Episode II: Rebellion

Now a full-fledged rebel,
Lee and Rya start their marriage off by taking on a dangerous mission to Coruscant
in order to gather intel about a top secret project the Empire is working on.
Time is of the essence and tensions are running high
as Lee tries his best to complete the mission swiftly while also trying to prove to Cassian Andor
that he is just as devoted to the cause as he is.
But the war approaches,
Lee desperately wishes to bring the horrors of the Empire to end.

"Hey Riq," Denz called to the new addition to their crew. Andor had brought him in after F'tzner. He was from Naboo. Even though he was from the Mid Rim, he fit in well with the remaining Stargazer crew. K-2 said it was because of his sense of humor or more so his willingness to humor others, especially Denz. "Get in on these noodles."

They were gathered around a table in a local eatery on Coruscant. Denz was enjoying the splendors of the Imperial Capital, while the rest of the crew suspiciously watched every civilian and stormtrooper crossing their path.

"Well if no one else is gonna eat, more for me," Denz reached for a second helping but was stopped by Lee's heavy hand. He smirked at his friend who decided to sit back and wiped his mouth. "On second thought maybe I've had enough."

"We've been here two days and nothing,"Riq commented and took a sip of his drink.

"It's Ascension Week," Rya said. "Great time to blend in with the tourists but awful time to collect any intel of value. Any word from K-2?"

"Nothing," Lee said as he checked his comlink to see if it was working. "I thought we were supposed to be working as a team."

"This is Cassian's definition of a team," Riq laughed. "But don't worry. He's probably on to something if we haven't heard from him."

"Or captured. Maybe even dead," Denz said loudly then froze at the sight of two stormtroopers passing by their table. The troopers stopped and looked at the group.

"What's that?" The stormtrooper asked, pointing at the bowl in the center of the table.

"Number 5," Rya quickly answered. "But the number 7 is the special of the week and much tastier in my opinion."

The stormtrooper looked around the table at the empty bowls then to his partner. He faced the group, "Well, we'll just have to see about that. Happy Ascension Week Citizens."

"Happy Ascension Week," the group muttered with a sigh of relief.

"Why do you always do that," the stormtrooper's partner asked.

"What? Ask for recommendations?"

"No, scare the citizens." His partner pushed him forward toward the counter to order.

"They have nothing to be scared of. Tourists are so jumpy," the trooper said and proceeded to order.

"I think we'd better go," Rya said standing. She knew they wouldn't get any information on what the Empire was planning to announce on Empire Day if they sat around eating noodles. "Let's split up. Riq and Denz, head back to the ship and see if there is any word from K-2. Lee and I will make our way through the Market Sector and see if there's any local chatter about Empire Day."

"Geesh Rya, if you want to be alone with your husband just say so. No need to make a mission of it. After all this is your honeymoon," Denz teased and followed Riq back toward their ship.

"He's gotten sassier since we've gotten married," Lee remarked. Rya placed her hand on his chest and wiggled her fingers showing the small and modest brass ring.

"I think he misses Jules," she said as Lee took her hand and kissed her fingers.

"I doubt it. Shall we, Lieutenant ?" He said, waiting for her to lead the way.

"Don't call me that when we're alone. It's weird now," she smiled and lead him toward the Market Sector.

"Does it remind you of home?" Rya asked as he noticed her husband watching the marketers and vendors buzz through the day. She could only imagine the place reminded him of his father.

"Not really," Lee lied as he continued to observe the Sector. He approached a smaller table that had a spread of meilroon in multiple shades of color. "Would you like one for old time sake?"

"Is that a rhetorical question?" Rya smirked. Lee chuckled and bought two and tossed her one. He then held the large meilroon and wished it was a jogan. He sighed and thought of the one person he hadn't thought of in years: Lenore. "Can I ask you something?"

"Of course wife," Lee smiled. "You can ask me anything."

"It's about your sister?"She nervously said.

"What about her?" Lee raised an eyebrow wondering if she had Jedi powers and was reading his mind.

"Do you think you might run into her?"

"No," Lee said as he saw a pair of stormtroopers enter the market and approach a Mon Calamari Family stand. "Even if Lenore was on Coruscant how would I know? I think she would blend in."

"Lee," Rya ventured. "Don't you think you have given her the silent treatment long enough?"

"You're the one that told me not to send messages in and out of the alliance," he reminded her.

"Yes but if you made contact now it would–"

"Leave it alone Rya," Lee cut her off, keeping his eye on the pair of stormtroopers.

"Hey we're married now," she said sternly. "She's my sister too. And we should at least make an effort to see if she's alright."

"Are you suggesting I reach out to my sister, the stormtrooper for intel on the Empire? Are you truly worried about mending family ties or just desperate for information because the last two days have been quiet?" Lee refocused on her and ignored the troopers for the moment.

"You know me better than that," Rya annoyed with his accusation turned and walked a few feet away from him,

"That's the problem. I do know you Rya," Lee continued to push her buttons.

"Look, she is a direct line to imperial orders and that information you don't come by everyday. You know as well as I do she only joined to solve your family's debt not because she thought the Emperor was truly ruling the galaxy justly. She may need our help. We can't forsake her. She's family."

"You're my family," Lee said sharply. "And I need you to understand, Lenore made her choice years ago. When she wants my help I'll be there."

"How do you know she knows that?" Rya argued.

"Everything we've been through, I know she does. That's if the Imperial Army hasn't brainwashed her by now," Lee said, wishing to change the subject. As they continued their walk, he spotted the stormtroopers calling for reinforcements. Lee took Rya's hand and led her to an alley where they continued to watch from around the corner.

"We should regroup with the others," Rya said as they watched two additional stormtroopers arrive.

