Kimball took Jena to a cavern which had a large lake inside. The two of them stood at the dock overseeing it.
"You like it?" Kimball asked. "I come here sometimes whenever I need to think. I wouldn't recommend touching the water though."
"I understand." Jena said.
"Is something on your mind?" Kimball asked. "I take it it's about your talk with Tucker and Felix."
"I'm just conflicted right now." Jena said. "One one hand, we can't afford to take risks. On the other, our friends are captured and we need to save them."
"Well, what does your Jedi training tell you about this?"
"That's the thing. My Jedi training never covered this because this kind of emotional decision is pretty much against the Jedi Code. We're supposed to not have any emotional attachment, but that's exactly what I've been doing ever since the Empire was formed. First, with Strike. Then, with the Reds and Blues. And now, the cadets. Kimball, you're a general, what do you do when you're faced with an impossible decision?"
"Well, I usually count on my instincts and experience." Kimball said. "But sometimes, I have to rely on other people like Felix."
"Why him?" Jena asked. "What does he know exactly about running an army?"
"More than me, I guess. He was in this fight before I was even a soldier."
"What?"
"Jena, I am the fourth person to lead the New Republic. Our first leader was killed in action. The second was assassinated in what we were told would be a peace treaty. And the third was blown out of the sky while trying to leave Chorus for help."
"And now, it all falls to you? If Felix has more experience than you, then why not let him take the reins? Sure, he's a bounty hunter, but even he should know what do to in situations like these."
"I asked him that myself. He said he was only in this for the pay and that there would be no money in taking on that much responsibility. So he let me take charge and offered his council."
"Well, what makes you think he won't just leave after making enough money?"
"Because Felix has more than enough motivation to win this war. The thing that keeps him fighting? It's the same thing that's kept us from victory for so long. It's what took your friends. It's Locus."
Jena widened her eyes toward the rebel leader. "Locus? I know he and Felix are both bounty hunters, but how is it that personal between them?"
"When the Federal Army heard we had hired a bounty hunter to help our side, they decided to do the same. But they didn't just find any contract killer. They found Felix's oldest rival, his ex-partner, Locus."
"Ex-partner? You mean they used to be friends?"
"Not exactly. They fought together in the Great War, and their squad saw one of the worst battles in UNSC history. Felix and Locus never got along. They fought over everything, but considering what they were up against, they banded together and they survived. But surviving isn't always enough. When the war was over, many soldiers had a difficult time returning to civilian life. And some weren't able to return at all. Felix and Locus were always competitive, but when Locus signed up with the Feds, I think Felix took it as a final challenge."
"Final challenge?"
"Locus knew that his mission would mean killing his former ally, but he took it anyway. Either the money was too good or Locus wanted to know, once and for all, which of them was better. We all have our reasons for fighting, Jena. And I know that your are your friends. Your five days are almost up, and I don't know when we're going to get another chance at this."
Jena thought back to the story she heard and suddenly realized how personal it is to her bounty hunter ally. Not only that, but she suddenly realized the risks involved. "General, I don't know about this."
"I'm just saying, you should make the most out of the time you have left. Your squad may be improving slowly, but they're improving nonetheless. You just need to keep trying. Feel free to come by my office if you ever need anything."
After Kimball left, Jena sat down on the dock staring out into the green lake. She sighed as she picked up a flat rock. She gave it a good toss letting it bounce off the lake. She heard the hissing sound from each smack in the liquid. After it finally splashed, Jena sighed while looking up.
"There's a lot more riding on this than I thought. Maybe I'm just trying too hard. Master Geenpa, I've been a fool. These people aren't Jedi. I can't train them like you trained me. I just have to keep moving forward and hope for the best."
Those were her final thoughts before heading back to the hanger. That's when she saw her four friends sneaking in and bickering while getting in a couple of Warthogs. She realized what they were doing.
Tucker, Simmons, Grif, and Caboose were leaving the base.
Jena didn't have time to tell the rebels. She just took her own Mongoose and followed the Reds and Blues without them knowing. She eventually followed them to the middle of the desert where a fueling station was set up like a gas depot. While the Reds and Blues parked in front of the station, Jena drove up to the mountainside and parked on top of a cliff obscured from the colorful marines. She still managed to eavesdrop on the four of them.
"Hello!" Tucker cried out. "Anybody home? We've got some cars that need fuel!"
"Yeah, and we would also like to purchase some lottery tickets!" Caboose added. "Yeah, I know the ods, but I still think it's fun."
Simmons took a moment to look around. "This place looks deserted."
"Woo hoo! Let's loot!" Grif said enthusiastically. "I've always wanted my own slurpie machine."
"Oh, dude," Tucker said, "Let me know if they've got any magazines."
"Me too!" Caboose said. "Ones with pictures."
