Things were not boding well for Mythus. Something was wrong, and he could feel it in his bones. He was not Force-sensitive, so he could do nothing to delve deeper into the problem. All he could do was dwell on the feeling that something was very off, very different about Bando. He couldn't figure out what. There was something mysterious wrapped in an enigma.
He glossed over all the Imperial records several times to try finding something useful, but nothing stood out to him immediately. He tried one more time, but this time slower. This time, one file did catch his eye. 'Aha!' He opened a file that mentioned a Jedi temple on Lothal. 'Maybe I can get answers there.' And he immediately began organizing a plan.
The Ghost crew and the ex troopers shortly arrived back at the makeshift base 0946 had founded. The Spectres each felt uneasy for the most part, but a select few still felt it was the only course of action that could offer a victorious outcome. The Ghost glided low on the ground to avoid any high-reaching scanners, and landed close to the base.
The crew kept their weapons handy in case things weren't as steady as they were told, and the Ghost was close to the base so they could make a quick getaway in case things went awry. Hera and the crew followed 0946 and 626 inside the mountain, all somewhat impressed at the turnout.
A small outpost carved inside one of Lothal's boulder-like, small mountains. Three stories high; on the second story, a handful of TIEs and AT-DPs were parked and were under maintenance; an AT-AT was parked and hidden outside, and positioned so that entry would be accessible on the base's third story.
"This, is our new home sweet home." 0946 said. "And these, are other fellow defects." He waved his arm around, gesturing to the other working Imp rebels. Other Imps took notice and abstractedly stopped their work. Some of them recognized the Ghost crew rather well and felt rather awkward at the turn of events. 0946 heard the work stop and shouted to everyone, "There will be time for that later. Keep working!"
"This is so weird." Sabine said, looking around.
"You're telling me." Zeb concurred while doing the same.
"I have so many questions." Aang said, completely baffled.
"All in good time. If you'll follow me to my office." 0946 affirmed. Everyone followed 0946 and 626 to 0946's office, which was just the stone room with a table and radio. "Sorry, we couldn't make time to steal some chairs." 0946 joked. "I myself just have a stone to sit on."
"I gotta ask," Aang said, "How do you guys sustain yourselves? How do you get food?"
"No one outisde this base really knows of our, official, desertion yet, so we're able to get around and smuggle some from other cities on the planet without being caught." 626 took the liberty of answering.
"What is your primary goal here? I don't imagine you guys being able to do much with as little as you have; not to mention how little you have to gain by staying." Hera asked.
"Indeed." 0946 agreed. "But I know you've done a lot with less. That's one reason I believe a joint effort would be mututally beneficial. As for our goal, we just received word that this Imperial faction has big plans for this planet, primarily for the local Jedi temple." The mention of the temple perked Ezra right up. "Whatever they want with it, it can't be good. So. . . erm, forgive my sounding Imperial, but our first thought was to destroy it so they couldn't have anything from it."
"We should find out what it is they want before deciding anything." Ezra said sternly.
"Besides, there's something wrong in the Force, and we need to find out what. The temple is our only shot at answers." Aang spoke up.
"Ey, we're already making progress." 0946 said. "And you have a decent military force by your side now. The Empire is looking to move on the temple soon; with guidance, we could make our stand against the remaining Imperial forces, right there at the temple."
"It'll have to be precise." Ezra said. "Aang and I will need to enter the temple while it all happens, and you'll need to keep the Empire from collapsing the temple with us inside."
"Alright." 0946 said simply, taking all the instruction in. "How do you recommend we commence an attack with the team we have?"
Ezra thought about that. "Hey Chop, do you have a scan of the temple on you?"
Chopper chirped and showed a hologram of the temple and the surrounding land.
"Oh, that's a bit outdated." 626 said. "Since the Empire's been there, they've dug up the ground around the temple to try reaching the bottom.
"They have now, have they?" Hera asked, stroking her chin.
"We could surround the base." Ezra said, pointing around the temple. "If we have the high ground, we could rain fire on them from above. In the mess, Aang and I can sneak our way inside."
0946 hummed in approval. "Seems a decent plan. We have one other matter to attend to." 0946 and 626 looked at Sabine. "Our equipment needs new paint jobs."
