Chapter Eight: The Revelation
Cal and Fiver could only continue to stare in shock at the holograms of Plo Koon and Ahsoka Tano. They couldn't formulate words. Then, the door to the Command room opened. Cere and Greez entered in awe but Cere stopped short, in shock to see the two Jedi. Cere then slowly walked up to the console table and asked, "Master Plo Koon…is that you?"
Plo Koon looked at Cere and replied, "Master Junda…it is great to see you alive and well. You know Ahsoka Tano."
Ahsoka bowed to her. "It's good to see you, Master Junda."
Cere was still in shock. She had heard of other survivors fighting against the Empire buts to see others that had survived, warmed her heart.
"How did you all survive and have managed to do all this?" asked Cere
Plo Koon replied, "It was a co-ordinated effort by everyone. What you are seeing here started since the beginning of the Clone Wars. Commander Neyo of the 91st Mobile Reconnaissance Corps was the one who discovered the inhibitor chips during the first year of the Clone Wars. He got the Kaminoans to show the location of the biochip and spread this information around to other units in the army. In anticipation for such an event that the biochip would be used, the Clones built the foundation of our hidden bases. However, not all units were able to get their chips out. Then when Order 66 came, most of the units in GAR managed to regroup and settled into the hidden bases. Over the course of five years, some of the major units have managed to rebuild their numbers to conduct major offensives with other units performing hit and run tactics. We are still fighting the good fight, Master Junda."
Cere took the information in and then asked, "I see. By any chance, have you heard of my master's, Eno Cordova, plan on hiding a holocron with the list of force-sensitive Younglings?"
Plo was shocked to say the least and quickly looked at Ahsoka who was also shocked. Even the Clones around Cere, Cal and Fiver were shocked. Yularen was alarmed with Admiral Quinn looking confused.
"Pardon my intrusion, Generals, but what is a holocron?" asked Quinn with a curious look on her face.
Ahsoka turned to Quinn and said, "A holocron is an information storage device only opened by a Force-Sensitive…in this case, this particular holocron can only be opened by a Jedi and not by those who use the Dark Side…Still, a holocron that has information on the locations of Force-sensitive Younglings is a worry."
"Yes…it is…Master Junda, is that why you have come to Kashyyyk? There's information on the holocron here?" asked Plo with a serious look on his face.
"Yes, Master. Cal here is leading the investigation along with his trooper. I…cut myself off from the Force..." said Cere who had a crestfallen face.
Plo saw this and replied, "I see…Padawan Kestis…I realise that you haven't been a Jedi for some time but this has turned critical for all of us. I want you to lead a detachment of Jedi Guards to continue your investigation."
"Yes, Master Plo. I need to speak with Tarfful immediately." Said Cal.
"Then do so with haste…we cannot allow the Empire to get ahold of the holocron….Master Junda, please remain here at the base. We have much to discuss…Padawan, may the Force be with you." Said Plo.
Cal bowed with Fiver saluting. Gree then signalled a Jedi Guard trooper to take the two to Tarfful. The duo went with haste where the Shock Trooper led them to a lift that took them to the hangar.
The Hangar of the Kashyyyk Base
The Hangar was bigger than any Old Republic bases that Cal has seen. Housing the might Venator IIs and IIIs, they were the pride of the fleet. Cal and Fiver stopped to stare at the Star Destroyers in wonder and awe but then,
"Hey you two! Hurry your butts here!" shouted the Shock Trooper.
Both started to jog to the red painted Clone where they resumed their journey to Tarfful. After passing a few hangar bays containing ARC-170s that were being fixed up, the Clone stopped.
"Wait here." Said the Shock Trooper. The trooper then walked up to a Wookiee and a Clone officer who were having a bit of an argument.
"Sir, I'm telling you…you can't use this transport yet…I know what you are saying but you need to get clearance from Commander Gree to even use the LAAT/i…" Argued the Clone officer.
"Uh…Sir." Said the Shock Trooper.
"What is it, Trooper?" asked the officer in a somewhat annoyed tone.
He replied, "These two would like to speak to the Wookiee, Sir."
The Officer and the Wookiee then, looked at Cal and Fiver who were waiting to speak. The Officer signalled them forward where the duo came forward.
"Sorry to interrupt your conversation but we need to urgently speak to Chieftain Tarfful." Said Cal with an apologetic look.
The Wookiee then growled and the Officer translated, "He is he. What is it you want?"
"We need to get to the top of your sacred tree, the Origin Tree. We believe an old friend of yours, Eno Cordova, has hidden some information over there." Explained Cal as he plead his case to Tarfful.
Tarfful then, growled and roared at which the Officer translated, "He knows Eno Cordova but he wants to know why you are interested in Cordova."
Cal then, presented his lightsaber at which Tarfful replied in a growl that was translated, "So you're the Jedi I heard that assisted the 42nd in their efforts to liberate my home?"
Cal nodded and put his lightsaber away. Tarfful then thought for a bit and then after a few minutes, he growled. "You can take a transport to the top of our sacred tree. I hope you find the information that Cordova left behind."
Cal bowed and turned to get a ship in order. As they were on their way to the lift, Gree came off along with Cere and Greez. Accompanying them was a Jedi Guard detachment. All in their red paint with the symbol of the Jedi Order on their left shoulder plate. Cal and Fiver walked to meet up with them.
"Command has given you temporary Commander level clearance so you are free to take any transport you wish though you probably will want to stick with your friend's ship when going to planets. The detachment will follow in a Consular-class Armed Cruiser, headed by Commander Odin." Explained Gree.
Cal nodded and Cere said, "Master Plo Koon wants us to get the list and then, give it to Odin where it will be taken to a safe place."
Cal and Fiver were confused. "A safe place? I thought we were going to use the list to restore the Jedi Order?"
