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“Are you sure this is a good idea?” Cal questioned.
“Cal, you pulled a heist on Coruscant, of all places, and now you’re asking if going undercover at the grand opening of an Imperial academy is a good idea?” Bode rolled his eyes as, for the fifth time that afternoon, he attempted to convince his partner to change into a stolen Imperial uniform.
Cal fell silent, as he often did whenever Bode mentioned any of their earliest missions. Bode had been putting on a mask in front of the scrapper back then, but now, things could be different. Denvik was gone, Kata was safe on Tanalorr with Cere, Cordova, Merrin, and Greez, and Bode had found a way to get back at the Empire without risking his family.
“Okay, but why don’t I get to be the trooper this time?” Cal started again, gesturing to the white-and-black plastoid armor Bode wore.
“Because you talk too much.” Bode pointed out, “Now just shut up and put that uniform on before we’re late.”
“Fine, but at least tell me we get to fight some Imps while we’re there.” Cal begged.
“Once the charges are set, maybe.” Bode said, turning to pack their case of explosives once he was certain Cal was getting into his uniform, “But the whole point of this mission is to have the Empire not recognize us. You got your blaster?”
“Yep.” Cal sighed, clasping his belt and adjusting his blaster in its holster.
“Good. Packed your lightsaber up?”
“Do I have to?” Cal whined.
“Like I said, we don’t need massive targets on our heads during this mission.” Bode restated with an exasperated sigh, “All we’re doing is ruining their new stormtrooper academy and hoping that, when we do, it’s enough to scare them off this rock.”
“I could do more damage faster if I had my lightsaber.” Cal retorted.
“Cal,” Bode warned.
Sighing, Cal relented, finally removing his lightsaber from where it hung on the other side of his belt and placing it in a briefcase of his own.
“Let’s go.” he said, straightening the black Imperial cap he wore to hide his distinctive red hair.
Nodding, Bode led the way over to their stolen Imperial transport.
--
They reached the site of the Imperial academy within minutes, Cal tensing in the copilot’s seat as they came to stop at a checkpoint. He waited with bated breath as Bode handed over their fabricated credentials to the attending officer. After a quick scan, the officer nodded, apparently satisfied, as he handed back their credentials, allowing them to continue on in silence.
“I really would have felt better if we busted in rather than snuck in.” Cal muttered, drumming his fingers anxiously on his lap as they approached the front of the academy.
“Hey,” Bode rested a large hand comfortingly over his. The effect wasn’t quite as effective with the stormtrooper helmet Bode wore. “It’ll be okay. Just follow my lead.”
“That’s a first.” Cal joked, managing a weak smile.
As they pulled up in front of the academy, Bode shut off the transport, turning to Cal once more.
“You ready?”
“As much as I can be.” Cal said, swallowing nervously.
“That’s the spirit.” Bode praised, “Now straighten up a bit, you look as nervous as a cadet.”
“Right.” Cal said, attempting to match the usual confident posture of a seasoned Imperial officer.
He tried not to think of how many he had killed over the years.
Getting out of the transport, Cal moved to keep pace with Bode as they approached the officer waiting at the building’s entrance.
“All the necessary security has already checked in.” the officer drawled, eyeing Bode.
“This trooper is my personal security.” Cal said, hoping he sounded just the right amount of cocky and confident.
“I wasn’t aware that lieutenants were assigned personal security.” the officer eyed the badge on Cal’s chest, skeptical.
Fixing his gaze firmly on the officer, Cal pushed a suggestion through the Force.
“We are both authorized to be here.”
“You are…authorized to be here.” the officer said, entering something into the datapad he held.
“Very well, then.” Cal said, tilting his chin up confidently, “As you were, officer.”
Continuing past the officer into the massive foyer, Cal carefully surveyed his surroundings.
“Where to now?” he questioned, just barely loud enough for Bode to hear.
“Not yet.” Bode warned, “Join the crowd for now. We can split off during the tour.”
“Waiting around in a crowd of Imps, great.” Cal muttered, rolling his eyes.
“Patience, Scrapper.” Bode chided, “You’ll get your chance.”
“I hope so.” Cal sighed, leading the way over to the growing crowd of officers.
They didn’t have to wait long before the crowd began to move, entering the first of many grey-walled hallways. Cal barely listened to the guide at the front, his attention fixed on Bode out of the corner of his eye.
At the first line of intersecting corridors, Cal felt a light tap on his arm. Following Bode’s silent command, Cal turned down the right corridor, away from the tour group, who were all focused on where the guide was gesturing off to the left.
“I really wish I could’ve brought BD on this mission,” Cal said in a hushed tone. “Any idea where we’re going?”
“There’s a command center on the next floor.” Bode replied, “Or…there should be, anyway.”
“Yeah, definitely should’ve brought BD.” Cal muttered as they stepped into a waiting lift.
