Short chapter for the rest of the episode. Maybe I'll just add this to the previous chapter once I finish up the next one.

I honestly don't know why it took me this long to update, but I'm probably going to chalk it up with classes, and updating other things. Luckily for me I just finished the semester, and am now praying for good grades, cause this spring is my last year before I go to a University. But I do have time to write stuff.

And I would also like to thank you all for favorites and follows for this! It really means a lot.

I hope you enjoy the rest of this chapter, cause we're heading into the Holocron arc after this.


Innocents of Ryloth (2)

It took a moment or two for the girl to calm down, and by that time, Waxer's comm started to beep. And Tessa sighed in resignation at the lecture she was going to get from Zeer.

"It's the Commander! We're way overdue. We're going to end up polishing, R2 units!" Boil fearfully said.

"You both will have it easy. Zeer will have my butt for this. And I don't want to know what Captain Rex might do." Tessa said with a shudder.

"Hang on, just calm down. So, how are we going to explain all of this? Her?" Waxer asked.

"Well, it's not like we were disobeying orders or anything. We'll tell them… that we rescued her from droids. And our comms were scrambled." Tessa suggested as she put on her helmet, and grabbed her Rifle.

Waxer and Boil did the same, with Boil saying," That's doesn't sound bad. But I have a feeling this will end badly."

"I believe you. C'mon kid, let's go see if Uncle Obi-Wan will let us off the hook." Tessa said, and motioned for the girl to follow them.

Waxer and Boil chuckled at that, as they all walked outside. They then started to hear footsteps, and they sounded heavy.

"Gutkurr!" The girl fearfully said, and hid behind Tessa.

"Oh, now that's just perfect." Tessa sarcastically said, and took a step back when two large creatures on hind legs, walked around a building.

"I think I know why the kid never came back here." Boil nervously said.

"Yeah, this neighborhood looked rough anyway." Tessa said as she aimed her Rifle at the creatures.

The three of them started to fire at the creatures, but their hides were too thick.

"You see what happens when we don't follow orders." Boil said as he fired.

"Now? I don't think a lecture is appropriate right now." Tessa incredulously said.

"Let's just get out of here!" Waxer said, stopping the impending argument.

Tessa fired a few more shots, as the three of them walked back into the house. Waxer and Boil shut the doors, and braced it, while Tessa stood on a slab with her weapon trained at the door. The creatures were trying to push themselves in.

"Open it up a little. I think I got a shot." Tessa said.

The both of them allowed the doors to open for a moment, and Tessa fired a couple of shots. Her aim was good as they hit its head and eye, and fell down dead.

Waxer and Boil closed it, but they heard the other creature screech in anger outside.

"Good shot, now what?" Waxer asked.

Tessa looked at the girl, and she was trying to lift up a slab that led underground.

"I guess we go under." She said and helped the girl bring up the slab.

The propped it up, and both girls climbed down as Waxer and Boil followed suit. Luckily for them, the creature was too big, and was stuck on the ground level. They all took a moment relax for a moment.

"Well, we're safe for now. Now what, and where are we?" Waxer asked.

Tessa thought this was a basement at first, but she noticed how there was areas of light that were spread out a certain way. She didn't hear any dripping water, nor had they splashed once they landed, but this could be...

"Ah Kriff." Tessa grumbled in disgust.

"What?" Boil said.

"I think the kid either led into a tunnel or sewer system." She said with shutter.

"I would rather take this, than be that creatures lunch. So, if we're in the sewers, then we'll have to find a manhole cover." Waxer said.

Tessa felt a tugging on her arm, and girl was leading her to go a certain direction.

"I guess we follow her again." Tessa said.


The four of them ended walking a short distance, but they also tensed up when they yelling and blaster fire coming nearby, but it soon stopped. The next manhole cover was closer to where they heard the yelling from earlier, they had no choice but to go that way.

Waxer and Boil took the lead, while Tessa helped the girl up.

"Waxer, Boil, where have you two slackers been?" She heard the Commander said.

"And where's Huntress?" She heard Zeer said.

"Here sir… we got sidetracked." As she got out of the hole, and helped the girl up, and she hid behind Tessa.

Tessa didn't need to see Zeer's and the rest of the squad's faces to know they were surprised.

Obi-Wan looked amused and said," I think I see what sidetracked you."

"Oh boy." Zeer groaned.

"Hello, little one." Obi-Wan greeted as he got on his knee, and the girl hid behind Tessa.

"She brought us here through the tunnels, and knows her way around them pretty good, sir." Waxer explained.

Obi-Wan spoke to her, and the girl explained that she knew where to go.

"The girl can lead us through the tunnel to the prisoners." Obi-Wan explained to the ones who didn't know what they were saying.

