Author's Note: To the readers who saw the previous chapter when it was first published, the last part has been rewritten.
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 18: The Siege of Lothal Part 2
Inside the hangar of the Imperial Complex, Nadia did her fighting stance and immediately activated her lightsabers as Darth Vader confronted her and her comrades.
Both Kanan and Ezra activated their lightsabers as well while Nadia rushed to battle the Emperor's right hand as the stormtroopers move to flank the other rebels.
Kanan glanced at Hera.
"Hera, go!"Kanan demanded."We'll cover you!"
Sabine and Zeb get in a firefight with the stormtroopers to cover Hera and Chopper as they load the shield generators onto the shuttle and prepare to take off.
Nadia ducked Darth Vader's blood crimson blade as it attempted to stab her on the stomach.
A simple double stroke, up and then down, it contained enough power to jar her wrists and shoulders and very nearly disarm him completely.
The collision of their lightsabers was blinding.
The raven haired woman blocked a savage slash that would have cut her in two and another that would have lifted her head clean from her shoulders.
She actually despised fighting the man in the black suit.
The man whose face had been forever hidden from everyone.
Because unlike her comrades, she knew the opponent that she was fighting for so long…and once considered him a very close friend to her.
Nadia gasped in pain when Darth Vader started Force-choking her with his free hand and struggled to breath.
However, she gave her former friend an irritated glare and kept gripping her lightsabers tightly, refusing to look frighten and weak in front of him.
"You've become slow, Nadia."Darth Vader taunted.
"You did always say you were a far more experienced warrior than me, Ana-"Nadia started.
The next thing that had happened Nadia was violently tossed not far from where Zeb and Sabine were, making her drop her lightsabers in the process.
Kanan and Ezra then fought Darth Vader in a lightsaber duel, but they were easily overpowered.
When Kanan was knocked out of the fight, Ezra attempted to fight Darth Vader alone.
But the apprentice of Darth Sidious used the Force to pin the teenage boy against an AT-DP walker with the Force, attempting to kill him by bringing the young Padawan's own lightsaber, still in his grasp, up towards his neck
"Your master has deceived you into believing you can become a Jedi."Darth Vader retorted.
Ezra's eyes widen in terror as the Sith Lord brought his own blade close to his throat to kill him.
Before Darth Vader could kill Ezra, Kanan immediately woke up and went to return to the fight.
This caused the Sith Lord to release Ezra and bring his attention back on Kanan, their blades clashing against each other.
Nadia suddenly appeared and leapt up to slash Darth Vader's helmet, but the Sith Lord shoved Kanan back and blocked his former friend's blades.
Both Kanan and Nadia worked together to fight against the Emperor's right hand.
But alas, the man in the black suit easily blocked and parried every one of the two Jedi Knights' attacks without any effort at all.
Nadia moved forward to strike again, but Darth Vader raised an arm and shoved her back with the Force beside Ezra.
Kanan attempted to attack Darth Vader, only to be driven back and slashed on the shoulder by the Dark Lord's counterattack.
"Caleb!"Nadia shouted.
Sabine and Zeb then throw thermal detonators onto some nearby AT-DP walkers, scattering the stormtroopers and distracting Darth Vader.
"Now!"Kanan declared.
Seeing their chance, Kanan and Ezra used the Force to knock the Dark Lord of the Sith off-balance as the walkers crash down on him.
Knowing her former friend was still alive, Nadia stood up and immediately rushed to the shuttle.
"You two run!"Nadia demanded."Come on!"
Both Kanan and Ezra looked at Nadia with confused expressions.
Suddenly, the group heard a screeching sound and became shocked to see Darth Vader using the Force to lift the burning walkers into the air with not even a scratch on him.
"If that doesn't kill him, what will?!"Ezra asked rhetorically.
"Not us!"Kanan replied."Run!"
"Go, Chop!"Hera ordered.
"Come on!"Sabine protested."Come on!"
As Ezra and Kanan retreat to the shuttle, Sabine opened fire on Darth Vader to try and delay him.
However, Darth Vader deflects the blaster shots back at her, scorching her chest-plate and helmet.
Mere steps ahead of Darth Vader, Ezra and Kanan leaped aboard the shuttle.
Nadia gave Darth Vader a hurtful glare as the ramp of the shuttle closed.
