Chapter 20
The Antilles Extraction
ATOLLON
Chopper Base
Sabine and Zeb were looking up in the sky as the Rebel One made its jump to hyperspace, "There it goes, we could have at least kept the thing?" Zeb asked Hera who was standing across from the two, "We already have a carrier, and there are rebel cells better equipped to make sure the Militia didn't leave any surprises in it." Hera added.
Sabine glanced over at the Revenant that had returned, "Speaking of surprises, we should go say hello to our new partners?" She asked.
The ramp lowered and Lt. Breacher walked out followed by at least a dozen B5 battle droids who were carrying out supplies and equipment, he had a holopad directing them, following the droids out were Corto, Jay and Rulf carrying bags. Beetoo rolled out in front of them and when Chopper saw the droid it growled, "Chopper, don't kill this one… at least don't get caught doing it." Sabine muttered.
"You three were at Vizla Keep 009?" Sabine said seeing them, Rulf, Jay and Corto looked at the mandalorian "Yeah, Sabine wasn't it?" Rulf asked, fixing his beret.
She nodded "Whatever happened to the Mandalorian you were with?"
"Well…" Corto looked over his shoulder and they heard loud belch, Korkie Kryze was wobbling out of the Revenant, his uncolored dirty armor fit on him loosely as he stumbled down, turned left and took his helmet off. "Slept through the entire battle of the Splice, and drank throughout an entire alcohol supply." Breacher said.
Korkie wiped his mouth when he noticed Sabine, he "What you looking at ad'ike*?" he belched before he wobbled off.
"Is he ever sober?" Sabine asked.
All three boys replied "Nope."
Zeb and Hera came up to Breacher, he was swiping crates off the manifest, "I take it these aren't the only droids?"
Breacher looked over at her, "No ma'am, rest are in there." He said pointing to a large dome shaped structure that was being carried out on a holocart, "Is that a droid dispenser?" Rex asked, seeing the dispenser, it was a large egg shaped device that was taller than Zeb, "Will you need to hook it up to our power supply?"
Breacher snickered, "If this place wasn't a desert world we would." He pressed a button and the dispenser top opened up a satellite dish with black reflective panels on it unfolding "Solar power?" Sabine asked.
Breacher looked at her, "Smart girl, when the Militia was starting out we found our resources were limited, but Arcadia and the surrounding planets in the system provided everything we needed to build our forces." He added.
Rex looked at the droids with a sneer, as they continued to sort and unload the Revenant "Just keep the clankers away from me, alright." Rex said walking off.
Corto broke the tension after approaching Hera, "Pardon me, Commander, I never formally introduced myself to you and your crew, Padawan Corto Vos-Ventress at your service if it's alright with you I'd like to set up in your medical station if you have any wounded I can get them back on your feet."
"You a doctor kid, thought you were a jedi?" Rex asked, Corto smiled brushing his brown locks back, "Well, sort of both I'm a healer."
Hera's eyes got wide, "Kanan told me Jedi healing was a lost art?"
"Not to the New Jedi, or my Master Saa, she taught me everything I know." Hera thought it over and looked at Zeb, "Show him to our wounded."
Zeb nodded "Don't try anything."
Jay and Rulf both laughed, hearing that "What's so funny?" Sabine asked.
"Corto is a pacifist, doesn't even have a lightsaber." Jay told her, "Speaking of lightsabers, I'm sure the Captain will want his back, if you'd be so kind." Lt. Breacher asked.
"Where is the Captain?" Rulf asked.
Far from the base in Bendu's lair, Ahkilleon was standing face to face with the behemoth. "So your the so called 'one' in the middle, like the ones my mother told me about the celestials on Mortis."
Bendu cocked his brow, "So she did tell you of them, curious, but that is not why you are here."
"Why am I here, no riddles, no games, just tell me why you've been tormenting me?" Ahkilleon demanded taking off his helmet to look him in the eye.
"Torment you, no, meet you yes, as I said before a great imbalance is taking place, the forces of light and dark are rising to challenge one another for the dominance of the galaxy." Bendu told him again.
"It's called war, the Empire- the dark side has ruled for almost twenty years now and they need to be stopped, by any means necessary." Ahkilleon argued.
Bendu leaned in "The others thought so, and you followed them to Malachor which led you on the path you are on now, so called Jedi King?"
Ahkilleon stepped back "How do you know about that, my mother?"
"Yes, she feared for you before Malachor, as any mother would."
Ahkilleon looked away the refocused on Bendu, "Well she's not here anymore, I am, this imbalance it'll only end when one side is destroyed, and I don't see it ending anytime soon."
"So you will wage this war without mercy, no better than the forces of the dark side." Bendu asked him.
"I didn't say that, but I have my convictions. Is that why you called me here, to test my resolve?" Ahkilleon asked.
Bendu shook his shaggy antlered head, "No, to reunite you with what you have lost to restore balance, from one who is unbalanced."
Ahkilleon cocked his head "You just said I was like you, light and dark that sounds balanced?"
"Your righteous fury is no greater than your stoic apathy young one, the force is more than light and dark yes, but it is also alive and under threat.'
Ahkilleon new exactly what he meant, "Jerec and his Inquisitors, the Valley of the Jedi, we stopped them I… stopped them."
"You only delayed, the Inquisitors are still looking."
"Bendu!" Ahkilleon looked over his shoulder to see Kanan and Ezra roll up on their speeder bike, "What are they doing here- where….?" Ahkilleon looked back to see Bendu was gone.
Ahkilleon got off the bike first "Yeah, he tends to do that."
"So you two already know the giant moose gorilla, great." Ahkilleon said holding his helmet he looked at the spot where Bendu was and then, "The Bendu is very powerful and wise. Did he talk to you?" Kanan asked.
Ahkilleon thought back on what Bendu had said to him, "Briefly, but none of your business." Ahkilleon said heading to leave the grove. Ezra got off the bike "Too bad, because while you and your Militia are squating here it is our business." Ezra said, cutting him off that's when Ezra noticed something very…. Very…. the six months they'd been apart, Ahkilleon was no longer the short skinny kid Ezra had met and maybe it was the armor or the ground, but Ezra was noticing Ahkilleon had filled and stretched out in ways adolescence and intense physical training would do. He was at least an inch taller than Ezra and broader in shoulder to muscular arms.
"What did the Militia feed you?" Ezra asked.
"Sith." Ahkilleon said walking around him, "Hey we're not done." Ezra grabbed his arm and Ahkilleon pulled away "Grab me again Ezra, and you'll see just how much the Militia fed me."
Ezra grabbed his lightsaber but Kanan got between them "Stop, both of you this doesn't help anything."
"I agree, Master Jarrus." Ahkilleon said not to be polite, but distant "I'll be back at your base." he said before walking off.
