Kanan, Ezra and Rae were still blocking fire from the Stormtroopers with their lightsabers. They had lured them to the opposite side of the building than where Zeb and Athena were with the nuclear missile. They were waiting for the signal from Zeb or Athena to get to the main dock so they can load the missile onto the rebel ship and get back to the fleet. More Stormtroopers had joined the fight between Stormtroopers and the 3 Jedi, about 20 Stormtroopers to 3 Jedi.
"How many are there of these guys?!" Rae exclaimed as she deflected a blaster shot and hit a Stormtrooper.
"Good job." Ezra said "But I'm guessing a lot."
"Thanks, Luminara had me practice lightsaber blocking for hours almost every other day." Rae said.
Rae deflected another shot and ricatiade it off the wall and it split in two and hit two Stormtroopers, knocking them unconcious. Kanan and Ezra looked at Rae with awe and she grined in a smug way.
"When did Master Unduli teach you that?" Kanan asked.
Rae shrugged and blocked another blaster the com inside their masks that were on their belts beeped and a voice came over it;
"This is Specter 5, I'm all done. Meet you guys at the rendezvous in a second."
By rendezvous, they knew she meant the main dock.
"Alright, let's get this over with." Kanan said and the 3 Jedi shared a glance and nodded, confirming their silent plan
They turned to the squad of Stormtroopers and pushed the Stormtroopers back with their combined use of the Force. They hit the wall and knocked out as they collapsed to the floor. Rae,Kanan and Ezra took this to sprint out of the room towards the direction of the nuclear weapon and deactivated their lightsabers.
"Let's hope they didn't cause any unnecessary trouble." Kanan said.
Zeb and Athena had finally stuffed all the Stormtroopers into a small room,almost a closet, they had found. It took a lot of effort, but it worked. Zeb dusted off his hands in victory as they finished packing away the Stormtroopers and the door closed.
"Well, that worked." Athena said.
"Yep, we better take a look at that nuclear weapon to make sure it's actually the real thing." Zeb suggested.
"I'm pretty darn sure the 20 foot, or 6 meter object covered in a giant red canvas is a missile." Athena said "But, yeah. We better make sure it's not a fake."
Athena and Zeb quickly went off in the direction of the large object and climbed over the toppled crates lied scattered in the middle of the room. Once they reached the object, they stopped.
"Okay, we might not want to take the canvas off. We don't know how stable this thing is." Zeb warned.
"True, I'm not sure if we should be standing near it. The radiation from this thing must be ridiculous. I can feel some of the warmth from the radiation from here." Athena pointed out.
It was true, the heat was emitting from the large object was fairly noticeable. It probably wasn't a good idea to stand so close to it, Athena already had enough radiation in her system from her x-rays of her wrist and leg.
"Maybe we should wait till we get it with the fleet to check it out." Athena suggested "I don't know how old this thing is."
"I know, but what if it's set off to go off at a certain time?"
"True," Athena said and stood next to the red canvas and grabbed the bottom and lifted the canvas up.
Under the canvas, the object seemed to be a tarnished. old, slightly rusty, metal with rivets all over it. Athena kept the canvas lifted and began to walk around the cylinder and looked over the other parts of the object. Athena and Zeb stopped when they came across a marking on the cylinder, covered in faded, black paint.
"What is that?" Athena asked as she stared at the black splotch seeming to cover up something else about the size of an adult human's hand.
"I don't know, looks like the Empire didn't want anyone else to know though." Zeb said.
Athena used her free hand and began to carefully scratch away at the paint off the warm metal. It first revealed a bit of red.
"It's red, is it the Imperial symbol?" Zeb asked.
"No...the splotch is in the shape of a rectangle." Athena pointed out and continued to scratch away the black paint.
Then a white part became visible, then another red stripe. Athena knew what this could've revealed to be, but didn't want to believe it.
"No...no...no...it can't..." Athena said quietly to herself.
She scratched away the majority center of the rectangle and let out a shaky breath.
"What kind of symbol is that?" Zeb asked.
