A/N: Thank you for all of your ideas and suggestions

Chapter 23

Future of the Force

LOTHAL

Governor Pryce's Estate

It was early morning, the thick fog of morning had not yet fled the cold morning as the sun was hidden behind a thick veil of clouds on the horizon. A large estate outside the capital of the planet, the estate was a large building made in imperial fashion. A large flat headed pyramid with four walls each adorned by a tower, the main gate had two crimson imperial banners it was surrounded by grassland save for the scar of a metal highway leading from its front gate all the way to the city to the west, but east on the other side of the small palace was the sea of Savannah, a patrol of two stormtroopers walked "Hold on a sec, I need to take a piss." One said.

The other one sighed, "Told you not to drink so much before duty." The second said as the other headed to the grass and opened his codpiece.

"Yeah, yeah." The first said before he relieved himself.

The second one looked south when he heard "Ulch Help-".

Sighing, the second stormtrooper looked over "Don't tell me I need to help you-" he looked around to see the stormtroopers E-11 lying in the dirt, "Heung where did you…." The second stormtrooper looked rising from the grass was Reik rising up and behind him more Militia regulars but Reik raised up the Okami Chief's sword covered in blood he pressed the blood soaked blade against hi face leaving a long crimson stripe diagonally across his face and before the stormtrooper could fire or shout Keiza launched an arrow right into one of his helmets eye sockets. Keiza was dressed in Militia armor except for the shoulder and bicep pieces; her massive arms, grown from years of the bow, she wore no helmet and walked up to the dead stormtrooper wrenching free her arrow now soaked in blood she dragged across each cheek like Reik.

They moved silently to the back of the wall, and Reik walked toward it, two Militia ran up and formed up to help him climb the wall as did four more other duos. The Militia climbed the walls and snuck behind the stormtroopers on patrol cutting their throats with knife, sword and hatchet. And as the blood was spilt they marked themselves like the other two.

Reik's brown eyes were cold and focused he and Keiza snuck up behind two more stormtroopers patrolling the grounds, across from them a small cottage of metal where a Quarren servant was carrying out a crate when he saw the Militia cut down the stormtroopers he dropped the crate with a heavy metal clang and the nearby stormtrooper on a wall turned around to see a Militia regular ready to claim his blood mark before the stormtrooper shot him. The shot echoed around the entire base and alarms began to go off "MILITIA INVICTUS!" The blasters from both sides opened fire as the stormtroopers and the Militia engaged one another.

The Quarren who had caused it all saw Keiza heading toward him with her knife "Bastard gave us away."

Falling on his back the quarren tried to scurry away "I-I'm sorry I didn't mean-NO PLEASE!" Keiza was about to stab down but Reik grabbed her arm.

"Look." He pointed at the Quarrens neck and slave collar fastened tightly around it, "He's a slave." Reik looked over the dead stormtroopers and took out a device pressing a button the collar fell off "Get out of here." Reik said they watched the former slave run and then Keiza came up and took her knife back.

"I thought we weren't leaving anyone alive?" Keiza asked him.

He turned to her, "If they're stormtroopers or don't have collars, kill them all and burn this place to the ground."

Within the hour, Governor Pryce and Agent Kallus had arrived with a full battalion of reinforcements to see the entire mansion in flames, they exited out of a land speeder and Pryce gripped her black gloves tightly seeing her home ablaze. Agent Kallus looked around for any signs of the Militia "You said these terrorists were in the mountains?" Pryce asked.

Soon the entire battalion was on the move, the Gonzati class cruisers flew in a fleet of six war ships with TIE escorts, flying deep into the mountains they landed in the Waterfall valley, troops pouring out from them and running up the path leading to the waterfall entrance. On the other side of the valley snipers were in place and other setting up E-web turrets, Agent Kallus was at the vanguard again while Governor Pryce watched from afar with a commander open face helmet on and body armor. She watched Agent Kallus and the first wave go through the waterfall then…

Nothing.

"Where the hell did they go!" Pryce screamed as she walked through the waterfall to see the entire settlement inside the mountain. All that remained were empty buildings, abandoned machinery and so on, it was a ghost town.

BLACK WOLF MOON

Hangar 1

The Last Laugh touched down inside the hangar uncloaking itself, Reik and his followers walked out, all of them marked in dried red blood like Reik had done when he first killed the stormtrooper, and many of them, if not all, were carrying spoils from their victory. Keiza and the Mechanic were among the only two that followed him. Keiza turned to the Mechanic "Say, lowlander what's your name?"

"What?" the mechanic asked.

"Your name, or do I just call you a mechanic, seriously you've been with us a while, what's your name?" Keiza asked looking down on him, he was shorter than her but Keiza was a towering figure at nearly seven feet tall.

The mechanic turned forward "Colin."

"Pfft- Colin?" She held back her laughter "What?" Colin asked the middle aged man pushed back his black hair dried with blood, "What's wrong with my name?"

"N-nothing…" Keiza snickered "Colin." She said following Reik through the hallways of the base, built into the very wall of the moon, the Okami and Jalath citizens were making themselves at home in storage rooms. B1 battle droids patrolled the hallways with Militia Regulars walking around. Reik approached a large door guarded by two B2 battle droids and it opened into Leviathan's chamber. The massive spectral-like AI hovered over them in a faye-like green glow from its holographic matrix. Underneath it was the rest of Lothals Militia leaders, Butch who had been overseeing the preparations of the moon for the eventual move, Naqia and her Hyenas. Turok and Dray stood next to one another and then the two resident Jedi, Declan Koi and his Master Tai Uzuma.

When Reik walked in, Dray was about to say "The governor's palace was burned to the ground, how did the evacuation go?" he asked.

