Chapter 9
Siege of Lothal part 2
The rebels were still processing what Turok had told them, "W… what?" Ahkilleon gasped hearing it from his godfather's Turok did was knod, "I'm sorry your mother never told you who or how, but that Sith Lord was there the day the your father failed to kill the Emperor, I was there the pillars outside the main entrance were crumbling all around us, when I looked up to see him falling and the Sith Lord standing at the top, his name is Darth Vader." Turok explained he walked up to the boy.
Grunting Turok knelt and used Ahkilleon's sword to balance himself, "He's the one who led the attack on the Jedi temple, he's hunted Jedi and dissidents for years and for the first time, in years he failed."
"Failed, not sure if you were here but we just got our-" "Kanan-" Hera said cutting him off. "I think what he's trying to say is we should count ourselves fortunate, and I say we shouldn't waist it. I'm going to make for orbit so we can jump away." Hera started off to the cockpit, Kanan who was starting to think more clearly after calming down realized something.
"What? Hera no!" He protested as he went to stand. "They'll will have a blockade of destroyers waiting for us." Kanan said with his padawan knodding.
Hera turned and looked at him, "And this shuttle is slow, with barely any weapons or shields, we're going to have to smuggle ourselves off Lothal for a change." Sabine stated. Turok was on his feet and watched Ahkilleon pace past to the corner of the ship and sit down on the floor starring into a thousand meters of space.
Then a light bulb went off in Hera's head "Hm, that's not a bad idea." Hera started to scratch her chin and the two Jedi look at her.
"What are you thinking?" Kanan asked.
The twi'lek captain smiled at her crew "I'm thinking we know the right man to smuggle us off world." she answered him and followed after Sabine into the cockpit, then the notice went off on all the four's faces.
"Not him." Kanan and Ezra said at the same time.
Turok wincing sat down and still holding onto Ahkilleon's blade still, "Him who?"
"Landon Calrissian, a smuggler who thinks he's the gift to the galaxy, he's-" "The worst." Ezra moaned in agreement with his teacher.
Turok reached up and grabbed his busted nose and with a loud pop he pushed it back into place, "Hnnn I can think of worse, but I'll take a smug smuggler any day if we don't mind, I think I'll try to get some shut eye been a long day." Turok said getting comfy.
"Yeah no worries, thanks again for saving us back there." Ezra said walking over to Ahkilleon at the back. Kanan looked at the trandoshan, and he started to think on how rude he'd been to Turok. Though they had their differences the trandoshan, had selflessly charged the Sith Lord without hesitation the moment when the boys and even he was in peril.
Across the shuttle, Ezra sat down with Ahkilleon who had his legs held tight to his chest, "How you doing?" His friend didn't say anything, "Stupid question, right." Ezra added.
"Listen, I can't imagine what your going through but I'm here, when your ready to talk." Ezra said before nestled in beside him just being there for his friend.
Back at the capital, Vader was looking out of the window in the recently deceased Ministers office as Agent Kallus entered the room. Kallus noticed a medical probe droid was hovering next to Vader before it departed, deciding to say nothing about it, Kallus proceeded with his initial intentions "My Lord, our scans have undetected that the stolen shuttle has not attempted to leave the system," Kallus informed him.
Vader looked over his shoulder at him, then back out the window, "Fear has driven them to ground. There is a refugee camp, the rebels have provided aid to in the past." Vader replied to him and Kallus knew of what town he was talking about.
Yes, Tarkin Town they call it you suspect the rebels are in hiding there?" Kallus asks him, Vader looks over his shoulder at him.
"No. but I want you to burn it, the compassion of the rebels is a weakness. One we will exploit." Vader commanded and Kallus nodded at him pleased with the progress he'd been so eagerly wanting.
"Yes my Lord." he agrees with him and then walked out of the office.
Meanwhile, in the clouds above Lothal the stolen imperial shuttle flew through the clouds as the holo of Lando came up, to see Kanan and Hera sitting "Well hello there Captain Syndulla. This is a pleasant surprise." he slyly said a smug grin on his black mustached lip as he looked at Hera, "What can I do for you?" he asked.
"This isn't a social call, Lando it's business, we need your help to smuggle something off Lothal." Kanan assertively told him.
"Pass the Imperial blockade." Hera threw in and they both look at her.
Brow cocked and lip unfurled Lando replied "You know if the Empire learns I got involve, it be all over for me. I'd be taking an awful risk helping you" Lando stated and eyed Kanan, the Jedi sighed at him.
