Chapter 21

Hera's Heroes

"Syndulla… as in Cham and Hera Syndulla?" Ahkilleon asked the Ghost of Qu Rahn who was sitting on the rock in front of him, Bendu watched them both with his blind eyes as Qu ran fingers through his thinning hair, he shifted his head side to side "Well, she wasn't Syndulla when I met her, thought I did visit her on her wedding day lovely ceremony-" "Get to the damn point you phatnom fucker." Ahkilleon barked.

Bendu cocked a brow at the alliteration as Qu sighed "You really need to work on your delivery kid."

Ahkilleon grabbed at his hair "Alright, alright, don't turn to the dark side on me, look Eleni was my friend, being a Wayseeker you meet people, and they want to hear stories." Qu said.

He refocused on it "What did you tell her?"

Qu patted his knees "Where the Valley is of course, you think I would really keep that kind of discovery to myself- come on."

Ahkilleon's eyes twitched "You're as unbearable in death as you were in life, how, why?"

Qu shrugged "When you have a friend like Elenia you trust them with everything, and i trusted her with my greatest secret in case I…" he gestured to his ghostly form "You know, and the Jedi needed to find it, before Sith do which is now."

"Qu?" Ahkilleon asked wanting to know where "Don't worry, she promised me she kept the coordinates hidden in something that would never leave her family."

THE NEXT MORNING

The sounds of blaster fire echoed around Atollon base, Ezra rolled off his bed in nothing but his body glove shorts and Zeb got up to the two of them bumping into one another "We're under attack!" Both said at the same time, they ran out in nothing but their pajamas with Kanan following in sleep pants, Sabine barely had time to get her carbine pistols around her long tunics waste before the specters ran out of their ship blasters at the ready, but they didn't see any stormtroopers or any imperial ships in the sky's above Atollon. They followed the sound of shooting and saw at the edge of the base Ahkilleon standing in the middle of a ring of B5 battle droids shooting at him with the stun setting on. He had his armor and top off both red and blue lightsaber in hand deflecting the bolts.

"Uuuuugh it's too early for this." Zeb grumbled putting away his blaster and heading back to the ghost.

Everyone else holstered their weapons, two of the droids drew vibrio swords and rushed Ahkilleon so he was now dodging, deflecting and dueling the two droids a sheen of sweat running down his chest in the cool atollon morning air. "Pfft- I could do that." Ezra said in a low voice heading back into the ghost.

"I'll add it to your next lesson." Kanan said following him.

Hers saw Turok watching nearby and walked up to him, "How about you warn us next time?" Hera said rhetorically, still in her nightgown with her lekku tied back in a bonnet.

"Ahkilleon likes to train hard and early, it's part of his routine." Turok teased as Ahkilleon continued his training, he engaged the two sword droids who were jumping and spinning around him in the air, and as Sabine watched she saw a glint from a nearby boulder.

A sniper round went flying at Ahkilleon and he dodged it seconds before it could have taken his head off, letting it pass into the sword droid.

Refusing to be goaded into an argument she turned away and left.

Turok clapped his hands and the droids all stood down, "What are you doing, we've barely even started?" Ahkilleon panted confused.

"Come on, Caliban and the rest are waiting." Ahkilleon watched the battle droids stand down and he headed over to Turok, grabbing his robes and armor he threw them on.

He walked into the revenant as the rebels were about to return to the ghost when they smelled something, something delicious, "What… what is that sweet aroma?" Zeb asked his senses picking it up first, Ezra sniffed the air too "It's like smokey but juicy?" Ezra said sniffing it, they followed their noses and the others followed them more our of curiosity then scent to see Corto was outside, in front of a fire, he had set a few metal poles over it with a metal frying pan where they saw soft smoke rising and the sound of something crackling.

Approaching they saw he had cache of militia supplies with him and took out two brown shell eggs and cracked it into the pan, "What are you doing?" Sabine asked.

Corto looked back "Breakfast, such a nice morning I wanted to cook outside." he said as he used the force to flip whatever he was making.

"But… what are cooking?" Zeb asked sniffing it again, "There's an animal on Arcadia we found that they are delicious, their called Entelodonts but we cal this Bacon." he said showing them strips of meet sizzling in the frying pan with the eggs, the strips looked about done and Corto used the force to float the strips out to the rebels one for each, grease dripping off the fat slices of brownish red.

Ezra caught his and hopped it between his hands. It was so hot, Zeb took a bite and his eyes went wider than Lothals moons and his whole body shivered, closing his eyes, chewing the crunchy meat and swallowing it. Ezra ate it too and his face relaxed as he said "That is the greatest thing I've ever eaten."

"Karabast that's good, more." Zeb said as Corto threw down another set of strips for them to eat.

Back in the Revenant, Ahkilleon and Turok were in front of the ship's holotable, Lord Caliban, Asimov and the General were standing in front of the, "Your mission to the Imperial pilot academy was a success we see." Caliban said.

Ahkilleon nodded "The Forgelords new detonators worked like charm, we were all the way in outer space when they blew up."

"Lord Hood will be most pleased." Lord Asimov said hands behind his back, "Word has spread of the Demons' one man war against the Empire behind enemy lines, many were wondering where you'd gone and toast to your victory my apprentice." Lord Asimov said nodding at him.

"There will be other targets, what of the rebels where they are going next?" the General asked.

Ahkilleon looked to Turok who waited for him to speak, "They plan to go to Ryloth soon, they were contacted by Cham Syndulla, Captain Syndulla's father who is need of aid, they'll take the weapons and supplies we gave them to requip the Ryloth rebels."

Caliban scratched his gold masked chin, "Interesting, Ryloth is located near the end of the Corellian run, seeing what opportunities there could pose the chance of opening a second front against the Empire as well as cutting off the Hutt's." Caliban said.

"Ryloth is a lost cause, we already looked into recruiting the twi'leks; they won't have any droid liberators." Lord Asimov stated.

Caliban shook his head "No, Cham Syndulla won't work with us, he betrayed Leo Rock once, who's to say he wouldn't do it again?" General Freeman said.

"I was there too, but time changes things and in desperation did we not see our old enemies of the separatists who are now our allies?" Caliba asked, holding up one of his wrapped up fingers, "I propose that Captain Tano test these waters, unless his own personal feelings object?"

Ahkilleon looked up at them "If it helps the Militia, I will do it but…. Master, I have reason to believe that Qu Rahn knew Cham Syndulla's wife, Eleni and told her where the Valley of the Jedi was." Ahkilleon said as if he had just told the truth of a terrible lie.

"That is… most unusual to hear, what proof do you have?" General Freeman asked him.

Ahkilleon shrugged, "I doubt any of you would believe me." "I believe him, the Valley has been lost tot he Jedi for a thousand years and if the Empire and it's Inquisitors are looking for it, we should follow up on this lead, getting on Syndulla's good side would aid us in that cause." Lord Asimov said.

"That's good enough for me." General Freeman said

"Your sense of duty is admirable Captain, speak with Syndulla if he is willing to endorse the Militia we will send him the Cyberspider Fleet, Admiral Trench's fleet has recovered and been reinforced with a dozen dreadnoughts, and droids forces to match." Caliban told them, "We need more sentinets in the Militia, Lord Asimov, how goes the recruitment on Raxus and our other systems." General Freeman asked.

Asimov gave a low grumble "Steady but we need to train them and equip them, it will take some time to recoup our losses from the Empire's new offensive, recruiting Ryloth to our cause would give an entire people who experienced war?"

"Then it's decided, Captain Tano will assist the rebels on Ryloth, and offer a partnership to Cham Syndulla his endorsement for an army?" Caliban asked.

"Agreed." the General said.

"Not agreed." Turok said, huffing his pipe, "The rebels don't like us as is, trying to poach one of their allies isn't worth this shakey arrangement as is." Turok pointed out to them.

The three men looked at one another "What do you suggest?" Fives asked, stroking his mustache.

