Ahsoka stood on the deck of an LAAT gunship alongside Spider-Man, Black Widow, Aayla Secura, Captain Rex, Commander Bly, and the surviving members of Domino Squad.
The city they were approaching was exceptionally vast, and even with the Force's guidance, tracking down the specific Force-sensitive child the Sith were targeting would prove challenging. The positive news was that the Force confirmed the child remained on the planet, though Aayla felt increasingly anxious with each passing moment.
As for the Sith forces, whoever had been dispatched to capture this particular child was either en route to Jedha or had already arrived.
Aayla issued her orders with military precision. "Remember, our primary objective is to locate and protect the child. We must remain vigilant for any dark side operatives the Sith may have sent here to abduct this infant. Bly, take your squad—Cameron, Hardcase, and Lucky—and have Black Widow accompany you to search the southern district."
"Yes, General," Bly acknowledged with professional efficiency.
"Try to keep up, boys," Natasha teased, already moving out with the clone troopers following in formation behind her.
"Captain Rex, divide your men into two teams and sweep the northern sector," Aayla commanded, and Rex nodded his understanding.
"Jesse, Echo, and Kix, you're with me," Rex ordered. "Fives, Hardcase, Heavy, and Tup, take the eastern approach."
"Maintain constant communication."
"I'll serve as our aerial reconnaissance," Spider-Man announced, leaping into the air and web-swinging toward the western districts.
"Then we'll coordinate the central search," Aayla said to Ahsoka, and both Jedi departed, running toward their designated area.
Meanwhile, Natasha exercised tactical caution, instructing Bly that she would blend into the civilian population since their distinctive armor made them too conspicuous for covert operations.
Ahsoka and Aayla walked side by side through the crowded streets of Jedha's ancient city.
"What makes this temple so significant?" Ahsoka inquired with obvious curiosity.
"This was once a sacred sanctuary for the Jedi Order, and it remains so to this day. Many Jedi have journeyed here when seeking spiritual enlightenment, and Jedha represents one of the most important pilgrimage destinations in our tradition. The inhabitants of this world have been under Jedi protection for millennia, along with those who follow our teachings about order and the Force."
Ahsoka murmured with genuine awe, "I had no idea this place held such profound importance."
"Not only that, but the Temple of Jedha is also known as the Temple of the Kyber."
"Is that connected to kyber crystals?"
"Precisely."
"Why is it called that?"
"Because this is one of the galaxy's primary sources for obtaining kyber crystals."
"But I thought only Ilum had accessible kyber crystals," Ahsoka said with obvious confusion.
"There are several other locations throughout the galaxy where kyber crystals can be harvested. Jedha simply happens to be one of the most significant sources," Aayla explained patiently.
Ahsoka nodded with understanding, and Aayla continued her explanation. "Jedha has maintained deep connections to the Order for thousands of years, and many scholars consider it one of the first worlds where the Force was studied extensively, and my—" She suddenly collided with someone. "Oh!"
"I apologize."
"No, that was entirely my fault," Aayla said to the man she'd accidentally bumped into.
He appeared to be a middle-aged individual, probably in his forties, wearing dark glasses and carrying a walking staff. Even without the Force, Aayla could immediately recognize that he was blind.
"I'm sorry, I wasn't paying proper attention to my surroundings," Aayla said apologetically.
"It's perfectly understandable—the streets are unusually crowded today," the blind man replied graciously.
"Sir, would you like some assistance navigating?" Ahsoka offered helpfully.
"No, I'm quite capable of managing on my own. Thank you for the kind offer, though."
The man then continued on his way, leaving both Jedi behind.
"We've discovered something significant," Natasha's voice crackled through their communication system. "There's a heavily armed group of pirates operating in this sector."
"Are you certain of their identity?" Aayla asked with immediate concern.
"Confirmed, General," Bly responded this time with professional certainty.
"What's everyone's assessment?" Aayla asked the entire team.
"We're here to ensure a Force-sensitive infant's safety. This large group of armed pirates appears ready for combat and is likely connected to our mission," Cameron from Bly's squad interjected with tactical analysis.
