Chapter 42

The Honorable Ones

REBEL FLEET

Phoenix Home

It had been a strange past few weeks from the moment the rebels left to the final and most tedious business of reporting back to Commander Sato, aboard the new carrier and flagship the Phoenix Home. The rebels were gathered inside the bridge as the squadron had made themselves at home to the vessel. Commander Sato was processing it all, "This was quite the adventure you all have had."

"Does that mean we're getting another vacation?" Ezra asked, sitting on one of the consoles, Kanan slapped him on the back of his head.

Stao rolled his eyes, "The situation here has changed, for the past three weeks the Militia in the Lothal Sector have grown boulder, more violent."

"We noticed that our host, his Lordship Asimov, was very nice." Sabine said, patting her once skewered thigh.

"The information you did deliver us has helped us more than the Militia would think, we know the Militia have agents as far reaching as the core to the outer rim, we know they have the capabilities to build their own war ships and are using both sentient and artificial soldiers, as such we will be more prepared for the next engagement." Commander Sato told them.

Hera frowned at the Commander hearing that "Respectfully Commander. We may want to reconsider that, Lord Asimov gave us a warning the next time the Militia and the rebels meet it'll be seen as an act of war, and… as painful as it is for me to say it, we can't beat them."

"What?" Zeb asked.

"Hera, we got caught off guard sure but-" "No, we were beaten, the Militia they shot the Ghost down, kidnapped you three-" Ezra held his hand up "I know, I know you all escaped but that doesn't mean we'll get that lucky again." Hera said to them she patted Chopper on the head and the droid rolled up plugging into the ships holonet.

Chopper started to montage through the recordings of their fight with the Militia on their secret outpost Liefhold, she stepped back pacing around it "Just… just look at them, look at their training, look at their tenacity, I'm not looking at Separatist droids programed to fight or stormtroopers shooting blindly these… these people believe in what they're fighting for."

"Turok did say that there were those in the Militia he described as… Zealots."

Hera turned to Sato after Hera spoke leaning on the holotable, "Commander, we should make it a point to avoid the Militia, even Lothal if we can help it."

"But Hera we-" "Ezra, I know it's your home but we need to be practical until we can find a place for the fleet to rest and recover, we can't risk running into the Militia again knowing they'll want to try and take you and Ahkilleon for their own Jedi." Hera said, looking over at Ahkilleon and Ahsoka. Ahkilleon had removed his gladiator attire and was back to wearing his beige pants, matching blue vest and boots, he was looking at the floor not paying attention.

"Ahkilleon." Ahsoka said, snapping him back to the present.

Ahkilleons head shot up "Huh- wha?"

"Are we boring you Mr. Tano?" Commander Sato asked.

Standing up straight Ahkilleon said "No, I was just… thinking about Nar Shaddaa, the Empire couldn't have been too happy we humiliated them like that?"

"As a matter of fact, they are just fine." Commander Sato nodded to a nearby officer at a terminal who brought up the halo channel.

There is a hologram of an imperial propaganda channel with an image of Admiral Greelanx, with big red letters reading "Disavowed?" Sabine asked as a news story followed "Admiral Greelanx went rogue and attacked Nar Shaddaa without orders from the Emperor, the Moff Council or the Imperial Senate there's no way that happened he had a whole fleet?" Sabine pointed out.

Rex scratched his beard "The Empire's covering their tracks, this isn't the first time they covered something up, they did the same thing with the destruction of Kamino."

"Admiral Rampart, a man of many secrets, I remember." Commander Sato said, Sato turned to his holo officer again "Which reminds me, our rebel intelligence has brought us a troublesome discovery, the Empire was building something over Geonosis, a large construction field that scavengers have found." Sato pressed a button changing the image of the Militia to the orange desert world of Geonosis.

Ezra frowned seeing that planet, "That dirt ball, what would the Empire be doing there?"

"Geonosis may not look like much Ezra, but it was the foundation block for the droid army, the planet's desert hides the planet's ore which the Geonosians used to build the droid army in secret, I lost a lot of brothers in that sand."

Ahsoka nodded "And many jedi at the start of the Clone Wars."

"Commander Syndulla, I want you to go to Geonosis and investigate what happened there." Commander Sato ordered.

Hera nodded "We'll check it out." Hera said, looking over at her crew, "Come on." she said walking to the bridge exit, Zeb, Chopper and Kanan followed her, Sabine and Ezra gave him mournful looks and said he wasn't coming with them.

