(To make up for the long delay, I've made this chapter extra-long. Hope you enjoy it.)
The darkness never went away. Ezra felt its cold presence even after he and the rest of his crew escaped the shuttle crash and hide in his parent's abandoned home. He felt it after they saw the HoloNet broadcast announcing Minister Tua's death. The Empire must have known about the women's defection and planned it all perfectly to frame the rebels for the explosion that took her life. Tua might have been an Imperial but she was actually quite popular with the locals. Her job and housing programs helped get a lot of unemployed people off the streets. Now all of Lothal believed the Ghost crew was responsible for her death. They needed to get off the planet as soon as possible.
Ezra could still feel the dark presence after his home was destroyed by Stormtroopers and his crew escaped. The whole city was under lockdown with all the civilian landing pads under heavy guard. However the extra security took away personal from the main Imperial complex which probably had more than one shuttle inside. The hard part was getting inside without setting off an alarm but that wasn't their only problem. Varra took off running after encountering someone named Vader.
"Sister are you there? Sister can you read me?" Ezra tried to raise her on her comlink. She received it along just before the mission started and Ezra joked they should call her Spectre 7. Varra made it clear she wasn't joining the Ghost crew on a permanent basis and wanted no code name. Ezra however couldn't care less about what code name she wanted if she would just answer. Sister hasn't responded on the com ever since she was separated from the group.
"You don't think her com link was damaged do you?" suggested Zeb.
"Or it could be another reason," Kanan said grimly. Ezra knew what he was implying but he refused to believe it.
"Doubtful. She'd run at the first sign of trouble," grumbled Sabine. She was still furious over getting abandoned by someone who was supposed to watch her back. Mandalorians didn't take very well to any kind of betrayal of their trust.
"Varra's no coward," protested Ezra.
"But she's certainly not a part of this team that's for sure. She'd rather save herself now that she no longer needs us," retorted Sabine.
"Then why she'd join us again for this mission?" shot back Ezra.
"Probably looking for a chance to kill more Imperials. She didn't come to help us," scoffed Sabine.
"That's enough! Both of you!" snapped Hera. "The whole city is after us and we're not going to survive while at each other's throats. We need to get to the imperial base and get off Lothal immediately."
"But we can't just leave Varra," protested Ezra.
"We can't go looking for her with the Empire flooding the city with troops and if she won't answer coms, then we have no way to find her. I'm sorry but we can't stay. The longer we do, the more likely the Imperials will find us," explained Hera. She wasn't happy about it but it was clear her decision was final as well.
"She can take care of herself. She handled herself just fine before she met us," Zeb reasoned as they continued towards the Imperial complex.
"Doesn't make what we're doing right," Ezra muttered under his breath while feeling the dark presence getting stronger and stronger.
He pulled out his com link and whispered, "If you can hear this, we're heading to the Imperial complex. Meet us at the main landing pad if you can."
"Meet us at the main landing pad if you can," Ezra's voice spoke through the com. The communicator shook in Second Sister's trembling hand. She cursed herself for such cowardice. One of the Empire's best former killers was now struggling not to hyperventilate in an alleyway. Sister had abandoned her speeder after getting far enough away from Vader and was now on foot again. She wouldn't have gotten far with it anyways. Every exit to the city was locked down and now the Imperials would be looking for it.
Sister was surprised the Ghost crew had even bothered to try and contact her. She bolted the second she saw Vader and left them to fend for themselves. The only reason any of them were still alive was because Vader was more focused with killing her then the rebel cell. They should be furious at her. She didn't run to draw Vader away, she fled to save herself.
Yet Ezra had been trying to contact for the past few minutes. Of course it had to be him. The boy was the only one of the crew who actually considered Sister to be a friend though she still didn't understand why. Youthful naivety perhaps? Sister doubted the others felt the same way. She should have never come back to this planet and should have never helped out this idiotic band of miscreants. But Sister still needed to get a way out of the city and more importantly get off the planet. There was only one option left for her to do.
