Chapter XIV
Jedha is a very barren moon, with deserts and mesas expanding as far as the eye can see, making the streets of Ai-jed seem off place. Creatures of all walks of life pass by Callan without any regard to him. Callan left his Stormtrooper armor back with Shila and Ashla on the freighter, now he just wears the under armour with a jacket and scarf he bought from a local salesman.
Although, even if he had kept his armor, he'd just blend in as another trooper monitoring the streets. There are no large patrols like there are on Thakwaa, however, every now and then an Imperial cargo transport will go by on the main streets with a heavy troop escort. What these transports are carrying, Callan doesn't know, but it must be important to the Empire.
Knowing no other way of finding Saw Gerrera, Callan finds himself asking random people if they know who Saw is and most importantly, where he is.
A pack of Duros dressed in mining gear approach Callan.
"Saw Gerrera? Know him? Where he is?"
The Duros just glare at Callan and grumble something to each other before moving on past him. Callan waves them off and continues looking for someone who can tell him anything, he's been here for four hours and hasn't found a single lead.
Callan moves through the crowd and up to a couple humans standing off to the side of the road beside a food vendor. They side eye him as Callan steps up to them.
"Hello, I'm looking for someone named Saw Gerrera, could you-"
One of the men stop him, "Your not from around here are you?"
"Well, no, I'm just trying to find Gerrera. I need his help."
"Alright, if you know what's good for you, stop searching for Saw Gerrera."
"I can't do that, now excuse me."
As Callan moves away he hears the man's friend laugh and call back to him, "Stop searching! Most likely scenario, he'll find you!"
Callan continues down the street, feeling ready to give up on trying to find Ashla's - or Ahsoka's - friend. Suddenly, Callan sees three tall figures covered head to toe in vibrant red robes with a prominent black visor that further hides their faces.
Haven't asked them yet, Callan thinks to himself.
Callan walks up to the strange species and is instantly dwarfed by their height. Each of them carries a long staff that they use as a divider between Callan and them.
"Excuse me, do any of you know a man named Saw Gerrera?"
The three say nothing, they just stand there staring blankly at Callan.
"Saw Gerrera? Any of you know him?"
They continue to say nothing, but now they beat their staffs on the ground and make bizzare gestures with their hands in a very angry motion.
"I'm not looking for trouble. I just need help! Please."
Callan jumps back as they grab their staffs and hold them up to Callan in a defensive manner.
Callan doesn't know what to do when suddenly he feels a hand aggressively grab his arm. He looks to his left to see a woman with dark hair and eyes pulling him away from the red strangers.
"Sorry about him," she says to the three, "he's an offworlder."
She pulls Callans arm and guides him off the street and into an alley. The woman pushes Callan into a wall and stands in front of him with her arms crossed. Callan guesses by her looks, she must be about eighteen.
"Try not to die before finding Saw." She teases.
"Excuse me?"
"Look, if your trying to find Saw Gerrera, your certainly not going to get an answer from the Lorrdian's."
Callan laughs a little, "I take it they don't talk much."
"Try not at all."
"I have a feeling you know where to find Saw Gerrera."
"Perhaps, what's it to you?"
Callan takes the woman's shoulder, which she swats away, so Callan motions for her to follow him further down the alley. They move down and further away from earshot in the street.
Callan looks her in the eyes, not sure if he should reveal too much information.
"I was sent here by a friend of his, we need his help in the Thakwaa System."
"And who's this friend?"
Wow, you and Shila would get along nicely.
"I can't give you her name, but she's a friend from the Clone Wars."
The woman goes quiet, clearly thinking of what to do next.
"Alright," she says, "I'll take you to Saw Gerrera, but don't expect him to be too hospitable."
"Thank you."
The woman turns to walk with Callan back out into the street.
"It's Idryssa by the way, Idryssa Barruck."
She puts her hand out to shake his.
Callan shakes her hand, "Callan, nice to meet you Idryssa."
