Chapter 8
Siege of Lothal Pt. 1
ORD MANTELL
Agent Kallus of the ISB was standing in the remains of a former less than reputable establishment of mercenaries and bounty hunters. A squad of stormtroopers were guarding the area as he knelt down rubbing his hands on some blood. Standing up he sniffed it before turning to one of the chairs where a weequay with a metal arm was sitting, he was shivering from shell shock but not of the Empire he had seen something.
"You're saying one man did this?" Kallus asked.
The weequay shivered before Kallus grabbed him "Answer me scum."
The merc shook his head, "No not a man, a trandoshan with one eye, T-Turok Skell."
"Turok Skell is dead, along with all the others who fought with him?" Kallus said.
The weequay shook his head, "No, not he was alive and it… it wasn't a fight to him it was sport." The weequay stammered.
He looked up at Kallus, "There were over fifty mercs in this cantina, he killed them all like it was nothing like he was some kind of… Immortal Dragon."
Kallus scratched his sideburns and looked at the carnage around him, dried blood, blaster burn marks, shrapnel stuck in the walls "So, an Immortal Dragon, former jedi ally and terrorist is alive?"
"Agent Kallus?" A stormtrooper walked in and approached him, handing Kallus a holodevice.
"What is this?" Kallus asked.
The Stormtrooper stood up straight and answered "New orders, you've been recalled to Lothal by Moff Tarkkin, sir."
"Best not to keep him waiting." Kallus said walking out of the cantina and thinking of the weequay words "Hmm immortal dragon."
OUTER RIM
The Ghost flew through space after hearing chatter of the Imperial cargo ship with light defenses, the opportunity two great to miss the Ghost and Phoenix Squadron struck without warning and were now locked in a pursuit of the cargo ship with a light TIE escort "Making for the freighter— Keep the TIEs off our back."
"Split formation, Phoenix 2. I'll cut across their axis." Kanan said back from his own TIE fighter.
Ezra had rarely seen Kanans flying skills but he saw his mentor was almost as good a pilot as Hera, watching Kanan take out two TIE fighters in a few seconds "Good shot, Phoenix 1!"
"Save some for the rest of us." Ezra added as he fired suddenly Turoks A-Wing flew over Ezra.
It took out another TIe before it rounded around the cargo hold and took out one of the Imperial freighters guns "That jedi flyings good, but it ain't nothing compared to a smuggler." Turok said.
Ahkilleon was watching from the rear guns behind Sabine who was on the Phantom's guns "Come on, let me have a turn."
"Quit it." She snapped.
"Phoenix 1 to Ghost, we've cleared a path for you." The lead pilot of Phoenix Squadrons starfighters said.
Hera gave a sigh of relief "Phew. Kinda nice having Phoenix Squadron watching our backs." Hera said to her crew.
Kanan with less enthusiasm said "We always did all right on our own."
Ignoring his hint of detestment "True, but I prefer life with our new fleet to flying solo." Hera said as she flew around the TIE's.
Her quick flying and daring maneuvers made Zeb stumble as he tried to keep his balance, "I wouldn't mind getting my feet back on solid ground for a while." Zeb complains as he slowly stumbles out of the gunner room, "Come on Zeb, where's your sense of adventure?" Ezra asked him and Zeb fell over the ramp and he hit the floor with a thud.
Chopper uncovers his eyes as Leto peeks out and sees that they were safe, "Phantom, I'm moving into position!" Hera said over the comm to the Phantom that was piloted by Sabine.
"Copy specter 2, we're on our mark." Sabine answers and dive in. she headed for the front cruiser, "And firing now." she said back and fired at the magnet on the cruiser, making the cargo drop and float away. "And Cargo is liberated. Spectre 2, you are clear for pick up." Sabine said to her over the comms.
Then Hera dove the nose of her ship for it, Chopper shrieked as he rolled to the side and Leto held onto Hera's goggles with his mouth as she spun for the cargo. Suddenly alarms began to rear as out of hyperspace dropped a fully armed Imperial frigate with Ties swarming out of it after the Rebels.
"Imperial Reinforcements have arrived." Hera warns everyone as she started to spin the other way, making Chopper roll the other way and Leto held on tighter.
Ezra saw them too, "Aw, Karabass." he muttered.
Hera flew away from the Star destroyer and two Tie-fighters chased after them, "Whew, got real crowded all of a sudden." Ezra stated trying to fire at them but they're were too many.
Sabine looked over and saw Phoenix 1 was chased by Ties as well, "Need a little help, they're all over me." The pilot called out.
"Got ya covered Phoenix 1." Sabine answered as well, then flew in and blasted at the Tie. But then the imperial frigate fired at the Rebel flag ship, damaging the shields and making everyone stagger inside. Commander Stao and Ahsoka had to hold onto something to stay upright and up inside his room Ahkilleon was trying on some fresh duds after the Wheel incident frowning at the shaking ships he grunted being left out.
"We're losing our deflector shields. Ghost, we must withdrawal." the commander barked.
"Acknowledge Commander Sato, but first we're getting what we came for," said Hera, "Zeb, be ready to pull those containers aboard," she added over the comm.
Zeb pressed a button and then out came the magnet control. "Almost in range," Zeb said to them as he was ready. Ties fire at them, "Um… any time Zeb." Ezra asked him, "Come on, come on." Zeb mutters and they were fired at the cargo-. "Yes!" he said with glee and locks them in the beam. "Gotcha!" he stated and they were now attached to Ghost, making Hera smile.
"Ghost to Phoenix squadron, mission accomplish," Hera said triumphantly the rebel fleet pulled out and flew off to make the jump to Hyperspace. "Spectre 5 and 6, bring it in." Hera ordered Sabine whgo flew into the back of the Ghost.
"We're in the pocket, 5 by 1." Sabine answers as the Phantom was locked in. "She's home." Ezra stated and Mako giggles. Hera flew around the imperial frigate as Tie's chased them and The Ghost jumped into hyperspace with the rest of the fleet.
