I don't own Star Wars or its characters
I only own Lisa Naberrie Skywalker and my other OCs. Enjoy!
Sparks of Rebellion
Chapter 16: The Siege of Lothal Part 2
Darth Vader walked towards Kanan, Ezra and Ferus causing them to activate their lightsabers while the stormtroopers move to flank the other rebels.
"Hera, go!"Kanan ordered. "We'll cover you!"
"Ferus, look out!"Hera shouted.
Ferus noticed Lady Shade rushing towards him causing him to quickly block her blood red lightsabers and they began duelling each other.
Zeb and Sabine get in a firefight with the stormtroopers to cover Hera and Chopper as they load the shield generators onto the shuttle and prepare to take off.
Kanan and Ezra engage Vader in a lightsaber duel, but they are easily overpowered.
When Kanan was knocked out of the fight, Ezra attempted to fight Vader alone, but the Sith Lord uses the force to pin him against a wall.
"Your master has deceived you into believing you can become a Jedi."Darth Vader taunted.
He then began using the force bring Ezra's own lightsaber toward the padawan's throat.
Kanan woke up and saw Vader was about to kill Ezra causing him to rush towards the Dark Lord to fight him again.
Ezra got released from Vader's force hold and dropped on the floor.
Kanan ends up getting slashed on the shoulder by the Dark Lord's counterattack.
Hera went up to Chopper.
"Get ready to fly us outta here!"She stated.
Chopper beeped in response.
Ferus tried to slash Lady Shade by the stomach but the sith lady easily blocked his blow and zapped him with her force lightening.
"Have you learned nothing?"Lady Shade scoffed.
Ferus weakly reached out for a small detonator from his belt and threw it at his ex-wife.
Lady Shade slashed the small device and continued to duel the jedi knight.
Sabine and Zeb hid behind a bunch of crates.
"You know what I do in hopeless situations?"Sabine asked taking out a few detonators and gave them to Zeb.
"Yeah."Zeb responded with a smirk. "Blow stuff up."
Zeb and Sabine throw thermal detonators onto some nearby AT-DP walkers, scattering the stormtroopers and distracting Vader.
"Aim for the walkers."Kanan instructed.
Ezra reached out to the force to drop the walkers behind Vader.
"Now!"Kanan ordered.
Ezra and Kanan used the Force to knock the Dark Lord of the Sith off-balance as the walkers crash down on him.
But then they heard a screeching sound and saw Vader using the force to lift the burning walkers into the air, with not even a scratch on him.
"If that doesn't kill him, what will?!"Ezra asked.
"Not us."Kanan replied. "Run!"
"Go, Chop!"Hera ordered and looked at her companions. "Come on! Come on!"
Zeb and Sabine went into the shuttle followed by Kanan and Ezra.
Sabine opened fire on Vader to try and delay him.
However Vader deflected the blaster shots back at her, scorching her chest-plate and helmet.
Kanan notice Ferus was still duelling Lady Shade.
"Ferus, come on!"Kanan called out.
Ferus became alarmed when he saw Vader coming his way making him force push Lady Shade away and make a run towards the shuttle.
Ferus quickly jumped into the ramp and glanced at Vader before it closed and the shuttle took off.
Lady Shade stared at the stolen shuttle as she stood up and glared at it from behind her mask.
A stormtrooper rushed up to Vader.
"My lord, I will mobilize our fighters to pursue."He said.
"That will be unnecessary, Commander."Vader replied. "The rebels will not leave the planet yet."
Inside the Shuttle...
Ferus sat next to Ezra and Kanan, but was still a bit traumatised of what he and his companions just faced.
"Zeb, make sure they can't track us."Hera said.
"Consider it done."Zeb replied and walked away.
Hera checked on Sabine.
"You all right?"She asked.
"Yeah, I'll live."Sabine answered as she removed her helmet.
"Kanan, what was that?"Ezra asked. "Another Inquisitor?"
"No, something worse."Kanan responded.
"What?"Ezra asked.
"A Sith Lord."Kanan answered. "The ancient enemy of the Jedi."
"How do we fight him?"Ezra asked.
"Fight him?"Kanan questioned in disbelief. "Ezra, we were lucky to survive."
"Ferus, the lady you were fighting was she a sith too?"Ezra asked.
"Yes Bridger and an assassin."Ferus responded with a hint of fear. "But learn this lesson; you try to fight her or that sith lord, you die."
"Then that settles it."Hera said. "I'm going to make for orbit so we can jump away."