Chopper then flew it away from the Imperial Complex.
Then the Stormtrooper Commander went over to Darth Vader.
"My lord, I will mobilize our fighters to pursue."the Stormtrooper Commander suggested.
"That will be unnecessary, Commander."Darth Vader replied."The rebels will not leave the planet yet."
Having barely escaped with their lives, the rebels catch their breath aboard the shuttle.
Luckily, Sabine and Kanan's armour saved them from permanent injury.
Nadia, on the other hand, was rubbing her neck which hurt a bit from Darth Vader's Force choke.
Hera glanced at Zeb.
"Zeb, make sure they can't track us."Hera instructed.
"Consider it done."Zeb answered.
Hera brought her attention on Sabine.
"You all right?"Hera questioned.
"Yeah, I'll live."Sabine responded.
Kanan noticed Nadia slowly panting while her right hand rubbed her neck.
"Nadia, are you alright?"Kanan asked.
Nadia glanced at Kanan and Ezra, giving them a forced yet small smile.
"Despite the pain in my throat, I'll survive, Caleb."Nadia assured.
"Who was that?"Ezra questioned."Another Inquisitor?"
Nadia shook her head.
"No."Nadia answered as she lowered her hand from her throat."Something…worse."
"What?"Ezra asked.
"His name is Darth Vader."Nadia exclaimed, being careful with her words."His the Imperial army's cyborg Sith commander and…a former Jedi corrupted by Emperor Palpatine."
Shocked looks appeared on the Spectres' faces.
"Wait a minute."Sabine responded."Are you saying that masked guy who attacked us used to be a Jedi?"
"Yes."Nadia said simply.
"Do I know him?"Kanan questioned.
"Not exactly, Kanan. His a complete mystery."Nadia lied in a firm tone."All I know is that his the one that helped the Emperor carry out Order 66 to wipe out all the Jedi. Including…the younglings in the Jedi Temple."
There was silence at Nadia's declaration before Ezra spoke up.
"How do we fight him?"Ezra spoke up.
Both Nadia and Kanan looked at Ezra with completely outraged looks.
"Fight him?"Kanan repeated."Ezra, we were lucky to survive."
"Most of the remaining Jedi that had survived the purge were actually killed by Darth Vader or his Inquisitors."Nadia warned with a frown."Word of advice, rookie? You wouldn't stand a chance against the Emperor's right hand."
"Then that settles it."Hera declared."I'm going to make for orbit so we can jump away."
"Hera, no."Kanan ordered."He will have a blockade of Destroyers waiting for us."
"The one thing you should know about Darth Vader is his utterly intelligent beside terrifying."Nadia warned, her voice mixed with a stern and warning tone."So we have to be cautious."
"But this shuttle is slow with barely any weapons or shields."Sabine informed."We're gonna have to smuggle ourselves off Lothal for a change."
Sabine headed up the ladder as an approved smile appeared on Hera's face.
"Mmm, that's not a bad idea."Hera agreed.
"What are you thinking?"Kanan asked.
Hera smiled. "I'm thinking we know the right man to smuggle us off-world."
Kanan and Ezra shared a glance with each other, immediately realising who Hera was talking about.
"Not him!"Kanan and Ezra answered in unison.
Nadia raised an eyebrow in confusion.
"Huh?"Nadia said.
Darth Vader stood inside his office, staring at the sky that showed dawn was coming on Lothal.
He had sensed the fear within the rebels.
Especially, Nadia and those two other Jedi.
Though from what he had gathered, the one by the name of 'Kanan Jarrus' was actually Caleb Dume; the former Padawan of Jedi Master Depa Billaba.
He actually recalled seeing Master Billaba's apprentice watching Ahsoka and Nadia do their training back in the Jedi Temple with him and Obi-Wan-
A boiling anger grew within the Sith Lord as he was reminded of the man that cut off his limbs and left him to burn on Mustafar.
Suddenly, the door of the office opened and Agent Kallus came inside.
"My lord, our scans have indicated that the stolen shuttle has not attempted to leave the system."Agent Kallus reported.
"Fear has driven them to ground."Darth Vader declared."There is a refugee camp the rebels have provided aid to in the past."
"Yes, "Tarkintown" they call it."Agent Kallus complemented."You suspect the rebels are in hiding there?"
