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: The Mandalorian finale was awesome!
Hi everybody and welcome to 2020! The final season of Clone War kicks of this year while later this fall comes the second season of The Mandalorian:) I saw Rise of Skywalker a second time and it was still just as awesome as the first time.
On the personal front I have some big news...I, at this point, will be going back to school this fall to study law! My goal is to be a paralegal:) It might impact my writing (espcially if I get a job), but as I plan on taking the majority, if not all of my classes online it shouldn't be too big of an impact. I will let you know if that happens when I get to that point.
Thank you to TitanoRules555 and CJ/Oddball for the reviews:
Obi-Wan is married to Analise, not Satine:)
I grew up listening to musicals by Andrew Lloyd Webber LOL and my favorite character from CATS is Mr. Mistoffelees (I want a tuxedo cat just so I can name him that).
2020 also means that the end of Crossing Battlefields is in sight!
And now onto this week's episode!
The Onderon rebels have elected Steela as their leader. With a wave of victories behind them, they are riding high. But trust can be hard to gain even when the impossible is being done. And a young Padawan must remember not to let herself get involved even if she believes in what they are fighting for...
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~Struggles often begin and end with the truth~ The Soft War, Clone Wars Season Five
Chapter Sixty-Six: Truth Freed
And how are your rebels doing Moonbeam?
Analise rolled her eyes as she looked up from the datapad in her hands. Her husband smiled down at her and placed a cup of her favorite fruity tea on the table in front of her. Ever since the Council had approved of her and Anakin's plan, Obi-Wan had been calling the freedom fighters their rebels.
They're fine, she replied as she leaned back and stretched her arms over her head. She had lost track of how long she had been sitting down, going over the reports from Ahsoka with notes from Rex and Anakin. She would add her own notes, polish them, and then send them onto the Council. With a soft sigh she unpinned her crown of braids and let them fall down her back. They've been scoring a decent amount of victories since Steela took charge, but Ahsoka still says she can read of lot of mistrust among the people.
It will take a lot and time for the people to trust the rebels. Obi-Wan placed his hands on her shoulders, massaging them and Analise could feel the tension fleeing her body.
I worry for Soka. This is the first time where she's been told that she can't get involved further than offering advice. She's like Anakin and I. She will fight for what she believes in even if she is told to leave it alone...
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It was an odd day at Malgan Market. The air was both light and tense. There were more people happily chattering, laughing loudly, and even daring to shoot glares at the droid patrols that wandered the market. Others kept quiet, their heads down as they dashed from booth to booth. They ignored the droids or looked over their shoulders at their neighbors who glared and taunted them.
The rebels had come to Iziz. They had been scoring wins against the Separatist droids. Their exploits were whispered, debated, and praised. The number of the rebels seemed to be growing slowly.
But still some watched and waited, their mistrust of the rebels just as great as the mistrust for Rash. But they also feared Rash and feared what he would do to them because of the rebels. Or terrorists, depending on who was talking.
But life still had to go on. So, as with most days, the market was crowded as the people came out to buy food and treats, home-goods and clothes, the odd little trinket for no reason other than it was pretty. The vendors jested, their competition good natured as they lured customers from their neighbors and offered to pay for their drinks that night when the stalls had shut down. Children tugged at the hands of their parents, reaching for anything that caught their eyes. The adults bartered and gossiped.
And not one of them paid any attention to the young man in a heavy gray coat as he cut through the market.
Lux could dimly remember days long past and yet not so long ago, when he had come to the same market with his parents. It had always been such a treat to come, knowing that in the end his pockets would be crammed full of treats that always meant a stomach ache later because he just had to eat them all.
But now he was here, alone. His father had died in battle defending the government he had believed in even as he missed the Republic. His mother assassinated by the leader of the government she had believed in because she wanted peace for the galaxy. He was an orphan and his planet was held captive by the man who had made him an orphan.
And Lux was going to free his planet.
He paused at a stack of containers and took a small blinking com from his belt. Then Lux stuck it on the corner of the top container before wandering away.
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She wasn't disobeying her order.
Well not exactly.
Ahsoka had been told that she wasn't to get involved with the rebels outside of giving them advice and being their direct line of communication to the Temple. But she believed that meant she couldn't take part in any battles, something that would give away the fact that she was the Jedi and the Jedi Order were supporting the rebels.
Even Palpy would come down hard on that. Especially since he didn't know.
So pushing a cart full of tent poles through one of the streets by the market wasn't breaking her orders. Not exactly.
Besides she had no doubt that her siblings or Rex or even Uncle Qui and Papa Plo would be do the same thing she was if they were there. Ahsoka couldn't just sit back and let the rebels do everything when she had the same training they did and more because she was an actual part of the GAR and a Jedi to boot. She wasn't swinging her lightsaber around. She was just moving some tent poles.
Her baby-blue eyes scanned the street taking in the beings of all shapes, sizes, races, and spices. Then Ahsoka reached over, dropping a blinking com into the middle of the cart, and walked away from it.
Just to be safe, she probably wouldn't include this little mission in any of her reports back to the Temple.
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They had chosen his younger sister over him. It shouldn't have, but it had stung all the same. Not that he could blame them. He was smart enough to know that he was hot-headed and impulsive, that he was more likely to jump into a fight all in instead of really waiting and putting a plan together. Steela had all of that, but she was also like Lux and would take the time to think first before leaping.
So Saw couldn't blame them picking Steela over him. But he would do his hardest to be the best second-in command for his sister and her protector. Just because she was their leader didn't mean that she stopped being his little sister and she would always need his protection.
He was going to make sure that Steela made it through to the end of the war.
Saw ducked his head, pulling the edges of his hood to cover his face as a some droids and a tank marched down the street. He turned to the side just enough so that no would see as he brought his wrist up to his mouth. "Looks like they're sending out more reinforcements..."
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"It's a multi-troop transport being lead by a small droid convoy. There's an AAT in the rear."
