Dedicated to HushFluffles

     Aboard Phoenix Home – a Pelta-class frigate that acted as the command ship for the Phoenix Squadron – Commander Kyra Kryze-Kenobi, having been recently promoted by Senator Bail Organa, commended the Spectres for successfully stealing a shipment of Imperial cargo.

     "You and your crew have proven invaluable to our fleet, Captain Syndulla," Kyra stated as Ahsoka Tano joined them on the bridge. "The fuel acquired in your convoy attacks has helped keep us one step ahead of Imperial patrols."

     "Thank you, Commander Organa. I'm just sorry our intel about shield generators being on that shipment was wrong," Hera replied as Chopper rolled onto the bridge, beeping frantically.

     "An incoming message. Who from, Chop?" Kanan Jarrus asked before waving his hand dismissively. "Ah, why don't you just play it?"

     "Because we have protocols to follow," Hera retorted as she glared at Kanan. "Chop, cloak us with a one-way transmission."

     After Chopper had done so, he accepted the message, and a hologram of Jho – a rebel sympathizer on Lothal – appeared.

     Once they had exchanged pleasantries, Jho began, "I can't see you, but I can hear you, my friends. Time is short, and there's someone here desperate to speak with you. I told her I couldn't find you, but she wouldn't take no for an answer. She says she needs your help."

     "We're always ready to help someone in need," Kanan reminded the Ithorian.

     "Yeah, well, this one's different," Jho grumbled as he stepped aside and allowed Minister Maketh Tua to address the Phoenix Squadron.

     "We can't trust her, she's an Imperial," Garazeb Orrelios protested.

     "Please, I beg you, listen to my request," Minister Tua urged the Spectres. "My life is in danger. I need you to give me safe passage off Lothal. I assure you, my intentions are sincere. To prove it, I will trade secret Imperial information."

     The rebels shared a questioning glance as Sabine Wren asked, "You're defecting from the Empire?"

     "Yes, I am," the minister confirmed quietly, her hands fidgeting restlessly as she stared at the ground.

     "She's telling the truth. I can sense her fear," Kyra said quietly, interrupting the Spectres as they continued to express their skepticism. "What do you have to trade?"

     "A list of rebel sympathizers on Lothal and other nearby systems," Maketh Tua answered, and Kyra could hear the reluctance in her voice, despite having already chosen to betray the Empire.

     "Why haven't these sympathizers been arrested?" Kyra asked.

     "Some have powerful friends in the Senate," Minister Tua replied. "Imperial command watches them but can do nothing. I know you need allies. Get me off Lothal and I will give you the list."

     Kyra, Hera, Kanan, and Ahsoka shared a glance before Jarrus sighed and said, "We shouldn't even consider this."

     "It's obviously a trap," Sabine agreed.

     "There's something else," the minister added hastily, fearing the rebels would not agree to help her. "I've discovered the true reason the Empire came to Lothal."

     "We know that one," Hera claimed. "The Empire has a factory, and they're stripping the planet's resources to fuel it."

     "No. There is another reason known by only few and ordered by the Emperor himself," Maketh Tua clarified.

     As the rebels talked amongst themselves, trying to decide what they should do, Kyra caught Ezra Bridger's eye. She smiled and nodded, knowing what the boy was thinking.

     Ezra cleared his throat to get everyone else's attention and stated, "We have to do this."

     After a moment, when both Ahsoka and Kanan agreed, Hera said, "All right, but only if Commander Organa approves the mission."

     "I believe it could be worth the risk," Kyra admitted before addressing Tua. "Minister, we'll get you out. Send us your coordinates."

     "Thank you," the Imperial said gratefully as she ended the transmission and sent her coordinates.

     "Well, I guess we're on our way back to Lothal," Hera stated, following Kanan when the Jedi marched out of the room.

     Deciding to accompany the Spectres on their mission, Kyra traded her uniform for her Mandalorian armor, leaving Ahsoka in charge of the fleet before boarding a Star Commuter 2000 that the rebels had acquired.

