Hera's Heroes
A week has passed after the whole annoying Hondo situation, which Errol did explain to Hera, who found the whole idea of him and his family beating up Hondo really funny, and Ezra thought he was being too hard on Hondo but Errol told him he shouldn't be so naive with the space pirate.
Right now, the Ghost crew are on Ryloth so that they could make a supply run, with Gobi onboard and they were flying over the landscape of Ryloth when Errol noticed a couple of Twi'leks on Blurrgs being chased by Imperials.
"Hera, look." He pointed. They looked closer and realised that they're Cham and Numa.
"Father, don't worry. We're closing in on your position." She informed her dad through the comlink.
"Hera, is that you? Good timing. We are running out of room." Cham replied, sounding grateful for some help.
"We're coming in from the north." Hera told him.
"There's no room for you to land." Cham pointed out.
"Well, we're not landing, sir. You need to head south." Errol said.
"There is no time." Cham shot back.
"Just turn around! We'll take care of the Empire." Hera assured him.
They flew towards them as a Scout Trooper on a speeder bike and a Trooper transport started to shoot at them, but Ezra in the Nose Gun fired back, destroying the Trooper transport. They then flew over Cham and Numa.
"Hera, how did you plan on getting us onboard?" Cham asked through the comlink.
"We're lowering the front ramp. Just jump on." Hera told him.
"With the Blurrgs?" Cham asked, slightly confused.
"Yup. Blurrgs are welcome, too." Hera said, sarcastic, making Errol snort in amusement.
Zeb then opened the front ramp and both Cham and Numa got onboard with the Blurrgs. Then the Scout Trooper used the emergency brakes to enter the ship and felt confident he got them as he aimed his blaster, but Cham, Numa and Zeb aimed their weapons at him.
"You didn't think that through, did you?" Zeb asked, amused at the Trooper's stupidity, He then knocked him out. Since Ezra already has a Scout Trooper helmet, Errol could use it.
Once they flew off somewhere else, everyone gathered up in the common room. Cham and Hera both hugged each other, making Errol smile, seeing that things between them are good. Cham then greeted him by shaking hands, might as well do so since Cham could be his hopefully father in law.
"You arrived just in time. Thank you for making this supply run." Cham told Hera.
"It wasn't easy getting past that Imperial blockade." Hera replied.
"Then I wish I had better news. The Imperials now occupy the entire Tann Province." Cham revealed gravely, causing Errol to frown in shock and Hera gasping in horror. Chopper even reacted to the news.
"What's the Tann Province?" Ezra asked, not knowing what they're talking about.
"Hera grew up there." Errol answered since Hera told him more about her life.
"What happened, father?" Hera asked.
"I underestimated the commander. Captain Slavin. His previous attacks were clumsy, but this one was swift, precise, unlike him. He's made our home his headquarters. I'm afraid I couldn't save anything when I escaped." Cham explained, looking like he was disappointed in himself and felt like he failed Hera. And with Errol, his blood boiled. The Empire now really crossed the line by taking Hera's home from her and her father.
"Not even the Kalikori?" Hera asked him. Errol knew what that was as well.
"What's a Kalikori?" Ezra asked again.
"A totem passed down the line of a Twi'lek family. It honours all who have come before." Numa started the explanation.
"Each parent adds to the artwork to include themselves in the legacy." Gobi then finished.
"Hmm. Family history as living art." Sabine noted in admiration as an artist herself.
"And Hera would've inherited the Kalikori, wouldn't she?" Errol asked Cham.
"Correct, young man." Cham nodded.
"And I still will. That heirloom was important to my mother. And I'm not ready to give it up yet." Hera promised to herself. Errol knew for sure that since it's important to her, he'll be with her every step of the way.
"Gobi, Numa and I are coming with you." Cham told her.
"We'll help, too." Sabine added.
"This wasn't meant to be a personal mission. I can't let you take this risk with me." Hera said, pretty much telling them all to not do this.
"You'd do the same for us." Kanan pointed out.
"Because we owe you." Zeb added. Chopper warbled.