Disguised as a Stormtrooper and a cadet, Kanan and Ezra managed to smuggle Hera, Sabine, Zeb, and Chopper inside the base. After knocking out a patrol or two, the Ghost Crew made it to the landing pad where a shuttle was parked. As if things weren't looking up already, a set of military grade shield generators were lying on the tarmac. Must have just been delivered but the shuttle crew was nowhere in sight. Either they were onboard the shuttle or somewhere inside the base, leaving the generators alone with no security. Imperial incompetence at its finest.
Ezra, Hera, Sabine, and Zeb grabbed a generator each and headed towards the shuttle. They may not have been able to save Minister Tua but hopefully these shields could help the rebellion fight the people responsible for her murder. As they got closer to the ship, Ezra felt the need to make one final attempt to help the missing member of their expedition.
"Sister if you can hear this, we've made to the landing pad. Tell us your location and we'll pick you up with the shuttle," Ezra spoke into his communicator.
"Pick her up? Kid it's not like we can just fly that shuttle down the street," Zeb groaned.
"But it's the least we can…" Ezra protested but then he felt it again. The dark presence felt like it was engulfing the entire landing pad. This didn't feel like some distant echo of the dark side but rather it's center.
Kanan stopped in his tracks, obviously sensing it as well. "The cold," he whispered.
Ezra glanced towards the complex entrance to see someone stepping outside. A dark armored figure with a mask that resembled some strange skull and a black cape billowing in the gentle breeze. Crimson colors lite up the area as the being ignited a blood red lightsaber. As he walked closer and closer, Ezra could make out the sound of a ventilator that only seemed to make him even more frightening. A squad of Stormtroopers rushed outside to join the figure. They took up firing positions near a series of parked walkers.
Yet they were almost seemingly forgotten by Ezra as he grabbed his lightsaber and ignited the blue energy blade. Kanan did the same with his own but Ezra didn't feel a sense of confidence from the sight. Kanan wasn't calm like he normally was. He was afraid and Ezra knew it.
"Hera go we'll cover you!" Kanan shouted.
"Kanan that's him! It's Vader! Run!" Hera screamed at them. Vader didn't give them a chance to. He lunged forward, swinging his lightsaber single-handily at Kanan. The Jedi managed to block it with his own weapon but found himself being overpowered. Vader easily pushed Kanan slowly backwards, possessing physical strength that even Zeb couldn't match.
The Stormtroopers opened fire, targeting Hera, Sabine, and Zeb. The Mandalorian and Lasat were pinned down behind a cluster of crates while Hera and Chopper managed to take cover inside the shuttle. Ezra was tempted to try and help them but couldn't just leave Kanan behind to fend for himself against such a powerful enemy.
Vader then thrusted out his hand and Ezra suddenly found himself flying through the air. He crashed down on the durachete ground hard, knocking the wind out of him. He glanced up to see that Kanan was still on his feet but had clearly been knocked back by the attack. The Jedi rushed after Vader to counterattack but the warrior deflected all of Kanan's attacks with ease. Then with a simple step back, Vader sidestepped one of Kanan's thrusts and grabbed the Jedi by both wrists with a single arm. Kanan found himself trapped, unable to pull away or even swing his lightsaber. Using unnatural strength, Vader lifted Kanan off his feet and hurled him into a nearby cargo crate. The Jedi crashed into it face first before going limb and slumping to the ground.
Realizing he had to do something, Ezra charged into the fray. He only took a few steps before Vader thrusted his free hand towards the Padawan and Ezra suddenly found himself getting ripped right off his feet and flying directly into the leg of an AT-PT. Ezra was trapped, his body telekinetically pinned to the metallic frame of the walker. With a simple motion of Vader's finger, Ezra felt his lightsaber moving. He tried to resist but it was no good. His own lightsaber was telekinetically turning itself closer and closer towards Ezra's head.
"Your master has deceived you into believing you can become a Jedi," mocked Vader as the energy blade was inches away from the Padawan's face. The warrior's attention suddenly shifted as he glanced behind towards the series of AT-PTs lined up on the landing pad. A turret on one of the walker's turned and fired a burst of blaster fire at the Stormtroopers. The bucket heads were blown to pieces, allowing Sabine and Zeb to make a dash towards the shuttle.
