AHSOKA TANO

“Whoa,” said Ahsoka, turning the bomb over in her hands. It was of an interesting design and make. It was small enough to fit inside the top canister of an average heating element, yet had the magnitude to blast open the door of the Banking Clan’s most secure vault. Frankly, it was lucky that her tent was more separated from the others, as the leader’s tent; otherwise, it might have blown another two tents to bits as well.

“Why would someone want to do this? Unless it’s…” she trailed off, and she and Lux whispered at the same time, “Sabotage.”

“Oh, no. We need to check the rest of the camp!” cried Lux.

“What would you have us do, Padawan Tano?” Padawan Chulya turned towards Ahsoka, her eyes wide.

Ahsoka felt herself morph from a stressed young woman into the powerful leader that the younglings and padawans thought of her as. “There might be other things that have been tampered with elsewhere in the camp. Have the others check their tents. That’s our top priority. When you’re done with that, get some of the older kids to search the main power generator and the Lookout, and assign a few of them to supervise the youngest ones. Oh, and look through the Caves, too. Report back to me on your com-links if you find something.”

With a nod from Chylua, the three ran off to do as she had bid them. Chenai, who had been silently watching the procedure up until then, suddenly spoke. “Ahsoka, you didn’t assign anyone to the kitchens. What if there’s something in the food?”

“Good point,” she said. “Lux, Chenai, why don’t we handle this?”

“I’m in,” said Lux, managing a stressed smile.

“Me too. Let’s get going, then.” Chenai got her lightsaber out again, and together they took off for the kitchens. For the first time since he had left, Ahsoka found herself wishing that Mace Windu were here. Now, she was on her own.

In a few minutes of sprinting, they had reached the tent near the center of the clearing that they used as the kitchens. Ahsoka immediately pushed aside the flap of canvas that served as the door and darted in.

“Lux, check tomorrow’s meals. Chenai, you take the stove and refrigerators. I’ll take the food rations in the back.” They each walked over to check the separate places.

Ahsoka pushed a curtain aside and turned on the lights in the back room where the food was kept. She pulled the cover off of one of the crates and inspected the contents within.

All appeared to be in order, but… Ahsoka caught a whiff of something toxic coming from inside. She picked up a stray light that someone had left on the floor and shone it in. Burgundy red powder, previously invisible in the dark, greeted her eyes.

Hmm. Now where have I seen this before? She closed her eyes and thought back to one of her classes on toxic substances back at the Jedi Temple.

Aayla Secura had been teaching the class. “Native to the planet Mirial, lyrrstone is harmless in its crystal or massive state. But if in a powdered form, it eats away at the surface it has been placed upon.” She gestured to an image of it of a screen.

“It is always a burgundy-red color when powdered, and can prove lethal if consumed. However, if doused with water, it will stop the process. But the damage done to the surface is irrevocable, and retains its toxic asset.”

Ahsoka checked the other crates. She sighed in defeat. All of their crates of food had been covered in it, save for two in a corner, which had been spared because they were underneath the cooking and eating utensils. That left them with only enough food for three more days.

Suddenly she heard a clatter from behind the tent. Zooming under the bottom of the tent in record time, she flashed out her lightsabers and got into a fighting stance.

A cloaked and hooded figure stood just a few paces away. And they were bent over something in the darkness. They were setting a bomb!

“Stop!” She cried, rushing towards them. They pulled a gun, and several shots were fired at her. She deflected them easily, but the person pushed a button on a remote and the bomb’s countdown started. Then they made a run for it.