"And I would help you with anything, Hera. Anything." Errol then stated, which made her smile with pride that her boyfriend would help her.
"Come, daughter. I'll brief you on Captain Slavin's defenses. You'll come too, Errol." Cham said, placing a hand on Hera's shoulder.
Once everything was explained, they flew towards the Province.
Cham, Hera and Sabine gathered around a hologram projected by Chopper.
"Alright, Chop, you'll sneak in with me here. The rest of you will work on a diversion to draw the troops away." Hera explained.
"Done. But there are few of our people left in the Tann Province. Getting you in there unnoticed won't be easy." Cham brought up as Chopper shut the hologram off. Then the door behind them opened to reveal Errol in the Scout Trooper armour and helmet. Ezra wanted to do his role but Errol won the argument by pointing out how he'd actually be careful, not get reckless and because Hera is his girlfriend.
"They may notice her, but I'll just blend in." He stated.
Once they reached the Province, all of them got into position on the ridges and rocks waiting for a patrol of Stormtroopers, an AT-DP Walker and a Trooper transport.
Zeb, Kanan and Ezra peeked to see the patrol coming.
"Here comes the patrol." Zeb said.
"You two wait here until we draw them away. Then you can slip by." Kanan told Errol and Hera, who were on a speeder bike. Zeb then signalled to Cham, who with Gobi had a small herd of Blurrg with them. Cham in turn then signalled to Sabine and Numa up on the ridge. Numa flashed a light in acknowledgement.
Then Cham and Gobi charged out with the Blurrg, managing to shoot down one unassuming Trooper and getting the attention of the rest of the patrol. The patrol was getting closer and closer to some detonators that Sabine had planted and once they were close enough, she activated them and exploded the Troopers and the transport but the Walker was.
Zeb and Ezra then nudged Kanan who ignites his saber with Ezra and they run out and get on some Blurrgs and then Numa and Sabine join them and they ride away, distracting the patrol.
Hera and Errol now took this chance and sped off until they reached a spot where they saw a whole bunch of homes on a large rock formation, making it all look like some palace.
"So this is your home. If the Empire didn't take over, I would say it's more beautiful than it is." Errol commented.
"Yes. Let's go." Hera replied and they continued on until they reached a gate of some kind being guarded by a Stormtrooper.
"Hold it there." The Trooper told them and Errol stopped the speeder bike. He had Hera sitting in front of him, to make their appearance look more convincing.
"I found this Rebel on patrol." Errol said, a deeper pitch in his voice, placing a hand on Hera's shoulder and Hera put on an act.
"Let me go, you Blurrg dropping!" Hera said, voice in her Twi'lek accent.
"Take the prisoner inside for processing. The transport will come pick her up later." The Trooper told Errol and he stepped aside for him to drive the speeder bike through the gate and parked in front of a three storey structure to their left with Troopers on guard.
"The Empire' certainly made themselves at home." Hera noted as she and Errol got off the bike, Errol holding her arm to look convincing. They also noticed a disguised Chopper looking at an old Y-Wing.
"Oh. There's Chopper." Hera said. Errol realised something.
"This is the Y-Wing you found him in, isn't it?" He asked her.
"Yes. My father left it as a memorial. Chopper still has issues with it. He'll be along." She explained before they walked into the structure, Hera's old home.
They walked through the place until they entered another hallway.
"This way." Hera said and led Errol through. They eventually got in an elevator and reached one of the other floors and then Hera led him to a door, which she opened and they entered.
"This is it. My father's office. He said the Kalikori would be in here somewhere." Hera said as she started to search for it. There was something that caught Errol's attention. He walked up to a portrait of Hera, her father and her mother. He couldn't help but notice how much Hera looks so much like her. He now wished he met her.
"I see you really take after your mother." Errol noted.
"Yeah. It surprised my parents when I was born." She replied as she looked for a shelf and then spotted what she was looking for.
"*gasps* Here it is!" Hera then said, grabbing the Kalikori. Errol walked over to look at it and couldn't help but think that it looked nice.
"I can see why you'd want it back." He said.
"Come on. Let's go." Hera then said.
