This is an Ahsoka fanfiction. It kicks off before the show, will extend through the end of season one, and hopefully conclude with post-show content before season two of the real thing airs. Let me know how I’m doing in the comments!
I’ve started loading chapters into Archive of Our Own. Let me know if you follow over there!
Rating: General, Spice Level: None
Characters/Tags: Original Character, Master and Apprentice Relationships, Original Female Character, Original Jedi Character, Ahsoka Tano, Huyang
Read Chapter 13 – A Silence Destroyed
Chapter 14 – Shock and Awe
The map may have pointed to their missing Grand Admiral, but they might never know. Kendra stared at it as it sat in the middle of the table. Ahsoka, Huyang, and Kendra had taken turns trying to unlock the strange sphere. It was small enough it would fit in her hand, but intricately complex. Covered in circles, triangles, and symbols, parts would spin but do nothing. Huyang had called it “maddening.”
Huyang’s voice called from the cockpit. “We are preparing to exit hyperspace.”
Shortly after leaving Arcana, Ahsoka learned the ship carrying Morgan Elsbeth had been attacked. They were about to join a New Republic fleet around the damaged ship. Kendra pulled herself from the table and joined Ahsoka and Huyang. This would be her first interaction with the newly established military.
Even after visiting Coruscant, the two capital ships that burst into view upon their exit from hyperspace still made her gasp. Several smaller fighters and shuttles flew between the two larger ships and past their own.
Home One loomed to their right, and it was the largest structure Kendra had ever seen off Coruscant. Debris encircled the ship to their left, and all three stared in silence until Home One informed them they were cleared to land.
“What did that?” Kendra asked.
“Hopefully, we’ll find out,” Ahsoka said. “That is a lot of damage.”
“The Vesper is commanded by Captain Hayle, a veteran of the Rebel Alliance,” Huyang said. “Whoever did this must be very skilled.”
The wings of the T-6 rotated into the horizontal position. Ahsoka flew the T-6 into their assigned hangar on Home One and set the ship down just outside of a makeshift medical area.
Kendra stared through the windows at the scene. At least a dozen hover-beds held wounded. Medical staff in blue uniforms worked at each bed while other staff and droids moved around, assisting.
“Kendra,” Ahsoka said.
Kendra’s eyes snapped back to the cockpit. She flipped the switch to initiate the post-landing sequence and began her checklist to shut the ship down while making sure it was ready for a fast takeoff. Her mind remained outside, though, with all those wounded.
“Did you ever see many wounded at once on Celestoria?” Ahsoka asked.
“No.” The most wounded she’d seen at once on Celestoria was when a platform collapsed during a town celebration. Five people fell, and another four on the ground sustained injuries. Nobody died.
Ahsoka nodded and stood. Kendra turned the last switch to ready the ship for takeoff if necessary, and followed Ahsoka out of the cockpit and to the hatch. Huyang opened it, and they descended the stairs.
A green-skinned Twi’lek wearing a leather pilot’s jacket carrying the New Republic insignia of a general on its right breast approached.
“General Syndulla,” Ahsoka said, “it is good to see you.”
“And you, though I wish it were under more pleasant circumstances.”
Kendra’s focus shifted to her right, where an officer sat on a hover-bed, holding her wrapped arm. Another wounded man was nearby, with white dressing wraps around his head. Most of the people in the hangar appeared no older than Kendra.
Ahsoka said, “This is Kendra Thornbrook, the apprentice of Jedi Master Edith Galloway. Kendra, this is General Syndulla.”
Kendra returned her attention to the woman in front of her, and she bowed slightly. “It is an honor to meet you, General Syndulla.”
“Hera, when we’re not feeling so formal.” The general smiled. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”
Kendra attempted to hide the surprise on her face. Ahsoka had briefly talked about Hera, but Kendra didn’t know the two had discussed her. What had been said?
“I hear you are a healer,” Hera continued. “They may be wary of another Force user after the attack, but I would appreciate any assistance you might be able to provide, if you have time after our meeting.”
“Of course,” Kendra said. “Another Force user?”
“Unfortunately, yes,” Hera said. “We have a lot of it on video. And I’m afraid we’ve lost your prisoner.”
Kendra trailed behind the two women with Huyang. Medical officers, security personnel, and wounded walked and worked around the hangar in a controlled calm that belied the apparent damage to the other ship. She suddenly wondered how many people here had fought in the Rebellion. This wasn’t their first encounter with casualties.
“This appears to be where the least urgent of injuries are being treated,” Huyang said. “Home One has a full medical bay for the more serious cases.”
Kendra blinked. “More?”
“Yes,” Huyang said. “No doubt the damage to the Vesper was extensive.”
“It was,” Hera confirmed as she walked. “More than thirty dead at the initial attack, and many more succumbed to their injuries after.”
The group fell silent as they wove their way through brightly lit hallways. Crew stood aside for Hera, though several smiled at the woman. She nodded back in recognition. The tension of the wounded in the hangar gave way to the normal ebb and flow of workers during their day, which was unsettling given the carnage of the Vesper nearby.
