Year: 19 BBY
Location: Ryloth
"How dare you attack our convoy! You're all traitors!" Senator Taa says.
"You threaten my daughter and accuse her of treason? For years, I've watched you put your greed and self-interest above Ryloth. You are the one guilty of treason," Cham answers and aims his blaster at the Senator.
"Do something!" Orn Free Taa tells the Vice-Admiral.
"He's the one holding the blaster," Rampart responds.
"Cham, stop and think about what you're doing," Howzer tells his friend.
"Taa's time will come, but not this way," Eleni says and places her hand on her husband's blaster, lowering it.
One can see the struggle Cham is going through, but eventually he drops the blaster.
"Thank you for playing your part, Senator," Rampart says and nods his head.
Situated outside, elevated above the canyon, is Crosshair, a former member of Clone Force 99. He has been waiting for the signal from Rampart. Rampart knew that eventually, one of Cham's supporters would do something which he could use against him. But now that it was his daughter who was involved, that was even better. So Rampart planned to have Cham 'rescue' his daughter and then implicate himself. What Rampart now needs is for the Senator to be 'injured' by Cham.
Seeing the signal, Crosshair fires his blaster rifle and shoots one of Taa's lekku. Ramparts planned to pin the blame on Cham and then, after the Senator recovered, have him become the Empire's puppet on Ryloth. However, something different happens. As Crosshair fires his blaster rifle, he feels a minuscule tug right as he pulls the trigger.
*Pew*
The blaster shot zooms through the air, and instead of hitting the Senator's lekku, it penetrates his brain, killing him on the spot. At that moment, Kanan is proven right, as several Imperial reinforcements arrive in LAAT gunships.
"Chopper, get Hera out of here. Go!" Eleni shouts.
"Arrest these insurgents for the attempted... no, for the assassination of Orn Free Taa," Rampart says.
The Vice-Admiral is not as happy as he would like to be. Not only was the Senator killed, but Hera Syndulla managed to escape through the canyon on a landspeeder. Fox, meanwhile, boards the LAAT gunship and flies away. All of the downed troopers are picked up and loaded on another gunship to be transported back to Lessu, the capital of Ryloth, for them to recover. Meanwhile, Kanan slips on that very gunship as well, just as it takes off.
He climbs over the side and looks inside, checking the location of every trooper. After getting it right, he closes his eyes and uses the Force to choke the troopers who are still conscious. They choke and claw at their throats, something everyone does. I make sure not to kill them and stop as soon as they lose consciousness. Then, Kanan jumps inside and holds out his hands towards the troopers flying the gunship.
"You haven't seen anything," he says.
"We haven't seen anything," both of them repeat.
"You will fly to the barracks."
"We will fly to the barracks."
.
(Fox POV)
I have taken my position in the detention block in the Capitol building. The plans have already been downloaded and sent to Kanan. He hasn't told me what he's doing right now, but I have my instructions. I am to do what I do best. I stand guard at the door as Vice-Admiral Rampart and Captain Howzer walk past me and arrive at the holding cell of Cham Syndulla.
"Ah, Cham Syndulla, the liberator of Ryloth. Now, the traitor of Ryloth. Assassinating your own senator? How unfortunate for your people to see you fall," Rampart gloats.
Seriously, what is the reason for this idiot to come here and gloat? He has a serious problem, if you ask me. Glad, I'm no longer on the dumb side.
"They won't believe your lies," Cham retorts.
"Taa said you'd be a challenge, but he was mistaken. Your loyal followers will be even easier to deal with. Your daughter, too. Surely you know how dangerous it can be out there," Rampart taunts.
"You don't know Hera."
"Eleni, you're the reasonable one. Tell us where she is and I will ensure she is returned to you safely."
What a bloody cunt, that is. Takes a lot not to send a detonator up his ass.
"I have seen how you treat your allies, Admiral. I prefer to be your enemy," she says.
Way to go, woman. She has character, I like it.
"Have it your way."
