Chapter Two
Disclaimer: See Chapter One
Well, here is the main event, and we are going to meet the person that will help the Inquisitors with their mad idea. You know, I am surprised that no one tried to guess who it was going to be, with all the clues I left, though I am not that surprised. Anyway, on with show.
With the Spectres
Sabine and Chopper were piloting the Phantom back to the rendezvous point, to meet with the Ghost. Sabine wondered as to how she was going to tell Kanan and Hera about the fact that Ezra had been captured, "What am I going to do, Chopper, how do I tell them that Ezra got captured and that I failed to secure the supplies?"
Chopper beeped in his usual grumpy way, "Anyway you say it, they are going to flip out on you."
"You're right, Chop, best get it over with." Docking with the Ghost, Sabine, head held low, headed for the lounge, Chopper following her. Entering the lounge, seeing that Kanan, Hera, and Zeb were waiting for them.
"Sabine, we were wondering when you would return, you get the shipment?" Hera asked.
"And where's Ezra?" Kanan asked.
"Ezra was captured by the Empire." Sabine told them, ready for the backlash.
"What? How?" Both Kanan & Hera demanded.
"It was a trap, and we walked right into it. We had located the shipment in a docking bay, with not many troopers guarding it. So, we engaged them, they sounded the alarm and troopers just came flooding in, as if they were expecting us. We fought them from cover, next thing I know, Ezra drops to the ground next to me with a dart in his neck. I felt his pulse, he was unconscious, and that's when the Inquisitors descended on us."
"Inquisitors?" Kanan went wide eyed.
"Yes, both of them, they grabbed Ezra and took off, leaving me to deal with overwhelming numbers of troopers. I barely got out of there alive. I had to resort to blowing up the shipment just buy myself time to escape." Sabine told them.
"At least the Empire won't be putting those weapons to use," said Zeb looking for a positive to the situation.
Hera told Sabine, "Why don't you go file your report for Commander Sato, then go and get some rest." Turning to Zeb, "Why don't you go help Chopper run a diagnostic system check on the Phantom?" As the other three left the lounge, Hera put her hand on Kanan's shoulder. "Is he?"
"Alive, yes, but I don't know where." Kanan said.
Hera let out breath she didn't realized she had been holding, "Any ideas about where he might be being held?"
"No, he is probably being held aboard a Star Destroyer, as for their heading, anywhere in the galaxy." Kanan told her.
"Maybe Mustafar again." Hera said.
"I don't think that the Empire is keen on repeating the mistakes of when I was being held." Kanan said. "As it stands, I think we're going to need Ahsoka's help to be able to rescue him. There is no way I would be able to hold off two inquisitors by myself."
"Alright, why don't we go call her, then we can start to make a plan." Hera said.
"Yeah, good idea," Kanan agreed. Both of them headed for the cockpit to contact Phoenix Squadron.
As they entered, Sabine was leaving after giving her report to Commander Sato. They sat down and Hera punched in the comm frequency for Phoenix Squadron. Fortunately, it was Ahsoka that answered. "Hera, Kanan, I heard about Ezra. You guys going after him?" Ahsoka asked.
"Yes, but we are going to need your help, as the Destroyer they have him on will no doubt have two inquisitors aboard." Kanan said.
Ahsoka contemplated it for a moment, on the one hand, she should go to help get Ezra back, on the other, her presence may attract Vader. She resolved to help them. "Rendezvous with the fleet, and me and Rex with join you. Fulcrum out." The comm ended. Hera set coordinates and the Ghost jumped into hyperspace.
With Kallus & the Inquisitors
The ISD Relentless dropped out of hyperspace at the precise coordinates Lord Vader had given them. There was another ISD waiting for them. Agent Kallus asked a crewman for the ID of the other ISD. The crewman told him that it was indeed, the Star Destroyer Vengeance, the ship they had sent to meet. Truth be told, Kallus had an uneasy feeling about this meeting, and it wasn't just because the two Inquisitors were standing next to him. Turning to the communications officer, "Contact that Destroyer," he ordered. A moment later, and the bridge view screen lit up with a view of the Vengeance's bridge, the captain looked like he had just graduated from one of the naval academies. Kallus stepped toward the view screen, "This is ISB Agent Kallus, commanding the ISD Relentless."
"We have been expecting you, Agent Kallus. I am Captain Sysco," the officer identified himself. "The Inquisitor is on his way to the hanger, and we will join you shortly. Sysco out." The view screen went dark, Kallus realized why he had an odd feeling, that it was due to the thought of having three inquisitors on his ship. He turned from the view screen to head down to the hanger, only to notice that the other two inquisitors were already gone.