"We managed to get everyone off, but it's hard finding accommodations for everyone. This place was built to house a droid army, not to become a colony." Butch said waving his metal hand, the droid summoned up a holographic rendition of the moon showing the hallowed out structure around its upper core. "Thankfully Levithan has reawakened the mining and construction droids, and has begun construction on a new set of chambers to become housing units inside the moon."

Reik looked up at the AI, "How does this all work Levithan?"

The AI spoke in its deep rumbling droid voice and Butch translated "It's actually fascinating, Leviathan has the mining droids move all rock and ore to the smelters, and convert it into new weapons, droids etc. The new life support system we built was made the same way, all in all it will be complete within five standard days."

"We have over two thousand people here, can this place do that?" Keiza asked Butch and by Proxy Leviathan and both answered "Roger, roger."

"It's only a temporary solution." Reik said before they could go into more detail, "The Bounty Hunter returned Kallus to the Imperials, that means they know we have the droid stuff right?" Riek asked Dray.

Still using the cane, Dray said "It does, which doesn't mean they'll be more on guard there was so much left over after the last war, hundreds of rebel cells use them, our problem is getting our people planet side."

Butch held his hand up and Dray looked over "You uh don't need to raise your hand Butch, what is it?"

"Better to show you Commander."

Butch led the leaders into another level of the hidden base into a large hangar, flipping on the lights to reveal ships, hundreds of them. "Among the thousands of vulture droids Levithan built, he also built these." Butch gestured to a row of starfighters, "Rogue Class starfighters, not bad." Naqia said leaning on some railing, the group was on a platform that was lowering "But do any of them have stealth capabilities?" Dray asked.

"Some, not all, that's what I wanted to show you, Leviathan was in charge of building a droid army, but he uh.. Well to put it simply sir, he got bored and started building the Separatist experimental weaponry."

Dray's ears perked up, "Go on?"

The platform landed at the hangar floor and Butch led them to a large ship as big as freighter but large cargo ports on each side like a Gonzati cruiser, but this design was more angular, the ship was longer than a gonzati and narrower too, with a sleek long nose that widened then shortened to four engines, the bridge on the peak of the center, it had navy blue stripes of the Separatists with the markings on it, "Around the middle of the clone wars, the Republic started using a stealth ship, Separatist Commanders like Lok Durd and Admiral Trench started theorizing they're own stealth warships to land troops behind enemy lines, they called it Project Vaporus, and so they designed the ship which Levithan eventually built."

"Impressive what are the specs?" Naqia asked the droid.

Butch took half a second to pull them up "The Vaporus-Class stealth ship is over 75.2 meters in length, 44 meters in width, height at 20 meters, custom engine, max speed-" "Okay but how many people and guns can it hold?" Naqia interrupted.

The droid reprocessed the request, "The ship can be crewed by six, it has six turbo lasers as well, four quad laser cannons and torpedo shafts on each end. In theory this ship can harbor four battalions of battle droids."

"How many do we have?" Dray asked.

"Only a dozen so far but Levithan can start making more." Butch replied.

Reik answered "Do it, let's get this one up and running, I want our people back planetside, Governor Pryce thinks we've run away with her stuff, I want to prove her-" Reik stopped when he saw both Tai and Declan wobble.

He turned to them "Are two alright?" Reik.

Tai winced "We're fine but someone… someone isn't."

Commander Dray grabbed his temple leaning on his cane, "Yes I feel it too."

"Screaming, I hear screaming, a child…" Declan whispered looking up.

Then the two of them grabbed their heads and fell backwards onto the floor "Medic!" Naqia screamed. Dray had fallen to his knees leaning on the crutch starting to sweat. Reik knelt to him "Commander, what is it, what's wrong?"

GAREL

Rebel Space Port, Garel City

Back on Garel, the long awaited or long dreaded reunion of Ahsoka and her son Ahkilleon after learning of the boy's self taught force lightning training had caused the injuries to Sabine. They were both inside a room of one of Phoenix Squadrons blockade runners, the light cruisers often used for battle had to dock in a different space port than the Ghost, a smaller vessel. Ahkilleon looked at his mother and she had her back turned to him looking out a window at Garel City, the lights were off and the only light came in through the window "Will you please say something?" Ahkilleon asked her. But Ahsoka had her hands behind her back, in silence.

"Will you please say something?" Ahkilleon asked her.

Ahsoka frowned and squeezed her hand into a fist "... What can I say, you obviously don't listen to Ahkilleon."

"I do, I just… I didn't mean for this to happen." he grunted.

"Say that all you want, it did happen, your actions hurt someone, your pride hurt her." Ahsoka said, looking at his reflection in the window.

"I know, and I hate myself for it mom, but-" "There's always a but, isn't there." she said, cutting him off.

Ahkilleon winced when she turned around, "Kanan told me what he said to you, do you understand what he meant about balance?" She asked.

"Yes, powerful light, powerful dark, but that's what I was trying to-" "No, I don't want to hear it, this isn't a debate, you messed up and you could have gotten killed Sabine."

"I KNOW OKAY!" Ahkilleon screamed so loud in the force the window cracked, he gripped the chair he was sitting on till his knuckles went white "I messed up, big time, everyones reminding me how bad I messed, I'm sorry, I wish I could take it back, that's all I want mom."

Ahsoka looked at the cracked glass, the metaphor of the day to her, she sighed "If you were a padawan in the Temple, you'd be sent away from the battlefield, but in loo of us having a temple and it too risky to leave you alone unsupervised anymore, give me your lightsaber." she said.

"... what?" he whispered.

Ahsoka walked up and held out her hand, "A lightsaber is the weapon of a jedi, until you can prove to me you are one, you don't deserve to carry it." She said hand outstretched.

The boy looked mortified but he slowly took it off his belt and handed it to her, with reluctance written all over her face, suddenly Ahsoka's comlink beeped "Wait outside for me." she told him, Ahkilleon walked outside and felt naked without his lightsaber until a few more minutes passed and she came out.

