Kanan was growing more nervous by the second. He hadn't seen any sign of Ezra, Zeb, or Sister in nearly half an hour and it was making nervous. It was easy to get lost down here with looking at the sequence numbers they put on the walls. They let you know which direction you are going and what mile marker you've reached. You could be down here for days if you didn't know what you were looking for. They were supposed to meet up near the markers near the Industrial Center of the city. It was probably heavily guarded but every manhole around the edge of the city would probably have guns ready to shoot anything that tries to escape. Better to escape above ground in an area they don't suspect and steal a vehicle to get out of the city.
"Are you sure this is the right way?" asked Sabine, growing just as anxious as Kanan.
"Yes it is," Ezra called out, his voice echoing through the tunnels.
"Ezra where are you?" called out Kanan.
"Could you shout any louder? I'm pretty sure the entire city heard you," grumbled Sister as Ezra rounded a corner followed by Zeb carrying the injured Inquisitor. Kanan had to admit he was happy to see all of them, even the Inquisitor.
"You three okay?" asked Kanan.
"Yeah. Even managed to take out an Inquisitor," Ezra said proudly.
"That Pau'an caught up to you? But me and Kanan managed to draw him away," stated Sabine.
"Wasn't him. It was a nasty Zygerrian who seemed to have an unhealthy obsession with heads," replied Zeb.
"Another one?" Kanan said. This day just keeps getting worse and worse.
"Don't worry. Me and Second Sister here managed to get rid of him," Ezra said.
Sister sighed, "Don't be so certain."
"We threw him down that pit. No way he's still alive," protested Ezra.
"You'd be amazed what an Inquisitor can survive. The only way to confirm one of my former comrades is truly dead is to severe their heads. Otherwise always assume they're still hunting you," Sister remarked.
"Just once could you say something cheerful?" grumbled Zeb.
"Alright Ezra you're the one who knows these tunnels. Where do we go next?" asked Kanan.
"Up," answered Ezra.
The group couldn't risk going through a manhole since they didn't know which ones were guarded. Fortunately Ezra knew a couple of air shafts that were smaller but led up to the surface. More importantly they probably wouldn't be guarded. Ezra went first after choosing a narrow shaft to climb up. There weren't any handle bars to use so you had to make do with what you could grip. Ezra just felt sorry for Zeb who was going to need to climb up with Sister on his back.
He climbed up to the top and used his lightsaber to cut through the metal vent guard. He used the Force to slowly and quietly move a cut portion of the metallic bars off to the side and poked his head out. The vent came out to a sidewalk on an empty street. Most of the inhabitants were probably indoors waiting for martial law to end and the local garrison of Stormtroopers couldn't cover every street in the city. Looks like things were actually starting to look up. Ezra motioned for the others to follow and then climbed out, taking cover around a nearby building to watch for anyone coming while everyone else followed him. Sabine was next then Zeb with Sister on his back followed by Kanan.
"Alright, we're in the industrial area. Now what?" asked Zeb.
"Well stealing a speeder is out of the question. The gunships and Tie Fighters would blast us before we could even make it outside of the city," said Sabine.
"Unless we take a gunship," stated Kanan.
"Easier said than done," replied Sister.
"We could lure one down," suggested Ezra.
"And how exactly do we do that?" inquired Zeb.
"The only way a gunship pilot will descend during a manhunt is to deploy troops, refuel, retrieve injured personal, or to take a prisoner into custody," Sister said.
"Well the first two are out of the question," Sabine said.
"The pilots might ignore an injured trooper but they won't risk losing their careers for not transporting a valuable prisoner," said Kanan.
"Then who plays the bait?" asked Ezra.
"If you think I'm going to let you use me as…" Sister warned.
"Relax. I have somebody better in mind," smiled Kanan.
"Why do I have to be the one who gets captured?" grumbled Ezra as he was led along by Kanan who was dressed as a Stormtrooper. They stole the uniform from a trooper that had lured away from his unit and hid the body. Zeb, Sabine, and Sister were in a nearby alley, waiting to see if the others succeeded.
