Chapter 23 – The Citadel Part 2

A lot had happened, she was now tracking a mandalorian named Fenn Rau. The red haired sith assassin she had defeated told her about some people who knew where some Mandalorians could be found. She expected a trap and sprung it. Those informants were after her beskar and ended up with many broken bones, although she made sure not to kill anyone. Now here she was wearing this stormtrooper armour on the planet Lola Sayu. Asha figured that by saving this Fenn Rau she could get more information on where her younger brother Tarre Vizsla was. The last time she saw him, Tarre was under the spell of a sith lord and was forced to massacre most of Clan Onyo. She and his padawan had helped break him out of that spell, and what followed terrified her to her core. Asha always knew that Tarre was strong, but his rage at the Sith Lord was something to behold.

Every time she closed her eyes, she saw the nightmare – Tarre flying in the sky without any jetpacks, three mountains flying behind him, with fire and lightning coming from his hands. His eyes glowed green and the Sith lord Vitiate was in full retreat, fear written all over his face.

Now Asha could feel it in her heart, that she was close to finding Tarre. She had to warn him, she had to tell him about the man who betrayed their trust, who made it look so that he was always on their side. She also had to tell him about her meeting with their mother, who sent her to this time.

Onboard the light cruiser, the infiltration team had boarded the Shuttle that would take them to the planet's surface. Tarre and Rayleigh were staying behind in case of an emergency. As they were leaving, Hera remembered what Rayleigh said, "Be prepared for the unexpected. It is highly likely that you would find an ally within the facility. IF that happens, be completely honest." The two of them didn't completely understand this, but Kanan nodded and thanked him for it. Rayleigh had also promised that he would intervene should things seem dire.

As the shuttle approached the Imperial blockade, consisting of 5-star destroyers and 8 light cruisers, Sabine transmitted the clearance codes. The codes checked out and they went ahead on their journey. Once on the landing platform, the crew stepped out, Bo Katan leading them, with Kanan and Sabine in the rear. Zeb was fussing a bit with his handcuffs, so Sabine butted him the back with her rifle and said, "Keep walking."

As they entered the facility, they were stopped by 5 troopers. "We'll take it from here, you are to report to Grand Moff Rax."

Ahsoka subtly nodded at Kanan. The troopers then escorted Hera, Zeb and Ahsoka to the prison cells, while the rest of them went on to meet the Moff. While the two groups were there, the four force sensitives sensed an anomaly, as if there was a void in the force.

Reaching the control room, they were greeted by classical music – Sestina of Imperator Vex playing. The man sitting in the center of the room watching the monitors turned his seat and looked at them. Bo Katan, Koska, Din and Sabine stood at attention while Kanan leaned against the wall donning Tarre's Mark 82 armour.

The man stood up and walked towards them, his hands behind his back. "What are your TK numbers troopers?", he asked.

"LS-223, LS-109, LS-084 and LS-112, reporting sir.", Bo Katan answered.

"Who is this?", he asked looking at Kanan.

"Just a man waiting for his payment.", Kanan answered.

"He helped us capture the Republic saboteurs, sir.", Sabine said.

"Who is your commanding officer?", the man turned towards Sabine.

"Moff Gideon sir. He was killed by the New Republic saboteurs.", Sabine answered. Bo Katan then stepped in and told the commander how this bounty hunter (Kanan) was hired by Gideon and helped save them and capture the three prisoners.

"Such a tragedy.", the man said though his tone conveyed his joy at the news of Gideon's supposed death.

"You will give me a detailed report trooper.", he said looking at Bo Katan. Before Bo Katan could begin, an alarm beeped.

"Report.", Rax said.

"Sir, there is a disturbance in the prison cells.", one of the other troopers answered.

"What is it exactly?", Rax asked.

"A small group of fighters are breaking the prisoners out.", came the reply.

Rax then turned to the four troopers and said, "Get to the detention level and incapacitate the prisoners." Following this he looked at the bounty hunter, "I will double your pay if you bring the aggressors down."

Within the prison cell, Ahsoka looked at Hera and asked, "Did you feel that?"

"Yes.", she answered.

"Feel what?", Zeb asked.

"There is a void in the force. It's unusual and it's close-by.", Ahsoka said. She and Hera began to undo their cuffs, when they heard a massive alarm.

"What is that?", Zeb asked. Hera used the force to undo the bonds of all three and said, "Whatever it is, can work in our favour."

The three then opened their cells and got to work. Ahsoka and Hera used the force to incapacitate the nearest stormtroopers and Zeb bashed the heads of the two closest to him. They then ran into Chopper who had located Rau's cell. He beeped that there was a small group headed there as well and was causing all manner of ruckus on the way.

"How many are there?", Hera asked.

"Three.", Chopper beeped.

The four then started to make their way to Rau's cell. Along the way Chopper gave Ahsoka her lightsabers, Hera her blaster and Zeb picked up a stormtroopers gun. His bo-rifle was with Kanan, hidden in Tarre's armour.

As the group moved forward, they saw glimpse of three individuals, one male in Mandalorian armour, and two Ithorian bounty hunters. The Mandalorian looked at them, Hera approached him and asked, "Axe Woves?", as she and the others dodged blaster fire and shot back. Ahsoka was in the front deflecting all the bolts.

"Yeah.", Woves answered.