Ezra scoffed as he walked away, "Asshole." Ezra grumbled.
Kanan turned to him "What was that about?"
"You're getting mad at me, he betrayed us."
Kanan folded his arms "Put your own feelings aside, this is about the rebellion not what happened between us and him."
"I wish you could see my face right now, because that's exactly what it's about." Ezra snapped at him, "Not right now, so stop it before you say or do something you regret." Kanan warned him.
Back at the Base, Turok had made himself at home in the mess hall helping himself to some food, Hera walked in and sulked seeing him, the mess hall was a large tent six long tables with stools next to them, simple enough to give people a place to eat inside "Say what you want about you rebels, your food was always better than the Militia rations, now don't get me wrong you go to Bastion Temple have Master Zhao's famous soup woof." Turok said, sipping it.
"Cut the mister nice guy act Turok, none of us are happy about you being here, this is an alliance of necessity." Hera said, looking at him from across the table.
He swallowed "Yeah, I know that who do you think was telling the Militia we needed an alliance with you all?" he asked.
That didn't soften Hera's demeanor, "Did you know that after Ahkilleon came after Maul that your great and powerful Lord Asimov mutilated him?"
Turok sipped his soup from his spoon with a long slurp, "Lad took his lickings like a man."
Gawking at that while Turok looked at his soup "Is that all you have to say, you're his godfather Ahsoka trusted you to protect him." she snapped, Turok just kept eating "Say something, you weren't at least angry after what they did."
Turok looked up, "I was angry, but what if that was Ezra who watched oh I don't Kanan get left behind on a sith super weapon to die, and let me see, Zeb getting crushed by a giant stone door giving his life to save his hmm, don't answer I know what you would do."
"Is that so?" Hera asked folding his arms "You'd give the lad a nice little hu and tell him everything would be alright, that it gets better, that the pain will go away except when it won't." Turok said finishing his soup he stood up "He'd spend the rest of his days blaming himself for not being strong enough, smart enough just…. Enough to save his family." Turok walked over to her "Course then there's how you'd deal with it losing your man." he gave her a side eye as he set the bowl down.
"You all want to look at Ahkilleon like there's something wrong with him, that he's broken, that he's lost and the only way back is if he sees the error of his ways and come crawling back to you." Turok said "He's a man now, he knows his own mind."
Turok walked out and Hera looked at the empty bowl of soup before she left, "Hera you better come see this, the transport we sent out to Teralov was hit." Kanan said coming up to her, they hurried to the command center where Sato was waiting, soon Ezra, Sabine and Zeb came running up.
"Hey. We heard the supply run to Teralov failed." Ezra said as Ahkilleon and Lt. Breacher came up, Turok was also there though he kept his distance leaning on a crate behind the others.
Hera's face saddened at the news "It gets worse. We lost the entire escort of A-wings, six pilots and the transport's entire crew."
"How many is that this month? At this rate, there's not gonna be anyone left to fly for the Rebellion." Ezra added dismayed.
Commander Sato leaning on the holotable spoke up "Fortunately, I have been working on a solution with the help of Fulcrum."
"Ahsoka?" Ezra said, his eyes darted over to Ahkilleon who had his helmet under his arm.
Hera glanced the young mans ways too "No, Fulcrum's a code name we give to our secret informants. It was Ahsoka's idea there are other Fulcrum agents, she was among them and so… was Turok." The trandoshan gave a playful salute glad to be mentioned. They turned on the holotable and an image appeared two four sided diamonds with long sharp stripes that went up into a point, then stretched down and out then back in to another point, baring a striking resemblance to the togrutan markings of Ahsoka and Ahkilleon.
Lt. Breacher took note but said nothing, and a recording of a muffled voice spoke "I have information that may help you replace your stable of pilots. There are Imperial cadets at the Skystrike Academy who wish to defect to the rebels. I do not know their names, but they will require some assistance to escape. I suggest you move quickly, before the Empire discovers their intentions. Fulcrum out." the recording ended and so did the hologram.
"This is enough to act on." Sato affirmed.
Hera looked across the table to Sabine "The mission is yours, Sabine, we've arranged to insert you into a squad of new cadets headed for Skystrike, AP-5 will prepare fake credentials."
"Wait, wait. Shouldn't I be the one to go in? I've done this before, remember?" Ezra asked.
Sabine elbowed him playfully "Yeah, and I really was an Imperial cadet once, for years, remember?"
Hera was inclined to agree with Sabine "The Empire knows you too well, Ezra, you'll be identified; Sabine is the least recognizable of all of us. I need you and Kanan to shadow her." Hera told him "You'll stay in communication while she's inside and be ready to help her escape, Zeb and I have to supervise the escort for the new relief mission to Teralov."
Everyone was silent, so Hera took that as her crew in agreement "We've got our plan. Let's go."
"I'll go too." Ahkilleon said.
"Excuse me?" Sabine asked.
Ahkilleon stepped forward "The Militia are your allies now, if you need more pilots we can help and I'm the best pilot here, besides you Hera."
"Our main priority is to get pilots, and Sabine can do that alone." Hera told him "I'll assist your mission in any way I can, and make a requisition to the Militia to replace the transport and resources that were lost, as per our alliance."
There was a long silence before Hera broke her staring contest with Ahkilleon, "Fine, we'll have AP-5 set you up with credentials as well, Captain."
"Roger, roger." Ahkilleon said back, everyone broke from the meeting and Sabine followed Hera, "I'm not working with him, I can do this on my own."
"Like it or not Sabine, we need the resources you don't have to like but you are the only one I can trust on Skystrike Academy, the only one." Hera said, putting a hand on her shoulder.
Sabine took a deep breath and looked over her shoulder to see Ahkilleon talking to Turok and Breacher working out their own plan, she scrunched her face up in a sneer unhappy about the situation "Fine, I'll do it for you Hera."
Hera smiled back at her, "I know this is a lot for you, and I appreciate it now go get changed."
Sabine did as she was ordered and left the command center, she didn't see Ahkilleon with Turok and Breacher anymore, and headed to Ezra who was with Kanan, "Where are we keeping the stolen imperial uniforms again?"
"Shed five." Ezra told her
Sabine followed Ezra's instructions to a building next to the cargo containers. When she walked in she saw Ahkilleon half naked, his back to her, removing his trousers covered just above where his lower back met his ass. She looked away from his whip, scared back her cheeks a bright red "What the hell?" she hissed.
"Knock much?" Ahkilleon asked turning holding the flight suit up around his waist, his lower navel exposed Sabine looked through her fingers seeing abs going up into his firm chest with broad shoulders and muscular arms, scars from battles left alongside his togrutan marks on his shoulders and forearms over his fair colored skin. Sabine looked away "I-it's our base." She stammered walking past him to the crate he'd open with Imperial flight uniforms. He had selected one and had his armor and robes set aside in the corner with his helmet.