While Sabine was intrigued, she was also curious how they knew of her interrest in art. "Why do you know to look at me?"
0946 and 626 looked at each other thenback at Sabine. "Um, well, we've actually 'met' you before. A while back, we were both stationed at a TIE Fighter base, invaded by a Mandalorian artist, twice."
Sabine managed to hold back a grin and snicker at the memories; she knew exactly what they were talking about. Those nights resulted in some of her proudest pieces of artful 'expressions.' "Do you have the material?" She asked enthusiastically. "I've been a bit low as of late."
"We expected you; well, more realistically, we were optimistic about your helping us, so we prepared ahead of time. I believe we have all the paint you will need." 0946 said reassuredly. He then clapped his hands together. "Okay! I'll get a team for you to help paint, and I'll make the final preparations before briefing everyone on the plan. 626 will take you to our little mess hall. There will be some food."
626 led the Ghost crew and Aang to the mess hall. They got their food trays and refreshments and sat at a table. "I'll be helping 0946 prepare. You can let someone know if you need us." 626 said before walking off.
Zeb pointed something out. "That's the difference between clones and stormtroopers. Clones traded their numbers for names, and stormtroopers traded their names for numbers."
"It's a real pity if you think about it." Hera said before the crew dug in.
There was a brief moment of peace before a voice came out of nowhere. "Who'd have thought, huh?" The voice came from another former Imperial at a table beside them.
No one knew how to respond to that, but Sabine seemed to recognize his face. "Wait, I know you."
"I highly doubt that." This distinct Imperial voice had a British accent (for some reason. Is England in the Star Wars galaxy?). "But you may have heard of me. If I'm not mistaking, you're the ones responsible for the bombing of the Empire Day Advanced TIE showcase a few years ago?" He said, staring at the food on his fork before putting it in his mouth and quickly swallowing.
Sabine snapped her fingers. "Oh I remember! You're a Baron, right?"
"Winner, winner." Baron Valon Rudor said monotonously before sighing. "What would they say about me now?" The way he said that was with a low, sarcastic enthusiasm, but it also sounded depressed. He hadn't even looked up from his food tray.
Ezra and Aang could sense that he was carrying some hard emotions, something further than guilt by association that related to the recent events.
"You good, man?" Aang asked, sipping on some caf.
Rudor didn't speak. At this moment, he felt like he didn't know how to.
"Hey." Aang spoke to him again. "We're gonna be working together, right? You guys obviously have a history, so whatever your crimes to each other were, don't matter. If you have something to say to them, you should get it off your chest. It won't help anyone to bottle it up."
"I. . . don't think now's the time." Rudor said, getting up and leaving. Most of the crew was left astounded.
"What was that about?" Sabine asked aloud, curious to what was plaguing the Imperial.
"I have never seen that before." Zeb said.
"This Bando character has everyone shaken to the core." Hera said as Bando's fallout continued to unravel around them.
"He was nervous around us. He wasn't thinking about him." Ezra stated. It was when Ezra finally spoke up that everyone else noticed that Ezra hadn't touched his food. He was leaned back and was crossing his arms.
"Well," Hera thought aloud, "After witnessing what his Empire would be willing to do, I wouldn't put it past him to think about what he's done also in the Empire's name."
Ezra abruptly stood up. "I've lost my appetite." He said as he left in a hurry.
Everyone knew that the recent events had left Ezra rather distressed. With looks of empathy and pity, everyone watched him leave. Hera crossed her fingers together and leaned her face into her hands, sighing. "If only Kanan were here." She whispered.
After a moment of thoughtful silence, Aang asked his obvious question. "Who's Kanan?"
"He was our leader, a Jedi, Ezra's master, and m- . . . He died a while ago."
'Right! I forgot they had another Jedi on their team. Oh, he was the one who stopped the Empire's production here, before the rift.' Aang thought as he simultaneously said to the crew with a soft voice, "My uh, condolences to you all."
Baron Rudor went to find 0946, who was informing workers that there would be an official mission brief soon. "Excuse me." Rudor said.
0946 took notice and excused himself from his previous engagement. "What's going on? Oh, hey, stick around; we're gonna need you."
"Are you certain this is a good idea?"
0946 knew Rudor didn't know of the plan. "Is what a good idea?"
"Working with them?"
