Once we arrived, we realized two things: first, the place was packed with people, making it easy to blend in, and second, Empire Day sucks.
The noise in Lothal's main square was deafening. Imperial banners waved in every corner, and massive screens broadcast propaganda about the Emperor and the "order" the Empire supposedly brought. It was all a carefully orchestrated lie, designed to maintain absolute control.
With my hood pulled tightly over my face, I observed the square. It wasn't just about blending in with the crowd—it was crucial that no camera recorded me. If Vader or the Emperor ever saw my face, all of this would be over before it even began. I had learned how to be invisible during my training under them, but here, in the crowd, caution was key.
The team dispersed upon arrival. Hera had been clear: no communicator contact unless absolutely necessary. Sabine and Zeb moved with an ease I almost envied; it seemed so effortless for them. I, on the other hand, stayed close to Kanan. Beneath my hood, I analyzed every detail: the stormtrooper patrols, the surveillance drones flying in calculated patterns, and the cameras in strategic positions. My mind mapped it all out as if it were second nature.
"What do you think?" Kanan asked, his tone calm as we walked.
"Too much security near the stage. The guards are too concentrated there. We'll need a distraction."
Kanan nodded, as if he fully trusted my assessment. But I couldn't understand why he trusted me. His way of operating was different—he believed in people, in his team. I didn't. My training had taught me that trust was a luxury… and a risk.
Sabine spoke through the communicator:
"Ready? Zeb and I are about to start the show."
"Give us another minute to get closer to the designated point," Kanan replied.
We moved into a side street, carefully avoiding the cameras' angles. I ensured my face remained covered at all times, using the hood to shield me from any prying eyes. From our position, the experimental TIE fighter was visible.
"This is the spot." Kanan murmured, stopping behind a stack of crates. From there, we could clearly see the strategic points where the explosives needed to be placed.
Then, explosions rang out in the square, lighting up the sky with bursts of light. The crowd cheered, believing it was part of the celebration, but the Imperial soldiers began moving toward the source of the blasts, wary.
"That should distract them long enough," Kanan commented. "It's now or never."
"Understood," I replied, my tone low and neutral.
We slipped toward the stage, moving through the shadows. Kanan kept watch while I planted the explosives. Every movement was methodical, precise. My hood remained over my face, even as I worked.
"All good down there?" Kanan asked quietly.
"Yes, almost done." I responded while adjusting the final device.
The officers began returning, and Kanan signaled for us to retreat. We moved with the same stealth we had used to approach, slipping back into the crowd toward our rendezvous point.
Then it exploded. That gave us the signal to start to run.
As we ran through a dark alley, Sabine and Zeb joined us, followed by Ezra.
"Look who decided to show up!" Zeb said, flashing a teasing grin at Ezra.
Ezra didn't respond, keeping his gaze fixed on the ground as if he were deep in thought.
"You okay, kid?" Kanan asked, a hint of concern in his voice.
"Yeah… I just needed to clear my head," Ezra replied, his voice softer than usual. Kanan seemed satisfied with that answer for now and pulled out the communicator to contact Hera.
"Specter-2, we're heading to the rendezvous point."
Hera's response came almost immediately:
"Negative, Specter-1. The streets are blocked."
We stopped dead in our tracks.
"I know a place where we can hide until things settle down," Ezra offered. "But Shoulders over here is gonna have trouble fitting through," he added, gesturing at Zeb.
"Then we'll need another option," Kanan replied, quickly evaluating the possibilities.
"No, it's fine," Zeb said, pulling out his communicator. "Specter-2, can you make it to the old market?"
"Affirmative." Hera responded.
"I'm heading there," Zeb said, starting to climb a nearby building with the ease he was always known for.
The rest of us followed Ezra to his hideout, which turned out to be his old home—a place filled with emotional tension for him. It wasn't just a refuge; it was also where Tseebo, the Rodian the Empire was desperately hunting, was located. According to Ezra, Tseebo had been a friend of his parents, but what was really interesting was that he had downloaded classified Imperial information—so much of it that the fate of entire systems could depend on that data. Our mission changed in that instant: we had to get the Rodian off-planet.
To accomplish that, we hijacked an Imperial troop transport and sped out of the city, but the Imperial forces pursued us relentlessly.