"Follow me, there's trouble." Ahsoka said.

Later, and a long silent walk to the Ghost, did Ahsoka and her son walk into the space port, Kanan saw them coming and noticed Ahkilleon without his lightsaber, Ezra was in the yard training when he saw Ahsoka walk up "This is unexpected. Don't get me wrong. It's always good to see you." Kanan said before he looked over at Ahkilleon "I've spoken to him about it, but this is bigger than what he did." She said,

"It means there's trouble." Kanan said back.

Ahsoka reiterated "What I have to say is Jedi business."

"Then I guess I qualify." Kanan replied.

She smiled, "You qualify more than I do, wait out here." Ahsoka said to her boy and she followed Kanan into the ship, as they walked in they saw Hera in the medical bay, sitting by Sabine who was still asleep.

"How is she?" Ahsoka asked walking into check on Sabine but also Hera, the twi'lek was holding Sabine's helmet in her hands.

She looked at it. "The anesthesia should have worn off by now, I'm not sure why, but she's still asleep." Hera said.

Ahsoka frowned, worried, "I spoke to Ahkilleon I… I'm sorry this happened, I take full responsibility."

"But you didn't-" "It's my job to instruct Ahkilleon on how to use his powers, and I failed." Ahsoka said squeezing her hands into fists "I didn't mean it like-" "No, a poor student makes for a foolish Master." Ahsoka said before she walked out of the room.

Later Kanan and Ahsoka were inside his room, outside it Ezra had come to see Ahkilleon who was sitting on the cargo holds ramp, "Hey." Ezra said sitting next to him.

"... Hey." the other boy replied looking at his boots, "So, Hera says Sabine won't wake up for some reason?" Ezra said.

Ahkilleon raised his head to face his fellow padawan "I'm the reason."

"We could go see her." Ezra offered.

Ahkilleon looked up to see Hera come out of the medical room and glared down at him, "Probably not a good idea."

"Hera's more upset at herself than you, she's usually so patient with everyone, she's nervous." Ezra told him.

Ahkilleon rubbed his hands as he often did when he was nervous, "Nervous, about me, yeah I can get that."

Ezra paused and a long silence filled the air before he said "What do you think your mom and Kanan are talking about?"

"I don't care." Ahkilleon said uninterested.

Ezra got up and headed back "Well I do."

"I've been monitoring transmissions from Mustafar to find out more about the Sith Lord." Ahsoka said.

"That was your mission?" Kanan asked her "Among other things…" She said pacing over to his Holocron.

Kanan paused, folding his arms over his chest "And?"

"Information about him eludes me, but I've learned more about his Inquisitors, it seems they have a secondary mission to make retrievals." Ahsoka told him.

Ahsoka replied "We know they hunt Jedi, so what else are they after?"

"At this point, I could only guess, I managed to decode two sets of coordinates. I'm on my way to investigate the first one."

Kanan blinked at her "Ahkilleon isn't going with you?"

She paused, "... No he-" "I'm sorry and I can't believe the words that are coming out of my mouth, but that's a bad idea."

"What, if he was a padawan in the Order he would be expelled?" Ahsoka asked, perplexed.

Kanan sighed and leaned on his desk, arms pressed against his chest "There isn't an Order and if I can't trust him alone, how can I trust him on a mission?"

Kanan leaned his head down and scratched the back of his head, "Okay, okay please don't take this the wrong way, but leaving him alone is worse."

"How can it be worse?" she asked him.

He looked at her "Believe me, being on your own with your Master does things to you." Kanan told her.

"I… I think I understand." Ahsoka said.

"So about these locations you want me to check out the second, I'm in." Kanan said, walking over to the door about to leave.

Ahsoka added "You should have Ezra join you."

He chuckled and hit the door control "He's already briefed on the mission."

The door opened with a beep and a gasp from Ezra who had been trying to listen in on the whole conversation before falling into the room and shooting up "Hey! She did say this was Jedi business."

"Bring Zeb as well. He proved himself against the Inquisitors before." Ahsoka told them.

Outside the ship, Ahkilleon was still sitting on the ramp when Ze band Chopper walked up, Chopper said something not to repeat and Zeb snarled at him "What are you doing back here."

"Moms talking to Kanan." Ahkilleon said not looking up, "Zen we got a mission, come on!" Kanan shouted from up above. Zeb spat on the ground next to Ahkilleon and headed into the ship climbing up the ladder, then Ahsoka came down. Ahkilleon looked at her and she didn't say anything, and he followed her.

Ezra saw them walking off "Ahkilleon isn't coming with us?" Ezra asked as they got into the phantom, "Not this time." Kanan replied.

"So, where are we going?" Zeb asked as they flew out of the port and into space, Kanan started to put in coordinates.

"Takobo, it's got a city home to Ithorians called Hammer Town." Kanan said, making the jump to hyperspace.

LOTHAL

Black Wolf Moon

Back inside the new hidden base of the Lothal Militia, just under the surface of the moon, the Militia were gathered a communications room built in the same design as a Separatist communications center it was being manned entirely by droids save for the inner circle of the Lothal militants. They were setting up a channel and Naqia was overseeing to make sure it was secure. "I don't understand what happened to you three?" Reik asked Dray who stood beside him, they were standing in front of a holotable, an Old Separatist model that was being booted up.

"As you know Tai, Declan and myself are able to commune with the force, there are others like us, and when one of us is in distress it's possible for them to send out a signal of sorts." Dray explained as Tai was standing over a sitting Declan.

"Another jedi?" Reik asked.

Dray shook his head "No, this was far more raw, untamed power, this was a youngling."

"A child did that to you three?" Reik asked.

"Yes, an infant, force sensitive children are wellsprings of power and potential, they are so new to the physical force, that it is incredibly potent." Dray explained.