LOTHAL
Back on Lothal, the small outer rim backwater that Ezra called home, Agent Kallus was standing in the Imperial Center, at Minister Tau's office, the slender blonde haired woman was dressed in an blue and gray Imperial uniform as befit her station. Kallus looked out the window as she spoke "Agent Kallus, I've exhausted every resource to find information about the rebels, but there is nothing to be found!" She confessed, he turned slowly displeased with her answer.
"What more does Governor Tarkin expect?" She asked.
"He expects Lothal to be punished, Minister Tua." Kallus said sternly without reproach.
"His own Star Destroyer was demolished by these rebels. He takes that somewhat personally." Kallus said, walking around her desk and standing over her.
Tau sat twiddling her thumbs, face red with embarrassment "Well, I've doubled patrols, set up checkpoints, established curfews. I honestly don't know what else to do." She asked as the door to her office suddenly opened and the most terrifying figure to ever grace the Galaxy walked in. He towered in full black armor and a leather suit, and a dark black cape.
Darth Vader.
"Perhaps that is the problem." He said walking in his metal boots like the sounds of drums of death toward her, Tau stood up trembling out of fear not respect "You lack imagination, Minister, when it comes to producing results."
Trembling where she stood "L-Lord Vader, with all due respect, you and Governor Tarkin are asking for miracles, if the rebels have left Lothal, then…" She trailed off as Vader approached her almost twice her size, his red tinted masked eyes glaring at her.
"If the rebels have left, then we must draw them back. And if they are here, we must draw them out." Vader said as Kallus smiled at the idea "We will squeeze Lothal until someone reveals the whereabouts of these traitors."
Hearing his proclamation "I'm sorry, my lord I am merely a public official. I have no experience with such brutal tactics.:
"You can explain that to Governor Tarkin when you visit him." Vader said over her.
"Visit him?" Tau asked, terrified.
"He expects you tomorrow, to account for your failure." Vader informed her, but Tau was frozen to her spot "But I, I'm needed here." She begged.
Vader's black mask didn't show any remorse for her situation "I, I couldn't possibly get away?"
Approaching her Kallus said softly "Not to worry, Minister Lord Vader and I will manage in your absence." She said as two Imperial Stormtroopers walked in to escort her out.
SOMEWHERE IN THE OUTER RIM
Phoenix Home
After the daring attack on the Imperial Cargo and escaping into hyperspace, the Ghost had docked with the mothership and the crew walked into the bridge where Commander Sato was waiting with them most pleased, "You and your crew have proven invaluable to our fleet Captain Syndulla. A few required in your attacks help keep us one step ahead of Imperial patrols." Sato praised as they were catered at the comm table, but Kanan was sitting away not really caring for the compliment. Turok was sitting in one of bridge chairs smoking in his pipe.
"Thank you commander Sato, I'm just sorry our intel about field generators being on that shipment was wrong," Hera said to him, as Kanan looks away.
Ahsoka could sense he was uneasy "Perhaps with your next attack Hera."
"Or maybe if we had Ahkilleon with us, just a thought." Ezra said.
"I'm afraid the young Tano boy is still grounded from missions since the incident involving the Wheel." Sato answered Ahsoka.
Then bursting into the bridge, Chopper zoomed into the room as he was chirping with information "What Is the meaning of this?" Sato snapped and Hera shrugged her shoulders.
"Incoming transmission." Kanan answers and they look at him, "Who from Chop? Nah, who don't you just play it." Kanan tells him and looks away.
Hera glared at him as he pouted at her then laid his head on the nearby wall then Hera turned back to Chopper. "Chop, cloak us with a one way transmission?" Hera asked him, and he does so and appears a brown skinned ithorian with a translator on the back of his neck, the bartender from the cantina they always visited on Lothal.
"Hey, it's old Joe." Ezra stated and everyone looks at him.
"I can't see you but I hear you. Time is short, my friends and there's someone here desperate to talk with you. I told her I couldn't find her, but she wouldn't take no for an answer, she says she needs your help." Joe said to them.
Kanan was standing next to Ashoka and Hera as he spoke. "We're always ready to help someone in need." Kanan said to him.
Joe scratched the back of his leathery head. "Yeah well this one is different." He stepped out of the way and out stepped the Minster herself.
"Minister Tua?!" Hera questions,
"Why is she calling us?" Zeb questions as well "We can't trust her. She is an Imperial." He threw in as well.
Before they could cut the transmission Tau spoke quickly her voice filled with panic "Please, I beg you! Listen to my request."
"End transmission now Chop." Kanan ordered. But Hera held her hand up to stop him and gave him a nasty look.
"What do you want?" She asked her, "My life is in danger, I need you get me safe passage off Lothal." she ased, but Zeb rolls his eyes. "We're not really considering this." he mutters, "Karabasst I hope we aren't."
"Quiet!" Hera orders the two.
"I assure you my intentions are sincere. To prove it, I will trade secret Imperial information," she said to them and the Ghost crew all look at her, Turok who was silently smoking his pipe took interest.
"You're defecting from the Empire?" Sabine asked her and Maketh hung her head.
"Yes. I am," she answered.
"She's telling the truth. I can sense her fear." Ezra stated and he looks at Kanan.
He didn't seem convinced. "Yeah, but why?" he questions as Ahsoka looks at Maketh and stiffens in her skin from feeling the same fear in the minister as she once felt long ago.
"So what if you go to trade?" Hera questions her, "A list. Of rebel sympathizers on Lothal and other nearby systems." Maketh answered. Turok stood up taking intrest, he walked around the hologram his mind racing.
Then Commander Sato looked at her, "How come these sympathizers have not been arrested yet?" he asked.
"Some have powerful friends in the Senate, Imperial command watches them and can do nothing. I know you need allies, get me off Lothal and I will give you the list.'' She offers them and Hera thinks to herself, she looked over at Turok who was also thinking but of what.
Then she looked at the Commander and shrugs at him, Kanan sighed seeing they were going to have to do this. "We shouldn't even consider this." he stated, "It's obviously a trap." Sabine throws him,
"There's something else, I have discovered the true reason why the Empire came to Lothal," Maketh said to them, Hera crosses her arms.
