Author's note: All of us shall forever miss James Earl Jones, David Prowse and Sebastian Shaw. The actors who portrayed Darth Vader. All three of them are now one with the Force. May they always be remembered.
I don't own Star Wars or its characters, but Nadia Aomori and my other OCs I own only.
Enjoy!
Fire of the Rebellion
Chapter 22: The Lost Commanders
Inside the Arcturus, Ferus and Nadia were taking their ship to the Phoenix Squadron's location.
In the back seats were Zachary and Gwendolyn.
"So we're finally going to meet your old war buddies from those stories you told us, mum and dad?"Gwendolyn asked excitedly.
"That's right, Gwen."Nadia replied with a firm look."Though it is Kanan I am worried about."
"Huh?"Gwendolyn said in confusion.
Ferus let out a sigh.
"Kanan is not too fond of the clones after Order 66: Operation Knightfall."Ferus exclaimed."You know the military command that resulted in the clone troopers being forcibly brainwashed into viewing their Jedi generals as traitors to the Republic and subsequently executing them."
Gwendolyn bit her lip at her father's declaration.
"Oh, yeah."Gwendolyn responded with a hint of worry and then frowned."But it's not the Clones' fault on what they did."
"That's right."Zachary agreed."Inhibitor chips were built into their genetic code to make them do whatever Darth Sidious wanted such as kill the Jedi. After that, the Emperor decided to get rid of them once they were no longer use to him."
Nadia glanced at Zachary and Gwendolyn.
"Not many see it that way, kids."Nadia complemented."The Empire manipulates people in seeing that the Emperor has brought peace to the galaxy after the galaxy and the Jedi were the bad guys that deserved to be wiped out."
Gwendolyn raised an eyebrow.
"So where do we find Captain Rex?"Gwendolyn asked curiously.
"The last time I heard he was last seen in the Seelos system."Ferus exclaimed."But we haven't got any responds back from him despite trying to contact him."
RG-G1 let out beep.
The Arcturus jumped out of hyperspace and arrived at the Phoenix Squadron's location.
"Though if you and the Spectres find Rex in that system, make sure to keep an eye of Kanan."Nadia instructed."He may be my friend, but-"
Both Zachary and Gwendolyn nodded at their mother, understanding what she meant.
"Yes, mother/mum."Zachary and Gwendolyn answered in unison.
Inside the Ghost, Ahsoka gave the crew of the Ghost the head of an old tactical droid to use to find her old friend.
"Is that the head of an old tactical droid?"Kanan questioned.
"These droids were great at finding things, calculating."Ahsoka exclaimed and chuckled lightly."Found my master and I a few times when we didn't want to be found."
"How in all the galaxy is that droid gonna find your friend?"Ezra asked.
"Well, I heard he was last seen in the Seelos system."Ahsoka stated and began to walk away."You can start there."
A surprised look appeared on Ezra's face upon realising that Ahsoka was not coming with them.
"You're not coming with us?"Ezra said.
"I have something else to attend to."Ahsoka declared.
"The Sith Lord."Kanan assumed.
"There are questions, questions that need answering."Ahsoka admitted.
"I wish we could go with you."Ezra insisted.
"You have your own mission, Ezra."Ahsoka informed and glanced at Kanan."And, Kanan, if you find my friend, you must trust him."
"If he's all the things you say, we can't afford not to."Kanan remarked.
Ahsoka frowned. "Trust him."
Then the doors closed in front of Ahsoka as Ezra glanced at Kanan, confused at their friend's declarations
"What was that about?"Ezra questioned.
"I have no idea."Kanan responded.
Then the Ghost departed from the Phoenix Home and jumped into hyperspace.
The Arcturus arrived at the Ghost's location in the Seelos System.
Zachary and Gwendolyn made their way to meet up with the Spectres before noticing their parents and RG-G1 were just watching them go.
"Mother, father, you two aren't coming with us?"Zachary questioned.
"We'll be going off somewhere with your Aunt Soka, Zack."Nadia exclaimed."To meet somebody."
"General Kota?"Gwendolyn guessed.
Ferus smirked. "Sorry, sweetheart. Can't tell."
"Can't you give us a small hint, daddy?"Gwendolyn insisted with a pouty face.
