Sparks shot out from each and every clash between Second Sister's lightsaber and Davrin Cassel's dual shock staffs. The two were sparring in the dojo room normally used for hand to hand combat training. Their weapons were set on stun settings but the bruises they inflicted on each other proved they weren't holding back.
The Sergeant didn't protest when Sister insisted they spar despite the early hours. Probably used to waking up at random hours for whatever mission he was sent on. If he was fatigued from lack of sleep, Cassel certainly wasn't showing it as he faked a low attack and then struck Sister's right shoulder.
Sister staggered back and sidestepped another strike aimed for her chest. She retaliated by with a kick to his shin that knocked him off balance then swung her lightsaber around aiming for his ribs. Cassel managed to regain enough balance to bring up his staffs to block the attack then lashed out. He swung one staff low and another high. Sister back-flipped away from him, kicking him in the chest as she did.
Time seemed to blur as the sparring continued. Cassel may not be able to use the Force but his natural immunity to any kind of mental tricks made him difficult to predict. Add to the fact that he was trained to fight Jedi and you had yourself a worthy opponent.
Sister didn't use the Force in the fight. This was test of skill and she wanted to beat Cassel at his own game. The Sergeant caught her off guard last time but that wouldn't happen again.
Sister blocked a high strike then jumped to avoid a low sweep aimed at the legs. She went for a strike aimed at Cassel's head. He ducked the blow and kicked Sister away.
"I'm sensing some aggression here," remarked Sister.
"You can't sense anything from me," scoffed Cassel.
"I wasn't talking about sensing your emotions. Your movements tell me everything," replied Sister.
She thrust a jab at Cassel's shoulder. The Sergeant easily blocked it but he was meant to do that. The moment he shoved away one end of Sister's lightsaber, she swung the other end upwards and nearly caught him in the chin.
Cassel managed to bring up a staff to block it just in time then shoved Sister away from him.
"You're fighting like you've got something to prove," stated Sister.
"Inquisitors used to use Purge Troopers as punching bags," Cassel retorted.
"I didn't fight Purge Troopers in sparring matches just for kicks," protested Sister.
"No but your old friends used to choose the newest recruits to spar with. If it was just about motivating them to fight better after getting smacked around, it wouldn't have been so bad. But it wasn't about that. The Inquisitors just wanted to hurt them for their own amusement," accused Cassel.
"Is that why you're angry? Reminds you of old times?" asked Sister who jabbed at his right leg. The strike missed but Sister caught Cassel by surprise with a kick to his other leg which knocked him off his feet. Before Sister could capitalize, Cassel suddenly sweep his feet at her legs and knocked her to the ground as well.
He leaped to his feet and brought his shock staffs down to stab Sister's chest. The former Inquisitor recovered her weapon and blocked the game ending blow. Cassel pushed with his weapons, trying to force the staffs onto Sister who strained as the trooper's weapons inched closer.
"I'm angry because I was treated as an animal. An expendable toy for your friends to play with or sent to off to die at their whim," answered Cassel.
Sister suddenly launched her right leg up and kicked Cassel in the head. He was disorientated long enough for Sister to wrap her legs around his neck and spin around, changing their positions. Now she was the one on top with a lightsaber aimed at his throat.
"I call game," Sister smirked. She got to her feet, leaving a fuming Cassel on the floor.
Sister got him talking during the fight to unnerve him but now something started to gnaw in her gut about the whole thing. Cassel was dealing with issues from his past and she used it to beat him during the match.
Sister held her hand, offering to help him to his feet. Cassel refused the offer and got up by himself. The Sergeant gathered up his shock staffs and headed for the exit.
An empty pit formed in Sister's stomach as she watched Cassel leave. That wasn't the way she wanted things to end.
Sister entered the barracks where the rest of the Ghost Crew were getting up and ready for their daily morning obstacle course.
"Despite whatever you've been told, lack of sleep is actually bad for you," Sabine mocked as Sister passed by her.
"I wasn't tired," grumbled Sister.
"Good because Colonel Sertay got us hiking ten miles for our warm up," chuckled Kanan.
