Chapter 2

Frontrunners

ONDERON

Iziz

Outside in the city markets, Ahsoka walked around the market near the front gate during midday before stopping. Lux suddenly appeared beside them and they looked behind themselves to see four battle droids enter the market. Lux quickly ran to the other side of the market before hiding behind some crates as the droids ran out into the middle of the area. The rebel tossed an EMP in the middle of them without the droids noticing before it suddenly went off. The crowd stared in surprise at what had just occurred as the three quickly left the area without ever being seen by the droids.

Across the city, Obi-Wan was monitoring Saw as he caught a stop and frisk against an Onderonian citizen, "Your identification failed." The droid snapped "But that's not possible?" The man begged terrified before Saw burst from the shadows shooting the droids and running off.

Up on the rooftops near the canal, Anakin was with the sharpshooter Steela who was overwatch for some of the rebels at a droid checkpoint, there was a rayshield up and Steela watched the operating droid before she took it out with a single shot and broke the checkpoint power generator before a droid rushed out shooting at them. Anakin and Steela took cover as the ground rebels hit the droid with an EMP taking it out.

"I'd say we're giving Governor Primus one hell of a headache." Steela said smugly "You've certainly gotten his attention." Anakin said looking over to the royal palace.

Onderons royal palace was made of white marble stone with blue and yellow paint streaked across segments of its towers, high up on its balcony Leo was overlooking his world holding a cup of wine when Turok came up behind him "So?" Leo asked him.

"The rebels have made five attacks this rotation, one in the market at the main entrance, two more by the canal near the checkpoint, they also destroyed the checkpoint." Turok reported him.

"Casualties?" Leo asked "There only attacking the droids, EMP grenades and head shots." Turok relayed. Leo sipped his wine "Hmm so they're against the occupation, big surprise." Leo sai back, he turned away from the balcony and walked back into the throne room. In its center stood the Throne of Onderon, a golden and black marble chair of great size and grandeur, across the room on the right side was a painting of King Rash which some droids were unhanging, at the throne and entrance of the hall stood a pair of Onderonian Royal guard.

As they walked Leo made a proclamation "Alright, are those curfews still going on."

"Yes and the stop and frisks?" Turok asked him "Hmm, we'll need to make some changes around here to stop the attacks"

Turok followed him as Leo walked up the Throne and sat down in it "They also attacked the royal carriage as it was leaving Rash's estate."

"An assassiantion?" Leo asked him, but Turok only shrugged "Hmmm, bring in the old king I'd like to talk to him." Leo asked.

In a few moments, two black and red Commando Droids walked in with an old man at balster point, he wore white linen garments with a matching white beard, a large but noble nose and no hair on his scalp. He had tattoos on his palms that probably went up his arms "Your highness, King Dendup, I hope your new accommodations are better than that cell Rash put you in?" Leo asked him.

"What is it that you want of me Governor?" Dendup asked Leo.

Putting the glass down "You've probably seen the attacks by the rebels from your bedroom window, I was hoping to ask your opinion on the matter?"

"The people of Onderon like me, want freedom for our planet." Dendup told Leo who leaned back in his chair "But you are free, free under the protection of the Separatist Alliance?" Leo asked him.

"But who will protect us from you Governor?" Dendup asked him, Leo only smiled back. Dendup gazed up at the young Sith Lord "If you want the attacks to stop you must end the droid occupation."

Leo looked at the battle droids behind him, "You act as if your people were invaded when your predecessor, my mistake usurper aligned with the Separatists? From my point of view and the views of the Senate on Raxus we are under siege here." he said leaning forward in his chair.

"You cannot secure peace through strength of arms, the will of the people can not be so easily broken; it is the King who must embrace or break what challenges his rule." Leo's silver brow rose over his golden eye, then he rose and walked toward him "There are no more kings old man." Leo said as he pointed to the Throne "But the will of the people is a strong thing." Leo raised his hand to the throne and it suddenly started to shake, the two guards at it backed away when suddenly the throne was uprooted from the floor and crushed into rubble before the King's very eyes "But nothing is unbreakable." Leo smiled.

