A/N: I'm back to writing! After a very long time. This kind of plot, away from the main arcs of the films and canon, is somewhat new to me, so there may have to be many edits done to it for it be fully fleshed out. But I do want the story to go moving.
Anakin, Ahsoka and one of the young boys walked further towards the fortress to gain a better look. The rest of the band covered right behind them. They were to surround the fortress.
How many militants there were in complex - Anakin was yet to find out. However, just as the new rebel band of fighters seemed to have been made on the spot, the pro-empire cult may not pose too much of a threat. At least, that was the hope.
A man fully covered in black, a black tunic, and black trousers and boots stood right ahead. Perhaps at a gate of the fortress. They could detect in him an insignia of the Republic. Or the Empire now - they would have to replace the emblem if the Empire were to change it.
Anakin did something Ahsoka could not expect. Something she had never seen him do before. He noiselessly lifted the man through the force and brought him towards them. It was all so quick that the man had no time to react. Anakin pressed the lightsaber against the throat of the man. "Who are you? Are you holding a girl here?"
"I don't know!" The guard replied, frightened by the raw strength of the Jedi and stunned by the violence imposed upon him. "I don't know! Councillor Maxer arrived just now, with a girl, but I don't know anything else."
Anakin doubted he was telling the truth. He lifted his hand to choke him; but Ahsoka said. "Wait, Anakin. He can tell us more."
"How many of you are in the complex?" She asked.
"About ten or eleven. I haven't counted. I'm just new."
"New enough to join this vile cult." The boy with Ahsoka and Anakin just butted in, with heavy disgust ringing in his voice.
The guard clearly had a response defending and justifying the cause, but he was too frightened to say it out aloud.
"Where's the girl kept?" Asked Anakin.
"She's with Tas Alav, and Maxer in the dining room. This used to be a retreat for the old monarchy of the planet."
"Whose Tas Alav?" Ahsoka asked.
"He's…" He hesitated; knowing this could be a betrayal of the organisation.
Anakin looked at him hardly and moved his lightsaber closer.
"He's the leader." He finally and abruptly spilled out. But some cockiness was discernible when he said, "Do you plan to fight him?"
Anakin already knew that whoever that man was, he would be dead. He didn't deign to answer. He threw the guard far into the distance, until he hit a rock and fell unconscious. His life was spared, however. It seemed.
Ahsoka didn't see the rationale for that outburst, but she had no choice but to be accustomed to whoever the new Anakin was. The three rushed forward towards the gate.
At that time, however, they were immediately caught senseless in red laser hitting downwards. In about a dozen bursts.
It appeared the militants had heard of the interrogation.
One of them struck the rebel boy in the chest. He collapsed onto the grass immediately. Ahsoka tried to reach down towards him. But it was too late. The shots were haphazard and therefore not concentrated enough in heat to cauterise the wound it hit, so blood leaked down from his chest and dripped outwards.
Anakin deflected the lasers with his lightsaber until it bounced off all the snipers – there appeared to be four of them. The blasts then stopped.
Ahsoka took out her lightsaber: she only had her right hand one with her. And the duo ran up the stairs. There were several rooms. How would they find the dining room?
They heard sounds and voices far ahead. They dashed towards the source. The door was half open; Anakin was about to run in, when Ahsoka stopped him on his shoulder, and mouthed, "This man may be dangerous. It may not be easy to kill him." Don't be rash now, Anakin, she implied.
It didn't look as if Anakin had any inclination to temper down his energy, but he gave his assent through a nod to Ahsoka that they would sneak into the large hall room together.
.