"We already know that one. The Empire has a factory, stripping the planet's resources to fuel it." Hera said to her. "No, there is another reason, known to only a few and ordered by the Emperor himself," she tells them and they look at each other then start to speak to themselves on what to do.
After a few different glances, and mixed words Ezra said "We have to do this."
"I agree." Hera said
"So do I." Ahsoka seconded. "All right, if Commander Sato approves the mission." Ahsoka asked.
"I believe it could be worth the risk." Sato said.
"Minister, we'll get you out send us your coordinates." Hera said as Tau's face washed over with relief and hope.
The last thing she said before she cut the transmission was "Thank you."
"Well, I guess we're on our way back to Lothal." Zeb said.
"I guess we are." Ezra said.
Hera nodded at him and they all headed for the exit to prepare, she caught Kanan just before he left "Hey, what's with you? Do you have any idea how inappropriate that was?" she questions him and he turns to her.
"Actually, no I don't." he throws at her as a soldier walked past them and he went to leave, up she turns him back to her.
"You can't just tell Chopper to project a hologram in a secret debriefing without authorization!" she snaped at him. But then he pushes her hand away.
"Authorization! Process, that's what's bothering me!" Kanan snaped back to her and she held up her hands. "Alright. Talk to me," she asked in a gentle tone and he watched another soldier walk pass them. "After this mission is over, I want us to go back on our own. Fighting alongside soldiers isn't what I sign up for," he confessed.
She then gripped his shoulders and shoves him to a doorway and pushes him against the frame. "You seem to be forgetting these soldiers helped save your life." she reminds him and he looks away from her.
"I know and I'm grateful. But that doesn't mean I want to join their little army. When you and I started together, it was rob from the Empire and give to the needy, a noble cause. And now, we're getting drawn into some kind of military thing. I don't like it." he tells her and looks away.
"We are fighting a bigger fight, but it's still the right fight." Hera said to him.
Kanan shook his head "I survived one war. I'm not ready for another one." he told Hera and turned away, but she grips his arm. "I saw what it did," he stated.
"To the Jedi." Hera agrees and he looks at her, "To everyone." He corrects her, then turns out of the room and leaves. Hera sighs and follows him. Unaware that Turok had been listening in, he walked down the hallway behind them but turned down another corner heading to his own quarters and sat down at his monitor.
Turning it on "Ghost protocol, call sign Wraith, priority message to the General, password Seastorm." He said.
The monitor started up the holomonitor and in a few seconds a shimmering figure appeared, "Report, we haven't heard from you since the Wheel."
"I thought that would have bought me some time General, with Iaclyn running the Wheel we now have near limitless funding in untraceable credits?" Turok asked the hologram.
The General grunted "Stark will play his part, until he doesn't see a profit in it anymore, how did you convince him?"
"I contacted him when we were heading to the Wheel to get the asset, it took some time but when I convinced him he'd have control of the Wheel, he jumped at the chance." Turok explained.
The General did something in the hologram that looked like scratching a chin, "Well done, now do you have a planet for us to test our theory on?"
"Maybe, the Minister of Lothal, Maketh Tau is looking to defect; she says she has a list of rebel sympathizers on Lothal and beyond, along with why the Empire took Lothal." He said to the hologram.
"Do they need a reason?" The General asked.
Turok nodded "An imperial one, straight from the throne itself, the Specters are going to Lothal to retrieve here."
"Can you get on this mission?" The General asked.
Turok nodded "I'll have to, but something changed. I think their jedi is on to me."
"Perhaps you should deal with him permanently, nothing brings a people together than martyrdom?" The General asked.
The lizard shook his head "No, but maybe we could turn him, he doesn't want to be with these rebels or in another war, he could become an Ikar."
"Hmmm a former jedi would make the Caliban's Ikar very happy, try but don't tell him who you really fight for, Militia Invictus." The General said.
Turok nodded "Yes sir, Militia Invictus."
Later, he left his room and as he walked down the hallway Ahsoka was waiting for him, "Got a second?" she asked.
Down in the cargo hold, Ahkilleon was in the only place he was allowed to go anymore. His training room Ahkilleon and Proxy dueled fiercely as his force-imbued blade. Ahkilleon had changed from the Wheel, he had sheered off his long hair into a short shorn cut, barely longer than a full huzz cut. Just as Ahkilleon broke a blade lock with Proxy, the droid flipped over, Ahkilleon swept at his legs, the boy jumped and he swung down at the droid. The droid took out its second lightsaber and nicked Ahkilleon in the leg. Ahkilleon take the blow slash at Proxy's left arm, the yellow highlight of Proxy's arm went red and the arm went limp to simulate a severed arm. But Proxy swung his legs around and stood the other lightsaber arm still very much working, "Well done young master, but do not forget many species such as humans can still fight with a missing limb." Proxy switched up his lightsaber stance and twirled his metal hand like a duelist. Proxy went on the offense moving far faster and swifter than Ahkilleon, who had to use both hands to swipe away at the jabs and thrusts. Proxy's longer metal arm was faster than his two flesh ones, as he had to hold his sword with both hands before Proxy parried, twisting the sword around like a whirlwind with the white lightsaber and sending it flying right into the wall. Ahkilleon was face to face with Proxy's lightsaber.
Ahkilleon gritted his teeth, "DAMN IT!" He shouted, making both Ezra and Sabine jump.
Ahkilleon walked over to the sword and picked it up, Ahkilleon looked at the blade "Young Master, do you know why I was able to disarm you?" Proxy asked.
"Uh cause your a droid and you never get tired?" Ahkilleo asked.
Proxy sheathed the lightsaber on his back and then reactivated his right arm, "A general answer, my programming is to adapt as my opponent becomes more diffuclt, with your metal sword, it's weight and design Form I or Shi-Cho is far more favorable for a weapon such as this, which form did I best you with?"
