Disclaimer: Disney owns Star Wars, not me. All the characters and places (except for my OC Analise) belong to them. General trigger warning is in effect.
"aaaa"-talking out loud. "aaaa" (bold and italics)-talking through a holo or com. 'aaaaa'-inner thoughts. "aaaaa"-talking through a Bond or talking during a Force Vision. aaaa-Force Vision. "aaaa" (bold)-talking in another language. ("aaa") (bold, italics, and parenthesis)-talking through a holo or com in another language.
AN: Hi everyone:) This week started off with THE RISE OF SKYWALKER! OMGosh Rise of Skywalker was amazing. I am so happy that I brought some tissues with me. I know a lot of people don't like it, but I loved and it is now my favorite SW movie. I think it was a fitting way to end the Skywalker saga. If you haven't seen it, you really, really should. I was planning on going to go see Cats (one of my favorite musicals), but I am thinking that I am going to go see Rise of Skywalker again:)
Thank you to MBoeltje41, SpiritFighter208, and MBoeltje41 for the reviews:)
-There are a few characters I wish I could save, but sometimes that just doesn't work out. That being said, I have to give you my standard answer. You'll have to wait and see;)
-Neverending Battle actually started the season five episodes. I opted not to do the arc set on Mon Cala because it's not one of my favorites. It is good and I do love seeing Ahsoka being a leader and meeting another leader her own age, but like I said it wasn't one of my favorites and I don't think it would have moved this story forward too much.
And onto this week's episode! The Jedi and Rex have traveled to Onderon to train Ahsoka's friend Lux and a small band of rebels so that they can fight against the Separatists and retake their planet. After their camp is discovered by droids, the rebels have returned to the capital city of Iziz. Now the testing and real work begins...
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
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~To seek something is to believe in its possibility~ Front Runners, Clone Wars Season Five
Chapter Sixty-Five: A Test of Knowledge
It was a peaceful day for the citizens who called Iziz home as they strolled through Malgan Market.
Well as peaceful of a day as it could be on a planet under armed occupation. Separatist battle droids patrolled the market, clustered together in groups of two or four. Shoppers kept their heads down as they passed, praying to whatever deity they worshiped if they had one, that the droids would ignore them. Tanks had been parked in gaps where stalls had once stood, but were gone now since the beings who ran them had been taken in for questioning and never came back.
All because of the rebels hiding among them.
The average Onderon didn't like the Separatist occupation, the king that now sat on the throne and ruled over his people with a durasteel fist. But the rebels scared them. No had been hurt, injuries were minor and easily healed. But the rebels were a threat. As much as they wished for Onderon to be free again, it did not quell the fear that came with the tighter security and random arrests.
It was tense, for all it was hidden beneath a layer of levity and everyday activities. Ahsoka could see it in the people that passed her by. Ignoring the Togruta teen in the brown cloak who stood to one side watching the crowd and waiting.
Her montrals picked up on the sound of boots hitting stone followed by the clanging of metal feet. She peeked around the edge of her hood at Lux. He paused just long enough to smirk and glance behind him at the battle droids chasing him. He nodded to Ahsoka then jogged easily across the market. The droids would have to slow down, their orders to not do anything that raised suspicion or drew attention to a rebel still firmly implanted.
The young politician ducked down behind some containers next to a slow stall. Lux watched and waited for the six battle droids to creep close. He held his breath, waited...waited...
And then he stood up and threw a popper right into the middle of the droids before ducking back down again.
The battle droids didn't even notice the popper, too busy looking for him.
The popper went off, shocking the droids into short-circuiting. The beings in the market near the droids watched in near horror, whispering to each other. Some merchants started to shut down their stalls, parents were quick to gather up their children and usher them home.
No one wanted to be in the market when the authorities came. It was better to do shopping another day.
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"Your identification failed to pass the scan."
"What?" the wall pressed into the man's back as he tried not to look at the droids. One jabbed it's metal hand into his chest. "There's no way...it's not possible! It's good, I swear it!"
"We will now take you to a facility for processing. Any attempts to...hey!"
The second droid's body suddenly fell to the ground, a blck and smoking hole where a blaster bolt had gone straight through. Saw leapt from his hiding place behind some columns, blaster in hand. His aim was quick and precise as he shot the second one.
Then he ran.
Behind him he could hear the startled and fearful cries. People saying no, asking what he was doing, what he was thinking.
From his hiding place in an alley, Obi-Wan slowly nodded his approval. It would take time for the population to see that the rebels were their ticket to freedom.
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The false king had ordered ray shields set in certain areas to limit public access to Yolahn Square. From his perch next to Steela atop a roof, Anakin could just make out the power box for it. Steela was laying on the rough stone, her eye peering through the scope of her rifle.
She fired, taking out the battle droid in the small guard tower. Then she shot again at the box which exploded into sparks as the shield lower. A spider droid appeared, chattering angrily and turning it's cannon up to the roof where Jedi and rebel sat.
It fired.
Steela and Anakin shoved themselves up, ducked low and ran.
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Rex peered around the corner of the building, making sure that the spider droid was good and focused on his General and the young woman. He had long since grown use to the Jedi need to put themselves in danger with little or no backup. He still didn't like it.
He waved to the rebels who followed him as the spider droid continued to fire, raining down chunks of rock. Two of them darted out into the street, blasters blazing. The spider droid's attention shifted to them, but it was too little too late. As one kept firing, another rolled a popper under the droid before they darted for cover on the other side. They kept firing as the popper went off and the droid's circuits were fried.
As it lay still, they could hear battle droids racing to them. One was openly complaining.
