Ezra stood inside the ship's medical bay. He paced back and forth like a Sentinel in front of the large cylinder-shaped Bacta tank where Second Sister was currently suspended inside of. She had a breathing apparatus covering up to her mouth and nose, giving her oxygen while she rested inside the warm gelatinous substance. A harness was strapped around her chest and back attached to a lift system that removed and lowered patients into the tank. IVs and sensors were also running along her arms, a necessary addition to try and filter out the toxins in her blood.
Sister wouldn't have been happy that Ezra told them everything he knew about her condition. She might have even refused treatment simply not to show weakness but once the medical droids detected the Sclophamin, there was no point in hiding it anymore. The droids couldn't remove the bomb from inside her chest so they tried the next best thing which was to run her blood through a dialysis machine to help filter the leaking chemical from her system. Unfortunately, the Sclophamin's levels in her blood were continuing to rise. The dialysis machine wasn't proving effective in removing large enough to quantities to have a major effect. The only result was to maybe give her a little bit more time.
The decision was to leave her sedated inside a Bacta tank and keep her there for the time being while medical experts within other rebel cells and sympathizers were consulted for options. Unfortunately so far, no one seems to have an answer how to save her.
Things had changed immensely for Ezra and the rest of the Ghost Cell the past few days. They now found themselves no longer a distant aspect of a larger rebellion but part of it. Hera decided the time was right for them to join the greater fight growing in the galaxy and everyone else was onboard…or at least seemed to be. Kanan went along with it but Ezra could tell he wasn't happy about it. He wasn't sure why but maybe Kanan was just uneasy about working with so many other people especially as the Ghost Cell had become a family of sort's and now they were working with a bunch of strangers. Perhaps he just needed time to adjust.
Ezra's time was mostly spent on Jedi training and occasionally sharpening skills with a blaster turret whenever the fleet of rebel ships jumped towards an asteroid belt to use the floating rocks for target practice. But whenever he got some free time, he would come to the med bay to check up on the former Inquisitor. Her condition never changed but at least she didn't have to be alone. Ezra had tried to reach out into the Force to see if her could connect with her but that accomplished nothing. So he just stood there, waiting and hoping that somehow they find a way to save her.
Ezra could hear the door opening and he turned around to notice Ahsoka Tano entering the room. The Togruta better known as Fulcrum radiated power within the Force which wasn't surprising considering that Ezra learned she was a surviving member of the Jedi Order. Technically she hadn't been a Jedi Knight but neither was Kanan. Yet despite the clear immense power she had, there was a calm feeling that came with it. Ahsoka had been very kind to the Ghost crew from their first meeting and not once did she ever treat one of them with a condescending tone. Ezra was worried her power might make her look down on the likes of Kanan and Ezra but that wasn't the case. The Togruta even helped with Ezra's lightsaber training while she was a great teacher, Kanan would always be Ezra's Master.
"I figured you'd be here," Ahsoka commented as she joined Ezra in front of the Bacta Tank.
"Yeah well somebody should be here for her," said Ezra replied.
Ahsoka folded her arms. "I have to admit. I never thought for a minute that she would actually try to help you," she spoke.
"I didn't either. I just had faith," admitted Ezra.
"Faith?" frowned Ahsoka.
"It's not something I can explain. I just knew she wasn't what everyone thought she was. That and probably the fact that she hadn't tried to kill me," Ezra said, trying to add a joke at the end.
"You trusted your instincts. That's exactly what a Jedi would do," smiled Ahsoka.
"Well it was always touch and go with her. I knew she didn't want to hurt me but I wasn't always certain she wanted to help," admitted Ezra.
"Maybe you gave her a reason to," Ahsoka commented. "I doubt she has any real friends she can rely on for support so you might have been the first person in a long time who tried to help her."
That certainly could be the case. Ezra remembered the way Sister reacted when he admitted he considered her a friend. She lashed out at him, claiming that Ezra was trying to manipulate her even though that wasn't the case. The former Inquisitor tried to keep herself distant from others. At first, Ezra thought it was because she had contempt towards other individuals but maybe she really did it because she didn't want to form any real attachments. Ironically that seemed like a very Jedi thing to do yet the Jedi did it to not allow themselves to put people they care about over others while Second Sister just didn't want get to hurt. The Empire was trying to kill her and from the way she talked about the Jedi, she clearly had been betrayed by them in some way. Ezra couldn't imagine being betrayed twice by the same institutions you dedicated your life to.
