So this chapter should have come out a few weeks ago, but I couldn't get the ending quite right and the dialogue needed a lot of reworking and I'm still not happy with how it came out. Hopefully it works out better. As a small side note, at the time of posting South Africa has gone into lockdown so the next chapter should come much faster.
As soon as the main introductions were completed with Revan and Obi-Wan, Ezra and Zeb were escorted out by Cody. This was done at a small signal from Revan, small enough only someone who'd worked with the man for years would actually know to look for it. While Ezra had started to protest, he'd stopped when Kanan had shot him the look. The one look all parents and teachers know to instantly silence a rowdy student and as such Ezra left without another word. Though Cody seemed uptight, when they left he showed them to a shooting range. Now this shooting range looked as if it had been hit by several rounds of artillery fire, if the scoring on the back wall was anything to go by. Added to this there was a patch of wall that had been patched with shiny new panelling that matched none of the rest of the wall.
"What happened there?" Zeb asked jabbing a thumb at the panelling.
"One of the boys got a bit overzealous with a heavy repeating blaster and turned to wall to molten slag." Cody said with a shrug, pulling an old rifle off a rack and activated one of the ranges. Once he did several targets appeared down range, without another word he fired off a quick succession of shots posing each of the targets with pinpoint precision.
Zeb joined him with a glint of competition in his eye, starting up the range beside Cody's. He managed to fire with precision almost equivalent to the Clone commanders, his last shot being a perfect bullseye. Ezra watched as the difficulty of the ranges increased with flickering and moving targets. He also watched as Zeb fell behind Cody, though Cody seemed to have go to this range so often he'd completely memorised every possible sequence the range could go through.
"How did you do that?" Zeb said in awe at Cody's perfect score.
"Practice." Cody said with no small amount of satisfaction.
"I wanna try again." Zeb said with a feral grin.
Cody grinned back, "You're on."
This lead to a competition that went of for roughly four hours, with Zeb winning only once when Cody's blaster jammed and he miss a few targets. All to the delight and amusement of Ezra, who spent the entire time laughing. So much so that he had to take a break and step back from watching, stepping out the room to take breath of air every few minutes. Zeb and Cody only stopped when Kanan joined them, his face set in a stony displaying an uncertain level of annoyance.
"What happened?" Ezra asked, coming to stand beside his Master.
"They will accept the children, and guard them. But they refuse to do anything further than guard the children." Kanan fumed, "They refuse to do anything more than be a refuge."
"We need somewhere safe for Force sensitive children to grow up, don't we?" Ezra asked.
Kanan deflated slightly before answering, "We do, but we shouldn't need a hidden world to do it on. Both those old men prefer to hide then fight to fix the Galaxy."
Ezra looked up at Kanan, "Aren't they war heroes?"
"No, they are Jedi. War isn't their way." Septimus said lightly from behind the Master and Apprentice, his boots thudding through the hallway, "Come on, it's time for you to say goodbye to the children. You're going back to Lothal, I'm going to take them the rest of the way."
"What!? Why!?" Ezra exclaimed.
"Because I said so, the less people who know where Lehon is the better. Plus it means less baby sitting when I get there." Septimus replied with a wry smile, "We're meant to be a refuge for Force sensitives hunted by the Empire, a small Rebellion without open war. Guardians of the Peace, not soldiers."
"Jedi are warriors." Ezra shot back.
Septimus laughed, "Oh, to be young and naïve. I thought you would have taught him otherwise by now Kanan."
"I have tried." Kanan said with a shrug.
"Eventually he'll get it then." Septimus shrugged, "But for now go back to Hera. You have other work to do and a student to teach, I will be in contact if there is another job fo this enclave. A Fulcrum will contact you for your next assignment."
"That's it? You bring us to a hidden outpost then just shoo us off back to the Ghost?" Zeb complained.
"Yes, where else was I going to take the children off your hands?" Septimus asked, an almost bored tone entering his voice.
"You're taking them in your small fighter?" Ezra asked, sounding almost offended.
Septimus blinked, "Obviously not, why would I?"
"There don't seem to be any other ships on this station." Ezra pointed out.
"What's your point? There are other hangers besides the one you saw, we do have more than a few hyperspace capable ships." Septimus said airily, amusement playing in his voice, "I know you want to meet more Jedi, but for obvious reasons we are going to remain split up."
Kanan nodded,"The Sith have a way of finding large groups of Jedi, even when we try to hide ourselves."
"More than five of us in one place for more than a couple of days and they find us." Septimus said in a lecture voice, "It's happened about ten times so far that I'm aware of, twice to us. Even with how difficult it is to reach Lehon normally."
"What makes it so difficult?" Zeb asked bouncing his bow rifle on his shoulder.
Septimus looked up at the Lasat, "System density, there are planets and stars packed together so densely it's almost impossible to map out stable hyper lanes. You have to take several dozen micro jumps, hoping between systems."
Kanan whistled sharply to himself, "That would take months, wouldn't it?"