"It's those rebels again! This is the fifth attack they've done in just this rotation."
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Steela was quick and deadly with her rifle.
She leaned over the edge as the rebels on the street fired at the droids and neatly placed a single shot in each of the droid's already bolt filled bodies. The young woman smirked as she turned to the cloaked Jedi at her side. "Well I guess that will give the so-called King Rash something to think about." There was no lack of pride in her voice.
Anakin huffed. "I don't doubt that Steela. I'm sure that at this point you have got his full attention."
They pair turned and slide down the sloped side of the roof.
The mission was over.
It was time to regroup.
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Even from the balcony of Unifar Temple, Sanjay Rash could very faintly hear the commotion in the streets below. Or at least he thought he could over the singing of the birds. He even thought that when the wind drifted just right, he could smell the smoke of their weapons. He slammed a fist into the stone at his waist, cursing when it cut slightly into his soft hand. He was the rightful King of Onderon! He alone had the backing of the Separatists. He knew where the credits were flowing and who would be able to butter his bread.
He didn't turn at the soft padding of feet coming up behind him. Rash didn't have to guess to know who it was. "Dendup has been brought up from his cell as you commanded my Lord. We await your presence."
"And the terrorists?" Rash turned, the light glittering off the gold threads embedded in his tunic as well as the gold of his belt buckle, collar, and crown. He clasped his hands behind his back, posing as a great military commander as well as a king. "What news do you bring me about them Okalin?"
The Bivall spread the fingers of his hands wide. "My contacts have told that the terrorists have attacked a checkpoint at the canal and have take out two droid patrols. One of which was in Malgan Market." Okalin stuck to the facts as he followed Rash into the cooler shadows of the palace. He was not the idiot that Rash could be and in truth, Okalin had little use for idiots. But Rash was the king and had powerful people backing him up.
And Okalin knew how to play the game.
Rash laughed, half if disbelief and half in anger that anyone would question his rule. "Ha! They're fools. It's going to take more than a few destroyed droids to effect any sort of change." He thought that maybe he was giving the fools too much credit as he stepped up on the dais upon which sat the throne.
Okalin wrung his hands a little bit. Just because he was a good player at the game of politics did not mean that he did not become nervous. Rash did have a hot temper and Okalin was hoping to retire when he old enough and could lead a very comfortable life. "Shortly after the royal carriage left the residence today, it was ambushed." The Bivall braced himself for a sudden outburst, but all Rash did was frown thoughtful.
"So there was an attempt on my life?" he questioned almost to himself as his lift fist pounded into the palm of his right.
"Yes my Lord," Okalin said mentally sighing in relief that Rash didn't appear too mad.
The new king sat upon his throne and waved a hand through the air. "Get my predecessor in here now."
Rash leaned back on throne, lazily picking up a very purple and ripe jogan fruit. His favorite of course. A pair of commando droids, painted in his royal colors of dark blue and gold as they marched in. Before them, arms crossed in front of him, but head not lowered was Ramsis Dendup. Rash sneer at the former King of Onderon who refused to lower his head to him.
"You have surprised me greatly old man. Even I would have thought that having anything to do with extremists was beneath you. Do you really want this crown that once was yours back so badly as to stoop so low?" Rash took a large bit out of the fruit and relaxed even further upon the throne.
If he had been just a regular man, he would have been retired and enjoying days spent in a garden with his grandchildren. But Dendup was not a regular man and had not been born to be a regular man. Even now as the crown sat upon the head of another, Dendup cared only for the fate of his people as any good King would.
"I care about nothing save for the freedom of my people..."
"You're people? Ha!" Rash snorted and threw his jorgen fruit into the flames of the brazier next to the throne. It didn't matter that he had taken just one bite. There was more. "Let me tell you something," he leaned forward a little on the throne. "Those supporters of yours, your people if you will, are now responsible for several terrorist acts! They are now guilty of attacking both our kingdom and our allies."
"But...I didn't know any of that and I don't know anything about it now." Dendup glared at the fool who had only come to power because of outside help and cared not for the people. "You have made it rather impossible for me to stay informed and learn anything about what is happening beyond my prison chamber."
"You will call off the attacks now." Rash was done playing. But the old King snorted.
"How can I call off something that I did not dictate? I cannot. You are not up against me Rash. Simply put you are up against the will of the people. A King has three options when he meets their will. He embrace, bend, or break that will. I am no longer the king here."
His temper flaring, Rash rose to his feet and glared vibro-blades at the old man as he stepped off the dais. He would have Dendup submit to him! "You will stop the attacks or you will atone for them with your life!"
"I cannot," Dendup repeated and shook his head. "You are King now Rash and it is you who must end the attacks by ending this droid occupation!"
The silence rang in the chamber, but Dendup knew that it would end only when one of them was dead.
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Down a small side street that the droids wouldn't go down without good reason and onto a smaller and short alley, that's where the Onderon rebels' base was. It was a house that all of the residents of the street seemed to know what it was for it seemed that all the residents of that street were rebels themselves or supported them.
The Jedi and Rex were lead into a large common room with two couches. Only the leaders, those who had proven themselves since the cell had yet to actually pick a real leader or leaders, joined them inside. The Jedi sat on the sofa, Ahsoka and Analise squished between Anakin and Obi-Wan. Rex took his place behind Ahsoka, shooting dirty looks at Lux until a giggling Ahsoka reached back and lightly slapped him before she and the others lowered the hoods of their cloaks.