Outside the Royal palace, the three soon caught up with the others and the group made their way through the alleys, with Gerrera occasionally nodding to a rebel before entering a safe house. The Jedi sat down on one of the couches while Gerrera, Lux and Steela sat on the other couch with the rest of the group standing around the room. "Your success will not go unnoticed." Anakin said. The rebels standing cheered at this and started to pour drinks.

"I agree, but we need to be mindful of public perception." Obi-Wan said before looking at Ahsoka. "What was your observation, padawan?" he asked her.

"The people were fearful, Master." she replied. "Indeed judging from the reactions I saw today, I'm afraid they will mistake your intentions." he said. "We need to do more damage; a few dozen broken-down droids will do little to free Onderon." Gerrera said ready to strike again.

"The people need to believe we can succeed without their support, our efforts are meaningless." Steela said. "If they're afraid, they won't support us. We need to assure them of our intentions." Lux said. "I don't understand. Why are they afraid?" Gerrera asked. "They're afraid we're not strong enough to win, we need to earn their trust." Steela replied.

"You'll have plenty of time to earn their trust. All of you are going to be very busy." Anakin said.

"Today was only a taste you'll get your chance." Rex assured.

"In the meantime, make the most of your victories welcome and learn from them." the Master said. "Perhaps if we hit something big, gave a show of strength, they will overcome their fear and join us." Lux suggested as he stood.

"Do you have something in mind?" Ahsoka asked. "I know the perfect target." he replied with a smirk.

Later the Jedi and clone exited the building. "I think they're ready to give the 501 some competition." Anakin said with a smirk as they walked a few feet away. "Let's not get carried away, General, though these rebels have impressed me." the Captain replied.

"We will share the developments with the Jedi Council. Ahsoka will remain here as advisors." Obi-Wan said before turning to the couple. "Monitor them and report back with their progress." he said. Ahsoka bowed her head nodding. Anakin placed a hand on her shoulder. "Are you up for it, Snips or would you two like to return to Coruscant?" he asked them. Ahsoka looked at her master and thought it over. "No, Master. We want to stay." she replied as he took his hand from her shoulder.

"Good. We should continue to provide supplies and credits, but they must learn to operate on their own; their survival depends on it." Obi-Wan said as he started to walk. "Yes, Master but what about Leo- I mean Darth Primus?" Ahsoka asked them.

Both older Knights looked at one another "We'll seek the guidance of the Council before we do anything." Obi-Wan stated "In the meantime Ahsoka remember your purpose." Anakin told her with a smile before he and Rex started walking with Obi-Wan.

As they walked away "You sensed it in the crowd when we arrived, didn't you?" Anakin asked him.

"I did, Leo was using the force to persuade the crowd." Obi-Wan said "His powers in Battle Meditation have grown, now we know where he's been, training with the Count." Obi-Wan said darkly "We should have told Ahsoka about Leo, we've lied to her long enough." Anakin asked his old Master.

He shook his head "Now is not the time Anakin, this will be one of her first solo missions she'll need to focus like you said."

"But he's used us Master, Leo used you and me to become Dooku's new apprentice you heard what they called him, Primus, Darth Primus." Anakin hissed.

Later on when the sun was starting to set, Gerrera, Lux, Steela and the young Jedi were staked out on a roof as they observed a large power plant. It was guarded on all sides by high walls and battle droids ready for anything. Steela scoped it out with her sniper before Lux spoke. "This power generator feeds substations across the city. We hit that, the entire grid falls." he explained to everyone.

Meanwhile, up in the royal palace Turok had a pair of binoculars next to Leo who was watching them. "Do they not think we can't see them from here?" Leo asked "The palace is literally the tallest building in the entire city?"

