Author's Note: Merry Christmas everyone! Or Happy Life Day, whichever floats your boat.

Now, let's not beat around the bush, 2020 kinda sucked. For those of you stuck at home and unable to be with family this year, my heart goes out to you. Truly, I am sorry you cannot be with your loved ones. But, maybe we can be one big happy family around a new chapter, eh? How's that sound?

Despite the circumstances this year has forced upon us, as we celebrate the birth of Jesus today, remember that God is still present and that he loves you all very much. Today we celebrate the fact that he sent his only Son for our sakes. No COVID can stop Jesus from coming to you. Feeling lonely this season? Reach out to him. Need help with that? Give me a shout, it's a quiet day at work today.


-Chapter 131: No Turning Back-

Location: Onderon

"Commitment is a one-way street."

With the Onderon Rebellion gaining strength, spirits were high and hopes were blossoming amongst the freedom fighters. Their attacks continued, their boldness growing...

Something that did not go unnoticed by the super-soldiers on site.

Along the roof of the palace, Reaper and Banshee walked side by side, able to look out across the city and see the smoke rising from the ruined remains of halted Separatist patrols. To the east, the skies had darkened with rain clouds, thunder booming and lightning flashing the telltale signs of a coming spring storm. It was also very indicative of Banshee's current mood.

"Every attack they make gives us a prime opportunity to eliminate a part of their band. And yet you insist on abstaining from becoming involved?!" Banshee complained. While they were of one accord in service to the Separatists, their attitudes towards their designated task were very different.

"We need more information before we act." Reaper calmly responded. "We need to know if this is the work of individual terrorists or an effort backed by the Republic."

"And while you wait for clues, they continue to dismantle our resources!" Banshee retorted. "We must strike them at every chance we are offered, put the fear of the Confederacy in their hearts." Her suggestion left Reaper quiet and thoughtful, his thoughts on Banshee as a whole and not just her eagerness... but that was something that troubled him.

"You've been very keen to engage Republic assets lately." He noted.

"I'm a super-soldier, I'm only doing my job." She scoffed.

"So you say." Reaper remarked. "Count Dooku told me about Ord Canfre. Scourge is dead and Spectre was wounded." His statement revealed no emotion, so Banshee merely followed.

"Yes. Thanks to the Jedi." She bitterly affirmed. With a grunt, Reaper kept walking. Banshee made to keep pace beside him, keenly picking up on his attitude through body language alone. "If I may, you see unhappy." She pointedly noted.

"I am." Reaper replied. "You were in charge of that squad, how could that happen?"

"They proved ineffective. I sent them to engage two of the Jedi while I handled a distant third-" Banshee began to explain,

"Did you have a plan for engagement?" Reaper cut in.

"Yes: kill the Jedi before they could complete their mission." Banshee directly responded. That made Reaper stop and look fully towards her.

"You did no recon, no preparation, crafted no battle plan?" He questioned, his voice rising with each uttered word.

"These were three Jedi, not Clones. We could handle them." Banshee dismissively replied.

"A single Jedi is worth their weight in an army of Clones!" Reaper snapped, startling her. "Your eagerness to engage deprived Scourge and Spectre of a valuable battle plan that could have spared them. Wraith alone would've been a match for those three Jedi. Why? Because he knew the battle before it was waged and STRATEGIZED before he struck. You did nothing of the sort, and what happened? You have turned our kind into a laughingstock by losing one to the Jedi." He accused. Lost for words for a moment, Banshee struggled to defend herself.

"I-"

"Wraith successfully took on larger groups of Jedi which, and you would do well to remember, sometimes included high-ranking, highly skilled members of the Order. It took them, specialized Clones, and bloodthirsty mercenaries to simply push him back and even then he adapted to come out on top above all of them!" Reaper angrily continued, thunder booming in the distance as if to emphasize his irritation. "We could all be the same. We can all be like Wraith and cut down entire armies on our own without assistance. You. Need. To. Think. Think BEFORE you leap." He curtly reprimanded her. Burning slightly at how forceful he was being over her comparison to Wraith, Banshee tried to get a response in.

"But-"

"Your impulsiveness has cost us all, but it will not cost us this time." Reaper growled. "I will not let you ruin our reputation in the face of a pathetic rebellion. Therefore you will follow my lead in this assignment and do as I command. That is not a request." His statement left no room for discussion and Banshee was forced to comply with his wishes.

"Yes sir." She relented in a low, displeased growl. Reaper accepted her compliance, while also noting her reluctance.

"We must meet with King Rash and General Kalani. A company of commando droids have provided me with new intel on these attacks." He told her. "The rebels have gotten bolder this time."

The two super-soldiers convened in the palace throne room, alongside General Kalani and General Tandin of the Royal Onderon Militia, as King Rash demanded results.

"The terrorists are no longer a nuisance but a threat to Onderon." The King decried.

"It is only a matter of time before they are all eliminated." Kalani promised him in a synthetic, monotone voice.

"How much longer before they plunge us into chaos?" Rash desperately demanded.

"It seems they're only targeting the droid army." Tandin interjected. "If you allowed the Royal Onderon Militia to assume control of security, the terrorists may stop and discuss terms." He added.

"Why bother? They've already committed criminal and treasonous acts against the Separatist Alliance by making moves against you, the sovereign ruler of Onderon, your highness." Banshee retorted, attempting to butter-up Rash. "I say we slaughter them where they stand, make an example of them all." Tandin frowned.

"Such a method would only terrify people, not restore peace." He countered.

"Good. Fear is the ultimate weapon." Banshee snarled.

"I mean the people of Onderon, of Iziz!" Tandin exclaimed. "What you're suggesting is nothing short of tyrannical!"

"And what you're suggesting would grant these rebel scum a lesser fate than what they deserve!" The super-soldier bit back.

"Special Agent Banshee is correct." Kalani agreed. "You will assume nothing, General Tandin. With their coordinated attacks and weapons, it is possible they are finding sympathy within your own ranks." The droid intoned.

"The threat is external and your reinforcements have done little to stop them." Tandin retorted.

"The super-soldier is correct, Tandin. We will not negotiate with terrorists." Sanjay declared, sinking Tandin's hopes. "They fear diplomacy. They embrace mayhem."

"Agreed, your highness." Reaper concurred. "I have been in contact with roaming commando units who have been gathering intel about these rebels." Rash leaned forward, interested.

"What do we know about them?" He asked. Reaper stepped forward and lifted his arm, triggering a holoprojector on his wrist to reveal the render of a woman,

"Earlier today, the rebels used concealed holotransmitters to send a city-wide message, laden with their propaganda. One woman in particular doing all the speaking." Reaper reported, gesturing to the woman with a sniper rifle over her shoulder. "We've identified her as Steela Gerrera, and further local reports suggest her brother Saw is also a rebel." Reaper then shifted the image to reveal a man. "To that end, we've also identified the fugitive criminal Lux Bonteri."

"The late senator Mina Bonteri's son?" Rash wondered. "I thought he was killed."

"He made a rather public appearance on Mandalore to disrupt a peace conference and lay the blame for his mother's death at the feet of the Separatists, specifically the super-soldier Wraith." Reaper explained, powering down the hologram. Rash scoffed.

"Preposterous. Everyone knows Republic agents had her murdered."

"That has not stopped him from spreading lies of disillusionment." Rash turned to Tandin.

"You see? Mayhem! That is all they want." He stated. Tandin said nothing, keeping his cool. "Have you confirmed anything about the Republic's involvement, super-soldier?" Sanjay inquired, turning back to Reaper.

"Given these new reports, we've reached a simple conjecture." He responded. "What they are, are all native Onderonians. Patriotic ones, I suppose. So far there's no evidence of Republic meddling, my lord."

"I see." Sanjay mused, leaning back in his throne.

"That doesn't mean that they aren't." Banshee added, stepping to the forefront. "If they are, we'll find out soon enough." She promised. Rash nodded in acceptance.

"I will leave you two to explore this and find that evidence." He ordered, both Reaper and Banshee bowing in compliance. "In the meanwhile, we must deal with them based on what we know. It's clear that Dendup is behind this, we mustn't allow his followers any momentum. Justice must come swiftly, without mercy."

"I agree wholeheartedly, my lord." Reaper growled.

"Bring him in." Rash ordered his guards. Within moments, a member of the royal guard ushered the imprisoned Ramsis Dendup into the throne room, escorting him right to the steps of the throne and in between the two super-soldiers, backing off with a nervous swallow in the face of two deadly warriors. Ramsis glanced back and forth between the super-soldiers eyeing him with cold and sinister gazes beneath their unflinching optics. Clearly things had escalated since the last time he was in here.

"What now?" He asked Rash.

"Your supporters have begun to publically decry my reign." Rash told him. "Am I still to believe you are not behind their attacks?" He asked with a withering glare.

"You must order them to surrender." Kalani demanded.

"Before there are none left to surrender." Banshee added threateningly, cracking her knuckles.

"Impossible. I have been isolated and alone without visitors, confined to my prison." Ramsis told them. "How can I force my will on someone I have never even met? Again, the will of the people is theirs, not mine." Rash merely laughed, an idea forming in his mind.

"Well, then we shall see what the will of the people is made of." He mused, thundered rumbling overhead. "You there, Agent Reaper." The black-clad super-soldier turned to him. "You know it is the king who can support, bend or break the will of the people." Reaper nodded. "What would you say to my order to see their will broken?" Reaper glanced to Banshee, whose little motions and body-language was enough to confirm her eagerness.

"It is an order we would both take to gladly, your highness." He responded.


Later...

The rain came pouring down, but it did little to hamper the rebels as they moved supplies into their safe house. Outside, Steela, Ahsoka and Corsair observed their progress.

"Okay guys, put it in the back with the rest." The Togruta instructed as two moved a large crate inside.

"Thanks for helping us secure these supplies, Corsair." Steela thanked the Titan.

"I've done my fair share a' gun-runnin' back in tha day. I know a few things 'bout sneakin' payloads pas' guahds." The merc informed her.

"Sounds like you've had quite the career." The rebel leader remarked with a smile.

"Lemme tell ya, luv; ya ain't lived 'til yor runnin' fo' yor life from a gang boss 'o can't speak a lick a' Basic an' thinks yor aftah 'is spice!" Corsair described with a chuckle. Steela laughed as well, just imagining how that might've gone down.

"Steela!" The cry of her name drew the rebel leader's attention to the nearby stairs where fellow rebel Dono was arriving in a hurry. "They're executing King Dendup tomorrow in Yolahn Square!" She frantically cried. Those listening widened their eyes.

"Where did you hear this?" Steela asked.

"Malgan Market. The merchants!" Dono gasped, breathing heavily. From the door, Saw listened in. "The Separatists are saying he's behind our attacks!"

"An' they figah 'e's tha bloody 'ead." Corsair mused.

"But he's not!" Steela protested.

"Tell that ta them. They'll do whatevah they fancy ta bring ya down." The mercenary told her.

"Liars." Steela growled under her breath. "They're making him an example to humiliate us." She realized, moving indoors.

"Maybe, but their efforts could work against them." Ahsoka mused as she followed. "Executing him would only make him a martyr."

"We can't let him die. We have to break him out somehow." Saw determined.

"Tha palace is tha most fortahfied pahsition in all a' Iziz. Good luck gettin' in or out, 'specially if they got Dendup at it's core." Corsair told him. "Ain't nothin' doin' Saw."

"Surely there's a way!" The elder Gerrera protested.

"No. We should wait until he's in public, at the execution." His sister decided.

"That's where they'd expect it!" Saw countered. "They'd be waiting for us, then instead of one execution there'd be several."

"Maybe, but this is our moment." Steela told him. "We'll save Dendup for all of Iziz to witness. We don't have much time."

"I'm telling you, they're counting on us to show up!" Saw retorted. "This is the only way." He turned and headed out the door, wrapping a cloak around him and throwing up his hood to keep the rain out.

"Where are you going?" Steela demanded.

"Trust me." Saw responded, stepping out into the weather.

"Ya bettah not be what I bloody think yor doin'." Corsair called after him.

"Guess you're a smart man then, Titan." Saw remarked.

"Saw, stop!" Steela ordered, putting her foot down. But her brother did not budge.

"Let me take care of this." He responded.

"Saw, we can't afford a reckless move right now." Lux urged him, appearing from within the building and suddenly joining the conversation.

"Yeah? Go write a speech about it." Saw bit back.

"You have to weigh the risk." Ahsoka cautioned him.

"That's why I'm going alone. They won't suspect a rogue party of one." With that, Saw rounded the bend and was gone from sight. Dono poked her head out, catching only a glimpse of his fluttering cloak in the rain. She turned around and eyed Steela with a wondering gaze.

"Follow him." The order was short and simple, but Dono complied in an instant and took off after Saw. Left alone, Steela let out a sigh and rubbed her forehead.

"Hate ta say it, luv, but yor brothah's so damn 'eadstrong he's gonna get 'imself killed." Corsair remarked. Though she said nothing, Steela couldn't agree more.

As night fell and the rain lessened, Steela poured over datapads laden with topographical detail and intel dumps taken from various droid outposts. The newly-appointed rebel leader was thankful for the assistance of the Titans and their uncanny ability to smoothly run jobs that would've been a heart-pounding hassle otherwise. They certainly made this rebellion a little easier to do...

But, then again, she was equally proud of her fellow Onderonians. They'd come a long way from the ragtag band they once were. Practically doubled in strength and size, they were a force to be reckoned with now... when they could pull themselves together. Her own brother, Saw, was the sole standout in this situation. A little rough around the edges, bull-headed and loaded with determination and self-reliance, she and him had been through thick and thin together. But now, with such high stakes, Saw's independent thoughts were more hinderance than help. Corsair was right, his headstrong spirit would get himself killed if he wasn't careful.

She'd never worried about her brother before. But... now...

"Steela?" A gentle voice shook her from her thoughts as she felt Lux's hand settle on her shoulder. Obviously he could she was distracted. "Saw is strong. He'll be fine." She turned to him, eyes meeting. The fondness between them was there, possibly even stronger now, but Steela's thought were still clouded by her brother's actions.

"He's always been brash. Never thinks. He doesn't realize by leaving us, he's hurting us." She said and Lux rubbed her shoulder. For a moment, it felt good, and Steela was torn between her duty and her wants. She straightened, trying to sort things out in her mind. "We need a plan." Fetching a datachip from her pile, Steela jacked it into the nearby holoprojector that triggered a map of the palace grounds. "They'd bring King Dendup through the east entrance of Yolahn Square." It was right in front of the palace, prime for a public display. Steela continued to think and plan, voicing her thoughts out loud. Lux's eyes were gradually drawn from the map to her, drinking in the image of Steela; full of passion and potential. He'd admired her once, but now his thoughts and feelings were more than that... more... affectionate now.

Steela caught his glances, stealing little looks of her own. Her thoughts halted and shifted abruptly each time, drawn to how strong Lux was for overcoming the damage done to him by the Separatists. He forsook the prestige and prominence that was rightly his as a senator and joined these rebels in the dust to help them fight. He was admirable, courageous, brave, so many things... so many distracting things. "L-Lux, I..." She stammered, feeling the growing intensity of his gaze. She couldn't think or speak straight. "Please don't like at me like that." She reluctantly requested. Her turmoil over Saw and now the burden of leadership was just too much at the moment.

"F-Forgive me. I'm sorry." He replied, hazel gaze darting away from her. "I..." His mouth went dry, he didn't know what to say.

"Listen," Steela whispered, taking his hand in both of hers, "I just need to be alone right now." Her actions were affectionate, but her words were filled with the duty of a leader. "Gather everyone to go over the plan." He nodded, letting his eyes linger on her for a moment longer before turning to leave. Steela grabbed a datapad, trying to busy her mind... but slowed as she turned to watch him leave.

Meanwhile, in a darkened hall, Ahsoka crouched by a crate where her personal holocom sat. Projected from it were the renders of Obi-Wan and Anakin, to whom she was giving a progress report. Sitting across from her on another crate, in the dark but watching and listening intently to the private conversation, sat Dynnal. His lingering presence made her feel a little more steady as she presented her update to her Masters. It... wasn't an easy one.

"I sense fear in you, Ahsoka." Obi-Wan pointedly noted as the Togruta teen rested her chin against her upturned hand.

"The rebels are divided." She responded. "If they try to rescue the king now, I'm afraid we might lose them."

"We cannot control their fate." Obi-Wan simply stated.

"It's just... they're risking their lives to save just one." Ahsoka explained, trying to emphasize her mild confusion. The rebels could be making big gains to further bolster their potential, instead they were taking a huge gamble on someone they weren't even associated with.

"Do not underestimate the king's power. He represents hope and is critical to their success." Obi-Wan told her. Ahsoka kept that in mind and waited until Lux had passed before resuming the conversation.

"I feel responsible for them." She admitted.

"I know you do, Snips, but remember: purpose must come before feelings." Anakin warmly assured her. His words echoed his previous statements the day before and Ahsoka knew that lesson had multiple applications.

