15

it's my birthday today so to celebrate, i'm posting two early chapters 🎉

happy reading batchers 💫

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dread and longing slammed into her in equal measure.

Wolffe looked just like he had in her memories. Strong and sturdy. Ready to take on the galaxy if he had to. His righteous determination leaked into the Force around him. A soldier intent on his mission.

For the briefest moments, Saedii relaxed. Relieved by the sight of her friends and mentors standing before her. Blocking her path to the Third Brother. Her slackened  with the desire to run forward and launch herself into Wolffe's embrace.

Safe, a thrilled voice whispered in her mind. I'm safe. Finally.

But that voice very quickly vanished, replaced by a sudden bought of fear. Of realization. If Krell caught her here with them, then he would believe she'd planned this. That she was trying to escape.

Omega would die for this.

Her lightsaber trembled as she risked a glance between the Clones and the Jedi. Lingering on Wolffe, who stood closest to her, blasters level with her chest.

She couldn't stay here.

"Well, Inquisitor," Anakin purred, so arrogant as usual. "You wanted a fight, didn't you?"

The Third Brother's lips were pressed into a tight line. He spun, trying to keep all three Jedi in his line of sight. "Surrender, and your deaths will be merciful."

It was a pitiful attempt at assertion. The Third Brother's voice wasn't strong and steady, but thin and reedy. Still surprised. Anakin smiled at the sound.

"I don't believe you are in a position to make demands," Obi-Wan said lightly.

"Fools," the third Brother spat. Petulant. "You cannot hope to take on two Inquisitors!"

"Really?" Anakin was amused by this. He glanced between the Third Brother, who was pale and flighty, and Saedii, who didn't even reach his shoulder. "Well, I like our odds."

"Stand down and you won't be harmed," Ahsoka ordered.

The Third Brother scoffed. "You are out-classed, Jedi!"

Saedii was still. Waiting for whatever Anakin and the rest would do. She had a sneaking suspicion she knew what this ambush was for.

Sure enough, Anakin glanced back at her and started, "We're looking for someone. A young Jedi that was taken on Eriadu last year."

No. This couldn't be happening.

Saedii checked her signature in the Force. Checked the fold of shadow that she always kept around her like a bubble. It was iron strong. Even standing this close, they wouldn't recognize that it was her.

She needed to keep it that way. She couldn't let Krell find them together.

"Where is Aesaedii Synn?"

Shock flashed across the Third Brother's face. Unconsciously, he turned to look at her, mouth parted.

Mistaking the Third Brother's surprise for reluctance, Ahsoka continued, "She is Daethii. A teenager, around seventeen years old. And she would have been taken by the Inquisitor Kalth Apperion –"

"I know who she is," the Third Brother interrupted.

Obi-Wan inclined his head. "Then you can tell us where she is."

The Third Brother faltered. Unsure how to continue.

The lightsaber in Saedii's grasp felt uncharacteristically heavy. In the safety of her helmet, she took a slow, steadying breath. Bracing herself for what she had to do.

"She's dead," Saedii said harshly.

In front of her, Wolffe flinched. His grief slipped over her like a tsunami – powerful and crippling. It nearly brought her to her knees.

"Yes," the Third Brother continued in delight. "Kalth Apperion killed her. She never made it off Eriadu."

"Really?" Anakin didn't seem convinced.

"Her body was tossed off the cliffs there. If you want it back, I'm sure you can find it. Part of it, anyways."

A low breath scraped from Wolffe's chest. A pained sound.

Obi-Wan cocked a brow. "If you're going to lie, you'll have to be more convincing than that."

"There is no corpse on Eriadu," Ahsoka insisted. "We checked."

That one simple statement sent such a thrill through Saedii. They'd looked for her. Had gone back to check. And if this standoff was any indication, they were still looking. Had not yet given up on finding her.

"Check again," the Third Brother said. "We had no need of a Jedi so small and puny – and crippled."

Saedii winced before she could help it.

Overhead, something called in the dark – a hunting creature, shouting its victory into the still night air. The sound raked across Saedii's eardrums like a scream, and she was suddenly seeing Omega in her mind. Being tortured by Krell's hand.

"Lord Vader ordered her killed, and the Sixth Brother complied," Saedii added.

Wolffe's finger tightened on his trigger. "Then this is about to turn into a revenge mission."

"Hold, Commander," Anakin cautioned. "I'm not convinced they're telling the truth."

"Enough talking, Jedi! Fight and meet your fate!" the Third Brother challenged. He turned towards Ahsoka, as if searching for the easier target.

A mistake. As soon as he lunged forward, Anakin and Obi-Wan moved as well. Saedii turned just in time to watch them disarm the Third Brother and run their lightsabers through his chest. He never even stood a chance.

Saedii made no move to help him.