"Test the waters, see what the situation is on Ryloth and if Cham is willing to talk, we will supply his people with weapons, supplies from the rebels, nothing more." Turok suggested.

Caliban tapped his gold chain, "... I agree, Turok Skell has the most experience with dealing with rebel intrigue." the spymaster said, convinced.

"We need to open another front on the Empire, if they see us cornered they'll crush us between our own forces." Lord Asimov said, showing where he stood, "Captain Tano, the mission is yours, approach it at your own discretion." General Freeman said putting an end to the argument.

Outside the ships, the rebels were having the breakfast served by Corto, with Jay and Rulf coming out to join them. Hera smiled and looked at the rebels, at her family "It's mornings like these I remember the stories my mom would tell my sister and I when we were kids." Hera said. "Tell us one." Sabine said sipping the Militia coffee.

She looked at him "Well, there was one, since we're going to Ryloth and you all know about my father, my mother wasn't like most traditional Twi'lek women. She traveled the galaxy, and she even met a few Jedi."

"You never told me that?" Kanan asked.

She looked at him, "You never asked. She told me of a Jedi she met whow as something she called a Wayseeker."

"What's a Wayseeker, Kanan?" Ezra asked.

Kanan smirked "Something I thought I'd never hear again, Wayseekers were before my time, Jedi, but not like the ones I grew up with. They were Errant Knights, they traveled the Galaxy doing what they could it's where most of our greatest legends come from." Kanan said.

"Who's telling the story, me or you Kanan?" Hera asked him.

He shut up with a smile. "The Jedi my mother told me was a Wayseeker, told her stories of the secret places in the Galaxy he'd found, lost to history." she said as she picked up a stick from the fire the tip turned black with char. "But the Jedi told my mother the most amazing place he'd ever been was the Lost Valley of the Jedi."

"Kanan?" Ezra asked.

Kanan set his cup down, "The Valley of the Jedi, it where the last battle of the New Sith Wars was fought."

"Like on Malachor?" Ezra asked.

Kanan shook his head, Hera started to draw the shapes of Jedi holding their lightsabers up in their robes "Maybe so much history was lost a thousand years of conflict where the Jedi were leading the Republic through the dark times, there were thousands of us and thousands of Sith, the Republic was pushed to the brink of collapse by the Sith Empire and Jedi fought the Sith everywhere, till they came to the world of Ruusan six major battles were fought there and at the last one, the Seventh battle the Sith used a terrible weapon called a thought bomb."

"A what?" Sabine asked.

Kanan's face grew grim "The older padawans would tell us the story to frighten us, the Sith used all their power to kill all life on Ruusan including themselves, what followed was the end of an age of the Jedi, we receded from politics, focused on keeping the peace and not being warriors."

"And the Valley?" Zeb asked.

"A monument." Hera said smiling "To honor the sacrifice of the Army of Light against the Brotherhood of Darkness." Hera said her drawing finished showing two great Jedi guarding a valley behind them with a spiral.

Ezra looked at Sabine and Zeb, "And… it's beautiful."

"The way the Jedi my mother new said it was, he described it as a place where the force was young where the spirits of the fallen jedi had become one with the land, returning Ruusan to life in ways he couldn't describe, the trees grow the sweetest fruit, the water is purer than any filter and the wind is soft as a kiss." Hera said tossing the stick back in the fire, Corto kept quiet as he cooked. "We should have made that place our base." Ezra jokes.

"If we could find it, Ruusan was lost to the Republic shortly after the Reformation, hundreds of Jedi searched for it, and your mother knew the Jedi who found it."

"What was his name, maybe he's still around?" Ezra asked.

"Qu Rahn." Corto said, flipping some bacon, "You know him?" Hera asked.

"I knew him, he died." Corto said sadly.

Ezra looked at Kanan, "Did you know him?"

Kanan shook his head, "There were so many Jedi when I was young, now there are so few… sorry." Kanan said looking over at Corto who served up the last bit of breakfast before he doused the fire. A hiss of smoke rising to the air, "Nah, I asked my dad if he ever met a Kanan Jarrus before?"

"Your dad, Master Vos?" Kanan asked, Corto nodded "Said never met you, but he likes your style."

Kanan chuckled "Uh thanks?"

Ezra was almost out of food, "What's… what's Arcadia like?" He asked.

Corto continued to pack up his cooking tools, "It's home to me, brother."

"Brother?" Erza asked.

Corto nodded "You're Jedi, I'm Jedi, brothers." Corto said as he headed to the Revenant with both Ahkilleon and Turok walking out, they headed over to the rebels and Ezra looked at Ahkilleon and then looked down, "So, when are we going to Ryloth?" Ahkilleon asked.

RYLOTH

The Ghost

The rebels dropped out of hyperspace, the Spectres in their usual seats flying down to the planet, "No blockade, that's odd?" Hera said seeing her home world was unguarded by any Star Destroyers, Ryloth was a planet in the Outer Rim's southern reaches. On the Corellian Run a hyperspace route lane that led from the planet it was named after all the way to Coruscant, Ahkilleon and Turok stood in the back "This Sectors fleet was one of the many that attacked the Militia recently, Admiral Trench stopped them from advancing any further into our new territory that we liberated."

"You mean the systems you conquered?" Kanan asked.

Ahkilleon clenched his teeth "From the Hutts." he said knowing it would be hard to object against seizing from thieves themselves.

"I've locked onto my fathers signal, we'll be heading in everyone to get their guns." The rebels all filled out to their turrets Zeb and Sabine on the top and bottom, Ezra on the nose gun with Chopper staying put, "What happened to the Phantom?" Ahkilleon asked.

Ezra didn't look too good as Kanan said "If you'd been here you would have known."

The Ghost flew down to the surface of Ryloth covered in rocky terrain and jungles with tall skinny rock formations towering over the plains; they flew over a series of canyons. And saw two blurgg riders being chased by two speeder bikes with scout troopers and an armored personnel transport. "Father, don't worry. We're closing in on your position." Hera said into the comlink on her dashboard.

"Hera, is that you?" Cham's voice echoed out. "Good timing. We are running out of room."

"We're coming in from the north." Hera told them.

They watched as the blurggs were heading for the edge of a canyon "There's no time for you to land."

This made Hera smile and made Turok hold on, Ahkilleon even sat down "We're not landing. Head south."

"Hera, there is no time." Cham warned her.

Hera flew in low to the chase "Just turn around! We'll take care of the Empire."

The Ghost flew in low, blasting at the first speeder bike and taking it out before it smashed into the transport, but one scout trooper wasn't giving up so easily, the blurggs double backed and so did the scout trooper who was chasing after them.

"Hera, how did you plan on getting us on board?" Cham asked as Hera flew in low behind the two blurrgs holding Cham and his second in command Numa.

"I'm lowering the front ramp. Just jump on." Hera told them,

Cham paused before asking "With the Blurrgs? Yep. Blurrgs are welcome, too."

Ahkilleon and Turok walked back to the cargo hold and saw Cham and Numa leap into the ship with their Blurrgs dismounting, Zeb was already waiting and suddenly the Scout Trooper jumped on only to be face to face with three blasters pointed at him "You didn't think that through, did you?" The Scout trooper lowered his pistol and stepped back seeing he couldn't win.

"Hey, kid, you got this outfit?" Zeb asked, looking up at Ezra who smiled down at them.

"Nope."

Zeb approached the scout trooper "The kid wants your helmet. Sorry." Zeb said before he punched the scout trooper so hard he was knocked out, "Hey stowaways, you want to help, get the scout trooper out of that uniform." Hera told Turok and Ahkilleon, Ahkilleon grimaced at the belittling order and Turok nudged him "Come on."

While the two Militia agents were undressing the scout trooper, Hera flew the Ghost to safe harbor in a nearby canyon, where they met up with Gobi, who boarded the ship passing by Turok and Ahkilleon and into the lounge. After Gobi came more twi'leks who started to take out the crates of Militia branded supplies that had been scraped off by the rebels

"You arrived just in time. Thank you for making this supply run." Cham said up in the lounge of the ship, Gobi had taken a seat next to Numa on the table while the rebels were gathered around.