"Warm up?I think these special forces types have mistaken the term training with masochism," sighed Ezra.
The rest of the day was spent on survival training. Learning how to forge weapons from local fauna such as spears, how to determine water was safe to drink, find shelter to survive a cold night and start a camp fire. It was more basics then anything else but the Spectres weren't expected to go through the entire survival training course as that would take months.
By the time the Ghost crew returned to the barracks, they were exhausted. Colonel Seertay gave them the next day off to recuperate then they would run the Gauntlet again. This time at least the Spectres would know what they were getting into again.
Second Sister stayed up trying a few slicing exercises. She had a funny feeling the Colonel was going to throw something like that at her. Otherwise why give Sister all this research into the subject?
"Late night homework?" a familiar voice asked.
Sister turned to see Captain Rex standing near the entrance to the small office she was occupying.
"Seertay wouldn't have given me all this if she wasn't planning on throwing some slicing puzzle at the next gauntlet," Sister replied.
"Actually she might not. The Colonel doesn't always like to make the training courses so obvious," said Rex.
"Why else would she torture me with all of this?" grumbled Sister.
"Because one day it might just save your life. You can't alway use a lightsaber to open a door," answered Rex.
"Thanks dad," smirked Sister.
Rex smiled back. "Thank you for the other day. I think you scared the Pathfinder recruits enough to train harder," he said.
"Oh I was just showing off. If I really wanted to scare them, they'd quit the rebellion," Sister chuckled.
"Well thank you for not doing that. You should probably get some extra sleep tonight especially after you were up half the night with Sergeant Cassel," Rex pointed out.
Sister's hands fumbled, nearly dropping the datapad she was working on. "What are you insinuating?" she grumbled.
Rex frowned, "That the two of you were sparring."
"Oh," Sister said, breathing a sigh of relief. That last thing she needed was for Rex or anything else to think she was...well best to end that thought right there.
"Is there a problem between you two?" Rex asked.
"No. I'm not a sore loser," protested Sister. "Just couldn't sleep and needed to do something to pass the time," she added.
"And the Sergeant just said yes?" frowned Rex. "He doesn't strike me as the type to just get up into the middle of a night to get into a sparring fight with just anyone."
"I guess he couldn't sleep either," shrugged Sister.
"How long have you known him?" asked Rex.
"What? How do you...?" demanded Sister and realized she just confirmed his suspicions.
"Isn't it obvious? The way you two were acting after that training match the other day. Plus I know he was former Imperial Special Forces," Rex said.
Second Sister normally preferred to keep her inner thoughts to herself. Trust didn't come easy for her and absolute trust was virtually impossible for her. She would never talk about her time with the Inquisitors. If she did, even someone like Ezra would push her away.
"If you don't want to talk about, I'll understand," stated Rex.
He was about to leave when Sister said, "He knows who I am."
Rex turned and said, "Knows you were an Inquisitor? Everyone on the base knows that."
"No. He knows everything about me. All the things I did," sighed Sister.
Rex pondered over that statement. "I heard rumors about clone troopers who were specifically trained to hunt and kill Jedi. Black armor and some of the best weapons the Empire had to offer. Purge troopers," he said.
Sister nodded, "Once the Emperor decided to phase out the clones, regular enlisted soldiers were brought into replace them. Most barely lasted a few months. They were cannon fodder after all but Cassel was one of the few who managed to survive years. I had him transferred to the Storm Commandos a few years back...right after he saved my life."
"I'm guessing you didn't do that out of the kindness of your heart," surmised Rex.
"I had my reasons," grumbled Sister.
"So what's the problem? You look like you've just murdered the neighbor's Loth cat," remarked Rex.
"Let's just say that...seeing him again brought up a lot of uncomfortable memories. The sight of him reminds me of my time in the Inquisitors," sighed Sister.
Rex was silent for a moment, thinking over his next words.
"Or maybe seeing him reminds you of yourself," he commented.
"What? That's ridiculous," scoffed Sister.
"Is it?" asked Rex. "The two of you had to do terrible things for the Empire, you've both defected, and found a team to call you family."
"No not family! Family only stabs you in the back!" snapped Sister and instantly regretted her outburst. Fortunately Rex didn't seem to take offense to it.
