the bridge. It took a few minutes. The first to come into the bridge was Lassa Rhayme, soon followed by her fellow Pantoran, Viera, who scurried in past Lassa on seeing someone. The first thing Lassa did was to look around for Riley. When she saw him working the communications, seemingly unhurt, she felt relieved.
"Viera?" asked Ahsoka, holding onto a railing, "What are you doing here?"
"I couldn't keep her away," responded Lassa. "It was the only way to shut her up."
"Well," said Hera looking to where Ezra was, "I'd say she is pretty quiet now."
"Viera! You're all right!" Ezra exclaimed.
"Umm, umm."
"What'd I tell you?" whispered Hera.
"Ezra, I was so worried. Are you all right?" Viera asked him, getting over her shyness.
"Yeah, I'm OK. Just a little fighting. Are you OK?"
"Yes, yes. It was really scary in that nebula. I don't know what I would have thought, if—"
She was interrupted by a trooper from the Plo Koon reporting that someone named Kinday was wishing admittance.
"That traitor!" one in the detained group shouted.
"But he just saved your lives," replied Kanan.
"We would rather have died than be so humiliated," one said. Even then, there were some in that group who looked as if they didn't want to be there.
"All right," responded the Commodore calmly and seriously, "We can arrange that for you if you want."
In the meantime, Lassa was passing out some of the tribbles she brought to the ex-Imperials. Although the ones receiving them didn't think of it, they couldn't know that they were being tested. Everyone was looking for a reaction from one of the little fur balls. Rather than that, those who had one were petting it, with some assistance from a neighbor.
Suddenly, there was a commotion from the gangway.
"Let me go!" said a voice familiar to all the Ghost crew. "I said let me—oh." said Gall Trayvis as he ended up being pushed into the bridge. Immediately, Lassa threw a poor tribble at him. As soon as he caught it, it squealed and screeched and shrieked in such a high pitch that everyone wanted to cover their ears. Ahsoka was getting shoots of pain from her montrals the squeals were so penetrating. Another human man behind Trayvis took the tribble from the older man. As soon as he did, it started to settle down. Then the man petted it and soothed it, as it was still obviously shaking from the trauma, and it became calmer and calmer. It wasn't long before it was back to its soothing, contented cooing.
"Kenny?! Is that you Kenny?" said Sabine with a raised voice.
The man looked over to Sabine. "Sabine? Sabine?" They both rushed to each other. Almost immediately, they were so happy that they were asking each other were they had been but they were talking over each other in emotional tones.
"Take a breath, you two," advised Hera, "I know how you feel."
They both looked at Hera and then smiled back at each other. Rather than talk, they just put their arms around each other and hugged for a long time.
At that moment, the Imperials being detained could see the love. This bridge had never seen so much emotion that was good and true. It was as if the love permeating the bridge now was chasing away all the ghosts of the evil that inhabited it before. They could see love not just between man and woman, but between those from different planets, between those from Pantora and human planets; between those from Ryloth and the same, and between one from Shili and one from Onderon, as well as between those from Mandalore and between those from Ryloth. It was too much for some to stay where they were any longer. A few more of the detainees moved out of the group. A warning from the guard brought attention to the commanders, but they asked they be let through. One woman even elbowed a man very hard who was trying to hold her back. Each one also knew that they had to pass a test. As they passed Kinday, they touched the tribble he was holding—that had somehow miraculously survived the crushing hug between Sabine and he. As each did, all the tribble did was to coo on and on. That gave the Commodore an idea.
"Gall Trayvis," said Hera as she came up to that person, each step loaded with a word, "Liar, conniver, schemer, turncoat, mole, snot-faced—"
"Traitor," entered Lux.
"Traitor?" said Trayvis.
"Traitor to all that is good, decent and honorable in this time. Yes. Traitor."
"You have tried to lure Jedi to Stygeon," exclaimed Kanan.
