I gotta say this... :3
Guest Isa: Yes, Anakin did choose to do all that horrible stuff at the Temple, and Jarik and Ahsoka both understand that. However, that's not what they were saying wasn't his fault. All that was his fault, but his turn to the dark side in the first place wasn't his fault. Palpatine manipulated him into joining the dark side by using Padmé, and he had him wrapped around his finger since he was a young Padawan. Those things are not Anakin's fault, since he had no one to talk to about Padmé, and he always admired Palpatine because of the praise and advice he received from him. Remember, Anakin responded more to emotions, that's why he felt more comfortable with Palpatine than with the Jedi.
Third Brother POV...
I stepped out of my TIE Fighter onto this wretched asteroid once again, awaiting the creature with a scowl. Oh how I despised him and his constant gloating about... his power... but it was a necessary sacrifice to pay in order to get what I needed. I sensed a figure approaching and turned to face them, but to my confusion it wasn't him, but rather someone else.
"Who are you?" I demanded, face hidden behind my Inquisitorial mask.
They stepped closer, and when it was bright enough I could see that they were a female, with long flowing white hair and orange eyes. I wasn't sure what species she was, but it didn't matter.
"He was unable to come speak with you at this time, so I have taken his place," she says simply.
I held a hand over my saber, very suspicious.
"How do I know you aren't lying?" I demand.
She rolls her eyes, with flare a little brighter and then activates a lightsaber. I stepped back in surprise, although not just because she carried a lightsaber, but by how different it was. The blade was completely black like the void of night, yet it cast off a golden glow. She held it at me with a look of contempt.
"I'm sure you know my father does not like being questioned, and neither do I for that matter," she growled out.
Sensing the seriousness in her voice, I nodded quickly, knowing all to well of his temperament, despite the collected demeanor he gave off. Satisfied, she deactivated her lightsaber and crossed her arms.
"Good. Now... how goes the retrieval for that stone... at Vader's home?" she asks, her voice an eerie whisper.
"It's... been halted," I managed to say.
She stares at me with narrowed eyes, and I could sense her rage increasing. As well as her power in the Force, which I now sensed, and to my alarm it was far greater than mine.
"I- I had to! I've been ordered by Vader to track down Ahsoka Tano and Jarik Shan alongside the Fifth Brother!" I say quickly before she could lash out.
Curse my weakness for being so afraid of this woman. The other creature never terrified me like this, but I hate the unknown!
She immediately calms, her look of quiet and cold fury replaced with one of intrigue. "Tracking down Shan, you say?" she asks quietly, turning away and staring at the starry field.
"I have to, if I'm to keep them from getting suspicious," I try to explain.
She lets out a sigh, her voice sounding like an impersonation of one of those witches from Dathomir.
"Oh very well young one, this may be excusable," she says, and I bristle at being called 'young.' I was far beyond that! "My father did always have an interest in Shan..."
She then slides up to me softly, whispering in my ear, and I get a sense of just how tall she really is.
"But you must tread carefully... my father is getting, impatient," she whispers.
Then she slides away out of sight, staring at me the whole time with those creepy, orange eyes, which were the last to disappear into the darkness. I shivered, finding her even creepier than the other creature.
Jarik POV...
I walked outside of Obi-Wan's hut, hearing Ahsoka's quiet sobs nearby. I walked around the house and found her sitting against the wall, legs pulled up to her chest, looking very vulnerable. Another wave of guilt passed through me. I sat down next to her, sitting awkwardly, glancing at her every few seconds. Finally, she looked up at me, her eyes teary and bloodshot.
"Why Anakin?" she asked quietly. "What did he ever do to deserve such a fate?"
"Nothing," I replied softly. "Palpatine had him wrapped around his finger ever since he was a boy. He was a victim just like so many others," I told her.
Ahsoka looked down. "That whole war... that whole period of loss and anguish, all orchestrated just so a single man could get power," she muttered angrily. "And the only hope of stopping him rested in an Order of arrogant idiots."
"Centuries of strict codes and guidelines are as much to blame," I recalled, remembering the lesson Satele gave me at the Temple, just days before it happened. "May not seem like a big deal for the Jedi, but it was a failed idea from the beginning..."