"When I was in the 501st, I always had to be on the lookout for any trooper dealing with personal issues. Sometimes it wasn't always easy to spot, sometimes the signs were subtle but they always affected the men. Like an anchor dragging them down. In combat, that was a surefire way to get yourself and your brothers killed," explained Rex.
"I get whatever issues you have you don't want to talk about to me. But maybe there's someone else you can talk about with like someone who already knows what you've been through," continued Rex.
Sister already knew who he was referring to. "He's a PathFinder, not a psychiatrist," she muttered.
"He's a Sergeant, it practically comes with the job," chuckled Rex. "Maybe it'll help or maybe not. But until you deal with whatever's going on, it's always going to gnaw at you."
"Spoken from experience?" inquired Sister.
"Too much experience," sighed Rex. He turned and left, leaving Sister to her own thoughts.
The clone was remarkably astute. Second Sister couldn't just keep shoving people away like she's been especially since she's learned just how important other people especially the Ghost crew were to keeping her alive.
Staying months onboard the ship had slowly worn Sister down as she watched how close Hera, Kanan, Zeb, Sabine, Ezra, and Chopper were. Ezra was the only one she truly bonded with but he was the exception for a long time. She wanted to trust them but the problem was history consistently proved her wrong. Krell, the Jedi Council, Vader, the Inquisitors, they all betrayed her one after another. How many more times did she have to survive getting stabbed in the back?
Yet keeping them at a distance was becoming toxic. Sister was at a crossroads where she either got closer to them or put them away further. The latter meant sometime down the road, Sister would leave. It was just inevitable if she couldn't learn to fully trust them all. Right now they tolerated her, what happens when they didn't anymore? They wouldn't just kick her to the curb but she couldn't be a part of the crew since she was never truly one of them.
Second Sister found out she wasn't the only one who couldn't sleep. Davrin Cassel was at the shooting range, blasting away at various aerial drones zipping around the air. The recruits normally had to deal with at least five drones at any given time. Cassel was shooting at nine.
"This your way of dealing with stress?" Sister called out.
Cassel didn't turn around, instead he continued firing his weapons at the various targets.
"Civies mope when they're angry. Soldiers just train harder," the Sergeant remarked. Sister understood the sentiment. Sitting around feeling sorry about yourself didn't do you any good. If you need to work off steam, best to put it to good use.
Sister needed to get something off her chest but by the Force, the next words she was going to say felt like biting down on a razor blade.
"I'm sorry," she sighed.
Cassel lowered his rifle and finally turned to face her.
"I've got to admit. I never thought I would hear those words ever come out of your mouth. Was that painful to say?" he asked.
"Very," grumbled Sister.
"Ok then. What are you sorry for?" he asked.
"You had unresolved issues with the Inquisitors and when I realized it, I kept poking at it so you'd lose control and I could win the fight," answered Sister.
"That's called good strategy. Don't apologize for exploiting your opponent's weakness," replied Cassel.
"Well you're not my opponent now," stated Sister.
Cassel was silent for a moment. "Pick up a rifle," Cassel said, indicating with his head where the weapons locker was.
"Is this a challenge?" Sister wondered.
"No. I just prefer shooting things while I'm discussing serious topics," quipped Cassel.
Sister headed over to the container and open it to reveal an assortment of different weapons including blasters and rifles. She decided to use the same model the Sergeant was using and picked up an a280 rifle. It was only a practice model but it matched the weight of the real thing.
Sister took up position next to Cassel and aimed her weapon around, getting a feel for it.
"Computer engage dual round mode. 20 target drones. Difficulty level 5," the sergeant instructed a nearby console. The machine beeped in acknowledgement and began reworking the programming for the next game.
"You didn't just come to here to apologize," stated Cassel.
"No I couldn't sleep either," said Sister.
"Alright you don't want to just say it outloud. Fair enough. I understand," Cassel shrugged.
"What do you mean?" frowned Sister.
"You were an Inquisitor. Opening up to people tended to get them killed. So while we're waiting for that, might as well work on our accuracy," Cassel answered.
