A.N: Who's ready for that ObiWan Movie! Yeeeee!
Piperw124: No problem and here yah go! : ) !
I don't own Star Wars.
Chapter 33: Recon
Night was approaching, the darkness covering the sky, but the three moon's light gave way to see through the dense jungle. Everyone had gotten into the Speeder Truck, one of the Rebel soldiers driving as everyone was in the back of the cargo room. There were windows that looked out to which Kanan had been staring out there the whole time. He saw Depa on the back of Belle, the Jedi master had her head down but her eyes staring ahead. Belle did the same. Leading the way back to where the Ahsoka and Rex had left the Cargo Orbiter, Sar Sar was marching ahead with Demira and the Chief on her back. All the way it was quiet, and it wasn't because some were outside while everyone else was inside. Depa could have tried to say something, but Kanan continued to look outside, there was no exchanged of words.
Not even about the bantha in the room.
Zeb asked, "Nothing yet?" as he sat on a crate with Sabine.
Kanan turned around and said, "No, not a word. She should say something."
"She tried, Kanan," Hera said while she sat next to Ezra on some seats built into the walls of the cabin. Hera continued, "But Depa told us that ten years and nothing can change Demira's mind. Besides, I understand Demira's digression here."
"Maybe we're being a bit quick to judge here—" Kanan said.
Ezra added with a deadpan, "Kanan, they left Demira to die at three years old." Chopper added something in droid speak, making Ezra say, "See, even Chopper agrees, and that's saying something."
Ahsoka and Rex had been standing by the door leading to the front of the ship. Having heard what Ezra said, Rex said, "Wait? Demira was the child left to die you were talking about earlier."
Ahsoka then said, "Demira's not just angry at this Nomads reputation, but angry of what they did to her. Do you know why the Nomads did that?"
"No," Kanan put in. "and that's exactly the point Depa and I have been trying to make. There is no way that a land as peaceful as this can produce savages for no reason. There is no evidence, the Chief said so. Just rumor. And that rumor was only strengthened when Demira was left behind."
Zeb snarled, "Rumor or not, Kanan, no one should leave a kid behind to fend for themselves."
"Has no one even considered it could have been an accident they left her behind?"
"Accident? She was left there for days," Sabine said. "If these Nomads cared they've would have come back. They would have done what they can for her, no matter the consequences." The Mandalorian girl dug her nails into the side of the crate. She knew what it felt when family didn't do everything in their power to protect their family members.
Rex asked, "If it's just a tall tale, why is the Chief making a scene? As a leader, he should be level-headed."
"I agree…." Ahsoka said, "So I suggest we all keep a level head, no matter what we find back at the Cargo ship."
Getting to where the Cargo ship had been left was hard for many to keep a level head. The minute they got there and put the spot lights from the truck onto the scene, everyone's nerves doubled. There were scorch marks on the ground from blaster fire. Spears were lodged into the side of the ship. Shoe prints and foot prints were found everywhere with signs of a struggle. Ahsoka, Rex and the rest of the repair crew that came with theme immediately ran to the Cargo Ship's bay doors. They went inside and looked around. No one was there.
When Ahsoka and Rex came out, they met with the Ghost crew. Ahsoka said, "Whatever happened, it didn't end as badly as it could have. No sign of blood or bodies. They could have just been taken."
"All the more reason to worry," The Chief said as he jumped off of Sar Sar and came up to the group. "To the minds of the Nomads, death is a quick end. They may have taken your people to suffer—"
"Kerchec!" Depa yelled as she jumped off of Bele.
"I speak the truth, Depa!" the Chief screamed back.
"You jump to conclusions too quickly."
"Look around you," He motioned with his hands all around at the clearing.
"None of this tells that they are suffering."
As they argued, Demira had begun to climb the Cargo ship. She would grab some spears and pull them off the side of the ship, looking at them with distaste before letting them slide of the ship and onto the ground so she could continue forward.
Depa continued, "There must be a reason they have been taken." Depa then addressed the group, "I suggest we find out what really happened before we do anything. Call this a recon mission. We can form a plan of rescue around the information we gather."
"A small group should be deployed, then," Ahsoka added, "I'll come with you. I brought them here, they're my responsibility."
"Understood. Chief, you will come. Be our Guide through to the settlement. We've never gone so far. Sabine, I would like for you to join us. Your armor is equipped with the technology we need to see through the dark."
