Chapter 16
"C'mon move it, move it!" Nix shouted. As the group began to shore up defenses against another Imperial attack, Kanian had Nix train the agents and operatives how to handle the blasters. Thanks to the efforts of Talon, Vishkar, and some UN persuasion, they were able to get the necessary needs of armor, weaponry, and ammunition to help stave off an attack from the Empire.
"Bah, I've seen men take on battalions of battle droids than you sorry sacks of failure!" Nix shouted in disgust. The agents and operatives glared in the clone's direction. Kanian walked over and laughed lightly.
"Get some rest, we'll continue once you're well rested." Kanian said making them sigh in relief as they retreated to their barracks.
"You don't need to be so harsh with them Nix, they are not clones." He said placing a hand on his shoulder.
"That's true, guess they need more discipline then us clones. Guess I forgot to see that." Nix said in defeat.
"C'mon, you need some rest." Kanian said leading the clone towards their barracks. As they walked, they looked around to see all the troops in Phase 1 clone armor.
"Brings back memories, doesn't it?" Kanian said. "One last glorious day in the Grand Army of the Republic." Nix said with a laugh.
"Reminds me of my own training back on Kamino. The older, more battle hardened clones called us newbies 'Shinies'." He laughed lightly. Lena blinked in front of the two men with a worried face.
"What is it Lena?" Kanian asked. "Winston said the Star Destroyer is being under attack but what appears to be a very bulky ship." She said holding up a data pad to show footage of a smaller ship attacking the AA guns on the ship.
"I'll take a squad with me and leave immediately." Kanian said. He looked at Nix and nodded. The two took off back to base to see R7 and a group of engineers working on the Twilight.
"R7, get the Twilight ready!" Kanian ordered. "Lightning Squad, report to the hangar!" Nix said in the comms. Kanian dashed into the ship as he began to start up sequence. A group of troopers ran into the hangar as they boarded the ship. Nix sat across from Kanian as the ship began to hover and fly out of the hangar.
"Heh, you ready for this Hal?" A trooper asked. "Ready." Hal replied as he held his blaster. Kanian let Nix take over as he walked out into the little hangar and looked at the assembled group. 5 men in total filled up Lightning Squad, the ones personally trained by Clone Captain Nix.
"I know you're scared, but trust in yourselves and your teammates and we will prevail." Kanian said.
"Yeah, I want to live instead of being shot by one of those bucket heads." A Talon operative said. "You said it." An agent replied. Kanian nodded until the ship rumbled.
"Kid, need you on the gunner!" Nix said through the comms. Kanian ran back into the cockpit to see the sky filled with TIE and Advanced TIE fighters blasting the Twilight and the other ship.
"R7, see if you can hack into that ship's comms. We need to see who we are dealing with." Kanian ordered. The astromech beeped as he rolled to the console and twirled the panel until static could be heard.
"Ezra! Bah, stay in formation!" "But, the reactor is this way!" "I know that! But this is Vader we are dealing with, not some regular Star Destroyer! Zeb, on your left!" Voices continued as the Twilight docked onto an escape latch, allowing the occupants off.
"Form up! Fire!" Nix shouted as they dived into cover and began to fire at the Stormtroopers. Kanian jumped in front as he ignited his twin sabers and blocked laser fire. As the battle in the hanger continued on, Kanian noticed the door open and saw a Mandalorian run out with a purple, hairless looking-Wookie, a small teenage boy, and older man with a faint brown stubble, and a older astromech. The boy was the first to notice Kanian and his troops.
"Kanan, over there! It's another Jedi!" He shouted as he deflected laser bolts and firing from his makeshift lightsaber/blaster. Kanan looked at Kanian and grinned as they dashed forward and hid next to them.
"Whoa, more clone troopers!" The boy said with a smile. "Oh great, like an older clone wasn't painful enough." Kanan said.
"Less talkin' and more blastin!" Nix yelled. "Zeb, lay down cover fire for Fulcrum and Rex." The boy said.
"I don't take orders from you Ezra!" Zeb shouted. "Just do it!" Kanan shouted. Zeb growled as he fired at the Stormtroopers. Kanian, Ezra, and Kanan stood as they deflected laser bolts. Kanian's troopers fired as they took down more stormtroopers left and right. Towards the same exit the Rebels took, a Togruta female with twin white lightsabers and a soldier in worn out Phase II clone armor stumbled out as the female blocked fire from the stormtroopers.
"Ahsoka, Rex, over here!" Ezra shouted. "Go Rex, I'll deal with our friend." Ahsoka said. Rex nodded as he sprinted towards the entourage. Kanian jumped behind cover as Rex landed next to Nix.
"Captain?" Nix said. "Focus on the battle Nix, formalities can come later." Rex replied. Nix laughed lightly.
"FOR THE REPUBLIC!" Nix yelled as he fired at more troopers converging on their position.
"Glad to meet the famous Captain Rex of the 501st." Kanian said. "Much more of a pain." Kanan grumbled.
"I've heard about you, you were Master Lenix's Padawan weren't you?" Kanan asked. "Yes, and you're Caleb Dumess?" Kanian asked.
"Yeah, but I go but 'Kanan Jarrus' now." He replied. Kanian looked up to see Fulcrum blocking a crimson lightsaber. Kanian vaulted over the stacked boxes as he blocked fire from the stormtroopers. She turned to see Kanian running to her.
"Kanian." She whispered as he jumped and kicked the Sith Lord from her. "Ah, two Padawans. This will be a challenge. The pupils of Anakin Skywalker and Jedi Master Lenix." Vader said. Kanian dashed forward as he blocked the slash from Vader's saber. He spun and kicked Vader's control panel on his suits chestplate. The Sith Lord backed up before growling.
