Earthlings 3: RISE

1

5 BBY, Ferrix

Liev Hati was on a mission.

Harsh winds penetrated Ferrix's typical evening atmosphere, howling in the ears of the ISB agent. His grip tightening around the small wrist of his young daughter, he briskly walked down the bustling streets as the anvil sounded throughout the district, signaling the end of another workday for the residents of this industrialized planet... and the beginning of Hati's operations. 

Now his business on Ferrix, or so he told his contact, was to send his daughter away from Imperial eyes... and away from the Inquisitors. That was his cover. His true motive? To root out members of the Hidden Path from within the populace. The Grand Inquisitor had even given him permission to bring the girl as bait  for the organization, so that the Empire could be alerted to their position and snuff out any member that resided locally, as well as find out where their headquarters were located.

Turning a corner, Hati guided her towards a musty little inn, where he'd been directed to by his contact, former ISB officer Deej Stevens. Though it took some convincing, he had agreed to help after considering the risk of the child being taken by the Inquisitorius for whatever sinister plans they had in mind... something that was bound to happen anyway. The catch? Stevens wasn't the one who would meet him.

Scanning the casino, Hati's eyes finally landed on a man in a poncho and Earthling trousers at a dejarik table. The man's caf brown eyes met his gaze before speaking up. "Liev Hati... correct?"

"Yes," Hati confirmed, staring him down. "And... who might you be?"

"Elisha... Elisha Ackerman," The man glibly responded, as though that wasn't his real name.  "Deej sent me to pick up the girl."

"Ah, yes- Shin," Hati gestured towards his daughter. "Say hello."

"...Hello," Shin mumbled from behind. At this, 'Ackerman'  gave a small smile. 

"I trust that you will keep her safe?" Hati said, as if he were genuinely worried for Shin's safety as he gestured for her to join Ackerman, whilst slipping a device into her pocket. "I would hate  for anything to happen to her on the way."

"How else have we been able to do our jobs?" Was his simple response. He rose, taking Shin by the hand. "Don't worry, your daughter will be fine as long as the journey goes smoothly. Who knows? Maybe she'll even find someone to train her."

"That would be wonderful." Hati gave a small, insincere smile as they parted ways, watching the two of them disappear into a back room before activating the device. He pulled out his holoprojector.

"Status report, Agent Hati?"  The Grand Inquisitor's holoimage prompted.

"All is going as planned, Grand Inquisitor. Shin has left..." Hati replied softly, his eyes still on the back door. "... With Eli Henderson."

--

"What are all these things?" Shin asked, mesmerized by the carvings and inscriptions all over the walls of the secret tunnel Eli led her through. "They look amazing."

"These are the legacy the Jedi wanted to leave behind," He explained, gesturing towards the various carvings that countless Jedi survivors before him had left on the walls- from names to inspirational words, to even symbols of hope. "To remind all who walk through this tunnel that the Force will be with us, and that we mustn't lose hope."

"What is the Force?" The child looked up at him with curious eyes. "My papa and these scary Inquisitor people keep talking about it and how I'm force sensitive and everything."