     "So, we're not taking the Ghost and we're letting Chopper drive?" Sabine asked as the shuttle pulled away from the fleet.

     "After our stunt on Mustafar, there's a good chance the Empire will be able to track it," Hera explained as they made the jump to lightspeed.

     "So, what's the plan?" Kanan asked as he holstered his blaster.

     "Minister Tua is scheduled to visit Governor Tarkin tomorrow," Kyra began. "She leaves Lothal via shuttle at eighteen hundred. We wait at the hangar, then steal the shuttle and take her to safety."

     "I hope you're sure about this," Kanan replied, crossing his arms over his chest. "After all the trouble she's made for us, why should we help her?"

     "Because that's what we do," Kyra reminded the Jedi, who was acting uncharacteristically pessimistic, "help those who are unable to help themselves."

     "Plus, her list will help us out," Ezra added as the shuttle emerged from hyperspace, revealing the three Imperial Star Destroyers that loomed over Lothal.

     "Shuttle Five-Nine-Three, this is Lothal Control. You are cleared to land," an Imperial officer said.

     "I didn't think I'd miss it, but I—" Ezra started, suddenly stopping as he turned to Kanan and Kyra. "Do you feel that? I-I feel so...cold."

     "I feel it, too," Kyra whispered after a moment, the chill running down her spine caused by a familiar presence whose identity was just beyond her recognition.

     Kanan studied Kyra and his apprentice as the shuttle landed, then stood and assembled his lightsaber – which could be broken down into two pieces – without saying a word.

     The ramp lowered, and as Ezra disembarked, he said, "I've never seen so many Star Destroyers here. It's gotten worse."

     The rest of the rebels made their way down the ramp as Hera instructed Zeb and Chopper to stay with the shuttle in case they needed to make a quick exit. Chopper begrudgingly agreed to stay behind with the Lasat as Sabine, Hera, Kanan, Ezra, and Kyra headed for Bay 23. Their progress was slower than usual, thanks to the heightened number of stormtroopers patrolling the city. When they finally reached the docking bay, they found four troopers guarding Minister Tua's shuttle.

     Realizing they would need a distraction to reach the minister, Kanan declared, "I'm gonna go make a few friends. When Tua arrives, I'll keep 'em busy while you all drop into the hangar from above."

     Hera arched an eyebrow, "Make a few friends?"

     "It'll be fun," Kanan said, smirking as he stood at attention. "Don't worry, General Hera. Just be ready to move."

     The Spectres watched as Kanan intercepted the leader of the squadron, who had broken away from his fellow Imperials. With several well-placed blows, Kanan knocked the stormtrooper off his feet and dragged him into an alleyway, reappearing several moments later in the trooper's confiscated armor.

     As he went to meet with the other Imperials, Sabine muttered, "I don't believe it. Kanan's gone bucket head."

     "I'm kinda jealous. I only have the helmet," Ezra said as he and the others scaled the nearest building to survey the hangar from above, the boy having stolen several helmets for his Imperial disguises.

     Shortly after, Minister Tua arrived in a land speeder driven by Agent Kallus.

     "Thank you, Agent Kallus, but t-there was no need for an escort," the minister stuttered.

     "Lord Vader asked me to make sure you reached your shuttle safely," Kallus replied as Kyra suddenly realized why her blood ran cold, though she was not surprised to learn the Sith Lord had survived the joint attack on that barren moon five years earlier. "We can't be too careful about security these days."

     Minister Tua smiled weakly and walked into the hangar bay as Kyra jumped off the building, landing quietly behind the Imperials. She drew her twin WESTAR-35 blasters and opened fire as Kanan locked himself inside the docking bay with Minister Tua and Agent Kallus. Kyra quickly defeated the stormtroopers as Sabine, Ezra, and Hera laid down cover fire for the minister, who ran towards the Lambda-class shuttle. Kyra jumped into the landspeeder and flew over the hangar's locked blast doors, watching from a bird's eye view as Minister Tua sprinted into the shuttle, followed closely by the Spectres.

     Before they could board, the Imperial transport exploded, killing Minister Tua and knocking the Spectres off their feet.