"Form II, Makashi…" Ahkilleon sighed walking over to the corner of the cargo hold to pick up his scabbard and sheath the blade.
Proxy nodded "Indeed, which favors stabs and thrusts the highest probability of defeating an opponent favors powerful slashing motions, like with a curved blade." Proxy said gesturing with his metal hands.
"I know the forms Proxy, I'm just not strong enough." Ahkilleo said "... not good enough." he mumbled.
Before Proxy could speak the doors opened with Ezra and Sabine walking in "Did we get the cargo?" Ahkilleo asked.
Ezra nodded "Oh yeah we got it, but it was the wrong stuff not the shield generators we wanted."
"Wish I could have helped." Ahkilleon said, throwing the sword over his shoulder.
"Yeah, we asked your mom if you could come on our next mission with us, we're going back to Lothal." Ezra said.
Ears perked up, Ahkilleon asked, "Well don't keep me waiting?"
"She uh… said no." Ezra said.
Swallowing his frustration, Ahkilleon shook his head "Thanks anyway." he said walking past them.
"She'll come around." Sabine said.
But he didn't say anything, he just walked out. Elsewhere in the Phoenix Home, Ahsoka and Turok had found an earby window looking out at the stars, there was a nearby nebula with an orange plume about it, the hallway itself was dimmer and Ahsoka leaned on the window with her strong forearm.
Turok stood silently behind her leaning against the hall "Did I do the right thing, talking to Ahkilleon like that in front of his new friends?"
"As a commander, yes, as a mom not so much." Turok said arms under his kiminio folded against his hunting vest, "Now I'm not saying you shouldn't give yourself some grace, but he messed up no way around it we all did." Turok said.
"I should have told him about Stark, I just never knew my parents. I felt like if I told him that he had other family out there besides me, he'd leave." Ahsoka said.
Turok scoffed and she looked back "Oh come on, you're not the first mother to worry she'd lose her child, let alone worry she wasn't going to be liked by them." Turok said.
"I was raised by jedi masters, I grew up around soldiers, I'm surprised we've made it this far." she said looking back out the window.
"Well you do have great help, and Ahkilleon wouldn't ever run away, mainly because he has nowhere else to go, but he also has friends now, don't take that from him." Turok said.
Ahsoka became confused. "He still sees them everyday?" she asked
"But he isn't with them, out there being with them, it's like seeing all the other kids go on the field trip and you have to stay home sick." Turok said.
"You go on a lot of field trips as a youngling?" Ahsoka asked, "To Trandosha's swamps, all the time as a boy, but that's besides the point, let him go to Lothal with the Specters I'll go to, Hera and Kanan are in command my job, same as usual look after Ahkilleon."
Ahsoka took a deep breath, "This Minister Tau, do you think it's worth it?"
"I do, the specters like your boy are special." Turok said.
Pausing for a long time, Ahsoka shook her head "Fine, but whatever happens make sure you all make it back in one piece."
Later, in the ships portside door Ezra, Kanan and Hera were walking in "Star Commuter?" Kanan asked Hera.
"To help us keep a low profile." Hera said as the door opened, when it did the saw Ahkilleon standing in the doorway smiling at them.
He looked them up and down "No offense, but we kind of stick out?" He said.
"Did Ahsoka change her mind?" Ezra asked pushing through the two adults, Ahkilleon nodded vigorously and Ahkilleon let out a cheer and the two boys gave high fives to one another. Kanan shook his head smiling at the comradery and walked in to frown at Turok sitting in the back.
He gave Kanan a smile and blew a kiss to him, but the cowboy jedi just shook his head and took his seat in front, Ezra behind him with Ahkilleon behind Ezra, Hera across from them. Sabine and Zeb shortly walked in and they saw their pilot was none other than Chopper.
"So, we're not taking the Ghost, and we're letting Chopper drive?" She asked walking down the aisle and choosing to sit next to Ahkilleon.
Hera new it sounded like a rough plan but she had an answer "After our stunt on Mustafar, there's a good chance the Empire will be able to track it." She said not happy about leaving her baby behind.
"Great mission so far." Zeb said.
After she sat down Sabine asked "So what's the plan?"
"Okay, so Minister Tua is scheduled to visit Governor Tarkin tomorrow she leaves Lothal via shuttle at 1800. We wait at the hangar, steal the shuttle and take her to safety." Ezra said laying it out, Ahkilleon leaned his arms over the chair and nudged him in the shoulder.
Giving him a nod "Let's do it brother, but I'm not calling you Commander Lothrat." he teased.
"Thats General Lothrat to you Corporal Princess." he countered and the two boys snickered before Sabine voiced some doubts.
"Ezra, I hope you're sure about this." She said cautiously.
Zeb was inclined to agree with her saying "After all the trouble she's made for us, why should we help her?"
"Because that's what we do, help those who can't help themselves, plus, her list will help us out." Ezra said reasoning into a win-win situation.
Turok lit his match in the back and sucked it into his pipe, "Don't be so sure Bridger." Turok said, the other Specters looking back at the rebel agent, "The Empire doesn't accept failure as generously as we do, she knows her days in the regime are numbered, she sees uas the lesser evil, a chance to cut a deal. But don't forget she chose her career over your people."
"You don't know that." Ezra said, actually defending her.
"I know imperial officials can kill thousands more with a signature than a stormtrooper with a blaster in war." Turok said as he sucked on the pipe.
Hera gave Turok a glare, "We're not at Turok." She said.
"They are, with us." he hissed.
LOTHAL
The shuttle dropped out of hyperspace, and the rebels saw three fully armed Imperial Star Destroyers guarding the planet like great iron beasts ready to roar at the first sign of trouble. When Chopper sent them the codes, they heard a signal back "Shuttle 593, this is Lothal Control. You are cleared to land."
Ahkilleon looked out the window down at the brown, white and blue marble before them "Whoa, Ezra you've been holding out on me, she's beautiful."
"Heh, thanks I didn't think I'd miss it, but I…" Ezra started to say before he trailed off, Kanan sensed something was troubling him.
