Chapter 1
A War on Two Fronts
Ahsoka walked through the forest valley, the cool northern breeze starting to tickle her skin while the warm rays of sunlight kissed her forehead and lekku. She walked through a golden field of tall grasses, an ocean of dancing golden slivers as she drew near a forest. She looked up to see an owlet flying above her through the mix of shadow and light in the trees before it rested on a branch chirping at her.
She followed it down the forest floor barefoot the soft wet grass and dirt massaging her feet as she walked. Following the sound of a babbling brook made of the bluest water she'd ever seen. Following the brook it started to turn into a wide foard then into a raging rapids to a waterfall pouring out into a great lake.
Looking down with a smile, Ahsoka backed away.
Before sprinting to the edge of the rocks and diving into the lake below.
She emerged on the bay wiping her face, taking in the beauty of the living forces great work, the green of the trees, the dancing winds and sparkling waters brought her a great sense of calm.
Then she heard a twig snap.
Looking up Ahsoka saw something moving in the trees. following it not out of fear but curiosity. Ahsoka saw the shadow move deeper into the woods, then she spotted it, she spotted him. She almost missed them because they were dark green robes but the bright red hair was unmistakably "Leo!" she called out.
But he vanished into a thicket of tree, Ahsoka started to run after him "Leo stop!" she called out again but he moved on.
The forest started to grow darker, the bright sun started to become blotted out by thick leaves and thicker branches. The trees reached higher and higher, but the leaves grew less and less. Soon Ahsoka followed Leo into a part of the forest that just seemed wrong.
The trees were dead, naked of any leaves or life whatsoever. The air was stale, clogged like if she stayed to long she'd choke on it, but she followed Leo's back deeper in till the dirt turned to solid rock but somehow the trees where's till locked into the rocks their roots gray petrified turning to the very stone all the way up to the branches.
Leo had stopped then in the heart of the stone woods his back to her, "Leo…" she panted "... Leo let's get out of here."
"I can't follow you Ahsoka." Leo said "Not yet." he replied, still not looking at her.
Then he slowly started to turn and Ahsoka watched in horror to see Leo's eyes, he had no eyes they were gone bleeding out "Not until I see the truth."
"LEO!"" Ahsoka shot up from her bed in a cold sweat, it was late in the night on Coruscant, she had been thrown from her sleep well before her alarm was supposed to go off. Sitting up in her sleeping garments she pressed her head on her knees before she noticed her private holo computer was beeping, she had a message.
Later, in the High Council Chamber Ahsoka and Anakin had brought the message to the Jedi High Council chamber. "Unfortunately, the only way to retake Onderon will be through armed struggle. But we lack sufficient hardware and supplies." the hologram of Lux spoke, he was standing next to a tall man with dark skin wearing similar Onderonian garbs. Lux had taken a more practical fashion with his senatorial garments covered in body armor and his once neatly combed brown hair starting to grow out more. The other man had darker skin with black hair, blue eyes and a trimmed goatee. The Jedi Council sat around them listening to the Rebels' plight, standing with the Rebels both Ahsoka and Anakin were.
"Onderon is in your king's rule and at the outbreak of the Clone War, he chose to align it with the Separatists." Obi-Wan said to the two rebels.
"Our true king has been silenced; the one you recognize is a traitor and a Separatist minion. We need your help to survive this." the hologram of the other man, Saw Gerrera said accusingly to the JEdi.
Seeing his distress, Master Yoda knew what needed to be done "Find a way, we shall." Yoda said.
"We await your answer." Lux said, bowing his head before the holo ended.
"There are pockets of rebels on many of these planets that just need guidance, with training and resources, they could attack soft targets while the Republic continues to engage them on the battlefield." Anakin suggested admantly to the Council.
"That sounds like terrorism, Anakin." Obi-Wan suddenly said objectively.
"Well, I think of it as an insurgency to help realign these planets with the Republic." the Knight replied confidently in his cause being just.
"We can divide the Separatist forces and press them on two fronts." Windu said actually taking Anakin's side for once. "A means to and end, fear cannot stop those who spread terror, the Jedi must." Yoda pointed out to the Council.