"Because if this goes south, at least you can run unlike our Inquisitor friend. Besides the Imperials have a kill order for her. They're not supposed to capture her alive," remarked Kanan. Ezra groaned, his hands shackled behind his back. The shackles were loose and wouldn't hold him if he put some effort to break free but no one else would know that except unless they took a close inspection.
"This is never going to work," Ezra could hear Sister muttering loud enough to be heard from the alley.
"Shut up!" Zeb and Sabine both snapped at her.
Ezra and Kanan came to a halt in the middle of an intersection which was thankfully empty at the moment. The entire Lothal garrison was swarming the streets but the entire city was too much ground even for them to handle. Now they only had to wait for a gunship to patrol overhead. It's possible another patrol or an armored transport could arrive before that but Kanan said they'd deal with that if it comes.
Their gambit paid off as the first sign of Imperial activity was a gunship passing over the intersection. Kanan waved at it and then tapped the side of his helmet, signaling a broken com unit. The gunship came to a halt and slowly descended towards the surface. When it land on the intersection, the side blast door opened as three Stormtroopers filed out. One of them had a white paldron on his shoulder, indicating he was a sergeant.
"What's going on here?" demanded the sergeant. Kanan couldn't believe it but he recognized that voice. It was the same sergeant back in the spaceport.
"I managed to apprehend one of the rebels sir," Kanan replied. The sergeant glanced at Ezra who kept a defiant look.
"What happened to the rest of your unit?" the sergeant inquired. Kanan didn't like how suspicious he was acting.
"I got separated from them and stumbled onto him," answered Kanan.
"And why didn't you report in?"
"My com was damaged when the rebel resisted," Kanan said. The two regular troopers with the sergeant both started chuckling. It probably would be a little embarrassing to admit you had trouble subduing a kid.
"What's your name soldier?" asked the sergeant.
"Private Organa sir," Kanan said, picking the name he already used once on this guy in case he recognized the Jedi's voice.
"Funny. I checked the barrack's census after the spaceport and your name wasn't on it," the sergeant said. Instantly he and the two troopers raised their weapons.
"There must be a mistake sir. I just arrived yesterday. Maybe the system wasn't updated," Kanan protested.
"Hands up!" demanded the sergeant. Kanan raised his hands and made a whirling motion with his left trigger finger. Sabine and Zeb got his message because instantly a blaster bolt whizzed by his head and impacted one trooper's helmet dropping him followed by another energy bolt hit a second trooper in the chest. The sergeant gasped, caught off guard by the sudden attack. That allowed Kanan to rush forward and grab him by the arms, knocking the blaster out of his hands and slamming the sergeant's chin into his knee. The blow knocked the Stormtrooper to the ground unconscious.
"The ship!" shouted Ezra as the blast door for the gunship began to close. Kanan rushed towards it then suddenly found himself thrusted forward by some unseen force right through the air. Before the blast door could finish closing, the Jedi came crashing inside. The two pilots at the front seats were caught completely by surprise, allowing Kanan to recover quick enough to draw his blaster and shoot them both.
Kanan groaned as he got to his feet and headed towards the blast door, hitting a button on a nearby panel to open the gunship. Ezra and Sabine were waiting outside with Zeb catching up to them carrying Sister. Kanan glared at the approaching injured Inquisitor and said, "Did you throw me into the ship?"
"It worked didn't it?" shrugged Sister.
"She has a point," Ezra chimed.
"Next time give me a little warning. That hurt by the way," grumbled Kanan.
"You're welcome," snorted Sister. Everyone quickly got inside the gunship and closed it up. Kanan took up the driver's seat while Sabine handled the weapons console. Zeb set Sister into a seat and buckled her in then sat next to her. Ezra was enjoying himself examining the various equipment and looking for any possible souvenirs.
"Alright let's get out of here," said Kanan as he activated the engines and slowly ascended the craft into the sky.
Six cut his way through a manhole and sent a burst of telekinetic energy to break his way to the surface. The Zygerrian was livid after his failure to kill Second Sister and her two companions. The Padawan and the Lasat were no threat to Six. He could have easily killed the two of them and Sister was heavily injured. The three of them should have been easy kills and yet Six was somehow bested. He was going to make them all suffer for that.