"I know, Master." She replied.

"Step in only if you must, but remember," Obi-Wan cautioned, "if this is to become an effective strategy, they must learn to survive on their own." It was an answer she didn't like, especially in the face of such circumstances.

"Yes, Master Kenobi." Ahsoka agreed. "I understand." The conversation lasted only a short while after that, both masters wishing her good night and good planning before their renders faded away.

"It's a tricky toss of the credit, isn't it?" Dynnal wondered.

"No kidding." Ahsoka agreed, sliding her communicator back into her belt as she sat on the crate. "I know what they said, but... if anything happens to these people... I couldn't forgive myself." She confessed with a sigh.

"I hear you." Dynnal offered in sympathy.

"I've already thrown myself into this... how am I supposed to just sit back and watch them do something potentially fatal?" Ahsoka wondered.

"Sometimes you can't. That gut feeling just drives you to act." Dynnal surmised. "But you're not in this alone. I'm here, Mom's here, Corsair's here, Theris is here, we've got your back. You need help, or any of them need help, we're on it." He offered. Ahsoka smiled, nodding her head as she counted the allies with her as blessings.

"And I'm really glad you're here, Danny. Makes this burden a little more bareable." She said, looking to him.

"Aw, you can kick all kinds of butt without me." Dynnal replied, making her giggle. After the brevity had passed, Ahsoka posed a question.

"What would you do, if you were in my position?" She asked. Mulling it over, Dynnal had an answer soon enough.

"I'd weigh the risks... then go with my gut. Do what my heart was telling me to do." He answered, describing what she was seemingly wanting to do as Ahsoka poignantly noted.

"Even if it meant... ruining your cover?" Ahsoka wondered.

"That is a tricky thing, isn't it?" Dynnal mused with a chuckle. "Recently, it kinda burns knowing I could take this entire city by myself but I can't because I have to keep my abilities hidden."

"But if it really counted... would you?" Ahsoka asked, giving him big blue eyes filled with a searching wonder to the answer for her question. It was a true problem Dynnal had to wrestle with. Ultimately, when it boiled down to matters involving his lover and girlfriend, there was only one choice.

"If it counted in the long run... then yes. Especially if it means I'm helping you." He promised her, taking her hand in his. Ahsoka smiled, shuffling a little closer to him.

"What's your drive, Danny?" She suddenly wondered. "Why did you want to help the rebels?" Dynnal knew the answer right away and lifted his hands, having to free one from hers.

"I remember this hand pulling the trigger of the blaster that killed Mina Bonteri." He quietly told her. Then, glancing back and forth to ensure they were truly alone, he leaned closer and whispered, "I remember these hands wrapped around Lux's neck, trying to snap his spine." It was chilling to hear and even more chilling to think about. "That... stays with me. I can't unsee it... I can't ever forget it." He admitted. "I'm doing this to try and make up for at least one of the sins Wraith committed. I'm... not sure if I'm trying to scrub my conscience a little, or if I just want to make the nightmares go away. I am trying to be a good guy for once." Ahsoka could sense his honesty and just how troubled he felt. His feelings were genuine... and it seemed to her like he was pursuing feelings over purpose.

Then again, maybe his feelings were his purpose.

"But... I know I want to do some good for a change. I can't just sit around and remember everything Wraith's done and do nothing about it. I want to at least make a difference, let people know the real me is here to help instead of hurt." Ahsoka reached over and touched his arm.

"I know your intentions are true, Danny. And I'll do my best to help prove you true." She promised. "But I want you to know that you didn't kill Mina or try to kill Lux. Wraith did. Please, don't beat yourself up over what you had no control over." Her boyfriend nodded slowly.

"To me, it doesn't matter who did it. These hands are still bloody." He confessed, holding up both of his gloved hands. Ahsoka took his hands in hers, offering silent reassurance through their bond that she was still on his side.


The rain let up by the time Saw arrived at the outskirts of the royal palace. The clouds had passed to reveal the dark of night and the smell of freshly wet pavement still lingered in the air. Hooded and cloaked, he went unnoticed by patrolling battle droids as they passed the alley he was hidden in. Saw glanced up at the high palace walls, producing a grapple from within his cloak as he knew King Dendup had to be located somewhere within. Aiming high, his tether snagged the upper wall and went taut, giving him enough leverage to winch himself up, scaling the wall with ease and going unnoticed by the roving battle droids. He climbed to the precipice and looked down upon the rooftop gardens where, to his delight, he spied the aging king walking the rooftop path. Saw grinned at his stroke of luck and quickly took note of a single battle droid beneath him, guarding the king. Dropping down, he took the droid by surprise and tore its head off before it could react, just as Rex had taught him. His actions shocked the king but Saw was quick to stride over and kneel before him.

"My lord." He greeted.

"Who are you?" Dendup questioned.

"I'm Saw Gerrera." The young man introduced, throwing back his hood.

"What do you want?"

"Your freedom, sire." Saw answered. "You're to be executed tomorrow, but I'm getting you out of here. The people of Onderon need your help." Despite his words, Dendup did not seem to pleased with his presence.

"Stand up." He ordered, and Saw did so. "Are you one of the meddlers creating disorder, interfering in the affairs of the throne?" He sternly asked.

"Only to restore your kingship as the rightful ruler." Saw replied. His words shook Dendup and the former king slowly walked away.

"I see..." he whispered sadly. Deep down, he felt unworthy of such attention and that Saw was wasting his time on such an expenditure, making to tell him why. "This was all my doing. I opened the door. That's why the Separatists are here." He mused aloud, turning to face Saw once more. "I was faced with a difficult choice, to join the Republic or the Confederacy. Both are corrupt, but I had to pick a side before one was chosen for me... except I chose neither." He revealed.

"Now is the time to take back Onderon." Saw urged, drawing closer. "Our movement is gaining momentum. It has the backing of the Jedi." His final words bright a gleam back to Dendup's aging eyes and he turned to the young man with a look of wonder.

"Jedi?" He repeated in amazement.

"Yes, sire." Saw affirmed with a smile. As the ramifications settled in, Dendup returned it.

"I've been waiting a long time for this." He admitted, feeling a new strength course through his old body. That was just what Saw wanted hear and produced his grapple from within his cloak.

"Follow me, sire." He politely requested. "Onderon awaits." Aiming high, he fired his tether towards the same parapet in the wall he'd just scaled...

But instead of snagging the wall, his grapple bounced off a one-way shield that sprung to life with a zap and surrounded the roof with a wall of hexagonal energy tiles.

"One-way shield!" He realized with a gasp, seeing the field as something he could pass through in entry, but not leave in exit. The entire sky was not blocked out by glaring red, followed shortly by alarms and spotlights honing in on their location.

Down on the ground, a watching Dono realized things had taken a turn for the worse and beat a hasty retreat back to the rebel safe house.

The Separatists had been far more prepared than Saw expected, a fact soon made painfully known as droidekas rolled to their position and Saw realized he had no droid poppers on hand. The two waited, watching to see what would happen.

Saw suddenly grew quite fearful when a tall, dark figure emerged from around a corner and revealed himself to him. The rebel took a single step back as he realized he was face-to-face with a super-soldier.

"Saw Gerrera... as co-founder of the rebel movement, you are under arrest for the wanton destruction of Separatist property, for crimes against his royal highness King Sanjay Rash, and for terrorist actions against the people of Onderon." Reaper proclaimed, striding towards the pair. Knowing Dendup's safety was paramount, Saw quickly stepped between them.

"Stay back, sire." He commanded. Without another word, Saw flicked off his cloak and charged Reaper, all of Corsair's training coming to mind as he mapped out the best way to take him down. Watching and calculating his path, Reaper deduced the quickest possible route to breaking Saw's resistance and opted to let the boy make the first move. Saw darted around Reaper and grabbed his arm, wrenching it out and twisting it sharply. Reaper made no move to resist and Saw was left struggling against his raw strength and bulk that made him virtually impossible to move.

And then, to his shock, Reaper's strength overpowered his own as the super-soldier rotated his arm back into a proper position, much to Saw's dismay as his inferior strength was made evident. He struggled against Reaper's taut arm, but it absolutely refused to budge. The super-soldier then lashed out with his free arm and struck Saw with a hard punch that carried enough Force to propel him into the wall behind him. The rebel hit the surface hard, cracks spreading out from the impact mark his body left as he gasped for air, feeling a pain in his chest. Before he could compose himself, Reaper was on him again, landing a hard blow to his stomach that sent all the air rushing from Saw's lungs. As he struggled to recover, a steely hand gripped his neck and started choking him out, lifting Saw up and off his feet as his gaze was forced to meet Reaper's terrifying crimson visage. "I'm willing to bet you thought we were expecting you tomorrow, at the execution." The super-soldier rumbled with a chuckle. "The truth is, Saw Gerrera, we were expecting you a little earlier than that." He revealed.


As this was unfolding, plans were being made in the rebel safe house, Steela using a holomap to outline every move they would take to secure King Dendup. All the rebels were present, including the Titans, while Ahsoka watched from a corner, letting them act and plan as her masters suggested.

"Do any of you have questions?" Steela asked as she concluded her briefing.

"It's a risky plan, but its our best shot." Lux mused. "Ahsoka? Will you join us?" He wondered of the Togruta. She turned away from him.

"I can't. I've already been more involved than the Council wanted." She told them all. "I'm afraid I've been instructed to sit this one out." The rebels were disappointed they would not have Jedi aid, but also understood as they recalled Obi-Wan's strict instructions.

"'Soka can be an on-site advisah, we'll be yor backup Bonteri." Corsair promised.

"Thank you, Corsair." The senator affirmed. At hat moment, Dono burst into the room.

"They have Saw!" She exclaimed. The startled rebels picked themselves up and murmured exclamations of shock. "He's alive, but I watched them take him prisoner." Steela felt a despondent weight settle in the pit of her stomach as the news registered, pinching the bridge of her nose as she whispered a silent prayer for her brother's safekeeping.

"We have to save him!" Lux determined. The others rebels immediately agreed and started to grab supplies.

"Like hell ya hafta!" Corsair cut in, silencing them all.

"Don't you see? This is exactly what the Separatists would want." Theris continued as all eyes turned to the Titans. "They'll be expecting you to come rushing in to save your friend and then they can lop all your heads off at once, instead of just one or two."

"But if we don't act, they'll kill him sooner or later!" Lux countered. "We go now, we use all our equipment to storm the palace and we'll break him out." He suggested and many rebels agreed with him.

"Oh, sure, a brilliant plan... if you all plan on getting killed!" Dynnal sardonically remarked. The rebels were about to protest further when Steela cut in.

"We have to save King Dendup. We don't have time or the bodies to do both." She decided. It was a hard call, especially considering how family was on the line.

"He's your brother." Lux protested.

"That's what Saw would want, what he would expect." Steela answered. "And I expect the same from everyone in this room." She declared, her gaze sweeping over the assembly. The rebels looked uncertain, trapped between their wants and the logic enforced upon them by Steela and the Titans. It was then that Ahsoka stepped forward.

"I know it's a hard choice, but I agree." She declared. "Purpose must come before feelings." Her words hit him and Dynnal nodded in agreement.

"We all want to save Saw, but if we do so right now, we waste an opportunity to gain the people's. trust by electing Dendup." He echoed in sentiment.

"The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few." Meline remarked as she also stepped forward. "You'll make sacrifices in this war, Saw knows this. It's just a question of ensuring they're not in vain." Her words were enough to seal the deal and the dejected rebels began returning equipment as they abandoned their plan.


The sun rose to the tune of heavy impacts and blows, the sound of fists crashing into a solid object over and over again. Within the palace, Banshee cut loose on Saw, her armored knuckles already bloody from a night's work of interrogation and torture. Reaper's orders had been explicit "Make him talk, but ensure he can still walk afterwards." It was only half the fun, really, but she still had an entire upper torso to work with.

Saw's face was bruised and bloody, his lip split and his nose marked by a river of dried blood, multiple cuts had been opened by the sharp steel adorning Banshee's hands and he could feel just how cracked his ribs were. And still, the super-soldier pounded him, slugging him across the face this way and that and adding droplets of blood to the puddles already spilt across the cell floor. His arms were shackled above him, ensuring the rebel had nowhere to move to escape his torture.

Behind Banshee stood Kalani and Tandin, the droid watching impassively while the human grimaced with every sharp blow. One particularly powerful punch snapped Saw's head to the side as a crack echoed from his jaw, his head lolling forward as the beating took its toll. Forcibly grasping his face, Banshee jerked it up towards her.

"Talk, rebel scum!" She spat. "While you still can!" Though tired and weak, Saw's worn expression still belied defiance.

"Where are the other terrorists?" Kalani demanded.

"O-Onderon... is our s-system," he rasped, "not yours." With a growl, Banshee slugged him again.

"Wretched filth!" She hissed. "Answer him!"

"Enough." Tandin ordered. Banshee released Saw, only to turn and raise herself to full height as she fixed Tandin with a glare. "We need to keep him alive. He is a direct link to the terrorists." He explained.

"You pity him." Kalani bluntly noted.

"I pity your ignorance." Tandin retorted. "You can control the people of Onderon, but you won't sustain it against their will. What you're doing here guarantees others will take his place." He stated.

"They, too, will suffer." Kalani said flatly.

"Then the war is lost." Tandin remarked.

"Lost to fools like you who think too much and act too little." Banshee growled. At that, Tandin turned on her.

"You have strong tactics, but it's unfortunate you cannot calculate a different approach." He told her.

"And you disgust me, Tandin." The super-soldier bit back. "Your sympathy will land you in his position. Mark my words, you favor this piece of scum too much and I'll kill you myself." She growled threateningly, igniting her twin blue lightsabers for effect. Tandin said nothing more and merely left the cell, leaving Kalani and Banshee alone with Saw. "I don't like him, General. He's too soft, he's a liability. Bound to help the rebels at a moment's notice." She spoke in a quieter tone, her blades dissipating.

"Special Agent Reaper is already keeping tabs on him." Kalani replied. "For now, take the rebel down and move him to a holding room. He will join Ramsis Dendup in a few hours." Banshee complied and moved Saw to a dimly lit room containing a simple table and chair. Commonly used for interrogation, it would now be nothing more than Saw's final residence before his execution. The rebel was tired and spent, his body aching from Banshee's aggressive treatment. His face felt numb when he put his head down, but the splotches of dried blood on the table were enough to indicate his wounds were still there.

This hiss of a door sliding open prompted him to raise his head somewhat, catching a glimpse of Tandin's uniform as a servant droid left a cup on the table.

"Here, drink. It will give you strength." The General offered and Saw did so, gripping the cup with both shackled hands, the liquid warm and filling as his passed down his parched throat. "The Separatists have very little compassion or patience for things that stand in their way."

"I've noticed." Saw dryly remarked. "But... We have a duty to protect what's ours, General, a duty once entrusted to you." He added snidely.

"And here I thought you depleted your arrogance with Kalani and Banshee." Tandin scoffed.

"It replenishes every hour." Saw chuckled. Shaking his head with a sigh, Tandin started pacing.

"King Rash is the crowned head of Onderon. What's yours is his, and he will do with it as he pleases." The older human mused, sitting across from Saw.

"Dendup is the true king." Saw countered.

"Are you following his orders?" Tandin wondered.

"We take orders from no one." Saw answered.

"Aligning yourself with the past does not bode well for your future." The General told him.

"We share the same future." Saw pressed, holding up his bound wrists. "We can sit here as free men or servants of the Separatists." Tandin's fist pounded the table.

"I am free, while you have chosen to become a terrorist!" He snapped, rising from his seat.

"I'm not a terrorist. I'm a patriot." Saw countered, rising to meet him. "And resistance is not terrorism. King Dendup chose his people instead of taking a side in the intergalactic war, Separatists have taken over Onderon because we let them." That gave Tandin pause and forced him to think...


Hours later...

As the sun crept higher in the sky, the people of Iziz gathered in Yolahn Sqaure, just outside the royal palace in preparation for the grand proclamation King Rash had to give them. Many suspected in was in response to the local resistance efforts, but none knew the true extent of his plans for that day.

Among their numbers, rebels hid in plain sight, watching and waiting as battle droids and MagnaGuards took their places on the podium before an executioner's block. While they seemed few in number, they were spread out and ready to make a move. On the rooftops around them, the Titans were armed and ready, Theris and Dynnal taking up watchful positions on all levels of the proceedings.

"We're in position." A robed Lux whispered into his comms as he stood with Steela. Along the fringes of the crowd, a robed Ahsoka waited and watched.

"Understood, be on your guard." She cautioned them.

"Heads up rebels, Saw is with the entourage. I've got a confirmed sighting." Theris reported over comms.

"Rash must a' doubled tha guard ta compensate, 'e's got magna's an' a supah tactical droid wit' 'im." Corsair added. "Gonna hafta be double tha bodies taday, kiddos."