"Indeed what you're suggesting would open up dangerous possibilities and we must not train terrorists." Obi-Wan said.
"Eh, rebels." Anakin corrected. "How we conduct war is what distinguishes us from others funding rebels to overthrow a legitimate government puts innocent lives at risk." his former master replied quicklu.
"We can minimize collateral damage by using arms that mainly affect droids." Anakin suggested quickly.
"The least we can do is help them defend themselves, test the tactic while we're at it." Windu sai.
The other Jedi started to nod in agreement murmuring another the tone of the room shifting to Anakin and Windu's favor. "This could be a great new weapon for us." Anakin said with a smirk.
"Hmm… Train and observe. Send advisors we will." the GrandMaster decreed. "I'll assemble a team." Anakin said, then Obi-Wan stood "I'm going with you."
Anakin gapped with a wide smirk of disbelief "What, you don't trust me?" his former apprentice asked with a smirk as the Master walked up to him. "Too much that's what worries me." Obi-Wan replied, placing a hand on his shoulder.
Later when the Republic heroes were in the Jedi hanger, about to depart Anakin and Obi-Wan walked in together, "I sense uneasiness from you Master, are you really worried these rebels will turn out to be terrorists even with our guidance?"Anakin asked.
"Ever since the return of Maul with his new apprentice, the shadow of the Dark Side has been growing." Obi-Wan said tensly.
"We all mourn the loss of Master Gaddi, but that wasn't your fault." Anakin said, trying to comfort him.
Obi-Wan looked away from him "Its not just that is it?" Anakin asked him "No."
Anakin fought the urge to speak "You're still thinking about him, aren't you?"
"How can I not, there's been no word or sight of Leo since Naboo, not even from our own spies." Obi-Wan said his words dripping with worry and dread "Do you think the Count… you know?" Anakin asked.
"No, I would have sensed it." Obi-Wan said quickly "What do your senses tell you now?" Anakin asked him.
Obi-Wan closed his eyes for a few moments "That Leo is lost to my sight." Obi-Wan answered him saddened at the answer the force had given him. Ahsoka, who had been working on her straighter in the background had accidently been easevedroping the whole time before Anakin noticed her "Come on Ahsoka, time to go train some rebels.
ONDERON
Wilds
Onderon. In its earliest ages of civilization, it was a world marked with savage jungles that were filled with dangerous creatures. To survive, the primitive human inhabitants of the planet protected themselves behind the walls of fortified settlements. Over time, these settlements grew to become enormous walled cities, including the planet's capital, the years after the Invasion of Naboo, the political idealist Count Dooku spread political turmoil on the world along with a host of others across the galaxy such as Sullust During the time of the Clone Wars, the planet's monarch King Sanjay Rash allied Onderon with the Confederacy of Independent Systems an idea that was soon to be undermined by valiant heroes of the Republic.
A clone pilot brought the shuttle out of hyperspace near Onderon and entered the planet's atmosphere on the side of Onderon that was night. "This is Valkyrie 2929. We're coming up on the drop zone." he said over the ship's com before stopping mid air.
"Go, go, go, go!" the co-pilot said, gesturing the heroes to jump. Anakin, the other Jedi and Rex jumped out and rolled as they landed on the ground while Rex used his jetpack to slow as he reached the ground. The Clone Captain had removed his armor for a field officer's uniform consisting of the jet pack, goggles, and a combat vest carrying Artoo. The shuttle flew off and the Jedi put their hoods back on before moving through the jungle. The moonlight guided them through the shadows, Obi-Wan and Anakin moved on the floor of the jungle with Rex, Ahsoka ketp to the trees. After a few minutes they were stopped by a few people riding on some kind of creatures. "Stay where you are, identify yourselves." a young woman ordered. Anakin took his hood off.
"It's all right. We're friends." he assured. "Jedi." she realized suddenly when Ahsoka dropped down from the trees "I'm Commander Tano we're here to help you take back your planet." Ahsoka said as she and Obi-Wan lowered their hoods. "My name is Steela. I'll guide you to our secret base." she said, the girl looked to be the same age as Ahsoka, she had dark skin and the same eyes as Saw. She wore a gray sleeveless one piece with a bandana and goggles on her thick black hair, with multiple harnesses around her body with brown boots and matching gloves.
