Chapter 10
A Test of Strength
Ahsoka tore the bandage around her right arm covering up the last wound she'd stitched up, looking at Leo in the brig. It was a small room with a circular door that had a red laser wall. Ahsoka stood up and walked up to the laser wall turning it off. Leo was handcuffed over his head shackled to a wall with force damping handcuffs. Unlike the jedi padawan Leo had received no medical attention his face was still pretty swollen when she turned off the laser wall and kicked Leo in the leg.
"Hhnnnn." He moaned through his jaw and raised his head with one eye open to see her standing over her, in one hand she had a closed fist the other a scalpel.
She knelt down and looked at him, he looked back with his one good eye before she held the scalpel up to his face "Hold still." she said.
Leo felt her grab the top of his white hair, reddened with dried blood she poked the black eye on his left side. Blood spurted out of it and the swelling started to drop before his other eye opened and she saw it.
The other eye was red and puffy not from the bruise, but from a contact lense that had been pressed in too hard, it fell out a moment later right into Ahsoka's other hand where she held the other lense.
Leo's eyes were green, not sith gold.
Ahsoka bit her lip and squeezed the lenses in her palm, crushing them before she threw them and the scalpel away "Talk?" she ordered.
Leo sighed leaning his head up against the metal wall looking at the ceiling "What do you want to know?"
"Everything." she hissed.
"Where should I start?" he asked again.
Ahsoka snatched his cut arm and squeezed it, he winced "You know that doesn't work on me." he said he was more annoyed by the pain than actually hurt.
Ahsoka took her hand back "What really happened on Umbara?"
"What did they tell you?" Leo asked her "That it was Master Krell who betrayed us, you stopped him and then you became a spy for Count Dooku before he seduced you to the dark side, that was a lie right?" She asked.
Leo shook his head "No, that wasn't a lie."
"So Naboo, you really did betray us?" She asked him.
Leo looked her in the eye "You didn't hear them Windu and my Master, they said they'd do what needed to be done, what was 'necessary' like I was already turning on them." Leo spat looking away "Kind of proved their point." Ahsoka said, sitting across from him.
"I was scared of Ahsoka, I didn't know who's lightsaber I was going to be facing with my Masters or Dooku's." Leo told her but that didn't seem to convince her.
Resuming his gaze "Yes, I turned, I finally embraced the dark side like they all said and you know what it felt good, I was stronger as a Jedi Master, stronger." he stated squeezing his fists "And the colonists, my people you helped enslave?" She asked.
Leo avoided her gaze "I'm not saying I was proud of what I did, but I had to earn the Counts' trust."
"You sold ten thousand people into slavery Leo." She pointed out in a frustrated accusation.
He squeezed his bloodied hands tight "And millions die every day as this war goes on."
"That's your justification trying to end the war, good job so far?" She asked him "Ahsoka you can't be that naive to think this war is just some squabble about politics." He said pulling on his shackles, yanking closer to her.
Ahsoka looked down at the remains of the contact lenses "And the contact lenses?" She asked him.
"An old trick I learned from an old padawan named Carrick in the days of the Old Republic." He explained.
"You heard what my Master did on Onderon?" He asked "Obi-Wan he tried to reach you but he failed, or did he?" She asked.
Leo smirked "He never gave up on me, so why have you?"
"Because I know you Leo." She said "I know that deep down you've only ever fought for yourself, all those times you told me when you were scared you were fighting for your own survival." She said recalling the nights alone together.
He clenched his hands tight "That was until I met you and Anakin, met Master Kenobi you made me better Ahsoka, please listen to me?" He asked no begged.
"And you know better?" She asked him "Open your eyes Ahsoka, thousands of worlds drawn into war, artificial soldiers created on mass, entire systems overrun by both sides dragging everyone into the conflict with no end in sight?" Said Leo inches from her face.
Ahsoka didn't even flinch "Enlighten me?"
"There was another objective to my mission, one only my Master and I knew." He said "Which was?"
"Someone has been playing a dangerous game Ahsoka, moving planets and governments like pieces on a board, a Sith Lord unlike anything the Jedi have ever faced using the Jedi behind the Republic, and I'm close to finding him." Leo told her.
Ahsoka's eyes narrowed on him "So the younglings just pawns, like the people on Onderon?" she asked.
