"Trayvis a traitor?" Hera whispered in disbelief. It wasn't the fact that Kanan said the Inquisitor told him such a thing that probably surprised her but that Kanan was actually considering it. He emerged from his negotiation with the Inquisitor to find the others watching one of Senator Trayvis's transmissions. Kanan told them he came to a deal with the Second Sister and that they were going to smuggle her out of the city at nightfall. Zeb wasn't pleased and Kanan couldn't blame him but this wasn't a deal they could refuse. The Inquisitor's decrypter alone was beyond value, who knows what other knowledge she might have.
But after everyone agreed with the plan, Kanan contacted Hera who was back at the Ghost and filled her in on the situation. She was nervous about the plan but agreed with Kanan's decision. Then he revealed the Inquisitor's parting information or more likely taunt. That Senator Gall Trayvis was no traitor to the Empire. Kanan had to keep his voice down as he didn't want anyone else hearing about this. Who knows how they would react, especially Ezra who idolized the senator.
"She's lying. Probably trying to sow discord among the resistance just like any infiltrator would," Hera spoke over the com.
"That's what I thought…" admitted Kanan. "…until I started thinking back to when we tried to rescue Master Unduli. It was Traysis's transmission that led us right into that trap."
"He couldn't have known. The Empire probably allowed Trayvis to hack into their prison database, knowing he would broadcast it and bring people like us into their trap," protested Hera.
"Maybe but what do we even know about the man?" wondered Kanan.
"It sounds like you're trying to believe the Inquisitor," Hera pointed out.
"I don't know what I believe right now. I'm not saying I trust her but…I think we need to be more careful about whom we do trust. Especially if it's just some voice on the HoloNet," Kanan sighed.
"You'll get no argument from me but don't mention this to the others until later. If they hear this from the Inquisitor, it'll make things even more tense," said Hera.
"How could things get any more tense?" grumbled Kanan.
"You'll probably find out when you leave with her later tonight," Hera stated.
"Yeah not looking forward to that… I can't believe we're now helping Inquisitors. What is the galaxy coming to?" Kanan mumbled.
Hours passed before dawn finally came. A curfew was in effect so the streets should mostly be empty aside from the patrols consisting of Stormtroopers, walkers, and tanks. The city was under a complete lockdown and Hera couldn't bring the Ghost to pick them up for several reasons. One, they didn't know if Second Sister wouldn't turn on them and try to take the Ghost by force the second she stepped foot on it. Two, gunships were patrolling all over the skies and while the Ghost could handle one or two of them, it wouldn't stand a chance taking on the amount the Imperials had dispatched all over the city.
Sabine took the lead to scout ahead followed by Zeb who had the probably the worst job of helping the Second Sister keep up with everyone. The Inquisitor's arm was draped around his neck as she limped along beside him. The Lasat said he would have preferred to bungee jump into a Sarlacc Pit but the Imperial defector was in no condition to run which was something everyone needed to do in order to get out of this alive so she needed help. Following behind them and guarding the flank was Ezra and Kanan. Truthfully, Kanan wanted to be in the back to make sure he could keep an eye on Sister at all times.
Getting her to hand over her lightsaber almost came to violence but Zeb made it clear he wasn't going to help her along if she was armed. Sister eventually agreed to relinquish it but only if Ezra held it. Maybe she thought it would be easier to rip it out of his hands should she feel the need arises. Ezra was intrigued by the weapon, examining it as they moved along.
"How do you think this thing spins like it does? I mean the emitter is supposed to be inside the handle right?" Ezra asked.
"You can ask that murderer later. For now put that thing away and keep your eyes peeled," sighed Kanan.
Ezra clipped the lightsaber onto his belt. "Yeah well it's kinda hard to ask her things like that when you call her things like murderer," he pointed out.
"It's what she is Ezra. Just because the Empire wants her dead doesn't erase all the terrible things she's done," Kanan said.
"And how do you know what she's done?" Ezra asked.
"She's an Inquisitor who served the Empire. That's how," Kanan snapped, sounding a little too harsh. He understood that Ezra still had that optimism that comes with youth but sometimes he was a little too naïve.
"Look I get that you don't trust her Kanan but if we're even going to have half a chance of beating the Empire one day, we can't exactly be picky about who our allies are," argued Ezra.