"Copy that," Steela said. She twisted herself around slightly so that she could peer out over the edge of the roof she was huddled on. She could see the droids
face Dono and the other rebels that were up on the roof with her. Guns ready to go.
She could do this. She had to do this. They had chosen her to lead them. They had put their trust in her and believed that she was the key for their rebellion to win. Onderon's freedom was in her hands.
But pressure was suppose to be good.
At least she hoped it was.
A part of her felt bad that they had picked her over Saw, but at the same time she understood why. And her big brother hadn't seemed too upset. They had talked and he had accepted the bigger role she had been given to play.
But she knew Saw had been disappointed and she promised to make it up to him.
But for now they had a war to win and Steela had fighters to lead.
Steela held her hand, slowly rising a finger up as she mouthed "One...two...three!" then she waved an arm over head. The rebels shouted to yell and shout, chant slogans at the top of their lungs as they climbed over the edge of the roof and dropped onto a lower roof below. Their blasters blazed as beings in the street scattered or took cover and watched.
Her mouth was set into a hard line as she took out the droid commander in the tank. The roof beneath her slightly shook as fire and smoke filled the air, an explosion echoing off the sides of the buildings.
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"Help! We've been ambushed by the terrorists! We need reinforcements now!"
Saw could just barely hear the droid over the sounds of blaster fire and crackling flames. He watched as the AAT's front hatch opened and two long rods upon which hung super battle droids extended out. The young man smirked, fingers tight on his gun as only the first two droids were successfully dropped before they were taken out. The rest never stood a chance. Not when his sister was the one with the rifle and high ground.
He turned in the direction where the rebels shots were coming from and froze. The tank's canon had slowly moved into place and was now aimed exactly where Steela, Dono, and the others were firing from.
They would be too focused on taking out the droids that they wouldn't notice the tank until it was too late.
Saw moved.
He fired, taking out the droids behind the tank. As he slide across the front of the tank, he holstered his blaster and in the same movement grabbed two grenades from his belt. Saw threw open the front hatch and threw a grenade inside, shutting the hatch. He reached up and used the canon to pull himself up onto the higher part of the tank, grabbing his blaster again. "No! No!" With total calm, Saw shot the droid in the head and dropped the second grenade. He slammed the hatch closed and then leapt off the tank as far as he could.
The grenades went off while he was still in the air. Saw could feel the heat of the flames licking at him as he flipped in the air before rolling on the ground. He rose to one knee, covering his face from the painful sparks.
Lowering his arms, Saw smiled as he watched the AAT plow into the side of a building. The ground was littered with broken droids, metals limbs, and metal circuits.
It had been a good day.
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Steela jumped onto the roof of the still smoking AAT. She stood on the edge where the people in the street would have a clear view of her. They were coming now. Leaving their homes and hiding spaces to at least see the rebels, the terrorists that Rash had been raging on about.
"Please! You don't need to be afraid my brothers and sisters!" Steela called out to the beings so that they could hear her. "We mean you no harm." Steela tucked her sniper rifle under her left arm so that she could enter something into her wrist-com.
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Lux's com began to chirp an alert as soon as he met up with Ahsoka. He barely glanced at it and nodded at the Padawan in confirmation. "Go for it." Nodding, Ahsoka pressed a button on her wrist-com as he did the same.
They could see them from where they stood. The casters they had left in two random spots came to life as live holos of Steela, sniper rifle casually resting on a shoulder, towered over the people.
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"My fellow people of Onderon," her voice rang through the market and nearby streets. "It is now time for us to stand as one and take back our freedom. Onderon had been lied to. The so-called King Rash is nothing more than a traitor who has sold our beloved Onderon to the Separatists so that he may wear the crown. But Onderon does belong to Rash alone. Onderon belongs to all of us and we need to bring our strength together as one to reclaim our planet. Then we will be able to restore our sovereignty under our one, true king! King Dendup." Her speech finished, Steela could only hope that people had been listening.
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A storm was brewing outside the walls of Unifar Temple. But Rash didn't care. The storm suited his temper at the moment. The news of the day had not been good nor kind. The upstart's speech now had people talking and whispering. He knew his rule was not a popular one with the vast majority of people, but with time he had been sure they would have accepted it and moved on.
But it seems he had been wrong. There were more than he had thought that wouldn't simply roll over.
His eyes shifted back and forth between General Tandin and General Kalani. One had served the old king and the other was Dooku's aid to help him stay on the throne. "These damn terrorists are no longer a mere nuisance," he growled as he picked a fruit from his bowl though he was not really hungry. "Now they are a threat to all of Onderon!" He slammed his fist onto the arm of his throne to make a point then took a bite out of his snack. He took no notice of the flavor as he normally did.
"You have nothing to worry about King Rash. I can assure you that it is only a matter of time before they will be found and eliminated."
"But until they are Kalani, how much longer will it be until they plunge us into chaos?"
"These terrorists are only targeting the droids Sire," Tandin broke in as he glared at Kalani. It was no secret that the two generals did not get along. "I suggest that you allow the Royal Onderon Militia to take control of the security as they once had. If the terrorists see a scale back in droids, they might very well call a halt to their attacks and be open to talking with us."
"You can assume no such thing when it comes to these terrorists General Tandin. Their coordinated attacks and weapons make it a possibility that they are finding sympathy from among the ranks your militia."
Tandin snorted. "This threat is external. Besides Kalani, I haven't seen your reinforcements actually able to stop the attacks."
Rash dropped the fruit back in the bowl, no longer to even pretend that he was hunger. "We refuse to negotiate with terrorists," he stated as he leaned forward. "They fear the very idea of diplomacy and instead embrace mayhem." He tapped his fingers together than turned to Tandin. "What, if anything do we know about them?"