     "You did this!" Kallus yelled as he shot at the rebels, a probe droid hovering behind the Imperial agent.

     As the blast doors opened and another squadron of troopers rushed towards the Spectres, Kyra yelled, "Zeb, we need a pickup. Now!"

     "Copy. We're on our way," Zeb replied as Kyra sensed a dark presence behind her.

     Expecting to see him breathing down her neck, Kyra reluctantly turned and spotted Darth Vader's cape flowing as he marched away, having been watching her from an elevated walkway. Her attention was pulled away from Vader when Zeb lowered the side ramp and the rebels jumped onto the shuttle. As the transport began to ascend, Kyra leapt off the wall and into the shuttle, which was unfortunately shot down by an AT-DP a few blocks later, causing innocent bystanders to scatter for cover. The rebels were thrown from their seats, but Sabine helped them up and ushered them out of the shuttle. Wren led Kyra and the Spectres to an abandoned building that had once belonged to Ezra's parents.

     In a hidden room beneath the first floor, the rebels used an old radio to listen to an Imperial news anchor as he reported, "A beloved citizen of Lothal, Minister Tua's life was cut short by this criminal band of rebels."

     A picture of Ezra, Kanan, and Hera appeared as the anchor instructed, "If you see them, summon Imperial authorities immediately. Trooper corps have been mobilized in an extensive sea—"

     Hera turned the broadcast off and rubbed her face wearily, "They did this to turn Lothal against us. We can't do any more here. We have to leave, for good."

     "We can't just run," Ezra protested. "The people have to know the truth."

     "I don't think the Empire is giving us much choice," Sabine argued as Chopper informed the Spectres that a squadron of stormtroopers were at their door.

     The rebels managed to escape before the Imperials set fire to the building with a pair of thermal detonators.

     "If they know about this hideout, they'll know about our others," Ezra stated.

     "There's no more hiding," Hera agreed. "We need a ship. Maybe we can try one of the local Imperial airfields."

     Sabine activated a holomap of the city and replied, "They're locked down. Besides, we'll never get outside the capital. The Empire's looking everywhere for us."

     "Not everywhere," Kyra corrected, pointing to the Imperial complex. "Deploying troops to block every city exit has spread the garrison thin. I know it sounds crazy, but the area with the least troops will be near the factories. There are landing platforms outside these hangars. They're our best chance at finding a shuttle."

     "And I'm already dressed for the part," Kanan added, gesturing to his disguise.

     After a moment, the others agreed, and they set out for the Imperial complex. Ezra donned his Imperial cadet disguise as Kyra, Hera, Sabine, Chopper, and Zeb hid in several shipping containers. Once they were inside an empty storage room, the Spectres climbed out of the containers and Sabine cautiously peered into the hallway.

     Closing the blast door, Wren turned to Kyra and said, "There's nobody around. This was a good plan."

     "Of course it was a good plan. I came up with it," Kyra replied as she helped Chopper out of the fourth container.

     After Kanan and Ezra had shed their disguises, the rebels made their way through the complex and to the starport, Zeb making quick work of the two stormtroopers they encountered. The starport featured a handful of TIE fighters, several AT-DPs, and one Lambda-class shuttle. As they ran towards the transport, Sabine stopped and waved the others over, standing in front of six military grade shield generators. Sabine, Hera, Ezra, and Zeb each grabbed a generator, leaving Kyra and Kanan to bring up the rear and watch their backs. When they were a few yards away from the shuttle, Kyra stopped in her tracks, her hair standing on end.

     Kanan and Ezra stopped as well, the boy asking, "Do you feel that? The cold."

     "Vader," Kyra whispered as she reluctantly turned around and watched the Dark Lord of the Sith ignite his lightsaber.

     A squadron of stormtroopers flanked Darth Vader but held their fire, knowing the Emperor's right-hand man would want to handle the rebels himself.

     "Ezra, give me your lightsaber," Kyra said quietly, taking the weapon out of Bridger's hands when he started to protest. "You haven't had enough training. Go! I'll cover you!"