"Agent Kallus. Have you found the fugitives?" Six spoke into his comlink.
"We are still in the process of locating them," Kallus replied. Useless commissioned officers. Six could barely tolerate working with most Imperial officers. If it wasn't their racism that annoyed him, it was how ineffective they were when dealing with unorthodox tactics. Do something they don't expect and they act like a pair of brain dead gizka.
"This is the Grand Inquisitor to all Imperial forces. The rebels have exited the sewers and are back on the streets. They are currently in the Industrial District," reported the Grand Inquisitor.
Six rushed over the nearest speeder he could find which had someone about get out of it. The Zygerrian force pushed the owner off it as he jumped inside and activated the engines. They wouldn't escape him this time.
"Alright nobody's following us. I think we're clear," Kanan said as he piloted the gunship near the border of the city.
Ezra, now seated opposite of Second Sister, said, "See I told you this plan would work."
"You know I used to think you the four of you were just a bunch of lucky hooligans being chased by the local Imperial regiment comprised mostly of buffoons," commented Sister.
"And now?" asked Ezra.
"Believe me luck still has a lot to do with why you are all still alive but I think skill has some part in it as well," admitted Sister.
"Kanan always said there's no such thing as luck. There's only the Force," Ezra smirked.
"Don't let that go to your head kid. The real reason you are all still alive is because the Empire considers you all a nuisance at best. If they really considered you a threat, you'd be dealing with people far worse than the Inquisitors or the local governor," Sister muttered.
"What kind of people?" asked Ezra.
Sister didn't get a chance to answer. "Heads up! We've got company," Sabine yelled from the cockpit.
"What is it?" asked Zeb.
"Multiple gunships on approach," answered Kanan.
"What did you do?" demanded Sister.
"Nothing. It's probably just a patrol," Kanan replied.
"Have they contacted you?" asked Zeb.
"No," answered Kanan. Everyone in the hold waited silently, holding their breaths.
Six glanced around the area, hovering above the Industrial District in his stolen speeder. He tried to reach and feel Sister through the Force but there were too many individuals to distinguish her. He would not let her get away again. Lord Vader could only tolerate this chase for so long. He punished absolute failure with death but failing to achieving an assignment on time wasn't. Still Vader's patience would go thin and he would assign a new Inquisitor to handle the hunt while Six would be sent back to Coruscant so that Lord Vader could show him the error of his ways. The Zygerrian shivered at the thought as did any Inquisitor of being punished by their master. He needed to find his prey and quickly.
A gunship caught Six's eye. It was heading directly out of the city despite the fact that the search grid was the Industrial District. If they were checking the outer area that was one thing but the ship kept moving further and further from the city. Then it dawned on him that his prey was far more resourceful then he gave them credit for.
"Agent Kallus. Have any gunships been ordered away from the Industrial District?" Six spoke into his com.
"Negative," replied the ISB agent. That confirmed the Inquisitor's suspicions.
"The intruders have stolen an Imperial gunship and are attempting to escape the city. Have a squadron of Tie Fighters follow my signal. I'm going after them," ordered Six. He turned his speeder and took off after the gunship at full speed.
"You can all breath again. They're not following us," Kanan reported. Everyone felt relief as things seemed to finally be working out for them. Sister was already thinking ahead on what her next move would be. What information would she give up and what would she keep to herself? How much should she give them and perhaps entice the rebels with more in case she needs something else from them?
"Well this had to be our most insane mission yet," commented Sabine.
"And yet we're still all in one piece," Ezra said proudly.
"Speak for yourself," Sister grumbled, her injuries still haven't been properly treated. The crew did what they could for her but she needed medical attention that couldn't just be patched up with a kolto pack. She'd get the treatments she needed once they escaped the Imperial dragnet.
"I still haven't heard a thank you from you yet," Zeb accused her.
"The Enigma device and what information I have will be your thanks," Sister replied.
