Lothal's New Leaders:

D26/1 BBY, Lothal

The T-6 shuttle came out of hyperspace in front of the burning planet of Lothal. Ahsoka and Lux gasped in dismay. "Oh my Force," she whispered sadly. "No wonder Ezra was so desperate to liberate his planet. Look what they've done to it." She suddenly realized that there was something missing from the depressing picture. "Where is the Imperial fleet? Mothma said there was a blockade around this planet."

Lux shrugged. "Your guess is as good as mine."

Ahsoka flew the shuttle down to the planet. "There's no way that Ezra and Hera managed to do this on their own, no matter how resourceful they are." She flew towards Capital City and blinked in shock at the smoking wreckage of the Imperial Dome that still floated in the ocean beside Capital City with a few lucky survivors swimming for shore. "I guess I underestimated them. I can't believe they managed to destroy a Dome."

As she guided the shuttle above Capital City, they saw thousands upon thousands of people celebrating in the ruins of the city. "I think we missed all the fun," Lux said dryly.

Ahsoka shot him a glance. "No kidding."

She eventually found the Ghost parked beside an old communications tower just past the city and landed her shuttle beside it. They left the shuttle and walked onto the Ghost, Ahsoka yelling "hello?"

When she got no response, she climbed the ladder, Lux following behind, and walked down the hallway to the common room. The door opened and she saw a whole lot of people crammed into the small space, balancing plates as they ate what smelled like reheated rations. They all looked up at her and basically gasped as one. Ahsoka looked from face to face. "Chopper, Zeb, Agent Kallus?, Wolffe, Ketsu, Hondo?, Visago?, Ugnaught I don't know, Mart Mattin? What are you doing here? And... REX!"

Rex put his plate on the dejarik table and jumped up to meet Ahsoka halfway in a tight hug. "Ahsoka. You're supposed to be dead. But I'm very glad you're not." Rex pulled back and looked at the man Ahsoka had brought with her. "You look... sort of familiar."

Ahsoka grinned at Rex. "That's Lux. You remember him?"

"Of course. How could I forget the brat who followed you with puppy eyes? And I see things haven't changed much," he teased, making the man flush bright red.

Ahsoka looked around the group again. "Where's Ezra, and Sabine, and Hera?"

Rex sighed. "Sabine and Hera are in the tower. Ezra... Well, I'll let them explain. I'm not too sure myself."

A feeling of dread settled in Ahsoka's chest. She nodded and turned to leave. "Lux, stay here, okay? I have a feeling the girls and I are going to be having a very sad talk."

He nodded and she touched his arm in passing. His eyes stayed on her figure until the closing door hid it from view. Lux sighed and faced the room full of strangers except for Rex, whom he hadn't seen for too many years to count.

Rex laughed at the younger looking man who was actually older than him but it would never feel that way to either of them. "You have it bad, son."

Lux shook his head ruefully. "I always have."

"Ahsoka! You're alive!"

Ahsoka looked from Hera to Sabine and back. "You know... I've heard that an awful lot lately. I'm getting the impression that Ezra didn't tell anyone that he saved me. I wonder why not? And would someone please tell me where he is?"

"Ezra saved you? When?" Hera asked, eyes still wide with shock.

"Ezra's... gone." Sabine said softly at the same time, her eyes filling with tears again, that she wiped away quickly. She walked towards the balcony door, and fresh air, taking the time to get her act back together.

Hera and Ahsoka looked at each other knowingly and followed Sabine outside. They found her leaning against the wall just beside the door, staring off blankly towards Capital City.

Hera leaned against the wall beside Sabine, and Ahsoka propped herself on the railing facing them. Ahsoka studied the other women. They both looked like they'd been crying, a lot. And both of them clung to lightsabres almost as if they didn't even know they were. She didn't recognize the one Sabine was holding, but she assumed it was Ezra's replacement for the one destroyed on Malachor. The one Hera held was definitely Kanan's. The songs of the Kyber crystals in them were faint, but what she did sense was the very melancholic humming that was the sad song of a Kyber Crystal that has been parted from its Jedi. She touched her own lightsabres reflexively, just to reaffirm the connection with her crystals. They hummed happily back to her, bringing with it a sense of belonging.

Just out of curiosity, despite already knowing it would probably be futile, Ahsoka swept her senses out in a search for Ezra's Force signature. She didn't feel it anywhere, but there was a new Force signature right in front of her that was already very strong in the Force. Ahsoka's brow markings rose in surprise and she stared at Hera's stomach in shock for a moment before realizing that was a little rude. She blinked and looked at Hera's face, who'd caught her looking. Hera nodded, and smiled a little sheepishly. "It just sort of... happened?" she said by way of explanation.