"I was asking myself the same question, but you see who's with them?" Turok asked as Leo watched Ahsoka.

He took the binoculars away "Whatever there was planning, let's throw a wrench in it." he said before walking away.

Back on the rooftops the rebels were planning their attack "How does that help us, battle droids are no longer linked to central control; they operate individually?." Steela asked him.

"Yes, but they still need power to recharge if we take out this facility, it will knock out the power grid, and then it will only be a matter of time until the droid army is brought to a standstill, literally." Lux explained even more.

"If you carry the plan out by nightfall, you'll maximize your strike capability." Ahsoka pointed out.

"Okay, so we just need to figure out how to destroy the power station." Steela asked.

"We need to do more surveillance." Lux said. "Those droids should have all the intel we need stored up in those tin cans of theirs, right?" Gerrera asked the Jedi. "They should." Ahsoka replied.

Saw smiled at them all "Then i'll get us one." he said before sliding down the roof, ten minutes later he came back with a droid head and they hooked it up to a pad before a hologram of the power generator appeared. "Sentries at every access point, inside and out." Gerrera said as small red dots appeared at certain places. "We can't sustain combat against their numbers." Lux said. "But our size makes us perfect for mobility and surprise we need something with heavy firepower if we are to blow up this facility." Steela said. "If we give them enough trouble, they'll call for reinforcements." Lux said. "Like a tank." she said. "Exactly. Then you can provide cover while we hijack it." he replied with a smirk.

"And then we use their own weapon against them." she said before Gerrera cut the holo. "And bring the droid army to its knees." he said.

The group hid in an alley nearby and waited for the distraction. A few seconds later a rebel stopped a speeder a few feet away and exited it before running over to the alley opposite of them. "Remember the plan. We attack this patrol, and hopefully they will call in a tank for backup." Lux said as a group of B1s and B2s marched before one of the supers pushed the car a bit while they moved around it, when suddenly an alarm started to blare, but it was more of an electronic trumpet then an alarm.

"Saw wait!" Steela snapped when a hologram appeared over the city, all the rebels and citizens looked up to see Leo standing over them "People of Iziz and children of Onderon everywhere." he addressed them standing over them in the holographic form while he stood in the throne room, with no throne which showed to the entire city.

"Here is what remains of the Throne of Onderon, a symbol of the tyranny of a monarch who oppressed you by strength of arms, but unlike the will of the people it has been broken; in less than a day your beloved city has been bereft with attacks by a group of armed dissidents intent on violence and mayhem." Leo said as the rebels looked up, Ahsoka squeezed her hands into fists at the sight of Leo, her blood starting to boil hearing the traitor "I speak now to these insurgents…"

Everyone held their breath before Leo smiled "I salute you." he said before bowing to everyone's surprise "Before my arrival here, under the command of King Rash the droid army engaged these citizens without provocation and because of it we have all suffered."

"What's he doing?" Lux asked Ahsoka "He's twisting the truth, it's what the Sith do." she hissed.

"That is why effective immediately, all checkpoints within the city are to be removed, stop and frisks for identification will be minimized then halted all together, all tanks and heavy droids will be withdrawn from the streets." He proclaimed across the city, sa he did the droids marching past the alleyway turned around and started to head toward the palace or to the city exit. The rebels looked down into the streets to see the entire city had gone into an eruption of celebration much to Leo's delight as he stood in the throne room, outside the doors and windows of the city started to open with the onderonians starting to emerge into the city streets to listen more.

"And I say to the rebels of Onderon, your actions have not gone unnoticed you attack the droids who attacked you, but now I ask you no-." Leo then surprised everyone by dropping to his knees "No I beg you, end this needless violence, bring forth your grievances to me, stand with us as we build a better and brighter future for Onderon, together." the hologram disappeared into the air leaving the rebels dumbfounded as the city streets started to fill with people celebrating. Steela looked out to see one of the checkpoints dividing an entire district deactivated to the crowd's cheers.