Ahkilleon looked at the wall and dropped his trousers, Sabine doing her best not to look it didn't help that some of the metal crates had a chrome finish that showed a reflection with great, great detail he grabbed a flight suit and started to put it on. "New hair." Ahkilleon said noting her silver and blonde flow, Sabine scoffed "Don't get use to it, I'll have to wash it out for the mission." She said taking off her armor and setting it aside, Ahkilleon heard the metal ping off one another and then out of the corner of his eye he noticed her remove her own trousers. Looking forward to the reflection on his side he noticed her disrobe from her body glove, her tan skin showing a thin sheen of sweat that made it glow. He shut his eyes and keep getting dressed putting the boots on next.
"... a shame, it looks nice."
"Don't do that, this is a mission first… liar." Sabine growled as she put on a flight suit and fitted on some gloves. He new what and why she was calling him a liar, before Malachor when they shared an intimate moment, when they kissed and he promised he'd come back, he'd broken that promise.
Ahkilleon fitted his own on grabbing a harness to throw over his chest, he grabbed a helmet and walked outside, he headed toward the Ghost where the other Specters were waiting. Hera got in front of him, "Hurt her, get her killed and you'll answer to me."
"Glad to know somethings never change."
"Uh excuse me, there's still the matter of them recognizing Captain Tano here, you know with all of them calling him the Demon and being a Warlords lackey?" Zeb asked.
Turok walked up holding a small box from his trench coat, "Please, you act as if this is the first time I've had to sneak this lad through an imperial patrol."
Ezra looked puzzled at the box, "Is that… makeup?" he asked.
"Why so surprised Ezra, when we first met I was wearing a dress disguised as a princess?" Ahkilleon told him.
Jay and Rulf suddenly fell out from behind the Ghost with Corto having eavesdropped "You what?"
MONTROSS
Skystrike Academy
The Skystrike Academy, also known as the Skystrike Flight Academy, or as Montross Academy, was an elite flight academy—located in the atmosphere of Montross—that was part of the Galactic Empire's military training program. Montross was a planet in the binary star Montross system in the mid rim sector of the greater Galaxy, the Academy itself was a large floating station high in the atmosphere with TIE's flying in and out of it. A lambda class shuttle flew to one of its hangars landing as it did an Imperial officer with two Stormtroopers waiting for it with an imperial astro droid. The ramp lowered an Imperial pilot who walked down the ramp handling their credential cards to the officer to be scanned by the astro droid.
The first one went off without a hitch, the second on shorter and thinner walked forward giving him her card but it was denied by the droid "There seems to be a problem with your credentials, cadet. Security." the two stormtroopers moved to take her.
"Wait! That happens from time to time." the young cadet said, holding her hands up, "Can I see it? Yeah, these new ID cards can be temperamental." She said taking it and removing her helmet to blow on it and then rubbing it on her flight suit before giving it back "Now try it?"
The droid scanned the card and pinged that it was approved "Proceed."
"Thank you, sir." Sabine said taking it, she walked ahead where the first pilot was waiting "Cutting it close aren't we?" Ahkilleon said under his helmet.
Sabine reached into her helmet and took out a comlink "Shhh, you'll ruin your makeup." She growled at him.
Far off on the edge of the Sector, a Rebel corvette with Kanan and Ezra inside were monitoring her mission, Ezra sat in the commanders chair with Kanan behind him, both Turok and Breacher were there too "She's in."
"Well, I guess all we can do now is sit and wait." Ezra muttered.
"Don't worry. She'll be fine." Kanan reassured "I'm just not a fan of these solo missions." Ezra confided in him.
"Unless it's you." Kanan pointed out.
Ezra looked over his shoulder at Turok and Breacher "Think the Captain will make it?"
"Knowing Ahkilleon, he'll die trying."
Back at Skystrike Academy, Sabine and Ahkilleon were lined up with all the other cadets in a hallway, a man in full flight leathers walked between them, he stood tall and arrogant like a true Imperial officer "I am instructor Goran, Listen carefully, cadets you are here because the Empire sees the potential in you to join the ranks of its most elite pilots, most of you will fail whatever you have achieved before means nothing. Here, only the best survive." he said passing by them he had pale skin, brown eyes and hair that stuck out from his flight cap.
"Prepare yourselves. Your first combat training will begin at 0600, squadron dismissed!" he said before he walked out, the cadets all stood at ease and started to talk among themselves.
"What'd you think of the new GG1?" One pilot said "I'm looking forward to the F-40s." another girl added, Ahkilleon stuck around them "The F-40s are good, but what about those TIE advanced those Inquisitors get to fly?" he asked.
The cadets all nodded "Yeah those sleek." One pilot said.
Ahkilleon noticed Sabine left the hallway and went to the barracks, he followed her still wearing his helmet hiding his face as she sat down, tense he wanted to go say something but he had his own mission. He snuck away from the academy barracks and walked through the hallways noticing a not many cameras in certain areas then he came to a corridor that was very short with no cameras around a blindspot. Finding a small vent he opened it and stuck a metal device inside it that started to blink, an explosive.
He headed back to the barracks where he found Sabine, she had turned in early and had his back to him he walked up and reached for her but stopped. Turning away he thought Sabine was asleep but she was awake and watched him go.
Later, at the combat training at O six hundred, Sabine was inside her own TIE flying through 'space' "This is TIE SS-3-6 on patrol at. 149, awaiting wingman." Sabine said
"Copy that, 3-6. This is TIE SS-2-5." another pilot, a boy her age came alongside her in his own TIE fighter. "You can call me Wedge. What's your name, cadet?"
"I'm Ria Talla." Sabine lied about her identity for the sake of the mission.
"Don't break protocol. Comm numbers only." Goran commanded from Skystrike academy he was watching the
"Copy that, Command." the boy named Wedge said.
Goran continued to feed them information "Comscan is tracking rebel ships entering Sector 2. Move to intercept."
"Acknowledge. Let's go, 3-6." Wedge said.
"Right behind you, 2-5." Sabine added following him they flew through space to the coordinates and didn't see anything at first "You have anything, 3-6?" Wedge asked.
"Nothing yet." Sabine or Ria replied.
"Wait. There they are! Four ships coming in at .847. I see 'em. Y-wings. Heavy shields and turret guns."
"Command, how should we proceed?" Wedge asked.
Goran quickly ordered "Eliminate all targets."
"They're splitting up, 3-6. Circle around to .4." the two TIE's engaged the rebel ships and a dog fight ensued, Wedge quickly took out two of them. "I've got these two."
Sabine then took out another one "Good kill, 3-6."
"One more and we're even, 2-5." Sabine added.
