“Compliance with Vyndal customs and reporting are a must. CC32 at your service and may I commend and congratulate you captain”? Voiced the multi-colored protocol droid who had padded over to Ahsoka from the customs bay.
“Congratulate me? For what”? She questioned.
“Surviving. After the initial sonic boom, I had placed your odds of survival at 43%. Seeing no deceleration upon entering lower atmosphere I recalculated your odds of survival at 21%. The inverted climb and full power down placed your….”
“I get the idea. Captain Tano, master survivalist, at your service CC32” she retorted mockingly with a low bow to complement the sarcasm.
“Is it your intention to register your...uh…” he cast a glance at the hewing vessel with his photoreceptors and returned facing Ahsoka “ship, with the Vyndal custodial department” he finished.
Something from the ship caught Ahsoka’s attention, she sensed something internally, structurally failing, and immediately started backing up away from the ship, cautioning CC32 to do the same. He made a concerted effort to follow the advice. Two loud cracks were followed by the port landing gear snapping off, shearing the hydraulic struts, and puncturing what remained of the fuel cells directly above.
“Run!” Ahsoka shouted. The astromech not taking any chances, fired its propulsion jets in its forward struts taking it completely over the wall and well out of eyesight.
“My survival is inherent on my ability to amble away from imminent danger on faulty servo motors servicing my lower appendages in a hastened manner, my odds of survival are approximately 1.2% and decreasing with haste” CC32 calculated in less time than it took to say.
Ahsoka wheeled around when she approached what she believed was a safe distance to help the droid increase his odds when the full weight of the ship dropped with a thud on what was left of the protruding hydraulic shaft. The precarious fuel cell was forcefully pushed into the plasma conduit and straight up into the frayed and actively sparking wires. The explosion was instantaneous and catastrophic, to the ship, the landing pad, half the facility and the doomed droid.
✦
The thick and unyielding tangle of grasses, root exposed Shohwai trees, scrub brush and Karac vines made travel difficult through the gloomy swamps of ever-present fog and mist on most of Dagobah, yet the diminutive, exiled Jedi Master ambled through the maze of life with little effort. Exhausted from the effort needed to communicate through force projection, however, he took a moment to catch his breath and give his aging knees a well-deserved break. The projection was the easy part, he had mastered that skill some five hundred years earlier and had been actively teaching it for three hundred. Obi Wan, out of necessity, had picked up the basics early into their exile but still lacked the skill to manifest outside of Tatooine, leaving the extensive efforts to Yoda.
A deep ripple in the Force had nearly knocked him over three days prior, of which he had been contemplating, with Obi Wan’s aid, for the last hour. It was his premonition that affected his thoughts on the matter the most however, an unobstructed vision of Ahsoka Tano, embracing the Sith and the galaxy plunged into another war far removed from its borders. Deep space brought with it blackness, no light, only dark and the threat of a bleak nothing. He had seen her bleeding her sabers, the Kyber made to take the inner turmoil, hate, anger, lust, and greed within the bearer and present them all with the color of blood. He had seen her exacting aggressive resolve with hate-burned eyes in some silent conquest of a power he had never known her to covet. He had seen her, with outstretched hands sending feverish bolts of lightning into her victims, crushing their necks with a clenching of her fist, crushing their skulls with an arching palm, bring down buildings with a stomp of her foot or a single-handed force wave. It was the garish, blood drenched, hate twisted face he would remember though, and in respect, the gratification that was there in the end. This conflicted with anything he had seen previously, in fact, Ahsoka had never been the subject of, nor played a part in, any of his premonitions prior.
“Occurred something has, altered the balance it did. To what degree I am uncertain, but carefully we must tread in the days to come” He had stated to Obi Wan.
“Master Yoda, I see nothing to that end. We’ve been wrong before, quite wrong in fact” Obi Wan replied. “That Ahsoka is alive is of no surprise, she’s proven more resourceful than most of us ever gave her credit for. The premonition should be taken objectively at this point, to consider it as literal would defy everything she’s ever stood for in the past, therefore my counsel is to look upon the figurative meaning.”
“Take your meaning I do but deeper this seems, to affect the destinies of all we've worked to achieve. Guides we are, and nothing more, but speak to her I must. Answers to those questions only she can give that will shed more light on coming events.” Yoda said, more to himself.
“We have no idea where she is Master Yoda and are in no position to seek her out” counseled Obi Wan.
“Do I must, through the force, guide her I will” decided Yoda.
He attempted as much, three times in fact. He could manifest himself through the force in various locations and reach out from that point to search out his objectives. Usually, he employed it in either his own defense or in aiding Obi Wan to defend his efforts on Tatooine from any incoming threat.