"You two have your mission and we have ours."Nadia instructed."But everything has their own time."
"You're right, mother."Zachary agreed simply."If we get captured by Vader or his Inquisitors, it will jeopardise by the rebellion's safety. Especially, Lisa's."
Gwendolyn sweat dropped at her older twin brother's declaration.
"I forgot about that."Gwendolyn complemented.
When the Ghost dropped out of hyperspace at Seelos, the ship's systems were damaged from re-entering real space.
"We get all the way to Seelos, and now you tell me the hyperdrive wasn't completely fixed?"Hera complained.
Chopper beeped at Hera.
"You finished the important repairs?"Hera retorted as she pressed a few buttons."How did you define 'important'?"
Kanan came up from the ladder upon hearing his girlfriend complain.
"What's going on?"Kanan asked.
"Chopper and I are staying here."Hera declared."To clean up his mess. Take the Phantom."
Chopper beeped at his companion.
"Hopefully we'll be ready to go by the time you get back."Hera commented.
Kanan slightly shook his head before going down the ladder to join his friends and their allies.
While Hera stayed behind with Chopper to repair the ship while the rest of the crew searches the planet's surface for Ahsoka's friend aboard the Phantom, the Ghost's auxiliary shuttle.
Both Zachary and Gwendolyn watched silently as Sabine plugged in the tactical droid's head.
"Well, let's fire this thing up."Sabine insisted.
After getting plugged in, the tactical droid's head began to scan in the Seelos' landscape.
"I think it's scanning for a signal of some kind."Sabine assumed.
"Good luck."Ezra insisted casually."You could really get lost out here."
"Maybe that was the idea."Zeb assumed."What if this great commander we're looking for doesn't want to be found?"
Zachary shook his his head.
"I am sure he would change his mind if we mention me and Gwen's parents' names to him."Zachary suggested.
"They did consider him one of their closest friends during the war."Gwendolyn remarked.
The tactical droid's eyes started glowing yellow upon activating.
"7567."the tactical droid spoke up."7567."
In the distance, the crew spotted a walker and flew towards it.
"Over there."Gwendolyn commented.
"Now that is a work of art."Sabine praised.
As they approached the heavily-modified AT-TE walker, Kanan was overcome with foreboding.
"Looks like an old Republic tank, used during the Clone Wars."Kanan muttered with a frown.
"7567."the tactical droid repeated.
After landing the Phantom and disembarking, the Spectres and the Olin twins approached the walker.
Kanan glanced at Ezra, Zachary and Gwendolyn.
"Ezra. Zack. Gwen."Kanan spoke up with a warning look."Be on guard."
An unimpressed look appeared on Zachary's face.
"Why should we be?"Zachary questioned."They're friends of our parents."
"Just be careful."Kanan instructed.
Then the door of the walker opened causing four old men to come out from it.
"It's just a bunch of old geezers."Zeb retorted.
"Well-armed old geezers."Sabine corrected.
"What do you want?"the leading man demanded.
"We're looking for someone."Kanan stated.
"Well, that's too bad, 'cause there's nobody out here."the first old man declared.
"Hey, uh, does the number 7567 mean anything to you?"Ezra asked.
This caused the four old men to become alarmed.
"What did you just say?"the first old man questioned.
"Uh, I said 7567."Ezra responded hesitantly.
"I haven't heard those digits in-"the first old man started and his eyes widen in realisation."Well, that's my birth number."
"So you're Rex."Zachary thought with a smirk.
"And what about Alpha-77?"Gwendolyn asked with a glimpse of excitement."Or ARC-77? Does that mean anything?"
The fourth old man simply raised his hand.
"That would be, kid."the fourth old man responded.
Ezra looked down in confusion.
"Birth number?"Ezra asked.
An enraged look appeared on Kanan's face.
"They're clones!"Kanan scowled.
Kanan immediately stepped forward and activated his lightsaber, alarming Zachary and Gwendolyn.
"Kanan, wait!"Ezra protested, going up to his master."Stop!"
"Jedi!"the second old man retorted and held up his blaster."They've come for revenge!"
The second old man raised his blaster and fires off two shots which Kanan deflected to the side.
Zeb and Sabine both whipped out their own blasters, aiming them at the clones.