"Promise to bring you back a souvenir bro." Ezra said before he waved goodbye to mother and son, walking through the bridge doors the whooshing sound of the door signaling they were off.

Later, at one of the portholes, Ahkilleon heard the rumble of the Ghosts engines then watched it depart into hyperspace to Geonosis and then silence, behind him Ahsoka put her hand on her son's shoulder in a light pat "Come."

He followed her arms at his side while she walked hands behind her back, "Why couldn't I go on the mission with them, is it because I landed on the star destroyer?"

"No, it's because your experience in Hutt space was different then Ezra and Sabines, you faced more danger then them and when a Jedi goes through a trial like that. A retreat is often necessary." She explained.

Ahkilleon shrugged "Retreat, but I'm fine and besides Mom aren't Jedi suppose to overcome adversity?"

"Yes, but it's important to reflect and recover from scars we don't see." Ahsoka said rounding a corner. They came to the crew quarters and walked down the hallway passing by some of the crew Ahkilleon felt a few eyes on him, and heard some whispers.

"Mom?" He asked.

Ahsoka was silent "They heard what you did on Nar Shaddaa, your little stunt in the arena went viral on the holonet."

"Really and the battle?" Ahkilleon's lip curled up into a smirk, "The story is you boarded the Imperail Destiny and tried to kill Greelanx, only to go down with the ship in the process." Ahkilleon stopped and she looked back "Congrats you're dead Ahkilleon."

The boy sulked out "Greaaaaat."

"It is now, the Empire won't be looking for you as hard." Ahsoka pointed out with a smile, he looked up at her with a side eye, "Ahkilleon, what have I told you about the rebellion lasting this long?"

Ahkilleon grumbled behind a closed mouth "Ahkilleon?"

"The rebellion is united by its disunity, if one cell or squadron falls the others are still safe." Ahkilleon replied.

"Exactly, the other cells know what you did, that should be enough." Ahsoka said wisely, but her son and student's expressions showed he didn't disagree. He continued to follow her till they came to two quarters next to one another, "Our new quarters?" Ahsoka said, opening the doors.

He looked shocked. "But what about my bunk on the Ghost?"

"You'll still have it, I just thought… you could have your own room, next to mine, you know like the last ship?" Ahsoka asked him cocking her head, he forced a weak smile and looked at the floor "Oh." Ahsoka opened the door to it and they walked in, it was a standard bunk for an imperial officer, a single bunk, desk and so on.

Ahsoka entered first and she sat down gesturing for him to sit, and he did so, "After you were taken aboard Asimov's ship, Sabine tried to escape and was injured, yes?"

"Yeah, she uh ran into this security officer with a sword, he cut her leg pretty bad, we thought she'd bleed out but the Militia treated her wound pretty good." Ahkilleon said resting his arms on his knees as he sat crossed, gripping his trousers tight.

His mothers eyes narrowed. "Were you worried for her?"

The boys head snapped up"Of course I was, I was for all of us but… no, no I had my training, your training got us through it." he said regaining his composure.

"Then why the emotion?" She asked.

He tucked in his lip, "I just… wasn't use to seeing so much blood from a friend, we use energy weapons. But I got use to it." Ahkilleon said.

"What do you mean?" Ahsoka asked him, he fell silent looking at the floor, reaching around his unclipped his lightsaber and held it firmly in his hands, looking it over methodically as if he were trying to keep his mind off it. "After we were separated, and I was thrown into the Ludus, I saw blood every day, most of it my own hehe." he smirked at his mom but Ahsoka's face was stone.

He removed it, "Tell me about the raider?" Ahsoka asked.

"I didn't-" "I saw you kill him in the arena son, you knew him, how?" Ahsoka asked.

"He was, he wasn't kind but he was there… I could talk to him you know, we trained together, showed me some gladiator moves that helped me beat him I guess I… I just don't get why he had to die, why the force made me kill him." Ahkilleon squeezed the lightsaber tight.

Ahsoka looked at the lightsaber her sons hands shaking, she reached forward and pressed her fingers on it "That wasn't the force Ahkilleon, I know the jedi teachings tell us the force controls all things, that it has a will of it's own. But it was Grakkus and Greelanx and Xizor who put you all in there, Greelanx was responsible for all the death at Nar Shaddaa, and he paid that price. And so will Xizor and Grakkus, one day." Ahsoka said.