"I was never going to take them to Dooku, I planned a drop off with Master Kenobi. It was all about showing I had no loyalty left to the Jedi, this would disavow me forever and Onderon…" Leo shut his eyes while the blood trickled down his face "Onderon was a mistake." He dropped back down onto the floor sulking
The torgurtan stood, "You know for a second there I almost believed you, but I don't buy it."
"You don't, what do I possibly gain by lying?" He asked her "A way out, a way back to your new Master because we both know Master Kenobi would never go along with such a crazy plan, how stupid do you think I am Leo?"
"Crazy?" Leo asked his jaw gapping "Ahsoka, we've seen more crazy in our short lives then most have in centuries, faced devils and gods is it so hard to imagine that this war is being controlled by the one thing we've been taught to look out for, the Sith?" Leo said, pulling at his restraints again.
Ahsoka started to get up "You'd know all about the Sith, Darth Primus." She said walking out of the cell turning on the laser wall.
"That's what this is about, that vision we could barely understand?" he asked and she stopped, Leo sighed looking at her cut up back a wound he'd given her "Wait… Ahsoka, Krell was going to take the name Primus I knew if I took it you'd believe the lie too." He said looking at the floor when she was at the briggs interior entrance "You have to believe me."
She had stopped just short of the door "I believe you."
"I believe you'll say whatever you think will save your skin, traitor." She said before leaving the room.
Leo fell back onto the floor and looked up at the ceiling thinking of what a fool he had been.
Eventually Ahsoka had gotten a good distance away from the brig to enter into a hallway where Artoo was approaching her "Alright buddy how bad's the damage?" Ahsoka asked looking around at the cut up walls and some even broken all the way through from their fight.
Artoo beeped out some answers in droid speak that made Ahsoka groan "Alright, see what you can do in the meantime try to get a message to Coruscant contact only Master Skywalker." She ordered.
The droid beeped that it understood "Thanks buddy." She replied with a smile before leaving the droid and entering the training room on the Crucible just as Petro was practicing against a training remote with a stick while the other younglings watched. Petro showed great skill in deflecting the shots with his training sword and Ahsoka's smile faded when she saw just how much he looked like Leo at the battle of Geonosis. The sound of the youngling's training sword when it smacked the droid towards a crate before picking it up after it rolled over to him snapped her back to the present. "I call that move the 'Whirlwind of Destiny'." he said with a smirk. "Showoff." Zatt mumbled before Ahsoka clapped lightly for a moment.
"Can everyone gather around please?" she asked as Petro handed the stick and remote to her before she put them away and walked around to the other side of a table.
When they were gathered Katooni immediately held up her hand "Yes Katooni?" Ahsoka asked.
"Are you okay Padawan Tano?" She asked looking over the wounds "I'm fine but-" Ganodi raised a hand next.
"Wh-whats going to happen to the traitor?" She asked almost frightened to even bring it up
Ahsoka blinked "He'll remain in the brig while Artoo and I make repairs, in the meantime this trial will continue, without any more questions." She said down to them, seeing Zatt and Gungi about to raise their hands with similar questions.
"You have all successfully passed The Gathering and harvested your crystals." she said as Gungi gave a happy growl.
"So when do we start to build our sabers?" Petro asked.
"Place your crystals on the table your lesson begins now may I introduce you to architect and lightsaber designer Huyang." she said as they placed the crystals on the table before she stepped to the side as an old architect droid appeared from behind some shelves and walked up to the table. It was an ancient model rusting in some parts, the droid was wearing an apron and tool belt
"These are them? I swear they get younger every expedition, all have passed the gathering?" Huyang asked the two older Jedi.
"Yes, sir." Ahsoka answered before he turned to face her. "Are you sure?" he asked, earning a nod from Ahsoka.
"But he's a droid you expect us to learn from a droid?" Ganodi asked from behind the others. "Who said that?" the droid asked as he turned his attention to the younglings before she pushed through to the front.
The droid towered over her "Many years I have been on this ship, teaching many Jedi before you, and I will continue teaching many Jedi after you call me what you want, but inside my memory banks, I contain a record of every lightsaber ever made and the Jedi who fashioned them." he said, bringing up a hologram of a few lightsabers, including Anakin and Obi-Wan's, and earning a chorus of 'Whoa!' from the younglings.