"Drop the blaster, old man!"Zeb demanded.
"Don't try it, boyo!"the third old man remarked."I'll gun you down!"
Fordo raised his blasters as well to defend himself.
Zachary went in front of Kanan and activated his yellow lightsaber to defend the clones.
Gwendolyn went to next to Zachary as well, ready to activate her magenta pink lightsaber if necessary.
"Kanan, stop it."Zachary ordered simply."Deactivate your blade."
Kanan glared at Zachary and Gwendolyn with a glimpse of disbelief.
"Have you two lost your mind?!"Kanan snarled.
Rex, on the other hand, ordered his three brothers to lower their blasters before things got ugly.
"Stand down, troopers!"Rex ordered."Now! That's an order, soldier!"
Both Gregor and Fordo lowered down their blasters.
"But he's a Jedi!"Wolffe protested, still holding his blaster."A Jedi!"
"I know. I know. But they weren't the ones that betrayed us."Rex reminded casually."Remember? Wolffe, remember?"
Wolffe raised down his blaster, but still looked at the group of rebels with suspicion.
Ezra tried to reason with Kanan.
"Kanan, Ahsoka said to trust them."Ezra reminded.
"Not happening."Kanan snarled.
Both Zachary and Gwendolyn glared at Kanan.
"Kanan. Enough."Zahary demanded in a firm yet strict tone."This is why my parents wanted me and Gwen to come."
"Ferus and Nadia don't understand-"Kanan started.
"Our parents understand strongly, Kanan. Please."Gwendolyn begged calmly."Stop it."
Despite his distrust on the clones, Kanan simply deactivated his lightsaber.
In return, Zachary deactivated his own blade.
"Sorry about the, um, weapons malfunction."Rex apologised."My friend here is just a little defensive. See, we haven't seen a Jedi since-"
Kanan glared at Rex while raising an eyebrow at him.
"Since the raise of the Empire?"Zachary assumed.
"It's been a while, lad."Rex corrected with a small smile.
"Well, my name's Ezra. This is Kanan. Those two are Zack and Gwen."Ezra declared with a smile, introducing his friends."That's Sabine and Zeb. It's nice to meet you, 7567."
"Actually my name is Rex. Captain, 501st Clone Battalion."Rex admitted before introducing his brothers."That's Captain Fordo of the Muunilinst 10. Meet Commanders Gregor and Wolffe."
"We were sent by our parents; Nadia Aomori and Ferus Olin."Gwendolyn remarked kindly.
Looks mixed with surprise and shock appeared on Rex, Fordo, Gregor and Wolffe.
"Parents?"Fordo murmured.
"That's right."Gwendolyn chuckled."And our aunt, Ahsoka Tano."
"Ahsoka Tano."Rex muttered."I fought by her side from the Battle of Christophsis to the siege of Mandalore. And a friend of hers is a friend of mine."
"The same goes with Commander Aomori and General Olin's kids?"Gregor assumed.
Rex smiled. "Exactly."
Zachary and Gwendolyn shared an approved smile with each other.
Inside the walker, the Spectres and the Olin twins spoke with the four clones.
"So how are your parents doing?"Fordo questioned, looking at Zachary and Gwendolyn."Last time I heard they were helping the Bad Batch save Omega."
"They're doing fine despite the Empire is still trying to catch them."Zachary replied.
A small chuckle escaped from Rex's mouth.
"Commander Aomori was always the one hungry to have a little danger in life."Rex remarked.
Gregor looked at Zeb.
"Hey."Gregor chuckled."You're a big one, aren't you?"
"Bigger than you,"Zeb replied with a scowl.
Ezra picked up one of the clone helmets in fascination, making Zachary and Gwendolyn look at them.
"Whoa."Ezra murmured.
Rex sat down on a chair before noticing Ezra holding his helmet.
"Hey, hey, easy with those, son."Rex instructed.
"Oh, yeah, yeah."Ezra replied sarcastically, dropping the clone helmet."I might move the dust."
"How is Commander Tano?"Rex asked curiously.
"Uh, well, in need of help. We all are."Ezra answered."Look, we're trying to fight the Empire. But we're outnumbered, overmatched and taking a beating. We could use your help."