"What is it?" Kanan asked him.
Ezra went pale and he looked to his mentor, Ahkilleon shivered a bit to "Do you feel that? I... I feel so cold?" He asked.
"Yeah, droid, did you turn down the AC?" Ahkilleon asked and Chopper said something in droid speak and Ahkilleon went wide eyed looking at Sabine.
"Hmm." Was all Kanan said back as they flew down to the surface, docking in Capital City landing in one of the lesser known hangars.
As they walked out Ezra said "I've never seen so many Star Destroyers here."
"It's gotten worse." Sabine whispered, Turok got out and looked around the city skyline, a lot of buildings but not to many. Hangars and ports operating, and lot land outside the city he thought.
"All right, Zeb, Chopper, stay with the shuttle in case we need a quick exit." Hera told Zeb and Chopper, "Tua's leaving from Bay 23. Let's go." She said to her team.
Zeb cleared his throat, "We aren't worried they'll recognize scarface over here?" Zeb asked pointing to Turok who reached under his robe and pulled out his straw hat that he would wear some times, slipping it on his head and covering his scared face.
"Hmmm, Zebs right, Turok stay with the ship." Turok made no argument and looked over at Zeb and Chopper, and started to smoke his pipe.
Meanwhile Kanan, Hera, Ezra, Ahkilleon, Sabine and Turok moved into the city toward the Imperial Center, as they walked Ahkilleon looked around the small city taking in the sights "So, this is home?"
"Not exactly, but I grew up on these streets. I hate seeing it like this." Ezra said not looking very optimistic at all the Imperial banners, and stormtroopers walking the street.
Ahkilleon, now in a much better mood to be out on a mission with the crew, flung his arm around his blood brother and cleared his throat sounding like a ancient jedi sage "Hey, listen young padawan my jedi powers are giving me a vision one day, you and I are going come here with a grand army and liberate the whole thing." Ezra chuckled hearing the prophecy before Ahkilleon took his arm off seeing his smile.
"There he is." Ahkilleon said happy Ezra was in a better mood.
By the time they got to the Imperial Center entrance, they saw a full squad of Stormtroopers already guarding the entrance to the hangar "Huh. We'll need a distraction." Hera said.
Kanan smiled, getting an idea as they recede around a corner. "Well, I'm gonna go make a few friends." He said grabbing Hera "When Tua arrives, I'll keep 'em busy while you drop into the hangar from above."
"Make a few friends?" Hera asked.
Nonchalantly, Kanan said holding her there "It'll be fun."
"Fun?" She asked worried. He patted her on the shoulder and gave a fake salute "Don't worry, General Hera, just be ready to move."
Intrigued, the rest of them watched Kanan walk into the street right up behind one of the Stormtroopers with an orange shoulder pad and throw his arm around him like Ahkilleon had done to Ezra "Hey, didn't we meet in basic training?" Kanan said, grabbing the trooper's helmet "You look familiar." They watched Kanan walk the dazed trooper down the street before he chopped at the man's neck knocking him out and pushing him into the nearest alleyway and a few moments later he emerged dressed in full stormtrooper armor and slipping the helmet on his head.
They were all speechless till Sabine said "Kanan's gone bucket head."
"I don't believe it." Hera said.
Ezra gave a smirk saying "I'm kinda jealous I only have the helmet." Then they turned to start to climb on some crates to get a better view of the area and sneak in over the port walls. Ahkilleon was last because he asked.
"Nobody is curious how he changed so fast?" he held his hands up "No, just me."
The rebels got into position, Kanan in the street with the rest of the stormtroopers, the other three on top of the wall, Ezra held up a pair of binoculars to his face "Here she comes but she's got company." he said.
"What kind of company?" Hera asked.
With a sarcastic tone Ezra told her "Oh, fantastic. Agent Kallus."
Ahkilleon looked over his shoulders to see a speeder pull up with Tau, looking very nervous and the very proud looking Agent Kallus with her, "Oh, Muttonchop's, great." Ahkilleon mumbled.
"Thank you, Agent Kallus, but there, there was no need for an escort." Kallus said hunched over feeling smaller than ever like she was under a microscope.
Kallus just smiled at her and said "Lord Vader asked me to make sure you reached your shuttle safely."
"I see." Tau said, walking past him toward the shuttle.
Following her from behind "We can't be too careful about security these days." Kallus stated as Mako catches on that Kallus was up to something. Kanan looks up at Sabine and Ahkilleon, who was ready.
"Yes I suppose so." Maketh agreed with him as Sabine jumped down and shouted "Hey!" She got the troopers' attention and she drew her pistols at them and they fired back. The stormtroopers opened fire and Ahkilleon covered her with his sword.
With the fire fight underway, Kallus drew his own pistol "Minister, take cover!" Kallus orders her and she does so. As the troopers were outside the bay, Kanan pressed a button and the doors closed and he turned to Kallus.
"Surprise." Kanan said and he blasts the door, "Rebels." Kallus growls and he fires at Kanan who dodges him and hid behind a crate. Then Ezra, and Hera jumped down and hid behind the same crates, but Kallus saw them and jumped out at them and shot them with his pistol, but they ran for more cover and were now with the Minister.
Ezra grabbed her arm "Minister Tau, get to the Shuttle, we're right behind you!" Ezra ordered
In the frantic state she was in, all she could do was nod at the boy and say "Right!".
Back outside Sabine jumped into the speeder and fired at the troopers. Ahkilleon used his sword and fast training to get around the knocking them over or cutting their blasters out of their hands, but then ran to her from behind. Sabine jumped back into the speeder pulling the speeder up into the air, Ahkilleon using the force to jump on after her and getting fired as she jumped onto the roof of a nearby building as it crashed down and saw the minister run onto the shuttle.
Then a feeling of danger picked at Ezra, a sudden realization hit him, and he ran after the Minister, "Wait, Minister, it's a trap!" He yelled out as the others followed, but it was too late, the shuttle exploded without warning, sending the three of them flying back, hitting the ground and Kanan sat up as Mako rolled on her side as they looked at the shuttle.