"It was easy getting past the blockade or lack thereof." Hera said, and Cham nodded "Then I wish I had better news, the garrison is till there and a small fleet of light cruisers, the empire is spread thin here but they aren't letting up the Imperials now occupy the entire Tann province." Cham told her, Hera's face turned sour with horror.

"What's the Tann province?" Ezra asked.

"It's where Hera grew up." Kanan told him from the back of the room "What happened, Father?" Hera asked.

Cham shook his head "With the fleet attacking the Militia, I sought to boost our forces in new attacks but I underestimated the commander, Captain Slavin, his previous att*cks were clumsy, but this one was swift, precise, unlike him." Cham said as he then looked at Kanan and Ezra "And he has a redblade with him."

"An Inquisitor?" Kanan folded his arms "He's made our home his headquarters, I'm afraid I couldn't save anything when I escaped. Not even the Kalikori?"

Hera looked like the Ghost itself had been torn from her hands "What's a Kalikori?" Ezra asked, looking at the other twi'leks.

"A totem passed down the line of a Twi'lek family, It honors all who have come before." Numa told Ezra, and Gobi chimed in "Each parent adds to the artwork to include themselves in the legacy.

"Family history as living art." Sabine said abruptly knowing how that felt. "Hera would have inherited our family's Kalikori." Cham said mournfully.

Hera's face hardened with determination "And I still will. That heirloom was important to my mother and I'm not ready to give it up yet."

Cham smiled at his daughter for her bravery, he nodded at her "Gobi, Numa and I are coming with you."

"We'll help, too." Ezra volunteered the other rebels behind him for their pilot. "This wasn't meant to be a personal mission, I can't let you take this risk with me." Hera told them, as Ahkilleon came up to the lounge entrance hearing everything, finished with undressing the scout.

Sabine walked past Ezra up to Hera, "You'd do it for us. Because we owe you."

"This is stupid." Ahkilleon said from the doorway he tossed Ezra the Scout troopers helmet showing he was done with the task, Turok palmed his face and everyone else gave him a nasty side eye for his lack of concern for Hera's situation, "Excuse you?" Sabine asked at his rude comment.

Ahkilleon got off the wall and walked into the middle of the room so he wasn't hiding ,"This thing, this Kalikori is a relic, you'd really risk all your lives for a trinket?" Ahkilleon asked.

"For Hera, we would, wouldn't you for your mom, for Ahsoka?" Ezra snapped.

Ahkilleon glanced at him with his own glare "You'll have to tell me what that's like, the only thing she left me, was behind." Ezra was about to snap when Hera held her hand up "You don't have to help if you don't want to." Hera said to him her face was cold as stone.

"I can do more than that, General Syndulla, you want your world free, the Militia want the Empire out of the Outer Rim, and we, the Militia have the armies to do it." Ahkilleon gestured to Turok who had come in and looked disappointed that Ahkilleon was just out right offering the alliance.

"Droid armies." Cham snarled his voice like an ax being dragged across concrete.

Ahkilleon shrugged at the semantics, "We've already resupplied you, and we can reinforce you in a matter of a few rotations, a fleet powerful enough to take out the garrison and the cruisers left here on Ryloth."

Cham's gaze looked to the possibility of a Militia fleet of dreadnoughts dropping out of hyperspace, and more. "And in exchange?" Cham asked.

"Father, you can't be serious-" "Hera, I am only listening to the offer." Cham walked forward to Ahkilleon and waited for him to continue "You heard of Admiral Trench?"

"I have heard of his War Crimes?" Cham replied.

Ahkilleon didn't look away "The Cyberspider fleet is the second largest fleet in the Militia, it's been reinforced since the Battle of the Slice, a dozen new Dreadnoughts and enough battle droids to man them and more, declare your support for the Militia and you will named Warlord of Ryloth, your people armed and trained like never before."

Cham thought it "... No." Hera's face lit up with a smile, "I desire nothing more for my people to be free, but we learned once the false promises of those who offered to give us our freedom, with conditions no doubt, if Ryloth is to be free we will do it ourselves."

Ahkilleon's face hardened, "We are not the Republic."

"No, you are not the Republic that stood for something, the ideas of democracy and freedom, those are what I fight for." Cham said before Ahkilleon saw everyone was giving him a nasty look at his proposition to undermine the rebels right in front of them, Ahkilleon turned away and headed for a different part of the ship as small as it was.

Cham watched him go, even as Gobi and Numa swelled with pride at their leader's defiance, Cham's face was not proud or happy at denying such an offer, "I can't believe he would do that, right in front of us." Ezra growled.

"Do not be angry with him." Cham said, "I was like him once, willing to do anything for a cause I believed in even risking those I held most dear." Cham said as Hera put her hand on his shoulder and squeezed he took her hand "Come, daughter, I'll brief you on Captain Slavin's defenses."

Hera and Cham walked out to prepare for the mission.

Ahkilleon waked out of the Ghost, and Turok behind him "Lad." Turok called but Ahkilleon didn't stop. "That wasn't the plan you were supposed to observe, then make the call." they walked out of the canyon away from the ship. "I did, the Specters are doing something stupid again because it makes them feel better." he said shaking his head.

Turok pushed his coat back claws on his hips, "Really, like how you told off Ezra and Hera back there, your one to talk lad."

"I told them it was a bad idea, not to get mommy's little trinket, Turok?" Ahkilleon asked him.

"That's ain't the point lad, you've been a dick to the Specters ever since we touched down, now you know I'm sorry it ended up like this, truly I am. I wanted you all to join the militia willingly, but this is the best situation we got right now, so you need to get that chip off your shoulder." Turok hissed at him.

"Chip on my shoulder, try thirty nine lashes on my back, I know, I counted where were you when that was going on huh Turok- huh?" Ahkilleon walked up to him and poked him in the chest Turok grabbed him "You think this was going to be easy?" Turok barked, "You wanted to be a soldier, you wanted to fight the Empire but you were too damn arrogant to listen like your dad." Turok let him go and stepped back.

He snapped his fangs with a loud yelp, "Stop acting like you're the only one who lost someone, something we all have, but it wasn't the rebels who took it."

Ahkilleon said nothing, he looked away and Turok grumbled "Why do you think we chose you for this mission?"

"Because I knew where the rebel base was?" Ahkilleon said.

"Because you know the rebellion, you know how they think, maybe you could have convinced them not to go forward with this mission, but not at the expense of getting Cham on our side, you had to go in and-" "Turok!" Ahkilleon shouted at him, Turok closed his mouth and looked at Ahkilleon "... I'm sorry." He said looking back at the ship.

Turok sighed "I'm sorry kid, sorry you got thrown back to the one place you didn't want to go back, I know it hurts being here without your mother." Turok said.

They looked back at the Ghost, to see the rebels walking out with Era dressed as a scout trooper and Chopper painted to look like an Imperial Maintenance Astro droid, "Looks like they're off, you sure you don't want to help them, from what you told me Qu knew Hera's mom?" Turok asked.

"If Hera doesn't know, then neither would the Empire." Ahkilleon said "We can't risk it."

Ahkilleon thought it over and then looked over his shoulder out over Ryloth he felt something, a presence "... No, if we expose ourselves with the rebels then we expose the Militia working with the rebellion." Ahkilleon said, folding his arms and looking away. Turok watched a flock of blurgg get pulled up and Ezra hop on the Imperial speeder bike, they all got on their respective mounts and rode off into the canyon.

Ahkilleon looked out across Ryloth, "My mother never liked to talk about her time on Ryloth, about the clones who died, about what my dad went through."

"He never liked talking about it either, it's where killed his first Sith." Turok said somberly as the rebels drove off.

