There was no time to celebrate their small victory, and clearly everyone knew that as they shook off any injuries from the first major battle through the battle station. Practically everyone had come through unscathed, minus a few bumps and bruises.
Only Gregor had an actual injury of some kind. His left leg had been grazed by some blaster fire, and whilst the armour he wore had absorbed most of the shot, it would leave a small burn underneath.
Still, the old commando insisted it was nothing to worry about. They had bigger things to worry about so far.
The 'welcoming committee' as Rau had called it afterwards was only the first piece of resistant the team was likely to encounter. Who knew what else they would have to deal with before their mission was over.
'Where the hell is the Eighth Brother?' Ahsoka thought privately in concern. She was half expecting the Terrelian to show up out of nowhere and make life hell.
Call it paranoia, but it was a real concern. Whatever game the Inquisitor was playing was of grave concern. If he was not aboard the station, then he would no doubt come soon, whether it be to help his master, or for some other inexplicable reason.
Still, she couldn't worry about him now. She would when he finally showed his face.
"Hera, we've made it to the hanger bay. Have you and AP-5 worked out our next route yet?" Ahsoka spoke into her comm, the rest of the team listening in.
Hera responded momentarily. "I have Commander. From where you are now you need to take the only other door in the hanger bay out of it. It should lead you to an area of the station still under construction. It's being held on by magnetic clamps."
Ryder spoke up, his gravelly voice full of hopefulness. "That should mean limited imperial resistance then."
Ahsoka nodded. That was a good bet. Ahsoka doubted that the imperial leadership expected her to take such a route.
Hera then continued to speak, giving instruction to the team.
"One can hope. Anyway, from there you should be able to access a side door that leads to another set of hallways, and from there, the centre of the station, where the crystal is supposed to be."
The plan was sound. Hopefully they would be in and out. Getting out might be harder depending on how far back they had to travel, but they were prepared for it regardless.
"Copy that Hera. We'll keep you informed, Ahsoka out."
Disconnecting the channel, Ahsoka began to move towards the doorway that Hera had spoken of, the team following behind her.
This time they would all be sticking together.
A few moments later, Ezra had the door open as he had the others, and the team moved into another hallway, before coming across another door.
Once again, Ezra opened it with help from Chopper.
However, this time round when the doors opened, Ahsoka found herself stepping into what looked like an airlock. The door into the next section had a window on, for what reason Ahsoka did not know.
"Hera did say this area was still being built." Cham commented from behind, moving cautiously into the airlock with Ahsoka.
"Yeah, but why the need for an airlock? They expecting some sort of decompression?" Saw entered next, concern in his voice as he considered Cham's words.
Internally Ahsoka agreed. Something was up. But this was the only route they could take, and Hera wouldn't send them knowingly into a death trap.
The rest of the team squeezed into the airlock, before it began to cycle through, spraying a light hazy gas onto them.
"Decontamination I guess." Ahsoka spoke, lifting her hand to see fine droplets of liquid on them.
"I can't see a bloody thing! My visor is all condescended up!" Wolffe spoke from behind, aggravation in his tone.
"Speak for yourself please! This is going to screw up my paint job!" Sabine retorted, equally annoyed at the situation, whilst removing her helmet to check for any lasting damage to the fine artwork on it.
Behind the Mandalorian, Kanan chuckled lightly.
"Arrghhh, my fur is all soggy. Now I have another reason to hate the empire!" Zeb snarled next, moving his hands up and down his arms, trying to drain any of the liquid from them.
Kallus laughed this time at the predicament of his Lasat comrade, who turned and thumped him lightly on the arm.
Finally, the airlock doors opened, and Ahsoka lead the way into the open space.
It was clear the area was still under construction. Scaffolding remained up, and sections of the walls looked unfinished.
There was also a gaping hole in the station, and the void of space could clearly be seen on the other side.
"Good thing there is a ray shield there." Tristan spoke to the group, indicating the large red shield that covered the gaping hole.
Ahsoka had to agree. It would be dangerous to work in such conditions.
Moving forwards, Ahsoka spotted the doorway Hera had spoken of, about halfway through the chamber they were in.
Indicating for the team to follow, Ahsoka entered into a light jog towards the door, before pointing at the terminal next to it.
As if understanding that it was his job by now, Ezra moved the insert a data spike into it…
Only for a jolt of electricity to shoot through the device, sending Ezra flying backwards into Zeb.
Repressing the urge to chuckle, Ahsoka turned to look at the terminal, before a hologram flashed to life before her.
Taking a step back from the hologram, which clearly resembled a person, Ahsoka resisted the urge to snarl and bear her Togrutan incisors at the person once she recognized him.