"Any news from Commander Sato?" Ezra asked, changing the subject. The leader of the rebel cell they were now a part of had promised to contact various medical professionals for a possible cure or solution to Sister's ailment. Everyone seemed surprisingly eager to help a former member of the Empire and one who utilized the dark side. Kanan, Sabine, Zeb, Hera, and Ezra wanting to help her made all the sense in the universe. She had helped save their crew without any promise of reward. Sister claimed she did to get revenge against the Grand Inquisitor but Ezra felt there was more to her motives then simply revenge.
"No luck I'm afraid and there's probably a reason for it. The Empire wouldn't want its Inquisitors to be able to remove the one thing that keeps them under control so they keep anything that could help under wraps," said Ahsoka.
Ezra stared at Sister, wondering if she was dreaming. It was certainly possible but there was no way of knowing. Connecting with a person in a subconscious state was something far out of Ezra's capabilities within the Force.
"You know you never told me how you know her," Ezra said.
"That's…a complicated story," said a reluctant Ahsoka.
"Did you two fight together during the Clone Wars?" Ezra asked. He knew what Ahsoka did from the stories Kanan told him over the past few days. The Togruta was kinda of a hero to the upcoming Jedi Initiates who heard about her heroism from the Battles of Christophsis, Teth, Geonosis, Mon Cala and so many others.
"No but we did both went through Initiate training around the same time. She was only a year behind me," explained Ahsoka.
"Were you friends?" asked Ezra.
"No. We knew of each other but didn't really interact with one another. Our Masters were constantly sent to missions on different worlds," answered Ahsoka.
"Then how is all of that complicated?" frowned Ezra.
"We kinda ended up as cellmates," said Ahsoka.
Ahsoka sat in her cell with a resigned feeling. Ever since the bombing in the Jedi Temple, things have only gotten from bad to worse. Ahsoka and her Master Anakin Skywalker had been assigned to find the person responsible for bombing the Jedi Temple Hangar. Their investigation led them to Letta Turmond whose husband worked as a technician within the Jedi Temple. Infecting him with nano-droid bombs, Letta wanted to make a terrorist statement by attacking the Jedi Temple. Ahsoka and Anakin arrested her and that should have been the end of it. Instead it only got worse.
Letta later requested to see Ahsoka and when the Togruta Padawan arrived, Letta told her that a Jedi was the one who gave her the nano-droids. Before she could reveal who, someone attacked her through the Force. Ahsoka was helpless to stop Letta from being choked to death by an unseen attacker. The guards arrested her for Letta's murder and Admiral Tarkin suspected her of being Letta's accomplice.
Ahsoka later escaped from custody but only after someone disabled security and framed her for murdering members of the security staff. She managed to flee her Master who led a large numbers of clones chasing her and descended in Coruscant's underworld. There she was caught by Asajj Ventress who wanted to turn Ahsoka in for a bounty but Ahsoka managed to convince the Dathomirian to help her. Getting a tip from her friend Bariss Offee, Ahsoka went to an abandoned warehouse that Letta had visited. She found the nano-droids but was attacked by Ventress…or at least it looked like Ventress. There was something off about her attacker but it didn't matter in the end. Ahsoka was ambushed by a team of clones who stunned her and now she was waiting in the Temple's Detention Block for the Jedi Council to decide her fate.
Situated on the other side of the detention hallway, a human woman probably about the same age as Ahsoka was in another cell. However unlike Ahsoka's empty cell, the human's actually had furniture and accommodations. Shelves filled with books, a chair with a desk possibly for writing, and a HoloNet television hanging on the wall. It sure seemed comfortable at least for a prison cell. Why did she get such comforts while Ahsoka got nothing but a bunk and a pillow?
A young human woman about Ahsoka's age was lying on her bed, reading a book. She looked familiar but Ahsoka couldn't remember who she was.
"Hey!" Ahsoka called out. The human continued to read her book. Either she didn't hear her or was just ignoring the Togruta.
"Do I know you?" Ahsoka asked, hoping to get a response. It wasn't like she had anything better to do and she was genuinely curious.