"We will but the time is not right to start restoring it, so the mission has changed. Just find the holocron and keep it out of the Empire's reach." Said Cere as she looked down.
The young Jedi knew there was more to this than just keeping the holocron safe but decided not to voice it for now. "I need to take a LAAT/i to get to the top of the Origin Tree. Master Cordova has stored clues there."
Gree replied, "Take one. And Fiver, come over here."
Fiver looked to Cal and moved to where Gree was. Gree then took his left arm's armour off, where he then used a stim needle to inject Fiver with a blue liquid. "This is the de-aging formula we used on the veterans and the shinies. Now you can live longer, brother."
Fiver nodded in appreciation. With that, Cal and Fiver went to a nearby LAAT/i to get to the top of the Origin Tree but when they got to the transport, it was filled with a squad of Jedi Guard troopers. Commander Odin was briefing the squad when he saw the duo approaching them. He dismissed the squad and turned to Cal.
"The squad has been briefed on what to expect and the reason behind the mission. And since the Inquisitorius are still after you, the general order is shoot-to-kill." Explained Odin with his arms crossed.
"Shoot-to-kill? Isn't that a bit extreme?" asked Fiver
"No. The Jedi deemed the Inquisitors irredeemable. Therefore, Commander Fox has ordered a shoot to kill order throughout the Jedi Guards." Explained Odin. "It is better to give them peace than to let them be in darkness. This is our way of mercy."
Cal thought on this and replied, "But if there is a slightest chance of getting them to turn against the Empire, we have to take it."
"I'm sorry, Sir. The order is clear on this one. Even if there is a slightest chance, we cannot take it. It's too risky." Said Odin, finishing the conversation by walking to the rest of the detachment. The duo boarded the LAAT/i as it takes off to the Origin Tree.
The LAAT/i soared through the skies of Kashyyyk, unopposed, where the beauty of the planet was breath-taking for Cal. The greenery, the dense forest. He even saw a group of Wookiees doing a patrol with Scout Troopers of the 41st. As the transport got nearer to its destination, the Tree overshadowed some sections of the forest below. Cal was in awe of how tall the tree was. Soon, the transport went upward and landed on a solid ground. Shock Troopers got off and formed a perimeter. Cal and Fiver followed with Fiver setting his Carbine ready to shoot at anything. A Shock Trooper then went up to Cal, carrying a Carbine, "Sir, the perimeter looks clear. Are you ready to proceed?" Cal nodded and moved upwards, leading the group through the path. Along the way, Cal found parts to repair his Master's double bladed lightsaber so he promptly repaired his memento and carried on. After a while, the group saw an unusual markings within the Origin Tree and came across a statue of a Zeffo. With their destination reached, BD-8 began playing a message from Cordova. Having found an Astrium, he didn't need to go to Dathomir to get one from a tomb. But that got Cal wondering with Fiver voicing it, "Cal, you know what this means right?"
"Yes….we need to get to Dathomir….we need to get our hands on the Astrium." Said Cal. "Sergeant, we are going back and quickly."
The Sergeant Shock Trooper nodded and got the squad moving. However, an unusual black transport arrived and started firing at them. A couple of the Jedi Guards were downed with others taking cover. Then, out of the transport, came a big black uniformed alien with a red visor. It was the Ninth Sister.
Cal ignited his double bladed lightsaber and confronted the Inquisitor.
"Found you again." Said Ninth Sister.
"You are done hurting this world." Replied Cal, angrily.
"I don't know what's got Second Sister thinking you're so important…She likes her souvenirs but…I'm not in it for the memories and honestly…You're not worth my time. So let's make this quick." Said Ninth Sister as she prepared to fight. Cal launched himself against her with blade clashing at every slice and thrust. The squad along with Fiver were busy with the Imperial transport as they tried to assist Cal. Fiver saw a rocker launcher on the back of one of the downed trooper and rushed to it. Picking it up, he fired the rocker, hitting the transport's wing. The transport went into a spiral and crashed down at the bottom. The squad then, ran to the fight where they then surrounded the duo. The two continued to keep clashing until Cal broke through the Inquisitor's defence and sliced off her right hand that was holding her lightsaber.
"It's over. Surrender and you may live." Said Cal as he breathed heavily.
The Ninth Sister continued to clutch her injury and said, "Being an Inquisitor taught me no set-back is too great. When you've already lost yourself…A limb's easy. You know, I was a Jedi. It'd be fun to bring you in. Watch you crack like the rest of…"
She didn't get to finish as the troopers shot at her, riddling her body with blue blaster bolts as she collapsed on the ground dead. The Sergeant of the squad went up to Cal and said, "Sorry, Sir…we saw her lightsaber being lifted and couldn't take a chance."
Cal nodded and replied, "It's okay. Call the transport. We need to head back now." The Sergeant walked away and called for a transport on his comm. Fiver looked at Cal with concern and took his helmet off. He walked up to the young Jedi and asked, "Is everything alright, Sir?"
Cal looked sideways at his old friend and replied, "I always wondered…what if they could be saved. What could we do to turn them to the light…away from the darkness that plagues them."
Fiver replied, "Sometimes…there are some that we can't save but that doesn't mean we can't try. We will get that holocron and maybe…get some semblance of peace from that." Fiver left Cal to his thoughts as they prepare for the next part of their mission; going to Dathomir and getting that Atrium.
Right, that's another chapter done! Hope you enjoyed it. I shall be posting the next chapter hopefully soon. I'm currently finishing up Part II of the Kenobi spin off series. The next chapter will be taking place on Dathomir along with a very nice surprise. As always, leave a constructive review and I'll see you all in the next chapter of The Grand Rebellion: Episode One and Obi-Wan Kenobi and the 212th.