"3-6 and 2-5, proceed to the transmitted coordinates and destroy the rebel vessel located there." Goran said as they headed to the next location, they came upon a damaged transport heavily damaged, the same one the rebels had loaded with the militia supplies.
Sabine scanned it on her sensors "No power readings. It's disabled."
Suddenly the ship sent a distress signal "Please, do not fire! We surrender!" the mans voice was pleading it wasn't a simulation it was a recording."We're heavily damaged and have wounded aboard! Repeat, we surrender!"
"Destroy the vessel as ordered." Goran ordered.
"But Imperial protocol is to board the-" "Destroy the vessel as ordered, 3-6!" Goran snapped at Sabine.
In a hushed tone Sabine whispered "Is breaking protocol part of the test?"
"What was that, 3-6?" Goran asked.
"Comm malfunction, sir, hold on." Wedge said covering for her, "New target coming in at. 17." Goran said as a new ship appeared, Sabine looked up to see it was the Ghost firing on them.
"Look out!" Wedge said before he was hit his TIE exploding and the Ghost wheeled around to open fire on Sabine's taking her out in the process.
"Simulation complete." Goran said as the imperial TIE's were actually simulation pods in an large open chamber inside the academy, there were six pods in the room three on each side with a holomonitor for Goran and two other pilots to watch the simulation.
"Cadets, exit your pods." Goran ordered, "Report for debriefing." both Wedge and Sabine got out of their cockpits walking down some stairs to Goran, Sabine slammed her hand on the table "What kind of rebel ship was that? That was no transport."
The pod in the middle of the two they had exited suddenly opened an another man walked out, he had white skin with light blue eyes black hair and a thick mustache "But you are wrong, cadet." he said as he walked down, he had yellow stripes running down his flight suit and helmet, showing his rank as Captain.
"It was a transport called the Ghost, which has been modified for combat, the rebels are a desperate group of extremists. They'll fight with any ship, using any means necessary to undermine our authority. That is why orders must be followed without question." the man said looking at Sabine and Wedge intently "Insubordination like yours will get you and your wingman killed."
"Understood? Yes, sir." Wedge replied.
Sabine was silent and the Captain noticed "Understood, cadet?"
"Yes, sir." Sabine said the man stood up straight "Captain Skeriss look at this one, 9-7 is still holding out against your Ghost." Instructor Goran said as they looked at the holomontior to show the the other pods on the opposite side of the room were doing the same simulation the two on each side of the middle pod had been taken out and emptied, they came up to the monitor to see the third still in the fight with the Ghost. The TIE dipped and weaved around the Rebel transport as the Ghost chased it shooting. Suddenly the TIE hit the brakes and the Ghost swerved to avoid the TIE spun around at the last second shooting the Ghost in the cockpit at point blank range causing it to explode.
Goran pressed a button to instruct the TIE "9-7 destr-" Without waiting a second the TIE took out the rebel transport even as it pleaded for mercy. Most of the imperial cadets cheering at the successful simulation but Wedge and Sabine didn't.
Captain Skeriss smiled "Now that is a real pilot." he said looking at Sabine, the pod opened and Ahkilleon emerged from it still wearing his helmet before he took it off revealing he had covered up his togrutan markings on his face and in addition he'd dyed his hair and eyebrows a thick rusty orange.
"Well done Cadet…" Captain Skerris trailed off waiting for him to make the introductions, Ahkilleon stood up straight and saluted "Thofen Rich, Captain I only wish it was the real thing rebel scum should be treated without mercy." he said giving him his own alias and holding a clenched fist up tight.
Captain Skerris patted him on the shoulder "That's the spirit young man."
Captain Skerris smiled "I like you cadet, walk with me."
Sabine watched Ahkilleon walk off with Skerris and he gave her a cocky smirk, as she was left behind with Wedge.
"I see you don't just take risks when you're flying." Wedge said.
"Well, I trust my gut, and I know right from wrong, I respect that. A lot of people here won't." Wedge said as they headed to the next lesson, they left the simulation room to walk into a large training hall, the room was as big as the simulation room but it stood on the outside of the Academy's body, with three large rhombus shaped windows two with their long sides flat and the other upside down wedged between them. There were a dozen matts spread out across the room with cadets and training droids watching. Instructor Goran led them into the room as Captain Skerris watched the sparring.
Goran stepped forward "Unlike our fellow imperials in the infantry we pilots fight in the sky, but there is always the chance of being shot down and at those times your survival is paramount to serving the Empire." Goran said as they watched the cadets train.
"A skilled pilot must also be skilled at hand to hand combat, should you lose your blaster." Goran said looking over the cadets, Captain Skerris gave him a nod and nudged his head over at the spying rebels "Cadet Talla, Cadet Rich stepforward let's see what you two can do."
Ahkilleon and Sabine set their helmets down and removed their pilot harnesses, taking their places on opposite sides of the matt. "Begin!" Goran ordered.
Sabine struck first with a direct punch, Ahkilleon dodged it and went for her body but she blocked him and then hit him across the face with a left hook. He fell backwards a welt starting to form on his cheek, Goran scratched his chin looking as Ahkilleon shook it off and held his fists up loosening his ricks like cocking two guns, which his arms pressing on his flight suit showed he had plenty off. Sabine came at him again and pushed him back with her punches and even a kick, he dodged her second kick and hit her in the gut, Sabine wheezed but then punched him with an uppercut, she through an elbow at him but he barely dodged it, she dropped low hitting him in the lower cut, then hooked her arm around the back of his knee, Ahkilleon felt his leg sweep out from under him and he hit the floor on his back. He rolled out of the back of her boot from smashing his face in and got back to his feet, Sabine ran at him and through her self toward him wrapping her legs around his neck she swung using her full body weight and momentum to try and throw Ahkilleon off his balance again, but Ahkilleon her mid flight and-
SLAM
He smashed her body onto the mat with a hit that made all the cadets go "Ooooh."
Sabine rolled over out breath, "Instructor I think this is going too far, sir?" Cadet Wedge objected.
"You will remember your place cadet." Captain Skerris asked as Sabine got to her feet, sucking in air, she launched two more kicks and then hit Ahkilleon with a right jab, he countered with a open handed strike to her shoulder knocking her back he swiped her leg and she twisted to spin on her hands when he got close she wrapped her legs around his waist and tried to use his own size against him again, but Ahkilleon reached for her grabbing her by the neck and pinning her on the matt her legs wrapped firmly around his waist squeezing, tight like his own mechano hand on her neck she had one hand on his wrist the other punched his reddening face and he pinned it down holding her there in a less than… combative looking embrace.
"That's enough." Instructor Goran said stepping forward, both of the 'cadets' let go of one another gasping for air, faces red from more than just lack of oxygen, standing up Captain Skerris walked ""Well at least you know how to fight Cadet Talla?" he said.