They reached back down the bottom storey of the structure and they were sneaking their way through until they heard a chiming from a door, making them hide. A door then opened and out came an Imperial Officer and another but this one was different. He was a Chiss with blue skin and red eyes. He was also wearing a white Imperial uniform. Errol couldn't help but sense so much confidence exuding off the Chiss and saw his calculating manner in how he positions himself.
"Stand guard. No one in or out." The officer told a Stormtrooper. The couple then sneaked off elsewhere to another door, though hearing the officer call the Chiss Grand Admiral.
"I thought the Empire didn't have aliens in their ranks. Who the hell was that Chiss?" Errol pointed out.
"I don't know." Hera answered.
"Then how do we get out of here?" He then asked.
"There's a secret exit on the lower level." Hera said.
"They might have already found it." Errol said, knowing that the Empire isn't as dumb as some think.
"I doubt it. There was never any reason to come down here except to sneak a meiloorun from time to time." She replied.
The two then make their way to where this exit was and when Hera opened the door, she gasped because it was now some kind of Imperial command centre. The two hide by the door frame.
"I've never seen so many gutkurrs down here before." Hera muttered.
"They're definitely not down here for meilooruns." Errol remarked before they headed off in the elevator and reached a hallway where they heard Chopper beeping to their right and they saw him around the corner.
"Chopper! Am I glad to see you." Hera greeted him, getting on her knees and patting her astromech.
"We could use some help getting out of here." She then told him and he beeped back, agreeing to help out. He told them about less guards in a part of the location and led them to said location where they took a peek.
"Chop was right. There are less guards here." Hera noted.
"They're probably not expecting prisoners to simply walk out the front door. We'll need a diversion." Errol said. Chopper volunteered himself and wheeled up to the Stormtroopers as Hera and Errol sneaked around. Chopper warbled at the Troopers, confusing them as the couple went behind a glass panel wall.
"Go first. I'll cover you." Errol whispered to Hera and she nodded, quietly making her way to the door as Errol pointed the blaster that came with the Scout Trooper armour at the Stormtroopers.
Hera was about to walk through the door but then the Chiss Grand Admiral and the officer, who was a Captain, walked in, stopping her in her tracks.
"Out of the way, servant!" The Captain snarled at her, making Errol barely control himself to blast him right in the face. This of course got the attention of the Troopers and Chopper who beeped 'uh oh'.
"You are not permitted on these floors. I have told you people, restrict your movements to the kitchen." The Captain then said with superiority.
"Yes, sir. Sorry, sir." Hera said, speaking in her Twi'lek accent and walked away until….
"Just a moment." The Chiss told her, making her stop.
"Guards, bring her here." He ordered. Errol had to do something so he stepped out, of course, blending in. Errol then had to roughly grab her shoulder and make her face the Chiss.
"May I see that?" He asked and Hera handed him her Kalikori.
"I'm a visitor to your world. It occurs to me it might be beneficial to hear what you have to say about our Imperial occupation." He said, his voice being soft and calm, sending chills down Errol's spine.
"I don't think I could be of any help to you." Hera tried to talk her way out.
"Oh, I disagree. Bring her to your office for questioning." He then ordered to the Captain and then Errol and the Troopers escorted her back to what used to be Cham's office. Hera was then placed on a chair for interrogation. Errol stood, keeping an eye on the whole thing.
"Please! I am a poor refugee." Hera tried to act her way out again.
"Captain, do you recognise this?" The Chiss asked, handing the Kalikori to the Captain.
"Yes, it-it was here, in my office." He said, looking at Hera with a frown.
"I thought I could sell it for food. My family is starving." Hera answered.
"No excuse. You shall make a valuable example to others of your kind who think to steal from the Empire." The Captain snarled, wanting to punish her. Errol gritted his teeth to keep up his act.
The Captain then handed the Kalikori back to the Grand Admiral.
"She's far more valuable than you realise." He explained, walking past Hera towards the portrait.
"Uh… how do you mean?" He asked the Chiss.
"To defeat an enemy, you must know them. Not simply their battle tactics, but their history, philosophy, art." He explained, looking at the portrait, especially at Hera, noticing something.
