The fighting was intense. Blasters were firing left, right and centre to try and keep the two attackers out of the complex. Yes, only two. They were skilled, and it was too late to call Darth Vainis back from his mission to help them drive out the two, dare he say it, Jedi attacking. Two blue lightsabers deflecting each shot and making their way slowly through the stormtroopers, taking out each one with calculated precision. It was terrifying, but he had a job to do and by the Emperor he was going to do it!
He ducked out of the way as a deflected bolt ws direct right next to his head, the Jedi were getting closer, while the stormtroopers seemed unable to hit anything but the blue swirling blades. It was frustrating, all these men highly trained and not one of them could get a decent shot in edgeways. Shot after shot after shot was renounced by the blades. When finally, they got to close. He dropped his blaster and scrambled back. So many stormtroopers lost in minutes, no Jedi had had ever come across lasted this long.
"You dropped your weapon, good. We're going to go now, and you're not going to raise the alarm." The male human said.
He only nodded, scared but if he could just reach the alarm, if he could convince the Jedi he would not tell the others he could press the button. After a moment he, being a proud officer in the Grand Imperial Army, took a breath and composed himself. At least to try and retain some dignity. He finally responded after several moments, "I...won't raise the alarm."
"Good."
They moved on, not quite dismissing him but not fully remembering he was there either. He could plainly see the power they exuded, not as much as the Force User they currently had in the Detention block of course, but it was there. He suddenly didn't want to press that alrm any more, but he knew he had to, it was his duty to. When he was sure they were a good distance down the hall he scrambled up to his feet and toward the alarm on the wall. In the next moment, he was falling forward as a painful heat blossomed in his chest. He had enough time to glimpse a blue blade protruding from exactly where his heart had been. Then everything went black.
Petro frowned as he pulled his lightsaber from the dead officer. He didn't want to kill him per se, but he couldn't allow the alarm to be activated just yet. He looked to his companion, fellow Knight and best friend Katooni. A simple nod was all that was exchanged as they continued on their way toward the detention block where they could sense two very strong presences being held. It had taken them years to reach this point, and finally they had. They had found Ahsoka Tano, their friend and teacher.
They encountered many troopers on the way to their destination. Each one was cut down with precision. They had no time to mourn the lives they were cutting short, not yet anyway. They could do so after, like with any mission they too course, first the had to find the detention area. At least, a viable route there and a way out.
"This way." Petro announced as they turned a corner. They trusted the force to guide them.
Eventually they found what they were looking for. The detention block. Troopers and officers looked at them as they stepped off the turbolift and into the small area which seemed to act as a small, local command centre for the Imperials. The Knights looked at each other and smiled, drawing their weapons. The blue blades danced everywhere, gliding gracefully through the air as the cut down the Imperials without so much as a second thought.
They just weren't fast enough to stop an idiot from activating the alarms.
Ahsoka heard the unmistakable sound of blaster fire and the cries as men's lives were cut short. Leia, startled from her light sleep, certainly perked up. They listened at the door a few moments, the sounds of battle being drowned out by the blaring alarms. They shared a smile. The togruta looked the youngling and pulled her back as a blue lightsaber was unceremoniously shoved through the cell door. The smile bloomed wide on her face as it cut a perfect oval into the metal before the oval piece was pulled out. A head poked through. Petro.
"Master, I believe your presence is needed." He cockily grinned.
"It's about time." Looking at Leia, she motioned for the fourteen year old to follow as they exited the cell, Ahsoka quickly finding herself in the arms of her friend and apprentice Katooni.
"Believe it or not Master Tano, you're a hard person to track down." The Thelonian laughed.
"It only took you seven years."
"Would have been longer if not for your training. Let's go before more troopers show up." Petro suggested.
"Ahsoka…?" Leia questioned, unsure of the newcomers.
"It's alright Leia. These are my apprentices, Petro and Katooni, you can trust them." She smiled encouragingly.
"This way, we don't have much time."
They made their way down the halls, they same way Petro and Katooine took to come in. Upon exciting the detention are, Ahsoka pulled off the collar around her neck with a quick twist of her wrist and a little help from the force, discarding it carelessly on the floor with disgust. The Empire sure did like to use those things. That was a thought for another time though. She could free the slaves later, when she had her weapons back and could move properly again. She had to admit, she was still sore from that last session.
To Katooni, they couldn't get out of the place fast enough. She felt a darkness their, the lingering presence of Mace Windu, formerly Mace Windu anyway. It gave her the chills almost. He was supposed to have been a respected Jedi who had found a way to stave off the Dark Side for the more violence prone Jedi, yet had fallen himself. It made her sad more though, how he could have fallen so far.
The blue lightsaber swung wildly around, this way and that. Unpredictable, filled with annoyance and rage like it's creator. The man wielding it expertly twirled and tossed it, hacking and slashing at his targets with unrivalled aggression. It would almost have been Sith-like had it not been the best way to relieve himself of such a dangerous emotional burden. It hadn't taken long to set-up the training ground after moving planets, after the last one they had been one was attacked. He insisted it be set up as soon as possible, and almost every day since he had been there, channelling his anger into his fighting skills, releasing the emotion and letting it go as best he could. His daughter had been taken from him, even Obi-Wan knew he had the right to be upset.
