2

It was very late when the Marauder emerged from hyperspace, hovering above the verdant green planet of Teth. At the controls, Echo's eyes were tired but alert as he guided the ship into its final descent towards the surface.

From the back of the ship, Wrecker's loud snoring filled the cavern. Crosshair, Tech, and Omega had long-since gone to bed, too, but Saedii had waited diligently in the cockpit. Just to be sure that they really were going to Teth.

On her left, Hunter watched the approaching surface with unease.

It was no secret that being here made him uncomfortable. In the nine months since they'd decided to help Rex, Hunter had yet to relax to the idea of being around the growing Rebellion efforts. Each time they returned to Teth, no matter how short, he spent the entirety in his armor, with weapons close at hand.

There was a sharp crackle on their comms channel. Then, a voice that asked, "What are the eyes that peer from the dark?"

Howzer. Saedii recognized his voice now, asking for the codeword. The sound made her smile as Echo responded, "The lotho cat."

"Welcome back, Clone Force 99."

As they dipped beneath the clouds, there was a little shimmer below them as the monastery's cloaking shields dropped. Revealing the sprawling military base below them.

Rex and the boys had done a hell of a job refurbishing the monastery. Months ago, it was really only the main building with one of the towers that had been usable. But now, a whole collection of buildings stretched below them, lit up by soft glowing lights. Four more main buildings had been added, accessible by the metal bridges that spanned between them like spider silk in the night, and nearly a dozen smaller outbuildings. Their stronghold spanned for several miles – the only flare of light among the otherwise untouched Teth landscape.

Echo guided the ship down towards one of the landing pads on the east side. Here, theirs was one of only a handful of other ships – three star skiffs and a half-repaired x-wing. Echo put the Marauder down right in between them, at the very center.

From the back, Wrecker's snores cut off with a grunt. "Arewehere?" he slurred, words blurred together with sleep.

"Just landed." Hunter's voice was curt.

Through the windshield, several figures emerged to help refuel the ship. All dressed in Clone armor. The one at the front had yellow-painted accents in his armor and a long-range blaster on his back.

Commander Cody.

Despite his unease, Hunter's jaw loosened at the sight. Saedii had learned that Cody and the Batch had worked together for years, and that – like Rex – Hunter had a healthy respect for the Clone commander.

Echo stood. "I'm going to speak with Cody. We'll meet you on the landing platform."

As Saedii stood to exit, Hunter stilled her. "Hang on a moment, kid. You and I need to talk."

"About what?" Saedii demanded.

"Aynaboni."

She scowled in Echo's direction. "He told you?"

"Echo's only looking out for you. Like me." Hunter patted the seat she'd just vacated.

Miffed, Saedii sat down. "I know what you're going to say, but it was life or death. I had to intervene."

"Echo could have covered Omega," Hunter said reasonably. "You were under direct orders to stay on the ship."

"That's such bullshit and you know it!"

His eyes narrowed. "Saedii –"

"It's been nine months since Kamino. Why won't you accept that I'm ready to be back in the field with you guys?" Saedii demanded. "It puts the whole team at risk keeping me on the ship when I could be helping you."

"I get that you're eager to return, but I still don't think you're ready," he said quietly.

"AZI cleared me –"

"I'm not talking about being physically ready."

Saedii crossed her arms, one over the other. Against the skin of her right arm, her metal prosthetic was icy cold.

Hunter went on, "You lost a lot in the past year – your master, your friends, your arm. That's a lot of trauma for any one person to go through. It leaves a mark, mentally as well as physically."

"I know that," Saedii grumbled. "I've been working with Ahsoka and Obi-Wan to heal my mind. They agree that I'm doing well, too."

By the tightening of his eyes, Hunter didn't believe her. Not entirely. "I don't want you rushing back into danger until I know that you're ready for it."

"I am ready. Why don't you believe me?"

"I do believe you." His expression softened, just a touch. "I believe that you want to be ready."