"Incoming! Take cover!" Sabine shouted up ahead. Everyone quickly ducked inside of doorways as the alleyway they were sneaking through had minimal cover. An Imperial gunship passed overhead, its searchlights scanning the alleyway. Kanan and Ezra held their breathes, waiting for it to pass on but it just stayed there hovering above the street. Gun turrets twirled around on the underside as if searching for a target.
"You think it saw us?" Ezra whispered.
"Get ready to move," Kanan whispered back. The gunship stayed situated, unmoving. If that thing spotted them they were going to need to make a run for it. But to Kanan's relief, the machine ascended upwards and moved on.
"All clear," Sabine called out. Everyone emerged from hiding as they got back underway. "We need to move faster. Next time we may not be so lucky," Sabine told the others.
"Yeah well tell that to the dead weight here," grumbled Zeb.
"Call me that again and you'll be the one who's dead weight in every sense of the word," Sister warned, shoving Zeb's arm off her.
"Will you two cut it out and keep it down," Kanan snapped.
"Don't lecture me like I'm one of your children," Sister hissed.
Ezra quickly rushed in-between them all. "Can you all kill each other later and not while the city is looking for us," he said, trying to calm everyone down.
The ground slightly shook, silencing everyone. Kanan recognized the slight rumble from other encounters he's had. "Troop Transport…move," he urged everyone. The five fugitives rushed the opposite direction as an Imperial Troop Transport moved around a corner, nearly spotting them before they could find cover. While technically considered to be a carrier repulse craft due to its hovering mobility, truthfully it was a floating tank armed to the teeth. The transport's search lights shined back and forth, thankfully nowhere near the group as it passed by.
"Okay this is not going to work," Sabine stated.
"You're right. Even if one of us wasn't injured, we'd never make it out of here," Kanan agreed.
"Then what do you suggest?" asked Sister.
"We go underground," Ezra said.
Six moved through the alleys of the city, frustrated by the countless false clues he's already shifted through in the past hour. He was an expert tracker but even the greatest tracker in the universe would have difficulty tracking his quarry through this city. It didn't help that the local troops had disturbed the crash site and the battle scene where Second Sister had killed multiple soldiers. But in the end all it did was slow him down. He would find the traitor and have his trophy.
Overhead the Grand Inquisitor was watching him from an Imperial gunship. He waited patiently for his underling to find their target but Six knew that his master's patience would run out eventually. Also onboard was a group of troopers for backup but Six doubted they would be needed. The two Inquisitors would be able to handle the traitor and whatever Jedi she somehow convinced to aide her. Six was able to recognize Second Sister's tracks along with her small Jedi ally but finding their trail was difficult. But he did have one advantage. The subtle trail of a small repulse machine was left in the same alleyway where they escaped from.
Six came to the conclusion that Sister had been hidden inside of a hovercrate while the small Jedi pushed it. It was the only explanation why how the fugitive managed to escape unnoticed. So he followed the trail, albeit with difficulty. Lothal City's paved streets and alleys made finding tracks nearly impossible to the untrained eye and challenging even for one who was. But he would not give up. Six would find his prey no matter if he had to rip apart every building in this city.
"The sewers?" asked an incredulous Zeb. The four rebels and their Inquisitor ally found a manhole on Ezra's advice but none of them seemed very excited about the idea. For Zeb it was even worse. A Lasat had a better sense of smell then a human so he'll be the one who suffers the most from the smell. A protocol droid was guarding the entrance but a simple shot of Ezra's lightsaber blaster short-circuited the unit.
"They used to be flooded but after the Empire started rationing, they're pretty dry," Ezra explained as he headed over to a nearby terminal and started to slice through security.
"The water may be gone but the smell isn't," Zeb rubbed his nose, already able to sense the unpleasant odor below.
"The Empire won't be so careless to not guard the exits by the edge of the city or spaceport," Sister commented.
"Yeah but they won't guard every single manhole in the city," replied Ezra.
"Besides we don't have much choice with your injuries us slowing down," Sabine told the Inquisitor. Sister glared at her but didn't say a word of dissent.
Ezra must have succeeded as the manhole opened up. "See piece of cake," he smiled triumphantly.