Tai saw them talking, "How much longer?"

"I gave Captain Naqia the codes, and Caliban will verify it." Dray told her Tail was visibly shaken and she rubbed her arm "It was close, it had to be near the sector."

"I agree with Master Uzuma, but we must verify it with them." Dray said.

Perplexed Reik asked "Verify, with who?" Reik asked.

Both former and current Jedi turned to him, the two dark skinned and black haired offworlders paused in front of the pale skin Lothalian man, "We should clear the room, just us three." Tai said.

"He'll meet them eventually, better now then later." Dray said.

"Meet who?" Reik asked.

Tai appeared to be adamant "This is Jedi business Dray."

"And we are using Lothals communication system, he has a right to be here." Dray insisted.

Captain Naqia walked up her helmet under her arm, "The communication is ready Commander."

"Good." Dray walked forward tapping his cane on the floor, "All of you but Chief Reik, our Jedi and myself are to clear the room." he said loudly, Keiza and some of the Okami regulars who were near the doorway looked to Reik who gave them a nod to do as Dray said.

In a few minutes the room was empty, "Chief Reik, what talk about here please do not repeat it." Tai asked him.

Reik looked at Dray then at Tai, "Please, Chief." Tai begged him.

"Okay." Reik said, nervous as Dray pressed a button to turn on the hologram.

Six figures appeared, all of them covered in robes hoods over their heads all ranging from different sizes and shapes, three appeared to be of normal build, humanoid in shape. The other three were all different, one was stocky and wider than a human should be, the other tall and slender like a tree, one of the robes didn't even touch the ground they were floating without legs, and then a seventh hologram appeared Caliban.

"Master Uzuma, Padawan Koi, Commander Dray we received your message, needless to say this Council is concerned." Caliban said standing in the center of the ring of six as a seventh.

Tai and Declan bowed, Commander Dray lowered his head and Reik looked at them, "Before we begin Master Caliban, may I present Reik Bloodwolf, Chief the Okami and a friend." Dray said.

One of the voices in the robe spoke, "You bring an outsider?" it was one the normal robes, the voice was a womans, old and concerned.

"He's vowed not to repeat a word." Tai said, speaking on his behalf.

The other hoods looked at one another "If there is no objection, speak." Caliban said.

Tai gave a thankful bow, "The three of us all received a powerful disturbance in the force, a child in danger."

Caliban scratched his golden mask, "How curious, not some few hours ago one of our spies reported a Star Destroyer being redirected near the world of Chandel, it stopped a passenger ship, civilian."

"What does this have to do with anything?" one of the other hoods asked, the tall slender one.

"They reported two Inquisitors boarding, then leaving with what witnesses reported was a crying infant, before they released the ship." Caliban said.

Tai and Dray exchanged looks, "This can't be coincidence?" Tai said.

The other hoods murmured to themselves, "Masters, give my padawan and I leave to head to the Chandel system, there may be time to save the child."

"Not possible, if two inquisitors have taken the child then their fate is already sealed." one of the other robes said, a man's voice, a thick core world accent to it.

"But Masters-" Caliban raised his hand to silence Tai from objecting, "There was more to the spies report, our informant relayed the two Inquisitors left the destroyer shortly after and were sighted on the planet of Takobo." Caliban said.

Dray thought for a moment "Takobo, that's only a lightspeed jump away."

"Then we can still save the child." Tai said urgently.

The Council looked at one another debating, in low voices "Perhaps, but Commander Dray what is the situation on Lothal, have these two been seen by Imperial eyes?" Caliban asked.

"Yes they have." Dray said.

Caliban sighed behind his golden mask, "Then you two must remain." "What." Declan snapped "But the Inquisitors, the child-" "Padawan." Tai grabbed the boy by the arm. Suddenly the large short one stepped forward and Caliban stepped aside bowing in respect, their robe was different; it looked old, worn, like it had seen many years of use.

"We feel your concern, Padawan Koi, we will not leave the child's fate to chance." this one's voice was different to Reiks ears, it was a low grumble, it sounded like an ancient stone being given the ability to speak "But remember your duty, to the cause, the Council will send some our best, to Chandel and to Takobo to face these Inquisitors."

Tai sighed in relief "Thank you Masters."

"May the force be with you." The old voice said.

"And also with you." Tai and Declan replied before the six robes disappeared and Caliban was alone, "Caliban, who is the Council sending."

TAKOBO

Hammer Town

Hammertown was an area home to a large Ithorian population in Takobo City on the world Takobo. The planet was stone covered and rocky, except for the city, Takobo was a planet in the Outer Rim Territories that was home to a number of emigrated species, including Ithorians. The peaceful world boasted color architecture with a mix of modern and classical designs. The Phantom flew down to Hammertown landing in a public space port, Chopper handled the docking fee and everyone got out of the ship "Did Ahsoka say exactly what we were looking for?" Zeb asked.

"No, she just said we have to get whatever it is before the Inquisitors do." Kanan said before he turned to Chopper, "Chopper, you have those coordinates?" he added.

They walked through the streets and headed toward the coordinates to a large set of public housing, made from old architecture style Ithorians walking around the block. "Housing units, what would Inquisitors want there?" Zeb asked.

"I doubt they're renting." Ezra replied to him as a joke.

Kanan looked over at the lasat "Zeb, you take a look around the spaceports for the Inquisitors' ship, if they're already here, I'd like to know." Kanan asked him.

"Don't worry. If I find any sign of 'em, you'll hear about it." Zeb said holding up two thermal detonators he'd brought along.

"Bring Chopper, stay in touch." Kanan said before they went inside to the housing units, Zeb and chopper walked down the street, Zeb walked around the corner with him and wasn't looking where he was walking almost tripping on an Ithorian bum sitting up against the building, he was wearing a dirty gray cloak with a straw over his eyes small slits in it made the ithorian look up and grunt at Zeb for his incompetence.