"Well, I'm not sure I'm much help to anyone these days."Rex declared."Didn't you hear? The Emperor said the clone army has outserved its purpose and retired us.
Now we spend our days just telling stories and slinging for joopas."
An irritated scowl escaped from Kansan's mouth.
"This was a wasted trip."Kanan retorted and turned to leave the walker."You heard the clone. He's not interested."
Zachary rolled his eyes while Gwendolyn simply shook her head at Kanan's behaviour.
"Really, Kanan?"Gwendolyn muttered.
"Wait."Ezra instructed, looking at Rex."You don't like the Empire, do you?"
"Well, the Empire certainly isn't the Republic, but you can't do anything about that."Rex complemented.
"You could fight."Ezra insisted.
"Sorry, son."Rex apologised."My days as a soldier are over."
A look of disappointment appeared on Zachary's face.
"Okay, then maybe there's one thing you can help us with?"Zachary suggested."We need a base. Aunt Ahsoka and my parents said you knew about all sorts of secret locations in the Outer Rim."
"Can you at least help us on that?"Gwendolyn pleaded with a hopeful smile.
The clones all shared glances with each other while Wolffe shook his head in disagreement.
"Well, my memory isn't what it once was, but, um, there are a few spots I never bothered to report to the Empire."Rex stated."Look, why don't you wait outside and I'll put together a list of coordinates."
Gwendolyn grinned brightly at Rex.
"Okay."Gwendolyn replied.
The Olin twins and the Spectres headed out of the walker, leaving the four clones by themselves.
"Listen, they are in some kind of trouble."Wolffe argued."If we help them, we are putting ourselves in danger."
"Wolffe, relax."Gregor encouraged."We got the situation under control."
"Oh, really? Really?"Wolffe complained."What do you think the Empire will do to us if they find out that we are helping a Jedi, hmm? And that we're helping the kids of Commander Aomori and General Olin?"
Fordo glared Wolffe.
"Have you forgotten that Nadia and Ferus were the ones who helped our other brothers and only sister when the Empire was haunting them down?"Fordo questioned with his arms crossed."It's because of them that most of the clones are still in one piece."
"Yeah, I don't know what the Empire would do, but I'm going slinging."Gregor remarked.
Gregor headed to the exit to speak to the rebels while Fordo simply covered his face since he knew what his brother was up to.
Zachary, Gwendolyn, Ezra, Sabine and Zeb turned their heads to see Gregor coming out while Kanan looked at the view ahead.
"You know, I was thinking, since we're providing you with a list of bases, um, there's something you can do to help us."Gregor suggested.
Kanan frowned. "No, thanks."
"Sure."Ezra remarked."What can we do?"
"Out there, deep below, roam the joopa."Gregor chuckled and pointed at the icy-like ground ahead."Elusive big game. When we're lucky enough to sling one in, it'll feed us for the whole year."
"It must be delicious."Gwendolyn sneered.
Zachary scoffed. "Don't think about your stomach, Gwen."
"Okay."Sabine said."What do you need?"
Gregor turned around with a smug smile and gestured over to Zeb.
"Him."Gregor said.
Zeb turned around in surprise.
"Huh?"Zeb asked in confusion."What?"
Gregor only smirked in respond.
While Zeb, Sabine and Zachary went to help the clones prepare for the joopa hunt, Ezra and Gwendolyn went to check on Kanan, who was checking his lightsaber back in the Phantom.
"Okay."Ezra spoke up, earning Kanan's attention."You don't trust these clones, but they haven't done anything."
"You don't understand."Kanan responded with a stern tone."They're dangerous. They could-"
"They could what?"Gwendolyn interrupted with a hint of annoyance."Rex or Fordo don't seem bad at all. My parents and Aunt Ahsoka said to trust him. You trust them, don't you?"
Kanan turned around to glare at Gwendolyn.
"You weren't there!"Kanan retorted."Neither of you weren't even born!"
Gwendolyn simply frowned while Ezra looked completely confused at his master's declaration.
"Yes, Kanan. You're right. Neither me, my brother or Ezra weren't born yet."Gwendolyn commented."But my mum was there when the Temple got attacked and my dad was in Kashyyyk with Master Yoda when Order 66 began."
