Earthlings 2: The Dark Age

38

(Meanwhile...)

Tala stood at the window of the Inquisitorius headquarters, her hands clasped together behind her back. Currently she was waiting to have a talk with the Inquisitor holding Leia prisoner, per Ben's request for a distraction. Hopefully he and Toni managed to find the girl...

Calming her nerves, she turned around to meet the Inquisitor, who looked just as cross as she'd imagined, if not more.

"I'm sorry to intrude," Tala began, hoping the Inquisitor was in a forgiving mood. "I-I understand you're leading the hunt for the network they call the Path-"

"Just speak," The Inquisitor tersely cut in.

"I was stationed on Mapuzo when the hunt began," Tala explained. "Ranking officer-"

The Inquisitor raised a brow. "Qualifications for discharge-?"

"They're on Florrum," Tala lied quickly. "The network runs out of the Sertar sector. They use a salvage business to launder goods, render new identities, and fly the Jedi out. I found evidence before the escape."

"Impressive."

"We need to direct all our resources there immediately, and take the network out at its root."

"Unless of course..." The Inquisitor raised a suspicious brow. "...You're lying."

Tala resisted the urge to flinch. She knows...

--

Leia hated this place. She hated how cold it felt, how it reeked of death and evil, and how tight her restraints were against this machine that she was strapped to. She hated the lady in black, and how she nearly tried to kill her before she had to deal with something...

The interrogation chamber went pitch dark, interrupting Leia's thoughts. From one side, a blue lightsaber hacked at a stormtrooper guard, taking him down within a matter of seconds.

"There's no way out-" The other trooper said, panic evident in his tone. "S-stand where you are!"

"Hey, buckethead!" A female voice hissed from behind him.

"H-huh-?!" The trooper's head swiveled from side to side, trying to locate the source. Another blue beam of light came swinging at him, effectively taking him down.

"Well, I expected more of a challenge," The woman remarked, deactivating her weapon as Ben approached Leia's position to free her restraints before lifting her out of her chair.

"You're alive," Leia breathed out, relieved beyond measure. "They told me you were dead... I didn't tell them anything."

"I know," Ben whispered back, his face illuminated by the red lights. He got up. "Come with me. I'm gonna get you home."

"Is that Senator Valorum-?" Leia pointed to the woman beside him. "Why does she have a laser sword?"

"Oh, no... I'm not the senator." The woman chuckled softly. "I'm her sister, Toni."

"So you're a Jedi like Ben-?"

"I was, yes."

"Is it hard being a Jedi?"

Toni drew out a breath. "... Very. Once we get out of here, I'll tell you all about it, ok?"

--

9 BBY, Lothal

Eli woke up to the acrid smell of smoke all around the vicinity. Dazed, he looked around only to find death and destruction. Orange flames spilled over the already dry plains, with more being added by the Empire's TIE bombers. Loth cats scattered as the TIEs rained fire upon the mountains, collapsing a few.