She groaned. It had been months since AZI had cleared her for action. Physically, she was stronger than she ever had been. All the strength and stamina she'd lost after Order 66 had been gained back in spades, and with all the training she went through with Ahsoka, Obi-Wan and Anakin, she was becoming a powerful duelist.

Even her prosthetic didn't hold her back anymore. She'd gotten so used to it in the past several months that she hardly noticed it was made of metal instead of flesh. It moved like it was part of her body, just as natural as her true arm.

"You don't baby Omega like this," Saedii pointed out. "And she hasn't been training nearly as much as I have."

His eyes grew sad. "I didn't spend four days sitting by Omega's bedside wondering if she was going to wake up."

A slight pang of guilt flared through her. She quickly pushed it down, insisting, "You have to let me back in the field eventually. You can't keep hiding me away."

"I'm not hiding you. I'm trying to keep you safe."

"I can protect myself."

"Pong Krell and the Inquisitors are still out there."

At that, Saedii's jaw clenched. In the nine months since Kamino, they'd heard no whispers of Krell or any other Inquisitors. Rex had his contacts listening for any information on the Empire's new warriors, but so far, there had been nothing.

Saedii wouldn't admit it, but the knowledge that Krell and the Inquisitors were still out there did make her nervous. All too well, she remembered the feel of the lightsaber as it bit through her arm. Remembered the intense heat and pain as bone and muscle fell beneath plasma.

But she was stronger now than she'd been facing off against Krell months ago. Her training was going better than ever before. She had to believe that if she came across an Inquisitor again, she'd be strong enough to face them.

Resolute, Hunter pressed, "What will you do if you come across another Inquisitor?"

"I'll fight," Saedii said, with far more confidence than she felt.

Hunter's expression tightened. "That's exactly why I don't think you're ready."

"Can't you just give me a chance?" Saedii pleaded, hating that she had to do so. She felt like a child begging for a sweet instead of a warrior heading back to battle.

Hunter's answer was clear in his eyes. He didn't even have to say it.

He wouldn't let her.

"This is kriffing stupid," Saedii grumbled, getting to her feet. She shot him a look as she added sharply, "Back before Kamino, you treated me like an equal, but now, you only treat me like a kid."

"You are a warrior. A powerful one," he agreed. He let out a slow, weary breath. "But you're a kid, too. A kid that I don't want to see hurt again."

Frustrated, she marched past him, heading for the open ramp.

Hunter didn't call after her or make a move to follow. Giving her space, she knew.

On the landing platform, Echo and Cody looked up. They both stopped talking as they caught the expression on her face.

"Thanks for ratting me out," Saedii muttered to Echo as she walked by him.

He heaved a sigh. "For what it's worth, kid, I thought you did good. I told Hunter as much."

"It doesn't matter. He won't let me fight."

"He will. Just give him time."

"Right," Saedii snapped as she headed towards the steel bridge towards the main monastery.

From behind her, she could have sworn she heard someone mutter, "Teenagers."

Steel rung out under her boots as she crossed the bridge. Replacing the old rope bridges was just one of many improvements that the Clones had made in the past few months. In the dim glow from the lights ahead, the smooth stone of the main monastery had flashes of silver imbedded in its side. Patches, Saedii knew, to cover up the holes that had crumbled through the stone walls. To keep out the cold winter wind.

As she stepped off the end of the bridge, her eyes traced the towering figure of the monastery above her, picking out the thin canons peeking through the highest windows. Defensive measures – in case their stronghold was discovered. Those were new, too. Tech had played a big role in putting them together.

Two Clones stood in the flood of light by the main monastery doors. They spoke in low tones, chuckling under their breath, but quickly quieted at the sight of her.

"Hey Kep. Rocket," Saedii greeted them, recognizing the embellishments on their helmets.

They saluted. "Commander!"