"Which will you choose? A simple grip? The curved approach? One inlaid with the bone of the Cartusion whale, pastillion ore, or black onk? Well? From Battles of Rashfond to the Peacekeeping of Parliock to our very own Clone Wars, the lightsaber is a Jedi's only true ally. But how do they work, hmm?" he said, picking one of the crystals up and inspecting it.
"Yes, you have brought me crystals, but they're all useless unless you give them life. Do you know how to awaken the Force within the crystal?" he asked them. Ganodi shook her head while the married couple smirked. "No? Then I suggest you listen and learn until you think of a question this droid cannot answer." the architect droid said before walking around to their side of the table and focusing his attention on Gungi.
"A Wookie. Rare you are to the Jedi. Proud your people must be." he said, earning a happy growl from the young Wookie.
"Unique, just as your lightsaber will be hold out your hand, Wookie." the droid told him as he cupped his hands with the palms facing up before Gungi held out his left above Huyang's.
"Describe what you see your saber to be." he said to the youngling. Gungi made a few growls before the architect droid spoke. "No, no, no, not what you imagine but what you feel in your hand. Concentrate. What will make you strong in battle and humble in retreat? What connects with your Force?" he asked the Wookie.
Gungi took a moment to think before speaking in his language again. "Ah, yes, wood. Not a common choice. And only wood from the brylark tree is as strong as metal."
Huyang said as he stepped back to the other side of the table. "Let me see where we would find that all the way out here, far from anywhere, deep in space?" he wondered out loud, turning off the hologram and stepping up to the shelves before starting to open some up.
"Let's see what we have. Let me see. Let me… Yes, yes, yes. No, no, no, no, no, no. Ah, I wondered where I put that. Oh, that's not mine. Ah, ah, what do we have here?" he said, taking a drawer out with lightsaber pieces in it and placing it on the table.
The younglings 'Ooh'd' and 'Wow'd.' at the assortment of hilt pieces as Huyang made a hilt before holding it up for a moment then placing it on the table. "It is my job, before you leave this ship, you will have everything you need to build your lightsabers and the knowledge of how to do it. So let us begin, there's much more work to be done." he said.
As the younglings started to work on their Huyang reached into his apron and laid out some chips of metal and wiring and at last the fractious pieces of a once mighty red kyber crystal "Has it been so long." The droid said seeing the pieces Ahsoka started to recognize when Huyang began to arrange the broken pieces of metal into the ghostly remains of the lightsaber Leo had carried.
"The fabled double bladed lightsaber of Exar Kun." Huyang said getting the Jedi's attention away from their construction as the droid examined the pieces.
"What was that Master Huyang?" Ahsoka asked the droid "Younglings come here, you are about to see something truly special." Huyang ordered.
The younglings gathered around the droid Ahsoka started to get nervous "Padawan Tano has informed me of the… guest in our brig, a Sith Apprentice, the negative of a Jedi Padawan and very dangerous, but unlike us Jedi Sith Apprentices rarely forge their own lightsabers." The droid stated to them as he gestured to the remains of the broken blade before them.
"Instead they seek out the resting tombs of long dead Sith Lords and claim their swords as their own, many of whom were once Jedi like yourselves and records of their lightsabers I still contain much like this one." Huyang said, projecting a hologram of the original design above the broken pieces.
Ahsoka started to interject "Master Huyang perhaps this is-" "Hush Padawan this is important."
"For this was no ordinary lightsaber, the first of its kind, the first double bladed lightsaber wielded by the Great Sith Lord Exar Kun." Huyang said when out of the hologram a hand appeared to take it a tall young man with thick black hair tied in a short braid emerged, he wore beige jedi robes with a flowing brown cloak and a silver piece of armor on his right shoulder. He took the holographic lightsaber and raised it above his head to reveal a blue double bladed weapon that made the Jedi look at it in awe "But I thought you said he was a Sith Lord, the blades blue?" Petro asked.
"Indeed." The hologram changed then to show the man older with a strange spider like scar on his forehead, he wore black armor and strange garments around his cloak but the lightsaber was still blue "For nearly two thousand years the lightsaber itself was corrupted by the dark side of the force inside Exar Kun's tomb, but the blade itself is not at fault." Huyang said and that's when Ahsoka knew what Huyang was getting at.
He turned off the hologram and started to end the lesson "Remember this young jedi for all weapons share this same fault, one imperfection that is never escapable from any smith or weapons designer that is the user."
