Chapter XXVIII
Ahsoka walks up to Saw's U-wing with Callan and Shila at her side. The fighters cargo bay door slides open to reveal Saw leaning into the frame, Idryssa sits in the passenger seats, and Cassian, Ondar, and Zallar grin ear-to-ear.
Cassian jumps out of the craft to run up to Callan and hug him tight. Callan nearly falls off balance as he embraces his friend tustles his greasy hair.
"You couldn't have arrived at a better time!" Cassian comments, "If you guys hadn't come then, the Empire surely would have destroyed us."
Shila butts in. "That's just it."
"What do you mean?" Zallar grumbles as he gets off the U-wing.
"I'm saying that was too coincidental to my liking. The Empire makes its move right as we enter the Thakwaa System? No, any hot headed Imperial officer would have ordered the attack not long after we stole the freighter. Thrawn, however, is much more content than that."
"Then you're saying he waited until you returned?" Cassian asks as he lets go of Callan.
"Yes. Thrawn waited until we were all in one place, he knew we would come back with help, the cruisers, Saw's partisans, he had it all planned out. He was going to destroy us all."
"Destroy the Rebellion all at once." Ahsoka adds.
Shila nods.
"Well there's no further need to threat." Titus says walking up behind him.
Ahsoka acts normal around Titus, she doesn't want him to sense her concern of him.
"And why is that?" Ondar asks.
"This planet won't be found on any Imperial map. The Empire gathered its data from Republic and Separatists archives at the end of the Clone Wars. This planet however, was removed from the Republic archives just as Kamino was. The Jedi of the Old Republic had the planets memory wiped after the Jedi Civil War, in an effort to keep the Sith from discovering its inhabitants - unique - connection to the Force."
The group goes quiet for a moment before Shila breaks it, "Ondar, your hurt."
The Rodian glances at his arm thats held in a sling, Idryssa was able to give him some proper medical attention on the ship.
"It's nothing." Ondar says modestly, "The walking carpet shot me by accident."
Zallar growels, that's the fourth time he's been reminded of his clumsy mistake. "Too bad I didn't aim five more inches to the left."
Shila rolls her eyes, "At least we all got out of there almost unscaved."
"Come now." Titus says, "Let us celebrate our little victory inside the Temple."
Titus leads the Rebels off towards the Temple, Ahsoka waits behind. She knows its best she didn't, given her amounted suspicions of Titus, she wants to be with everyone in case the worst comes. However, she wishes to see Saw before she does so. "Your not staying?" she asks him.
Saw laughs wistfully, "Social gatherings are not my idea of a good use of time. There is still work to be done with the Empire. Today may have been a victory-"
"But there is still tomorrow." Ahsoka finishes.
Saw smiles and nods as he steps out of the U-wing and up to Ahsoka.
"Which is why it's time to say our goodbyes, my friend." Saw says, "It would seem to me, that debt I owed to you is settled now. However, I would fight beside you again any day, Commander Tano."
Ahsoka smiles, "As would I, Saw."
Ahsoka and Saw bring a farewell handshake into a hug before Saw turns and walks back into his ship.
"Saw." Ahsoka gets Saw's attention one last time.
Saw glances over his shoulder at the Jedi.
"Steela would have been proud."
Gerrera says nothing, but smiles warmly as the cargo bay doors close and the ship lifts off. Ahsoka watches the U-wing climb the planets atmosphere before disappearing in the setting sun. A part of her is sad to watch her old friend go, however, another part of her feels they will see each other again.
"Ahsoka?"
Chills run up Ahsoka's spine to the sound of Titus's mechanical voice behind her.
"Are you coming inside?...There is much to discuss."