"So I will ask you again, Captain, do you know what this is?" He then asked the Captain about the Kalikori.
"Some primitive native trinket." He disrespectfully spat.
"It's a Kalikori." The Chiss corrected him, surprising both Errol and Hera.
"A revered Twi'lek heirloom passed from parent to child through generations. Worthless to outsiders, priceless to family." He explained in more detail what it was, educating the Captain.
"Yes. Well, she stole it." He spat yet again.
"Yes, but why? War. It's all you've ever known, isn't it? You were so young when you survived the Clone War. No wonder you're as equipped in spirit to fight as well as you do. War is in your blood. I study the art of war, work to perfect it. But you… you were forged by it." The Chiss said, as though he knew who she was and got right up to her ear.
"Sir, she's just a peasant." The Captain dismissed.
"It doesn't matter where we come from, Admiral. Our will to be free is what's going to beat you." Hera told the Grand Admiral in the accent Errol is familiar with.
"You… you dare…." The Captain pointed his finger at her with aggression and venom.
"Slavin, please. You embarrass me in front of our host." The Admiral scolded the Captain.
"'Host'? What?" Slavin questioned.
"May I introduce Hera Syndulla, Rebel pilot, freedom fighter and military leader. Daughter of your nemesis, Cham Syndulla." The Chiss said, pointing to the portrait.
Now that they knew who she was, they escorted Hera to a cell. Once they approached it, a Stormtrooper knocked her to the ground in the cell, and that was a bad move because Errol couldn't contain himself anymore and attacked the Stormtrooper but then he was held at gunpoint by a couple more Troopers and even Slavin. Errol knew he was a goner so he placed his hands up, removed his helmet and turned around as the Grand Admiral entered. He examined Errol, noticing the marks on his forehead, knowing that they're Togruta markings.
"An unexpected pleasure to meet you, Captain Hera Syndulla." He said to Hera, still holding the Kalikori.
"*sighs* Wish I could say the same, Admiral." Hera retorted.
"It is a pity our first encounter might well be our last. I will keep your Kalikori in a place of honour." The Admiral told her.
"If I knew you'd take it, I would've smashed it when I had the chance." Hera stated as the Chiss handed the Kalikori to a Stormtrooper.
"You surprise me. Is your history worth so little to you?" He asked.
"My family legacy belongs to us alone. It is not for some collector's curiosity." Hera spat with self pride for herself and her people.
"What did you say?" Slavin asked, sounding offended.
"Forgive him. I thank you for your hospitality." The Admiral then said, rather respectfully. Errol knew that he can't just let this Grand Admiral take Hera's Kalikori for himself. He swore to himself that he'd help Hera bring it back and he is going to do that. And seeing that the Admiral is a man who is respectful and even honourable, he knew one way he could do this.
"I'd like to make a wager!" He declared, making everyone look at him.
"Shut your mouth, Rebel!" Slavin shouted.
"Slavin, please…. What do you wager for, young man?" The Admiral asked.
"Simple. I challenge you to hand to hand combat. And to make it fair, I won't use the Force. If I win, you let me and Hera leave with the Kalikori. But if you win, well, you just do whatever it is you Imperials do. I stick to my word." Errol challenged. Hera was both concerned and floored. Concerned because he's challenging an Imperial Admiral but floored because he'd go to these lengths for Hera to keep her Kalikori. The Chiss considered his words and to hear that he is pretty much a Jedi and wants to fight fair, well… he couldn't resist the opportunity.
"I accept your wager." He nodded, shocking Slavin so much that he didn't say anything as he and the Troopers stepped back to give space as the Admiral took his white jacket off to show his white long sleeve shirt and Errol removed the armour plating he wore.
"Can I learn the name of who I'm about to fight against?" Errol asked as he got into, ready to fight.
"You can call me Thrawn." The Admiral replied as he too got into position.
The room was silent as everyone waited to see who would make the first move. Errol then rushed at Thrawn, delivering the first punch, however, Thrawn caught the fist and flipped Errol over and he'd roll away from Thrawn.