"Hm, what do you want?" Kanan asked, knowing that Lando wasn't going to anything for free.
"What have you got?" Lando asked back.
Without much else to bargain for Hera offered them the only thing of value they had on the ship besides their lives "Imperial Shield generators. Military grade."
This peaked the smugglers interest "Oh, now that merchandise I can move. How many we talking about?" he asked, very interestedly.
"Two." she answered, but he didn't believe her.
"Two? you are no gambler Hera, offering me two means you at least got six, so I'm thinking three is probably fair," he counter offered her.
"Fair? You're talking half," she argued with him.
Lando didn't look very sympathetic to her plight "Those shields won't do you much good if you're dead?" He asked arms crossed.
"Three it is." Kanan answered, Hera shot him a nasty Lear from the side but he ignored it "So, do we have a deal?" Kanan inquired and Lando smugly smiled at him.
"Well, I'm not on Lothal at the moment my friend, but my droid is. Go to my operation and he'll set you up with everything you need." Lando replied them and the holo ended, Kanan and Hera look at each other.
Hera frowned at the man who glared back "Don't start, this was your idea."
"But the fleet-" "Will have another chance to get shield generators, right now we need to get back to them." He reminded her.
Knowing he was right, and not wanting to admit it she slouched in her chair "… How's your arm." She asked looking at the burn mark on kanan's shoulder piece.
"Stings, but I'll live." Kanan replied.
"I'm worried about Ahkilleon." She said now that the two had a moment alone.
Kanan rolled his eyes "Why am I not surprised, your always worried about the kids. Don't worry Ezra's keeping an eye on him while Turok sleeps."
"Hmm think that's the first time you called him by his name." Hera said.
Kanan grunted back, "He did his part when we needed him to."
"Do you still not trust him?" Kanan leaned back in his seat to get some shut eye.
"No." Was all he said.
The next morning came and Hera landed the stolen shuttle at Lando's site where a protocol droid with brown, orange and pale yellow was waiting for them, the ramp opened for the rebels who walk down, to see the droid approach.
"You must be Lando's droid." Hera stated as she, Sabine and Chopper approach the it.
When it spoke he had a maxi line voice, deep and drawn out "Yes ma'am, welcome. I have prepared everything according to Calrissian's instructions, is one of you a mechanic?" he asked them.
"Oh! That must be me." Sabine answered her and Chopper grumbled "Definitely not you," she snipped we the astromech and they followed after the droid. Zeb started to unload the three shield generators they'd leave with Lando's droid. Turok slowly coming out behind Ahkilleon.
He walked after Sabine and asked "Need a hand?"
"Sure." Sabine said back.
Ezra stopped halfway when he noticed a giant column at the smoke rising from the distance. It was in the same direction of Tarkin Town, Ezra broke toward a speeder and jumped on the back of it taking the controls Zeb and Kanan notice them, "Hey, wait a moment!" Zeb callded out to stop them, but Kanan held his arm out in front of Zeb, stopping him. "Just let him go, Zeb," Kanan told him and Ezra drove off. Hera watched the boy shrink into the distance before she gave a motherly head tilt for Kanan to go after him. Seconds later Kanan was on a speeder bike heading after Ezra.
Zeb watched him go before he turned to Turok, "Hey lizard give me a hand why don't you?"Turok knodded swearing a bit, "Hey you don't look so good?" Zeb asked as Turok took another step before he stopped his eyes shut and he fell face down into the dirt.
"TUROK!" Ahkilleon shouted running to him, he ran back from Sabine and slid to his side ready to push him over.
Hera ran up grabbing him "Don't touch him- not yet." Hera looked over Turok who was still on the ground. She looked him over checking to see if he was bleeding anywhere, "Turok I'm no medic I need you to try and tell me, where does it hurt?" She asked.
Making a gurgled noise Turok said "Feels like a must have— stars that burns- in our lifestyle, aah under my my vest…." Turok groaned out.
"Roll him over, gently." Hera said, ever so slowly Zeb and Ahkilleon did so. Zeb propped him up and Hera lifted up Turok vest and hitting out of his left side was a chunk of metal and green blood oozing out of it dried around the edges.
Ahkilleon gasped before Hera gritted her tooth, "Why didn't you tell us?"
"Needed to get off world not a medic… besides I've had—- irk worse." Turok coughed.