She scoffed. "Apparently Obi-Wan doesn't get that," she said bitterly. "He never even gave Anakin a chance."
"He was raised by the Old Order. He never knew any better," I said, knowing it was a weak argument.
"And yet that excuses leaving a man, especially a close friend, to die an agonizing death? Jedi were supposed to be compassionate, merciful, forgiving... trusting," she said quietly.
She then looked up at me. "When did trust become so one-sided?" she asks, in a pleading manner, her gaze begging for an answer.
I looked down guiltily. "I don't know Ahsoka... I don't know."
She remains quiet, aside from a few sniffles.
"But what I do know Ahsoka... is that I am truly, deeply sorry for what happened, and for what I did, for what Obi-Wan did," I told her sincerely. "All I cared about was making sure you were happy, only knowing Anakin as a wonderful, courageous man. But in doing so, what came out of it was the complete opposite," I told her.
Out of nowhere, she suddenly embraced me in a tight hug, arms wrapped around me as she buried her face in my shoulder. I leaned back slightly in surprise as she held onto me desperately, like a scared child.
"Please don't... please don't lie ever again Jarik," she pleaded between her sobs. "Whatever happens, I- I just want to face it together, never alone. Please..." she pleaded.
I slowly embraced her in return, stroking her lekku softly. "I won't Ahsoka, I promise you."
We stayed like that for a little while longer before sensing someone approaching. We both looked up to see Obi-Wan standing there, a saddened look on his face.
"I don't expect to ever earn your forgiveness, from both of you," he starts off. "But I thought you would want to know about this."
From underneath his robes he pulls out a lightsaber... Anakin's lightsaber. We widen our eyes slightly in surprise at the sight of it.
"I had meant to give this to Luke when he was old enough, however..." he trails off, not sure of how to say it.
Ahsoka slowly gets up and stands before him, eyeing him with an impassive expression as he holds the lightsaber. Finally, she reaches out her hands... and then closes Obi-Wan's hand around the lightsaber, gently pushing it towards Obi-Wan. He looks at her in slight surprise.
"Keep it..." she says softly. "Luke should have something to remember his father by."
Obi-Wan looks down at Anakin's lightsaber and then back to Ahsoka, nodding his head. I then stand up behind her, a small smile on my face.
"Well Master... this is something you could do for us," I said.
They both look at me in a small amount of confusion, wondering what I was talking about.
Later in the evening, the two suns of Tatooine were colored a dim white and vibrant red from the sunset, turning the sky purple and pink.
I rode Obi-Wan's dewback, Ahsoka sitting behind me with her arms wrapped around me to stay on, and then pulled the creature to a stop. In the distance, not too far away sat a small igloo of sand in the otherwise barren and empty flat desert, and nearby was a small hill, with a figure standing on it.
I glanced back at Ahsoka, and I saw her watching the figure of the boy staring out at the sunset, realization coming to her face. She smiled, tears forming in her eyes.
"Luke! Luuke!" a woman's voice yelled.
I turned back and watched with Ahsoka as Luke Skywalker turned away from the sunset, running back towards his home to answer Beru Lars' call. Ahsoka laid her chin on my shoulder, no words needed to describe the moment as she gazed at the retreating figure of her Master's son.
Mara POV...
"Star Destroyer just came out of hyperspace. Gonna power down so they can't scan me. Once I finish my repairs, I'll come get you. Good luck down there." Hera told us over the com, ending the transmission.
We all looked at each other in concern before Rex spoke up. "If they follow procedure, they'll fly search patterns based on our last confirmed position," he said.
The computer terminal then starts to beep as Gregor walks up. "Or they'll call. Incoming Imperial transmission!" he says sarcastically, pointing at Wolffe. "It's for you, Wolffe."
Wolffe glanced back at the screen in surprise. "They called back? They- they never call back!" he said in alarm.
"Never?" Boil asks with a raised eyebrow.
"This is why I don't trust clones," Kanan scoffed.
I rolled my eyes. "Okay Kanan we get it, you don't like clones so can you please just shut up already?" I asked irritably.
He glares at me but turns away, the others following after him. "Just get rid of 'em, Wolffe." Ezra says.
