I own nothing except a few characters and the plot.
STAR WARS REBELS
The New Spectres
Uncovering A Mole Part 1
SPACE
"General Pryde. What is the status our construction project?" Darth Sidious asked First Order General Enric Pryde via hologram.
"We can find the materials, but labor is coming up short. The sources that the previous constructions had simply do not exist in this sector. Admiral Versio is reluctant to attempt an invasion of another planet for slave labor recruitment after the debacle at Lothal."
"We dare not make any more enemies then we need to. The Varox have proven to be quite a nuisance to our supply lines." Captain Edrison Peavey said.
"General, I don't want this stunted slime in my sights again" Sidious snapped.
"Captain, dismissed." Pryde tole Peavey who left the transmission area
"There has been a Disturbance in The Force, although I can not pinpoint the exact source of it yet. Have Admiral Versio deploy his fleet to the Outer Rim worlds. If we launch multiple attacks at the same time, we will divide the Republic Fleet. As for the Earth, leave it be for now. The ongoing affairs in the American Capital will serve our purposes well. The American President has proven to be very unpredictable and efforts to remove him have been met with heavy resistance."
"Yes, My Lord." Pryde said as the transmission ended and he went to find Admiral Garrick Versio who was in his office with Peavey and General Brendol Hux.
"He wants us to launch against the Outer Rim and divide the Republic Fleet. We are to leave the Earth alone for now. The American President is too unpredictable and efforts to remove him are being met with resistance. There has also been a Disturbance in The Force. Where he does not know yet." Pryde told the Admiral.
"I'll launch at once. Maybe this will go better then the operation that idiot Hux sired launched at Lothal." Versio said.
"Watch it, Admiral." Hux said.
"Like you did when you ordered him beaten to a pulp every time he spilled a drop of water?" Versio snapped back.
"He had no idea that the Earthlings would come to the rescue. None of us did. We talk about the American President being unpredictable, how about Wanda Houston being just as unpredictable? And now she has the like of Hera Syndulla and Grand Admiral Thrawn on her side. With all due respect to the wishes of Lord Sidious, we do have one piece of business on Earth to attend to. We have lost contact with Agent Abernathy in New York. No doubt in my mind that The Remnant has found out about him. Damn kid got caught by Sabine Wren and her crew's stupid droid vandalizing his school, arrested by Ezra Bridger's boyfriend, and then sent to the Remnant's Boot Camp which is part of the same school that Bridger's Padawan, the kid who called Thrawn on that fool Canady, and their friends attend." Hux explained.
"Can we send an extraction team for him and his handlers?" Peavey asked.
"With this operation about to take place, no." Pryde said.
NEW YORK
"What is it guys? Sixth Sense acting up?" Lucy asked Darius and Josh as they looked around the Mess Hall and focuses on Steven who was bullying another student at another table along with two others who were in the Boot Camp Program.
"Didn't take him long to find his clique here." Noah observed.
"Let's go have a word with them." Darius said to Josh.
"Yeah. BB-8, come with us. R9, tell Sarge we need a couple of Stormtroopers in the Mess Hall for the usual bully." Josh told the two droids as he and BB-8 followed Darius over to where Steven had just dumped a tray of food on someone's head.
"Hello, Carpenter and Myers." Steven sneered at them as he usually did.
"Have you ever heard the expression what goes around comes around?" Josh asked.
"What does that mean?" Steven asked as he picked up his own tray.
"It means,watch what you do, it might come back at you." Darius said as Steven's tray suddenly flew out of his hands and dumped its contents on his head. Sloane arrived seconds later followed by a group of Stormtroopers.
"Who finally gave you a taste of your own medicine, Darius or Josh?" She asked Steven.
"My father says you people have no right to lock me up anymore." Steven said as the Stormtroopers pulled him to his feet.
"Those two are with him." Josh told her.
"Billy and Paulie, I'm not surprised to see you two helping him. As for what you claim your father said, he can take it up with General Felth. I just hope he has no outstanding warrants for his arrest. They can sit in the Captain's office until the Jail Wagon comes."
"I have a feeling he's been targeting me for some reason." Darius said.
"As I recall, he's targeted all four of you lately." Sloane told him.
"Six, counting the droids." Josh corrected her as BB-8 beeped from behind him.
"Even still, there's gotta be a reason for it." Darius said as they went back to the table where the four Spectres sat.
"I'd search their stuff." Lucy suggested.
"Where's Major Hochstetter when you need him?" Noah asked.
"Who?" Sloane asked.
"Major Hochster of the RSB. A couple of weeks ago he turned up at the site of a multiple homicide in The Bronx and threw his weight around until the General went up there and put him in his place." Josh explained.
"I heard your brothers stopped fighting." Sloane said to Lucy changing the subject.
"Dad got them a video game system for Christmas so they can fight in virtual reality instead of causing more problems. Running Chris through Scared Straight helped too, so did meeting Junior." Lucy explained as Darius seemed to meditate on something.