Then he looked at Ahkilleon "But you Cadet, Rich you held back anyone could see you have size, stamina, strength over your weaker opponent use it."
Ahkilleon swallowed in some air "Sir, yes sir."
The Captain turned his attention to Sabine, "As for you, if you flunk out of Skystrike there's always the mudtrooper, Cadet."
Just then an imperial officer approached Instructor Goran and whispered something to him "That is most unusual, Cadets assemble in Hanger 4 we have an unexpected visitor."
Later, the Cadets and Goran were all gathered in the hangar he mentioned, and could see an Imperial Lambda class shuttle approached the Academy, escorted by two TIE's it landed and the ramp lowered, two people walked out, "Governor Pryce, Agent Kallus." Goran said as both Sabine and Ahkilleon recognized the two but said nothing. "May I ask the reason for this unscheduled visit?" Goran inquired with suspicion.
"ISB has information that some of your cadets are planning to defect to the rebels. You have traitors in your midst." Agent Kallus said.
Goran shook his head "Impossible. My cadets are unmatched, both in their skill and loyalty."
"Nevertheless, I will be conducting a thorough investigation, and you are to extend your full cooperation." Agent Kallus said in his low kevlar tone.
Pryce walked forward and added "Agent Kallus, you may begin, my hope is that I may teach you something today."
Goran followed them "I will make sure every resource is available to you, Cadets dismissed." Sabine and Ahkilleon walked out of the hanger with the others when they noticed three of the cadets wonder away from the main pack, Ahkilleon nudged Sabine to take notice and they followed at a distance, shey saw three young men take their helmets off one was Wedge, the other two were a boy with pale skin and blonde hair the other dark of skin and hair.
"I told you it was too risky." the blonde boy said.
"How are we gonna get out of this?" the other one repliedl
"Will you just relax? They don't know if they did, we'd be in the brig." Wedge said before they split up and the rebels followed Wedge.
They followed Wedge back to another hangar with a good view of Monstross, Sabine then stopped Ahkilleon "Let me talk to him, your performance with Skerris may have left an impression."
Ahkilleon rolled his eyes and waited.
"Something wrong, Wedge?" Sabine asked walking up to him on the catwalk above the hanger.
He leaned back "No. Why?"
"You just look nervous." She inquired.
"Actually, I've been thinking about what you said in the simulator today, about how this wasn't what you signed up for. Look, I want to do my part for the Empire, but firing on unarmed ships wasn't what I had in mind." she said solemnly, fixing her jaw. "What about you?"
Wedge shrugged "I was flying cargo ships when the Empire recruited me, at the time, I figured, why not get out see the galaxy, I thought I'd be fighting Militia, protecting worlds like Serenno, seemed a whole lot more exciting than hauling spare parts around the galaxy." he told her in confidence. "But if this is what the Empire's becoming, I don't know."
"You ever think about getting out?" She asked him.
"That's not really possible, is it?" he scoffed.
She smiled and got a bit closer "Maybe more possible than you realize."
"What are you talking about?" Wedge asked her.
Outside the catwalk entrance Ahkilleon had opened up another vent sliding in an explosive, when he shut it he saw Captain Skerris walking toward him, if he caught Sabine and Wedge in the act then they'd be caught for sure.
"My real name is Sabine Wren, I was sent in to get you out." Sabine told him
"So the Rebellion did get my message." Wedge gasped in astonishment.
She nodded eagerly "Yes. But I heard there were other pilots who want out, too."
"There are." Wedge assured her.
"Okay, we need to leave now, before the Empire closes in, can you get them ready?" Sabine said to him.
Wedge nodded to her "I'll talk to them. What's your plan?"
"Well, I'll tell you when I figure that out." Sabine said, stepping away.
"Are you serious?" Wedge asked her, shocked.
She gave a half-cocked smile like Ezra would "Welcome to the Rebellion." Sabine headed back into the hallway and saw Ahkilleon talking to Captain Skerris, "I see, thank you for bringing this to my attention Cadet Rich."
Skerris walked off and gave an evil eye to Sabine as he passed.
SPACE
Rebel Corvette
Back aboard the corvette Ezra was pacing with worry as Kanan stood behind him, in the corner Breacher and Turok were playing a hand of pazaak watching him pace while trying to focus on their game "Ezra, you need to calm down." Kanan told his padawan.
"How can I be calm, huh? Sabine's stuck over there, and there's nothing I can do." Ezra said frantic.
Kanan stepped forward "That's right. There's nothing you can do."
"So nothing you are doing right now is going to help." Ezra snapped at him.
In a clam soothing voice Kanan said "Sit down." Ezra took the advice and sat in the commander's chair. "Ezra, part of a Jedi's wisdom comes from learning to accept when a situation is out of our control, do you trust her?"
"Of course I trust her." Ezra sighed trying to stay calm.
"Good. Then trust she'll succeed." Kanan replied, "I don't trust who she's with." Ezra muttered.
Breacher scoffed as he played a card "No wonder he get away from you."
"Excuse me?" Ezra asked looking over at Breacher, the LT scratched his mutton chops and glanced at Ezra, "Captain Tano comes to save your ass from that Sith spit, you get mad at him, he comes giving you weapons and a full ship you get mad at him, I'd leave too." he said spitting on the floor as if spitting on the rebellion.
Ezra got up and Kanan grabbed his arm, Breacher stood too "You want go boyo."
"He abandoned us, and the rebellion you think we're just going to welcome him back with open arms?" Ezra asked to pull away from Kanan, the rebel pilots flying the ship looked back at what could turn into a fight and focused on flying the ship.
Breacher made a hissing noise behind his teeth, "Abandon you? He went to war for you, we all did." Breacher pointed back to Turok and then himself with this thumb on his chest "The Militia is fighting for a free Outer Rim, last I checked Lothal is one of them."
Ezra's eyes went wide "Yeah I know you are Ezra Bridger, I've seen the wanted posters. Why aren't you on Lotha, your people are free?"
"More like under new management?" Ezra said.
Breacher took exception to that and stepped toward him, Ezra didn't back down he got close to before Kanan and Turok got between them "Okay, okay, okay you two showed how tough you are like it or not we're working together." Turok pushed the tense Breacher back who stepped backwards as Ezra was held back by Kanan, "We're free rebel boy, we earned our freedom through blood." "Enough Breacher, come on." Turok said shoving him out of the bridge.
SKYSTRIKE ACADEMY
Command Center
Back at the Imperial Academy, Governor Pryce, Agent Kallus and Instructor Goran were in the command center gathered around the holotable of the command center, "My investigation is nearly complete, Governor." Agent Kallus reported "I have found nothing as of yet."
"Then perhaps it's time for me to take a more direct hand in this inquiry." Governor Pryce said.