Wolffe rubs his head in regret. "Yeah, it was my mistake. And I'll fix it," he says determinedly.
The rest of us watch from the doorway as the screen lights up, revealing the image of Agent Kallus. I roll my eyes.
"Oh terrific," I mutter sarcastically. The others share my sentiment.
"CC-3636. Commander Wolffe, is it?" he asks.
"Yep, that's me!" Wolffe confirms, snapping his fingers. "What can I do for you, sir?"
"Please transmit your coordinates so I can investigate the Jedi sightings you reported." Kallus asks, although its obvious that was an order, not a request.
"What? Uh, Je- Jedi? Uh, no, no. No, th- there's no Jedi. Here," Wolffe stammers nervously. "My, my old, uh, cybernetic eye must be acting up again."
Rex and Boil both slide in with pleasant smiles on their faces, the former slinging an arm around his shoulder. "Sorry for wasting your time!" Rex says.
However, a video pops up showing the walker with the Phantom on it. I was also visible leaning against it, and I grimaced. "This image was taken by one of our probe droids. It clearly shows you harboring known rebels, as well as Jedi criminal Mara Jade, apprentice to Jarik Shan and Ahsoka Tano."
The clones widened their eyes in alarm, and I smiled sheepishly at the rest of the crew, who all sighed.
"Whatever, not like it's your fault, the Phantom is in the image," Ezra admits.
"Now surrender them, or be destroyed." Kallus threatens.
"If it's a fight you want, I hope you brought a better class of soldier than those stormtroopers." Rex challenges, bashing his knuckles again. Wolffe cracks his neck, and Gregor grins at Kallus.
"I've fought chumps tougher than those bucketheads," Boil says mockingly.
Kallus frowns in annoyance. "They serve the Empire well, and I have a great many of them," he says intimidatingly.
"You're gonna need all of 'em!" Rex says with a grin, smashing the button and ending the transmission.
Zeb chuckles in amusement. "Hehe, I like these guys."
I grin in amusement. "I can see why mom and dad like them as well."
Just then, the walker suddenly shakes as an explosion rocks it, and we all look up in alarm. Sabine enters the room, clad in her battle gear. "They found us!" she exclaims.
"Guess that search pattern paid off!" Ezra says.
"Battle stations!" Rex orders.
Gregor, Wolffe, Boil and Kix all scramble around, collecting different assortments of weapons that I can only assume come from the Clone Wars era. We all quickly rush outside, finding a TIE Fighter strafing around the tank, letting off shots that impact on the ground. I honestly don't know whether those are warning shots, or if he's actually trying to hit us. If I were the Empire, I'd seriously hope those were warning shots.
"We're sitting mynocks on this thing!" Ezra exclaims, climbing up to the top.
"You think so?" Rex asks.
I simply use the Force to jump up after Ezra, watching as the TIE Fighter turned around back towards us.
"Hurry! He's coming around for another pass!" Sabine warns us, and she and Zeb move forwards. Sabine is carrying one of the clone's long range rifles, while Zeb is holding a freaking machine gun. I activate my lightsaber and jump forwards beside them. Ezra moves to follow, but Kanan stops him.
"Ezra, protect the Phantom." Kanan orders.
"What about the walker?" he responds in concern.
"It can take a hit, I think," Kanan says, although he's unsure.
The TIE Fighter opens fire, and Sabine and Zeb return it, a barrage of blue bolts firing back at the ship. Unfortunately, they're too far away to get a proper aim on it. I deflect a large green bolt away from the walker, stumbling slightly from the power behind it. It's not a regular bolt that's for sure.
"Try shortening your leads. You're wasting ammo!" Rex advises, climbing up the ladder. Gregor, Boil and Kix climb up behind him, carrying a few blaster rifles.
"You're welcome to help!" Zeb exclaims.
"Eh, why spoil the fun? We haven't been shot at in years!" Gregor exclaims, before glancing at Kix. "Well, except for Kix," he remarks.
"Aw shut up Gregor," Kix retorts irritably, and Boil rolls his eyes.
"Yeah? Well, it happens to us every day!" Sabine exclaims, watching as the TIE swoops past.