"Yes, Mam."
"Everyone else please stay until our return."
Everyone agreed, seeing as the people chosen were the right choice. But as everyone dispersed to head into the Cargo ship, Demira had slid down the side of the ship and landed in front of Depa. "You need me. Let me come."
"I do need you, but not with me now. I need you with them," Depa pointed to the group walking away. "The Chief and I are going, so I need someone who knows this land to stay and guard the group here. I can trust no one but you."
Feeling a sense of purpose, Demira nodded and grabbed her spear from the latch on her back. She spun it and had the butt end come to a stop by her side. She stood tall and proud and said, "I will not let you down."
As Demira left, the Chief said, "You don't want her coming, do you?"
"Do you?" She asked as she turned around and walked by him.
The chief sighed and muttered, "No," audible enough for Sabine and Ahsoka to hear and look at each other.
Depa and her group made their way through the dense forest, leaving behind the others, going west, away from the river. Belle had joined them, being the the one to guard the group from the back as the Chief lead the way up front. Through the whole trek through the dark jungle, Sabine couldn't help but feel adrenaline. Finally, after being on a land of peace, she was probably going to see what the people of Panama were capable off. Sabine was not at all surprised. Peace didn't last long anyway. She was starting to realize another reason Depa didn't want Demira to come was because of the Nomad's rumor to be savage, not just her history. Just as the reached the edge of the forest, they saw light from a fire up ahead, The chief stopped the group and pointed out to the other side of the forest ridge. Sabine's eyes went wide as she looked to see the largest clearing she'd seen on this planet, big enough to land a Star Cruiser. Grass grew dry but tall, rustling in the wind like waves. In the middle of the giant space, tent-like homes were built randomly in a cluster. Smoke was coming from between the tips of some. There people walking around, but just shadows.
"Sabine…" Depa said.
The girl nodded, putting her helmet on and bring down her scope. She looked through the inferred lens. She whispered to the group., "Men, A lot of them. No women, or children, all men and abled bodied."
"They're more of an army now, aren't they?" Chief hissed.
Depa hissed back, "They women and children must be asleep."
"Then why are the men awake?" Ahsoka asked.
As Sabine focused her scope more, she noticed that the source of light of the fire was a bonfire in the middle of the entire tent cluster. Men were guarding a certain group sitting by the fire. She gasped seeing it was the rest of the repair team. She recognized their jumpsuiTheirhere helmets were no longer on, exposing their tired faces. "I see them all. Their sitting down in front of the fire, and they look like they've been through a lot."
"I knew it—" The Chief began.
"What do you mean Sabine."
Sabine look closer, and realized she may have exaggerated it all. She felt a bit bad and confused as she said, "They just look tired, but not hurt. And I see water bowls in front of them."
"That means…" Depa began
"That's impossible!" Demira yelled after the Chief finished explaining what they had seen after they returned to the group. Her yell echoed off the walls of the cargo room of the ship. "Nomads do not take care of strangers."
"Apparently they are now," The Chief said, sounding flabbergasted.
Depa grunted and said, "You two can talk all you want of what you believe or not but we saw what is the truth."
"Then why take them if they are so nice? Why keep them there?"
"Miscommunication, Chief, the Nomads were not as lucky as to have learned how to speak basic from Trader Rack. The Nomads are confused as to what these people are and don't trust them enough to let them go. That's why I suggest we go again with a small group tomorrow and talk to them so they understand—"
"Tomorrow?" Kanan asked.
"A night, they will think it is a surprise attack. The more daylight and out in the open, the more vulnerable we are and the Nomads will not think it as an attack. A small group too."
Ahsoka said, "All right, then at first light, You, Chief and I will go and—"
Hera then cut in, "I'm sorry Ahsoka but I have to say this. Since all this occurred because our ship was damaged, I'd feel much better if I see this through with you."
"Wait then if Hera goes, we go," Zeb said. Sabine, Ezra, and Chopper spoke in agreement. Depa looked at the crew. She saw their need to be as a team and go with Hera. But Depa couldn't let them all come. Too many people would agitate the Nomads. Especially strangers from off world.
Depa wanted to argue, but the Chief said, "I'd be much happier if we brought back up in case—"
"Words will avoid a fight—"
"Not always. Are you certain this is a special situation?"