The sack over the head was understandable, Callan would have likely done the same. The mild concussion from getting wacked in the head with the butt of a blaster rifle, was a little uncalled for. All Callan can remember is a Tognath with two tubes running down his face that wasn't very pleased to see him. Next thing he knew, a Twi'lek threw a sack over his head while a giant white haired Gigoran whacked him in the back of the head. By Callan's guess, he is now in some kind of cave, the atmosphere is cold, damp, and a slight echo can be heard.
"There was no need to execute those troopers on Lasan." Callan hears Idryssa's voice through the sack.
A whispy laugh can be heard followed by a booming voice. "They were Imperial troopers, they were the enemy, we did what we had to."
"They were wounded, unarmed!"
"This is war! We must do whatever we must if we are to win."
Callan, who is tied to a chair, can hear the Tognath gargle in his throat as he purposely shoves past him.
Callan can hear Idryssa's voice again, "Jyn, take the sack of him. No sense in keeping it on."
The sound of small footsteps walk up to Callan. A small hand brushes against his nose before grabbing the sack and pulling it off his head.
Callan blinks a couple times before getting a good look at the girl. She's young, looking to be about eight or nine with dark hair and eyes, a lot like Idryssa. She doesn't show any emotion in front of Callan, the most she does is look him in the eyes. Callan can see in those eyes, the hurt she must have recently endured.
"Jyn, be gone now child!" the new voice orders.
The little girl does as told and runs off. In her place, now stands an older man with dark skin, a black ruffled beard, and a bald head. The Tognath walks behind Callan and stands behind his chair.
Callan, almost unsure whether to talk or not, quietly asks, "Are you Saw Gerrera?"
The Tognath gives one hard slap in the back of Callans still sore head.
"Be nice Benthic." Idryssa says behind Saw, "You too Saw."
Saw scoules at Callan, "Who are you? Why did you come to Jedha?"
Callan gathers his thoughts as Benthic slaps him again.
"My name is Callan, I came here looking for your help."
Saw laughs again, leaving Callan a bit disturbed.
"The galaxy requires our help, but when we do, they call us terrorists. No, we are partisans looking to liberate every sector, every system, of the Empire. You have heard of stories of my leadership, have you?"
Callan anxiously nods, "Yes."
"Then why, have you come to me for help? Why have you come knowing my reputation?"
"My friends in the Thakwaa System need your help. The Empire has made it impossible for us to escape, and we're so little on numbers, we can't fight back."
Saw turns around and takes a few paces away from Callan before facing him again.
"A mercy mission then? You expect me to put our cause on hold, for a megar victory that will not leave our mark on the Empire. No, I will not help, if you wish to help your friends and get off Thakwaa, you will fight to the last man."
Saw walks past Callan to leave.
Callan thinks for a moment before stuttering, "Wait - wait Saw! I was sent here by a friend of yours in the Clone Wars, Ahsoka Tano."
At the mouth of the cave, Saw stops in his tracks upon hearing Ahsoka's name. He turns around as Benthic spins the chair around so Callan can face him.
A faint smile creeps across Saws face, "Ahsoka Tano, so the Jedi lives? I haven't heard that name is years, I assumed she was killed in the rise of the Empire. Without her help during the Clone Wars, my home planet of Onderon would have remained enslaved by the Separatist Alliance." Saw goes quiet for a moment, "Not that any of it matters now with the Empire. But what she did for my world, it is a debt I have never been able to repay."
Saw steps up to Callan and leans close into him, their noses just inches apart.
"Where is Ahsoka? Why did she send you instead of coming herself?"
Callan swallows a lump of air in his throat, "I can't tell you exactly where shes at, I can tell you though that she is on her way. She simply sent me to notify you."
Benthic says something to Saw which Callan cannot understand. Saw nods and Benthic forces Callan off the chair.
"I want to believe Ahsoka Tano is alive, and until she gets here as you claim, you will be our guest."