The transport shook with every enemy shot that hit, and finally, an explosion blew out the rear door. An Imperial soldier entered the vehicle, knocking Ezra down. My reflexes kicked in immediately. Before the soldier could aim his weapon, I struck him. My blow, infused with the Force, sent him flying out of the transport, making him disappear into the road. But this wasn't over.
Another Imperial transport was right on our tail, ramming into us whenever it could.
"Specter-5 to Ghost: we've got company," Sabine reported as she fought to maintain control of the transport.
At that moment, I felt a disturbance in the Force—something or someone on the roof. Without thinking twice, I headed up.
"Galen, what are you doing?!" Kanan shouted from below, but I ignored him.
When I reached the roof, I saw an ISB agent. His uniform gave him away, and his expression upon seeing me was a mix of surprise and curiosity.
"How strange... I've never seen you before. A new rebel recruit?" he said with a mocking tone, drawing what appeared to be a Lasat weapon.
I didn't answer. Keeping my hood low to conceal my face, I observed his movements. When he lunged at me, I easily dodged, letting his attacks become erratic and desperate. The Force guided me, anticipating each of his moves.
Hera and Zeb arrived in the Ghost right above us. Zeb aimed his rifle at the agent, but I raised a hand to signal him not to shoot. Zeb frowned, confused, but respected my signal. The agent, distracted by the Ghost, gave me the opening I needed. Channeling the Force into a strike, I sent him flying off the roof, where he disappeared into the road traffic.
"Nice job, kid!" Zeb shouted from above.
I responded with a simple gesture: a thumbs-up, without saying a word.
"Galen, TIE fighters incoming. Get on the Ghost now!" Kanan yelled from below.
"First, everyone needs to be safe," I replied, not sure where this altruistic impulse came from. Maybe part of me was finally breaking free from Vader's shadow.
Once Kanan, Ezra, Sabine, and Tseebo were on top of the transport, the Ghost lowered its ramp, and we all boarded quickly. There was no time for celebrations: the TIE fighters were closing in.
"Okay, now, Galen!" Kanan shouted urgently. "Do you know how to fire a turret?"
I nodded silently.
"Good, follow me up. I need you shooting with me."
I climbed up after him and positioned myself at the turret, but as I watched the TIE fighters approaching, a better idea occurred to me. I closed my eyes, letting the Force guide me. I extended my senses toward the enemy pilot's cockpit, establishing a mental link.
It was a technique my master had taught me, a dangerous but effective skill. In seconds, I took control of the pilot, forcing him to fire on his own squadron. One by one, the enemy fighters fell, caught off guard by the unexpected attack.
The particular TIE fighter gave me more trouble, but I finally managed to hit one of its wings, sending it spiraling out of control.
"Jumping to hyperspace!" I heard over the Ghost's speakers. We had finally escaped.
I got off the turret and headed to the main room, where the team was discussing what had happened. Everyone turned to look when I entered.
"Hey, kid! Did you see what that TIE did?" Zeb commented, pointing at Ezra.
"Yeah... But it's weird. Why would he do that?" Sabine asked, clearly confused.
"Because I made him." I replied, my tone cold.
"You did it? How?" Sabine asked, not hiding her disbelief.
"I used an old technique my master taught me: mind control. I forced the pilot to attack his own squadron," I explained, letting my words sink in.
The shock on their faces was evident, except for Kanan. His expression was serious, almost stern. I knew what he was thinking: that wasn't something a Jedi would use. But I wasn't a Jedi.
The atmosphere in the Ghost's main room became tense after my explanation. Sabine, Ezra, and Zeb looked astonished, and perhaps a little unsettled. Tseebo, on the other hand, remained silent, trying to stay unnoticed. Kanan, however, hadn't said anything, but his serious expression spoke volumes.
Without waiting for any more comments, I turned on my heel and headed to my makeshift room on the ship, not looking at anyone else.
"Where are you going, kid?" Zeb asked, but I didn't respond. I just wanted to be alone.
When I reached my room, I closed the door behind me and leaned against the wall. The noise from the conversations in the main room faded, leaving me in a silence that, for the first time in a long while, felt uncomfortable. My mind was full of contradictions. I had used a technique taught to me by Vader, a remnant of his dark influence on me, but I didn't do it for him. I did it because it was the most effective way to keep us alive.
I removed my hood, letting the cold sweat from the mission dry on my forehead. I took a deep breath, closing my eyes as I tried to calm my thoughts. But the peace didn't last long.
A knock on the door.
I knew who it was before they spoke.
