54

Saedii stood at the door of her now-empty room.

The bed still had sheets, but all of Saedii's things had been packed up and were already waiting on board the Marauder. The boy's bunk room had looked similarly bare when Saedii had peeked in a moment ago. They'd left just enough to get through the night. Everything else was gone.

Tomorrow morning, Saedii and the Batch would be gone, too.

A sort of peace had settled over Saedii as she'd packed up today. An acceptance. There was nothing to tie her here anymore. No training, no missions – not until she'd healed. In her current state, she was no good to the Rebellion. Maybe the peace she needed could be found on Pabu instead.

It was strange, how easily she'd accepted this. Last year, she'd fought Hunter tooth and nail about leaving. Now, the thought of returning to the quiet island planet filled Saedii with anticipation and hope. It was just what she needed to find herself once again.

Omega's bunk was empty, too, though her young friend had dragged her feet when it came to packing. Still sulking, Omega sat on her nearly-bare mattress and looked around the empty room with defiant eyes.

"Are you hungry?" Saedii asked, breaking the silence that had settled over them for the past few hours.

"No." Omega's answer was immediate. She didn't look at Saedii.

"I might go grab some dinner."

Still, Omega didn't look her way.

Nervously, Saedii ran her hands along her Jedi robes. She'd changed while packing. Not out of any real desire to wear the robes again, but mostly because she was lacking any other real clothes. She'd have to change that when she got to Pabu.

Hanging from her belt, her two lightsabers sat in easy reach. For some reason, Saedii wanted to have them on her. Like she was afraid that, if they were left behind, she'd lose yet another part of herself.

"I know that you're mad," Saedii said quietly. At the sound of her voice, Omega finally looked up. "And I want you to know that I want to save those Clones, too. I'm just not strong enough right now. I'm too...broken."

Omega's frustrated expression melted. "You're not broken."

"I am, Megs. And the person I am right now can't help those Clones." Saedii's lips pressed together. "But maybe, in a year from now, I'll be strong enough."

"I don't think you're weak, Saedii," Omega said, and Saedii was glad to hear that she no longer sounded angry. More sad than anything.

Saedii gave her a little smile at that. "I promise that we'll free those Clones. Just not today."

After a moment, Omega gave a brief nod. Accepting that, albeit reluctantly.

Alone, Saedii made her way back up to the main floor, past the many busy bunk rooms and halls, all packed with Clones. Clones that were staying behind to fight.

Saedii had already spoken with Anakin and the rest. Rex, too. While the bounties were a complication, it wasn't enough to persuade them to stop fighting. They would go until the end, they'd told her. Until the Empire fell.

Leaving them behind went against everything Saedii believed in. As a Jedi, she'd been taught to never shy from struggle. To embrace and move forward. She had always been resilient, always ready to fight to the last.

This time, though, she was taking a step back.

Healing had been...difficult here. Surrounded by Rex and the Clones and the other Jedi, none of whom had been through what Saedii had. Seeing them – soldiers of the people, ready to defend the greater galaxy – only reminded her that she was not the same person that she'd been before she'd been taken.

In her current state, she couldn't help them.

But she still wanted to.

They would be back, as Saedii had promised Omega. Saedii would heal and come back and do what she'd always been meant to – she would protect the galaxy. She would fight the Empire. And this time, they would win.

Upstairs, Wolffe crossed her path as she made her way outside. She paused when she saw him, suddenly nervous.

A little smile made his scarred eye crinkle. "You look like you did something wrong."

"I feel like it," she admitted.

The smile dropped and he placed a hand on her shoulder. "Don't. You're doing the right thing. You'll get better on Pabu. I know you will."

"I hope so," Saedii said, voicing the uneasy voice that whispered in the back of her mind.

"You will, kid. I promise you." His hand tightened before he let it drop. "And if you don't want to come back –"

"I do."

He held up a hand. "I just want you to know that you've done everything and more for this galaxy. Plo would have been proud of how hard you've fought. I know I am."

