CHAPTER FIFTY-SIX: EXPLORATIONS AND EXCITEMENT


ONE MONTH LATER


"The Imperial investigators tasked with hunting down and putting Lord Vader's killer to justice have at long last provided our Empire with the fiendish culprit. Their loyalty and persistence have revealed that it was none other than Anakin Skywalker, Jedi Knight, who evilly stole his life. Though his traitorous being was thought to have been purged, it was recently confirmed that he was indeed, still alive. The search is still undergoing, but our investigators – as well as our wise Emperor – are almost certain he is behind this senseless killing.


"Well, at least he's acknowledging I still exist…" Anakin shook his head. He was sitting in the mess hall with Luke, who looked more disgusted than anything, across from him, Ahsoka peering over his shoulder, and Lila next to him. He rubbed the back of his neck. It wasn't like he'd thought Sidious hadn't known why he'd left – Sidious knew everything – but seeing such a pointed jab at him was… unsettling. To say the least. "But these people seriously need to rethink how they see Vader."

Luke looked up from the table he was probably considering bashing his head into, dirty-blond wisps peeking out in between his fingers. "Do you actually think the Empire believes what they're saying about you, or…"

"They know." He set the tablet aside as if that would erase Sidious's threat. "At least Palpatine does." If Tarkin, Thrawn, or even himself were still around, then he'd likely have told them. Anakin had no idea if the Sith Lord had found other confidants in the five months he'd been gone, but there was a chance that he'd actually hold back on them after his former apprentice's "betrayal."

The thought that he'd made Sidious paranoid was a happy one.

Ahsoka sat down next to Luke and picked up the tablet. Her shoulders slumped. "You know, it would've been great if this was the first conclusion they drew." Her voice was dry. "Then maybe instead of convincing myself you were dead I could've been cackling in triumph."

Anakin smirked and raised a brow. "You mean have Palpatine do something that would benefit someone other than himself?" He gave a halfhearted laugh. "Good luck." There wasn't as much sarcasm in his voice as he'd like.

"Fair point…"

Lila craned her neck and peered at the tablet that was still in Ahsoka's hand. "Is all Imperial holonews like this?" She looked up at Anakin.

He shrugged. "Just the propaganda."

"Which means all of it, by the way," Ahsoka added.

All of a sudden, a set of footsteps joined them, and Anakin looked up to see his daughter standing over the table with a tray of food in her hands. Warmth carried a smile to his face. His joy could've reckoned with the universe that he got to share it with her.

Ahsoka moved over and she sat down next to Luke. "So, what's goin' on?" she asked, shoveling food into her mouth. Not that Anakin was surprised, but she seemed to have an easy time ignoring her etiquette training.

"Did you hear the news? Our 'wise Emperor' has made a breakthrough." Lila handed her the tablet.

Her brown eyes flicked back and forth over the article. Mid bite, she coughed. "I'm gonna be sick."

Luke patted Leia's back. Then she sent him a glare his way, and he stopped. "You've got a point. They could've at least waited till after lunch…"

Anakin cleared his throat. "Remember what I said about Palpatine and convenience."

Leia snorted.

Ahsoka's lips pulled up, and she met Anakin's eyes. He returned her smirk and shrugged.

The air sang with their conversations and laughter until most of their trays were cleared of everything but grease strains and crumbs. Ahsoka had promised Lila she'd show her some acrobatic lightsaber forms, so they got up and began to leave, but Leia stopped them.

"I almost forgot, but Mon Mothma said that she wanted to talk to the two of you and Anakin."

Excitement quaked through him. He'd been on a quite a few more missions in the past month, and after the last one, Senator Mothma had told him that it wouldn't be long until the Rebel Council gave him an actual rank. Since he doubted that Ahsoka and Lila would be called just to watch her tell him he was a Lieutenant now and maybe hand him a fancy plaque, it was probably just another assignment. Still, it was a chance to prove himself.

He got up and joined the other two. After exchanging formalities, they left the mess hall, heading in the direction of Mon Mothma's office.


This was perfect, Lila thought as she practically skipped down the hall, Anakin, a pleasant smile on his face, next to her, and the ever calm Ahsoka beside to him. She knew that the Rebellion was important, and it brought her so much light to help others (not to mention to see how happy it made Anakin to do the same), but her and Luke's training had become so few and far between ever since leaving Dagobah. But now she was about to be on a mission with maybe the two greatest Jedi alive. It was a wonder she hadn't burst from the excitement's pressure.

Who knew what she was going to learn about the Force?