Hera glared at him then grabbed Ahkilleon, "No medic looks like we do this the old fashioned way, Ahkilleon we'll neee your sword, Chopper get over here." Hera called the droid walked over.
And Ahkilleon took out his sword, "Chopper, get your blow torch out." instantly Chopper lit his torch and Hera knodded at Ahkilleon, who lifted the edge of his sword to it and the tip into the flame in a few seconds it started to glow with orange embers storing the heat. Hera turned back to Turok, without a wire he new what was coming and nodded his consent. Taking hold of the metal shard in his gut, Hera took a deep breath "Ahkilleon on three, get ready to close the wound with the sword."
The boy squeaked out "Okay."
"One." Hera started.
"Two." Zeb held tight onto Turok.
"Three!" Hera yanked the metal out and Ahkilleon moved the burning hot piece of metal against the open wound in a par sec. Turok grabbed onto Zeb tight digging his claws into the lasats fur making Zeb wince but the trandoshan didn't yell out, and as his eyes trembled he started to go limp almost passing out before Ahkilleon couldn't stand the smell of burning flesh any longer taking it off. Turok gasped before her relaxes panting.
Hera tossed away the shard and sighed, "Zeb help Turok to the ship see if there's a med kit, water or rations?"
"Couldn't have looked for the med kit first?" Turok chuckled as Zeb helped him to his feet and walked him to the ship.
Hera shook her head smiling at his attitude, Zeb nodded "Easy does it big guy." Zeb said as Turok was helped back up aboard the ship. Ahkilleon watched them take him back up before he stood there looking at the sword. It was still covered in dry blood both of Vaders and now Turok too.
"You did good Ahkilleon." Hera said patting him on the shoulder.
He glanced up from the sword "I never thought a sword could heal someone, where'd you learn to do that?"
"Your mother taught me, when she used the same trick to save my life." Hera explained.
Out across the plains Ezra slowed the speeder down and he stepped off it, he ran to the edge of the hill not daring to get any closer before he took out his binoculars. and looked at the smoldering ruins of Tarkin Town the black tower of smoke rising higher and higher, the smell of burnt homes and worse filling his nostrils. Kanan arrived on the scene soon after as Ezra lowered his binoculars "There's no one, they're all gone." The boy said so quietly like it was a whisper.
Kanan stood beside him and was silent before he found the words lThey're prisoners of the Empire now."
"All I sense is evil. Who would want to burn Tarkin Town?" Ezra asked Kanan walked up to him.
"To spread fear, make us afraid. People that were here just got caught in the middle." Kanan told him somberly
"And this happened because of us, didn't it?" she asks him and he looks at her. "This a cost now to any action we take Ezra things are getting worse as it was when I was around your ages, but back then… there were ten thousand Jedi knights protecting the galaxy and now if we'd been united we maybe could have stopped it."
Ezra turned to him "But the Jedi did try, at least Ahkilleon's father and the other Jedi he was with did."
"No, they helped cause it." Kanan dropped down like Turok had done to Ahkilleon, "Turok Skell was a Lieutenant under Leo Rock, a Jedi knight yes but a traitor, at the height of the clone wars he betrayed us, broke the Jedi order before we could discover the Sith's plot. I'm doing my best not to hold Ahkilleon responsible for his fathers actions but it doesn't change the fact things could have been different, there could have been more Jedi to stop it." Kanan said standing up.
Ezra processed it. "There's just you, me and Ahkilleon." Ezra states, "Against an Empire we can fight Kanan, we have more allies now." Ezra told him and then Kanan grabbed him then.
"Do you even heard what you're saying, you saw what we're up against, look what happened to to you and to this town," Karan told him.
But she turns away from him and looks at the town, "I'm not afraid… not anymore." He told him and steps out further, Ezra stood their looking at the flames still burning the town. "That's what worries me." Kanan muttered under his breath while Tarkin Town. In the distance crouched in the grass watching via a scope, an Imperial scout trooper was watching Ezra and Kanan, he had the man in his sights and got ready to shoot before they headed back to the speeders. Getting up the scout headed over to his own speeder bike and jumped on after them.
Back at the rendezvous spot, Sabine was going through the gear looking at what Lando had left them, Ahkilleon was with her trying not to think on last nights events "There you are." Sabine said.
Ahkilleon came over and saw her pull out a large transponder, a large probe shaped device with a single antenna that could be used to send a signal there were a handful of them. "Transponders?" He asked her curious.