"No, but I want you to burn it."Darth Vader ordered."The compassion of the rebels is a weakness. One we will exploit."
"Yes, my lord."Agent Kallus answered with a nod.
Agent Kallus then left the office, leaving Darth Vader by himself.
In the stolen shuttle, Hera and Kanan contacted Lando Calrissian, who was off world.
"Well, hello there, Captain Syndulla."Lando sneered."This is a pleasant surprise. What can I do for you?"
"This isn't a social call, Lando."Kanan retorted with a small glare."It's business. We need your help to smuggle something off Lothal."
"Past the Imperial blockade."Hera admitted.
"You know, if the Empire learns I got involved, it'd be all over for me."Lando reminded."I'd be taking an awful big risk."
"What do you want?"Kanan retorted.
"What have you got?"Lando questioned.
"Imperial shield generators."Hera answered."Military grade."
"Ooh. Now that's merchandise I can move."Lando remarked."How many we talking about?"
"Two."Hera replied.
"Two? You are no gambler, Hera."Lando chuckled smugly."Offering me two means you've got at least six, so I think, three is probably fair."
This caused Hera to frown.
"Fair?"Hera questioned."You're taking half."
"Those shields won't do you much good if you're dead."Lando complemented.
"Three it is."Kanan declared."So we have a deal?"
"While I'm not on Lothal at the moment, my droid is."Lando exclaimed."Go to my operation and he'll set you up with everything you need.
The following morning, the stolen imperial shuttle arrived to Lando's farm.
When the ramp of the shuttle lowered, Ezra, Kanan, Nadia and the rest of their companions stepped out to be greeted by Lando's droid, W1-LE, who was going to assist them.
W1-LE greeted them upon their arrival.
"You must be Lando's droid."Hera assumed.
"Yes, ma'am."W1-LE responded."Welcome. I have prepared everything according to Calrissian's instructions. Is one of you a mechanic?"
"Oh, that must be me."Sabine declared.
Chopper let out a frowning beep.
"Definitely not you."Sabine stated.
Ezra suddenly noticed the smoke from Tarkintown before grabbing a speeder and head in that direction.
"Hey, kid!"Zeb protested.
"Just let him go, Zeb."Kanan instructed.
Ezra headed to where Tarkintown was, only to become shocked when the charred remains of the settlement.
The teenage boy lowered his macrobinoculars as Kanan and Nadia arrived in their speeders.
"There's no one."Ezra murmured in shock."They're all gone."
"They're prisoners of the Empire now."Kanan stated sadly.
Nadia silently looked down with a sad frown.
"All I sense is evil."Ezra declared."Why would they burn Tarkintown?"
Kanan and Nadia went between Ezra.
"To spread fear, make us afraid."Kanan informed."The people that lived here just got caught in the middle."
"This happened because of us?"Ezra said with a hint of guilt.
"There's a cost for any action we take now, Ezra. Whether the action is good or bad."Nadia exclaimed."It seems things are getting worse just as they did back when I was Obi-Wan's Padawan. Though that time, there were many Jedi Knights were in the middle of fighting in a war that the Emperor actually engineered in order to rise to power and cause the removal of the Jedi Order once the war ended, so that he could restructure the Republic into the Empire."
A frown appeared on Nadia's face.
"But the sad fact is neither the Jedi or the Separatists realised they were pawns on the whole war until it was too late."Nadia declared.
"Also back then, there were 10,000 Jedi Knights protecting the galaxy, Nadia."Kanan commented."Now…"
"There's just a couple of Jedi left."Ezra started.
"Against an Empire."Kanan finished.
Ezra looked at Kanan and Nadia with a determined look.
"We can fight."Ezra insisted confidently."We have allies."
Nadia didn't say anything at Ezra's declaration.
"Do you understand what you're saying?"Kanan demanded while holding Ezra's shoulders."You saw what we're up against."
"Look!"Ezra protested."I'm not afraid!"
"That's what worries me."Kanan stated.
Nadia glanced at the charred remains of Tarkintown as she went back on her speeder.
Before the rise of the Empire, the raven haired woman remembered there were so many lives in the galaxy suffering during the Clone Wars and many were blaming the Jedi for it.