The computer beeped again, signaling the start of the game. Various platforms formed and moved around to create obstacles. Drones shot out of various slots on the target range and began zipping around in the air.
Cassel and Sister opened fire, their blaster bolts translucent due to being practice rounds. Sister managed to hit one but missed another as it cover behind an obstacle. Her eyes locked onto another one moving to the side and scored a hit before it changed directions.
She could hear Cassel's rifle going off but wasn't sure how successful he was. In the end, that didn't matter. Worrying about her opponent's score would only distract her. She needed to focus on herself. Another round disabled a drone then Sister hit a drone that peaked out from behind cover.
A loud chime indicated the game was over. Sister turned to the control console to see the holographic display showing that she got eight kills while Cassel got twelve.
"Not bad for your first time," admitted Cassel.
"Go again," Sister told him.
"Computer reset program," Cassel told the command console. It chimed in response.
They went through another round this time Sister got nine, Cassel eleven.
"I'm impressed," Cassel told her.
"Is that your way of cheering me up for losing again?" Sister asked.
"No. We're on level five and that's the hardest difficulty. Most recruits who faced off against me can barely get two or three kills," explained Cassel.
"We're on the hightest level?! Isn't that cheating not to start me on a lower difficulty?" protested Sister.
"No such thing as cheating on the battlefield. Besides you did good. Give a few weeks of blaster training and you'll give the best PathFinder snipers a run for their money," remarked Cassel.
Sister was annoyed getting put on the highest difficulty, especially considering this was her first time not only at this range but she also hadn't handle a medium-sized blaster rifle in a long time. Maybe this was the Sergeant's way of getting back at her for her antics during their sparring match.
"If you're any indication of what the Jedi could have done if they used blasters, they would have been unstoppable if they used them during the Clone Wars," commented Cassel.
"The Jedi thought blasters were uncivilized as they're offensive. They can only wound or kill," responded Sister.
"That's the kinda the point," frowned Cassel.
"A lightsaber can used to block or defend. It's only deadly when it's wielder wants it to be," continued Sister. That manta had been drilled into her head when she was in the Temple and it unnerved how easily she could just recite it. The less Jedi training she could remember the better.
"Then why not just use both? Use blasters when your opponent is at a distance and a lightsaber in close combat?" asked Cassel.
"You're putting more thought into this then the Jedi Council ever did," muttered Sister. "Their focus was always on how much they could reduce the body count regardless of how much danger that left their own members in. Lightsaber could more easily disarm an opponent rather then killing them. Lightsaber wounds tend to get less fatal then a blaster wound, especially if it's user isn't trying to kill you."
"So they intentionally made things more dangerous for their own Order to makes things less dangerous for their opponents trying to kill them? That's just..." Cassel spoke.
"Stupid," Sister and Cassel both said at the same time. That got a little smirk from Sister. She was starting to feel more at ease.
"Computer reset program," Cassel ordered.
They went through another round. Again it was nine kills for Sister and eleven for Cassel.
"And you were complaining earlier about the difficulty," quipped Cassel.
"You wanted to know why I sent you away?" Sister asked.
Cassel lowered his weapon and turned, clearly interested.
"When Twelve was about to kill me, I was completely helpless. The Inquisitors pounded into you never to show weakness and yet all that training was for nothing in that moment. The truth was that I was scared and after you killed Twelve, you saw it on my face," explained Sister.
"You wanted me gone because of that?" frowned Cassel.
"I wanted you gone because I couldn't afford to let anyone see me like that. The Inquisitorius is like a school of Firaxan sharks. Any sign of weakness and the rest would devour you. My life depended on everyone believing that I couldn't be touched. That no one aside from Vader stood a chance of killing me and what you saw that day would have proved otherwise," admitted Sister.
She didn't understand why she was just opening herself up like this. Was it because she felt guilty about goading him into remembering bad memories during their sparring match or was this something she had wanted to get off her chest but no one till now would have understood?
"Why send me away? If the other Inquisitors wanted me gone, they would have just killed me," remarked Cassel.
"I'm not like them and I didn't want to waste a good soldier. The Empire never had many of them to begin with," answered Sister.