Errol recovered for a short bit and then he launched a whole volley of punches. A few did manage to hit Thrawn but the rest of Errol's punches were blocked or deflected by the Chiss, who made his own strikes, which hit the younger man.
Thrawn then dropped down to avoid a punch but also to sweep at Errol's legs, making the young man fall onto his back. Errol rolled back and as he got up, he blocked a jab from the older man and then swung back but missed and received a punch right to the cheek, making him stumble back and this gave Thrawn an opening to kick him right in the gut and then an elbow, which all made Errol fall on the ground. Thrawn then took the opportunity to get behind him and wrap his arm around Errol's neck for a chokehold.
"Yield." He told the teen, who refused, struggling against the strong chokehold. As he kept struggling, the edges of his vision started to darken with unconsciousness creeping in.
He looked over to Hera, whose face was expressing worry and fear and tears were threatening to spill out. This sight sparked determination and a renewed fire within Errol and so he had to get out of this chokehold.
He realised that while the grip around his neck was strong, his struggling caused Thrawn to put more pressure on his right foot, which was held forward and his left foot was less stable.
Seeing this opportunity, he twisted his body around and rolled to the left. Though Thrawn does his best to resist, Errol loosened up his hold enough to break free and kick him away and roll back to keep his distance. Hera was relieved to see this happen.
Errol then rose back up on his feet and took deep breaths, stroking his neck as it felt slightly sore as he waited for Thrawn to make the first move. Within seconds, Errol was fully ready and got into position, waiting for him to strike.
A moment later, Thrawn moved forward with a low kick, but Errol jumped to avoid it and Thrawn then tried to punch him but Errol caught it and he used it as leverage to elbow the Chiss right in the nose so hard that blood came out and then he kicked him back.
Thrawn raised his hand and wiped his nose to see blood on his fingers, making him smile.
"No one has ever hit me that hard since my time in the Academy." He complimented the teen who remained silent. They then immediately traded blows, a flurry of punches that equally landed and missed from both fighters. Errol saw that Thrawn was starting to get tired.
Thran had then thrown a hard punch that left the rest of him exposed, which Errol suspected was because of fatigue and the Chiss wanting to end this fight quickly. Either way, Errol deflected the punch and made a really hard blow to the ribs and then an uppercut to his chin, disorientating Thrawn enough for Errol to grab him and throw him over his knee, making the Chiss Admiral land hard on his back.
The teen then got over him and pressed his right knee on top of Thrawn's throat, immobilizing him. Thrawn struggled against him but the weight was just too much for him, partly because he was exhausted so he gave in and tapped Errol's leg, signalling that he yielded. With a victorious smirk, Errol stood up.
"You're the victor." Thrawn declared with a sinister smile. He now recognises Errol's skill, seeing him as an equal opponent. He stood up, wiping the blood off of his face and grabbed his jacket which a Stormtrooper held.
"You have such skill and honour for a young man." He then told Errol, who nodded in respect. Hera was beyond happy to see that her boyfriend was okay and that he won.
"True to my word, I will let you and Captain Syndulla leave and with the Kalikori." He then said, grabbing the item out of the box and handing it to Errol. He then faced the Stormtroopers.
"When ready, escort them out, but also call Cham Syndulla to turn himself over in exchange with the two. Contact their friends to pick them up." He then ordered the Troopers and Slavin. Errol internally kicked himself, as did Hera. Errol should've added more to the wager but it was too late as he and Hera were left in the cell.
Once they were left alone, Hera instantly hugged Errol and he hugged her back, burying his face into her shoulder. They then parted and Errol handed the Kalikori to her.
"Errol… You were willing to fight an Imperial Admiral just so I could have the Kalikori?" She asked, still in disbelief.
"Yes. It means so much to you and in turn, it means so much to me. I would do anything for you and to give you back what's yours." He stated, which made Hera shed some tears and then smacked her lips on his and they kissed for a long time. They parted when the couple heard a grunting from the door. Frowning in confusion they walked up to it until it opened up and Chopper entered.
"Chopper!" Hera greeted him and then he warbled.
"My father's accepting to turn himself in." Hera repeated, noting that he does care for her that much.