His smile faded as the entire area around the manhole lite up with a spotlight. Everyone glanced up to see a gunship descending from the air, rotating its cannons towards them.
"Move!" Kanan shouted. Everyone quickly jumped down as two missiles fired from the gunship. The manhole exploded above them as bricks and rubble followed them down the hole.
"Agent Kallus. A gunship has spotted the fugitive and the rebels escaping into the sewers. Grid 37, Junction 9," reported an officer over the com.
"Secure every exit in that area and send in squads to flush them out," ordered Agent Kallus.
"That will take time," replied the officer.
Six had heard enough. He wasn't going to wait for backup or help that he didn't need. Second Sister was his kill and he wouldn't share it with anyone else. If the Jedi get in the way, he would kill them too. Then Lord Vader would reward him not only for ridding the galaxy of the traitor but two Jedi as well. Six rushed towards the nearest manhole cover and activated his lightsaber. He drove the crimson blade down into the metal and cut in a circular motion.
Beside him the Grand Inquisitor landed, having jumped from the gunship above. "I don't like to wait either," he stated.
Ezra groaned as he regained consciousness. He didn't know if anything was broken but he could move all his fingers, toes, arms, and legs so he considered himself lucky. Ezra was covered in dust and small rocks, thankfully nothing better landed on him. He glanced up to total darkness. The manhole must have been covered over in debris. Guess they won't be getting out that way, not that they actually would. That gunship was probably still out there.
"Everyone okay?" asked Kanan, activating his lightsaber to use as a lamp. Ezra did the same and Hera pulled out some flashlights, handing one to Zeb. Everyone was on their feet and unharmed except for one. Sister was lying on the ground, groaning as she failed every time to get to her feet. The fall must have exasperated her injuries even further.
"You alright?" asked Ezra, quickly checking over her injuries.
"Do I look alright?!" snapped Sister, clearly in pain.
"Hey stuff that!" Kanan shot back. "We're risking our lives trying to save you so a little appreciation is in order."
"You're only doing it for the information," scoffed Sister.
"Yeah and the cost of that probably isn't worth the mess we're in. So shut your mouth and let us save you before we consider you more trouble then you're worth," Kanan warned. The former Inquisitor finally relented, not speaking another word of protest. She was completely dependent upon the crew now and she knew it.
"Zeb you'll have to carry her," Kanan said.
"Wonderful. Now I'm a baby carriage," Zeb grumbled. Ezra couldn't see Sister's face with her helmet concealing it but he could tell she was furious. The Lasat, sharing her irritation, scooped her off the ground.
"Alright let's get moving. The Imperials will start flooding these tunnels with troopers so keep the light to a minimum and stay quiet," ordered Kanan.
The five fugitives made their way through the maze of metallic pipes. Ezra had the lead as he was the only one who had any experiences with the tunnels. The area they were in had lighting troubles, probably from years of neglect. But as they pressed forward, the tunnels started to get brighter with the wall lights providing enough illumination to shut off their flashlights and lightsabers.
Kanan activated his com, "Hera do you read me?"
He was answered with static. "We must be too deep underground. We're on our own," Kanan stated.
"Please tell me you actually have a plan on getting out of the city once we're back above ground," sighed Sister.
"We could steal some speeders or a troop transport," suggested Ezra.
"That's it? Just steal something and hope we don't get killed in the process?" groaned Sister.
"Stealing things is our specialty," Ezra replied.
"When we're not blowing them up," added Sabine.
"Or carrying Inquisitors who are heavier than they look," quipped Zeb.
"You people are insane," Sister grumbled.
"We've been called worse," chuckled Kanan.
Sister was growing more irritated from the others ganging up on her so she finally seemed to give up with her snarky comments. Ezra was starting to think they were going to have some peace and quiet until the Inquisitor glanced over her shoulder as if hearing something. "What is it?" asked Ezra.
"There's someone down here," whispered Sister.
"Who?" asked Kanan.
"Can't you sense him?" Sister asked.
Ezra stretched out with his senses and could feel another presence. He had already felt coldness emanating from Sister but now there was another feeling in the air slowly growing. There was another dark side user in the tunnels and he was getting closer.
"There's another Inquisitor down here," Ezra realized.
"Wonderful," muttered Sabine who drew her pistols. Ezra and Kanan drew their lightsabers but didn't activate them just yet.