Cassel pondered that before initiating another round. This time it was ten each.
"I take it back. You won't even need a week of training," Cassel quipped.
"Why you'd defect?" Sister inquired. Now she was really getting into the meat of what she wanted to know. She opened up to him, now maybe he'll do the same.
"I just couldn't take it anymore," explained Cassel.
"Why?" asked Sister.
"Because everywhere I went, the Empire only made things worse. Their agricultural policies left people starving, their housing policies left more people on the streets, and no one was ever accountable for their own failures. Promotions were based on nepotism and the law could be bought off if you had enough credits. The Republic had a sense of patriotism to it but the Empire has none. Everyone in it is only looking out for themselves," shrugged Cassel.
"Can't argue with that," agreed Sister.
Cassel fiddled with his gun, examining the weapon's power pack. "So why are you really here to talk? You didn't come to listen to my miserable past," he remarked.
"Are you close with your teammates?" asked Sister.
"Of course. They're the closest thing I've got to family," nodded Cassel.
"They told me earlier that you told them you were a Purger Trooper. Do they know...everything?" Sister questioned.
Judging from Cassel's face, Sister was touching on a sensitive topic. "You mean the castle?" he assumed.
"Yeah...the castle," sighed Sister.
"To be honest, I'd be happy never talking about that place every again," replied Cassel. The pain in his eyes told Sister everything she needed to know about his time there.
"How did you...tell them...your teammates I mean...the truth about you?" Sister asked. She cursed herself for starting to quiver, letting emotion come out of her like that.
Cassel shrugged, "Well trust didn't come overnight. It took time, a lot of training together, and a few missions under our belt. Eventually when I knew I could trust them, I laid it for them. They knew I served in the Storm Commandos but not the whole truth. And you know what? Nothing changed. They still accepted me as one of their own."
"So that's it? Nothing special?" sighed a disappointed Sister. It wasn't like she expected some secret words that would make everything work out but she was hoping there was more to it then that.
"Do you trust your crew?" asked Cassel. Clearly he figured out what all of this was about.
"I...I suppose," stuttered Sister.
"Do you trust them with your life?" Cassel asked.
"Yes," admitted Sister. They saved her life enough times to earn that.
"Then you do trust them. Tell them the truth," Cassel suggested.
"How do I know they wouldn't just push them away?" sighed Sister.
"Sometimes you've just got to take a leap of faith. They'll either accept you and reject you. If you don't, that doubt you have will be like a ball and chain dragging you down," said Cassel.
It was so kriffing obvious yet Sister needed to hear it from someone who actually went through the same thing she was going through now. She realized she wanted to be a part of the Ghost crew and not just because she was had a bunk. The crew was a family and Sister wanted a family. Yes she had been stabbed in the back so many times but she wanted somewhere she belonged with people who accepted her.
"You should get some sleep. Your second run through the Gauntlet's tomorrow morning," Cassel said.
Sister decided to take the advice. She headed to the weapons locker and deposited her practice weapon.
"You owe me a rematch," Cassel called out.
"You're a glutton for punishment," Sister retorted as she headed through the door.
Second Sister awoke the next morning feeling a weight off her shoulders. For months she was afraid the truth about her past would come out and the others would throw her off the ship. Now it was all so simple. She would lay it all out and let the chips land where they will.
"Oh look. She actually went to bed for once," remarked Zeb as he noticed Sister getting up.
"Hope you got a good's night sleep because we're hitting the training course immediately after breakfast," said Hera.
"Last day then we can get out of here," Kanan said as he stretched.
"About time," moaned Ezra as he rubbed his eyes.
"This wasn't so bad. You should have grown up in my family," quipped Sabine.
"Crazy Mandalorians," muttered Zeb.
Colonel Seertay stepped inside the barracks and shouted, "Move it people! Get to the mess hall!"
The Spectres made it through six simulations of the Gauntlet with each having it own different challenges. However, everyone knew they were each nothing more then a warm up for the simulation they failed the last time. Colonel Seertay didn't let the Ghost crew know when it would show up, only to be ready when it does.