If the Jedi Order didn't follow a corrupted code that caused a barrier between those that they swore to protect, the Council could've unmasked that Chancellor Palpatine was Darth Sidious.
But alas, the Dark Side of the Force had clouded their vision for such a long time and the Jedi were too blind to see that.
So, no one could've stopped the rise of the Empire.
Not her friends.
Not even herself.
Inside the Phoenix Home, Maybelline was practicing her Force healing ability while Hal, Ahsoka and Commander Sato watched.
The sandy brown haired young woman had her eyes closed as she tried to connect with the Force.
Maybelline then slowly opened her eyes as she lowered her hands down.
"What happened, Meibe?"Hal asked.
"Nadia and the Spectres are back."Maybelline declared."I sensed them."
Hal smirked at his younger half-sister.
"Meibe, you need to never lose your concentration if you attend to heal someone in the future."Hal instructed.
"I understand, big brother."Maybelline replied."Though it's rather sad that there aren't anymore Jedi Healers anymore in the galaxy."
"Perhaps you can a teacher that touches her students how to to cure the ill and the wounded in the future, May?"Ahsoka requested.
A small glimpse of excitement appeared in Maybelline's deep grey eyes.
"That would be great."Maybelline remarked.
Back at the Imperial Center, Admiral Konstantine contacted Darth Vader and Agent Kallus to report his failure to capture the rebels.
"My lord, I regret to inform you that the rebels have escaped Lothal."Admiral Konstantine declared.
"Have my ship prepared."Darth Vader ordered.
Darth Vader then left his office as Admiral Konstantine looked at Agent Kallus.
"Agent Kallus, I don't think I understand."Admiral Konstantine responded.
"There is a tracking device hidden aboard that shuttle."Agent Kallus stated with a smirk."Now ready the fleet to deploy."
Inside the command center of the Phoenix Home, Nadia spoke with Hal and Maybelline.
"The Empire is starting to tighten his grip on Lothal."Nadia exclaimed."But there is no doubt it will begin to do the same to other planets in the galaxy due to the rise of many other rebel cells."
"That could be a major problem, Dia."Hal complemented."Though Alderaan is a peaceful planet, the last thing I would want is the Empire to learn Senator Organa is part of the rebellion and put the people of his home world in danger. Even my own family."
Maybelline looked down in thought.
"What is it, little sister?"Nadia questioned.
"I…I've been thinking about Leia."Maybelline declared."I know Senator Organa is having her ready to take his place in the Imperial Senate. But I was wondering if-"
Suddenly, the Spectres rushed in causing Maybelline to pause herself from finishing her sentence.
"Commander Sato! We need the fleet to jump out of here!"Hera demanded."Our shuttle was tracked!"
Hal, Nadia and Maybelline's eyes widen in shock.
"Commander, I'm scanning a ship entering our sector."A technician reported."We're tracking one target. No other ships have entered the system."
The holomap was activated, displaying the rebel fleet as well as the approaching ship on the screen.
It was a TIE Advanced x1 entering the area to engage the fleet.
"Just one?"Hal said in surprise.
"Move Phoenix Squadron to intercept."Commander Sato ordered.
"Fighter coming in at mark 3."Phoenix 1 reported.
The Phoenix Squadron, a group of RZ-1 A-wing interceptors, approached Darth Vader's TIE Advanced x1, but the Dark Lord was the superior opponent.
"He's coming in too fast!"Phoenix 2 warned.
"Fleet, raise deflector shields."Hera ordered.
"We've lost Phoenix 1 and 2!"A technician informed.
Maybelline was surprised to see a TIE pilot wipe out the Phoenix Squadron with such impressive pilot skills.
"I don't recall ever seeing a TIE pilot being really talented."Hal commented with a frown.
"Damn."Maybelline murmured softly."That's something Anakin would have done."
A disturbed look appeared on Nadia's face since she already figured out who exactly was piloting the TIE Advanced x1.
"I clearly see your still the best star pilot in the galaxy even after Mustafar."Nadia thought with a sad tone."But it hurts you're now using all the skills you have, but for evil ends, Anakin."
"He's heading right for us."Ezra stated.
"Enemy fighter's making for the command ship!"A second technician warned.
The Phoenix Home suddenly started shaking violently causing the lights to flicker due to the damage.
"How can one fighter best our entire squadron?"Commander Sato demanded.