The remaining clones and Spider-Man voiced their agreement, and Aayla nodded decisively. She and Ahsoka immediately changed direction and broke into a sprint, with Bly transmitting their precise coordinates.
Bly, Cameron, Hardcase, Lucky, and Natasha observed the pirates from their concealed position. "They're preparing to move out, and there's something else..."
"Who are those individuals? They definitely look suspicious," Natasha asked, indicating two figures in dark hooded robes.
"Let's see what intelligence we can gather," Bly suggested quietly.
"Where exactly is the child located?" Aayla asked as she and Ahsoka ran toward the coordinates.
"Should I conduct aerial reconnaissance?" Spider-Man asked, dropping down to a blind spot where the pirates and mysterious newcomers couldn't detect him. "I could infiltrate through the rooftops."
"That does sound like a viable tactical approach," Ahsoka agreed.
Rex interjected through the comm, "We're positioned below your location, kid."
Spider-Man glanced down and spotted Rex with his clone team concealed in the narrow alleyway.
"If you approach from above, you could still be spotted. That suit of yours isn't equipped with full stealth capabilities," Rex pointed out tactically.
"Yeah, it would be helpful if they were all blind."
"I'm observing something significant," Clone Trooper Lucky reported.
"What's the situation?"
"I can't determine what's being discussed between the pirates and those two hooded figures. Now the pirates are aiming their blasters at the two individuals, preparing to open fire."
"We had an arrangement with your so-called 'lord' Dooku," one of the pirate leaders sneered aggressively. "Now either you pay the complete sum immediately, or you can forget about taking the child."
The two robed figures exchanged glances, and one of them lowered her hood, revealing a female face with distinctive horns.
"Count Dooku will not tolerate this treacherous behavior. You pirates should value your professional reputation," the Zabrak woman stated with cold authority.
"Then you can ask those arrogant and outdated aristocrats to handle it themselves. Unfortunately for you, the child is now in our possession," one of the Twi'lek pirates shouted defiantly.
"Watch your tone when addressing us," the other masked figure said in a low, menacing voice.
Suddenly, one of the pirates rushed over and yanked off a protective tarp, revealing a mounted blaster cannon. He jumped onto the weapon, quickly activated its systems, and began firing at the two Sith operatives.
The two dark-robed figures immediately dodged the incoming blaster fire with Force-enhanced reflexes.
One of them ignited a lightsaber, deflecting the blaster bolts and using the Force to redirect the pirates' own attacks back at them.
The clone troopers were about to intervene when the sound of approaching footsteps echoed around them. Looking around, they discovered themselves completely surrounded by additional pirates.
"You pathetic Republic dogs are surrounded," a human pirate leader declared triumphantly.
Cameron responded with tactical calm, "We're not here to cause unnecessary conflict. We only want the child you're holding. There's no need to escalate this situation."
One of the Weequay pirates scoffed, "Do you think we're naive children? We know that if we surrender our valuable prisoner to you, you'll eliminate us the moment we're no longer useful."
The clones were about to respond when an unfamiliar voice called out, "Release them."
The pirates surrounding the clone troopers turned toward a man approaching them with a walking staff.
"What's this fool's problem?" one pirate muttered to his companions.
"Stay back, old man," another pirate warned, raising his blaster, but the blind man ignored the threat and continued advancing.
"The Force is with me, and I am one with the Force. I fear nothing," the man declared with unwavering conviction, "for all things flow as the Force wills. Let these warriors pass unharmed, for their cause is just, and you impede righteousness itself."
"Is this guy deaf?" a Weequay pirate wondered aloud.
"He's obviously blind," one of the human pirates added dismissively.
The man continued walking toward them, completely undeterred by the sound of charging blaster weapons.
"Stop right there, you crazy—"
A staff appeared from nowhere and struck the pirate in the forehead, dropping him instantly to the ground.
That intervention was all the encouragement the blind man needed. He rushed forward, swinging his walking staff into the nearest pirate's face before driving it into another's solar plexus.
The clone troopers immediately seized the initiative and opened fire on the pirates surrounding them, transforming the entire area into an active battlefield.