Tandin gestured for an R4 that rolled forward into the center. It whistled as it projected a slowly spinning holo of a young woman with a sniper rifle resting against her shoulder. "We were able to identify the young woman in the holo. Her name is Steela Gerrera. From we've been able to put together, her older brother Saw Gerrera is also a part of the group." The holo flashed and changed to an image of a young human male that was easily recognizable. "Also in the group is Lux Bonteri, the fugitive criminal wanted by the Separatists."
"You mean the son of Mina Bonteri, the late Senator?" Rash shook his head in shock. Kalani aimed his optical receptors on Tandin, seeming to glare at the other general.
"Yes, Sire."
"Why was I not informed of this development?"
"Well you're being informed now," Tandin smirked at the droid.
"Enough! Both of you!" Rash ordered and threw out his arms as Kalani made a move towards Tandin. When the droid retreated, he dropped his arms. "It is crystal clear now that Dendup has been behind all of this. We cannot allow his followers to gain any momentum. We must ensure that justice is swift and without mercy. Bring him in!"
The doors at the other end of the throne room opened. Dendup was once again escorted in. This time his head was bowed low and his hands had been bound behind his back. Tandin winced at the sight of his former king as he stopped before the throne.
"What do you want now?"
Rash sneered at the old man who behaved as if he still wore the crown. "You are here because your supporters are now publicly decrying my reign Dendup. Do you expect me to still believe that you have absolutely nothing to do with them and their attacks?"
Kalani stepped forward and jabbed at metal finger at the former ruler.
"You will order them to stop their attacks at once."
"What you ask is impossible. You have kept me isolated and alone. I have not had any visitors including my own family. You have kept me confined to my prison. What I told you before is still true now. I do not own the will of the people. It is theirs and theirs alone."
Rash threw back his head and laughed. "Then I guess that all of us here will just have to see what the will of the people is made of."
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"That should be the last of it guys. Go ahead and put in the back with the rest of the shipment." Rain pounded down on top of Ahsoka. The alley and street near the safe-house were quiet as the majority of the beings who called them home were huddled inside. She didn't mind the rain. None of the rebels did really. Bad weather was a chance for them to regroup, to take stock, even do some spying.
Steela stood by her side, a small smile on her face as two of the men carried a heavy, old, and dirty shipping container into the safe house. Their rebellion had grown so much. More than what Steela had even dreamed back when they had been hiding in ruins in the jungle and just planning for attacks that would never happen. But now here they were. With supplies and weapons, near top-of-the-line and provided by the Jedi Order. They even had a Jedi to advise them. True the Jedi was just a Padawan, but she was still a commander in the GAR and she knew more about war than all of them put together.
"Steela! Ahsoka!" The young women turned as another female jogged down the stairs to them. She dropped her electrobinoculars as she moved and Ahsoka could read, sense the fear and worry pouring from her.
"What's up Dono?"
"I just heard some news. Rash is going to have Kind Dendup executed tomorrow in Yolahn Square!" Steela and Ahsoka stared at her in shock, in horror. To kill the old king...well that was a move neither had seen coming. "Where did you hear this?"
"It's all over Malgan Market. What merchants were still out were talking about it. Rash and his Seppie friends are claiming that all our attacks are being called by Dendup."
"What a load of poodoo! Just more lies!" Steela turned sharply on her heel and marched into the house, brushing past Saw. "Rash is going to kill Dendup so that he can make an example of him and humiliate us. All in one stroke."
"Maybe..." Ahsoka murmured as she shook some water from her clothes. Her mind was already racing. The first part made her feel guilty for she knew that nothing could rally people more than the murder of a being that the majority considered their rightful leader. At the same time it could be a killing blow to the rebels. Many would leave with Dendup's death, fearing the false king and his foreign backers. "Executing Dendup could give Rash more power, but it's more likely that this plan will backfire and hurt them. So many of the people still see Dendup as their King. In that case, if Rash goes ahead and executes him, then Dendup will become a martyr."
"Well that's not going to happen!" The two rebels and Jedi turned to face Saw who was still wearing his cloak from an earlier outing. "We're not going to give Rash a chance to kill Dendup. We have to find a way a way to break him out!"
"No Saw," Steela took a deep breath, knowing that what she was going to say would be a trigger for her older brother. He, more than anyone else, was ready to jump in and fight without another thought or care. He just wanted to see Onderon free again and didn't care what price there might be to pay. "We can't break him out tonight. We'll have a better chance if we wait and break him out at his execution."
"But they will be expecting us to do that Steela!"
"And I know that, but here and now is our moment. If we stage our rescue at the execution, then everyone in Iziz will be a witness to it. We don't exactly have a lot of time." Saw glared at them.
"And they will just be waiting for us to show up." He turned on his heel and began to march out the door.
"Where the hells do you think you're going Saw?"
"Trust me on this Steela."
"Saw...stop!" Her heart was pounding as she gave her brother an order. The first she had given to him when he was openly disobeying her. He halted and turned.
"Don't worry about this Steela. I'll take care of everything."
"You need to stop Saw. This isn't about you this time."
You need to listen to Steela," Lux slowly stepped forward as though Saw was a wild animal. "This isn't a time where we can afford to be reckless..."
"You think so? Why don't you go write a speech about it then Bonteri?"
"Saw you need to stop and weigh the risk before you taking any actions..."
"Which is why I am doing this alone." Saw was done with this. He knew what needed to be done. He knew what they needed to do to win this battle. He knew they couldn't be reckless, but he couldn't let his sister go through with her plan. It could kill her.
So Saw turned and left.
Dono darted out into the rain. She watched Saw then turned back to Steela. The rebel leader gritted her teeth and gave Dono a sharp nod. "Follow him Dono."
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There had been no word from Saw or Dono for a couple hours.
Steela couldn't sit there and do nothing. So she had grabbed a datapad and was going over the plan for the next morning. She wanted to make sure that they had everything covered. That every possible event had been accounted for.