"What are you talking about?"Ezra asked."What's Order 66?"
"I don't feel like discussing it."Kanan answered.
Both Ezra and Gwendolyn turned to leave causing Kanan to let out a sigh.
"It was at the end, the end of the fellow soldiers, the clones, the ones we Jedi fought side by side with, suddenly turned and betrayed us."Kanan admitted, remembering the horrors he witnessed during Order 66."I watched them kill my master. She fought beside them for years and they gunned her down in a second!"
Ezra looked down with a hint of guilt of not knowing the Jedi Purge and how hurt Kanan was hurt by it.
Gwendolyn felt sorry for Kanan, knowing she didn't have to argue with him on his distrust in clones.
"And then they came for me. Later they said they had chips in their heads that made them do it."Kanan retorted with a hint of sadness."Said they had no choice."
"I didn't betray my Jedi."
Kanan narrowed his eyes as he, Ezra and Gwendolyn turned their heads to see Rex standing in the entrance of the Phantom.
"Wolffe, Gregor, Fordo and I all removed our control chips."Rex admitted.
Kanan simply glared at Rex.
"We all have a choice."Rex declared.
Rex then walked out of the Phantom while Ezra and Gwendolyn simply smiled.
Kanan, however, looked down with his arms crossed.
"Well, for what it's worth, I believe we can trust Rex."Ezra remarked.
"Me too."Gwendolyn agreed."We can't let the events of the past effect the present."
Ezra and Gwendolyn then made their way out of the Phantom to join their comrades and the clones.
Zachary was listening to Fordo tell him about the Batte of Muunilinst.
"My mother said you proved to be instrumental in the Battle of Muunilinst upon leading your troops to destroy an enemy artillery emplacement and then helping Master Kenobi capture the enemy leader, San Hill."Zachary complemented with a smile."Did my Uncle Anakin and the Jedi Master Voolvif Monnre took part in that battle as well, right?"
"That's correct, lad. My task force were led by the Jedi Knight General Obi-Wan Kenobi to take the Confederate-held world of Muunilinst. Back then, I was young and full of energy."Fordo agreed with a smirk and let out a sigh."But alas, I am not that warrior anymore. Nor are my brothers."
Zachary noticed Ezra and Gwendolyn walked forward to them.
"Everything okay?"Zachary asked.
"Yeah."Ezra responded."Though Kanan has still some trust issues."
"He will slowly accept, Ezra."Gwendolyn assured with a small smile."Don't worry."
"It will take time."Zachary admitted."But he will eventually."
Ezra nodded. "Right."
"Though some scars will never heal easily."Fordo thought with a hint of guilt.
Fordo and the three young teenagers then brought their attention to Zeb, who led the hunt for the elusive joopa with the AT-TE walker in tow.
"If we're lucky, we'll catch Big Bongo today!"Gregor called out.
"Let's get this over with."Zeb retorted."I'm getting hungry."
"Keep on going forward! Just a little bit more!"Gregor insisted."We're coming up on a hot spot!"
"Your hot spot looks like everywhere else on this desolate rock."Zeb commented.
Suddenly, the sound of the joopa was heard in the distance.
"Out there!"Sabine gasped.
"All right, full stop."Rex instructed.
Wolffe made the AT-TE walker stop as Gregor looked at Zeb.
"All right."Gregor encouraged."Just a little bit more. Little more."
"Oh, really?"Zeb muttered.
As Zeb walked further to the joopa's location, Gregor brought his attention on Ezra, Zachary and Gwendolyn.
"You know, we really appreciate this."Gregor chuckled."I mean, we, we should do well today, with your friend here."
"Yeah, well, Zeb packs quite a punch."Zeb remarked.
"Oh, oh. I'm sure, I'm sure."Gregor sneered."But really, I mean, joopa supposedly love Lasats."
"They love them?"Sabine said in confusion."What do you mean?"
"Well, they say they love the smell, or I guess they love the taste as well."Gregor remarked."And maybe it's about the texture. You know-"
Fordo scowled in annoyance.
"Quite blabbering, Gregor."Fordo retorted with a frown and looked at the young teenagers."He means to say that Zeb is the bait."
"Huh?!"Ezra said in shock.
"What?!"Zachary snarled.
