Chapter 13
Always two There Are
GHOST
Another day in the fleet, the rebels were going about their business, but for Ezra and Ahkilleon that business was training, "Your feet, move your feet." Kanan told Ezra as he and Ahkilleon dueled, lightsaber against force imbued sword. Ezra kept trying to block but Ahkilleons sword glided on and off the lightsaber like it was almost not there, the slight curve in his lightsaber gave him a dueling advantage. Backing up Ahsoka watched beside Kanan eyeing Ahkilleons form, "Switch your forms." Kanan told him.
Ezra did so and started to gain the advantage, Kanan let out a cheer "Yeah that's it, don't let up." Kanan cheered him on, Ahkilleon waited for his mother to say any advice but she was silent.
He countered and parried, "Form II, form II." Kanan said holding up two fingers at him, Ahsoka watched Ezra switch to form two going with one hand, when he did Ahkilleon flipped his sword into a reverse grip, his hand high on the hilt. He pushed Ezra's blade up and then hit him in the face with the but of his sword hilt. Kanan winced and the two adults watched Ahkilleon jump to the nearest wall in the ship's cargo hold and slammed his sword down on Ezra who blocked it but the sheer force of the blow made him fall down back on the floor Ahkilleon on top, "Ahkilleon!" Ahsoka snapped.
"What!?" Ahkilleon snapped, jumping off him, panting from the sudden end to the fight, "This is a friendly sparring match, those moves were illegal." she told him.
Ahkilleon rolled his eyes "Illegal to whom, were not exactly in a temple?" he asked.
"I'm fine- I'm fine." Ezra said, shaking off the attack, Ahkilleon turned his sword inward away from him and helped the boy up "See, Ezra always bounces back." Ahkilleon said, patting him on the shoulder.
Ezra wobbled a bit and shook his head back and forth a few times, "That's not the point, it's not a Jedi move." "Yeah well we didn't all get to learn in a fancy Temple, Kanan." Ahkilleon said to him.
"And it talks like that as to why you don't have a lightsaber." Ahsoka said agreeing with Kanan, Ahkilleon looked betrayed hearing that. Kanan came up to take Ezra away and leave the two alone.
Looking up at his mother, "So, is he my Master now cause I'm confused?" Ahkilleon asked.
"Kanan told me about what happened on Seelos, you should show him more respect." Ahsoka told him.
Scoffing, Ahkilleon walked over to his sheath and stuffed the sword into it, "I have, and he still doesn't return it, why should I respect someone who's older who doesn't respect me?" Ahkilleon asked.
"It's not about his age, it's his experience, he survived Order 66 alone and he still fought the Empire with Hera, you respect her don't you?" Ahsoka asked him, the boy swayed his head side to side.
"Yeah of course, but he treats me as part of the crew they all do, Kanan doesn't, even before Seelos I don't know why he hates me." Ahkilleon told her.
Rolling her eyes "Kanan doesn't hate you, if he did you think he'd let you be on his squad?" She asked.
"That's just so he could hate me even more, I'm trapped forever in his ponytail cabal of hatred." Ahkilleon gurgled, holding his hand up like he was holding said cabal right in front of her.
"A jedi doesn't allow themselves to feel hatred, it's beneath them." Ahsoka said, trying to impart some wisdom to her son. "Can we at least settle on the fact he just doesn't like me."
"You don't have to like him either Ahkilleon, but you do have to respect him." Ahsoka remembered, seeing he wasn't going to be winning her over anytime soon he sighed in defeat "Fine."
Ahsoka smiled, "Good and from now on go easier on Ezra in your sparring matches." Ahsoka said as she walked out and crossed her legs on the floor.
"Why, you always have Proxy go full force with me?" Ahkilleon asked, "That's because you are already far more skilled with a sword than him, he doesn't need a reminder, now join me for some meditation." Ahsoka insisted, laying his sword down across from her Ahkilleon sat down and cleared his mind.
In the lounge, Zeb and Rex were playing dejarik the holochess game Zeb was struggling on what his next move was supposed to be while Sabine spray painted a new decal on the wall. "Let's end today's lesson by levitating Chopper." Kanan said, gesturing over to the droid who gave a squawk of protest.
"If I do, can I drop him?" Ezra asked, looking for a win.
The droid grunted in irritation and Kanan scoffed "Sure."
As he did Zeb made his move and Rex quickly countered winning the round, Zeb groaned while Rex laughed "Chalk another one up for the clone, takes more than brawn to win this game, big guy." Rex said over to Rex as the holotable cleared itself. The lasat gave the old soldier a friendly chuckle.
"Maybe I let you win, old guy." Zeb said as Ezra was distracted, Sabine whispered over to Chopper to have a little fun with Ezra "Lock it down." The droid nodded and locked his magnetic wheels in place so he couldn't be lifted.
Ezra, focusing on the force, reached out his hand to Chopper to make him levitate, "Come on, Ezra. Focus." Kanan said in his ear, all while Chopper taunted Ezra with a series of grunts and squawking beeps. "Focus, use the Force, look through the Force, lift Chopper up." Kanan said
But still the droid refused to rise. "Picture it in your mind."
A bead of sweat rolled down Ezra's temple and finally he gave up "I can't! I can't do it." Ezra said mournfully.
"Hey, kid, while you're looking through the Force, don't forget to look with your eyes too the droid's got his feet locked down." Rex said pointing at Chopper's feet, the droid just laughed along with Sabine, their prank having played out perfectly.
Ezra went red faced and gasped "It's not fair."
"Real battles usually aren't, though you'd learnt that by now after all the times Ahkilleon beat you." Kanan reminded him.
Rex stood up hands behind his back and gave some advice "The Jedi general I served combined the Force with his wits, and it made him a great warrior."
Unhappy with the clones' input , Kanan cleared his throat "Ezra's got plenty of wits, what he needs is more discipline." Kanan said.
Rex put his hands on his belt "Well, then you better let a soldier handle that."
"Excuse me?" Kanan snapped, the two men squaring off into what looked like an argument, just before the two could lay into one another Hera walked in, looking at Sabine. "Sabine, I have a mission for you and Chop, thanks to Captain Rex, I found an old base where we might be able to salvage some much-needed medical supplies."