Sabine took out one of her splicers and nodded "The imperial blockade will be monitoring every flight in and out of Lothal, right?" She asked.
Ahkilleon leaned over her hands on his knees as she started to work on the device "Uh yeah?"
"And we've got an imperial ship and they know that right?" She asked again.
The gears in Ahkilleon's head churned producing the answer "So we can beam out the same signal multiple times, and slip away in the confusion."
"Ding ding ding we have a winner." Sabine teased under her helmet waving her tool around.
Ahkilleon have her a smirk, "Impressive… you're most impressive Sabine."
Her face hidden under her helmet, Sabine saw him looking at her "Uh y-you should find the other transponders." She stammered all flustered. Ahkilleon blinked a few times wondering if he'd said something wrong before he did as he was told, tired of being just there he found six other transponders by the time Ezra and Kanan came back.
When they returned back to the others and they saw the transponders and Zeb along with heravwas curious to what had happened "What happened out there?" Hera asked looking at Ezra and Kanan pulled up.
"The Empire burnt Tarkin Town." Kanan answered her as he pulled himself off the speeder and the others looked at him in shock.
"Did anyone survive?" Sabine asks him.
Ezra helps Mako walk up next to Kanan, "The Populations been taken captive." he answered her.
Zeb growled as he thrust his fist into his hand. "Then let's go bust them out, where's my rifle?" Zeb asked, but Kanan steped up to the lasat stopping them.
"No, they'll be waiting there," Kanan warned them, then Kanan looked to Hera, "You were right, we have to leave, for good." he finally agreed,
"For the good of Lothal." Hera states, everyone shared different expressions to Hera's somber resolve. Ezra tried his hardest to hide his sadness. Kanan matched Hera, Zeb looked depressed about it and Ahkilleon was staring at Ezra wondering what he could say to Ezra.
"So what's the plan on getting out of here?" Ezra asked aloud breaking the silence.
Sabine cleared her throat as she stood next to the transponders "Lando had these old transponders laying around, with Ahkilleon's help Sabine's going to tone their signature codes to match the shuttle's." Hera informed him.
"Sounds like a lousy Lando plan." Kanan said to Zeb, making them chuckle.
"No, it's a Lando's gear and it was my plan. With these transponders beaming out the same signal at the shuttle, we should be able to slip by… unnoticed." Sabine explained to them as she leans against one.
"Ooh, sounds like a lousy Sabine plan." Zeb whispered back at him, "Better than Lando's." The leader admitted, as everyone started to get ready to board the ship By the time they were in the air both Kanan and Hera were at the helm they opened the ramp as Sabine and Zeb walked to it and pushes the transponder out and it floated in the air, giving off the signal, getting the Empire's attention.
Then more were pushed into different locations, confusing the Empire, Hera then flew the shuttle pass the transponders. "The Empire is taking the bait, their fighters are splitting up." Kanan informs her and she smirks.
"Alright, let's make our run." Hera state: and moved out of orbit into the upper atmosphere, then the emergency light went off. "Looks like they figured it out." Kanan states, but Hera smiles, "It's too late boys." she states and jumps into hyperspace.
Hera climbed down from the cockpit into the shuttle hold where everyone else was gathered as chopper flew the ship, "I can't believe I'm saying this, but thank you Lando Calrissian." Hera admitted.
"Well, we can't go back to Lothal now, so where are we going now?" Kanan asked her as he sat down next to Ezra.
"What are you talking about, we're a part of the rebellion now." she informed him, he looked at her.
Kanan leaned forward curious "Are we? Are we all sure about that?" he asked the others. Ahkilleon was surprised to hear it from them. He looked at Sabine and Ezra worried they'll want to leave.
"Maybe we could just grab the Ghost and lay low for a while." Sabine suggested.
Zeb grumbled to himself then added "I like fighting with Phoenix squadron, reminds me of the honor guard, besides they're counting on us wouldn't be right to abandon them now." Zeb spoke up.
"I agree and if it wasn't for the rebellion, we would have been killed in the Mustafar system, we owe them that much." Ezra agreed whole heartily with Zeb and Hera looked proud but Hera was convinced Kanan was still cautious so she turned to Turok.
Walking over she stood over him "Turok, maybe you could help Kanan understand why it's important we stay."
Turok tilted his head up, "no." was all he said.