"Hera, no."Kanan answered. "He will have a blockade of Destroyers waiting for us."
"And this shuttle is slow, with barely any weapons or shields."Sabine admitted as she held on a ladder. "We're gonna have to smuggle ourselves off Lothal for a change."
"Mmm, that's not a bad idea."Hera agreed.
"What are you thinking?"Kanan asked.
"I'm thinking we know the right man to smuggle us off-world."Hera stated and went up the ladder.
Kanan and Ezra looked at each other.
"Not him!"Kanan and Ezra said in unison.
"Huh?"Ferus questioned in confusion.
At the Imperial Center...
"My lord, our scans have indicated that the stolen shuttle has not attempted to leave the system."Agent Kallus reported.
"Fear has driven them to ground."Vader stated. "There is a refugee camp the rebels have provided aid to in the past."
"Yes, Tarkintown they call it."Agent Kallus said. "You suspect the rebels are in hiding there?"
"No, but I want you to burn it."Vader replied. "The compassion of the rebels is a weakness, one we will exploit."
"Yes, my lord."Agent Kallus answered.
He then walked away leaving the Sith Lord by himself.
Back in the Shuttle...
Kanan and Hera contacted Lando.
"Well, hello there, Captain Syndulla."Lando greeted. "This is a pleasant surprise. What can I do for you?"
"This isn't a social call, Lando."Kanan stated with a frown. "It's business, we need your help to smuggle something off Lothal."
"Past the Imperial blockade."Hera said.
"You know, if the Empire learns I got involved, it'd be all over for me."Lando reminded. "I'd be taking an awful big risk."
Kanan sighed. "What do you want?"
"What have you got?"Lando asked.
"Imperial shield generators."Hera replied. "Military grade."
"Ooh now that's merchandise I can move."Lando remarked. "How many we talking about?"
"Two."Hera answered.
"Two? You are no gambler, Hera."Lando stated. "Offering me two means you've got at least six, so I think, three is probably fair."
"Fair?"Hera questioned. "You're taking half."
"Those shields won't do you much good if you're dead."Lando reminded.
"Three it is."Kanan admitted in defeat. "So we have a deal?"
"While I'm not on Lothal at the moment, my droid is."Lando said. "Go to my operation, and he'll set you up with everything you need."
Then the hologram went off.
The Next Morning...
The shuttle landed in the empty fields and Lando's droid W1-LE greeted the rebels upon their arrival.
"You must be Lando's droid."Hera said.
"Yes, ma'am."W1-LE replied. "Welcome, I have prepared everything according to Calrissian's instructions, is one of you a mechanic?"
"Oh, that must be me."Sabine answered proudly.
Chopper beeped at her.
"Definitely not you."Sabine stated.
Ezra notice the smoke from Tarkintown causing he to grab a speeder and heads in the direction.
"Hey, kid!"Zeb called out.
"Just let him go, Zeb."Kanan replied.
Ezra arrived at Tarkintown and saw the charred remains of the settlement.
Kanan and Ferus arrived in their speeders then went next to Ezra.
"There's no one."Ezra said sadly. "They're all gone."
"They're prisoners of the Empire now."Kanan responded.
"All I sense is evil."Ezra admitted. "Why would they burn Tarkintown?"
"To spread fear, make us afraid."Ferus replied bitterly. "The people that lived here just got caught in the middle."
"This happened because of us?"Ezra asked.
"There's a cost for any action we take now, Ezra."Kanan answered. "Things are getting worse just as they did back when I was your age but back then, there were 10,000 Jedi Knights protecting the galaxy."
"Now there's just you, me, Ferus and Lisa."Ezra commented.
"Against an Empire."Kanan said.
"We can fight!"Ezra stated. "We have allies."
"Do you understand what you're saying?"Kanan questioned. "You saw what we're up against, look!"
"I'm not afraid."Ezra replied.
"That's what worries me."Kanan answered.
The three jedi returned to Calrissian's farm.
"What happened out there?"Hera asked.
"The Empire burned Tarkintown."Kanan replied.
"Did anyone survive?"Sabine asked.
"The population's been taken captive."Ezra responded.
"Let's go bust 'em out."Zeb suggested. "Where's my rifle?"
"No."Ferus stated. "He'd be waiting."
Kanan looked at Hera.
"You were right."He said. "We have no choice, we have to leave."
"For the good of Lothal."Hera answered.
"So what's the plan for gettin' out of here?"Ezra asked.