"Zeb... Hmm." Hera said looking over at Rex and Kanan then to the lasat "Huh? You should go too." Zeb let out a sigh of annoyance but got up to follow Sabine and Chopper to the phantom.
"Better find the med supplies quick, Captain Wits is about to need them." Kanan said pointing his thumb at Rex who just gave an angry
"So there's where the boy's lack of discipline comes from, hmm?"
Kanan snapped his head back around "You're saying I lack discipline?"
Rolling his eyes Rex replied "Yeah, that's exactly what I said."
Hera headed out and rolled her eyes with a groan "Here we go again."
"Funny." Kanan forced a crooked smile. "But a soldier's discipline can't compare to a Jedi's; it takes far more discipline not to fight."
Scoffing like a mynock Rex flung his hands up "Oh, so you're just gonna ask the Empire to lay down their weapons and give up.
Furious, Kanan got right in his face and Rex did the same, "No, that isn't what I meant, what I meant is Ezra's got to learn to stay in the moment, be present." As the two of them argued, Ezra snuck out of the lounge and ran to the back of the ship. Ahkilleon looked up to see him going and then looked back at Ahsoka, his mom's eyes closed deep in meditation, "Go already." Ahsoka said, giving a half smile and a wink.
"You got it, Ezra… Ezra?" Kanan asked back in the lounge only to see he was gone. Slipping inside the Phantom with Chopper and Zeb, Ahkilleon jumped in right behind him with his sword across his back.
"Hey, you weren't assigned this mission." Zeb told him, Ezra just sat down across from him "We assigned ourselves. I'd rather deal with the dangers out there, than stay in the crossfire here." Ezra said as the phantom detached and prepared to jump to hyperspace. Sabine looked back before she input the coordinates "You say that now." she said before the rebel ship took off and made a jump to hyperspace. Meanwhile back in the Ghost, Rex and Kanan were still arguing over what was best for Ezra.
Ahsoka walked in seeing them argue, Rex stiffened "Uh sorry Commander."
"What's going on?" she asked.
"This iron bullhead thinks he's all that." Rex said pointing at Kanan, he swat his hand away, Kanan leaned in "Oh I'm sorry, Mr. Smarty Werbenjagermanjensen." Kanan snapped, Rex stepped back confused "What did you just call me?" Rex asked.
Rex growled "I don't know but I bet it's bad." Rex added and the argument resumed, Hera walked in clearing her throat.
"Commander Sato wants us on the bridge, all of us."
Later, Ahsoka and Hera walked in with the men behind her but the two of them caught stuck in the door and both of them shoulder wrestled to get through, the whole time Sato watched disapprovingly before they came out and glared at one another "Kanan Jarrus, Commander Rex." Sato said, getting their attention.
Rex stood at attention, "Captain please, there's enough Commanders in here already." Rex said.
"I don't have a Commander rank anymore." Kanan hissed, "I wasn't talking about you." Rex said snidely.
"Now that you two are finished, we have received some more disturbing news." Sato told them. This got everyone to shut up and listen, Sato pressed a button on the holotable to reveal the galactic map, it zoomed in on the Outer Rims western reaches where they were. A series of red marks appeared on the unknown region borders "What are we looking at Commander?" Hera asked him.
"These were given to us by Turok Skell, Imperial ships have been getting attacked on the far fringes of the Outer Rim." Sato told them.
Ahsoka walked around looking at them, the seemingly random attacks and small reports attached to them, she looked at one of the monitors and scanned them, "These are cargo haulers, mining guild vessels, pirates?" She asked.
"Our intelligence believes that is what they are masked to be." Sato answered, Rex walked to the other side looking at them scratching his beard, Ahsoka glanced at him, "Rex?"
Rex hummed to himself, "Look at the outlying sectors, the incidents are all only one hyperspace jump from major hubs." Rex said. Hera started to see it to, her pilot eyes seeing the invisible lines of hyperspace lanes that connected the galaxy that any good pilot would know "Ord Mantell, the Tion Cluster, Nar Shadddaa, Ryloth, three around Raxus Secunda, these aren't pirate attacks."
"No, how did Turok come by these?" Kanan asked.
"One of his many… contacts, who he refuses to share with Rebel intelligence." Sato said, looking sideways to Ahsoka.
Rex gave a scoff "That Turok has always been a slippery one, plays his cards close to the chest, where is he anyway?"
"He had to go to Garel for this information, he sent this within the hour." Sato told them.
Hera scratched her chin, "Wait did he take a fighter?"
"No, he insisted on taking one of our shuttles to be more inconspicuous." Sato told her, shaking his head.
"What is it, Hera?" Ahsoka asked.
Hera folded her arms to her chest "It may be nothing, but when we were on Seelos, Turok spoke of calling friends in case we needed them, is he coordinating with other cells Ahsoka, Commander?" she asked Sato and her, they both looked at one another.
"That would be unlikely, the whole point of our structure is not knowing who the other cells are?" Commander Sato said.
Ahsoka shook her head "But not for Turok, he's carried information and supplies to other cells when we needed him to, Iron Squadron, Enfys Nest, Freemarch."
"You still vouch for him." Commander Sato said.
"I'm just stating the facts, Hera, why didn't he call them." Ahsoka asked her, "Because I trusted my crew the same way Ahsoka trusts Turok." She said smiling at Kanan then lookin at Commander Sato.
ABANDONED FACILITY
Phantom
Dropping out of hyperspace the rebels approached a Haven-class medical station, also known as the Republic medical station or the Republic medical base, was a model of space station manufactured by VenteX Construction Yards used by the Galactic Republic as a space-bound medcenter during the Clone Wars. Haven-class medical stations were medical space stations manufactured by VenteX Construction Yards built around a long central shaft, which comprised the longest axis of the station. The cylindrical central hub had eight equidistant protrusions, which included docking areas for starships such as Venator-class Star Destroyers and Pelta-class frigates. From above, the station's shape resembled the Republic crest. The stations could carry a maximum of 80,000 patients at any one time. As they flew to the station's hangard doors Ezra got a good look at the place "What is this place?" Ezra asked.
"It's an old Republic medical station abandoned after the Clone Wars." Sabine said from the pilots chair before she entered the access codes.
