Aleckina Tadeef

Sensed and Saved

"Kanan," Ezra called ahead of him, "that crowd of troopers we left behind? They're catching up."

Thinking fast, Kanan responded, "Zeb, take care of the troopers. Ezra, stay with me."

"On it, Kanan," Zeb answered, stopping and waiting for the oncoming Stormtroopers.

Sprinting down the halls, Kanan could sense Aleckina's presence growing stronger. He could tell she was weak, but knowing she was alive was reassuring.

...

Aleckina had not moved from her spot in the corner of her cell. She didn't want to upset her wounds, as her stomach was still bleeding.

Closing her eyes, she relaxed her tense muscles and focused on her connection to the force. She suddenly felt something different - yet familiar - in the force. Someone was trying to find her, and she recognized who it was. She focused her mind's eye on the disturbance and was able to form a vision out of it.

Aleckina was surprised to see Kanan running down a hall somewhere near her cell. He really was here, she thought. Even more shocking, was the fact that he had not come alone. Running only a pace or two behind Kanan was a boy about the same age as herself. She could sense that the boy was very strong in the force, but it seemed he still had a lot to learn. A Padawan, perhaps.

Aleckina opened her eyes, breaking her focus and ending the vision. It takes a lot of energy to force a vision. Usually, visions just...happen. Out of her control. Forcing a vision was a trait found among Miralukans alone, but she had never met another of her kind. It was rumored that they were extinct. That her mother was the last one, but she couldn't remember anything from before Master Depa Bilaba took her in. She, remarkably, had the strange ability to remember everything since then, and very vividly, too.

...

Kanan almost stopped dead in his tracks when he felt Aleckina dip into the force.

"Kanan," Ezra said, sounding alarmed.
"Someone's watching us, I can feel it."

"I know," Kanan answered calmly. "It's Aleckina. She can sense us, through the force. If she concentrates enough, she can conjure up an image of us. A vision."

"She senses us?" Ezra questioned, still following his master, hoping the Jedi knew where he was going. "How can you tell?"

"I know because I can sense her. I felt her searching for us. I trained with her, remember," Kanan replied.

"Doesn't that kind of, you know, freak you out?" Ezra asked.

"No," Kanan said. "She's like a sister to me. I just want her back and safe."

Suddenly Kanan turned, darting down a dead end corridor. He stopped at the last door and used the force to unlock the cell. He almost broke at what he saw.

Aleckina sat huddled in the far corner of the cell, wounded and bleeding. A single tear trailed down the Jedi's face as he knelt beside his little 'sister'.

"Kina, it's time to go. We're getting you out of here," Kanan told her. "Can you stand?"

"I think so," Aleckina answered quietly.

Kanan helped her stand up, carefully avoiding touching her injuries. He wasn't slow to notice as she winced and clutched her stomach, which was bleeding. She would need help if they were to escape. She shouldn't be walking, really, with her injuries.

"Ezra," Kanan adressed his padawan, who stood somewhat awkwardly off to the side. "You will have to help her walk, if we want to get out of here. I'll cover you, but you can't leave her side."

"Kanan," Aleckina wispered, gripping the Jedi's sleeve. "I'm sorry."

"What?" Kanan asked.

"He knows you're here," she sobbed, hanging on to his arm. "He forced me to tell him. I'm sorry."

"Hey, it's ok," Kanan soothed. "We're getting you out of here. Now, who forced you?"

"The Inquisitor," Aleckina wispered brokenly.

Kanan nodded. He should have known the Inquisitor would be here. He wasn't worried that the Imperials knew he was there. Instead, he worried over what they could have done to break down the strongest minded person he had ever known.

"Ezra," Kanan called again. "Come on. We need to go. Now."

Ezra came forward, but Aleckina shied away from him, fear written on her face. Kanan was not surprized. She had been taught by their master to be untrusting, almost to a fault, but he knew it would be even worse after a month in an Imperial cell.

Kanan lightly placed a hand on her uninjured shoulder. "Kina, you're safe with us," Kanan said quietly. "Ezra is a good kid. In fact, he's my padawan. I know it goes against your training,  but I need you to trust him."

Aleckina nodded at his words. He wouldn't ask her to trust someone he didn't already trust with his life. She met Ezra's eyes, and in them she could see that he was also untrusting and afraid. Yet he was also strong. She took a shaky step towards him and allowed the boy to help to her walk.

They had a long journey ahead of them just to get out of the Academy.