Later, the rebels were in position having hidden behind some rocks as an Imperial patrol marched through the canyon, shadows everywhere from the tall stone walls, an Imperial two legged walker marched with three stormtroopers out front "Here comes the patrol." Sabine said back to the rebels, everyone getting ready. Across from them on the other side, Numa and Cham were on their blurrgs.

"You two wait here until we draw them away." Kanna told Ezra and Hera, "Then you can slip by." Kanan added before Sabine signaled Cham to attack, the old general rode on his blurrg steed shooting at the stormtroopers he got one and the others opened fire with the walker starting to fire too, Cham and Numa doubled back and then Kanan ran out lightsaber in hand with Zeb and Sabine following "Well, we got their attention." Zeb shouted as they ran off with the imperials in hot pursuit, Hera and Ezra slipping past.

As they ran off one of the stormtroopers signaled "This is squad 5 in sector 23, we have rebels and a Jedi is with them."

Meanwhile, Ezra and Hera rode off to the Tann providence and came upon a large rock structure with lights built into it's ower base the tower spiraling to the top, "That's your home?" Ezra saked it stood like a solitary mountain in a great plane with the sky of Ryloth behind it, painting a portrait of royal brown and deep purple, "It's beautiful." Ezra said back to her.

"Yes. Even more so before the Empire showed up." Hera said as she fastened the handcuffs onto her, as his 'prisoner'. Chopper got off and rolled down to the house to blend in with any other imperial forces as they often overlooked droids.

Ezra rode up to one of the side entrance gates that had a signal stormtrooper guarding it "Hold it, where did you find her?" The stormtrooper asked not questions Erzra's disguise.

"I caught this rebel on patrol." Ezra said as Hera protested in a thick rylothian accent "Let me go, you Blurrg dropping!"

The stormtrooper stepped aside buying the ruse "Take the prisoner inside for processing, the transport will come pick her up later." Ezra walked into the courtyard of the Syndulla estate to see stormtroopers guarding the main entrance and two more on the balcony overlooking the courtyard. The building was ornately carved from the solid rock with windows added in to the openings along with a metal door.

"The Empire's certainly made themselves at home." Hera grumbled in her usual voice "There's Chopper…. Chopper. Chop!" Ezra called out in a hushed whisper but Chopper was starring at an old Y wing that was laid out in the courtyard, severely damaged and long rusted from where it had been laid. "What's with him?" Ezra asked.

Hera looked over at the droid "That Y-wing crashed here back in the Clone w*r, and my father left it as a memorial. It also happens to be the ship I pulled Chopper out of, so he still has issues with it. He'll be along." Hera reassured Ezra.

Ezra led Hera into the house, or pretended to be led into the main forum, the walls had stone pillars holding up the building and no one batted an eye as Ezra walked in his stormtrooper look "This way." Hera whispered to them as they went upstairs and came to an old looking door "This is it. My father's office." Hera said as she opened the door and slipped inside, "He said Kalikori would be in here somewhere." the room had a large desk in the center with cases of things stacked around the interior. There was a picture on the wall made of colored stones to show the faces of three people, Cham, a beautiful green skinned twi'lek and a cute green skinned twi'lek girl.

"Is that your mother?" Ezra asked her, as he looked at the picture while Hera looked around "Yes, it is. I'll give you one guess who the little girl beside her is." Hera said as she looked around the room and found a small T shaped totem with hand carved stones held together by beads "Here it is!" Hera said as she picked up the Kalikori, "Well, that was easy." Ezra said as Hera picked up the heirloom.

Hera turned around "We're not out of this yet. Come on. Let's go." they headed back down to the main entrance when they saw the door open and in walked three people, one a short imperial officer with black hair and a trimmed mustache "Stand guard. No one in or out." The man said he had the rank of Captain on his jacket, "Captain Slavin." Hera hissed as they hid behind the pillars as the other two walked in.

"Well, I have increased security per your orders, Grand Admiral, but I don't understand why." Captain Slavin asked as he looked at the other two, both unfamiliar to the rebels, but not to the Militia Grand Admiral Thrawn and beside him the black robed Grand Inquisitor Jerec. "The rebel activity is far from here?"

"It's closer than you think, Captain." Grand Admiral Thrawn said as they walked in, "Well if the patrols reports of a Jedi sighting are true, we are glad to have the Inquisitorius with us as well." Captain Salvin said smiling at Jerec who gave a creepy smirk back.

Ezra tensed up sensing the dark side from Jerec, they quickly ducked into another hallway to avoid the gaze or interest of either Grands "Just what we needed an Inquisitor, but who was that blue guy?"

"I don't know." Hera said.

They started to sneak back to the office and Hera came to a nearby door "Well, how are we gonna get out of here?" Ezra asked.

"There's a secret exit on the lower level." Hera said "Do you think they know about it?" Ezra asked.

"I doubt it. There was never any reason to come down here except to sneak a meiloorun from time to time." Hera Replied as they went down the stairs into the basement and came into it to see an entire room full of imperial equipment and imperial officers with stormtroopers who had turned the basement into a command bunker. "I've never seen so many gutkurrs down here before." Hera muttered.

"I don't think they're down here for meilooruns." Ezra said as the door opened behind them and low and behold Jerec was standing their.

Ezra acted quickly and grabbed Hera "Lousy thief, It's alright sir I got her."

Jerec gave a chuckle "Hmph, worth a shot young man." He held his hand up and force lightning shot from his fingertips electrocuting both Ezra and Hera like a taser only a thousand times worse, the stormtroopers and officers in the rooms watched Ezra and Hera fly through the glass console and in the middle of the room where they were quickly surrounded. "As you said my dear Admiral, closer than you think." Jerec said, wrapping his cape in his arm as Grand Admiral Thrawn and Captain Salvin came in.

"Who are these two?" Salvin snapped.

Admiral Thrawn stood over them and picked up the Kalikori, "No." Hera gasped, wincing from the shock of both kinds as Thrawn said "Who indeed."

Elsewhere far from the estate, the rebels had escaped on their blurgg's through the tann province's labyrinth like canyons, "Did we lose 'em? I think we finally lost 'em." Zeb said confident.

Cham replied "Nobody knows this land as well as we do."

Suddenly they heard a canon blast and the boulders above them were dislodged from the cliffs by the blast, the rebels scattered to escape before they saw a walker and stormtroopers ambush them from another corridor. They rode their blurgs into a position behind some large rocks as Sabine said "Looks like they're learning fast."

"Gobi! Rocket launcher!" Cham shouted at the husky blue twi'lek who opened fire on the walker, knocking it back, but in the distance they saw the one that was chasing them coming up fast.

"That won't hold them off for long." Kanan said, taking his lightsaber out to draw the imperial fire on him "Cham, any word from Hera?"

"No. Something must have gone wrong." Kanan said when he sensed a dark presence, he looked up to the sky and they saw a TIE advanced flying down to them, "That can't be good." Kanan said as it landede.

SYNDULLA ESTATE

Back at the estate, Ezra and Hera were on their knees in her fathers office, with two stormtroopers guarding them looking at Captain Slavin, Grand Inquisitor Jerec and Grand Admiral Thrawn, "Who are you, thieves, assassins?" Slavin demanded by neither of the rebels spoke, "That is a curious artifact, may I see that?" Thrawn asked in a soft voice gently holding out his hand to the relic.

Hera didn't want to give it up but she was staring down two blaster barrels that made her offer it to Thrawn,"I'm a visitor to your world. It occurs to me it might be beneficial to hear what you have to say about our Imperial occupation." Thrawn asked as he examine the Kalikori totem.

"I don't think I could be of any help to you." Hera said letting her native accent flow.

Thrawn smiled "I disagree." he replied as Jerec eyed Ezra licking his lips.

"Please! I am a poor refugee." Hera begged still acting.

Thrawn held up the kalikori "Captain, do you recognize this?" The Captain looked at it "Yes, it, it was here, in my office."