"No, but you've ee with Ahsoka since-" "Since I saw my best friend, my comrade, my General sacrifice himself only for the memory of his name, his Order and everything he fought for to be used against him by the Empire." Turok said, laying his head back down. "Forcing someone to fight for a cause that isn't their own, is wrong." Turok rolled over.
"But if he fights for his friends that should be enough." Turok sighed.
Kanan said nothing, seeing he was out voted he conceded, "That settles it then." Ahkilleon let out a sigh of relief that he'd been holding in since the conversation started before they made the jump to Hyperspace back to the fleet.
But back at the Imperial Center, within minutes after their escape, Agent Kallus walked in the office with Lord Vader, who had a hologram up but then the holo went off, an officer with a thick black mustache and sideburns walked in, "My lord, I regret to inform you, the rebels have escaped Lothal." he reported
Vader continued to run the dried blood on his hand "Have my ship made ready." he ordered and Kallus bowed to him and Vader left the office, "Agent Kallus, I don't understand." the officer asked him, Kallus turned to him. "There's a tracking device aboard that shuttle. Now ready the fleet to deploy." Kallus informed him, looking out the window knowing that Imperial Justice was at hand.
WILD SPACE
Phoenix Squadron
The imperial shuttle dropped out of hyperspace and flew to the fleet as two of phoenix squad guided them, "Phoenix to home, this is Ghost to A-team. Clearance code 12115." Hera said over the comms.
Then the two looked at each other, "Your clearance code checks out, welcome home, Ghost team." Phoenix 1 relayed them.
Home free, Hera smiled as she made her approach "Phoenix 1, we're going to need a medical team to meet us once we dock, some of us are banged up pretty bad" Hera reported him.
"Affirmative Ghost, we'll have one waiting and ready.'' Phoenix 1 replied.
As they made their dock, Turok was helped by Ahkilleon, "Turok, can I ask you something?" Ahkilleon asked.
"Sure lad." Turok said, wincing at his side.
"Does my mom know, that the Sith Lord killed my father?" he asked.
Ezra and Sabine started to head to the exit when they stopped. "She does, but don't hold it against her for not telling you, she just wants to protect you."
"But why not tell me?" Ahkilleon asked as Chopper rolled back looking around the floor.
Giving a sigh, Turok stood up weakly "I'll explain later, for now let's get to the Med Bay." Turok told him when Chopper let out a scream of surprise.
As they all left the ship they started to head for the war room, but Chopper hurried after them and chirped in a panic, getting them to look back Sabine went pale, "Chopper said a transmitter activated on our shuttle moments ago." Sabine translated as Hera ran for the war room.
"What does that mean?" Ezra asks her, "It means the Empire has tracked it back to the fleet." Kanan rephrased and then they all ran for the war room.
"Commander Sato, we need the fleet to jump out of here, our shuttle had a tracker on board that activated the moment we dropped out of hyperspeed," Hera warns him as he turns to her.
"Commander, scanning a ship entering our sector." The ship's helmsman informed him, Kanan and Hera eyed each other as out of hyperspace dropped an Imperial TIE fighter of a unique model, it had the same ball shaped cockpit but had a longer back and wider wings bent inwards, similar to how the Inquisitor's before it flew out to the rebel fleet.
Ahsoka, the commander, and the Ghost crew were at the table, "We're tracking one target, no other ships have entered the system." the Helmsman said to him as Ahkilleon helped Turok into the bridge.
"... no, not again." Turok gasped.
"Move Phoenix Squadron to interpret," Sato ordered him and the Phoenix squadrons fighters were deployed.
Down in the bowels of the ship, Sato's pilots were running to their A-wings and Turok was pushing off Ahkilleon limping around the table, "Sato don't be a fool it's a trap, belay the Order we need to make a jump to hyperspace." Turok snapped at him.
"I will not be told how to command my forces by you Agent, this is one fighter our forces are more than capable." Sato said as Phoenix Squadron flew out to meet the lone TIE fighter, unaware that even a full flock of Phoenix's were no match for a black eagle.
They fired at the ship, but it flew through the fighters like it wasn't even their, blasting past them and firing back, the TIE hit two of the A wings taking them out, "He's coming in too fast." phoenix 3 stated.
"Raise deflector shields," Hera ordered them.
"We lost to Phoenix 1 and 2." Phoenix 4 informs her; the Tie fires at one ship and heads for the mothership.
"He's heading straight for us." Ezra states.