Ezra dropped to the ground, Vader's hold on him lost as the dark side adept focused completely on the AT-PT turning its guns on him. The walker fired at the mechanical menace and yet the warrior somehow managed to stay on his feet as he deflected each and every shot. Only this time, Vader seemed to have a little difficulty with it. Ezra had no idea who was driving the walker but he wasn't about to look a gift bantha in the mouth.
Using the distraction, the Padawan rushed over to Kanan and shook him until his eyes opened. "C'mon we've got move!" Ezra shouted.
Kanan saw Vader fighting the walker and didn't argue as he got to his feet. The two rushed towards the shuttle as fast as they could. Ezra glanced behind him to see Vader rushing at nearly inhuman speed towards the walker, avoiding energy fire and slashing at the machine's ankles. The AT-PT staggered and started to lose its balance. The hatch on top opened and a figure shot out of the machine just as it collapsed to the ground. It flew right over Ezra and Kanan and landed directly on the shuttle's cargo ramp.
Ezra's jaw nearly hit the floor when he recognized their rescuer as none other than Second Sister. He would have jumped for joy if not for the fact that some kind of Super Inquisitor was probably right on their tail.
"C'mon c'mon!" shouted Sabine. She didn't need to tell them twice as Sister, Ezra, and Kanan rushed up the ramp and onto the ship. The Mandalorian suddenly pulled out one of blasters and opened fire. Almost instantaneously, blaster fire impacted her chest plate armor. Sabine screamed in pain as she was knocked to the floor.
Ezra quickly rushed to her side to check up on her and was relieved she was still breathing. He turned back to the ramp where Vader was approaching. Thankfully the shuttle was starting to lift off the ground. Vader tossed his lightsaber, either to kill one of the rebels or possibly hit the shuttle's thrusters. Whatever the target, it never got close. Sister ignited her lightsaber and hurled into the path of Vader's. The two weapons clashed and bounced off one another. Sister summoned her lightsaber back to her hand as the shuttle gained altitude and the landing pad faded away in the distance.
The ship's blast doors closed as Hera and Ezra helped Sabine to one of the passenger seats. She was clearly in pain but her armor wasn't pierced by the blaster fire. The good thing about Mandalorians armor is that it could protest the user against blaster bolts unlike Stormtroopers'. Proof that the Empire believed that quantity over quality.
"Zeb make sure they can't track us," Hera ordered the Lasat.
"Consider it done," Zeb replied before heading towards the cockpit.
"You ok?" Hera asked Sabine.
The Mandalorian removed her helmet. "Yeah I'll live," she groaned.
Sabine then turned her attention towards Second Sister. "No thanks to you!" she shouted.
"If Vader wanted you dead child then you would have been regardless of my assistance," Sister uttered in a condescending tone.
Sabine tried to get to her feet, probably either to get in Second Sister's face or physically retaliate for being called a child. Fortunately, the Mandalorian groaned as she clenched her chest and slowly sat right back down. Her injury didn't seem serious but she was still in no condition to get into a fight.
"Vader? What was that guy? Another Inquisitor?" asked Ezra. He was still shaking after his near death experience with that warrior. It wasn't that he was almost killed that scared him but rather how easily Vader could have done it.
"No something far worse. A Sith Lord. The ancient enemy of the Jedi," answered Kanan, still clenching his head. The fight left a large bruise on his forehead and Hera planned on checking him for a possible concussion.
"Leave it to a Jedi for simplifying the most important aspect of the Jedi's history," Sister remarked.
"What is that supposed to mean?" frowned Kanan.
"That wasn't just some boogeyman your masters used to scare you when you were a youngling. That was Vader. He's not a master of the dark side. He's a master of death and wherever he goes, death follows. We're getting us off this rock now," Sister said, almost sounding like a command.
"It's not going to be that simple. He will have a blockade of destroyers waiting for us," explained Kanan.
"He's right," sighed Sabine. "This shuttle is slow with barely any weapons or shields. We're going to need to smuggle ourselves if we want to get off Lothal."