"He's the bait?!"Gwendolyn gasped.
"Oh, hunter, bait, it's all the same."Gregor chuckled nervously.
"No, it's not!"Kanan snapped angrily.
Suddenly a rumbling sound was heard that left cracks on the ground as the jooba dug to where Zeb was.
"Zeb, you better get back here right now!"Kanan demanded.
"Hurry!"Gwendolyn shouted."You're the bait!"
"Zeb, run!"Sabine protested.
"Zeb, it's gonna eat you!"Ezra yelled out.
"Get out of there!"Zachary snapped."What are you doing?!"
Then the jooba's tongue emerged from the ground and swallowed up Zeb.
"Zeb, no!"Ezra shouted.
The joopa began digging away at an immensely fast pace, bringing the line with him.
Gregor watched with ease and turned around with a crazed look of excitement on his face.
"Whoo-hoo!"Gregor laughed happily."This could be him! Our Big Bongo!"
Rex glanced at Sabine.
"Hey, I bet you know a thing or two about mechanics."Rex said.
"Yeah, good bet."Sabine responded.
Sabine went up the top of the AT-TE walker to join Rex.
"Keep an eye on this regulator."Rex instructed."The line can overheat and shut down. No line, no joopa, no Zeb."
"Got it."Sabine answered.
"Well, what about me and them?"
Fordo then came around the corner, carrying electric poles.
"You got the best job of all!"Gregor chuckled."When the line swings around, you'll charge it with the electro-poles. Hit the line with the rod, and it'll send a bolt of energy down to the joopa. Do it enough and you should bring it up to the surface."
Ezra grinned as he took one of the electric poles before Zachary and Gwendolyn did as well.
Gregor handed an electric pole to Kanan.
"Here's one for you, General."Gregor remarked.
"Don't call me that."Kanan scowled."I was never a general."
"Uh, my mistake."Gregor apologised."Sorry, Commander."
"No, it's not-"Kanan started.
Kanan then growled in frustration before going next to Ezra while Zachary and Gwendolyn remained on the top part of the AT-TE walker.
Kanan, Ezra, Zachary and Gwendolyn watched as the electric line showed which part of the ground that the jooba was heading to.
"Hit it!"Rex ordered."Now!"
Kanan, Ezra, Zachary and Gwendolyn used their electric poles to hit the line.
"That's it! That's it! Ooh! He didn't like that!"Gregor laughed crazily."Hit him again!"
Kanan, Ezra, Zachary and Gwendolyn made their electric poles hit the line again causing the joopa to become more crazy.
"He's a runnin'!"Rex exclaimed."Hit that line! Bring him up!"
However, with the way the joopa was pulling on the line, it was too far out of the group's reach.
Ezra tried climbing onto the railing, but he couldn't reach it either.
Sabine noticed the regulator began to sputter a little bit.
"We're losing the regulator!"Sabine warned.
"Full stop, Wolffe! Dig in!"Rex ordered."This is where we finish the battle!"
Wolffe brought the walker to a halt, yanking up on the throttle.
The AT-TE walker came to an immediate stop, throwing off the group's balance slightly.
Gwendolyn nearly lost her balance, but Fordo immediately grabbed her from hitting the ground causing Zachary to sign in relief.
"Thanks, Fordo."Gwendolyn thanked.
"No problem, lass."Fordo answered and smiled smugly."Now wait for the best part."
Zachary raised an eyebrow.
"The best part?"Fordo retorted."A friend of ours is being eaten alive."
Fordo smirked. "Just wait."
Ezra almost toppled over, but Kanan grabbed him in time.
"I can't reach it!"Ezra protested."Kanan, lift me up!"
Zachary noticed the line was losing a bit of its power.
"Sabine!"Zachary called out.
"I know, I know!"Sabine assured while working on the regulator."Working on it!"
The AT-TE walker came even lower to the ground and steam began to stream forth out from the joopa's speed.
"Got it!"Sabine declared.
Both Zachary and Gwendolyn jabbed the line with the electro-pole while Kanan tossed the pole he dropped upwards.
"Ezra?"Kanan called out.
Ezra caught the pole in his other hand and twisted to face the line, spinning his poles.