"Commander Ahsoka Tano, what a 'pleasure' to see you again."
Ahsoka didn't miss the tone of disgust in the word 'pleasure'. Mind you, it wasn't like she held a high opinion of the man either.
"Grand Moff Wilhuff Tarkin, I thought I could smell you. Still not number one I see?"
Ahsoka would usually show respect for her enemies, even if she was a bit snippy towards them.
But Tarkin deserved no such 'honor'. He was scum, through and through, and she wouldn't waste such dialogue on him.
Behind her, the team tensed at the sight of the hologram of Tarkin.
The hologram of Tarkin rolled his eyes in disdain.
"As impudent as ever Padawan Tano. Did you really think you would be able to board my station without me realizing? Pitiful."
Ahsoka clenched her hands into fists at the mention of her previous apprenticeship in the Jedi order, the one that Tarkin had effectively destroyed single handed.
Through the force, she felt the sudden presence of Maul, willing her to calm down, to save her anger.
The Zabrak was right. They had bigger enemies to face than an upstart like Tarkin.
"I don't know. You didn't exactly notice all the other things we have done yet did you? But don't worry Tarkin, I'll be coming for you shortly after I'm done here."
Tarkin snarled again before speaking.
"Oh I doubt that very much Jedi."
Then the human cut of the channel, his hologram fading away before them.
Tarkin observed the map before him. The layout of the death star was complex, but surprising simple to those who knew their way around it.
To Tano and her goons it would no doubt be a labyrinth, one they would easily get lost in before they could do any real damage.
It wasn't like they possessed a complete readout of the station now was it?
Speaking of which…
Tarkin turned to address another individual who was currently in the control room with him.
"Jerjerrod, can I have a moment of your time?"
Tiaan Jerjerrod had been helping with the construction of the death star since Krennic had begun on the project. Next to the former director he was in charge of construction, and thus knew the station better than anyone.
"Of course Grand Moff, what help can I provide?"
Tarkin pointed at the map before him, indicating the area that Tano and her team had been in, and still were according to the thermal readings.
"This section of the station has been infiltrated by rebels, and we need to get rid of them. I have noticed that the area is still under construction, and help to the rest of the station via magnetic clamps. Is it possible to deactivate said clamps and vent the rebels into space?"
Jerjerrod's face was a mixture of emotions. Confusion, surprise and concern all in one.
"Of course Grand Moff, however we will lose a vast quantity of the stations exterior if we do. It will be a nightmare to rebuild." Jerjerrod protested.
Tarkin's facial expression did not change. He was too determined. The Togruta had gotten away from him before.
Not this time.
"But the rebel insurgents will be eliminated?" Tarkin spoke slowly and clearly, menace in his tone.
Jerjerrod nodded. "Assuming they can't breathe in space, yes. The process is slow however. They could still escape."
Tarkin took that into consideration. They couldn't go through the door he had sealed off, meaning they either had to backtrack, or go for the other door at the end of the room.
Both distances were considerable for them to travel, especially with the station collapsing around them.
He had them!
"Deactivate the magnetic clamps!"
"Hera, we need an alternate route. Tarkin had blocked off the one you provided?" Kanan spoke into his comm first, before Ahsoka got the chance.
After a brief period of static, and what sounded liked Hera yelling at Chopper for some reason, the Twi-lek responded.
"There's another doorway at the far end of the room you are in. It leads to a detention centre of some kind. Get there, and we'll figure out what to do next."
"Copy that Hera." Kanan replied, before nudging Ahsoka through the force for confirmation.
Ahsoka sent acceptance back. That would work.
Glancing down the opposite side of the area they were in, Ahsoka could make out another airlock door.
Beginning to move her legs in that direction, Ahsoka began to lead the team towards it.
That was until a horrifying sound, one that could be described as metal rubbing against metal, echoed throughout the room.
The floor beneath them began to rumble slightly, and further bangs and creaks could be heard.
"What is that?" Vos inquired, his eyes darting around looking for an answer.
Ahsoka had no honest answer for the Jedi. Did Tarkin had some sort of monster in this part of the station?
It took a few more seconds for realization to kick in for one of the team.
"No! They've deactivated the magnetic clamps! This whole part of the station is about to be sucked into space!"
Ahsoka heard the panic is Kallus' tone, and her response was immediate.
"EVERYONE TO THE AIRLOCK, NOW!"
The team broke into a dash, even Yoda who normally hobbled along broke into a sprint.
Unsurprising, it was the force users that reached the doorway first, specifically Maul.