The Colonel was in the catwalks above watching them along with Captain Rex and Sergeant Cassel.
The seventh run was when it happened. Before the crew rushed onto the course, Sabine would scan the entrance each time to make sure they wouldn't walk into another Ion trap like their failed run. This time, her due diligence paid off as she picked up the same trap as before waiting for them.
"So this is the one?" asked Ezra.
"Well it's either that for or the Colonel's teasing us," remarked Sabine.
"Assume the former," said Hera as she readied her blaster.
Sabine disabled the trap and the crew rushed inside to an onslaught of training droids. More then almost of their previous runs combined. Kanan and Sister were in the front with their lightsabers, forming a defensive screen to block any incoming blaster fire. Hera, Sabine, and Zeb came up behind to blast anything in front of them and Ezra took up the rear to make sure no droids tried to sneak up behind them.
Like last time, the droids began to focus their fire on a single member. This time it was Sabine and yet something changed. Sister jumped in front of her and deflected the seemingly endless barrage one bolt at a time. While the droids were more focused on her, the rest of the Spectres used the opportunity to thin out the enemy ranks.
Sister was putting on a good effort but the amount of laser fire she was deflecting was starting to overwhelm her. On the bright side, if she's the one who gets taken out then she won't have to worry about slicing that console.
A pairs of hands suddenly grabbed her by the waist and Sister was yanked off her feet and pulled behind her cover. She turned to see Hera looming over her.
"And you call me Death Wish?" Hera frowned.
"I'm the best person to keep you safe from that much fire," argued Sister.
Kanan leaped through the air and rolled on the ground, dodging laser fire as he joined them.
"You forget we're a team?" he asked.
"Ezra! Over here!" shouted Hera. The Padawan came rushing in to join them.
"The droids are targeting me so the three of you form up around me and block anything that comes at you!" Hera ordered.
She turned to Zeb and Sabine. "We'll draw their fire. Take out the ray shield emitters in the center," she ordered.
The Mandalorian and Lasat advanced through the chaos as the three Force users surrounded Hera. The droids went all in after the Captain, attempting to hit her from multiple angles.
"Move up!" said Hera. She returned fire as she slowly advanced with Kanan, Sister, and Ezra forming essential a shield around her with their blade work. Up ahead, Sabine and Zeb smashed the ray shield emitters and then opened fire at the droids.
The clankers were starting to drop like flies. Their numbers were thinned to the point the force users could slow down with their movements and aim blaster bolts they deflected back at their attackers.
Sabine moved forward to the exit followed by Zeb. They provided covering fire while the others moved towards it slowly and cautiously. Sabine tapped the control console and the blast doors that led out of the course.
Sister expected the other shoe to drop. There had to be another surprise waiting for them. This whole run was certainly no cakewalk but they couldn't have possibly it. They passed through the opened blast doors, completing the course. Red lights lite up on the walls along with an alarm klaxon, signaling the run was over.
"We did it!" shouted Ezra.
"Well that wasn't so bad," chuckled Zeb.
"Maybe for you buddy. My arms feel like they're about to fall off from the blasters I had to block with my lightsaber," jested Kanan.
"You all did good," Hera stated proudly.
Sister was silent, pondering why wasn't their some slicing puzzle during the course.
They met up with Seertay, Rex, and Cassel in a briefing room.
"Well done. You completed your objectives and didn't lose a single member of your team. Your time here was brief but hopefully you learned a thing or two. This doesn't mean I consider you PathFinder material. Come back to attend the full training course and I might change my mind," spoke Seertay.
"Thanks for the offer but we need to get back to Phoenix Squadron," Hera said.
"Tell Commander Sato I said hello and that anytime he wants out of the chairforce, he's welcome to join the grunts on the ground," chuckled Seertay.
"Chairforce?" frowned Hera. Being a pilot herself, she didn't think the joke was very funny.
"Just a little army humor," smirked Rex.
"You get one more meal on us then pack your things and get back to your ship. Dismissed," Seertay told them before departing along with Cassel.
While the others headed for the exit towards the barracks to grab their things, Sister followed Rex out towards the hangar bay.
"That's it?" she asked.
"What do you mean?" replied Rex.
