Jarik POV...
Ahsoka and I watched Kanan storm off, Hera quickly following after him. He was obviously not happy about something, and I had a good feeling what.
"Go talk to him, I'll have Mara get herself ready for any possible outcome," Ahsoka advises.
I nod my head, not entirely happy with the idea of Mara being on Lothal right now, but if Vader really is there, then she has the best chance of assisting them without drawing attention from Vader. Having me go is suicide, and Ahsoka still can't let her presence known. I enter the long hallway, and see Hera push Kanan out of it into a side compartment, having a heated debate with him. As I approach, I can better hear their voices.
"You seem to be forgetting that these soldiers has helped saved your life," Hera scolded quietly.
"And I'm grateful. But that still doesn't mean I want to join their little army." Kanan replied. "When you and I started together, it was, 'rob from the Empire, give to the needy.' A noble cause. Now we're getting drawn into some kind of military thing! I don't like it."
"We are fighting a bigger fight, but it's still the right fight," she insisted. I can sense Ezra listening in on the other side, but put that off for later.
"I survived one war. I'm not ready for another one. I saw what it did," he said grimly.
"To the Jedi?" Hera asks quietly.
"To everyone," he adds. Hera sighs.
"I know how you feel Kanan," I said, causing them both to look at me in slight surprise. "The Clone Wars caused a lot, and I understand why you want to stay out of it. But if the galaxy is to be free of the Sith, war is inevitable, as unfortunate as it sounds."
Kanan glances away. "Maybe. That doesn't mean I have to join in on it," he says, still firm in his belief.
I can only watch him as he walks off, and Hera gives me a brief glance of apology before following after him. After a few moments, I start talking again, this time to Ezra.
"War isn't pretty, and it isn't an adventure Ezra," I say quietly, glancing at him out of the corner of my eyes. He stops in surprise. "Always cherish every moment you spend with family and friends. you never know when they could be taken away from you."
With that being said, I walk away, Ezra watching my back, a troubled look on his face.
Mara POV...
Mom laid her hands on my shoulders, giving me a firm look. "Be careful on this mission Mara. Lothal is very dangerous right now, and your father and I suspect the possibility of Vader himself being there?"
"You serious?" I ask her warily.
"I am. If there is any sign of him, then you have to get everyone out of there immediately, no matter what you're in the middle of. Got it?" she says sternly, and I nod my head, sensing how serious she was about this. I'm sure we'll be fine, but dad has always said that Vader is someone he doesn't want me to ever meet. Not even mom has met him.
She gives me a small smile, and we share a quick hug. "Good. Come back safely sweetie," she says softly.
"I will mom," I say in reply with a small grin, heading down the hallway and into the ship we were taking, which was a civilian shuttle. I sat down in the seat behind Ezra and watched as Sabine, Hera and Zeb came in. The latter two sat down while Sabine gave Chopper an uneasy look.
"So, we're not taking the Ghost, and we're just letting Chopper drive?" Sabine asks doubtfully.
"Well, After our little stunt on Mustafar, there's a good chance the Empire will be able to track it." Hera replied.
"Great mission so far." Zeb grumbled. Chopper beeped at him angrily.
"Why not just take the Knight Hawk? They don't usually fly around here," Sabine suggested.
"Actually that would be even worse," I spoke up. "According to my dad he's one of the Emperor's most wanted, and they know what his ship looks like."
"Are you serious?" Ezra asked in surprise, speaking for the others in the room. "What'd he do to make the Emperor himself want him so badly?"
"Well, he's a powerful fighter, very good at slicing and has fought Sith Lords before," I recalled.
"Alright, so that leaves his ship out of the question! No wonder he's not coming with us then." Kanan said in bewilderment. I simply shrugged in response before Chopper detaches the ship, and inputs the coordinates for Lothal, making the jump to hyperspace. Kanan twirls his blaster before looking around. "So what's the plan?"
"Okay, so Minister Tua is scheduled to visit Governor Tarkin tomorrow. She leaves Lothal via shuttle at 1800. We wait at the hangar, steal the shuttle and take her to safety." Ezra says confidently with a grin.
"Easy enough," I add.
"Ezra, I hope you're sure about this." Sabine says doubtfully.
"After all the trouble she's made for us, why should we help her?" Zeb demands.