"Steela?" She didn't even look up when he came in and Lux sighed as he stepped closer to her. It probably wasn't the right time, but he thought Steela looked beautiful. But she also looked tired and worried. He reached over and rested his hand lightly on her shoulder. "You shouldn't worry about Saw. You and I both know just how strong he is. He'll be fine."
Steela wanted nothing more than to loose herself in Lux's deep, beautiful eyes. She wanted nothing more than to feel Lux's arms wrapped around her, to be wrapped up in him, and keep the world locked out.
But she couldn't.
"He's my brother. And I know...I know that's he's always been this brash and he never thinks. He probably doesn't even know just how much he is hurting us by going off on his own." With a huff she rose and tossed the datapad to the side on the table. "You're right. I can't worry about Saw right now. We need to be making a final plan for tomorrow" She grabbed a datachip and inserted it into the terminal. A glowing yellow map of Yolahn Square popped up with a darker orange orb representing the king. "So tomorrow morning they are going to bring Kind Dendup to Yolahn Square by the east entrance. For sure security will be tight which means that any rescue will be far from easy."
Lux gazed at Steela as she tapped her chin with her fingers. Her eyes were glowing in the light of the holo as her mind worked to come with the best plan, given their odds.
"Lux..." He nearly jumped guilty. "Please don't look at me like that."
"Oh...well...see...I'm sorry. Forgive me..."
She reached over and grabbed his hand. He had to know that she loved it when he gazed at her. When he acted like she was the only woman he saw. Those looks had become even more precious with Ahsoka there helping them.
But right now she couldn't be focused on something that might be.
"I'm sorry Lux, but right now I just really need to be alone. Can you go get everyone so we can go over the plan."
"Sure Steela. It will take a few minutes, but I'll round everyone one up." The young politican headed for the door. Then Lux stopped and turned to look at Steela. He would give anything to take some of the weight she was bearing on her shoulders.
But she wouldn't let him. At least not then.
Lux walked out the door. He didn't look at her again.
He didn't see the look of pure longing as Steela watched him leave.
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It was late and Ahsoka's latest report had not been good.
Rex stood behind the Jedi and could see how tired his little Commander was, even through the holo. He wished, more than anything that he had been able to stay on Onderon with her. But these solo missions were important and would only get harder as Ahsoka climbed through the ranks.
"Even this far apart I can still sense the fear within you Ahsoka," Obi-Wan said as he too studied the Togruta teen with hidden worry.
"The news of King Dendup's execution in the morning has divided the rebels. My fear is that if they go ahead with the plan to try and rescue him, we might lose them."
"You know that we are not the ones who control their fate."
"I know that, but...they are planning on risking their lives to save just one person. I know that we do that sometimes, but right now it just doesn't feel like the right move."
Analise tilted her head. "You should know better than to underestimate the power of a royal Ahsoka. Much as Padme and the other Queens are to the Naboo, so is Dendup to the people of Onderon. He represents their hope and he is critical to the overall success of the rebellion."
Rex frowned as there was a flicker. He could see Lux as the young man walked past, seemingly distracted as he didn't stop to greet them or Ahsoka. She hunched over a little bit more, nibbling on the end of a finger.
"I just feel so responsible for the rebels Masters. That if anything goes wrong it will be my fault..."
"And we know that Star. But just remember that your purpose must come before your feelings."
"Yes Master..."
"Ahsoka...if something happens that is beyond their control, then and only then may you step in." He could see a glimmer of light, of hope in her eyes. "But always remember that this is an experiment to see if similar strategies will work on other words. In order to see if this can be effective, the rebels must be able to survive on their own."
"I understand Master Kenobi."
Rex clenched his fists, but smiled when Ahsoka's eyes found him.
Soon, soon she would be back at their sides, his side where she belonged.
And if something happened to her...
Well nothing would stop him from going to Onderon and burning the Separatists out.
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There were battle droids on almost every single street.
But as Lux had pointed out when they had returned to Iziz, plain old battle droids weren't smart. Saw was able to avoid them easily. It appeared that Rash and his Seppie puppet masters had opted not to use the smarter droids to patrol. Saw guessed it made sense. Not too many people would be out wandering the streets this close to the palace at night.
Well no one except him.
Saw studied the wall that surrounded Unifar Temple with grim determination as he pulled his grappling hook from his belt.
This was it.
Everything was riding on him in this moment.
His plan was simple.
Get over the wall, find Dendup, free Dendup, then get the hell out of there.
Saw aimed his hook and fired.
It hit the wall high, burring itself in the rock and permacrete. With a grunt Saw hit the button and let himself be pulled up, his feet running and bouncing along the side of the temple until he had reached the top.
This was it.
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The rain had stopped. Rash, acting as though he wanted to give Dendup one last night of pleasure before ending his life, had very kindly lifted the order that kept him locked down in total isolation in a cell.
Dendup wasn't an old fool. He knew that Rash and Kalani were probably hoping that news of his execution would spur the rebels into action. That in one swoop they could do away with both him and the growing rebel cell.
He knew that Rash would refuse to see, to understand the will of the people. Destroying the rebel cell would mute the threat for now, but it would grow again. And it would be louder.
For now the former King enjoyed the serene night. Death was waiting for him in the morning and he was ready. Though he no longer sat upon the throne, Dendup was still ready to do whatever it was that his people required of him. Even if it meant his own death.
But there was a small part of him. The part that was scared that clung to the hope that the rebels would come. That they would free him and bring Rash down.
For now that he walked through the garden, hands clasped behind his back, and silently saying goodbye. Dendup closed his eyes, drinking it all in.
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The lack of rain helped Dono.
It also helped that she often went unnoticed. It was her greatest strength and made her the perfect spy for the rebels. She was quiet, ordinary, easily overlooked. She only spoke or act when she needed to and then would fade into the background.
Others might mind, but Dono didn't. She liked it that way.
She held her electrobinoculars up to her face and peered through them. There was no sign of Saw, but Dono didn't doubt that he was there.
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"Hey! What the..?"