"Be proud of yourselves," Anakin spoke. "Your successes today will not go unnoticed." The rebels burst into cheers and shouts. They jumped in the air, smacked each other on the back in congratulations. Drinks were poured and toasts given among friends. Finally! Finally it seemed like things were going their way. Finally it felt like they could actually do this!
"All of us agree," Analise continued where her twin had lift off as the celebrations had begun. The cheers and chattering quickly died away. She was the quietest of the Jedi, but she was tough. "But we also need to stay mindful of the perception the public has of you."
"Indeed. Padawan Ahsoka, tell us what you observed when it came to the people." Ahsoka wanted to stick her tongue out at Obi-Wan. He wasn't asking her just what she had seen with her eyes, but what she had seen with the Force. What she had read in their auras. She still wasn't very good at it. Aura reading meant being able to sink into a half meditation easily and Ahsoka was very much like Anakin. Always wanting to move.
"I saw people that were fearful of the rebels Masters," she admitted. Ahsoka hated to see the looks of joy and optimism fade from Lux and the others. They had been working so hard, but if the everyday person was afraid of them, their rebellion didn't have a prayer.
"Yes they were. Going by the reactions that we saw today, I am afraid that they will mistake your intentions." Obi-Wan stroked his beard thoughtful.
"Then we just need to do more damage!" Saw pointed out by slamming a fist into his palm. "A few dozen broken-down droids are great, but they aren't going to do much to actually free Onderon."
"And the people need to see and believe that we can succeed in this. If we don't have their support than everything we do in the end will be pointless."
Lux nodded his head. "And if they are afraid of us then they aren't going to support us. We need to find a way to assure them that our intentions mean only the best for them and for Onderon."
"But I don't get. Why are they afraid of us?"
"They reason they're afraid of us Saw is because they are afraid that we can't win. That we aren't strong enough to beat Rash and the droids. So we need to find some way to earn their trust."
"And you will have plenty of time to earn their trust," Anakin cut in and reminding the rebels that they were there. "I don't need the Force to tell that from here on out, all of you are going to be very busy. Right Rex?"
"Yes sir! What you all did today was just a taste. Don't worry, you'll get your chance."
"And take the time to make the most of your victories." Analise smiled at the rebels. "When you have a victory, welcome it and learned what you did so that you use it later on to achieve something bigger."
"Bigger huh?" Lux sat up as an idea raced through him. "Maybe we just need to hit something big. That would show the people our strength." He stood and began to pace back and forth. "When they see how strong we really are, it should allow them to push past their fear and join us."
Ahsoka smiled at her old friend and ignored Rex's glower behind her. She could feel the excitement rushing through her body. "So do you have something in mind Lux?"
"I do. I know the perfect target to show our strength."
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It was time for them to go.
Well not her. Ahsoka was to stay behind and watch over the rebels since she was nearest in age to the majority of them. She was to help guide them when she could and report back on their progress to Obi-Wan, Anakin, and Analise.
She wished Rex were staying. Her beloved Captain kept an arm wrapped around her as they returned to the bright sunshine of the Onderon day.
"Just a few more missions like today and I think these rebels could give the 501st a run for their money old man."
"Ha!" Rex scoffed. "Be careful not to get carried away there General. I will admit that they have impressed me." They stopped a few feet from the house, forming a small circle.
"They have impressed us all. We four will return to Coruscant and report on the progress so far to the Jedi Council. Ahsoka you are to stay here of course and act as an adviser. Monitor and make regular reports about their progress if you can."
She nodded and felt Anakin's hand on her shoulder. "Are you sure you're up for it Snip? You can return to Coruscant if you feel you're not ready." Ahsoka could see the turmoil in her older brother's eyes. Recent events had made it hard for the twins, especially Anakin to leave Ahsoka alone on her own without someone they trusted there to watch her back.
Rex's arm tightened around her and she suddenly remembered that this was another separation for who knew how long from her Rexster. She hated the idea, hated that her family wouldn't be there, and for a minute she was ready to open her mouth and tell Anakin that she wanted to go back to Coruscant...
But she stopped. Anakin barely saw Padme, Obi-Wan and Analise were apart more often as the war kept going. Neither couple complained too much even though she knew for one that the seperation was painful. Ahsoka also needed to show her family that it was okay for her to be away from them. That they didn't need to worry anytime she was solo. Because she could take care of herself.
So Ahsoka took a deep breath and squared her shoulders. "Thanks Skyguy, but no. I've got this. I want to stay and help them."
"Good to hear Star," Analise smiled as she spoke Ahsoka's nickname that few knew. "We will make sure that credits and supplies make it back here to the rebels."
"Teach them, but they must be able to operate on their own Ahsoka. Their survival depends on it."
"Yes Master Kenobi," Ahsoka bowed her head as Obi-Wan passed her with Analise.
"Remember your purpose...hey!" What was meant to be serious made Ahsoka giggle as Analise reached out and snagged her twin's arm, dragging him away so that she and Rex could say their goodbye.
She turned and wrapped her arms around him, rubbing her face against his chest and drinking his scent in. Rex rested his head in the dip between her montrals, covered by her hood. "I don't like this cyar'ika," he muttered. "I should be here..."
"I wish you could be here too. But you can't. Anakin, Analise, Obi-Wan, the vod'e they all need you. Think of the trouble Fives and Jesse are probably causing poor Echo and Kix." The chest beneath her rumbled as Rex chuckled. "I'll be in touch and be home before you know it.
Ahsoka leaned back on tiptoe, reaching up and pressing her lips to Rex's. The Clone tightened his grip on her, savoring her taste before slowly letting her go.
He stepped back, walking backwards so that he could watch her. Then when Rex had caught up with the Jedi, he turned around, following them down the street.