"With all due respect, Governor, I am trying to train pilots here, how are they to progress under these circumstances, certainly not while they are all grounded."
Governor Pryce smiled "You're quite right, perhaps getting your cadets back into space would be to our mutual advantage."
Ahkilleon and Sabine were walking through the hallways when they heard the intercom speak over them "Squadron 22, report to hangar 6." they walked to the hangar and as they did Wedge joined him with the two other teenage boys he'd been speaking to
"Sabine, this is Rake and Hobbie." Wedge gestured to them, Rake being the dark skinned boy and Hobbi the white one.
"Are you sure you're all committed to this?" Sabine asked.
Wedge looked up at Ahkilleon who just glared "He's with me."
"Could of fooled me, besides we've made our choice, there's no turning back now." Wedge said when they arrived at their hangar. "Kind of surprised they're letting us go up in the middle of all this." he added as everyone got into their TIE.
Sabine turned to lookat them "Well, we have to make the most of this chance, we might not get another. Okay, listen, there's a rebel ship nearby, waiting for my signal. Watch me. When I go, you go." She said heading to her Tie.
The others boys looked at one another unsure "But you have to trust me. Agreed?"
"These rebels you say are waiting for us… You trust them?" Wedge asked.
"With my life."
Wedge also added "Yeah, and all of ours."
"Well, here goes nothing." Hobbie said heading to his own TIE, Ahkilleon came a bit closer "I don't like this, smells like a you know what."
Sabine pulled away "I trust my real friends to get us out of this, no your intuition." she said getting into her TIE fighter, she took it out and got on her coms "Spectre-6, this is Spectre-5, If you're receiving this, lock onto my signal."
The squadron of TIE fighters flew out of the hangar among them was Captain Skerris, escorting them to the upper atmosphere and into space "Squadrons, prepare to break formation and engage in a simulated dogfight. Your lasers have been nullified, but your hits will still register and be scored."
"Beginning on my mark. Three, two, one- Mark!" And all hell broke loose.
As the dogfight went on, Sabine looked around her scanner and the cockpit window muttering "Come on, Ezra. Where are you?"
Just then the Rebel Corvette dropped out of hyperspace "Sir, a rebel vessel has entered the system." back aboard the Skystrime Academy a bridge officer reported the ship being sighted.
"Sabine? Hope we're not too late." Ezra said as he locked onto her com signal "Right on time. Come on, boys." Sabine said leading three not four TIE's away.
"Here we go. Hobbie, Rake, on me." Wedge said, as Ahkilleon held back.
"Four cadets have broken off from the main group toward the rebel ship." Ahkilleon said over his comlink to the academy.
"We have our defectors." Governor Pryce said watching from the Academy holotable, "Cadets, return to base immediately, this is your only warning." she told them coldy.
"Negative, Command. You're gonna have to come and get us." Sabine said cocky as they were almost to the Corvette when they felt their ships go dead, a surge of electricity from their solar panel wings getting turned off and sending the pods flying out. "We've lost power! Our fighters were rigged!" Sabine snapped as she heard Governor Pryce give a new order.
"Captain, destroy one of the pods."
Ahkilleon flew up alongside the Captain, "Captain, sir, we should capture them for questioning." he said trying to stop the order.
"Noted Cadet Rich but three rebels out of four is an acceptable loss." Skerris said shooting at Rake's pod destroying along with the Cadet. "Rake!" Wedge shouted.
"Now, target the rebel transport." Pryce ordered "With me Cadet Rich, lets show these rebels what we're made of." Captain Skerris ordered.
"Sir… yes sir." Ahkilleon replied, following the other fighters in attack formation on the Corvette overwhelming it with green laser fire.
Sabine tore her helmet off screaming "Ezra! Abort! Get out of here!"
"No, Sabine! We're coming for you." Ezra argued as they pushed through "We can't take another hit like that." Kanan warned as the ship was rattled by canon fire.
"We're not leaving her behind!"
"We don't have a choice, Ezra! We can't help her if we're dead." Kanan barked back at him "Chopper, get us into hyperspace now!" The rebel ship flew around and made the jump to hyperspace.
SKYSTRIKE ACADEMY
Back in the Academy, Sabine, Rake and Wedge were being led away in handcuffs by stormtroopers with Governor Pryce and Agent Kallus following, Ahkilleon removed his helmet his orange hair sticking out from under his flight cap, the rebels had their helmets taken and their flight suits harness removed "Insubordination cannot be tolerated Cadet Rich, a shame they couldn't follow your example.' Captain Skeris said, leading Ahkilleon away.
"They'll get what's coming to them sir." Ahkilleon said, continuing to put on the act, "Indeed they will, how about I show you the bridge like we talked about earlier you did well today."
Ahkilleon forced his face to light up as Thoften, "Sir, yes sir."
Down in the brig, Rake, Sabine and Hobbie were handcuffed and on their knees in the interrogation chamber, a large device in the center, a metal slab to be strapped down to and a long spiked arm attached to it "I have so many questions. But first, I would like to know which of you is the rebel agent." Agent Kallus and two Stormtroopers stood guard over them in the cell.
None of them spoke "Do you know what this is?" Pryce asked them. "It's most effective at extracting information from the noncompliant."
She then pointed at Wedge "You." "No, wait! It's me." Sabine said before the stormtroopers guarding them could throw him into the torture device. "I'm the rebel." "Sabine, don't!" Wedge protested.
"And now we have a name." Pryce said gleefully "Thanks." Sabine sighed.
"Blast it. Sorry." Wedge apologized for what little good it would do.
Pryce turned to the others "Agent Kallus, escort these two back to their cell. Sabine and I have a lot to talk about."
Kallus took the two teens out and Sabine muttered "Looks like they found someone who can do your job."
When they were gone Sabine gave Pryce a death glare "I won't talk, well, let's see how far we can get without you needing to." She said as she pulled up her file on a holopad bringin up a wanted poster "Sabine Wren, is it? You are far too versed in Imperial protocol not to have been a cadet and now you've come home, little Mandalorian." She cooed at Sabine like she was a caged animal the Governor was intent on breaking.
"So proud and tough, I think we shall see." she said as she prepared to torture Sabine.
Up on the Bridge of Skystrike Academy, Captain Skerris led him in as Instructor Goran was at the holotable looking at something intently, "Here we are, nothing too fancy but it suits the Academy's purposes." Captain Skerris said leading him into the bridge, "Interesting, this looks like an arquitens class bridge?" Ahkilleon asked.
Captain Skerris nodded "Very perceptive Cadet, a shame we aren't aboard a real one on the front."
"You mean the war with the Militia?" Ahkilleon asked him.
Skerris sighed "I should be out among the stars leading my men into battle, but we must all do our duty to the Empire, these rebel terrorists and Militia barbarians are all the same, they embrace chaos, anarchy."