The great metal doors opened wide for them and they flew in "What do you know? Rex's codes worked."
As they landed and got out Chopper made a series of grunts "Oh, come on, Chop. It's not so creepy, just dark, nothing we can't handle." Ezra said.
"Wait, you actually understand that glorified beeping garbage can?" Ezra asked.
Ahkilleon smiled when Ezra said "Yeah. Sort of. I'm learning."
"You're getting good at it, one time my mom left me with an astro droid for to long and I spoke droid for a week- beep-boop-beep-beep-aww0000" Ahkilleon switched to droid speak sounding just an astro droid.
Ezra chuckled, "Hey Sabine, I think you may be out of a job as our translator."
Rolling her eyes under the helmet Sabine said "Yeah we'll find a better demolitions expert and slicer." she said as she pressed a button on the door and nothing happened "Yep I was afraid of this no power." she said as she started to work on the door turning on her helmet's flashlight.
Gruning Zeb stepped forward to the "I'm on it." Zeb forced the door open with his great strength. When he forced the door they slipped into the hallway they saw the space station was in utter disrepair there were panels of walls smashed, wires falling from the ceiling. It was dark, dank and covered in dust slipping in. Walking through Sabine stopped at a nearby wall when she noticed some graffiti from previous scavengers. Ahkilleon stopped to watch "Aren't you going with your blood brother?" She asked.
"Yeah in a minute." Ahkilleon said looking at the graffiti, he spotted a strange symbol on the walls along with the others, "What's this?" He asked, looking at it. It was a hexagon shield dissected into six triangles, and containing a smaller hexagon at its heart, underneath it wrapped around it were a crossed sword and a blaster. "Looks like the old Separatist Hex but different." Sabine said.
"Yeah that's what I thought, but the Hex is turned so that the point is up, and it didn't have a sword or blaster?" Ahkilleon said.
Sabine shrugged, "Probably scavengers or Separatist holdouts who came through here, scavengers always leave their mark so let's leave ours." Sabine said, doing her own.
Up ahead Ezra called to them "Ahkilleon, Sabine, hurry up."
"Hmm." Ahkilleon grunted and walked ahead with Sabine, "What's wrong?"
"I don't know, just feels weird taking from a place like this it feels… wrong." He said.
Sabine just groaned at the question "Hey if we don't take it someone else will." she said curtly
"I guess so." Ahkilleon said unsure what was eating at her
As they followed Zeb and Ezra, they saw he was looking at something down another hallway, when Sabine touched his shoulder he jumped like he'd seen a ghost "Hey."
"Whoa, calm down, geez and I thought Chopper was a scaredy loth-cat." Sabine said walking ahead behind Zeb, Ahkilleon stopped to check on his friend.
Looking down the hallway, "What is it bro?" he asked.
Ezra glared down the hallway, "Nothing, I thought I saw something." Ahkilleon looked down the old hallway till it was too dark to see, then followed the rest of the squad.
Unbeknownst to them yet, there was an Imperial probe droid sending out a report signal to someone very dark and very dangerous who replied "I will be right there."
Later, the squad had found the command center, it was a smaller room than they expected. Many consoles and panels lined the walls, there was a deactivated holotable in the center of the room and it, like the rest of the station, was in disrepair. "Well, this is the command center or what's left of it." She said as Ezra hopped into a swivel chair and spun around before he said something.
"This might make a good base for us." Ezra suggested.
"No, thanks this place looks like it's about to fall apart." Sabine said taking off her helmet and setting it on a nearby console, turning to the droid she said "Chopper! Power it up."
The droid gave an acknowledging grunt and wheeled over to the ships main computer system connecting with it, the droid turned on the entire station, every light, console and screen came alive in a surge of power. Sabine growned "I didn't mean the whole station, I meant this control panel." She moaned as Chopper just said something that got Sabine flustered.
She pointed at him insidiously "Watch it or I'll give you a new paint job." Sabine said, holding up her spray gun.
"What did he say?" Zeb asked.
Ezra leaned back in the chair "Trust me you don't want to know."
Chopper waved his metal arms around like he was ready to fight the mandalorian demolitions expert right then and there, before Ahkilleon got between them "Whoa, whoa, it was an honest mistake Sabine."
Groaning at him taking the droid's side she hissed "Okay, Chopper, shut everything else off except for this one terminal."
Chopper did so begrudgingly grunting and then everything shut off, except for the terminal Sabine had pointed to, she sat down and started to read "Hmm. Got the inventory files, but most are corrupted, unreadable, I can't tell where the med supplies are or if they even exist."
"So, change of plans then. Chopper stays here, repairs the files, while we search for the supplies." Ezra said taking out his lightsaber to use as a light in the dark depowered space station.
Sabine grabbed her helmet "Well, it's worth a try, I guess."
The three of them headed out before Ahkilleon gave Chopper a pat on the head, "Don't worry Chopper, haunted space station spirits don't eat droids… nor do they." Ahkilleon snickered leaving the droid to shake in his own bolts as he followed the others.
Heading around another corner with Ezra leading the way, "Why don't you put those Jedi powers to use finding the medical supplies so we can get out of here?" Zeb growled at Ezra, held up his finger and wagged it at him.
"Oh, no it doesn't work like that, Zeb, but I don't need my Jedi powers to find them before you do."
Not liking his tone Zeb glared at him "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Well, generally it means I'm more perceptive, I can think on my feet, and I'm faster." Ezra said, stopping his lightsaber boastfully.
Zeb growled "Hmm. Really?"
Not wanting to see them get in a contest or not caring Sabine chimed in "Look, I don't care which one of you finds them first, as long as you find them."
Ezra jumped at the chance to impress her "I'll find them first." And he ran down the hallway with Zeb scoffing "Cocky kid. Gonna run right past him." Zeb chased right after Ezra with Sabine and Ahkilleon watching them go, she turned her head cocking it.
"Aren't you going after them?" she asked.
He just shrugged "Why bother, I'd obviously win."
"Humble aren't we." Sabine said sarcastically.
As they caught up they saw Ezra push a tower of old stacked crates onto Zeb, they were all empty so the falling objects and shock brought Zeb down more than the actual weight given the lasats towering physique "So not fair." He growled while Ahkilleon snickered next to Sabine.
