Thanks to my beta QueenieJocelyn and Maddie-ships-all. Couldn't do it without them.
Chapter 6: Never a Simple Job, huh?
The plan for saving the Wookies was a simple one: swoop in, find them, and get out. They shouldn't face any opposition since they had the element of surprise. An easy, by-the-book mission. A perfect send-off for Zaniah.
Sadly—
"We're surrounded!" Zeb yelled over the comm channel.
—missions were never simple with the Ghost crew.
"Can we go back around to give them support?" Zaniah asked from the co-pilot chair.
"Not with these fighters on our tail," Hera answered with gritted teeth. "Hold on," she warned before reeling the flight stick back then jerking it to the right. They heard a muffled explosion from outside. One of the consoles started blaring. "Chop, can you get that for me?"
The astromech beeped and whirred what sounded like sass to the two. Chopper went to the console and hooked itself in, trying to fix the noisy device.
"There's a lot more resistance than what we expected," Hera noticed. "They must have known we were coming."
Zaniah stayed quiet. Hera noticed the lack of response and eyed her warily. After rescuing Zaniah, the Ghost crew didn't question how she gained the information. They were just happy to have her back safe and sound. If they knew about the hostilities they were going to face, they would have scrubbed the mission or thought of a different plan.
"Zaniah, do you have something to tell me?" She jerked left, then right, then finally pushed forward, sending the Ghost in a downward spiral. The TIE fighters couldn't keep up with her evasive movements and crashed into one another. "Well?"
"I…received the information about the Wookies from my interrogator," she admitted. "I believed it was a risk worth taking."
"That was not for you to decide." No wonder the mines had strong defenses. They planned for them to arrive. "You should've told us, Zaniah."
"Sorry, Hera," she apologized. "I didn't think they would mount a defense so quickly."
Hera didn't think Zaniah would be the type to be so careless. She was usually the rational one and discouraged the team from taking high-risk missions.
"Hera," Kanan called out over the comms. They could hear the intense fighting in the background. "We're running a twenty-five pick up."
"What? He can't be serious." His order astounded Zaniah. Hera and she both knew what that meant, what he was about to reveal to the galaxy. "Tell him you won't."
"Roger that. Make sure you're ready." She ignored the young woman's plea. Hera understood her hesitance. After today, they would be on the Empire's radar for the rest of their life. They would have to be cautious from now on.
Zaniah scoffed, clearly annoyed that her plea was disregarded. "They will come after him if he does this. You don't want them hunting you," she warned with a hiss.
Hera's eyes were drawn to Zaniah's cut lek. She didn't have the exact details from Fulcrum, but she knew enough to have an idea of how the wound occurred. "I'm all ears if you have a better option." She turned the Ghost in a complete one-eighty, shooting down an enemy fighter and setting a direct course to Kanan's current position. "You heard them fighting. They don't have much time left."
Deep down, the ace pilot knew Kanan's true nature would be revealed to the galaxy sooner or later. Hera prepared herself for this eventuality and the hardship that would soon follow. Kanan and she conjured up many contingencies for this day, but it didn't make things any less hard on them and the rest of the team. The hunt for the Ghost that would come after this day would be a perilous one.
Sadly, options were limited, and the lives of others were in danger.
"You're right. We don't have time," she heard Zaniah mutter. "I guess it was always going to end up like this," Zaniah chuckled ruefully.
Before Hera could question what her friend was mumbling about, Zaniah stood from her seat, lightsaber in hand. Hera's eyes widened, knowing what her friend was about to do.
"Inform Kanan that reinforcements have arrived and to get inside the Ghost with everyone else." She ran to the exit, holding her weapon firmly.
"Wait!" Hera called out, swerving her chair around to face her friend. Zaniah stopped at the entranceway with her back facing Hera. "If you do this, there's no going back. Fulcrum will want you to return to command, and you will be the one hunted by the Inquisitors."
She watched her friend's silent, still form. The hum of the engines added to the heavy atmosphere. Hera's heart thumped heavily, breath caught in her throat. Zaniah was more than an agent from the rebellion in need of assistance to accomplish a mission. She was more than a good friend. Zaniah was, just like the rest of the crew, family—a younger sister in her eyes.
Though not by death, losing another sibling was something Hera did not want to relive again.
After what felt like hours of silence, Zaniah spoke in a calm even tone. She sounded much like the selfless Jedi of old. "Better me being served the consequence of my actions than my family from my inability to act."
