The whole team was happy to have Phoenix Squadron join them in missions, their R22 Spearhead Interceptors a great help in their hit and run missions. With their most recent successful mission, comes a new, more worrisome one.
Chopper barges in on the debrief, warbling in urgency.
"What is the meaning of this?" Commander Sato questions, displeased.
"An incoming transmission." Kanan answers easily. "Who from Chop? Actually, just play it." His blatant disrespect earns him a glare from Hera.
"Chop, cloak us with a one way transmission." Hera adds. The hologram of an Ithorian appears for all to see.
"Hey! It's old Jho!" Ezra notes with happiness.
"I can't see you, but i can hear you my friends." Jho states. "Time is short, and there is someone here, who is desperate to speak to you. I told her i couldn't find you, but she wouldn't take no for an answer. She says she needs your help."
"We're always ready to help someone in need." Kanan assures.
"Yeah, well, this one's different." Jho admits, as Minister Tua appears on the hologram. As the Spectres prepare to cut the transmission, about unwilling to help her due to mistrust, Vex speaks up.
"Enough. Let her explain." He orders.
"Thank you." She bows slightly, sighing. "My life is in danger. I need safe passage off of Lothal. I'm willing to give you secret Imperial Information if you can help."
"You're defecting from the Empire?" Sabine asks skeptically.
"Yes." Minister Tua sighs. "I am."
"She's telling the truth." Ezra admits. "She's afraid, of what the Empire will do to her for her failures."
"What have you got to trade?" Hera asks.
"I have a list, of Rebel Sympathizers on Lothal, and other nearby systems." She reveals.
"How have these sympathizers not been arrested?" Sato asks.
"Some of them have powerful friends in the senate. Imperial Command watches them, but can do nothing. I know you need allies. Get me off Lothal and i will give you the list." Tua assures.
"We shouldn't even consider this." Kanan sighs in irritation.
"It's obviously a trap." Sabine adds.
"There's something else!" Tua speaks up, catching everyone's attention. "I've discovered the true reason the Empire came to Lothal."
"We know that one. They have a factory and it's stripping the planet's resources to fuel it." Hera declares.
"No. There is another reason. Known only to a few, and ordered by the Emperor himself." Tua reveals. Everyone begins to talk, discussing what should be done, when Ezra walks forward.
"We have to do this." He declares.
"I agree." Ahsoka affirms.
"So do I." Kanan nods.
"Alright. If Commander Sato approves the mission." At Hera's words, all eyes turn to the Commander, who smiles.
"I believe, this is worth the risk." He allows, with the Spectres jumping into action. As they prepare, leaving the room, Vex stops Chopper, who still has the Hologram on.
"Tua. I already have your coordinates. They'll do their best to get you out." Vex assures. Tua thanks them again, before the Hologram disperses, and Chopper leaves the room. Vex turns to Sato and Ahsoka, the only ones left. "She'll most likely die, a trap laid by the Empire to tie off loose ends."
"I know. But we must have faith in the Spectres." Sato sighs.
"Sometimes faith isn't enough." Vex notes solemnly.
As the crew of the Ghost returns with a stolen Imperial Shuttle, the Force flares in warning, their dash to the bridge an indication of reality.
"Commander Sato, we need the fleet to jump out of here!" Hera orders. "Our shuttle was tracked!"
"Commander, we're scanning a ship entering our sector." A Tech Officer informs, his words confusing the others. As the ship in Question arrives, the familiar Force Signature sets Vex on guard. As they activate the Holo-Display, the Tech Officer moves to the table. "We're tracking one target. No other ships have entered the system."
"Send Phoenix Squadron to Intercept." Sato orders.
"No. Get them to jump away. They don't stand a chance." Vex warns, but is ignored, as the R22's are sent out, the whole Squadron of 12 swarming together.
"It's one single TIE. They will be fine." Sato assures.
"With a Sith Lord at the helm, it's more than enough to destroy this entire fucking fleet." Vex snarls, rushing off the the Ghost, taking the Phantom and joining in the fight. He feels as the pilots are killed by the lone TIE, and grits his teeth. "Phoenix Squadron, jump to Hyperspace. Break off the attack." He orders. Thankfully, the remaining pilots follow the order, breaking off and jumping to safety. Vex pilots the Phantom with precision as he tries to keep the TIE from decimating the fleet.
The Ghost soon launches, giving him a hand as they press an attack, but the TIE takes no damage, and manages to deal crippling blows to the command ship. As the crew gets to the Escape Pods, launching and being collected by the corvettes, Vex feels Ahsoka probe with the Force, Kanan giving her a little boost, as they reach for the pilot of the TIE. He feels the scream of pain, of terror, of disbelief, from Ahsoka, before she is out cold, her signature dimmer, as the TIE breaks off from another run at the command ship.
Star Destroyers appear on scanners, as they close in on the fleet. The corvettes make the jump, as Vex docks back with the Ghost, before they run towards the Imperial Destroyers, flying into tractor beam range, before jumping to Hyperspace.
Ahsoka and Vex sit in the cockpit, as the others make repairs, before Kanan and Ezra join them.
"Ahsoka, Vex. Hera said you wanted to speak with us?" Ezra asks softly.
"Please, come in. Sit." She affirms.
"Are you alright?" Ezra asks, his concern palpable.
"I am, thank you." Ahsoka assures, turning to face them. "I wanna know about the Sith Lord you encountered on Lothal."
"Well, you know we encountered an Inquisitor before, but this... was nothing like that." Kanan explains. "The fear. The anger. The hate. I haven't felt a presence like that since..."
"The Clone Wars." Ahsoka and Vex say simultaneously.
"Yeah." Kanan affirms.
"Ahsoka, do you know who, or what, he is?" Ezra asks.
"She doesn't. Not fully. But I do." Vex answers solemnly. "A former Jedi, one of the best, was deceived by Palpatine. Such Manipulations broke the Jedi, who felt he had nothing left to live for, but for Palpatine, who had made him believe he was his trusted, most loyal friend.
"During a battle, however, he was bested by his Jedi friend, who cut off his limbs, and left him to die, not being able to finish the job himself. His words, however, reached the fallen Jedi, who let the lava burn him, in hopes his death would atone his actions. Palpatine, however, found him, and kept him alive, trapping him in that suit. Forcing his servitude, as no matter how much he tried, he could not end his suffering. His name, is now Vader." Vex explains.
"He's a slave." Ezra notes sadly.
"Yes. Know, however, that he doesn't always have control of his body. Palpatine can take over whenever he so wishes, forcing Vader to commit atrocities that he would otherwise refuse." Vex admits.
"How do you know all this?" Kanan asks.
"Because, back when i fought by his side in the war, during it's final stages, I left a particle on him. I never took it back. I have had to feel what he feels, see what he sees, all in my own nightmares." Vex states darkly. "I never see what he is planning, only what he does, after he has already done it."
"Is there anything we can do to try and help him?" Ezra asks, his heart beating with hope.
"No. I'm sorry, but there is nothing that you can do to help him. Nothing I can do to help him." Vex apologizes. "Just be ready. This isn't the last we will see of him."
"We'll be ready to fight." Ezra assures softly.
"And we'll be beside you all the way." Hera adds, Sabine and Zeb by her side.
A/N - Change of plans. Between this, and the next chapter, is mostly going to be Ahsoka and Vex spending time together, with questions about Vader, what happened, and everything in between will be figured out later. This means i will have to change the wording of the Twilight of the Apprentice chapter again. Take care and stay safe.
