STAR WARS REBELS: NO ONE IS ALONE

Chapter 7

"Well, when we were younger, about ten and six, Hiro asked if he could go back with me to our old headquarters. I told him no cause I wanted him to be safe. If he joined the rebellion, he would be considered a threat to the empire.
But I couldn't tell him that was the reason why he couldn't come. I told him it was cause he needed to stay and keep our aunt safe".
"Did he buy it?", Ahsoka asked.
"Yeah, he did", Tadashi answered. "I still visited them; sometimes for a birthday, new years, or just on a random day. Everything was going smoothly". He stopped.
"What?", Ahsoka asked.
Tadashi rubbed his face. "Do you remember that time where we were stuck on Genosis because of the empirials?"
"Yes".
"Remember it took us almost two years to get off the planet itself".
"Yes Tadashi, I do. But what are you getting at?"
Tadashi took a deep breath. "When we got back, I took a pod to my home planet. When I got to my aunt's house, it was vacant. But she had left an encrypted note that said she was in the homeless section of our city and was waiting for me and that she would explain why she was there later.
So I ran to the homeless section just like she told me. But before I could start searching, the whole place blew up. I noticed an empirial ti fighter in the sky".
Tadashi paused, drying his eyes. "I searched through the rubble for them. There were already so many burnt bodies I couldn't tell. But"..... He pulled out a piece of paper. "I found this".
Ahsoka took the piece of paper. It was a picture of a younger looking Tadashi. He was smiling at his aunt, who had her arms around him and was smiling at the camera. There was a little boy, who had to be Hiro, sitting on his aunt's shoulders, his hands on her head, grinning a toothy grin.
Ahsoka smiled as she handed the picture back to Tadashi. "You guys look like you were close".
"As close as we could be", Tadashi replied. He paused. "I was sure they were dead. I was so sure.......I thought that everything I was fighting for was gone".
"But what about others in the galaxy?", Ahsoka asked. "The reason we even fight this battle is for the freedom of others".
"I know that now", Tadashi answered. "It just took a while for me to understand it. And now that I know my brother is alive, I.....I feel excited and afraid all at once".
"Why are you afraid?"
Tadashi thought about it for a moment. "I'm afraid that he'll never forgive me for not being there when he and my aunt needed me the most".
Ahsoka sat back and pondered this for a while. "I have a feeling he'll just be glad you ended up coming for him".
Tadashi was about to question this, but was interrupted. "Hey guys!", Ezra whispered from above. "We need your preference on the plan. Come on up".
Ahsoka and Tadashi jumped on top of the house and joined the group. In front of them was a very large gray building. A gate was at the front, and the place was swarming with stormtroopers. "I used to think it was some kind of house for an imperial general", Ezra said. "But I didn't know it was for slaves".
"Nobody did", Sabine said. "Not even the imperials I worked with. I don't recall any talk of slaves being brought to lothal".
"Guess they wanted a low profile for precaution", Kaanan replied. "Just in case any on the inside was a rebel".
"So what is the plan?", Ahsoka asked.
"Sabine, Ezra, and I will go in disguised as imperials", Kaanan began. "You, Zeb, and Tadashi will supposedly slaves we captured. Once we get inside, we'll head toward the prison cells and get everyone we can find out. Hopefully they'll be strong enough to fight back when we make our escape".
"Sounds good to me", Ahsoka said. "Tadashi?"
Everyone looked at Tadashi. "Let's do it", he answered, grinning.
"Great", Kaanan said. "Then we break in tonight".