The rebels all looked at one another "If we try to steal a tank and destroy the power plant the casualties will be unavoidable." Lux said to them and looked at Ahsoka "It's what he wants, he knows your about to do something its why he decided to speak now."

"How can you be sure?" Steela asked "Because I know him." she hissed glaring at the palace where Leo was seeing up from his balcony the throngs of citizens coming out to cheer for the new laws outside the palace "HAIL PRIMUS, HAIL PRIMUS, HAIL PRIMUS" Filled the air and the whole city as night fell and the celebrations began.

"Send in the vulture droids." Leo ordered Proxy who was beside him.

In less than a minute the rebels and people of Onderon saw a squadron of vulture droids flying overhead "He's going to bomb the city." Saw gasped when the droids released their payload but it wasn't bombs, they were fireworks. They popped and sang into the night sky all to the crowds amusement "We need to get back to the hideout, regroup." Steela said.

"What about the operation?" Saw asked her "It's a bust, if we attack now we'll be the terrorists the Jedi warned us we'd become." Steela said to everyone "Come on."

Up in the palace Leo looked at Turok who wasn't smiling like him, he waved to the crowd relishing in their praise "Oh come on, we've done good."

"Hmm, this a trick isn't it?" Turok asked him "Of course it is, but we've taken away the Rebels ability to look like liberators fighting against an oppressive regime, if they attack us we look like victims so when we destroy them it will be destroying terrorists not freedom fighters."

Back at the Rebel hideout, the rebels inside were all murmuring and disgruntled once the other three got back and Ahsoka brought up the holograms of Anakin, Obi-Wan and Rex.

"We've had a devleopment." Steela said with an unhappy look on her face. "We know, we intercepted the Governors decrees, a most unusual move for a Separatist leader you must be cautious." Obi-Wan told them.

Saw stepped forward "Cautious, he destroyed the Throne of Onderon, then ordered his forces to retreat, we're winning, we should attack?" Saw suggested to everyone.

"But that's exactly what he wants, by answering our attacks with an open hand and a call for peace, we've become the aggressor." Lux said reasonably "The droid army is still here, he only needs an excuse to send them back out and if we attack the people will beg to be protected." he added.

"Governor Primus may have the support of the people, by giving them security he'll capitalize on their fear of you if you're not careful." Anakin told them the rebels all murmured in what was starting to look like an argument.

Steela spoke up next taking the center of the room, "You taught us how to fight a war, we're thankful for that but you all heard what the Governor said, he wants the fighting to stop. You know me I'm ready to give my life for Onderon to be free, but if there is a chance for a non violent solution… I don't think we can waste it." she said her words reaching the hearts and minds of each rebel, even the Jedi and clone.

"I second that." Lux said, walking out to join her taking her by the hand, showing that he was with her looking deep into her eyes. Ahsoka looked to, her eyes filled with longing.

"Steela is a born leader." Rex said to Obi-Wan. "And quite courageous I see." Obi-Wan added.

"Ahsoka, remember what I told you about staying focused." Anakin reminded. "I can't help it, Master." she replied "I understand." Anakin said.

"You do?" Ahsoka asked, sounding a bit surprised. "I do but try to remember, always put purpose ahead of your feelings." he replied.

Obi-Wan's hologram took a step forward as he addressed the room. "This latest development will surely get Count Dooku's attention; he will respond to his Governors new tactics but how I'm not sure.

"Until then, we'll be ready." Steela said.

"You must rally the people. You will need their support, your ability to influence them will also determine your capacity to represent them not only on the battlefield but off of it against your enemies, even within your own ranks. Your commitment will inspire others your conviction will lead to victory." Anakin told them. "After tonight's efforts, the people will be unready to follow you will need a leader for them to rally behind if they choose you or the Governor." Obi-Wan said a Gerrera folded his arms.