The three Jedi turned towards her next. Their faces were surprisingly grim as Obi-Wan intoned, "You would do well to give us what we want. We are very determined to find this Jedi."

"And our patience is running very thin," Anakin added savagely.

Rex and his Clones all had their blasters focused on her.

Her heart was thundering in her chest. Beating so hard that it vibrated against the bone. Throat tight, Saedii demanded, "Why do you want to know? She's just one Jedi. Insignificant."

"Not to us," Wolffe growled.

"We've been searching for her for a very long time," Ahsoka added, only slightly more level headed than Wolffe. "We will do anything to get her back."

It wasn't hard to guess what she meant by anything. Anakin, Obi-Wan, and Ahsoka would put their morals aside and force the truth from her if they had to. Saedii could sense their intention – their resolve – in the Force around them.

That shouldn't have cheered her as much as it did.

"Where is she?" Anakin's voice was shadow and darkness. A threat.

Saedii took a quick glance around her. A plan was starting to form in her mind. A way to escape before Kalth or Krell or any of the other Inquisitors discovered her here. It was flimsy at best and Saedii likely didn't have a prayer of escaping her three former Masters.

But she had to try. For Omega's sake, she couldn't let them take her.

"She's alive," Saedii said slowly. Stalling for time.

Rex and Cody exchanged the briefest of glances. Cody suddenly disappeared into the trees, a comms device flashing in his hand.

"Where is she?" Wolffe demanded.

"Here. On Nal Kapok."

Wolffe's head tilted in confusion, but behind her, Ahsoka had gone very still. Understanding.

Very slowly, Saedii reached up and removed her helmet.

At the sight of her face, the tension in the humid air suddenly vanished. Anakin and Obi-Wan's eyebrows rose and Rex lowered his blaster in surprise. Wolffe's dropped from his hands, landing in the bracken at their feet.

"Saedii?" he breathed. He ripped his helmet off, lips parted in relief. Dark shadows hung beneath each eye. "You're alive?"

She didn't answer. The rush of emotions in the Force was dizzying. Shock and exuberance and relief and excitement – it hammered against her chest like blaster fire. Heavy and overwhelming after a year of feeling only fear and anger.

Wolffe staggered forward a step. Arms out for her.

And froze as Saedii held up a hand. Stopping him.

Her eyes flicked between all of them, unsure where to stop. The Jedi had become living statues, each so still that only their chests moved with each breath. Rex, too, was still, but she caught the anxious twitch of his finger on the trigger of his blaster. The other Clones had yet to lower their blasters, including Gregor, who watched her through his scope.

"Maker, we thought you were dead," Wolffe said in despair.

"I am."

The earth felt like it was tilting under her feet. Her breath caught in her throat, and a single thought ran on a loop through her mind.

I have to leave.

"You're not dead, little one," Obi-Wan said softly. He took a step towards her, hands raising as Saedii turned her lightsaber towards him.

"I am," Saedii insisted, taking a step back. Keeping distance between her and the three Jedi that were slowly trying to creep closer. "Krell took away everything. There's nothing left of me anymore."

Anguish rippled across Wolffe's face. "No, kid. That's not true. You're here now, and safe. You're going to be alright –"

"You need to let me leave and stop looking for me."

Wolffe's jaw dropped. "Saedii –"

"I'm an Inquisitor now." She swallowed. "I can't come home."

"You're just confused." Anakin's eyes were running over the bruises along her face. Along the burn on her cheek. "Come with us and everything will make sense again."

Anger flared. Every moment she spent here put Omega in danger. "You don't get it," Saedii spat.

"Get what?" Wolffe looked pained. Tortured. "You're safe now. We'll protect you. Krell will never –"

"You can't save me from this. From what I've done."

Anakin frowned. "What have you done?"

Her hand flexed on her lightsaber. Even as she knew they needed to leave, that she needed to scare them away, there was a part of her that didn't want to admit what she'd done. 

"Whatever it is that you've done, little one," Obi-Wan began slowly. "It is not your fault. You don't have to -- "

"I killed two Jedi."

Wolffe jerked back a step, but Anakin and the rest didn't so much as raise a brow. 

"It's not your fault, Saedii," Obi-Wan said again.

Phantom pain flared in her cheek, where Krell's blade had left a permanent reminder of his wrath. Saedii's fingers drifted across it, shuddering as she remembered just how hot that blade had been. How terrified she'd been in that moment. She would have done anything to make it stop.

Obi-Wan tried again, very tenderly. "Whatever Krell has done to you is over. He won't hurt you again. I can assure you that."

"Let us take you home," Ahsoka urged.

Home? She couldn't go home. There was no life for her outside of the Inquisitors. Not after everything.