"You are a traitor," finished Hera.
"Sergeant! Cuff him!" ordered Commodore Bonteri. "We will deal with him later. Take him to the Plo Koon. The further he is away from his 'friends' the better."
"Yes, sir." Then some Marines and Zouaves led the traitor out of the bridge. A little while later, a small shuttle was seen going to the Plo Koon.
"Captain Acham. You might want to let the Plo Koon know of the prisoner on their way."
"Right away, Commodore."
As this was going on, some troopers from the shuttle bringing Lassa and Viera appeared on the bridge. They had some Stormtroopers with them in cuffs. All the while, Captain Acham was ably piloting the ship. Risè was looking on proudly.
"We found these floating outside, sir, as we brought Commander Rhayme in." Lux went up to one. He asked that his helmet be removed. Ahsoka noticed he was the Stormtrooper whom they slammed into the button. When the helmet was removed, Lux looked at the man.
"Um, I'm sorry about what happened in the hangar. It—"
"It's all right, sir. I would have done the same thing if the positions were reversed. Our helmets could keep us alive for a short time. That is how war is. But, we do have to thank you for saving us." Lux raised an eyebrow, and Ahsoka an eye-marking, on hearing that. "We could hear the self-destruct order being given. Nimrod over here was even trying to 'swim' away," the man said as he motioned to a trooper. "The Empire would have killed us all. If you don't mind, sir, I would like to do something but I need the cuffs to be removed."
"All right," returned Lux, but the Sergeant Major from his Marines was right there for just in case.
When the cuffs were removed, the stormtrooper started taking off his armor. Many were looking on as piece after piece fell to the floor. He was left in his inner suit. (There was one ex-Imperial woman in the pit who let out a big sigh. Everyone looked at her. She immediately turned sunburn red.)
A handsome human man was before them in his inner suit. "Any Empire that would kill us all so easily is not worth dying for. Do with me what you will," he said.
"No," answered Lux, "I think now it is do with yourself what you will."
The trooper looked surprised, then deep in thought. "Well, I've always wanted to be a farmer, working the land, being in quiet nature. I even had—. It doesn't matter now. I'm your prisoner."
Commodore Bonteri smiled back at the man. "Where can we drop you off?" The man smiled back. "In the meantime, you need to get some clothes. You're distracting someone." The man smiled even bigger. "What's your name?" Lux asked him.
He looked troubled. "I don't have a name. I only have a number."
"What's your number?"
"CC-2589."
"Well, we can't call you CeeCee. That name's already taken," Lux said as he gestured towards CeeCee. The former trooper was taken aback on seeing her, but he relaxed. "That's a girl's name, anyways," Lux said quietly close to the former Stormtrooper, "Just right for a pretty girl like CeeCee." CeeCee herself was tittering.
"Well, when I made sure I was alone so I wouldn't be caught, I read the legends of the Clone Wars. There was one who was the bravest and the smartest named Rex. If I could—"
"Now wait a minute," a familiar voice rang out, "If you are wanting to appropriate my name, do me the favor of letting me know first." Rex then came up to the group, pointing with his thumb to his armored chest to emphasize the 'me.' Ahsoka was lightly laughing.
"Are you—?" asked the man.
"Yes, I am." Then more quietly a little closer to the man, "Thanks, by the way." Then Rex came back up. "Well, if you want to be a farmer, how does 'Gardner' sound?"
"Gardner? Gardner? Yes, Gardner. I am Gardner! Thank you, sir."
"No 'sirs.' Just call me Rex." The man smiled back.
Soon, someone came and brought the man a pair of pants. He turned around as he put them on. Most everyone looked away. One human gal, however, stole a glance, turning sunburn red again.