Up in the Royal Palace, inside the throne room Leo was sitting on the rubble of the throne, while Turok and Proxy stood in front of him, Proxy in the holographic form of Count Dooku, all while Leo held a knife chipping away at an onderonian apple "Your reports are most troubling apprentice, why have you not hunted down these rebels?"

"There is no need." Leo replied as he munched on an apple "I have arranged it so they will come to me." Leo said pointing to himself with a knife "By recalling your forces you appear weak, fearful."

Leo swallowed his apple and stood up "I understand my lord, but by removing the droids from the streets I have secured our forces from future attacks and taken away the means for the rebels to rally the people."

"The people are to be ruled, not appeased." Count Dooku snarled Leo and kept his eyes on him "If one starves a dog for too long, then everything they see becomes a meal." Leo replied.

Count Dooku gave a grim glare hearing the snarky comeback "Explain?"

"I will delude the people of Onderon into the idea that they are free, and when the rebels accept my offer of negotiation they will lay down their arms, or be destroyed." Leo replied to Turok's sudden surprise, but he hid it well.

"Hmm I see a trap." the Count guessed correctly "As you have you have taught me my lord." Leo replied bowing.

"Even so, I shall be sending you reinforcements all the same, should the need arrive Kalani shall aid you." Leo shot up when he saw a super tactical battle droids tanding behind the general. The droid had a dark almost black chassis with golden markings on it with three red eyes staring at him "As you wish… my lord."

Back at the rebel hideout Gerrera spoke after the holograms had been cut. "We need to build on our momentum and continue our attacks to keep them off balance, negotiations can't be an option." he said.

"We have to assure the people first. If we keep disrupting their lives, we risk alienating them. We have to gain their trust by showing them we're willing to sue for peace." Lux said back, taking the oppostie side.

"I agree with both of you. We can balance both and we also need to recruit others to join us." Steela said before turning around to address the other rebels while Ahsoka watched from the rear. "Onderon is ours we will remind everyone and keep reminding them until we get it back. If that means going directly to the Governor to demand it then we do." she said before the room broke into a chorus of 'Onderon is ours!' and cheering.

As they cheered Saw cleared his throat "Alright, but who's going to do it?" He asked.

"We can't risk sending a party, it could be a trap." Lux said thinking "I should go, as a former Senator I'm best suited to the task." He said confidently "You've spent too much time with the Separatists as it is, I don't think so we should send a soldier and let them know it's one of the people who speaks for them." Saw snapped bitterly unhappy with the situation.

Steela stepped in then "Whoever it is, they'll become the face of the movement, it should be whoever we have the people rally behind, it should be our leader."

Suddenly one of the rebels in the back spoke "All in favor of Steela as our leader, raise your hand." a rebel said as she raised her hand, in a matter of seconds the rest of the rebels did the same. "Okay looks like it's been decided you're the leader." Gerrera said to her, placing a hand on her shoulder for a moment before swallowing the last of his drink and walking away. "Saw." Steela tried to stop him before Lux stopped her.

"Let him go he just needs to blow off some steam. He'll be back." he assured before she sighed. "I can't." she said. "Why?" Ahsoka asked her. "He's my brother." she replied before leaving.

Ahsoka watched her go, sensing the deep bond the two siblings have, it reminded her again of a painful bond she still clung to "She certainly is something isn't she?" Lux said behind her.

"Ahsoka?" he asked, seeing she was somewhere else "Lux?" she snapped back to him "You alright?"

Ahsoka looked up into Lux's kind and thoughtful brown eyes and smiling face, she wanted to sink right into it and more but her master's words echoed in her head "I… I need to go meditate." she said walking off too. Ahsoka grabbed her robe and walked out of the hideout and into the night streets of Iziz, the celebration was still continuing as the citizens of Onderon celebrated the end of curfew. The cantinas were open and the drinks were flowing, singing and dancing were everywhere as the fireworks lit the night sky. The people climbed on top of old Onderonian kings statues to spray paint the Separatist insignia on them before they brought them down to shatter.