Hera unexpectedly smiled. "That's not a bad idea," she smirked.
"What are you thinking?" asked Kanan.
"I'm thinking we know the right man to smuggle us all off world," answered Hera.
Ezra instantly knew who she was talking about and Kanan must have as well because they both said, "Not him!"
"All of us assuming you don't just run away again," Hera added, the jab directed at Sister. The Twi'lek headed up to the cockpit, leaving behind a very unamused Second Sister. The former Inquisitor took a seat as far away from everyone else as possible. Running away hadn't really endured her to the rest of the team with her little stunt back at the spaceport. Ezra was starting to think maybe she wasn't ready to be a part of the crew after all.
Second Sister was growing more irritated as she was the last to disembark from the shuttle. The rebels knew that they didn't stand a chance of escaping the planet in that slow transport so they landed on some farm belonging to a smuggler named Lando Calrission. Sister wasn't exactly sure who this guy was but judging from Ezra and Kanan's reaction earlier, they didn't have a high opinion of him.
When they arrived, the rebels were greeted by a droid. The smuggler was probably using it as a proxy to keep some distance between himself and the Ghost crew. Considering the whole planet was searching for them, that wasn't a bad idea. The droid was talking with Hera and Sabine while Ezra was staring off at a smoke plume far off in the distance. The boy leaped onto a nearby speeder and powered it up. Zeb attempted to stop him but Kanan blocked him, allowing the Padawan to speed off towards the plume. Kanan then calmly got on another speeder and followed the boy off into the distance.
Sister said nothing to anyone as they worked on their little plan to escape Lothal and everyone kept their distance from her. Running for her life from Vader didn't endure her to the rebels but she couldn't care less. None of them ever fought Vader, none of them knew what he was capable of. Only a complete imbecile would try and challenge him head on. The only reason they escaped at all was Vader didn't want them dead. Sister had seen enough of him to know when he was holding back during his dual with Kanan and Ezra. If he really wanted them dead, they already would be.
Varra screamed as he dropped to the floor. She could feel a scorching mark running across her back. Flesh melting while it produced the worst scent imaginable. Varra scrambled to get away before a large boot kicked her in the side, flipping her over onto her back. A crimson blade appeared right in front of her face, merely inches away cutting through her forehead.
"You claim to hate the Jedi and yet you still fight like one," taunted Vader, towering over her.
Vader lifted his lightsaber for a killing blow but Varra rolled out of the way. She summoned her lightsaber that Vader knocked away just moments ago back to her hand. This wasn't like any training session Varra had even been in before. Vader made it quite clear that if he didn't believe she was improving that he would kill her. It was the ultimate motivation to learn from your mistakes and when you did, Vader reminded you with a scar. The one Varra could still feel searing on her back was just the latest one. She had one across her chest, one on her right shoulder blade, another on her left forearm, and one on her left thigh.
"You still cling to the teachings of those you claimed betray you. Perhaps you are still a Jedi at heart," Vader spoke.
"I'm not!" hissed Varra.
"Then what is your name?" challenged Vader.
"Why does everyone keep asking me that?!" shouted Varra. She lunged forward, throwing a wild swing that Vader easily parried away. With a simple backhand across the face from her opponent, Varra found herself one again on the floor with Vader's lightsaber inches from her face.
"Your name is what the Jedi gave you. If you cannot relinquish the very identity they forced upon you then you will forever be their pawn," Vader answered. "Varra Kayne was naïve and betrayed by her Master, by the Jedi Council, by the very Republic itself. She allowed herself to be taken advantage of, to be betrayed and to be cast aside by everyone she had ever trusted. Until you can shed the shell of the fool you once were, you can never destroy the Jedi."
Second Sister shivered as she glanced at her right arm. She could still feel the scolding scorch mark Vader left after that speech. The wound went from her wrist, up her forearm, and ending at the elbow. It was reminder of her inability to adapt and learn what she needed to. Vader had did far worse to the other Inquisitors but no matter how much pain he inflicted upon her, he never permanently crippled or dismembered any of Sister's body parts. Clearly he wanted her in the best physical condition, more so then the others. Maybe Vader saw something in her that the other Inquisitors didn't have. Second Sister's victims would have agreed.