Dendup looked up startled as a young man in a cloak calmly and quickly ripped the head off a battle droid that had been standing guard in the corner. He tossed the head to the side, glancing to see if there were others as he crossed the garden to kneel before Dendup. The old King took half a step back as the man said "Greetings my Lord" in an almost reverent voice.
"And just who are you?"
Saw peered up from beneath the edge of his hood. As a boy he had seen Dendup often and from a distance. His parents had always praised the king and to Saw he was the perfect ruler. Flawed, but admitting to them and open to change, always wanting the best for Onderon and the people. He pushed his hood off his face. "My name is Saw Garrera my Lord."
"And what do you want with me Saw Garrera?"
"Nothing more than your freedom Sire. News has reached the people that you are going to be executed tomorrow. But that's not going to happen because I am going to get you out of here. The people of Onderon, your people need your help my Lord."
A flash came over Dendup and he turned a hard gaze onto Saw. "Stand up Saw and tell me the truth. Are you a part of that group of meddlers that has been creating disorder and interfering in the affairs of the throne?" He marched past Saw, refusing to allow him to see the hope that had sprung to his face.
"We only create disorder and interfere so that you may be the rightful ruler of Onderon and be restored to Your Kingship again. Passion filled Saw's voice as he rose. His blood was running hot.
He was so close.
Dendup stopped when Saw called him the rightful ruler. "I see, I understand." He sighed, shoulders hunching. "So Rash was right. This was all my doing in the end. I opened the door and it allowed the Separatists to come here and take over our home." It was a reality that Dendup had not wanted to face, but knew that at some point he would have to. Dendup slowly turned to face Saw. "When this war started, I had to make one of the most difficult choices of my life. I had to decide whether Onderon would join the Republic or Confederacy. I am no fool. I could see that both sides had corruption running deep within. But it did not matter. I needed to pick a side or else someone else would make the choice for me." His shoulders sagged and he stared sadly at the ground. "But in the end I picked neither one."
"But that can change," Saw pleaded as he stepped closer to the King. "Now we have the chance to take back Onderon. Now is the time for us to be free again." He leaned close, speaking as loudly as he dared. "Our movement has been and is still gaining momentum. In fact the Jedi themselves are backing it."
"The Jedi? Are you serious?"
"Yes, Sire. Even now a Padawan is here with us on Onderon, teaching us how to fight back even as the Order sends up supplies and weapons to use."
It was like a weight had been lifted from Dendup's shoulders as he stood at his full height. He smiled brightly for the first time in a long time. "This is what I've been waiting such a long time for."
Saw returned the smile and pulled his grappling hook off his belt again. He raised his arm, aiming it. "Then follow me my Lord and we shall see a free Onderon together." He fired and the hook raced through the air...
Only to bounce off a ray-shield, setting alarms blaring and searchlights waving back and forth.
Saw cursed and started spinning around. "Dammit! That's a one-way shield." He cursed his own stupidty for not even thinking of a shield, letting alone planning for one.
Destroyers rolled around the corners, boxing King and rebel in.
The rebel snarled.
This was not how it was suppose to be!
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Outside the walls of Unifar Temple and watching through her electrobinoculars, Dono felt her heart plunge as the ray shield flared into being. The blaring alarms echoed in her ears and she pressed closer into the shadows just in case more search lights were triggered. A loud voice began to bellow commands, echoing in the night.
Dono turned and she ran.
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"Now does anyone have any questions about the plan?"
"I will say it is very risky Steela...but it's the best shot we've got at getting Dendup."
It was late, but few at the safe house were sleeping.
Instead the main leaders were seated around the transmitter, a few stood along the walls. Steela's hands were on her hips as she kept all her focus on the plan. She could not afford to think about Saw. Not when this plan could make or break them.
Everything was depending on this.
Lux knew this. He looked to Ahsoka who stood just to the side and behind Steela. Her arms were crossed over her stomach as though she were holding herself back. "Any chance you'll join us Ahsoka?" He knew his old friend would want to fight and a part of him hoped that she would.
"I want to...but you know I can't. At my last check-in I was informed that I've been far more involved in this than the Council wanted. So unless something horrible happens, I've been given instructions to sit this one out."
Her eyes were so sad that Steela felt she couldn't make any sort of remark. Lux had told her that Ahsoka had very strong beliefs, a deep love of freedom that had been taught to her by siblings. She could see that it pained Ahsoka not to help them when she was easily the best fighter of them all.
"Steela! Steela!"
All eyes turned to Dono as she ran into the room. She came to a stop, panting. But she focused on Steela and fought to get her words out. "They got Saw! He's alive for now, but I was able to watch them as they took him away."
Steela's face hardened. Lux growled and rose to his feet, his right hand becoming a fist. "Then there is no choice. We have to save Saw!" Rousing cheers followed his declaration. Rebels stood, began moving. Some went to get their weapons from where they had been set against the wall or dug through containers searching for spare packs and grenades.
Then came Steela's voice, ringing through the room. "No!" Her heart was breaking as she said the word and she forced back the tears in her eyes. "Our main goal is saving King Dendup. Right now we don't have either the time or bodies to go after both him and Saw."
"But Saw is your brother Steela..."
"And this is exactly what Saw would want. What he would expect us to do." Every word stabbed deeper and deeper into her. Saw was her brother, but right now she couldn't afford to be a sister. She needed to be a leader. The leader the rebels needed. "And I expect everyone in this room to do the same."
Ahsoka gently nudged Steela out of the way when it looked like the others would still protest. "Look guys, I know what Steela is choosing, what she is ordering you to do is hard. But I agree with her and support her choice. At this time, your purpose must come before your feelings."
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He didn't think he would ever forget the screams.
Tandin winced inside, not daring to show his feelings on the outside as he stood next to Kalani. Saw had been hung in the containment field for hours, being tortured on and off. The droid general had ordered an increase in the power of the shocks being administered when Saw refused to speak. But the increase had done nothing.