Ahsoka chuckled. "I think there was more to it than that, but I'm happy for you. I am sorry that Kanan is gone, but I can tell you that he most definitely knew. Ezra said that Kanan saw everything through the Force after he was blinded. Without a doubt, he would have sensed the new life."

Hera went from somewhat embarrassed to grateful. "That is what I thought as well. It's nice to have it confirmed. He would have loved to raise our... child," her voice broke, and she choked back yet another sob that tried to escape. Hera wiped the tears from her eyes determinedly. She sucked in a breath and held up a hand to stop both Sabine and Ahsoka from speaking more condolences. Sabine sidled a little closer anyway and rested her shoulder against Hera's, lending her support. "I'm fine," Hera said firmly. "I just need more time to process everything that's happened." She glanced from Ahsoka to Sabine. "Obviously, we have a lot of catching up to do and many stories to tell. Why don't we all go back to the Ghost and say them only once? I know there are quite a few people who'd like to hear your story Ahsoka. And we'll tell you what we know about what Ezra's done. Although that's not much, I'm afraid." Hera sighed and shook her head at the insanity of Ezra's scheme. She still couldn't believe that he'd called the purrgil and not told anyone his plan. She was going to give him a severe talking to for that whenever he got back. After hugging the living daylights out of him first.

With thirteen people and a droid crowded around the edges of the common room, it was more than an intimate setting for storytelling. Hera quickly came to the conclusion that there were a few people in here that didn't need to know some of the things that were going to be said. Hera looked at the youngest person in the room. "Mart, why don't you take the Phantom 2 and drop off Visago, Hondo, and Melch at the Imperial holding yard? Visago's ship must be there somewhere." Visago lit up at the thought of being reunited with his ship. Hera then looked at the pirate. "And Hondo, as a thank you for all your assistance, feel free to take whatever ship you want from the Imperial shipyard. There must be something there that will suit your needs."

Hondo grinned and rubbed his hands together. "You hear that Melch? We're going ship hunting. Now this is what I call fun." Melch gave a piggy squeal in agreement.

As Mart was climbing the ladder up to the Phantom, Hera called to him again. "Oh, and get a hold of Ryder and pick him up from wherever he is. I'd like to thank him for everything he's done for us."

"Got it, General." Mart gave a quick salute and kept climbing, followed by the others being gently kicked off the ship.

Hera looked at who was left assessingly and decided they could all keep a secret. The man she didn't recognize seemed to be with Ahsoka, since she'd stood literally right beside him, all but leaning against side. She went on the assumption that he was trustworthy based on that.

Ahsoka caught her looking at Lux assessingly and introduced them. "Lux, this is General Hera Syndulla. You may have heard her father, General Cham Syndulla."

Lux smiled and nodded in greeting. "Nice to meet you, General. And yes, I've heard of your father. I think almost everyone has. He's quite famous for his deeds on Ryloth."

Hera rolled her eyes but chose not to comment.

Ahsoka continued the introductions. "And Hera, this is Senator Lux Bonteri of Onderon. He's my... friend."

Hera wasn't the only one who caught the steamy glance between the two of them. If they weren't more than friends yet, she'd bet the Phantom that they would be sooner than later. "It's nice to meet you as well, Senator," Hera said with an equal nod.

Ahsoka introduced Sabine to Lux as well. He stopped her before she got into the rest of the people on the ship, saying that Rex had already done the honours.

Zeb disappeared for a minute and came back from the galley carrying plates of food for Hera and Sabine. He raised a brow at Ahsoka questioningly, but she shook her head. She and Lux had eaten on the way here.

Hera smiled at him gratefully. "Thanks, Zeb."

Zeb smiled back. "Someone's got to take care of you, now that Kanan isn't here anymore to make sure you eat often enough."

Hera smiled mistily. "You're more right than you know, Zeb." She decided that now was as good a time as any to tell everyone her news. It's not like she'd be able to keep it a secret for long. "I'm eating for two now."

Zeb's lime green eyes almost popped out of his head, and then he broke out in the biggest grin Hera had ever seen on his face. He carefully gathered Hera up into his arms and laughed, while twirling them around in a circle. "That's the best news I've heard in a long time, Hera!" he boomed.

