12

happy indigenous peoples day! 

enjoy an early chapter for the holiday! 💫 

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It took a few days for Krell's reminder on her cheek to scab.

The burning had been soothed by the cool, moist air of the compound, but it still hurt just enough to be annoying. It was made worse by the knowledge that Kalth had not come to visit her at night – had not come to heal her. Without his medical equipment, the healing process seemed longer than usual.

Saedii tried not to be bothered by that. It was a good sign that he didn't visit her. It meant that he had given up on trying to bait her. That he couldn't hurt her anymore. But even so, the nights seemed to stretch on longer without his visits.

In the lounge, Saedii snuck a glance at Kalth, who sat in silence on her right. He was stone-faced, helmet waiting on the table beside him. Not acknowledging her presence. It had been that way for nearly a week now, since their last conversation.

Krell waited beside her. The bruises on his face had faded and he seemed in a better mood today. Jovial enough that he was chatting with the Third Brother.

From the snippets she caught of their conversation, there were several Inquisitors out in the field. Reports of rouge Jedi were very few, but the Inquisitors' unique skills were being utilized in other ways. Each more violent than the last.

"The uprising on Lothal has been shut down," Krell said mildly. He sipped from a mug of caff. Like he was commenting on the weather.

A little smirk pulled at the Third Brother's lips. "I wouldn't call that an uprising. It was nothing more than peasants armed with shovels. I hardly thought it was worth it to send the Fourth Sister for support."

Secretly, Saedii agreed. If it was just civilians on Lothal, then an Inquisitor would have been overkill. She shuddered to think what kind of damage the Fourth Sister had left in her wake.

"I don't disagree, but the insurgents have all been brought to heel nevertheless. Imperial forces are moving in to reestablish control."

"And the insurgents?" the Third Brother asked expectantly.

"Executed."

A chill ran down Saedii spine.

The Third Brother gave a nod, as if that were the only acceptable outcome. "Did you see the Ninth Sister's report this morning? From Geonosis?"

"Yes," Krell mused, though he sounded annoyed. "Project Stardust is nearing completion."

At the mention of Project Stardust, Saedii suddenly listened more intently. Helmet tilting ever so slightly in Krell's direction. On her other side, Kalth seemed to go still as well.

Krell continued, "Once the hyperdrive has been completed, I would imagine Lord Vader will finally withdraw the Ninth Sister from her post. It will be for the best. Her expertise is wasted on that hunk of metal."

"It's about time," the Third Brother agreed. "The project has taken longer than they promised. The Ninth Sister has been gone since the war ended."

"Project Stardust was started before even that," Krell said. "The Emperor began building it in secret during the Clone Wars."

"And the Jedi allowed that?"

"They didn't know. Even back then, the Emperor did not trust them."

Saedii was very still. Trying not to draw attention to herself.

"With the Death Star in hand, we won't have to worry about insurgents much longer," the Third Brother said smugly.

Death Star? She'd never heard the term before. What did that have to do with Project Stardust?

Krell scoffed. "That's unlikely. Even in the face of imminent death, there will still be those stupid enough to challenge our power. It may take several demonstrations before the power of our new weapon will sink in."

Imminent death. Saedii didn't like the sound of that.

"We can start with Lothal," the Third Brother joked.

The door opened just then and a personnel worker stamped to attention. His anxious gaze dropped straight to the floor. "Grand Inquisitor."

"What?" Krell didn't even look at him.

"There is an incoming call on your personal comm link."

Krell heaved a sigh. "Who is it?"

"Admiral Tarkin, sir."

Both Saedii and Krell raised their heads in interest. Saedii hadn't heard Tarkin's name mentioned since Eriadu.

"You three, come with me," Krell ordered the room. Then, he pinned a sharp look on the personnel worker. "Patch him through. I'll be there momentarily."

Kalth slipped his helmet on as he followed in behind Krell. The Third Brother yanked Saedii's shoulder back as she went to follow, shoving her behind him. Putting her at the back of the line as they filed out of the lounge.

The Grand Inquisitor's office was on the ground floor of the compound. Saedii had never been there before, but upon seeing the bleak, dark room that waited them, she found it looked exactly as she'd imagined it. A few low lights ran along the floors and ceilings – each a dim red. Most of the light came from the windows, though it was grey and austere with the raging storm.