Nadia looked down, but didn't say anything.
"Your pilots are outmatched, Commander."Hera stated.
Hera started to head out of the command center.
"Uh, what are you doing?"Kanan questioned.
"Getting involved."Hera answered.
"Not without me, you're not."Kanan admitted.
Kanan followed Hera back to the Ghost as Sabine looked at Ezra.
"Let's go!"Sabine insisted."Ezra, come on!"
Sabine left to go back to the Ghost as well as Ahsoka and Nadia looked at Ezra.
Nadia smirked. "I'm eager to join."
"All right if we tag along?"Ahsoka requested.
"The more, the merrier."Ezra insisted.
Nadia rushed to the doorway with Ahsoka and Ezra, only to pause to look at Hal and Maybelline.
"Go, big sister."Maybelline insisted with a wink."We'll be fine."
"Just be careful out there."Hal instructed.
Nadia nodded before going off to join her best friend in the Ghost.
On the Ghost, Ahsoka and Nadia joined Hera and Kanan on the cockpit while the rest of the crew went to various positions on the freighter.
Hera sat in the pilot's seat, Ahsoka was in the co-pilot's seat while Kanan and Nadia sat in the back two seats.
"Everyone, check in."Hera ordered.
"Tail gun, check!"Zeb answered.
"Turret, check!"Sabine declared.
"Nose gun, check!"Ezra added."Check!"
Hera began to press a few buttons to start the Ghost.
"All right, kids, do Mom and Dad proud."Hera informed.
"Here he comes."Kanan warned.
Nadia became a bit nervous as Darth Vader's TIE Advanced x1 began heading towards the Phoenix Home and began firing it.
"We've lost our shields!"Hal warned.
"Ghost moving to engage."Hera assured.
The Ghost went to attack Darth Vader's TIE Advanced x1.
"I'm on him!"Sabine stated.
Sabine made her turret around and fired at the TIE Advanced x1, but missed.
"Who is this guy?"Sabine questioned.
Nadia, once again, looked down in silence.
"A former close friend."Nadia thought regretfully.
Ahsoka narrowed her eyes as a glare formed on her face.
She was beginning to feel something about the enemy pilot.
Something familiar.
The way he attacked reminded her of someone.
"Phoenix Home to Ghost."Commander Sato responded."We can't withstand another attack from that fighter."
"Copy that!"Hera replied."Phoenix Squadron, form up and focus fire!"
Ahsoka suddenly felt the Force was strong with the pilot of the TIE fighter.
Very strong.
Was it possible that the pilot was Force Sensitive?
"The Force is strong with him."Ahsoka stated, feeling utterly surprised before looking at Kanan and Nadia."Kanan, Nadia, let's find out how strong."
Nadia opened her mouth to say something, but simply nodded at her best friend.
She couldn't stop her best friend what she intended to do.
Or what she was going to discover.
"How can I help?"Kanan asked.
"Just remember your training."Ahsoka insisted.
Both Ahsoka and Nadia reached their hands out and calling upon the Force.
Kanan took a deep breath before also closing his eyes and laying his hand on Ahsoka's shoulder.
He reached out and called the Force as well.
Inside the Phoenix Home, Maybelline glanced at Hal upon sensing the Force strong within the enemy pilot.
"Hal, do you feel that?"Maybelline asked in confusion."The Force is strong with this guy. Really, really, strong."
"You're right, Meibe."Hal replied, agreeing with his younger half-sister."I sense that too."
On the Ghost, Ezra attempted to use the nose gun to fire at Darth Vader's TIE Advanced x1.
However, he stopped his attack when he suddenly sensed the same darkness that he felt on Lothal.
"There's something familiar."Ezra declared uncomfortably."I feel…cold."
Since her eyes were closed, Ahsoka kept using the Force to help her identify the pilot of the TIE Advanced x1.
"I think I know who it is!"Ezra admitted."Back on Lothal, I felt something! Kanan and Nadia did too!"
As Ahsoka kept using the Force, a look mixed with shock and fright grew on her face due to the memories she was seeing.
"The fear."
A being holding his dead mother before mercilessly slaughtering the Tusken Raiders somewhere in Tatooine.
Not just the men.
But the women and children too.
Like animals.
"The anger."
The being lashing out in anger at the Jedi Council for treating him unfairly.
