ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ꜰᴏᴜʀ

ᴍᴀʏʙᴇ ᴛʜɪꜱ ᴛɪᴍᴇ.
ᴀ ꜱᴛᴇᴘ ᴛᴏᴡᴀʀᴅꜱ ꜰʀᴇᴇᴅᴏᴍ: ᴘᴀʀᴛ ᴛᴡᴏ

《☆》

The ghost landed on Hoth, prompting the band of Rebels to disembark the ship. Kitra's boots trod through the snow as she followed after Hera towards the debriefing room.

As she walked past rebels, groups of people stopped to stare. Kitra kept to herself, knowing that the whispers of her identity only grew louder after the battle or Yavin.

Kitra had not stayed with the Rebellion after Cassian's death. How would she? She felt as if there were nothing else to hold her down, no other purpose to turn to.

So whenever she was on base, everyone who was aware of her identity, knew she was there.

Turning her face away from the stares, she continued after Hera and walked through the thin corridors. The door whooshed open as they walked into the operations room with Kallus and the rest of the remaining ghost crew trailing behind.

"General Dodanna." Hera greeted as she approached the operations table. The General faced her with a gentle smile, looking between the group of Insurgents. "General Syndulla, Lieutenant Kenobi, I believe your mission was a success?"

Hera retrieved the data from Chopper and slid the cards across the table towards the General, "Success is one word to use, certainly." She quipped, as Kitra placed her hands on her hips.

The General passed the cards to a nearby officer, who inserted the cards into the system. The table projected multiple diagrams, showcasing star destroyers with built in cannons - descriptions which matched up to the politician's words. "Kitra managed to find out information regarding the weapon. We believe its course is set to destroy Ord Mantell." Hera explained.

General Dodanna nodded his head, "How sure of this evidence are we?" He questioned, gazing between the two women. "Not just sure, certain." Kitra corrected.

Hera peered towards Kitra from the corner of her eye, while the members of Rebel High Command turned to Kitra. "And what if we find nothing there?" An officer questioned.

"Then we continue our search." Hera answered back, giving the officer a stern gaze. Kitra crossed her arms over her chest while a couple officers shared a few glances. "General Syndulla, this seems to be too risky. The evidence that you've provided is not supported enough for us to permit an attack. I'm afraid that we'll have to wait." General Dodanna spoke.

Kitra's eyes glazed over in anger, "General Dodan--"

"Do you hear yourselves?" Kitra interrupted, making all eyes in the room turn in her direction. Kitra dropped her arms by her sides as she looked between the officers in disbelief. "We have provided data files, locations, literal images of this weapon and you still won't fight back."

Hera's eyes widened, "Kitra." The Jedi ignored the General and stepped up towards the table.

"I thought you would have learned by now to not second guess yourselves. After what happened on Scariff, after all those lives that were lost - I thought you'd know better than to wait." Kitra ranted, looking towards Admiral Akbar who avoided her gaze.

General Dodanna sighed, "Lieutenant, Scariff did serve its purpose to the Rebellion, and those sacrifices--"

"Those weren't sacrifices. Those rebels did not plan to die that day. Scariff was a blood bath. We lost an entire fleet to a bombardment. We lost a lot of good people that day." Kitra spoke, as she leaned forward against the table.

She eyed the weapon in the hologram ahead of her, "This weapon may not be as powerful as the Death Star, but it is still lethal. It can still vaporise an entire town in 10 minutes. That is a threat we cannot ignore."

"We've all lost someone to the Death Star - some of us have lost many to its wrath. This weapon is the Empire's attempt to reinstate that fear and control. This weapon will take the lives of many people's loved ones." Kitra explained as her eyes softened, making her gaze downwards.

Hera took a step towards Kitra, ready to comfort the young girl; but the Jedi concealed her pain before she could take another step. "They could serve as great allies, efficient for this cause. We don't have the same numbers as we did before Yavin.....before Scariff. We need as much support as we can possibly get." Kitra explained.

The officers did not say a word, as they looked at the Jedi with stunned eyes. Kitra released a heavy breath which she had been holding, before she faced the rest of the Ghost crew. They too, looked at her in surprise.

Kitra turned to Hera, "You know where to find me." She spoke, before she turned on her heel and left the room.