Ahsoka watched until they had turned the corner and were gone.
Now she was on her own.
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The next day found four teenagers, three humans and one Togruta laying on a roof across from the Iziz's main power generator. The walls were so high that they could just barely make out the tops of the power converters and generators bouncing power from one conduit to another. Steela peered through the scope on her rifle, frowning slightly as the heavy doors opened and a droid patrol marched out.
Lux reached over and laid a hand on Steela's shoulder. "This is the main power generator. It feeds power to all the city's substations. If we hit only this and take it out, well we'll make the entire grid fall!"
"And just how does that help us exactly? They don't have the battle droids linked to Central Control anymore. They operate individually now," she pointed out sharply.
"Yes," Lux nodded, "But not being linked to Central Control doesn't mean they don't run low on power. They still need to be able to recharge when they start running on empty. By taking out this facility and thereby knocking out the power grid, well that means we'll only have to wait for a little bit until the droid army is at a stand still because they can't recharge."
Ahsoka hummed softly. It was the kind of plan that would be set forth in the 501st, but it would have a lot more explosions. She pushed herself up to her knees. "It's a solid plan. My adivce is to wait and carry the plan out by nightfall. The cover of darkness will allow you to maximize your strike capability."
"Okay, I'm down," Steela finally admitted as she ran over the plan in her head. She was still unsure around the Togruta given her history with Lux, but the Padawan had so far shown no signs of interest in Lux besides friendship and her advice was solid. "Okay we'll run the plan. But just how are we suppose to get in there to do?"
"We'll just need to do some surveillance and put together our findings...
"Or not. Those droids down there should have all that information we need in those tin can heads of theirs, right?"
Ahsoka nodded, tilting her head slightly. "Yeah, they should Saw." The young man smirked.
"Then I'll pop on down there and get us a droid." Before the other three could voice a single protest, not they could find a flaw in Saw's idea to protest, Saw was sliding down the edge of the roof to the flat roof below them.
Ahsoka, Lux, and Steela returned their eyes to the street below.
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The streets of Iziz had been the home of Saw's youth. He and Steela had used them as their playground, their classroom when Saw grew bored with his lessons in the regular school. He had grown up climbing up the sides of buildings to the roofs. He could climb up and down buildings just as easily as he could climb up and down a tree. Using the buildings on either side of him, Saw slide, bouncing back and forth until he just dropped the last few feet to the ground.
Even as the sun was beginning to set, the market was still just as busy as it had been for most of the day. Saw could still remember the brighter days, the past days when Dendup sat on the throne and the Separatists were just stories on the holonet. There would be children like him and Steela darting through stands that would be seemingly too numerous to count. People would cluster together in groups, chattering happily. Families and friends, depending on the day, would visit each often. The air would be filling with laughter and joy and just a sense of community.
But that was all gone now.
There were still children, but the seldom played or laughed as they had and some parents were too afraid to let their children out of their sight. The clusters of people were small, sometimes not more than three. If someone got too loud and heated, too anti-Rash and Separatist, their partner might glance over their shoulder to see if the droids had heard. Gatherings even in private were though to be too risky.
All the laughter, cheer, joy, all of it was gone.
And Saw was going to make the Separatists and their puppet king Rash pay for it.
Saw pressed himself against one wall of the alley and waited for all but the last battle droid to pass him by. Then he darted out and tapped its shoulder. "Hey there clanker! I'm talking to you!"
"What do you want...hey..." He wrapped his hands around the droid's head and pulled with all his strength. He pulled and he pulled until the wires snapped and he yanked the head and neck off the body.
Without waiting to see, Saw darted down the alley, vaguely hearing a metallic sounding "Uh-oh..." as he started to climb.
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Steela let out a soft sigh of relief when Saw returned, battle droid head in hand. Lux set the portable transmitter on the rooftop, flipping it open. Saw plugged the droid wires into it, and switched it on. The hologram switched on, a flickering blue and slowly spinning map of the generator area hovering before them.
Saw frowned as he eyed the blinking red dots scattered on the map. "They've got sentries stationed at every access point going in and out."
"There's no way that we can keep up against them in combat when they have those numbers."
"True, but our weakness is also our strength. Steela lightly pressed a hand to her chest to make her point. "Our low number means that we can beat them in terms of mobility and take them by surprise. All we need is to get something with some heavy firepower if we really want to blow this facility sky-high."
"That should be easy," Lux said and jerked a thumb down to the street. "If we make too much trouble for the regular droids to handle they'll call for reinforcements..."
"You mean a tank!"
"Exactly! When that happens you provide the cover while Saw and I hijack the tank..."
"Then we can turn their own weapon against them..."
"And bring the damn droid army to its knees!" Saw finished out the plan as he turned off the transmitter and detached the droid from it. He glare was sharp enough Ahsoka was surprised it didn't burn through the metal.
She smiled as the plan was finalized, could feel her blood singing in her veins and her heart pounding in excitement. Just like how she felt when she was about to run a mission with the 501st or her siblings or even just on her own.
Only this time she wasn't suppose to get involved. She couldn't get involved. And Ahsoka had said she wouldn't.
But she wasn't sure she could stick to it.
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The sun had set further and night was truly falling upon Iziz as the four hide in a alley. When the odd person in the street saw them and paused, all four were quick to hold a finger to their lips, making a harsh shushing sound. The people who passed by were quick to move on, though some glared.
A blue and yellow speeder raced past their hiding spot before it came to a sliding stop, parked sideways in the middle of the street and blocking it. Steela smiled as she saw Dono jump out of the speeder, something clutched in her hand as she joined a few other rebels hiding across the street a droid patrol marched towards the speeder.