Zeb shrugged "Sorry pal." he said moving on.

The Ithorian tightened his robes and Zeb thought for a moment he saw something glinting inside them but he walked on, the Ithorian waited till they were out of earshot and held up comlink saying something into the link. Up on the rooftop, having watched the rebels land, and go into the housing units "No I saw them my friend" Lord Azimov said in his colorless armor striped with teal marks and the bone jaw under his helmet, the ithorian said something and then added something else in his own tongue "Yes, it is him."

ENROUTE TO CHANDEL SYSTEM
Space

Two A wings were flying through the vortex of hyperspace, fitting that both the boy and the woman in them's own names started with A, it was a long silent flight. Ahkilleon's hand was hovering over the comlink. "Mom?" Ahkilleon asked after pressing it, Ahsoka heard it and didn' respond "Mom can you hear me?" Ahkilleon asked.

"... What is it Ahkilleon?" She asked.

"Where are we going?" he asked.

"You'll know when we get there." she said curtly.

Ahkilleon clenched his jaw tight, "I just think, I should know what the mission is?"

Ahsoka looked over at his fighter next to hers, before she could give an answer the hyperspace lane system was starting to let them know they were almost there, "We're coming out of hyperspace." Ahsoka said before they dropped out in the Chandel System to see a passenger ship floating adrift.

"Passenger ship, that's the same model Sabine and I…" Ahkilleon trailed off not wanting to think of her or what he did to her.

Flying toward it Ahsoka said "Dock on the other side, I'll meet you inside." She said,

Later the two of them exited out of their ships and boarded the passenger vessel, Ahsoka walked up to him and looked down toward the passenger seating section located in the middle part of the ship, they started to walk and Ahkilleon could feel the disappointment in his mother, he followed her across floor, he looked at his lightsaber hanging at her hip next to one of her own. "No." She said,

"What?" he asked.

She stopped. "You can't have it back." She said,

"I wasn't going to ask I-" "Was thinking of when you'd get it back, learn to focus your emotions, control them, or else you'll hurt someone else again." She said as they arrived at the passenger entrance door.

Ahkilleon looked at his boots when he heard his mother say "This is it." She said walking to the passenger door.

They walked in and the first thing Ahkilleon saw was a dark room, then he felt a terrible smell attack his nose, following his mother in slowly they came into a massacre, all of the passengers, all of the people who were leaving Chandel were dead. Walking in Ahkilleon saw lightsaber marks on the walls "Mom." He said seeing them "I know, only a laser sword could make that." She said looking around 'Check for anyone still alive." Ahsoka ordered.

Ahkilleon looked in the rooms and one after the other, the same result, all dead. "Help…." A weak voice cried out at the back, Ahkilleon ran back out to see his mom kneeling over an elderly woman with a blue wrap around her head and matching shirt, she was weak, near death "I'm here. It's okay. You're safe now." Ahsoka said reassuringly.

But then the ship lurched, Ahkilleon felt it like he did the last time he was on a passenger ship and Ketsu docked, "Mom?"

"Help me. Help my grandchild." the old woman said to Ahsoka who was focused on her.

"Your grandchild?" Ahsoka asked. Ahkilleon was about to reach out to her "Mom I think-uck" Ahkilleon felt an invisible hand tighten around his neck.

They took her the red blades, they knew that she had it." the old woman said weakly "Find her. She...has...it…" the old woman was hyperventilating, before Ahsoka pressed her hand to the woman's face "Rest. You need to rest." Ahsoka said

Ahsoka looked down on her and said, "We will find her." Ahsoka said.

"And what happens when I find you, Ahsoka Tano?" a voice said that made Ahsoka spin up shooting around to see a woman holding Ahkilleon, by his shoulder. Ahsoka froze when she saw who it was. The woman was wearing layered pale steel blue greeves, a long brownish green tunic that went to her knees, she had a metal buckled belt, with a blaster on her hip also with the same blue steel armor, her arms were covered in black sleeves with two shoulder guards the same as the rest. Her face was hidden under a hood and she smiled with purple lips on a pale face with tattoos running down each end of her lips.

She let Ahkilleon go and focused on Ahsoka, "Ahkilleon got behind me."

Before he did, the woman reached up and dropped her hood revealing her face, 'If I wanted to kill him or you, I would have, we have bigger problems.'

"You." Ahsoka said.

"Mom, who is this?" Ahkilleon asked. Looking at the woman with pale white skin, she had dark eyeliner around her ice blue eyes, a sharp nose like a bird with a slender face and silver blonde hair tied behind her head in intricate braides.

Looking at her son she looked back at the stranger, "Asajj Ventress."

"The Hairless Harpy?" Ahkilleon asked, "Hairless… oh that's right, I see he inherited your big mouth." Ventress said, running her fingers through her hair.

"Why are you here?" Ahsoka asked.

Ventress looked back at the old woman, "Same as you, the child, and if you don't want that woman to die you'll bring aboard my ship, I'll explain on the way."

She turned around and headed out, Ahsoka looked back at the woman then at her son, "Help me with the woman."

TAKOBO
Hammertown

Back on Takobo, Zeb and Chopper were heading through the streets passing by other ithorians, being trailed by the one ithorian in the straw hat and robe, Zeb finally stopped and their tail hid "I'm not following you anymore" Zeb said and added "I've lost track of where we've checked hey, where ya going?" Chopper rolled up to another space port and started to hack into the door until it opened to reveal two TIE fighters specifically used by Inquisitors, Chopper gave a cocky reply to Zeb.

"Okay, yes, you found them, congratulations." Zeb grumbled and Chopper grunted.