Later as the sunrose, Steela had been leading them to some ancient jungle ruins when she suddenly stopped them. She looked around a bit then nodded at the others before they continued. The group walked into the base and saw Gerrera riding some flying creature that landed on an archway in the middle of the courtyard. The courtyard was filled with Onderonian rebels all wearing makeshift armor, that was a mix of construction helmets, and farmers harnesses with metal welded on where it could. The rebels all looked at them as they walked in with wary eyes "A bit rough around the edges, wouldn't you say?" Obi-Wan asked Anakin.
"That's why I brought Rex here." Anakin asked.
"They're not exactly what I would call shinies, sir, but I could work with them." the Captain said. Then Gerrera flew around before landing the creature in front of them and getting off. "General Skywalker." he greeted, walking up to them enthusiastically.
"At your service." the Knight replied before introducing the others. "This is General Kenobi, Commander Tano and Captain Rex." he said, gesturing to each them as they nodded.
"We're looking forward to taking the fight to those scrappin' droids." Gerrera said.
"Yes. All in good time…?" Obi-Wan said. "Saw. Saw Gerrera." the man introduced himself standing up straight as Steela came up to him dismounting her ride.
"He fashions himself as our leader, though no one elected him." Steela said, giving him a friendly punch on the arm. "Well, for now, we're in charge, and there is much to learn." Anakin said, crossing his arms with a smirk. The two rebels lead them to a holo projector inside the ruins main structure that appeared to be the rebels headquarters.
Anakin stepped up to it. "The Separatists have strength in numbers we're gonna show you how to target and destroy them." the Knight said as Obi-Wan stepped beside him.
"Now, to be clear, we are not here to fight your war; rather, to show you how to conduct it in the most efficient and successful way possible." Obi-Wan explained, earning nods from them.
"Captain Rex." Anakin said, gesturing to him. The Clone Captain stepped forward before addressing the rebels. "I'll show you how the 501st destroy clankers first, I need volunteers to carry supplies from our entry point a half-klick west." the Captain said.
"Shouldn't be a problem." Gerrera said.
As the Jedei and rebels filed out, Ahsoka decided it was time to say hellow to an old friend. Lux, it's good to see you again." said to him as they walked beside each other. "It's good to see you too, Ahsoka." he replied but with a bit of callousness.
"I didn't realize you had such strong ties to Onderon." she said, trying to sound friendlier.
"Onderon is my home. My mother represented it in the Senate and my father fought for it… for the Separatists." he replied while Steela came up to join them.
"Your voice is strong, like hers was." Steela said as she stepped up beside Lux's other side. "Have you reconsidered joining the Republic Senate?" she asked him. "Even if we do take back Onderon, it won't change how I feel. I'm not fighting for the Republic." Lux replied to the two girls.
"Well, what matters now is, we need each other's help, just like we did on Carlac." she said. "Carlac? What happened on Carlac?" Steela asked stopping dead in her tracks.
The other two stopped in front of her and turned around. "Ahsoka is the reason i'm here and not with Death Watch." Lux replied to her before she frowned at Ahsoka.
"Really?" she asked. "What he means is-" Ahsoka started before he cut her off. "She saved me from a huge mistake." Lux said before walking away.
"Hmm. Lux obviously thinks highly of you." Steela confided to Ahsoka. "I guess so." Ahsoka replied. "Let's hope that respect is well founded." Steela said harshly before walking off, leaving the jedi padawan to frown.
Later in the location Rex specified, Ahsoka had started to explain to the rebels how to take out a Separatist tank by using an empty one. "The pilot in the front hatch controls the tank, the shelves and the short range blasters. The commander in the top hatch controls the turret and the main cannon. You have to take out both chambers. Otherwise, the tank will remain operational." she said before nodding to Rex.
