Ahsoka, together with Tra'Saa, flew into the hangar of the pirate base. The clones rushed in after them, firing on the stunned pirates, who were quite numerous. Gunships continued landing more and more troops, and Blam even brought in a couple of AT-TE tanks.
The pirates scattered in confusion, some fighting back fiercely, but the clones pressed forward, methodically clearing the hangar.
"Aayla's information was accurate," the Neti said, deflecting blaster shots with apparent ease.
"Master Saa!" the Togruta pointed to the Diamond-class cruiser standing at the far end of the vast hangar. "They're about to take off!"
"I'll take care of them."
And then Ahsoka watched in amazement as the Master appeared beside the transport almost instantly. Freezing in place, Tra'Saa began to make strange movements with her hands. Her hair, which nearly brushed the floor, flew up into the air, enveloping her as green sparks crackled around her. The transport lifted off the hangar floor and was about to surge toward the wide opening when the Neti stretched out her hand—and the massive cruiser froze in midair. One sharp motion of Tra'Saa's hand, and the thousand-ton machine was hurled backward.
The powerful shockwave from the impact nearly knocked everyone off their feet. Beams and fragments of stone rained down from the ceiling.
After that, most of the pirates chose to surrender. The clones herded them into groups, forcing them to sit on the floor. Blaster barrels trained on them made it abundantly clear that any resistance would be immediately suppressed.
Ahsoka stepped toward the Master to voice her admiration when she suddenly clutched her head.
"What happened?"
"J-just now… Master Tholme is wounded. The Dark Woman too. I'm not sure about Aayla, but I know one thing for certain—she's in danger. I can feel it… in the Force. But our mission is here."
"It's all right. The Master is close by."
Looking around, the girl made a decision.
"Master Saa, take a squad of troopers and go help Master Tholme and the others. I'll manage here."
"Are you sure? It's important to clear this base completely so that no one escapes. And we need to seize all the data—"
"I can handle it. There's more than a battalion of clones here, plus Blam and Puck will help me if necessary. We won't be any poorer for one platoon."
"…Thank you, Ahsoka."
"Lucky! Take your platoon and follow Master Saa! And get the gunships ready!" the girl commanded.
"Yes, Commander Tano!"
***
Aayla raced through the night on her speeder bike along a mountain road lit only by the dim glow of a single headlight. If she weren't Force-sensitive, at that speed she would surely risk either slamming into a sheer cliff face—or plunging straight into the abyss.
Danger!
Leaping off at the last possible moment, she narrowly avoided being killed by the explosion. Rolling across the rocks, she came up on one knee, ignited her lightsaber, and scanned her surroundings.
"Are you still alive, little Twi'lek?" an unfamiliar voice asked, breaking the silence.
Aayla turned her head but saw no one.
"Like those two Jedi prisoners in the cave. Can you sense them in the Force? I can. They're weakening. They're dying."
What?!
"Perhaps you can still save them."
Aayla finally determined the direction from which the voice was coming—it definitely belonged to a woman—and rushed toward it.
"Hurry with all your might, little one."
The Twi'lek reached a small depression in the rocks. There she saw a compact transmitter connected to an explosive device—it was impossible not to recognize a thermal detonator.
"Of course, it's hard to save others when you're dead."
A second before the blast, the Jedi hurled herself aside.
"Excellent! Yet you haven't drawn a single step closer to them."
Ayla twisted her head again.
"Looking for me? Well then—where am I?"
She closed her eyes and steadied her breathing. Calm down. Focus. Use the Force.
"Brilliant, little Jedi. Use the Force. Focus on the object. Don't listen to the voice."
Aayla sprinted across the rocks toward the nearby cliffs.
"Here… here…"
Almost there.
"Well done. You found me!"
Aayla looked up at the figure standing atop a narrow ledge. The moon slipped out from behind the clouds and illuminated her. Pale skin. Darkened eye sockets. Long, predatory fingers…
Who are you? Aurra—?!
There was no doubt about it. Aurra Sing.
A ruthless killer, once trained by the Order, who had left—fled—from it. A woman who had slain many Jedi.