"But it could be sooner, we could do more mom?" Ahkilleon suggested.

Ahsoka folded her arms against her chest, "How?" she asked.

"I don't know but we could, the Hutts and the Black Sun control so much, we could fight them, like dad di?" He asked.

"Than we've made more enemies, not just for us but other rebels too, then the Hutts and the Black Sun are are allies to the Empire?" Ahsoka pointed out.

He scoffed "They already are, how don't we know the Hutts and the Empire haven't made up already?" he asked her.

"As I said, it's not that simple, actions have reactions, yes your father fought the Shadow Collective, but that only made the Syndicates become more aggressive, build their own private mercenary armies afterwards, the same they use to control systems."

He looked her in the eye and held his hands up in protest "But the Jedi during the High Republic and even the old Republic didn't have to hide, you led armies into battle at my age?"

"That was a different time, these are-" "Dark times, I know, everyone keeps telling me how dark the galaxy is, how dangerous, why can't we be the light it needs?" he snapped loud enough to make any of the people around them stop listen in from outer walls.

The two stared each other for a long time, "Fine." Ahsoka said standing up "Meet me in the hangar in thirty minutes, and we'll see how strong your light is."

LOTHAL

Capital City, Militia Underground

Back on Lothal, the Empire had continued it's rule of the planet pillaging resources and shipping it off world, stormtroopers patrolled the streets and escorted civilian workers to and from their factories making random stops and pat downs without any reason other then they could. But beneath all of the concrete and steel of the city in the old Republic sewers the Militia had continued their work. Their Underground base beneath the city had grown and was up and running. Warlord and Cheif Reik Bloodwolf was sitting at a holotable with Colin and Keiza behind him, Captain Naqia and Commander Fairfax were on his left, Tai Uzuma was on the right with Commander Dray overseeing the briefing. "With the Hutt Sector fleet destroyed and Admiral Greelanx's demise, and apparent rogue activities the Militia is standing down. Much to the other Warlords disapproval."

"Why not attack now if you have the forces, as you say?" Keiza asked skeptically.

Commander Dray smiled, "The Empire will redirect their resources, move fleets, manpower and so on. With so many parts moving we'll need to wait and see who they appoint for the next Governor of Hutt Space, but we believe Moff Tarkkin will simply absorb the territory." Dray said.

"That's not an answer, Outlander." Keiza growled, Dray eyed her in annoyance "This won't be some border skirmish Keiza, the offensive will shake the galaxy to its core, literally when it comes it'll be hard and fast, so fast the Empire can't have time to recover so we must do it right, and at the right opportunity." Dray explained.

Captain Naqia cleared her throat, "Something to say Captain?"

"Yes." the zygerrian woman replied, "Keiza, the Militia do have reason for holding back. Despite the Empire's lack of response here other than atrocities there are very dangerous people in the Empire, like the Seventh Fleet or Tarkkin who are the reason the Empire was able to take over more than half the Galaxy in just fifteen years." Naqia said, leaning on the table.

Reik leaned back in his chair, "These code words, what are they?"

"In short, we issue them if something in the Empire happened that made them vulnerable. For instance say a meteor shower strikes Coruscant killing the Imperial Senate or the Emperor even; Falling Sky. Then by some chance Tarkkin or any group of Moffs woultry a Coup D'etat there's One for All.." Dray explained.

"Simple enough, do they all have weird names?" Colin asked.

"Helps to keep it simple for speed, we have others such as World Ender, Blue Serpent, Broken Fist, Empty Throne, Fire Swarm, the list goes on." Dray said, rolling his free hand around a few times to get the point across. "Most are about power vacuums in the Empire, out intelligence suggests if the Emperor or any of the Top Moffs or High ranking Imperial Officials would be in a mad struggle to take control of the Empire." Dray told them.

Reik leaned forward, "Where does that leave Lothal?"

"As the General promised, Lothal will be given it's independence with its alliance with the Militia, but to get there we must prepare, Captain Naqia how are the plans coming along?" Dray asked her.

She nodded pressing a button on the holotable showing Capital City and the underground, "We've mapped out the entire network of Old Republic tunnels running in and out of the city, the ones that are sealed off are all around the Imperial Center, we could start breaking them down but it would draw attention?" she pointed out.

"Hold off for now then." Reik said before Dray could, "How about the new recruits, any word Keiza?" Reik asked her.