Then Chopper pointed to the ships, floating in front of them was a probe droid "I see it, it's one of those lousy probes."

Zeb lined up his sights and shot it "Ha. If I never see one of those things again, it'll be too soon." Zeb said while Chopper had been hiding behind the doorway, "You can come out now."

"Let's blast this ship and get outta here." Zeb said, taking out the grenades as the Ithorian tailing them poked his head in, looking under his hat he and Zeb both heard at the same time the sound of a child wailing.

"I really hope that's not a baby Inquisitor." Zeb said looking in the ship to see a baby wrapped up in a bundle of cloth, crying its heart out, Chopper said something.

"No, we can't just leave it here, we'll blow up the ship after we get the baby. What is wrong with you?" Zeb said as he started to get in the ship to get the baby out.

The Ithorian tail reached into his comlink, and spoke, the voice of Lord Asimov replied "The other childs already here?"

The tail replied and then asked something, "No, you could hurt the child, I'm following the other two, we'll confront them together." Asimov said before he cut the link continuing to follow Ezra and Kanan through the hallways of the housing unit they went into.

"No sign of Inquisitors, that's what worries me." Kanan said while they walked "Ah this is it"

Kanan opened the door and Ezra walked in to see the entire apartment had been ransacked, "Kanan, I... I think we're too late." Ezra said, walking in before they heard groaning on the floor. The two jedi rushed in to see a wounded Ithorian on the floor, a female calling out to them.

"Over here. She's alive." Ezra said kneeling in front of her, Kanan leaned over "What's your name?" He asked.

She spoke out in her native tongue, Ithroians didn't have the ability to speak basic but Kanan understood "Oora, save your strength, Oora."

""Pipey"? Her child, she thinks they came for her child with two red blades." Kanan translated for Ezra, and Oora kept going "They didn't get it, she managed to send her child away with a droid. I promise you, Oora. We'll find your Pipey." Kanan added helping her up and to the nearby bed for her to sit down.

"Oora, as soon as you're able to, get to docking bay 12." Kanan said, trying to calm her down.

They left Oora to calm down and "Kanan, what do they want with her child?" Ezra asked him, Kanan let out a sigh "I don't know, Ezra." Kanan said walking out of the apartment and that's when they realized they weren't alone standing across the hallway was Lord Asimov.

"A fate worse than death." Asimov said.

Kanan put his hand on Ezra's chest and reached for his blaster pistol, "Who are you?" Kanan asked.

Asimov held his hands up to show he had no weapon on him, he wasn't even carrying his lightsaber, "An interested party, we're aware these Inquisitors are taking children." Asimov said behind his helmet, Ezra looked at the design, the narrow slits, the animal jawbone on the lower half and the blade plume on top "Nice helmet."

"Ezra. Don't compliment the bounty hunter." Kanan snapped at him.

"How do we know he's a bounty hunter?" Ezra asked.

Kanan fixed his jaw "Who else dresses in full armor in a residential neighborhood?" Kanan asked.

"We don't have much time, the child is what matters." Lord Asimov said lowering his hands "I am Asimov, and as long as there are two Inquisitors looking for a child, consider me an ally." He said walking toward them, Kanan tightened his grip on the blaster.

Ezra leaned in whispering, "The Inquisitors are dangerous Kanan, we could use the help."

"When this is over, the mother and child come with us, whoever you are." Kanan said sensing something was off.

Asimov turned around "Let's save the child first."

Outside of the housing units, the rebels had contacted Zeb "You're telling me there's another baby out there? Kanan was speaking to Zeb from a communicator "And it's headed your way."

"When you find the droid, tell it that the mother, Oora, sent you." Kanan said.

"Understood, on my way." Zeb said as he handed off the other baby to Chopper, it was a girl with auburn hair and pale skin. "That one's all yours. Chopper grunted frustrated, before Chopper rolled off with the baby.

Zeb grunted as headed back searching for the other baby "Garazeb Orrelios. Honored soldier, feared rebel, baby hunter. At least I'm good at one of those things." Zeb grumbled while the Ithorian who was tailing them looked over to see the lasat and the droid splitting up trying to figure out which one to follow.

Continuing on, Zeb spotted a droid carrying a basket moving frantically through the busy streets "Hey, droid!" Zeb snapped running up to the droid who looked startled "Wait, wait, wait. I'm here to help! Its mother, Oora, sent it to me."

"That's right, Oora. She sent me here for her child." Zeb said, the droid looked down at the basket holding a baby ithorian, Zeb reached in and lifted out the baby giggling at his weird face Ugh. That's a baby? I hope I'm holding it right side up."

"There, there, baby... Things. Shh. It's okay, it's okay." Zeb said. "Ah, karabast. Why'd it have to be me?" Zeb reached for his com "Kanan, I found the baby."

Back in the housing units with Oola, the Jedi were tending to her Kanan grabbed his comlink "Already? You're pretty good at this." Kanan said.

Asimov heard him, but said nothing. Kanan noticed his lack of surprise but also remained quiet, "Yeah. I know. I'm taking it back to the ship." Zeb said.

"Copy that, we'll meet you there." Kanan said, putting the link away, "Looks like we don't need you afterall." Kanan said to him.

Asimov turned his head, "There are still two Inquisitors out there." the masked man said.

Kanan had his hand close to his blaster, and Ezra saw the tension between them grow before either of them could say a word. Kanan's comlink started to go off, "Spectre-1, making it back to The Phantom is not going to happen."

The cowboy jedi raised his comlink to his mouth "Copy that, Spectre-4, where are you?"

"On the move. ran into your two friends, we'll be in the tower at the grid nine intersection, hurry." Zeb said before running into one of the housing units.

Back with Kanan, Ezra and now Lord Asimov but just Asimov to the two rebels, were running out of Oora's housing unit and heading to Zebs location, "So, metal head, why are you after the baby?" Ezra asked, running from behind.

