Rebels on the Run

Chapter One

"Anyone might have tortured you. For all I know, you're trying to make your way back to the Empire."

"How can I prove to you that I'm being honest?" You think for a second, trying to decide what could possibly reveal to you that he's not lying. There is one way, but it's risky, especially given that he is a clone, but you take the risk anyway.

"Say it again."

"Say what again? That I'm being honest?"

"No, your claim about fleeing the Empire." Your grip tightens slightly on him, and your fingers wrap around to feel his pulse.

"I'm wanted by the Empire. I'm trying to escape the planet and join the clones who are rebelling." You close your eyes as he speaks and sense his words. Unsurprisingly, he's telling the truth. You knew his voice had been eerily similar to the defiant clone, and this is all but a direct confirmation of his identity.

"I believe you," you reply after a minute. You let go of his hand and lower your blaster, motioning for him to sit on your make-shift chair while you sit across from him on your make-shift bed.

"If I may ask," he says, "how did you know you could trust me just by holding my wrist?"

"When people lie, their heart rate typically spikes. I felt your pulse, and it remained steady." It isn't exactly false, but it's not quite the method you had used. But you also aren't going to outright admit that you're a Jedi when he could still kill you.

"Ah, I see," he says, his hand subconsciously rubbing his other wrist. "Now I guess it's my turn to ask who you are."

"None of your business," you reply simply, and he looks at you silently for a second before nodding.

"I understand you might not trust me completely-"

"The only thing I trust about you," you begin, cutting him off, "is what you told me about your condition with the Empire."

"I guess that's fair," he replies. "But, I can promise you that I'm not a threat."

"Not a threat to who?"

"You. Anyone. Well, anyone except the Empire."

"You're a clone trooper."

"Yes."

"You're a threat to the Jedi. You're a threat to citizens who do not want to align with the Empire, even if you're not with them anymore. People will still see you and fear occupation."

"The Jedi have all been wiped out," he responds, "and it is not the clones that forced the occupation, it's the imperials that order us around."

"But they're the sign of occupation, are they not?"

"I mean...I guess."

"And how can you be certain all the Jedi have died? I've heard quite a few rumors about some surviving and in hiding."

"Well, those are just rumors," he counters.

"But if you knew there was a Jedi nearby, you'd kill them, right?"

"I-" he begins, but then his face scrunches in thought, almost as if he's in pain. His hand goes up to his head, but then he shakes it, clearing his throat before looking back up. "Part of me believes that it is my duty to make sure all the Jedi are dead, but the other part of me believes that the Empire lied in order to take control."

"How come you aren't convinced of this like you're convinced that the Empire is wrong?"

"Well...I don't know," he admits, shrugging his shoulders. "It's almost like...it's natural for me to think the Jedi deserve to die."

"But you fought alongside them for years, did you not?"

"Yes, I did."

"And did they ever show signs of betrayal then?"

"No."

"So what makes you believe that they might have betrayed the Republic?"

"I...don't know. Like I said, it just feels natural."

"But there's no evidence to support this natural feeling?"

"No, there's not."

"Then perhaps there is no reason to believe they betrayed the Republic. Perhaps the Empire lied about it."

"Is that what you believe?"

"Yes," you say simply. "From the moment he became Supreme Chancellor, I have never trusted Palpatine. Everything he said was always too vague, too...interpretive. I believe that he's always been up to no good, and never truly liked the Jedi."

"I guess that does explain some things that he did and said," the clone responds. "I'm willing to change my opinion on the Jedi if I'm shown that they did not betray the Republic."

"I'm afraid there is no concrete way to prove this. There is no evidence that the Empire betrayed the Jedi. All you can really do is take the word of those who knew and were close to Jedi."

"Did you know a Jedi?"

"Yes...I did," you reply. "He was like a father to me. He cared for me in ways that no one else ever had. And he always had the best interests of others on his mind. Especially my best interests. He taught me how to be the person I am today, how to treat and care for others, while always looking out for myself as well."

"He sounds very important to you."

"He was. And he never would have betrayed the Republic. He loved the men under his command as a father loves their sons. And the other Jedi that he introduced me to had equal love for their men. They were all pure of heart and just wanted to help others."

"I see. I'm sorry that you lost so many people, especially the one who was like a father to you. What was his name? I might have fought under his command."

You hesitate, not knowing whether or not revealing his name could reveal your own identity, but you decide to take the chance, because you hadn't spoken his name since his death, other than in screams of despair and nightmares. "His name was Codo Daawa."

"Codo Daawa? General Daawa?" the words are almost sad, regretful even. "He was a very kind person. I did fight under his command a few times. I looked up to him and how he always looked out for us and protected us. I'm sorry, again, for your loss."

"Thank you," you reply quietly. A few minutes of silence pass between the two of you, both of you in your own minds. You are again thinking about the feeling that you'd had when Codo had died, how you instantly felt a difference in the force. You'd known without a doubt that he was next to you, but within the force, and he wanted more than anything to comfort you, though it was impossible.

"My name is Howzer, by the way," he says, breaking the silence. "Formerly Captain Howzer, in case General Daawa ever mentioned me."

"No, he didn't," you reply, and he nods understandingly.

"And your name?"

You bite your lip under your mask, a new wave of panic taking over. Do you dare reveal your real name? What are the chances that he knows who you are? Even if he's heard of you, would he immediately assume you're the same person as General Jinn?

"It's okay if you don't want to tell me," he adds as you remain quiet, "I understand you still don't trust me."

"It's better for both of our safety if you don't know."

"I see."

"But," you say, clenching your hands in your lap, "I won't get anywhere in life if I never trust again." He looks at you curiously, patiently waiting for you to continue with where you're going. You let out a deep breath, trying to calm your nerves. You lift your head to gaze at him through your mask. And after closing your eyes and preparing for the worst, you open your mouth to speak.

"My name is y/n. Y/n Jinn."