She bowed her head at that. It was nice to hear him say it. "I'll miss you."

"I'll miss you, too."

"Please be careful."

This time, Wolffe pulled her in for a bone-crushing hug. "Don't worry about me. You just focus on getting better. All I want is for you to heal."

Wolffe gave her one last soft ruffle on the top of her head before he let her go. She watched as he walked down the hall, armor on, helmet tucked under his arm. Probably getting ready for another mission.

It was strange that they were always having to say goodbye. Once, Wolffe had been her constant companion. Her shadow on every mission, every briefing. The two did everything together. And now, fate seemed determined to set them on two separate paths. Far away from each other.

It's not forever, she promised herself.

When Saedii found the rest of the Batch, they were all in a similar solemn kind of atmosphere. Echo, especially, looked conflicted as he sat before an uneaten plate of food. The Force around him was heavy with guilt.

They all looked up as she approached. Wrecker was uncharacteristically quiet as he asked, "Omega didn't want to come?"

"She wasn't hungry," Saedii said. Her eyes took in the somber expressions of the boys. Their mixed feelings were exactly what Saedii was feeling herself. She knew they hated walking away from a fight as much as she did.

As Saedii grabbed a piece of bread from Crosshair's plate, she noticed that there was someone missing. "Where's Kalth?"

Hunter gave a little sigh. "On the east flight deck. Prepping his ship."

"His ship?"

"He's leaving, too."

Saedii frowned. It had been days since Kalth had been cleared by AZI to travel – days where he had stayed, instead. Hanging around with Saedii and the Batch. Even though Kalth had said he wasn't going with her, Saedii had hoped that his lingering presence meant that he'd changed his mind.

Some emotion burned in her gut. Something cold and writhing. Longing, Saedii might have called it, if she'd been brave enough.

She put the bread back down. "I'm going to go talk with him."

A faint little smile pulled at Crosshair's lips. When he exchanged a look with Wrecker, the two gave a little chuckle.

Hunter ignored them. "Take your time. We can save you a plate."

It was full night as Saedii followed the thin path in the dirt, heading east. Small lights lit her way as she passed over first one, then another rope bridge, leading her further out from the main monastery. The low glow from the base grew fainter as she went further and further out, towards the furthest flight decks.

A single lone Clone was out keeping watch. He nodded to her, and with a jolt, Saedii stopped walking. Recognizing him. "Colt?"

Colt was far older than he'd been last year. Last she'd seen him, he'd looked physically younger than her, hair cut in a similar style to Howzer. Now, he looked several years older. Head shaved and with intense eyes, he almost bore a resemblance to Rex.

"Hi, General."

"How are you?" Saedii asked him, surprised. She'd known that Clones aged fast, of course, but it was incredible seeing just how fast. Colt could have aged five years in the span of one.

"Fine." He inclined his head back towards the row of ships, all smaller frigates and transport shuttles. Meant for small groups of passengers. "Just keeping an eye on your friend."

"Where is he?"

"At the very end."

She nodded her thanks. "It's good to see you again."

"You, too, General." His voice was so much deeper now, and stern. Just like Wolffe's. He certainly didn't have that adolescent awkwardness that she'd always remembered.

Saedii's footsteps were muffled beneath the hum of bugs and screeching of birds. This far out, she couldn't even hear the music that played by the impromptu cafeteria. Nothing but the gentle wildlife that called Teth home.

Dim lights glowed along the edge of the flight deck. It was one of the smaller decks, far from where the Marauder sat waiting. One of the newer decks, too, Saedii thought as she traced the fresh marks of construction vessels that had cleared it.

In the dim glow, a dark figure moved around one of the smallest vessels.

Kalth had changed, too. No longer did he wear the white pajamas that he and Saedii had preferred the past few days, but now he had on dark clothes of his own. A jacket and flight boots, thick sturdy pants for travel. Not quite black, but dark enough.