Ezra and Kanan returned on their speeder bikes. Ezra's solemn look told Sister what they found wasn't good.
"What happened out there?" Hera asked them.
"The Empire burned Tarkintown," sighed Kanan. Sister didn't know what this Tarkintown was and didn't really care. She just wanted to off this miserable rock of a planet. Everyone else, however, was devastated by the news.
"Did anyone survive?" asked Sabine.
"The population's been taken captive," answered Ezra.
"Let's go bust 'em out. Where's my rifle?" growled Zeb, ready for a fight.
"Get yourself killed another day Lasat. We're leaving this world," Sister scoffed.
"I didn't ask for your opinion witch," hissed Zeb.
"No she's right Zeb. He'd be waiting," Kanan spoke up. Everyone knew he was referring to Vader and no one here was dumb enough to fight him again.
"You were right before Hera," Kanan continued. "We have no choice. We have to leave."
"For the good of Lothal," agreed Hera.
"Yes yes yes. For the good of Lothal, truth, justice, and all that garbage. Now how do we get off this rock?" demanded an inpatient Sister.
Hera threw her an annoyed look. "Lando had a few old transponders lying around. Sabine's going to tune their signature codes to match our shuttle's," she explained.
"Sounds like a lousy Lando plan," grumbled Kanan.
"No. It was Lando's gear, it's my plan," protested Sabine. "With these transponders beaming out the same signal as the shuttle, we should be able to slip by unnoticed."
"Sounds like a lousy Sabine plan," chuckled Zeb.
"Better than Lando's," muttered Kanan.
"Have I ever mentioned you people use the words should, probably, and hopefully far too much in your so called plans?" grunted Sister.
Second Sister was surprised the plan went off without a hitch. Using the transponders to trick the Imperial blockade allowed Hera to pilot the hijacked shuttle far enough away from the planet's gravitational pull to jump into hyperspace. Either the Imperials in charge of it must have been asleep at their terminals or perhaps the rebels weren't as incompetent as they sometimes appear to be.
"Never thought I'd say this but thank you Lando Calrission," Hera said as she entered the passenger compartment.
Chopper muttered something about Lothal was now off limits for them.
"So if we can't go back to Lothal, where are we going?" wondered Kanan.
"What are you talking about?" asked a confused Hera. "We're part of the Rebellion now."
"Speak for yourselves," muttered an annoyed Sister.
"We are and now do us a favor and don't speak at all," growled Zeb. It was growing more and more tempting to use the Force to wring that Lasat's neck.
"Are we a part of anything? Are we all sure about that?" questioned Kanan. Finally a Jedi with a brain cell or two.
"Maybe we could just grab the Ghost and lay low for a while," shrugged Sabine. Seems intelligence might be contagious among this crew.
"I like fighting with Phoenix Squadron. Reminds me of the Honor Guard. Besides they're counting on us. Wouldn't be right to abandon them now," remarked Zeb. Sister retracted her previous thought about intelligence being contagious.
"Ezra what do you think?" inquired Hera.
Here comes the hero speech Sister thought to herself.
"We can't help Lothal now but I think the rebels can help us get stronger so we can go back and change things," answered Ezra. "I think we should stay with the rebel fleet."
Kanan didn't say anything, keeping his own thoughts to himself and Sister did the same.
The rest of the trip back to the fleet was uneventful and quiet at least for Second Sister. While the others were trying to make up their minds about staying with the larger rebellion, Sister had already made up her mind. She was not going to get herself killed for some hopeless cause, especially now that Vader was on their trail. They may have gotten away from him but he won't give up. He'll chase them to the ends of the galaxy and Sister wasn't sticking around for the slaughter.
"So it's back to Nar Shaddaa for you?" asked Ezra who had sat down beside her.
"That was the plan from the start," commented Sister.
"But it's gotten delayed for quite a while," remarked Ezra.
Sister threw him a look. "Please tell me you're not going to try and talk me out of it," she grumbled.