"See what I found? A lightsaber—do you recognize it? It belonged to one of the Jedi who is dying at this very moment."
An elongated object glinted in her hands. A lightsaber. Aayla recognized it instantly. She couldn't not recognize it.
"It's yours if you can take it."
"Tholme!" With that cry, Aayla lunged forward.
"Gotcha!"
Another explosion nearly caught her, but the Jedi managed to leap clear. The landing, however, was far from gentle. Sharp rocks bit into her side.
"Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!" The mercenary's eerie laughter splashed against the rocks, the echo mocking her again and again.
The moon slipped behind the clouds, and pitch darkness fell.
Aayla clutched the hilt of her lightsaber convulsively. Then, suddenly, she calmed. She remembered one of her lessons with Quinlan Vos—his voice, clear and firm, as if he were standing beside her.
"Free your mind. Don't let extraneous thoughts enter it. A free mind will show you the perfect target for your strike. A free heart will allow you to see into the heart of another. Remember this forever."
Aayla bent low, letting Aurra's blade whistle past overhead.
And then the fight truly began.
To her surprise, Aayla quickly realized that the mercenary was highly skilled with a lightsaber. Strength was not lacking either—an unexpected kick to the ribs sent the Twi'lek flying.
"Die, Jedi witch!" Aurra leaped into the air, her crushing blow nearly breaking through Aayla's defense. But the mercenary didn't pause; with difficulty, Aayla parried the next strike aimed at her back.
Using telekinesis, the Twi'lek scooped up a handful of stones and hurled them at Sing's face. Aurra dodged, but several sharp cuts still traced her cheek.
"Nifty!" The mercenary wiped the blood away with her palm. "But you're still going to die, little Jedi! Just like those two—death is already waiting for them!"
Aayla attacked Aurra furiously.
"Dead! They're dead!" the mercenary screamed.
"Maybe you should change the record?" a male voice suddenly cut through the night.
Both fighters froze. Aayla immediately sensed it—an ally. Vikt.
"Ho-ho-ho, another Jedi!" Aurra sneered. "Well then, I'll just have to kill you too." A second blade snapped to life in her hand—red.
"What, aren't the deaths of two Jedi enough for you?" the Twi'lek asked.
"As long as even one still lives—I will never rest!"
The Jedi cast off his cloak. In the next instant, an orange blade ignited, slicing through the darkness. And now he stood, barring the path of Sing's sabers. But… Aurra was hurled aside—the Jedi's power was immense.
"Say, is Asajj Ventress your sister by any chance?" Vikt asked.
"What makes you think that?" Aurra froze.
The Jedi grinned.
"Because you're just the same… a bald witch."
With a snarl, Aurra hurled herself back into the fight. Aayla, having fully recovered, joined in. Blue, green, red, and orange blades clashed, separating and colliding again in a deadly dance.
Suddenly, the Jedi hurled his lightsaber—its hilt unusually long—into his prosthetic grip, and another blade ignited in his free hand. It was orange as well, but shorter. Aayla poured all her strength into locking one of Aurra's blades, giving Vikt an opening.
But Aurra parried his strike. Then another…
But she failed to stop the next one.
Vikt simply deactivated his blade. The red saber slid past by inertia, and the hilt of Vikt's weapon followed a sharp, intricate arc—slamming into the woman's temple. Aurra jerked once and went limp.
"Whew. We did it," the Jedi said, collecting the mercenary's blades.
"This is yours, I believe." Vikt handed Aayla the hilt of Master Tholme's lightsaber.
"Is she alive?" Aayla asked quietly, accepting it with care.
"Unfortunately, yes. The likes of her… shouldn't be left breathing. Hey, boys!" Vikt waved his hand, and clones appeared along the ridge. "Drag your asses over here."
As they hurried down, the Jedi kicked the fallen Aurra.
"Pack up this carrion. If she tries to escape—shoot her."
"Yes, sir," the sergeant replied, saluting.
Aayla caught Vikt by the shoulder.
"Tholme… we need to—"
"Don't worry, Master Secura. Master Tra'Saa has already pulled them out from under the rubble. They're on their way to the Akagi."
"Then let's hurry," Aayla said, smiling for the first time that night.