16

Away. I have to get away.

It was her only thought. The only thing keeping her going as Saedii ran through the darkened jungle.

Soft earth dipped beneath her feet, silencing the sounds of her footsteps to no more than a whisper. Ferns bent and shuddered beneath her body, shivering behind in her wake. Shadows from the towering trees created puddles of darkness that melted over her, offering her shelter. A hiding place.

Behind her, the Force glowed with power.

Anakin, Obi-Wan, and Ahsoka were following. She could sense them – their determination, their desire to save her. They hadn't believed her. Were still intent on taking her home.

She had to make sure that didn't happen.

Ahsoka would be the biggest threat. Saedii was fast – fast enough to outstrip Anakin and Obi-Wan – but Ahsoka was fast, too. Like Saedii, she'd been born for navigating the thick forests and trees. Even in the darkness, she would have no problem keeping pace.

Saedii wouldn't be able to outrun her. So she'd have to try and outsmart her.

It wouldn't be an easy task. Ahsoka had more field training than Saedii did. Was more experienced.

But Saedii had more determination.

An explosive device was in Saedii's hand. Discretely, she dropped it on the path behind her, spinning around to launch another at the trunk of a nearby tree. As she ran, she deposited more, cloaking her trail in little black explosives.

"Saedii!" Anakin's voice called through the trees. "Stop! We can help you!"

She didn't even slow. With her dark clothes, she had to be nearly invisible to him in the dark. His call had been a way to pull her back into view.

"It's not too late!" Obi-Wan called.

The Force was flickering at her back. Sending visions of Ahsoka's sleek form, gaining on her. Using her night vision to track Saedii's progress.

Heat flickered – the explosives, reaching their nexus. Timers trickling down to zero.

White light lit through the trees as the devices exploded. Waves of heat blossomed up like flowers, petals made of fire and light and metal. The power that the devices gave off was enough to shake the earth at her feet. To make Saedii's steps falter and stumble.

In the Force, Saedii glimpsed Ahsoka as she avoided the first few devices, leaping up into the trees as their heat nipped at her boots. But she hadn't seen the ones waiting in the branches.

Pain and surprise flared as Ahsoka was tossed out of the air. Out of the branches and down into the dirt below. Saedii winced at the sight of her friend, grimacing and slow to push herself back onto her hands and knees. And she hoped she hadn't hurt Ahsoka too badly.

Saedii's pace didn't slow. She ran as hard as she could, as fast as she dared in the dark. Branches snapped at her exposed face, pulled at her leathers, but they didn't slow her.

The Force was quieting. Behind her, she sensed that the others were falling behind. Ahsoka seemed to be limping as she tried to keep up, while Anakin and Obi-Wan were having trouble navigating the darkened jungle. Not quite as sure-footed as Saedii.

With all her attention on the Force, watching her friends behind her, Saedii wasn't prepared for the sudden drop in the ground at her feet.

A gasp whistled from her chest as the ground sloped sharply. Her body was thrown into open air, dropping straight down the steep embankment. Saedii reached out for roots or rocks – anything to stop her body as she bounced down the slope.

Pain bloomed along her back. Her shoulders. Blood spilled above her eye as something sharp barked against her forehead, splitting the thin skin. She gritted her teeth, flinging the Force out to slow her progress.

All the breath evaporated from her lungs as she landed hard on her back. She wheezed, wincing at the tightness in her chest. Above her, the darkened leaves spun in uncomfortable circles.

Away. I have to get away.

Slowly, she pushed to her feet. Her right leg threatened to give on her as she took a step and she felt white hot pain flare up through her thigh. Gritting her teeth, Saedii forced herself forward.

She couldn't stop. She had to get back to the prison. Had to let Krell know that she had obeyed. That she hadn't disappointed him.

Omega's fate depended on it.

The Force flared around her. Her misstep had allowed Obi-Wan and Anakin to close the gap. She could hear them – their footsteps, their breathing, the leaves crunching beneath their boots.

Limping, Saedii dragged herself off her original path. Plunging deeper into the thick, wild jungle. A massive tree with thick, snarled roots appeared out of the dark and she flung herself beneath it, tucking herself into the small gap beneath its roots. The warm smell of moist earth filled her nose.

Darkness fell over her. Saedii pulled her knees close, making herself as small as possible. Her breathing slowed and quieted as she pulled the Force around her, weaving it just as Krell had taught her. Begging it to make her disappear.

Nearby, soft footfalls landed in the earth. Obi-Wan, Saedii knew. She recognized the sound of him moving – the slow confidence.

Obi-Wan paused at the place where Saedii had landed. Through the thick dark branches, Saedii caught a glimpse of him bending down to run his fingers along the disturbed earth.

The Force was iron-strong around her. A wall of obsidian, tucked into the very fabric of the Force. It was taking all of Saedii's concentration to blanket herself in the stillness and silence. To urge the Force to forget that she was there.

A faint finger brushed out in the Force. Obi-Wan again – searching. Saedii shied from his probing. Hiding behind the shadows she'd weaved.