She shrugged "First they were a bit squeamish but I straightened them out, we got two hundred armed and armored wouldn't hurt to send them on some raids, get their hands bloody?"

Reik looked to Dray, "Best to keep them in simulations on the moon, the Clone Army of the Republic drilled for years on Kamino in Tipico City and they were the greatest fighting force known to the Galaxy."

Outside the meeting room, Cadet Dray and Declan Koi, Tai's Padawan, were waiting. "This is so borning, why do we get stuck out here on guard duty while they talk about the important stuff." Declan said.

"Chain of command?" Jay suggested.

"Whatever, you think the rebel kid died on Nar Shaddaa like they're saying?" Declan asked him leaning on the wall.

Jay faced him "They who?"

"The Empire of course, they're afraid of us, Jedi I mean." Declan said behind his sunguard mask.

Whimsical Jay shrugged "And here I thought fear wasn't the weapon of a Jedi, like my da says."

"Yeah, yeah we all know the General fought alongside Jedi, but I'm not saying I'm using fear as a weapon, but it's true the Empire is afraid of Jedi, it's why they hunted the old order." Declan explained.

The boys paused for a moment, "Old order, what's so different about the one you belong to?"

"We're the New Jedi, we were born from the ashes of the old, we don't follow a council that chooses its own members, we don't belong to the Military and we can choose to use the force how we want…" Declan said, Jay raised his hand "Within reason." Declan added holding a finger up.

Shaking his head Jay walked around the door, "No, no not that, the other two you are in the Military and your Master has to report to a Council, how is that any different from the Jedi of the Republic?" Jay asked in disbelief.

"One, the Council is elected by the Knights, every three years the New Jedi hold a vote, and then the Council members vote their own Grand Masters. Second, we work with the Military as advisors, it's why Commander Dray is in charge and why Master Uzuma isn't General Uzuma and I'm not a commander." Declan explained to him holding up two fingers.

Jay seemed to accept that, "Alright, alright, so do they also vote on who gets to be king, or do you still think it's that rebel jedi?"

"... Your still not convinced of the prophecy?"

Jay sighed and groaned at the same time, "It's not much of a prophecy, look my ma told me stories about ancient heroes and some of them had prophecies, some of them even rythmed this… it's just a rumor, a Jedi will come and be King, how does that even work when the New Jedi are so… democratic?"

"Whats wrong with a democratically elected King, the Naboob did?"

"The Naboob?... Hehehe Hahahah?" Jay suddenly started laughing.

"What, there are-were elections on Naboob for their Queen or King right?" Declan asked Jay who kept snickering.

"Yes and they were crowned the biggest Naboob on the planet hehehe." Jay added covering his mouth to stifle his laughter.

Declan's shoulders slumped "I… don't get it…"

"It's Naboo, not Naboob you… boob?" Jay explained, still chuckling, "What?" Declan asked "Oh my gosh… hehe hahahaha!" the lads laughter filled the hallway till the doors of the meeting room opened, and the adults came out looking sternly at them.

Tai frowned over her apprentice with Naqia glaring at Jay "What are you two dolts laughing about?"

"Um hehe galactic politics uh ma'am?" Jay said, lowering his chuckle to a snicker as Declan's smile was hidden by his helmet "Yes Master, the importance of… titular roles hehehe." Jay shut his eyes face turning red unable to maintain his composure fighting a war with his laughter.

"Maybe a few hours of cleaning the battle droids will wipe that smirk off your face, Cadet?" Naqia snarled eyes like fire.

"Belay that Captain." It was Reik pushing through them, "It's been to long since we heard some laughter here, wouldn't you agree Commander?" Reik asked Dray.

The former Jedi walked around with his cane, a peculiar look in his eye, "What did you have in mind?"

"Nothing so grand, break out some wine stores we stole from the Black Sun, a bottle for everyone at dinner tonight, a reward for all their hard work." Reik said.

"A fine idea." Dray replied smiling, Keiza elbowed Colin seeing as they'd be having a good time tonight.

REBEL FLEET

Phoenix Home

Back at the rebel fleet, Ahkilleon came to the hangar as his mother instructed, walking in he saw a few A-wings had arrived along with three B-wings that had been delivered when they were gone. He saw his mother standing at the edge of the hangar looking out at the stars. He walked up behind them and stood there for a few moments and when a minute passed "Um… I'm here?"