"You alone choose what to do with your lightsaber, to defend or harm you are its master." It told them "Now back to your construction."
The younglings retreated from the table as Huyang looked down at the broken lightsaber Ahsoka approached him "Apologizes Master Huyang."
"None necessary Padawan." Huyang said holding up his holomonitor in his hand and Exar Kun returned but this time as a youngling, a small skinny black haired boy wearing short sleeved brown robes with a bright smile on his face as he tried to construct his lightsaber "My memory banks remember every younglings before these one's here, every lightsaber and every wielder." The droid told her.
The image slowly started to change and showed a young togruta child with a red tube top and matching skirt in white pants sitting legs crossed with red boots making a lightsaber. "I even remember you Padawan Tano, my how you've grown." The droid said.
"A shame the prisoner was never brought before me, to master the blade of Exar Kun is no small feat." Huyang said before closing off the hologram "Count yourself lucky Master Huyang, the prisoner is a traitor like Exar Kun." She said.
"Exar Kun's fate was sealed long ago, but one cannot chance the past, only the future." Ahsoka looked at the droid curiously it's vocals sounding almost sadended.
Meanwhile back on the Rogue Shadow still attached to the Crucible Proxy and Oculus were playing a game of holochess "Do you think Master is alright?" Proxy asked the droid.
Oculus beeped back "Your right, best not to worry he did tell us to stay on the ship." The droid said before resuming the game.
After each youngling had figured out their saber, Huyang handed them the pieces they would need to build before bringing up a large hologram of a lightsaber in five different pieces. Huyang and the older Jedi observed as the younglings used the Force to create their sabers, with Petro finishing first.
"What's the rush, Petro?" Zatt asked him as the other youngling swung his hilt around with a smirk.
"With this lightsaber, I'm going to kill that traitor Primus if he even thinks of escaping." he stated confidently. Ganodi and Katooni giggled at Petro's overconfidence as Huyang walked up to him before holding his hand out for the saber. Ahsoka' smile disappeared hearing that she thought about him locked down in the brig.
Zatt scoffed "You didn't use to sound like that when talking about him?" Zatt said before returning to his work when Huyang yanked the ruined saber out of his hands, Petro handed it to him before the droid pulled the main part down to expose the crystal chamber. "The only person you are going kill with that, my young friend, is yourself. You have inverted the emitter matrix, which will cause the power grid to backfire." he said putting the saber back together and handing it back to the youngling.
"Light this, and all that will be left of you and your lightsaber will be your crystal. Start again, and this time, please follow the diagram." the architect droid told him before continuing to observe the younglings.
"What did Zatt mean by that?" Ahsoka asked Katooni "um most Younglings know about Leo Rock- I mean Primus how to turn on the Jedi." She said looking back at Petro "But we all knew who he was before, who you two were, the Heroes of Ryloth, Geonosis and so much more you two were amazing and then well…. you know." She started to trail off not speaking of Leo's fall.
Suddenly Ganodi groaned in frustration when she couldn't put her saber together before the droid placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Remember, quiet your mind and concentrate on the design and it'll become clear." she said as Ganodi and Katooni used the Force to slowly meld the pieces together.
"Good. Gently. Trust the Force." the droid encouraged the two were close to putting their sabers together when an explosion was heard coming from the ship, causing them to lose concentration and drop the pieces. "What was that?!" Katooni asked in surprise.
"I don't know what to do." Ahsoka told them before she and her husband ran out of the room and towards the cockpit.
The Jedi entered and Artoo beeped. "Artoo, what's happened?" she asked him. The droid beeped frantically before another explosion rocked the ship a bit. "Where?" she asked him as a Corona-class armed frigate appeared in front of their ship.
Oh, no." she said quietly before the ship opened fire on them again. "They're aiming for the hyperdrive to get us out of here." she ordered. Artoo gave and affirmative beep as he plugged into the droid port. The droid managed to turn the ship around a bit before it stopped moving when Hondo's ship disabled it.
"I don't like the sound of that." she mumbled before addressing Artoo. "Stay here. We'll check on the younglings." she said, before she and her husband quickly hurried out of the cockpit and back towards Huyang and the kids.
Ahsoka held her hand up to stop him from moving when the two were about to turn, just as a door was forced open and they noticed a pirate. The two quickly turned around and took off in another direction "I don't like this." Ahsoka said down in the brig Leo was woken from either a nap or loss of blood "Oh great."