"Don't lock Steven up tonight. I have a hunch, but I need RSB to help confirm it." He said.
"Toss his stuff, but let him go home once RSB or whoever has their people in play." Josh added.
"I'm gonna go get the Captain." Sloane told them and left.
Captain Fanes had sent word of what the kids discussed at lunch to Tevin who simply chuckled when he heard the story.
"Do the searches and let me know what turns up. I'll see if RSB has someone available who isn't Hochster. I got into a shouting match with him a couple of weeks ago over a crime scene in The Bronx. No, I sent Jacen out on the Vican Run. It's gonna be whoever I can find since the minivan is in the garage here. Hang on a minute." Tevin said into the phone on his desk as Radar walked into his office with a piece of paper and a package both of which he placed on Tevin's desk.
"Sign this, Sir."
"Who did you find to go get the kids later what is this that I'm signing and why is this office receiving a package addressed Darius Carpenter?"
"Knight Marek is going to get them as soon as I get this cash money to him. This form is to note that $60 was taken from Petty Cash so he can put gas in the minivan before he goes down to Bennett and gets the kids. The package was sent overnight from the Chicago office care of Agent Jacobs."
"Marcus Jacobs? Give this package to Master Kenobi and ask him if he wants to open it or wait until Galen brings Darius here."
"Yes, Sir." Radar said and left Tevin to return to his phone call.
"Sorry about that, related to the kids. Galen Marek's going to pick them up and bring them up to my office. I think I'm going to let them handle this other matter themselves just to annoy Major Hochster some more. Remember the kids recovered one of those stolen cars from Ord Mantell and took down two scumbags along with it. Thanks, Captain. Bye-bye." Tevin hung up the phone as Kelly Felth walked in.
"What did those four do now?" She asked.
"Three of the Boot Camp's biggest troublemakers and their regular bullies are hanging out together now. One of them has a history with Darius that the kids think is something more then two kids beefing with each other. Captain Fanes said that the kids think RSB should be tailing them which means Major Hochster who I stil think has something to do with that multiple homicide from a couple of weeks ago. I'm going to let the kids handle this. Any arrests made might only be minor charges that Albany says require ROR now." He explained. A couple of hours later, Galen Marek returned with the kids and their droids. Galen gave the receipt for the gas to Tevin while the kids raided the kitchen.
"Cupcakes." Noah said as Darius spotted the package that had been delivered for him. Tevin joined them soon after.
"What is this?" Darius asked Tevin.
"I have an idea what it might be given who ir came from and so does Master Kenobi, but we decided that we weren't going to risk the head-slap by ignore your right against illegal searches and seizures by opening your mail without good probable cause."
"Thanks." Darius said as he opened the box and ruffled through the packing materials to find the item inside.
"That's a Lightsaber hilt." Josh said as Darius pulled the item out.
"There's gotta be a note." Lucy added.
"There is. Darius, I've received word that my Jedi Master is one of your ancestors. This was his Lightsaber. I guess this belongs to you although you haven't been trained yet. Not that it stopped Master Kenobi from giving one to Luke Skywalker or Josh for that matter. Marcus Jacobs, SAIC FBI Chicago."
"Why wasn't I told about that being sent here?" Tevin asked.
"I doubt Marcus has Darius' home address, so he sent it here instead." Lucy told him.
"Good point. You do know how to use that thing properly?"
"Watched Josh and Mr. B work with theirs. So I know which end is which."
"Good enough for me. You guys are fed and watered, go see what your schoolmates are up to." Tevin told the four and left the kitchen.
"Mr. F., what'd they find in the bag searches?" Darius called after him.
"I don't know yet. But, I ordered Intelligence to tail your schoolmates once they hit the streets."
Steven Abernathy and his new friends made their way to where Steven lived unaware of the black van watching them. Inside, two Remnant Intelligence agents monitored a phone call.
"It's about time you checked in." The person on the other end said.
"This place has a habit of putting me in jail for all these little things I do." Steven told him.
"What about your targets?"
"Someone picks them up in the afternoon. It's usually a Jedi. In top of that, they are armed and have two droids with them."
"Two?"
"The blue and white one I told you about and now one of them has a BB unit. I think it belongs to the Jedi or his sidekick."
"You know where to find the one?"
"I know where Ezra Bridger's pet works. He'll be the easiest to get to and the first one to go."
"Good. Try to stay in contact. General Pryde has ruled out an extraction operation for you. All our resources are needed to collect labor for The Project and The Leader has insisted that we leave that planet alone thanks to the debacle my son caused at Lothal. Make sure you have plenty of weapons. There has been a Disturbance in The Force and The Leader does not know where it is from."
"As you wish, General Hux. Also, I found two more followers."
"Good. Show them how our weapons work and continue misleading the local authorities. As soon as it is possible we will extract you."
"Yes, Sir." Steven said and ended the call. Inside the van, the two agents looked at each other and quickly came to the same conclusion. They were dealing with an agent of the First Order. Inside the home, Steven pulled out a box and opened it revealing some blasters.