Hera closed her eyes, refusing to look as Zaniah sprinted away to rescue their family. The sounds of her fading footsteps filled the pilot's heart with sadness. Chopper beeped, voicing how downhearted the two felt with a single noise. Hera sighed, rotating her chair back to the controls.
"I'm going to miss her too, Chop." She pressed the communication button to hail Kanan. "Kanan, we're inbound, and I brought reinforcements, so don't do anything rash."
"Reinforcements? Who?"
Zaniah stood in front of the cargo door, waiting impatiently to exit the ship and enter the fray. Her heart was beating a mile a minute, and her breathing was quick and erratic. The lightsaber felt heavy in her clammy hands. She fought the Empire on multiple occasions, more than she could count, but today was different. Today would be the first time she would ever use her true abilities in actual combat.
The young woman closed her eyes, steadying her shaking hand with a calming breath. She reached out toward the Force, feeling it swelled up inside her, granting her warmth and comfort. She kept her connection a secret for so long that the Force was begging for her to use it.
"Remember what mother taught you," she whispered to herself.
"While the Force will always be at your aid, you must also believe in yourself. Only then can you truly overcome any obstacle."
Her heart slowed down to a steady beat. Her trusty blade felt light and perfect in her stable hand. Her breathing soothed from remembering her mother's sound teachings. She trained for this for almost her entire life. She had nothing to fear. Her skills and the Force will guide her to victory.
"I'm ready," she whispered.
The cargo bay door began to open. Her eyes opened, determination and confidence burning brightly in them. She ignited her lightsaber and took a few steps back before running and launching herself out the Ghost. She landed effortlessly, using the Force to lessen the impact.
Her gray blade shone brightly, standing as a beacon of her timely arrival. The Ghost crew and Wookie prisoners watched in awe as she masterfully deflected blaster bolts back to the enemy. Zaniah used her left hand to lift a nearby crate with the Force then threw it at the squad of stormtroopers. She back-flipped onto the top of a stack of crates that were further away from her friends, drawing the enemy's fire unto her.
"Zaniah?" She heard the disbelief in Kanan's voice.
"I'll cover you. Go, now!" Zaniah ordered. She saw more troopers incoming with a certain ISB agent leading them.
"Focus fire on the Togruta!" Kallus barked.
She continued to deflect the barrage of blaster bolts. She gritted her teeth in annoyance when one skimmed past her cheek. She was being overwhelmed. She needed to move quickly or else she would be riddled with scorch marks. Peering over her shoulder, she saw that Kanan and Ezra were the only ones not on board yet. The former padawan stood like a statue, not believing his eyes.
"I said go!" One trooper landed a successful hit on her shoulder. She leaped to the side, using the Force to gather crates and create a makeshift shield. "Leave! Now!"
"I'm not leaving you behind again!" Ezra roared.
"We don't have time to argue, Ezra." She looked at Kanan from the corner of her eye. "Take Ezra and go! Tell Hera to pick me up at the west entrance." She growled through clenched teeth as she was physically being pushed back by the hail of blaster fire. She could hear the crates were on their last legs.
Kanan saw the strain she was under and cursed under his breath. "You are going to explain everything after this mission." He, much to her friend's protest, picked Ezra up by the waist and hopped in the Ghost.
She saw the freighter fly above her and zoom away with two TIE fighters close on its tail. They will be fine; Hera was one of the best pilots she'd ever seen and could outmaneuver any Imperial pilot. She needed to focus on her current predicament.
She surveyed her surroundings, seeing what she could use to make a break for it. There were only a handful of crates littered about and wide-open space to her left and rear if her enemy wised up and decided to flank her. This was not the worst situation she's ever been in. It could be a lot worse, like the Toydaria incident. At least this time she was in her element, standing on solid ground and not floating in space.
Zaniah racked her brain trying to think of a possible solution that didn't end with her being captured or killed. She could Force push her shield at her foes, distracting them long enough for her to run and rendezvous with Hera. Or she could use her makeshift shield as a battering ram and charge at the enemy then fight her way out.
As she was mulling it over, a frigid chill ran down her spine. She saw each breath she took from the drop in temperature. She felt a chilling rage engulf the area, swallowing everything in the vicinity. Zaniah experienced similar circumstances when she was about to fight Ventress. No, this was far worse than the meeting she had with the harlot.
Meeting with that homewrecker was like experiencing a chilled winter morning, while this made her feel like she was traversing the inhospitable weather of Orto Plutonia. She never felt so much fear, hatred, and anger in her life. Not even the Inquisitor she encountered when she was a child emitted such vile emotions.