"That last run I expected something else to happen. Something that would completely throw us off but it never did," protested Sister.
"That's good. You should always feel that way in combat," said Rex.
"But why have me go through all those slicing lessons if I wasn't going to use them?" sighed Sister.
"You just might need to use it one of these days. You didn't need to use any such skills because you and your team kept it each other safe which allowed someone else to hack the door. The whole point of the Gauntlet isn't to constantly to throw a loop every time you step forward, it's to instill the feeling that you need to always be on your toes. That feeling is what keeps the PathFinders alive during missions and it'll keep you and your team alive," explained Rex.
"Well it certainly had it's intended effect," remarked Sister.
She glanced towards the barracks and noticed Sergeant Cassel.
"I'll catch up," Sister told the clone before approaching the PathFinder.
"Congratulations. You almost matched my team's record on that particular simulation run," Cassel spoke.
"Almost?" frowned Sister.
"Yeah and we completed it with only four people, no lightsabers, and no Force powers," Cassel smirked arrogantly.
"Are you trying to goad me into going again?" grumbled Sister.
"No although you do owe me a rematch," replied Cassel.
"And what happens when I beat you again?" asked Sister.
"Now who's the arrogant one?" retorted Cassel.
"It's not arrogance if I back up my words," smiled Sister.
"Name your vintage and I'll see what I can do," shrugged Cassel.
Sister threw him a look. "And what if I choose that particular Alderaanian brand from the Aspen Mountains that cost five hundred credits a bottle?"
"I thought you were an Inquisitor, not a socialite," Cassel commented.
"Why you little..." grumbled Sister. The idea of comparing her to some spoiled princess made her blood boil.
"Well you pushed my buttons during our last duel. Turn about's fair play," shrugged Cassel.
"Fair enough but just for that you've got a concussion waiting in your future," Sister warned.
"Thanks for the advance warning but you still have to name your vintage," Cassel said.
"Black Nysillin Tea from Felucia," Sister answered.
That threw the Sergeant for a loop. "Tea?" Cassel frowned.
"You asked for my vintage. There it is," Sister remarked.
"I'll remember that. You might want to catch up with your team and...well remember my advice from earlier," suggested Cassel.
"I'll think about it," replied Sister.
"Don't die out there," Cassel said before offering his hand.
Sister shook his hand and said, "You too. How else any I going to win my tea?"
That got a smile from the Sergeant before he headed off to the barracks. PathFinders tended to have low life expectancy but Sister had a funny feeling she'd see him again. He was hard to kill.
Second Sister headed to the mess hall where the Ghost crew were seated at a table dining on Ronto wraps. Ezra and Sabine were laughing as Zeb poured hot sauce onto his food and scarfed one of his wraps down.
"That much sauce is going to put you into the infirmary," chuckled Kanan.
"It'll be worth it," shrugged Zeb as he picked up another wrap.
The former Inquisitor grabbed a food tray from the cooks and found her feet grounded. Was now really the right time to lay it all out? She trusted them but would they still trust her? Sister couldn't believe how terrified she was. She was acting like some kid hoping to make friends at her new school.
"You just going to stand there and let your food go cold?" Sabine called out.
"Maybe she likes it that way. It's matches her heart," joked Zeb.
Sister realized just standing around was starting to draw attention. It was now or never. She finally decided to just go with it and headed towards their table. Sister wasn't going to ask permission before sitting down. She might want to be a part of this crew but her pride wouldn't let her beg for it like that.
Sister took a seat next to Ezra. The whole table went silent as everyone realized that Second Sister was sitting with them for the first time. You'd think they'd just seen the Emperor streaking through the cafeteria.
Sister noticed their reactions and asked, "I can sit here right?"
Ezra was the first to speak up. "Absolutely. Right guys?" he said.
"Sure," agreed Sabine.
"Alright," said Hera.
"Why not," shrugged Zeb.
"Pass the muja sauce would you?" asked Kanan.
Sister picked up a nearby bottle and handed it to the Jedi. The conversations between the crew resumed and Sister realized it felt right. For the first time in a long time, she actually felt like she belonged.