"Not if you know the way well, Revan has a theory that a Force sensitive could potentially make it in a single jump, making micro adjustments within hyperspace." Septimus explained, slipping into lecture mode, "Which is theoretically possible, though no-one I know of has actually tried the method yet. I keep meaning to, but would like to avoid the risk for the time being."
"How would that even work?" Ezra asked.
"Simple, most Force Sensitives have a some form of precognition. Meaning if we focus on our battle sense we should be able to sense everything that may end up destroying the ship you happen to be guiding." Septimus replied, turning back to Kanan, "Now it's time for you to return to the Ghost, you have more work to do. However I am going to send you on your way with Cody and a squad of his boys, they might have some insight and ideas for a base for you."
Kanan made a face at this, "No Clones."
Septimus turned to him, "I'm not giving you a choice, not now." This time there was steel in Septimus' voice, "You need their expertise and skill at avoiding the Empire."
"We're doing fine on our own." Kanan said with a snarl.
"Could have fooled me with your desperate search for a base world." Septimus shot back lightly, "Dwelling in the past doesn't help anyone, remember that."
"You know what I saw, you saw it too!" Kanan retorted.
"I did, but holding them to that despite their lack of control or choice in the matter holds you back." Septimus said, "Now if you lot will follow me, I'll show you back to the Phantom, Cody and his men will follow in their own ship."
Kanan and Septimus stared each other down for a moment until the older of the two stepped forwards, "Kanan, I know it's hard, but you need to trust us. This is the first step."
Kanan's shoulder's slumped back, "Fine, but if I sense anything that could endanger my crew I promise you I will kill these clones."
"Then you should meditate on your feelings and decide for yourself if they are worthy of the Jedi who feels them." Septimus said, in a voice that strongly reminded Kanan of Luminara Unduli.
"You were her Padawan right?" Kanan asked, a strange reverence in his tone.
Septimus blinked at him, "Don't hold me in suspense, care to clue me in to who you're talking about?"
"Master Luminara." Kanan said bluntly.
"She's dead. I felt it long ago." Septimus said, too quickly, "I take it you were taken in by the Empire's disrespect for her body?"
"You know what they did?" Ezra asked, he looked aghast, "Why haven't you stopped it?"
"Or why didn't you warn us?" Kanan asked with a snarl.
"What, perchance, do you two think I could have said? Maybe I could have told you that she was dead, maybe that would have spared you some trouble." Septimus said, in what sounded like the most reasonable tone possible.
"You're Fulcrum, you could have told Hera." Kanan said.
"Ah, Fulcrum. I'm not the only Fulcrum you've made contact with, your handler was out on another mission when Chopper asked Bail for help. That was the first I heard of you." Septimus said, as they reached the door to the hanger.
"So you don't care that the Empire is using your Master's body as bait?" Kanan practically growled at Septimus.
In a single impossibly quick movement Septimus had slammed Kanan against the door, holding him up by his shirt, "You think I haven't tried? I've been trying to find her ever since she died."
Kanan grabbed the top of Septimus's armour and pulled him close, "Do it then, stop trying."
Septimus dropped him, "Go, go back to your fight. Leave me to mine."
"I will." Kanan said. As the confrontation have taken place, both Ezra and Zeb had taken steps back out of range. When Septimus had dropped Kanan to the floor, both had drawn their lightsabers. Neither activating their weapons, but both being very ready to attack the other.
"Let's go before you end up killing each other." Zeb said placing one of his huge hands on his friend's shoulder, with the implicit threat he would pick the Jedi up and simply carry him back to the ship.
"Fine." Kanan snarled, stomping back to the Phantom with Ezra hot on his heels.
Septimus watched him go, the anger fading from his face to be replaced with a weariness that aged him, "I take it you found her?" He asked Zeb.
"They did, I think we ended up blowing her up." Zeb said somewhat sheepishly.
Septimus let out a sigh, "That should do enough to stop them using her as bait."
Zeb nodded before following his companions back to the Phantom. Septimus watched as Cody and his men followed, boarding a U-wing in quick succession. Septimus half-smiled, spun on his heel and walked back into the station, some of the weight of his past lifting off his shoulders. He quickly found his way to his preferred training room, the one with one of the few remaining Jedi training droids. This particular droid had been specially upgraded with a few new styles, including that of Jerec, patchy as the style was, and Vader's. Activating the Vader preset, the imposing figure of Vader flickered to life over the Droid's shell. Vader's scarlet blade filling the room with its light and a deep ominous hum, Septimus unhooked his own weapon. Activating both sides simultaneously, the green light fighting with the scarlet. Spinning the blade between his hands in a single practice flourish he chawed forwards, attacking with the lower half of his weapon. The droid responded with a strong parry and a fist to Septimus' face, forcing him to twist his head and slide his lightsaber back up Vader's weapon, thrusting the other half of his weapon at Vader's head. The Droid's arm whipped across to knock his blade away with inhuman speed, and countering with a power strike at Septimus' head.