"Minister Tau," Ezra muttered in horror.
"You did this!" Kallus shouts as he fires at them and the probe droid gets an image of them.
They quickly scramble to their feet and run for cover as the doors open and the troopers run into the bay, firing at the fleeing Rebels. "Zeb, we need a pick up now!" Sabine said over the comms. "Copy, we're on our way," Zeb answers her. The four hid behind crates as the troopers fired at them, Mako froze and looked up at the ledge as she felt that same presence, it sent shivers down her spine. But then the shuttle was in her view and the rest looked up at the shuttle as Zeb was standing in the doorway.
"Come on!" he shouted at them and fired at the troopers, Turok was shooting out the doorway too when he sniffed the air and looked up to see a black cape disappear inside the Imperial Center on a walkway, "... It… can't be…"
The shuttle touched down and the rebels ran for the ship leaping inside for. Chopper to chirp at them as he brought the shuttle up in a barrage of blaster fire as it rose.
Sabine and Ahkilleon glanced at one another, "Ladies first."
"What a gentleman." Sabine said before she jumped onto the ramp before he followed and the door closed and took off. Below Kallus smirke to himself seeing the plan work. But as the rebel tried to flee a nearby Imperial walker fired upon them, a direct hit to their engine and they were sent crashing down. Those in the streets saw the shuttle heading right for them and moved out of the way in time as the damaged shuttle came to a crashing halt throwing everyone around the interior. Sabine, the only one wearing moderate protection next to Kanan, was on her feet "Come on! Come on, get up, get up! We're moving!" she ordered them then ran to the exit that had been torn off the shuttle.
Running out of the shuttle, the flaming wreckage burning bright as the civilians gawked, Turok was the last one out and he looked up at the Imperial Center, a terrible feeling running up his spine.
As the night went on Imperial TIE's scanned the city for the rebels, but down below Chopper rolled to an abandoned house, what was once the Bridger residence as he was inside and then closed the doors behind him,the droid looked down into the hidden room as everyone was gathered down below. Turok was sitting on the table, tapping his bare clawed foot the trandoshan rubbing both claws together, unsure if what he saw was really there or not. The rest of them catching their breath, Ahkilleon rubbed his hands across the wall feeling something in the force.
"What is this place?" he asked.
"This uh… used to be my home." Ezra said still shaken by the death of Tau. Ahkilleon shut his eyes "I can feel the warmth Ezra, the love I'm… I'm sorry you lost it."
Even as he tried to console him, Ezra was still racked with guilt. Everyone else gathered in front of the holomonitor at the latest imperial broadcast a man in an imperial uniform spoke to the mike, and camera. "Our beloved citizens of Lothal. Minister Tau's life was cut short by this band of rebels. If you see them, summon Imperial authorities immediately. Trooper core has been immobilized after an extensive search-" the reporter starts but Hera turns it off the image of Ezra, Kanan and Hera in the hologram.
Hera then turns to the others, "They did this to turn Lothal against us. We can't do any more here, we have to leave for good." She informed them
"We can't just run, the people have to know the truth." Ezra stated and everyone looks at each other.
Turok stood and spat on the floor, "The truth, the truth is she was an Imperial whore who served her purpose, as bait for us."
Hera pushed up to him "Look, I get it tensions are high but-" "But what, they want to turn Lothal against us, we should use this to our advantage." Turok told her.
"What?" Ahkilleon asked, Turok looked at them "Bridger, the Empire has killed countless people for less, don't mourn them when they'd celebrate your death."
Hera grabbed Turok by his vest "Agent- this isn't the time." She said sternly her voice filled with rank and command, one Turok respected.
"So that's it, you just want to run again?" Turok asked her.
"I don't think the Empire is giving us much choice." Sabine told him as she stood up,
Up above, Chopper heard a splicer cutting through the door and it burst open with a stormtrooper standing in front of him. Chopper chirped and stunned the man, making him fall back.
"What the…" the imperial captain stated and Chopper closed the doors.
Then fusing it back together and he rolls back as Zeb poked his head out, he groans as Ezra pops his head up as well. "We're in trouble!" he snapped.
Back outside the trooper helps the wounded one as another kneels in front of the door, "They resealed the doors blast them open." The captain opens and the trooper places a detonator on the door, then blown off its hinges and the troopers storm in and started blast away. "Hold your fire. Hold your fire!" the captain ordered.
They look around and then saw the entrance into the hidden room, the captain moved the door out of the way and then dropped a detonator into the room and they all ran out, blowing up Ezra's home.
With the stormtroopers waited for the fires to die down a walker moved past the building, Chopper posed as a roof object and once the walker was gone, he grumbled to himself as he then went around the corner of the roof and the others were leaning against the wall on top of the roof as Ezra looked at the others. "If they know about this hideout, then they know about our others." he stated and Hera looked at him.
"There's no more hiding, we need a ship, maybe we can try one of the local Imperial airfields." she stated and Sabine pulls up a map of the city.
"They're locked down. Besides, we'll never get out of the capital." Sabine said to Hera.
Ahkillon was paying attention when he noticed Turok, he was scanning the city looking for something "The Empire is looking everywhere for us." Zeb stated, but Kanan shook his head.
"Not everywhere." Kanan stated and pointed at the tall tower. "The Imperial complex?" Ezra asked him as she snapped out of her funk.
"Are you crazy?" Hera questions him, he looks at her, "Does anyone ever say yes to that question?" he asked her and Sabine nodded a little.
Sabine scratched her chin under her helmet "Hm… he's right. Deploying troops to block every city exit leaves the garrison thin. It may sound crazy but the area with the least troops will be… here. Near the factories, there are landing platforms outside these hangars; they're our best chance if we're going to find a shuttle." Sabine said to him.
"And I guess I'm already dressed for the part." Kanan stated, soon they were all walking across the wire as Chopper flew over them Ahkilleon used the force to make the jump. But Ezra stopped and lookeddown at his home in flames. "I guess there really is no going back," he said remorsefully.