But even he knew that his anger wouldn't bring his daughter back from the dead. It would suffice though, until Luke was ready to join the fight against the Empire. They would get their revenge, even if it wasn't the Jedi way, it was only natural for a father to wanted revenge of course. He could sense the spectators that had gathered, like usual, to gawk at his display. He didn't stop though, not until he was almost collapsing with fatigue late in the day. Luckily, he was able to stumble to his small house where his wonderful wife was waiting at her makeshift desk, not amused at all.
"Anakin, you said you'd be home for lunch." She admonished.
"I'm sorry Angel," he replied sincerely as he wrapped his arms around her waist, "I just got carried away is all."
"The seems to be happening a lot these days." She sunk into his embrace gladly.
"How can I make it up to you Padme?"
"Dinner, tonight, just the two of us. Luke can stay with Obi-Wan."
"As you wish M'lady." He joked, nibbling her ear. "I'm going to shower. You can join me-?"
"Anakin we both know we'll never leave if we do. Go, have your shower." The former senator batted Anakin on the arm playfully as he left to have a shower. It wasn't long before Luke was popping his head around the door frame with a grin.
"Mom?" The little blonde boy asked as he walked in to lean on the desk.
"Yes Luke?" She smiled.
"How long do you think dad is going to be upset about Leia?"
Padme sighed. Of course she had expected the question to come somewhat sooner or later considering the way her husband had been at the training ground. So she decided to answer honestly. "I have no idea Luke. As long as it takes for him to comes to terms with it."
"...Have you?"
"...No...I haven't, and I don't think I will for a long, long time..."
It took them several hours to reach the ship, which had been hidden in the forests. Ahsoka had no clue what planet they were on, but stubbornly refused to admit it to her companions. The trees were tall, but it was nothing like Kashyyyk. The ship was old, but something the Togruta recognized with a smile. It brought back many memories of the Clone War and its predecessor. Some she would have rather forget, yes, but others she relished to relive.
The Twilight II stood proud between the trees. It stood out like a sore thumb, a big grey hunk of junk standing in the trees. It was a most welcome sight however. She already felt lighter at its presence here on this planet, with her padawans. It was also a relief to know it hadn't failed them. Glancing at Leia. She saw the young Skywalker's eyes light up in wonder at the ship.
"We hope you don't mind Master Tano, but we made some modifications." Petro informed.
"It's fine, Anakin was modifying it all the time." She laughed.
"I have a bad feeling about this." Leia muttered to herself as they entered the ship, heading straight to the cockpit. The ship was dark, but it didn't take long to get all the systems online and ready to go as Katooni, Petro and Ahsoka all sat down and pressed buttons here and there.
"Enemy reinforcements have just come out of Hyperspace." The brunette stated, when Leia looked up, she noted that there were a lot more ships in orbit. That was certainly not good.
"They'll be sending people to scout the forests soon" The young Skywalker stated.
Ahsoka looked at the girl and smiled, glad she had been taught something of worth and not just the Jedi nerfshit that was always spouted. "The force will guide us. Petro-"
"I swiped some codes off one of those officers...should get us through the blockade."
"Why not take off at lightspeed?" Leia suggested.
"You sound just like your father. Katooni prep the hyperdrive!" Ahsoka laughed, smirking. "This is where the fun begins."
"On it Master." The Thelonian nodded.
"I hope you know what you're doing Master…" Petro pressed a button.
"Don't I always? Wait...no don't answer that…"
Katooni finished prepping the hyperdrive, signaling Ahsoka with just a nod. The atmosphere around the became tense, as if the Force itself was holding its breath, waiting to see if the four managed to survive such a reckless and risky plan. Ahsoka nodded to Petro, who pressed several buttons, making sure the engine was ready. They felt the ship lift several feet into the air.
"Punch it!"
Katooni pushed the lever as Petro brought the nose of the ship up. Everything slowed down a moment before they were engulfed in tunnel of light that was hyperspace. And, miraculously, not dead. Not blasted into oblivion. They were alive. Each of them let out their own sigh of relief.
"Good call Leia...I doubt we'd have gotten passed the blockade any other way…"
"Sir! We've detected energy readings on the planet." The young Officer informed his superior, who was a stick straight man in his early thirties, a passive expression adorning his angular, chiseled features. His brown beard was neatly trimmed down to the hair. Not a single one out of place. Grand Admiral Rylos Quinertius.
"Get a lock on them Ensign. If they try to run the blockade shoot them down." His voice was indicative of his imperial accent.
"Yes sir!" The officer began typing "Target-"
"Target is what Ensign?" He turned sharply to look at the boy, frowning.
"It's...it's powering up it's hyperdrive Sir…" The Ensign swallowed. "Sir I think they're attempting a jump from the surface…"
"Power up the tractor beam! I want that ship now!" The Admiral growled.