The girl stepped through the large hanger and sat down on a cargo box and released a heavy breath. The girl balled her fists, feeling her irritation boil up inside of her. "No...calm." Kitra muttered to herself, "Release the Mandalorian temper inside of you....happy thoughts..." She muttered, feeling her irritation slowly dissipate.

Kitra sighed and gazed ahead, watching as many people rushed from different ships to conduct their daily routines. "Kitra." A voice called out from beside her, making the girl gaze up at Hera.

"I don't know how you do it, Kenobi. You have a way with words, we've been approved." Hera announced, placing one hand on her hip. Kitra sent her General a satisfactory nod before standing up.

As they walked towards the Ghost, the hanger bay opened, and a fleet of snow speeders raced into the hanger.

Kitra followed Hera up the ramp, before she felt herself stop in her tracks. A distant song tremmored in the back of her mind, as the wind rushed with a cool breeze behind her. The Jedi frowned to herself as she gazed over her shoulder and looked upon the snow speeders.

"Eh.." The girl shrugged before she turned back around and walked up the ramp; seconds before a young pilot observed the Ghost, having felt the same sensation.

Kitra placed herself in the co-pilots seat, strapping herself in as Hera flicked various buttons. The Ghost swerved through the hanger and blasted through the doors and up towards the blinding white clouds.

Once they left Hoth's atmosphere, Hera typed in coordinates before the Ghost shot into hyperspace. The calming tunnel of stars surrounded the ship.

Kitra's attention was drawn to the stars, as she observed the systems that flew past. Hera observed the Jedi beside her. "You still fight for him, don't you?" She questioned, recalling her words in the meeting.

The Jedi did not look away from the stars, "Every fight is in his name." Kitra answered, as her gaze lowered to her ring which hung around her neck.

Hera smiled with sad eyes, "I know that feeling." She sighed, as she looked to her side and placed a gentle hand on Chopper's head.

After many hours, the Ghost jumped out of hyperspace. Kitra gazed towards the fabricated licence that was veiled in the rebel ship's place, fooling the Imperial ships ahead of them.

Kitra gazed forward at the large Imperial cruiser which had two smaller transports hovering beside it. "Get the others ready." Hera instructed, earning a nod from the girl.

The Jedi slid down the ladder into the hull of the ship, where the others were strapping various weapons to themselves. Her landing caught their attention, making all eyes land on her. "We've arrived." Kitra revealed, stepping away from the ladder.

Rex sighed as he tightened a piece of armor around his wrist. "This won't be an easy fight. That cruiser will be filled to the brim with Imperials of all ranks. We have to ready to face anything." Kitra briefed, earning a ready expression from Rex.

She inspected the weapons table from afar and reached out, feeling a detonator smack into her palm. Zeb chuckled, "I'm ready for anything when we have a Jedi on our side." Zeb smiled, placing a hand on his hip.

Kitra tossed and caught the detonator in her hand before she strapped it to her belt, "A Mandalorian Jedi, don't forget that." Rex confirmed with a smirk.

"I'm relieved to be fighting on your side, at last." Kallus expressed, making Kitra meet his gaze with an enthused smile. "Agreed."

The ship rocked as it locked into the side of the cruiser. The rebels took that as their cue, as they slipped through the side airlock, infiltrating into the narrow corridors of the cruiser.

"I'll be your eyes and ears. Just don't do anything stupid, especially you Zeb." Hera spoke through the radio channel, earning a small smirk from Rex.

Kitra took out her twin blasters from her holsters and turned round a corner, closely followed by the rest of the crew. Kallus stood behind her and motioned with his hands the direction that they should travel in.

Following his instructions, Kitra weaved through the halls, ducking behind corners as stormtroopers patrolled by. "TK-477. Initialise the transfer of the Govners party." A trooper's radio ordered.

Kitra instantly shared a couple of glances with the rebels. "Looks like our plan is changing." Kallus sighed. Kitra watched as the patrol left the corridor. "Which should we prioritise?" Zeb questioned.

"Rescuing the prisoners will guarantee the support of Ord Mantell.." Rex theorised.

"No. Destroying the weapon is our main priority, as long as the cannon still operates, lives are at stake. If we demolish it, we have a couple of minutes to find the prisoners and help them escape." Kitra suggested.

