Chapter XXXVI
The birds majestic blue and green feathers are slick from the moisture in the air, Ahsoka has to carefully maneuver along the creatures back to get to it's head. She slips as she gets closer to the neck and starts to slide off it's back. A sense of panic fills Ahsoka as she sees the long drop bellow.
Her panic is suddenly eased as the bird rotates for Ahsoka to be able to climb back on. Ahsoka swings her leg up and hooks it around the bird's wing before doing the same thing with her opposite leg on the opposite wing. With her legs securely straddling the birds wings, she saddles herself along the base of its neck.
"Thank you." Ahsoka says patting the bird.
The bird lets out a long and beautiful trill as it breaks through the mist. Ahsoka can see the mouth of Titus's hangar along the mountainside, and the firefight bellow.
The birds large dilated eyes look back at Ahsoka as she leans in closer to its head.
"Think you can help me a little more?"
The bird cries out again.
"I'll take that as a yes. Take me down over there if you may."
The bird dips down and flies toward the fight bellow.
Shila ducks back behind her cover as another shot from the Imperials slams into the rock.
"Hang on Callan." Shila begs him as he lays at her side, barely alive, "I'll get you out of this."
Shila fires three shots at point blank, taking out one of the five troopers.
For a second, a shadow with large wings casts over her. Shila looks up to see a magnificent bird with vibrant green and blue feathers fly overhead. A figure somersaults off the large birds back and lands in the middle of the Stormtrooper squad, armed with two white blades.
"Ahsoka?" Shila says forgetting all about her since she stayed in the Temple to fight off Titus.
Ahsoka barrel rolls out of the way as a trooper attempts to blast her. Once out of the bolts path, she springs up and slashes her blades through a troopers middle. Another trooper raises his weapon on Ahsoka and opens fire, with one effortless swing of her left blade, she reflects the shot back at him.
The third trooper fires, but Ahsoka is quick to flip backwards and dodge the red blaster bolt. Once she is back on her feet, she swipes her left blade upward to cut the troopers blaster in two before spinning around and jabbing the right blade through the heart.
Ahsoka looks up at the last Stormtrooper and cunningly smiles. It's too late for the trooper to raise his weapon as Ahsoka uses the Force to push the Imperial off the mountain.
"Ahsl- er, Ahsoka!" Shila's frantic voice comes from behind.
Ahsoka turns around and hurries over to Shila to find her kneeling over Callan's body.
"Callan's been hit." Shila explains, "He needs help."
Ahsoka doesn't say it fearing how Shila would react, but Callan already appears gone; she can feel the Living Force slowly slipping from him. His eyes are closed and his face is white, when Ahsoka strokes her fingers across it, she feels his ice cold touch. Callan is however, still breathing - it's weak, but there still may be hope.
Ahsoka focuses on how to get help for Callan, and at the moment, the only option present is to get to the hangar and contact Bail.
Ahsoka doesn't take her eyes off Callan. "We need to get to the hangar, before the Empire sends reinforcements."
"I can carry Callan. The thrusters in my boots will help get us both to the hangar."
"In that case, I'll meet you up there."
Ahsoka nods as she turns around, estimating it will take about four Force leaps to get to the hangar.
"And, Ahsoka?"
Ahsoka looks over her shoulder at Shila as she begins to pick Callan's near lifeless body up.
"Thank you."
Cassian, Ondar, and Zallar found a Maxillipede shuttle used by the Confederacy of Independent Systems back in the Clone Wars. The ship is nowhere near functional for flight, it's obvious the shuttle has seen use, how it got here is a mystery.
One of it's towering fins is broken in half, whatever happened to it's upper half is unknown. The hydraulic legs on it's right side are twisted and bent, leaving the ship tilted on one side. Rust covers much of the ships body, a sign that it's been here for quite some time. There is damage on the door, implying it was once forced open. However, based on where the damage is on the door, it is apparent that the door was opened from the outside.
Though the ship is no longer flyable, it's long range transmitter still seems to be operational. Zallar had to cross and fuse a few wires that took what little power remained in the shuttles emergency power supply, but he is successful in restoring power to the transmitter.
Ahsoka and Shila carefully hoist Callan into the ship's passenger bay. Ondar and Cassian instantly hurry over to assist in resting him down on the slanted floor. Callan moans as Shila lifts his upper body up and lays him in her lap. She strokes her fingers through his blonde hair - which has grown a little since Ahsoka first met him.
"I'll get the transmission sent." Ahsoka says placing one hand on Shila's shoulder, "See what you can all do for him until help arrives."
Shila can only nod.
Ahsoka moves towards Zallar, who is making final adjustments on the long range transmitter. She hears Shila behind her telling Ondar to search the ship for a first aid kit.
Callan's eyes slowly open, but his gaze is distant.
He mutters, "Shila. Did everyone get to the hangar safe?"
Shila nods, "Yes, and you saved me as well."
"I always do." Callan smiles sarcastically.
Callan's right hand moves to the cargo pocket in his pants. He pulls out the holopad encrypted with Ahsoka's transmission code to Prestor One. Callan holds the device up for Shila to take.
"The transmission, send the transmission. Get help." Callan croaks.
"Don't worry, we'll get the message sent."
Shila lightly grasps Callan's hand to rest it and the device on his chest.
"Ahsoka?"
"Is alright," Shila assures, "she's working on the transmission now."
Callan takes a deep breath, "Titus, he betrayed us. He is no better than Palpatine, we were wrong to follow him."
Shila wipes the tear away from Callans eye.
"These are confusing times," Shila says solemnly, "who can we trust in our fight against the Empire?"
Callan takes Shila's hand and gently rubs his thumb along her soft skin.
"Trust in what is right, that there is still good in the galaxy. Trust the day will come of a New Republic." Callan takes another slow, deep breath. "Trust in the return of the Jedi."
Shila gently strokes Callans chin with her fingers.
Callan reaches up and holds Shila's head in his hand.
Callan smiles, "I love you."
"As do I, and I always will."
Shila bends down slightly and locks her lips with Callan in a long and passionate kiss. When their lips separate and Shila raises her head, Callan's eyes slowly close, his hand drops from Shila's face, and he relaxes in Shila's arms as the Living Force leaves his body.
Ondar steps up behind Shila with a first aid kit in hand.
Shila glances up at the Rodian, desperately trying to hold back the tears in her eyes as she shakes her head in sorrow.
"He's gone."