"Great. Our old Pau'an friend is back," grumbled Zeb.
"Pau'an? You mean to tell me you've dealt with the Grand Inquisitor?" asked a disbelieving Sister.
"Grand Inquisitor?" asked Kanan.
"The leader of my former order. He answers only to the Moffs and Darth Vader. You must have really been a nuisance to the Empire to warrant his attention," Sister stated.
"Lucky us," grumbled Sabine.
"We need to get you out of here," Kanan told Sister then turned his attention to the others. "We'll split up. Ezra you lead Zeb out of here and get our Inquisitor friend to safety. Sabine and I will hold him off."
"No way. I'm staying too," protested Ezra.
"I'm with the kid on this one. We should stick together," agreed Zeb.
"Second Sister is too valuable to lose. That encryption device she gave us is almost priceless. Who knows what else she knows?" Kanan said.
"Nice to be appreciated," muttered Sister.
Kanan pulled out the Enigma device he had hooked on his belt and handed it over to Zeb. "Get this back to Hera," he ordered.
"Kanan you'll need my help against him," Ezra argued.
"Ezra you need to hurry. I can already feel him getting closer," Kanan stated. No one was really happy about the split but they didn't have much choice. If they all stayed together the odds were that someone was going to get killed and since Sister was the only one heavily injured, it would probably be her. They couldn't let that happen. This was bigger than just the group.
"Uhh not that I'm ungrateful for thinking I'm useful enough to help you fight an Inquisitor but what exactly do you expect me to do that the others couldn't?" asked an uncertain Sabine.
"Well I've tried fighting the Inquisitor with a lightsaber twice and that didn't end too well for me either time. Shooting him with a blaster hasn't worked either so I think it's time to try explosives," shrugged Kanan.
Six could feel the Sister's presence ahead. The hunt was nearly over and the kill would soon be upon them. He walked side by side with the Grand Inquisitor, together using their senses to track their target.
"We're getting close," Six said confidently.
"Yes but I sense something else. Something familiar," Grand Inquisitor stated. Curious as Six wasn't sensing anything other than his target.
They came to a two way junction. Six could already sense which way their target was escaping. He headed towards the one on the right. "This way my lord," he said.
"I sense the Jedi has separated from the traitor and have split up," the Pau'an said. "Go on ahead and deal with Second Sister and whatever rebels are aiding her. I will deal with the Jedi."
Six smiled. It seemed the kill would be his alone after all.
Ezra felt both a mix of anger and worry as he led Zeb and Sister through the tunnels. He should be with Kanan fighting that Jedi Hunter, not playing a guide. Sure he understood he needed to get an injured Sister to safety but why would he choose Sabine to help him? She was a warrior but wasn't prepared to fight someone like the Grand Inquisitor. At least Ezra had been training with Kanan in lightsaber combat, he understood the basics.
"Kanan will be fine kid. He knows what he's doing," Zeb tried to reassure him.
"Don't give him false hope," Sister muttered.
"Alright I've had it with you. Either you shut up or you can crawl out of here!" Zeb snapped.
Ezra turned a corner and realized he made a wrong turn as the tunnel led to a pipe hanging inside of a large vertical shaft. Must be the majority of the city's sewage flowed down. The shaft must have gone down for possibly miles though it was hard to tell as they could only see darkness.
"Uhh I think I made a wrong turn," Ezra commented.
"Good because if you actually wanted to take us here then I'd be concerned," Zeb quipped. The two turned around to head back.
"Stop!" Sister hissed.
"I thought I told you to shut up!" snapped Zeb.
Ezra was about to tell them both to be quiet when he realized he was feeling something. A coldness growing closer and closer. A figure rounded the corner. A large male figure in black armor and holding a circular lightsaber, the same kind as the Inquisitors. He stepped closer and into the light, revealing he was a Zygerrian. His shoulder pads had the imperial symbol on them just like the Grand Inquisitor and Second Sister.
"Six," Sister sighed.
"Hello sister," smiled the Zygerrian, igniting his lightsaber. It was another Inquisitor.
"Oh Karabas," gulped Zeb, sharing's Ezra's fear. The two backed up but they were running out of space with only the opening into the shaft closing in behind them.