"No more speeches. I've said everything I'm going to say. I just want to thank you for helping us. The others may not say it out loud especially ," Ezra said.
The ship shook as Sister could hear docking clamps engaging. Looks like they've back home. Sister nearly scoffed at herself for thinking the rebels capital ship as home. She only spend the past couple of weeks on-board it while she was recuperating but yet it had become familiar to her. Sister, however, knew the real reason why she stayed as long as she did. She dreamed about an earlier time in her life, one she'd rather forget, and saw that Ezra was going to suffer. It was a glimpse of the future through the Force. Unfortunately, the Force doesn't just outright explain everything so its visions and dreams reveal things via metaphors and symbolism. Its message was quite clear, Ezra was going to die and if Sister left now then he wouldn't stand a chance.
Sister followed the others as they disembarked from the shuttle and through the airlock onto the warship Rebel Home. They didn't get a few steps inside before Chopper came flying out of the Ghost, chasing after the others and screaming in Droid Speak.
"Chopper said a transmitter activated on our shuttle moments ago," gasped Sabine. Hera urgently rushed off down the corridor, probably to warn Commander Sato.
"What does that mean?" asked Ezra.
"It means the Empire tracked us back to the fleet," said Kanan who took off running towards the bridge along with the rest of the Ghost Crew.
"I knew it was too good to be true. There's no way we could have escaped Vader unless he wanted us to," hissed Sister.
"Commander Sato! We need the fleet to jump out of here! Our shuttle was tracked!" Hera shouted as she burst onto the bridge ahead of the others. Sato and Ahsoka had been in mid-conversation before the Ghost Crew rushed inside. Neither one of them had a chance to react before a klaxon caught everyone's attention.
"Commander I'm scanning a ship entering our sector. It's heading straight for us," reported the tactical officer.
"Are there any others?" asked Sato.
"No sir. No other ships have entered the system," answered the tactical officer.
"It's a scout. We need to leave now," urged Sister.
"It's not that simple. At least one of our capital ships is undergoing maintenance in its engines. We have to hold out until they can bring their hyperdrive back online and if that takes too long, we need the rest of our ships to pick up its crew should they need to evacuate," explained Sato. "Move Phoenix Squadron to intercept!"
Sister stood their flabbergasted. Any second now that Tie was going to identify who they were and confirm their location to an Imperial fleet. After that, it won't be long before the rebels will be swarmed by Star Destroyers and Tie Fighters. She watched the holo table as it displayed the sensor readings of Phoenix Squadron represented by blue dots moving towards the single red dot.
"Fighter coming in on mark 3."
"He's coming in too fast."
"We've lost Phoenix One and Two."
One by one, the blue dots were vanishing from screen. Whoever was piloting that Tie Fighter wasn't just an ace but something more altogether.
Hera activated the com. "Fleet raise deflector shields," she ordered.
"Uhh…He's heading right for us," gulped Ezra. The red dot approached Phoenix Home. Seconds later, lights dimmed as the ship shook from blaster fire. This Tie pilot was making a mockery out of the entire rebel fleet.
"How can one fighter best our entire squadron?" grumbled Sato.
"You're pilots are outmatched Commander," replied Hera. She dashed towards the exit.
"What are you doing?" demanded Kanan.
Hera stopped to turn and say, "Getting involved."
"By the Force that was cliché," Sister muttered to herself as the Twi'lek Captain rushed off the bridge.
"Not without me you're not," grumbled Kanan who took off after Hera.
"Let's go. Ezra, Zeb come on," said Sabine who chased off after the others. The Lasat didn't say anything before following the Mandalorian.
"Alright if I tag along?" Ahsoka asked Ezra.
"The more the merrier," the kid shrugged. He turned to Sister and asked, "You coming?"
Sister just sighed and followed the two Jedi as they headed towards the door. "This doesn't mean I've staying," she fumed.
"Everyone check in," Hera's voice came on over the com. Second Sister took a seat in the nose gun turret as the others checked in.
"Tail gun check," reported Zeb.
"Turret check," reported Sabine.
"Just get me a clean shot Death Wish and I'll take care of the rest," Sister said.