I watch the Vice-Admiral and the Captain leave, and then start what I need to. I move over to the holding cell and look at Cham. He looks at me with narrowed eyes. Getting him to trust me will be hard.
"What do you want?" he asks.
"You want out?" I ask.
"What?"
"Do you want to get out of here?" I whisper again.
"What are you talking about? Is this some kind of perverse trick?!"
"I understand trusting me is hard, and you won't do it, but you might be surprised. I'm not like the other clones."
"Is that so? And what makes you so different?" he asks rhetorically.
"I'm no longer brainwashed."
"..."
I see that makes him stop. I look to the side to make sure the others aren't yet alerted.
"Listen, I'm not alone in this. I have help, strong help. And if you are willing to, we will free you and your people. The Commander's already working on it. Once he has it all prepared, we're a go."
"Who is your Commander?" Cham asks suspiciously.
"Can't tell you. But you will know it once you see him, I guarantee it," I tell them.
"You're the one who spied on the refinery. Hera told me she saw two people," Eleni says.
"Yes, that's right... Hera's your daughter, right?"
"Yes!"
"Right. Then yes, that was us. So you in?" I ask again.
"...What about Hera?"
"The Commander's already on it. Once it is time, I'll let you know," I say and get back to my post.
Things are mostly prepared on my end—time for the Commander to do his part.
.
On the Marauder, the attack shuttle of the Bad Batch, Omega attempts to fix Gonky's prime power source.
"What's going on?" Hunter asks.
"Gonky's prime power source won't fully charge. I'm fixing it," Omega replies.
"You can't. He's a defective unit."
"Hunter," Tech calls from the cockpit.
"What is it?"
"We are receiving a recorded transmission, but I don't recognise this frequency," Tech says.
"Patch it through."
A hologram of Hera Syndulla appears.
[Omega, it's Hera. You have to come back to Ryloth.]
"Isn't that the kid from the weapons drop?" Wrecker asks.
[The Empire's taken my parents, and they're after me now too. Someone is here who told me that you would help us. I'm sending coordinates. Please hurry. I need your help, and he said you're good people.]
"You gave her our comm channel?" Hunter asks.
"For emergencies, and that sounded pretty urgent," Omega says.
"What I'm worried about is this 'he' the young Twi'lek is talking about, who knows us," Echo says.
"Perhaps the situation is not as dire as described. If there is indeed someone there, he could help her," Tech suggests.
"You heard her. She needs us. And whoever is there with her must believe that we can help," Omega argues.
"Omega, it's a big galaxy. We can't put ourselves on the line every time someone's in trouble," Hunter tells her.
"Why not? Isn't that what soldiers do?"
So the Bad Batch turns around and eventually drops out of hyperspace over Ryloth. They follow the coordinates that Hera provided them and head into a canyon area and onto a small platform at an outpost cave. They disembark and are greeted by an excited Chopper.
"Thank you for coming," Hera says, coming out of her hiding spot. "I wasn't sure you would, though he said you would."
"Who's this 'he' you are talking about?"
"That would be me," a new voice says, walking forward.
The Bad Batch point their blasters at the new figure, clad in black armour and a helmet they have never seen before. However, before they can do anything, he waves his hands and all of their weapons shoot through the air and towards him. He holds them there and then sends them back at them slowly.
"You..."
"Jedi."
"That should be impossible," Tech says.
Kanan reaches up and takes off his helmet, revealing his face to them.
"It's been a while, Hunter," Kanan says.
"Caleb? You made it."
"The name's Kanan now. I'm glad to see all of you have followed your code of honour. And I see you got a new addition. Who might you be, young one?" Kanan asks.
"I'm Omega, I'm--"
"A clone. Fascinating."
"How did you know that?" Wrecker asks.
"I guessed," Kanan says.
"How did you make it off Kaller?" Hunter asks.
"Through the bodies of the clones sent after me. I'm afraid you lost a lot of brothers that day," Kanan says.