Saw still did not speak.
Instead he screamed.
Kalani made a gesture and the droid controlling the power switched it off. Saw went limp, panting. But he glared.
"Tell us where the other terrorists are."
"Go to hell you damn droid. Onderon is our system. Not yours!" Kalani didn't say anything, just gestured.
The shocks began again, the power increased.
Saw was straining at his bonds. His entire body bowed back and forth, shaking wildly as he screamed and screamed. The power increased more and more until the system began to beep in alarm at the amount of power.
"That's enough!" Tandin snapped and the droid quickly turned the shocks off. Saw went limp again, his eyes glazed over in pain. "We can't kill him Kalani. He is the only direct link we have to the terrorists. We need to keep him alive."
"It appears you pity him..."
"What I pity is your ignorance Kalani!" Tandin would never refer to the droid as General. He refused. "You might be able to control the people of Onderon. But even if you use all your strength and power, you still won't be able to sustain your control against the will of the people." That was what Dendup had told Rash and it was only in that moment that Tandin was able to fully understand what the old king had meant. He walked slowly around the containment field. "Your actions here are guaranteeing that others will rise and take his place."
"If they rise, then they will also suffer."
"Then the war is lost in the end. I can see that you have a strong sense and knowledge when it comes to tactics Kalani. However it is sad that you are unable to calculate a different approach to this problem that is for the good of the people."
With those words hanging in the, Tandin left.
He would not, could stay. He could not, would not take part in the torture of a young man even as a witness and even if he thought he might guilty.
There had to be another way.
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The day was breaking. But no sunlight breached the windowless interrogation room that Tandin had ordered the young man to be moved to. He had grabbed one of the LEP droids that wandered the palace and commanded it to bring fresh fruit and cool water to the room. Saw would need it.
When Tandin was finally able to break free and make his way to the room, he found Saw hunched down in his chair, his head buried his arms upon the table. His body was still trembling slightly and his skin was pale. The General leaned on the table by Saw as the droid set a glass of water upon the table. Saw grabbed it, too thirsty to care anymore that it might have been drugged or something.
"That water is safe Saw," the older man seemed to have guessed his thought. "You need to drink so you can get your strength back." He snorted, but took a large gulp. Saw savored the coolness and slight fruity tang to the water as it rushed down his throat. "I'm actually sorry that the Separatists put you through all that. As a whole they don't allow things like compassion or patience get in their way when they need or just want something."
The rebel lifted his head with another snort and looked Tandin dead in the eye. He knew who Tandin was. In fact Saw had always looked up, admired the man before the Separatists came and rather than fight, had let Rash take over. Tandin had stood back, kept his place, and let Onderon become another feather in Dooku's hat.
"We rebels have a duty to protect all that is ours General Tandin. A duty to protect all that is Onderon's. That was your duty once too."
Tandin flinched internally. "And here I thought Kalani had managed to get rid of all your arrogance," he blustered. He couldn't let Saw know just how much his comment had stung. To his surprise, Saw started to chuckle.
"He did, but it recharges every hour."
"Well I still do my duty to Onderon. Only now I follow King Rash as the crowned head of Onderon." He clasped his hands behind his back as he marched to the other side of the table and take a seat opposite Saw. "As king, everything that belongs to you is in reality his. He will do with it anything he wishes and pleases."
"Rash is not my king!" Saw growled out. "Dendup is the rightful true King of Onderon."
"So you are following his orders then?"
"We don't take orders from anyone."
"Saw you must understand that by aligning yourself with the past and refusing to move forward, your future does not look good."
In response Saw lifted his cuffed wrists, held them out to Tandin. "We share the same future, all of us. We can either sit together as free men on a free Onderon or forever be slaves of the Separatists."
No...no!
He was not a slave! He was General Tandin! He was not a slave...
Tandin slammed his fists onto the table and stood. "I am a free man!" he stated even as a small part of him inside screamed that he was lying. "It is you who has chosen to become a terrorist, a dangerous thug!"
"Do not call me a terrorist," Saw stood and leaned on the table so that he could look Tandin directly in the eyes. Their faces so close they could feel the other's breath. "I am a patriot. Resistance against a corrupt government is not terrorism General Tandin." He rose. He needed to make the General understand even if he never would agree with him. "The Separatists came because instead of choosing a side on which to belong in some intergalactic war, King Dendup chose his people and Onderon. And we, sir, allowed the damn Separatists to take over our home-world."
It was then that Tandin felt his heart break.
He had been a fool. Such a fool.
He was not free.
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The traitors, Dendup and Saw Gerrera were to be executed on the steps of Unifar Temple just after the sun rose. Attendance was encouraged for all loyal adults.
This mean that the crowds in Yolahn Square in front of the palace were huge. Except for the old and young and their caretakers, almost every adult in Iziz had chosen to attend though many were heartbroken. Dendup had been a fair and just king, a good and popular ruler. He did not deserve to die simply because Rash wanted his place on the throne unquestioned.
Despite the crowds, Ahsoka and the rebels were able to slip through people to the front. Ahsoka stayed back as Lux and Steela led the others to the very front. An electroguillotine had been set upon the landing after the first series of stairs leading up to Unifar Temple. There were two IG-100s, one on either side holding electrostaffs while battle droids stood between the people and the execution stage and more guarded Rash's back. Two more IG-100s stood with Dendup.
"My beloved people of Onderon!" Rash proclaimed into the morning, "I stand here as your king and present to you this day Ramsis Dendup! But he is not here as a former king. He is here as a criminal! For it is Dendup that has been sponsoring the terrorist acts that have been plaguing my beloved people!"
Ahsoka rolled her eyes and slowly began edging her way through the crowd. She was sensing of lot of sadness. That not everyone believed Rash's lies and were upset at his sudden decision to execute a beloved ruler who had really done nothing wrong. If Ahsoka were to make a bet, then she would bet that Rash had kept Dendup alive so that his rule would be easier. So that he would be seen as compassionate and caring. But it was clear now that Rash didn't care what the common people had felt nor had he ever.
