CHAPTER-6

In the dawn when the sun was rising, a hooded figure was moving towards a shelter. The shelter was dimly lit. Before going towards the shelter the figure turned and raised its hand to block a blaster shot. It turned to a bunch of stormtroopers and ignited a blue lightsaber. The figure sliced through the stormtroopers with ease.

The sun was rising on the rocky planet of Stewjon. Leia was getting up slowly wincing in pain. Han was already up. "Had a good sleep?" he asked her.

"Sort of. You?"

"I was up all the night. I just couldn't sleep. Hey what's that noise?"

"I don't know. Sounds like blaster shots. Go and check it."

"I might be stupid but I'm not mad."

"I thought Mandalorians are brave."

"Look there's a difference between bravery and madness."

"Uh-uh."

Suddenly the noise stopped. There was someone on the door, Leia sensed it. She reached her hand out for her lightsaber and ignited it. Han had readied his blasters. The door hinges were coming apart slowly. It was as though time froze. Their hearts were racing. One of the three hinges fell down; the second was coming out even slower. Leia's mind raced with thoughts. Who could it be? Could it be Vader? Ahsoka? The inquisitors? The second hinge fell; only one left. Leia's grasp on her lightsaber tightened and she winced as got up on one leg the other was resting on the bed. Han had tightened his grip on the blaster. It could be anyone, from Vader to Fulcrum. The third hinge was falling. The moment it hit the ground, the door went flying outwards. Han started firing without a second thought. A blue lightsaber kept on deflecting it. The next moment the owner of the lightsaber reached his hand out and pulled the blasters away from Han's hand. It was on the floor. Leia was ready to strike. The figure stopped after entering the cabin. It had a hood on. It switched off its lightsaber. "Who are you? Reveal yourself." Leia commanded.

The hooded figure raised it arms to its hood and brought it down slowly. Inside was a man of age twenty-eight or thirty. He had red hair. "Please put the lightsaber away. I am Jedi knight Cal Kestis. I was called here." He said.

"We didn't call anyone. Did you call him when I was asleep?" Leia asked Han as she switched off her lightsaber and kept it away. Han shook his head.

"It wasn't a holo-call or anything of that sort. It was a call of the force. What is your name?"

"Leia, Leia Skywalker."

'Skywalker? Wait are you the daughter of the great Anakin Skywalker?"

"Yes."

"How did you survive the purge? Are there more survivors? Who is your master?"

"I was born on the day of the purge. There must be more survivors. I am being trained by Ahsoka Tano."

"Ahsoka Tano! She was my role model. She was the apprentice of your father."

"She told me that. Have a seat."

"Oh, thanks. She was blamed of a crime she had never committed and the council had put her behind the bars. She was innocent. It was your father who helped her prove her innocence. After that she lost her faith in the council and she left the order. They said that she lived in the lower levels of Coruscant. And that she came back to fight on Mandalore. I was told this by my master, Master Jaro Tarpal."

"Hmm, she told me that too. Where is your master?"

"The purge got him."

"I'm sorry."

"It's all right. I see you have a broken ankle."

"Well, yes. It will get fine in couple of days."

"I can heal it, if you want me to."

"How would you know to do that?"

"I read about it in the Jedi archives. I tried it once. I can do it again."

"Okay. I'll place it here."

Leia placed her leg on the bed post. Cal took it and placed it on his leg. He then placed his hands around it, closed his eyes and started the healing process. Slowly Leia's ankle had straightened itself while Cal winced in pain. He opened his eyes and said, " Well that's that."

"Yeah. It feels better."

"We can get out of the planet now. I have a ship."

"All right but where?"

"We'll ask the force."

"Okay."

The three walked out of the cabin towards Cal's ship. The three boarded and left for the outer space.

Inside a hyperspace lane, a Mandalorian cruiser was going. "Are you sure about this?" the pilot asked the Togruta besides her.

"Yes, they will also head over here."

"We are coming out of hyperspace. Suit up Lyo."

"I don't think that is necessary Three-Kay. Fulcrum, are you sure about this? We are entering a planet that has one of the strongest imperial presences."

"I am sure. Land it."

As they got out of the hyperspace and entered the planet's airspace, an imperial message was sent to them. "Unidentified Mandalorian cruiser, identify yourself." As Lyo went to answer, Ahsoka stopped her and shook her head. "I repeat, unidentified Mandalorian cruiser, IDENTIFY yourself." Ahsoka shook her head again. The imperial message appeared again. "Cruiser, identify yourself or be shot down." Two Tie-Fighters appeared behind the cruiser. At that time a voice could be heard. "This is princess Leia Organa, withdraw your fighters. The Mandalorians are my guests."

"But ma'am-"

"Do I need to repeat myself? Withdraw your fighters."

"Ma'am I still need an identification number."

"Can I speak to the manager?"

"Ma'am this is the manager."

"This is the seventh time this is happening and it's totally unacceptable. I am a member of the Alderanian royalty; I am the daughter of the ruler. I do not accept these kinds of restrictions."

"Ma'am we were just following the rules. Please calm down."

"Am I angry? You know what now you have made me angry. I want to speak to your authority."

"Ma'am I apologize, you can enter and land on platform five along with your guests."

"That's better."

The two cruisers landed on Leia's personal landing platform. They all got down. Ahsoka's eyes narrowed over Cal. He introduced himself. The six made their way into Leia's chamber.

"Well we now know Stewjon is no good." Leia said.

"I accept." Ahsoka said.

"Wait what do you both mean by that?" Lyo asked.

"The rebel alliance is looking for a new base." Bail Organa said as he entered the chamber. "Guess we have to continue keeping it on Alderaan."

"I think that is the best for now. This is Cal Kestis, a survivor of the purge, Lyo Vizsla, Korkie Kryze Kenobi and Han Solo. Leia and I have some business to do on Tatooine. We shall leave after two days."

"So be it."