Before diving into the next chapter, I wanted to thank you all for the feedback! Being a a guy that turns 19 in 2 weeks, Its somewhat weird to be writing a fanfic for a kids show. (even a star wars kids show) I still haven't shared it with any of my friends, since they probably won't be into it. It's funny how I've only been a member on FFN for a week or so, and I already love the atmosphere of the community. Thanks guys! Also, I decided I will try to post regularly on either Friday night or sometime on Saturday. Possibly even twice a week. (still figuring things out)
Notes:
Yes, I know that in the show, they use code names Specter 1-6 whenever they happen to be engaged in a mission or talking over a com-link. I have decided to scrap it purely because I'm too lazy to Google which Specter everyone is. Now that I think about it, using their names will make it MUCH easier for you readers to comprehend who is talking. Also, this chapter (which was a little more challenging to write) is going to be a tad longer than the previous ones, but hey, the more the merrier, right?
Disclaimer: I do not own or make profit from any content within the Star Wars universe. I merely write for the entertainment of myself and others. All things Star Wars belong (unfortunately) to Disney now.
CHAPTER THREE:
Life aboard the Ghost was now moving at a more placid pace. The nightmares Ezra struggled with gradually vanished thanks to Sabine's help and Kanan's guidance. Staying in Sabine's room helped quiet Ezra's mind, and consequently, it allowed him to compose himself for the meditation with Kanan. He was now beginning to gain a stable control over his negative emotions, and Kanan assured him it would be invaluable should they ever meet another wielder of the dark side. Ezra once again felt the energy and spirit that his family on the Ghost had brought to him before. As he carried out the chores assigned to him by Hera, it was not unlikely to find Ezra humming a tune he had picked up from the many travelers and merchants on Lothal. The crew knew it couldn't stay inactive forever though. They needed credits to fuel the Ghost, put food in their stomachs, and skirmish with the Empire.
Kanan stood before the others, his determined countenance evaluating them for the supply run ahead. Chopper had the holographic schematic of an Imperial cargo bay projected into the middle of the group.
"Our main goal is to acquire fuel and other consumables that are scheduled to arrive by shuttle later this afternoon. Security will be at it's tightest during landing, so we wait until it's loaded onto the transport vehicles." Kanan explained. "The compound consists of the outer wall surrounding the landing platform and tower control on the eastern side. Flanking it on the north and south walls are two watchtowers." He paused briefly to let the information sink in. "If we can silently infiltrate the pair of watchtowers, we should have an easier job of securing tower control. From then on out, all that's left is to drive past the main gate in the transportation provided to us, courtesy of our bucket-headed friends."
Easier said than done. As for the refined details of the plan, the crew required some more preparation.
"Sabine, I know you might be getting bored of this, but we need a distraction at the main gate. I'm sure you could find something to blow up to give the impression of an attack from the front."
"Kanan!" Sabine exclaimed with a tone of mock hurt. "I'm never bored when blowing Imperial property sky-high."
"That's what I like to hear. Now Zeb, I'm gonna need you to go along with Sabine and provide the muscle to back up her distraction."
"I can do that as long as you dont blow too many of them up, Sabine. It's been a while since I've roundhouse kicked one of them in the chest. My record for 'Airborne Imperial' is five meters." Zeb chuckled in a hungry manner.
"Both of you need to clean up the Stormtroopers in the area. That last part is crucial, because you will then proceed to the speeder I've stashed in the alley over here." Kanan pointed to the location that was about about 100 yards away from the gate. "If any troopers follow you, make sure to take care of them before doubling back to the rear of the compound. By the time you get back, Hera and Ezra should have control of the south tower while I overtake the north. Chopper will be in the Ghost to provide supportive fire, but ONLY if we get detected."
"How are we supposed to get into the towers without them alerting central control?" Ezra questioned.
Sabine piped up before Kanan could respond. "Come on Ezra, I know how you ogle over me when I'm being a badass," she said teasingly, "I would imagine any bucket heads would do the same, in which case, they will have their backs turned to you when I give them something colorful to look at."
Ezra's face became a shade or two darker then he wanted, but he forced a smile in spite of himself. "What, I don't have anything better to look at." Ezra said, trying to sound casual, but then the meaning of his hasty words occurred him.
Chopper began to warble a metallic laugh, and Zeb had a fist over his own mouth trying to keep from breaking into hysterics.
"Nice going, Mr. Smooth," he finally managed before succumbing to his suppressed laughter.
"Ok, lets all stay focused," Hera broke in, "This is serious. The compound is sparsely guarded, but if you choke during the mission, you jeopardize us all."