Nobody noticed the young girl walking toward the palace, Ahsoka moved into a nearby alleyway and suddenly jumped up onto a rooftops and approached the edge to the palace using the force to propel herself into the air like a shade in the night and land on the palace rooftops. Avoiding the droids, Ahsoka scrambled down the wall sides to an entrance of one of the towers where she saw the red and black commando droids guarding it.

She slunk around the tower corner to an open balcony and landed on top of it to walk into the former Kings chamber, it was a large room with an emperor size bed. Works of art and old paintings covered the walls; there was a desk too with empty bottles of wine and ones about to be drunk sitting there. She walked in a bit more before she stepped on something and saw it was a set of dark black trousers. That's when she heard a door open with the smell of steam coming from it.

Leo had walked out of the fresher in nothing but a towel around his waist and around his broad shoulders, his chest still a damp from the hot water as he washed his messy white hair. Ahsoka had flown into the rafters holding onto the beams with her arms and legs as Leo walked over to the desk and poured himself some more wine. She watched him move and then noticed his lightsaber was on the other side of the room when she couldn't hold her arms any longer. Leo sipped his wine looking at a report when he heard a lightsaber turn on "I was wondering when you'd show up Ahsoka?" He asked turning around When she saw his exposed naked chest, the scars and Jedi symbol tattooed on his chiseled chest that was exposed all the way down to his hips. She had to force her eyes to stay up on his face which to her great surprise was smiling even though he was face to face with her green lightsaber.

"Drink?" He asked while holding up his wine "What are you playing at with the rebels?"

Leo rolled his eyes and started to walk "Oh that I-" He stopped when Ahsoka inched her lightsaber closer to his neck "I meant what I said, that I want to hear them out."

"Don't lie to me Leo, you're a Sith." She said back.

"And you're a Jedi, isn't peace what you, what we fought for?" He asked her rolling the wine around in his chalice "Is this all some kind of game to you Leo, the lives on this planet?"

"Coming from the girl who's masters snuck in illegally to train insurgents to fight the legitimate government?" Leo asked her "That's different, they came to us for help."

"They, the rebels or Lux?" He asked.

Ahsoka's eyes widened and she moved her sword closer, almost touching his neck, but Leo didn't even flinch "I saw the records of probe droids, you two seemed pretty close."

"Why do you care?" She asked accusingly "I'm not an idiot Ahsoka and neither are you." He said leaning on the desk. Leo held up his hand and turned on a holodevice on the desk and a hologram appeared to show the recording of the rebels training, with Lux and Steela being very chummy with each other.

Leo looked up at Ahsoka and she looked back at him, then turned off her lightsabers "You're going to lose Leo, the rebels won't be beaten and Onderon will be free."

He looked away and sighed "Is that all you came here to say?"

"I wanted to look you in the eye when I did, wanted to see if there was anything left of the old Leo and I must say... I'm disappointed." She said walking toward the open balcony.

"You know I could call the droids?" He asked her "Then do it?" She asked, turning around quickly, squeezing her lightsaber ready to fight. Leo looked at her sensing she knew he was bluffing "That's what I thought, you really are a Sith playing with people's lives like it's some kind of game too afraid to get your own hands dirty." Now Leo squeezed the desk tight, her words cutting deep.

"You don't know anything about the Sith." Leo said up to her.

"I know enough that you made our vision come through Darth Primus." She said bitterly hurrying to the balcony leaping onto the railing.

Leo followed her suddenly "He'll never give it to you Ahsoka, help him all you want, fight his battles, save his life a thousand times... Lux will never give you his heart, it belongs to Onderon." Leo said, making her stop.

The memories of the two of them as younglings, fighting together were too painful to remember as she looked back knowing she shouldn't her eyes watery "What would you know about giving someone your heart, you don't even have one?" Then she jumped from the balcony back into the city. But meanwhile down in the city shadows of the taller buildings behind a sniper scope, Steela had been watching the whole time.