"I thought I could sell it for food- My family is starving." Hera lied.

Slavin snarled at her "No excuse. You shall make a valuable example to others of your kind who think to steal from the Empire, and you scout trooper you're a disgrace to your armor."

"She's far more valuable than you realize." Thrawn said as he held the Kalikori "How do you mean?" Slavin asked.

"To defeat an enemy, you must know them, not simply their battle tactics, but their history, philosophy, art. So I will ask you again, Captain, do you know what this is?" Thrawn asked him.

Captain Slavin looked at the item and with a smug Imperial reply "Some primitive native trinket."

"It's a Kalikori. A revered Twi'lek heirloom passed from parent to child through generations." Thrawn said looking at Hera and then at her fathers portrait of her family "Worthless to outsiders, priceless to family."

"Yes. Well, she stole it." Thrawn asked him.

"Yes, but why?" Slavin asked confused.

Jerec walked over to the desk and sat in it, propping his feet up "War."

Thrawn said to him and then looked to Hera "Very good Inquisitor, It's all you've ever known, isn't it? You were so young when you survived the Clone Wars, no wonder you're as equipped in spirit to fight as well as you do, war is in your blood." Thrawn said as he leaned in over her "I study the art of war... work to perfect it. But you... You were forged by it."

Captain Slavin scratched his mustache "Sir, she's just a peasant." still not knowing who she was.

"It doesn't matter where we come from, Admiral. Our will to be free is what's going to beat you." Hera said speaking in her usual accent.

Slavin looked stunned at her sudden change in tone and defiance, he raised his hand to strike her "You... You dare…"

"Slavin, please. You embarrass me in front of our host." Thrawn said as Jerec smirked.

"Host"? What?" Slavin asked.

Thrawn stood up straight "May I introduce Hera Syndulla, rebel pilot, freedom fighter and military leader. Daughter of your nemesis, Cham Syndulla."

"That would make this one, Ezra Bridger?" Jerec said as he used the force to lift Ezra up by his neck "Jedi apprentice." Ezra gasped for air and Hera looked horrified to see him struggle, "Stop it!" Hera shouted.

Thrawn looked to Jerec who sighed like he was a dog who wasn't getting to play with his food "An unexpected pleasure to meet you, Captain Hera Syndulla." He dropped Ezra who gasped for air, wheezing as Hera looked back at Thrawn.

"Wish I could say the same, Admiral." She hissed.

"It is a pity our first encounter might well be our last, I will keep your Kalikori in a place of honor." Thrawn said holding it up admiring the work If I knew you'd take it, I would've smashed it when I had the chance.

Thrawn cocked a brow his large chiss forehead rising "You surprise me. Is your history worth so little to you?"

"My family legacy belongs to us alone." Hera replied as Jerec rose, "It is not for some collector's curiosity."

"What did you say?" Slavin snapped.

Thrawn held his hand up stopping him "Forgive him. I thank you for your hospitality." Thrawn said before he looked at Jerec, "You may begin Grand Inquisitor, I'm sure the boy will make a fine addition to your other acolytes."

Jerec licked the side of his lips as Thrawn and Slavin walked out, "What?" Ezra coughed when Jerec who held his hand out, both Ezra and Hera were pushed back up against the wall and then Ezra was pulled forward, "Hmm quite the talent in you my boy, but let us see if you're 'Master' prepared you for what comes next."

Slavinand Thrawn walked out of the office to the sound of Ezra screaming.

"Such barbaric tactics torture, but we must be considerate of the Inquisitorius methods, Have the Kalikori transported to my ship." Thrawn ordered.

Slavin fixed his collar the screams making him somewhat uncomfortable "We should just destroy that piece of Twi'lek trash."

Thrawn suddenly grabbed Slavin by the collar his red eyes filled with rage before he let him go, "My apologies, Captain Slavin." he dusted off Slavin's uniform "I forgot not everyone is able to appreciate art as I do. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm conducting an experiment that requires my attendance. I leave it to your command to finish the so I shall." Thrawn said as he walked out.

TANN PROVINCE

Canyons

The TIE advanced landed and Kanan tensed up as the stormtroopers got new orders, slowly the started to back up, "That's not good." Zeb said, the TIE opened and exhaust spilled out before someone, something leapt out, walking forward in black leather imperial boots with black trousers around his leg was a white skinned twi'lek with red eyes dressed in ragged wrappings around his chest, Imperial Inquisitor pauldrons adorned his shoulders and the rags hung around his slender lean arms, a pair of fangs like any twi'lek would have. "A traitor." Cham said seeing the twi'lek ready to shoot.

"An inquisitor." Kanna said lowering Cham's arm, Kanan raised his lightsaber.

Numa shivered seeing him "It can't be, I thought they were just rumors." She whispered.

"What do you mean?" Sabine asked.

The albino inquisitor got closer like a snake. His walk was side to side swaying like something was wrong with him, "Hehehe, hmhmhm look at what I found, hehee a Jedi?" his voice was jagged like nails on a chalkboard, "I knew there were red blades sure as there were Jedi, but I never thought one of our own would be one of them, he's a butcher, a monster they call him Boc the Crude, a sadistic killer."

"Hehehe a fan, I'm pleased to know my reputation is so…. Well received." he joked as he took out a rotary lightsaber wrapped up in bandages with ghoulish sharp ends.

"Kill the rest- but the jedi is mine to play with hahaha." Boc turned on the lightsaber with two red blades leaping out of each end and attacked Kanan. The other stormtroopers returned their barrage and the rebels opened fire, the small ceasefire over just so Boc could make an entrance.

Boc attacked Kanan with a crude but odd form, slashing and stumbling. Boc laughed with each strike, Kanan adept without his vision blocked and countered forcing Boc back, the twi'lek stumbled "Hmhmhm interesting." Boc said before he held up his rotary lightsaber, twisted at the hilt and was now holding two short hilted lightsabers "Lets see how you do with two on one hehehe." Boc giggled before he attacked him with what looked like a drunken sword dance fighting style.

Suddenly the stormtroopers stopped firing again and fell back, "What?" Boc asked before Kanan used the force to blast him off his feet, Boc hit some rocks but laughed "Dirty move I love it hahah."

"What'd I miss?" Zeb asked from behind cover.

Sabine poked her helmet out "They've stopped firing?"

The remaining walker approached and projected a hologram of Captain Slavin "Cham Syndulla, I would have a word with you, it concerns your daughter."

Cham stepped out as Boc got up looking up at Slavin "Where is she?"

"I have your precious Hera and the boy, Ezra Bridger." Slavin declared. "They'll face my blaster squad unless you surrender to me."

Cham started to get closer but Numa grabbed him "You can't. You're too important." She begged him.

"And my daughter is not important?" Cham asked her "I will trade my life for hers, she will lead in my place." Cham said as he walked out into the open. "Captain Slavin, I will surrender to you, but what assurance will you give me that my daughter and the boy will be released?"

Captain Slavin smirked "Only that if you do not arrive for the exchange by sundown, they will both be terminated, Boc return to your master he has some new toys for you to play with." Slavin said Boc stuck his forked tongue out at Kanan with a smile before he walked away to his TIE, and the imperial forces retreated.

The rebels standing down came out from cover, looking to Cham and Kanan "Could the trap be more obvious?"

"We know. And I am counting on all of you to use my sacrifice to save Hera and Ezra." Kanan said to them. Kanan watched the TIE fly away and clipped his saber to his belt "Not before I have a chat with someone."

GHOST

The rebels returned to Cham's hideout in the canyon cave, as they approached they saw Turok sitting on the ramp smoking his pipe, Ahkilleon was meditating near the cliffside. The rebels approached him and Kanan held his hand up "I'll talk to him, alone." Kanan said as he walked away from earshot up behind Ahkilleon.

"So, it didn't go as planned, that's no surprise." Ahkilleon said getting up. "You made your point, who are they? I know you sensed the Inquisitors, why didn't you warn us?" Kanan accused.