Ezra looks at him with a frown. "Because that's what we do. Help those who can't help themselves," he says seriously. Hera gave him a small smile.
"My parents have said that not everyone working for the Empire are bad people. They both knew a few Separatists they became friends with once," I pointed out, and Kanan nodded thoughtfully, although I could tell he was still slightly doubtful.
We were silent for a few moments before Ezra grinned. "Plus, her list will help us out!" he adds. This eases Sabine and Zeb's concern, as they can't help but share a small smile.
Some time later, we came out of hyperspace above Lothal, slowly approaching the planet. In orbit were three Imperial Star Destroyers, which we all eyed warily. One of them contacted us over the coms as Chopper flew at a steady pace.
"Shuttle 593, this is Lothal control. You are cleared to land," he states.
"Thank goodness," I muttered.
"I didn't think I'd miss it, but I-" Ezra starts to stay before stopping. I slowly sit up in my seat with narrowed eyes, sensing it as well. Maybe mom was right...
"What is it?" Kanan asks, noticing our reactions.
"Do you feel it? I feel so cold..." Ezra says uncomfortably. Kanan stares at the planet with a heavy frown, and I close my eyes, trying to feel along this cold presence. I had no idea what it was, and it was really weird. Then the strange cold suddenly shifted slightly, and I opened my eyes in fright with a quiet gasp, feeling the coldness focus in on me. Everyone looks at me in concern, but the presence then faded away to a point I couldn't feel it anymore.
"Mara?" Ezra asked worriedly.
"What did you feel?" Kanan questions.
I look at them both, sightly unsettled. The last time I felt a presence like that was in the kyber crystal cave... when I got my lightsaber. I know mom told me to get us out the moment I sensed something that could relate to Darth Vader, whoever he is... but we have to rescue the Minister too. "That same coldness... but it's gone now."
Ezra looks at Kanan. "What does it mean?"
He doesn't have an answer, and I stay quiet, not wanting any of them to panic. Whoever that was isn't watching us right now, so we should be fine.
Darth Vader POV...
I stared out the window, gazing across the city skyline of Lothal. Just as I predicted, the rebels responded to the Minister's plea, and had arrived to rescue her. While it wasn't Shan himself... another strong presence came with them, beyond the two already reported in this cell. The door behind me opened, and Agent Kallus walked in.
"You summoned me Lord Vader?" he questions.
"The rebels have arrived. Provide Minister Tua with an escort to her... visit with Tarkin," I state.
He bows his head. "As you wish my Lord."
Mara POV...
Chopper pilots the shuttle down towards one of the landing bays in Capital City, and once we land, Ezra exits first, looking up at the sky grimly. "I've never seen so many Star Destroyers here. It's gotten worse," he says.
I look up, and also see at least three Star Destroyers hovering over the city, and probably more out of view. He's right, this is really bad.
"All right, Zeb, Chopper, stay with the shuttle just in case we need a quick exit." Hera orders them.
Chopper beeps nervously while Zeb just crosses his arms. "Tua's leaving from Bay 23. Let's go," Kanan says, headed for the door. We follow after him and head through the city in direction of Bay 23. Eventually we come across a side street and carefully slink along the side, Kanan and Hera peeking out to get a look at the entrance.
"Huh. We'll need a distraction." Hera comments. They pull back, and Kanan gives another good look before turning to us.
"Well, I'm gonna go make a few friends!" he says cheerfully. "When Tua arrives, I'll keep 'em busy while you all drop into the hangar from above."
I grin in amusement, knowing what he was implying.
"Make a few friends?" Hera asks doubtfully.
"It'll be fun," he replies, crossing his arms with a smirk.
"Fun?"
"Don't worry, General Hera!" he says sarcastically with a salute. "Just be ready to move."
With that being said, he quickly dashes out of the street and heads for a Stormtrooper captain. The others watch him in worry, and Hera frowns in displeasure, but I smile eagerly. "Relax guys, my parents have pulled this maneuver, many times," I reassure them.
"How many exactly?" Sabine questions with raised eyebrow.
I shrug my shoulders. "I don't know, but it's fun to watch."