Commodore Bonteri turned to the other troopers. "These crew people have made their choice," he said gesturing to the crew in the pit. "Now, I don't need any crew-women fainting on me (Ahsoka was rolling her eyes), so if you want to leave the Empire, just take off your helmets and chest plates. You will be cared for. If you don't, then stand over there," he finished as he pointed to the even smaller group still under guard. A few didn't take him up on the offer, but several did, taking off their helmets and chest plates, as requested.
It wasn't long before there was another guest. Commander Sato entered the stern of the superstructure and asked for permission to board. It was promptly given.
Lux was a little nervous and was adjusting his uniform here and there. Ahsoka was helping in places he couldn't see, such as the back. "Thank you," he said to her as he faced the gangway. "Boatswain. Pipe our guest aboard." The boatswain then got into position off to the side of the gangway, his small whistle ready. Just on the other side, Commander Sato stopped. The boatswain whistled his tune for a few seconds, and stopped. As he did so, Commander Sato stepped into the bridge.
"Atten-hut!" said Rex. Everyone then stood at attention.
Commander Sato then came up to Commodore Bonteri, with a proud look on his face and saluted. The salute was returned. As soon as the salute was released, Commander Sato struck out his hand to shake it with his former pupil, which they did. He then said something very astounding.
"It is the hope of every teacher that the pupil will outshine the teacher over time. You have certainly done that, Lux Bonteri."
Lux was a little embarrassed, but thanked the Commander for his words.
"Thank you, sir."
Commander Sato could see Ahsoka off to the side, looking very proud.
"Good to see you, Ahsoka." Ahsoka nodded back to the Commander. Then, very quietly, "Is Ahsoka the girl you talked with me about when you were a student?" he asked Lux quietly. Lux just nodded his head. "I am glad you have found her. I am happy for you and for her. You should have contacted me earlier, though. Ahsoka's been with the Phoenix Squadron for a time recently."
"I understand, sir."
Commander Sato then put his hand on Lux's upper left arm in a meaning of confidence.
"We will have many here shortly. You may leave the running of the ship to the Alliance."
"Thank you, sir. I will leave Captain Acham to pilot the ship."
"Very good, very good," responded Commander Sato. Then he looked to Lux very friendly. "Terry. You need this now. Let us take over. Get some rest."
"Thank you, Commandant. But just one thing. How long would it take for you to separate the true ones from the Imperials?"
"Looking at this ship—my word, I can't even see the bow from where I am—about a month or two."
"If I may, let me suggest this. Let those who would go back to the Empire leave in the escape pods. We have a little friend called the tribble. They can find the ones who are truly with us or the ones truly with the Empire with those who are left."
"Tribbles? I have never heard of them."
"That's their new name, thanks to Ahsoka. Commander Rhayme of the Plo Koon can help you with knowing the tribbles. They may be of good help."
"Rhayme? There is only one Rhayme I know of and I wouldn't—"
Just then, Commander Rhayme come up to the pair.
"I am Commander Rhayme. Lassa Rhayme," this very person said to Commander Sato.
"Oh."
"Commandant Sato, I trust Lassa Rhayme with more than my life. Please put your trust in her."
"Lassa Rhayme of the Blood Bone Order?"
"Or, Commander Rhayme, now commanding the Plo Koon," Lassa informed Commander Sato.
"Oh." Then, after a short time. "It's a pleasure to meet you Commander Rhayme. What is the situation with the Plo Koon?"
Commander Rayme then filled in Commander Sato as to what was happening with the Plo Koon and all about the tribbles—even to bringing one to him and letting him handle it. After a short time, he grunted his acknowledgement.
When they were finished, Commodore Bonteri turned to Lassa. He was about to ask something to her, but he turned to Marshal Syndulla and his Marine Sergeant Major instead. "Marshal Syndulla, Sergeant, could you please escort the remaining detainees to the lower decks? They don't need to be here anymore."
"It will be my pleasure, Commodore."
After watching carefully as the Marshal's group led the remaining Imperials away, Lux then turned towards the Pantoran woman. "Lassa, how long would it take to get some undoctored tribbles here?"