She was wretched. Evil. Couldn't they see the blood that stained her hands? Couldn't they see the ghosts that hung over her shoulder, screaming for her head? Zatt's tear-stained face flashed in her mind, terrified and pleading.

You will never be a Jedi again.

Krell's words – Krell's voice echoed in her head. A brutal reminder.

Saedii didn't deserve to be saved.

"You can't save me from this."

Anakin and Obi-Wan exchanged a trouble look. 

"Please, kid," Wolffe begged. It was the first time she'd ever heard him beg. "We don't care what you did. Just come with us. We can help you."

The lightsaber in her hand didn't lower an inch. Firmly between her and the Jedi and Clones around her.

Reading the stubborn set of her eyes, Rex suddenly said, "The Batch will be waiting for you. Hunter and the rest."

Hunter.

His name was like poison. Creeping through her veins. Infecting her with a deep-seated longing. She wanted nothing more than to see Hunter. To see Tech and Wrecker and Crosshair and Echo. Her family.

"They've been looking for you," Rex said softly, lowering his blaster. "Scouring the galaxy for you. They've missed you."

"We all have," Wolffe added roughly.

"Cody's calling them now. You can see them, if you come with us."

Tears burned at her eyes. Saedii closed them before they could see.

Unbidden, an image came to her then. An image of Saedii, in Inquisitor blacks, following Wolffe on board his ship. Flying off world, back to Teth. Landing among the landing platforms.

And there, waiting for her, would be the Batch. Hunter's arms around her shoulders. Echo's hand on her cheek. Wrecker laughing, telling her he'd missed her. Tech pestering her over the bruises on her cheeks, offering to heal them.

And Crosshair...he'd be the first one waiting. The first one to pull her in for a hug. To welcome her home.

The vision was so powerful that she nearly went to her knees. She'd never wanted anything so bad. Family, home, the end to this nightmare – it was so close that she could feel it.

But the vision was abruptly replaced with another: the Batch, grief-stricken, tear-stained cheeks, sad eyes on the hologram before them. A grainy image of Omega, eyes open and pale, chest still.

No.

Voice choked, Saedii admitted, "I can't."

No one said anything to that. In the trees above her, she sensed the uneasy movements of the troopers watching. Gregor's finger strained on his trigger.

"Whatever Krell has done to you, whatever he has made you do, it isn't too late for you," Obi-Wan insisted.

"Isn't it?"

Anakin picked up, tone biting. "You are not to blame. I know how tempting the Dark Side can be. How powerful their mind tricks –"

He cut off at the bark of cold laughter that came from Saedii's throat.

Mind tricks? He thought that mind tricks had made Saedii kill innocent people? Krell hadn't once tricked her into anything. He'd merely given her a choice. And Saedii had chosen Omega every time.

No matter what Anakin had gone through, he wouldn't be able to understand. Darth Sidious had controlled him. Used the Dark Side to turn him into a monster.

Krell had merely unleashed the monster inside of her.

"There were no mind tricks involved, Anakin," Saedii said slowly. A tear escaped before she could help it. "I made a choice. I did terrible things. All on my own."

"We don't believe that," Ahsoka said.

But Obi-Wan held up a hand. "Actions committed under duress are not your fault. Do not blame yourself for Krell's cruelty."

They weren't listening. She'd become a monster. How could they not see that?

"Come on, kid." Wolffe very slowly walked forward now, hand held out to her in peace. In longing. "Come with us. Let us help you. We'll get you fixed up."

Saedii watched him approach, muscles tensing. Nervously, she held a hand out to him as well while she lowered her lightsaber. Pretending to reach for his hand.

"Wolffe, don't!" Anakin called at the same time Saedii moved.

Her body slipped beneath Wolffe's outstretched hand, sliding her blade across the back of his knee. Severing the tendon just as Kalth had done for her. In the same move, she reached for one of his blasters, flipping it from stun to kill.

Blaster fire bounced off the trees as she turned the blaster on the Jedi. As she swept it in the direction of the Clones in the trees. Her aim was poor – too far to the left. Intentionally wide so that she didn't hurt anyone.

Movement behind her spoke of Anakin on her back. Reaching for her.

She spun, activating her spinning blade. Forcing him to draw his own lightsaber to block as she slashed at him.

The Force blossomed from her fingers, knocking into his chest just enough to push him back. A cloud of dust mushroomed up from his feet, which dug into the ground to slow his progress.

Momentarily free, Saedii spun, slicing through the trunk of the nearest tree – a massive, towering giant that shuddered. Birds and dark slinking shadows escaped from the upper branches as she shoved with the Force, knocking it off its base. Sending it crashing down towards the Jedi and Clones before her.

"Move!" Rex shouted.

Saedii left just as the tree crashed behind her. Running for the darkness ahead. For the only salvation that she could hope for.

Behind her, the Force shifted as her former masters gave chase.