Kanan quickly jogs up to the Stormtrooper and slings an arm around his shoulder casually, and we can hear him speak. "Hey, didn't we meet in basic training? You look familiar!" he exclaims in mock surprise.
The Stormtrooper is too confused to prepare for what happens next, as Kanan quickly knocks him out with a few blows to the head. He then pulls him out of sight and around the corner while we watch, me with an eager grin while the others are in bewilderment. A few moments later, Kanan exits the alley and comes out clad in full Stormtrooper armor, helmet held in hand. He places it on his head and gives us a two fingered salute. I respond with a thumbs up, which I can feel his amusement at before he turns toward the landing bay.
"Kanan's gone bucket head." Sabine says in surprise.
"I don't believe it." Hera responds, crossing her arms.
"I'm kinda jealous. I only have the helmet," Ezra says with a smirk, and then turns to me. "You were right, that is fun to watch."
I simply grin in reply before looking behind us, and jump onto a few crates easily, headed for the roof. Sabine and Ezra both follow, Hera right after them as we spread out along the top of the roof. Once up top, we take cover behind small walls and watch as Kanan glances up at us, before heading towards the entrance to the landing bay. A landspeeder then approaches as I crouch beside Ezra, who looks through his binoculars.
"Here she comes. But she's got company," he reports.
"What kind of company?" Hera asks, hopping over to us.
Ezra focuses in on the speeder before responding. "Oh, fantastic. Agent Kallus," he says sarcastically.
The landspeeder stops as Kanan steps forwards, and the two exit the vehicle. They exchange words as they enter the landing bay, and we follow them to the other side of the roof. Sabine climbs to the ledge and makes her move, jumping down to cause her distraction.
"Hey!" she yells, pulling out her two pistols and firing.
"Minister, take cover!" I hear Kallus exclaim in response, firing his own pistol. We then watch Kanan suddenly make his move as well, closing the door and shooting the control panel. Kallus angrily fires at him as he rolls away, hiding behind a barrier. Ezra, Hera and I then jump down and land behind a few crates. Kallus takes notice and fires at us as well fall. Once we land, I pull out my lightsaber hilt. He rushes up behind the crates and opens fire at us, and I activate my lightsaber in response, blocking the shots headed our way as Hera and Ezra retreat towards Tua's position.
Kallus widens his eyes in surprise before glaring at me angrily. "Jedi!" he exclaims, firing at me.
I back up towards the rest of the group, blocking the laser blasts with my purple lightsaber as Kanan fires back with his own blaster.
"Minister, get to the shuttle! We'll be right behind you!" Ezra exclaims.
"Right!" she replies in a panic, not bothering to argue. She immediately bolts for the shuttle, and the four of us run after her. She scrambles inside, and we start running up the ramp before a massive explosion destroys the shuttle from within, sending us all flying. I land on my back with a painful grunt, and look at the shuttle, horrified by what I saw. It was smoking, the interior on fire and completely destroyed. There was no way she would have survived that.
"Minister Tua..." Ezra says slowly in shock.
I stare at the wreckage in disbelief and horror, having never seen anyone die since the death of my parents. It happened so suddenly... without warning... I couldn't believe it! And it was terrifying...
"You did this!" Kallus yells with anger in his voice. I look over to see him firing his blaster in our direction, a security probe droid by his side and filming. I quickly realize that they were the ones to blow her up, and now they're framing us, trying to make us seem like terrorists. And that made me furious.
We scrambled to our feet, and I quickly deflected the stray blaster bolts as we take cover behind a few crates, the hanger doors opening to allow the rest of the troopers to enter and attack. I deactivate my lightsaber and take cover behind the crates with the rebels, before that same coldness converges on me again.
I shiver violently and look up to where I could feel it coming... and there he was. Far above us, on a long walkway overlooking the hanger is a masked man in a black cape, and the cold I'm feeling oozes from him. It was Vader! He was too far away for me to see it properly, but I could just feel him lock eyes with me, making me freeze in terror. He then turns away and heads inside, leaving me staring up there, stunned and terrified to the core. I'd never felt anything like it before...
I'm pulled out of my thoughts by a bright light shining on us, and we look up to see the shuttle approaching, Zeb standing on the open ramp and waving his arm. "Come on!" he yells, firing his bow-rifle.