"We'll start training by taking out that black van." He said
"Think anybody would miss that van?" Paulie asked.
"Wanna boost it instead?" Billy asked.
"We may need wheels. Good idea." Steven replied and led the three to the van. They approached the van and found the driver's door locked. Inside, the two agents pulled their blasters and waited.
"I brought this along just in case." Steven said and showed them a thermal detonator. Paulie smashed out a rear window with his blaster.
"Pigs!" He shouted and fired into the van followed by Steven throwing the detonator into the van. The two agents attempted to escape, but the detonator exploded before they could.
"I wonder what they were doing." Billy said.
"Spying on us."
"Why would the police be spying on us?"
"I don't think they're NYPD. I think they're Remnant. They think I'm in a local gang that I'm setting up to take the fall for my activities here. Welcome to the First Order." Steven said and blasted the bodies of the two agents.
An hour later, the kids found the scene with the smoldering van being put out by the Fire Department. Josh had BB-8 and R9 look it over once the firemen were done while Lucy called Tevin. Suddenly, they heard a car stop behind them and two people get out. It turned out to be Jamal and Nick Franklin.
"What happened here and how does it relate to you four?" Jamal asked the teens while Nick talked to the Fire Captain.
"We just got here. For a minute, I thought you were Major Hochstetter and his driver." Noah replied.
"Who?"
"Major Hochster of the RSB. Remnant Security Bureau. Rodgers referred to him by the name of a fictional character from an old TV Show a few times." Nick explained as R9 beeped something.
"What did he find?" Darius asked as the two detectives went to see what R9 was holding.
"You will all stay away from that van." A man in a Remnant uniform shouted as he approached followed by a squad of Death Troopers.
"Wilkins, Franklin. NYPD. Who are you?" Jamal asked the man and flashed his badge.
"Major Hochster, Remnant Security Bureau and you are standing way too close to my crime scene." Hochster replied as Tevin arrived.
"Your crime scene?" Tevin asked the Major.
"Yes. My crime scene and I would like your droids removed at once."
"R9 found something when he looked over this." Darius said to Tevin.
"What is this man doing here?" Hochster asked pointing to Darius.
"New member of the Jedi Order of Earth." Tevin told the Major.
"You a Jedi? Never knew that. Explains a couple of things now." Jamal said to Darius.
"I only found out a couple of weeks ago. So did Mr. B. and everyone else. I just got my famous Jedi ancestor's Lightsaber today." Darius explained to Jamal earning an angry stare from Hochster.
"What is this man doing here?" The Major asked Tevin through clenched teeth.
"The kids have to give their statements about what led them here." Nick said to Hochster.
"Should I warn my boss about possible trouble?" Darius asked Jamal which sent Hochster over the edge.
"WHAT IS THIS MAN DOING HERE?!" Hochster shouted right in Tevin's ear. Tevin turned to the Major with the angriest look anyone had ever seen on his face.
"DO NOT SHOUT IN MY EARS EVER AGAIN OR YOU'LL BE SAYING "YES, SIR" TO LANDON MCKNIGHT!" Tevin shouted back causing Hochster to back up.
"Dad's mad." Lucy observed as everyone stared at Tevin and Hochster in shock. After some back and forth, Tevin came over to the group while Hochster rounded up his troops and left.
"What did R9 find?" He asked.
"It looks like whatever caused this didn't do as much damage as someone intended for it to do. Computer hard drive wasn't fried." Lucy replied.
"Mom might be able see what they were doing before this happened." Josh added as Nick came over to them and whispered something to Tevin.
"Once the kids are gone, they can do that. I'll have Kelsey look at this. It may be the only evidence we have of who or what did this." He told Nick as BB-8 beeped something to Josh and Noah.
"BB-8 thinks he can read that hard drive and find out what someone didn't want someone to know." Noah said.
"Might save us some time." Jamal added.
"Yeah. Besides, Kelly and Michael are the only other people outside of me and the kids who know what Intelligence was doing out here. Well, you two know now, those two had to be told, Michael probably told Tommy Doyle, and Darnell Hollister probably found out when he heard Darius was involved with this. Darnell has a problem with Rule Number Ten where Darius is concerned. Basically, this kid Abernathy got sent to Boot Camp after Dobbs had McKnight collar him for graffiti at the school and there was a history between Abernathy and Darius that spread to Josh, Lucy, and Noah. Today, I found out Abernathy had two new friends and the kids had a funny feeling about Abernathy. I sent those two to run a wiretap on him. I guess Abernathy just moved up from being a schoolyard bully to possibly being a double murderer. There we go." Tevin explained as he plugged something into BB-8 and then plugged in the hard drive. After a few minutes, BB-8 projected something that looked very recent.
"Transcript of a phone call." Nick described what they were looking at.
"I thought Israel executed General Hux." Jamal said.
"They executed the son, not the father. Hey, guys. Come here." Tevin called to the teens.
"What did they find?" Josh asked.
"Steven Abernathy is an agent of the First Order who is basically on his own now."