His presence brushed against it, examining the shadows. But Krell had taught her how to make it feel like a natural pocket of darkness – an extension of the shadows hiding beneath the thick roots. Sweat trickled down her spine as she forced every muscle to go still. As she silently urged Obi-Wan to slide past her hiding place.

He lingered for only a moment, examining the pocket of darkness. Searching. But in the jungle, hers was one of dozens. Just another natural fold in the very fabric of the Force. No signs of life within it.

Finally, his footsteps crunched, continuing in the direction of her harried flight.

Saedii stayed where she was. Anakin and Ahsoka were still nearby, taking a wider route than Obi-Wan. Trying to cut her off. She would have to wait them out.

A frosty chill filled the air as the minutes passed. That thick humidity was replaced by cool fresh air that filtered in between the roots, brushing against Saedii's bare face. Making her shiver. Her helmet, which could have offered protection against the cold, had been left behind in her haste.

She remembered what Krell had said, about the recordings. Had he seen her refuse Anakin and the others? Surely, he wouldn't punish Omega in her absence if he'd seen that. There could be no mistaking Saedii's loyalty from that encounter. Her obedience.

But she still worried. As the minutes trickled by, melting into hours while Saedii waited for her moment to run, she worried over Krell's impatience. The longer she stayed away, the higher the chance that he would think he'd been betrayed. And now that she was without her helmet, he couldn't be sure of her intentions.

Omega was the only thing on Saedii's mind. Saedii had failed her on Celiph. Had allowed a moment of mercy to blind her to her true purpose of keeping Omega safe. She was determined not to fail her again.

Soon, the noise of the jungle began to pick back up. Predators prowled along the branches, their paws near-silent along the moss-covered bark as they searched out an easy meal in the dark. Their prey scampered among the roots, searching for safety in the gaps under the dense foliage. Birds and bugs called out, marking the minutes with a serenade of hums and squalls.

If the jungle was coming back alive, then that meant the Jedi were long gone. The Clones, too. The animals of Nal Kopak wouldn't have dared to venture out otherwise.

Slowly, Saedii crawled back out. She wasn't sure how long she'd been hiding – minutes or hours, it all felt the same by now – but her right leg flared with stiffness and a bone-deep ache. She reeled a step, hissing.

It wasn't broken. That much Saedii was sure of. After a year of near-constant pain and injury, she knew all too well what a broken bone felt like. It would hurt like hell, but at least she could walk on it without fear of further injury.

Not that that would have stopped her. Even if it had been broken, Saedii would have crawled back. So powerful was her need to return, to keep Omega safe, that she would have done anything.

Saedii began the trek back towards the prison. At quick glance, the moon was low in the sky, nearing the horizon. Dawn wouldn't be far off, then. Krell would be arriving soon with reinforcements.

A brief flash of worry burned in her gut, and she hoped that Wolffe and Anakin and the others were far gone. That they hadn't lingered. If Krell found them here, he would hurt them – like he had her. Saedii didn't want that.

She pressed on, gritting her teeth even as the pain in her leg bade her to sit. Dried blood began to itch along her forehead, beneath the wound on her brow. Saedii wiped at it, leaving a smear of dark purple blood along her glove.

Dizziness pressed on her shoulders. The head wound wasn't deep, but it had wept enough blood to make her nauseous. The cold of the shadowy forest didn't help, either. Making her teeth chatter, her lips tremble.

Light began to filter in through the leaves. Navy blue at first before fading to a brilliant amber. When it bounced off the thick canopy of leaves, it refracted down in a glowing, dewy jade. As the light grew, the cold dwindled, replaced with that thick humidity that had gripped the jungle-planet yesterday. Sweat soon began to prick along Saedii's neck and her dry throat ached.

Finally, after what felt like a small eternity, the sounds of civilization filtered in through the trees. The calls of stormtroopers. The stomp of boots. The humming of hover carts.

Relief fell over her. She'd made it. Omega would be safe.

When she limped out between the trees, the nearest stormtroopers all turned their weapons on her. Shouting to see her hands.

Saedii obliged, hands in the air as she croaked, "I'm an Inquisitor. I want to see Krell."

At the sight of her black armor and lightsaber, they backed down. Allowing her to walk unimpeded towards the massive attack shuttle that had crushed hundreds of trees at the edge of the clearing. In the upper atmosphere at their heads, looming like a shadow, was an Imperial Star Destroyer.

Krell's intimidating figure was standing beneath the attack shuttle. Around him, several other Inquisitors waited for orders, including the Second Sister, who seemed eager, and the First Brother, who was watching the stormtroopers through narrowed eyes. Kalth was there as well, hovering in the shade of the shuttle.

The Second Sister spotted her first. She straightened, a little smile pulling at her lips. "Grand Inquisitor."

Krell looked up. At the sight of Saedii limping towards him, he strode forward to meet her.

Saedii opened her mouth to speak, but choked as the Force suddenly wound around her throat.