It was then she heard it, clear as if it was by her side. Over the loud firing of blaster rifles, there was steady breathing. It sounded mechanical like the individual was attached to life support. Her enemies suddenly ceased firing, leaving the unnerving sound of mechanical breathing in the air.
"Zaniah Tano," a voice called out to her. It was deep, unnaturally so, and filtered, like it was spoken through a mask.
Her shield was ripped out of her grasp, crushed, and tossed off the large platform they were on. She saw the man—if it was even a living being—whose breathing she was hearing. He looked to be seven feet tall, clad from head to toe in pitch black armor. In his right hand was a lightsaber in the same shade of human blood that it no doubt dripped in.
"It would be wise for you to surrender and tell us the location of your father."
Zaniah gulped down the nerves that were wreaking havoc in her body. She had expected the Empire to send someone to capture her to gain information about her Jedi parents, but she didn't expect they would send someone like...whatever he was.
She extended her saber, transforming it into its pike variation. She held her weapon with a firm grip, sliding her rear foot back with a slight bend to her knees. Her focus was entirely on the lightsaber-wielding foe. "It would be wise for you to let me go."
"Hmm, it seems you have inherited her wit."
He marched towards her, soaking in her fear. With a calming breath, she moved to meet him halfway. She noticed how slow his towering form was. She should be able to keep the man at bay by using form four, ataru. Using the Force at the last second, she quickened her speed as she aimed for his heart. The towering man saw it coming and swatted the attack like it was nothing, sending her rolling on the floor.
Zaniah didn't expect such power from a simple parry. The man saw the opportunity and began his assault. She dodged, blocked, and parried when she could from the man's unrelenting attacks. This enemy was skilled in lightsaber combat, easily seeing through her feints and exploiting weaknesses that even she didn't know were there. It was like he had practiced fighting someone like her before.
Beads of sweat started to form on her forehead from the exertion. Her arms ached from every heavy blow he was able to connect. The downside of form four: the more prolonged the battle was, the less effective it became with how taxing it was. She needed to escape before it was too late.
They separated from each other. Zaniah was breathing heavily with her shoulders rising and falling as her opponent stood like he didn't even break a sweat. His skill level was way beyond hers, perhaps even eclipsing her mother. She knew if he had wanted to, he could've ended their duel ages ago. Luckily, they needed her alive.
"I see much of your mother's influence in your lightsaber technique," he complimented. "She taught you well. Though I must admit my surprise that I don't see much of your father in your bladework."
She suppressed a growl at the notion of her father teaching her. Thankfully, it seemed he didn't notice her spike of annoyance. More fuel for the enemy if he did.
She needed to think of a plan and catch her breath. Perhaps banter would grace her with an idea and a break. "How do you know of my mother?"
"Not surprising the apprentice kept me a secret from you." He relaxed his stance, though she could tell his guard was still up, luring her into a false sense of security. "I was her master before she betrayed me by siding with your father," he revealed.
Her grip on her pike-saber loosened. "What?"
She must have misheard him. Zaniah remembered the tales her mother shared about her master, Anakin. How kind, brave, and caring he was. He was what all Jedi aspired to be, her mother said. She recalled the loving tone she had when regaling one of the many adventures they shared. The man whom her mother admitted to admiring and loved like an older brother, was the same as the one who stood before her, waiting to strike her down to get to her parents. It was impossible.
Her mother would've told her about this—warned her about this monster scouring the galaxy for them.
Right?
Like she told you Togrutas and humans can't produce children?
Zaniah shook her head from the doubt voicing in her head. She can't focus on that now. Later. That was if she survived this encounter.
"I sense your doubt and anger, but it matters not," he dismissed her feelings as petty. "This is your last chance, Zaniah Tano; surrender and give up the location of your father or be destroyed."
That was a mother of all ultimatums if she ever heard one. Sadly, just like he said, she inherited her mother's wit. She collapsed her staff to its single-handed form, gripping it with both hands. She brought the blade in front of her and spread her legs shoulder-width apart.
Her mother's former master regarded her form with a curious hum. "So be it," he said, mimicking her stance.
They focused on each other. The air around the two Force-users was tense and heavy, unbreathable even. She inched closer, and he responded the same. She took another step forward, and he copied. The tip of their blades crossed; grey met red. They stood patiently, inspecting the other, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. A single blow would end it all.