"The enemy ship is making for the command ship!" The Phoenix Leader warned them and the TIE fires on the ship, damaging it. Making everyone stagger a little and the power to flicker.
Turok held onto the holotable "Order the retreat."
Ahsoka grabbed him "Why, Turok you need to tell us why?"
"How can one ship best our entire squadron?!" Sato questions out loud ignoring Turok entirely.
Hera couldn't stomach the slaughter any longer, and she couldn't stand running "Your pilots outmatch, Commander!" Hera said and then ran for the door.
"What are you doing?" Kanan questioned, she stops and turns to him, "Getting involved!" she answered and was gone.
Kanan sighed to himself. "Not without me you're not!" he yelled after her and he took off.
"Wait for me!" Zeb calls out as he and Leto chase after them, "Let's go. Ezra, come on!" Sabine tells him as she chases after the others.
Then Ahsoka walks up to him, "All right if we tag along?" she asked him, he smirks at her.
"The more the merrier," he answered her and they both took off after the others, Ahkilleon looked at Turok who was already arguing with Sato before he followed.
Out in the battle, Phoenix squadron fired on the enemy ship, but the lone fighter was a clear ace, the TIE unable to get hit by any of them as it flew backward. Getting the both of them, then everyone gathered onto the Ghost. "Everyone check in." Hera orders as they go to their stations.
"Tail gun, check." Zeb answers, "Turret gun, check." Sabine answers then Ezra hurries to the last one. "Noe gun, Check, check," he answers.
Ahkilleon ran into the bridge with his mom, "What do I do?" he asked Hera.
"Check the ships systems, if anything goes in the red we need quick hands to redirect power." Hera said.
"Got it." he replied.
Hera got on the comms and said "Alright kids, do mom and dad proud," she as she started up the Ghost. "Here it comes," Kanan warns her as the Tie flies right at them, and fires at the command ship again, damaging it more.
"We lost our shields!" the Helmsman warned Sato, "Damn you Sato pull back."
Sato turned to Turok, "Have this trandoshan escorted off my bridge, I will not retreat." two bridge crew came up behind Turok and grabbed him. Turok saw them coming and tensed up then he looked around to see Ahkilleon and Ahsoka were gone.
"Ghost moving to engage," Hera informed Sato and she flew the Ghost after the Tie. "I'm on him!" Sabine answers and fires at the TIE, but missed as he dodges her.
"Who is this guy?" Zeb questioned as Ahsoka looked away for a moment, the command ship was now heavily damaged.
"Sir, the last attack damage the hyperdrive core. We are dead in space." the rebel officer warned Sato.
"Phoenix Home to Ghost. We can't withstand another attack from that fighter!" Sato repeated to Hera.
"Copy that, Phoenix home. Phoenix squadron, from up and focused fire." Hera orders and the last two remaining of phoenix flew with her as they chase the Tie.
"The force is strong with him." Ahsoka stated, then she looked at the Jedi behind her, "Kanan, let's find out how strong." she tells him.
The request made him look at her puzzled "How can I help?" he asks her. "Just remember your training," she answered him and held out her hand, closing her eyes. Kanan sighs then does the same and places his hand on her shoulder and they both focus.
The Command ship was burning now from all the damage it had taken as the Tie came back in for another bombing, "Enemy ship coming in for attack range." the rebel officer told Sato.
The Ghost flies after him as Ezra fires at the Tie that dodges him, but then he stops as the feeling returns. "There's something familiar I feel… cold." Ezra mutters as he pulls his hands away from the controls and closes to himself.
"I think I know who it is." Ezra said over the comms, "Back on Lothal, I felt something. Kanan and Ahkilleon did too, the fear, the anger, the hate. It is the Sith Lord we faced." Ezra shouted at them and Ahsoka shot her eyes open as Vader sensed her, sensing him.
In that split moment she saw him, she saw the man she met on Christophsis all those years ago, the one who showed her how to fix a starship when it was damaged, to deflect blaster bolts without even seeing where they were coming from. A man who was more than just a brother to her, it was… it was… it was her Skyguy.
She let out a scream and passed out in her chair.
"MOM!" Ahkilleon shouted in terror.
"The apprentice lives," he said Kanan catches her as they both were on the ground.
"Ahsoka?" Kanan called her, but she was out cold.
Then Vader flew right over the command ship. "The enemy ship broke off its attack, they did it." the rebel officer informs him.