Hiro felt his heavy eyes slowly open. He was in his cell again; alone. It took him a minute to remember what had happened. He had been brought into the big room by the guy named Darth Vader. He wanted to see what he could. He had pulled out his lightsaber and nearly killed Hiro. But Hiro had caught it before it could do any damages.
Hiro felt guilt wash over him. He wasn't supposed to have done that. He should have let the blade done it's purpose. Then his secret would have never been known. But then, he would have died, and the people who were on their way to rescue him would be for nothing. Nothing was clear right now. He would just have to face the outcome when it came.
Hiro decided to meditate for a while. It seemed like the the only useful thing to do at this point. He sat cross legged and relaxed. He felt his heart rate going back to normal; beating to it's original rhythm. Deep breaths, he thought to himself. Deep breaths.
Suddenly, Hiro heard the voice that had spoken to him earlier. Hiro? Are you there?
Yes, Hiro replied. I'm still here. But why are you contacting me? Is there something wrong?
No, no nothing's wrong, Ezra answered. I just wanted to let you know that we're coming tonight. We're gonna free you and all of the slaves. I just wanted to check to make sure nothing's wrong.
Oh. Well, nothing's too bad, Hiro answered. It's just......
What?, Ezra asked. Did something happen to you? Are they keeping you somewhere else?
No. It's just that.....well, I accidentally used my power in front of him.
Who?
The one they call Darth Vader.
Oh boy! Hang on a sec!
Ok.

Ezra stopped walking. Kaanan was the first to notice. "Ezra? What's wrong?"
"I just need a sec", he answered. "I'm communicating with Hiro".
"Let's get in the ally", Tadashi said. Everyone got into the alleyway. Zeb and Sabine stood on guard while Ezra sat down. Alright, tell me what happened.
I was taken to a big room, Hiro began. Darth Vader said he wanted to see my abilities. So he pulled out his sword and tried to hit me with it. I should've realized it was a trick to get me to use my powers. He wanted to be sure I was one of them.
Wait, Ezra interrupted. What do you mean one of them? You mean the jedi?
No. There was a moment of silence. I am a blade toucher. I have the ability to-
Then there was silence. Hiro?, Ezra called out. Hiro are you there?
"I've lost contact with him".
"Did say anything we should know about?", Ahsoka asked.
"I think so", Ezra answered. "He said that Vader tricked him into showing his power. He says he's one of the blade touchers".
No one said anything. Kaanan and Ahsoka looked at each other. "I thought blade touchers were a myth, Kaanan said.
"So did I", Ahsoka chimed. She looked at Tadashi. "Does this mean anything to you?"
Tadashi's face had gone pale; really pale. "B-blade touchers are.....somewhat like jedi. They have the force and have all the abilities of a jedi. They just have one extra power that can make them impossible to defeat". He paused. "Their hands can catch and the lasers from a gun as if it were an object. But the reason they're called blade touchers is cause they are known to win in combat with a jedi or sith by being able to grab the blade as if it were just a normal sword".
Everyone stared at Tadashi; perplexity all over their faces. "But if your brother has it", Ezra started. "Then that means"......
"Yes", Tadashi replied. "I am a blade toucher as well".

Hiro gripped the hands that grasped his hair. "Well well, I thought I sensed something", the Seventh Sister sneered. "You sent a mental message to someone. And I think I can guess who".
The Seventh Sister turned on her com. "Fifth Brother, inform Darth Vader that we have some uninvited guests coming for the Hamada child".
She turned off her com and lifted Hiri's head up so he could see her face. "And you are coming with me". And she dragged him out of the room.

"So that's why the empire wanted him so badly", Ezra piped up. "They knew that if we found out about Hiro just being held in prison, we would go and rescue him".
"They even went to the precaution of hidding his file", Kaanan commented.
"Wow, the empire has actually gotten a little smarter than us", Ezra replied.
Ahsoka turned to Tadashi. His eyes were closed and eyebrows furrowed. "What's wrong?", she asked.
"I sense something's wrong", he answered. He said nothing for a minute. Suddenly, his eyes flared open. "They know we're coming", he said.
"But that's impossible", Zeb said. "How could they figure....."
"They sensed Ezra"s conversation", Tadashi answered. "And since we're the only rebels around willing to go into a prison facility".....
"We get it", Kaanan said. "So what if they know? They don't know when or how, though".
"Sooooo the plan is still on?", Sabine asked.
"When hasn't it?", Ezra replied cockily.
"Then let's get ready", Kaanan said. "Cause we have a long night ahead of us".