Ahkilleon was waiting for him on the other end, "Buck up, we'll rebuild when we take it back one day."
Making their way to the factory, the rebels snuck down into the lower streets on the outskirts of the complex, when they did Ahkilleon looked up at Turok, "Hey, are you alright?"
"Somethings going on, we're not seeing Ahkilleon, something different the Empire has sent someone here and…. I'm afraid." Turok told him.
Ahkilleons eyes were wide again, "But, you… you're never afraid, is it that bad?" he asked, trying to put his green eyes back in his head.
"We'll be alright if we stick together." Turok said.
They snuck around the complex perimeter and found a low wall. "Up and at'em," Zeb said giving everyone a boost, chopper rocketed up as the others climbed Ahkilleon however smiled before he jumped flipping over the wall with the force and landing gracefully.
"Show off." Ezra said taking off his back pack to take out an imperial cadet uniform.
Walking around a corner, Kanan spotted three empty crates, "Everybody in." Kanan said.
"You got to be joking." Zeb said.
"Nope, Ezra and I are the only ones who have uniforms." Kanan told him. Zeb frowned but they all got into the crates in pairs of two. Zeb and Chopper, Hera and Sabine then Turok and Ahkilleon.
Within the hour the rebels were approaching the factory, a trooper and a cadet were walking toward the entrance with a lift of three crates, "What's this?" a trooper inquired, stopping them.
"Power cells that are in need of charging in the rebel pursuit." the other trooper answered and they started to walk again, but the trooper stopped them again.
"Hold on cadet, we have to check inside." the trooper said to him and turned to the crates to open them
"I got this." the cadet states as the other trooper tries to stop him. But he stood in front of the trooper and held his hand out. "No, you don't have to check inside." the cadet said to him, but the trooper pushed him back.
He grabbed the cadet by his collar "Did you just try to give me an order cadet?" he questioned and the second trooper stood in between them.
"No, he just said. You don't have to check inside." the trooper tells him waving his hand.
A cloud of fog washed over the trooper who moaned out "I don't have to check inside." the trooper agrees with him.
With that finished "Well then as you were trooper. Cadet lets move, hurry it up." he ordered and the two walk inside.
"I wish that work for me." Ezra whined under his helmet "I wish that work on you." said to the disgusted Kanan.
They walk through the halls and into the equipment room. Once it was inside, Ezra took one crate off and places it on the ground. Then Hera and Sabine pop out of one crate as the rebels emerged Zeb popping out like a jack in the box "I thought I was going to die in there," he muttered to himself leaning over the crate.
"Zeb, will you be quiet?" Hera asked him and he turned to her.
"What, I need to breath. Have you smelled me?" he questions her as he pulled himself out.
Sabine looks out the room and then turns back to them. "Huh, it doesn't matter if you're noisy. There's nobody around, this was a good plan." Sabine states as said to pulls off his helmet.
"Of course it was a good plan, we came up with it." Kanan said to her, "This way." Ezra states as they went to leave.
But Chopper was grumbling at them. "Can't somebody please get Chopper?" Hera asks them and Zeb sighs.
As he got them out, Ahkilleon noticed they were in an armor storage room looking at all the shinny helmets he looked over at Turok, "Can I take one?"
"No?" Turok said.
"But there's so many?" Ahkilleon asked as Ezra and Kanan changed into their regular gear.
Turok grabbed him with a claw and dragged him along "Ugh I need a helmet." He muttered
Later outside the armory two troopers walked the halls, "Do you think we'll find them this time?" one asks as the make a turn. "We better," he states and they bump into Zeb and look up at him. "Hehe, found me," he said and smashed their heads together and they collapsed onto the ground.
Then the rebels ran through the halls, leaving the two. Then rebels then came to the door of the hanger, Chopper picked the lock and the door opened. They ran through the hanger and sneaked their way through and said to stop them. "See there's a shuttle, what I tell ya?" Kanan said to them.
"You did well." Hera tells him and they then ran across the way, but Sabine stops and ran to equipment and kneels down in front of it, "Hera, over here!" Sabine calls out and Hera ran back to look at what she'd found.
"Shield generators." she observed, "Military grade," Sabine said to her then turned the less gravity on and pushed it to the shuttle.
Hera did the same, "Zeb, Ezra, Ahkilleon. Grab what we can. These might help turn this day around, the fleet can sure use them." Hera said to them and ran to the shuttle. Then the three turned on generators, turned on the less gravity and pushed them to the shuttle.
They made their way to the shuttle, but the force weilders all stopped stops as Ezra felt that feeling again, The young Bridger faced Kanan, "Do you feel that?" he asked him as Ahkilleon's hands m started to tremble.
"The cold." Kanan answered and a deep, ominous breathing filled the hanger entrance, everyone looked into the darkness as a blood red saber was ignited and out walked Darth Vader.
Ahkilleon drew his sword, "What the hell is that?" Ahkilleon asked as Turok reached for his blaster, "Death."
"Hera, go! We'll cover you!" Kanan shouted to her, he and Ezra ignited their
"Kanan look out!" she warned him and the Jedi turned to see Vader slashing at him before blocking the attack, but Vader forced the saber down more. While struggled with the strength of Vader, a squad the troopers fired at the other rebels. Zeb, Sabine, and Leo took over and fired back at the troopers as Hera and Chopper loaded the generators. Turok opened fire on the stormtroopers and looked at Ahkilleon who was standing with Ezra.
Turok snapped at them "Lads on the ship now!" Turok opened fire on Vader who deflected his shots and fought Kanan.
Then Vader lets go and force; pushes them back, making Ezra fly and both Ahkilleon and Kanan to slid back, getting to his feet first Kanan came at him with everything he had, thruststing and striking, but Vader gripped his hands and raises him up in the air, gripping his wrists tightly that Kanan dropped go of his saber to the ground and Vader threw him at the nearwsr crates, knocking him and Ahkilleon glared at Vader and charged. But Vader force pushed Ezra and threw him into a walker's leg. Ahkilleon dodged the force push and tried cut him but Vader blocked him
"Your Masters has deceived you into believing you can become a Jedi." Vader told them forcing Ezra's own saber close to his throat.