"Copy that." Steela quietly affirmed. She looked to Lux and said with a whisper, "Here we go."

"It's risky, but we can do it." He said, giving her a nod of readiness. They stood still for a moment, sharing affirming gazes before their comms crackled again.

"Guys, we've got a problem." Dynnal suddenly told them.

"Shor', what's anothah Bantha ta this growin' pile?" Corsair grumbled.

"What is it, Dynnal?" Ahsoka asked. His words caused everyone listening in to freeze as stark fear shot through them.

"I've got a confirmed super-soldier sighting as part of Rash's entourage." The comms went quiet for a moment as Steela wrapped her head around the development.

"Can you confirm who it is?" She finally asked. After a moment, Dynnal had an answer.

"Banshee, it's definitely Banshee." Steela quickly recounted Corsair's data; ruthless, sonic emitter, lightsaber gauntlet. All of it coming together to form a single piece of bad news.

"What do we do now?" She wondered to Ahsoka. Stepping into her advisory role, the Togruta's response was quick and precise.

"Stick to the plan. Get Dendup and Saw and get out. Remember Corsair's training, but try not engage her directly." She stated. "The Titans will cover you if things get hairy."

"Let's hope so." Steela muttered.

"Aw, have a lil' faith, Steela." Corsair remarked over the comm channel. Just then, Rash appeared within a doorway and strode down the palace steps. He was followed by Dendup and Saw, while being flanked by droids of all shapes and sizes. General Kalani and Banshee were in tow, the group a rather formidable sight in the daylight.

From above, Tandin observed the proceedings near the palace roof, his keen eyes roving across the masses, watching and waiting for signs of rebel activity.

Dendup was led to the crackling executioner's block before Rash paused things and made to speak. "As your king, I present to you Ramsis Dendup. Not as a former king, but as a criminal sponsoring acts against the people of Onderon!" He declared. "But fear not, good citizens. As your leader and protector, I will see that you are safe from such villainy. He has betrayed you!" As he spoke, Ahsoka made her way into the crowds, drawing closer to the action as her instincts led her onwards.

Danny, do you have a clear shot at the podium? She wondered telepathically.

Clear as day, babe. He responded. Got something specific in mind?

Not yet. Just wanting to make sure... She replied as Rash finished speaking.

"And today, he will pay for those treasonous deeds... with his life!" Ramsis was shoved down before the crackling wall of red electricity, Rash looming above him. "Your people will see you into the next world. May you find forgiveness there." He smugly remarked with a chuckle. Dropping a fruit into the electric field, it hung suspended for a moment before two magnaguards charged their electrostaves and jabbed them into the conduits on either side of the block, sending a powerful jolt of electricity through the field and severing the fruit in two.

Such was the fate that awaited both Dendup and Saw.

"Time to die." Rash said as another magnaguard shoved Dendup's head through the field, his neck in place to be severed. But the look on his face was one of defiance and determination, one the waiting rebels could sympathize with.

"Wait for my signal." Steela whispered into comms. Everyone got ready, fingering triggers, gripping grenades, priming blasters, each and every member of the rebellion armed and prepared to do their part. "Not yet..."

"Ready weapons!" Rash ordered, raising his hand high. The magnaguards charged their staffs and swung back, ready to deliver a killing blow. The twitch of Rash's hand was all Steela needed.

"Now!" She ordered.

From their vantage points, Dynnal and Theris gunned down the two magnaguards with single headshots as Steela pushed through the ground and shot the magnaguard holding Dendup in place with her sniper rifle. Lux threw off his cloak and tossed a pair of smoke grenades that began to fill the air, blinding the droids and confusing the hell out of Rash. The crowds cried out in fear and surprise as the rebels made their bold move.

"Come on! Go go go!" Lux cried, drawing his blaster as the droids blindly fired. He, Steela and other rebels rushed the podium, causing all manner of mayhem and chaos as they gunned down droids left and right. Saw took his opportunity to clobber the droids nearest him with both hands, quickly joining his sister as she and Lux scrapped the droids around him, the podium littered with blasted chassis. Steela helped Dendup to his feet.

"Follow me." She tasked, the king readily joining their escape as the rebels shoved past the bewildered Rash and hurried down the stairs. Within the crowd, Dono had an open path all ready for them.

"This way!" She called, waving them onwards. "Come on, let's g-hrk!" Dono suddenly froze as an expression of pain froze across her features, courtesy of the blade protruding through her forehead. The rebels came to a screeching halt at the foot of the stairs as blood ran down her face, her body sagging as the blade was tugged free. Dono's corpse collapsed in a heap as Reaper's stealth field generator powered down, revealing his hulking form to all. The crowd gasped and staggered back, some screamed at the sight of one so notorious and terrifying. His arm blade slid back into his gauntlet as B2 battle droids surrounded the band of rebels, their escape firmly cut off as Banshee arrived at the top of the stairs and triggered her lightsaber gauntlet.

"There will still be an execution today." Reaper rumbled. "More than five, by my count." Kalani arrived beside Banshee as Rash picked himself up.

"Surrender now or die." He ordered them.

"If we surrender, you'll just kill us later!" Saw retorted. From her vantage point, Ahsoka appeared like just another member of the crowd. She used this to her advantage, busy thinking, analyzing, planning. The Separatists were ready for them, there was no way for any of the rebels to escape, if poor Dono was any indicator.

Yet, despite her words to the rebels the previous night, a late-night chat with Dynnal and Corsair had prepared her for this moment.

Danny... it's time. She said through their bond, taking a breath as she realized she would be going against the Council's wishes and openly defying them... putting her feelings for this band of freedom fighters before her purpose. It was a huge risk.

Copy that, we'll be by your side in a flash. The voice of her lover was soothing and pushed her worries aside, knowing she would not be doing this alone. Then she heard his voice again over the comms. "Corsair, we're up." She advanced on the scene as Dendup admitted defeat.

"It's over. Do as they say." He urged Steela. Realizing they had no choice, the rebels lay down their arms and put up their hands, escorted back up to the podium as the crowd began to shout in condemnation... of of who?

"Calm yourselves, the threat is now over." Rash assured them. "See for yourselves as these traitors all endure the same punishment." The rebels were lined up and bound, Dendup positioned first as Saw and Steela were forced to go next.

"Good try, sis." Saw offered, smiling despite his bruised and bloody appearance. Steela said nothing, her heart heavy with despair and failure as the rebellion seemed to be approaching an abrupt and violent end.

But the crowds began to murmur, none of them actually applauding Rash's actions. And above, Tandin left his post with many thoughts on his mind... much like how Ahsoka was on the move through the crowd.

"Ready weapons!" Rash called as Kalani shoved Dendup's head through the field. "The snake will not strike again." The magnaguards charged up the staffs and drew back-

"Stop!" Tandin ordered, charging onto the scene with the Onderon Militia with him. Rash turned around, eyes wide as he registered the betrayal. "The only snake I see, sire, is you." He called out. Within the crowd, Ahsoka slowed her advance, tucking her lightsaber away.

Danny, hold that thought. She quickly communicated. Let's see how this plays out. Her boyfriend affirmed as the Miltia surrounded the droids and held them at spear point.

"Tandin... you traitor." Reaper growled. Banshee prepared to attack, but Reaper held his hand to hold her approach.

"I was. Not anymore." Tandin replied, glancing at Saw. The rebel grinned, pleased by Tandin's change of heart. The General quickly advanced and held the puppet king at spearpoint.

"Enough of this." Kalani intoned. "Reaper, Banshee, deal with the traitors." He ordered.

"Gladly!" Banshee snarled, turning her sonic emitter on the militia and forcing them to their knees with waves of crippling ultrasonics. Reaper promptly drew his machete and sliced off the speartips of the guards on him, before he promptly beheaded them in a single slice. The B2 droids charged up their arm cannons as Reaper drew his DC-15LE and blasted Tandin's spear out of his hand. Kalani moved ahead and grabbed Tandin in a steely mechanized hand, bruising his skin as he pulled him away from King Rash. Now the militia were on the backpeddle, the rebellion back in Separatist control.

"I should've known you'd pull a stunt like this, General Tandin." Rash remarked, dusting off his robes. "And I think I know just how to call upon to handle your fate." The King turned and beckoned Reaper forward. The super-soldier moved before Tandin, standing all and fearsome for all to see.

"And now, 'General'," he rumbled, "it's time to teach you a short, sharp lesson in what being a traitor earns you." The threat was by no means idle, yet Tandin faced his imminent demise boldly.

And then another blaster round ripped clean through the head of a magnaguard, carrying enough power to tear apart the other and even rip through a B2 in a single line. As three droids dropped to the ground, the rebels and Separatists turned to see Dynnal standing tall at the end of the podium, a smoking rifle in hand.

"Not a damn chance!" He called. "You robbed this planet of its voice... and we're gonna give it back!"

"You're either brave or foolish to stand alone against us." Rash replied. At that, Dynnal smirked.

"I am not alone." He answered.

From the crowd, Ahsoka sprung forward as her cloak fell away, revealing her Jedi attire as she brandished her green lightsaber. A thrust of her hand knocked all the droids off their feet, Kalani included. The crowds were astonished, as was King Rash as she landed on the podium and Dynnal stood by her side.

"Jedi?" He gaped.

"Jedi!" Banshee hissed, knowing they had their answer concerning Republic involvement. With the droids down, the rebels outnumbered the Separatists 2-1, numbers furthered as Corsair approached from the opposite side.

"Oi! Freakshows!" The Titan leader called out. "Ain't none a' those kids dyin' taday, courtesy a' tha Titan Conglomerate!" Banshee loosed a growl and turned on Corsair, the Titan promptly riddling her with fire from his Roba. Dynnal quickly picked off several super battle droids as he and Ahsoka advanced.

"All of you! Go!" She cried, urging the rebels to flee. "We'll be right behind you!" They did so, with the surviving Militia members in tow. Meline and Theris opened a path in the willing crowd as the rebels escorted King Dendup away from the podium, Ahsoka using another burst of Force power to send Reaper flying into Banshee and trapping them both long enough for her, Dynnal and Corsair to make their escape. Rash ordered the surviving droids after them, the B2's stepping down and searching for targets.

But the crowd made their own move, pushing against the droids and preventing the Separatists from pursuing. "Dendup is the true king!" Some shouted. "We want the Separatists gone!" Others bellowed. Together they formed a wall that was impossible for any droid to bypass... and left Rash with a worried look on his face as he backed away.

Pushing himself up, Reaper quickly swept over the crowd and spied the remaining rebels on their way out. As they disappeared into the crowds, Reaper managed to fix his optical scanners on Dynnal as the Titan glanced over his shoulder. His face was quickly categorized by his internal systems... and found a match that made him gasp.

"Wraith?!"


Back in the safe house, Dendup was helped to a seat amidst the murmuring rebels as they were joined by the defecting Royal Militia. Ramsis turned to Tandin as he entered, flanked by the Titans and Ahsoka.

"Why now?" He asked.

"It was time for a new approach, my lord." The General replied.

"Do I have your loyalty?" Dendup inquired.

"And that of the army." Tandin affirmed, his words exciting the rebels.

"You also have ours." Steela added. "With your rule, our numbers will grow." Dendup nodded.

"My thanks, child." He said. Turning to Lux as he sat beside him, Dendup rested a hand on his shoulder. "Your mother would be proud." He offered.

"Thank you, my lord." Lux graciously responded.

"We must first win the will of the people. That is the only way." Dendup determined as he rose and addressed the rebels. "The Separatists will assemble their forces and Count Dooku will want me dead more than ever."

"Then we'll have to teach them another lesson." Saw remarked, still as eager as ever despite his wounds. "Together!" The rebels whooped and cheered with his words, empowered to do whatever was necessary to take back their world.

But there was one who wasn't feeling nearly as celebratory.

Danny... could you come with me? Ahsoka asked, her voice low and meek as she quietly backed out of the room. With a nod, he followed and watched as Ahsoka withdrew a communicator from her belt. Thank you. I'd... rather not do this alone.

Any time, 'Soka. He replied sincerely, walking with her into a quiet room where they were all alone. She smiled a little, appreciative of his supportive, if not a little doting, actions. Setting down her communicator, she toggled the projection and swallowed nervously. His rifle on the floor, Dynnal touched her shoulder reassuringly as he sat beside her. Within a few minutes, the display began to flicker and take shape growing pixel by pixel until Anakin and Obi-Wan stood before her.

"Ahsoka. How did the rebels fare?" Obi-Wan greeted first.

"They were able to rescue Ramsis Dendup and secured the allegiance of General Tandin and the Royal Militia." Ahsoka informed him, stating the good news first.

"Sounds like a good development." Anakin mused with a smile. Ahsoka did not return it.

"But... something happened during the mission... the Separatists were ready for them..." Ahsoka slowly continued, building up to the part where she defied a direct order that would deliberately impact the future course of things. She swallowed nervously. "I've brought Dynnal on behalf of the Titans to give his report." Dynnal quickly nodded and smiled a little.

"Master Jedi, always a pleasure." He greeted.

"Hello again, Dynnal." Obi-Wan cordially responded. "I presume Corsair is busy celebrating?"

"He, uh, wanted me to get some experience is all." Dynnal replied with a nervous chuckle.

"I see. Perhaps you would like to tell us your side of this report Ahsoka wants to deliver." Obi-Wan used.

"Um... W-Well-" He slowly began.

"I had to intervene." Ahsoka blurted out. Anakin and Obi-an stood motionless and silent for a moment, but Ahsoka could sense the disappointment they both felt. "The Separatists were more than prepared, the entire group would've been slaughtered otherwise." She explained.

"Ahsoka, you know what we told you." Anakin chided.

"I know, Master... but how could I help them succeed if there was no rebellion to help succeed?" She implored.

"She's got a point there." Dynnal remarked. "But... there was good reason for her to intervene." He added.

"How so?" Anakin wondered, crossing his arms. Sharing a brief glance with Ahsoka, Dynnal continued.

"There were super-soldiers present, two of them." He revealed, startling the Jedi. "Their sole purpose is to put down the rebellion." Anakin and Obi-Wan offered quick looks of bewilderment as Dynnal offered one final comment. "Given their current position at the moment, Ahsoka had no choice but to intervene. Not even the Titans could've prevented their demises."

"Suffice to say, the Separatists definitely know we're backing the rebels now." Ahsoka sullenly said, desperately wishing for this conversation to come to an end.

"Then prepare yourselves. The real fight is about to begin." Obi-Wan grimly surmised. "Now that they're convinced the Republic is involved in these affairs, they will bring the hammer down."

"Will you be able to send some help?" She asked, hopeful.

"That's up to the Council, Ahsoka." Anakin replied. That was not a hopeful answer.

"But... B-But there's super-soldiers here! Surely they recognize that as a credible reason to send help." She pressed.

"This operation was never meant to be ours, Ahsoka." Obi-Wan answered.

"Ours or the Republics?" Ahsoka demanded, mildly fuming. "Back in the day, an army of Jedi would've come if someone needed help! And now the Council wants to... to... p-play politics?! When lives are at stake?!"

"Ahsoka!" Anakin snapped. "Mind your tone, young one. This situation is unfolding because of your choices, you can't pass the blame off to someone else." Cowed, Ahsoka sank back and slumped her shoulders.

"Easy for you to say." She muttered. Sharing another glance with Anakin, Obi-Wan continued as composed as ever.

"We will present this matter to the Council and advocate for assistance." He said. "But be prepared for a negative response." Ahsoka's gaze fell, sensing he meant that in more ways than one.

"I... I understand, Master." She relented, seeing it pointless to pursue the matter any further. Her report completed, the conversation ended moments later. Sitting quietly, Ahsoka felt the overwhelming weight of consequences settling on her shoulders. She'd done what she thought she needed to do... but now? Now it seemed like things were only gonna get worse... because of her.

"What've I done?" She bemoaned, voice soft and almost broken. Dynnal took her hand in his.

"You did what you thought was right." He whispered assuringly. "You put your purpose ahead of your feelings. You saved the rebels."

"Did I?" She wondered despairingly. "Because I feel like I just doomed them all." She said, disparaging her actions. With a sigh, she leaned against Dynnal, not for comfort but support, feeling more troubled than ever. "What're we gonna do, Danny?" She asked aloud.

"We'll find a way." He promised, shifting his position to pull her into a hug. "Our commander hasn't let us down and we'll follow her into the teeth of any storm." His vow was comforting, but not by much.

For Ahsoka knew it was a storm of her own doing they were about to face.


In the days that followed the rescue of Dendup and the defection of General Tandin's militia, the rebels moved to a new hideout in the foothills near the eastern mountains. Knowing they were now a branded and hunted band of freedom fighters, the rebels had no choice but to move their fight away from the civilians in Iziz and buy themselves some much needed distance from the primary Separatist forces.