"Alright, this it. Now remember the plan. We're going to attack this patrol and hope that they call in a tank for backup."
Hope. That's all they could do. But this was a rebellion after all.
The mixed patrol of battle and super battle droids had reached the speeder. A super battle droid reaching out, shoving the speeder as they marched forward until it had turned enough for the patrol to split and march around the speeder. Saw looked out across the street and caught Dono's eyes. He jerked two fingers down sharply and she pressed the trigger in her hand.
Suddenly the droids nearest the speeder dropped in their tracks. Their systems shorted out by the EMP grenades that had been piled in the speeder. Another signal from Saw and Dono was leading her group into the street, their blasters blazing first as they took out the droids that hadn't been fallen by the EMPs. The battle droids were easy to take out, Dono rolling to the ground as she quickly out one after the other. The super battle droids weren't so easy though. One of their shots hit a rebel who fell to the ground with a cry.
"Now! Let's move!" Steela popped around the corner of their alley, her rifle at the ready as Saw and Lux darted out into the open. Saw ran, picking up as much speed as he could before dropped down to the ground and sliding between the legs of the super battle droids. He reached out as he slid past them them, dropping another emp that flashed and the droids went stopped in their tracks.
He rose to his knees on the other side of the speeder. Blaster already in hand Saw took the remaining battle droids with Lux helping. Then the two stared at the scene around them. The ground was covered with battle and super battle droids. Black char marks, some still smoking marked those that had been taken out by blaster while those who had been caught in the EMPs were just still and silent.
"This is Patrol 118 calling Central." They watched as an OOM command battle droid run away from the remains of his patrol. Neither Saw nor Lux turned the blasters on him. But Steela was ready and waiting. Her sniper rifle locked onto the droid with yellow paint. "I have to report that we've been ambushed by the terrorists and am in need of reinforcements!"
As soon as Steela heard the word reinforcements, she was quick. One shot and the droid's head was gone.
Ahsoka slowly stood and offered a small smile. "Like Lux said. Here's hoping they send a tank..." Steela watched as the Jedi tensed, hearing something that she could not hear. Ahsoka darted out into the street, slowly turning as she heard the sound of metal rolling on stone. Her heart pounded. "Do you guys hear that? They've sent destroyers! Move it now!"
Just as the droids rolled around the corner, residents and rebels were scattering. Destroyers were not droids to mess around with. Ahsoka had her star colored sabers out, blocking and deflecting shots. She darted behind the speeder with Steela as Dono laid on the ground behind the torso of a battle droid. She could see Lux and Saw, firing away as well from around the corner of a nearby building. None of the shots they fired or bounced back at the destroyers did any damage. They just bounced off the shields.
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Saw grunted as he and Lux fired at the droids. "Blast it all to hells!" Saw shouted and stopped firing as he swung to look at Lux. "There's no way we're gonna last long aganist those scrapheaps. We've gotta take them out!"
"Then we gotta get behind them!"
The older teen nodded. "Alright then. Let's move!" Saw ran, Lux behind them down the street. They turned down an alley, then down another which brought them out behind the droids. Lux could see Ahsoka's sabers flashing from behind the speeder as they wove back and forth in the air.
Saw pulled out an EMP, triggered it, then rolled it just as Ahsoka had taught him. He let out a soft breath in victory as the grenade passed easily through the shield and went off, shocking the circuits of the droid. If the second destroyer noticed that its companion had been shorted out, it gave no notice and continued to fire.
"You're turn," Saw told Lux as he pulled out a grenade of his own. "Just remember to roll it slow..."
"I know that Saw!" Lux snapped and rolled his EMP. But Saw had risen his temper and his throw was too strong. The grenade rolled to the shield and bounced off.
Saw groaned. "Way to go you nerf herder!"
"It's your fault! You screwed me up!" Saw's retort died as the destoryer swung around to face them instead of the others.
He reacted. Saw shoved Lux back down the narrow alley then darted back in front of the destroyer. He kept low as he jumped back and then forward, dodging the blaster shots. He jumped and twisted to land behind the first destroyer so that he would have some cover.
Now what was he going to do?
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'Dang Saw!' Steela thought to herself when she saw him hiding behind the body of a destroyer. He was pinned down...
He was pinned down because the droid wasn't focused on them. It was focused on him!
Steela dropped her rifle and grabbed an EMP from her pouch. Then she ran past Ahsoka and Dono, ignoring their shocked looks as she ran hard and fast. Once she was close enough to the destroyer, Steela jumped into the air as far forward as she could. She landed hard on the ground, but she pushed the pain away as the stone cut into her skin. Instead she triggered the grenade and slipped it past the shield as she went past.
The light was bright as the grenade went off and Steela raised her hands to her face to block the light. There was a loud crackling of electricity before the destroyer rolled up into a harmless ball and silence fell upon the street.
Gentle hands, different gently hands wrapped around her shoulders and helped her to her feet. Steela brushed rock and dirt from herself as Ahsoka and Dono ran up to them. Her rifle clutched tightly in the young Jedi's hands.
"That was some trick!" Ahsoka praised Steela almost breathlessly and returned the rifle to its owner. "I've never seen an EMP used that way to take out a destroyer Anakin will do that with his lightsaber, but he gets right under them. I've never seen something similar down with an EMP." The Padawan smirked. "Hope you don't mind if I barrow that move in the future."
"Well it's like what I heard Analise say once. We all have to adapt," Steela smiled at the Togruta, for the first time not feeling as though having her and Lux this close together was some sort of vague threat to a relationship that she didn't have yet with Lux, but wanted very badly. Perhaps she was looking at this the wrong way. Ahsoka wasn't there as a threat, she was there to help.