Outside the ship the pirates started to send in grapple hooks and a boarding tube to lock on to the Jedi's ship while Ahsoka quickly sealed the blast door she'd just ran through before they ran up to the architect droid and younglings. "Younglings!" she said, getting their attention. "Who's attacking the ship?" Ganodi asked them.
"Pirates." the padawan answered. "Pirates? They'll kill us all." the youngling said in fear as Byph said something in a hopeless tone.
"Perhaps we should hide in the ventilation shaft." Huyang suggested. "Follow me." Ahsoka said, before pulling one of the floor grates off. "Hiding is for cowards. We should stand and fight." Petro said confidently as Ahsoka climbed into the shaft, followed by Huyang.
"We're gonna fight, just not the way they expect." she said with a smirk before he jumped in. At the same moment another small explosion went off behind them, as another group of weequay pirates started forcing their way in.
"Time to go." she urged quickly, before Katooni stopped. "Is this part of our training?" she asked as Ahsoka placed a hand on her head.
"It is now." the padawan replied with a small smile before gently pushing her in, followed by Gungi. Ahsoka jumped in last before putting the grate back before she clutched her side where the rogue piece of shrapnel had hit her, the wound slowly starting to reopen. The padawan made a quiet 'Shh' with an index finger on her lips, as a group of pirates walked just above them. "Hondo says find the kids and bring 'em to him." one of the pirates said. "Dead or alive?" another asked. "Yes." the first answered before they chuckled darkly. Ahsoka crawled up to the others.
"We must have courage, young Jedi." she said before turning her head to Ganodi and Zatt. "Ganodi and Zatt, I need you to get to the cockpit, find Artoo, and secure it." she instructed, earning a nod from Ganodi, before addressing the other younglings.
"The rest of you, take Professor Huyang and seal yourselves inside the hold, and wait for my command." she instructed the others. "What are you going to do?" Petro asked her.
"I'm going to reroute enough power to the engines so that we can break free of the pirate ship's hold on us." she replied. "What about the pirate's already on board the ship?" Katooni asked. "Once the docking tube is ruptured, when the ships pull apart, a vacuum will be created, which will suck the pirates off the ship and into space." Ahsoka explained.
"Will we be sucked into space?" Ganodi asked.
Ahsoka shook her head with a girn "No, the cockpit and the hold will be sealed and still have air. Do not, and I mean, do not engage the pirates your only job is to stay hidden. Do you understand?" she asked them, earning nods.
"Now go." she said before they all started crawling forward.
Back at the boarding tube Hondo entered with his bodyguards and helms men "I smell profit, sweet juicy profit!" He bolstered as the boarding crew came up to him "Well?"
"We've secured the ship, but it seems deserted exce-" "Imbecile that is the oldest trick in the book." Hondo snapped waving an electrostaff in the air "The runts are probably hiding in the ventilation systems."
"Oh didn't think of that." The one who had reported the ship deserted said "Why does that not surprise me."
"But there's someone in the brig." One of the pirates behind them said.
Hondo's eyes looked back at them "Oh a prisoner."
"Hmmm intresting." Hondo said following them to the brig, walking over the very younglings they were looking for Hondo entered the lower levels and a smile spread across his face.
"HeheheHAHAHAHAHA, Oh what are the odds my boy!" Hondo laughed walking up to the laser grid wall that held Leo inside "Captain Hondo?" Leo said seeing him.
Hondo winced "Love the sound of that, now tell me how did you get so far away from your new Master?" He asked the apprentice.
Leo didn't answer him, he just said "Let me out and I'll help you get the crystals." Leo said as Ahsoka was crawling in the vents above them. She gritted her teeth hearing Leo trying to make a deal "And what do you get out of this arrangement?" Hondo asked leaning on the doorway smiling.
"I take your prisoners with me, unharmed." Leo said up to him "Ah so that's your shiny Stealth Ship outside attached to the ship, hmmm let me think."
Leo waited for a split second "...No."
"What?" Leo asked him "I learned long ago not to trust anyone wearing that much black when I captured Count Dooku." Hondo said standing up straight "But don't you worry we will be back for you once we have my kyber crystals." Hondo said laughing along with his men before they left him there to rot "It's nothing personal it's just good business."
