I'm sorry it took so long, but a lot has been going on, not just with my therapy classes, but work has been stressful. I have also been sick with COVID-19 and that was absolute hell. I'm doing better, but I'm still having problems with my coughing and asthma. But I hope you enjoy this chapter!
Until We Meet Again
Ezra and Lita sat together, until Leia entered and Ezra placed off the hologram image and grabbed his cadet helmet.
"Let's figure out a way to get your ships," Ezra said confidently to Leia.
Ezra, Lita and Leia were on their way to talk with the others when Lita pulled Leia aside for a moment.
"Hey, Princess," Lita said.
"Yes?" Leia frowns.
"Do we...know each other?" Lita asks with uncertainty.
Leia thought a moment or two and then replies, "No. I don't think we've ever met before, I would've remembered if we did."
Lita shrugged it off as they continue walking. They entered into the common room where the others were.
"We did a scan of the landing field, and looking at the Imperial security, I just don't see us living long enough to get near those ships," Sabine stated.
"Two walkers are a big problem," Zeb admitted.
"Ugh." Kanan sighed. "Even if we reach the ships, they're not going anywhere until we can disable those gravity locks."
"Those defenses are formidable," Leia explained. "Why? Because the Empire doesn't underestimate you. They know how good you are."
"We might be able to get one out, but we'll never get all three," Kanan said. "It's impossible."
"Well even if you do try to go for just one, they may be expecting something from you," Lita comments with a frown.
The Ghost crew remained silent.
"I know you need those ships, so don't tell me why we can't get them," Leia stated. "Tell me how we will."
"Well, Kanan, Mina and I still have our disguises, so we can get onto the platform," Ezra suggested. "But to get close to the ships, we'll need a distraction."
"I can handle that," Leia assured proudly with her arms folded.
"I'll do what I can to help too," Lita said, "But I'm going to stay hidden, I can't be seen."
"The Ghost can act as air support," Hera commented.
"And I can use detonators to blast off the gravity locks," Sabine suggested.
"Won't work," Ryder replied. "You can't forcibly remove the locks."
"You know this how?" Hera questioned.
"In prison I put those locks together, so I know how to take 'em apart," Ryder explained.
"Ryder Azadi, does that mean you're getting involved?" Kanan asked.
"Just this once," Ryder responded. "It's clear I can't stay on Lothal, so I'll help you, if you get me outta here."
"Thank you," Mina smiled.
Back at the Garrison...
Lieutenant Lyste and his soldiers see the Phantom touch down.
"Over there," the deck stormtrooper said.
"This is the rebel ship we've been looking for," Lieutenant Lyste stated. "Set weapons for stun."
Leia came out of the Phantom followed by Kanan, Ezra and Mina, who still had their disguises on. Lita was there too but she made sure to stay hidden, along with Rori, while having Deethreepio stay on the Ghost for now. Since it was dark she was wearing her black hooded cloak with her black scarf tied over her nose and mouth, so that she would blend into the darkness.
"I'd think you'd be pleased to see me safe and sound, Lieutenant," Leia said with a frown.
"Of course, Your Highness," Lieutenant Lyste assured. "Very pleased. Just, um, surprised."
While Lieutenant Lyste and his soldiers were distracted, Ryder, Chopper and Sabine went up to one of the gravity locks.
"We need to cut open that access panel, and bypass the primary power flux coupling," Ryder commented. "Hurry."
"This brave trooper saved us both from those rebels," Leia remarked smugly. "He deserves a medal."
Chopper disabled a gravity lock.
"He did it!" Ryder responded and looked at Sabine. "Sabine, you take this one. We'll move on to the next ship. I'll call in the air support."
Sabine goes inside to pilot the cruiser, signaling for their air support, while Ryder and Chopper move on to the next one.
"As you can see, your ships are safe and sound right where you left them," Lieutenant Lyste admitted.
"If you're trying to impress me, Lieutenant, you're doing a miserable job of it," Leia stated coldly.