"Alright. So what do we do? The Empire will still use your home after we leave." Errol pointed out. Hera thought of ideas until one came into mind.
"Chopper, I want you to raid the Imperial armoury and get as many explosives as you can." She ordered, the droid acknowledged.
"So you're willing to blow up your own home?" Errol asked, knowing what the explosives are for.
"My home is my crew, my family and the love of my life." She replied, smiling and he smiled back. Chopper then left the two to do as he was ordered.
The couple then sat and waited for several minutes until Slavin entered.
"Time to say goodbye to your father." He said, aiming a blaster at them with a couple of Stormtroopers to escort them.
They were led outside and watched the Ghost fly in and land in front of them.
"Steady. On my command." Slavin ordered his Troopers. The ramp opened up and both Cham and Kanan walked out.
"Syndulla. At last we meet face to face. Step forward, alone, and turn yourself over as promised." Slavin told the Twi'lek.
"Not until you release them as promised." Cham replied back, just to make sure they don't back off.
"We'll make a simultaneous exchange. Start walking." The Imperial Captain said and the couple walked forward as Cham did. As this happened, Chopped came out the front door, having finished planting the explosives all over the building and goes to join up with the others, confusing Slavin.
"I am sorry, father." Hera apologised.
"It's alright, Hera. Even I have been captured before." He assured her as he placed a hand on her shoulder.
"She meant the house, actually." Errol told him as Hera turned to Chopper.
"Chopper!" She said and he pressed a switch, activating the detonators and the whole building exploded, throwing Troopers and Slavin to the ground.
"What… you were serious!" Cham said in pure shock before Hera and Errol pulled him up on his feet and then they ran to the Ghost. Errol was about to close the ramp as the ship lifted off when he saw a Stormtrooper fire a rocket launcher and he used the Force to deflect it to a AT-DP Walker, destroying it and he waved to a defeated and humiliated Slavin as the ramp closed. They then flew out of there past an Imperial ship.
Once they were far away enough, they landed near a canyon. On the flight before, Hera told her father about what Errol did, fighting Thrawn so that Hera can keep her Kalikori, which made him have much more respect for the young man.
"I have learned not to underestimate you. Fortunately, the Empire has not." Cham said as he, Hera and Errol sat at the table in the kitchen, with drinks and the Kalikori on the table.
"At least not yet." Hera replied.
"At least we got you your Kalikori back." Errol said, making Hera look down at it with a smile.
"All thanks to you, Errol. I have the memory of my mother now along with you, my father, and my family." She said, making her, Errol and Cham clink cups together as a toast and take a sip before she left to go talk with the others, Kalikori in hand. Errol took this chance to talk with Cham about something.
"Cham, there's something I need to talk to you about." He said.
"And what is that?" Cham asked, leaning forward slightly.
"Well… you know how much I love Hera. Because of some recent events, I knew that I can't live without her. So, I want to have your blessing to marry her. I already have the blessing of my parents, but yours is the most important to me." Errol explained. Hearing this made Cham's eyes widen slightly, but with what he was just told, it wasn't that shocking.
"My daughter has told me what you did for my family. You put the extra effort in to make her happy. You have proven yourself to be a very noble man. Because of this, I will give you my blessing. But you had better promise me that you will protect her and never break her heart, unless you want to face my wrath." Cham said, which relieved Errol so much.
"I swear to you, I would never hurt her. If I did, I would never forgive myself if I did." Errol promised. Cham had a knowing smile and the two got up, took their drinks and met up with the others. Errol asked where Hera was as she wasn't there and Kanan said she went to their quarters. He made his way there and there was Hera putting the Kalikori up on the worktop.
"It works as a nice decoration." He said, walking up behind her, taking a sip of his drink.
"Yeah. It's about time we start decorating." She replied before facing him.
"Thank you, Errol. For everything you did." She then said, making Errol smile and then leaned in to kiss her so tenderly and softly that it spoke volumes of his love for her.
"No problem. You'd do the same for me." He replied and then they embraced each other in comfortable silence. Hera couldn't help but think how lucky she is to have him in her life.