"I missed you on Corulag," Six said to Sister.
"Not my fault you couldn't keep up. You always were a bit slow at everything," Sister mocked.
"And yet it seems that good things comes to those who wait," smiled Six. "Lord Vader will be most pleased when I not only bring your head but the heads of a rebel and a Jedi Padawan as well."
"Sorry but I like my head right where it is," Ezra said. He activated his lightsaber but knew they were at a severe disadvantage. Zeb was no Jedi and Ezra was still only a student. He had no delusions that he could take this guy on. Second Sister, the one person who possibly could, was far too injured to be any physical help. Ezra glanced back, keeping track of how much space they had left before the drop. Then he noticed something else. A metallic catwalk on the nearby walls, probably used by maintenance to get around.
"Zeb there's a catwalk in the shaft. Make a jump for it!" shouted Ezra. He fired stun bolts at Six who easily blocked everyone one but it slowed him down for a second. Long enough for the Lasat to leap out of the pipe and onto the catwalk with Sister. Ezra turned and jumped as well, feeling the heat of a lightsaber on his back. It must have just barely missed me before he leaped to safety. He was mid-air when he suddenly was tugged backwards by some unseen force. Now Ezra found himself floating in the air. He turned and saw one of Six's arms was raised with his eyes focusing. He was using the Force to float his enemy right back to him.
"Kid!" shouted Zeb. He set Sister down and pulled out his bo-rifle. He fired several shots but the Inquisitor easily deflected them all with his lightsaber.
"You want this boy back so badly? Go fetch!" laughed Six. He lowered his hand and Ezra suddenly dropped down into the abyss below.
"You realize this is a bad idea right?" Sabine asked as they set up their positions. They had multiple explosives lined along the walls and ceiling. Kanan doubted that the Inquisitor would be stupid enough to fall into a trap like this. But their options were very limited at the moment.
"Well I'm a little short of any good ones so we can't be picky," retorted Kanan. The two went silent as they could hear footsteps echoing down the tunnel. Sabine drew her blasters and Kanan activated his lightsaber.
"Twice we have fought before and twice I have beaten you," a familiar voice said. The Pau'an Inquisitor stepped around the corner, revealing himself. "And yet you still seek to face me again. You are either suicidal or stupid."
"Well my pilot might agree with you on the later," quipped Kanan, letting his enemy get closer.
The Pau'an glanced at Sabine. "Not the child I was expecting. Has your Padawan proven to be too poor of a student to be by your side now?"
"Who are you calling child?" growled Sabine.
"Clearly you must be a child if you think this little trap of yours would work," remarked the Inquisitor. He held up his hand and every planted explosive was ripped off the walls and ceilings and floated in the air. Kanan's hands shot up just in time as the Inquisitor sent them flying towards him and Sabine, using the Force to stop them.
"Sabine run!" Kanan shouted. The two turned and run but not before Sabine aimed a blaster at one of the explosives and fired. The explosion nearly knocked them both off their feet but they were now on the move and hopefully the Inquisitor caught some of that blast. Though knowing their luck, Kanan doubted it.
"I told you this was a bad idea," remarked Sabine.
"You're as annoying as that other Inquisitor," grumbled Kanan. He glanced behind them to see the Pau'an rushing through the smoke left behind by the explosion. He didn't seem to have a scratch on him and he was starting to catch up.
Up ahead was a drop into a small chamber with a large fan designed to ventilate the air up and outside through grates. It was also completely blocking the tunnel but for the moment it was deactivated. "Sabine now!" Kanan yelled.
Sabine tapped a button on her wrist com. On the structure of the fan was her remaining bombs which all lite up and started counting down. Kanan used the Force to press down the activation button on the fan. The blades slowly began to spin, slow enough for Kanan and Sabine to duck through without any problem but too fast for the Inquisitor to just run through. Kanan glanced behind him the Pau'an activating his lightsaber and hurled it as the fan to cut open a path. Unfortunately, he had no way to see the bombs which detonated. The giant fan collapsed, its blades coming to a halt and blocking any way to get through.
"See. It wasn't a completely bad plan," Kanan smiled at Sabine.
"Faking him out with the bombs in the tunnels when the bombs we really wanted to blow up was the one on the fan. Complicated but I'll add it to your playbook," quipped Sabine.