0946 was confused. "We're on the same side here. What's your concern?"
Rudor looked around to be sure of their privacy. Others were around, but no one else was listening. "You remember the one people called 'Old Jho,' who was executed for assisting rebel activity?"
"That describes a lot of people the Empire persecuted; you'll have to be more specific."
"Erm, he had his own bar."
"Oh that rings a bell. What about him?"
"Well," Rudor looked around again. "I. . . may have had, a big hand to play in his fate." He whispered above a breath.
0946 looked directly at him with concern on his face and very evidently in his voice, "Were you the one who did it?"
"No, but I led the team that arrested him, and I. . . may have given the order." Rudor's guilt seemed evident in the way he occasionally spaced words.
"Oh! Not directly, but close enough. He was important to this particular band?"
"Yes! He was their primary informant before they left the planet!" Rudor said, stressing each word in a tone that sounded panicked.
0946 could see his worry now. His eyes widened a little and he bit his lip. "Okay, uh, well, we know these people are significantly more forgiving than the Empire. To the extent that they make the Empire look . . . Oh. Oh! That's what they mean by 'gaining consciousness.' I can see where a lot of people are coming from now. Anyway, we know you're not the one who directly killed their friend! Maybe that'll be enough?"
It became clear that the Imperial defects carried the weight of the Empire's cruel disciplinary methods with them; they hadn't yet brushed off the concept of being guilty by association. Any normal level of forgiveness was a foreign thought to them.
It was, at least, for the Baron. 0946 seemed to have a decent moral grip on the situation, but Rudor couldn't wrap his mind around anything other than what the Empire indoctrinated into him. He felt there was more to be said, but words failed him. The idea of receiving mercy had dumbfounded him completely, and 0946 seemed to take notice.
"I see you need a moment." 0946 stated the blatantly obvious; Valon still didn't respond. 0946 saw the gears turning in his head and realized a toll was still being taken on his mind; he sighed and said as he placed a gentle but rough hand on Valon's shoulder, "Get some air, clear your head. Someone will get you for the mission brief."
Valon nodded, but hesitantly stepped away.
The conversation was not completely ignored, for one set of eyes had been peered on Rudor the whole time. Ezra wanted to know what was up, and now he'd just heard that his and the crew's friend Old Jho was executed some time ago. And he'd only just found out. His friend was killed and there was nothing he could do about it.
Almost as soon as Ezra left the mess hall, he returned. "Old Jho is dead. It was that pilot's doing. I just overheard him talking about it."
Everyone was obviously distraught over the news; but to Ezra, they didn't seem as shocked. The rest of the crew had taken notice of Ezra's subtly darkening attitude. This news -they thought- would be an anchor for Ezra to further decline. They began worrying more.
Hera crossed her fingers together, leaned her face on her hands, and sighed deeply. "Old Jho didn't die in vain; we wouldn't be where we are without him." Hera's sharp eyes bore a gaze into Ezra's.
Zeb stood up and put a hand on Ezra's shoulder. "I understand how you're feeling, Ezra. We will avenge him by succeeding in our mission here." He said, trying to ease Ezra.
Ezra was thinking among the lines of 'Avenge Jho? His murderer is in this camp.' He wanted to say it so badly, but still something felt off.
Sabine stood up, also looking Ezra in the eyes, helping emphasize her point, "The man responsible turned on the Empire, along with so many others. They want to help us win. That kind of revenge is the best kind." She said, remembering her own times in the Academy building the Dutchess death machine. And destroying it.
"Just sit down; take a breath." said Aang, raising a soothing hand.
Ezra briefly considered it, but he felt like he needed something else, so he left the room to be alone.
Now everyone was very worried about Ezra, but they still hadn't talked about it; Aang took notice. "So are we going to discuss the bantha in the room?"
"There's just a lot going on." Hera replied, "We have to keep focus on the mission; we'll have an intervention if we need to."
"There's a higher chance that won't happen if this new Imperial threat is even half as dangerous as he's made out to be." Aang said. "I've only just met you all, I don't know your routine when someone's going through something like this, but I know something dark has a hold of Ezra's mind. And even I know he's gonna need his act together if this mission is to be any kind of successful. He needs his remaining family."