"What do you mean?" Lieutenant Lyste asked.
"You don't know?" Leia questioned disbelief pointing at one of the corvettes.
Lieutenant Lyste and his soldiers notice the corvette was moving.
"I didn't authorize this!" Lieutenant Lyste protested. "Who's piloting that ship?"
The stormtroopers spotted Ryder and Chopper disabling a gravity lock.
"Sir!" the deck stormtrooper shouted. "Rebels!"
"Blast them!" Lieutenant Lyste ordered.
The stormtroopers began firing at Ryder and Chopper. In the shadows, Lita knocked out several Stormtroopers with the Force. Sabine, piloting her corvette, was firing on the troopers, knocking them over. Kanan, Mina and Ezra then knock Lyste and his two soldiers out cold.
One of the AT-ATs attacked the ship and the Ghost swoops in and fires proton torpedoes at the walker, temporarily disabling it by causing it to kneel.
"Sabine's away," Kanan said. "Let's get outta here."
"I'm not sure we're going anywhere," Ezra admitted.
The AT-AT got back to their feet, preparing to fire at Ryder and Chopper.
"Secure the third ship," Kanan ordered and ran off. "I'll handle the walker."
"Handle the walker?" Leia repeated in disbelief. "How?"
"Just trust us," Ezra instructed. "Go!"
Ryder, seeing a stormtrooper running towards him, prepares to fire, but Chopper sees Kanan pulled out his lightsaber and stopped Ryder.
"Unlock that ship!" Kanan ordered.
"He's a Jedi!" Ryder said in surprise.
Still in stormtrooper armor, Kanan charges the AT-AT and severs two of its legs, causing it to topple.
Watching from the shadows, Lita gave the Jedi an impressed look. "Impressive."
"Did you see that?" Leia asked excitedly.
Ezra and Mina nodded at her.
"Drop your weapons!" Ezra sees two stormtroopers threatening Ryder and Chopper.
"If you like that, watch this," Ezra stated with a smile.
Ezra and Mina used the force to pull the stormtroopers' blasters from their hands. Ezra and Mina each caught one blaster, but the others hits Ezra in the head. Watching Lita gave a quiet laugh.
"Get down!" Leia ordered.
Leia grabbed the fallen blaster and shoots the approaching troopers.
"Whoa!" Ezra chuckled.
"That is impressive," Leia replied with a smirk and handed Ezra the blaster. "Well, mostly."
Ryder and Chopper disabled the second gravity lock.
Kanan rushed up to Ryder. "She's all yours, Kanan," Ryder said.
"Two down, one to go," Kanan admitted and removed his helmet.
The Ghost continued to carry the other AT-AT, but was having little effect. Then imperial reinforcements arrived to the garrison.
"I'll handle this," Leia assured.
The young princess walked up to the approaching stormtroopers.
"Thank goodness you've arrived," Leia said. "The rebels are stealing my ships."
"AT-AT 36, you have new orders, shoot to kill," the officer stormtrooper said, "Repeat, shoot to kill."
"No, you can't!" Leia protested.
"I'm sorry, Your Highness," the officer stormtrooper replied. "We can't let your ships fall into rebel hands. Destroy that ship now!"
A look of worry appeared in Leia's eyes.
Ryder looked at Chopper. "Finish up here," Ryder ordered. "I have to help them."
Realizing that the rebels need help, Ryder goes aboard the third ship while Chopper disabled the gravity lock. Ryder guns the ship's engines, straining against the gravity lock. Once Chopper finished disabling the lock, Ryder used the corvette's thrusters to topple the second AT-AT.
Ezra hurried up the ramp of Ryder's corvette with Lita ahead of him, and Leia approached Ezra.
"Time for me to go," Ezra said.
Leia grabbed both of Ezra's hands. Lita stopped at the top and frowned at that. What is she doing? Rori even growled with suspicion.
"Wait, what are you doing?" Ezra asked.
"Stop that rebel! He's stealing my transport!" Leia shouted and whispered. "Make it look good."