Not if he had Dooku there to help back up his rule with weapons and metal soldiers.
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"As the only rightful ruler of our beloved home, I promise that I will see that all of you are kept safe from such villainy and peace once again settle upon us."
From his place on the blacony overlooking the square, Tandin watched the event below. Saw's words were still ringing in his year. He knew, he just knew that the young man was ready and willing to die for Onderon.
Like he been willing and ready to do once upon a time.
Like now...
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"Dendup stands before us all after betraying us. I promise that today he will pay for his treasonous crimes with his blood!" Rash turned his back on the crowd and smiled happily at Dendup as the IG-100s forced to his knees. "There stand those who were your people. They are here to make sure that they see off into the next world. I, we, hope that you can find forgiveness there."
He chuckled and took a bite out of the fruit in his hand, then dropped the rest into the electroguillotine. The IG-100s on either side banged their electrostaffs against the stone, turning them on before jamming them into the sides of the guillotine at the top.
There was a flash, a loud and sharp buzzing sound before the droids lowered their staffs. The fruit fell from the guillotine split into two. One half fell towards the watching people.
It was smoking.
The insides black and burnt and dead.
"Well then," Rash smiled brightly at the gasps and cries of the watching people as he turned back to Dendup. "Now you die."
One of the IG-110s grabbed Dendup's shoulder, forcing his head into the guillotine.
But he refused to be afraid.
If he was to die for his people, then so be it.
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Steela leaned slightly over Lux's shoulder. He had turned to one side and exchanged nods with Dono. She turned her head to the other side and exchange nods with the rebels there. They were all in place and ready to go.
But they had to get the timing just right.
"Now just wait for my signal," she whispered in Lux's ear as their eyes immediately returned to the landing where Rash had risen his hand high in the air. There was a pleased and twisted smile upon his face.
"Ready weapons!" the false king shouted. The droids banged their staffs on the ground and brought them up to strike as Rash raised his hand higher.
"Not yet Lux...not yet..." Steela could feel how tense and wound up Lux's body was beneath his cloak. It was ready to spring and she knew that her body was exactly the same. She narrowed her eyes as she watched Rash's fingers twitch. "NOW!"
As soon as she spook Lux had tossed his cloak back revealing a vest filled with poppers and grenades. And Steela's sniper rifle. This he passed back to Steela as two fellow rebels cupped their hands and lifted Steela up so she could shoot over Lux's shoulder. Calmly, coolly she shot the two IG-100s in their heads. The people around them were shouting and crying out in both shock and fear.
Steela jumped down from the rebels. This allowed Lux to throw off his cloak the rest of the way as he pulled two smoke grenades from his vest. Lux triggered them and then tossed them high onto the landing. They spun around, spewing brown smoke thick enough to make it hard to see. Rash started yelling in anger and confusion.
"Come on guys! Go! Go! GO!" Lux called to the rebels in the crowd. They charged the landing. The young politician reached out and shoved Rash to the ground amid smoke and blazing blaster bolts.
Steela wove in and out of the battle, ducking and side-stepping shots. She spun around the guillotine and dropped down to her knees behind Dendup. The King looked shocked and hopeful even as the droids shouts of "Blast them!" filled the air alongside the rebel yells.
"It's alright My Lord. We need you to come with us." At the sound of metal feet Steela turned and took out a battle droid. Then Lux was there rolling and taking out a second as soon as he came to a stop. Then he was moving again, keeping low to stay out of the reach of Kalani's arms. The super tactical droid was waving them about. The smoke too much even for his sensors at times.
Kalani began to tap at the controls on his wrist...when Saw leapt to his feet and slammed both his fists down onto the droid's metal back. The droid general fell to his knees and Saw let himself turn around.
The rebels were fighting. They all knew that this was the battle. A victory here meant that they had a real, true chance. That even as their friends were cut down by droids, if they won they could and would be able to free Onderon for real and for all. But if they lost, that was it. It was the end of any hopes in their lifetime for a free Onderon. The Separatists would come down harder. Life would become a nightmare.
And their beautiful Onderon would be no more.
So they found. Dono, Lux, Steela, Saw...they all fought with everything they had in them as the smoke began to clear. They fought with blaster and droid poppers. They fought and with every droid that they took out it meant they were one step closer to victory and true, real freedom.
The smoke had cleared and there was little noise as the crowd realized that the droids on the landing were gone. That the rebels had beaten them all. They watched as the rebels helped poor Dendup up and ran.
"Come on!" Dono called joyfully to the rebels behind her as she raced for the crowd. "We can make it! We can...ARGH!" The young woman, who had dreamt and believed with her entire being in a future with freedom fell backwards onto the stones. Her head made a sicking thump as smoke rose from the hole in her chest. Put there by one of the B2-HAs that were pushing their way through the crowd.
Steela felt her heart drop, but there was no time to mourn Dono. That would come later. She urged the rebels to go right, but there was a droid. So they turned to flee left. But there was another droid. Steela threw out her arm, keeping everyone behind her.
"You will surrender now or die terrorists!" Kalani commanded as Rash stumbled to his feet.
"It's...it's over young ones," Dendup's voice was heady with sadness and fear for the young ones who had risked everything to save him. "We best do as they say." Dendup was their king and the rebels to a being had vowed their loyalty to him and Onderon.
So they laid down their weapons and backed slowly up the stairs. The crowd began to boo, to call out in anger and frustration.
Rash ignored the calls and jeers. He ignored the demands for justice and the glares. Instead he rubbed the back of his head and put a pleased smile on his face. "Please, please! Calm yourselves my people! Now you will see for yourselves as these terrorists share in the same punishment as the traitorous former king!"
He waved a hand in glee as though he was giving the crowd a wonderful and priceless gift.