"Uh, why doesn't someone man the big gun?" Ezra questions.
"That's no good in this situation." Rex replies.
"Oh. Kinda like you guys," Kanan comments sarcastically, climbing on top of the Phantom. I roll my eyes.
Rex smirks before turning to Boil. "You want the shot?"
"Oh do I?" Boil replies with a grin, and he catches the rocket launcher.
The TIE Fighter swoops down, opening fire on us. Kanan and Ezra manage to deflect a couple shots away from hitting the Phantom. When it passes overhead, I jump up, trying to swing at the TIE Fighter with my lightsaber, but I time it wrong and miss. I land back on the tank with a frustrated frown.
Luckily, as the ship flies away to arc around for another pass, Boil takes aim with his rocket launcher and casually shoots it, watching the rocket go sailing. After a few moments, the rocket hits the TIE Fighter dead on, and Boil turns around with a smirk. Gregor and Rex both chuckle at the sight.
"Boil, you still got it," Rex compliments.
"Quite the shot brother!" Gregor adds with a grin.
"Did you expect any less?" Boil says proudly.
I grin at them and then look at Kanan. "What was that about being useless?" I ask him. He frowns and looks away, much to my amusement.
"You know, we'd make a good team if we all fought together." Ezra says with a smile.
Rex smiles down at him, before Kanan interrupts the moment. "Yeah, tried that once. Didn't work out so well. Now if that storm gets any closer, it'll ground us. Sabine, we need the Phantom to fly.
"I'm on it," she replies, moving to work on the Phantom.
Later, Ezra was sitting in the seat for the turret, and I was watching him in interest, trying to work out the controls.
"Is it this button?" Ezra asks me.
I frown. "No, I don't think so... maybe this one?"
Just then, Rex approaches us with a raised eyebrow, and Ezra widens his eyes in alarm.
"Uh, sorry. Um, I'm in your seat," he apologizes.
However, rex simply grins and kneels down beside him, pointing at the console. "The traverse controls are over here on the left, and the elevation's on the right."
"Really?" Ezra asks in surprise. He then tests the controls out, and the gun shifts back and forth as he moves it. I glance behind us to see Kanan taking notice, before looking away when he meets my eyes. I shake my head with a sigh.
"So, um, what was it like to fight in the Clone War?" Ezra asks.
"I don't think the fighting ever got to Lothal." Rex admits, leaning an arm on the turret. "I tell ya, war was never dull. The general I fought with was among the greatest of the Jedi. I trusted him with my life more times than I can count. And I tried my best to keep that trust."
"You mean, Master Skywalker?" I deduce.
He nods his head. "Yeah, he and Commander Tano were great leaders, always out front with the rest of us."
"Shame what happened to him," Boil mutters, a heavy gaze on his face. I glance back at him in confusion, and Rex also gives him a look.
"What Boil?" he questions.
"Huh?" he says in surprise. "Oh, nothing. I was muttering about something else," he says, although I'm a little doubtful, but I don't press him on it.
"All right. With any luck, we can get outta here soon," Sabine announces.
"We can't just leave Rex, Boil, Wolffe, Kix and Gregor here!" I protest in concern.
"Well, the Empire is here because of us. We'll deal with the consequences." Rex says firmly, and I glance at him and Boil sadly.
Just then, a loud, thunderous booming echoes in the distance.
"Wait, listen!" Zeb says in alarm. "You hear that?"
Wolffe points behind us with a frown. "Enemy contact, point two four," he announces.
We all turn around and spot three Imperial AT-AT walkers marching straight towards us. "Well that's not good," I remark.
The clones all rush towards the front of the walker with electro binoculars, staring down the scope and analyzing the walkers. "How many legs they got?" Rex asks.
"Eh, looks like four." Gregor says, handing the binoculars to Rex.
"What?" Boil asks in bewilderment.
"How are those things not falling over?" Wolffe asks.
"I never knew walkers could have four legs!" Kix adds.
"Will you look at the size of those things!" Gregor exclaims.
"Huh. Reinforced armor plating, heavy cannons and antipersonnel blasters. Mmm," Rex observes, obviously impressed.