"Specifically, ones with pictures." Tucker continued. "You know what I'm saying."
"And what will you be getting me?" Jena asked.
"Well, I don't know if you're a soda girl, but…" Grif started to say. He stopped talking as soon as he noticed the Jedi standing between him and Simmons. Tucker and Caboose also shared in the moment of silence noticing Jena's disappointment in them.
"Hi, Jena." Caboose said.
"I know Caboose probably doesn't fully know what's going on," Jena said, "So I'll ask the rest of you… What the Force are you boys doing out of the base?!"
Tucker paused for a minute before admitting with attitude. "We're going to the Fed base and getting our friends back."
"Without the squad?" Jena asked. "Are you suicidal or something?"
"Look," Tucker said, "Jena, our squad's not going to be ready for when we raid the place."
"You don't know that." Jena said.
"Yeah, me and the other guys already talked about it back at the base." Tucker said. "Look, the thing is, we can't bring the squad because if they get killed, that's on us. And we couldn't tell you because we'd waste time arguing. Sorry, but this was the best idea I could think of."
"So you'd rather take on an entire military base by yourselves than have an elite team for backup?" Jena asked. "Tell me you at least have a plan."
"Of course." Tucker said. "I got the data on the Fed base from Kimball's office and we're heading there right now to save Wash, Strike, and the others."
"…That's it?" Jena asked. "That's not a plan. That's a goal. Grif, I'm surprised you're in this."
"It's either that or go back to bossing people around like Sarge." Grif said. "That's not the life for me."
"And Simmons?" Jena asked.
"I was basically outvoted." Simmons said.
"Well, I'm vetoing it." Jena said. "Guys, as soon as these jeeps are fueled up, we're driving back to…"
The distant noise of an explosion interrupted them. They heard it echo through the caves beside them.
"What was that?" Simmons asked.
"Maybe it's the owners." Tucker said.
"I don't think so." Jena said. "You guys get to refueling. I'll go investigate." She pulled up her hood and quietly headed deep into the caves.
Jena stepped deeper into the caves taking her time with each footstep and making sure she wasn't making a sound. That's when she heard the sound of voices coming from one floor below. She headed into the shadowy corner and overheard the conversation.
"So what's the word?"
"They said to give it 30 more minutes."
"This is a waste of time."
"Agreed."
Jena took the time to take a good look at who was talking. She gave a silent gasp seeing the men in white full-body armor. They carried blasters in their hands. She was about to walk away when she noticed the Reds and Blues standing behind her.
"Hey, Jena." Caboose said. "Want us to help teach your new friends a secret high five?"
"They're not my friends." Jena said. "They're Stormtroopers."
"Storm what?" Grif asked.
"Foot soldiers for the Empire."
"What?" Simmons asked. "What are they doing here?"
"I don't know. Wait…"
Jena halted the conversation when a figure stepped out before the Stormtroopers. She had a feminine figure and she wore a black cloak and armor. Along her face, she wore a black mask with silver linings and a dark-red visor. Jena shivered in her eyes at the sight of her.
"And who's that?" Tucker asked.
"I don't know." Jena said. "But I saw her in my visions some time back. She had a red lightsaber, but she's not a Sith. She's… I don't know what she is."
They stopped talking when the masked woman in black began to speak. "I just got word from Locus. We're moving onto Plan B. We head to the Federal Army base, and we kill the Reds and Blues."
"Yes, Thirteenth Sister." One of the Stormtroopers said before marching around the corner. The woman called Thirteenth Sister followed. After losing sight of them, Tucker rushed to follow.
"Tucker, don't…"
The teal soldier didn't listen. He just went on to the same corner the Stormtroopers and their leader turned to. However, when he got there, all he saw was an empty alleyway, a dead end.
"They just… vanished." Tucker said.
"Did I just hear that chick in black saying something about killing Reds and Blues?" Grif asked.
"Oh, my god! I know those colors! They're us!" Caboose said.
"They're working with the Feds." Tucker said. "She said she just got word from Locus."
"The Federal Army and the Empire are buddy-buddy?" Simmons asked. "Why? Jena?"
"I don't know." Jena said. "Strike and I have been running from them for over ten years. I don't know who that woman is."
"Well, one thing's for sure, we're definitely not going to get another chance." Tucker said. "They said they're going to kill the Reds and Blues at the Fed base. That means if we don't get there soon, that bitch is going to gun down our friends. Wash. Strike. Sarge. Donut. Everyone. If we don't go now, Jena, it's game over. So what do you say, leader?"
Jena was petrified. She found herself in an impossible situation. She had no choice. She took a breath and looked up at Tucker.
"All right. Let's go save our friends."
Author's Note: And now, we have the Empire to worry about, along with an OC Inquisitor. This should be fun. Any and all comments are welcome.