Saw smiled at Steela and leaned towards her as her hands were bound by the droids. "It was a good try little sis."
At least they would die together.
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He nodded to himself.
It was time.
He knew what he had to do.
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"Ready weapons!"
No...No!
This was wrong. It was all wrong! To heck with her orders. These rebels were her friends and their cause was just. The future of a planet was at stake!
Ahsoka started to gently, but quickly push her way through the crowd to the palace. Obi-Wan and Anakin had told to interfere only if it was life or death and this sure seemed life or death to her.
"I promise you that this snake and his kind will not strike again!"
As the people around her cried out for the executions to stop, for justice, she pulled her saber from her belt.
"STOP!"
"What was that?"
Ahsoka came to a stop as a human male, General Tandin she remembered from the reports came rushing out onto the landing with members of the militia.
Maybe she wouldn't need to help after all.
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"The only snake here that I can see Sire is you!" Rebels and Dendup turned in shock and awe as General Tandin came running down the stairs of Unifar Temple with the Royal Onderon Militia. Blades were drawn and they surrounded the group, drawing the droids attentions to them. The ones holding the rebels slowly let them go.
"Tandin you traitor!" Rash's chin quivered with anger and fear as the General held his blade close to his throat.
"Oh I was a traitor Rash," he admitted for the first time out loud as he turned to look at Saw. "But I am not a traitor anymore." Because a brave, loyal, and noble young man had held a mirror up so that he could see just who and what he had become by turning his back willingly on the people and planet he had promised to protect in service to the king. Saw smiled and the two nodded.
The people began to cheer as Tandin side-stepped around to stand behind Rash and wrap his free arm around his neck in a choke-hold. "What do you think you are doing General?" Rash demanded, tugging at the hold as Lux rushed forward and helped Dendup to his feet. The old man smiled at his old friend who had finally returned home.
Even Kalani, when he tried to move, stopped when the guards lifted their staffs and pressed against him.
"Go Sire. Go with these rebels." Dendup nodded. Steela hurried the group down the steps into the square.
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Ahsoka watched as the crowd parted, allowing the rebels and Royal Onderon Militia to hurry Dendup away to safety. Tandin was slowly backing down the stairs, Rash still in his grip and a couple of guards who were backing him up. The beings called for the others in the back to make way and let them go, to help them fade away.
"All of you go with them!" She turned her hand back to Unifar Temple where the members that had stayed were staring at Tandin in shock.
"But sir! What about..."
"I said go!" The remaining militia members ran into the crowd which closed up as soon as they went through. The droids, free of any threats, turned their weapons upon Tandin. Rash began to laugh.
"Now what will you do General Tandin?" he mocked the older man. "The minute you release me, those droids will open fire and you'll be dead!" As though an omen, a pair of destroyers rolled forward. Ahsoka could sense Tandin's fear, but also his determination and loyalty and...
That was it!
She couldn't sit back anymore!
Ahsoka wrapped the Force around herself and used it to propel herself up into the air, her saber blazing to life in her head. The gasps rippled over the crowd as she flipped over their heads and landed in a crouch before the stairs. She threw her arms out from her sides, the Force lashing out as a wave and knocking all the droids to the ground. Over the cheers she heard Rash's shocked cry of "A Jedi?"
She turned and ignored him, looking Tandin in the eye. "Follow me General Tandin. I can get you back to King Dendup."
He didn't need to be told twice as he quickly got over his shock. Tandin shoved Rash to the ground and followed Ahsoka. The crowd opening up just enough to let them pass before closing back up behind them.
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Rash shoved himself to his feet. His rage boiling hot beneath his skin. "Find them!" he screamed at the droids that were just now getting back onto their feet. "Find them now" He pointed wildly to the crowd. "Find them and kill them!"
"Dendup is the true and rightful king!"
"No more Separatists! We don't want them here!"
"Down with Rash! Down with the Separatists!"
He turned as the crowd became angry, marching towards him with fists raised. Rash started to step backwards towards the safety of the palace as the droids stepped down into the square and held the crowd back. But they started shoving the droids.
Rash turned his head back and forth.
No!
He wasn't going to lose this!
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They had done it!
Dendup was free. They had gathered in the safe house. No celebration this time though they had gained a victory. Dendup, seated on one of the sofas looked up as Ahsoka and Tandin entered the room. "Why now Tandin? After all this time?"
The General looked guilty, ashamed. "Because it was past time that I took a new approach Sire."
"Do I have your loyalty General?"
"You do my lord and you also have the loyalty of the army."
"And you have a loyalty too," Steela spoke up. Saw stood at her side once more. The pair smiled at Dendup. "Under your rule, our numbers will grow."
"Thank you my child," Dendup smiled at the young woman. At all the young people in the room for they were the future and it was promising. He turned to Lux and laid a hand on his shoulder. "I knew your mother well and I can tell you that she would be so proud of you Lux."
"Thank you Sire."
"Our first step should be to win the will of the people. That is the only way for us to be able to drive the Separatists off our planet for good." He rose to his feet, clasping his hands behind his back as he slipped so easily back into being a king. "The Separatists will even now be starting to assemble their own forces. I know that now more than ever, Dooku will want me dead."
"Don't worry Sire. We'll just have to teach them another lesson, together."
As the room erupted at last into cheers, Ahsoka stepped closer to Lux. The human male turned to the Padawan and smiled. "See? I know that you wouldn't be able to resist a good fight Ahsoka."
"Oh no! I must be so predictable now!" She rolled her eyes as Lux barked out a laugh.
"Only Rex and I will ever find you predictable Ahsoka. So how much trouble are you going to be in?"
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"I know my actions will have consequences. For one thing Dooku and the Seppies now know that the rebels have the backing of the Jedi."
"Then you need to prepare yourself and the rebels Ahsoka. That means the real fight is just getting started."
"Does that mean we will get some more help?"
"That will be for the Council to decide Snips."
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