Before she could open her mouth to apologize for how she was treating Ahsoka, there came the sound of a motor and the marching of more metal feet. Blasters were raised and lightsabers clutched tightly as a tank turned the corner with its droid escort.
"Well," Saw said. "There's our tank!" Their tank let out a loud shot that sailed over the rebels and Ahsoka, hitting somewhere behind them. A warning shot.
"Everyone split up!" Ahsoka shouted as the droids that had come with the tank opened fire. They scattered, the Padawan opting to stick with Steela and Dono. The trio took cover behind a container left on the street, kneeling down. Steela rested her rifle on the container and aimed for the glowing red circles on the chests of the super battle droids. She fired and took one out.
But a B2-HA had seen where the shot had come from. It lifted its left arm and fired a rocket that slammed into the stone street just feet in front of their hiding place. The females ducked down and turned away to protect themselves from the flying rock and dirt.
"We got it!" Saw called to them as he and Lux began to fire at the droid who shifted his attention. It was not able to fully focus on two targets at once and the males, advancing as they fired were a bigger threat according to its logic circuits.
Steela leaned back over the container with her rifle and fired again, her shot once more hitting the red circle and taking the droid out. "Built-in targets!" she cheered which made Ahsoka chuckle before shifting her gaze back over to Lux and Saw.
The unlikely pair had made it to the speeder and were firing away at another droid. Saw's shot hit, but didn't do anything but ensure that they were the target. Steela fired a third time and again scored a direct hit.
Saw and Lux peered out. The battle droids were broken on the ground and the only threat remaining was from the droids in the tank itself which they needed.
"Let's move it Lux!" The two each pulled out an EMP from their pouches and hopped up onto the speeder then onto the slowly moving tank. Saw opened the front hatch and tossed his grenade in while Lux climbed up to the top hatch.
Saw jumped off the tank and landed hard on the street. He grunted. Then came the sound of metal feet on stone. He looked up to see two more super battle droids marching towards him with blasters raised. Saw struggled to grab his gun as the droids started to fire forcing him to roll for cover.
Lux landed next to him with a pained thump and the grenade went off, shorting out the tank. Lux rolled to the side as the shots. He staggered up to his feet, stumbling backwards up the stairs.
Steela waited until Lux had taken cover behind some columns before firing. As soon as she took out the droid who had been after Lux, she was up and she was moving. With sniper rifle held tightly, she left the safety of her cover behind until she came around the tank. With a clear line of sight, she fired one last time and the final droid was scrap.
The four rebels and lone Jedi stared at each other in excitement as they met up at the tank. Ahsoka could feel pride kicking in as she smiled brightly at the four. They had done it! All she had done was observed for the most part and they had been able to get a tank with very little help from her.
Saw holstered his blaster before rubbing his hands together in glee. "Good work everyone. Now we just need to this tank up and running again." The females stood on the street and watched as Saw and Lux scrambled up the side of the tank like two excited little boys on a new play structure.
Saw opened the top hatch and pulled out the droid, passing it off to Lux who let it drop over the side. Then he hopped inside and wiggled until the seat was barely comfortable. Saw studied the number of buttons for a moment before pressing one...
And the tank powered back up, but nothing else.
Lux stared at him from the open hatch. "Come on Saw. What are you waiting for?"
"Just give me a second Bonteri."
"Do you even know what you're doing?" Lux's voice was doubtful as Saw began to push other buttons, pull at the controls, and reach under them to look for wires.
"Of course I know what I'm doing!" And then the tank shut down.
"Are you boys having some problems?"
Saw shot Steela a dirty look as she appeared at the open hatch with a raised eyebrow. "No! There's no problem here. Why would you ask that?"
"Well if there aren't any problems you need to come on. We have to get moving."
"And just put you in charge?"
"That's it!" Steela shot back. "Get out of the tank hot shot! This requires a woman's touch." From the outside Saw could hear the muffled laughter of Dono and Ahsoka. He let go of the controls, rolling his eyes.
"Fine, be my guest Steela."
"Don't be that way Saw," she responded as she jumped down into the tank after Saw had climbed out. "You know we have to get to the power generator before the droids realize that they're missing a tank. We don't have a lot of time!" Steela glance down at the information retrieval that the Jedi have given her, then leaned over and proceeded to hot wire the tank.
"Oh...well I was gonna do that next."
"I believe you." Steela didn't. She pulled two wires free and plugged them into the yellow datapad and begin punching in some commands. Saw puffed out his chest and pointed a thumb to himself.
"I couldn't have done it better myself," he boasted as the tank powered up beneath him.
Steela pulled herself up out of the seat, eyeing her fellow rebel. "Now that I believe." She dropped down to the lower part of the tank where Ahsoka and Dono were already crouched down as Saw dropped back into the driver's seat.
They could do this.
They could actually pull this off!
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The market in front of the generator was quiet. Not a soul was to be seen wandering the area. Maybe it was because word of the rebels and their night time attack had spread. Ahsoka thought it was more because there was a line of droids in front of the generator so it was best to give it a wide breath.
Steela rose from her kneeling position at the front of the tank. "I'll go out and draw their fire away from the tank. Good luck guys."
"You too Steela."
"I'll be your cover." Steela flashed Ahsoka a small, but grateful smile and the pair hopped off the tank. They ran through the empty and quiet market until they came up behind a small booth. Out of the corner of her eye Ahsoka saw a couple run past and she hoped their date hadn't been interrupted.