At the same time, he and the Olin twins jabbed their electro-poles into the line causing another large surge of energy to travel down into the ground.
In a couple of seconds, the joopa emerged from the ground and revealed itself to the group.
The Joopa was a large worm-like creature with naturally armoured skin. It had pairs of red bulbous eyes with a long red tongue.
"It is Big Bongo!"Gregor chuckled in delight.
"It's hideous."Gwendolyn retorted with a disgusted look.
After Rex launched another zap, the joopa dropped down lifelessly on the ground.
Then Zeb emerged out from the joopa's slimy mouth.
"What a smell."Zeb groaned.
"Ah, Zeb!"Ezra remarked in joy.
Sabine, Zachary and Gwendolyn smiled at Rex.
"Nice catch, old-timers."Sabine praised.
Rex gave the trio a simple wave in response a grin on his face.
Gregor went off the AT-TE walker to go up to Zeb.
"Yeah! Way to go!"Gregor remarked as he helped Zeb out of the joopa's mouth."Now that, that was impressive."
"Impressive?!"Kanan scowled with a glare."You almost got my friend eaten!"
"Yeah! Ugh!"Zeb scowled in disgust."I was in that thing's mouth!"
"Oh! Head to toe! But look at you!"Gregor remarked as he made Zeb turn to look at the lifeless joopa."You brought in our biggest catch ever."
This caused Zeb to become cheered up.
"I-I did?"Zeb said in surprise and then glanced at Kanan."Actually, it wasn't so bad, Kanan."I-I knew I had the beast from the beginning."
Ezra gave Zeb a thumbs up while Zachary smirked and Gwendolyn snickered in delight.
However, Kanan just crossed his arms with an annoyed look.
Rex went off the seat he was to go up to Ezra, Zachary and Gwendolyn.
"And you three kids are a natural."Rex praised before looking at the Olin twins."You parents were just like that during the Clone Wars."
"They'll be proud to know what you both did."Fordo commented.
"Thank you, Rex and Fordo."Zachary thanked.
Gwendolyn smiled. "That means a lot."
Kanan frowned at Rex.
"We held up our end of the deal, Captain."Kanan reminded."Now it's time to get us those coordinates so we can go."
"I'll get 'em."Rex replied."But you might consider staying for dinner."
"It's gonna be delicious!"Gregor cheered.
"That thing tried to eat me."Zeb sneered."Only fair I get to see how it tastes."
"Can't say no to that."Ezra remarked and looked at Kanan."Right, Kanan?"
Gwendolyn grinned in delight.
"Ooh!"Gwendolyn remarked while licking her lips."Does that mean I can have half of its stomach?"
Zachary scowled in annoyance and face palmed as Gwendolyn went down the AT-TE walker to talk to Gregor.
"You and your bottomless stomach."Zachary muttered.
Fordo laughed lightly at Zachary's respond.
"Your sister seems to have inherit your mother's big appetite while you inherited her sarcasm."Fordo chuckled."Though you are no doubt calmer like your father was."
Zachary smirked. "Right."
Later that evening, Sabine, Ezra, Zachary and Gwendolyn stood together looking at the sun setting down in the distance.
Rex then came out to join them.
"I've assembled a list of potential bases and clearance codes and a few protocols the Imperials still use."Rex explained."Should be of some use."
"Thanks, Rex."Ezra thanked.
"They're on our main computer."Rex stated."You're gonna need-"
"Data tapes?"Sabine guessed with a smile."I got this."
Sabine walked inside the walker, leaving Rex alone with the three young teenagers.
"You kids were brave today. You jumped right in there to informed proudly."A great Jedi once told me that the best leaders lead by example."
"Thanks. And it's very cool to meet you and other clones, Rex."Gwendolyn complemented kindly."My parent told me and Zack so many stories of the battles that you took part during the Clone Wars."
"They mentioned also the heroic parts as we grew older."Zachary added."Including other heroes besides them like Aunt Ahsoka, Master Obi-Wan Kenobi…and Uncle Anakin."
Rex let out a light chuckle.
"A lot of has changed. But I do miss these four."Rex complemented."I've learned a lot from them."
"I've learned from a great Jedi too."Ezra admitted and looked behind him to where Kanan was standing."Kanan."