"No you don't. I don't exist as far as you people are concerned," the human muttered, still not looking up from her book.
Ahsoka got to her feet and headed towards the ray shield serving as a cell door. "What is that supposed to mean?" she asked.
"You're talking to the Jedi Council's dirty little secret. Unlike you, I'm someone they could sweep under the rug," said the human.
"You know who I am?" asked Ahsoka.
"Oh yes. I know exactly who you are Ahsoka Tano. Nice to meet someone who's an even bigger disgrace to the order then me," chuckled the human.
"Excuse me?" frowned Ahsoka.
The human finally set her book down and got up from her bed. "The Jedi Padawan who conspired to bomb a hangar in the Jedi Temple. I was wondering what all that shaking and alarms going off were about a few days ago," she smiled.
"I had nothing to do with that!" snapped Ahsoka.
"Let me guess, you're innocent? Newsflash sister, no one cares if you're innocent or guilty. Especially the Jedi Council," scoffed the human.
That's when Ahsoka realized who she was. "You're Varra Kayne. Master Krell's Padawan," she said.
"And that alone was enough for the supreme know-it-alls who sit on their chairs like gods to judge me evil and keep me locked up here," Varra said, referring to the Jedi Council.
"And all that furniture and a HoloNet receiver?" Ahsoka asked.
"A couple of Council members felt guilty about what they did so they sent this stuff down from their ivory towers to try and wash away some of their guilt," hissed Varra.
Ahsoka heard about the Council's decision to imprison Varra from an argument she overhead from Anakin and Obi-Wan. Master Kenobi wasn't happy with the decision but argued that the Council had its reasons. Anakin on the other hand argued that Varra didn't do anything wrong and that Krell had to die. Otherwise, he could have escaped and caused untold damage to the Republic war effort.
"Not everyone in the Jedi agreed with what they did to you," Ahsoka spoke.
"Well if only opinions unlocked cell doors," scoffed Varra. "Enjoy your cell Padawan Tano, you're gonna be there for a very long time."
"My master will find out what's really going on and when he does, I'll be exonerated," Ahsoka said firmly.
Varra burst into laughter. "Did you forget the part where I said they don't care whether you're innocent or guilty? The Council will do whatever's more convenient for them just like the political scum they serve in the Senate. They'll keep you locked up in here if only for political reasons. Stay here awhile and you'll see the truth. The lessons your instructors teach you from a young age, the Jedi Code, all of it amounts to nothing more than a pile of Rancor droppings," she mocked.
A frustrated Ahsoka headed back to her bunk bed, not wanting to hear any more of this.
"Wait, Second Sister killed her master?" Ezra asked. He knew she probably had a checkered past but not something like that.
"It happened during the Battle of Umbara. Her Master, Pong Krell, had betrayed her and his clone troopers. He sent them into battles unprepared and designed to maximize casualties. He had been planning to defect to the Separatists and kill Varra in front of Count Dooku in a show of loyalty. But the clones discovered his treachery and stopped him. Even though he had been an unarmed prisoner, Varra killed him in cold blood," explained Ahsoka.
Just when Ezra didn't think Second Sister's past couldn't get any more shocking. He could understand her getting angry at her Master's betrayal but to just to execute him in cold blood? Maybe that was where she took the first steps towards becoming an Inquisitor. Strangely enough, Ezra felt some sympathy towards her. If Kanan had done something like that to him…well that was something Ezra didn't want to think about.
"I don't understand. Why does she say the Jedi Council betrayed her? Was it because they convicted her for killing her Master?" asked Ezra.
"If only it were that simple," sighed Ahsoka.
Varra stood on the Pedestal of Judgment surrounded by five Jedi Watchmen. The masks covering their faces gave off a sense of emotionless detachment but to a far more extreme than normal Jedi. Varra couldn't sense anything from them through the Force. Either they were all strong enough to mask themselves from her or they were as emotionless as droids. Normally when a Padawan stood in judgment before the Jedi Council, his or her Master would be standing beside them usually in support. Varra's only companions were the Watchmen guarding her and she'd get no kind of support from them.