Down in the landing bay, Kallus and the two inquisitors waited as the shuttle touched down. When the ramp lowered, Kallus noticed that the air seemed to chill, more than when he was around the two inquisitors, but not as much as whenever Lord Vader entered a room. Looking up at the Inquisitor, he did not look like the other inquisitors Kallus has served alongside. For one, he looked human, with a thin black band around his eyes, some weird tattoos around his mouth, and he didn't wear the imperial armor the others wear, the only armor being a black breastplate with red pauldrons and he wore a black tunic with red sigils around its borders. Kallus didn't even notice the fact that the lightsaber that hung from his belt was only a standard single one. Fifth Brother and Seventh Sister slightly bowed their heads toward him.
"High Inquisitor Jerec, it is an honor to work with you." Seventh Sister said.
"Take me to the prisoner," Jerec commanded, "Captain Sysco, you are dismissed for the time being. Go get some food or something, bring me something later, will you?"
"Yes, Inquisitor." Sysco said, with a slight bow. The three inquisitors walked off, leaving Kallus with Sysco. "Shall we head to the mess hall?"
"Sure." Kallus had been weirded a bit out by the new inquisitor, he felt that some food in his system would calm him.
As they walked, Kallus had to ask, "How do you put up with him? He seems odd."
Sysco seemed to snort, "You don't know the half of it, Agent Kallus, but I happen to drink a lot of brandy. That seems to help."
"Is he that weird?" Kallus asked.
"Sometimes." Sysco answered, as they entered the mess hall. The two officers got their meals and sat together.
"So, tell me about this Inquisitor." Kallus asked.
"Where to begin, he isn't human," Sysco said after taking a bite.
"Really, what is he then?" Kallus asked.
"Miraluka, which is why he wears that band over his eyes should be, and he can see just fine, except for holograms, but that does seem to shake him, and unlike other Inquisitors, or Lord Vader, for that matter, he is not one that is overly keen on showing off his powers."
"Interesting," Kallus commented.
"That's not all, he is somewhat of a walking contradiction, as his quarters are both the largest on the Vengeance and very spartan, he has no interest in material possessions, but prefers to indulge his senses. He loves music, even if his favorite was written by a traitor to the Empire. Also, he loves to play mind games, he keeps his quarters barely lit, and on his desk, there is a bowl of touchstones, some are supposed to be popped and smelled, and others eaten, the trick is that those that supposed to be popped taste awful if eaten and those that are to be eaten smell horrible if popped, fortunately, I have been under his command long enough to know which is which." Sysco said. Kallus was all sorts of confused. "See why I drink a lot." Kallus just nodded.
With the Inquisitors
As they walked, Seventh Sister and Fifth Brother were both eager to work with Jerec and also a little afraid of him, as he is far more powerful, than either of them, similar to Lord Vader's power. "Your reputation precedes you, High Inquisitor," Seventh Sister started.
"Please, while I am aboard, refer to me as Lord Jerec." Jerec cut her off.
"Lord?" Fifth Brother questioned. He got what seemed to be a glare from Jerec, that shut him up.
"The Grand Inquisitor spoke highly of you both, I expect the same as he did." Jerec said.
"The Grand Inquisitor spoke highly of us? Well, we won't disappoint. Say, we have a few questions for you," Seventh Sister started again, only to be cut by Jerec again.
"Save them. First, I want to deal with this padawan, then you can question me." Jerec said. They walked through the detention area, to the interrogation room that had held Ezra captive.
The door slid open, and Ezra saw the three of them walk in. In his mind, upon seeing Jerec, he thought, 'Another Inquisitor, how many of these guys are there?' He tried reaching out to Kanan with the Force, to warn him of the new Inquisitor, but he felt his connection get disrupted, in fact, he felt that he couldn't even call on the Force.
"Surprised, boy? I know how to interrupt one's connection to the Force." Jerec said. "Now, let's see what you know," Jerec reached toward Ezra, with the Dark Side, probing his mind. Jerec peered into his mind, learning almost all he could about the boy and the rebel cell he was a part of. Miraculously, Ezra managed to keep knowledge about Senator Organa, Leia, and Lira-san secret from Jerec.
Jerec knew there was a few things he didn't get from the boy's mind, but pulled back anyway, turning to the others, he asked. "One question, did you two think this through? About everything you will need?"
"We still have supplies from a few months ago when we tried to kidnap those infants, just in case." Seventh Sister answered him. Ezra had no idea why they were talking about that mission.