"I'm glad you guys are so excited, but those giant death machines are on their way to blow us to bits!" Ezra exclaims in a panic.
However, none of the clones are really panicking, they just move to their battle stations. Gregor and Kix head inside of the tank, probably to the main computer terminal while Rex and Boil climb to the top, the former getting into the tank turret. Boil pulls out a pair of binoculars and continues to observe the walkers.
"Wolffe, set vector two-niner-zero," Rex says confidently, and Wolffe gives a salute.
"Wait, you're just gonna turn and run? Just like that?" Kanan demands.
"Well, if you've got a better idea, sir, now's the time," Rex says.
"I thought you clones loved to fight." Kanan says with a frown.
"Kanan, are you really expecting anyone to try taking on three of those giants with this ancient walking piece of crap?" I tell him with a raised eyebrow before glancing at Boil. "No offense."
"None taken kid, this tank is ancient," he replies with a small grin.
"I do love a battle, but on my terms," Rex says. "Gregor, drop the joopa. We gotta get moving!"
Moments later, the joopa is released from the cables holding it on the tank, and I can just imagine Gregor's reaction to dropping it.
"Wolffe, turn 180!" Rex orders.
"Copy that," he replies.
Wolffe turns the tank around, and we start moving at the fastest pace the thing can go, headed straight for the sandstorm. behind us, the three AT-AT walkers open fire on us, massive red bolts exploding on the ground around our tank. Once again I'm astounded by how crappy the Imperial's aim is.
"Kanan. I'm not sure how far we'll get, but I think she'll fly." Sabine announces.
"Good enough for me. Zeb, we're going now!" Kanan exclaim eagerly, rushing towards the Phantom.
I widen my eyes in alarm. "No, wait!" I exclaim, stopping him in his tracks.
"Too late. The walkers are already on top of us." Rex says, saying what I was thinking.
"They're right, Kanan. They'll shoot us down." Ezra says.
"How will going into that storm be any better?" Kanan argues.
"Well, the storm will scramble the scanners. We'll all be blind." Sabine says.
"But a Jedi won't." Rex announces, giving us a meaningful look.
"It's a good plan," I add.
Kanan frowns, glancing down in consideration before nodding. "All right, everybody inside!" he exclaims, rushing inside.
"Sir, yes, Sir." Rex replies.
Sabine closes the door to the Phantom, and we all follow after them, Boil closing the door behind us after making sure we were all in. Just then, the storm passes over us, completely hiding us from the Imperials, who have to stop firing. Inside the main room, we were all gathered together to discuss and formulate a plan.
"We're not gonna be able to hide in this storm forever," Ezra says.
"Those things are practically impervious to blasters, but they have one weak point in their armor, the neck." Sabine tells us.
"One well-placed shot from the main gun should destroy it." Gregor theorizes, smashing his fist.
"One shot is all we'll probably get." Boil says grimly.
"Well we better make it count," I say confidently, and Rex and Boil both send me a small grin.
Zeb taps the screen of the scanners, growing more irritated since they weren't working at all. "I don't know how we're supposed to shoot something we can't see. I don't even know where the enemy is!" he complains.
"There are three of us here who can see them," I remind him, and Kanan nods.
"You don't always have to see something to know where it is," he says, walking forwards. "If you're willing to trust me, I can get us that shot."
"I always trust my general," Rex says immediately and truthfully.
Kanan looks down briefly at hearing that, and I can sense he's obviously conflicted. He then looks up in determination and closes his eyes, reaching out a hand. He feels around us with the Force, moving his hand slightly.
"Prepare to stop... Now!" Kanan says.
Wolffe immediately brings the tank to a halt, and I glance around the room, sensing the echoes of the pounding walkers outside.
"Commander Wolffe, circle left, double time!" Kanan says. Then tank then moves to a hard left, and I watch Kanan at work. "Full stop!" he exclaims.
"If what I'm sensing is right, we're surrounded." Kanan tells us.
"What?" Ezra asks in alarm.
"I can sense it too," I add.
"You put us right in the middle of 'em, to get us a shot!" Rex exclaims. "It's crazy, but it's probably our best chance!"
"Haven't been in such a tense situation for years," Boil comments.
