RISE AGAIN ─ star wars

VIII. Captured

Chapter Eight
Leera

"We have to get them back." Skywalker says frantically.

Raymen and I have just caught him, Leia Amidala, and Ragnar Niran up on what's happened. When we had entered the Taris throne room, we had found Amidala and Niran discussing what sounded like trade options while Skywalker was sitting on the floor playing with the child. The child is now, sleeping peacefully in his levitating container right beside the Taris throne, unaware of the chaos ensuing around him. Though Skywalker is worried and upset, I can tell he's actively trying to keep his voice down as to not wake the child from his nap.

"We will, Luke, but we have to be smart about this." His sister argues.

"I should have gone with them to Mandalore, I should have been there. My wife is probably being tortured right now and it's all my fault—"

Amidala closes the distance between them and envelops Skywalker in an embrace, rubbing soothing circles on her brother's back. He's tense at first, but pretty soon he melts into the embrace and welcomes the comfort his sister offers.

"Holly is strong," Amidala whispers to him. "They all are. They'll be alright."

"Do you think Jayce is being brought to Mandalore as well?" Niran asks no one in particular.

Raymen has an answer though. "It's known that Taris has been trying to free Mandalore from the Empire. If Gideon is trying to force our hand and bring us into a trap, holding Jayce hostage is the perfect way to do that."

"We should call Jax, ask if he's got any ships and soldiers to spare," Niran suggests, addressing Amidala. "Maybe the governors of Ferros and Wayland have people available, all the other planets in the system are too busy to lend any assistance..."
From what Raymen has explained to me, King Daulton ordered each planet in his system to focus on another planet and help free them from the Empire's grip. I have to admit that I may have misjudged the young king, and perhaps he does has the actual greater good in mind.

"While you try those three planets, Leera and I will head to Eadu to seek out a possible solution to our problem."

"We will?" I ask with a raised brow.

"How will Eadu help?" Skywalker inquires.

"The Children of the Watch reside there. They're a group of Mandalorians who follow 'the way of the Mandalore', which is an ancient faith that died with the fall of the Old Republic. They hate the Empire as much as the rest of us do, they may be willing to help us free Mandalore."

Death Watch was a cult of people who wanted to reestablish the old ways of Mandalore, and look at all the destruction and death they caused. Now we're going to recruit another cult that sounds no different. I give Raymen an unsure look, and he seems to know where my head is at, because the next thing he says is this:

"The watch aren't like Death Watch, they keep to themselves and tend not to bother anyone. They just want to devote themselves to an old faith, that's all. I wouldn't suggest going to them if I thought they would bring more harm to Mandalore."

That I believe. Whether these Children of the Watch will actually be useful, is up for debate.

"Alright, if you think we should go to them, then I trust you." I reply, watching a smirk form in his lips.