He takes out one Stormtrooper, and the rest of us all dash for the ship while Zeb provides cover fire. Once on board, Chopper rises the ship to the roof so that Sabine can jump in, and then guns it out of there. Before we could get to far though, a walker swivels around and fires at us, taking out the engines of the ship. We all stumbled with surprised cries as went down, crashing through the street. I was slammed into one of the seats rather painfully, but eventually we came to a stop. I rubbed my head with a grimace, and looked up as Sabine dashed towards the open door.
"Come on. Come on! Up, everybody! We're moving!" she exclaimed.
We all quickly followed her as a few civilians watched warily, fearful as we ran past them and down the street, leaving the smoking wreck that was our shuttle behind.
Isle of Berk; Ahch-To
Jarik POV...
I landed the ship on the outskirts of the village, looking over at Zenna with an exasperated expression. She chirped at me innocently in reply, sniffing the control console curiously. I would have to move her away from it every few times because she would get to curious with a rather important button. R5 was miffed about the whole situation, and let his displeasure known through his angry beeps.
"Oh lay off R5 will you? We're here, she's getting off, end of story," I scolded.
He beeped back in relief, much to my amusement, and rolled out of the cockpit, Zenna hissing at him with narrowed eyes. I stood up from the pilot's seat and picked the baby dragon up in my arms, and she immediately returned to the innocent and happy hatchling.
"I swear you're already more trouble than your worth little one," I commented with a small grin, scratching her neck lightly. She purred at the touch, and I opened the boarding ramp, walking outside. Approaching fast were Hiccup, Toothless, Astrid and Stormfly. They landed with a small skid as I exited the ship and dismounted, staring at me in shock.
"Jarik, Zenna's gone miss-" Astrid started to say in a panic before both of them took notice of the dragon.
"THAT'S where Zenna has been?" Hiccup exclaimed.
"She snuck aboard the ship without us knowing," I deadpanned, rolling my eyes and setting her on the ground.
Stormfly squawked, quickly stomping over and picking up her hatchling by the scruff of her neck. Zenna yelped in protest, but Stormfly wasn't letting up, obviously flustered and in a panic. Toothless rumbled with laughter at the sight, and Zenna pouted at him.
"She was going insane when we realized she was gone," Astrid explained, but I could tell she was obviously relieved.
"Yeah, I just hope it won't happen again," I reply before stopping, narrowing my eyes slightly and glancing towards the sky. Even across the galaxy I could sense something was wrong with Mara... I had to get back quickly.
"Uhh Jarik? You alright?" Hiccup asks in concern.
I looked back at them. "Yeah, I'm fine. I've gotta go alright? Make sure Zenna doesn't follow us again!" I told them, quickly walking back inside the ship.
"I think Stormfly's got it covered," Astrid observed, the mother dragon still having not let go of Zenna.
"Good luck!" Hiccup called out, and the ramp slowly closed behind me.
Capital City; Lothal
Darth Vader POV...
After Minister Tua's death, I now stood back in the office looking over Lothal's Capital City, mulling over these rebels. More specifically, the extra person with them. While Shan himself didn't come to this, as he would be a fool to attempt so, he decided to send his adopted daughter in his stead. Mara Jade. And that shall prove to be a fatal mistake.
"Everything has happened as you predicted, Lord Vader." Agent Kallus reports.
"Good, Now inform the populace that the rebel assassins hide in their midst," I respond, turning around to face him. "Lock down the spaceport, and make it known, any ships attempting to leave, will be destroyed," I tell him with an emphasizing fist.
"Right away," he says, ending the transmission.
Mara Jade will lead me straight to Shan. And then he will know the full amount of pain he has caused me.
Mara POV...
After the whole failed mission, Ezra led us back to his old house, where we were currently hiding out, away from the Empire. Hera activated a holonet broadcast, where a man was reporting the whole incident.
"A beloved citizen of Lothal, Minister Tua's life was cut short by this criminal band of rebels, and a Jedi," he says, showing a picture of us just after the explosion. "If you see them, summon Imperial authorities immediately. Trooper corps have been mobilized in an extensive sea-"
Hera quickly shut the broadcast off, hand on her forehead in frustration. "They did this just to turn Lothal against us. We can't do any more good here. We have to leave, for good," she says gravely.