Kep and Rocket were two of nearly a hundred new recruits, rescued by Rex in recent months. By Saedii's best guess, there were nearly a thousand Clones under Rex's command – some stationed here, others off on various missions. A very select few were still working for the Empire, siphoning off information for the Rebellion when they could.

Saedii had made it a point to try and learn all of their names. She felt it was the least she could do. Every single Clone here had been given a choice once they'd been freed from the Empire: true freedom or keep on fighting. And every single one had chosen to join Rex. To fight not just for their brothers, still under the Empire's control, but for the good of the galaxy.

Loyal soldiers, through and through.

Kep and Rocket held open the door for her. With a nod of thanks, Saedii slipped inside.

It was warmer behind the walls. That was another thing Rex had fixed – the interior insultation. Months ago, it had been cold and drafty in the monastery. Damp. But thanks to the repairs, it was dry and warm. Even in the coldest months of the Teth winter, the monastery had kept them all comfortable.

The halls sloped down, leading into the catacombs, where several barracks had been set up, including one for the Batch. Saedii and Omega, as two of the only girls among the Clones, had a room to themselves.

But Saedii didn't follow the halls down. She went up – straight up the roughhewn stone steps, towards the upper levels.

Rex had established a command center on the top floors of the main monastery. A strategy room, where the Rebellion leaders often met to discuss their next moves. An intelligence room, where coded messages were sent and received. Some lookout stations.

Saedii went to the strategy room, knocking on the door.

Low voices inside quickly died down. A moment later, the door creaked open.

The face that peered out at her was very familiar. Tanned, etched with thin, shallow lines around the mouth, short blonde hair.

Commander Rex.

"Hunter sent a comms a few hours ago," Rex said by way of greeting. Then, ever so faintly, his lips curled up at the corners. "Welcome back."

Saedii returned the smile. "Thanks, but I don't think we're staying long. Hunter wants to get the trunk back to Cid in a few days."

"I figured as much."

Behind him, there was a thrilled beep. A moment later, a blue and white astromech droid appeared at Rex's side.

"Hey, R2." Saedii patted his head.

The droid beeped in greeting.

Lowering her voice, Saedii asked Rex, "Do my teachers know I'm here?"

While it was no secret to the Clones that Saedii was fighting with them, Anakin, Ahsoka, and Obi-Wan's presence was still kept hidden. The three, plus Senator Padme Amidala, had taken up residence in one of the far towers, a few miles away. Along with Anakin and Padme's two infant children, Luke and Leia.

It was a necessary secret. If the Empire found out that Saedii was here, they would send Inquisitors to kill her. But if they found out about the other Jedi – legends all of them – they would send the entirety of the Imperial Army to take them down. Anakin, Obi-Wan, and Ahsoka were, as of now, the only remaining Jedi strong enough to have a chance to take down the Emperor.

Because of all the secrecy around them, only Rex and R2 were allowed to meet with them. Occasionally, Commander Cody would join, though he mostly kept his visits short. Whenever Saedii needed to coordinate a training session, she always had to go through one of the three to relay a message out to the far tower.

If Rex was annoyed by playing messenger, he didn't show it. "Ben and Fulcrum will be waiting for you in the usual spot," he reported, using the codenames that Ahsoka and Obi-Wan had selected for themselves. "Sandy will be on babysitting duty."

Sandy was the nickname chosen for Anakin by Ahsoka. An inside joke of sorts that had frustrated Anakin to no end. A joke that Saedii didn't get.

"The usual time?" Saedii asked.

"Yes."

"Thank you, Rex." She gave him a small smile.

He clapped her on the shoulder before shutting the door. Going back to whatever plans he and his advisers were cooking up.

It was rather confusing, Saedii had to admit, trying to keep up with all the roles she was playing. All the responsibilities that she had.

Jedi.

Batcher.

Rebel.

Fugitive.

But for the good of the galaxy, she'd gladly take on these roles, no matter how big or small. Gladly do what she could.

The galaxy wouldn't save itself.