"Not if I get 'em first," protested Zeb.
"Calm down kids. Do Mom and Dad proud," chimed in Hera.
"Don't call me kid," grumbled Sister as the Ghost detached from Phoenix Home. The ship made a beeline towards the Tie Fighter which was hammering the rebel flagship.
"I'm on him," said Sabine as blaster fire from the top of the Ghost sprayed across the void of space. The Mandalorian might be an expert marksman but the pilot managed to roll and zig zag everyone of Sabine's shots.
"Sithspawn. Who is this guy?" cursed a frustrated Sabine.
"Phoenix Home to Ghost. We cannot sustain another attack from that fighter," reported Commander Sato. Second Sister suppressed the urge to remind him that they should have retreated when they had the chance.
"Copy that. Phoenix Squadron, form up and focus fire," replied Hera.
The Ghost chased after the Tie, finally giving Sister a closer look at her prey. It was an Advanced Tie Interceptor, similar to the ones the Inquisitors use. Considering how good the pilot was, she at first assumed it was an Inquisitor at the helm but none of them were this good. Second Sister focus not with her eyes but with her mind, stretching out with the Force. What she felt almost made her recoil in horror. It was him!
"Vader…It's Vader!" shouted Sister. Her fingers hit the firing buttons on her controls, clenching them so hard it hurt. Sister could hear the others talking on the com but she didn't even hear them, instead focusing her mind completely to the destruction of her former Master. Rapid fire bolts of energy streaked towards Vader's fighter but every last one of them missed. The Sith Lord was too good, avoiding each and every shot. That only drove Sister harder as she continued firing away, just needing one bolt to hit its target. If his ship was damaged, then she could finish him off. Vader needed to die and die now!
"Sister hold your fire! You're overtaxing the gun's power cells!" shouted Hera. Sister kept firing with a single minded objective of killing her enemy. The Tie Fighter made another pass at Phoenix Home then suddenly veered off out of sight. An enraged Sister slammed her fists down on the turret console.
"Captain Syndulla. Whatever you're doing keep it up. The fleet can recover," chimed in Sato.
"No Commander you need to get the fleet out of here way!" Kanan said.
"I will not abandon our command ship!" protested Sato.
"Stay with him! I need a clear shot!" shouted Sister, not caring about anything else other than blowing Vader into dust.
"You won't need to worry about that. He's coming after us now," replied Sabine.
"You don't have a choice sir. Without a hyperdrive, you must abandon ship," Hera urged her commander.
"Forget your worthless ship! Focus on Vader!" shouted Sister. A sight up ahead suddenly cooled her rage. Three Star Destroyers dropped out of hyperspace and were moving to intercept the fleet. The ship shook from blaster fire damage to the flank and there was no other enemy ship in the vicinity. The Mandalorian was right. Vader was after the Ghost. He must have figured out who was onboard and the three Jedi and Second Sister were worth more to him then the entire rebel fleet.
"Now or never Commander," Kanan spoke.
"I regretfully agree. All hands abandon ship. You'll have to keep that fighter occupied," replied Sato.
"Somehow I don't think that'll be a problem," gulped Ezra. The ship shook from another pass by the Tie Fighter.
"Suddenly there's a lot to do back here," Zeb said nervously. As Vader was chasing them, that left the Lasat with trying to hit the Sith Lord. Sister wasn't very optimistic about his chances. She could run across the ship and forcibly take Zeb's place but there was no telling how many other fighters were being deployed by those Star Destroyers. When in a combat station, all hands need to remain in their stations. Otherwise a squadron of Ties could show up and try to blast the Ghost into dust while Second Sister was playing musical chairs with the turret stations.
"Sorry to foil your fun Zeb but I'm ordering Chopper to divert all power to the hyperdrive. Including cannons," said Hera.
"Hera what are you doing?" protested Sabine. The Mandalorian got her answer as the Ghost was turning directly towards the Imperial fleet.
"You do know you're supposed to run away from Star Destroyers right Deathwish?" protested Sister.
"Just hold on. I've got a plan" replied Hera. The Twi'lek was starting to live up to that nickname.