"Lando had these old transponders lying around."Hera replied. "Sabine's gonna tune their signature codes to match this shuttle's."
"Sounds like a lousy Lando plan."Kanan remarked.
Zeb chuckled in response.
"No, it's Lando's gear."Sabine said. "It was my plan, with these transponders beaming out the same signal as the shuttle, we should be able to slip by unnoticed."
"Ooh, sounds like a lousy Sabine plan."Zeb joked.
"Better than Lando's."Kanan admitted.
Afterwards...
The rebels leave the farm and make their way towards orbit, casting the decoys into the atmosphere as they head for space.
The Star Destroyer Relentless, under the command of Admiral Kassius Konstantine, tracked the signals and the Imperial crew fall for the diversion.
However the rebels successfully make it past the blockade and into hyperspace, with a course set for the rebel fleet.
In Space...
The rebel's shuttle was jumping to hyperspace.
Inside the Shuttle...
"Never thought I'd say this, but thank you, Lando Calrissian."Hera commented.
Chopper beeped at her.
"So if we can't go back to Lothal, where are we going?"Kanan asked.
"What are you talking about, Kanan?"Ferus asked. "Your part of the rebellion now with the rest of your crew."
Kanan looked at his crew.
"Are we?"He asked. "Are we all sure about that?"
"Maybe we could just grab the Ghost and lay low for a while."Sabine suggested.
"I like fighting with Phoenix Squadron."Zeb admitted. "Reminds me of the Honor Guard besides, they're counting on us, wouldn't be right to abandon them now."
"Ezra, what do you think?"Hera asked.
"We can't help Lothal now, but I think the rebels can help us get stronger, so we can go back and change things."Ezra answered. "I think we should stay with the rebel fleet."
Ferus smiled in approval.
Back at the Imperial Center...
Admiral Konstantine contacted Darth Vader and Agent Kallus to report his failure.
"My lord, I regret to inform you that the rebels have escaped Lothal."He reported.
"Have my ship prepared."Vader ordered as he walked out of the office.
"Agent Kallus, I don't think I understand."Admiral Konstantine said.
"There is a tracking device hidden aboard that shuttle."Agent Kallus replied. "Now ready the fleet to deploy."
In Space...
The shuttle arrived back to the rebel fleet.
"Phoenix Home, this is Ghost away team."Hera said. "Clearance code 1-2-1-8-1-5."
"Your clearance code checks out."A man replied. "Welcome home, Ghost team."
The rebels went into the phoenix's command ship.
Chopper rushed in and gave a warning beep.
"Chopper said a transmitter activated on our shuttle moments ago."Sabine stated.
"What does that mean?"Ezra asked.
"It means the Empire tracked us back to the fleet."Kanan responded.
The crew rushed to the command center to inform Commander Sato, Ahsoka and Lisa.
"Commander Sato!"Ferus said. "We need the fleet to jump out of here, our shuttle was tracked."
"Commander, I'm scanning a ship entering our sector. "A rebel soldier reported.
Meanwhile...
Vader's TIE Advanced x1, entered to engage the fleet.
But as the Sith Lord flew to the rebel fleet, he suddenly felt a strong presence of the force coming from within the group of the ships.
It felt familiar but different at the same time.
Thats when he realised that Ferus was not only in the rebel fleet.
Vader placed his thoughts behind as he focused back at the mission at hand.
In the Command Ship...
"We're tracking one target, no other ships have entered the system."the rebel solider said.
"Move Phoenix Squadron to intercept."Commander Sato ordered.
Phoenix Squadron was deployed to fight the Dark Lord.
"Fighter coming in at mark 3."Phoenix 1 reported. "He's coming in too fast!"
"Fleet, raise deflector shields."Hera ordered.
"We've lost Phoenix 1 and 2!"A rebel fighter reported.
Vader—the best starpilot in the galaxy—easily shoots many of the Phoenix forces down.
"He's heading right for us."Ezra said.
The Phoenix Home ship began to rock when the TIE fighter fired at them.
"Enemy fighter's making for the command ship."A rebel solider reported.
"How can one fighter best our entire squadron?"Commander Sato asked.
"Well I can best out any amount of TIE fighters, commander."Lisa replied. "So I guess there can be one from the opposite side."
Ferus eyes widen in shock when he realised who was attacking them.
He looked at Lisa.
"Lisa, come on, we're going back on our ship."Ferus said.
"Why?"Lisa asked.
"Just do as I say."Ferus responded.
The two rushed out of the commander center.