Their new base of operations was quickly constructed, using tools and various materials wrought from the nearby forests, until a series of tiered and layered levels comprised a complex network for them to properly store, plan and live between missions and raids. With Dendup now in their midst, the rebels felt more encouraged than ever to push onwards towards a goal that was tanigbly within reach now. With public opinion turning against the droid army, it seemed like it was only a matter of time before they could claim total victory.

But that's not what one person believed.

Having seen her own armies on the cusp of victory, only to suddenly be turned around by a sudden force of will and power, Ahsoka knew that the super-soldiers aiding the occupying Separatists were a mere thought or order away from laying siege to the rebels. And, if just one could wipe out Clone armies, then two could easily annihilate a rebellion and leave no trace of their existence in their wake.

And they would only do so because she revealed her involvement... when she wasn't supposed to.

As the sun set one evening, the dark of night swiftly discolouring the sky above, Ahsoka sat alone as she cataloged the days events in a datapad that would eventually find its way into the hands of the Jedi Council. She could only imagine how they thought of her right now, likely with stern and condescending looks for doing something so unJedi-like. The mere image her mind conjured was enough to make her stop and sigh dejectedly.

"Credit fo' ya thoughts." The telltale accent of Corsair wondered as the Titan made his presence known. Ahsoka looked up and was briefly surprised to see Meline standing with him.

"Just... filing another report." She answered.

"Feelin' that discouraged are ya?" Corsair asked. Ahsoka blinked, saying nothing as she tried to put the pieces together in her head.

"Your emotions are... palpable, in the Force." Meline stated, suddenly answering her question.

"Oh." The Togruta quietly said. The parents of her boyfriend took seats on either side of her.

"Come on, luv, what's buggin' ya?" Corsair inquired. With a sigh, Ahsoka relented.

"When we saved King Dendup, I wasn't supposed to make an appearance. At all. The Jedi Council wanted this rebellion to seem entirely like a independent operation." She explained. "But now the Separatists know the Jedi are involved... thanks to me."

"So what? Let 'em." The Titan dismissed with a shrug.

"But they're gonna hit them even harder, Corsair." Ahsoka protested. "And when they hit hard, when super-soldiers hit hard, people die. Not all of these rebels will live to see a free Onderon... because of me." She added, gaze crestfallen.

"You cannot shoulder the blame for events you cannot control, Ahsoka." Meline stated as she put a hand on the Togruta's shoulder. "You acted to save the rebellion. Without your determination to help and act, there would no longer be a rebellion. None of us would be here right now." She encouraged.

"I... I guess you're right." Ahsoka slowly replied. "But.. the Council is still gonna be mad at me."

"Tell ya what; we'll say it was my idea." Corsair offered. "I said we needed a Plan B tha night befor' an' we cooked one up. That way, I take tha heat." Ahsoka mulled over his proposition for a moment, thinking it might actually work.

"I've already told my Master that I had to intervene... but I never did tell them how." She mused in agreement.

"There ya go." Corsair remarked with a grin, patting her on the back. "Feelin' bettah?" Ahsoka shrugged.

"Maybe a little, that might lessen the blow... I still can't shake the fact that maybe things would've gone okay without my being involved." She confessed.

"I think you've been an adviser for a little longer than you ought to be." Meline determined. "Go for a walk, take some time to clear your thoughts. Just feel the Force around you instead of trying to use it." She suggested. "We'll all still be here when you get back." Ahsoka looked up at the redhead, eyes wide at the prospect of a moment to herself.

"You sure?" She wondered.

"This ain't our first time holdin' down tha fort, 'Soka." Corsair stated, giving her a wink in his own way of saying 'go ahead'. Not one to argue with an idea as prime as that, Ahsoka got up and started walking. "By tha way, I sent Dynnal out ta get tha lay a' tha land, figah out tha terrain case tha Seppies come callin'." Corsair added. "If ya can find 'im, grab a progress rahport while yor at it." Ahsoka nodded and smiled slightly.

"Sure thing." She promised, venturing off into the wilds. Corsair and Meline watched her go, growing smaller and smaller until Ahsoka was lost to the terrain.

"I think she might be in heat." Meline suddenly stated.

"What?" Corsair spluttered, turning to his wife with a confused look.

"I could sense it, somewhat. It's light and barely present but there." She explained.

"An' I jus' told 'er ta find Dynnal all by 'isself." Corsair realized, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Bloody hell... now we ain't gonna see eithah of 'em fo' hours! Not 'til they're done snoggin' an' whatevah else a horny Togruta does." He grumbled.

"Calm down, Cory. I just think it might be hormones that's hitting her mood so hard, that's all." Meline assured him.

"Yeah? Well, wait 'til those 'ormones fog up 'er brain worse than bloody spice!" Her husband remarked. "It'll happen, mark my word!"


The rocky terrain of the foothills seemingly increased the further Ahsoka walked, the long turquoise grass growing shorter and shorter as she neared the mountain regions. It was a far cry from Onderon's jungles, being a lot more open and sparse in comparison to the thick, encroaching jungle flora. Yet it all passed by as she moved ahead with a singular purpose in mind. She'd used her bond with Dynnal to sense out his signature, the Force now leading her to him like a compass, guiding her across the terrain towards her lover. And thanks to her keen hereditary senses and Force-enhanced abilities, they enabled her to track him with ease, plotting a course that only she could truly 'see'.

Roughly twenty minutes later, after night had fallen and the brilliant stars were revealed, it led her to a small clearing where her trail abruptly stopped. Ahsoka still couldn't see him, but the Force told her he was here. She searched left and right for a moment, until a familiar voice suddenly drew her attention behind her.

"Fancy meeting you out here." Ahsoka whirled around with a breathless smile to find Dynnal perched atop a larger rock formation, out of her normal line of sight.

"Your parents thought I should go for a walk." She responded as he hopped down.

"And I get the feeling you wanted to take that walk with me." He mused with a grin, striding over to her.

"I'm getting that predictable, am I?" Ahsoka wondered with a giggle.

"Never for me, and I love you for that." Dynnal softly replied, and she smiled. His words were... sweet. But in the kind of way that was becoming predictable of him. He was always sweet, always helpful, always doting...

Offering her his hand, she accepted it as they began to walk. "How're you feeling?" He asked.

"Now that I think about it, maybe a little overwhelmed." Ahsoka admitted. "I went from being an adviser to feeling like a commander without meaning to."

"So used to taking responsibility for others?" Dynnal inquired.

"I've done it for so long... I guess it comes naturally to me." She answered in explanation. "I... feel like I'm the one to care for them, to be responsible for them, to... to make sure they're all okay." Her words were softly spoken, born of a deep-rooted sensation she couldn't quite place. Dynnal slowed their pace to a standstill and then guided her face to his.

"I think that comes from your desire to help others." He gently told her. "From your servant's heart." Ahsoka's gaze fell a little at the reminder of how driven she was to keep the rebellion growing that she defied a direct order to save them. Dynnal could sense her conflicting thoughts and softly cupped her face with both hands. "It's not curse. It's a gift." He promised. Ahsoka nodded slightly, then pressed forward and wrapped her arms around Dynnal, feeling the warmth of his body as he'd left his armor behind. She just wanted to wrap herself up in it, to feel completely and utterly surrounded by him, to block out the universe for a while and just be with a man who could make her feel okay. Sure, he might seem a little repetitive with his kind and helpful gestures, but Ahsoka felt like she could use a little of that right now.

"Did I make the right choice?" She asked in a quiet voice, her headtails pressed to his muscles.

"Did you go with what your heart told you?" He softly inquired, and she nodded. "Then I'd say you absolutely made the right choice." He replied. He always seemed to know what to say, Ahsoka realized. Always some sort of sappy promise aimed to make her feel better. Dynnal cradled her close, rubbing her back, reaching out with the Force to fill his beloved girlfriend with security and trust, letting her know that he deemed her wise and trustworthy, that he thought so highly of her and respected her decision-making skills... that he did not doubt her choices for a moment, even if she did. "I think you should take your mind off it for a time. Come back with a fresh outlook and you'll see you made the right choice." He suggested. Ahsoka nodded slowly, realizing his words echoed those of his parents.

"You're not the first person to say that." She admitted, remembering Meline's own advice to her not that long ago. Raising her head, she exhaled slowly, letting peace fill her mind as she simply basked in the presence of the Force, just like Meline had suggested. "It's... It's hard for me to know when to take a step back and... not take it so personally." Ahsoka said, rubbing her forearms as she remembered each and every time she had. "But... I-I'm getting better at it."

"That's amazing." Dynnal breathed, smiling. "I'm so proud of you, 'Soka." The Togruta smiled bashfully, yet his words were almost... expected somehow.

"But... e-everynow and then I could... use a distraction." She admitted, giving Dynnal a knowing glance that indicated right now was one of those times.

"You have my complete and undivided attention." He stated, arms open in invitation. He was always open, she realized. With a giggle, Ahsoka drew close to him.

"Distract me." She whispered with a smile, her voice suddenly low and somewhat sultry. Dynnal was all too ready to please, stooping down as Ahsoka reached up on her tiptoes and placed one hand in his hair and the other on the back of his neck, their lips meeting in the middle. The kiss was intimate and assuring, the kiss of a couple in love and supportive of one another. The hum that came from Ahsoka was really a stifled moan as she savoured the taste of her lover's lips. All manner of desires flourished within her, coming to the forefront now that she didn't need to keep them under wraps. Ever since she'd lain eyes on him, Ahsoka had no choice but to force them back down. He'd grown quite handsome during his endeavour to change his appearance and if she wasn't smitten with Dynnal before, she certainly was now.

Their lips parted and warm breath from the other ghosted along their skin.

"I love you." She breathily whispered, and she meant it.

"I love you too." Dynnal sincerely confessed. Sensing one another's desires through the Force, they sealed their lips together again and Ahsoka's muffled hum was much louder as Dynnal slipped his tongue into her mouth. Hers met his and their embrace turned passionate as Ahsoka pulled him in closer, deepening the kiss as her body slid against his. Things were getting hot and heated rather quickly, not that either them noticed as their minds slipped into a hormone-induced haze. When they finally did break apart, they were breathing a little harder, their faces flushed, and their pupils dilated by the passionate fog clouding their minds.

They stood like that for a moment longer, blue and green never once darting away from the other. Through the Force, their bond flared and grew, strengthened by their rekindled proximity. Ahsoka had longed to be this close to Dynnal again, alone and free from prying eyes or encumbering duties, and her lover felt similarly.

But there was still that nagging feeling that they were too close to the rebel base and that someone might spot them. With that in mind, the Togruta knew they should take this elsewhere... preferably further away. With that, she left his hold and slowly sauntered off. Looking back over her shoulder, she see Dynnal watching her and Ahsoka smiled coyly as she kept moving. "Where you off to?" He wondered. Ahsoka said nothing, still looking back and smiling at him. But her inviting eyes told him enough, telling him to 'come and see' as she kept moving and walking away from him. Ahsoka put a little sway in her hips to further entice him and grinned to herself when she felt her boyfriend's focus through the Force as well as a spike of arousal.

Dynnal followed her dutifully, like a pet on a leash obediently trailing behind its owner. He was very curious as to what Ahsoka had in mind, but the hypnotic sway of her hips gave him several clues to work with. She definitely knew what she wanted to do, but she was not clueing him in. It was then that he felt her presence in the Force, her signature touching his own as she reached out to him. She found his arousal and teased it some more, coaxing him to keep following if he was interested in more of the same. But after several minutes of this telepathic teasing, the hormonal rush was starting to overload his coherency. Why wait, when such a tantalizing treat was right in front of him?

He moved quickly, getting right behind her. They'd left their meeting place in the distance and were suitably alone. His arms encircled Ahsoka's waist and pulled her close. "What's the rush?" He huskily wondered. Ahsoka was about to respond when she suddenly felt his mouth between her montrals, teeth nibbling on her crest. The move made her gasp and her eyes rolled back, a moan escaping her lips and filling the air as he teased her. His hands rubbed her toned midriff through her tunic, not that Ahsoka noticed with all the little tingles running through her brain, like an electric current set off with each of his nibbling bites. She instinctively pressed her body against his, feeling his muscular chest through his shirt pressing against the heated skin of her back. That alone was addictive, a drug she definitely wanted more of. But... not yet.

In a moment of clarity between his nibbles, Ahsoka knew that getting them both worked up would make for even better results. And so, somewhat reluctantly, she freed herself from his hold, using the Force just a little bit to ensure he could not catch her again. Taken aback by the sudden move, Dynnal watched as Ahsoka strutted away from him, turning around and raising her arms above her head and sashaying her hips back and forth to ensure he could see all of her. Her breathing came heavier, the flush on her cheeks and the darkened tone of her lekku stripes obvious indicators of her arousal... and yet here she was being such a tease.

"You want this?" She wondered in a breathy voice. All Dynnal could do was nod. "Come on then." She urged with a mischievous smile, turning and breaking into a jog. Snapped out of his haze, Dynnal gave chase, matching her pace and trailing right behind his girlfriend. Clearly she had a plan in mind, and now he wanted to see what it was.

For Ahsoka, this was all part of her plan. If she and Dynnal were set to be alone like this for the evening, then she wanted to make the most of it. And part of that meant stringing him along until she was ready for more, teasing him just enough to give him a night to remember. She had decided to make for the mountains, and maybe find some isolated place where they could be alone in the grass. Just thinking about the two of them alone in such intimate conditions sent a buzz through her body, one she was most excited to indulge in.

Dynnal soon discovered his girlfriend's teasing was not just relegated to swaying hips. Using the distance between them, Ahsoka would mount a nearby rock in a handstand, causing him to slow and watch in wonderment as she worked through an acrobatic stretch that enabled her to twist and turn her body in many different directions, showing off every inch of her for his enjoyment. Her flexibility was impressive and Dynnal couldn't help but stare and marvel even as her show came to an end, giving him an upside down wink with her lekku hanging down around her. Vaulting to her feet, she was on the move moments later, leaving him breathless yet desperate for more.

And the longer she ran, the more determined he became to get what he wanted.

Using the Force to enhance his speed, he dashed across the field in a short burst, running virtually parallel to Ahsoka before he used a nearby rock to springboard through the air and slide across the ground, snatching Ahsoka into his arms before she even had a chance to react.

"Gotcha!" He said triumphantly, lifting her lithe body into the air. Ahsoka squealed with the sudden move, unable to run and unable to free herself from her boyfriend's strong arms.

"D-Danny!" She squeaked between giggles. Dynnal pulled her close and pressed his lips to her cheek, Ahsoka's feet still nowhere near the ground.

"You and all your prancing around." He growled, a mischievous tone in his voice. "Do you like being chased? Gets your blood going, doesn't it?" He wondered in a low voice.

"M-Mayb-AH!" Ahsoka's response was cut short as Dynnal trailed his tongue slowly along her lekku, sending the best shiver of pleasure she'd felt in a long time. "Ohhhhhh..." Her words were lost to a moan as his tongue trailed all the way up to the tip of her montral. The way Dynnal was suddenly taking control, playing the game by his rules instead of hers, becoming the dominant power in their little mating dance... Ahsoka realized she'd missed it. She'd missed the moments when Wraith was like this, the one to play along with her games until suddenly taking over. She missed having her man act like that, to be more of a force of nature trailblazing the path for them both than someone who rode the wind behind her. Finally he set her down, Ahsoka feeling the ground beneath her but not the desire to keep moving, not when his simple touch felt this good. She squirmed in his hold, working her body around to face him and feeling a hot blush cover her cheeks and swell within her headtails as she caught sight of his own expression that was dark with desire.

"It's like I'm stalking a huntress... seeking to claim her as my mate." Dynnal rumbled, reaching down and pressing a soft kiss to the tip of her montral. Ahsoka's sudden inhale was followed by a shuddering exhale as giddy pleasure rippled through her mind. She liked his comparison to Togruta mating rituals, and she made a mental note to take him to Shili one day. "My huntress." The way his voice reverberated through his chest gave Ahsoka goosebumps and the Togruta teen could not resist running her hands along his clothed, armorless body, feeling the ridges of his muscles beneath. She could remember each time she and Wraith had done this...

Oh how she wanted to get under that shirt.

"Kriff baby... you really want me, don't you?" She crooned.

"I always do." Dynnal responded in a low tone. "You're the only woman I ever want. No other can compare to you." Despite the heavy need in his voice, his words were sincere and genuine and Ahsoka nearly lost herself right then and there when Dynnal bent down and kissed her again. Her arms encircled his neck and she pulled him in deep, pressing her entire body against him until there wasn't an inch of space between them. The embrace left them breathing heavily, feeling the contours of each other's bodies in such close proximity, wanting more...

But Ahsoka ever so playfully wormed her way out of Dynnal's hold and sprung away. She still for a moment, hands on her hips as she rolled them from side to side, letting him take a good look at her. For added emphasis, she ran her hands up and along her sides, sighing pleasantly with the sensations. Swaying to the side, her hands toyed with the edge of her skit for moment before she hiked it up just enough so he could see the swelling curve of her bottom filling out her leggings.