Two Watchmen stepped onto the Pedestal and the device ascended upwards into the room above it called the Chamber of Judgement. This was where Jedi were put on trial for any alleged crimes. The pedestal came to a halt then the middle section broke away, leaving Varra by herself as her section of the platform continued to rise up. Above her, the Jedi Council was assembled near the ceiling in box seats cut out of the walls. They were arranged in a circle, completely surrounding the defendant with their judgmental eyes.
Varra knew only some of them personally but knew of all of them. Kit Fisto, a Nautolan renowned for using Shi-Cho style in combat along with an almost ever present smile. Adi Gallia, a Tholothian regarded as second only to Anakin Skywalker as one of the best pilots within the Jedi Order. Obi-Wan Kenobi, a human who reinvigorated the teachings of Form 3 Soresu. The style was criticized for its lack of offensive strikes but Obi-Wan reworked it into a devastating combat style.
Along with them were the Cerean Ki-Adi Mundi, the Thisspiasian Oppo Rancisis, the Togruta Shaak Ti, the Zabrak Eeth Koth, the Kel Dor Plo Koon, and the Iktotchi Saesee Tiin. But the faces who stood out the most to Varra were Masters Mace Windu and Yoda. They were the two most powerful Jedi in the Order and to see glancing down at her from their seats was unsettling. Windu's eyes were judgmental and cold while Yoda's seemed sorrowful. Varra remembered speaking to him during her early years of her Jedi training and the old Master seemed so kind and benevolent. That benevolence seemed lost however looking at his face.
"Padawan Kayne. Serious charges have been levied against you including the murder of her own Master. How plead you?" Yoda spoke.
"Not guilty Master," Varra answered him.
"You claim you are not guilty and yet you stabbed Master Krell in the back," said Ki-Adi Mundi.
"Because he was a threat," Varra said.
"How so?" demanded Windu.
"The Umbarans were about to overrun our positions. All it would have taken was one of them to get inside the detention building and free Master Krell. If that happened, he would have killed countless clones and escaped. He would have revealed every Republic and Jedi secret he knew to the Separatists and become Count Dooku's latest weapon. Who knows how many people he would have killed before the Jedi could hunt him down? So I did the only thing that would ensure he would never be a threat to anyone ever again," Varra said.
"Is that why you killed him or because you were angry at him?" asked Plo Koon.
"I was angry Masters but that wasn't what guided my hands that day," Varra replied.
"I sincerely doubt that. In fact, I have to question how you couldn't have foreseen Master Krell's betrayal. You were with him for nearly two years and yet you had no clue that you had fallen to the dark side?" Windu accused her.
"Did you? Did any of you ever suspected him?" Varra challenged all of them. Their silence spoke volumes.
"Killing an unarmed prisoner is not only a capital crime within Republic law but also betrays the core values of a Jedi," spoke Saesee Tiin. "These are the actions of one who follows the dark side."
"I won't deny that I had a momentary weakness," argued Varra.
"You call murdering your own master a momentary weakness?" frowned Windu.
"No. I opened myself to it on the battlefield fighting the Umbarans but I didn't fall to its sway. My actions aided the troops I fought alongside them," Varra said.
"Clearly the 501st agrees with you as every last one of them has sent requests to the Council to speak at your trial," Kenobi commented. Windu threw the other human an annoyed look.
"Just because a decision is popular doesn't make it right," said Shaak Ti.
"Use the dark side whenever it suits them, Jedi cannot young one. Otherwise turn our order into something horrible, it would," Yoda said.
"If you want me to admit that using the dark side was wrong then I'll do it. I shouldn't have let my emotions get the better of me but regardless, even if I hadn't touched the dark side, I still stand by my actions," Varra said.
"Even killing Master Krell?" asked Windu.
"Yes," Varra said defiantly. "It's easy to judge others for actions we considered wrong while we sit in our nice comfy temple while other people are fighting for their lives and not every one of them has a clone battalion to back them up or a Republic world to fall back to should the battle be lost. Sometimes there are no good decisions, only the one that harms the least amount of people."
"That line of thinking goes against everything the Jedi stands for," Ki-Adi Mundi frowned.
"In what way?" challenged Varra. "When we take a live, it's always to either preserve ourselves or the live of another."
"And who did Master Krell threaten while subdued and detained inside a holding cell in the moment you killed him?" asked Kenobi who was handed something from a Jedi Watchmen who quickly exited the Master's box seat.