Leo slammed the back of his head against the wall and looked up at the vent "You can come out now."
Ahsoka dropped down out of the ceiling vent "You piece of-" "Oh save it, you want my help get me out of here."
"After what I just heard, yeah that'll happen when the stars freeze over." Ahsoka said walking over to another vent "I was trying to make a deal, those kyber crystals don't matter as much as those kids lives." Leo said.
Ahsoka ignored him while she opened the vent "You're not going anywhere near those younglings." She was moving slowly due to the injuries she had from Leo's fight "You can't do this alone, not in your state." Leo urged her.
"Watch me." She spat back before disappearing into the vent.
A few minutes later Zatt and Gandhi reached the cockpit and the droid opened the grate up before climbing out then helping the younglings out. "Hold it!" a pirate snarled just outside the room as he caught them. Zatt ran to the door's control button and pressed it, unfortunately the pirate was a bit faster and managed to grab the door just before it fully closed. The pirate reached over and grabbed Zatt's arm to stop him from getting away. The others were about to help him when Ganodi rushed over to help before he could.
"Get off him!" she demanded while trying to punch the pirate's arm. "Easy, there that's no way to make friends, now, is it?" the pirate asked with a cruel smirk, as he pushed her to the ground and got the door open.
Ahsoka had arrived at the lower levels of the ship and started to go to work before she contacted the cockpit.
A few minutes later the ships internal com beeped. "Younglings, come in." the Knight pressed a button before she continued. "I'm overriding the emergency power fail-safe and routing energy to the engines." she said. "It's working." Zatt replied. "Any word from the others? Have they reached the hold?" she asked. "Not yet." he replied. "Where are they?" she asked, her voice taking on a tone of frustration. "We're not sure we haven't heard from them yet." he replied. "Great. I know what that means." she said, worry in her voice before cutting off.
Down in the training room Katooni and Gungi had set a trap with the training remotes "Set them to the highest level." Katooni told them as Byph led a group of pirates into the trap."
Awhile later, Katooni finally contacted them. "Zatt, close the door to the training room." she said. "Katooni, where are you guys?" Zatt asked her.
"No time to explain. Just close the door." she replied before he turned to Artoo. "Artoo, close the door." he said. The droid beeps before plugging into the ship for a few seconds.
Petro and the others arrived in one of the hallways leading to the bridge to see it absolutely filled with Hondo and his men "We'll never get through there are to many." Katooni said when Hondo saw them. Huyang sealed the door behind them when he saw more pirates coming.
"A brave effort children now hand over my crystals and no one else will get hurt much." Hondo said smiling when Ahsoka came in and blasted half of his crew into the wall with the force "Hondo!"
She walked into the middle of the hallway between the pirate and the children "THe Jedi will not take kindly to this attack."
"Ahsoka." Hondo said smiling with his gold tooth "How will they know if there is no one left to tell the tale."
"You seem less hospitable then our last meeting." She hissed "My mood is based on profit and right now I'm in the mood for crystals." Hondo said, squeezing his shock staff.
Ahsoka patted her lightsabers with her bandaged hands "You want the crystals come and get them." She said taking out her lightsabers "With your injuries my dear, I saw who was in your brig, I take it all this damage was you two?" He asked looking around at some of the lightsaber scars in the wall.
"Hmm a lovers quarrel?" Hondo jested before he had one of his remaining pirates attack her, Ahsoka dispatched them with a single kick before Hondo came at her with the staff.
Ahsoka pushed Hondo down the hallways with her attacks but even for the elder pirate not being a Jedi he was still skilled with a staff "You know if I had known you and your boyfriend were aboard I would have asked for the crystals and we could have avoided all of this." He said as Ahsoka.
"I don't want to hurt you Hondo." Ahsoka said remembering how he had tried to help her on Onderon "Hurt me, look at you my dear those wounds are starting to open."
Soon Petro and the others had made it to the Hold "Zatt we're in the hold but Ahsoka is still out there fighting." He reported.
"Ahsoka, they' made it to the hold." Zatt reported "Then what are you waiting for?" She asked
"What about you?" Zatt asked.
"DO IT!" Ahsoka screamed.
The ship's engines came alive and the Crucible started to tear away from the pirate saucer. Force-gripped said pirate and tossed him into the others that were inside the docking tube before Force-pushing them further into it. "What are you doing?" Hondo shouted at Ahsoka.