     "We'll cover you," Kanan clarified as he ignited his own, blue-bladed saber.

     Kyra started to argue with Kanan but was distracted when Vader rushed towards her, their blades interlocking. Even though Vader only used one hand to wield his lightsaber, Kyra struggled to hold her ground. As the stormtroopers opened fire, Vader used the Force to send Kyra flying across the starport, where she crashed into the legs of an AT-DP. She groaned and got to her feet as Kanan fought in her place, striking at the Sith Lord and deflecting his blows. The former apprentice of Obi-Wan Kenobi grabbed Kanan by his wrists and lifted him into the air, causing him to drop his lightsaber. He threw Kanan aside, the Jedi rolling across the metal floor and tumbling into a container before going still.

     Kyra's nostrils flared as she charged at Vader, but the Sith Lord tossed her aside as easily as if she were a womp rat.

     Using the Force, Vader made Kyra's borrowed lightsaber hover above his neck, "Master Kenobi has deceived you into believing you can become a Jedi, Padawan Kryze."

     Kyra's eyes widened, and she feared that Vader would reveal her true identity to the Empire, though she had bigger problems at the moment. Namely the plasma blade that was threatening to decapitate her. Before Vader could deliver the killing blow, however, Kanan soared through the air and attacked the Sith Lord from behind. Vader released Kyra as he turned to face Kanan, their blades clashing once more. Kyra swayed unsteadily as she got to her feet and joined the battle, the Jedi taking turns fighting Vader as the rest of the rebels exchanged fire with the troopers. When the nearest AT-DPs exploded – no doubt the handiwork of Sabine – Kyra flinched, giving Vader an opening and allowing him to stab Kenobi in the right shoulder.

     Kyra yelped and staggered backwards, clutching her injured arm as Kanan used the Force to knock Vader off his feet, directly into the path of the falling AT-DPs. The Jedi began making their way to the shuttle when the sound of groaning metal stopped them in their tracks.

     As Vader – who had been crushed beneath the AT-DPs – lifted the fallen walkers, Kanan asked, "If that didn't kill him, what will?"

     "Not us," Kyra answered knowingly as Vader dropped the walkers. "Run!"

     As the Imperial shuttle began to take off, Sabine opened firing, covering the Jedi. Vader deflected the blaster bolts, two of which hit Sabine in the helmet and chest-plate, the impact knocking Wren off her feet. As the transport soared over the grasslands of Lothal, Hera tended to Sabine and asked Zeb to make sure the Imperials could not track them. As Sabine took her helmet off, Hera asked if she was all right. Sabine sighed and nodded as Kyra worked on her own injured shoulder, grimacing each time she was forced to tighten the bandage around her wound.

     "Kanan, what was that?" Ezra asked with wide-eyed fear. "Another Inquisitor?"

     Kanan looked to Kyra, who answered for him, "No. Something worse. A Sith Lord. The ancient enemy of the Jedi. We were lucky to survive. The last time I fought Darth Vader, my father and I inflicted a considerable amount of damage to his life-support, but he still managed to walk away from the battle."

     "You and Senator Organa fought that thing?" Ezra asked, for Kanan – having trained at the Jedi Temple with Kyra – was the only member of the Spectres who knew her true heritage.

     Kyra glanced at Kanan, and when he nodded, she said, "I'm about to trust all of you with something only a handful of people know. You mustn't tell anyone, understand?"

     The boy nodded eagerly as the others gathered and Kyra continued, "My real name is Kyra Kryze-Kenobi. My biological father is Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi, and my mum was Duchess Satine, the ruler of Mandalore. As you know, I am a commander in both the Alderaanian military and Rebellion, but I am also a Knight of the Jedi Order. Senator Organa is my adopted father. He took me in because my mother had been killed by Darth Maul when I was ten years old, and my father had gone into hiding after the Clone Wars. When the Clone Wars ended, it didn't really matter if the Jedi knew who my parents were, but I didn't use my real name because the Empire would have hunted me down and killed me.