"... I'd say the Militia is more of a threat than rebels, they've invaded and occupied Imperial worlds?" Ahkilleon said looking at Skerris and over his shoulder seeing it was mostly bridge crew, and no stormtroopers.
"You would think, but make no mistake the rebels makeup for their lack of numbers in cunning and tenacity, look at that 'Ria Talla' I bet that's not even her real name, she came on the same shuttle as you without you ever realizing it." Captain Skerris said looking out the window at Monstross's bright orange clouds.
Skerris shook his head, "It could be anyone these days, a rebel spy, a militia agent, could be Goran, could be me could be…." He looked over at Ahkilleon and then saw the young man smile, "You?"
Ahkilleon held up his hand and used the force to break the glass and watched Captain Skerris get sucked out into the clouds, the door sealed and everyone on the command center looked up to Ahkilleon, "What?" Goran gasped before Ahkilleon used the force to blast two bridge crew members into their consoles. "... it can't be- a jedi." Goran ran for the alarm switch and almost hit when his hand froze.
Ahkilleon twisted his arm with the force snapping it, Goran screamed before he was dragged with the force across the floor and to his knees, "Where are the rebel prisoners?"
Goran wincing held his arm "- in interrogation, level 3… Please, please don't hurt me I'm only an instructor."
"The simulation, that recording of the rebel transport, was it real or not." Ahkilleon pulled out a small holodisk and turned it onto record Goran. The instructor froze, terror in his eyes "I… I… Yes- yes Captain Skerris destroyed the transport at Telarov, the simulation was a recording, we use it to better train our pilots to follow orders."
Ahkilleon lowered the recording device and put it back in his pocket, "I did as you asked…. I can get you and your rebel friends out of here."
Looking at the black plastoid helmet Ahkilleon looked at Goran, "No thanks." He hit Goran with the helmet, hard. Then he hit him again, Goran's teeth flew out of his mouth "Wauit-" Goran said his cheek swelling slurring his speech before Ahkilleon hit him again, Ahkilleon beat him with the helmet over and over again breaking skin and cracking bone over and over. Goran fell over and Ahkilleon knelt over him hitting him with the helmet making the man's legs twitch with every strike. Till Ahkilleon heard a loud Crunch followed by squish as Goran was no more.
Ahkilleon stood up almost winded from the brutal bashing, he dropped the bloody helmet the skystrike academy logo covered in blood. Walking over to the holotable he pressed a few buttons and an alarm sounded.
Down in the holding cells, specifically the interrogation chamber the alarm was going off "The evacuation alarm?" she asked as the stormtroopers reached to pull Sabine into the torture device, but she attaked them throwing her full body at one she grabbed his forearm and swung him over her shoulder into the other. Grabbing his cuff keys she freed herself and went for a blaster. But Pryce dropped her data pad and hit Sabine across the jaw with a left hook and kick.
Sabine took it elbowed back and countered with her own strike, she ramed Pryce into the torture device's table and hit her with body shots. Governor Pryce was more than she appeared as she hit Sabine back and pushed her into the nearby corner.
"Not Bad" Sabine said, almost impressed.
"The Empire taught me well." Pryce said, taking a fighting stance as the evacuation alarm went off.
"My clan taught me better." Sabine snapped attacking her with mandalorian style fighting, Pryce's own imperial training was good, holding up against the barrage of blows.
She parried a punch and Pryce added "I see we missed one of your rebel friends." she said "Not my friend-" Sabine used er aggressive feelings to overwhelm Pryce and throw her back into the torture device the shock stim hitting the back of her head electrocuting
Sabine picked up one of the blasters and ran to the door when it opened she saw Ahkilleon she squeezed the trigger and he dodged her, "Whoa-" he snapped, "It's me remember?" Sabine lowered her blaster and said "I know."
Ahkilleon rolled his eyes and followed her along the corridors, running as the alarm went off "I take it the evacuation alarm was your doing?" she asked him.
"Among other things." Ahkilleon replied Sabine glanced down and saw the blood on his gloves shining on the black leather, "What did you do?"
Just then two stormtroopers came around, shooting at them, Ahkilleon pushed Sabine behind cover, her face pushed right into his chest, even with the flight suit she could feel how broad he was under there. Ahkilleon leaned back around the cover hand outstretched using the force to catapult the two stormtroopers across the prisoner hallway, this adjusted them into amore precarious position "G-get off me." Sabine pushed him off and ran to the cell where they were holding Wedge and Hobie.
When it opened Ahkilleon came up behind her "We were just about to come rescue you." Wedge said.
"Thats cute." Sabine replied, Wedge then noticed 'Thoften' "Thought you got cold feet?" he asked.
"No I just thought before acting on a trap, and my names Ahkilleon." he corrected.
The two pilots followed them "Wait, Ahkilleon I know that name your the Demon of Selucami?"
Ahkilleon looked back and smiled "Boo." he replied.
"So the Militia and the rebellion are working together?" Wedge asked as the alarm combined and flashed in the hallway, following Sabine and Ahkilleon "I wouldn't put it like that."
Just as they made it out of the detention level, Agent Kallus appeared out of a doorway "Don't shoot."
"Give me a good reason not to." Sabine asked him, Ahkilleon tensed up as Kallus only glanced at him, he didn't recognize him through the disguise.
"Avoid levels three through five, hangar 24 is your best possibility."
"Wait. Why should we trust you?" Sabine asked her blaster aimed at point blank range.
Kallus held his hands up "Tell Garazeb Orrelios we're even. Go."
The rebels and Ahkilleon made it to Hangar 24 and Sabine led them up to an Imperial boarding pod "That tub? Are you kidding?" Wedge asked.
"Hey, it can take a hit. Now, can you fly it or not?" Sabine asked
"I can fly anything." Sabine, Wedge and Hobie got in Ahkilleon followed by muttering "Pilots."
"Freeze! Don't move!" three stormtroopers had run into the hangar shooting at them, Ahkilleon grabbed them with the force and Wedge who was in the pilot seat saw them get launched out of the hangar screaming, before Ahkilleon slipped into the boarding craft. In the chaos of the evacuation of pilots and personnel no one noticed the stolen TIE border fleeing for the upper atmosphere.
Down in the detention level, Agent Kallus had found Governor Pryce passed out and picked her up off the floor as the stormtroopers came too "Up you dolts, we need to get the Governor out of here." He said as they fled the detention level to the hangars.
Outside and in the sky, the rebels were almost home free when an TIE interceptor was closing in fast "Fighter closing fast! .6!" Wedge said.
"That's gotta be Skerris." Sabine said looking out the back window to see it was a yellow striped tie like Skerris's suit, "I threw him out a window?" Ahkilleon said.