"Getting you off my ship!" Ahsoka said as she and the pirates started to get sucked out of the ship back to Hondo's but there was a gap in the boarding tube tearing pirates out into the vacuum of space.
The padawan let go so she could move to the door's button and pressed it "We're clear make the jump to hyperspace." Unfortunately the door was closing very quickly and to make it worse one of the pirates was still on the ship and bumped into Ahsoka, knocking them both into the tube just as the ship jumped to hyperspace.
When they were clear the Padawans rushed into the bridge with Petro cheering "We did it, we're off the ship." Petro cried.
The others came in and Katooni saw that Huyang had been zapped by the pirates loosing both arms and his head "Oh professor." She gasped.
"Here I'll fix him." Zatt said, taking him.
Petro was still celebrating "You should have seen Ahsoka, she took them on all by herself." He said reenacting the fight.
On the bridge the younglings were trying "Padawan Tano, come in. Ahsoka. Ahsoka! Ahsoka, are you there?" she asked over the com.
"Does that mean she's dea-" "No, no way." Petro said cutting off Zatt before he could even say it.
When they didn't get an answer everyone knew what it meant "The pirates, they took her they must have."
Petro looked at the other padawans and at Katooni "Think we can raise the Republic fleet?" He asked.
"Worth a shot." She said, all the padawans got into chairs and started to try and get the ships systems online "The ships banged up pretty bad." Zatt said from his monitor as the others started to work.
"This is Jedi ship Crucible calling the Republic Fleet. Come in please." Katooni said, trying to establish contact with the Fleet.
"This is General Kenobi. We have your transmission." his former Master replied.
"The General Kenobi?" Petro asked in awe as the others came over to listen was using. Artoo beeped happily as a hologram of Obi-Wan popped up on the viewer.
"Pirates attacked us and severely damaged the ship, he also kidnapped our shaperon Padawan Tano." he explained, barely managing to keep his voice from cracking. Obi-Wan gave him a brief sympathetic look upon sensing his former padawan's anguish.
"I'm dispatching Commander Cody to bring you back, we shall deal with Hondo on Florrum." the older Jedi assured.
"Do you think Ahsoka will be alright." Katooni asked "Padawan Tano attacked
"Hondo would be even more of a fool than I think he is to hurt her. Once we've picked you up we'll focus on rescuing Ahsoka." the Master replied.
"But we could rescue her a lot sooner than you could." the Petro said, becoming impatient. "I know you want to rescue her immediately, but jumping into head on-" Obi-Wan started to reason before his former apprentice cut him off. "We were the ones who helped the most when we drove the pirates off the ship." The boy argued.
"Ahsoka was injured from her fight with a Sith assassin who boarded our ship the traitor Primus." Zatt added, making Obi-Wan narrow his eyes "Where is the assassin now?" He asked.
Ganodi answered "Locked in the bridge, he's still there."
"You will not jeopardize you or younglings safety trying to be heroes and you will not go anywhere near the prisoner, understood?" he asked, folding his arms. "Yes, Master." the Knight replied through gritted teeth before cutting the transmission.
A little while later, Petro, Katooni, Byph, Artoo and Huyan were in the training room and while Zatt and Artoo worked on putting Huyang back together the younglings worked on putting their sabers together with the Force. Petro was finally able to finish constructing his lightsaber and the young boy activated his saber. "Heh, what do you think?" he asked them with a smirk.
"I think you've finished your lightsaber." Katooni said, grabbing her completed saber hilt and walking over to him.
"Doesn't mean you know how to use it." she continued. "Well, if you hurry up with yours, maybe we could find out." he replied as Gungi activated his green saber, followed by Byph activating his blue one. Katooni tried turning hers on only for the sound of electronic buzzing being heard. "I'll finish mine when I'm ready." she said as the other three deactivated theirs.
"Seeing as how our rescue party has forgotten us, you'll have plenty of time." Petro said as he sat back down.
"They probably just got delayed." she replied. "Delayed? Ahsoka needs our help, and we're sitting around like children." Petro complained.
Katooni rolled her eyes. "We are children." she said, stating the obvious as he hopped off the stool and walked back over to them.
"I vote we mount a rescue mission." he said, earning a growl of agreement from Gungi. "Byph?" the youngling asked his Ithorian friend also earning a sound of agreement.