"Fights rarely are." Ezra said turning around to run off again "Next time, keep your head down and you won't get hit."
WHAM
Ezra had run face first into a low fallen beam that had come loose from the ceiling, with Ahkilleon laughter echoing throughout the entire station at Ezra being knocked flat on his back groaning "You were saying?" Sabine asked bending over him then walking over him, Ahkilleon still chuckling helped his fellow jedi to his feet.
"I liked what you said, all until you ran into the beam." Ahkilleon said, patting him on the back, "The jedi order is in safe hands with you Loth-rat."
Giving him a playful shove Ezra replied "Shut up Princess."
Zeb grunted "What is it with you and nicknames." Zeb mumbled behind them.
"Don't feel bad, I got names for all of you." Ahkilleon said.
This made Sabine look back, "Oh yeah, what's Zebs?"
"Yeah what is mine punk?" Zeb asked over Ahkilleon, "Space Cowboy." Ahkilleon said, pointing his thumb back to him.
Zeb actually smiled and scratched his long purple goatee hearing the name "Huh, I kind of like the sound of that." Zeb chuckled and then asked "Ok, Chopper?"
"Trashcan." Ahkilleon said both Ezra and the lasat snorted while they walked, "Alright, hehe what about Kanan."
Ahkilleon held his hand up "Oh easy, Ironbullhead."
Sabine walked ahead of them with a flashlight "Not untrue, but a bit wordy, what about Hera?" She asked.
He pointed his finger like a pistol "Green Falcon." "Wait cause she's a pilot?" Ezra asked.
"Honestly I haven't decided on that one, she flies and she's green." Ahkilleon said while they walked into another hallway.
Sabine sighed, stopping "I feel like I'm going to regret it, but what's mine?"
Ahkilleon smiled, "Rainbow."
"BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"" Ezra and Zeb burst out laughing and Sabine snapped her head around at Ahkilleon even if he couldn't see her face he could tell she was angry under the helmet through the force "What?"
Before she could start to lay into him Ezra's comlink blew up with frightened beeps and squawks from Chopper "It's Chopper- Say again." Ezra asked and the droid replied beeping in terror "You... Do you need help?"
"What's going on?" Sabine asked, her anger from the Rainbow nickname pushed aside.
"I don't know." Ezra said looking worried "It sounded like Chopper said he needed help."
"Well, better get back up to the command center." Zeb said knowing the droid was in trouble.
Ezra looked up at a loose vent and hopped up with the force to get inside "How about a shortcut?"
Groaning Zeb asked "Can't we go back the way we came?"
"Uh, that'll take too long, Chopper's in trouble." Ezra said climbing in and heading back to the command center, Sabine and Ahkilleon followed him and when Zeb tried to get in he got stuck "Hey, wait! Wait! Okay, that's uncomfortable."
Later when they came to the exit hopping down, Ezra took out his lightsaber to continue to light the way, "Chopper! Chopper, where are you?" Ezra called out while they followed him.
"Sabine, about the Rainbow nickname I-" before he could give any explanation or apology they heard some droid grunts in the dark ends of the alleway
Stopping Ezra raised his lightsaber to give them some more light "Chopper?" Instead what came out of the shadows was a small red eyed droid with a saucer shaped body and multiple limbs dangling down from it's body like a metal octopus "What is that?"
"It looks like a probe droid." Sabine said.
"What's it doing out here?"
Suddenly they saw another figure walking out from the darkness behind it, "My pet told me you were here, I've been searching for you for some time." It was a woman dressed all in black wearing a pointed helmet with a metal mask and a red underlay, she had no armor except for a breastplate over her chest, "A bounty hunter?" Ezra asked.
"Guess again." She cooed before taking out a red lightsaber with a circular hilt, the same as an Inquisitor, "You're an Inquisitor." Ezra gasped.
The female inquisitor must have been smiling with her tone from behind the mask "Oh, good. I won't have to explain it to you, so you know what comes next."
"Run!" Sabine said opening fire, Ezra and Ahkilleon raised their swords to cover her as the inquisitor redirected the blasts back at them, then her lightsaber ignited the second end and began to rotate like a helicopter blade.
"Like Kanan said, it's never a fair fight." Ezra said backing up, "Well they need a handicap." Ahkilleon joked about rushing her, the female inquisitor blocked his sword and paired but he countered and they came close.
She looked at the blade, noticing the faintly glowing blue ruins, "A force-imbued sword, what tomb did you rob for this, boy?" she asked before one of her probe droids attacked him, they swarmed over the rebels, one electrocuting Sabine's armor before she smacked it with her blaster. Ezra cut the one on Ahkilleons in half picking him up.
He pulled Ahkilleon away from the fight and said "We need to find Zeb and Chopper." Sabine nodded "Yeah, that way." She said running down the hallway as the Inquisitor walked behind them. They opened the nearest door to their friends when they came face to face with another Inquisitor, a towering gray skinned man with fangs, white eyes wearing a rounded metal hat over his dark inquisitor armor. "Not who we're looking for." Sabine said backing up "How many of these guys are there?" Ezra asked.
"Two! Go, go! Go, go!" She shouted, Ahkilleon gritted his teeth but followed, the three teens jumped over boxes and ducked under beams toward a door, Sabine shot it to make the master controls override and close, she and Ahkilleon made it through but Ezra was grabbed by the female Inquisitor with the force and pulled back "No!" Sabine snapped, Ezra looked back and ran to the metal door "Guys, run!" Ezra grunted as the door shut behind them "Ezra!" Sabine slammed her fist on the door.
"Such a noble act, just like a Jedi." The Inquisitor said as she brushed his cheek with a clawed glove. He pulled away and hissed " I'm learning."
"But not quite enough?" She asked if the male inquisitor held his lightsaber aloft and swung at Ezra, but she suddenly held her lightsaber out to block him "I'm surprised to see you here."
"The kill is mine." He growled.
Shaking her head "You are short-sighted we will use the boy as bait to draw in the others."
"Now find the other two." She ordered, the other one knew she was right and started to head off to do her bidding, Ezra tried to get up protesting "No!" But she pointed her lightsaber at him and said "You and I are gonna have a talk and if you're good, maybe some of your friends will survive."