"Suicide doesn't count as a plan," grumbled Sister.
"Ghost Crew the escape pods are secure. Fleet commence hyperspace jump," Sato ordered.
"Copy that Commander. We'll meet you at Safe Haven," Hera replied.
"Fleet is away. Get us out of here," reported Sabine.
"Everyone hang on," Hera called out. The Ghost shot straight towards the three Star Destroyers at full speed. Green blaster fire streak around the craft as Vader tried to line up a crippling shot to a critical system.
"Chopper angle all deflector astern…The Star Destroyers aren't firing at us now do it fast!" ordered Hera, arguing with the astromech. The Imperial capital ships grew larger and larger yet didn't fire a single shot. They were either trying to avoid hitting Vader or readying a tractor beam.
"Uhh…Hera you can practically reach out and touch them," gulped Ezra.
Suddenly the stars blurred as the pitch blackness of space was replaced by the glowing blue effects of hyper speed. Sister breathed a huge sigh of relief. It was a close call but they managed to escape.
Darth Vader was less than pleased as he listened to Agent Kallus and Admiral Konstantine report on their victory. Vader couldn't care less about the rebel fleet or that Lothal was now secure, only the Jedi and Second Sister was his concern. And now Anakin Skywalker's former pupil had emerged from hiding. Vader assumed she was dead but now he knew otherwise.
"Clear the bridge," Vader ordered. Kallus and Konstantine exchanged looks and quickly left the room. Now with privacy, the Sith Lord entered a com frequency on the holo table. He didn't need to wait long before he got a reply. Vader dropped to one knee and bowed his head as the com channel opened.
"Lord Vader," Darth Sidious's voice greeted him as a holographic image of the master came into form. "Have you dealt with the rebels in the Lothal System?"
"Yes Master. The Rebels are broken," reported Vader.
"And yet I sense in you something more to your victory," added Sidious.
"I believe the apprentice of Anakin Skywalker lives and is in league with these rebels," Vader answered.
"Are you certain?" inquired Sidious.
"It was her," Vader said without a doubt in his mind.
"Interesting. First the Jedi Caleb Dume reappears so then takes an apprentice of his own. Second Sister finds her way to them and now Skywalker's apprentice. Individually they mean nothing but together they represent something far worse than any rebellion," spoke Sidious.
"And what is that?" asked Vader.
"The foundations of a new Jedi Order. They must be hunted down and stopped before their numbers grow even further. Kenobi and Yoda still remain unaccounted for. Should one of these two join them…" Sidious warned.
"They will die like the others," Vader said confidently.
"Though perhaps we can turn this into an opportunity. If the Togruta knows the whereabouts of any other survivors, she must be brought back to me alive. Only together can we expand her understanding of the Force and she will embrace the dark side. She will tell us where the remaining Jedi can be found," smiled Sidious.
"Such as Kenobi?" Vader spoke his mind, relishing the thought of choking the life out of Skywalker's former master.
"Perhaps if he lives. Be patient my friend. Dispatch the rest of the Inquisitors to hunt them down. All of them," ordered Sidious.
"As you wish my master," replied Vader. The transmission ended as Sidious's image faded away. Vader then typed in another com channel and sent out a signal. He didn't need to wait long for his response.
A holographic image of Third Sister appeared. "Yes Lord Vader?" she spoke.
"Assemble all the Inquisitors. Anakin Skywalker's former pupil lives," explained Vader.
"Ahsoka Tano is alive?" Third asked.
"The Emperor demands she be brought back to him alive," ordered Vader.
"And what of Second Sister, Caleb Dume, and Ezra Bridger?" inquired Third.
"They are no longer important. Kill them all," ordered Vader.
"Yes my lord. I look forward to meeting my old friend once more," Third spoke, removing her helmet and revealing a pair of yellow eyes on her Mirialan face.
(Well I suppose I don't need to mention who Third Sister is now hint hint. Was going to include a scene between Second Sister and Ahsoka but decided it was long enough. I'll save that next chapter and more importantly Captain Rex. People have been hyped about his reunion with Varra and I intend not to disappoint.)