Ahkilleon didn't look back "If I had it wouldn't change anything, you were all dead set on going after that Kalikori, I didn't think you'd run right into their hands?" Ahkilleon asked, turning around.

"You know they captured Ezra and Hera right?" Kanan asked him.

Ahkilleon nodded "We've been monitoring their chatter, and you're lucky you just happen to come to Ryloth the exact same time the Grand Inquisitor has, along with someone worse."

Kanan folded his arms over his chest, "This whole I was right and you were wrong thing may work on the others, but not me, I know there's more, something spooked you this morning to train and you only trained on your own when you were upset, start talking." Kanan said pointing at him "All of it."

Ahkilleon paced and held his lightsabers on their hilts "What do you know about the Valley of the Jedi."

"There wasn't a jedi alive in the Order who didn't know the story, the Army of Light and the Brotherhood of Light, there final resting place lost to history… wait, the Kalikori."

Ahkilleon sighed and dropped his shoulder. "It has to be, and if one Inquisitor is here, there isn't one far behind and if my senses are telling me who I think it is… we have to get that damn thing."

"Who's the other Inquisitor?" Kanan asked him.

Ahkilleon paced "Grand Inquisitor, a new kind of Inquisitors, they appeared about a month ago. We were on Felucia that clone, Commander Sigma had been caught, I went after them… I was arrogant and I wanted to prove myself." Ahkilleon explained. Kanan listened as Ahkilleon squeezed his harness, "That's where I met the new Grand Inquisitor, a fallen Jedi named Jerec. Do you know him?"

"Jerec, I do know that name but I wish I didn't." Kanan said becoming stiff and rigid. "When I was a youngling in the Temple he was a historian, he was strict, but I never thought he'd be a Sith?" Kanan asked.

The other rebels and Turok listened in on the conversation, "He is, and he's got his own Inquisitors who are just as dangerous as the ones we fought on Malachor, maybe more." Ahkilleon said to him "What was this new one like?"

"A twi'lek, fought with an unorthodox style, form IV is what it felt like do you know him." Kanan explained to him, Ahkilleon scratched his chin

Shaking his head "No, he's new its like more and more keep popping up everyday."

"Thats what Bendu tried to warn you about, more Sith-" "Can we not for once, don't try to make this into a stupid learning moment Kanan, Ezra and Hera are his prisoners you know what that means, Jerec will take Ezra he'll do everything he can to turn Ezra into another Inquisitor and you know what that means?"

Kanan was surprised at the outburst, "They'll have Atollons location?"

"Exactly, so I need you trust me when I say I know how they'll act, Jerec and Boc will draw us in, they'll play on your relationship to Hera and Ezra to goad you into a fight." Ahkilleon said.

"And you're going to tell me to stay behind?" Kanan asked.

Ahkilleon turned around "No, I'm going with you so we can kill them."

"What?" Kanan asked.

Ahkilleon started to pace "I've been waiting for a rematch with Jerec, and this Boc makes it even sweeter."

Kanan thought it over "We'll need everyone to get them out."

"I'm already working on a plan, but Kanan, none of them can know about the Valley of the Jedi or that its in the kalikori if Jerec or Boc could sense it, it has to be between us, as Jedi." Ahkilleon asked.

SYNDULLA ESTATE

"STOP IT!" Hera shouted as Ezra was pushed up against the wall with the force his limbs pulled so hard by invisible chains that he was hearing the joints pop and the muscles stretch beyond what they could withstand. Ezra tried to hold in his yells as Jerec licked each side of his mouth their pain sweet music to him. He used the force to silence Hera, she felt her jaw clamp shut like someone had tied a rope around her jaw and tied it back up against the top of her head. "Leave her alone!" Ezra barked before Jerec dropped him.

Jerec paced the room as looked at Ezra "Strong, defiant even in such pain, you will make fine Inquisitor boy, or should I call you Ezra, Ezra Bridger."

Ezra and Hera looked at one another in shock "Oh please don't look so surprised it's insulting, like the Good Admiral I too do my homework, you are far to young to have been a youngling in our Order, and this what was his name… Kanan Jarrus, a likely alias to avoid our detection I sense that won't be much longer."

Fighting to get to his feet Ezra held up his hand and Jerec waved his "Please-" SNAP "AAAHHH!" Ezra felt his whole right arm bend to the wrong angle like an invisible hammer had smashed it and he fell back writhing in pain "Aahra!" Hera screamed through her shut mouth she ran over to him and held him. Jerec pursed his lips together and sighed through them "This is getting us nowhere." he said as he leaned forward.

"The Grand Admiral will make a prisoner exchange, I have no use for his games and experiments what I crave is far beyond what you insects can comprehend, however as I'm in a good mood." he cooed standing he walked around the table dragging his leather gloves "I will make an addendum to whatever trade Captain Slavin has cooked up, the tailhead will go free on the condition you remain Ezra Bridger, I am always looking for mor acolytes and I can sense you've already had a taste of the dark side.'

Ezra winced looking up "You promise to let…. Her go?" Ezra asked.

Jerec smiled, his slender teeth clenched "Hmhm no." Jerec held out his hand and sent force lightning into the two of them.

REBEL HIDEOUT

The Ghost

"We already know this is a trap, the empire will be waiting for us to try something and we know they will too, so we'll do what they won't expect." Kanan said to the rebels.

Zeb wiped his nose on his fur "Yeah, what's that?"

"Ahkilleon your up." Kanan said.

Both Zeb and Sabine looked stunned, Cham opened his mouth to object but Kanan answered "I know, I know but Ahkilleon has faced the empire in open combat more than us recently, and the inquisitors. I trust his experience in this." Kanan said surprising all of them even Ahkilleon looked wide eyed but he walked forward and held up a holodevice showing the Syndulla estate, it showed red markers showing TIE fighters, and Imperial ground forces in red markings.

"The courtyard is where we'll land, needless to say we'll be surrounded by imperial troops and the skies will have TIE's on patrol nearby." Ahkilleon explained "General, we'll use your people to cause a distraction to draw away the patrols, that takes care of the imperial air support." He said as he continued "Sabine and Zeb will be dropped off on the hillside to take out the stormtroopers on the wall from long range, Kanan and I will drop off Cham in the courtyard-"

"Excuse me but not that I don't find this riveting but we don't have any sniper rifles for long range." Sabine said walking forward skeptical.

Ahkilleon glanced at her "Turok."

The trandoshan walked in and was holding a large crate and opened it, he took out a long heavy rifle as tall as Sabine, it had a large stock and tick barrel with a scope as big as a pistol, the end of the barrel has a spear shaped recoil reducer a grip under the barrel with a shoulder cushion on the butt. Two legs stuck out under the end so it could be laid steady on ground or something flat, "The first militia anti armor rifle, capable of taking out an imperial occupier tank from 800 meters away, boys call it the Rancor gun because in theory you could crack a rancor skull." Turok tossed the rifle to Zeb to catch and he caught it with a skeptical look.

"Overcompensating are we?" Zeb asked as he looked down at the sights.

"As I said, the sharpshooters will engage from a distance after we give the signal, Kanan will free Hera and Ezra, I'll deal with the inquisitors once the prisoners are freed, the Ghost will take off swing back up to pick Sabine and Zeb up, and we make for orbit." Ahkilleon turned off the hologram looking around "Any questions?"

Zeb grunted "What about the lizard?" he snarled at Turok, "Oh don't worry about me, I'll be right where I'm needed."

No one spoke after that.

"And you two are just going to take on the inquisitors all by yourself?" Sabine asked.

"You have your assignments, we leave in ten." he said walking through them and out into the twi'lek resistance base, toward the cliffside Turok following.

Cham seeing that Ahkilleon was out of ear shot, "I do not approve of risking my daughters life on a gambit."

"And Hera wouldn't agree with you giving yourself up to her either General." Kanan said back to him, Sabine and Zeb weren't fully convinced either.