"Oh, we gotta make this look good," Ezra said.
"You have my permission," Leia stated and went off the ramp.
"See ya later, Princess," Ezra remarked.
Ezra stuns Leia to avoid suspicion. Lita gave a smirk, despite her mouth and nose still covered by her scarf.
"The princess!" Lieutenant Lyste called out.
Lieutenant Lyste and his soldiers went to check on Leia as Chopper takes off with the Phantom, following the rebel ships.
In Space, the rebel fleet was traveling with the stolen cruisers.
Ryder and Ezra walked to the common room.
"So, Governor, we need to find a safe place for you," Hera said.
"I already know where I'm going, back home," Ryder admitted.
"I knew you'd come around," Kanan remarked proudly.
"I couldn't see it before, but going to prison with the Bridgers started something," Ryder explained. "That something has grown bigger than I ever imagined. I owe it to them and I owe it to you to see it through to the end."
The Ghost crew smiled at Ryder.
"Welcome back to the fight, Governor," Ezra stated.
Ezra then went off to find Lita. He found her alone with her droid and nexu, and had her hood down and took her scarf off, she was looking sad.
"Lita?" Ezra asked with concern on his face.
Lita jumped a little at his voice and looks over her shoulder at Ezra Bridger.
"Oh...Hi Ezra," Lita replies softly.
"What's wrong?" Ezra asks.
Lita was silent for a moment. "It's just..." Lita sighs.
Ezra spoke up, "What is it? Is it about your father?"
It was, but Lita didn't know how to tell Ezra, "It's nothing, Ezra."
"Well why don't you come join the Ghost Crew with us?" Ezra suggests with a small smile, "I bet that will make you feel better! You could talk to the other members and maybe-"
Lita got up and was walking away.
Ezra ran over to Lita and stopped her, "Why are you leaving?"
"I'm sorry..." Lita began, "but I don't think I should do that. I can see how hard all of you have it with the Empire's reign and I don't want to make it worse." Lita knew it would be worse for them if she and her companions did go with them. If Vader found her with them, they would be in a worse situation, especially Ezra. Lita knew her father would be looking for her and she wouldn't put them in that kind of danger. She had to leave for his safety and she had to figure out how to return to her father and save him.
"But..." Ezra tried to speak up but Lita stopped him.
"I mean it," she said, "I know you're going to say that you can help me, but you can't, I'm sorry. If my father isn't searching for me right now, he will be soon. And if he sees me with all of you, it would end up badly for everyone." Lita still had so much to learn, not only when it came to the Force, but also learning and training to work in the shadows, so that she wouldn't be seen.
Ezra frowns sadly, but he nods understanding.
"And besides I'm hoping to maybe go home to Naboo and just see if my family is okay," Lita replies, "But I know I can no longer stay there, at least not right now." Lita frowned sadly, hoping that her family was still okay.
Ezra caught Lita by surprise by embracing her tightly. "I hope you find what you want."
Lita embraces Ezra back, "So do I." Then after a few moments they pull away. Lita then said, "And don't worry I don't need think we need the Force to know that we'll see each other again. But until we meet again, May the Force be with You, Ezra Bridger!"
Ezra smiled back at Lita, "You too Lita."
Lita was then on her way to ask the Ghost Crew if they could drop her, her nexu and her protocol droid off at Naboo. As she was walking her mind wondered to the Alderran princess. Leia said that they don't know each other, but why did Lita keep feeling that they should? She tried to shrug it off but she could sense that this wasn't going to be the last time she saw the Alderran princess.
Well I'm sorry for those of you who wanted Lita to stay with the Ghost Crew for a while, I was thinking of it and since Darth Vader does plan on coming back for her, it's probably not a good idea for her to stay with the Ghost, they really would be put at risk, especially Ezra. But don't worry, it won't be long until they see each other again.
In the meantime, Lita is planning to return to Naboo to check on her family again? What do you think will happen? What will she find? Until then, May the Force be with You!