There was a slight dip in his brow as he checked the fuel levels. A stiffness to his jaw. When Saedii got close enough, he didn't even bother to look up from his task.

"You're leaving?"

He paused, hand still on the fuel cap. Then, with a short, "Yes," he turned back to his work.

"Why?"

"I already told you I wasn't staying."

"I know, but –" She uneasily touched her necklace. "But I want you to come with us to Pabu. Or at least think about it."

"I'm not going with you to Pabu," he said at once.

Saedii straightened. Angry, now. "You don't have to be alone anymore, Kalth. I thought the past few days, since you were getting along so well with Crosshair and the rest –"

With more force than necessary, he snapped the fuel flap back in place. The look he gave her was harsh. "You thought what? That I'd want to be part of your new family now?"

"I hoped," Saedii said, staunch.

"I already told you that I wasn't going with you. That wasn't going to change – not for you or anyone."

That one hurt. Saedii gritted her teeth to hide how much it hurt. "I know that you're scared –"

"Scared?" His eyes blazed. "I'm not scared. I'm kriffing terrified, alright?"

She fell quiet at this admission. Saedii had been able to sense his unease, of course. His fear. But so far, Kalth had tried valiantly to hide it. Had denied any fear that motivated him. Now, he was finally being honest.

"I'm not going back to that damn prison," he continued, reading the understanding in Saedii's eyes, "and if I stick around you and those Clones, then I have a pretty good chance of going back."

"We can protect you," Saedii said.

He glared at her. "How? You can barely protect yourself."

This time, Saedii flinched. Not even trying to hide how much that one hurt.

The anger faded from his face then. Kalth took in a low, labored breath and ran his fingers through his too-short hair. A low sigh sounded in the night air.

Footsteps echoed on the deck as he walked over to stand in front of her, close enough that she could smell his rainwater and amber scent. Could hear his soft, frenzied breaths.

"I'm sorry." His voice was a low caress on her cheek. One warm hand reached out gently to touch hers. "I – I didn't mean that. I shouldn't have said it."

"You're not wrong."

"I am. You –" He shook his head. "You're one of the bravest people I know. I owe you my life."

"You don't –"

"If you hadn't come back for me, then I'd be dead. You would have escaped. It's because of me that you had to go through Krell's torture, and I shouldn't belittle you for that." His hand tightened on hers. "You made a selfless decision that I don't think I could have made."

She finally looked up and met his troubled eyes. "You're selling yourself short, like always."

He swallowed. "I'm not leaving because I want to leave you, Saedii. You have to know that I'm doing it for the both of us – to keep us safe."

"We're safer together."

"Not if the Empire finds us."

Her hand pulled out from under his. Softly, she pleaded, "Please come with us, Kalth. I already lost you once. I can't lose you again."

"I can't."

"Please."

Kalth gave a low sigh. The blue in his eyes looked nearly neon in the dark, like they were glowing. Saedii could read the answer in them before he spoke.

His mouth opened.

Then froze as the Force flared with alarm around them.

Both Jedi went still, stiffening as the Force scraped claws down their senses. Darkness and cold cruelty snapped at them, sending something wicked skittering down Saedii's every nerve ending. A voice hissed in her ear, begging her to run.

Danger.

Instinct roared and Saedii looked to the sky, feeling her stomach drop as she felt the Force writhe with anger and malice, thousands of feet above her. Shadows danced along her mind, promising blood and death.

A half second later, a massive shadow appeared in the darkened sky, blocking the stars.

Saedii sucked in a breath.

Visible among the folds of the night sky above them, the distant forms of three Venators emerged.

Kalth cursed. "The Empire."

The Empire was here.

The Empire had found them.

With a distant groan, the bellies of the Venators opened up, spilling dozens of x-wings into the air. Gathering like a swarm of bees that had been knocked from their hives.

Then, in a single deft move, the x-wings dove down.