"Come and get me." She teased with a smirk and wink, darting off across the grassy plains once more. Catching his breath, Dynnal breathed deeply.

"Damn babe." He muttered, quickly breaking his mind free from the fog and taking off after her again. He had no idea what had gotten into her... but he was really starting to like this mischievous side of his girlfriend.

Despite how worked up she was, Ahsoka was determined to play this out a little longer. They were still too exposed here and she could see a small wooded area not far off. She would lead him there, find a nice tranquil spot and put an end to her teasing, giving them both exactly what they wanted. But the sound of rushing water drew her attention to a rocky area abreast of the woods and she shifted her course, sensing Dynnal right behind her. The grass soon gave way to the dirt terrain common in the foothills and a rather amazing site just on the other side of some rocks, Ahsoka slowing her pace as she arrived first at the site of a small waterfall. Stemming from somewhere higher up the mountain, its runoff collected in a natural spring below it, forming an idyllic pool surrounded by all manner of colorful flora. To Ahsoka, it was the perfect place, just what she was looking for; quiet, pristine, serene...

Not to mention it would make more than enough noise to conceal their activities.

Footsteps across the rocks soon signalled the arrival of Dynnal, who paused beside her. "Now ain't that a pretty picture?" He mused with a whistle. Ahsoka said nothing and stepped down into the soft earth close to the spring. She stepped out of her boots and let her bare feet feel the ground and the Force within it, closing her eyes as she basked in the sensations. Togruta often went barefoot as they felt more connected with the land, especially on Shili. Ahsoka had only done so a handful of times, so used to wearing boots around Coruscant and on assignment. But each time she did, she felt a little more connected to her heritage and, to an extent, her ancestors. "Is this what you wanted me to see?" Dynnal wondered, his arms sliding around her waist.

"Just wanted to find someplace memorable." Ahsoka hummed, opening her bright blue eyes.

"You've got good taste, babe." Dynnal replied, his head dipping down to kiss her lekku. He did so repeatedly, until his tongue found the slope where her headtails met, teasing the sensitive trench much to her pleasure.

"S-Still eager, a-are you?" Ahsoka wondered between gasps, inwardly delighted.

"An eagerness that's partly your fault." Her boyfriend remarked, kissing and teasing to his hearts content. Despite her immense enjoyment of his treatment of her headtails, Ahsoka wanted something herself and turned around to face him, her hands sliding under his shirt and up his abs as he shifted his hold on her. Dynnal's hand absentmindedly roamed across the back of her lekku and Ahsoka hummed, closing her eyes briefly as a shudder of pleasure rolled down her spine. When she opened them again, she felt a little light-headed, Dynnal eliciting a sensation she had not felt in weeks.

"Ohhhh..." Her quiet moan filled the silent air as his hand brushed her rear lekku, petting it deliberately. A roll of her hips had Ahsoka grinding against her lover and her heavy exhale afterwards was one of a girl in heat. She closed her eyes and pressed her head to his chest, her lekku tingling delightfully as Dynnal continued to stroke her. "Oh Danny..." She moaned again, her hands fisting his shirt as another wave of pleasure rippled through her. She had completely lost sight of her Jedi upbringing, every rule and aspect of the Code simply gone from her mind, all in favor of being closer to him...

"Enough teasing baby," he whispered, kissing her montrals, "I want you." He growled. His low tone sent a shiver up and down her spine as Ahsoka ground needily against him. She too was done teasing, but slowed when he switched to her native tongue. "Let me Kuhk yeh," he whispered, kissing her neck and sending a shiver down her spine, "let me riba yeh," his hand gently stroked her lekku, causing her to shudder and moan, "let me ca'ar yeh." That last one was so dirty and naughty Ahsoka couldn't help but lose herself to her flaring passions with a whimper...


A good while later...

The trip back to the rebel camp was far less calm and tranquil as the trip out had been. Dynnal and Ahsoka ran as fast as they could (which was pretty fast given her Force-enhanced abilities and his genetically enhanced ones) knowing that Corsair would be expecting them to receive Dynnal's terrain and topography analysis. Hopefully they could both arrive relatively unnoticed and maybe even slip in a moment to freshen up before making an appearance. Otherwise, they looked pretty disheveled... both his hair and her montrals were fairly damp from their time spent near the waterfall and they really hadn't had much chance to dry off so their clothes were also somewhat damp and hastily donned. They needed to appear like they hadn't up to anything...

So, of course, when they reached the edge of the camp, Lux and Steela were there to greet them.

Sithspit! Ahsoka exclaimed through their bond. What're we gonna do?!

Stay calm, act casual. Dynnal quickly suggested. Our appearances are due to... an accident. Ahsoka had a bare few seconds to accept that before Lux and Steela jogged over to them.

"There you are!" The dark-skinned woman exclaimed. "Corsair was starting to wonder." So his father had put them on lookout... that meant he wasn't too happy.

"Heh, yeah, sorry! We, uh, we lost track of time." Ahsoka excused with a forced smile.

"Where've you two been by chance?" Lux innocently wondered.

"Uhm... walking!" Ahsoka quickly replied.

"And talking." Dynnal added.

"Yeah, that! We were just out for a walk, see-" Ahsoka continued.

"A perimeter recon, actually." Her boyfriend correct.

"R-Right! Right." A flustered Togruta quickly agreed. Despite the awkwardness of their responses, Lux and Steela seemed to believe them... until, that is, the Gerrera noticed something off about Dynnal's appearance.

"Why's your hair all wet?" She asked. Dynnal nervously ran a hand through his auburn locks.

"Uh, well...

"There was this... uh..." Ahsoka scrambled for something to say. Don't say waterfall, don't say waterfall! They'd know, they'd know! She mentally determined. "Uh, r-river!"

"Big river. Fun to walk beside." Dynnla quickly chipped in.

"Did you... fall in?" Lux wondered, giving them both a sideways glance.

"Yes." Dynnal promptly responded.

"No." Ahsoka said almost simultaneously. They suddenly realized their story no longer added up and then exclaimed, in unison,

"Kind of." Now it was Lux and Steela's turn to share a wierded-out look.

"Oooookay."

"Well, you see, a little teasing, a little jesting, a little... good-natured shove-" Dynnal elaborated.

"And before you know it, a water fight breaks out!" Ahsoka concluded, offering them both a toothy grin that was definitely forced.

"Is that why your head tendrils are shining?" Steela wondered.

"Yep!" Ahsoka affirmed, beaming as she did. "The ol' Titan here has pretty good aim." She remarked, giving Dynnal a playful elbow... and she meant it in more ways than one.

"What, you got my face wet, I got yours wet. Fair's fair." Dynnal retorted.

"Um... alright then." Lux said with a shrug, accepting their story.

"You sure you two are alright?" Steela queried, not quite convinced.

"Hey, you know us! We're good!" Dynnal nonchalantly responded, giving her a thumbs-up. "Just late is all."

"Heh, yeah..." an embarrassed Ahsoka concurred, rubbing the back of her headtails. "P-Pretty late."

"And on that note, we've gotta find Corsair. Excuse us." Dynnal told the opposite couple with a grin as he ushered himself and Ahsoka into the camp. Lux and Steela let them go, their gazes following the couple as the disappeared among the structures.

"Is it just me, or did they seem to be acting a little... awkward?" The senator wondered aloud.

"Yeah... and I think I might know why." Steela thoughtfully mused. Her woman's intuition had kicked and, despite their efforts, she'd seen clean through the lie the couple had just told.

"Really? Why?" Lux asked, still oblivious. Steela turned and offered him a smile.

"I'll tell you when you're older." She teased.


The next morning...

Within Ahsoka's spartan quarters, the Togruta took a moment to refresh herself as she got ready for the day. After a very relaxing and pleasurable night out, she felt a little more eager to get back to work. Her resolve was a little more determined now, both Corsair's and Meline's words having proven correct; after a night off with no responsibilities, she returned to the rebellion with a clear head and felt very confident in her prior decisions. Ahsoka was prepared to handle the task at hand.

Last night, King Dendup had prepared a message he wanted delivered to Iziz where all the citizens could hear it, the mission falling to Lux and Ahsoka to plant the necessary holotransmitters to ensure the message could be played in Separatist territory. After last night she very much would've preferred going with Dynnal, but seeing as they needed to keep a low profile after arousing too much suspicion on returning to the camp, she had no choice but to leave him here as she and Lux flew out on one of the rebellion's many tamed rupings.

With a ration bar consumed and a bottle of water partly-emptied, Ahsoka had just swallowed her morning-after pills and was collecting her robe when Steela poked her head in.

"Ahsoka? Got a moment?" She asked.

"Yeah, sure." The Togruta relented, waving her in. Even if it wasn't as quick, they could afford to wait a little longer. "What's up?" She wondered, taking a sip of water as Steela made sure no one was listening in. Then she took a step forward, crossed her arms and asked Ahsoka with a raised eyebrow,

"Just wanted to know... how long've you been kriffing merc boy for?" The question caused Ahsoka to promptly spit her water across the floor, whirling on the Gerrera with wide eyes.

"D- Whuh...!" She spluttered, stark fear shooting up her spine as panic engulfed her mind. "I-I don't... Wha-... Who said-?!" Her stammering was interrupted when Steela cut in with a chuckle.

"Relax. Your secret's safe with me." She promised, calming the Togruta down a little. "I kinda had an idea you had the hots for him but last night really solidified it for me." She added. Ahsoka offered a nervous laugh, setting her bottle down and rubbing her lekku in embarrassment. She felt like a child again, with her hand caught in the sweets jar. But as Steela continued, she could sense no ill-intent coming from her, only genuine emotions that were very friendly. "I'll be honest, though, I was kinda jealous that you got to him first. But... I just wanted to say I'm... impressed by you being so willing to follow the desires of your heart, what with being a Jedi and all." Steela told her, somewhat shocking Ahsoka. "That... takes doing. And if you're willing to do that, then I know Dynnal's in the right hands." Momentarily stunned by her words, Ahsoka swallowed the remainder of her fear as she realized Steela was an ally in favour of her relationship than against it.

"Oh... Heh, well... Th-Thank you, Steela." She replied, clearing her throat and finding her voice. "I'll be honest, I've... never really been open about this with anyone... ever." She added rather sheepishly.

"Kind of a big deal, right?" Steela wondered, knowing the Jedi had a 'no attachments' rule.

"Kinda, yeah." Ahsoka replied, as if that word could even cover the enormity of her 'sin' against the order. Then a thought struck her and the fear returned anew. "If... I-If you know, does Lux?" She fearfully asked.

"He's... a little dense when it comes to these things." Steela replied and Ahsoka breathed a sigh of relief.

"Reminds me of Carlac. No idea what he's doing yet powering ahead like nothing can stop him." She commented.

"When you're the one saving him the whole time." Steela agreed in response. "Yeah, I know. He's come a long way since then. Despite what Saw says, he's a good soldier. And he's probably the first senator to ever get down and dirty with his people." She explained.

"I believe that." Ahsoka affirmed with a slow nod. Then it was her turn to be coy and pressed the other girl. "So... you and Lux, huh?" She asked with a wiggle of her brow markings.

"Wha-erm... I-I don't know what you're talking about." Steela coyly responded, looking away. Ahsoka could sense her obvious feelings for Lux even now, just mentioning them.

"You and him are painfully obvious." The Togruta remarked. "The way he watches you and follows you around like a lost puppy. But... it's good that you're there for him. He needs someone to keep him grounded, someone to fill the space that his brain sometimes leaves." She added. "If you're following your heart when it comes to him, I say keep going. You both have a good thing going." Touched by Ahsoka's genuine words, Steela felt a little swell of purpose rise within her.

"Well... Thank you." She gently replied. "I think you're the one person to ever tell me that. And you're a Jedi!" The thought was enough to make Ahsoka giggle.

"I think I'm the only Jedi with this much relationship experience." She commented. Steela chuckled in agreement.

"Tell me this: when you 'got your face wet' the other night... was that because he's got 'pretty good aim'?" Steela wondered with a rather teasing look, using their words from last night. The Togruta understood just what she was insinuating and felt her face flush instantly.

"Goodness, no!" Ahsoka replied with a mortified laugh. "That's because we happened to be pretty close to a waterfall the other night." She explained.

"Ohhhh gotcha. How romantic." Steela remarked.

"It just kinda... panned out that way."

"So, be honest, what's he like?" The Gerrera sibling wondered, pressing forward like a fellow girlfriend eager to gossip. Ahsoka could sense the kinship building between them and decided to oblige her... but internally wrestled with her own view of the subject.

"Let's just say he's more than meets the eye..."


Later that morning...

As the people of Iziz milled about the market, under constant watch from battle droid patrols, none of them were expecting for a sudden communication to appear within their midst. A massive blue hologram flickered to life, revealing a render of the escaped Ramsis Dendup.

"My fellow subjects, I appear not as your king, but as a servant of Onderon." He began in greeting. "We are in the midst of a great struggle. The Confederacy has used the recent attacks as an opportunity to tighten their hold on Onderon. They have accused me of leading these so-called terrorists. It is a lie they have engineered to further restrict your independence and use deadly force against our people." His render told the gathered masses. "The truth is, I have never met them before now. I have come to know them as the true sons and daughters of Onderon. They are unwilling to surrender our freedom to those who conspire to take it from us. Our destiny is tied to them and this planet. We must all rise together to protect it!" His message came to an end and the hologram flickered before shutting down, the leaving ruping spiriting a successful Ahsoka and Lux away as the citizens turned their growing disgruntlement on the nearby battle droids.

From atop the palace, Reaper watched the message through his optic scanners, analyzing each chosen word by the deposed king for himself. The super-soldier had many thoughts in mind, but the one bothering him most was the recently-revealed identity of one of the Titan mercenaries. He figured his scanners were bugged, but given how he was connected to the larger Separatist database, there left very little margin for error.

And that meant he had a very troubling answer to a very serious question...

"Reaper, the droid's have returned. They have good news." Banshee announced, approaching him from behind. Reaper did not respond at first, causing his younger comrade to tilt her head in questioning. "Reaper?" She repeated his name.

"They know where the rebel base is?" The dark-clad super-soldier responded.

"Indeed. We must tell General Kalani." Banshee replied.

"Agreed. Now that we know the Jedi are involved, we must crush them in one-fell swoop." Reaper rumbled, turning and walking slowly towards the throne room. Banshee caught up with him.

"Something bothers you..." She keenly noted. Admiring her knack for speedily assessing body language, Reaper nodded.

"When we were attacked, during the execution, my scanners noted something... interesting about one of the Titans." He told her.

"What is it?" She pressed.

"I... do not know." He admitted. His inner struggle lay in confirming the report his recognition scanners made. If that Titan had anything at all to do with Wraith as to why his scanners would draw such a comparison... "It is the new one, the apparent recruit we have not noticed until now. However, I suspect we will clash with him again. When we encounter him, the one with the rifle, I want him captured and not killed." He told Banshee.

"Why?" She wondered, befuddled.

"Because there is some suspicious truth hiding about him. And I want to get to the bottom of it." Reaper answered.


Lux's ruping alighted on the roof of the rebels' makeshift command centre, which was really built out of hewn jungle wood planks and tied together with lashings. However, it served as a meeting place and a landing pad well enough, allowing him and Ahsoka to step down to where Saw, Steela and Corsair were waiting.

"The people are turning against the droids. There's rioting in the streets now!" He excitedly told them.

"That's a beautiful thing." Saw agreed, patting him on the shoulder.

"We need to keep the battle to the outskirts of the city." Steela cut in, joining them.

"She's right. Yor lil' movement can't ahfford civie deaths, not at this stage." Corsair agreed. "You'll hafta lure tha droids away from Iziz's walls."

"Less structures and people." Lux surmised.

"But less clankers. Their main force is in Iziz." Saw protested. "That's the point of this, isn't it? To get rid of the droids? We should join the fight down there and take it straight to King Rash!" He urged them all.

"Yor bullheadedness boy," Corsair tsked, "'s worryin' sometimes."

"We all want victory, but not at the cost of innocent lives." Steela chided her brother. "We fight door to door, no one is safe."

"This is war, Steela!" Saw protested.

"She's right." Dendup suddenly stated, drawing everyone's attention to the king as he arrived with Tandin and Dynnal.

"I agree." Ahsoka quickly chimed in. "The more you draw the droids from the city to the highlands, the safer the people will be." Saw growled in frustrated.

"Come on, Titan! Back me up here!" He asked, looking to Dynnal. The Titan shrugged.

"As a mercenary, I kill those who need killing and save those who need saving." He responded. "I say if your mission is to free the people of Onderon, to save them, then you better stick with the plan that won't get them in trouble."

"Wisely put." Tandin agreed. "But if the droids come here, then we must be ready to meet them. My men await your command, my lord." He told Dendup with a bow.