"Hold on we've got incoming. It's a speeder. Heading right towards on a collision course," Kanan spoke up.
"It's him," Sister whispered.
"What was that?" asked Ezra.
"Shoot him down! Now!" shouted Sister.
"It's coming in too fast!" Sabine snapped.
A second later the whole ship shook from the impact. Everyone was tossed around in their seats but their restraints held them in place. Klaxons went off along with flashing red lights.
"Our right thruster's been damaged. I can barely keep her in the air," said a concerned Kanan. He pulled out his com and said, "Spector 2 we're going to need a pick up."
"I thought we didn't want that Inquisitor onboard the ship just yet," Hera replied.
"Change of plans. Our getaway vehicle is barely staying afloat. Follow our signal and get here as quick as you can. We've got a lot of incoming gunships and Ties," stated Kanan before ending the transmission.
"That's the least of our problems," said Sister.
"And what would that be?" demanded Zeb. He got his answer as a crimson energy blade cut through the ceiling.
"Kanan we've got company!" Ezra shouted.
Kanan turned and saw the lightsaber blade slicing a hole. "Take the wheel!" he shouted to Sabine.
A circular metallic plate dropped to the floor with the Zygerrian Inquisitor Six soon after. Sister thrusted out her hand and summoned her lightsaber that was clipped on Ezra's belt. Though Sister had no illusions that she wouldn't stand a chance in her current state. She hadn't even unbuckled herself as she would just fall on the floor.
"You don't give up do ya?" asked Ezra who drew his lightsaber and readied his energy blade. Sister had to give him credit, the kid had guts.
"Never," smiled Six, amused at the sight of a kid challenging him.
Zeb used the distraction to pull out his bo-rifle to try and shoot the Inquisitor but the Zygerrian shot his hand up and the Lasat rebel was thrusted up into the air and slammed his head right into the ceiling. He dropped to the floor unconscious.
Ezra charged at him but Six easily blocked his attack and backhanded him across the face, knocking the boy down. Kanan jumped into the fray, activating his own lightsaber and lunging towards their attacker. Finally the Zygerrian found himself up against an opponent he couldn't simply swat aside. Kanan fought well but his technique was unrefined. He fought with Form 3 Soresu, an excellent defensive style but poor on offense and it clearly showed on the rebel Jedi. While Six was having trouble trying to break through Kanan's defense, he was easily parrying Kanan's counter attacks.
Sister had to intervene or this fight would end badly for the Jedi. She activated her lightsaber and hurled it towards the Zygerrian. The twins blades spun through the air as Sister tried her best to control its path with the Force. But Kanan and Six were fighting so closely that she nearly took off both their heads before they ducked. It passed overhead of them and came to a halt lodged in the wall.
"Watch it!" Kanan shouted at her.
Sister was having trouble pulling her lightsaber back but that wasn't her only weapon. She noticed several loose blasters but Six was a master at blaster deflection. The only thing shooting him would accomplish would be getting your own blaster fire reflected back into your face. Instead of reaching for an obvious weapon, Sister threw her hands out and summoned multiple loose items into the air that had been knocked loose by the speeder collision. Six had Kanan on the defensive. The Jedi was constantly on the move but he was being worn down. He couldn't last much longer. The second Six's back was turned on her, Sister unleashed her barrage of debris at him. Containers, tools, and whatever was loose enough bombarded the Zygerrian.
It was more of a distraction than anything else but it allowed Kanan to start to get the upper hand. Then in a move that caught Six and Sister both by surprise, Kanan managed to kicked the hilt on Six's lightsaber. The blow injured the Zygerrian's fingers enough for him to drop his weapon. Kanan kicked the lightsaber on the ground away and was about to make the killing strike when Six thrusted his injured hands out and sent the Jedi flying across the interior of the ship with telekinetic blast. Kanan hit the back of his head hard on a wall and slumped to the floor motionless.