     "After the Empire realized I was still alive, the Organas risked their own lives to hide me. That's why I wear my armor; it allows me to remain anonymous while I complete field missions and prevents Senator Organa from getting arrested for treason. I hope you will be able to forgive me for not telling you sooner, it just wasn't the right time," Kyra finished.

     The others were silent for a moment, then Hera asked, "What's our next move, Commander Kenobi?"

     Relief washed over Kyra as she replied, "From here, I think our best course of action would be to rendezvous with the fleet, lay low for a while."

     As Hera started towards the cockpit, Kanan stopped her, "We can't. Vader will have a blockade of Destroyers waiting for us."

     "And this shuttle is slow, with barely any weapons or shields," Sabine added, a bitter laugh escaping her lips. "We're gonna have to smuggle ourselves off Lothal for a change."

     When Hera seemed to consider Sabine's statement, Kanan wearily asked, "What are you thinking?"

     "I'm thinking we know the right man to smuggle us off-world," Hera answered before climbing into the cockpit.

     Kanan and Ezra glanced at each other before they both protested, "Not him!"

     Kyra's brow furrowed in confusion as she followed the other Jedi into the cockpit, where Hera was speaking to a man with dark-skin.

     "Well, hello there, Captain Syndulla. This is a pleasant surprise," the man said, his voice oozing with charisma. "What can I do for you?"

     "This isn't a social call, Lando. It's business," Kanan retorted, hostility lacing his voice. "We need your help to smuggle something off Lothal. Past the Imperial blockade."

     "You know, if the Empire learns I got involved, it'd be all over for me. I'd be taking an awful big risk," Lando stated.

     Kanan sighed and asked, "What do you want?"

     Instead of answering, Lando replied with a question of his own, "What have you got?"

     After a brief hesitation, Hera admitted, "Imperial shield generators. Military grade."

     Lando whistled appreciatively, "Now that's merchandise I can move. How many we talking about?"

     When Hera claimed that they had two, Lando said, "Two? You are no gambler, Hera. Offering me two means you've got at least six, so I think three is probably fair."

     When Syndulla protested, Lando stated, "Those shields won't do you much good if you're dead."

     "Three it is," Kanan agreed before Hera could try and barter with Lando. "So we have a deal?"

     Lando nodded, "While I'm not on Lothal at the moment, my droid is. Go to my operation, and he'll set you up with everything you need."

                                                                       ...

     The next day, the stolen Imperial shuttle landed near Lando's farm and the rebels were greeted by his protocol droid, W1-LE.

     "Welcome," the colorful protocol droid said. "I have prepared everything according to Calrissian's instructions. Is one of you a mechanic?"

     Sabine stepped forward and followed the droid as Kyra spotted movement in her peripheral vision, turning just in time to spot Ezra stealing a speeder bike. He sped off towards the plume of black smoke that was billowing in the distance, and when Kanan tried to go after his apprentice, Kyra grabbed his arm to stop him.

     "Let him go," she said quietly. "He needs to see the brutality of the Empire first-hand."

     After several moments, when she let go of Kanan's arm, he said, "You should go after him. You've been fighting your whole life. Have more experience battling the Empire. He can learn more from you in situations like these."

     Kyra hesitated, not wanting to overstep, then nodded and borrowed the other speeder. When she caught up with Ezra, the boy was looking at the ruined town through his macrobinoculars.

     "There's no one. They're all gone," he said quietly.

     "They're prisoners of the Empire now," Kyra whispered.

     Ezra closed his eyes, "All I sense is evil. Why would they burn Tarkintown?"

     Lothal re-settlement camp 43 had been deemed Tarkintown, named after Grand Moff Wilhuff Tarkin, who forced the group of farmers off their land and made them refugees of their own planet.

     "To spread fear, make us afraid," Kyra explained. "The people that lived here just got caught in the middle."

     Ezra looked down at the grass beneath his feet, "This happened because of us?"

     "There's a cost for every action we take, Ezra," Kyra replied gently. "Things are getting worse, just as they did when Kanan and I were your age. But back then, there were thousands of Jedi Knights protecting the galaxy. Now...now there are only few against an Empire."