Hera held her plate carefully and tried to wiggle to get down. "Okay, Zeb. You can put me down now. Please. I'm getting dizzy."

Zeb put her down apologetically. "Sorry, Hera. It's just, I've been waiting years for you and Kanan to have a kit for me to love." He grinned again and looked at Kallus. "I'm going to be an uncle!"

Kallus grinned back and gave him a hearty pat on the back before congratulating Hera on the new addition. Her strange behaviour from yesterday made a whole lot more sense now.

Hera endured many rounds of congratulations for a few minutes. "Thank you everyone, but now we have some stories to share. Starting with Ahsoka's, I think. I'm sure I'm not the only one who wants to know how you survived Malachor and Darth Vader."

Everyone nodded and looked at Ahsoka eagerly. Ahsoka sighed. "As you probably know, I was fighting Darth Vader when the Temple closed us in." She thought about telling them that Darth Vader was actually her Master, Anakin Skywalker, but decided against it. The legend of Anakin didn't need to be tainted with what he'd become. "The Temple was about to explode...

Much gawking and exclamations of disbelief later.

...And here I am. Finding Ezra as promised. Except he's not here. Something tells me he's not going to be as easy to find as I thought." Ahsoka finished her story and looked at the others for confirmation.

Sabine choked on a laugh. "You have no idea. Although that does clear up one thing for me. I know what Ezra was counting on me for now, and it isn't finding him." She smirked at Ahsoka. "Apparently that job falls to you."

"Yes, but what happened to him to that I have to find him?" Ahsoka asked, dying to know, after all the little hints she'd heard that explained absolutely nothing.

Sabine sighed and fidgeted with the lightsabre she'd absently unhooked from her belt yet again. She quickly explained everything that had happened that day. The fight at base camp. Capturing Pryce with the help of the lothwolves. Infiltrating the Dome. The bombardment on the city by Thrawn's star destroyer's. Ezra's sacrifice. And then the final shocker. "You remember that encounter we had with the purrgil when we went on a fuel run a couple years back?"

Ahsoka nodded. For her, that was only a couple months ago, but she didn't think they needed the reminder that she'd been nonexistent for awhile.

"Ezra must have talked to them more then he let on, because he summoned them back somehow and had them drag Thrawn's entire 7th Fleet and about twenty other star destroyers away. Apparently for it to work, he needed to go with them, because that's what he did. And now we don't know where he is. He did leave a message implying that he'd be back someday, so that's something." Sabine's voice went a little hard and resentful. "He knew he was leaving, and he didn't tell anyone. Not really. He could have told us about the purrgil coming to save the day." Sabine's eyes met Ahsoka's. "When you find him, punch him for me, would you? I owe him one for not telling me his plans."

Ahsoka grinned. "I think I can manage that. I'm not kissing him for you though. You'll have to do that yourself."

Sabine went bright red and crossed her arms over her chest defensively, glaring daggers at anyone who dared to laugh. Which was everyone of course.

"Soooo, " Ahsoka said to take the attention off Sabine and back on her, feeling guilty for making her embarrassed. "Does anyone at least know where I should start looking?"

Hera nudged Chopper with a toe. "Did you manage to track their direction?"

Chopper beeped an affirmative. He projected a holo map of the known galaxy with Lothal lit up and a dotted line showing the trajectory of the hyperspace jump.

Everyone groaned in unison. "He's in uncharted space." Hera said. "That's not good. And who knows how long they'll stay in hyperspace for." She looked at Ahsoka sympathetically. "I'm afraid you have a long road ahead of you. You won't be able to use lightspeed to search for him. It's too dangerous."

Ahsoka's eyes were still on the star map. "No. I'm afraid I won't. Except for short jumps when the sensors can clearly see what's in front of us, this could take a very long time." She shook her head ruefully. "Ezra Bridger, you really did it this time," she muttered to herself.

Sabine heard her anyway. "Did he ever. He's in so much trouble when he gets back."

Ahsoka looked at her sympathetically. "Don't be too hard on him. He only did what the Force told him to and what he felt was best for everyone. Who knows? Perhaps it was the only path open to him that didn't endanger the rest of you. We did encounter Darth Sidious in the world between worlds and he knew who Ezra was. Wherever Ezra has gone will at least take him off of the Sith Lord's radar for now and the rest of you, know that he's not with you."

"That goes for you as well," Hera pointed out. "I'm sure the Sith would love to get their hands on you too. Searching for Ezra might be the right thing for you to be doing too. Maybe the Force does know what it's doing."