"About a day. May I ask why?"
"Certainly. I am thinking that these tribbles may be able to speed up the process. Let those who want to leave, leave anyways. Lieutenant," he turned to the woman who was just before turning red, "How long before the escape pods are back online?"
"Soon, sir."
"Good. Let me know before you do." There was a nod in response to this order. "I am thinking if we can get some undoctored tribbles in quickly, we can separate the ones who really want to defect and those who are trying to be moles."
"Good idea. The ship would be full of them in a short time. One problem, though. What do we do with the tribbles when their job is finished?"
"Good question. We can't destroy the Decimator until we can get them away. We can't put them back on the planet they came from (he was still being careful with this secret) still inside the ship. That would lead the Imperials right to you."
"Destroying the ship with the little tribbles on them would be cruelty to the largest part," said Hera. "I would not agree to it. That is not who we are."
"It would be an impossible job to collect them from the Decimator in any case," Lassa added, "It would take years and the ship would be taken back by the Empire in the process. You know what they would do with the tribbles."
"I have an idea," Ahsoka entered the strategy session with Lux, Saw, Hera, Lassa, Kanan and Jun Sato. "It would take very long using normal methods. I think Lux has a good idea but is trying to rush the outcome. Perhaps we should just take a little more time, get several hundred or so doctored tribbles in, and use those to weed out the liars."
"All right," said Lassa. "It will take a little more time to grab that many and change them. Perhaps week and a half or two."
"I'll send some medical staff from the Plo Koon with you to help," said Lux as Lassa nodded in agreement. Field Marshal Syndulla had returned by now.
"Now, what do we do with this ship?" Hera asked.
"We need to hide it until we are done with the crew."
"Yes, and when we are finished with that, what do we do with it?"
"We need to destroy it," said the Commodore with definiteness, "After you've gotten all the information you can from it."
"Just running it for a week will cost a planet's worth."
"It was made with the blood and deaths of millions. It is an abomination to the galaxy," emphasized Lux, "I wouldn't touch it if I didn't need to."
"Give it to us," demanded Cham, "We will send it burning through the atmosphere of Ryloth. It will be a sign to our brothers and sisters that we will not be silenced."
Lux added, "I was thinking of sending it into the sun. But if that works for everyone—"
"Father, Commodore, that would damage Ryloth too much. I agree with the Commodore's idea of sending it into a sun. If that is OK, make it the sun of Ryloth and tell everyone to watch."
"That is a good idea, my daughter."
"All right. Any objections to the sun of Ryloth?" Commander Sato asked. There were no objections. "All right. Commander Rhayme, please contact your people about the tribbles. We can spare some medical staff as well."
"Sir!" someone from the pit shouted, "We have hyperspace flux!"
"How many?" asked Captain Acham. Everyone was listening. If they were Imperials—
"About a dozen off to our port, about two hundred clicks away."
"They should be our reinforcements," said Commander Sato. In a few moments, he was proved right as a dozen Mon Calamari ships-of-the-line appeared. Soon, about a half dozen shuttles could be seen departing from each ship.
"Those are some big suckers," expressed Lux.
"They don't look so angularly evil either," added Ahsoka.
Lux then went to the pit. "Lieutenant, how's it going with the escape pods?"
"We can re-activate them any time."
Suddenly; "Sir! We have hyperspace flux again."
"Where?! How many?!" asked Captain Acham. Commodore Bonteri made no move to interrupt.
"We have one reading, about the size on a Star Destroyer."
"Fire Control!"
"Sir!"
"Aim all the guns you can to the flux. Lieutenant. How far away is it?"
"About five hundred clicks, sir."
"That's far away."
"Captain Acham," Commodore Bonteri entered, "They may be just looking for escape pods. My suggestion would be to re-activate the pods to let those who want to go back. I doubt the Destroyer is going to attack."
"Agreed, Commodore. I'll keep the bead on them anyways."