"You have been a thorn in my side long enough Kanian Stark. You shall die here and now!" He shouted as he ignored Ahsoka and engaged the Jedi Padawan. Kanian blocked another jab as he sliced a chink out of Vader's shoulder.
"Anakin, it's not too late to stop this crusade. Palpatine is the real villian here, not the Jedi!" Kanian shouted making Ahsoka stop in her tracks.
'So, it is Master Skywalker.' Ahsoka thought. She watched on as the two people she knew fought each other.
"How far have you fallen Skyguy?" Ahsoka said lightly. Vader continued until he had Kanian backed into a corner, his blue saber was knocked out of his hand.
"Anakin, stop this!" Kanian pleaded as he deflected another thrust form him. "Anakin is dead, all that is left is Vader!" Vader roared as he slammed his red blade on Kanian's green blade until it was smacked out of his hand.
"Kanian!" Ahsoka yelled as she ran and kicked her former master, making the Sith Lord stumble. Vader turned to glared at his former apprentice with malice.
"You may try, but you can never defeat me. The Dark Side is strong in me." Vader said as the two Padawans encircled him.
"We'll try another time. We are leaving!" Kanian said using the Force to push Vader back and grab his lightsaber as they returned to the entourage, the stormtroopers began to double their efforts.
"We need to move, now!" Nix shouted. "Go, go, go, go, go!" Rex ordered the men and Rebels. The group ran towards the escape hatch that held the waiting Twilight. As they entered, the ship undocked and flew away from the battle as the bulky ship followed close behind.
"The TIE fighters are retreating to help repair the Star Destoryer. We've bought ourselves some time, but it may not be enough." A female spoke through the comms.
"Understood Hera, just stay on our thrusters." Kanan said. As the two ships began their return to Swiss HQ, Kanian looked at Ahsoka and smiled.
"Glad to see you're still kicking 'Snips'." He said. "Don't call me that!" Ahsoka retorted before softening into a smile and hugging him.
"I've missed you." She said as he returned the hug. "You two know each other?" Ezra asked.
"Yeah, we've both fought with Master Skywalker and Master Lenix. Anakin was a close friend that I cherished." Kanian said. Ahsoka sighed and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"I miss him too." She said. Nix stepped into the cockpit from the hangar and removed his helmet as he looked at Rex.
"Glad to see you're still kicking 'old man'." He teased. "Oh shut your trap." Rex replied with a smile as he removed his helmet.
"Are their anymore of our brothers like us?" Nix asked. "Wolfee and Gregor, Fives but he died." Rex replied with a frown. Nix placed a hand on his shoulder and nodded.
"Well, once you get rested and oil back up into the clone Captain I remember, you're gonna need to train some Shinies." He said. Lightning Squad walked in as they placed their weapons on the wall and removed their helmets and stood at attention for the two Captains.
"You're all soldiers in this war, lets be damn well sure you are the greatest." Rex said. Lightning Squad nodded before R7 rolled past them and beeped towards Ahsoka.
"R7? Is that you? Hello there old friend. Still keeping Kanian out of trouble?" She asked rubbing his head. R7 beeped as Kanian translated for her.
"So, you're married?" She asked. "Yes, her name is Hana Song." Kanian replied as the two ships landed. The group exited as the Rebels became situated with Hera's orders and conversing with the agents and operatives. Kanian, Kanan, Ahsoka, Rex, and Nix walked to the command center as Jack, Ana, Hana, and Angela were drawing up battle plans. Hana happened to glance up to see Kanian and took off into a full sprint, landing into his arms.
"I'm not dead Hana love." Kanian said with a light chuckle. "I'm just glad you're alright." She said wiping a tear that escaped her eye. Ahsoka looked at the two and smiled as she folded her arms. Hana looked at Ahsoka and raised an eyebrow.
"Who're you?" She asked. "I'm Ahsoka Tano, I'm Kanian friend. I fought with him during the Clone Wars and his master. We are close you could say, almost family." She replied.
"More like an annoying older sister." Kanian grumbled. Ahsoka grabbed him in a headlock.
"What'd you say you twerp?" She demanded causing Kanian to laugh. "You brat!" Kanian replied as he reversed her headlock and held her in his own. The group watched the two laughed and play fight as Nix and Rex walked over to Jack and Ana as they began to string up battle plans. Kanan walked over to Angela and talked with her as he began to learn about their world. A knock was heard that caused the group to turn and notice Reaper, Widowmaker, and Sombra.
"Hola!" Sombra said with a smile. Widowmaker grumbled as she walked in and took a seat as Reaper walked over to Jack and Ana.
"Jack, Ana." Reaper said with a slight nod. "Gabriel." Jack said. "I just came to inform you that Talon will help with defense against the Empire. But know that they require something else in turn." He explained.
"And what would that be?" Jack asked. "To, clear them of their crimes in hoping of revitalizing their resources to helping the world." Reaper said. Ana raised an eyebrow at this request.
"So, the leaders of Talon have had a change of heart all of a sudden?" Jack asked. Reaper nodded until Genji and Hanzo walked in.
"The Shimada Clan has also decided to join the effort to fight off this Empire. With some persuasion of course." Hanzo said grinning lightly at Genji. The younger Shimada nodded.
"So, the world can unify, when a bigger threat threatens the very existence of our world, enemies will become friends." Kanian said.
"Perhaps peace will come." Hana said. "Perhaps Hana, perhaps." Kanian replied as he wrapped an arm around her.
A/N: So we now have Rebels \^*^/, I hope you enjoyed this chapter, I know I did. Thank you for reading and I'll see you in the next one. May the Force be with you.
~CommanderKnight145