Across the Stars [Star Wars|Anakin Skywalker]

80

"Let's continue our attacks, we need to make an example on these Separatists that the Republic and the people are stronger than they are." Steela said enthusiastically, "Remember their army are a bunch of droids, they don't understand revolution and they will shoot to kill anyone. Even innocents, so conduct this war very carefully." Natalia warned them, "Their commander is a brutal Sith Lord that you don't want to cross." She warned again, "But don't worry, we are a hurricane and they better get prepared for the storm." She said while putting her hands on her hips. "Where's Saw?" Ahsoka asked, but Steela didn't know, "Probably blowing off steam, he's probably still angry." Steela replied, she obviously felt bad still. One of the rebel scouts they sent out came back in a hurry, "What's wrong Dono?" Natalia asked, "I bring news, the Separatists are planning to execute the king!" Dono exclaimed, Natalia gasped. "We need to rescue King Dendup at the executioners block, they're obviously trying to make a statement." Steela suggested, "I want to free him immediately." Saw said from the doorway, he walked away and Natalia followed him, "You can't do this alone!" Natalia said, but Saw shook his head, "I can, you can join me or you can stay with my sister, either way I don't care." Saw told her while glaring at her, "I can't go with you, you know that." She told him, "That's fine by me, stay here then." He said he turned around but Natalia stopped him by putting her hand on his shoulder. "What?" He asked.

"May the Force be with you, Saw." She told him.

Saw nodded and ran down the street, he raised his hood and jumped onto a nearby rooftop. Natalia watched him and sighed, she walked back inside alone. "Did you stop him?" Steela asked him, but she shook her head. "It's not my duty to stop him, it's my duty to oversee the liberation of Onderon, not to stop a determined rebel from putting his life in danger." Natalia said. Steela sat down and put her head in her hands, "Send out a scout immediately!" She shouted, Natalia offered to do it. "I can use the Force to locate him, I'll know where he went." Natalia said, Steela nodded and Natalia headed out, she raised her hood and used the Force to find Saw, she walked across a clothesline and found the palace, she looked over and saw they were using a one-way shield, and Saw was ultimately captured. "Oh no." She whispered to hereself, she slid down a rooftop and ran back to the rebels. She ran inside in a panic, "Saw's been captured!" She told them, "Let's go! We'll plan a rescue!" Lux yelled, but Natalia shook her head, "We can't, Lux, there's nothing we can do right now, Ahsoka and I have been captured by Separatists before and I know they'll be torturing him right now, unless you want the same fate you will stay here." Natalia told them sternly, the rebels nodded and accepted defeat, "I'm so sorry, Steela." Natalia said as she placed a hand on Steela's shoulder.

The next morning the rebels with Ahsoka and Natalia headed out to the palace square, for King Dendup's execution. The droids were about to behead Dendup but Steela stopped them. "Stop!" She shouted, the crowd cleared and the rebels became visible. Natalia and Ahsoka took out their lightsabers to protect them from droids. They were soon surrounded, Dono attempted to get free, but she was shot in the process. Natalia gasped and bent down and checked her still body, "She's dead." Natalia said as she closed her eyes. "Lay down your arms! There's no more you can do!" King Dandup ordered, the rebels gave each other glances and put away their arms, Natalia and Ahsoka put away their lightsabers. The execution was to happen again, the droids were preparing when it was stopped again. "Stand down!" Tandin yelled at the king, he threw his hands up in defeat. "I can't watch you take over my homeworld and tear us apart! I'm not going to watch you do this like I have no mind anymore!" Tandin shouted at Rash, he just shook his head in disappointment. Tandin placed Rash in a headlock and ordered his troops to free Dendup and the rebels, Natalia sighed in relief. Before the droids could kill Tandin, Ahsoka used the Force to push them away from him.

The crowd was outraged and began taking out droids and allowed the rebels to escape cleanly. Natalia looked at the crowd and smiled, "The chaos and the determination, it's beautiful." Natalia said with a grin, Ahsoka just shook her head at Natalia's recklessness.

Later they were in their hideout once again, with the Onderon army, and they surrounded the king. "On behalf of the rebels, I pledge my full loyalty to the rightful King Dendup." Steela said as she kneeled, the rest of the rebels and the army kneeled with her, Ahsoka and Natalia also kneeled in the back. They stood up and began speaking battle tactics again, "I have decided that winning our people's trust is the best way to counter a retaliatory strike by Count Dooku for my liberation." Dendup said, the rebels cheered along with the king. Later on, Ahsoka and Natalia report to Obi-Wan and Anakin, "The involvement of the Jedi in the rebellion is public knowledge now." Natalia told them, Obi-Wan and Anakin glanced at each other and turned back to Natalia and Ahsoka.

"I think it's time the Jedi decide whether or not we're going to openly take sides in this battle."