They peered around the corner and Steela nodded. Ducking back, Ahsoka bent down and cupped her hands. Steela placed a hand on the Padawan's shoulder and a foot in her hands. Then, with a little bit of help from the Force, Ahsoka tossed Steela up on top of the booth.
She lay down, resting her rifle on the decorative edging and narrowed her eyes. "This is Saw," the voice came over her com. "We're almost in position down here Steela. Ready when you are."
That was her signal.
Steela fired.
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They were battle droids and as such they weren't very bright. They really didn't have much need for highly developed logic circuits, but even to them it seemed silly to be guarding a generator that was already protected by a high wall and heavy metal door.
Then came a shot that took off one of their heads.
"It's a sniper!" B2-019 told the others and gestured with his metal hand in the direction of the fire. "Get them! Ar...!"
"Roger, roger!" the other droids answered and marched past B2-019 whose head was still smoking as it laid on the ground.
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Ahsoka was impressed with Steela's calmness as the droids in front of the door marched towards them, all blasters blazing. She was a good sniper, one of the best and Ahsoka knew a few snipers who were consider elites. Both Jedi and Clone.
The Force ran fingers down her neck in warning and she looked up to see another patrol of battle droids running towards them. Steela looked down at the bright flash of sliver and gold as Ahsoka's lightsaber snapped to life in her hand. She too was impressed by the control the Jedi had, able to bounce the bolts back and sometimes even hit the droids.
Still Ahsoka could have help. Steela grabbed her smaller blaster and fired off a quick round, taking out the remaining droids that Ahsoka hadn't been able to take out. As Steela turned back to the droids in front of them, Ahsoka watched their back. Her saber was off, but she still held it tightly at the ready.
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"Oh good! Our reinforcements are here!" Saw laughed as he opened the hatch and popped his head out. "Hey!" the outraged droid spoke as loud as his programming was allowed. "You aren't a droid! You're not allowed up there! Get down from there now!" Saw only chuckled as he turned the tank into the droids, running them over.
The tank came to a stop in front of the door. He fired taking out the door only to reveal a second one behind it. He fired again taking out the second door...
And commando droids came running out to protect the generator.
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As soon as Steela's feet hit the ground, she was running and shooting at the droids. The commando droids were quick, dodging her shots by flipping or twisting parts of their bodies. She huffed in frustration, but didn't stop. They were just trickier versions of regular droids. Something that was proving when she started hitting and even taking some of them out.
"Come on Saw! Fire the gun!" They were so close now.
"I can't! The gun is recharging!"
There came a sharp cry from Lux as the commando droids had reached the tank and one had jumped onto it. Lux had fired off a shot, but it had missed. It hit Lux, pushing him up against the side of the tank before grabbing him by the neck and tossing him to the side. Steela grabbed her blaster to shoot at it, but the droid kicked her wrist with its foot and she twisted away. It turned back to Lux who was rolling over onto his back...
And the rebel fired. His shot, his timing was perfect. His shot went neatly into the commando's head, frying the circuits. It tumbled off the tank into the street.
Steela, having recovered quickly, gave the area a quick scan. But there were no more droids.
There were no more droids which meant...
"Saw! Do it! You're all clear!"
He didn't need to be told twice.
Saw fired!
The shot hit the generator dead on.
He ducked back down into the tank as the wave of energy radiated out from the center. Lux and Steela took cover behind the tank and Ahsoka behind the booth. She covered her montrals, almost curling up into herself as the pops became louder and louder until there was one large boom. A second wave swept out, over the area, and the lights went dark.
She reached into her pouch and pulled her night-vision goggles, slipping them on so she could see. Her natural night-vision was already good, but it never hurt to have a little bit extra. She rose to her feet, watching the fire rip through what had been the main generator station as Lux, Steela, and Saw ran away.
Ahsoka wasn't worried. She would catch up with them later.
'Good thing all that training is paying off,' she thought to herself.
And smiled.
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Rash was not smiling.
He had known that the rebels, the terrorists could be a threat. But they had mainly stuck to taking out droid patrols, hitting easy targets. Their biggest attack had been one of the royal carriage. While it had been an attack aganist the crown itself, he had viewed it still as minor since he had not been in it. They had to be stamped out of course and he had planned on it. He was sure they could be easily squashed.
But this...
This attack proved that the rebels were far more powerful than he had thought. That they wouldn't be so easy to squash and bring down.
"Excuse me my Lord," Okalin spoke softly from beside him. "With the generator destroyed there will be no way to power the droids. They shall be massacred in the streets!"
True, true.
But there was a way to spin this. There was always a way.
"Don't worry Okalin. This victory of them will be a gain for us." Rash turned his back on the fire and walked away, munching on jogen that didn't have a taste anymore.
He just had to find a way to make it work for them.
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"There's been a power outage!"
"I can't contact command!"
"Switch to infared...Ah!"
It was dark and the droids were confused.
In that darkness and confusion, the rebels struck.
Ahsoka watched as rebels wearing goggles like hers dove up in a speeder and hopped out. They surronded the droids and opened fire. Easily taking them out. The citizens in the street were quiet for a moment, watching.
Then someone cried out "The rebels are! Free Onderon!".
"Look! They're destroying those damn droids! Freedom for Onderon!"
Others began to chant "Fright for freedom!" and the cheers grew louder.
Ahsoka smiled and walked away.
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Saw watched as another speeder with two rebels flew past a patrol of super battle droids.
"For freedom..."
"And for Onderon!" They shouted into the night as the passenger reached over and lobbed an EMP at the droids. He smiled as the droids dropped to the ground and retreated back into the alley.