His latest attempt was from a focal point of crossing ley lines on Eriadu. From there he could project his reach incredibly far and was certain it, something, was heard. Patience was Yoda’s greatest virtue, as hope was his second. He would be relying on both, heavily, in the coming days.
1 BBY
Palpatine’s own curiosity picked at the prospect of the Jedi’s disappearance through Vader’s words, prompting deeper study into the mysteries of the ancient Jedi temples. Lost to him where the archaic motifs and glyphs utilized by Jedi millennia ago to dissuade engagement of, or revelation of, the temples functioning. Despite the endless assets at his disposal, research could only be carried out by himself for the time being. The anger welled up instantly at yet another failed attempt to decipher the glyphs uncovered on Jedha months before. It had been instantly quarantined and all but a few of the Emperors own advisors were even aware of the discovery. Had the Jedi enacted similar protocols while seated in power, they would have thwarted, no doubt, the grand plan of the Sith in short order.
“Arrogance breeds complacency” he commented to himself. Vader’s discovery and subsequent report of events on Malachor had been 6 months prior, affording him time to set to decrypting the various glyphs found outside and inside the temple. To no avail yet, in fact, it seemed as though the Sith themselves had no prior knowledge of the extent the Jedi had gone to cover their achievements in shrouded mystery. There were various mentions of the glyphs themselves but in name only, or a hand drawn replica entered into one of the texts by Sith long since passed. He relished the opportunity to increase his own knowledge of the dark side, of the force in general, so this posed to him a challenge, albeit one of many.
✦
Ahsoka, confused and more than a little shaken up, could hear the single Klaxon blaring on repeat from what she guessed was a stationed garrison some distance away. Answering her questions about Imperial occupation immediately, and having already been prepared for the presence, she ducked behind crates piled up a meter from the walls edge on the far side of what was left of the spaceport. A squad of stormtroopers, ambling through the front entranceway with blasters leveled at the scene didn't know quite where to start. Faced with another decision that could lead to unimaginable consequences she decided to wait it out instead of leaping out from behind the crates, sabers ignited, and tearing through them. “Patience Ahsoka,” she counseled herself. The squad lead approached the burning remains of the ship cautiously but was quickly convinced the scene was secure. Issuing orders to search the remaining, undamaged, area of the port, he focused briefly on the stack of crates and pointed two fingers toward them.
Preparing herself for some mind alterations she began to pull the force in toward her but was caught off guard by the female lieutenant, a Mirialan female lieutenant, who had just graced the scene with her presence. In a calming voice she both gave orders and invited suggestion from the squad captain that was just as taken aback by her appearance as Ahsoka was grateful for it. She couldn't stop the deluge of emotion rushing to her forefront of thought, immediately that of Barriss, or of Master Unduli, but this Mirialan was neither. The facial tattoos were ear born and wrapped delicately down her cheek bones to cradle her chin in geometric patterns of triangles and squares. Deep olive skin and black lips, hair cropped up into the formal Imperial cap, this newcomer alerted the captain to a droid that was seen leaving the area moments after the explosion. Assuring that the current scene was under control, she directed the remaining four stormtroopers to exit the small port and begin hunting the droid down. Ahsoka absently wondered when the Empire began promoting non-human officers but suppressed the curiosity upon witnessing the compliance of the effective troopers.
The lieutenant chased them the remainder of the way out with her gaze before brandishing twin blasters which had been concealed in her belt and immediately peppered the few, but active, cams on constant watch. Satisfied she wasn't being watched by either eye or tech, she tossed the blasters to the ground and tore off the Imperial cap.
“Togruta, you are clear. Follow me and we’ll get out of this mess” she declared.
Ahsoka sensed neither derision nor intent but wasn't keen on allowing herself to give this situation up to someone else’s direction.
“I saw some of the most daring piloting I've ever witnessed not 5 minutes ago and am offering you an immediate way out the mess you created, without bringing up the fact you ruined my miner. Well, I suppose I just brought it up now, but anyway, that’s beside the point. My droid will lead them away from here, but only for a few moments to make our escape. I'm heading to my ship and leave your fate in your own hands.” The Mirialan, long black hair now flowing to her midback, was staring directly in her direction. Ahsoka noticed the sides where shaven to the skin, but it was the two purple streaks running from scalp to shoulder that held her attention.
True to her word the Mirialan turned heel immediately and made for the exit. Intent, trust, belief all checking her personal boxes. In reading the Mirialans emotions, Ahsoka could feel no hesitation, reservation, or malice present, but being cautious had kept her alive through some very harrowing predicaments. Her options were few. There were no other vessels in the remnants of the tiny port and the Mirialan mentioned she had one. The Imperial presence provided reason to leave immediately. The Mirialan mentioned her miner, which Ahsoka took to mean the ship she had destroyed, which she was oddly fine with. Blowing out her breath, Ahsoka decided to trust in this newcomer, and she gently removed herself from behind the crates.