Zeb cleared his throat "Look I admit, it's a good plan especially with these babies, but can we really trust… him?" Zeb gestured to Ahkilleon.

Kanan sighed "I want Hera and Ezra freed, but something is going on underneath all of this, something more sinister, something I need you all to trust me on." Kanan said looking at them behind his visor, the tenor in his voice made both Sabine and Zeb nod, Cham was hesitant "My daughter trusts you, for now that will have to do."

SYNDULLA ESTATE

Courtyard

Captain Slavin was directing the imperial troops for the exchange, "I want heavy cannons positioned here and here." He said as he pointed at the battlements, to add to the plan. "Launchers below, with two additional squads held back in reserve." he said as they heard the screams of both Ezra and Hera up in the office, Slavin's men looked back at him who cleared his throat, "Let us continue."

Up in the office, Jerec ceased his force lightning torture and looked at the two smoking bodies on the floor, Hera and Ezra were still alive, Jerec paced around the room as if he were doing some lame chore "I'm beginning to get bored with this." Jerec said taking out his lightsaber, Ezra noticed unlike most inquisitor blades it was a standard hilt with a long grip, the crystal matrix just before the emitter, lined with black rivets. He turned it on and Hera closed her eyes before Jerec flung the blade to Ezra.

Who caught it, with one hand getting to his feet "Hehe, yes that's it boy."

"Ezra… no." Hera said the anger in Ezra's eyes was palpable, he rushed Jerec who side stepped letting Ezra cut Cham's desk in half, "Direct?" Jerec said as Erza swung at him like Kanan had taught him, slashing and hacking only for Jerec to dodge and evade his black robes not even being touched like he was made of pure shadow. "Soresu, and supplements the style with Shii-Cho and later on Makashi to make up for the offensive shortcomings of form III." He said as he walked around the room Ezra panting exhausted from the torture as Jerec tapped his fingers together licking his lips "Master Cyslin Myr…?" Jerec turned around "Master of Windu, Master of Bilba, Master of… Dume?"

Jerec chuckled "Both killed in the purge or so they said in the reports?"

Ezra rushed Jerec who dodged and back handed Ezra across the face he through his knee up and smashed it into Ezra's gut knocking the wind out of him making him drop the lightsaber. Jerec shook his head licking the side of his lips "Pathetic, your lineage is wasted on you." he raised up his boot and stomped on Ezra's face knocking him out.

The door to the office opened and Slavin walked in with his stormtroopers, he approached Hera "Grand Inquisitor, a ship is approaching." He turned to Hera "Time to say good-bye to your father." Slavin said as his men grabbed her and started to drag her out.

"Not without him." Hera snapped trying to pull away "You are in no position to negotiate, alien scum." Captain Slavin said as Jerec summoned his lightsaber up from the floor, Boc walked his tongue out, he looked at Hera and then he sensed Ezra's pain and connection to the force. "Ohohoho Master, did we find a new friend?" He asked as he came in hunched over his fingers moving like tentacles to over Ezra.

Boc clipped his saber to his belt, "Perhaps, Boc our eighth member?" he said.

Boc looked over Ezra like he was a cornered animal, but Ezra looked back glaring daggers at him, "Take the twi'lek Captain, we will be along shortly." Jerec said as Boc pulled him up by his hair.

Hera fought to get back to him but the stormtroopers dragged her out until she realized she couldn't do anything, not alone, she saw Chopper rolling out behind a corner waving at her. The droid beeped low and she started to walk straight, they headed out into the courtyard where the Ghost was already descending.

"Steady. On my command." Captain Salvin said as the freighter landed, the ramp lowered with Cham walking out with Kanan behind him and Ahkilleon in his cloak "Syndulla. At last we met face-to-face." Captain Slavin said as Hera was brought forward.

They walked out and Slavin held his hand up to stop them "Step forward, alone, and turn yourself over as promised." Slavin ordered.

Cham halted "Not until you release them, all of them."

"The negotiation was for your daughter only, nothing about her rebel associate." Captain Slavin said as he pointed a blaster at Hera, "Start walking."

Chopper rolled out of the room and "Droid! What are you doing?" one of the troopers asked to see him.

Hera walked forward and saw "I am sorry, Father." she muttered "It's all right, Hera. Even I have been captured before." he said as they passed, Ahkilleon suddenly moved and used the force to push both Slavin and his escorts back Kanan drew his own saber and cut Hera and Cham free, Cham pulled out two pistols and opened fire tossing one to Hera. Slavin rolled over "Fire- fire!"

Suddenly two cracks of thunder echoed out and the armored turrets were ripped apart by two heavy green lasers that tore them apart, with explosive response. Far on the ridge overlooking the estate both Zeb and Sabine looked at one another "Why does everyone else have better toys than us." Zeb grumbled as he started to shoot at the troopers on the wall.

Kanan deflected blaster fire "Where's Ezra?"

"Inside with two Inquisitors." Hera told him as he got behind her for cover with her father, Kanan and Ahkilleon absorbing the flak.

"I'll get him." Ahkilleon said as he ran forward two squads of stormtroopers poured out of the estate, but when Ahkilleon met them at the door his helmet on he and lightsabers out their numbers and blasters were nothing compared to two lightsabers that diced them bits, he tore through the entrance and ran for the stairs.

Inside as Boc and Jerec tortured Ezra with force techniques unspeakable to mention they stopped "Hmmm, interesting." Jerec said before looking at the door, the metal folded in and was ripped off with Ahkilleon walking in red and blue saber on, "A surprise to be sure, but a welcome one." Jerec said licking his lips, Boc took out his lightsaber and Jerec ignited his "Ezra down!" Ahkilleon yelled.

Ezra ducked and drawing back both hands Ahkilleon unleashed a force cannon of invisible energy that ripped apart the interior wall blasting Jerec and Boc off their feet out into the courtyard upper wall. Ahkilleon walked forward and dragged Ezra to his feet "Where's the Kalikori?" Ahkilleon asked.

"Since when do you-" "Ezra, where?" Ahkilleon cut him off.

"The… this blue Imperial Admiral took it, I don't know where?" Ezra replied weakly as Ahkilleon got him to his feet and walked him through the hole.

Ahkilelleon froze, "Blue admiral…. Damn it, DAMMIT ALL TO HELL!" Ahkilleon barked as he pushed Ezra off the balcony edge for Kanan to catch with the force, both Jerec and Boc had barely taken any damage from the force push and were dusting themselves off. Ahkilleon dropped off kneading to blow off his steam,

Boc and Jerec approached lightsabers, drawing the hum of their red blades as they encircled the tiger like two black jackals, "I see you've returned for another lesson?" Jerec said to Ahkilleon as they took their fighting stance, Ahkilleon watched them move to his blind spot on each side, he rolled his wrists flipping his lightsabers into reverse grip. "Let's kill him, Master."

"Yes lets, unless he has something glib to say about it?" Jerec asked.

Ahkilleon held his sabers at the ready "Your pathetic."

"Pathetic?" Jerec asked licking his lips "Oh do tell?" He asked as Boc got anxious.

"You come here to Ryloth like Admiral Thrawn's pets, but I shouldn't expect any different you chose the cowards way out to be an Inquisitor for the Empire, at least the old Inquisitors had the strength and try to fight back, but you jumped at the chance to be the siths lackey." Ahkilleon said.

Jerec gritted his teeth "Lackey am I?" He growled "Do you even have the title of Darth, let me guess Darth Vainity, Darth Kraven I can go on?"

Jerec clicked his tongue "Boc bring me his tongue."

The albino twi'lek attacked with a cackling laughter detaching his saber at the mid

Section so he had two red blades, Ahkilleon caught his first attack and blasted him with a force push. Jerec came at his flank and Ahkilleon held both sabers behind his back to catch the red saber, he swung his leg out at Jerec's but the inquisitor leapt out of the way. Ahkilleon attacked Jerec who kept his footing and moved back "Someone had been practicing?" Jerec teased when Ahkilleon swung a full three sixty with both lightsabers and hit Jerec defense like two hammers on an anvil "And hitting the weights." Ahkilleon said his exposed biceps bulging.