Six then turned his attention back to Sister and held out both hands, concentrating. Sister gasped as she felt her throat begin to constrict. She tried to resist it but she was already exhausted from her injuries and using the Force aide Kanan just seconds before. Before Sister passed out, she heard a loud roar. Zeb had regained consciousness and charged at the enemy Inquisitor. He tackled Six right off his feet and slammed him into ship's blast door. The Lasat hit the open button and a rush of wind blew inside, nearly knocking him off his feet. Zeb grabbed the Zygerrian and tried to throw his out.
Six regained his senses quickly enough to wrap his arms around one of Zeb's hands and then wrapped his legs around the Lasat's neck in a triangle choke. Zeb tried his best to pull the Inquisitor off him but he was quickly running out of air and strength. Sister focused on nearby crate and used the last ounce of strength she had of using the Force to launch right into Six's head. The impact knocked him senseless and allowed Zeb to pull himself free. The Lasat dropped to the floor gasping for air.
Six was the first to recover before anyone else, slowly getting to his feet. Then he was suddenly blasted by an energy pulse that knocked him to his knees. "No one hurts my friends. Stay dead this time," Ezra said, clenching his lightsaber-blaster hybrid. He fired again, this time the shot knocked Six off his feet and sent him flying through the open door.
The young Padawan rushed over the door controls and shut the blast door. "It's not decapitation but close enough," Ezra said, breathing a huge sigh of relief.
Sister had to give him credit. Actually she had to give them all credit. They just survived a fight to the death with one of the deadliest hunters in the Inquisitorious and came out on top. She was starting to think that luck had little to do with how long they've managed to survive. One by one Zeb and Kanan got to their feet, injured but alive.
"Everyone okay?" asked Kanan.
"I need a vacation," grumbled Zeb. He checked himself for injuries and pulled out a broken piece of machinery from his belt. "Ah Karabas!"
"What is it?" asked Ezra.
"It's the Enigma Decrypter," groaned Zeb. Or rather what was left of it.
"You broke it!" snapped Kanan.
"I didn't break it. Must have gotten damage during my fight with that Zygerrian lunatic," protested Zeb.
"Now who's the dead weight?" quipped Sister.
"Shut up!" Zeb shouted.
"We've got incoming!" Sabine yelled. A second later, the whole gunship rocked.
"How bad is it?" Kanan yelled up to her.
"We've seven Ties bearing down on us. There's no way we'll be able to outrun them," Sabine replied.
"Then we fight back," Kanan said. He rushed up to the weapons console and took control of the gunship's turrets. Sister didn't know how well his aim was but the ship was still rocking from blaster impact so she wasn't going to delude herself into thinking he can take them all out before they were blasted out of the sky.
"The left thruster's taking damage. I can't keep her in the air much longer," Sabine said.
"Don't tell me after all we've been through today, we're going to die just as we make our escape?" groaned Ezra.
"You people sure know to make friends," a female voice spoke through the com. Every one of the rebels' eyes lite up with hope.
"Who is that?" demanded Sister.
"That would be our guardian angel," replied Kanan.
"Okay I've got them falling back for the moment but more are on the way. You need to jump ship now," said the 'guardian angel'. Sister assumed this was the Hera she heard Kanan talk about earlier.
The Grand Inquisitor stood beside Agent Kallus inside the command gunship where the ISB agent coordinated the entire search of the city. He had heard that Sixth Brother had found the rebels and was in pursuit. But his signal had gone dark and now it was up to the pursuing Ties to stop them.
"This is Knight Leader reporting. A second vessel has engaged Mynock Squadron and is attempting to dock with the target. We believe they are attempting to escape via the other ship," reported the Tie Commander.
"All units target that ship. It's their only way to escape," ordered Kallus.
"Engaging...Target the engines…Watch your fire!...Knight Seven pull up! AAAAAAAAH!...Knight Seven is down…This is Knight Three, I'm losing my stabilizers…They've detached from the gunship. They're making a run for it!" the sporadic com chatter summed up perfectly the Imperial pilots failure.
"Do not let them escape!" Kallus shouted into the com.
"They're gone to warp. They're gone," reported Knight Leader. Kallus slammed his fists onto the command console in frustration. Lord Vader will not be pleased.