The fact that Inquisitor didn't just cut his way through meant he was probably knocked off his feet from the blast. But Kanan wasn't naïve enough to believe he would stay down long. His suspicions proved correct as a red blade tore through the debris and slowly began to cut a hole through it.
"Alright we slowed him down now let's get out of here," Kanan said.
Ezra screamed as he was falling down into the dark abyss beneath him. Then as suddenly as his life was flashing before his eyes, he came to a halt in mid-air. He thought that maybe Six had dropped him and was pulling him back up as a way to force Zeb to surrender. Ezra was levitated up to the catwalk and realized it hadn't been the Inquisitor hunting them who saved him but the one they were helping. Sister was slumped on the ground but had a hand up, focusing on bringing the Padawan safely to the catwalk. Ezra dripped the metallic guard rails the second he was close enough and climbed over them with a big sigh of relief.
"Thanks," Ezra told Sister.
"Kid I could use your help," gulped Zeb as the Zygerrian Inquisitor leaped from the pipe and onto the catwalk.
"Growing a conscious sister?" Six mocked as he activated his lightsaber. Zeb activated the staff setting on his bo-rifle. Ezra knew he was a great warrior being a member of the Lasat Honor Guard but he wouldn't stand a chance against an Inquisitor. He fired a stun blast at the Zygerrian, knowing none of his shots would actually do much but hopefully they would force the Inquisitor to block them rather than attack Zeb. Six felt back into a defensive stance, blocking the incoming shots as Zeb rushed at him. He tried a ruthless series of attacks to overwhelm his opponent while he was still busy blocking Ezra's shots.
Six deflected and parried everything thrown at him from Zeb or Ezra. Growing irritated, the Zygerrian held up his hand and Ezra found himself flying backwards. Then he was suddenly slowing down and realized the Sister had used the Force to slow him down. Even with her injuries, she was actually proving to be pretty useful. Six unleashed a relentless volley strikes and parries that were overwhelming the Lasat.
"Zeb!" Ezra yelled, about to join the fight with his lightsaber but was suddenly grabbed by the leg.
Sister managed to reach up and stop him. "You want to help your friend then trust me. The second I tell you, you unleash the Force on him," she told him. Ezra was conflicted. He wanted to help Zeb but knew he couldn't do much. Ezra just hoped the Sister wasn't planning on using this plan of her's until after Six killed Zeb.
The Zygerrian knocked Zeb's legs out from under him and stepped on the Lasat's right arm, pinning Zeb's weapon to the ground. "I've heard about you. A former Lasat Honor Guard. You'll make an excellent trophy," Six smiled with murder in his eyes.
Ezra glanced at Sister whose face was unreadable with her mask on. Six held up his lightsaber, ready for the killing blow. Zeb closed his eyes for the end.
"Now!" shouted Sister. Ezra and his Inquisitor ally then both unleashed a wave of Force telekinesis together. The Zygerrian was knocked right off his feet and over the safety railing, screaming as he dropped into the dark abyss below.
Zeb opened his eyes and was a little confused. "Ah what just happened?" he asked.
"We just saved your life," Ezra said proudly and with his chin held high.
"Six uses Juyo, the most aggressive lightsaber form. It's an excellent offensive style but it lacks defense, specifically in protection against Force based attacks. He always preferred to focus too much on enjoying his kills which left him vulnerable to the Force," Sister explained.
"And how do you know all this?" asked Zeb who got to his feet and put away his bo-rifle.
"I helped train him," answered Sister. Zeb's eyes widened along with Ezra but the two just shrugged it off. It wasn't like this knowledge was damning but rather important.
"C'mon we need to rendezvous with Kanan," Ezra urged them as Zeb picked Sister back up.
Six groaned as he slammed into the concrete wall. The pain was annoying but it was better than the alternative. He had been knocked off the catwalk by that traitor and that little Jedi brat. Six didn't consider them a threat at the moment and ended up paying the price. Fortunately, he had brought his grappling hook for this hunt and used it to attach a cable to the wall and stopped what would have been a fall to his death. But he was still alive, albeit incredibly angry. He activated his lightsaber and began cutting holes into the wall, using them to climb up. It was going to take a while to catch up to them but he would have his quarry.