The captain jumped onto the tank before opening the front hatch and throwing an EMP grenade in then climbing to the top of the tank and throwing one into the top. Rex jumped off before electricity surged around the tank. "Everyone, divide up into teams of two, and we'll practice an assault on both hatches." Anakin ordered.
Lux and Gerrera teamed up together with the others, minus Steela, forming up behind them. Rex tossed an EMP to both of them before Gerrera ran up first and was about to open the front hatch as Lux tried climbing up to the top using the cannon. The tank's cannon shifted down and Lux fell off, knocking both him and Gerrera to the ground before Steela walked up to them. "Sorry about that." Lux apologized to him, holding his hand out.
Gerrera slapped it away. "You're a terrible soldier, Bonteri." he replied, standing up on his own.
"I'm not sure if they're more interested in fighting the droids or each other." Obi-Wan said as he and Anakin walked a few feet away from them. "They'll learn. We just need time to train the properly." the Knight said as he folded his arms. "Keep your eyes on the quick learners. In this fight, time is not on our side." the Master replied as they watched the rebels try taking the tank out the same way Rex did.
Anakin snickered then "What's so funny?" Obi-Wan asked "This just reminds me of the time on Felucia, when we had to train those farmers against pirates?"
"Well these aren't pirates or farmers?" Obi-Wan said "And we don't have Leo either?" Anakin pointed out.
"Come on! Move it like a soldier, like a real soldier!" Rex said as two rebels tried taking the tank out. "Come on, Dono! Pick it up, Hutch! You can do better than that!" Gerrera said as the two ran back from the tank mimicking Rex.
"Come on, hustle! I said hustle! That's what i'm taking about, right there. Go, go, go!" Rex ordered as they kept trying.
In the back Ahsoka noticed Saw had left the training to talk to Steela and Lux, "If this had been a real battle you would have killed us."
"It was an accident." Lux said standing up to defend hismelf.
"Just stop it!" Steela ordered Lux and Gerrera as Ahsoka turned her head to look at them and listen. "Sit down, boy. This isn't the Senate. You've got no talent for this." Gerrera said, pushing the other teen back a foot. "It's going to take a lot more than muscle to defeat the Separatists." Lux shot back before Gerrera folded his arms and turned his back.
"Politics have failed us. We have no choice." he said.
"We always have a choice." Bonteri said as the other teen turned back around. "Then make yours." he challenged before Steela stopped them.
She pressed her hands on both mens chests to push them away from each other, "Look, if were going to succeed, you'll need to be exceptional with words and action. There will be time for both." she said, placing a hand on one of their shoulders each. The two moved away from her as two rebels managed to finally do what Rex did.
After they were done training with the tank, they moved onto taking out droidekas. "Destroyers are quick, pack twin blasters, and come with their own shield generators. Nothing short of a cannon will pierce it. But they do have two weaknesses, and you will need to work together to exploit them." Anakin explained before nodding at Rex, the captain pressed a button on his wrist and one of the droids sprung up.
"The shield deflect high-velocity attacks." the Knight said and Rex demonstrated by trying to shoot it with his blaster before Anakin continued. "What the shields don't stop are slow or stationary objects. They're designed to absorb them so nothing hinders their movement." he said as Ahsoka gently rolled an EMP towards the shield, causing it to pass through and stop underneath before going off and making the droid go back into its powered-down mode.
"Destroyers are blind from behind. A distraction combined with a rear assault will give you a kill. The trick is to get the right speed on the droid popper." she said before Rex turned all three on and held up an EMP. "These are unarmed. Just concentrate on getting it past the shield." he said, tossing one to Gerrera.
Gerrera stepped forward confidently "Watch and learn." the teen said to Lux as he took a few steps forward. The rebel tossed it a little too fast and the EMP stopped against the shield. Lux smirked and looked at him. "Quite brilliant." he said before stepping forward as Ahsoka tossed him one.
Lux tossed it at the ground and it rolled slower than Gerrera's and slipped under the shield with ease just like Anakin and Rex had instructed.
Ahsoka smiled at him "Nicely done."