"Sirs, if I may," said Kinday with a worried face, "What about those who don't want to go but are being forced to?"
"We don't have the numbers below decks to prevent that."
"It might be unavoidable."
"There may be a way to solve this dilemma," said the former agent Kallus a little ways away. The commanders all looked to him. Commander Sato was shocked beyond belief at what he was seeing, but everyone, from Cham Syndulla down was looking at him with expectation. "All Imperial craft are fitted with deterrents in case of boarding. One of those is an invisible, odorless gas. It will put to sleep everyone for a few hours. Perhaps in that time, enough troops can be assembled to take care of the Imperial crew. They can then be sequestered. The gas is harmless to humans."
"What about non-humans?" asked the Commodore.
"On an Imperial ship?" queried Hera, "What non-humans?"
"Good point, Hera," added Ahsoka.
Everyone was deep in thought. Then Commodore Bonteri spoke up.
"All right. Captain Acham, the choice is yours. I will call the Shaak Ti and the Mace Windu for backup troops plus all we can spare on the Plo Koon.
Just then, the Star Destroyer exited hyperspace. The crew below decks were getting anxious as the escape pods had yet to be re-activated.
"And we will send more troops over as well. Lieutenant," Commander Sato said to a lower grade officer who accompanied him, but was standing off to the side. She then went quickly to the Commander's side. "Tell the shuttles that once they let off their people to go back and get some armed troops and return immediately. Contact the ships to tell them to let us have as many troops as they can spare."
"Yes, sir. Right away, sir."
"I will release the gas," Captain Acham decided. "Garelios, can you help us with this?"
"Certainly, sir." The ex-Imperials in the pit looked to each other. Certainly they knew about Agent Kallus and had even met him before. But that Kallus seemed so different from the one now before them. It was a new experience to see one who had been so steadfast in the Empire now on the other side. They seemed to know why, even if they didn't ask. The Star Destroyer was not moving towards the Decimator, but keeping its distance.
Lux was looking through some binocs at the new ship. He then passed them to Captain Acham. "What's the name?"
"Mm, The Executor."
Commodore Bonteri had a very exasperated face. "What is it with Imperials and these names? No wonder so many are fighting the Empire. Why not just make one giant ship, Call it 'Death' or something like that, and be done with it?" The Commodore didn't know how prescient he would be with that remark. He couldn't know then that a few years later, Onderon would be at the top of the list for the Death Star on Tarkin's demand. Only chance prevented it from being destroyed.
"Releasing gas now," said Kallus.
"I hope they don't get mad at us," said Ahsoka. "I would be."
"Me too, but it seems to be the only option right now," said Captain Acham.
After the gas was released, everything then became calm. Risè had come close by the Captain. She wanted to be near him.
For a time, many shuttles came back and forth between the Plo Koon and the Mon Calamari ships. Commander Sato ordered some of his ships to the starboard of the Decimator. It was also a little later when the Shaak Ti and the Mace Windu appeared and they too positioned themselves to the starboard—after getting over their astonishment at the size of the Decimator and how it was taken. The commanders in both ships were very proud of their Commodore. Quickly as well, many shuttles started to go between the two old Separatist ships and the Decimator. Everything seemed to be under control.
Then, Commander Sato suggested, "Commodore Bonteri, General Gerrera, Captain Syndulla, Commander Rhayme, everyone, you can get some rest. From what I've heard, that hasn't happened for you in a while." Everyone smiled. "We'll take over from here."
"Yes, thank you, Commandant," said Lux. This group then started to leave the bridge of the Decimator. As they were leaving, it started with one person and then another, and then another over the entire bridge. Soon, ex-Imperials included, the entire pit was standing in ovation, clapping vociferously. Commander Sato happily joined in. The group just getting ready to leave turned, waved and bowed and thanked them as they turned to leave.
