Chapter 12
"That was probably the worst two hours of my entire life." James says, walking out of the movie theater.
"Oh, shut up you big crybaby. You know it was a good movie. You just don't want Rex to think you're a softie." Ahsoka replies.
James freezes, looking forward. His hand slowly slides back to his hip.
"Ahsoka, three men, fifty yards."
"I see them. We need to go."
James pushes her wheelchair as fast as he can to the car. The men quietly follow.
James rapidly gets Ahsoka into the car, strapping her in. The men stop and simply watch.
As they're driving away, James's phone rings.
Ahsoka picks it up, "Ahsoka, go." Ahsoka answers.
Rex's voice comes over, "Ahsoka, you need to see this. Meet me and Parker as soon as possible. We uh… We found something."
"What is it?" She asks.
"Just meet us." Rex says, hanging up.
Rex meets them at the gate, waving them through.
"Okay Rex, what do you have for us that you couldn't tell us over the phone?" Ahsoka asks.
Major Parker nods, handing the object to Rex. He turns and presents it to Ahsoka.
Ahsoka gasps as she recognizes the familiar structure of a Jedi holocron.
"Where'd you find this?" Ahsoka asks.
"We found it buried near the crash site. Or rather, unburied. It had cleared the snow and ice away from it. So, what is it?" Parker questions.
Ahsoka summons it to her hands with the Force, grasping it gently, "It's a Jedi holocron. It's basically a method of storing information. Only a Jedi can open them, just as only a Sith can open a Sith holocron."
The holocron floats away from Ahsoka's hands, her eyes closing.
A hologram flickers to life, "This is Master Obi-Wan Kenobi," Ahsoka's eyes snap open, the message continuing, "I regret to report that both our Jedi Order, and the Republic, have fallen."
"He survived…" Ahsoka says, smiling.
The message continues, finally cutting out. Ahsoka closes the holocron, bringing it back to her hands.
Parker looks around, confused, "Who is he?" He finally voices.
Rex answers, "One of our old generals. He fought alongside our legion for most of the Clone Wars. It's good to see that he's alive."
Ahsoka feels a slight twinge in the Force from the holocron and from Parker. Something wasn't right. There was something else about it. Something deeper. Something private.
Ahsoka puts the holocron into one of the pockets on her wheelchair, Major Parker glancing at her.
"Actually, Ahsoka, we're going to keep that, do some more analysis on it." Major Parker speaks.
Ahsoka chuckles, "With all due respect, Major, people have tried for thousands of years to break into holocrons. You're no different. You'll never get anything from it, not without a Force user."
The Major sighs in defeat, looking elsewhere, "Fine. Once again I guess I have no choice."
"She still messing with that thing?" James asks, Rex sitting down with his bowl of pasta.
"Yeah, she could be in there a few more minutes or a few more hours, you never know with them." Rex replies.
In her bedroom, Ahsoka sits cross-legged, the holocron floating in front of her. She could faintly hear whispers from the holocron, urging her to go deeper. Finally, she finds it. Buried deep within the core of the holocron, a dim spark. She reaches out to it, a new hologram springing to life.
"I can feel your Force presence. They're holding me, please, help me." The image of the young human girl fades as the sound of a door closing is heard.
"James!" Ahsoka yells.
He comes to the door, terrified, "What is it?" He asks.
"Is Parker still on base?" She questions, summoning her new crutches to her hands.
"Ahsoka, are you sure you're good for those?" James queries.
"Just answer the question." Ahsoka repeats.
"He should be, yeah. Why?"
"Armor up Rex, you're going to need it." Ahsoka orders, making her way to the car, just enough strength in her legs to hold her up.
"Ahsoka, what's going on?" James asks, Rex running off to suit up.
"Parker is holding someone. A child." She explains.
"What? How do you know?" James questions.
"She left a message in the holocron." Ahsoka replies.
"Ready, Commander." Rex says, sliding his helmet on.
"Major Parker, you have one chance to get this right." Ahsoka states, looking him dead in the eyes.
"Excuse me?" He speaks.
"Where's the girl?" Ahsoka questions.
Parker stands there, "What are you talking about, what girl?"
Ahsoka sighs, "This one," she says as her image flickers to life in front of them, the holocron gently hovering.
Parker's blood runs cold, a shiver traveling down his spine.
Supporting herself on one crutch, one of Ahsoka's sabers flies into her hand, igniting, the silver blade inches from Parker's throat.
"You don't understand. This came all the way from the top. I would be executed for that information." He stutters out.
"You're about to be executed now. Call your superiors, either we work this out peacefully, or the negotiations become aggressive. Trust me, you don't want that." Ahsoka orders, the blade retracting.
Major Parker nods, gesturing for them to follow.
"This better be good, Major." One of the decorated officers states from the monitor.
Parker moves the camera, revealing Ahsoka, Rex, and James, the hologram of the girl playing.
"I see." One of the officers says.
"Let's work something out, gentlemen." Ahsoka prompts, casually twirling a lightsaber hilt in her hand.
The three officers nod, "Major, retrieve the girl." One of them orders.
"What do you propose?" They ask Ahsoka.
"She is human, no?" Ahsoka questions.
"As far as we can tell, yes, she is human."
"She can live with us. Similar to Rex, she will not face adversity as I do." Ahsoka proposes, Major Parker and the girl walking in.
Ahsoka smiles at the girl, but notices something missing.
"Where is her lightsaber?" She asks.
The officers look confused, "We don't-"
"Do not toy with me, only a Jedi could place information in the holocron." Ahsoka reminds them.
"Major." The Major nods, leaving again, coming back a few minutes later with her saber.
"I'm glad we could settle this peacefully. Maybe next time just don't keep a child prisoner? She isn't guilty of any crimes." Ahsoka states, turning and slowly making her way out the door, James, Rex, and the girl following.
"You're Master Skywalker's padawan." The girl says on the car ride home.
"I was." Ahsoka states.
"Where are we, Padawan Tano?" She asks.
"It's just Ahsoka. As for where we are, far beyond our galaxy. Where exactly, we're not sure. This is James and Rex." Ahsoka answers, gesturing to each man.
"I'm Macy. Rex is a clone?" Macy asks, nervous.
"Don't worry, Rex is on our side." Ahsoka assures her.
"He's part of the 501st. They marched on the temple." Macy states.
Ahsoka and Rex look at her in shock, "What?" Ahsoka questions.
Author's Note 6-30-2021:
Another one down, more to go. Macy has a key role here, keeping everything on track.
Q&A:
Q: Did I see a guy in crocks with custom leather straps?
A: Yes. I did.
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