"Hera's right," Kanan added before continuing, "Now as I was about to explain earlier, we have some tactical blasters that Ezra snagged a while back." Kanan, reminisced with the slightest of smiles of the day a barely pubescent street boy had almost gotten away with a crate of Imperial blaster. "The blasters have grappling lines and stun settings. After you get to the top of the tower, stun the guards and be careful not to shoot any consoles. We cant risk an alarm going off, hence the reason for using the quieter stun blasts."
"So what happens to me and Sabine after you take the towers?" Zeb asked with a frown.
"That's when we're gonna need you to be ready at the rear of the compound. By the time you get back on the speeder, I will have taken the guards armor and be headed for tower control. I should be able to use the force to control the mind of the officer up there. Basically, I will wait until everyone else is outside and ready a fair distance away from the front gate, and then I will have the officer give the order for the transport to go along this route over here." Kanan gestured to another alley with several good positions for an ambush. "This will allow you to easily overwhelm the drivers of the two transport vehicles. Farther along that route, chopper will have the ghost waiting if no complications arise, as mentioned before."
Zeb was having some doubts however. "Dont you think chopper should be piloting the Ghost instead of just the Phantom? I mean, It's bigger and less maneuverable in close quarters, but It can get all of us out of there, not to mention the extra firepower we would have in case the Imperials have some tricks up their slimy sleeves."
"You make a fair point, Zeb, but remember who the ship belongs to. Your thoughts, Hera?" Kanan inquired, turning hopefully in Hera's direction.
"It could be risky, putting everything on the line like that, but I have to admit, the higher stakes come with better odds of survival. It's not like we haven't taken risks before. I say we go for it. The ship is all yours, chop."
The little droid spun his arms around and beeped a triumphant chortle.
"Hey, uh uh." Hera shot back. "You're still MY droid who is only PILOTING a ship that is still MINE. If you get the wrong idea, I can give your memory banks a good clean up." Hera finished, making her point exceedingly clear to chopper, who gave off a chirp that was tinged with apprehension."
"I'm only joking, buddy, but seriously, MY ship."
All was going according to plan thus far, but Ezra felt something was… off… not dreadfully wrong, but nagging at him, telling him he should be prepared. Sabine and Zeb made easy work of the troopers at the front, giving Ezra, Hera, and Kanan the blind spot they needed to grapple into the watchtowers and put the guards to sleep in a discrete manner. True, there were a few more scattered about the compound, but nothing that the group couldn't deal with if their stealth was compromised.
"Ezra, Hera, is the southern tower secured?" Kanan inquired into his com.
"Affirmative." came Hera's response with a quick wave from Ezra in the opposite tower across the compound.
Sabine and Zeb had accounted for the troopers in front, yet there was no telling if reinforcements were inbound. Fortunately, as they traveled away from the gate, the whine of another speeder couldn't be heard in the vicinity. Sabine clutched Zeb from behind and held on for dear life.
"Just because he's got more muscle, it doesn't make him a good driver." She thought anxiously as Zeb narrowly avoided a pedestrian, almost sending the speeder off balance. "Ya think you could stop throwing your stinking weight around on this thing? We're over the limit, and you drive like a crazed Wookee!" Sabine shouted, trying to sound irritated instead of mortified.
"How bout you keep your sassy Mando-mouth shut and let me focus on getting to the rendezvous?" Zeb retorted with obvious disdain for her critique.
Hera, Ezra, and Kanan got word from Sabine confirming they were en route and almost there. In the middle of the message, there was a sharp gasp and some cursing about a 'brainless Lasat'.
"Sounds like Sabine's having fun." Ezra chuckled.
"You obviously have never rode with Zeb before. If you thought sharing a room with him was tough, just pray you never have to be his copilot."
As they talked, they watched Kanan, now dressed as a stormtrooper, saunter past the landing platform and into the entrance of tower control.
Kanan was feeling a bit uneasy about the operation so far. It was all falling into place as predicted, but his senses were tingling. Thus far, no one had attempted to stop him. Yes, maybe he was clad in the same generic armor used by the entire Imperial Army, but Kanan couldn't help but feel anxious beneath the 'bucket' he had donned. He climbed the stairwell to the control room and opened the door with an air of confidence as if commanded to be where he was. He stopped dead in his tracks.
"Agent Kallus, I would have thought someone of such status and vile nature would have more important business to attend to."
"Trooper. Status report. NOW." Agent Kallus inquired impatiently. "After the explosion hit our generators, we lost communication with the towers."
"Good work, Sabine." Kanan dared to think before replying in his most official tone of voice, "Sir, the trouble makers planted the explosives and made a run for it, I didn't get a good look at who they were, but they made off on a speeder. I caught that much through the smoke from the blast."
"Probably no use trying a mind trick. It would only give me away." Instead, Kanan tried to reason. "Sir, should we move the transports to a more secure location? If the rebels are after the shipment, We need to move fast. Communication and weapon systems are offline."