"Once we fire, we'll reveal our location. If we miss, it's all over." Sabine says grimly.
"I'll take the shot." Gregor says confidently, standing up from his chair.
Kanan however shakes his head. "No, Ezra should take the shot."
"Uh, why don't you do it?" Ezra asks nervously.
"I can do it. I'm good at this stuff," I say confidently, crossing my arms.
"Alright." Boil says with a nod. "It's a good plan."
Rex nods in agreement. "He's right. We need at least one Jedi up there manning the cannon, and another Jedi down here to lead us out of this mess. You are the only ones who can see in this storm," Rex tells me and Ezra.
Kanan nods, and I send a grin Ezra's way. "Come on Ezra, we can do it," I say confidently.
"Sabine, spot them," Rex says, and she nods, putting on her helmet. "Hey, kid," he calls out, and we turn around just as Ezra catches Rex's clone helmet. Boil then sends me his own. "You two might need that. And hang on tight," he says.
We give him a nod, and then exit the walker. The two of us put on the clone helmets, which are a little big. Luckily I'm still able to see out of it, at least as much as is visible with the storm, and keep my balance. However, Ezra is having a little bit more trouble, and begins to topple over.
"Whoa!" he yells in alarm.
I hold an arm out and catch him with the Force, allowing Sabine to grab a hold of him.
"I gotcha! I gotcha! Come on!" she exclaims, pulling him towards the turret. I follow, and stand on the left side of it with Sabine on the right as Ezra sits in the seat. "Don't miss," she tells him.
"Hey, I never miss," Ezra replies.
"Don't jinx it for us, please," I tell him, rolling my eyes. I hold out a hand towards the storm, and feel with the Force. A few moments later, I begin to sense the walker, and concentrate on it.
"Ezra, there's a walker somewhere around point five." Kanan says over the com.
"Somewhere around point five? Terrific," he replies sarcastically.
"He's right Ezra, I can sense it too," I tell him.
"But the targeting scope's useless. I can't see it!" he protests.
"Are you really gonna try and pull that crap?" I ask him irritably.
"Mara's right Ezra, it doesn't matter." Kanan says in agreement. "You're not going to see it with your eyes. The walker is there. Trust yourself."
Ezra sighs, but then tries to follow Kanan's advice. He begins to focus out with the Force, directing the turret in the direction of the walker. However from what I'm sensing, he's still a little off, which is enough for it to miss. The walker is only just turning. I take off my helmet, freeing my head to get rid of the feeling of if so I can focus better, and keep my eyes closed against the sand.
"A little bit more to the left Ezra," I tell him. I can sense him also taking off his helmet and following my instruction. "that's it... you sense it?"
"I think so... yeah," he replies.
"Go for it," I tell him.
He fires the turret, and moments later I can hear a loud explosion in the distance, followed by the walker collapsing on the ground.
"Got 'em!" Ezra says triumphantly.
The walker spurs forwards not a moment later in the direction of the wreckage, and the other two AT-AT's open fire behind us. Not to much long afterwards, we exit the storm again, and I open my eyes, looking behind us. I can just barely make out the destroyed Imperial walker. The doors then open, and everyone spills out.
"Great shot, you two!" Rex congratulates. "Now get yourself moving. This is your only chance!"
"What?" I ask in alarm. "But what about you guys?"
"We can't leave now!" Ezra adds.
"We have to get the information they gave us back to the rebellion." Kanan argues, and the rest of them all enter the Phantom. Ezra moves to follow, before stopping.
"The other part of that mission is to bring Rex back with us! We can't just abandon them!" Ezra argues back.
"You're not abandoning anyone. We're covering your escape. Now, move!" he tells us firmly.
"I don't want to leave you guys to die though," I protest.
Boil lays a hand on my shoulder. "I know its tough kid, but this is for the greater good. The rebellion needs you more than it needs us."
I look down sadly, not wanting to do this, but eventually I give Boil his helmet as Rex gets his back from Ezra. As we enter, we turn back to see Rex getting into the turret, Boil standing beside him.
"We're soldiers, Ezra. This is what we were born to do!" Rex announces.