A single long table waited in the center of the room. Its black glossy surface was broken only by the blue glowing holoscreen built in, from which Admiral Tarkin's severe form was silently waiting.

"Admiral," Krell greeted, taking the tall-backed chair at the head.

Kalth and the Third Brother both pulled out chairs. Saedii took her expected place behind Krell.

"Grand Inquisitor." Tarkin's voice was cold. Just as Saedii remembered.

She observed him on the screen. He'd aged quite a lot since she'd seen him in the war – something she hadn't noticed last year on Eriadu. His hair, which she'd remembered as salt-and-pepper, was now a silvery grey, receding back along his scalp. Thin lines etched around his pursed mouth and folds of skin sagged beneath his eyes.

Despite his aged face, his posture was stiff with military precision. Ready to give or receive orders.

"I have news that may interest you," Tarkin began.

Krell inclined his head. "My Inquisitors are ready to serve you."

Tarkin gestured beside him. A moment later, another image appeared beside him on the hologram: a jungle planet at night, a low building tucked into a valley, a glowing fence surrounding the perimeter. Something about it seemed strangely familiar, though Saedii was certain she'd never laid eyes on it before.

"This is our final Clone prison facility on Nal Kapok," Tarkin explained.

Behind her helmet, Saedii's eyes widened. No wonder it seemed familiar – it looked nearly identical to the facility on Hareth.

"Final?" Krell demanded.

"Yes. The facility on Ilum was compromised six months ago."

Rex, Saedii thought at once. It took everything in her to keep her surprise and her satisfaction buried deep. Rex and his Rebellion were still fighting.

Krell seemed outraged. "And you didn't think I needed to know this? I would have sent my Inquisitors –"

"After speaking with Lord Vader, we determined your services were not required," Tarkin interrupted. "While the loss of the prison facility was regrettable, it has not disrupted our larger mining operations. Our excavation of the planet's kyber crystals has remained largely uninterrupted."

A low growl escaped from Krell's clenched teeth. Clearly, he didn't agree with the Admiral's evaluation.

At the mention of kyber crystals, Saedii's jaw clenched. Ilum was one of the Jedi's most sacred sites. Thousands of generations of Jedi had mined their crystals from its caves – including Saedii. In addition to sentimental significance, kyber crystals were extremely powerful. Whatever the Empire had planned for a mass production couldn't be good.

Across the table, Kalth was suddenly looking in Saedii's direction – for the first time all week. With his helmet on, it was impossible to know what he was thinking, but Saedii had the feeling the mention of the kyber crystals had unnerved him as well.

"The Clone prison on Nal Kapok fell last night," Tarkin continued into the weighted silence. He didn't seem overly emotional about the news. "This time, your presence is requested."

"Why?" Krell demanded, frustrated now. "If the prison is gone, there is nothing more we can do."

Tarkin's expression tightened. "I believe you may change your mind once you've seen the footage of the fall."

The image of the prison quickly changed, zooming in on the fenced courtyard before the main entrance. More than a hundred Clone troopers attacked the front gates, behind Rex's familiar figure.

And beside him, taking the role that Saedii had filled on Hareth, was Ahsoka.

Krell leaned forward at the sight of her. An eager light in his eyes. "Is that –"

"Yes," Tarkin answered simply. "We have visual confirmation of Padawan Ahsoka Tano leading the charge beside a contingent of rogue Clones."

Jedi Knight, Saedii corrected mentally. But the sight of Ahsoka – one of her Masters – brought forth a sudden homesickness within her. Saedii hadn't thought much of her Jedi Masters in the past year. She'd been too afraid that she would somehow tip Krell off to their presence.

Last she's seen Ahsoka, she had been in hiding with Anakin and Obi-Wan. What had changed that she'd now been allowed out on missions? Was she filling Saedii's role that she'd left vacant?

Ahsoka moved with that familiar predatory grace as she cut through the prison guards. As she stormed inside, leading Rex and several others. Against the Empire's new stormtroopers, she looked like she was fighting training droids.

A very eager light was blazing in Krell's gaze. "How long ago was this?"