"The hate."
The being leading the 501st Legion to the Jedi Temple to kill all the Jedi.
Even the younglings.
The being fighting Obi-Wan in Mustafar, only for his limbs to be cut off by the Jedi Master and being left to burn alive by the flames of the hellish planet.
Finally, the being being placed into a very familiar black suit due to his injuries and being put a familiar skull-like mask.
"It's the Sith Lord we faced!"
Ahsoka's eyes widen in pure horror upon learning the identity of the being in the TIE fighter upon seeing his painful memories through the Force.
Darth Vader was-
Upon using the Force, Darth Vader realised that Ahsoka—who was his Padawan when he was still known as the Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker—was still alive.
She did survive the Jedi Purge.
"The apprentice lives."Darth Vader declared.
"NO!"Ahsoka yelled out in terror.
Ahsoka screamed and falls unconscious, only to be caught by Kanan.
"Ahsoka?"Kanan asked worriedly.
"Soka!"Nadia said in shock.
Inside the Phoenix Home, Maybelline became horrified and fell into unconsciousness, only for Hal to quickly grab his younger half-sister before she hit the floor.
"Meibe?!"Hal gasped in fear.
Upon sensing his former apprentice, Darth Vader made his TIE Advanced x1 stop attacking the Phoenix Home and focus on attacking the Ghost.
"Captain Syndulla, whatever you're doing, keep it up!"Commander Sato insisted."The fleet can recover!"
An irritated look appeared on Nadia's face.
"You're joking, right?"Nadia retorted.
"No!"Hera answered."Commander, you need to get the fleet out of here now!"
"I will not abandon our command ship!"Commander Sato stated.
"She's right! You don't have a choice, sir!"Hal warned."Without a hyperdrive, you must abandon ship!"
Just then, three Star Destroyers enter into the fray with the lead ship commanded by Admiral Konstantine.
Inside his TIE Advanced x1, Darth Vader got a contact by Admiral Konstantine.
"Lord Vader, we have entered the system and await your orders."Admiral Konstantine reported.
"Move your Destroyers to block their escape, but hold your fire."Darth Vader ordered firmly."I want these rebels alive."
Inside the Ghost, Nadia scowled lightly at seeing the Star Destroyers.
"It's now or never, Commander!"Nadia warned."You have to abandon the Phoenix Home!"
"You guys will have to keep that fighter occupied."Hal informed.
"Don't worry, Hal."Hera assured."We seem to have his attention."
Commander Sato and his crew abandon the critically-damaged Phoenix Home, evacuating to the rest of the fleet.
"Suddenly, there's a lot to do back here."Zeb stated nervously.
"Sorry to spoil your fun, Zeb, but I'm ordering Chopper to divert all power to the hyperdrive, including cannons."Hera declared.
"Hera, what are you doing?"Sabine demanded.
Ezra smirked. "I think I know."
Admiral, Lord Vader has separated one of the rebel ships from the rest of the fleet.
"Then that is our primary target."Admiral Konstantine stated.
Inside a escape pod, Hal held Maybelline as his younger half-sister rested against his shoulder while Commander Sato used his comlink to contact the Spectres.
"Ghost crew, the escape pods are secure."Commander Sato reported."Fleet, commence hyperspace jump."
"Copy that, Commander."Hera replied."We'll meet you at safe haven."
The rest of the Phoenix Squadron then jumped into hyperspace.
The Ghost kept Darth Vader's TIE Advanced x1 occupied during the evacuation before flying towards the Star Destroyers.
Nadia couldn't help, but feel relieved upon seeing Hal and Maybelline escape out of harms way.
"The fleet is away."Sabine informed."Get us out of here!"
"Everyone, hang on."Hera instructed.
Darth Vader's TIE Advanced x1 continued firing at the Ghost.
"Chopper, angle all deflectors astern."Hera ordered.
Chopper beeped at Hera.
"The Star Destroyers aren't the ones firing at us!"Hera informed."Now, do it fast!"
Inside the first Star Destroyer, an officer glanced at Admiral Konstantine.
"Target moving into range."the officer informed.
"Activate tractor beam on my signal."Admiral Konstantine ordered.
Inside the Ghost, Kanan and Nadia looked equally nervous as Hera flew closer to the two Star Destroyers which activated their tractor beams in order to trap the ship.