"It's from Earth, this thing...it's from Earth." Athena shakily said "From the U.S."
Zeb blinked a few times "That's where you're from, isn't it?"
Athena nodded and still continued to stare at the American flag painted onto the warm metal.
Sabine finished her last explosive and stood up and began to run in the direction of the main dock where the nuclear weapon. Once she reached the door, she saw the control panel for the door shattered and rolled her eyes knowing who did that.
"Zeb..." she quietly thought to herself.
She continued to where the rendezvous was and noticed a bunch of crates knocked over on the ground that she had to hop on to get across the room. Sabine also saw the large canvased object and Zeb and Athena.
"Specter 4 and 8, how did this happen?" Sabine asked as she ran atop the last toppled crate and jumped to the ground and confronted them.
"Mini K here toppled them crates." Zeb gestured to Athena.
"Hey! I never agreed to that name." Athena crossed her arms.
"Mini K...oh...I get it." Sabine smiled a little "Mini Kanan."
"Shut it." Athena pouted and turned to the canvased object "This thing...it's from Earth. I think either Earth is supplying the Empire or the Empire stole from Earth."
"Why do you say it's from Earth?" Sabine asked.
"You know how each country on my planet has a flag right? Well, this had the United States of America's flag." Athena answered as she looked, almost with disgust at the nuclear weapon "I just don't get if Earth was supplying the Empire, why didn't they give them a hydrogen bomb? They are much more destructive."
"I don't know, we'll ask the others later." Sabine said "I'll get to work on the airlock."
Kanan,Rae and Ezra ran to the door to the main dock when they noticed the smashed control panel and lock to the door.
"Zeb..." Kanan said under his breath and continued to run with Rae and Ezra behind him and then noticed the toppled crates just as Sabine had.
They also spotted the red canvas concealing the supposed nuclear weapon on the other side of the room. The three Jedi began to hop on and over the toppled crates.
"Specter 4 and 8! How did these crates get like this!?" Ezra exclaimed and finally him,Rae and Kanan reached the end of crates and stood in front of Zeb and Athena.
"I used the Force." Athena answered "Specter 5 is working on the airlock now."
"Alright,if there's no problems we should be able to get out of her in a minute." Kanan said.
"Good, already contacted the fleet. Should be here anytime."Zeb informed.
"Great. Let's just hope we don't get any company." Ezra said.
"Don't jinx it." Rae said.
"Any information you guys learned?" Kanan asked.
"Apparently this thing's from Earth." Athena gestured to the nuclear weapon "Has the American flag on it."
Kanan's expression changed to confusion but yet had a touch of grimness "Is Earth...supplying the Empire?"
"Don't know." Zeb answered "Could be that the Empire stole it or Earth gave it to them."
"Hm...we'll figure this out later. For now, we have to figure a safe way to get this on the rebel transport." Kanan said.
The com in their masks that were on their belts beeped and a voice came over it.
"Phoenix leader crew, come in." Commander Sato's voice said.
Kanan took the mask off his belt and held it near his face "This is Specter 1, what's going on?"
"We have detected some Imperial ships heading to your location. We cannot dock with those ships, we don't have any defense under water." Commander Sato said.
"Alright, what's the plan then?" Kanan asked.
"We don't have one, the best we can recommend is to hold off the attack." Sato said.
"Are you serious? We can't hold off Imperial ships without a ship!"Kanan exclaimed into the com.
"Might I remind you Jarrus whom you are talking to?" Commander Sato said in a daring tone "These are orders from a rebel officer."
Athena was getting a little teed off so she snatched the mask off her belt and spoke into her com "And might I remind you Commander Sato that this plan could possibly end with 4 out of the 5 Force sensitives the rebellion has dead? And it will probably kill you along with us because you are 144.8 kilometers in range of this nuclear weapon. When it goes off, I can guarantee you that the radiation will kill you and your crew. This is an American nuclear weapon, and when this sucker goes off, it will literally burn everything and everyone within 144.8 kilometers so badly that you won't even tell what remains belong to whom."
"Did you say an American nuclear weapon?" Commander Sato asked urgently.