"Not bad." Steela said glaring at Ahsoka then hitting Lux with a playful punch, Steela stepped forward next and Ahsoka tossed her one before she threw it. The emp grenade rolled up to fast and bounced off the shield, Steela cursed herself before Lux came up "Here allow me, use your shoulder…" he said starting to show her with a more 'hands on' approach that made Ahsoka frown "oh great." she mumbled jealos of the attention she was getting.
"Okay, let's get back to work. Everyone pair up. We'll practice in groups." Rex said as the rebels started doing so. Lux and Steela paired up before Ahsoka could walk up to help Lux, forturnualy Gerrera stepped in "Hey Commander… uh mind helping me out?" he asked, friendly like.
But neither of them noticed the probe droid watching them from the shadows of the jungle. sWhile Ahsoka tried to teach Gerrera how to get the EMP through the shield and had just failed on his seventh attempt. "I can't get the distance or the speed right." he said with a groan of frustration.
"Learning this could save your life and those around you. A little backspin might help." she suggested before watching Lux help Steela, the other three rebels watching Gerrera cheered as the EMP passed through the shield finally. "You got it." Ahsoka said with a smile.
"You're a good teacher, Jedi." he replied, mirroring her smile. "Uh, keep practicing." she said before she checked on Steela who'd walked away and was sitting on a fallen tree while inspecting a rifle. "You made it look easy, and I managed to get it once." Steela said to Ahsoka as the two stopped. "It wasn't always that way." she replied.
"Right. The Force. That your secret?" Steela asked. "No. Perseverance. Look, you'll get the hang of it. I wouldn't let it get you down." the padawan said. "I'm not feeling down. I just know what i'm good at." the rebel replied before the two girls shared a small smile, then Ahsoka's eyes grew distant.
Steela sensing they had finally had a moment that was filled with tension decided to pop the question "What is it?"
"You remind me of someone, an old friend I had he knew what they were good at, too then… things changed." she said dismissively.
Steela set down her blaster rifle to listen "Are they a jedi?"
"They were, but they've chosen a different path." Ahsoka said darkly before she got up "Come on we should rejoin the others." She urged, Steela picked up her rifle and followed Ahsoka back to the others.
Once they were done training with the EMPs, Rex set up a few droid heads for rifle practice. "Impressive. Most impressive." Anakin complimented Steela after she knocked a head off the stone block.
"Fixed targets are one thing, how about this?" Ahsoka suggested before picking one up with the Force and moving it around a bit. Steela shot it three time before it was knocked out of the padawan's grip. "Nice job." she complimented half-heartedly. "You've clearly mastered your ability to focus." Obi-Wan said as he stepped up to Steela, earning a nod and smile.
"Snips, are you losing focus?" Anakin asked her quietly as he stopped in front of her when she started to move. "No, Master." she assured. "Good." he replied with a small smile before they and the rebels focused on Rex as he spoke.
"A headshot is the only decisive way to disable a droid they don't need arms, legs, or bodies to pass intel to central command." the Captain said as Steela took aim. "Wait a minute. What is that?" she wondered, looking through the scope to see real operating Separatist battle droids. "Droids!" she shouted as a whole battalion of B1s and B2s appeared on the jungle edge.
One B2 shot a rocket at them. "Take cover!" Rex exclaimed as the non-Jedi dived for cover and the Jedi backflipped before igniting their blades as the droids opened fire. The rebels and Rex returned fire and the Jedi deflected bolts while moving for -Wan and Anakin had taken cover "It appears that training is over." Obi-Wan commented.
"I'll take the right flank, you take the left." Anakin said to Obi-Wan deflecting blaster bolts with him "No Anakin, we can only protect them, we can't fight this war for them." Obi-Wan said as Steela popped droid heads like it was easy.
"Steela we can hold the moff while you get your people to safety." Obi-Wan told her.
Steela took one look at the droids and her courage rose to meet the challenge "No, you didn't teach us to run."
"Saw, prep your disruptors." Steela snapped into her coms "I'm on it." her brother said back, passing on her orders.
Gerrera and some of the other rebels tossed some explosives at the droids closest to them that went off a few seconds later, taking the first wave out. "Not bad." Anakin is complimented.