"I believe there's a new contender." Ramsis replied with a slight smile as his aging eyes turned towards Steela. "You will lead our forces, including the Royal Army." He told her. With eyes wide, Steela was speechless as Dendup proclaimed to all, "Steela is now the commanding general."

"A great choice." Ahsoka proffered, smiling at her friend.

"Someone's moving up in the world!" Dynnal applauded.

"Good on ya' girlie!" Corsair added as Tandin relented.

"You and your rebels renewed my faith in myself." Dendup told Steela, a hand on her shoulder. "Now, I'm putting my faith in you."

"Th-Thank you, Your Majesty." Steela humbly responded, rather astounded by Dendup's sudden promotion. As the king departed, Steela quickly accepted her new role and took charge. "Let's ride. Dynnal, you with me?" She wondered.

"If the ol' senator can handle Ahsoka, then it's two deadeyes for the price of one." He agreed, striding over as Steela turned to her own ruping mount. Lux made to say something but stopped as he realized Steela's focus was elsewhere. He made to join Ahsoka aboard his creature when Steela paused and looked back, recalling Ahsoka's word about how he 'followed her like a lost puppy'. A twinge at her heartstrings prompted her to leave Dynnal by her mount and stride over to Lux, whirling him around and planting a kiss right on his lips. The stunned senator stood still and silent with wide eyes and Steela offered him a smile.

"Just in case." She said. With that, she returned to her ruping where a grinning Dynnal waited. Holding up his hand, she accepted his high-five.

"Some of your rebels owe me thirty credits." He remarked, causing her to laugh. As Lux boarded his ruping, still somewhat dazed, Ahsoka shot him a smirk.

"Well, look at you." She remarked, playfully punching him in the shoulder. A bashful Lux urged his mount into the sky, grinning from ear to ear as he did.


As smoke from destroyed droid patrols wafted through the city air, a glowering Sanjay Rash observing the scenes from the palace roof. "We are losing the public." He grumbled to Kalani. "If they turn against us, I fear the outcome."

"Fear will bring them back." The tactical droid responded.

"We must eliminate Dendup, General Tandin, and the terrorists before the people commit to their efforts!" The king determined.

"General Tandin is weak." Kalani bluntly stated. "His army will not withstand the power of the Confederacy. Neither will the terrorists." As he finished speaking, a commando droid approached him with Reaper and Banshee in tow.

"General, our scouts have located the main rebel forces in the mountains to the east." It told him.

"They're located in the highlands, beyond the jungles. We have their exact coordinates." Reaper continued.

"With the rioting in the city, how can we spare the troops to attack the rebels in the mountains?" Rash angrily wondered.

"You forget about us, Your Highness." Banshee growled as she stepped forward. "Two of us make up for the Confederacy's entire army stationed on this planet." She boasted.

"Do not underestimate our means." Kalani stated in agreement. "If the rebel army falls, the citizens will lose their courage, and order will be restored." He told Rash. As he finished speaking, four droid gunships hovered into view behind him, the rumbling of their engines nearly deafening Rash as they floated close enough to receive their orders from Kalani. "Your target lies in the mountains to the east. The army will follow. Leave no survivors." He tasked them all.

"By your command." The leading gunship vocated in a monotone robotic voice.

"You two will go with them. Ensure there is a mess to be cleaned up." Kalani then ordered the super-soldiers.

"With pleasure." Banshee growled, springing from the floor onto the leading gunship, Reaper right behind her. Crouching together aboard the droid's hull, they held fast as the vehicles turned and bolted away from the palace, picking up speed as they soared low over the city... and the vast column filled with innumerable battle droids marching out of Iziz.


Later...

As the rebel forces gathered at the foot of the highlands, offering all of them a clear shot at the road out of the jungle, Steela's ruping alighted near their central observation post where Lux and Ahsoka were already stationed. She and Dynnal hit the ground and drew their sniper rifles.

"The droid army is almost here." She announced. "And it's a massive column."

"Tanks, troop carriers, the works." Dynnal continued. "They're throwing everything except the kitchen sink at us."

"Seems a little heavy-handed... but given these are the Separatists, I suppose we should've expected nothing less." Lux mused, his blaster charged and ready. Ahsoka stood passively by, deciding to help Steela coordinate the battle instead of becoming actively involved.

"Everyone, get ready." Steela told her allies, taking up a sniper's position as Dynnal mounted a rock by Ahsoka, priming his longblaster and taking aim downrange.

Down on the ground, Tandin led the rebel forces in their defence of the droid assault alongside Corsair, Meline and Theris, Saw and other rebels flying rupings around the scene as a form of air support. They were as ready as they could be as the first waves of B1 model droids and AAT tanks emerged from the jungle. "Saw, begin your attack." Steela ordered. Her brother took flight with his company of rupings and dove towards the incoming Separatist army, all of them priming detonators and EMP charges. Their explosive assault wreaked havoc among the droid lines as explosions ripped through the front lines, blowing droids to pieces as Tandin and his Militia cavalry charged the frontline droids on the backs of dalgo. Corsair led the defences with withering fire from his Roba, Meline and Theris using their blasters with keen precision to help fell as many droids as possible. Rebels on foot opened fire with blasters of all makes and models, even a heavy turret emplacement obliterated droids from afar with heavy-duty salvos, ripping apart those who would try to stop Tandin's mounted forces. The droids fired back, but the rebels had a distinct advantage over them.

From their perch, Dynnal and Steela opened fire on the droid forces with their own weapons, Steela scoring headshot after headshot as Dynnal's heavier rifle punched holes clean through AAT's, disabling their drivers and commanders so Saw's airborne volleys could blow them to pieces with ease. Behind them, Dynnal stood by and watched, seeing the battle progress well in favor of the rebels. Another assault from Saw destroyed one of the troop carriers and the rebels let out a shout of victory as smoke from the wreckage filled the air.

And then the air was filled with an ominous hum, the ruping fliers turning to see four droid gunships blasting in over the horizon and breaching the smoke to reveal their sinister forms. The lead vessel unleashed a volley of fourteen electroliger missiles, shredding two of Saw's fliers in an instant... perched on the head of one, was Banshee. The super-soldier launched herself down into the fight below, landing amongst the startled rebels with her lightsabers ignited and her sonic emitter fully charged. With a blood-curdling shriek, she unleashed the power of her ultrasonics, throwing the dalgos into disarray and driving rebels to their knees. They became easy pickings for the approaching droids, Banshee herself scoring several kills as her blades left hacked-up carcasses in her wake. The aided firepower of the gunships quickly turned the tide of the battle, another volley of missiles obliterating the turret emplacement.

"Where did they come from?!" Lux cried.

"Dooku must really want this rebellion dead!" Dynnal remarked as he took aim at the approaching missile platforms.

"Quick! Take down those gunships!" Ahsoka cried, the three gunners with her unloading a successive volley of rounds into the nearest craft... only to watch in dismay as powerful shields absorbed each bolt.

"They came prepared!" Dynnal realized as a gunship locked onto their position.

"Any ideas?" Steela wondered.

"Yeah. Run!" Ahsoka shouted, turning and bolting alongside the others as the gunship strafed their position with a missile barrage. They took flight on their rupings as the gunships gave chase, unleashing further torrents of electroliger missiles that made a general mess of things. The flying grew taut and tense, the gunships hounding the fleeing rebels as sizzling missiles grazed their mounts. Saw helplessly watched as the gunships obliterated two more of his fliers and set his sights on one gunship strafing their ground forces.

Meline and Banshee had come to blows, the younger and far stronger super-soldier a worthy match for the former Jedi, but Meline valiantly held her own as her orange lightsaber collided with Banshee's swinging blues over and over again. The super-soldier's attacks were But a powerful burst of dense ultrasonics had sent Meline flying back, Banshee advancing under a cover of missile fire as Saw's ruping was gunned down and the elder Gerrera was sent tumbling across the ground. Tandin quickly helped him onto his dalgo and rode hard back the the rebels' core defences with Theris and Meline close behind. A barrage of fire from Corsair's repeater merely ricocheted off the gunship's shields, but drew its attention away long enough for the forward rebels to escape the brewing carnage.

From a covered position, Ahsoka sat with her holocom activated as Dynnal fired off shots close by, the renders of Anakin and Obi-Wan before her.

"I take it the rebels have Dooku's full attention." The bearded Jedi dryly noted.

"It's a full-scale war!" Ahsoka exclaimed in response. "They need our help, please talk to the Council!" She begged them.

"Even Master Windu would be wary at this point." Obi-Wan calmly replied. "The Council will not engage or involve the Republic in an internal affair."

"Are we the Jedi or the Republic?!" Ahsoka shouted back as an explosion sent several dead rebels flying through the air. "We're supposed to be helping people! Not standing by with our thumbs up our-"

"That's enough, Ahsoka!" Anakin quickly interrupted. "Your feelings are clearly clouding your purpose."

"Easy for you to say, Master! You're back on Coruscant playing politics! Not here getting shot to pieces!" Ahsoka bit back. "The Separatists have a new gunship with a powerful ray shield, it's absolutely crushing the rebel forces!" She urgently explained.

"It's one of their Heavy Missile Platform models!" Dynnal added, shouting over the din of battle as he dropped down beside her to vent an overheated power cell. "And I think Haor Chall's made some improvements! Those shields don't seem like anything Baktoid Fleet Ordnance produces!"

"Nothing's getting past it! The rebels have no training or defence against this kind of thing!" Ahsoka continued, expressing the gravity of the situation.

"I am sorry, Ahsoka. They will have to find a way on their own." Obi-Wan merely told her, his calm collectedness infuriating the Togruta. "Do not stay there if their failure is certain." She couldn't believe what she was hearing and her expression revealed that.

"You... Y-You want me to just abandon them?!" Ahsoka cried in disbelief.

"Evacuate who you can and return to Coruscant immediately." Obi-Wan tasked her. "Do you understand?" For a moment, Ahsoka remained in shocked silence. Then her brown creased, a determination filling her eyes as she glared at her masters.

"I'm not gonna do anything of the sort, not until I'm sure the rebels will survive! I am a Jedi, and Jedi help people!" She retorted. "And if we don't survive, you'll have to find my body among their remains!" With that, she ended the call even as Obi-Wan and Anakin made to protest.

"Guess that showed them." Dynnal remarked. "What now?"

"I'm done being shoved to the sidelines." Ahsoka responded, stowing her communicator and drawing her lightsabers. "The Separatists already know I'm backing the rebels, so why not let them see a little more of me!" She decided.

"You move, I've got your six!" Dynnal promised, his rifle charged and ready as Ahsoka vaulted up to the fight line, using her lightsabers to deflect incoming blasterfire. Dynnal quickly began obliterating the droids closest to them, gunning down several commando droids with expertly timed shots at the apex of their jumps.


Left stunned by Ahsoka's defiant response, Anakin and Obi-Wan stood silently for a moment before the Knight began to speak,

"Despite her attitude, she's right. We need to help them."

"We will do what we can to relocate the survivors." Obi-Wan replied.

"Before they lose their planet!" Anakin firmly interjected.

"We can't." Obi-Wan stated with a sigh.

"What difference does it make now? The Separatists know we're involved!" Anakin implored.

"I... don't disagree with you, Anakin," Obi-Wan quietly told him, "but to send in Republic gunships defeats our purpose. We must stay true to our intentions, learn our lessons." Anakin rolled his eyes in response.

"Oh please. What's a lesson learned if it results in needless slaughter?" He retorted. Then, a thought came to him. "It doesn't have to look like we're the ones helping. What if another party was involved?"

"Another party?" Obi-Wan repeated with a raised eyebrow. "Who in the galaxy would have the necessary firepower to turn around a war like this?" He asked aloud.

"Someone with a private army." Anakin realized, quickly punching up a frequency into the communication table. Within moments, a render flickered to life... a render of Corsair.

"Whaddya want, Jedi?!" He demanded. "I'm a lil' busy tryin' ta keep some folks alive 'ere!"

"I know, Corsair. But there's something I need to ask of you." Anakin responded.

"Ya really think now's tha time ta throw yor weight ahround?" The Titan snorted. "Easy fo' you ta say, back on cozy ol' Coruscant! Ya cut an' ran befor' tha show stahted. Now if you'll 'scuse me, I gotta get back ta work... 'cause we Titans like ta finish tha job!" He remarked. Anakin felt the barb but pushed past it.

"There are super-soldiers on site, yes?" He asked.

"At least two a' 'em." Corsair affirmed.

"Then according to your Republic contract, it's your job to hunt and eliminate them." Anakin stated, offering Obi-Wan a sly grin as his plan was revealed. "Why don't you call in the rest of the Titans to give you a hand?"

"An' help some rebels while I'm at it?" Corsair wondered, completing Anakin's thought. The Jedi simply nodded. "Yor a bit slow on tha uptake, Skywalkah. I already did jus' that." The merc told the Jedi with a smirk.


Despite their best efforts, the rebels were slowly getting overwhelmed, their defensive lines caving in against the Separatist onslaught.

"Is the Republic going to help us?" Steela asked of Ahsoka as the Togruta's lightsabers whirled and twirled to send incoming bolts back at the droids.

"I am, they won't." Ahsoka simply stated, drowning the younger Gerrera's hopes.

"What's it going to take?" An exasperated Lux inquired.

"King Rash rules Onderon. Unless that changes, they refuse to do anything." Ahsoka replied.

"Can't? Or won't?" Steela derisively wondered.

"My thoughts exactly." The Togruta growled.

"I knew I should've put a bolt through his pompous skull when I had the chance." Dynnal remarked. Seeing a shift in the battlefield, Steela determined a new course of action.

"They're pulling back, cover them!" She ordered, the foursome quickly dropping down to a new height as waves of B1 and B2 droids advanced on the rebels under a withering barrage of blaster bolts.

"At this rate, the clankers aren't going to need reinforcements!" Saw remarked as he and Tandin arrived at a safe point behind rebel lines.

"Ya can say that again, boyo!" Corsair agreed. "Ain't nothin' short a' divine intahvention gonna put a stop ta those gunships."

"We have to regroup at the nest!" Tandin determined, his dalgo rearing as blasterfire from the gunships blitzed the ground around them. The core leaders quickly beat a hasty retreat back to the rebel headquarters... something that did not go unnoticed by Banshee. The super-soldier qeued her comms,

"The rebel leaders have taken flight." She reported. "Are you in position?"

"Nearly." Reaper responded. "Give them something to focus on while I complete my efforts." He ordered her. With a nod, Banshee sprang up a nearby rock formation, killing the rebel gunner at the top with her lightsabers before she hopped on a nearby gunship and gave it a simple order.

"Follow them."


Within a mountain cave, the leading members of the rebellion met with Dendup to discuss their next moves. The tactical situation had shifted drastically and now, instead of meeting the droids head-on, they were forced to prolong the engagement.

"The highlands may slow down the droids, but they won't stop the gunships." Saw stated.

"We have to move regardless." Steela decided. "In our current position, we'll all be slaughtered if we don't do something now." Lux turned to Ahsoka.

"You have to help us. Please." He implored her.

"I promise, I'll do all I can to protect you, but I can't fight this war for you." She replied. "I can help, but I won't lead."

"We wouldn't have made it this far without you, Ahsoka." Steela told the Togruta. "Your tips, your advice, it's gotten us pretty far along."

"And I'll do more if push comes to shove, Steela. You have my word." Ahsoka promised her friend.

"If you're going to make a plan, do it now. Your forces won't last long out there." Theris told the rebel leaders. Giving their situation some thought and calling on the training the Republic had given them, Steela came to a conclusion.

"We're not giving up yet," she told her brother and lover, "stagger our defences to the camp. Secure the approach. Stay in small teams." She described. "Make use of our training." Saw smiled.

"You really are the best leader among us." He complimented her. "Couldn't be more proud of you, my sister."

"I learned from the best, big brother." Steela replied, smiling too as she set a hand on his shoulder.

"Tha two a' ya keep that bond alive, it'll see ya through this nightmare." Corsair told them. "Considerin' tha Jedi ain't lendin' us any help." He mused, looking to Ahsoka. The Togruta scoffed.

"They told me to relocate the survivors and then head back to Coruscant." She revealed in a displeased tone.

"Unbelievable." Dynnal muttered. "Consider my enamour with them over, boss." He remarked to Corsair.

"Duly noted, boyo." The Titan leader replied with a nod. "Besides, yor 'bout ta get some bettah 'eroes anyway." The rebels looked to him as he started to leave.

"What do you mean, Corsair?" Steela asked. The mercenary looked to her with a grin.

"Theris, Meline, Dynnal an' me... we ain't tha only Titans." He told them all. As he made for the outdoors, the rumble of engines prompted them all to look outside, where a Theta-class T-2c shuttle made landfall just outside their base, wings collapsing upwards as it descended.

Ahsoka immediately recognized it as the Titans' mobile command unit Horizon's Edge.