Hera began to rush out as well.
"Uh, what are you doing?"Kanan asked.
"Getting involved."Hera responded.
"Not without me, you're not."Kanan stated.
"Let's go."Sabine said and rushed out of the center. "Ezra, come on!"
"All right if I tag along?"Ahsoka asked.
"The more, the merrier."Ezra responded.
Inside the Ghost...
The Ghost Crew and Ahsoka prepared themselves to go into the fight.
"Everyone, check in."Hera said.
"Tail gun, check!"Zeb admitted.
"Turret, check!"Sabine replied.
"Nose gun, check!"Ezra answered. "Check!"
"All right, kids, do Mom and Dad proud."Hera stated.
"Here he comes."Kanan warned.
In Space...
Vader attacked the Phoenix Home to get more damage making it lose its shields.
Inside Phoenix Home...
"We've lost our shields!"A rebel solider said.
Inside the Ghost...
"Ghost moving to engage."Hera admitted.
Inside the Defender Class Light Corvette...
Lisa used her cannons to fire at the TIE Advanced x1, but the Sith Lord skilfully dodged her attacks.
But she then felt some darkness in the TIE's pilot.
Not only that the force was strangely strong with him.
Very strong.
"Who is this guy?"Lisa asked in concern.
Inside Phoenix Home...
The command center was getting more damage by the TIE fighter.
"Sir, the last attack damaged the hyperdrive core!"A rebel soldier reported. "We are dead in space."
Inside the Ghost...
"Phoenix Home to Ghost."Commander Sato said."We can't withstand another attack from that fighter."
"Copy that."Hera replied. "Phoenix Squadron, form up and focus fire."
"The Force is strong with him."Ahsoka admitted and looked at Kanan. "Kanan, let's find out how strong."
"How can I help?"Kanan asked.
"Just remember your training."Ahsoka responded.
Kanan placed his hand on Ahsoka's shoulder as the two of them reached out to the force.
In Space...
The Ghost and the Defender Class Light Corvette chased after the TIE fighter, but neither Ezra or Lisa were able to hit the foe.
Ezra stopped firing when he felt something familiar in the TIE fighter.
Inside the Ghost...
"There's something familiar, I feel cold."Ezra said. "I think I know who it is. Back on Lothal I felt something, Kanan and Ferus did too, the fear, the anger, the hate, it's the Sith Lord we faced."
Ahsoka's opened her eyes in shock when she felt something about Vader through the Force that terrifies her.
Inside the TIE Fighter...
"The apprentice lives."Darth Vader said.
Inside the Ghost...
"NOOOOO!"Ahsoka screamed in horror.
The female torguta fell unconscious causing Kanan to catch her.
"Ahsoka?"Kanan asked worriedly.
In Space...
The TIE Fighter fired at the Ghost.
Inside Phoenix Home...
"The Imperial pilot broke off his attack!"A rebel solider reported. "They did it!"
Inside the Ghost...
"Captain Syndulla, whatever you're doing, keep it up!"Commander Sato ordered. "The fleet can recover!"
"No!"Hera replied. "Commander, you need to get the fleet out of here now!"
"I will not abandon our command ship."Commander Sato argued.
"You don't have a choice, sir."Hera stated. "Without a hyperdrive, you must abandon ship."
In the Defender Class Light Corvette...
Star Destroyers came to view causing a glare to form on Ferus face.
Ferus scoffed. "Just what we need."
He then pressed a few buttons to activate the hyper drive.
"Dad, what's going on?!"Lisa asked.
"We're going out of here."Ferus responded.
Inside the TIE Fighter...
"Lord Vader, we have entered the system and await your orders."Admiral Konstantine said.
"Move your Destroyers to block their escape, but hold your fire."Darth Vader ordered. "I want these rebels alive."
Inside the Ghost...
"It's now or never, Commander."Hera stated.
"You'll have to keep that fighter occupied."Commander Sato said.
"Don't worry, sir."Hera replied. "We seem to have his attention."
"Suddenly, there's a lot to do back here."Zeb admitted nervously.
"Sorry to spoil your fun, Zeb, but I'm ordering Chopper to divert all power to the hyperdrive, including cannons."Hera answered.
"Hera, what are you doing?"Sabine demanded.
"I think I know."Ezra replied.
Inside a Star Destroyer...
"Admiral, Lord Vader has separated one of the rebel ships from the rest of the fleet."An imperial officer reported.
"Then that is our primary target."Admiral Konstantine answered.