'He's not wrong.' Everyone thought before Hera had an idea. "Or a new perspective." She said, looking at Aang, her meaning blatant in her expression.
"Wh- me? How could I help?" Aang asked, slightly panicking a little.
"Well, you're a Jedi. If there's anything I know about Jedi, it's that they bond over their teachings. You seem wise enough, so, show him something you've learned." She suggested.
'I never had a real master. What could I show him?' Aang thought for a moment. 'Oh!' He immediately got up.
Ezra drudged himself outside and through the grass of Lothal's plains, heading to his room on the Ghost to think. In a split second, something stopped him in his tracks. "Woah!" He shouted as he ducked and moved out of the way of a lightsaber blade that barely missed his head.
Aang swung in all different directions; and Ezra dodged each swing, he swiftly ignited his green lightsaber and locked blades.
"One wouldn't normally be able to sneak up on a Jedi like I just did." Aang observed.
"What are you doing?!" Ezra shouted, getting others' attention.
Back at base, 0946 saw the commotion and sought out to prevent it from escalating; but Hera stretched a hand out in front of him, and simply shook her head, which told him everything. Regardless, the other peers seemed interested in spectating the clash.
Sabine sucked in a breath. "Oh, go easy on each other." She whispered, while Chopper was loudly beeping encouragements of fighting harder, and something about Ezra's face.
While their blades locked, Aang grabbed Ezra's face, his fingers blocking Ezra's sight, allowing Aang to jump and kick Ezra away a few yards. Ezra then recognized Aang's significant strength.
Now a considerable distance away from each other, Aang pointed a blade at him, "With focus like yours, you will cause more loss than you've already endured." He said as they stepped in a circle. "Are you ready to lose everyone?"
"What are you talking about?" Ezra asked, a little frustrated. He looked over and saw people watching. "Someone want to help?"
Aang took advantage of Ezra's distraction, sped right up to him and swung down. Ezra barely had time to block the sudden attack. "And now you've lost someone else." Aang said.
"Agh!" Ezra grunted, exerting a lot of energy into holding Aang's blade away from his face, "Okay! Enough!"
"Oh we're not done yet." Aang said. Suddenly, another blade emerged from the other end of Aang's hilt. Aang swung his saber around, throwing Ezra off his balance. Then he went hardcore. Aang approached Ezra and swung hard, as if he was actually trying to kill him.
Aang's strength beginning to overpower him, Ezra could only block. Aang could sense fear rising up in Ezra, and only doubled down. Aang pounded his blades down, pressuring Ezra onto the ground. Aang then used his extra arms to lift Ezra up, throw him into the air, and used the Force to throw him against one of the boulders. In a split second, Aang caught up to him, pulled out his other lightsaber, crossed his blades, and stuck them around Ezra's neck, and into the boulder. "And just like that, your friends are dead."
Ezra was catching his breath, his eyes wide with some evident fear; Aang retracted his blades and took a step back. "They need you, Ezra. They need you, not some depressed teenager. I told you you're under attack by the dark side, and it seems to me like you're not even fighting it. You're unfocused, angry, and you are afraid." Aang strongly emhasized his statement, then turned off his lightsabers. "How do you think Kanan would feel? What do you think he would say?" Aang's name dropping Kanan caused Ezra to turn his head away. "Ezra, these people, saw the light. Many of them did do terrible things against you and your friends, but they've seen the error of their ways and want to fight the Empire. The very Empire they committed every act in the name of. But you seem too angry to accept that." Ezra opened his mouth to speak, but Aang interrupted. "Don't bother denying, I could very well sense your emotions." Aang gave them both some breathing time. "I knew Old Jho, too. I lived here on Lothal the past three years while you guys have been gone; I got around. You think I'm not upset? I have my emotions, too, but the Jedi way is not to mourn, but to celebrate those who join the Force. Were you not taught that?"
Ezra sighed deeply, then finally looked back up. He definitely seemed calmer, and that said a lot.
"Honor your master's teachings." Aang told him. "And. . . be a bit more forgiving; because honestly, if you're not at your best in this mission, it's likely none of us are going to make it out of here."
"Jedi also teach confidence." Ezra mumbled snarkily with a grin, standing back up.
"Let's go back in." Aang said, slapping Ezra's shoulder. "I heard they're about ready for the mission brief."