Chapter XXXX
Zallar steps out of the cockpit after checking the life support. Though the ships life support was unused, it must have sustained some damage in the crash. Life support has been draining rapidly, when Zallar checked, he found it at only 25% remaining in the reserve.
Cassian and Ondar have been searching through the supplies for water and food, only to come up dry. All they have been able to find is some emergency supplies that have been opened and the water is gone. Every now and then, Ondar would ask Shila if she is alright in an effort to comfort her over Callan. However, Shila insists that all she needs is to be left alone for a little bit. Even though a little bit has been three hours.
Meanwhile, Ahsoka has been sitting in front of the broken door in a deep meditation. Cassian is amazed how she can find a sense of serenity amidst their current dire situation.
Zallar steps up to Ahsoka from behind, staring down at her from his towering height.
"Hopefully that help of yours will get here soon." he grumbles, "Life supports running low and it'll run out quick with everyone in here."
Ahsoka keeps her eyes closed and doesn't turn her head to face the Thakwaash.
"They will come." she calmly assures. "I am sure of it."
(2 hours later)
"Life support now at 3.5%." Cassian says.
It is easy to tell the life support is running out. The air has gone thin and stagnant, without the cooling ducts helping to keep the ship at a stable temperature, the combined body heat of the Rebels has left the ship intolerably warm. Sweat drips down all of their faces, and Zallar looks like a walking wet mop. Ahsoka pays little attention to the uncomfortable circumstances, she simply focuses on the coming rescue.
"I'm starting to think we're gonna die in here." Ondar says, "It's been five hours and Ahsoka's help hasn't-"
Ondar is cut off suddenly by a violent jolt in the ground followed by constant rumbling.
"Thrawn going to hit us again just for a thrill?"
"I don't believe so." Ahsoka says opening her eyes, "Thrawn wouldn't waste the time or the effort. I don't think this is another bombardment."
A loud cracking comes from behind the door and beams of light start to creep into the ship. Ahsoka jumps to her feet and backs away from the door with her hands on her lightsabers, ready to find Stormtroopers come rushing in.
The rumbling stops, and moments later the shadows of several feet appear beneath the door.
Ahsoka gets ready for the troopers to break the door down.
With a creak, the door lifts up to let in the bright white light from outside and the gush of fresh air come rushing in. Ahsoka goes blind for a second, only a second. She can see the silhouettes of people on the other side, but to her relief, she can tell they are not Imperial troops.
The silhouette of a woman steps inside, and Ahsoka's eyes adjust to the natural light. Ahsoka can make out the woman's dark skin tone and black hair braided back into cornrows. A smile spreads across her face, and the woman's.
"Kaeden!" Ahsoka says enthusiastically.
Her friend from Raada embrasises Ahsoka to hug her tight.
"It's good to see you old friend." Kaeden says soothingly.
Ahsoka pulls back and laughs, "I think it's fair to say for all of us, that it's good to see you too."
Kaeden nods, "We'll have to talk more on the ship, we need to get out of here before the Empire sees through our rouse."
"The Empire is still here?" Cassian asks from behind Ahsoka.
"Unfortunately yes. Grand Moff Tarkin's fleet is orbiting the planet as we speak. We were able to get past using the Seventh Fleet's clearance codes you provided Prestor One." Kaeden nods towards Ahsoka. "We told some low grade Imp com officer that we were sent here by Thrawn as a salvage team to excavate materials from the planet, and if we were denied clearance then he can take it up with the Grand Admiral himself."
"But it won't be long before that com officer tells Tarkin, and Tarkin will see through the lie." Ahsoka adds.
"Exactly, which is why we need to get out of here."
The group leaves the ship, except for Shila, who still crouches by Callan's body. Tears fall from Shila's cheeks and land onto the jacket covering Callan's face. Ondar steps behind Shila, places a green hand on her shoulder, and kneels beside her.
"Shila," he says, "we have to leave."
She wipes the tears from her eyes before walking away from Callan's body under Ondar's arm.