"The Inquisitors want the child, that's all I need to know." Asimov said as they ran down the sidewalk.

"So your what, doing this out of the kindness of your heart?" Kanan asked skeptics.

Asimov stopped and Kanan stopped then, "Question me all you want, the child's safety is paramount to any other doubts you have." Asimov said looking down at Kanan, despite his size and imposing build Kanan wasn't even phased.

Ezra pushed through them "This is grid nine." Ezra saw the sign and pointed to one of the buildings "Tower should be just ahead, this is definitely the place." Ezra said walking up to the nearby tower, coming up the road was a ground transport, a garbage truck, Kanan spotted it and stopped "Asimov was it?"

"Yes?" Asimov asked.

"Before we go in, I need to do something?"

Asimov looked at him confused before Kanan slammed his open palm into the armored chest, sending Lord Asimov into the air and right into the back of the garbage truck. "Kanan!" Ezra shouted seeing him.

Kanan watched the truck go in, "No time to explain, we need to find that kid and Zeb."

HYPERSPACE

Banshee

The Banshee was a Lancer-class pursuit craft which served as the personal starship of bounty hunter Asajj Ventress during the Clone Wars. The Banshee featured two cabins, a small galley, and a cargo hold, used for holding bounties prisoners. It had been modified with ports for fighters on top and bottom, both Ahkilleon and Ahsoka were aboard inside the former holding cell that was now set up as a cottage of some kind. The injured old woman was laying down with a medical droid over her, the mysterious Ventress was at the helm of the ship. Ahsoka was looking over the woman and Ahkilleon walked up behind Asajj.

"Yes?" Asajj asked, looking back.

"I didn't say anything?"

"But you want to, I can feel it." She said, "What do you want?"

Ahkilleon scratched the back of his head "Well, it's just I wanted to apologize about the hairless harpy the way mom tells it you two are- were enemies?"

"She's not wrong." Asajj said looking forward as she checked the ship's hyperspace computer, "I lost track of how many times we tried to kill each other."

Ahkilleon felt nervous and grew pale. "Um, now?"

"She's welcome to try." Ahsoka said coming up behind Ahkillon she pushed him behind her and Asajj spun around in her chair, "Motherhood, never expect it from you." Asajj said leaning in her chair looking up at Ahsoka who sneered at the former assassin.

"Why are you after the child?" Ahsoka asked or more than likely demanded.

Asajj leaned back in her chair, "The Inquisitors are your enemy just as much as mine." Asajj replied.

"You're dodging the question, your…." Ahsoka paused, "You're with Turok and those rogue Jedi who attacked us."

The night sister was quiet for a long time, "Not entirely wrong, we're almost at Takobo, help me save the children and I'll tell you everything or at least show you." Asajj replied.

"What made you become a child saver?" Ahsoka asked skeptical, "If I told you, you wouldn't believe me, mommy." Asajj teased.

TAKOBO

Hammer Town

Back on Takobo, the truck carrying Asimov stopped and the Ikar Jedi got out covered in trash, dusting himself off he groaned, "Still playing tricks Caleb." He grumbled as other robed figures walked up to him, Asimov noticed them "Not a word you." he said as the two snickered.

"Fine, but you owe us a drink." one of them said under his hood.

Asimov shrugged "Deal, where are the children?"

"The droid took one back to the ship, she is watching the others." the one who spoke said.

Over at the housing units Ezra ran out of the housing unit "Once I get you back to your mother, maybe you could come live with us on Garel. You'd like that, wouldn't you?" He and the child ran off not knowing an Inquisitor Probe droid was watching him and recording.

Up above on one of the rooftops another gray robe was watching them, back inside the housing units Kanan and Zeb were running for their lives away from the Inquisitors, Kanan was trying to fight them but was outmatched before he fell back into Zebs arms "Time for a new strategy. Run!" Zeb snapped, picking him up and running down the hallway to a glass window, Kanan held up his laser pistol shooting it "Whoa! I hope you know what you're doing!" Zeb shouted as they jumped out of the window on the upper floor landing right onto a speeder.

"Aspeeder! I can't believe it!" Zeb laughed. "How'd you know?"

Kanan chuckled at their luck "I didn't."

The lasat went wide faced "Whoa…"

"Commander, send in reinforcements and lock down all spaceports." The Seventh Sister said as she and the Fifth brother jumped out onto the next speeder throwing out the driver.

Ezra was running back to the spaceport that was locked down from the inside, "Let me in! Let me in, Chopper! Paranoid droid." he barked banging on the door.

"The door is locked, Kanan!" Ezra said into his comlink "The door is locked!"

Kanan and Zeb came running up leaving the speeder behind, "I'm a little preoccupied at the moment!" The Inquisitors pulled up and hopped out walking toward them, Kanan drew his lightsaber and Zeb fired at them, charging Kanna was knocked back by the fifth brother to cut him in the arm, and block Zebs shots redirecting them back at Zeb hitting him in the leg.

Ezra drew his lightsaber and while holding Pipey walked toward the Inquisitors, ready to make a last stand, the Seventh Sister sighed "I don't have time to waste on you, child." she said using the force to pull him toward them, he struggled and tried to break free but then the Inquisitors felt something.

The doors opened and walking out side by side was Ahsoka Tano and Asajj Ventress. "Unexpected, but not unwelcome, two failed apprentices Ahsoka Tano and Asajj Ventress." the Seventh Sister said, raising her red lightsaber.

"Oh they seem eager." the woman named Asajj said, from behind them Ahkilleon came helping Ezra up "Who's she?" Ezra asked Ahkilleon, still holding Pipey.

Ahkilleon looked back "Uh, it's a long story."

Ahsoka drew both of her twin white lightsabers and Asajj reached to her belt drawing a yellow lightsaber, "You can have the bitch, I'll take the big one." Asajj said.