Kallus rubbed his chin with a hum. "Our time will be short, so we must make every second count." Kallus expressed. Rex peered towards Kitra with a smile.

"You can count on her to make it work, blowing up cruisers is her speciality." Rex informed, as Kitra stowed her blasters and stood up. "Oh, I know." Kallus answered, as he recalled his many encounters with the girl.

Without any further hesitation, the crew rushed through the halls. While they ran, Kitra raised her communicator to her mouth, "Spector 2, I need a reading on the Imperial prisoners on board." Kitra requested.

They continued to run until they reached an engine room. Standing ahead of the doors were two guards, who upon their arrival, aimed their blaster rifles at the insurgents. Rex sighed, "This is about to get interest--"

Zeb unhooked his rifle from his back and blasted both troopers to the ground. "--What? What was that? Now everyone on this ship knows we're here!" Rex yelled. Kitra let out a sigh and rested her head against a wall, closing her eyes to block out their noise while Kallus rubbed his head.

"Every second counts.." Zeb defended, making Rex release a frustrated groan. Kitra stood up straight, "Come on, we might as well get started before they find us." Kitra suggested as they walked towards the door.

Kallus took out one of the passkeys which was hidden in their armor and unlocked the door. They walked into the engine room and looked upon the large cannisters with small bridges built around them.

Their entrance caught the attention of many Imperial engineers who were surrounded by various desks and equipment. "Hey! You're not authorised to be in here!" One man shouted as he raised a blaster.

Before the man could shoot, Rex raised his blaster and fired a blast, hitting the man's wrist and knocking his gun out his hand. The man dropped his weapon and grunted before a small round of blasts were fired into his chest, knocking him to the ground.

Kitra slowly peered to her side, watching with a smirk as Rex lowered his steaming blasters. "Still got it in you." She smiled as she unhooked her blasters. The clone chuckled as he raised his twin blasters, aiming at the other officers who were ready to attack. "I've got many fights left in me." He huffed.

Zeb released a chain of blasts, knocking a group of officers down. Kitra dived beneath the line of fire and rolled towards the closest desk, using it as cover before she jumped up and ambushed the Imperials.

She jumped over the desk and released a round of blasts, while the rebels behind her drew closer in. Kitra blasted a hole through the centre of a guard's helmet, making them fall to the ground with a loud echo.

The rebels stood around and caught their breath before Kallus approached a computer and began to scroll through the readings which were displayed.

Kitra removed the detonators from her belt and gazed up towards the large engines. Zeb approached the girl and let out a heavy breath, "Is there a specific way you want to do this, or do you want to just go crazy?" He questioned. The girl smiled up at the Lasat, indicating her answer.

The two rebels separated as they began to throw detonators onto the engines, attaching the devices as they began to pulse and count down. Kitra leapt upwards and landed on one engine, perching on the side as she attached a couple more detonators to the surface.

"I think that's all of them." Zeb called out, as Rex and Kallus placed themselves next to the ex-soldier. Kitra nodded in response and jumped down, landing on the walkway with a clatter. "Let's get out of here." She suggested, walking past them

They sprinted along the walkway, back through the door in which they came from. Once the door sealed shut, a deafening explosion shook from the other side of the door, causing lights and panelling to collapse downwards, promptly followed by the alarm systems which echoed through the halls.

"Spectre 8, this is Spectre 2. There are a total of 12 prisoners, all in the left detention wing. Spectre out." Hera's voice rung through her communicator, making her eye the rest of the crew before they peeled from the walls and continued through the halls.

Rounding another corner, Kitra stopped in her tracks as she came face to face with a small squad of troopers. The girl raised her twin blasters, along with the other rebels. Stepping out from behind the troopers, stood a heavily armored trooper.

The air around the girl thickened as they brought out a steel sword. The trooper extended the metallic blade before a red energy lining ruptured around the edges. The girl raised an eyebrow, never having seen any weapon similar to the one before her.

Kitra felt Rex tense from beside her as he tightened his grasp on his blasters. The Jedi sighed to herself, sharing a knowing look with Zeb. "Kallus, Rex; you know what to do." Kitra ordered, making the clone lower his blasters ever so slightly, shooting her a confused look. "Go." Kitra repeated in a firm voice.