The doors slid open to Mon Mothma's office to reveal the Alliance's leader standing before them, her arms spread out in welcome. "I'm so glad the three of you could make it. Please, have a seat."

She led them to the seating area, where two cups of Chandilian tea were already steaming. Luke might think it was too fruity, but ever since the day the senator had offered her a cup, Lila had been in love.

"Yes Lila. I made that for you."

She gave Mon Mothma a grateful smile and sat down next to Anakin, taking the tea in her hands, its warmth melting into her palms. Ahsoka took the seat next to the senator, who set down a small holoprojector on the table.

She turned it on, and the image of a monochrome planet materialized. "This is Algidus V, an ice planet in the Outer Rim. We were considering it for a base, when one of our scouts noticed one of these." The planet blinked into a set of sleek black ships with purple markings.

Lila remembered Leia describing very similar sounding fighters about a month before. For some reason, the sight of them sent a gust of chills through her, almost suffocating her.

Mon Mothma gestured to Anakin. "Starting with the mission at Queentia, we've been seeing these ships more and more at potential base locations. Sometimes they result in open fighting, other times they just sit back and watch us survey the system. Either way, their becoming a serious concern, and I'm almost certain they're the reason the Empire keeps chasing us away from these planets." She paused, her eyes still on Anakin. "From the information I've gathered, they're calling themselves the Ferox Collective."

Her friend shook his head. "I've never heard of them."

"I have."

They all turned to see Ahsoka with her head hung low, eyes closed and brows knit. Lila's bond with her wasn't as strong as the ones she had had with Anakin, Luke, and even Lila, but her trepidation was clear as air.

"What do you know of them?" Senator Mothma asked.

Her expression grew tighter with a heavy sigh. "They were chasing me for at least three months before Anakin and the others found me. There's something dark hanging over them. I just assumed they were working for…" the trepidation gave way to something deeper, and something Lila couldn't sense beyond fuzzy outline, like a storm on a horizon, "the Empire." She looked in Anakin's direction. "But if you haven't heard of them, I guess not."

Mon Mothma nodded. "Thank you Ahsoka. My hope is some of those questions will be answered very soon." She keyed the holoprojector and the image switched back to the planet. "I want the three of you to go to Algidus V to collect as much information on these bounty hunters as you can. Engage them openly if you have to. Right now, they hold all the cards on us, so this will be our chance to even the score." Her lips turned up. "Hence why I've chosen such a well-coordinated group."

Lila soared. Mon Mothma, the wise, compassionate leader of the Rebellion, thought she – some girl with meager Force abilities – worked well with two of the greatest Jedi ever. (Well, maybe not ever, but still.)

The senator stood up, and the three of them followed suit. "General Tano, I'm placing you in command."

The smirk Anakin shot Ahsoka was hidden to no one.

"You will depart in two days. May the Force be with you." Mon Mothma spread her arms toward the door, and they headed outside, Lila's excitement soaring higher than clouds.


The swished closed behind Ahsoka as she, Anakin, and Lila left Mon Mothma's office. Anakin leaded against the wall, his face relaxed, while Lila was practically bouncing off her toes, a broad grin brightening her eyes.

A smile swept up to Ahsoka's cheeks like a warm breeze. "Well, someone's happy."

"Is it that obvious?"

Ahsoka nodded in mock solemn. "I'm afraid so." She narrowed her eyes and smirked.

It only made Lila's grin grow.

Anakin stood up. "Are you guys still gonna spar?" He glanced at a chrono on the wall. "You have thirty minutes before Ahsoka has to go."

Even when it was about something he wouldn't be involved in; Anakin was still making sure his Padawan got enough training. Ahsoka met Lila's lavender eyes again, and they both shrugged. "Sure."

His lips pulled up. "Good." And with that, he headed off down the hall, his long cloak flowing behind him.

All of a sudden, Lila had her hand tight around Ahsoka's wrist, and she pulled her to the hanger they had started to use for sparring. Its doors slid open to reveal a large space heaped half full with crates that worked so perfectly to emulate uneven terrain, its ceiling supported by six beams that Ahsoka was planning to use to help Lila incorporate more acrobatic techniques into her fighting style.

They walked in, and as soon as the doors closed, Lila's lilac blade was sighing into a perfect imitation of Anakin's ready stance. "Shall we begin, Master Tano?"

Ahsoka flipped her hilts into a reverse grip. "Yes, Padawan Lila. We shall."


Mostly just some wholesome fluff this week. I figured it would be a good idea to let you guys breathe after the last few chapters. And maybe before the next few, but I won't say anything more.

May the Force be with you.

-CWN