"Yes." Athena answered "Was that seriously the only thing you got out of what I said?"
"Athena! That's a rebel officer you are talking to!" Kanan hissed to his little sister.
"You should see how I talked to American officers." Athena said "Remember on Earth?"
Kanan rolled his eyes.
"The best we can do for you is to tell you to hold off the Imperial forces." Commander Sato said over the com.
"How come you can not dock the building, we load the nuke, and not die? The Imperials are smart enough to shoot at us if we have the nuclear weapon because if they do they would die." Athena proposed "Seriously? Why am I the one who has to think of these things?"
"Jarrus Jr., may I also remind you-" Commander Sato couldn't finish his sentence.
"Jarrus Jr.?!" Athena exclaimed "Do you think Kanan's my father or something?! Because I'm sure he's not! And technically Kanan,Ezra, Rae and I all out rank you due to the fact the rebellion is basing the ranking system off of the Republic's and Jedi and their Padawans outrank every rank other than the Chancellor or Jedi Council ."
"Alright, we'll go with this plan. But I'm holding you personally responsible if this ends with my men dead." Commander Sato warned.
"And I'm sure Commander Tano will personally hold you responsible for the death of the only other known Jedi in the universe." Athena said "Specter 7 out." and put her mask on her belt along with Kanan.
Later
Sabine had finished the airlock as Kanan,Zeb,and Rae stood near here by the airlock to the large doors that the rebel ship is to dock. They got information that the Imperial ship heading their way was actually slowing down at a pace that it would stop quite a few meters short of the building which meant they were probably dropping off the forces so they could sneak up on them.
Ezra and Athena were sent to the other side of the building to hold off the best they could of the forces once they reached the door that they had come through. Each had their face masks and flippers on incase the Imperials blew up the door,it'd unlikely and imprudent decision because that would possibly blow up the nuke. And to make that worse, set off Sabine's explosives.
Kanan and Rae stayed with Zeb and Sabine instead of fighting off the Imperials because the safest way to move the nuclear weapon was with the Force and Athena nor Ezra had as much training in using the Force as Kanan and Rae. And it was most likely that the nuke would be too heavy for just one of the Jedi, and one of the Jedi couldn't go alone to fend off the Imperials. So as their solution, split the in half and keep the more composed Jedi to lift the nuke and the more rambunctious and combative Jedi to fight off the Imperial forces.
Ezra and Athena shared a glance as they put the clear masks over their faces.
"You ready?" Ezra asked.
"I'm pretty sure I was born ready." Athena answered with a smile.
"Pretty sure?What does that mean?" Ezra asked.
Athena rolled her eyes "You do realize the biggest thing I knew about my mom before you guys was that; 1;was female and 2;human."
"True." Ezra shrugged "Might want to turn on our coms."
"They're off?" Athena asked,amazed at this.
"Yeah, they turn off every 5 minutes when left on a magnetic strip." Ezra explained.
Athena felt around the edge of her mask to see where the on/off button would've been for the com "How do you turn the com on?"
"Here,let me help" Ezra stepped over to Athena and reached his hand to the right side of her mask and she turned sharply at him.
"What are you doing?" Athena asked.
"I'm helping you turn on your com." Ezra said and continued his left hand to the right side of Athena's mask and hit the on button and took a half step back, now standing about 8 inches away from Athena. A little too close for comfort for her.
"Thanks." Athena thanked as Ezra turned on his com in his mask "Do you have to stand so close?"
Ezra had a nervous smile grow across his lips and he stepped back a little "Sorry."
Athena playfully rolled her eyes "Dork."
"Hey, lovebirds, stop flirting over the coms." Rae came across the com.
"Shut it, Specter 8. Before I decided to fill your bookbag with syrup when you're asleep." Athena warned.
"You wouldn't." Rae said.
"I would, and I know where Specter 2 keeps all the syrup." Athena warned.
"Fine, Specter 8 out." Rae said.
There was a large bang at the door to the airlock in front of Athena and Ezra and they directed their attention to it. Ezra activated his blue lightsaber and Athena mentally readied herself with the Force.