"Tell Commander Shan hi for me will you?" Boil says with a grin.
The Phantom door then closes, and Kanan lifts us off from the walker. I look down sadly, knowing that we probably sentenced the clones to death. We sit down as the ship flies further from the tanks at top speed, but I can sense the resolve from Ezra to try and reason with Kanan, and I share his sentiment.
"Kanan, you know better than anyone. They won't give up. This fight is gonna be their last." Ezra tells him.
Kanan glanced back, and I could sense some guilt coming from him, but he still presses forwards. He then activates a transmission to Hera, explaining the situation.
"It's too bad about Captain Rex, but at least you got the intel. I'll rendezvous with you shortly," she replies.
"Copy that," he replies, ending the call.
"what are you going to tell my parents?" I ask him. "Rex and Boil were close friends with them, and I know for a fact how fond they were of each other. They don't care whether or not they're clones."
Thankfully, that seems to do it as Kanan finally sighs, turning to us. "I hate it when they're right," he mutters. "I've got my problems with clones, but I don't want those men to die," he announces.
"Yes!" I say happily, and we all smile.
Kanan then turns the ship around and heads back towards the battle between the clones and the Empire. On the way, we get a full view of the chaos that was ensuing. The Republic tank was ramming into the AT-AT, while the other advanced. Rex was firing on it with his turret, but soon stopped.
"Are they really doing that?" Sabine asks in bewilderment.
However, I was grinning. "Just like they described them," I remark, recalling mom and dad's stories during the war. "I want to jump on top of the tank they're ramming," I told him.
"Seriously?" Ezra asked.
"Oh yeah," I tell him with a smirk.
"Alright, we'll handle the other one," Kanan agrees, standing up. "Sabine take control of the ship."
"On it," she replies, getting into the seat.
She then opens fire on one of the tanks with the Phantoms guns, which while not doing much damage, at least keeps it from firing directly onto the clones. I move towards the door, and as soon as it opens, I leap out, falling through the air towards the tank. The rest of them head towards the second AT-AT, while I deal with this one.
Pulling out my lightsaber, I land on top of the head and then slide down the front, glancing into the viewport. From there, I can see two pilots and Agent Kallus, who widens his eyes in alarm at the sight of me. I smirk at him, and then slide down the side towards the guns, and slice them apart with my lightsaber.
"That's the way to do it!" someone yells, and I glance down to see Boil giving me a thumbs up.
"Oh you bet!" I yell back, jumping across the head and slicing the other gun turret off. The AT-AT then shakes violently as the second tank opens fire, dealing massive amounts to damage to the sides. Just then, I see Rex climbing back into his gun turret and aims at the walker's neck, a wild grin on his face.
He opens fire, immediately destroying the entire thing with a kill shot. As the walker topples over, I deactivate my lightsaber and jump off of it, landing on the destroyed wreckage of the clone's own walker. I land in a crouch, and Boil then walks up to me as I stand up.
"Now that, was pretty awesome," he comments.
I just grin at him in response, hands on my hips.
Rex was helping the others out, first Kix, then Gregor and then Wolffe, and they all grin at each other.
"Look's like we all live to fight another day," Rex comments.
"Technically the war never ended for me, so I could do a little more," Kix says with a grin.
"Can't we always?" Wolffe asks rhetorically in agreement.
"Well, we do when we've got a Jedi leading us!" Gregor states, looking at me with a smile. They all smile at me, and I grin back at them in return, before looking at the top of the other walker. They all follow my gaze and share a look with Kanan, giving him a salute.
He nods in response, and behind them Hera finally arrives with the Ghost, she and Chopper waving from the cockpit.
I really enjoyed this day.
Space; Unknown Location
3rd person POV...
An Imperial shuttle flew towards Konstantine's Imperial Star Destroyer, headed for the hanger bay. Admiral Konstantine walked forwards as it landed, four stormtroopers standing at attention on the sides. He brushed his shoulder nervously, expecting Lord Vader himself to walk out of the shuttle.
However when it opened, two figures were standing there instead of the infamous Sith Lord. One of them is tall, with a strange wide helmet on. His skin was a greenish grey with pale eyes, and he was wearing Imperial colored armor, a lightsaber strapped to his back. To his side, stood another Inquisitor, and although he was slightly shorter and wore a mask, Konstantine got the feeling that he was the more dangerous of the two.