Corsair walked out to greet the ship as the boarding ramp deployed, the rebels quickly behind him to welcome the Titans emerging from within. Stepping out first was Cager, equipped with a shoulder-fired rocket launcher. Behind him stood Arro, bearing similar equipment, and with him were Hater and Freak, his manpack launcher removed from the back of Speed's vehicle and now hoisted in his cybernetic arms. All of them wore the black armor of the Titans and were armed for the fight ahead.

"We've got the heavy stuff, the latest from Sienar. Just like you asked for, Boss." Cager told him.

"Good. We're gonna need it." Corsair affirmed, beckoning his son over. "Dynnal, give tha lads tha lowdown on what tha Seppies are packin'." He ordered. Using his wrist unit, Dynnal triggered a render of the gunship.

"They've brought in HMP model gunships with ray shields, equipped with antipersonnel turrets and packing fourteen missile pod launchers. Explosives should do the trick, there's four altogether." He told them.

"Sounds like an easy payday." Arro remarked, priming his weapon.

"Ya 'eard 'im, lads! Go lay some heat on 'em!" Corsair ordered with a sweep of his hand. The organics moved to obey, while Hater stated "Engaging gunshipbuster protocol." and two modular components fixed themselves to his shoulder, sprouting box-rocket pods moments later. Theris did not immediately follow them and stepped inside the shuttle to retrieve something first.

"Corsair... you called for reinforcements?" Lux wondered.

"Shor' did." The Titan replied, turning to him with crossed arms. "Unlike tha Jedi, I don't give a damn 'bout politics and we Titans like ta finish tha job." He told them all. "Plus, one a' ya's gotta stay alive ta pay us!"

"What he means is, he's grown very fond of you all and would hate to see any of you fall." Meline translated, Corsair rolling his eyes in response.

"Thank you, Corsair." Saw promptly said with much relief.

"Yes, thank you. Thank you so much." Steela eagerly added.

"Save yor gushin' fo' latah. Ya got a rebellion ta lead!" Corsair barked, urging them all into action. Ahsoka trailed a bit behind them, hanging back with Dynnal.

"Never took him for the sentimental type." She mused with a slight smile.

"Underneath that tough exterior, turns out my father's a big ol' softie." Dynnal replied. "Now, what's say we finish this fight?" He wondered, brandishing his rifle.

"It's a date." Ahsoka replied with a grin as she ignited her twin lightsabers.

The Titans quickly joined the ground fight, Cager lining up a gunship in the sights of his launcher before firing a single projectile that pierced the shields and sent billowing black smoke belching from the shattered underbelly. The gunship careened out of control and crashed into the ground, reduced to a twisted wreck of burning metal. The surprised but jubilant freedom fighters cheered on the destruction, turning to see more heavily-armed men arriving with Saw.

"Help has arrived, brothers and sisters!" He announced. "Thanks to the Titans."

"Oy! Tha's my line!" Corsair shouted over the din of his roba unleashing devastating ion rounds against the droid army. Freak quickly unleashed the four projectiles from his manpack and blew several holes in the droid ranks. "Gunships first, Freak! Ya can thin their ranks, latah!" Corsair ordered.

But even as the fight was turning back in favour of the rebels, all was not well behind the scenes.

An urgent communication to Steela caused her, Lux, Ahsoka, Dynnal and Meline to turn back from the fight, as a Separatist gunship was now attacking their hideout... and King Dendup!

A lone droid gunship strafed the underpowered defenders with its deadly antipersonnel cannons, blitzing them with a wave of unyielding fire as its shields absorbed every shot fired at it. Leaping down from her perch, Banshee landed on the upper platform and cornered a wounded rebel. She backed away, clutching the scorch mark in her side. "Steela, hurry! Steela, come in!" She frantically cried into her comms. A single shot from Banshee's battle pistol scorched her shoulder, ending her attempted communication.

"Where is the usurper you call king?!" She demanded.

"I'll never tell you!" The rebel responded with a fire in her eyes. Banshee merely ran her through on her lightsabers and turned to the gunship.

"Find Dendup!" She ordered and the craft moved to obey as Banshee hopped over the edge of the platform. Spotting fleeing rebels into the mountain cave, the gunship unleashed a volley of electroliger missiles that detonated against the mountain walls, filling the interior with dust and blinding the concealed King Dendup.

The crew of rebels bolted onto the scene, Dynnal assessing the situation and forming a plan faster than the others could.

"Ahsoka! If I give you a boost, can you take out the gunship?" He asked.

"I'll try!" His girlfriend affirmed, drawing her lightsabers before hopping onto Dynnal and using him as a boost pad to propell herself towards the gunship.

"The rest of us take on that super-soldier!" He told the others, firing several hard-hitting bolts that immediately garnered Banshee's attention. Her crimson gaze locked with the rebels and she quickly identified the Titan Reaper wanted captured and left alive.

Well... he could live with a few pieces missing, she determined as she stalked towards her newfound prey. The King could wait, the rebel leaders would fall first.

Mounting the gunship, Ahsoka drove her lightsaber through its forward brain module, its twin red photoreceptors flickering to black as it careened out of control without a central nervous system to support its flight capabilities. With the Separatists distracted, Dendup's guards moved him into the open and away from the fight.

With Dynnal, Lux and Steela providing covering fire, Meline went toe-to-toe with Banshee once more, lightsaber blades humming and colliding with sizzling force as they dueled. Her armor riddled with scorch marks, the super-soldier seemingly took no notice of their attacks until Ahsoka arrived on the scene, her twin lightsabers slamming into Banshee's raised gauntlet.

"Give up!" Meline urged between gritted teeth. "Flee while you still can!"

"Does a boot flee before it crushes an ant?" Banshee retorted, laughing as she taunted the women. "I don't think so!" Her sensors picked up Dendup's movement and a silent transmission to the nearest droid patrol ordered them after the fleeing king. Executing a backflip into the air, a burst of ultrasonics drove Meline and Ahsoka to their knees, Banshee turning her weapon on the other three and bowling them over with a sustained blast. With the rebels downed, she turned and sprinted after Dendup, a trio of commando droids and B1 model battle droids also in hot pursuit. Despite the ringing in her ears, Meline managed to trigger her wrist comm.

"Cory! There's... a super-soldier... going after Dendup! We need you topside... ASAP!" She urgently told her husband. Struggling to her hands and knees, Dynnal was soon by her side but she waved him up. "The king... save him." His mother ordered. Dynnal nodded.

"You and Ahsoka get yourself up." He told her, gripping his longblaster. "Steela! Lux! We gotta save Dendup!" The couple nodded and quickly joined him in gunning down the pursuing droids, following the trail of bodies that used to be Dendup's royal guards.

The aging king found himself trapped on the edge of a cliff, his sole-surviving guard bravely fending off the droids and Banshee with his laser lance. But the agile commando droids merely somersaulted around, avoiding his shots with ease as Banshee's armor tanked them all. A quick swipe from her lightsabers severed the guard's lance and another beheaded him and Dendup's final defence. Stalking towards the fearful old man, BAnshee was armed and ready to do him in, charging up her Shriekburst emitter with a powerful shot that would send him flying off the cliff.

"Any last words?" She mockingly asked. Suddenly, a scattershot of rounds took out the droids standing with her, forcing Banshee's attention behind at the approaching trio of Steela, Lux and Dynnal.

"How about 'hand's off'!" Lux retorted, rapidly firing his blaster. "Over here, you monster!" With a growled, Banshee moved against them, but a hard shot from Dynnal snapped her head to the side as a visible chip was left behind in her helmet.

"Remember Corsair's training. I'll keep her busy." He told them both, firing another thunderous round that caused Banshee to step back as it chipped her chest armor. Steela and Lux shared a glance.

"I'll take the legs?" He offered. Steela smirked.

"I always knew you were a leg man." She teased, nodding for him to proceed. A chuckling Lux sprinted forward and quickly had Banshee's boots in a leg-lock. Startled by the sudden shift, the super-soldier was unprepared for Steela to surge ahead and swing the butt of her rifle around, bashing Banshee on the underside of her chin. The Gerrera woman then tackled her and, thanks to Lux's provided instability, forced Banshee to the ground where she lay flat on her back. Drawing a knife from her belt, Steela attempted to drive it into Banshee's neck as Corsair directed, but the super-soldier promptly grabbed her hand and forced it back with amazing strength.

"Do you think this will stop me?" She growled. Another heavy round pinged off her helmet, snapping it back.

"This might help a little." Dynnal remarked. "Steela, help Dendup. Lux, you and I are pinning this super-schutta." The Titan quickly took Steela's place above the downed Banshee and planted the barrel of his pistol directly under her chin. "One wrong move and you'll be seeing more red than those optics provide." He threatened. The rebel leader was quick to join Dendup and help him away from the cliff's edge.

"Are you alright, Your Majesty?" She asked.

"Thanks to you." He replied, steadying himself. Steela was about to nod when her gaze was drawn to an incoming gunship right behind them, the glow of missiles and antipersonnel cannons filled her view.

"Move! Get back!" She cried, moving Dendup away from the gunship as she prepared to use her body as a shield. But before the gunship could even strafe them, a sudden missile struck it from below and sent the craft careening forward, narrowly missing Steela and Dendup and coming to a violent stop upside down nearly on top of Dynnal and Lux had they not jumped out of the way.

But that was all Banshee needed to spring to her feet.

Whirling around, she turned to see Theris descending with some help from her jetpack. The Titan joined Steela with Dendup and the rebel moved the King into her arms. "Quick! Get Dendup out of here!" Steela urged, picking up her rifle and opening fire on Banshee.

"Hang on tight, Your Highness." Theris ordered, taking flight once again before the super-soldier could reach them. Banshee closed the gap in seconds, swinging her lightsaber blades hard and forcing Steela to backpeddle. She was nimble and quick, dodging each attempt Banshee made. But then her heel caught on a buried stone and caused her to stumble, Banshee seeing her misstep as a prime opportunity. Contorting her flailing body, Steela narrowly avoided the blade as it thrummed past her face... only to cut through the stock of her rifle as well as the hand holding it.

Letting out a scream of pain as her hand was severed, Steela hit the ground hard and grasped the remaining stub of her arm. She tried to back away, but Banshee was far too close and all too eager to kill. As she drew back her arm to score a killing blow, a gloved fist suddenly crashed into her helmet and spun her around as Dynnal arrived on the scene. A pair of steel knuckles had been slipped over his hands, giving them some extra bite against Banshee's armor. Lux was by Steela's side in an instant, cradling her and helping her up as he eyed her severed hand in dismay.

Banshee was a fierce fighter, but Dynnal's strength was far more than hers. Sure, he'd taken a few blows across the face which had split his lip, but in the end it was he who had Banshee on the ropes, her hands trapped in the strength of his own as he backed her up towards the cliff edge. Their hands grasping each other's, it was a continual struggle that he was slowly winning.

"You're done, Banshee." Dynnal promised with a glare as their competing clash pushed her back. "You're going home empty handed."

"I don't think so, merc!" She retorted with a growl. Behind him, she caught a glimpse of Meline and Ahsoka arriving on the scene... along with a flicker in one of the downed gunships' photoreceptors. One of its three antipersonnel cannons swivelled towards their clash and beneath her helmet, Banshee grinned. "This is the end of your rebellion! It's over... finished!" Taking a step forward, she powered her knee forward into his jaw, knocking Dynnal off balance just in time for the cannon to fire. A single bolt seared his back, striking the Titan armor hard and he cried out in sudden pain. A second bolt struck him in the arm and fire spread through his wounded nerves as his hold on Banshee faltered. He heard Ahsoka shout his name in alarm, only to then feel Banshee pulling him forward and throwing him off the cliff edge. Coming to his senses, he managed to pull a knife from his belt and slam it into the rock face, slowing his fall to a halt as he hung suspended over a hundred feet above the ground.

Above him, Banshee ignited her lightsabers and turned to see Ahsoka barreling towards her with an enraged look in her yellowed eyes. Meline had severed the turret barrel and finally put an end to the gunship as Ahsoka attacked, her blades crashing into Banshee's with fierce huffs and growls not unlike an animal. Suddenly grabbing the super-soldier with the Force, she hurled her towards the gunship, hearing a satisfying crack as Banshee slammed into the debris at speed. With a blink, her eyes were blue again and she whirled around to help Dynnal up.

"Are you okay?!" She asked, gripping him with the Force.

"I've had worse." He grunted, pulling his knife free from the rock as he levitated up to the edge of the cliff.

But their ordeal was not yet over.

Lux heard the first crack and snap of broken branches and out of the corner of his eye, he saw the nearby underbrush waver as a body disturbed it... yet no one was there. Then he heard footsteps crunching dirt under their tread, growing louder and louder as someone approached them unseen. It finally clicked in his mind: someone wanted to finish what Banshee started!

Shoving Steela away as he felt the breezed caused by a sudden movement, Lux let out a pained gasp as a blade passed clean through his torso and burst out his back, his blood splashing across the ground as he was impaled right where Steela had been standing. The maimed Gerrera turned around where she lay, only to discover the growing bloodstain on Lux's back to her horror. The blade wrenched free and Lux fell limp like a ragdoll.

"LUX!" She screamed. The air before her began to shimmer and take shape, forming the tall broad outline of an armored man that soon crystallized into the figure of Reaper, his arm blade slick with Lux's blood.

"A tragic move, Bonteri." He rumbled to the dying Lux, who clutched his wounded chest as blood spilled around his fingers. "Your efforts, while noble, will be in vain." He advanced on Steela, but the swing of Meline's humming lightsaber slammed into his back and forced his attention elsewhere.

"Get away from them!" She cried, her mother's instinct rearing as she battled for the sake of these kids. And they really were just kids, mere teenagers only. Much like with her son, Meline felt driven to fight tooth and nail for their protection. But Reaper's strength was strong and his armor tough, Meline's blows doing absolutely nothing to him. Barring her orange blade with one hand, his fist came crashing into her abdomen and sent her tumbling away with a cry of pain. From her position, Ahsoka realized they were in deep trouble. But she had only managed to pull Dynnal halfway onto the edge of the cliff, and he was hurt making the journey even more difficult.

"Go." He urged in a low voice. "Help my mother." With a nod, Ahsoka was on her feet and calling her lightsabers into her hands, charging Reaper and swinging her green and yellow blades around to collide with his armor. Tapping into the Force, Ahsoka became a blur of strikes and attacks, moving faster than Reaper could mentally account for as his heavy swings missed her by miles. Meline was soon back on her feet and helping Ahsoka, delivering a hard Force push that sent the super-soldier sliding back. Together, the two women worked in tandem to executed several tag-team strikes that left Reaper with singed and scarred armor. Ahsoka found it rather interesting that she was getting to work with a woman who, for all intents and purposes, was kinda her mother-in-law. But those feelings were small compared to the absolute driving need to put Reaper down for what he did to Lux.

He'd killed someone under her command... someone she was responsible for.

A sudden blast of ultrasonics halted her thoughts as pain rocked her sensitive headtails. Ahsoka stumbled, staggered, helpless as Reaper laid into Meline with a hard push kick that propelled her into Banshee, the lithe female super-soldier catching Meline with a roundhouse kick that smashed into her side and laid her out with a gasp, her lightsaber clattering from her hands. Back on her feet, Banshee joined Reaper as they made to kill the final rebel leaders, only for Ahsoka to gether her senses and use the Force to propell her towards the super-soldiers. She had no plan or strategy in mind, only a driving motivation to keep them away from Lux and Steela.

Unfortunately, they were far more ready than she'd anticipated.

Reaper drew his machete as Banshee parried Ahsoka's twin sabers, her gauntlet humming as she attacked Ahsoka in turn, the Togruta warding off her powerful and sweeping blows one by one. Then Reaper joined in and Ahsoka found herself under assault from four blades wielded by two very heavy-hitters. Forced on the retreat, her blades nimbly deflected each weapon as it came her way, the blades of the super-soldiers practically bouncing off her lightsabers from the hard blows. They were getting predictable and maybe she could find a weak point and gain the advantage again. The Force attuned her senses, offering her a deep perception no one else had. Finally sighting the moment both super-soldiers raised their weapons to strike, Ahsoka unleashed a blast of Force energy that sent both super-soldier's sliding back. Capitalizing on her sudden advantage, Ahsoka reached out with the Force, conjuring tendrils of telekinetic energy to wrap around them and trap both Reaper and Banshee in a crushing hold. Their armor bent and buckled, but super-soldiers struggling as Ahsoka focused her hold... unwittingly tapping into a little bit of darkness wrought from her joint anger and frustration.

But despite the strain on his body, Reaper managed to flick a blaster barrel into position on his gauntlet and, relying on his metal limbs to work beyond normal organic constraints, raised his arm and fired a single shot that struck Ahsoka in the shoulder. The Togruta cried out in pain as her concentration was broken, the super-soldiers dropping to the ground and pressing their advantage. Reaper got off a second shot that nailed Ahsoka in the same spot, worsening her injury. Banshee unleashed a burst of ultrasonics that deafened her and Reaper charged in as Ahsoka tried desperately to fend him off. But her efforts fell short, due to her discombobulated state, and Reaper plunged his machete forward, spearing clean through her already wounded shoulder. A shriek of pain escaped her lips as her blood spilt across the ground...