     "We can fight!" Ezra declared. "We have allies."

     Grabbing Ezra's shoulders, Kyra locked eyes with Bridger and asked, "Do you understand what you're saying? You saw what we're up against. Look!"

     She gestured to the burning town as Ezra assured her that he was not afraid.

     "That's what worries me," Kyra whispered before directly addressing the padawan. "Ezra, look at me. I need you to understand something. When facing an enemy this size, there will be times where you're unable to fight them head-on, as you and the Spectres have been doing. Over the past fourteen years, I've worked in the shadows as often as I've fought in the open, helping Senator Organa build a rebellion from nothing by quietly recruiting people to our cause. When the Empire has sent me to do their bidding, I pretended to do so while helping the Rebellion at the same time, providing intel or stealing small amounts of technology and cargo.

     "I helped Ahsoka build an intelligence network and communication channels, allowing each rebel cell to stay in contact with each other and Senator Organa, should protocol enable them to do so. Sometimes we are forced to stand down in order to live and fight back another day. There are many ways to lead and there are many ways to fight, youngling. I need you to remember that," Kyra instructed, Ezra nodding even as his clenched jaw told Kryze he did not like the idea of fighting indirectly despite understanding why it was necessary.

     When they returned to Lando's farm, Hera asked, "What happened out there?"

     "The Empire burned Tarkintown," Kyra answered. "The population's been taken captive."

     Zeb suggested rescuing the civilians, but Kyra shook her head, "Vader would be waiting for us."

     Kanan placed a hand on Zeb's shoulder and said, "Kyra's right. We have no choice. We have to leave. For the good of Lothal."

     "So what's the plan for gettin' out of here?" Ezra asked.

     "Lando had these old transponders lying around," Hera explained. "Sabine's gonna tune their signature codes to match this shuttle's. With these transponders beaming out the same signal as the shuttle, we should be able to slip by unnoticed."

     Once the rebels had boarded the transport and the vessel was making its way through the atmosphere, Sabine and Zeb offloaded the transponders in random locations to throw the Imperials off their trail.

     "The Empire's takin' the bait," Kanan pointed out as they broke through the upper atmosphere of Lothal. "Their fighters are splittin' up."

     Hera nodded and closed the main ramp as they came face-to-face with three Star Destroyers, making the jump to lightspeed just as the Imperials began to figure out they had been fooled.

     As Hera climbed down from the cockpit, she admitted, "Never thought I'd say this, but thank you, Lando Calrissian."

     Chopper muttered his agreement as Ezra asked, "So if we can't go back to Lothal, where are we going?"

     "You're part of the Rebellion now," Kyra reminded him.

     "Are we?" Kanan retorted as he looked around at the other Spectres. "Are we all sure about that?"

     "Maybe we could just grab the Ghost and lay low for a while," Sabine suggested.

     "I like fighting with the Phoenix Squadron," Zeb replied. "Reminds me of the Honor Guard. Besides, they're counting on us. Wouldn't be right to abandon them right now."

     When the others fell silent, Hera asked, "Ezra, what do you think?"

     "We can't help Lothal now," the boy said after a moment, "but I think the rebels can help us get stronger, so we can go back and change things. I think we should stay with the rebel fleet. It's the least they can do after what they, and Kyra, have done for us."

     Ezra looked to Kanan, who reluctantly nodded and agreed with the other members of his crew. Kyra climbed into the cockpit and sat in the pilot's chair, sighing with relief as the shuttle emerged from hyperspace.

     When two A-wings flanked the transport, she hailed the fleet, "Phoenix Home, this is Commander Kenobi with the Ghost away team. Clearance code, One-Two-One-Eight-One-Five."

     "Your clearance code checks out. Welcome home," a technician replied.

     After docking with Phoenix Home and boarding the frigate, Chopper beeped frantically and informed the rebels that a tracking beacon had been attached to the stolen shuttle. Kyra cursed as she ran onto the bridge and instructed the fleet to jump to lightspeed, informing the others that she and the Spectres had been followed by the Empire.