Suddenly a lone blaster fired, hitting the towering man in the shoulder and distracting him long enough for Zaniah to execute her plan. She moved quickly, twirling her blade to disarm her opponent then followed up with a diagonal slash across his chest and a Force push to gain some distance from him. Zaniah turned and sprinted away.
The stormtroopers who were staying idly by started firing upon her. She heeded them no mind and kept heading towards her destination. She deflected some of the bolts of energy back to their owners, killing some of them as she swayed under heavy enemy fire.
"You are not getting away from me again, Togruta!" Kallus yelled as he charged after her, firing his weapon at the woman.
Kallus kept up with her fast pace, gradually closing the distance. She skidded as she made a tight right turn, running onto a long-narrowed platform. She glanced at the huge pit beneath her, noting how endless it looked.
"Where is Hera?" she muttered, skidding to a stop at the sight of the dead-end in front of her.
She turned around and readied herself for combat. Kallus arrived shortly after, panting slightly. He walked up to her slowly with a menacing chuckle. "Nowhere to run, Togruta."
"I see my words about not being a Jedi stuck to you, Agent Kallus," she transformed her weapon into its second form, carrying it with one hand.
"You're right. You are not Jedi scum, you're far worse than that." He placed his rifle in front of him. Its barrel and stock extended, and a visible electric current ran through the two ends. "You are the heir of his despicable nation. If I knew what you were, I would've executed you on the spot."
Zaniah didn't know which she should be more confused about. That Kallus was using a bo-rifle only known to be used by the Lasan High Honor Guard, or the fact he referred to her as an heir to a nation. She would have time to mull over those things later. She needed to defeat Kallus now before the real threat caught up to her.
She hoped Hera had finished dealing with those TIEs and was on the way to her now. Kallus sprinted at her, letting out a battle cry. She deepened her stance and waited. The ISB agent came at her with an overhead strike which she easily blocked. He followed up with a strike to her core. Zaniah used the bottom half of her lightsaber to deflect it to her right, quickly stepping into his guard and striking his chest with an open palm.
Compared to the man she faced before, Kallus might as well have been an inexperienced child holding a weapon for the first time. He recoiled from the blow, staggering backward. He brought his weapon up to defend himself, but it jerked to the side with a simple flick of her finger. She leaped and twirled her weapon before jamming the butt of it into his throat.
His hands reflexively reached for his throat as he choked, dropping his weapon to the ground. Zaniah swept his legs out from under him, and he fell to the ground. She saw him reach for his bo-rifle and used the Force to push it far out of his grasp.
Kallus looked up at her, eyes teary and full of hate. "Not surprising you fight with no honor." His voice was hoarse and in pain. "I saw you used a trooper's blaster to fire upon Vader."
She took a mental note to remember the name of the giant. Her mother had a lot of explaining to do when she met with her.
"There's no such thing as fighting with honor on the battlefield." She saw the outline of the Ghost incoming. She deactivated her weapon and placed it away. "You Imperials should know that."
The Ghost swooped right next to her with the cargo door open. Kallus released an animalistic roar, rushing at her in one final attempt to subdue her. Zaniah merely raised a hand, and he was pushed down the platform. She ignored the rage and sorrow she felt coming from the Imperial as she jumped inside.
She was welcomed by the sight of the crew—minus Hera—and the Wookies they saved.
"We're all aboard, Hera. Get us out of here," Kanan ordered through his com-link.
She spared one final glance at Kallus as the bay door began to close. "No matter where you go, Togruta, I will find you! I will not stop until you are dead by my hands!" Kallus shouted.
She doesn't know if she imagined it or not, but she swore she saw tears coming out of the Imperial's eyes.
The door closed. The Wookies immediately made their way to Zaniah. They all thanked and praised her for her bravery in rescuing them. All of them were happy to see that there were still Jedi out there. She would usually correct them, but they deserve to feel happy, to feel hopeful again.
"Sorry to burst this happy moment," Kanan walked through the crowd of wookies and stood in front of Zaniah, "but we need to talk to our friendly neighborhood Jedi for a second."
Author's Note: I hope you like the chapter. I have major plans for Kallus and Zaniah. If you haven't notice, I updated the prologue and chapter 1. Please give it a read and tell me what you think. So, I'm expecting my first kid next month, because of that I'll be on hiatus for around 3-4 months. During the time frame, no new chapters but updates of previous made chapters will be uploaded. I am planning on releasing one more chapter before the hiatus starts so it won't be left on a complete cliffhanger.
Till Next Time