"The entire Republic," replied Varra. She then noticed Kenobi glancing at a holographic readout of something and whatever it was seemed to disturb him.
"Masters may we convene in private? I've just been made aware of new information that we need to examine before proceeding with this trial," Kenobi spoke.
Varra and the other Masters glanced at him in confusion. Varra had been completely honest about everything that happened on Umbara. What could possibly be so important to stop the entire trial and debate behind closed doors?
"Very well. This trial is adjured until tomorrow morning," announced Windu.
"Not exactly the kind of thing I'd imagine hearing Jedi debating," Ezra commented. He studied Jedi philosophy texts that were contained inside of Kanan's holocron and one thing they all stressed was the value of an individual's life. Taking the life of any being or creature should only be used as a means of last resort. That sounded nice and all but Ezra learned during his years growing up alone on Lothal that you didn't survive of doing the nice thing. Sometimes you had to do things you're not proud of to just get your hands simple necessities like food or water. The galaxy wasn't so black and white.
"The Clone Wars changed a lot of things. Most were not for the better," sighed Ahsoka. "The Senate was granting more and more power to the Supreme Chancellor who in turn granted more and more power to the Republic military. The Jedi Council ran the war effort at first but over time, Republic High Command began to take over. The Joint Chiefs began to change protocols and military doctrines established by the Jedi to the point where things like civilian casualties became acceptable. She didn't know it at the time but Varra had opened a crate of gizkas when she killed her Master. According to the newly established military doctrine, Varra had violated nothing within the military code of conduct."
Ahsoka turned to face Varra, suspended motionlessly within the Bacta Tank. "Master Kenobi told me that it was in that trial when they realized how precarious the Jedi Order's position within the Republic had become. Military officers were now creating policy that extended even to the Jedi and as they were sworn servants of the Senate, they had to abide by those doctrines. Because of this, Varra Kayne couldn't be convicted of any crime," she continued.
"If they couldn't convict her then why was she locked up?" asked a confused Ezra.
"Because the Council made a controversial decision, one that several members vehemently opposed," said Ahsoka.
Varra was brought back to the Chamber of Judgment the next morning. She had no idea what happened the other day but the only time the Jedi Council would adjourn a trial like that was due to an emergency. But Master Kenobi said there was important information they just received regarding Varra. Maybe she might get some answers as the trial resumed. Varra knew something was wrong judging from the somber looks on several different Council members.
"Padawan Kayne. This Council is disturbed by your actions on Umbara," Master Windu spoke. "You not only killed an unarmed prisoner but your own Master. It is understandable that you were put in a difficult situation but Jedi are expected to rise above such circumstances and act according to the Jedi Code. Furthermore, you blatantly admit that you used the Dark Side in combat. There are many trials that a Jedi must overcome in their lives but two of the most important are to resist the Darkside and strong emotions. You failed in both of these. It is the opinion of the Jedi Council that you be expelled from the Jedi Order."
Varra struggled to hold back her emotions, refusing to let know what she was feeling inside. Being a Jedi was all she ever dreamed of becoming her entire life and now that dream was being taken away from her. Worse, it was being stripped away because of something she didn't even consider to be wrong. How dare they judge her. They weren't there, they didn't understand how bad things were.
"Your Padawan status will be stripped from you and you shall forfeit all rank and privileges within the Grand Army of the Republic," Master Mundi announced.
"Normally we pronounce sentencing in this case. However In light of new regulations regarding military protocol, all criminal charges against Padawan Varra Kayne are hereby dismissed," said Windu.
Varra expected the Council to expel her. Deep down she knew it was going to happen but she refused to believe it. However, dismissing the charges after disbarring her made no sense. They already considered her guilty, why not go forward with it? Maybe these new regulations was what got the Council all worked up over yesterday.
Varra didn't protest or say anything. She simply grabbed the Padawan braid on her head and tugged it off. It hurt like hell but Varra didn't make a sound. She didn't calmly hand the braid over but rather threw it to the floor. It was considered an insult but Varra didn't care anymore. The Council said she wasn't a Jedi anymore so why bother acting like one?
"While we cannot prosecute you, that doesn't mean we can allow someone like you to leave the walls of the Temple. Count Dooku has already lost the loyalty of his assassins Asajj Ventress and Savage Oppress. He will search the galaxy for another apprentice. Someone like you," Windu spoke.