The old man sent her an affirmative nod before backing away with Kallus. Kitra spread out with Zeb by her side, "You ready for some fun, Spectre 4?" Kitra questions, as she stowed her twin blasters. The lasat chuckled eagerly as he removed his bo-rifle from his back. "Always, Spectre 8." He smiled.

Kitra unhooked her two hilts from her belt and held both lightsabers in a reverse grip in front of her. Placing herself in a fighting stance, she activated both blades, illuminating the dark hall with a purple hue.

The armored trooper turned to Kitra and instantly tightened his grip on his sword. The trooper charged at her, prompting Kitra to push her right lightsaber up to block his blade, before swinging her other arm around and slashing her blade through his armor.

The Jedi moved past the trooper, placing herself in a ready position while the trooper lurched forward from the injury.

From beside her, Zeb unleashed his many blasts upon the troopers, knocking them down with his powerful gunfire. He charged through the crowds, picking up troopers and using them as weapons against each other; sweeping them off their feet.

Kitra kept her eyes on her opponent as the trooper looked back at her from the other side of his vizor. "Filthy Jedi." He spat before he took a step forward to charge at her.

He could only take one step, before he was seized in his place. The trooper gazed down, using all of his strength to move forward but he was frozen in his place. They looked forward and noticed how the Jedi before him barely tensed from her exertion.

With a singular hand movement, his feet dragged against the floor as he was pulled towards the female Jedi. By now his feet barely touched the floor as a blade was held to his neck, against the softer part of his armor. "What was that, trooper?" She questioned in a hushed tone.

Her eyes contorted into an intense glare as she stared through the purple hues of the lightsaber. "Do you want to repeat that?" She questioned, but the trooper remained silent. Kitra hummed before releasing her grip on the trooper, letting him crash down onto his knees in front of her.

Kitra looked down at him. In one swift movement, she swiped her other blade across his helmet; making sparks flash from the circuits within the helmet. She held both blades down towards the floor as she watched the trooper keel over onto the floor in a heap.

Zeb released a blast onto the last trooper before he turned his attention towards Kitra, who stepped over the body of the armored trooper. The girl deactivated both of her blades and placed the hilts back on her belt.

Before any words could be shared, Kitra's communicator began to pulse. "Spectre 8, all prisoners are secure. Make your escape, we are tight on time. Rex out."

The two rebels shared a glance before they turned around and sprinted through the tight halls of the ship. Jumping through the air-lock, Kitra secured the door from behind her before she pressed a button beside the door, releasing the ship from the side of the cruiser.

The Jedi stepped through the thin halls of the Ghost and stopped in front of the automatic doors. Kitra let out a heavy breath and gazed down at her hands. She screwed her eyes shut while her breath shook within her chest. She knew what she was doing, but sometimes, when she came face to face with the Imperials, she could not control her anger.

Kitra opened her eyes and stepped through the door as it whooshed open. The Jedi stepped out onto the bridge, overlooking the hull of the ship where all of the prisoners convened.

The girl remained in that position while Rex guided them from the ship once they arrived back home on their planet. Kitra disassociated from the world around her as the people of Ord Mantell praised the Rebels for their efforts.

Not long after, Kitra returned to the present to find the Ghost back in hyperspace. "He would be proud of you." Hera spoke softly from beside her. Kitra blinked back her tears.

"But I could be better." She expressed, making Hera raise her eyebrows in surprise. The pilot sighed and leaned against the railing beside the girl. "Kitra, you are the best the Ghost has. Without you, we would not be able to achieve what we have. Thank you." Hera spoke.

Kitra's eyes swirled in disgust and guilt, knowing that her anger had sped up their success. Although it did help them, she had broken the Jedi's teachings, her father's teachings and her Master's.

"..but I'm full of resent. It's toxic, I can feel it infiltrating my system." Kitra revealed, receiving no answer from Hera. The Jedi looked towards the Twi'lek woman and sighed. "I need to get in control of it, before I end up hurting the wrong people."

Hera did not say a word but nodded in response. She could understand, she herself hated the Empire for years, she still does to this day. However she does not wield the power of the force, she is less of a threat. She unleashes her anger from the cockpit. Whereas Kitra was on the front lines, beside other rebel agents.

She understood Kitra's worry. "What can I do to help?" Hera questioned, while Kitra peeled off from the