"Power readings-...they've gone sir…"
"Inform Lord Vainis…" The Officer sighed. "You will take the blame Ensign. After all, you should have put the tractor beam on them first."
Quinertius smiled darkly as he watched the boy swallow, two stormtroopers taking him the the arms and dragging him away. Vainis was not a fan of excuses, only of swiftness and regard for the rules. As long as the blame was not attributed to him, the Grand Admiral was more than happy to let an insignificant Ensign die for the greater glory of the Empire, of the wrath of an angry Sith Lord. Either way, it was best for himself if his head was kept far from the chopping block. But rest assured, he vowed silently, those Rebels will be his.
3 Hours Later - Twilight II Cargo Hold
Ahsoka watched from the doorway silently as Leia went through the kata's the former padawan had shared, and smiled wistfully. The girl had taken notice of her, which was nice. It reminded her of all those years ago when Petro, Katooni and many other former Jedi had become her students. Not that there was much choice since there were only three people to teach everyone, including the masters who wanted to see about this "new way" that that captured the approval of the Chosen One's former padawan. She coughed to get the girls attention. Leia spun around.
"Ahsoka...hi…" She smiled awkwardly.
"We're approaching we land I'll arrange for a shuttle to take you home to Anakin and Padme." The older of the pair informed. Truth be told, she was sad to see the youngling go.
"What if I don't want to go home?" Leia challenged.
"Then thats your choice. I can't make it for you."
"I don't know...I want to go home...but I want to also learn from you. I've always sucked at doing those kata's and yet I can do them with you. I don't know what to do."
"Meditate on it. You've been meditating on your own for a while now...so meditate, open up to the force and see what path you should take. Follow your heart." Ahsoka smiled. "I left the Jedi Order because that was what was best for me. You need to do that same. Figure out what's best for you."
"Thanks Ahsoka…" Leia smiled back warmly, "You're a really good teacher. I can see why mom speaks so highly of you."
"Get some rest Leia." The togruta avoided the compliment. As much as the praised warmed her heart, she didn't want to dwell much on Padme, determined to to be reminded of their tearful goodbye fourteen years ago after Mustafar. And Padme's 'I would have liked' suggestion. Yet she couldn't help the memory that flooded her mind as she left to go get some rest.
"I'm not sure how long Skyguy is going to want me around Padme…." Ahsoka sighed, looking out the window at the pitch black of space, focussing on the little stars the floated light years away. Padme stood behind her, minus the twins she had been carrying.
"He'll come around Ahsoka." The older woman smiled warmly at her friend.
"I left the order, trained with his enemy, broke Barris out of prison and essentially tried to kill him." She deadpanned.
"Who else is going to train Leia?" Padme chuckled, trying to keep it light, and failing.
"He wants me gone Padme, he thinks that my use of the dark side is dangerous. He's allowed Yoda to twist his views because of his guilt."
The brunette sighed before leaning on the wall next to her friend, rubbing her arm gently in comfort. She knew Yoda had twisted Anakin's views. She knew how her husband had gone to the Jedi Master to help make sense of it all, and came back hating the dark side and determined to 'save' his padawan from it. One way to do that was force her away. Make her choose between the brother-sister relationship they had and her use of the force in a way that helped her, and saved him. Needless to say, Padme only wanted one of her best friends to be happy.
"Anakin will come around. Whether it will be months or years from now I don't know. Have faith Ahsoka. Can you do that for me? Can you keep faith?"
The togruta didn't smile. But she processed the words. She let them fill her. Padme was right, again. Anain would someday see the error of his views. And faith. It was true. She needed to keep faith. Faith in the force. Faith in her teacher. Faith in herself. And she could never, ever give it up. And force be damned if she couldn't keep faith for the woman beside her.
"I will Padme, I'll keep faith. And who knows, force be willing. I may get a chance to train Leia."
She woke up with a start. That was a memory long past. She had kept faith as best she could, and force willing it did bring Leia to her. It brought them together for a reason. Did it want that though? For her to train the young Skywalker? She couldn't think of another reason why it would push them together. It was then she felt a presence, near the doorway. Looking, she saw said Skywalker looking at her awkwardly.
"Petro says we're about to exit Hyperspace." She seemed nervous.
"Something on your mind Leia?" Ahsoka asked with a warm smile.
"Yeah uhm...so I meditated. And...I want to stay. I want to train with you."
The Emperor frowned. There was a disturbance in the force. A bad omen for him. It was hidden though, by a larger presence. With all his power he couldn't pinpoint the cause. It was elusive. He knew it wasn't Skywalker and his damnable associates. No. it was something else. He pressed a button on his desk, bringing up the Holo-figure of Darth Vainis into his office.
"What is your command...My Lord?"
"Lord Vainis. There has been a disturbance. I need you to hunt down the force user responsible and bring them before me. At once."
"It shall be done." The holo faded.
Soon Skywalker, soon either you or your children will be mine!
I hope you Enjoyed this chapter. I do again apologize for the delay in posting chapters for all my stories. I have begun University now so I should be able to work on more chapters now but I am not going to promise anything yet. I will keep working on everything. I am slowly making progress so wish me luck!