"Alright, you two, what I need you to do is enter into a quasi-meditative state, in which, you will focus your dark side force energies toward me. This will help increase my own power for the ritual." Jerec directed.
"Ritual? What are you guys going to do to me?" Ezra demanded.
"Don't worry, baby, you won't recall anything." Seventh Sister said, trying to sound a little motherly, but it just came off as creepy to Ezra.
"Meditative state, Now!" Jerec demanded. Both of the other two Inquisitors sat down on the floor, and closed their eyes. Jerec felt the energy of the Dark Side pool inside him, and he began his ritual. Jerec moved his arms in patterns and was speaking in a language that Ezra nor the other Inquisitors recognized. Ezra felt the dark side try to seep through him, his light side aura was resisting, but it wouldn't last. Before long, the dark side penetrated his aura and engulfed him. There was a flash of light, and when the light died, Jerec stopped his incantations and dropped his arms. The two other Inquisitors stood up.
"Did it work?" Fifth brother asked. They looked where Ezra once was, only to find an infant, surprisingly, and thankfully, the jumpsuit that he usually wears shrunk with him. Seventh Sister picked him up in her arms.
"One question, how old is he supposed to be?" Seventh Sister asked.
"Almost new-born, maybe a month old," Jerec answered, the other two realized that this was going to be more problematic than they thought. "I believe it to be pertinent that we return to the bridge as I sense that either Lord Vader or the Emperor will be calling us." Jerec said as he walked out the door.
The other two just looked at each other, then Fifth Brother smirked, and as he motioned to follow Jerec, he said, "You're taking care of him, until we return to Lothal."
"Hold on a minute." Seventh Sister called after them as she followed them to the bridge. Though they did not know it, their actions caused a disturbance in the Force, great enough that it could be felt all the way to Coruscant, Mustafar, and Dagobah.
As the three of them entered the bridge, Agent Kallus saw the baby in Seventh Sister's arms, in realization that it was the boy, Kallus asked them, "What did you three do? Why is the boy a baby?"
Jerec answered "It is what they wanted," pointing at the other two.
"Did you at least interrogate him before you did this?" Kallus questioned, he could feel a migraine coming on.
"Yes, I probed his mind, I learned much about this rebel cell," Jerec answered, while taking a piece of fruit from the tray Sysco held for him, and ate it.
Then, the comms array beeped, Fifth Brother checked the frequency, "Its Lord Vader." Kallus and Sysco knew that meant to clear out. As the blast doors shut, Fifth Brother hit the answer key, he and Seventh Sister then kneeled, best as she could while holding Ezra, Jerec remained standing, as Vader's helmet materialized. "Lord Vader," Fifth Brother greeted.
"Report, what is going on there?" Vader demanded, his booming voice scared Ezra, who began to cry, Seventh Sister tried to calm him, as not to annoy Vader. "I will take that as you were successful," turning his gaze to Jerec, "what are you going to do now?"
"I think I will stay aboard this vessel for a while to ensure that my work does not unravel immediately." Jerec told him.
"Very well," now addressing all three of them, "return to Lothal, and wait, these rebels will come for the boy, and when they do, destroy them, however, Jerec, I want Ahsoka Tano alive."
"Very well, Lord Vader." Jerec answered him. Vader cut transmission with them. Turning to the other two, "Well, you two better go start caring for him, don't want him to die on us now, do we?" The other two walked off the bridge, with Seventh Sister telling Fifth Brother that they needed to get a nanny droid when they returned to Lothal, Jerec walked on to the main part of the bridge, taking the tray from Sysco.
"What are orders, Sir?" Sysco asked him.
"Captain Sysco, return to the Vengeance and return to our original patrol sector, Agent Kallus, set course for Lothal, and have someone show me to a spare room."
"You're staying aboard?" Kallus asked, not wanting to have three Inquisitors aboard his Destroyer.
"For the time being, yes." Jerec told him.
As Sysco left, he turned to face Kallus, and mouthed, "I don't feel sorry for you." Kallus felt like he need to go lie down, so he did, leaving Jerec on the bridge, to annoy Konstantine, and not him.
Well that does it for this chapter, so now Ezra is a baby, in the custody of the Inquisitors, Jerec is staying on the Relentless for time being, and poor Kallus. Who knows, maybe he will switch sides sooner than he did. For those wondering, I'm not saying that Kallus is force sensitive, what I am saying is that I think strong dark side presences can affect normal beings. Next time, the Spectres will mount a rescue.
The Emperor is out. Peace.