"Kerchec I—" Depa stopped when she finally felt a wave of emotions from a certain someone reach a peak since the conversation began. She looked to Demira. The girl's head was down, but Depa could see her confusion and anger. Demira hated the Nomads but she was trying so hard to understand their actions as of today. Depa got an idea. She looked to the Ghost crew and thought again. Maybe their presence wouldn't be an entirely bad idea.
"All right. Captain….," Depa addressed Rex, "Tomorrow, you will remain with your rescue team. The rest of you along with Ahsoka will come with me. Chief will lead the way."
Ahsoka and Rex along with the repair team had helped the Ghost crew make makeshift beds in the Cargo ship for everyone else. But Demira, like always, refused to sleep inside the ship. She laid down by Sar Sar's side outside on the grass. Depa was at the entrance of the ship, wondering what to do when the Chief came up and said, "Now would be a good time to talk to her about those Inquisitors."
Depa turned and stared him dead din the eye, "She's asleep, so the one I should be talking to you. Your behavior today against the Nomads is completely unreasonable."
"I have every right to be angry with them. But you have no right to not talk to Demira."
"I have talked to her. And when she didn't she learned her lessoned. I saw the fear when she faced the Seventh Sister. She doesn't need another reminder of that. And besides, the Inquisitors aren't her fault. I should have been harder on her about their capabilities."
"You continue to blame yourself but you don't say that to Demira. Depa. You are her master. When you tell her something or if she learns something from you, she won't forget, because she knows you care more then anyone has ever in her life. But as her Ma'Te she needs to reassurance over and over. I mean, just because you've told her once that she needs to ignore Bruton's remarks doesn't mean those remarks won't stop coming. They'll keep coming, so you'll have to keep being there, even when she does face them head on herself. You are master, but you are mother.
"I know I am."
"Well, it looks like you need the constant reminder too." The chief chuckled as Depa rolled her eyes. The two walked to Bele who slept next to Sar Sar. The Chief sat by Bele's side as Depa slept laying her head down against Bele's head.
As soon as the sun's light showed over the horizon, everyone was awake. Depa and Ahsoka being the first ones up, to wake everyone up. Rex got to stay behind the repair tea, as well as Bele and Sar Sar.
When the main group got to the edge of the forest to the Nomad Establishment, Depa turned back to the others and said, "There they are," Se pointed back to the large clearing. Everyone could see fully now what was going. Men, women, and children were walking around. Stronger men were guarding the missing repair team.
Demira curled her lip, about to snarl. Depa continued, "Ahsoka you will come with me and the Chief as well as Hera. But I will need everyone else to please stay here."
"But you let us come," Ezra argued.
"To reassure the Chief and his nerves," She said, a bit sarcastically. Said man crossed his arms and shook his head. Depa continued, "But there will be tension if there are too many seen by the Nomads. The less the better. But you do have a purpose here if there is a certainty of conflict."
She looked to Hera. The Twi'Lek nodded and looked at her crew, "Is that understood."
Everyone knew Depa had a point and agreed with their pilot. But Demira wasn't one of them, so she spoke, "And what of I?"
"Like I said," Depa said, "The rest stay."
"But Depa—"
"Padawan," Depa hissed. Quickly, Depa calmed. She remembered what Chief had said the night before. "Demira, when I say listen…."
"Listen and I will hear," Demira said as she seemed to remember. "But you said that before once about the Force."
"You can listen to more then just the Force."
Demira knew when Depa spoke like this, it wasn't just an order. It was advice. Demira would often put it aside once the task was done, but for some reason, Depa saying it again made it important. She would have to listen to understand. Meaning she would have to follow the order and stay with the others. Zeb, Kanan, Ezra, Sabine, and Demira hid behind the bushes that line the edge of the clearing. Depa, Chief, Ahsoka, and Hera walked out of the forest and into the clearing. They only managed to walk three feet before stopping when they heard war cries come from the cluster of tents. Men grabbed their spears and came at them at full speed.
.
A.N: Ok so a lot happened. Turns out the rest of the repair team was taken but the Nomads but they haven't done anything, so Chief and Demira need to calm down. And oh, looks like Depa is finally getting somewhere with Demira. Now they're going to face the Nomads, and lets see if it doesn't end in a bloodbath. I'm KikaKatTIOI, peace out!