The Fifth brother growled and they got ready to fight, "How adorable, but you have no hope against us or the Empire, the Jedi are dead." the Seventh Sister declared before they heard a loud crash behind them.

Landing from on top the buildings behind them, the two Inquisitors turned around to see Lord Asimov and the Ithorian in the straw hat rise up and then three other gray robed beings drop down surrounding the inquisitors, one by one the other four drew lightsabers in the colors or blue and green "The Jedi…" Lord Asmivo said, rising up drawing his golden greatsaber "Will never die." He raised it toward them as the Inquisitors went back to back.

Ahsoka's eyes widened when she heard that name "... it can't be." Kanan started to come and he looked up eyes wide, never before thinking he'd see such a number of jedi standing there.

The Inquisitors looked shocked, now outnumbered by four lightsaber carrying warriors, "Surrender while you still can." Lord Asimov said to them, raising his lightsaber.

"And miss a challenge." the Seventh Sister said.

One of the other mystery jedi holding a green lightsaber said "They're stalling." it was a man's voice, "Imperial reinforcements are on their way, we need to withdraw." one holding a blue one said a woman's voice, soft, elegant.

The Fifth Brother lunged at Azimov thinking his guard was down, but the Lord grabbed the Inquisitor by the face and slammed him into the ground "Die." Asimov said before they watched his armored forearm surge with force lightning electrocuting the Inquisitor causing the sith to scream in agony.

Ahkilleon watched the lightning pour out of his body, the Seventh Sister thought she saw an opening before the one called Byph blocked her saver, parried and elbowed her in the face, grabbing her with the force he lifted her up and slammed her into the ground three times before dropping her in brutal fashion.

"That's enough Lord Asimov." the male jedi holding the green lightsaber said and Asimov let the smoking Inquisitor go.

"Ezra, get the youngling to the ship" Ahsoka said, walking up to the Inquisitors who were now at their mercy for a change.

Ahsoka looked at Asimov and the three other mystery jedi, she focused on the Inquisitor "I know why you want the children." Ahsoka said.

The Seventh Sister spat out some blood laughing. "Well, who doesn't want to be a mother?"

Ahsoka looked at the two of them who were down and wounded "You are beaten." The sister laughed as a full battalion of stormtroopers moved in with ground transports carrying even more closing in on them from the main street leading to the port.

Back in the hangar the rebels were boarding the Phantom and taking off with Oora taking Pipey from Ezra, "Get us airborne." Kanan said to Zeb who was already taking off with Chopper telling them to hurry up.

Back outside the Seventh Sister laughed "It looks like you are the one that is beaten, hmhmhm, your capture will please Lord Vader." The stormtroopers were closing in.

"You three, I leave it to you." Lord Asimov said sheathing his lightsaber, Byph and the other two mystery jedi sheathed their lightsabers walking out to face the small army of stormtroopers they held their hands up, and the wind began to rise the stormtroopers weren't able to get even one shot off before they felt an invisible wall start to push them back, Ahsoka watched as the three Jedi with their combined efforts summoned a tsunami of force, that pushed all the stormtroopers off their feet and knocked even the heavy ground transports back into the buildings before there was nothing but dust and screaming. "Let's go." Lord Asimov said, heading to Ventress's ship.

Ahsoka saw the Phantom go overhead and Ahsoka looked down at the Inquisitors who were still too weak to get up, but were recovering "Tell your master he'll have to wait." Ahsoka said, before leapt up onto the loading ramp that opened just in time and then somersaulted through the air to land on the Phantom, Ahkilleon had his hand outstretched to help her in "They are escaping." The fifth brother hissed getting up.

"Not all of them." The sister said raising her hand up she focused on Ahkilleon and he felt the lasso of her grip wrap around his waist and yank him out, for the brief moments that passed time slowed between Ahsoka and her son before she watched him get pulled down "NOOO!" Ahsoka screamed as the other jedi were making their way into the ship. Asajj watched the Inquisitor grab Ahkilleon and Asimov ran to the door "We have to help him."

"Too late the Empire is swarming over us, we have to go." Asajj said taking the ship into the sky after the Phantom. Inside Ahsoka was fighting with Kanan to get control of the ship "NO, no, turn around, turn around right now!" she shouted at Zeb.

"I- I can't get TIE's incoming, we have to go." Zeb argued.

Ahsoka went for her lightsabers "I won't leave him-" "We won't, we'll get him back Ahsoka I promise- we'll get him back." Kanan said, grabbing her arms as they fled.

The lancer craft known as the Banshee flew alongside them, signaling them "Um… Kanan we got company." Zeb said Kanan came up and pressed the comlink.

"Listen, to me." It was Asimov "We came here to save two children, but we lost one, Lady Tano. You have my word as a Jedi we will not let the son of the man who we owe our lives to be taken by the Empire."

Kanan replied "Who are you people, how do you know all this stuff?" Kanan demanded.

"We are the jedi that Leo Rock saved from Order 66, and now we must repay this debt." Asimov said, Kanan was processing it all "And Tai Uzuma, her padawan, the soldiers on Garel, the stuff with Turok Skell and Admiral Trench that's you too?"

There was a long pause, then Asimov replied "Yes, follow these hyperspace coordinates, and all will be revealed." Asimov said before the Banshee sent them the coordinates and jumped into hyperspace.

"Coordinates received, but it's not in any system in the database." Zeb said.

"Do it." Ahsoka said to him, "Do it now." Zeb waited for Kannas nod, which he gave and they started to get ready to make the jump.

Ezra walked up to Kanan holding the baby girl Chopper and Zeb had saved, "Looks like we're about to find out what all this stuff is about?"

"Looks like, and that's what scares me." Kanan replied and jumped into hyperspace.