"That's three votes for." he said with a smirk just before Ganodi and Zatt walked into the room.
"There's a problem with the ship." Ganodi said. "What kind of problem?" Katooni asked. "Breaking away from the pirate ship ruptured the entire filtering system." Zatt explained. "What does that mean?" Petro asked, sounding confused.
"What he means is that the ship's venting coolant and if we don't land ASAP, the engines will explode." Ganodi answered.
"Exactly, so we'll have to land and let the systems reset." Zatt said.
"It's settled then, we'll land on Florrum, let the engines cool and rescue Ahsoka." the Knight said. "A rescue mission but we can't do it alone, we need help." Ganodi argued.
"Well there is someone who can help us?" Katooni said, getting all their eyes on her.
"What, no, no way that is a terrible idea." Zatt said knowing exactly who she was talking about.
Petro came up to Zattt "You got a better idea?"
The younglings all looked at one another "Master Kenobi told us not to speak to him."
"Master Kenobi isn't here." Petro said.
Later the Jedi younglings walked into brig where they saw Leo "So I see six younglings with a droid's head and no Padawan?" Leo said seeing them.
"Pirates kidnapped Ahsoka and you are going to help us get her back." Petro said swallowing is fear.
Leo smirked "And why would I do that?" He asked.
"Because if you don't we'll space you." Katooni said smiling at him smugly behind the laser wall.
Leo suddenly yanked at the restraints making all the padawans jump, then he smiled "Ok." Leo said dropping back down.
"O-okay?" She asked "Yeah let me out and I'll help you." Leo said.
"Can we really trust him?" Zatt asked "We don't have a choice, it's just the six of us." Petro urged before he opened the cell, followed by the shackles on Leo's wrists being unlocked.
Leo stood up the smell of dried blood and infected wounds smelled terrible when he got to his feet "Ah finally." He said stretching.
"Alright, so we're going to have to land on Florum to rescue her." Petro said to the others, they looked back at Leo who stretched his joints before he said "Good luck." He started walking past them out of the brig.
"WHAT!" Petro shouted.
They followed Leo out of the brig where he continued limping back to the Rogue Shadow "Where are you going."
"I'm leaving." Leo said "But you said you'd help us?" Katooni asked him.
Leo rolled both eyes "I lied, get used to it kid it'll happen more as you get older." He scoffed.
"But what about Ahsoka?" Petro asked.
"What about her, I offered her my help when the pirates boarded and she said no, she can get herself out of the problem and I'm sure you six can do it." He said walking around a corner leaning on the wall for support.
Petro suddenly ran in front of him and drew his lightsaber "Halt, I order you to halt." He snapped trying to sound brave.
Leo looked down at him "Uh-huh and if I don't?"
"Then I'll… I'll, I'll destroy you." Petro stammered "Stop trying to be a hero kid, you'll live longer." Leo said holding his hand up and snatching the lightsaber out of his hands with the force. He tossed it aside like it was nothing and walked past him leaning on the wall "I can't believe I wanted to be you!"
Leo stopped looking back confused "You were a hero, you were a Jedi, our brother!" Leo shouted at him "You can't just turn your back on us." Petro snapped. He focused on the other younglings, their faces all a mix of emotions. Some of them looked afraid and the others looked curious, he then looked at Petro and his face was hidden behind a bowed head.
"You never turned your back on us before, you were a hero and a legend to us." Petro said "A you defeated a hundred enemies when you were our age, you defeated Sith and now you are one what does that mean for the rest of us- which one of us is going to turn to the dark side next when you do."
He was looking at the floor when he saw a pare of black boots in front of him "Get up."
Petro looked up to see Leo standing over him holding the boys lightsaber, "What?" Petro asked looking up "Get up, you're a jedi and Jedi don't quit."
"So you'll help us?" He asked Leo who looked back at him on his way to the cockpit "I'm not helping you, but Hondo left me to rot and he has to pay." Leo said getting into the pilots seat and starting to enter incoordiantes "Proxy, Occuls can you come on board this ship has got a lot of damage filitering systems compromised, hookup the Shadow's system to try and filter it out." he ordered.
Proxy answered from the other ship "Yes Master, are we returning to Serenno with the younglings?" Proxy asked him.
He took one last look at the younglings, future Jedi then up at his own reflection in the mirrror "Change of plans, we're heading to Florrum."
A/N How should this next chapter go