"Good perhaps you'll be more amusing since the last time?" Jered said summoning a bolt of force nothing Ahkilleon blocked it with his lightsabers in a cross guard and rushed Jerec, he slashed the lighting back at him Jerec stabbed Ahkilleon dodged it the laser singing his helmet with sparks. Jerec flipped back to the second floor balcony and Ahkilleon jumped up to face him. Boc appeared behind Ahkilleon and the lightsabers danced.

Down below Kanan led Ezra and Hera back into the ghost, Ezra leaning on Hera "Chopper, did you do plan B?" Hera asked the droid, the droid replied "Plan B?" Cham took Ezra from her and ran up to the bridge taking over for Chopper and started to take off. "Sorry father, but I won't let the Empire take anything more from us." Hera said as Chopper handed her a detonator, she pressed it and suddenly the inside of the estate started to erupt in explosions.

Cham watched from the window as the ship started to take off "What have you done?"

"I had chopper rig the armory to blow." Hera said as she ran to the cockpit where Turok let her take over. "Where are Zeb and Sabine?"

"Who do you think has been covering us, they're on the ridge we need to pick them up" Kanan asked before he sat down with her.

"Some plan you got here." Hera said. Kanan looked out to see Ahkilleon and the two inquisitors were now fighting on the side of the mountain the estate was built into, "His."

Hera took off and started to fly off "We'll get Zeb and Sabine first, swing back around to get Ahkilleon, Turok, Father I need you on the guns."

Both old men went to the turrets and started to cover her, the Ghost was chased by two TIE fighters that both Zeb and Sabine shot down. The ghost flew in low hovering a foot off the ground, both rebels got up to run onto the Ghost. "Hang on!" Hera said she flew low to the ground coming up fast on the estate.

Hers opened fire on the estate, missiles flew right through the courtyard and into the house ripping through the stone and metal erupting the rest of the houses armory inside sending a chain reaction of explosives. Jerec and Boc staggered from the blast Ahkilleon was almost thrown from the spire but he saw the ghost pull up and leapt with the force onto the loading ramp "NO!" Boc screamed, leaping up into the air like a banshee after him. He tackled Ahkilleon into the cargo hold and tried to drive his lightsaber into Ahkilleon; he dropped his own sabers rolling them to the back of the cargo hold. He grabbed Boc's wrists and held them as Boc tried to take his head. "Kill you kill you bahaha!"

Jerec watched Boc "What a waste." He said before the Grand Inquisitor turned to flee the explosions.

"Get us out of here!" The rebels got to their guns as TIE's chased them from Ryloth, the rebels shot at the TIE's fleeing Boc and Ahkilleon wrestling in the cargo bay, Boc has the sabers close to Ahkilleon's neck and barred his fangs. Ahkilleon squeezed his mechanical and on the inquisitors wrists crushing the bone, Boc was bleeding from his wounds but he was fighting savagely all while Boc laughed maniacally "Yes- yes give me more Demon!"

Ahkilleon and the acolyte hurled blows at one another, Boc used his claw like nails "I thought you were tough, come on don't hold back!" Boc laughed as he sunk his teeth into Ahkilleon's arm. Yelling Ahkilleon rammed himself into Boc and against the wall. Ripping his teeth out of his arm he grabbed Boc by his lekku and rolled back slamming Boc onto the floor and pulling! Boc laughed as he tried to get up "That's the spirit! Hahahahaha! Do it, do it!" Boc laughed when Cham and Zeb came in blasters drawn and looked down to see Boc on the floor Ahkilleon's knee on his back hands gripping tight on Boc's lekku pulling with all his strength, "Hahaha- yes- yes-" Boc's laughter was a cackling scream.

He through an elbow and wrapped Ahkilleon around in his arms and hurled him down onto the floor like a wrestler, "Shoot the monster." Cham ordered.

"I don't have a shot there all over the place." Zeb said when Sabine came around with her own blasters, she dropped down to get closer, Kanan came out of the cockpit "No, we need him alive, we can learn what the Empire is up to."

"Karabast that Kanan-" Boc saw her and held the force out. He knocked Zeb and Cham away and then focused on Sabine holding his arm up he grabbed her by the throat with an invisible noose. Sabine dropped her blasters grabbing her neck and her body was lifted off the floor grasping at her neck "Sabine! Ahkilleon grabbed Boc wrapping his arm around the front and pressing his other behind his lekku. He pulled Boc down into a tight choke hold "Let her go- NOW" Ahkilleon shouted at Boc who's eyes started to grow red from loss of oxygen.

"N-ack-Never-" Boc gargled as he continued to squeeze the noose tighter, Ahkilleon new what he had to do, and Kanan could feel the bloodlust in the air running out to stop it "Ahkilleon don't do it, find another way!" Kanan said as he tried to jump down and pulled out his lightsaber trying to slice off Boc's arm to break the concentration; but the inquisitor shot his other arm out, holding Kanan against the wall. There Ahkilleon couldn't come up with any other way, he had Sabine in a choke hold he could see the blood draining from her face turning as purple as her armor, Kanan was right a good Jedi would find another way, Kanan would find another way but Ahkilleon wasn't Kanan, he pulled with all his arms out with all his might-

KRRAKK

Sabine and Kanan fell onto the floor gasping for air, and Boc's eyes rolled back behind his head, his face backwards on the floor from the rest of his body looking up at Ahkilleon.

The ghost flew out of the planet's atmosphere and into space, Hera saw a imperial vessel closing fast but she made the jump to hyperspace breathing easier when they were on their way. She didn't let that rest last long she got up and ran out into the main hold to see the carnage. Sabine was on her feet with Kanan both breathing hard, Cham and Zeb had come down to check on them. Ahkilleon looked at Boc and walked over to pick up his lightsabers and his helmet, looking back he saw all the rebels looking at him.

That was the worst, even Ezra had limped his way out to see Boc the Crude had been slain his neck twisted around in an unnatural way that monstrous smile still on his face.

All of them had a mix of fear, shock and surprise on their faces.

It was clear now that Ahkilleon wasn't the boy they had met all that time ago, "The Kalikori?" Kanan asked.

"We couldn't get it?" Hera asked even though he was asking Ahkilleon.

ATOLLON

They returned to Atollon and when Sato with his men came to greet them they watched Ahkilleon walk off dragging Boc by his boot heading to the edge of the camp. "What is the meaning of this, halt Tano?" Sato demanded but Ahkilleon walked to the edge of the emitter fence.

Commander Sato stormed after Ahkilleon the sight of seeing Ahkilleon drag the body of the dead Inquisitor through his base like a dog dragging a rat, made Sato grab Ahkilleon "This is my base and you will-" Ahkilleon swung back around his fist clocking Sato in the jaw, the Commander fell back knocked to the ground. Ahkilleon stood over him "Touch me again and I'll do more next time." Ahkilleon said as he tossed Boc's body onto the other side. Krykna came over the dunes dragging the body away fighting over and ripping it to shreds.

Ahkilleon didn't stay to watch, he walked back up into the revenant. Commander Sato seeing such disregard for his authority went to confront Ahkilleon but he was cut off by Turok and Breacher, both men had their hands on their pistols, making it clear Sato wouldn't be near. Ahkilleon walked into his ship and into his quarters turning on the fresher ice cold he didn't bother to take his armor or robes off, the blood of his enemy and his own mixing in the water running down the drain. In the solitude of the shower the water ran down his face and the cracks started to show his eyes shut tight and he pressed his forehead into the wall holding back the emotion, the pain he'd caused. The rebels had seen him unleash his savagery, the look in their eyes of confusion, of fear, of pain. He crushed the feelings of shame and regret, he took a deep breath.

It wasn't the way of the jedi.

But it was his way.