"Good, we can begin now." Ahsoka said walking back to a large open spot of the hangar divided with crates. Standing inside the space were a dozen of Commander Sato's men, each of them holding a blaster rifle. Commander Sato was with them too, speaking to a few of the ranked officers. Ahsoka approached them and Sato greeted her "Commander Tano, a dozen of my best men as you requested." Jun gestured to them.

Ahsoka nodded "They'll do, have them take their positions."

"Men, fall in." Commander Sato ordered them, the soldiers moved around the hangar and into a circle around Ahsoka and Ahkilleon, Sato walked off and stood outside the ring observing them, Ahkilleon looked around at all the men holding blasters, his heart beginning to beat a little faster with worry, "Mom?"

"You want to be like the Jedi of old, then I'll train like the jedi of old." Ahsoka said walking around him in a circle, a ring within a ring, "In the Temple, there was a test that every padawan faced against training remotes, I've noticed you and Ezra practicing with them more and more, they're good. But they aren't as good as a trained marksman like Rex or the Clones were." Ahsoka said, eyeing her son, Ahkilleon steadied himself and put his hand on his lightsaber.

Ahsoka faced all the phoenix squadron soldiers "Make sure your blasters are set for stun." Ahsoka ordered walking over to join Commander Sato, "You need to remain calm, think, feel the intention of the trooper who will fire first." she said walking around the ring of men who all brimmed their blasters. Ahkilleon got his lightsaber out and turned on the orange blade holding it with both hands, he felt the eyes on them looking down their sights, each of the rebel soldiers trained to hit the target, their fingers tensing on the trigger "Begin." Ahsoka's command was given and the rebel troops opened fire, a flurry of blue stun rings flying out of their barrels at Ahkilleon he started to deflect them, then he had to jump and twirl around in the air to dodge and deflect the ones from his blind side. Ahsoka watched Ahkilleon deflect the wave of blue stun rings before one hit him right in the chest as he turned around and he was out cold.

Coming too, Ahkilleon sat up groggy rubbing his head "... How… how long was I out?" Ahkilleon asked his mother, who was standing over him, "Little over an hour." Commander Sato's men were standing idle but when they saw he was up Sato nodded at them to return to their ready position.

"An hour!" Ahkilleon sprang to his feet, he grabbed his lightsaber standing up wobbly as Ahsoka went back to the outer ring.

Ahkilleon looked at his mother and without a warning she said "Begin."

The troopers opened fire and the barrage resumed, but this time Ahkilleon went down in seconds, Ahsoka shook her head arms folded, "Perhaps I should call for medical?" Commander Sato asked.

"No, he needs this and I need to know he can do it." Ahsoka said as another hour passed and Ahkilleon came back to them, sitting up he was panting, slamming his hand on the metal floor he grabbed his lightsaber and got up, he saw Ahsoka was standing over him "Let's go again."

And they did, he would go down and she would pick him back up before saying "Again."

Ahkilleon was shot in the back, "Again." the chest "Again"t, the head "Again." he even got hit in the arm going limp before getting struck by a dozen stun rings before passing out, "Again." and each time it was "Again."

…

…

…

…

…

Ears ringing from so many times hitting the cold metal floor of the hangar, Ahkilleon sat up "Perhaps a break Commander Tano?"

"No, he can take it." Ahsoka said ignoring Commander Sato's concern, she walked up and extended a hand to her son "Good, your recovering faster that means the stun rings aren't having as much of an effect." He got up without taking her hand.

Instead he was panting in frustration "This is the most ridiculous training, stormtroopers aren't half as good as Sato's men, who can see."

"That's the point Ahkilleon, it's not meant to be easy, my master made me do this drill every day when I was a padawan, it was his responsibility to make sure I was ready, and as your mother it's my responsibility to make sure you're ready, Ahkilleon." Ahsoka insisted on him.

"Again." Ahsoka said walking out of the ring.

Ahkilleon barely had a second to turn his lightsaber on when the volley resumed and the training continued and in just thirty seconds Ahkilleon was out cold.

After he came too with a groan Ahkilleon smashed both fists on the metal floor getting up, Ahsoka picked up his lightsaber "I saw you in the arena, you fought the wookiee with blind fury, you went berserk like your father did but you can't use that here, this has to become second nature, not a berserker rage, focus, knowing the situation and taking it on as it comes by letting go of your anger." Ahsoka said, handing it to him.