"That was only the first wave." Once the dust cleared a tank was seen at the entrance to the base before shooting at a few rebels and blowing them back. Ahsoka, Lux and Saw ducked back as a cannon shot hit the ground a feet beside them.
Steela suddenly shot the gates holding the beasts they rode on, releasing them and causing them to run towards the droids, effectively distracting them. "Hey Bonteri, ready to try again?" Gerrera asked him as they both took out a thermal detonator before running out into a storm of laser bolts.
"Hey, what are you doing!?" Ahsoka yelled as they moved from cover. "What you taught us!" Lux said as he and Gerrera ran towards the tank.
Gerrera threw his into the front hatch while Lux jumped onto the top and tossed his into the droid's hands before Ahsoka used the Force to push the droid in and close the hatch. The three quickly jumped off and Ahsoka took cover before the tank exploded, knocking the two rebels over from the force of the blast. Ahsoka helped Gerrera up while Steela helped Lux up.
"We, uh, need to clean up." Steela joked to Lux before Gerrera spoke to him. "I like it. Now you look more like a soldier than a politician." her brother said. "Well, maybe a good politician needs to get dirty now and then." Steela said, giving Lux a smile before the three walked back towards the others, Ahsoka shook her head annoyed.
"Take confidence from this victory. But rest assured, there will be more droids coming now that they know your position." Obi-Wan reminded him.
"It doesn't matter. You're ready now. We are going to take the fight to the droids. You don't have to hide in the jungle any longer." Anakin stated confidently.
"Droids were a bit dim, more so than I imagined." Gerrera said.
"They make up for it in numbers. They're designed to overwhelm." Ahsoka pointed out. "But they're not designed to deal with our approach." the older Knight said smiling at them all. "We hit them where they least expect it and before they realized what happened-" Lux started.
"We fade in with the rest of the population." Steela finished. "Exactly." Anakin said with a smirk. "We need a plan to get inside the city." Ahsoka said. "I have an idea." Lux said with a smile.
IZIZ
An hour later they were making their way down the road, disguised as a group of hunters. Lux directed the beast pulling one caravan while Anakin directed the other one. "Halt. What were you doing outside of the city gates?" a battle droid asked, stopping them as they reached the shielded main gate of the city. "Hunting. We've been trekking for days." Lux answered. "Did you register before your excursion?" it asked as the other droid inspected the caravan.
"No, but most of our time is spent in the bush, collecting our traps. We come to the city to sell. You can't get Thrip larva like this in Iziz. Only the biggest trees on the other side of Onderon." he answered, showing it a paper bag for a moment.
"Hey, listen, we need to deliver all of this in time for supper." Steela said from where she sat on the top of the caravan adding to the rouse.
"Hmm. Are you scanning anything?" it asked the other droid by the side of the caravan. "It's hard to tell with so much organic matter." it replied before one of the rebels riding on the caravan Anakin was on called out.
"Come on! Our merchants are waiting inside. Can you hurry it up?" one of the rebels on the back cart asked, pretending to sound impatient.
"Let them through." the one who scanned them said. "Roger, roger." the other one replied before pressing a button on the pad it was holding and the shield came down. Lux started moving the caravan through the gate. "Good plan." Ahsoka complimented quietly after entering the city. "Like Saw said, those droids are dumber than we thought." he replied. Anakin pulled his caravan up beside Lux's as they stopped. "Not a bad start. But now the hard work begins." the Knight said as Obi-Wan came up between the two caravans on the beast he was riding.
"You must find recruits and choose your targets wisely." Obi-Wan said. "They'll be looking of us." Steela said, up ahead the city had started to move to center.
"We should split up." Lux suggested as he stood up on the seat. "Regroup after nightfall. I'll alert our brothers." Gerrera said before hopping off Lux's caravan and leaving. Lux hopped off and faced Anakin. "We'll make sure you have the supplies you need." Anakin told him. "Rex, and I will take care of that." Ahsoka assured as the Captain climbed out from inside the caravan. "Good luck." Lux said. "You too." both Ahsoka and Steela said at the same time before suddenly Saw came running back.