"Hera!"Kanan warned.
"Wait."Hera instructed."Wait."
"Now."Admiral Konstantine demanded.
"Gotcha."Hera sneered.
The Ghost jumped into hyperspace just in time, leaving Darth Vader's TIE fighter to be captured by the tractor beams in its place.
Inside the first Star Destroyer, Admiral Konstantine glanced at the officer.
"Status report on the rebel craft."Admiral Konstantine offered.
"Sir, we've locked onto a ship, but it's not the rebel craft."the officer said nervously."It's Lord Vader's ship."
A fearful look appeared on Admiral Konstantine's face.
"Release."Admiral Konstantine ordered."Release him immediately."
The officer deactivated the tractor beam, setting the Sith Lord's TIE fighter free.
"It's not your fault, Officer."Admiral Konstantine stated casually."But Lord Vader won't know that."
Afterwards, the Ghost met up with the rest of the fleet and began to repair the damage from the battle.
Nadia sat at the back seat as she looked at Ahsoka, who had woken up from her unconsciousness.
"Soka, you okay?"Nadia asked.
"I'm, Dia."Ahsoka replied with a small smile."But can we talk in private later on?"
Nadia nodded at her best friend.
"Right."Nadia answered.
Then Kanan and Ezra arrived into the cockpit of the Ghost.
"Ahsoka, Hera said you wanted to speak with us."Ezra said.
"Please, come in."Ahsoka insisted.
"Are you okay?"Ezra asked.
"I am, thank you."Ahsoka responded."I wanted to ask about the Sith Lord you encountered on Lothal."
"You know we encountered an Inquisitor before, but this was nothing like that."Kanan declared with a frown."The fear, the anger, the hate. You felt it. I haven't sensed a presence like that since-"
"The Clone Wars."Ahsoka finished with a soft grim look.
Kanan nodded. "Yeah."
Ezra looked down in thought before looking at Ahsoka.
"Ahsoka, do you know who or what he is?"Ezra questioned."Nadia said he was a Jedi that the Emperor turned to the Dark Side."
Nadia felt butterflies in her stomach, but kept her mouth shut.
"No, I don't."Ahsoka answered simply and turned her head to look at the view in front of them."But I do know that he will be coming. They'll all be coming now."
"Then we've got to be ready to fight."Ezra insisted.
A small smirk appeared on Nadia's face.
"For a rookie, you're surprisingly fearless."Nadia praised slightly."Though it's not going to be easy."
"We must find the strength to fight, but the greater courage is knowing when not to fight."Kanan reminded.
Suddenly, the door to the cockpit then opened, revealing the rest of the Spectres.
"And we'll be beside you either way."Hera remarked.
Kanan and Ezra smiled at their friends while Nadia placed her hands on her lap and Ahsoka looked at the empty space view in front of her in thought.
Inside a Star Destroyer, Darth Vader met up with Agent Kallus and Admiral Konstantine.
"With their command ship destroyed, the rebel fleet has been shattered."Agent Kallus stated evilly."You have them on the run."
"Clear the bridge."Darth Vader ordered sternly.
Agent Kallus and Admiral Konstantine left the bridge, leaving Darth Vader by himself.
Aboard the bridge of a Star Destroyer, Darth Vader went on one knee and bowed his head as a holographic transmission of the Emperor appeared.
"Lord Vader, have you dealt with the rebels in the Lothal system?"Darth Sidious asked.
"Yes, Master."Darth Vader responded."They are broken."
"And yet I sense in you something more to your victory."Darth Sidious said.
"I believe the apprentice of Anakin Skywalker lives and is in league with these rebels."Darth Vader admitted.
"Are you certain?"Darth Sidious questioned.
"It was her."Darth Vader replied.
"This is an opportunity we cannot let pass."Darth Sidious stated."Like Aomori and Olin, Skywalker's apprentice could lead us to other lost Jedi."
"Such as Kenobi?"Darth Vader assumed.
"Perhaps, if he lives. Be patient, my old friend."Darth Sidious instructed."For now, dispatch another Inquisitor to hunt them and the remaining Jedi down."
Darth Vader bowed his head at the Emperor.
"As you wish, my master."Darth Vader replied.
See you all in the next chapter and have a wonderful day!