She walked back out, throwing the lightsaber to him "Again." Ahkilleon caught it, he flipped his grip into a reverse and started to deflect the volley.

LOTHAL

Capital City, Underground

A storm had rolled into the Capital, rain poured down from the heavens, the large Star Destroyers that hovered over Lothal made flying waterfalls that poured down on the city casting dark diamond shaped shadows over the metropolis when lightning crashed overhead. The rain fell from they ravens and onto the skyscrapers pouring off their drains and into the sewage grates below. Where the Lothal Militia had set up a secret base beneath it, the water flooded down into the sewers flooding the tunnels making patrols walk knee deep. "Well this is swell." Keiza said walking through the under-city tunnels plugging her nose. Colin was behind her wearing his helmet, "You know your helmet has a filter Keiza?" he asked holding a crate of something.

"Can't stand wearing those things, I can't shoot." she said.

Colin shrugged "What, the helmet has a built in targeting sights." he said pointing at the helmet X shaped visor.

"Well I… I just don't like tech alright." She said over her broad shoulder.

Looking up at the amazon, Colin snickered "Really, that mountain people talk?"

"What's wrong with mountain people?" she asked him as he passed by her.

"Nothing, you all were lucky the Empire ignored you for so long, probably would have been different if you had a few blasters with you instead of a sticks?" he asked pointing at her bow and arrows strapped over her head.

She rolled his eyes "Yeah, cause you lowlanders are so tough."

"So tough the Empire loves to walk all over us, or they did." He added passing her "Won't be long now, I can tell with the Chief… Warlord, what do we call Reik now?" he asked.

Keiza frowned "Chief, this Warlord business is Outlander talk."

"We can't ignore the Gala- I mean the Outlanders, look I'm from Lothal too, same blood as you, but we need Commande Dray, his resources, his men." he stated to her as they slid down a slide of water.

She slid down behind him in the darkness splashing the water, "I know, I know, the Militia, but when are we going to see this other Militia, does it actually exist, or is he lying, do you know?" She asked.

"No, but I trust Reik." Colin said stopping, they had a sewage grate overhead trickling down rain water around them letting in some city lights. "And I trust you."

"Thanks low- Colin, how much further?" she asked him.

He looked ahead and said "... Not much further." he said they walked around a broken down wall with some lights set up, there was a Militia regular asleep, Keiza kicked him away and he grabbed his E7 but before he could say anything, Keiza had her knife at his neck "Lt. Keiza- sorry I-" "Don't apologize, an Imperial could have cut your throat by now greenhorn."

Colin shook his head smirking under his helmet, "Where are the others?" she asked, sheathing the blade.

"U-up ahead, ma'am."

"As you were." Colin said as they passed him with the mysterious crate, they entered into the new modern sewers lit from dim cloudy lights with a raised walkway for them to get out of the water, the sound of clinking, and chipping of concrete echoed on ahead. Keiza and Colin walked up to the 'others' to see two dozen Militia regulars and B1 battle droids working under the city drilling through concrete, carrying away rubble placing support beams in specific places as they dug through bedrock and foundations of modern buildings further down there were more B1 droids working and with tools, their bare hands carrying away stone.

Keiza whistled and they all stopped working. "Listen up, Chiefs ordered everyone to take it easy tonight, so come get a bottle of the Black Sun's finest wine you dogs." Keiza shouted.

A loud hooray ran across the workers, one of the B1s with yellow paint on his chassis and a light on his forehead makin the droid look like a miner walked up "Us too miss?" the droid asked.

She shrugged "Why not, sure we can find some oil around here for you?" she suggested.

"Wow, no one's ever given us a break before?" one of the droids said "Come on boys, take five." the droid said as the B1s came over to the other Militia.

Colin set the crate down opening it, he removed his helmet "No music, and keep it down remember where we are."

"We've been digging all week sir, they haven't heard us yet. It would be easier with heavy machinery." one of the diggers said.

Colin shook his head "Can't risk it, we're so close to the Imperial Center, it'll ruin the surprise."

Keiza took one of the bottles of wine and smirked "Roger, roger."

REBEL FLEET
Phoenix Home

The Ghost returned back to the Phoenix Home, landing the ship dispersing its exhaust fumes and pressurized just as the rebels left the ship, "Good to be home.' Zeb said, shaking off the cold, "For someone who spent a lot of time on that iceball you were pretty quiet, I'd be dying to talk to someone?" Kanan said, while Zeb just shrugged it off.