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It was a beautiful sight to Steela.
A tank had been set ablaze. Instead of running from it, people stood before it. Fists were pumped in the air, they jumped up and down clapping. Cheers echoed off the buildings and filled the night air.
She turned and walked away.
They could do this.
They could actually free Onderon!
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Drinks were pouring freely and people where chattering nonstop in the dimly lit room. The glow of the holo seemed to be all the light they needed as the rebels toasted each other and basked in the glow of this, their first major victory.
"It's time to celebrate!" Steela declared. Saw reached over and wrapped an arm around her.
"No arguments there!" He wrapped his other around her, lifted her up in the air, and spun around. Steela laughed and held tight to her drink so it wouldn't spill. Even if it did, tonight no one would care.
With her feet back on the ground, Steela went to Lux. "You're turn, you handsome Senator!" The pair hugged each other close and tight.
"I can tell you that Steela is clearly a born leader."
"And from everything I've heard she is rather courageous Ben."
There was a pang in Ahsoka's heart as she watched them. She glanced over at the flickering form of her beloved Rex who was watching her. Even then she could read the love and longing in his eyes.
"I hope you remember what I told you about staying focused Ahsoka." The Padawan glanced back at her brother who was watching her with worried eyes. She gave him a half smile.
"I do Master, but seeing them together and seeing the rebels work, it makes it hard."
"And I understand that Snips."
"Wait...you understand?" Ahsoka was old enough now to know that her brother was not the all mighty and powerful hero he had once been when she was a youngling. But Anakin was still her older brother and still seemed so much wiser than her.
He smiled at her. "I was young too once and I know what it feels like to be separated from loved ones." He couldn't say more than that, but she understood. "I also know that you are a Skywalker, a warrior like me. You want to get involved and fight. But it's important that you follow your orders. When we are doing a mission it is important to put our purpose ahead of our feelings. And that is what you must learn to do it here."
Ahsoka nodded and wondered if Anakin was still learning that lesson. She could always ask him when she was back home. Home with her siblings and with her Rex...
"I must warn you that this latest development will most likely bring you to the attention of Count Dooku," Obi-Wan interrupted the small party. "I can tell you that his response will be harsh. The Separatists will stop at nothing to find you. Therefore you must continue to adapt and confront them. Doing so will allow you to fully liberate Onderon."
"Don't worry Master Jedi, we will."
"And we will win."
Analise smiled. "Of that we have no doubt."
"Now it is time for you to rally the people around your cause. Your capacity to represent them will be determined by your ability to influence them. You will need to represent them on the battlefield and off it. Against both your enemies and those within your own rank. By you commitment you will inspire others and by your conviction you will lead them to victory."
"Indeed and after tonight's events, the people will be ready to follow. In order for that to happen, you will need a leader that they can rally behind."
And there were three rebels for them to choose from.
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"As you can see these terrorists are waging a very public war Count. Every trespass they commit is an embarrassment to the crown!"
"Are you telling me that your forces are unable to to manage a small band of terrorists?"
"It is your droids my Lord that allowing them to succeed. They have become ineffective against their mounting attacks...
"I thought Rash that I could leave my trust in you to rule over Onderon and hold it tight for the Separatists. This report is most disappointing."
"My apologies Count, but it seems that the rebels have become far more organized than they were in the past. This latest attack against the power generators only proves that. I think it is past time that you send me better reinforcements than the droids I have now."
"It pleases me to grant you this request Rash. I will not only send you better droids to deal with the terrorists, but I will also send you a better general. I am sending you Kalani. You have my assurance that he will succeed where you have failed."
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Drinks were still in hand, but the party had ended and turned into a debate about who could be their leader. Lux, Steela, and Saw stood in the center. Saw stood firm as he laid out what he thought their next steps should be.
"Right now we need to be building on our momentum! If we continue our attacks, we'll be able to keep them off balance."
"We shouldn't attack until we've had a chance to assure the people first," Lux pointed out as he shook his head. "If we keep disrupting their lives with more attacks, we could alienate them. We need to gain their trust."
"And I agree with both of you" Steela gently inserted herself into the conversation. "We can find a way to balance both attacking and earning trust. At the same time we can also work on recruiting others to join us in the fight to free our home." She turned to face the others in the room. "We will remind every single person that Onderon belongs to us, not the Separatists. And we will keep on reminding them of that until Onderon is free and ours once more!"
Cheers and chants filled the room as Steela threw her fist into the air. Ahsoka watched it all and listened to the Force singing softly at their joy and hope.
Then one voice raised above the cheers. "All those in favor of electing Steela as our leader, raise your hand!" It was Dono, standing on a box and the glass in her hand raised high. It created a ripple effect as every hand in the room raised, some with glasses and some without. Saw and Lux did not raise their hands, but watched until Saw shrugged his shoulders. He reached out and rested a hand on Steela's shoulder.
"It's been decided then...you're the leader now Steela." He gave a small, almost sad smile before walking past them as he drank the last of what was in his cup. He strode past Ahsoka and out the door.
"Wait...Saw!" Steela called out to him. Lux grabbed her arm as she started to go past.
"You should let him go Steela. You and I both know Saw. He just needs to blow off some steam and then he'll be okay. Saw will be back."
Steela sighed and took Lux's head from her wrist. "You know I can't do that Lux." Ahsoka tilted her head as Steela came to where she leaned against the door-frame.
"Why can't you let him go?"
"Because Ahsoka...Saw's my brother."
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Translations
cyar'ika: darling, beloved, sweetheart
vod'e: brothers, sisters, comrades