Elsewhere in the station, Sabine and Ahkilleon ran back to where they'd left Zeb, still trapped in the "Zeb!" Sabine snapped running up to him as he groaned, legs dangling "I don't wanna die this way, I'm the last of my kind."
Both Sabine and Ahkilleon jumped up to grab onto his legs and pull him free with their combined weight, "What's going on?"
Now freed Zeb looked down at the teens "I heard blasts."
"They've got Ezra." Ahkilleon blurted out "Who's got Ezra?"
"Inquisitors two of them." Zeb groaned "One was bad enough." Zeb grunted.
Zeb quickly said "We need to get Kanan."
"I can fight them." Ahkilleon said, gripping his sword.
Sabine shook her helmet "No- even if we called Kanan If we sent a signal, we could compromise the fleet."
"We have to try and save Ezra ourselves."
"How are we supposed to do that?" Zeb asked her, "I'm working on it." "Working on it!" Ahkilleon snapped, smashing his fist into the nearest wall.
Both Zeb and Sabine looked at him, knowing he was upset. "We just left him behind, a real jedi wouldn't do that."
Down in the command center, the Inquisitor was standing over Ezra with her lightsaber holding on it his own "You handle a lightsaber well, apprentice."
"Well, I've got some time, if you want a lesson." Ezra hissed at him.
She chuckled maliciously "You have great potential, but perhaps it is I that might teach you, as your master never achieved the rank of Jedi Knight. Did he?" she asked him tauntingly.
"Maybe not, but he took out the last Inquisitor, so I think I'll just stick with him."
"Yes, the death of the Grand Inquisitor was a surprise to all yet, it does present the rest of us with new opportunities. There are many hunting you now, all intent on killing you and your master, including your most recent kill against the Thirteenth Brother on Garel." Ezra's eyes went wide remembering how those mercenaries aka the Militia took out the Inquisitor with a single sniper round "Does that frighten you?" she asked him.
"If you were gonna kill me, you'd have already done it." Ezra said putting on his bravest face "Kill you? I have no plans to kill you. Yet."
Shaking her head, she smiled "Your fear betrays you, being the senior padawan already constructing a lightsaber it will gladden me to know how you failed to protect the junior padawan, and he never got a chance to make his own lightsaber." she said, assuming Ahkilleon was the lesser of the two.
Down below in the crowded hallway of crates and beams, the other Inquisitor was marching in search of the other rebels, Sabine, Zeb and Ahkilleon were hiding in crates "Come on." Sabine said as she saw the Inquisitor had made it into the trap zone, pressing the button it didn't go off "-It's not working!"
Looking up they saw the Inquisitor was holding the detonators Sabine had laid in the trap with the force before he flung them right at the rebels. "Run!" the trio took off tail between their legs before the bombs exploded, Zeb and Ahkilleon were blasted into a supply room while Sabine slammed into the doorway her helmet getting knocked off.
The brother approached Sabine picking her up and throwing her over his broad pauldron covered shoulder "The other is yours do as you will." he told his probe droids before he walked off. The probes entered into the supply room just as Zeb got to his feet. Pushing off the crates he saw the probe droids and looked worried. One flew at him but out of the crates exploded the end of Ahkilleons sword skewering the probe droid, the other one flew at Zeb before it got grabbed by an invisible hand and crushed in front of Zebs eyes. Ahkilleon kicked off the crates knocking some next to Zeb who noticed one crate that had a Grand Republic shield on it.
"Oh, now we found the supplies." Zeb growled.
Ahkilleon kicked the crates off him, "Hell with the supplies, I want the Inquisitors." he said pissed off, Zeb looked at Ahkilleon thinking he was looking at someone else.
"Whoa, whoa easy now, we'll get Ezra and Sabine back, but for now we need to get these supplies back to the Phantom and come up with a plan." Zeb said behind him, Ahkilleon was in the doorway clenching his fists, "Running away again…" He grunted. "This isn't a running kid, this is… tactical retreating. Look I know I may just seem like big dumb muscle but I was captain of Lasan Honor Guard, I know a few things about fighting so please help me help our friends." Ahkilleon knew he was right and turned to grab the other crate of medical supplies, he dropped it when he saw something fallen out of a loose crate pulling out a dark brown cloth.
Back in the command center, The Sisters interrogation was going slowly even as she used the force on Ezra to make him thrash and wriggle, groaning in pain she said "Why can you just not cooperate?" She asked and he answered her with a groan "Why do you compel me to inflict pain, you know we'll find the others, so why not just tell me where they are?" she asked him before he looked like he was about to say something.
"Because unlike you, I can shut up- rrr- You're like a broken protocol droid."
Stroking his cheek she hushed him "Shh. Hmm. You hide your fear well, poor child. If only you had the power to protect your friends."
"Shows what you know I'm growing more powerful every day." Ezra growled up to her without a hint of fear in his voice.
She just laughed "Unfortunately there's no one left to train you, the Jedi of old are dead." she said.
"Not all of 'em." Ezra snapped, "We know about Ahsoka Tano." she said.
Playing dumb he said "Who's Ahsoka Tano?"
Rolling her eyes, her mask came up to reveal black eyes with yellow pupils, a pale greenish face with spots running down her cheeks "As pretty as you are-"
"What?" Ezra asked.
"I only need you alive, that doesn't mean in one piece; now, where's Ahsoka Tano?"
Ezra didn't say a word before the other Inquisitor walked in "What has the boy revealed?" He asked, dropping Sabine on the floor next to him "Nothing I wish to share, contact your rebel friends and bring them here; that's all I ask." she told Ezra as Sabine started to come too.
"Let me think about that- Uh, no." Ezra said sarcastically.
The sister, getting irritated, asked again "Contact your friends."
"I'm not talking to you right now- Sabine, where's Zeb?"
Groggy as she was, she was able to say "We tried to fight, but Zeb never had a chance."
"What are you saying?" Ezra asked "Your friend is dead, where is the other padawan?" She asked.
The Brother grunted "Most likely dead with the other one, he was no challenge."
"You didn't bring him here, alive, you know we are supposed to seek out potential recruits." She reminded him.
The male inquisitor turned his head to Ezra, "One will suffice."