The Zabrak turned away from the door and lifted his hands out, grasping onto something with the force.
"Jedi, with me! Hold the station together for the others!" The Zabrak yelled, his face one of intense concentration.
Reaching him seconds later, Ahsoka span on her heel and reached out with the force to assist.
The strain was immeasurable. She had held onto things with the force before, even lifted heavy items.
But holding a space station together that was being pulled apart by the vacuum of space was too much.
By now the other force users had reached Maul and were all straining to hold the station together.
Ezra and Kanan worked together, allowing their master/apprentice bond to amplify their power.
Obi-Wan worked in conjunction with Vos, holding another section of the station together.
Yoda was reaching out more broadly with the force, helping everyone along at once.
Glancing at the rest of the team who were running towards the airlock, Ahsoka yelled.
"GO!"
The team seemed to double their speed, each moving past the row of force users holding the station together.
Via her montrals, Ahsoka could hear the buckling of the station around them. There was no stopping the collapse. All they could do was buy time.
Glancing at her fellow force users, Ahsoka mentally counted them.
'1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.'
'Wait, seven?'
Ahsoka hadn't counted herself. What was going on?
On second glance, Ahsoka could not believe her eyes, and clearly neither could everyone else.
It was perhaps the most unexpected, and at the same time outrageous scene Ahsoka had ever seen.
"Hondo? What the kriff are you doing?"
The Weequay pirate had his hands out like the force users, with an intense look of concentration on his face.
"Helping!" Was all the pirate replied with.
Ahsoka rolled her eyes.
"You're not even force sensitive you idiot!"
Hondo smirked, his eyes turning to Ahsoka's.
"I know, but I thought that in our most desperate time of need I might suddenly have awakened some sort of dormant power in me. Had to try!"
If Ahsoka hadn't been holding together a space station at the moment in time, she would have thrown her hands up in annoyance.
"Foolish pirate! Get into the airlock before I remove your internal organs!" Maul snarled out, his eyes glowing a bright gold. Through the force Ahsoka could feel the Zabrak struggling with the weight upon him.
Hondo, clearly out of fear of Maul's wrath, obeyed, dashing into the airlock with the rest of the team.
With the Weequay out of the way, all they had to do was get in there themselves.
A feat easier said than done. If one of them broke their concentration, there was a good chance the station would crumble, and they would all be sucked into space.
They would have to do this carefully.
"Ezra, get to the airlock and then turn and help. Kanan, you follow afterwards." Ahsoka called out, strain in her voice.
Ezra complied, breaking his grasp on the metal around them, which Yoda compensated for, and ran into the airlock.
When he arrived, he reached back out to assist.
Kanan moved next, relinquishing his grasp for Ezra to hold.
The force users worked through themselves slowly.
After Kanan, Vos made a break for it, and then Obi-Wan.
When Kenobi reached the airlock, he turned and reached out, grasping the station, allowing Maul to turn and enter the airlock.
That just left Ahsoka and Yoda outside.
Ahsoka attempted to slowly back towards the airlock whilst gripping the walls, but that only led to further sounds of creaking and bulking metal.
The section they were in was on the verge of collapse.
And Ahsoka could take no more, even with the support of the others.
"Strong you have become. Stronger than I ever anticipated. Proud of you I am."
Ahsoka barely heard Yoda speak, his voice too full of strain, which was to be expected.
"Is this really the time for this talk master?" Ahsoka replied, attempting to redouble her efforts in holding the station together.
"No other time we will have."
Suddenly, it felt as though Ahsoka was taken out of the perilous situation at hand.
What was Yoda on about?
"Made many mistakes I have. Failed many times I have. Wronged you, we all did. Apologise, I do. Years late, I fear I am."
Yoda had always been cryptic, but this was too cryptic, even for him.
"It's fine master, it all worked out in the end. Water under the bridge."
Yoda clearly didn't see it that way.
"Ashamed I was. Too proud to face the truth. Redeem myself today I will. One last act."
Ahsoka turned her face to lock eyes with Yoda. Blue met green, and Ahsoka could see in his eyes what was about to happen.
"What are you saying?" Ahsoka spoke quietly, despite the situation.
Around them, the station continued to make creaking sounds.
"End here, my path does. But continues on, yours does. Allow me to do you this Ahsoka."
Fear shot through Ahsoka. Surely he wasn't about to…
She wouldn't let him!
"No, you can't!"
Yoda smiled peacefully, despite the strain he was under.
"Not your choice it is, but mine. Stop me, you cannot! One with the force, I am, and the force, with me, it is."
Behind her, Ahsoka could hear her team yelling for both her and Yoda to get into the airlock.