"What?! But I fought against him and the Separatists. I would never join him!" shouted Varra.
"You also swore you would never fall to the dark side when you took your Initiate vows," Master Tiin accused.
"That doesn't mean I'll join the Separatists!" pleaded Varra.
"While our decision is not unanimous, it is final. You will remain in Jedi custody until the end of the war. After Count Dooku and the Separatists are defeated, then the prospect of your release will be reopened," announced Windu.
They were going to just lock her up with no charges on the hunch that she might join Dooku? This defied everything the Jedi stood for. You don't lock someone up for something they haven't done. Varra's execution of Krell was technically a violation but Krell admitted he was going to join Dooku and fight the Republic. Varra had no such intentions and yet she was being punished for something she wasn't even going to do.
"You can't do this!" shouted Varra as her platform lowered back to the ground floor.
"You're all hypocrites and liars! Your Code doesn't matter to you anymore then it mattered to Krell!" she screamed at them as two Jedi Watchmen grabbed her by the arms and forced her towards the door. It was in that moment that Varra finally learned Krell's final lesson to her. Never trust anyone.
"They just locked her up for nothing?" snapped Ezra. He was starting to question the Jedi's reputation as fair and impartial arbiters of justice.
"Like I said, it wasn't a popular decision. Masters Kenobi, Fisto, Plo, and even Master Yoda all opposed it but the majority of the Council agreed with it. My own master thought Varra should have gotten a medal for what she did," remarked Ahsoka.
"Did they ever let her go?" asked Ezra.
"I don't know. She was still imprisoned even after I was exonerated," sighed Ahsoka.
"They can't do this to me!" Ahsoka shouted, almost in tears. She had just come from the Council's judgment of her and it was not the decision she was expecting. Not only did the Council believe her to be guilty of treason and expelled her from the Jedi Order. Now she was back in confinement until soldiers of the Republic military arrived to take her into custody.
"Will you shut up? I'm trying to watch gravball," grumbled Varra in the cell opposite of Ahsoka. The human had no sympathy for the Togruta when she arrived back in her cell. Varra simply gave her an 'I told you so' look then went back to watching the HoloNet.
"They didn't even care what I had to say. They already made up their minds before I said a word," Ahsoka snapped.
"Look I get that you're going through an angst phase right now but could you do it in silence?" Varra snapped.
Ahsoka sat down on her bunk bed, resting her head in her hands. She felt completely defeated with everything she ever believed was meaningless. The Jedi Council preached about the dangers of corruption and yet they just handed her over to the Senate without putting up a fight. The Council did the politically convenient action rather than the correct one. Ahsoka wasn't expecting them to just let her go but she thought they would at least insist on investigating the charges against me more. Instead they just threw her to the kath hounds.
"Does anybody still believe you're innocent?" Varra asked. For once, it didn't sound like she was taunting or mocking the Togruta.
Ahsoka glanced up. "My master and a few senators but I'm not holding out much hope they can do anything," she said.
"Well if by some miracle they somehow get you acquitted or prove your innocence, what will you do? Go back to the Jedi?" Varra inquired.
"I don't know," Ahsoka sighed.
Varra got up from her bed and approached the edge of her cell. "Well take my advice for whatever you might think it's worth. If you're found innocent and those schuttas sitting on the Council come begging to have you back, tell them to choke on those padawan braids of theirs'. Being a Jedi used to mean something but not anymore."
Varra turned and sat down back on her bed, leaving Ahsoka to contemplate her words.
Ahsoka didn't mention Varra's advice to Ezra or that her words were running through Ahsoka's mind the moment the Jedi Council offered to reinstate her in the Jedi Order. When Anakin held up the braid, Ahsoka wanted nothing more than to say yes but couldn't forget what the Council did to her. How could she ever trust in their judgment ever again after what they did to her? So Ahsoka felt the only thing that she could do was to walk away. Anakin was devastated and it broke Ahsoka's heart to see him like that.