"Captain Syndulla. Whatever you are doing, keep going, the fleet can recover." Sato informs Hera over the comma, "No, commander, you need to get the fleet out of here now." Kanan warned him.
"I will not abandon our command ship!" Sato argues with him as the TIE now fired on the Ghost and hit phoenix 6 making it burst into flames.
"You don't have a choice, sir. Without a hyperdrive, you must abandon ship." Hera argued as well.
Sato was debating the answer, but Turok couldn't wait that long he new what was coming, hitting the soldier who guarded him on his left in the gut, then he smashed the other into the holotable taking his firearm he aimed it at Sato and squeezed the trigger, a stun ring hitting Sato in the chest knocking him out, "All forces, the Commander Sato has been removed from Command, prepare to make the jump to hyperspace."
"Turok what happened to Sato?" Hera asked.
"He's alive, but we won't be unless we abandon ship." Turok said to the rest of Phoenix Home's crew, who didn't look too happy about having their Commander knocked out.
An alarm suddenly came on and the helmsman looked horrified "Sir, we have star destroyers in sector five." the officer told Turok as four were closing in.
"Lord Vader, we have entered the system and await your orders." the same Admiral who lost the rebels one informed him. "Move your destroyers to block their escape, but hold your fire. I want these rebels alive." Vader orders him and fires at the Ghost.
Turok walked up to the bridge and slammed his fist on the intercom "All hands abandon ship, I repeat abandon ship, Ghost you'll have to keep that ship occupied," he orders them. "Don't worry Turok, we seem to have his attention just get everyone out of there" Hera informs him and makes a hard right, Vader follows the Ghost.
"Alright everyone, I'm converting all power to the hyperdrive, that includes cannons." she informs the crew. Sabine and Zeb complained as they lost their guns, but Ezra got it.
Aboard Admiral Konstantine's ship his men were relaying orders from Vader's TIE "Admiral, Lord Vader has separated one of the rebel ships of the rest of the fleet." an officer informs the CO. "Then that is our primary target," he concluded, as pods from the commanding ship jump out to the other rebel ships. Turok ran into the stolen Lambda Shuttle as the Phoenix Home began to blow up behind him, as some of the bridge crew carried Sato in behind him.
"Ghost crew, the escape pods are secure with the rest of the fleet, I'm taking the stolen shuttle" Turok said, as he broke off from the command ship.
"Copy that Turok, we'll meet you at Safe Haven." Hera told him.
Then the rebel fleet makes the jump to hyperspace."The fleet is away, get us out of here." Sabine tells Hera, "Everyone, hang on!" Hera orders them as Vader fires at them causing the ship to shake.
"Chopper angle all defectors at stern," she orders him and he grumbles at her.
"Those star destroyers aren't the ones firing at us, now do it fast." she snaps at him, he just grumbled back at her.
Aboard the star destroyer the Admiral watched the ship get closer "Target is moving into range." another officer informed his CO.
"Activate tracker beam on my signal." he ordered him as Hera flew in between the two-star destroyers.
"Hera!" Kanan calls to her, "Wait… wait." she tells him. Vader fired at the Ghost, "Now!" the Admiral shouted at the others, "Gotcha!" Hera jumps to hyperspace and as she did, a powerful white pulse ran out, knocking the star destroyers and Vader off, making them spin out of control and get caught right into the Imperial Tractor beam.
SAFE HAVEN
The Rebels were now at Safe Haven as Chopper repaired the Ghost and Ahsoka was sitting in the cockpit by herself, then Kanan, Ahsoka and Ezra walked into the cockpit. "Ahsoka, Hera said you wanted to speak with us." Ezra informs her and she turns to them.
"Please come in." she tells them.
"Are you okay Mom?" her son asked her.
"I am, thank you." she nods at him.
Ezra gave a sigh of relief "I wanted to ask about the Sith Lord you encounter on Lothal." she asks them when she turned the chair around to face them.
"You know we encountered an few Inquisitors before, but this… was nothing like that. The fear, the anger, the hate. You felt it… I haven't felt a presence like that since…" he states and Ahsoka looks at him. "The Clone Wars," she answers him, he looks at her and nods.
Ahsoka gave a troubled look "Yeah." he agreed. Then Ezra looks at her, "Ahsoka, do you know who or what he is?" Ezra asks her. She looks at him for a moment and then away.
"No. I don't. But I don't know he'll be coming, they'll all be coming now." she answers him.