Cassian steps forward with a flare and fire starter in hand, "The most we can do is properly send Callan off, and keep his body out of the Empire's hands."
Cassian opens up the flares canister of lighter fluid and spreads it over Callan's corpse before holding up the fire starter. Upon seeing the small tool, Shila buries her face into Ondar's shoulder - Ondar holds her tight.
Ahsoka bows her head, remembering the cremation of Master Piell in their escape from the Citadel, and though she never knew him, she can remember her Master telling her about Qui-Gon Jinn's funeral on Naboo after being killed by Darth Maul.
"Goodbye, my friend." Cassian says as he ignites the fire starter and tosses it onto Callan's body.
The orange and red flames erupt as they spread across the body. The fire crackles and the smoke starts to rise and fill the empty ship.
"I'm sorry to be the one to say this, but we need to leave." Keaden insists.
"She's right." Ahsoka says, "It's a wonder the Empire hasn't already sent a landing party."
Shila looks one more time at Callan, before nodding, "Alright."
The group walks out of the ship door to be greeted by Rebel soldiers, the group seems to march in a parade towards the idle Tantive IV hovering at the mouth of the hangar. Shila under Ondar's arm at the front, followed by Zallar and Cassian, Ahsoka and Kaeden behind them, and two columns of Rebel soldiers in the rear.
Ahsoka walks onto Tantive IV's bridge with Keaden, she looks out the viewport to see the fleet of Tarkin's Star Destroyers in Panatha's orbit.
"How were you able to get Bail's ship past those Star Destroyers?" Ahsoka asks.
Keaden smiles, "We were able to mask Tantive IV's signature."
"Executrix to Almoran, report." a transmission from Tarkin's flagship comes through.
Keaden nods towards the pilot crew, "Go ahead, receive them."
"Almoran to Executrix, received. How may we be of service?"
"Your ship is subject for inspection under the order of Grand Moff Tarkin, move into the Executrix docking bay and prepare to receive a boarding party."
The man on the com's looks back at Keaden, who smiles with Ahsoka as she crosses her arms.
"Well, give him our reply." Keaden laughs.
The crewmember grins as asks the copilot if the hyperspace coordinates have been plugged in, to which they are.
He turns back to the com, hits the transmit switch and replies, "Executrix, there's been a little change in plan. I'm afraid we're just going to have to speak with Moff Tarkin another time."
"Punch it!" Keaden orders.
The hyperdrive kicks in as the stars pull back into bright lines and they make the jump into the blue collage of hyperspace before the Executrix could even activate their tractorbeam. In doing so, a feeling of relief wafts over her; relief that Darth Titus's reign of terror is over. Still, something Titus said still troubles her.
What if I told you there is another who assumes himself to be my new Master?
If what Titus said was true, Ahsoka thinks to herself, then who? It will have to be something for her to think about later.
Ahsoka smiles, "You must be pretty skilled in frequency masking, Keaden, to have been able to disguise Tantive IV's signature."
"Well, I had a little help." Keaden laughs.
The bridge door slides open, and Ahsoka is pleased to see the familiar blue and silver astromech of her old friend, R2-D2.
"Artooie, I should have known. I figured it would be you who recieved my distress signal."
The droid fidgets anxiously in place before rolling up to Ahsoka.
"If R2 hadn't been on Tantive IV when you sent out that distress signal." Keaden says, "I'm afraid you would have all been-"
"Dead." Ahsoka finishes before rubbing R2's dome head, "I guess I owe you, buddy."
R2 beeps and clicks at Ahsoka.
Ahsoka smiles, "Yes, I still owe you for saving Lux and I from Deathwatch back on Mandalore. Thanks for reminding me."
R2 laughs in a trill.
"I promise I'll give you a thurow cleaning and oil bath, when we get back to Alderaan."
Keaden takes a seat behind the pilot, watching out the viewport at the vast tunnel of hyperspace. "That may have to wait." she says, "Bail is eager to hear from you and what you've learned of these Rebels as soon as we get to Alderaan."