•
On the way to the hangar deck where Ahsoka and Lux found their love again, but almost lost their lives doing so, there was a sad sight. Lined up on the deck were two rows of body bags. One row was the Imperials who lost their lives. The body of the Inquistor was noticable. (Ahsoka and Lux could see that Captain from the hangar and were sorry. Together, they prayed for his forgiveness.)
The other row was those from the Plo Koon who lost their lives. At the head of one them was a forlorn figure, couching down and seemingly crying. Lux and Saw immediately went up to him. As they got closer, Lux could see that the person was his Zabrack Marine Sergeant Major, crying over a human boy, still in his Zouve uniform. Lux remembered him to be the one who asked, with the innocence of youth, what 'poochie' was, and the Zabrack replied he would tell him when he grew up. Both commanders kneeled next to the man,
"I, I never got a chance to tell him," the veteran with more battle scars than years, told his commanders. The rest of the group came up. Even though she was in slight pain from her leg, Ahsoka could see there was someone in more pain. She as well, carefully though, crouched down on the other side of Lux. She then put her arm through his.
"Heck. I don't even know what poochie is," said the Zabrack with a cry from his throat.
"It's just Pantoran slang for 'girl talk,'" Lassa informed quietly. "I'm sorry," she said honestly.
"Thank you, Commander." The Sergeant turned to look at the boy again.
"Casey," Lux said softly, using the Sergeant's first name, "He's in a better place now. We have to believe that all this fighting is not for nothing. We were put here for a purpose and we cannot select our time to leave. We will see him again. And when we do, we'll tell him, and all the others, that we did our best and we left the galaxy for the better. That is what we will do." Although Lux seemed to at times have difficulty with big words, Hera thought he was pretty good at putting small ones together. "Let's go now. We can say a last goodbye at his memorial."
"Thank you, sir." The Marine then started to get up, with a little help. "Thank you."
The group then started walking towards the shuttle with the Sergeant. Ahsoka was again being helped by Sabine.
•
And when they arrived on the Plo Koon, they were greeted yet again with applause. When it subsided, the officer in command, turned command of the ship over back to Commodore Bonteri with an exchange of salutes. The doctor and his Rodian head nurse were also there to help Ahsoka. She had a date with a bacta tank. "Take care of her, Doc," Lux implored. The doctor nodded his assurance.
Ahsoka, however, felt something, something she hadn't felt in a long time on going back to the Plo Koon. Not since her last day happy day in the Temple as a Padawan. 'Could it be?' she asked herself.
•
Some time later, Ahsoka was put in the bacta tank, with a heavy two-piece suit and a breathing device. But before she was to be sedated, she seemed a little agitated. Only Sabine and Hera were with her, but Lux had posted some female guards outside to keep men away. (If he were to think of it later, he conjectured that he probably put the guards there to keep him out.) However, Ahsoka was making some sort of signals with her right hand. She was holding up three fingers in a beseeching way. Hera and Sabine were outside, wondering what she was doing. Ahsoka's eye markings were raised as well as if pleading them to understand before she was sedated. It then came to Sabine.
"I think she's making the sign for 'T,' What do we know that—Wait a minute." Sabine then made a sign using her left hand with her index finger straight down and her thumb at a forty-five degree angle from it. When she did, Ahsoka nodded her head with anticipatory happiness. "That was the sign for 'L.'"
"'Terry.' 'Lux.'"
"I think so. Now, she would have to break some of her fingers if she wanted to make the 'B' sign, so let's make sure."
Hera then wrote out a message so Ahsoka could see it. When she did, she nodded her head quickly and several times. Hera then went to the communications panel with Ahsoka following her all the way with her eyes. Hera then called to the Commodore; "Commodore Bonteri, the patient would like to see you."
"'Umm, understood,'" came Lux's voice, "I'll be there presently."
Hera then ended the conversation. When she returned to Ahsoka, she nodded her head. The medical robot was starting to get impatient. "Treatment suggests that the patient should be sedated soon," said the soft, but robot-like voice.
