Chapter XXI

Idryssa holds up a hand in front of Shila, "Saw has requested to only see Ahsla at this time."

It was hard enough for Idryssa to convince Benthic to even allow Shila to enter the hideout. She knows Saw will want a private audience with Ahsoka, and having Shila there will only test his patience.

Shila, agreed on the terms that she may see Callan.

Ahsoka waits for Shila and Idryssa to disappear down the tunnel before entering the next room, her cloak still hiding her face. Ahsoka looks around the naturally lit room, the light coming in from the shattered circular shaped window on the other side of the room. A holotable sits in the middle of the floor and shelves or piles of Saw's "battle trophies", which primarily consist of near destroyed varieties of Stormtrooper helmets and droids, litter the walls. A tattered red and black Imperial flag drapes over a chair that sits behind a desk, the desk is covered with maps and plans for future assaults.

Ahsoka steps up to the desk and finds a small holodisc sitting in its center. She places it in the palm of her left hand and activates it. The disc comes to life with an image of a person whose face Ahsoka can never forget, Steela Gerrera, Saw's sister. Ahsoka can still remember the terrified look in Steela's face at the last battle for Onderon. Though Ahsoka knows it wasn't her fault, she still feels responsible for her death. If only that droid gunship hadn't shot her in the back, then she wouldn't have lost her focus on the Force, and Steela wouldn't have fallen of that cliff.

"Is it true then?" A voice says from behind Ahsoka.

Ahsoka turns the disc off and sets it back on the desk.

"Ahsoka Tano lives?"

Ahsoka turns around to face the speaker, and though he is older than when she last saw him, he is undoubtedly the same Saw Gerrera she knew long ago. Ahsoka takes the hood off her monterals to show her face.

Ahsoka smiles, "It's been a while Saw, it's good to see you."

Saw's face is stern, but Ahsoka knows he is hiding his emotions. As she recalls, Saw was never one to smile, when he did, it was typically when he was destroying Separatist battle droids. Ahsoka has a feeling he shares the same expression towards Stormtroopers.

"It's good to see your alive." Saw says, "After the Emperor's purge of the Jedi, I assumed you were killed."

Ahsoka rolls her eyes and says sarcastically, "Well thank you."

Saw walks closer up to her, crosses his arms, and laughs, "Although, considering how you were able to blend in with the Iziz populous, I suppose hiding under Palpatine's nose wasn't too hard for you. What have you been up to these last few years?"

"Perhaps a story for another time old friend, there are more pressing matters to discuss."

Saw walks around Ahsoka and sits in his chair behind the desk. "Your friend was telling me about your situation on Thakwaa. By the sounds of it, you cornered in a pin full of Gundarks!"

"You may not be more right, Saw, I've learned that Grand Admiral Thrawn is in command of Imperial operations on the planet."

Saw sits himself up a bit straighter, "So you've gotten the attention of the Seventh Fleet, huh?" Saw scratches his beard as he thinks, "It would be very difficult to make an effective strike on Thakwaa with the forces I have and Thrawn as the opponent."

"Bail Organa said you could help us, he doesn't have as many numbers as you do."

Saw laughs, "So your in league with Organa, I should've known, how else would you have found me? No matter. He is right, his men are few, and Mothma's rules of engagement produce little results and impression on the enemy."

Mothma? Ahsoka thinks to herself, Who's Mothma? Another cell leader?"

Ahsoka doesn't want to take Saw's focus off the task at hand, so she tries to draw his attention back, "There is a third party I have arranged to help us, he is powerful and I believe he has raised a formidable cell of rebels."

"Another Jedi?"

Ahsoka shakes her head, "No, not quite, but an ally for now."

"Thrawn won't be easy to confront, but with combined forces, we may have a chance to get your rebels off Thakwaa and leave an impression on the Empire. I don't know anything about your ally, but I trust you, and if you feel the same way towards him, then I will follow you. Besides, I owe you for your help on Onderon during the Clone Wars."

Ahsoka smiles, "Then we have a deal? You will help us?"

Saw stands up, "I will ready my ships, we will leave at your command, Commander Tano."

Ahsoka understands Saw's playful reference, but she knows the ones who once called her "Commander Tano" most were the Clones, the ones she trusted and knew fought for the good of the galaxy. However, it was the Clones, who - aside Rex - would have gunned her down in the Jedi purge. Now, the times have changed, her closest ally she is unsure of and he is one she must trust, Titus.

Callan holds Shila's hand from behind the cell bars as he pulls her into him and kisses her. He smiles as he uses his opposite hand to brush back the strand of hair that falls over her face.

"Well you seem to have gotten yourself in a jam." Shila teases.

"Nothing I couldn't handle. It's nice to see you too by the way."

"Got it." Idryssa says into her wrist comlink.

The partisan turns around to face Shila and Callan.

"Saw has talked with Ashla, he has agreed to help you." Idryssa hits the control panel switch to unlock the cell door. "Which means, your free to go."

Callan walks out of cell to hold Shila in his arms as Idryssa hands him his confiscated gear.

Idryssa smiles, "Saw must really trust your friend, he never makes deals with anyone. He fights the Empire his way and without the consultation of anyone else."

"So what now then?" Callan asks.

"We'll assemble our men and ready our ships, we'll leave at Saw's command."

Ahsoka flies her A-Wing up alongside Shila and Callan's freighter. Behind the freighter, Saw's partisans fly six U-Wing's in a wedge formation; Saw, flying at its lead. The small fleet exits Jedha's orbit and into space.

Saw's voice comes through Ahsoka's transmitter, "Ahsoka, we need the hyperspace coordinates."

"Got it, sending them to you now."

Ahsoka transmits the coordinates to Saw's ships as another transmission comes in from Callan.

"Ashla, we're ready to make the jump on your mark."

"Hold the jump until I have contacted Hord's Rebellion, I'll let your command know were making our move on the Thakwaa System."

Ahsoka activates the long range transmitter and scrambles the codes so that an Imperial Listener Ship won't be able to decode the message and track it.

"Titus, this is Ashla, we're ready to make our assault in the Thakwaa System."

Nothing comes through.

"Titus, please respond."

Titus distinctive voice comes through, "This is Titus, message received. I have managed to assemble a couple cruisers with fighter craft. We will hold off the Star Destroyers and allow you to make your attack on the planet's surface. However, we won't be able to hold of those ships for long, you will have to be quick!"

"Understood, we will meet you in the Thakwaa System. Ashla out."

Ahsoka turns off the long range transmitter and opens the transmission channels to the surrounding ships. "All ships, prepare the jump to hyperspace on my mark."

Saw's U-Wings fold their wings back and ready their hyperdrive.

"Make the jump!"

Callan and Shila's freighter is the first to jump into the stars, followed by Ahsoka, then Saw's ships in sequence from left to right. Their destination set for the Thakwaa System in the Tunka Sector.