Ahkilleon tried to break the blade lock but could only watch the blue laser sword get closer and closer to his neck "no…. No no, stop please!" Ahkilleon shouted, he pushed harder, he broke the lock and swung his sword at Vader but he parked with another hack. In a split second Ahkilleon remembered his sparring match with proxy, switching his grip and form Ahkilleon let his blade glide against Vader's and with every ounce strength he had drive his sword through Darth Vader.
The blow forced Vader to drop Ezra sparring the boy, Vader looked down at Ahkilleon who was face to face with the Dark Lord, "Hmm interesting." Vader said before he drew back his free arm and smashed Ahkilleon in the face so hard the boy was knocked off his feet and hit his head on the metal ground with a loud thud.
"NOOOOOOOO!" Turok screamed bloody murder, Turok tan out of cover from the ship, blasters unleashed on the wounded Vader. All the rebels and stormtroopers watching him charge like a madman, Vader deflected them easily before Turok dropped the pistols, throwing off his kimono to unsheath his twin daggers. Kanan on his feet saw Ezra getting up and he noticed Ahkilleon on the floor not moving, "Ahkilleon!"
He ran toward him as Turok dove to avoid Vader's sword, coming back up to cut at Vader's cape, the Sith moving faster than he looked. Reaching into his vest Turok flung out the smoke bombs right into Vader's face making a cloud of smoke. In the cover they watched the silhouette of Vader and Turok fight.
Kanan tan up to Ahkilleon and knelt over him, putting his hand over his mouth he felt the boy breathing weekly, "He's a live time to go." Kanan said.
"I couldn't agree more." he agrees and Ezra nodded. As Kanan pulled the boy into his arms he looked behind to see the dust clear and Vader's sword slash across both knives in an instant Vader's lightsaber was off.
Vader looked at it "Cortosis." Vader said before Turok tried to stab him.
Dropping his lightsaber Vader blocked the first knife with the force shattering then grabbing Turok other wrist, a loud crack sounded and Turok held in a scream of pain but Vader wasn't done "Ah now I remember you." Vader head butted Turok, breaking the trandoshans nose and throwing him like a rag doll to the floor, "You should have stayed dead."
"I came back to take you with me this time." Turok reached in his vest and pulled out a thermal detonator, throwing it at Vader; he dodged by barely moving his head to the left. Making it fly all the way to the walkers lining the hangar that the stormtroopers were using for cover. The grenade exploded and Vader looked back to see the two walkers falling tight down on him.
Turok rolled over to his feet and tan with Kanan and Ezra who carried Ahkilleon up into the shuttle.
"Get ready to fly us out of here!" Hera informed Chopper, who grumbled at her and powers up the ship. Then Hera ran over and kneel down in front of Ahkilleon.
"How is he." Ezra asked shaking him and she nodded at him, then joined the others outside the shuttle.
Hera felt the back of Ahkilleon's head, no blood "Out cold, Turok let me see that arm." Hera said Before they heard the sound bending metal, looking back the specters saw Vader lifting the fallen walkers off him still alive and his saber working again.
"If that won't kill him, what will?" Ezra questioned as Sabine and Zeb ran onto the shuttle as
"Go, Chop!" Hera ordered, "Come on, come on!" Sabine said as the shuttle started to ride. They ran to the shuttle as he started to lift off the ground. Then Sabine pulled out her blaster and fired at Vader as he walked after the two. But Vader deflected her blasts right back at her, one in the armor chest and the other in the helmet making her fall back, just as the shuttle took off. Vader watched them leave as a trooper ran up to them, "My lord, I will mobilize our fighters to pursue." he offered to Lord Vader.
"That is unnecessary. The rebels will not leave the planet yet." Vader informs him and walks off but stopped, reaching down Vader touched the wound in his suit the air escaping from the insulation he pulled his leather glove away blood dripping from his palm.
The stormtrooper saw it, but couldn't believe it "My Lord are you… I need a medic to the hangar immediately for Lo-" before he could finish it Vader crushed his glove into a fist and the stormtroopers windpipe with it.
As shuttle took off away from the capital as the rebels were now licking their wounds, Hera attended to Sabine as she was recovering from the shock. "Zeb. Make sure they can't track us." Hera ordered him.
"Consider it done." he replied the two of them being the only ones unscathed her and walked off as Sabine removes her helmet.
"You alright?" Hera asks her, she sighed "Yeah, I'll live." she answered .
Suddenly Ahkilleon shot up gasping, "What happened?" He asked groaning as he touched the back of his head seeing everyone had just barely survived the encounter.
The other Jedi were pantin. "Kanan what was that, another Inquisitor?" Ezra asks him.
"Uh, no… something… worse." Kanan answered as he sat forward.
"What?" Ezra asks him, Kanan looked at him.
"A Sith Lord. The ancient enemy of the Jedi." Kadan answers him again.
"H-H-How do we fight him?" Ezra asks him stammering shaken with fear was taken back by those worse.
"Fight him? Ezra, we were lucky enough to survive if and I can't believe I'm saying this, if Turok hadn't distracted him we wouldn't be here." Kanan said as Turok stripped off his sleeve fashioning it into a sling for his broken arm.
When Ahkilleon saw the banged up lizard he got up "Turok y-your hurt." He wobbled up to his feet and Turok walked up to stop him from moving "And your luck to be alive, we all are… some aren't so lucky." He said, sitting Ahkilleon down.
Kanan looked at him intently "I heard you and the Sith Lord talking, you know each other how is that possible what aren't you telling us?" Kanan asked getting your, a
Turok scratched past his glassed over eye, and paces away "Because we have met before, fifteen years ago, on Coruscant at the Jedi Temple… when I stood with seven of the bravest Jedi the galaxy would ever know" Turok was standing back to them, "He's the man who killed Ahkilleon's father."