"Saw what is it?" Lux asked.
Nearly out of breath Saw caught it again "There's some announcement about to be made, I ran into one of my old contacts he just told me and…"
"ATTENTION CITIZENS OF IZIZ, YOU ATTENDANCE AT THE ROYAL PALACE IS REQUESTED BY YOUR NEW GOVERNOR." a droid voice echoed across the city to the answered murmuring of the streets, but soon the entire city started to converge and the caravan was forced to move along with them.
The square outside the palace then filled with people like a river flowing into a lake, outside the palace gates stood three rows of battle droids holding a line alongside the Royal army of Onderon "A governor, what happened to King Rash?" Ahsoka asked.
"I have a feeling we're about to find out?" Obi-Wan said as the gates to the palace opened, two magna guards walked out dragging out a man in black armor, with red silk robes and brown hair on his ead, with a trimmed beard. He was on his knees being dragged by the droids; it was none other than King Rash himself. When he was dropped in front the droids moved out of the way so everyone could see how far the might had fallen.
"That's the king." Obi-Wan gasped along with a wave of shocked voices and gasps from the people at the sight of their crownless king being thrown to his knees, when one of the droids stepped forward "Presenting the new Governor of Onderon, Primus." out of the Palace in a black robe with matching dark garments underneath was none other than Darth Primus, Leo Rock himself. When everyone saw him the murmuring and talking grew even louder, he let them talk and even hurled a few shouts at him before he held up one arm with an open palm slowly dragging it across the air above the crowd.
They slowly started to quiet themselves "Master?" Anakin asked "I feel it too… Obi-Wan gasped.
Then Primus spoke "Good people of Onderon, I come to you as a servant of the people and a servant of the Confederacy of Independent Systems, a nation that we are privileged to be a part of." He began walking up to the, sticking his hands back under his robes.
"This… man, stole the Crown of Onderon, this crown." he said gesturing back to the trandoshan hunter and life debted to Leo, Turok Skell who came up holding the Crown of Onderon on a pillow. Leo took the crown and held it up "Taken from the rightful rulers of this world, from YOU!" Leo suddenly threw the crown into the crowd that parted before it landed, splitting into two pieces at the feet of Saw who's jaw dropped and face went pale.
The crowd looked back up at Leo "You are citizens of the Separatist Dream, a dream founded on the principles of liberty and justice!" he shouted raising his hand again, in the crowd the rebels and Jedi could see some of the citizens faces smile and the Siths words reach them unaware of what he was really doing "I call upon you Onderon, to help make this dream a reality of a government of the people, by people and for the people!" he shouted to them all.
He was answered by a loud cries of approval from the crowd, thunderous applause and the chanting of "HAIL PRIMUS, HAIL PRIMUS, HAIL PRIMUS, HAIL PRIMUS!"
Primus or Leo waved his hand again to silence them "No, Hail to you, the people a free people and as a free people you shall have the power to stand in judgement of a tyrant!" Leo said pointing to Rash, a sudden hush fell onto the crowd.
"What should become of this once king?" Leo asked them, he was met with silence before someone in the crowd shouted "Death!"
Ahsoka looked over to see a red headed man with a dark brown tunic and black pants, he had a lot of freckles and pale skin; he didn't appear to be an Onderonian at all. But when his spark of a word echoed it lit a fire "Death, death, death, DEATH, DEATH, DEATH!"
Leo looked down at Rash "The People have spoken your highness." Leo said before he reached into his robe, Rash watched Leo take out his red lightsaber. Anakin almost jumped off his caravan cart "Anakin no, it's what he wants." Obi-Wan ordered. They were forced to watch Leo slice Rash's head clean off and pick it up by the head's hair to the roaring approval of the mob, his mob on his world. Leo scanned the crowd at his adoring public when he spotted the Jedi among them and all to his delight he smiled and tossed the head down the steps. He deactivated his lightsaber putting it away before he winked at the Jedi. Ahsoka looked at him remembering her dream of Leo without any eyes but he had them, burning yellow and red sith eye staring right at her.