Rex's smile vanished before looking back at the three young teenagers.
"Mmm. You know, I don't think he likes me."Rex declared."Or ever will. Can't say I blame him. The war left its scars on all of us."
A sad look appeared on Gwendolyn's face.
"But it's not really you or the other clones' fault on what happened to the Jedi, Rex."Gwendolyn reminded firmly."All of you were all pawns in the war that the Emperor used to get what his wanted."
"Won't you reconsider joining us?"Zachary requested."We could really use your help in the rebellion."
"You know, I've out served my purpose for that kind of fighting, I'm afraid."Rex commented."After the war, I questioned the point of the whole thing. All those men died, and for what?"
"I guess what they thought was right."Ezra suggested.
Suddenly, Sabine came out holding an imperial data pad.
"The clones gave us up!"Sabine scowled."They warned the Empire we're here!"
"Eh?!"Gwendolyn responded in shock.
"Wait, what?"Ezra asked.
"You're mistaken."Rex stated."We would never do that."
"I rather die than help than ever chat to a stormtrooper trash."Fordo argued.
"Oh, I found the binary transmission to the Empire."Sabine declared angrily, looking at the data-pad."And there are messages Ahsoka sent to Rex, and he never answered her!"
A glimpse of confusion appeared on Rex's face.
"What?"Rex said as he looked at the data-pad."I never got any messages from Commander Tano."
"Then how come-"Gwendolyn started.
An irritated glare appeared on Kanan's face.
"I knew it!"Kanan snapped as he took a menacing step forward."I told you, they can't be trusted!"
Ezra stopped Kanan while Zachary and Gwendolyn glanced at the clones, demanding answers from them.
"Kanan, wait."Ezra instructed before glaring at the clones."Is this true?"
Both Rex and Fordo looked at Wolffe.
"Wolffe."Rex said with a glare."What did you do?"
"I-I contacted the Empire!"Wolffe declared, turning around to look at his brothers."If they found out that we were helping Jedi, they'd wipe us out!"
"What?!"Fordo snapped.
Kanan glanced at Sabine.
"Sabine, go warn Hera."Kanan ordered."Tell her to scan for incoming ships."
"I wanted to protect you guys, protect our squad!"Wolffe admitted.
"Protect our squad? The Empire doesn't care about our safety!"Fordo snapped."You should remember that after the Emperor declared to shut down Kamino and wanted to leave us with nothing!"
"The war is over."Rex reminded."We are free men. We can't live under the fear of the Empire for the rest of our lives, Wolffe. That's not freedom."
An ashamed look appeared on Wolffe's face.
"You're right. They're not our enemy."Wolffe said in regret."I'm sorry."
"Kanan!"Sabine yelled out.
Kanan rushed to where Sabine was, only to quickly go behind the Phantom to avoid the probe from hitting him.
The probe then went below the AT-TE walker which was where Gregor and Zeb were.
"Oh, my!"Gregor said nervously."Look out!"
"Probes!"Zeb scowled."I hate probes!"
Both Gregor and Zeb quickly ducked down as the probe attempted to fly away from the AT-TE walker.
Zachary went off the AT-TE walker and headed off to attack the probe while activating his yellow lightsaber to deflect the probe's laser attacks.
But then Rex used his blaster rifle to shot the probe down.
"Nice shot, Rex!"Zachary praised.
Gregor and Zeb hid underneath the AT-TE walker.
"Whoo-hoo-hoo!"Gregor chuckled."Rex got him!"
"Probe deserved it."Zeb sneered.
After the sun set down, it was now night time in Seelos.
The group stared at the damaged probe.
"How long has this thing been watching us?"Ezra asked.
"Long enough."Kanan replied and glanced at Sabine."How's the Phantom?"
"Well, engine took a direct hit."Sabine declared."We're not going anywhere until I can fix it."
"Wait."Zeb said nervously."So we're stranded?"
Zachary frowned. "Ouch."
A fearful look appeared on Gwendolyn's face.
"That could be a major problem."Gwendolyn assumed worriedly.
"Yep."Rex agreed with a nod."And the Empire's on its way."
The group all glanced up at the night sky, silently accepting that trouble will arrive soon.
See you all in the next chapter and have a wonderful day!