Exiting the port, Ahsoka followed the Mirialan at a distance and was more than a little surprised to see her boarding a Corellian freighter, a YT-1760. Abandoning all reservation at this point, upon hearing the footfalls of incoming troopers, she made a dash for the boarding ramp that was already starting to close, ducking her head as it made its final push to seal itself.
“Kowani is the name, and you are?” questioned the Mirialan as Ahsoka finally made her way to the cockpit. Ahsoka was taken aback upon first glance. The control was, for the most part, as she remembered it should be, but there was an immense amount of retrofitting done to incoming and outbound signal relaying, an oversized data screen tied in to both as well as banks of key switches, scrambling knobs and interference toggles that were where the copilot should have been.
“Ahsoka” she flatly stated, watching Kowani run through her pre-flights with adept hands not once taking her eyes off the control panel.
“Well, Ahsoka, welcome to the Liberator. That name really winds up being more ironic all the time it seems. Ahsoka, liberated from her predicament!” She said, with no trace of sarcasm.
A proximity sensor flashing with a cadenced high pitch beep echoing through the cabin was answered by Kowani hitting the switch to open the central top hatch, in which the same R3 droid was slowly descending.
“You've already met R3. He mentions that your piloting skill defies logic, should not be statistically possible and is also curious how you survived.” She relayed the statement of boops, bleeps, whines, and whistles.
“Thank you but I am quite fluent in astromech.” stated Ahsoka, playing for some humor.
“We’ll have much to talk about it seems Ahsoka, on multiple topics I’m hoping.” catching Ahsoka’s intended verbiage, she chuckled. “But in due course. Let’s get off this rock first.” Kowani casually stated as she finished prepping the ship and began lifting off.
Ahsoka, well learned in many vessels, particularly those of CEC design and build as of late, was more than a little curious at the sounds this ship was making. What were most notable were the sounds it shouldn't be making.
The bank of sub light engines churned the ground aft of the ship as the repulsors lifted it just far enough off its pad to fire the ship off the planet and into high orbit.
Ahsoka could feel her entire body relax as they entered real space quicker than she had anticipated and let herself fall into the seat adjacent Kowani. Not at all trusting of anyone at the moment she was hesitant to let herself get too relaxed.
“Galipoli, this is TSS-3145, scheduled departure from Vyndal garrison. Prepping to dock for ground crew rotation and renewed supplies” Kowani transmitted to a static laced incoming relay from the light cruiser as usual. Ahsoka, for only an instant, felt betrayed.
“Nothing to worry about my Togrutan friend, just making sure the path is clear.” She assured her, feeling Ahsoka tense at the transmission. “And now to make sure they think we’re that stupid shuttle.” Ahsoka watched in animated disbelief as Kowani spun to the bank of switches and pulled up the shuttle’s transmission codes and ships signature as well as a manifest of six troopers and fourteen empty supply crates and sent them all to the waiting ship without batting an eyelash.
“Affirmative TSS-1345, you have your clearance. Bay two.”
“And just like that, we’re an echo” Kowani stated confidently. Ahsoka had seen signature manipulation before but never on this scale. Her mouth wide in astonished surprise, Kowani couldn’t help but laugh. “The Galipoli and I go way back, well about a year back anyway, but that relationship is more one sided than even they realize.” She couldn’t contain her laughter, as this was her first audience and not being one to brag, she’d never actually transmitted with anyone else in the cockpit with her, aside from R3. “I had them convinced I was the Executor once. I could almost hear the nervousness from their end after I conveyed ‘Lord Vader’s’ displeasure and insistence to speak with the commander, AT ONCE!” She announced for emphasis. Ahsoka wincing at the name briefly but was determined to keep her focus on the here and now. “At any rate, we are clear to exit the system while they wait on a shuttle that’ll never arrive” Ahsoka exhaled deeply and felt every muscle in her aching body answer back slowly. She let escape an audible sigh.
“Ahsoka. My intent is to extend my absolute interest in your piloting skills and how it may, or may not, waylay into a sort of mutual benefit for the both of us.” Kowani stated with absolute sincerity.
She began to swivel in Ahsoka’s direction and hesitated, only briefly, on seeing the weapons attached at her waist before catching Ahsoka’s eyes in her own gaze. In the time it took to complete the swivel Kowani felt assured she had the situation properly analyzed.