"Less than twelve hours."

A fresh trail. Immediately, Saedii knew why Tarkin was calling.

"Ahsoka Tano is considered a high-value target of the Empire. Lord Vader has determined that it is of the utmost importance that she is captured and killed," Tarkin said.

The Third Brother frowned. "Why is she so special? She's a Padawan."

"She was Anakin Skywalker's Padawan," Krell answered. His voice dripped with hunger and excitement.

Blood drained from the Third Brother's face, but he tried to play off his sudden anxiety. "Wasn't she expelled from the Order years ago? She's no longer a Jedi."

"Does it look like she's given up the ways?" Krell snapped, silencing the Third Brother.

Tarkin inclined his head. "If Ahsoka Tano has joined these rogue Clones, she poses a grave threat to the Empire. The Emperor wants her dealt with as soon as possible."

"I understand." Krell was looking positively excited. Like he scented a challenge. "I'll send a team to scout out Nal Kopak now and follow behind with a full contingent of stormtroopers. If Tano is anywhere in that star system, we will find her."

A smug smile hid behind Saedii's mask. That was unlikely. Rex and Ahsoka would have taken the rescued Clones back to Teth by now, which was far away from Nal Kapok. And Ahsoka was smart enough to cover her trail.

"Keep me appraised of your progress," Tarkin said in parting before he disappeared. The image of Ahsoka lingered.

Krell turned to the table. "Third Brother, you will take the Twelfth Sister with you to scout out Nal Kapok."

Surprise flared through Saedii before she could help it. Why did he want her to go?

"Her?" the Third Brother demanded. His withering gaze landed on Saedii. "The girl's history –"

He broke off with a wet gurgle, hands going to his throat. The Force flooded with a cold fury as Krell held out his hand, choking the Third Brother in his seat.

Deceptively soft, Krell demanded, "Do you think I have forgotten, Brother?"

"No," the Third Brother squeaked. "Forgive me. I misspoke –"

But his voice was silenced as Krell squeezed harder.

Saedii glanced away from the Third Brother's struggles, glad the helmet hid her eyes. Even after a year bearing witness to this brutality, she avoided it when she could. It gave her no thrill to watch Krell torture someone else – even someone as vile as the Third Brother.

Blue began to stain the Third Brother's lips. His mouth gaped open and closed, like a fish gasping for water. Kalth looked away, too.

"Your role is not to question, but to obey," Krell snarled, finally lowering his hand. The Third Brother sagged in his seat, hands going to his throat. "I give the orders."

"Of-of course, Grand Inquisitor," the Third Brother gasped.

"The Twelfth Sister will be accompanying you because she was once the one to lead these rebel Clones. She will provide valuable insight, won't you, Sister?" Krell turned to look at her.

It was a thinly veiled threat. Fail and die.

"I am eager to serve, Master," Saedii said.

He smiled in triumph.

"Forgive me, Grand Inquisitor," the Third Brother began, more slowly this time, "but are you sure we can trust her?"

Saedii had to commend him for his bravery. Or perhaps it was stupidity. Either way, Krell was now looking murderous as he turned his attention back in the direction of the Third Brother.

"She will not disobey," Krell said slowly. Angrily.

The Third Brother plowed on. "But it could be an opportunity for escape –"

"I will accompany them, Grand Inquisitor," Kalth said as Krell's expression grew violent.

Krell jerked a look in his direction. "Why?"

"To help our Third Brother keep her in check," Kalth said at once.

Behind her mask, Saedii scowled.

But Krell was nodding. Convinced. "That may be for the best. If Tano is still in the area, it will take all three of you to bring her in. From all accounts, she is a dangerous duelist. Not to be taken lightly."

They had no idea. Ahsoka had dueled Darth Maul and won. The Third Brother wouldn't stand a chance. Saedii would bet credits on it.

"Sister," Krell suddenly demanded. He was looking at her keenly again. "Are you ready for this?"

"Yes, Master," Saedii said at once. Afraid that any hesitation would be mistaken for reluctance. For failure.

"And will you fail me again this time?"

Saedii turned her helmet towards him. Met his gaze through the red visor of her black helmet and stated, "No, Master. I will not."