"Galen, open the door," Kanan said from the other side. His tone wasn't aggressive, but it wasn't friendly either.
After a moment of hesitation, I opened it.
Kanan entered and closed the door behind him. He crossed his arms, watching me with that teacher-like air I'd seen before. It was the look of someone who had seen more than they wanted to, someone who understood what it was like to live with a difficult past.
"What do you want?" I asked, my tone neutral, although I knew exactly why he was here.
"I want answers," he replied directly. "That technique you used… it's a very advanced form of mind control. It's not something you learn just anywhere. Where did you get it?"
I stared at him in silence for a few seconds. Part of me wanted to lie, avoid the topic, but I knew Kanan wouldn't be fooled. I took a deep breath and answered.
"My master taught me."
"Your master?" he repeated, his eyes narrowing with suspicion. "Who was he?"
"That doesn't matter now," I said, dodging the question. But Kanan didn't back down.
"Doesn't matter? Of course it matters. That technique is dangerous, Galen. Not just for others, but for you. Manipulating someone's mind isn't something you do lightly, and it's certainly not something a Jedi would do."
"I'm not a Jedi anymore," I replied coldly, crossing my arms, the lie slipping out without hesitation.
"I know that already," Kanan shot back, his tone now more firm. "But you're here with us, fighting for something bigger. If you're going to be on this team, you need to understand that we use the Force to protect, not to dominate."
I looked at him, trying to maintain my mask of indifference, but his words carried weight. For a moment, I thought of Vader and all the times he'd forced me to use that technique on prisoners, enemies, even allies.
"I did it because it was the only thing that could ensure our survival. If I hadn't done it, maybe we wouldn't be here talking." I said, finally surprising him.
Kanan studied me in silence, as if looking for something beyond my words. Finally, he took a step closer.
"I understand what you're saying," he said, his tone calmer, though still firm. "But you need to be aware of the path that opens up. The Force isn't just a tool, Galen. It's a living thing. If you use it to control, to force, you end up losing more than you gain."
"Are you speaking from experience?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
Kanan sighed, and for a moment, his gaze dropped to the floor. "Yes. I've made mistakes. And I've seen others fall for not understanding the consequences of their choices."
I fell silent. His words resonated more than I wanted to admit. Finally, Kanan stepped back, his expression more relaxed.
"I'm going to trust you, Galen. But I want you to understand something: if you're going to be with us, you need to leave those teachings behind. We don't follow that path here."
I nodded slightly, not fully committing, but enough for Kanan to know I had heard him.
"I'll do whatever it takes to survive." was all I said.
Kanan looked at me for a moment longer, then sighed.
"Rest, kid."
With that, he left the room, leaving me alone once more.
The sound of the door sliding shut echoed in the small space, and the absence of his presence filled the room with a heavy silence. I leaned against the wall, letting my head fall back as I closed my eyes.
Kanan's words still echoed in my mind like an annoying buzz.
'Leave my teachings behind... Does he have any idea what that means?'
A cold tingling ran through my hands, a reflection of anger that had been buried for a long time but still surfaced at the most inopportune moments. As much as I hated Vader, I couldn't ignore the usefulness of the skills I had gained under his tutelage. It's not like he gave me another option. Every technique, every trick, every lesson burned into my mind wasn't just a dark legacy; it was survival.
Kanan wouldn't understand. He can't understand it. His life, though broken by the Clone Wars and the hunt for Jedi, was still the life of someone who had a purpose, a community, a greater cause. My life had been the complete opposite. Isolation, manipulation, training to the limits of human endurance and beyond.
"If it weren't for those teachings, none of them would have made it out alive today." I thought, clenching my fists. I knew Kanan didn't see it that way, but it didn't matter. They could talk about hope, rebellion, noble causes, but I wasn't fighting for the same reasons they were.
I opened my eyes and pushed away from the wall, beginning to pace the small room. The movement helped calm me, or at least distract me. My goal had never been the Empire as a whole. I didn't care about their fleets, their legions, or even the systems they had subjugated. All of that was secondary, background noise in front of my real target: Vader... and the Emperor.
'They would pay. For everything.'
-----------------------------------------------------------
Hello there!! Thanks for waiting, I hope you enjoy these chapters because I stayed up several nights working on them hahaha. Anyway, these chapters were a bit more introspective since I wanted to explore more about how Starkiller feels after being betrayed and how this will shape him for the rest of the story. That's all for today, greetings, and good night.