"Wait," Lee said, unable to stop watching the situation unfold.

The new pair of stormtroopers surveyed the area. The taller of the two took over the interrogation and the shorter one kept watch. As the tension in the market grew, the Mon Calamari clearly had had enough and reached for the stormtrooper's blaster shooting one of the troopers in the chest. Within a second, the shorter trooper shot him in the head, killing him. The Market Sector fell silent as the body of the vendor hit the ground in front of his shop.

Lee clenched his fist watching helplessly. All he could see was Stobo's face and hearing his father's voice:

"I'd rather die on my feet than live on my knees in fear."

Rya wrapped her arms around him as she felt his body tense up. He couldn't tear his gaze away from the young mon calamari rush to his father's side crying. This is what they were fighting against. This is what he had to stop.

"Let's get back to the ship," Rya said, tugging on Lee's arm.

"You go ahead. I want to hang back and see if there is any talk after this," He said, watching the neighboring vendors help the Mon Calamari family move the body out of the street. "Might even overhear a chatty IBS officer taking a report later."

"Lee Tersu," Rya said sternly, "If you're not back at the ship by dark I'll not only send K-2 after you I'll shoot you myself."

"I know."

He could see she was scare for him. The last 48 hours had been tense and danger in the Imperial Capital lurked around every corner. Last thing she wanted was for any of them to get hurt or worse killed like the Mon Calamari vendor. Lee hugged her tightly and kissed her to reassure her he would be back soon. He watched as she made her way out of the Market.

"Lee! Lee, don't be mad. I told you this was a bad idea. The minute I gave back the helmet he wanted to help us."

Lee was back on Lothal by the mine he and Lenore used to play Skylark at. In front of him was Lenore at fourteen. He looked around confused. He was dreaming.

"When are you going to learn Lenore, the Empire is not here to help us," Lee answered.

"So what, I was just supposed to let you die? "Lenore yelled back now at the age of nine.

"This isn't real," Lee said, shaking his head. "I'm asleep. I need to wake up."

"You are in trouble," K-2SO said, peering down at Lee who woke abruptly. "Your wife is worried and angry. She said if you gave any other answer than 'I'm on my way', I had permission to drag you back."

"Just try it," Lee said, rubbing his neck and standing. It was now night time and he wondered how much time had passed since he closed his eyes for a moment.

"Very well," K-2 took hold of Lee and began to drag him out of the alley.

"Hey! I was joking!" Lee yelled and pulled away.

"That was not a joke. Would you like to hear a joke? I know one about a wookie," K-2 stated as Lee held his hand up to his mouth to silence the droid. A speeder entered the market sector that was closed for the night. It was an imperial patrol speeder on it was Lenore.

"Shhh," Lee said, staring at his sister. It had been five years since he last saw or spoke to her. And here she was only a few feet away, dressed in imperial tailored clothes, her hair neatly pulled back in a ponytail, and holding a box of food. She looked well.

"Do you know her," K-2 asked, looking at Lenore and back to Lee. "An old romance you don't want Rya to know about?"

"She's my sister!" Lee annoyily answered as he saw Lenore approach the Mon Calamari shop. She was there to donate food. It seemed some things hadn't changed. She was still trying to help others as she had when they were young in Tarkintown. Perhaps her time in the army hadn't completely brainwashed her into complete compliance.

"I don't see the family resemblance," K-2 commented and stepped closer to get a better look. As K-2 stepped out of the alley the other residents of the market began to surround Lenore. She wasn't welcome there. Lee knew she was in danger and readied his blaster to intervene. "I think she sees me."

"K-2 get back here," Lee warned as he saw her turn her glance toward the alleyway. As he backed up into the shadows he could see her face clearly. She looked older, stronger, and very much like their mother. He sighed, feeling guilty he had let so much time pass between them. Perhaps Rya had a point. He needed to end the silence between them. Before he could move into the light, she dropped the box of food and mounted her speeder taking off. She was gone.

"I suppose you're not going to tell me what that was about," K-2 mocked as he returned to the alley.

"It's complicated," Lee admitted and adjusted his jacket. "Where's Cassian?"

"Dealing with complications," K-2 sassed. Lee rolled his eyes at the droid's sarcasm.

"When you hear from him tell him we've got nothing. Rya thinks we should bolt before Empire day. I'm headed back to the ship," Lee said, preparing to go.

"Should I come with you?" K-2 offered.

"No," Lee said, stopping for a moment. "But while you wait for Cassian would you mind keeping an eye out for her?"

"You want me to trailing an imperial stormtrooper?"

"No not trailing, just if you see her in the streets or…on her own… in any sort of trouble," Lee wasn't sure what he was asking. Lenore might not even want to see him after all this time. Perhaps it was a stupid idea to begin with. " Nevermind. We'll be aboard the ship. If we don't hear from you tomorrow morning, we're leaving to regroup elsewhere."

As Lee approached the shipyard he wondered how angry Rya was. He had been gone for at least five hours and he had heard nothing from her. So most likely he was in deep trouble with her. He looked around at the deserted yard. Most of the pilots and attendees must be out enjoying the festivities of ascension week. As he walked up the ramp to board the ship he could see Rya sitting at a table in the passenger quarters. She looked stoic and in a daze. He took a deep breath and began to explain, "Rya I'm sor–"

"Lee don't! It's a trap!" Rya screamed as a stormtrooper stepped behind Lee with a blaster to his head.

"Hands up Rebel scum!" the trooper ordered. Lee raised his hands as another trooper took his utility belt and blaster.

"Where's Denz and Riq?" Lee asked Rya.

"No talking!" The stormtrooper yelled and his Lee in the back of the head knocking him unconscious.