And Dynnal's gaze bolted up, eyes snapping towards her.

A sudden fury overtook him, something so powerful and momentous it could not've even been a cognitive choice. With Ahsoka's life on the line, all logical thoughts about minding his secret were thrown to the side as the urges of his heart took over... and his heart was telling him to go full super-soldier on these two. Consequences be damned!

The pain in his back faded away and adrenaline surged through his veins as he picked himself up and called his rifle to him with the Force. As Ahsoka fell to her knees before the super-soldiers, Dynnal unleashed six rounds in quick succession that chipped away at the armor of Reaper and Banshee, turning their attention towards him.

"You are foolish to challenge us alone." Reaper rumbled. Dynnal started moving, throwing his rifle to the ground as he called on the Force to flow through his body.

"I don't care about the risk," Dynnal seethed, pumping his fists, "I'll take you both on!" He rushed the allies of Wraith and attacked with a leaping lunge kick that plowed into Reaper with such powerful Force-guidance it sent the off-guard super-soldier sprawling. Down to two for a moment, Dynnal attacked Banshee one on one. Her lightsabers swung around with a sudden cry, but Dynnal ducked underneath them and hammered her helmet with a steel-knuckled, the first of several that slammed into her body with sudden speed and Force-backed power.

Reaper charged back in and managed to cut a slice across Dynnal's arm, snapping up and elbow that caught him on the chin. But the Titan recovered incredibly swiftly and suddenly grabbed his limb to throw Reaper over his shoulder, driving his palm into his gauntlet with enough force to shatter the components holding his arm blade. Planting a boot agaisnt his helmeted head, Dynnal kicked him away, turned and ducked to avoid Banshee's incoming lightsabers. He ducked again as she came back around, using his palm to parry her forearm before she could strike and launching a high-kick that connected with her jaw, sending her careening. With Banshee disoriented, Dynnal laid into her with heavy punches enhanced by his steel knuckles and the Force, leaving deep scuffs and even a few dents as he landed blow after blow and rained down even more across her armored body, snapping her head from side to side with heavy blows.

As Reaper got back to his feet, Dynnal was hounding him again, battling him and Banshee with fluid strikes, one move carrying into another as he held both super-soldiers at bay simultaneously. His allies on the ground could only watch in awe and wonder as he singlehandedly battled the two super-soldiers who had lain waste to entire Clone armies, pushed Jedi to their limit, struck fear into the galaxy... and to their amazement, Dynnal was winning against them.

A double-axehandle slammed into Reaper's head with enough force to stun him and let Dynnal followed up with a heavy uppercut that sent slivers of chipped armor flying in every direction. Turning on Banshee, he struck with one, two, three, four roundhouse kicks that sent her spinning, allowing him to turn and parry Reaper's incoming hammer blow to open him up for a Force push that sent him sprawling. Banshee suddenly pounced on him from behind, her boot colliding with his back before her own knuckled fist slammed into the back of his head and pitched him forward into the recovering Reaper, who surged ahead with a flying knee that crashed into Dynnal's chest with enough force some of the observers swore they heard ribs crack.

But even as a black-armored fist slammed into his face, sending blood spurting from more than one fresh wound, Dynnal used the Force to rebuff Reaper and then turn and drive his elbow into Banshee. It hurt, like hell, the Titan realizing with a grimace that his joints were unarmored. He quickly whipped around and drove a fist into the super-soldier's helmet, realizing he'd need more to keep this fight going.

"Meline! Saber!" He cried, shaking out his sore limb. His weakened mother grasped her weapon and sent it hurtling through the air with the Force, Dynnal snatching it to ignite the copper blade seconds later. He promptly turned and blocked Banshee's incoming twin blades, fending her off with a powerful shove and then a heavy slash that left a glowing scorch wound across her chest armor. Reaper attacked in synch with her retreat, forcing Dynnal to counter his incoming hammerfist as his orange blade sparked off Reaper's armored guantlets. The super-soldier's machete, still bearing the stains left by Ahsoka's blood, clashed with his saber as the two fought hard, Reaper hacking into Dynnal's defence with heavy-handed blows. Behind him, Banshee recovered and primed her sonic emitter. By now, she was through following Reaper's orders to let this Titan live. He was in their way and she would happily do him in!

Reaper, on the other hand, was learning. Every single blow dealt to Dynnal, every retaliatory strike, block, parry and clash was building his knowledge database. He was learning more and more about this Titan, understanding that he was a Force sensitive with powerful martial arts skills and possessed a significant amount of training and capability that was not immediately present at first glance. His optics logged every second of their fight, right up to the moment Dynnal used the Force to send him sliding back only for Banshee to vault off his shoulder and blast Dynnal with a wave of ultrasonics. Seemingly crippled, Banshee drew back her saber gauntlet as she descended, closing in for an easy kill.

But at the last second, with his mind processing and calculating a million thoughts a second, Dynnal looked up with a fire in his eyes.

Calling on Wraith's experience, each one of Banshee's strengths and weaknesses came to mind, memories of training and sparring allowing him to quickly build a plan of action within the split second he recognized Banshee's path and direction.

As she thrust her twin blue blades forward, Dynnal batted them aside with his lightsaber. Pulling his arm back, he summoned the Force to surround his fist and unleashed the mightiest punch he could give with a mighty roar. His closed hand, guarded by a steely kuckle and cloaked in impenetrable Force energy, slammed into Banshee's helmet with such thunderous power her left optic flickered as spiderwebbing cracks spread across it.

Pitched back and left dazed, Banshee fumbled for an even footing as Dynnal tapped into the momentum of his blow to spin around and ready himself for another punch. His driving fist snapped out with channeled power backing its speed and strength, the blow connecting with Banshee's helmet again... this time with enough force to shatter her optic to pieces completely.

With a synthesized cry, Banshee was knocked flat on her back as shards of shattered red glass littered the ground around her. Her blades slid back into their hilts as a pale green gas hissed from around the confines of her helm, much to the shock of the watching rebels. Somewhat dazed, Banshee shook off the stun and sat up with a gasp, revealing to them all a grey eye surrounded by near-white flesh as the Umbaran realized the peril she was in. The gas was escaping... if not properly contained again, she had just twelve hours to live.

Reaper recognized the danger as well and hoisted her to her feet. "Get out of here!" He urgently ordered. Banshee made to protest, wishing to stay in the fight.

"But-"

"You're compromised! Go!" Her partner ordered, clearly expressing that this was not up for discussion. With a pained growl of frustration, Banshee turned and started running, leaving Reaper alone to finish the fight. He fixed Dynnal with his crimson optics, the Titan standing tall despite his scuffed clothes and wounded face.

"Not so 'super'." He remarked and Reaper loosed a throaty growl.

"Your crimes now number far in excess, Titan." He stated threateningly. "Consider me your judge, jury and executioner on behalf of the Separatist Alliance."

"Yeah? Well, something tells me you're a lotta bluster and not a lotta action." Dynnal replied, gripping his saber with both hands.

"We shall see if your cockiness persists once I beat you to a pulp for what you've done." Reaper retorted, advancing menacingly.

"Oh, there'll be a beating today," Dynnal agreed, "but it won't be me getting beaten up." Behind Reaper, sudden movement was enough to get him thinking and planning. Deactivating his saber, Dynnal shot Reaper a smirk before tossing his blade into the air behind the super-soldier. "Up high!" Recognizing his sudden moves, coupled with the sudden alert form his proximity sensors, Reaper whirled about as Corsair dropped down from above, an ignited lightsaber in his hands.

"Down low!" He hollared, driving the blade down as Reaper raised his forearm at the last second. It was his broken gauntlet and the sizzling blade sliced through exposed electronics and circuitry before pausing deep within his flesh, Reaper grunting in pain as his metal skeleton was forced to take the hit.

"Too slow!" Dynnal growled, suddenly springing ahead and slamming his fist into Reaper's helmet, snapping his head to the side. Father and son refused to let up against the bewildered super-soldier, Corsair hacking into Reaper's body armor as Dynnal hit his knee with a stomp that dropped him low. Dynnal's heavy fist collided with Reaper's chest, the Force-empowered blow sending a shockwave rippling through his entire body. Corsair's blade caught him across the visor, momentarily blinding him as Reaper lashed out with a swing of his machete, the blade cutting through Dynnal's thigh. With a mere grunt of pain, Dynnal kicked the blade side as Corsair landed his own knuckle-guarded punch right to the side of Reaper's helmet, tossing the saber hilt to Dynnal as he did. His son switched the blade back on and cut a deep, glowing groove clean through Reaper's shoulder armor as Corsair landed another hammering blow that splintered the front of the super-soldier's helm.

Beset from all angles, Reaper attempted to force the lightsaber out of Dynnal's hands, only for the Titan to send the blade spinning behind Reaper with the Force as Corsair landed an axe kick that slammed into the top of his helmet. The orange blade spinning and sparking against his armor, the blade was guided back into Corsair's hands as the Titan leader skewered Reaper's shoulder with a quick thrust. Loosing a growl of pain as his body attempted to compensate, Reaper felt invisible tendrils lashing out and clinging to his helmet, tearing away his optics and mouthguard to expose his face to them all. Pulling his blade out, Corsair wounded up and slashed Reaper across the face with a blow that left a deep wound behind, spinning the super-soldier over and onto his chest, where Steela could get a good look at the man who'd stabbed her lover. Even then, his synthflesh quickly repaired the damage dealt to him, renewing his face in record time and allowing the grieving rebel to memorize his every feature.

Dynnal levitated Reaper into the air with the Force, using his strength to send Reaper flying across the cliff with a roar and sent him hurtling through the air until he crashed clean through the final droid gunship, plummeting to the jungle floor in a torrent of smoke and burning debris as the final ship crashed and exploded to the joy of the victorious rebels. Left standing and breathing heavily, Dynnal wiped sweat from his brow as his father joined him.

"Y'alright boyo?" He quietly wondered, not needing to speak the unspoken about how Dynnal had blown his cover. His son nodded breathlessly, the adrenaline fading away as he struggled in the aftermath of not having moved so much and worked so tirelessly in a while.

"I'm sure I'll manage." He answered, and he meant it in more ways than one. As the wear of the battle died down, they both clued in to the reality facing them. Together they turned and joined Steela over Lux's body, the senator gasping and clutching his wounded chest as a tear-stained Steela looked up at them.

"I don't think he's gonna make it." She sniffled. Corsair knelt as Meline and Ahsoka shuffled over, both of them clutching their wounds.

"'Ang in there, kid." He whispered. "Yor gonna see yor people free." Lux coughed, blood bubbling up and flooding his clothes.

"Promise me... you'll help her..." he asked in a pained voice.

"Well see 'er through ta tha end." Corsair affirmed. Lux offered the barest of nods before he turned back to Steela, his newfound lover taking his hand in the only one she still had. They said nothing, but their fixed gazes spoke volumes for each other. Lux forever held Steela with a fond look of admiration and affection, his eyes bright as he beheld the woman he'd fallen for.

And then his eyes turned glassy as his body went limp, hand slipping from hers as Lux Bonteri breathed his last... the freedom of Onderon coming at a very heavy price.


Later...

Banshee and Reaper, both looking far worse for wear, stood in Rash's palace with Kalani, delivering a final report before needing to evacuate back to Separatist space for immediate repairs. Given the destruction of the droid army, Rash was not in a good mood.

"Your gunships have failed." He hissed. "I need more reinforcements." Between the super-soldiers and the tactical droid was a holographic render of Count Dooku.

"Really...?" The Count mused thoughtfully. "General Kalani, what is your assessment of the situation?"

"They have managed to penetrate our shields and are using the cover of the highlands against our forces." The droid stated in a monotone voice. "The report of the super-soldiers suggests increasing ingenuity and tenacity, the presence of hired mercenaries aiding their cause enhancing their effectiveness tenfold."

"Is this so?" Dooku inquired of the wounded twosome.

"The Titans... they have a new member." Reaper informed his superior. "One I've not seen before... but I'm confident there is something unique about him. If I may, my lord, we must discuss him as soon as possible."

"He is of such importance?" Dooku queried with a raised brow.

"Without question." Reaper answered. "With his aid, defeating the rebel terrorists would take time... likely a long time."

"A prolonged war does not interest me." Dooku stated, much to Rash's dismay. The Count's gaze turned to Kalani. "Their rebellion grows with every small victory, turning this minor engagement into something far more wasteful. Salvage the remaining arms and withdraw the army. Bring them to Agamar." He ordered, Sanjay rising from his throne in shock.

"What about-"

"Soldiers." Dooku's words cut through the air and left an uneasy feeling in the pit of the King's stomach. "See to it this... loose end is tied up nicely." Reaper turned to Banshee and nodded, his female partner striding up the throne steps towards the wary Rash as she ignited her lightsabers.

"I haven't killed nearly enough today." She growled, her visible eye narrowing into a frown as she thrust her blades deep into Rash's body, thrusting her arm upwards seconds later to cleave him nearly in two. The halves of Rash's body fell limply back against the throne, a visceral display for all to see.


Days later...

The entire population of Iziz gathered before the steps of the palace, the newly reinstated King Dendup standing with Tandin and his royal guard as the surviving rebels and Titans gathered before him. Ascending the steps, Steela and Saw led the way, his sister now sporting a prosthetic limb in place of her lost hand. Ahsoka followed, her shoulder bandaged with white cloth weaving around her upper body. Dynnal followed, sporting a few bandages of his own as he recovered from his fight with the super-soldiers. Behind them followed Meline, Theris and Corsair, all of them rising as representatives of the forces that had come together to free Onderon.

But today was not for celebration... today was a somber day.

Before Dendup, a single bed beheld a body covered in a white sheet. The saddened rebels and their associates beheld the remains of Lux Bonteri as the stood before the king. None of them were joyous and Steela wiped away tears with her fleshly hand as Saw comforted her. One by one they paid their respects before the crowd, Dendup offering his condolences to those Lux called friends... and the one who was closer to him than the rest.

Ahsoka's gaze was downcast, another vivid memory of someone who had once been a living, breathing being with hopes and dreams and a life to live now reduced to a mere name laying before her. Forgoing their secrecy, Dynnal put an arm around her shoulders comfortingly, his thumb rubbing her copper flesh as he beheld the final resting place of the man Wraith had tried to end and he had tried to help. It seemed so circular in a wierd sense and unfair. He fought so hard to help keep these rebels alive and this was the end result? He balled his bandaged hand into a fist, ruefully wishing he'd sensed Reaper coming before it was too late.

But as he and Ahsoka shared a saddened look, Dynnal was brought back to the present. There was nothing he could do, nothing left for him to change. It was time to mourn the dead and move on.

As they left the viewing, Anakin and Obi-Wan watched the Togruta and her human friend leave with mused emotions. "This has been quite a journey for our Padawan." The bearded Jedi quietly mused.

"Lux's mission will remain." Anakin responded. "His spirit will live on as the lives he touched continue to work for a free Onderon."

"Yes. For all of us." Obi-Wan concurred. As they spoke, Ahsoka touched Steela's shoulder.

"I'm so sorry." She whispered.

"Me too." The Gerrera sibling said quietly. "The worst part is... he died saving me." She could muster no more words as her voice feel apart, sniffling as Saw held her close.

"He couldn't even live to see the end. We were so close." Saw continued, mourning the loss of a man he would now truly call his brother.

"'Is sacrahfice gave Onderon its freedom." Corsair told them all. "Now 's up ta you two ta make shor' it wasn't in vain." He said, his eyes on the Gerreras.

"We will." Saw vowed. "Lux's legacy will live on in a free Onderon." Steela nodded and wiped away a few stray tears.

"Free." She repeated, closing her eyes as she processed that happy fact. "Onderon is free." It was bittersweet, but a welcome victory for them all. Beside them, Dynnal and Ahsoka were engaged in a private conversation.

Free... but at what cost? He once said that many lives get caught between the Republic and the Separatists... and now he's one of those lives. Ahsoka said through their bond.

War's a terrible thing. The politics, the necessities, all of it. Dynnal gently responded. Some days it just boils down to the lesser of two evils. That stuck with Ahsoka.

Whether to... die fighting or die trying? She wondered.

Maybe something like that. He answered. These rebels... they had to learn that. Many of them saw it play out before them. It's a moment in the rebellion that will live in infamy... the moment Lux Bonteri was killed for the cause he and his mother believed in. He decided and Ahsoka nodded slowly in agreement.

And then, within the recesses of his mind, Dynnal heard a chuckle.

Dark, sinister, it sent a shudder through his body as he fearfully realized to whom it belonged.

So Lux is dead... Good. The Wraith growled.


Author's Note: And with that, we've finished Onderon and have taken a big stride into Season 5... and we all know what happens at the end of Season 5...

Until next posting!