Book 3 of 3: Our Last Stand (Book 3 of "Family of Rebels")

Chapter 23: Nowhere To Run

Sarah's POV

I can't believe we are actually going to the Jedi Temple on Lothal. I haven't been to one since I was three. I wonder how much has changed...

Later...........................................................................

Well.....everything was different.

Scientists completely blocked off the Temple. Nobody was even allowed near the Temple except for this one old man who kept making people move farther away from the Temple edges.

I narrowed my eyes, my mask off. The Empire was pretty much shaming the Jedi by slowly destroying the Temple.

I elbowed Ezra and asked, "How tight is security?"

He replied, "Real tight. I don't see any way to just walk in and figure out the stone." He turned to Sabine and asked, "You have the picture of the stone, right?"

Sabine turned on her hologram and said, "Yep. You two got your masks?"

Finally, the masks were being put to good use again! (If you have absolutely no idea what masks I am talking about, read Take My Hand Chapter 8: It Binds the Galaxy Together (Part 2). It is not in the original show.) I felt mine behind my ear to make sure it was still there. I nodded; Ezra followed suit.

Hera and Zeb were behind us about 100 yards away. Hera commed in, "Remember, you want to get in and out as quickly and quietly as possible. If I tell you to leave because the plan goes south, follow that order. Understood."

"Yes, ma'am." We all answered. We turned on our masks under our helmets, and, as quiet as a Lothcat, we went down in our trooper outfits, masks on, and hearts beating out of our chests.

Later..........................

Hera's POV

What is taking them so long? They should have been able to get in by now...

I commed into Ezra. "Ezra, what's your status?"

He statically replied, "Finally able to get to the base of the Temple. We're gonna need more time. Please, Hera, we are so close to figuring it out."

Zeb turned to me. "Hera, more of the Empire could be coming here any minute. What should they do?"

I had no idea. It was pretty much the closest thing we had to beat the Empire. But, there was so much risk involved. We had just lost Kanan. I didn't want to lose any more people.

A hand touched my shoulder. I remembered it. How could I forget it?

Kanan.

I placed my hand on top of his, surprised to be able to touch him.

Of course, I knew he was just a Force apparition, but it was as close to real as it could get.

He wants us to defeat the Empire. He wants to see us finally wipe it all out. He believes we can.

I believe we can.

I commed them back in. "Okay. Just...be careful."

"You got it, Hera." Ezra shut down.

I sighed and rubbed the place where Kanan used to be, hoping there was still a remnant of his presence.

Sarah's POV

Even though it has been about two years since I was blinded, it is still weird to not be able to see what everyone is doing. I can sense their emotions and sense where they are, but I can't see how they are acting. I know when they are happy or sad, but maybe nobody else does. Also, I can't even sense them clearly. They are mainly just clouds of a darker-red matter in their shape. I didn't even know Ezra had a haircut for two years. I still imagined him with his semi-long hair.