In Space...
Commander Sato and his crew abandon the critically-damaged Phoenix Home, evacuating to the rest of the fleet.
The Ghost keeps Vader occupied during the evacuation before flying towards the Star Destroyers.
Inside the Ghost...
"Ghost crew, the escape pods are secure."Commander Sato stated."Fleet, commence hyperspace jump."
"Copy that, Commander."Hera answered. "We'll meet you at safe haven."
In Space...
The Defender Class Light Corvette and Phoenix Squadron jumped into hyperspace.
Inside the Ghost...
The fleet is away. Get us out of here!
"Everyone, hang on!"Hera stated. "Chopper, angle all deflectors astern."
Chopper beeped at her.
"The Star Destroyers aren't the ones firing at us!"Hera replied. "Now, do it fast!"
Inside the Star Destroyer...
"Target moving into range."the imperial officer reported.
"Activate tractor beam on my signal."Admiral Konstantine ordered.
The Ghost flew towards the two Star Destroyers.
"Hera!"Kanan warned nervously.
"Wait...wait..."Hera said.
"Now."Admiral Konstantine ordered.
In the Ghost...
"Gotcha."Hera snickered.
The ship jumped into hyperspace just in time, leaving Vader's TIE fighter to be captured by the tractor beams in its place.
Inside the Star Destroyer...
"Status report on the rebel craft."Admiral Konstantine said.
"Sir, we've locked onto a ship, but it's not the rebel craft."the imperial officer responded. "It's Lord Vader's ship."
The imperials in the ship became horrified hearing that.
"Release...Release him immediately."Admiral Konstantine ordered.
The imperial officer pressed a button to release Vader's TIE fighter.
"It's not your fault, Officer."Admiral Konstantine assured. "But Lord Vader won't know that."
Meanwhile...
The Ghost meets up with the rest of the fleet and Chopper began to repair the damage from the battle.
Kanan and Ezra came into the cockpit where Ahsoka, Ferus and Lisa were.
"Ahsoka, Hera said you wanted to speak with us."Ezra said.
"Please, come in."Ahsoka suggested.
"Are you okay?"Ezra asked.
"I am, thank you."Ahsoka replied. "I wanted to ask about the Sith Lord you encountered on Lothal."
"You know we encountered an Inquisitor before, but this was nothing like that."Kanan admitted. "The fear, the anger, the hate, you felt it, I haven't sensed a presence like that since..."
"...The Clone Wars."Ahsoka finished.
"Yeah."Kanan agreed.
"It seems like a great evil has been unleashed."Lisa commented.
"Ahsoka, do you know who or what he is?"Ezra asked.
Ahsoka fell silent and looked away.
"No, I don't."Ahsoka responded softly. "But I do know that he will be coming, they'll all be coming now."
"Then we've got to be ready to fight."Ezra stated.
"It's not going to be easy."Ferus reminded with a firm look.
"We must find the strength to fight, but the greater courage is knowing when not to fight."Kanan said.
Then the doors opened revealing Hera, Zeb and Sabine.
"And we'll be beside you either way."Hera remarked.
Kanan, Ezra, Ferus and Lisa looked at them with warm smiles while Ahsoka stared at the empty space in front of her in thought.
Aboard the bridge of a Star Destroyer...
Darth Vader walked to the room where Agent Kallus and Admiral Konstantine were.
"With their command ship destroyed, the rebel fleet has been shattered."Agent Kallus stated with a smirk. "You have them on the run."
"Clear the bridge."Vader ordered.
Agent Kallus and Admiral Konstantine left the room, leaving Vader by himself.
Darth Vader knelt down as the holographic transmission of Darth Sidious appeared before him.
"Lord Vader, have you dealt with the rebels in the Lothal system?"Darth Sidious asked.
"Yes, Master."Darth Vader replied. "They are broken."
"And yet I sense in you something more to your victory."Darth Sidious said.
"I believe the apprentice of Anakin Skywalker lives and is in league with these rebels like Ferus Olin."Darth Vader replied.
"Are you certain?"Darth Sidious questioned.
"It was her."Darth Vader answered.
"This is an opportunity we cannot let pass."Darth Sidious said."Skywalker's apprentice and Olin could lead us to other lost Jedi."
"Such as Kenobi?"Darth Vader suggested.
"Perhaps, if he lives."Darth Sidious responded."Be patient, my old friend, for now, dispatch another Inquisitor to hunt them down."
"As you wish, my master."Darth Vader replied.
Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter:)