But at that moment, she was too preoccupied with Yoda's words, and what she knew he was about to do.
"No!" Ahsoka called out again in vain.
But Yoda had clearly made up his mind.
"May the force be with you, Ahsoka Tano."
And then it happened. Yoda lifted one clawed hand towards Ahsoka, and pushed.
The impact of the force push was not designed to harm Ahsoka, but rather get her to where she needed to be.
The Togruta was flung through the air into the airlock, landing beside Rex, who bent down to help her up.
Ahsoka got a brief glimpse of Yoda as he made a swiping motion with his hand, and the airlock door slammed shut.
Seconds later, a rumble shook the entirety of the battle station, knocking some of the occupants of the airlock off their feet.
Ahsoka regained her balance immediately, and dashed towards the door that had shut, glancing out the window, expecting to see Yoda holding the station together.
Instead, there was nothing but the void of black space, with various chunk of metal floating freely.
And Yoda was nowhere to be seen.
Staring out of the window, Ahsoka said nothing, clearly in shock.
Behind her, no one spoke either.
Only one emotion seemed to be present in the airlock at that moment.
Shock.
Author's thoughts
So... you guys mad yet?
In Memorium: Jedi Grandmaster Yoda
There are many words that can be used to describe Yoda.
Small, green, powerful, wise (debatable at best).
But the one that always sticks with me is kind. He is generally a kind person, for someone who is over 900 years old.
But he also knows when he can do no more, and that is why he chose to sacrifice himself for the greator good. He trusts in Ahsoka to see it through to the end, even in his absense.
So goodbye for now Master Yoda. Till we all meet again.
So yeah, Yoda is dead. Sorry guys.
I do hope you liked this chapter, it was a fun one to write, especially the moment at the end with Ahsoka and Yoda.
I don't really want to say much more as I feel it will ruin the significance of the moment, so I will leave it here.
Next chapter, the team deals with the loss of Yoda, and we check in our favourite Chiss to see how he is doing.
As usual, comment and speculate at will. Speaking of which:
DuskTillDawn: That would be a lot of casualties. Guess you have to wait and see. I don't mind questions, so here is your answer:
This story serves to conclude Ahsoka's arc in this AU, and is the last to feature her as the protagonist. I don't have any plans for another main story in this AU, but there will be a one shot series focusing on side moments you didn't get to see from a vast array of characters perspectives.
Travis Middleton: I'm glad you liked the look at the Stormtroopers, even if Maul murdered them instantly. Thrawn is smart, let's hope he follows your advice.
As for your questions:
1. Tarkin doesn't know the rebel base is on Yavin Four yet, so no.
2. You will have to wait and see what Rax does.
3. The Death Star is not ready for testing yet, despite what Krennic claimed. Once it is finished however...
4. This AU Death Star does have the single reactor ignition in it.
Willunknown: Thanks, I'm grateful for your support and enjoyment of what I am writing. I'll admit that I do have another super secret Star Wars project in the works that I am thinking about doing. More news on that soon... I hope. :)
Mogor: Oh boy... sorry about what happens in this chapter. Please don't hate me. More action soon.
Maliwan: I'm glad you liked Maul's little scene. When is his angry he is a terrifying sight. Poor troopers didn't expect him.
Badass Yoda is badass, as demonstrated in this chapter.
SLE's fave guest: I'm glad the action orientated chapter was well received, and that I was able to keep you on your toes.
Those Stormtroopers willingly serve a racist tyrant... they deserved what they got! But yeah, I felt bad for them too. He he.
Also, yes, Tarkin did just inadvertantly kill Yoda. Stupid Tarkin!
WolveHulk: Team force users versus Sidious would have been fun. A shame about Yoda though. Glad you enjoyed the chapter.
Mysterious guest number one: Glad you liked the chapter, it was a hard one to write. There will be a series of one shots after this story. Stay tuned for more info at a later date.
jamese765: Buzz droids in the vents is the scariest bloody thing you can encounter in the vents, aside from maybe Chopper.
Chiara Polairix Edelstein: Glad you liked the chapter, as well as the source of inspiration for it.
Cranky Paws: Vos can get away with pretty much everything, cause he is Vos. He could probably call Palps wrinkly to his face and Sidious would laugh.
The last chapter was designed to show them all working together, so I am glad you liked it.
And I hope you didn't need all the tissues for this one. :)
FossilQueen1984: A fitting piece of music for the chapter. Glad they worked well together.
It was a buzz droid in the vents, not an interrogator. But interesting idea. :)
Hope you enjoyed this chapter.