"Down in the hangar, Ahkilleon and Zeb were loading the medical supplies they'd found, Ahkilleon had the bundle of cloth under his arm as Chopper grunted "You are mocking me, right.. I can never tell?" Zeb said.
"No, he's asking about the others." Ahkilleon said.
"Everyone seems to know everything these days." Zeb muttered under his breath "You were able to fight one Inquisitor when we first met, do you think together we can take them?" Zeb asked him.
Ahkilleon looked at the cloth in his arms and said "We have to try, and I think I got an idea." Ahkilleon said as he unfurled the brown cloth to reveal a dark brown robe.
"How's an old bathrobe supposed to help us?" Zeb asked.
"Not just a robe, a jedi robe, Inquisitors hunt jedi, so we need to give them a big reason to come to us and I have just the jedi in mind." Ahkilleon said walking into the ship, he went to the pilot seat and took the headset bending the microphone upward and tearing the headset panel slightly off to bend it to the other side he put it on "One more thing and this is life or death."
Zeb grunted with a nod, "Not a word of this to my mother."
As they were being held prisoner, Ezra's comlink went off "Hello, Spectre-6, come in. Uh, do you read? This is Commander Meiloorun."
"Answer him."
"Uh, Commander Meiloorun. Yes. Yes, I can hear you."
"Meiloorun: You missed your check-in. Am I correct in assuming mechanical difficulties have your craft stranded again, and you're in need of help with repairs?
"Answer him."
"Commander, we, uh, we can handle everything. No need for you or the others."
"No, Commander- We changed our mind and we could use some help." Ezra said, looking at Sabine, "Bring Kanan, and you better bring Ahsoka too."
"Very well. Meet you in Bay Six. And don't worry we'll fix everything, just keep your chin up and it'll all be fine- ah there is someone who wishes to speak with you Specter 6." Commander 'Meiloorun' then heard a gurgling hum which made everyone including the rebels confused.
"Hmmm am I missing something Commander, there is?" the voice sounded like it came from the back of the throat and spoke strangely backwards.
Both Inquisitors' eyes went wide, "That voice?" The Brother whispered.
"It can't be…" The Sister said.
"Indeed Master Yoda, our young specters are having technical difficulties again." Commander Meiloorun said both Inquisitors' eyes went wide hearing such a name.
They locked their gazes and it seemed like their jaws would drop, "Hmmm difficult technically they are not, trust in the force you must, aid you I will." 'Master Yoda' said into the comlink.
Commander Meiloorun cleared his throat "We truly are in good hands with a Master Jedi helping us." Then they cut the transmission.
"The rumors are true." the Brother gasped "We alone cannot defeat Master Yoda'' the Fifth Brother said
The Seventh Sister was looking at the floor, her eyes darting back and forth, "It's fine… Master Yoda is old, weak, the dark side will see us through and if he dares to resist we'll kill these two, no Jedi can stand idly by while innocents are slaughtered."
"For your sake I hope you are the right sister." The Brother said.
Soon both Ezra and Sabine were led to the hangar entrance, before walking through the sister said "Once we have Master Yoda, our favor with the Emperor is assured." she said to the Brother who nodded and held his lightsaber tensely, "We must be quick, he is far more powerful than any ordinary jedi." The Fifth Brother said, still sounding afraid.
Walking into the hangar, Ezra and Sabine gaped to see sitting alone in the hangar, their back to them wearing a brown robe, was someone with a strange shaped head sitting with their back to them, "Master Yoda." The Fifth Brother said.
"Hmmm sensed you I did, strong the dark side is in you, but not that strong." Master 'Yoda' said.
Both Inquisitors turned on their red lightsabers and pointed them at Ezra and Sabine, "Surrender Jedi, or we'll execute the prisoners." the male Inquisitor hissed.
"Hmmmm, your fear feels like I do, afraid you should be…" 'Yoda' said holding three fingers out, Ezra looked closer to see it was five fingers the four long ones crossed to make two, pointing up "Afraid, you should be very." Yoda said as Sabine and Ezra looked up to see Zeb in the Phantom magnetically locked to the ceiling. "Two you are, down you are going." Yoda whispered.
The Sister walked ahead and the brother was distracted, "What was that old man?" She asked.
"Said did I- DOWN!" spinning around 'Yoda' revealed to be Ahkilleon used a massive force push to knock the two Inquisitors off their feet and Ezra and Sabine free to run ahead, Zeb swung down the Phantom and opened up the back gate for them to try and get on. Getting on their feet Quickly the Inquisitors howled in anger. Sabine and Ezra were about to get on when they saw Ahkilleon run past them, taking off his disguise and unsheathing his sword charging both Inquisitors, "What are you doing?" Zeb snapped "No-" Ahkilleon ran at them, then jumped "More-" swinging back his sword he smashed it into the female Inquisitor's red blade "RUNNING!"
The sheer force of his sword against the Inquisitor's red blade made her stagger back, and he swung his leg around to kick her before he attacked the male inquisitor with a flurry of strikes and slashes. When the female inquisitor tried to get up she sent her probe droid at Ahkilleo from the back, he cut it in half before he refocused on her. "Specter 7 we need to go now!" Sabine shouted.
But he couldn't hear her over the sounds of lightsaber on sword, sparking and he kept fighting the two, alone. "Zeb helped him out." Ezra told him from inside the ship, Zeb swung the phantom around to shoot at the Inquisitors but he stopped just before firing, "I don't have a shot, they're all over the place." Zeb said.
On the floor, Ahkilleon continued to swing and slash before he made one more swing and both Inquisitors caught his sword, "A cute effort." The Sister said as both were now facing him down, "But this game ends now." The Brother said using the force to push Ahkilleon off his feet, he flipped, grabbing the ground with the force to land. He saw them go on each side, holding up his sword he caught the brothers blade first but the Sister slashed at him from behind, cutting his leg. "Gyah-" Ahkilleon almost fell but he swung at her only to miss and the Brother slashed down, sensing it Ahkilleopn jumped away but the siths blade was longer than Ezra's so the tip slashed down his back cutting his jacket.