Hera led them into a large, circular conference room. Three rows of seating stood around a white table in the center. A holo-vid was queued for the group, and it sat paused on an image of a man and a woman. They looked like Jedi, or at least what Kendra thought Jedi looked like before the Empire.
Ahsoka walked around the table, staring at the pair. Hera crossed her arms and waited.
“Are they the attackers?” Kendra asked.
“Yes,” Hera said. “They said they were Jedi to gain access to the ship.”
“The Captain believed them?” Ahsoka asked.
“No,” Hera said. “That’s why he allowed them on board. He assumed they were normal criminals acting like Jedi to gain access. They killed him in the hangar, along with most of his security detail.”
She pressed a button on the table and the vid played, showing the confrontation. The male attacker was older, with gray hair and a gray beard. He was tall, muscular, and precise. The woman was much younger, maybe Kendra’s age, and agile. Her white, shoulder-length hair contrasted with the dark gray and black clothes and cloaks the two wore.
They were no normal criminals. They used both lightsabers and the Force to devastating effect. Kendra had never seen anyone move so fluidly.
After dispatching the Captain and the security officers, the woman stormed to the bridge, cutting down anyone in her way. The man went to the detention area and eliminated the security officers. His was a quiet, controlled violence. Hers was far more aggressive.
“Are those red lightsabers?” Kendra asked.
“Witnesses described them as dark orange but who knows,” Hera replied.
The man opened a detention door with the Force, and Kendra saw Morgan Elsbeth for the first time. She was older, shorter with short hair, and scowled the entirety of the rest of the vid. They joined the younger woman at the shuttle after facing little opposition.
Kendra noticed a thin, braided length of hair along the young woman’s face. “A padawan?”
“Perhaps,” Ahsoka said. “There are few who can wield the Force now.”
A padawan? Jedi? Force users? Kendra’s mind spun. How did a woman her age develop such skill as an apprentice? The two attackers fought as well as Kendra imagined Jedi could fight, but she’d always assumed she imagined too much. But why would they do this? Why would they use deceit and then the Force to kill? The young woman seemed to relish the violence.
While horrifying, Kendra couldn’t help feel some awe at the combat power of a Force user with a lightsaber. Were the Jedi this powerful? And if so, how did they fall?
“Who are they?” Hera asked.
“I don’t know,” Ahsoka said. “Morgan has been known to hire mercenaries in the past.”
“Money well spent,” Hera said. “We have no idea where they went.”
“Huyang, make a copy of the video,” Ahsoka said. “Run a match on the lightsabers.”
Had they been Jedi originally? The woman was too young. She could be like Kendra, found during the time of the Empire and trained to use the Force. The man was old enough, however. But Ahsoka didn’t seem to recognize him.
Hera looked at Kendra. “Ever see anything like this?”
“No,” Kendra said. She’d been staring at the image. “I didn’t fight… There was no Rebellion on Celestoria.”
She’d wanted to, or thought she did. Now she wasn’t sure she could have done it. She wasn’t good at fighting and didn’t like what she saw on the vid.
“I’m glad you missed it.” Hera put a hand on her shoulder.
“The day isn’t a total loss.” Ahsoka pulled out the small orb and handed it to Hera.
“A star map?” Hera said. “To what?”
“Our enemies believe it is the location of Grand Admiral Thrawn,” Ahsoka said.
Hera said, “Thrawn died at the battle of Lothal.”
“That was never confirmed, just assumed,” Ahsoka said.
Kendra had learned more from Huyang about the fateful day. After the mythical space whales had yanked Thrawn away from Lothal, there’d been no sight of them since. There was no debris or bodies or proof they’d died, but where could they have gone?
Hera thought over the implications. “If Thrawn survived, does that mean Ezra…”
“I hope so,” Ahsoka said.
Ezra Bridger was the young Jedi who had called the space whales to Thrawn’s ship. He’d stayed on board to ensure success and vanished as well.
Hera said, “Let’s take a look at this map.”
“We cannot,” Huyang said. “I have been unable to find a way to unlock it.”
“Seriously?” Hera glanced between the droid and Ahsoka. “It’s never a straight line with you, Jedi, is it?”
Ahsoka shrugged and took the orb. “We’ll keep working on it.”
An officer appeared in the doorway. “General, the Defense Council is asking for an update on the incident.”
“I’ll be right there.” Hera turned off the holo-vid. “I’ll have someone show you to the med bay, if you’re interested, Kendra.”
Kendra looked at Ahsoka. “If there’s time.”
Before Ahsoka could answer, Hera replied. “I hope there is time. I’d like to eat dinner with you all later. I have some supplies for you as well.”
Ahsoka smiled. “That sounds good, Hera. We’re in no rush, as I’m not sure where we’re going next.”
“I may have some ideas on that too.” Hera left the conference room.
Ahsoka took a deep breath and turned to Kendra. “Don’t over-extend yourself in the med-bay. You’ll be able to help some, but the medical staff will be able to heal most things better and faster than the Force, unless you plan on killing yourself in the process.”
“Which I advise against,” Huyang added.
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