The Rise of the Empire

Chapter 21

Years passed more quickly after that. I started teaching Leia when she was around 5 years old. She never went to a public school, I just tutored her privately. Lessons went something like this:

Me: "This is really important. You might want to write this down."
Leia: "Do I have to? I don't even like grammar. I want to study other things that are actually interesting."
Me: "It's in the scope and sequence, so I have to teach it to you."
Leia: "Can I just take the test and be done?"
Me: "Fine. I give up."

She didn't find anything intereting except history and politics, which I found interesting. I tried to teach her small things about the force, too. She was willing to listen but not to remember it.

I am going to meet today with Hera Syndulla. She is interested in starting a rebellion against the empire. She and Kanan had already met, so I requested that only one of them come see me in the event that they are captured, only 1 person will have the information I'm about to share.

Lux had gone off to start a rebel cell. So far only 10 ish people have volunteered to join him. I give him targets to hit, he does it, he comes back. Simple and easy. I hope to do the same with Hera.

I also have been thinking about the New Jedi Order. I want to change a few things to make it a bit less hard on the people in the order. I really have no say in its creation though which stinks.

I practiced to keep my skills in shape, then left to go to Courascaunt. We both figured that it was the best place to meet.

When I arrived, I had to make it past imperial security. I finally got an ID card for myself last year, so security was not a problem.

I walked to our meeting place -- Dexter's Diner. We both liked their food, so we went with it.

I walked in, got a table, and sat down. About 10 mins later, she came in and sat down.

"Ahsoka, it's a pleasure to finally meet you in person."

"You too Hera. How are you?"

"I'll be better once the Empire is history."

I laughed. "Won't we all. So you had contacted me about starting a rebel cell?"

"Yes. I have met another Jedi, and we both share the same view - the Empire needs to be brought down. We're willing to do whatever it takes to do it."

"I see. Have you met anyone else that will support your cause?"

"Yes. There is a Lasat that is willing to try, and we are visiting the academy tomorrow to figure out anything we can."

"Good plan. What are you going to do once you have a solid group?"

"Complete missions that cause trouble for the Empire but give us money, too."

"So why do you need me?"

"I need help finding these jobs. I need someone who knows the Empire's leadership personally to help memfind information and targets."

"Ok. I'll help. I just have a couple rules."

"Anything."

"You cannot tell the other members in the group about my real identity. I will be hunted down and killed if the Empire finds out."

"Why? You only know a Senator from the Republic Senate. That isn't a crime."

"Yes, but it's a bit more complicated than that."

"How so?"

"I'm a survivor of an organization that the Empire wants to no longer exist."

"What do you mean?"

"I'm a Jedi."

"Oh."

"So I will be known to your cell as 'Fulcrum'. Never tell them my name or who I really am. Got it?"

"Got it. Thanks for agreeing to do this."

"No problem."

Dinner was great. We ate and chatted about our backgrounds and by experiences as a Jedi.

"Yeah, my master was great. We went on all kinds of crazy missions. I learned a lot, and I'm sure he did too."

"What happened to him, the Empire?"

"In a way. He turned to the dark side. He is now second only to the Emperor."

"Oh. I'm sorry. That must have been tough."

"Yes, it was. But it's all in the past now."

"Indeed. There is another rumor about the Jedi not forming attachments of whatever. Is it true?"

"Yes."

"Wow, I don't know if I could live like that. I mean, Kanan and I met at the beginning of this year, yet-"

"I totally understand where you're coming from. Since the Jedi are all but extinct anyway, I'd go with it."

She laughed, and we kept talking about whatever came up.