They later reconnected after Ahsoka wanted to help retake Mandalore from the clutches of Darth Maul. Anakin gave her old lightsabers back before the battle, hoping that one day he could give them back to her. That was one of the happiest moments of Ahsoka's life to once again be working alongside her mentor, best friend, and big brother all wrapped into one person. But a surprise attack on Coruscant forced Obi-Wan and Anakin to leave. Rex took charge and together with Ahsoka, they managed to take the planet and capture Maul. However, it was during the end of the battle when the clone troopers suddenly turned their weapons on Ahsoka. She managed to fight them off with Rex's help and the two faked their own deaths to allow them to escape the planet. They went their separate ways and Ahsoka wandered the Outer Rim until she met up with Bail Organa who offered her to join a growing rebellion against the Empire.
In a strange way, Varra might actually be the one reason Ahsoka was alive. Had the Togruta not listened and stayed with the Jedi Order, it's possible she might not be alive today. Ahsoka certainly never expected to see her again but was glad at least someone other than herself survived. Even if she could feel the Darkside emanating from Varra right now, Ahsoka knew she wasn't lost. The fact that she risked her life to save the Ghost crew proves there's a little Jedi left in her.
"Commander Tano, Phoenix squadron, please report to the bridge," was aired over the intercom. Phoenix squadron was the name the crew of the Ghost were assigned and they were quite proud of what it represented. A bird rising from the ashes of death into the light.
"Shall we?" Ahsoka asked.
Ezra nodded and the two headed to the bridge. Hera, Kanan, Zeb, Sabine, and Chopper were all waiting for them along with Commander Sato.
"What's up?" asked Ezra.
"We may have a way to save your friend in sickbay," explained Sato. He pressed a button on the holo-projector in the center of the room, creating a holographic three dimensional image of a droid. While it had no legs, probably moved through the air via repulsors, it did have multiple arms each with a different tool attached at the end. Its head had multiple photoreceptors along with probably numerous sensors along with it. If Ezra had to guess, this was some kind of medical droid.
"This is A-1D, a next generation medical droid capable to treating any form of injury or ailment given the right amount of supplies. Its medical sensors are rivaled only by the most advanced sensors utilized by hospitals that treat the highest ranking Imperials. If we can get our hand on this droid, I believe it will be able to remove the device inside of her," Sato said.
"Not to mention it would help to have that droid treating us instead of those scrap piles we're using right now," muttered Zeb.
"I'm guessing we can't just buy this thing," quipped Sabine.
"Unfortunately they cost almost a hundred thousand credits per unit," answered Sato.
"For a droid?" Ezra asked in disbelief. Chopper grumbled that this particular medical droid was worth more than him.
"Also the units are restricted only to the most secure Imperial medical facilities but there may be a way around that," replied Sato. He pressed a button on the holo controls, switching to a hologram layout of a large flower-shaped space station.
"This is Artanis Station. It's located on a major hyperspace route within the Corporate Sector and is where these droids are manufactured," Sato explained.
"Corporate Sector?" asked Ezra.
"They're a group of several star systems in the Outer Rim united under a single government but independent of the Empire," explained Kanan.
"Still they're not our friends. The Corporate Sector is where the Empire gets a large number of its fighters and weapons manufactured," remarked Hera.
"Artanis Station is a massive manufacturing plant for ships, fighters, weapons, droids, and whatever else it's operators can sell. The good news is that the station is big and has a lot of traffic coming to and from it at all times. However security will be tight. Most of their security personal is comprised of veterans of the Clone Wars and thousands of security droids," Sato reported.
"Sounds like a piece of cake," joked Zeb.
"I can't afford to send any of my men on such a dangerous mission. It'll be up to you and your team Captain Hera if you want to pull this off," Sato said.
"She risked herself to save us so we're in," Kanan spoke. Sabine, Hera, Zeb, Ezra, and even Chopper nodded in agreement.
"I'll go too," Ahsoka said. The Ghost crew all gave her a surprised look. "It's about time I did some field work," she added.
"Very well. Best of luck to all of you," Sato spoke.
(After all the action scenes in the last chapter, I needed a break from them so I decided to make this a mostly flashback chapter to finally explain some things regarding Varra's past. Writing the scenes with the Jedi Council wasn't easy as I had to make them do something horrible and yet make it seem like in a way they were doing it for the right reasons. And as I stated earlier in the chapter Kenobi, Yoda, Plo Koon, and Fisto were all opposed to it but the Council don't make their choices via unanimous decision. It's majority rules.)