Sabine sighed to herself and joined the rest of the room in nodding in agreement. Ahsoka had made a very good point. She wouldn't begrudge Ezra for his actions. But she might still punch him for not telling her about the purrgil. She hated surprises and not knowing the plan. He should have known that by now.

Ahsoka looked at the man beside her sorrowfully. "I'm sorry Lux. It looks like we're parting ways again."

Lux shook his head vehemently. "No we're not. I said I was going to be you shadow, and I meant it. I'm not going to let you go on this journey all by yourself. You'd be bored to tears for one thing." He smiled hopefully, praying that she didn't reject him.

"But what about your job as the Senator of Onderon?" Ahsoka asked, not noticing how Kallus flinched at the name. But Zeb did. He put a comforting hand on Kallus' shoulder for a moment, having already heard the story about Kallus' soul shattering encounter with Gerrera's Lasat mercenary many years ago on Onderon.

"I'll step down. I'm sick of politics anyway. I've been a Senator since I was eighteen. I've more than done my duty to my planet." Lux's eyes pleaded with Ahsoka.

She sighed. "If this is really what you want?" He nodded eagerly. "Alright. You can keep me company." Ahsoka pressed a gentle kiss to his cheek while Lux looked like he'd just been handed the sun as a present. "Thank you, Lux." She smiled at him with her heart in her eyes for him alone to see. Lux beamed and returned the look.

Hera was reluctant to interrupt their moment, but... "You'll need supplies for a long trip. You better come to Yavin 4 with us before you start."

Ahsoka pulled herself away from Lux's bottomless storm cloud eyes and looked at Hera. "Yes, that would be best. Thank you, Hera."

At that moment, everyone heard the Phantom 2 docking above them. A minute later, feet were seen descending the ladder. Mart found a spot against a wall and Ryder looked around at the assembled. "I was just looking at that old communications tower you guys are parked beside. One of the first things we're going to have to do is get that up and running again. The Imperials wiped out our newer towers when they occupied the planet and you just took out their Dome, which I'm assuming is what they were using as a their main long range communication centre, since they destroyed their own comm tower a few years ago."

Sabine and Hera glanced at each other. "Ezra's not going to like that. That tower's been his home since he was seven and his parents were taken away by the Empire," Sabine said solemnly.

"Oh," Ryder said, enthusiasm draining from his face. Then it lit up again. "What if we refurbished it in such a way that he could still have an apartment in it? Surely it's large enough for that? I owe that boy more than he knows. It was my idea for his parents to make those underground broadcasts. I cost him his parents and now he's saved our planet. Making him a new apartment seems like the least I could do for him."

"It sounds like it," Sabine said with narrowed eyes at the older man. "And I'll help you with the renovations and getting the tower back up and running. We'll also need to train a new military, get the government functioning again, clean up the mess, repurpose whatever Imperial items were left behind, and probably a million other small details that I don't even want to think about."

Ryder looked at Sabine in surprise. "We?"

Hera looked at Sabine as well. "Yes, what we?"

Sabine gave them back her best determined face. "I'm basing myself here on Lothal from now on. Ezra said he was counting on me and this is what I've decided is what he meant. Putting his planet back together and protecting it is going to be my main priority. Whenever I can, I'll still come help the rebellion, but I'm sure it won't be very often. At least not at first."

Hera looked shocked. "I can't believe you're leaving me too."

Sabine shook her head and hugged Hera. "I'm not, Hera. I'm just going to be a little further away. That's all. I'll come with you to Yavin 4 and pick up Ezra's Gauntlet. Then I'll just be a comm call and a hyperspace jump away."

Hera hugged Sabine back and rested her forehead on the girl's armoured shoulder for a moment. "Alright. I suppose that's acceptable. If this is what you feel you need to do, I can't stop you."

Sabine pulled back and smiled weakly at Hera. "Yes, I'm afraid it is. Thank you for understanding." She glanced pointedly at Hera's stomach. "And when that one shows up, you can recuperate here on Lothal with me. I've always wanted another little sibling; my brother grew up much too fast and he really doesn't count as being little anymore."

Hera laughed softly and hugged Sabine again.

Sabine got back to business and addressed Ryder. "I'm assuming you can take care of things for a couple of days until I get back?"

Ryder raised a brow at the young woman. "I think I'm more than capable of running a planet. Even one in chaos. I WAS the Governor here before the Empire showed up years ago." Sabine flushed at the gentle chiding. "Your help will be greatly appreciated though. Especially in military matters. I doubt there are many left on Lothal who actually know how to fight."