     Before the fleet could escape, a pilot swiveled in his chair and said, "Commander, I'm scanning a ship entering our sector. We're tracking one target. No other ships have entered the system."

     "Move Phoenix Squadron to intercept," Kyra ordered before racing to the Phantom and joining her brothers and sisters in the fight.

      Eight A-wings moved into formation behind Kyra and engaged the enemy as the advanced TIE fighter raced towards them, spinning out of the line of fire. The first pilot was quickly shot down, and Kyra suddenly recognized the flying style of Anakin Skywalker, despite the limitations presented by his life suit.

     "He's coming in too fast! We've lost Phoenix-One and Two!" Kyra shouted. "Fleet, raise deflector shields!"

     Darth Vader flew over the nearest CR90 corvette and opened fire before targeting the Pelta-class frigate.

     "Commander, your pilots are outmatched," Hera warned.

     "But we're not," Kyra countered as she returned fire, heading straight for the Imperial starfighter.

     As two more A-wings were shot down, the Ghost detached and pulled away from Phoenix Home, joining the dogfight as Vader made another run on the frigate, disabling its shields and damaging the hyperdrive core. As Kyra engaged Vader once more, the Sith Lord whipped his fighter around to face hers and opened fire, severely damaging the right wing of the Phantom.

     "Phantom to Ghost," Kyra said, hailing the light freighter. "I can't withstand another attack from that fighter. I'm coming to you."

     "Copy that, Commander," Hera acknowledged. "Sabine will cover you as you prepare to dock."

     After coupling with the Ghost, Kenobi rushed into the cockpit just as Ahsoka muttered, "The Force is strong with him. Kanan, Kyra, let's find out how strong."

     Kyra reluctantly reached out to the Force, never having told Ahsoka that her former master was the monster in the mask.

     She placed a hand on Ahsoka's shoulder and Kanan did the same as Ezra's voice came over the comms system, "There's something familiar. I feel...cold. I think I know who it is. The fear. The anger. The hate. It's the Sith Lord we faced. Darth Vader."

     As Ezra spoke his name, Ahsoka screamed, her concentration breaking as she slumped over and fell out of her seat. Kyra caught the former apprentice of Anakin Skywalker and held her close, fighting back tears because she knew her dear friend was getting closer to discovering what her master had become. As Vader shot down the last two A-Wings, Kyra ordered the crew of Phoenix Home to abandon ship and escape with the rest of the fleet. Hera diverted all power to the hyperdrive as she flew towards the three Star Destroyers, which had come to provide backup for the Sith Lord. As Darth Vader chased after the Ghost, Sabine informed Hera that the fleet had made the jump to hyperspace.

     Syndulla advised the rebels to hang on as she flew between the Star Destroyers and made the jump to lightspeed, the Imperial vessels catching Vader in their tractor beam instead of the Ghost. Kyra helped Ahsoka – who had regained consciousness – to the room she shared with Hera, lowering her onto the bottom bunk.

     When Kanan and Ezra joined the pair at Ahsoka's request, Bridger asked, "Are you okay?"

     "I am, thank you," Ahsoka replied. "Kyra told me that the Sith Lord who pursued us today was the same one you confronted on Lothal. I would like you to tell me about this encounter."

     "You know we encountered an Inquisitor before, but this was nothing like that," Kanan began. "The fear, the anger, the hate. You felt it. I haven't sensed a presence like that since..."

     When Kanan faltered, Ahsoka finished his thought for him, "The Clone Wars."

     "Ahsoka, do you know who or what he is?" Ezra asked.

     When Ahsoka shook her head, Ezra added, "Kyra said the Sith's name was Darth Vader. Does that mean anything to you?"

     "No, it doesn't," Ahsoka answered quietly. "But I know that, whoever he is, he will be coming. They'll all be coming now."

     "Then we've got to be ready to fight," Ezra replied.

     "Remember what I told you on Lothal," Kyra reminded the boy. "We must find the strength to fight, but the greater courage is knowing when not to fight."

