Star Wars: Ahsoka

“Not now, I mean,” Kaeden said. She wanted to laugh for the first time in weeks but thought that might just be the hysteria setting in. “My timing is terrible and you have all those Jedi hang-ups. I just wanted you to know in case we die.”

“Oh,” said Ahsoka. “Well, thanks.” She paused. “And we are not going to die.”

“If you say so,” Kaeden agreed.

Ahsoka deactivated the lightsaber in her left hand and attached it to her belt. She kept hold of the right one. With one arm free, she supported Kaeden, and together they walked away from the cells.

Chapter 29

“NOW WHAT?” ASKED KAEDEN. They were free of the Imperial compound, but there were stormtroopers all over the place. “I hope you have a plan!”

“Of course I have a plan,” Ahsoka replied. “Selda’s. Now.”

She activated the communication device on her belt and hoped that Bail wasn’t doing anything he couldn’t get out of immediately. She was going to need him right away.

By the time they reached Selda’s, Kaeden was entirely winded but still pushing forward. They went through the door, and before Ahsoka’s eyes had adjusted to the lower light, she saw Miara’s small form leaping toward them.

“Kaeden!” she said. “You’re safe. You’re safe!”

“Yes, more or less,” Kaeden said. She let go of Ahsoka so she could wrap her good arm around her sister. “Are you okay?”

“It was a bad time after you were taken,” Miara said. “I couldn’t stay in the caves. Not with…”

She trailed off, and Ahsoka knew she was thinking about Neera and Kolvin and the others. She held her sister as tight as she could and looked back at Ahsoka.

Ahsoka could hear the sound of Imperial tanks moving in the streets. It was only a matter of time before they were found, or the Imperials decided to just destroy them all from orbit.

“You said you have a plan, Ahsoka?” Kaeden said. “I hope it’s already started.”

“It is.” Selda came up beside them. Gently, he picked Kaeden up and set her down on the bar. Then he began to examine her injuries. “Ahsoka sent us a message with your sister. Vartan is out right now, organizing people for the evacuation.”

“Evacuation?” Kaeden said. “Where? And with whom?”

“Some old friends of mine,” Ahsoka said. “I used to have a lot of friends. Most of them are dead now, but there are some who survived. And I make new ones.”

“I didn’t believe what that…thing said about that, you know,” Kaeden replied. “You lied to keep us safe. He lied because he enjoys the suffering. I may not be a Jedi who’s seen the whole galaxy, but I can tell the difference.”

“Thanks,” Ahsoka said. “And I haven’t seen the whole galaxy. Though I have seen a lot more of it than most people.”

“You can tell her all about it later,” Selda said. “Right now we have to make sure your friends find us before the Imperials do.”

“I don’t know if I’m going to be able to walk much farther,” Kaeden said. “I’m already feeling pretty woozy.”

“I was saving this for a rainy day,” Selda said. He reached under the bar and came up with a syringe. Kaeden flinched but then mastered herself.

“It doesn’t rain much on Raada,” she pointed out.

“I realized that almost immediately,” Selda said. “So I guess now’s as good a time as any. Look away, Kaeden.”

Kaeden did as she was told, and Selda injected her. The difference was immediate.

“Is this going to wear off, or am I actually better?” she asked as Miara helped her down from the bar.

“A bit of both,” Selda said. “So try not to overextend too much.”

“I’ll keep that in mind as we run from Imperial stormtroopers,” Kaeden said.

Ahsoka cocked her head, listening, and smiled.

“I don’t think we’ll have to run very far,” she said. “Come on, let’s go.”

They went out into the street to find ordered groups of people making their way toward the edge of town. Well, mostly ordered. Every explosion made them jump, and there was no shortage of screaming. But the farmers managed to hold themselves together, following the directions of their crew leads, who in turn were being directed by Vartan. He waved when he saw them, stark relief clear on his face. Ahsoka was glad to see he was all right.

The Imperial compound was in flames. Looking to the sky, Ahsoka could see six or eight A-wings, the advance fighters Bail had sent, diving and firing on the Imperials. A few of the Imperial fighters had managed to get into the air, and as Ahsoka watched, four A-wings broke off to deal with them. The others turned toward the fields, where they laid down row after row of fire. The fields burst into flames.

“I want to learn to do that!” Miara said, her face alight.

“I’m sure one of them will be happy to teach you,” Ahsoka told her, remembering her impressions about Bail’s success getting recruits. Then she remembered that she was talking to a fourteen-year-old. “In a couple of years, maybe.”