"We can't just run! The people have to know the truth!" Ezra protests.
Sabine shakes her head sadly. "I don't think the Empire is giving us much choice."
"But we do have to leave now, or else we'll die," I say, in a tone that surprises everyone.
"You're saying that like the Imperial authorities aren't the problem," Kanan says suspiciously, brow raised.
"It's because they aren't," I reply. "I know now why there are so many Star Destroyers, so many troops, and why we felt the cold," I said, shivering slightly at remembering the feeling.
"Why? What's the reason?" Ezra asks.
I look up at them, especially Kanan. "The Emperor's Fist himself is here. Darth Vader."
Most of them don't know who Vader is or what the concept of Darth means, besides him being the Emperor's fist. He isn't exactly a publicly known figure, especially in his earlier years from what mom and dad told me, but he's basically second hand to Palpatine himself. However Kanan knows exactly what 'Darth' means, and he widens his eyes in alarm.
"I saw him watching us after Minister Tua's shuttle exploded," I told them.
"Who's Vader?" Zeb asked. Sabine shrugged.
Kanan and I were about to answer when Chopper beeps and the sound of a drill cutting through the door got our attention. A series of sounds followed, as well as the door being slammed shut, and Zeb and Ezra poked their heads up. "We're in big trouble!" Ezra exclaimed.
They quickly dropped down and Ezra ushered us to another secret exit. We ran out of there as fast as we could and came out on the top of the roof. Good thing too, because not a moment later the whole apartment was blown sky high. Luckily we were far enough away from the explosion that it didn't affect us.
"If they know about this hideout, they'll know about our others," Ezra said grimly.
"There's no more hiding. We need a ship. Maybe we can try one of the local Imperial airfields," Hera suggested.
Sabine pressed a button on her wrist com and Chopper activated a hologram. "They're all locked down. Besides, we'll never get outside the capital," she said.
"The Empire's looking everywhere for us." Zeb added.
I study the map and share a look with Kanan, who follows along my line of thinking. "Well..." I start to say.
"...not everywhere," he finishes, pointing towards the Imperial Complex.
"The Imperial Complex? Are you two crazy?" Hera demanded.
"Does anyone ever say yes to that question?" Kanan replied sarcastically.
"He's right. Deploying troops to block every city exit has spread the garrisons thin. It sounds crazy, but the area with the least troops will be... here, near the factories. There are more landing platforms outside these hangars. They're our best chance if we're ever gonna find a shuttle," Sabine explained.
"I'm already dressed for the part." Kanan replies, gesturing towards his armor.
"I like it, but the only concern I have for this is that it'll bring us closer to Vader," I point out, and Kanan frowns in worry.
"Will that be a problem? From what you're saying I'm going to guess he's another Inquisitor." Sabine suggested.
I shook my head in response. "No, he's no Inquisitor, but much worse. Even my dad is afraid of him."
The Spectre's share looks up surprise and concern with each other, and Kanan sighed. "I don't like it, but unfortunately this is our best chance to escape."
With that being said, we get up and head out towards the Imperial Complex, hoping for the best.
Some time later we had managed to get ourselves to just outside of the main hanger bays to the Complex. Ezra and I had smuggled some cadet uniforms to wear in disguise, with Kanan acting as our senior officer. There weren't nearly as many girl cadets employed as there were boys, so it took some time for me to find my own. Thankfully it all worked out, and I was walking between Ezra and Kanan as the former pushed along a crate carrying the rest of the crew inside.
The guard in front of the hanger then approaches us. "What's this?" he demands.
"Power cells in need of recharging for the rebel pursuit." Kanan informs him, and gestures to Ezra to start again. However, the guard quickly stops him.
"Hold it right there, Cadet," he orders, before turning to Kanan. "We have to check inside."
He moves to open the crate, but before me or Kanan could move forwards, Ezra rushed in front of him. "I got this," he says confidently, and then waves his hand in front of the troopers helmet. "No, you don't have to check inside..."
Unfortunately the mind trick doesn't work, and the trooper grabs Ezra by the shoulder roughly. "Did you just try to give me an order, Cadet?" he demands.
I then rush forwards as well. "No sir!" I exclaim cheerily. "He just said, 'You don't have to check inside.'" I told him, waving my hand in front of his head, focusing the Force on his mind.