"We're with Bo Katan.", Hera said as she focused, remembering her training Hera froze all the blaster bolts coming towards them along with the stormtroopers firing them. She pushed out her hands throwing the troopers into the walls, and used the force to deflect the bolts towards the security feeds on the ceiling.

Zeb, Woves and the two bounty hunters looked at this in shock. "Keep moving.", Hera barked an order. Ahsoka was already in front of them. As they reached the cell block, both Ahsoka and Hera yelled get down, as two large droids jumped over them. These were generation three darktroopers, but the two of them felt a sinister presence – a dark side user.

In the control room, Moff Rax was wondering what the young inquisitor he had found in hiding after Darth Vader had destroyed the Inquisitorius was doing. He wasn't worried about the inquisitor turning against him, due to the slave collar and the brainwashing serum Rax had used to ensure absolute obedience. There was also the added the bonus that the inquisitor – Fourth Sister was also an attractive woman who Rax used to vent all forms of his frustration and fulfill his every need.

As Kanan, Sabine and the other three made their way down to the detention blocks, they sensed two anomalies, one was a void in the force and the other was the presence of a dark side user. Sabine glanced at Kanan who nodded in return. Kanan then contacted Hera, "What's your location?"

"We're nearing Rau's cell. Kanan there is an inquisitor here and something else. We've also joined up with Axe Woves who has two bounty hunters with him.", Hera answered.

Kanan told the rest of the group. As the group exited the elevator, they made their way to the detention blocks all the while disabling security feeds and attacking stormtroopers on the way.

"What's the situation?", Kanan heard Tarre's voice. Kanan quickly informed Tarre and then asked what could cause the void.

"Void? I don't know. In all my life I've only known one person who was always a literal void in the force without even trying to be one. You must be wary, this is a powerful being.", Tarre said.

Back on their way, Ahsoka had engaged the inquisitor while Hera engaged the dark troopers. Meanwhile Zeb had gone ahead with Woves and the others on Hera's order. Ahsoka could feel Hera's power, ever since her training with Thor had begun there was a dramatic change in Hera. Ahsoka felt that Hera could even defeat her, 'Thor's blood does flow through her', she thought. She then focused on her opponent who seemed more unhinged than any inquisitor she had fought in the past, like a rancor that had been caged. Ahsoka had no problem fending off her opponent's attacks until they started to get more intense. 'No problem', she thought as she saw Hera make quick work of the dark troopers leaving nothing but crushed metal behind. Hera then quickly turned around to help Ahsoka, when the floor was suddenly electrified. As if this wasn't bad enough, when the ceiling was magnetized causing their weapons to fly up. Fourth Sister was unaffected by this, although she had lost her weapon, her attire protected her from the electricity. She then used the force to choke both Hera and Ahsoka who were reeling under the effect of the electricity.

Hera then focused through the pain, this was nothing compared to the training she and Kanan had undergone with Thor. She extended her hand throwing the fourth sister away, giving her and Ahsoka to recover their weapons and disable the security response. A moment later they saw Kanan flying towards them struggling a bit Tarre's suit. He landed next to them with a thump and was followed by the rest of the crew. They then quickly headed towards Zeb.

"As expected, the traitors have fallen into our trap. Tell the inquisitor to lead all dark troopers and exterminate everyone in the detention blocks.", Moff Rax said.

"But sir, there are loyal stormtroopers down there.", one of the operators protested. In response there was a blaster shot and the operator dropped dead.

"Anyone else?", Rax asked. There was no answer.

"Good."

Reaching Zeb, the group found out a half dead Fenn Rau being supported by Axe Woves. The bounty hunters were fending off a bunch of stormtroopers, and were being overwhelmed. The four force users felt the void close, very close.

They then felt a disturbance and turned behind, "Reunions will have to wait. They lured us into a trap.", Kanan said. The walls, ceilings were again electrified, they were surrounded on all sides by scores of dark troopers, atleast a hundred in every direction and leading them was the Fourth Sister.

"Tarre, we need backup.", Kanan whispered. He felt one of the stormtroopers looking at him after this, and through the force he discovered – the void. She looked at him, Asha had finally found someone who could lead her to her brother.

A minute later Kanan heard Tarre say, "Backup is on the way. Get Jetpacks." They all heard a rumble coming from above when suddenly Mjolnir dropped from above destroying the ceiling and crushing the troopers in its path. The hammer then rose and flew straight into the darktroopers. The Fourth Sister dodged its path and launched towards her enemies. She was intercepted by the female stormtrooper – Asha. Ahsoka, Hera, Sabine and Kanan could feel that this stormtrooper was the void in the force. As quickly as they could, the rescue crew made their way up.

Beneath them fourth sister was stumped, her enemy was unique – she tried to choke her, to throw her using the force but nothing worked.

"Are you supposed to be a sith assassin?", her opponent asked. Asha could not believe just how weak this assassin was.

"I am an Inquisitor – The Fourth Sister.", fourth sister snarled before speeding towards her opponent and launching an attack, which Asha dodged easily. Asha then responded with a punch that the inquisitor dodged at the last moment. Her punch landed on a dark trooper crushing it. Fourth Sister gasped and in the next moment she was knocked out by a kick to her side. Asha then saw Axe Woves who looked at her. Rau was with Bo Katan and Sabine. Woves then activated his Jetpack extending his hand which Asha took as they flew out of there.