“You destroyed my miner. How you got it off Malachor, much less jumped it, and didn't die in the process is the first reason you’re here. At this point I don't care about the miner, the process was becoming less profitable with each excursion anyway. The mechanical skill it took to get it space-worthy and all that followed is where my interest begins. You’re in desperate need out of this system which is where your interest in me begins. Your presence assures me that is the case so, to get things out of the way, where are you headed? I have my own agenda of course but can match that agenda to the direction traveled easily enough.”
Ahsoka was struck by the candor and desperately appreciated it.
“Honestly, I have no idea” Ahsoka was just as surprised saying it as Kowani clearly was in hearing it.
“Well, that’s going to be an issue, but we’ll get to that. Considering your affiliation with decidedly religious connections, we’re going to get ourselves a little more rim-ward and move in toward Hutt space. Coming full circle to my own agenda, as it were, I have some refined clouzon-36 I can unload near Nal Hutta.” Kowani concluded. Ahsoka was honestly grateful for someone else taking the lead and giving her a chance to truly let herself release some tension.
“Kowani?” Ahsoka started.
“Get some rest Ahsoka, crew cabin is to the left.” Kowani answered without hesitation.
“I sincerely appreciate that; would it be ok to send a message though before I do?”
“Consider this your home, until it’s not of course…. yes, I don’t have a table but the emitter and holo console is back there to the left.” She said with a thumb pointing in the direction beyond the cockpit doorway.
“Again, thank you Kowani.” Ahsoka said feeling a deepening sense of calm. She exited the cockpit and turned the corner right into the console Kowani mentioned. She switched it on and fed the access screen the connection data only to be disconnected immediately. She eyed her output array and confirmed nominal settings, everything in order, she reduced latency and maxed the boost to the signal relay. Granted, her transmission’s terminus was on the other end of the galaxy but the hardware in this vessel was more than capable. She keyed in the code again. This time the transmission was accepted, and she immediately switched on the scrambler. Turning her attention to the feed, she realized it was muted and the video was frozen.
“Hello? Hera? Sabine?” She verbally grasped. “Anyone.”
“Apologies…. we’re...right in the…. middle….” The video was still absent but clipped audio was filtering through. Whomever answered the call was clearly not in any position to engage completely.
“What’s going on? This is Ful...” She hesitated, unsure if calling attention to herself was in hers, or their, best interest. Sensing the situation was dire she forced a deep breath. “This is Ahsoka Tano...who is this.” There was static and a second later the awfully familiar face of a clone came into focus through full video feed. Not just any clone, Wolffe was answering her call.
“Commander...er, General...not sure how to address you Ahsoka, only that it’s amazing to see your face. You’re doing well?” The flickering holoimage voiced.
“I’m...um, I’m doing fine.” Not expecting a greeting, she was momentarily lost for words. “What’s going on? Where is Hera?”
“The General is currently in the Imperial command center planet side. We’re...uh...engaging in…. umm...basic bio-organic recruitment.” Wolffe clearly unsure how to respond without sounding like a lunatic.
“You know answers like that answer nothing at all right?” Ahsoka said rolling her eyes, ‘always a trooper.’ “How about this Captain, are you in need of assistance?”
“Actually, no. It looks like Bridger pulled another miracle from his pocket.” Wolffe responded, both hands up in the air, shrugging.
“Ezra is there?” Ahsoka stood from the seat.
“Well, not here precisely...Chop says he’s on the Chimaera...Thrawn’s flagship.”
“Ok, where’s Chop then?” She was getting confused quickly.
“Oh, he’s with Hera.”
“In the Imperial command center…” Ahsoka said flatly.
“That’s right, yeah.” Wolffe confirmed.
“Rex? Let me guess, also at the command center.”
“Affirmative General, working to reengage the dome shield sir.” The soldier in Wolffe beginning to reemerge.
“The siege is happening then.” Ahsoka said more to herself. “Please let me know if there is anything I can do. I’ll try contacting you later if I don’t hear from you first Captain.”
“Sir, yes, sir.” Wolffe saluted, then ended transmission.
Ahsoka sat back and smiled inwardly. ‘Ezra had pulled it off after-all,’ knowing full well it had just as much to do with the company the young man kept. For reasons that weren’t too difficult to identify she realized she needed his company. He, like her, had known a lifetime of loss, and with his master’s recent demise, the wounds would still be fresh for them both. Feeling a sense of accomplishment, she switched off all the gear and padded back to Kowani. “That was a relief, thank you again.” She said before turning to head back to the ship’s cabins.
Kowani suppressed a smile, knowing exactly what Ahsoka meant, and all too happy to bring the Togruta some measure of ease. She turned her attention to the console before her and with coordinates dialed in to the navicomputer, the Liberator entered the spiraling nexus of hyperspace.