"Cody, we're going to need a diversion. Waxer, Boil, Beta Squad, I want you to come with us to take out the guns." Obi-Wan further explained.

Tessa looked at her squad mates, and said," So, what happened to you guys while I was gone?"

"Let's just say we met the local wildlife, and leave it at that." Fives tiredly said, and Tessa didn't comment, considering she dealt with the same thing.

Later, while Cody and the others were waiting to start their diversion, the others had used the tunnels to get close enough to the courtyard. They all walked quietly in the building that led to the courtyard itself.

Obi-Wan took out two droids, and then jailed another that was in a cell. Tessa found that amusing, but also go an idea.

"Hey Sarge, you think we can take and reprogram that one?"

From Zeer's posture, she could tell he was considering that.

"Maybe after all of this is over." He said with a shrug.

"I want you all behind me, but spread out. Huntress, keep her safe, and provide sniping." Obi-Wan said.

He handed the girl to Tessa, while the others followed Obi-Wan.

Tessa placed the girl on the ground and said," You stay here. K?"

She nodded, and Tessa jogged up the stairs, and crouched close to the entrance. Once she started hearing Cody's diversion, the others got to work taking out the droids and freeing the prisoners.

Tessa got up and waved them towards her, and they all ran down the entrance. She smiled once she saw someone who had to be the girl's father happily embraced her once he saw her. She was relieved that she wouldn't end up being an orphan. And she chuckled at the fact that the girl's name was Numa.

"Tessa! Provide covering fire while we take out the guns!" Obi-Wan said.

"Copy General." She said.

Tessa picked off droids that were coming through an alleyway, and any other droids the others didn't see. She did have to say that her squad was doing pretty well. Considering the training they did with Commander Tano, which had to do with fighting alongside a Jedi. And things were going pretty well with General Kenobi by their side.

She had already got out of the entrance, and found herself firing alongside Nax. One thing during training was that they utilized both of their Sniping capabilities. So they all thought up of the idea of having the both of them in the back, and advancing behind the others, just so they can pick off enemies that they miss.

"Look out!" Nax yelled.

He and Tessa dove for cover when a Tactical Droid arrived in a tank, and started to fire at them. The others either hid behind cover, or were blown back when it had destroyed a cannon, along with some munitions.

"Oh no, shoot." Tessa cursed as Numa ran out to check on General Kenobi, after she did with Waxer and Boil.

She then heard yelling, and she saw the sight of the Twi'lek prisoners running out, and then started climb and attack the droid in the tank. And once they dragged it out, they ripped it apart. Tessa thought it was poetic justice for what the Separatists did to them.

"Well there's something you don't see every day." Nax mused.

Tessa nodded, but soon grinned under helmet and said," No, but that is." She said and pointed upward.

The remaining Republic Transports had arrived, and started to land nearby.

"Looks like things are going to be smooth sailing from here on out." Nax said.

"I rather not jinx this whole thing. But I can't help but agree."


Later on Tessa and the others were getting ready to head back to the Resolute, and also feeling a sense of pride with what they helped do. By the time they secured the rest of the area, General Windu's force's had already started to unload. With them, they also had the droid Tessa thought about taking, and they had disabled it. When they asked her why she wanted to take it, Tessa thought it would be a good infiltrator unit they could use in the future. And also a possible servant for them, which they had no issues with, including Del, who always loved to see what made things tick.

"I gotta say, we all seriously did great today. You think we'll get promotions?" Cutup said.

Zeer chuckled and said," Maybe in the future. With how we're now Commander Tano's personal Squad. And considering General's Kenobi and Windu praised us, who knows."

"Yeah." Tessa said and looked at Numa and the others, who were watching the Troops nearby.

Tessa had already said goodbye to her, and promised that they would see each other again.

Echo could sense her sadness and said with comforting hand on her shoulder," Cheer up sister, at least we helped her liberate her home, and soon the planet. And who knows, maybe you will see her again."

Tessa nodded and said," Yeah. Let's hope so."

"Well, you'll have time to think about that once we get back to the Resolute. Our transport is arriving." Zeer said.

A Gunship soon landed, and they walked to it, Tessa took one last look at Numa, and she waved at her. Numa smiled and waved back, while also yelling out 'Nerra' and 'Numa' again, which made her smile under her helmet. And she knew Echo and Del were amused as well.

"So, what does that mean exactly? I heard her say that earlier to you, Waxer, and Boil." Coric asked.

"It means 'brother' and 'sister'." Del said.

Everyone, who didn't know the language looked surprised, but chuckled. Once the doors shut, sealed, and Gunship took off, Tessa thought back about today's events. She was going to miss Numa, and hoped she was going to be alright after all of this. It was also interesting to know she now had a soft spot for kids now.

'I wonder what Ahsoka will think about all of this.' She mused.