"Yeah well, I've got fur wasn't that bad plus I… ur kind of like the peace and quiet." Zeb said.

They came out of the ship, "We'll need to fill in Commander Sato for other cells to stay away from Geonosis, to avoid another trap."

"And Agent Kallus." Ezra said when he heard the shooting "It's like that guy is obssesed with us?"

Everyone grabbed their weapons, running to the sound of the blasterfire when they heard Ahsoka snap "Again!"

The specters came around to see Ahkilleon in the center of the ring of rebel troopers shooting at Ahkilleon, he was moving faster and quicker to avoid the rebel shots, the rings zapping around his orange lightsaber disintegrating on impact. "What is this?" Kanan asked, looking at Rex.

"Something I didn't think I'd see again." Rex said he stormed right toward Ahsoka who watched Ahkilleons progress as he jumped in the air flipping around the air dodging five stun rings at once slicing out two before he landed in the air "Commander Tano- Ahsoka what are you doing?" Rex asked.

She didn't look at him, she just said "Training."

Ahkilleon kept deflecting the stun rings as they talked, the Specters watched him get hit in the left shoulder before another one knocked him out, "Ouch." Ezra said when Ahkilleon hit the floor.

"How long have you been at this?" Rex asked Ahsoka following her out into the center of the shooting ring, "Since you left, he should be up any second." Ahsoka said.

Rex scoffed at her lack of worry "Any second? Commander, I know the General had me and the boys do this for you but maybe we should wait a little-" "Again!" Ahkilleon shouted shooting up, he looked at Ahsoka fire in his green eyes and she nodded "Again." She replied walking out before she could help him up.

They resumed the ring and Ahkilleon turned on his lightsaber and held it up, the blasters sending the blue stun rings at him . His lightsaber moved to the rings just before they hit him, faster, quicker this time. He was breathing in and out his nose keeping his mind steady the anger around him faded and Ahkilleon was twisting and flipping in the air deflecting and dodging the rings some were flying between the Phoenix Squadron soldiers one even got hit. Ahsoka smiled seeing his progress starting to show. Rex watched him and held up his comlink checking the time he'd gone past a minute and was close to a second one.

"Unusual method of training, reminds me of a test I saw you do once in the Jedi Temple?" Kanan said to Ahsoka.

"My master made me do this drill in our down time aboard our flagship during the Clone Wars." Ahsoka said arms crossed not taking her eyes off Ahkilleon, he passed the second minute mark and didn't show any signs of getting tired.

Kanan placed his hands on his hips, "Impressive, what do you think kid, you got next round? Kanan asked Ezra, "Sure, just as long as it's Not Sabine or Zeb wouldn't want to embarrass them." Ezra said smirking at them.

"Never challenge a Mandalorian with a blaster." Sabine said, patting the carbines on her hips.

"I'm sure Rex and I can come up with something, right Rex?" Kanan asked Rex who was entranced by Ahkilleon who was deflecting the incoming shots before he got zapped in the leg, stunned Ahkilleon hopped on one leg flipping through the air he deflected two in the air before getting hit in the side and went down again.

"How long was that?" Ahsoka asked.

Rex looked at his comlinks clock, "Three minutes, and this is his first time?" Rex asked.

Ahsoka nodded "Took me six months before I got that far."

"Well, these men are no clones, no offense Commander Sato." Rex said over to Jun, who gave him a side eye but said nothing, "Well he's a natural Ahsoka." Rex said patting her on the arm, "Kanan, how about we come up with our own test for Ezra?" Rex asked.

The cowboy jedi smiled "Lead the way." Kanan said following and then Sabine "I want in on this." Sabine said with Zeb following "I've got some ideas hehe." Ezra turned a little green seeing all four of them heading off to come up with plans to shoot him. Ezra looked over at the limp Ahkilleon who was lying motionless on the floor except for the steady rise of his chest, so he was breathing, Ezra moved to go check on him.

"No." Ahsoka said "Just going to check on him." Ezra said.

"You two have a strong bond, but this is something I need Ahkilleon to do on his own, he has to learn to pick himself up without anyone's help." Ahsoka said watching her son, seeing herself there.

"But you don't always have to face things alone?" Ezra argued.

Ahsoka faced him "It's not about being alone, it's about survival."