"You... killed clones?" Omega asks.
"I did."
"But... aren't you a Jedi. I thought--"
"You thought Jedi don't kill? Or that they wouldn't kill clones?"
"Well, I thought you were peacekeepers."
Kanan looks at Omega and then at the young Twi'lek. He takes a breath and looks at the sky.
"We were. But the schemes of those more grounded and devious than the Jedi Order made perfect use of the corrupt system that was Republic politics and the old and stiff ways of our Order. We allowed ourselves to be dragged into a war that wasn't ours to fight. We should have kept the peace, but we didn't. Now, I'm left to pick up the pieces and fight alone. And so, I will use many means necessary. Even kill those I once called brother in arms, when they turn against me."
...
"I don't expect you to understand this. However, know that to make progress, you need to make decisions. To do what's right always requires making the most difficult decisions. And the hardest choices require the strongest wills. The worst thing you can do is nothing," Kanan says.
"Now, how about we get down to the matter at hand?" Kanan asks.
"Yes, tell us why the Empire is after Hera, and what are you doing here?" Hunter asks.
"Because my father is Cham Syndulla," Hera answers.
"The freedom fighter?" Tech asks.
"Yes. This was his old command outpost. It's where I've been hiding, and Kanan has told me to contact you. The Empire has begun targeting anyone loyal to him," Hera says.
"And what's your catch in all of this, Cal-- I mean Kanan? What do you want us to do?" Echo asks.
"Free my parents from the Capitol. That's where they're being held," Hera says immediately.
The others look at Kanan. He smiles at the young Twi'lek, feeling her emotions and knowing that she has a very pure heart. She's willing to stand up for what's right, a quality that many have lost long ago.
"They can pay you if you get them out. Please," Hera begs.
"No need to pay for this, Hera. It is time to do what's right, my friends. I will, however, not force you, since I hold no rank whatsoever. If you are interested in helping us, I am sure you will be interested to hear what I have to say."
"Alright, what are we up against?" Hunter asks.
"Come, let me show you."
.
Kanan, the Bad Batch and Hera observe the city from the mountains, where many Twi'leks have come together to listen to the announcement of Vice-Admiral Rampart.
"Citizens of Ryloth, the shocking attack on your beloved senator has left you shaken, and the death of Orn Free Taa is a tragedy. The perpetrators of this heinous assassination have been captured. Rest assured, Cham Syndulla and his insurgents will answer for their betrayal."
"That's not what happened," Hera says to the others.
"Hunter... Crosshair is here."
"Great. Just what we need," Wrecker groans.
The Batch walks back and discusses it with one another.
"Why would Crosshair be ordered to kill the senator?"
"That was not his order," Kanan says. "I moved his weapon slightly, to remove the senator from the picture and give Ryloth a chance at true freedom. If Senator Taa survived, the Empire would have used him as a puppet to control their mines on the planet and plunder the planet of its doonium."
"Doonium mines? So the Empire is planning on stocking up their starship supplies," Tech says.
"Most likely, but that's not important right now. Let us focus on the mission," Kanan says.
"Right. Well, the plasma bridge into the city's been deactivated," Echo mentions.
"Well, I say we fly in and blow our way out," Wrecker suggests.
"The capital scanners would detect our ship," Echo tells Wrecker.
"I don't like the look of this. The troop presence here is similar to that of Raxus. This is a military occupation," Tech tells the others.
"Indeed, it is. The doonium must be more important to the Empire than mere shipbuilding."
"And you would be correct," Kanan says. "There are several shatterpoints connected to doonium for some reason, very large ones of great imp--"
Kanan stops as he feels something. He quickly takes his light disc and throws it through the air. The disc shoots through the air and right through a probe droid that has just started observing their group. Having completed what it was supposed to, Kanan pulls the light disc back.
"Oh, good. A probe droid."
"The Empire will know we're here. And so will Crosshair," Hunter says.
"Good, then they will not see our next move coming," Kanan smiles.