Sabine was reassured by his words. "Thank you for thinking of my fighting skills, but I can do so much more than train people to fight. I'm also an engineer and a slicer. If you need something built, I can do it. Like that old comm tower over there. Give me a decent crew and I'll have it running again in two days."

Ryder was surprised. He'd thought she was just another trigger happy Mandalorian.

Zeb noticed. "She's not exaggerating. She once built a shield generator out of a few spare parts for our base on Atallon. And it held up under a barrage by Star Destroyers."

Hera added a few things too. "She's also a linguist, an artist, and an excellent leader. You really couldn't ask for a better right hand to help you put this planet back on track."

Sabine blushed at all the praise. Ryder looked at her with new eyes. "I apologize for underestimating you. I will greatly appreciate anything you are willing to do for Lothal. The very first thing we need to do is get control of all the people of the city. Did you see them? They're going nuts right now. If we don't calm them down, they'll start looting or something, and we don't need that."

Sabine thought for a moment and then grinned. "I know how to get their attention. Then you can give them your first official speech as the new / old Governor of Lothal." She turned to Chopper. "Come on Chop. I need your help."

Ryder watched the girl run out of the room, followed by the droid. He looked at Hera with raised brows. She just shrugged in return.

Fifteen minutes later, Sabine called over the ship's comm for Hera and Ryder to come to the bridge. Of course everyone else followed, dying of curiosity, packing themselves into the small space, before Hera sighed and pointed to the ladder so some could go down to the nose gun area and watch from there.

"Hera, can you fly the Ghost to the outskirts of the city and high enough so everyone can see it?" Sabine asked Hera. Hera nodded. Sabine grabbed Ryder by the arm. "Come on. We're going on top of the Ghost." Ryder looked at Hera wide eyed, but she just smirked at him as he was dragged away.

Ryder looked at the slapped together equipment that was being held by Chopper, who was already on top of the Ghost. He braced his feet as the ship took off and flew towards the city. "So what are we doing?" he asked the grinning girl, who rode the top of the ship easily.

"Getting their attention." As the Ghost came to a hover at the edge of the city, Sabine lobbed a bomb out into the sky. Ryder didn't think that was such a good idea, but a second later, it exploded into fireworks. Ryder's face turned up into a grin. Sabine handed him the next one. "Your turn."

"Don't mind if I do." Ryder hucked the bomb with all his might and laughed when it exploded into more fireworks. "Those are really clever."

"Thank you, I invented them for another op we did here years ago during an Empire Day parade. They're one of my favourite inventions," Sabine said as she watched the fireworks. "Alright. I hope you have a good speech ready. If that didn't get their attention, nothing will," she nodded at the thousands of figures they could see now standing still and facing them.

"Right." Ryder took a deep breath and got his thoughts in order.

"You ready Chopper?" Sabine asked. Chopper beeped an affirmative. "Just start talking," she told Ryder. "Chopper's going to project your image into the sky and amplify your voice."

Ryder nodded and faced the droid. He saw an enormous hologram of himself face the city. "This is the former Governor of Lothal, Ryder Azadi, and Force willing, your new Governor again. I have been working with a small Rebel group to win our planet back from the Empire. As you can see, we have succeeded." He heard a massive cheer come from the city, and Ryder smiled. "We owe our success to the brave sacrifice of two Jedi who have fought for this planet for years. I know the Jedi are just a myth now, but they do in fact still exist. Or at least they did. Without the dedication of Kanan Jarrus and Ezra Bridger to the cause, we would not be free right now. You may not remember them, but Ezra Bridger was the son of two of our very first Rebels. He is also the one who made the very inspirational broadcast that started new Rebellions across the galaxy. And he was OUR very own Jedi. It was Ezra Bridger who called the Purrgil to take the 7th Fleet away. And it was Kanan Jarrus who got the Empire to blow up their own Fuel Depot and shut down their factories. I implore you to not let their sacrifice be in vain. Please let there be order and calm in the city. I will be reorganizing the government and will be looking for people who are interested in leadership roles. We also have the help of a very experienced military leader in putting together our own military and planetary defence systems. This planet WILL stay under our control. We won't let the Empire take over again!" The city cheered again. Ryder waited for the noise to die down. "If anyone has any questions or concerns, you can find me in the old City Council building, assuming it's still standing. Thank you for hearing me out, and in memory of my friends, may the Force be with you."