Keaden spins around in her chair enough for her to look completely over her shoulder, "There's someone else who is also anxious to hear from you. Spectre-2 has been trying to reach out to you for awhile now, apparently with some important info."
Keaden reroutes the transmission receiver to the Tantive IV's conference room.
"She awaits your response." Keaden gestures to the transmitter.
Ahsoka nods before walking past R2 and off the bridge, and towards the conference room for a private meeting with Phoenix.
Ahsoka dims the conference room lights, and walks around the sleek long table with a rotating hologram of Phoenix's callsign. Ahsoka rests the hood of her cloak over her montrals, activates the tables voice dilator, and opens the transmission channel.
The same image of the green Twi'lek she'd seen in Jarvana's hotel on Thakwaa, replaces the Phoenix. The Twi'lek crosses her arms and stands up straight, her face solemn - something troubles her.
"Fulcrum," she says, "good to see you're alright. You've gone silent for a while."
Ahsoka speaks through the dilator, "I've been following a lead, and didn't have the ability to contact you." Ahsoka is reluctant to reveal anything concerning the newly found Rebels and Darth Titus to Spectre-2 - at least for now. "I have however recovered a bit of intelligence that may be useful to you, and will send it to you in short time." She remembers the Imperial officer's code cylinder that Callan had given back to her after leaving Jedha.
"That's great to hear, we definitely could use the intel. You were right about the supply reservoir, we instead waited for the Imperial's to come out to deliver a shipment of blasters when we made our move. We sold the blasters to Vizago for some credits, and more importantly, information on the Empire's abduction of the Wookies. With the info provided, we were able to liberate the Wookies on Kessel."
Spectre-2 goes quiet, her mind elsewhere.
"Something wrong?"
"The mission was a success, but at a cost. In our escape from Kessel, Spectre-1 had to take more drastic measures. I'm afraid the Empire knows Spectre-1's, secret."
Ahsoka thinks for a moment, "This isn't unexpected, Specter-2. Sooner or later the Empire was going to find out. Now that the Empire is aware of Spectre-1, they're going to pay much more attention to your movements. For now, there is no sense in going into hiding, they're just going to keep searching until they find you and Spectre-1. Besides, the people in your sector need Phoenix's help, resume your work, but don't let your guard down with the Empire."
Spectre-2 nods, "Never have, never will. There is one more thing however, we have added another member to the crew, Spectre-6."
"Interesting, any reason?"
"Spectre-1 has discovered he has, unique abilities like himself. He has also taken on the challenge to mentor him."
Ahsoka bows her head, "In that case, he must train him in the utmost secrecy. Aside from the Phoenix crew, no one, especially the Empire must not know of his ability."
"Noted. We look forward to hearing from you again, Fulcrum. Spectre-2 out."
The room goes dark once the hologram fades away, but the room is lit up again when the conference room door opens and the overhead lights turn on. Standing in the doorway are the Thakwaa Rebels. Ahsoka removes her hood as she walks around the table to greet them.
Shila steps around Zallar to stand before Ahsoka, with a stern look on her face.
"I knew you were a spy from the beginning." she says harshly, but immediately relaxes, "But at least you are a spy for the right side."
"We are all very much like yourself." Cassian adds, "We are all trying to do our part in fighting the Empire."
Ahsoka nods, "Now that Darth Titus is gone, what are you going to do now?"
They all look at each other for a brief second.
"Actually," Ondar states, "we were all hoping we could join your Rebellion. There are still numerous syndicates of Titus's Army spread out across the galaxy, and we'd like to help find them. After all, we are in need of a new leadership, a new Rebellion."
Zallar places a hairy hand on Shila's shoulder, "For Callan."
Cassian places his hand on Shila's shoulder too, "For Callan."
Ondar joins, "For Callan."
Shila glances at her friends before looking back at Ahsoka.
She smiles, "For Callan."
Ahsoka rests her right hand on Shila's left shoulder.
"Then welcome to the Rebellion."