Sabine looked over at him "You have been busy." Sabine said as Skerris's TIE hit them with laser blasts, his interceptor far faster than their boarding shuttle "Wedge, can't you go any faster?" she asked when they broke into space.
"I told you this thing was slow! Where are those friends of yours?" Wedge shouted as they were getting bombarded with blasts.
Sabine went to the copilot seat and tried to boost a signal "I can't signal. Comms are jammed."
Just then when it looked like Skerris was going to take all four of them in one blast the rebel corvette dropped out of hyperspace "Sabine? We knew you'd come through." Ezra said over the coms now reestablished.
"Never been so happy to hear your voice." Sabine said overjoyed.
"Get to the docking port, quick." Ezra said, Ahkilleon seeing his opportune moment held out his detonator and pressed the big red button as the shuttle docked with the rebel corvette and took off into hyperspace, leaving Skerris without his prize and no academy to return to.
The rebels went up to the bridge, Ezra was in the commander chair with Kanan behind him as Sabine, Wedge and Hobie came in "Thought I told you to leave." Sabine said to Ezra.
"We stuck around, just in case." Ezra said as Ahkilleon came in last, he walked up to Turok and handed him the detonator "Worked like a charm."
Kanan overheard them "What worked like a charm?"
Ahkilleon looked over at Kanan and saw Sabine giving him a side eye "We did.'
ATOLLON
The specters and their new pilots had landed back on Atollon at Dusk, Sabine walked in front of the new recruits with a smile of pride on her face "Commander Sato, allow me to present Lieutenants Wedge Antilles and Hobbie." Sabine said as she approached Commander Sato, and Hera "Formerly of the Galactic Empire."
Wedge smiled, "Commander, we heard you're looking for some good pilots."
"Indeed, we are. Welcome to the Rebellion." Sato said as the two pilots saluted and Sabine gave one to show her comradery with the new defectors. Ahkilleon didn't stay around for the feel good moment, he headed over to the Revenant where Breacher and Turok were waiting, just as Rex came up to Hera and handed her a datapad "... This, this can't be?"
Rex nodded mournfully "What is it Hera?" Sabine asked.
"Skystrike Academy was destroyed, the whole facility gone, Sabine, did you plant explosives?" Hera asked as they brought up a holorecording to show the academy going up in a fiery explosion all across the inside of the academy before it started to sink out of view into the clouds exploding on the way down.
"What, of course not how would I get them in?" Sabine asked, "She didn't, I did." Ahkilleon said as he unzipped his imperial flight leathers and tossed off his bloody gloves, under the suit he had a harness on with a few small disk shape devices only two left in a harness that looked like it could hold two dozen. Taking a canteen from Breacher he poured the water on his face and hair washing off the makeup and hair dye.
The rebels looked stunned at him "You what?" Ezra asked.
"You all had your mission, I had mine testing out the Militia's latest long range detonators." Ahkilleon told them.
"To assist us in getting them out." Hera told him Ahkilleon was unfazed "Skystrike Academy was a military target, less pilots for the Empire means more of our pilots stay alive, aso this." Ahkilleon told them as Breacher and Turok stood behind him, Ahkilleon reached in his pocket and pulled out a holodisk he tossed it to Hera and it turned on.
Goran was was on his knees hands up "Yes- yes Captain Skerris destroyed the transport at Telarov, the simulation was a recording-" it cut off.
"Goran didn't have much to say after that." Ahkilleon told them after the confession ended.
The rebels looked at one another, "You killed him, this will only escalate the Empires' response to the rebellion."
"No it won't, Militia is already taking credit for the attack, they hit us we hit them back now the Empire will have to look over their shoulder to cover their flanks." Turok added.
"But… the other cadets, the instructors, all those people?" Wedge said aloud, Ahkilleon rolled his eyes.
Sabine stepped forward "Wait, the evacuation alarm was for real?"
Ahkilleon answered, smiling at that "You got your pilots, we got our mission accomplished, you may not be used to it, but we call that victory now if you excuse me we have to go get your new supplies." Ahkilleon said before he walked away.
"So is this a rebel base, or a militia base?" Wedge asked.
Ezra patted him on the back "Come on, it's a long story pal."
Later, Ahkilleon was back in the disguise room and was putting on his robes and armor, he heard the door open and saw Sabine standing there, she had re-dyed her hair the silver and lavender with blonde highlights. "Figured you'd come straight here, black really isn't your color." she said.
"And every color is yours." He replied as he clipped his breastplate back on, he fitted the bracers on next Sabine eyed his left mechano arm, noting the unusual design.
"... Thank you, Ahkilleon, for evacuating the academy before you destroyed it, you saved a lot of lives."
He glanced at her, "I didn't do it for them."
"Still, I was like them once, we should give people a chance to change and realize their mistakes?" Sabine said as he grabbed his helmet, Ahkilleon headed to the door so she could change, "Ezra said you were hurt after Malachor, I didn't know about this."
"It's nothing compared to what else I lost that day." Ahkilleon said pulling his arm away as he stood over her, he was so close he had to look away from her as she gazed up with her amber eyes "... I never wanted to hurt you- hurt all of you, but I had to leave to find myself." he mumbled
Sabine looked at his mechano arm that balled into a fist, "Reminds me of how I left the imperial academy behind, leaving those I care about behind, it's hard when you go to fight for what you believe in. Right?" She asked.
He met her gaze, his green eyes reflecting her face "Right."
"Sabine I'm-" "Everything alright in there?" Hera asked coming in, Sabine stepped away briskly to her armor "Fine, fine, the 'Captain' was just leaving." Sabine said mimicking the way Hera taunted Ahkilleons rank.
Ahkilleon put his helmet on "Yes, I was."
He left the changing room behind and headed off into the desert, he walked till it was nightfall and returned to Bendu's lair, he didn't see Bendu and closed his eyes before he heard heavy breathing and saw Bendu before him as if appearing out of thin air. "He returns?"
"You said the Inquisitors are still looking for the Valley, how, we- I killed the only man who knew where it was." Ahkilleon said up to him.
"And this man, how do you know he didn't tell others?" Bendu asked.
Ahkilleon's eyes went wide "... nooo."
"Heheh about that." And sitting on a rock, also appearing out of thin air was none other then the man Ahkilleon had killed by shooting his jedi self in the back before he died was Qu Rahn's force ghost, who sat one leg crossed fingers interlocked "You're joking, this is some sick ghost humor isn't it?" Ahkilleon asked.
Qu shook his head "Look, I guy gets lonely on the hyperspace lanes and you meet some people, have a few drinks, spill a few secrets."
Ahkilleon stood over the ghost wanting to kill him a second time, then Ahkilleon let go of his anger "Who-did-you-tell."
Qu stroked his salt and pepper beard, licking his lips "So you're really going to love this, because her name was Eleni Syndulla."