Without missing a beat Septimus twisted his blade's up, the lower blade cutting through the floor and the other knocking the Droid's blade away. Attempted to kick the Droid over and was met with essentially a brick wall and simply managed to jar his legs to an almost painful degree.
"Why do I keep trying that?" Septimus muttered to himself irritably, bouncing away from the droid and creating space. Rolling his shoulders back Septimus stretched out, "Okay time for something new, this is a different weapon configuration from last time."
Bouncing on his feet Septimus levelled out his blade's deactivating one end so he was holding a blade with a double length hilt. Taking a deep breath he re-engaged with the droid, opening with a lightning fast strike aimed at the droid's head. A strike which turned into a feint, spinning the weapon around and activated the other blade. Slicing upwards through the droid's midriff and head. Septimus deactivated his weapon with a satisfied grin, though after a second the grin faded.
"What did they need the children for?" Septimus muttered to himself, "I haven't heard of new Inquisitors." Shutting down the program on the droid, Septimus strode to the door wrapped up in thoughts. The thought occurring that the Empire had definitely succeeded in taking some children, so what had they done with those children?
The last lead he'd found was now mostly dead in a hospital on Manaan, information that the Soulless One's computer had definitely finished sifting through by now. Septimus nodded to himself making up his mind, the problem came in with actually reaching the hanger as the Station, while still operational, was operational in the looser sense of the word. Half the station worked satisfactorily and as such was where most of the troops resided and where all the active hangers were, Septimus' training room however was on the exact opposite side of the station, pretty much the only working room located on that side of the station.
So this meant that the trek back consisted almost entirely of dancing around sparking doors and leaping through voids that opened into space. A few of these voids coming dangerously close to sucking Septimus out into space, making what should have been a ten minute walk into a half hour exercise in survival. Not particularly difficult one mind, given how he had practiced the entire route ever since they had obtained the station.
When he finally reached the Soulless One he was sweating profusely, meaning he tapped a finger against his fighter before walking back into the station in search of a fresher. Meaning it took a further twenty minutes before he finally returned to his ship and started sifting through the hundreds of files he'd managed to copy from the Selkath.
Within those files Septimus found the reoccurring name, 'Hands' always in reference to the future of the taken children. However everything after the reference was always redacted, as if the Empire had anticipated someone stealing the information and decided mess with whomever stole the information. All Septimus could gleam was that these 'Hands' were to replace the Inquisitors eventually. This lead to the only other piece of table information, being that there was a training facility somewhere on Naboo. Septimus froze at the mention of Naboo, the Emperor couldn't possibly be that arrogant, could he?
Septimus rolled his eyes at that thought, of course he would be. After all, who would go looking for a secret academy on the Emperor's home planet, with the exception of a very select band of reckless morons. Septimus dropped his head back against the headrest of his seat, running through his options. He could either try and handle this himself or contact Lehon and ask for help, he did have another option… Not that he wanted to do that, not yet. Septimus rubbed his temples, anything he did now would potentially irritate someone and definitely cause a headache for someone. Septimus groaned, before keying in Revan's frequency.
The Rebel leader answered almost instantly, "I trust you have something important actually give me, not just some small thing about those children."
"I found where the Emperor is taking those kids."
"Go on." Septimus could feel Revan's attention focus entirely on him.
"They're on Naboo, I'm going to investigate. I believe I could get away with visit provided I profess to follow the old ways."
Revan was silent for a moment, a small tensing somewhat visible in his shoulders, "I don't like it, but I won't protest your trip. I will send Luke and Mara to collect them."
"The Girl? You think she's ready?" Septimus asked, "If he's still in her head…"
"I know, but we have to find out eventually. Go to Naboo, report back when you've found something." Revan said, waving a hand to cut off the comm. The holo vanished.
Septimus clicked his tongue, "So impatient." After a second of contemplation Septimus poped the canopy and vaulted out the cockpit, "Trooper!"
A nearby trooper stopped and jogged over, "Sir?"
"Report to Commander Ponds, there is a transport coming for the children in the next few hours, I need you boys to watch over the kids until then."
"Yessir, any specific order to relay to the pick up team?"
"None, Commander Skywalker will be your contact. The Ithorians will need extra protein, they don't look healthy enough."
The trooper saluted, "Sir."
Septimus saluted back, "On your way soldier."
The trooper nodded and ran off. Septimus spun on his heel and pulled himself up and back into his ship, this time firing up the engines. In seconds he was back in space and keying in the co-ordinates for Naboo. While he waited for the navi-com to finish the calculations for the jump, Septimus read through several extra reports related exclusively to the Inquisitors. He stopped on a report that claimed the Inquisitors had a headquarters in the Mustafar System, though it was unclear as to where with in the system it was located.
"Why is it always bloody Mustafar?" Septimus muttered to himself.
Hope you enjoyed that chapter, please leave reviews. I love hearing what people thought,