"I don't have to check inside," he replies slowly, and I grin proudly underneath my helmet.
"Well, then, as you wish Trooper!" Kanan said with a salute. "Cadets, let's move. Hurry it up!" he tells us sternly, and we quickly walk past the guard.
"How'd you do that?" Ezra complained.
"You may be older than me, but I have a lot more training," I replied proudly, and he pouts in disappointment.
"I wish that worked from me," he mutters.
"I wish it worked on you." Kanan retorted.
We continue pushing the crates down the hallways, passing only a few lone Stormtroopers on the way, and enter a small armory out of the way of any big hallways. As soon as we're inside, the rest of the crew open the boxes and crawl out with groans, however Zeb slams his crate off with a yell.
"Zeb, will you be quiet?" Hera scolds.
"What? I need to breathe! Have you smelled me?" he exclaims incredulously.
Sabine quickly checks out the hallways, only to find nobody there. "Huh. Don't think it matters if you're noisy. There's nobody around. This was a good plan," she says.
"Of course it was a good plan. We came up with that." Kanan replies with a smirk.
"This way!" Ezra says, waving us forwards.
A few minutes later, Kanan, Ezra and I had changed back into our regular clothes and ran down the hallways, watching as Zeb knocked out two Stormtroopers by clanging their heads together. Chopper then opened the next door for us, and we ran out into a large airfield filled with TIE Fighters. We rushed through the landing field and stopped behind a large crate, where Kanan pointed out a ship for us.
"There's a shuttle. What'd I tell ya?" he said.
"You did good." Hera praises.
We quickly run for the shuttle, however Sabine and Hera stop upon noticing a few shield generators, the others quickly returning to them, leaving just me and Kanan. Being alone, if only briefly, he turns to me.
"Are you sure a Sith Lord is really here?" he asks in concern.
I frown uneasily and close my eyes, trying to sense Vader with the Force. I can feel the coldness, but I don't know where it's coming from. He's... shielding his presence from us completely. I can probably only sense it because he wants to throw me off, and because dad taught me how to recognize it.
"He's shielding his presence," I muttered, opening my eyes and looking back at him. "But he's here, I can still feel the cold."
He stares behind us worriedly, but then the rest of the crew runs by us towards the shuttle with the shield generators. Eager to leave the Complex behind, we both follow after them, the shuttle just a few feet away...
But then the cold turns into something more. I stop, eyes going wide in terror, and Kanan does so next, Ezra also feeling it. Right behind us, I can sense so much darkness, it was practically overwhelming. It was like a black hole, trying to suffocate the light from me, and there was so much anger... so much hate... it was terrifying.
"Do you feel that?" Ezra asks nervously.
"It's him..." I whisper in terror.
Kanan looks behind us with a sigh, and I follow his line of sight.
"The cold," Kanan says gravely.
Standing in the doorway behind us, where we were just moments ago is the Sith Lord himself, Darth Vader. He doesn't do anything except stare quietly at us, framed in shadow and mist. The sound of mechanical breathing echoes from the man, his mask looking like a skull. Then he activates a blood red lightsaber with a sharp, menacing hiss, holding it by his side.
I stare at him, fear overcoming me like never before at the sight of the Sith Lord, the others also watching in shock. Kanan is the only other person here who understands what a Sith Lord is truly capable of. Vader marches forwards, six Stormtroopers backing him up on both sides as he comes to a stop before me, Ezra and Kanan. The way he stands there, completely silent except for the breathing is more terrifying than anything he could ever say. And he was so tall... if I thought Stoick was big, Vader is probably taller!
The Stormtroopers break off from Vader and head towards the rest of the crew while he stares at us, and I shiver when I notice his gaze falls to me in particular. And dad says he fought this man before?!
Kanan activates his lightsaber with a scowl, afraid but determined, and I quickly follow, my violet blade springing to life, Ezra's coming on next. But the sight of three Jedi with lightsabers does not deter him in the slightest, and he marches forwards, as if he had all the time in the universe. Which he definitely had in this situation.
Oh no... this isn't good, not good at all! Darth Vader has arrived personally, and he means business, especially if this will lead him to Jarik Shan. Mara better watch out for herself, and Jarik needs to get back very quickly!