Ahkilleon landed on his hand and sword grunting through the pain, getting up he turned sweating and blocked an incoming strike from the sister. She was on the offensive, "Foolish boy, did you honestly think you could stand against us without a proper jedi weapon?" She asked. He fell back and heard the clang and ping of his sword getting chipped away by the lightsaber. More focused on her than the brother, he grabbed him with the force and lifted him up "Specter 7!" Ezra ran out of the Phantom seeing he was in trouble. The Brother slammed Ahkilleon on the floor so hard he heard something pop, then against the wall and finally across the room to a pile of crates.
Getting up, he groaned, wincing in pain all over his body is white jacket and beige pants were cut and burned from the various lightsaber cuts. "Like you said brother, one will suffice" the Sister said, Ahkilleons eyes opened he wasn't getting weaker he was getting angry "Not even half a jedi." The brother said in agreement.
Rolling over he leaned on his sword to get to his feet while, with a shot open Zeb lit up the Inquisitors who deflected the shots with their lightsabers, as Ahkilleon fought to his feet, Ezra came up to help him, "We need to go-" "I… am… A JEDI!" "Ahkilleon no it's what they want!" Ezra tried to catch him but he was already charging.
The Sister turned on her double ended lightsaber and they met once more, and Zeb had to stop his firing, losing their chance to escape again, Ahkilleon swung wildly at the Inquisitors, all sense of discipline and training gone, before they countered and went on the offensive. The two Inquisitors hacked and slammed their lightsabers down on Ahkilleons blade he had to hold his hand up under the end to keep his defense up until like the sound of a thousand stained glass windows shattering and a burst of light, the two Inquisitors final blow shattered the force imbued sword. For Ahkilleon time slowed down as the blast from the force inside the sword being released knocking the attackers back saw hundreds of metal fractiles go flying everywhere on his knees Ahkilleon held only a handful of shards in his right hand and the hilt with less than a foot of the sword still attached "... no." he moaned at the loss of his weapon.
Getting up, both Inquisitors pleased with themselves the Sister said "As I said, not even half a jedi." The Brother then walked closer "But under us, you could see your full potential."
Ahkilleon raised his head and spat right into the Inquisitor's face "Go to hell."
"Hmm, at least you'll be able to die like a jedi." The sister said, drawing back her hand with the force to summon a long piece of the broken sword like an arrowhead, she launched it at him before Ahkilleon saw a flash of orange in front of him.
"EZRAAAAAA!" Ahkilleon screamed as the piece of metal went right through the left side of Ezra's stomach, falling down to his knees Ezra coughed up blood grabbing the shard he yelled in pain as Ahkilleon ran over to him and caught him before he could fall. The Two Inquisitors smiled seeing him go down. Zeb was shooting at the Brother when he saw Ezra bleeding "... kid, GRAAAHHHHH!" Zeb howled in anger shooting at the sister who deflected his shots Sabine came out of cover shooting at both of them, she ran over to Ezra as Ahkilleon looked down at him.
She looked at the spear, "We need to get him to the Phantom, come on." Sabine told him, but Ahkilleon couldn't hear anything but a beat.
A heart beat very weak, at first he thought it was Ezra's Sabine kept yelling at him, even as Ahkilleon looked at Ezra's blood on his hand and pooling around his knees, he started to hear screaming. Looking at Sabine he thought it was hers but her helmet was off and she was looking at him terrified, the heart beat started to rise and so did the screaming it was him, he was the one screaming. This was his fault, his pride and arrogance had caused this- no he was right to be pride, he was angry, he felt the power in him he felt his anger at the Inquisitors, this was their fault, their fault, THEIR FAULT, THEIR FAULT, THEIR FAULT! THEY HAD TO PAY!
"AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
Across the stars in Cabal One, Caliban was overlooking holograms when he turned and walked up to the window of his stardeck feeling something.
But Ahkilleon didn't recognize the scream.
Aboard a Star Destroyer somewhere in the outer Rim, Darth Vader was standing at the bridge, he cocked his head hearing the scream through the force.
It was primal.
In the shadows of a forgotten world, hidden in an ancient temple long abandoned, a cloaked figure was looking at ruins when they stopped, their metal hand began to shake, "It can't be…" they said as another person behind them holding a rifle walked out, "What is it?"
Animalistic, to the point of berserk.
All the way back at the rebel fleet, Ahsoka was still meditating in the Ghost when the force tremor woke her from it "... no." Kanan came out sensing it and looking down at Ahsoka who as catatonic except for a tear running down her cheek.
Ahkilleon felt every nerve and sense was firing, he curled his spine back and picked up his broken sword wielding it like a dagger he shot out from where Ezra laid with Sabine watching him move with inhuman speed. Sabine grabbed Ezra pulling him to his feet dragging him to the Phantom. Meanwhile Ahkilleon had charged the Inquisitors again, only this time moving from side to side, moving unpredictably and having his hand right on the Inquisitor's face about to dive the broken sword into the alien's chest. It glanced off his armor and the Inquisitor kicked Ahkilleon off.
"Interesting." The Sister said watching Ahkilleon get slammed into the wall, he rolled over and when he saw her she held her ground. The Inquisitor wasn't ready for him to pounce like an animal moving so fast and hitting so hard with his broken sword. He was there then he was behind her and she had to turn on her second lightsaber blade to slice away at him.
Bending over he picked Ezra up who moaned, "I'm sorry kid I know it hurts, just hold on Ezra, hold on." Zeb muttered, carrying him into the ship.
The second inquisitor tried to kill Ahkilleon with her lightsaber and he blocked it with his knife pressing it up against his arm, "I guess there I some fight in you-" "AAAAAAAHHHHH!" Ahkilleon screamed pressing off the ground she leaned back so her lightsaber wouldn't cut her but Ahkilleons forehead broke her nose. Staggered back he used his broken sword to break her defense jumping on top of her to try and skewer her, but she kicked him off.
"Urrr lille shat" She tried to say out of the broken nose, Ahkilleon landed on his feet and the Fifth Brother ran past his sister, hacking and slashing he ducked, dipped, and jumped up to slash at the aliens face, he just barely nicked the Inquisitor who was surprised at such savagery. The Seventh Sister got up and fixed her nose before she attacked Ahkilleon with her own lightsaber. Ahkilleon scooped up the other end of his sword and spun his hands around holding a stance in reverse grip in shien style. The two attacked him and Ahkilleon jumped out of the way of their blades, deflecting them with his own, he parried, countered then attacked over and over again. Swiping at the sisters legs he jumped to kick the brother in the jaw.