Seventh Sister waited impatiently as she stood inside a massive hangar bay with Eighth Brother. The Terralian Jango Jumper had always annoyed her but at least she could tolerate him long enough to get any job done. Five had been dumb and easy to manipulate but with him dead, Seven was forced to now work with Eight.
Vader's Fortress saw little traffic coming in with only the Inquisitors or a few imperial staff operating inside of it. Darth Vader rarely showed up as he mostly on the move from one target to the next, only returning to undergo medical procedures. In his absence the Grand Inquisitor was in charge and now that he was dead, that fell now to Third Sister.
The leader of the Inquisitors had summon Seven and Eight here via com and told them to wait until her arrival. That had been three hours ago. Seven couldn't pass the time with small talk as she hated Eight and would only speak to him when necessary.
So they waited until Seven could finally feel Third's presence. She turned towards the large open blast doors to see a Zeta class Cargo Shuttle dropping from the sky. It folded it's wings as it entered the cargo bay and came to a landing inside.
Seven and Eight approached the shuttle as it's cargo ramp dropped down. Third Sister descended from it along with a large metallic figure. Seven thought it was a droid until she heard the labored mechanical breathing. That meant he was a cyborg and the breathing reminded her of Vader except she couldn't really sense it in the Force.
"I have a new assignment for you two," announced Third as she stepped off the ramp.
"I was hunting the Shadow," protested Eight.
"Lord Vader no longer considers him to be a primary target. Ahsoka Tano is," said Third.
"And how exactly are we supposed to find her? There's been no confirmed sighting of her since the destruction of Artanis Station," stated Seven.
"I have a plan for that," remarked Third.
"Your plan or Vader's? Interesting how despite taking command our ranks, you're still only call Third. I wonder why that is?" mocked Seven.
"Second Sister killed the Grand Inquisitor. Until I can kill her, I won't earn the rank," explained Third in an irritated tone.
"Or unless someone else does it first," chuckled Eight.
Third lifted up a hand and Eight suddenly gasped. He clenched his throat as he was lifted into the air telekinetically.
"Don't test me. I can kill both of you right now and there's no power in the universe that could stop me," warned Third. She lowered her hand and released her hold on Eight. The Jango Jumper dropped to the floor gasping for air. Seven decided further antagonizing her superior was a bad idea.
"I want the two of you to track down and retrieve a list of targets. Don't concern yourself with being discreet. In fact, the most public the abductions the better," ordered Third.
"Who are we taking?" asked Seven.
Third pulled out her holo com and pressed a button to create a holographic display containing a set of pictures. Each one contained an infant of a different species.
"Children?" inquired Eight who had regained his breath.
"Force Sensitive children," Third corrected him.
"How is gathering new recruits going to help find the Jedi?" frowned Seven.
"Because if there's one thing the Jedi can't resist, it's rushing in to save the innocent and who else is more innocent then a child?" chuckled Third.
"We'll draw Ahsoka out of hiding and then we'll bring her to Lord Vader alive," continued Third.
"What if instead we draw out Kanan Jarus, Second Sister, and Ezra Bridger?" asked Seven.
"Then we'll take them alive and use them to draw Ahsoka out," shrugged Third.
"And what if we run into all of them at once? Shouldn't we have more Inquisitors with us?" pointed out Eight.
"They're on other assignments but don't worry. I've brought back up," said Third. She turned and motioned towards the cyborg.
"Meet Major Risar Velken. He's on loan from COMPFORCE's Assault Division and comes highly recommended by Grand Moff Tarkin. He's spent the past few months tracking the lothal rebels and nearly had them on Nixus. With his help, Second Sister and her friends won't stand a chance," smiled Third.
(I'm sorry I didn't include Chopper in the latest chapters. I'll try not to let him out in future ones. I hope people don't think that Second Sister was becoming like a teenager worried about what her friends think of her but the idea was that she knows how good the people she's with is and is concerned she can't live up to their standards. Also I've been slacking with any kind of Rex and Sister kind of friendship. Hence why she goes to him for support more in this chapter. I'm aiming for him to be more of a paternal figure. Hope you enjoyed and please review.)