     "And we'll be beside you either way," Hera declared as she appeared in the doorway, alongside Garazeb Orrelios and Sabine.

     After the Spectres had left, Kyra turned to Ahsoka and opened her mouth to speak, but Tano held up a hand to stop her.

     "Whatever you need to tell me, I will find out in my own way, on my own time," Ahsoka said quietly, and Kyra nodded, relieved to know that Tano would not bear any animosity towards her for her prolonged silence on the matter.

     After the Ghost had docked with one of the corvettes, Kyra and the Spectres made their way to the bridge, Ahsoka Tano having left to search for the resolutions to questions that needed answering.

     Kyra activated an open comm channel and addressed the crew, "The destruction of our command ship has severely limited our ability to fight the Empire in this sector."

     "Maybe we don't fight," Ezra suggested. "When things got tough for me on Lothal, I'd go find some place to hide."

     Kyra smirked, "You are never shy with your opinions, Ezra Bridger, but establishing a base is a good idea. Problem is, none of the potential bases we know of have the tactical advantage we need to protect what's left of our fleet."

     "Or aid the nearby systems suffering from Imperial oppression," Kanan added.

     "We can't help others if we can't help ourselves, Kanan," Hera countered. "If only we had more allies."

     "I know someone who might be able to help us," Kyra announced. "A great military commander with a vast knowledge of the Outer Rim. He could assist us in finding a base, and his experienced leadership would make him a powerful ally."

     "How do we recruit this leader?" Hera Syndulla asked.

     Kyra sighed, "That's the problem. I lost track of him a long time ago, and all my transmissions have gone unanswered, though there is one option I've not yet attempted."

     After boarding the Ghost and gathering in the cockpit, Kyra produced the head of an old tactical droid from the Clone Wars.

     As Kyra handed the droid's head to Sabine Wren, she explained, "These droids were great at finding things, calculation. Found my master and I a few times when we didn't want to be found."

     "How in all the galaxy is that droid gonna find your friend?" Ezra asked.

     "Well, I heard he was last seen in the Seelos system," Kyra answered. "You can start there."

     Ezra's eyebrows furrowed in confusion, "You're not coming with us?"

     Kyra shook her head, "I'm going to stay with the fleet. Try and rebuild what we've lost."

     When Ezra Bridger expressed his disappointment at not being able to help Kyra, Kryze reminded him that they each had their own missions.

     Just as she was about to leave the cockpit, Kyra turned to Jarrus, "And, Kanan, if you find my friend, you must trust him."

     "If he's all the things you saw, we can't afford not to," Kanan replied.

     "Trust him," Kyra repeated, knowing he would have a hard time trusting her friend because his Jedi Master had been killed by the clone troopers who once fought by her side.

                                                                    ...

     The Spectres returned the following day, after what Kyra hoped had been a successful mission to Seelos. Once the Ghost had docked with the new Phoenix Home, Kyra went to meet them, filled with nervous energy because she did not know if her old friend had decided to join the cause. After several moments, the rebels moved aside and allowed Captain Rex to step forward. The captain still wore his blue and white armor, though it had seen better days. A thick, white beard now adorned Rex's face, thanks to the clones' rapidly aging DNA.

     The captain stood at attention and saluted Kyra as he said, "Commander. You got old."

     Kyra returned the salute as she laughed, "Had to happen sometime, Rex. Though, between the two of us, I definitely wear it better."

     Rex chuckled and nodded, the captain nearly falling when Kyra tackled him into a hug and wrapped her arms around his neck.

     "I'm glad you're still alive," Rex said quietly.

     "You, too," Kyra replied. "And let's make sure we stay in contact. I don't want another fifteen years to go by before I see you again."

     Rex nodded as Kyra pulled away and locked eyes with Kanan, "Thank you for trusting my friend."

     A short laugh escaped Kanan Jarrus's lips as he admitted, "It wasn't easy. It's still not."

     "Nothing worth doing ever is," Kyra Kryze-Kenobi stated as she, Captain Rex, and the Spectres made their way to the bridge, ready to fight back against the Empire and help those who were oppressed by its tyrannical ruler.