They heard water drain from the airlock in front of them and Ezra held his lightsaber closer to him"Specter 1, they're here."
"Alright, hold them off. Our pick up is almost here." Kanan's voice came over the com "Specter 1 out."
The door in front of the teens opened as they were about 15 feet away from the door. There stood about 6 Stormtroopers that had the same armor as the ones on land and they flooded out of airlock, they didn't fire and neither did Ezra because the two teens wanted to see why they weren't shooting at they all flooded out of the tiny room and lined up in 2 lines by the door, holding their blasters, a figure stepped out from the crowd. He had gray armor a helmet that concealed part of his face, but left the main part of his face exposed and had a red muttonchops and brown eyes. It was Agent Kallus.
"I see we meet again...Jaba." Kallus said to Ezra and turned to Athena "And the...creature."
"Careful...she bites." Ezra said.
"Hand over the weapon now or my men will fire." Kallus warned.
"And we'll fire back." Athena pointed out.
Kallus looked at Athena as if she had just smacked him across the face.
"Yeah, I can speak you son of a-" Athena couldn't finish her sentence.
"Don't say what I think you're about to say." Ezra warned.
"Waffle eating rat, I was going to say 'son of a waffle eating rat'." Athena said.
"So the new addition to the Jarrus family tree is very...unruly."Kallus pointed out "The Jedi; Kanan Jarrus, he is your father?"
Athena and Ezra gave Kallus a strange look.
"No?"
"No." Ezra shook his head.
"Not even close." Athena added.
"No matter, hand over what is rightfully the Empire's and you will be given a fair trial." Kallus offered.
"It is not the Empire's, it is not even from this galaxy." Athena said.
"This is your final warning, hand-"Kallus couldn't even finish his sentence.
"And this is your final warning; leave now." Athena said in a daring tone.
Kanan raised his hand outspread and then closed it in a fist, indication to fire. The Stormtroopers fired their blasters at the teens and Ezra deflected them with his lightsaber and got in front of Athena.
Athena tried to used the Force to take the blasters out of some Stormtroopers, but the blasters only swiveled a little in their hands and weren't released from their grips. Then she tried to use the Force to knock over the Stormtroopers, but she was only able to make a couple stumble and they quickly recovered. Athena was confused by this and continued to do failed attempts of using the Force on the Stormtroopers.
"Specter 7, what's going on?!" Ezra asked.
"I don't know!" Athena exclaimed and tried to knock over a Stormtrooper with the Force, but failed "Gah! I can't use the Force!"
"What?!" Ezra asked as he deflected a shot and hit a Stormtrooper.
"I can't use the Force!" Athena repeated "It's like it got drained from me!"
Kallus laughed and grabbed the bo-rifle off his back and activated it.
"Oh no." Athena and Ezra said. Ezra couldn't both block Stormtrooper fire and fight Kallus and Athena had no weapon and her powers wouldn't work.
Kallus charged at the two and Athena got out from standing behind Ezra and stood between Ezra and Kallus and quickly kicked Kallus in the stomach. He quickly recovered and began to swing his bo-rifle again. Athena dodged the swings as the electricity buzzed past her ear. As his arm and bo-rifle swung downward as it missed Athena, she punched him in the side of the face causing him to stumble away.
Athena rose her arms up to fighting position, ready for his next move.
Kallus looked up to Athena and had an evil grin "This will be too easy." and deactivated his bo-rifle and put it on the ground "I will not even need a weapon."
"Oh...bad idea, buddy." Athena thought to herself, but kept her mouth shut.
"Come at me." Athena dared.
Kallus yelled and charged at the teen with teal eyes and brown hair. He swung at her head with his fist, she ducked and swung her leg on the ground toppling Kallus to the ground and she stood up.
"Might want to rethink your opinion about this being easy." Athena remarked.
Kallus jumped up and looked at Athena "You are a weak Jedi, most pathetic excuse I have met."
"Aw...thank you." Athena sarcastically said "Says the full grown man just put on the ground by a teenage girl not even the height of your shoulder."
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