"Traitor!" Krell snarled, stalking forward. One of his lightsabers was already in his hand, humming to life. The other hand was held out towards her.

She shook her head. "No –"

"We found the body of the Third Brother," Krell continued, voice echoing with anger. "You killed him in your attempt to escape."

No. No, he was getting it all wrong. Saedii had come back. Just as he'd ordered.

"Master," she gasped, eyes watering.

He bared his teeth at her. "I warned you what would happen if you betrayed me again. I'll kill you for this – you and your Clone."

Behind him, Kalth was very tense. At his feet, the body of the Third Brother was resting on a tarp. The two holes in his chest were dark and empty. Long since gone cold.

"No, please," Saedii whispered. Her voice was so low, she wasn't sure he could hear. "I didn't –"

Saedii's body jerked forward so that Krell could wrap one of his massive fists around her neck. Somehow, this was even worse than the cold ribbons of the Force choking her. More intimate. Her hands pulled desperately at his fingers, searching reprieve.

"Your death will not be kind," Krell promised.

"Ambush. We were ambushed," Saedii tried.

Krell's eyes narrowed. Unbelieving. "Do you really expect me to believe that Ahsoka Tano was able to take you both down on her own?"

Something uneasy burned in her gut. There was one thing she could tell him that would make him believe her, she knew. But to do so would betray her friends. Betray the Rebellion.

Could she really do it?

His hands tightened on her throat. Suddenly, it wasn't her throat in his grasp, but Omega's. The vision made up her mind for her.

"It...was Skywalker and Kenobi," Saedii said.

The hand around her throat suddenly disappeared. Unceremoniously, Saedii crumpled to the ground, gasping in air. Her hand reached up for her tender throat, brushing across the bruises that were already starting to bloom.

"Skywalker and Kenobi?" Krell asked, shocked. Behind him, the other Inquisitors were suddenly interested as well.

Saedii nodded. "They ambushed us – me and the Third Brother. They were trying to take me away."

Krell tilted his head. "Why?"

He needed more. Another morsel of information to believe her.

Feeling like the lowliest of traitors, Saedii said, "They were with the Clones. Leading them."

"Leading them? Skywalker and Kenobi?" Dark interest was quickly filling Krell's eyes. This was the confirmation he needed – the evidence of a rebellion growing under the leadership of rogue Jedi. Two very powerful rogue Jedi.

"And we're just supposed to believe her?" the Second Sister demanded dubiously.

Her stomach dropped as she looked desperately at Krell. She'd told him the truth – a very painful truth. He had to believe her.

But Krell's gaze was troubled. Indecisive. Still debating whether or not to kill her.

Suddenly, Kalth's voice spoke up, "I saw them, as well."

Saedii carefully composed her features before she gave away Kalth's lie. He was lying? For her? But why?

Krell jerked in his direction, glowering at him. "And you waited until now to mention it?"

"Forgive me, Master. In my effort to return the Third Brother's body, it slipped my mind," Kalth said smoothly. "But they were there in the jungle, as the Twelfth Sister said. When I heard the blaster fire, I looped towards the Twelfth Sister's location and saw the Jedi. Kenobi, Skywalker, and Tano were with the Clones."

There was a very uneasy silence as Krell stared him down. Testing his resolve. But Kalth didn't back down. Saedii glanced uneasily between them, waiting for Krell's decision.

"You will be punished for your oversight, Brother," Krell snapped.

Kalth lowered his head in submission. "Yes, Grand Inquisitor."

"And as for you." Krell's attention returned to Saedii.

She also bowed her head. Awaiting his judgement.

"You could have gone with them. Why didn't you?" he questioned.

"I am your loyal servant, Master," Saedii said at once. Dutifully. "My place is here. I obey only you, as you asked."

Believe me. Please.

His hand raised towards her face. Saedii flinched before she could help it.

But the blow didn't come. Instead, his hand laid gently along the crown of her head. Almost tenderly, like a proud father with his child.

"Well done," he crooned. His wide hand gave her a gentle pat. "You performed adequately. The intelligence on Skywalker and Kenobi will be put to great use."

The praise didn't make her feel better. Not like when Hunter had given her praise, or Plo. This felt empty. Another flex of power. But it meant that, for now, Saedii had been successful.

Omega would be safe. That was all that mattered.

Krell's hand disappeared. "You have proven your loyalty to the Empire. For this, you will be rewarded. Second Sister, escort her back to the Venator. Get her patched up and fed, then return down here."

The Second Sister didn't look thrilled to be babysitting. She shot Saedii a look before yanking her to her feet and shoving her towards the attack shuttle. Kalth's helmet tracked her progress.

"The rest of us will search for clues. Seventh Brother, lead us to the place you saw the Jedi," Krell demanded. "Finding Skywalker and Kenobi is our top priority."

Traitor, her mind screamed. Anakin and Rex and Obi-Wan's faces spun in her mind. She'd given them up for Omega.

And a part of her knew that, if she had to, she would do it again.