"Never thought I would say this to a stormtrooper, but good thinking. We can use the transports' short range communication to get in touch with Beta Docking Port. Now go, round up a squadron and prep the transports for departure."
"Right away, Sir." came Kanan's response, eager to leave.
"Hera, Sabine do you read me?" Kanans voice crackled through the com. After receiving an Affirmative from both pairs, Kanan explained the updated course of action.
"I'm driving the lead transport and we are headed for Beta Docking Station. Ezra, you know where it is, right?
"Sure do, but I dont know if we can-"
"Call chopper and have him pick you up anywhere a hundred yards away from the compound. By then, I will have uploaded ambush coordinates to the ghost. Remember, DO NOT aim for the bucket head driving the first transport. Oh, and umm, our good friend Agent Kallus wanted to check in on us and test our ability to improvise. I'll keep him occupied when you get here."
"This should be interesting." Hera muttered. "Chop, we need you and the Ghost to pick us up. I assume you know where Kanan wants you after this. Now follow my signal and get here FAST"
A confidant sounding noise came through the com, and a minute later they were on board and closing in on the coordinates.
As the Ghost closed in, they noticed the transport in front come to a halt.
"That's our cue!" Hera exclaimed. "Chopper, be ready to get us out of here."
The Ghost landed in front of the transports, and only then did Agent Kallus sniff out what was going on.
"That damned stormtrooper was one of the rebels!" Kallus shrieked. "All units, take offensive positions and focus fire on anyone who comes near the transports!" He barked.
Kanan knew the time was upon them, and their window of opportunity was shrinking. He began turning when fire erupted, pelting the transport and rendering the rear anti-grav stabilizers useless. He ground to a halt perpendicular to the previously following vehicle.
"Not great, but might provide some cover for them to exit the Ghost safely." Kanan hoped. "Listen up team, we can only go for the goods in my transport. It would be a risky mess to go after the cargo of both. Hera, Ezra, and Zeb, you unload the crates while me and Sabine provide cover."
"What surprises should I give these galactic gargoyles? Smoke or stunning?" Sabine asked, fervently wishing to try out her new smoke grenades.
"Whatever you have, Sabine. Now isn't the time to withhold. Give 'em everything you've got."
"Don't have to tell me twice." Sabine confirmed as a combination of both rolled toward the feet of the nearest stormtroopers. The first pair emitted a magenta gas that resulted in a residue covering the stormtroopers caught within its blast radius. It was quite comical to witness brightly colored stormtroopers bumbling about not able to see through their masks. The second set gave a jolt of electricity that knocked the next few troopers out cold. Even after half the Imperials were stunned, Kanan was deflecting the blaster bolts at an astonishing rate. He deeply regretted not having Ezra's saber to double the efficiency.
"Kanan, Sabine, lets go!" Growled Zeb. "The cargo is loaded!"
Ezra had just shoved the last of the crates into the hold when he turned and saw Sabine and his master racing for the ramp. The Ghost was now hovering a few feet off the ground ready for takeoff.
"Hurry up! We need to go before they send down a swarm of TIE's onto us!" Ezra was shouting, his voice now choking on the dust kicked up by the engines. Even before the words were fully formed, Kanan jumped upon the ramp and ran inside the hold to evade fire. But then, everything seemed to be going in slow motion as Sabine was then thrown off balance, losing her helmet, as a lucky shot burned into the right side of her ribcage.
The world seemed to go silent around Ezra. As he sprinted for all he was worth, he was focused only on her. He remembered his training and let the force guide his hand to deflect the incoming barrage of blaster fire. First, he noticed a confused look of concern shimmer on Sabine's dusty, sweat-strewn face. She sank to her knees and gave Ezra a pleading look as she grew weaker. Finally, her terrified eyes closed as a solitary tear rolled down her right cheek. Ezra got to here before she hit the ground, and he gathered up her limp, unconscious body in his shaking arms. By now, Kanan, seeing what was going on and marveling at Ezra's bravery, covered their escape from an outraged Agent Kallus who was charging them, blaster in hand.
After assisting Ezra in climbing aboard, Kanan himself leaped up, and the Ghost made its getaway. Ezra just sat on the floor holding Sabine's head in his arms, supporting her body in his lap. He looked into her grimy, yet calm face usually so full of life.
"No it couldn't be." Ezra thought to himself, unprepared by the events that unfolded. Realization finally caught up to him. Ezra's sobs came silently and with the feeling of his stomach being torn out by a rancor. Shaking uncontrollably, he rocked back and forth, Sabine's head held tight against his own as his tears mingled with the one she had shed only moments ago before fading into darkness.