"Wait just a minute, please," asked Hera.
Then Sabine said quietly, "Knowing the Commodore, certainly less than a minute." Hera smiled at that, but didn't notice that Ahsoka noticed them. She then raised an eye-marking in questioning. Sabine gave an innocent smile in return. Just then, some voices could be heard outside the door. They turned to look and almost immediately, Ahsoka did as well, although she couldn't hear anything.
•
Outside the door to the bacta center, Lux had stopped. He was then standing before the women guards. They were not going to let him in, as he had ordered. But Hera then appeared outside, showing herself through the crack of the doors. She looked around to see if any other men were around. Seeing none, she let Lux in. "She's been waiting for you." Hera then opened the door a little more to let him in, closing the door quickly after him.
Lux walked slowly over to Ahsoka, looking at her all the time.
And she was looking at him, overflowing with happiness. Although the breathing device hid it, he could tell she was smiling as she was also smiling with her eyes. They looked at each other for a while.
"I'll be here when you are finished," he said. Sabine wrote what he said so Ahsoka could see it. When she did, she nodded.
Lux then put his hand on the glass. Ahsoka reached for his hand as if to go through the glass, and put her hand up against his. But it wasn't a parting of ways this time. Each were getting strength from the other. They knew now, nothing would keep them apart. 'Now,' thought Lux, 'how to ask the question. Maybe Zeb can help.' "The most beautiful woman in the galaxy," he voiced quietly, just above a whisper.
They stayed that way for a while. The medical droid made a sound as if he was clearing his throat. Lux glanced over and knew they had to get Ahsoka ready. With a smile, he said, "I guess I'd better go. I don't want to get too overheated." He then nodded to Ahsoka and took his hand away. She let hers drop. He went to the door, often looking back, with Ahsoka looking all the way. When he got to the door, he turned and nodded and left through a crack. When he closed the door, Ahsoka looked happy. Then she put a questioning face on. When Sabine wrote and showed what Lux had said just before he left, she rolled her eyes, but then smiled in happiness.
She then motioned to the droid that she was ready.
—•—
Thank you for reading this.
I swear that I wrote the self-destruct scene before Lux's Sister posted her review for the last chapter. (LS, I think we're channelling each other.)
Well, that's about it for the action in this story. I hope you enjoyed it along the way.
I got this big update in so quickly because I had some of it already written and I was quite inspired to write this. I'm also anxious in a good way to get the next chapter out.
I added a little bit to Lux and Ahsoka joking in the hangar after their near miss with death in the last chapter. I pasted it below. The additions are in italics.
•
"And no more thimar for me." There was more laughing. "We must've looked so funny," Ahsoka said through the laughs, "I love youuuuu," she mimicked Lux's deep voice as she moved her hand through the air for two people flying through the air. They both laughed so hard at this.
Lux recovered a bit to add, "I knooow. I'm your betroooothed," he said with the same hand motion like Ahsoka's with a high-pitched voice. Neither could hardly stop laughing, holding on to each other.
They were both laughing laughing hard now at their near miss with death they had. They didn't hear the others in their group come up, Kanan, Ezra, Aktay, now joined by Sabine and Zeb and a few more. They were astounded at the Commodore and the Jedi almost rolling in laughter.
•
I hope you liked the new addition to the last chapter. Now they are mimicking themselves. That's better, I think. I thought the original lacked something.
Do you think Lux is a bit OOC in having a hard time with big words? It could be. He didn't use many in the show, but that's probably because of the target audience. Being eloquent doesn't mean saying five-syllable word after five-syllable word with French or whatever root. It is how you make people feel. I hope you saw that Lux's talk with the Sergeant was inspiring.
Again, thank you so much for the reviews and I am sorry I haven't responded like I usually do. I haven't even read a fanfiction since Titania's latest update.
Take care,
johnt