"Then we got to be ready to fight." Ezra tells her and Kanan looked at him, "If we must find the strength to fight, but the greater courage is knowing when not to fight." Kanan informed her.
LOTHAL SYSTEM
Star Destroyer
The doors opened to the bridge as Vader walked in where Admiral Konstantine and Agent Kallus were waiting for them. Kallus looked very pleased with their success "With their command Ship destroyed, the rebel fleet has been shattered, you have them on the run." Kallus informs him.
"Clear the bridge." Vader orders and they did so without question.
Once the door was closed, Vader went to a knee as the holo then opened to the a system far far away and a dark menacing voice spoke to him, "Lord Vader. Have you dealt with the Rebels of the Lothal system?" the Empire questions him.
"Yes Master. They are broken." Vader informs him.
"And yet I sense in you more… then your victory." the Emperor asked him.
Vader was silent, for a long time but raised his head "I believe the apprentice of Anakin Skywalker is with these rebels," Vader informs him.
"Are you certain?" The Empire questions him.
"It was her, but there is more, a scion of an old enemy." Vader informs him and the Empire hums to himself.
"This is an opportunity we cannot let pass. Skywalker's apprentice can lead us to other lost Jedi." the Emperor stated.
Vader squeezed his fist the feeling of the blade cutting him still near to his mind "Such as Kenobi?" Vader asked his master.
"Perhaps, if he lives, this scion could be turned." the Empire orders him.
"Yes my Master, but first we must find him." Vader agreed with him. "Be patient my old friend, for now, dispatch another Inquisitor to hunt them down." the Empire orders him.
"As you wish, my master."
CABAL ONE
"Lothal?" Caliban asked again as the golden masked crime lord stood at the holotable looking up at the blurred out hologram of the General, Hyena Squadron stood behind him, Captain Naqia stood holding her helmet under her arm, she looked over at Shade the agent had his goggled helmet on while he sat at a nearby table listening. "Lothals a backwater?" The Caliban asked.
The Generals hologram shimmered, "So we thought, but if any information is worth the Empire killing their own, it deserves more consideration."
Shade stood up from his seat "Sir, I have to disagree, we have far better options then waisting our time there, Onderon, Raxus or Ryloth should have our attention, besides the Imperail presence there has been increased to a full scale ocupation."
"Which will give you ample opportunity to train the a force there." The General said to him.
Shade stiffened, "Me, you mean you agree with Skell."
"I do, you will depart for Lothal, an establish a Militia for the sector you will have access to all our funds, resoruces and arms to achieve your primary objective." the General said as Shade wanted to protest then it dawned on him, "General... does this mean?"
"Yes, the war begins on Lothal, do accept this command?" The General asked. Shade looked over at Caliban who knodded at him before the agent kodded, "I accept sir."
Caliban snapped his fingers, and out of thin air dressed in a stealth belt was one of his masked underlings, they wore a green bird mask and was holding a box, "Before you go, a gift." Caliban said to him, the underling was holding a brown box that Caliban took before the shinobi vanished. He approached Caliban who opened the box for him, Shade reached up to his helmet, he took it off and the goggles before he dropped them casting aside the mask. "The time for agents will soon be over, we will need Commanders to guide our forces to victory and it's important they have the necessary tools, wouldn't you agree..." Caliban asked as Dray reached inside and took out metal cylinder linked together in three segments with a blunt pommel and an emitter on the other end, with one press of as witch a radiant emerald lightsaber emerged from the hilt lighting up 'Shade's tan skin and brown eyes, his dark haired curls combed back behind his head "...Dray?"
He looked at the lightsaber, feeling the heat of it off his face he turned it off, "No one's called me Dray in years, I'd almost forgotten what it sounded like."
"Time has that effect when we live in the shadows my brother, you do know that in accepting this mission conflict with former Jedi like this Kanan Jarrus, and Ahsoka is inevitible." Caliban said.
"Only if we can't convince them to see a better way, the Twilight Force, the Ikar Way." Dray said as he clipped the lightsaber to his belt.
The General gave a soft grunt "Many will question such a mission given to an Ikar, that is why Captain Naqia and her Hyena's will go with you, to help train the new Militia."
"I'll make sure my men are prepped and ready to go, General." Captain Naqia said up to the hologram.
"Good, Captain, Commander happy hunting." The General said before he finsihed with "Militia Invictus."