Both Inqusitor's walked down the ramp, the red light illuminating them from behind and stopped before Konstantine, who looked at them in surprise.
"Inquisitor's, I thought Lord Vader was coming aboard," Konstantine admitted. "I was not aware that-"
"Lord Vader has sent us, in his place," the Fifth Brother stated. They then brushed past Konstantine, their destination being the bridge.
"Well, this unnecessary diversion may have compromised the success of Agent Kallus's mission!" Konstantine protests. "We must return!"
"Your struggles with these insignificant rebels in of no concern," the Third Brother said coldly, stopping and glancing back at him while the Fifth Brother continued. "We will succeed in our mission where you and Kallus have failed."
With that promise, he continues on after the Fifth Brother, and Konstantine watches them go with a displeased frown, his pride hurt slightly from that remark.
Jarik POV...
Ahsoka and I had returned to the rebel fleet after saying our goodbyes to Obi-Wan, well on my part anyways, and were walking slowly through the hallways of the ship.
"Jarik... I'm still upset by the whole situation... but thank you for showing me Luke," she admits gratefully.
"It was the least I could do at this point. You deserved to know, more than me," I told her.
She smiles back softly, and then stops me in the middle of the hallways. "I'm still angry at Obi-Wan, and you to a small extent," she starts, and I grimace slightly. "But, do you think we could move past all that? Be a husband and wife like we should be?"
"Of course..." I tell her happily, before smirking slightly. "Miss Shan."
She scoffs, punching me lightly on the shoulder. "Yeah, I'm a Shan too, no thanks to you," she teases.
"Well you should feel honored! You're the first member of the Shan family who isn't human!" I congratulate her.
"I'll take that as a compliment little Jari," she says with smile.
We then sense a large group approaching us, and turn around the find Mara and the Spectres standing behind us, smiles on their faces. I raise an eyebrow at them, and Mara just shrugs at us. The group then parts to reveal Captain Rex and Boil striding forwards, and age definitely has taken it's toll on them. They stand before us rather professionally, hands behind their backs.
"Commander Tano," Rex greets.
"Commander Shan," Boil also greets.
We widen our eyes slightly before smiling at them, both approaching our respective legion troopers. we stand before them both, and I notice with some amusement that Boil still has his mustache.
"Well you two certainly got old," Rex comments, and Ahsoka scoffs at the irony.
"And you still have a mustache," I remark to Boil.
"Yes I do sir," he mutters proudly with a smirk.
"Well, it had to happen sometime Rex," Ahsoka replies with a smile. She then gives him a hug, and he leans back slightly in surprise before returning the embrace.
"Can I get a hug sir?" Boil asks me with amusement.
I purse my lips at him with a frown. "No," I tell him.
His face falls.
I smirk at him. "You still referred to me as Commander," I recalled.
He rolls his eyes in exasperation. "Oh you," he mutters, but we still clasp our forearms together and then share a quick bro hug, separating at the same time as Ahsoka and Rex.
"I'm glad you two are still alive," Rex tells us.
"You to," Ahsoka replies with a smile.
"Well we wouldn't be, if it weren't for these guys," Boil says, and they both gesture toward Mara and the crew.
We send nods of gratitude in their direction. "Thank you, for trusting our friends," Ahsoka says gratefully.
Kanan scoffs. "It wasn't easy," he admits, glancing down sadly. "It's still not."
"Just be glad you didn't almost take off his head," I mutter, and Boil laughs at the memory, despite how awful it was.
"Oh this I gotta hear," Mara mutters.
Ahsoka sends a grin my way, and then looks back at them. "Nothing worth doing, ever is Kanan." Ahsoka tells him.
With that being said, we turn around and head down the hallway towards the bridge as a group. Then Boil leans next to me, a questioning look in his gaze.
"So, how was the wedding?" he asks with a grin.
I stop in surprise and glance at him weirdly with wide eyes, Ahsoka also staring in bewilderment.
Aha, this was a good episode. Long to write too, but it was fun.