They recovered quickly and pressed the attack forcing him back before he blocked, when he caught the seventh sister's blade with the broken half the shards dug into Ahkilleon's hand. On the Phantom, Zeb and Sabine were tending to Ahkilleons wounds "Kid this is gonna hurt, but we gotta get that piece of metal out." Zeb turned on Ezra's lightsaber and cut the long piece of metal out of his back and turned to Sabine, "On my mark pull it out."
"G-got it." Sabine said, trying not to lose her nerve.
"One, two, three-" Sabine yanked the piece of metal out of Ezra and Zeb pressed his lightsaber end to Ezra's back, he yelled in pain before they turned him over and Zeb leaned the blade against his other side sealing the wound before Ezra passed out. "Get the medkits out Chopper, Sabine get psycho over there." Zeb ordered.
Sabine got up and headed over to the edge, throwing out the piece of metal "Ahkilleon time to go!" she shouted while he fought them. He kept fighting them moving like the rebels had never seen, Sabine watched him slash at the Seventh Sisters right arm and she fell back then the Fifth Brother slashed the metal floor cutting the ground sending sparks into Ahkilleons face. He used the force to knock him back, "Ahkilleon we have to go- now!" Sabine shouted.
"No ones going anywhere." Just then the seventh sister used the force to start to seal the blast doors.
Sabine saw them shut "The doors are closing!" Zeb ran to the pilot seat after he strapped Ezra down and started up the Phantom, the sparks seemed to have snapped Ahkilleon out of his trance, he new his fatigue would set in and falling back he jumped up into the ship Ahkilleon looked at Ezra and all the blood on the floor and him. Suddenly the Phantom lurched, looking back as the two Inquisitors were using the force to hold it in place. Ahkilleon dropped his broken sword hilt and other end and held out his hands to try and push them away but they just skidded back a bit before the force two started to drag them and then they halted. Zeb tried to use the thrusters to make the Phantom blast out of there but the two Inquisitors were too powerful, Ahkilleons own counter for push wasn't enough, he had to go deeper, stronger, darker. Shutting his eyes Ahkilleon focused, he focused on the pain he was feeling from his own wounds, on the fear if he failed and if the Inquisitors killed them or worse.
Deeper
Stronger
Darker
Sabine held onto the side of the ship when she saw Ahkilleons hands start to spark with small sparks of electricty, and then from both his palms bolts of force lightning unleashed at the two inquisitors who were just as shocked as Sabine was when they were hit by the force power. They both went flying back and the Phantom blasted off out of the Phantom. Sabine shut the door before they went into space and Ahkilleon fell back against her on the floor, his entire hands burned and himself passed out. "Get us back to the fleet pronto Zeb, hold on guys just hold on." Sabine grabbed the med kit used on Ezra and started to do her best with Ahkilleon to wrap up his burned hands.
PHOENIX SQUADRON
Ghost
"I win." Kanan said after beating Rex at a game of holochess "Looks like you can be disciplined when you set your mind to it." Rex said getting in a playful jab that Kanan took a second to process.
Shaking his head "What? Wait. Are you trying to say you're teaching me a lesson?"
Rex just reset the board as he said "There are many ways to find victory."
Rolling both eyes Kanan replied "I'm not sure if I like you more or less now." they heard the sound of the Phantom docking with the Ghost "Speaking of lack of discipline." Kanan got up and so did Rex, Hera got out of the cockpit to follow them but Ahsoka came running out of Kanan's room, as the Phantom opened "Ezra, we need to talk-" When the door opened they Saw Zeb and Sabine standing their, Zeb was holding a bleeding Ezra in his arms and Sabine was carrying Ahkilleon on his shoulders "We need a medbay now!" Zeb shouted.
All the adults were mortified at the sight of the two boys in such a state, "This way now." Kanan said, Ahsok held her arm up "This is Commander Tano to med bay, we have incoming."
Zeb came out with Ezra and headed to the docking bay that would lead into the Liberty, Sabine limped out with Ahkilleon and Rex came to take him but Ahsoka got there first, picking him up she ran after Zeb, carrying her son as he muttered "... dad…. Dad… where are you…"
"How did this happen Sabine?" Hera demanded.
"Inquisitors." Sabine said.
Kanan and her looked stunned "Yes. Two." she nodded.
"We got lucky, Zeb and Ahkilleon saved us- but when we tried to retreat Ahkilleon wouldn't he- he-" Rex gave an assuring nod and patted the shoulder on Sabine "Well done, soldier, we'll take it from here." he said comfortingly seeing she was in shell shock.
In the Liberty, Zeb and Ahsoka carried the injured boys to the med bay, Kanan and Hera racing behind them till they came into the ship's medical room, there was already two medical droids there laying Ezra down he groaned opening his eyes he saw Kanan standing over him "K-Kanan- it burns." he moaned.
"Hold on Ezra, you're going to be alright." The medical droid took a breathing mask placing it on Ezra's face to sedate him, the other one was standing over Ahkilleon scanning him, "The subject has multiple fractures and surface wounds, suggest-" "Bacta, he needs a bacta tank." Ahsoka said turning to the only two in the corner she used the force to open it and carried Ahkilleon over to it without taking off his clothes she strapped a mask to his face so he could breath and dropped him in it. Walking over the medical droid looked at his medical readings ""Subject is stabilizing." Ahsoka let out a soft sigh of relief before she noticed Ahkilleon was still holding onto the broken sword hilt having never let go since he got back.
Ahsoka stepped back and covered her face in shame, Sabine and Rex came in next and Hera came up to comfort her "There's no way you could have known."
"But I did… I knew it was inside him." Ahsoka said, shaking her head, "What?" Hera asked.
"Sabine, you said he didn't retreat with you?" Ahsoka asked Sabine, who was looking over Ezra as the medical droid operated, "Y-yes." She stammered.
Ahsoka shook her head, "Then the one thing I was more afraid of then anything is true." Ahsoka pressed her hand on her son's bacta tank "Ahkilleon has the same curse as his father, he's a Berserker."