“That really would have worked out well with your disguise.” Bode said, sarcastic.
“Which button do you think will get us there?” Cal asked, ignoring his partner’s comment.
“I always said they should label these things better.” Bode sighed, the modulator in his helmet almost exaggerating the sound.
Keeping a look out while Bode figured out the lift buttons, Cal’s heart raced as he noticed an officer heading right towards them.
“Any day now, Bode.” Cal hissed out of the corner of his mouth.
“I’m working on it.” Bode growled.
Cal elbowed his partner discreetly as the officer boarded the lift, the door sliding shut after him. After a tense moment of silence, broken only by the quiet hum of the lift as it began to move, the officer spoke.
“I do not recognize you, Lieutenant.”
“I’m a…n-new transfer.” Cal said, internally-wincing at his sudden lack of confidence.
“A lieutenant transfer?” the officer chuckled, “The Moff must be getting desperate.”
“This is our stop.” Cal declared, hoping his voice didn’t sound too panicked as he and Bode stepped out of the lift.
“That was too close.” Bode muttered once the lift doors had closed behind them once more, “What did I say about confidence, Scrapper? You’re lucky you’re posing as a lieutenant. They get the most passes for being nervous.”
“‘Undercover’ is not really my thing.” Cal pointed out.
“Come on,” Bode continued. “The less time we’re away from the guide, the better.”
“I beg to differ.” Cal said, following Bode down another hallway, “I want to get out of this stupid uniform as soon as possible.”
“And wreak some havoc.” Bode added, the helmet doing little to hide what was surely a teasing tone.
“Well that’s a given.” Cal admitted, chuckling nervously.
“It’s what you do best.” Bode said.
Cal could hear the smile in his voice.
“Come on, the command center should be this way.” Bode beckoned him onward with a flick of his head.
“Ooh, now we’re talking.” Cal said, making to sprint.
“But we have to walk.” Bode chastised, a hand square on Cal’s chest.
“I thought you said we had to hurry?” Cal questioned.
“Hurrying doesn’t mean blowing our cover.” Bode clarified, lowering his hand back to his side, “We still have to act casual.”
“Right,” Cal rolled his eyes. “‘Casual.’ Totally my thing.”
“That is why I told you to follow my lead this time.” Bode teased.
They continued towards the command center in silence, passing only a handful of patrolling stormtroopers on the way. Cal’s jaw was stiff from clenching it so hard out of nervousness. It had been a year since he’d pulled an explosive heist. As far as the Empire knew, ‘Jedi Terrorist, Cal Kestis’ had vanished from the galaxy. His wanted poster had stopped circulating, and he was no longer at immediate risk of being recognized. Even so, the Empire would never suspect a stealth mission from the version of Cal they had become accustomed to.
Cal was jolted from his thoughts as Bode elbowed him lightly in the ribs, turning his attention to the door now in front of them. The single trooper standing guard straightened up at their approach.
“We’re here to run an inspection.” Cal announced, letting Bode’s confidence through the Force invigorate his own.
“Your supervisor should have called ahead, Lieutenant.” the trooper huffed a cruel laugh.
“He got caught-up in preparing for the grand opening of this facility.” Cal lied, then, with a nudge through the Force, he added, “Let us through, now.”
Another idea striking him as the trooper stepped aside, Cal continued.
“You will leave and report this to no one.”
Cal could feel Bode’s gaze on him as the trooper obliged. Once they were alone once more, Cal led the way into the command center.
“You’re being a little too obvious with your commands, Scrapper.” Bode said, removing the helmet of his stolen uniform as the door hissed shut behind them.
“It worked, didn’t it?” Cal retorted, glancing briefly at his partner before hurrying to the central console, “Get the charges set. I’ll see if they have any intel we can use.”
“And figure out alternate escape routes for when things inevitably go south?” Bode suggested.
“What, you don’t believe in me?” Cal teased, grinning over his shoulder at Bode, “Have faith, Jetpack.”
“I believe in you,” Bode reassured him. “But I specifically remember telling you to follow my lead.”
“You got us into the academy, I’ll get us out.” Cal said.
“I suppose I did promise you a little chaos.” Bode relented with a sigh.
Cal turned to face the console again, victorious. After a few minutes of searching, he found what he was looking for.
“Well, my suspicions were correct. Looks like they’re accelerating the construction of academies and bases throughout the Outer Rim.”
Though he was used to finding news of the Empire’s expansion, it never ceased to make his heart sink. A gloved hand rested comfortingly on his shoulder.
“Good thing more people are rising up against the Empire now, huh?” Bode said.
“Yeah…” Cal sighed.
“Come on, let’s get this to our contact,” Bode said, reaching around Cal to initiate the ejection of a datacard from the terminal. “They’ll know what to do about it.”
“Right,” Cal said, taking the datacard and tucking it into a secure pocket in his uniform. “You got those charges set?”
“By the time they notice we’re gone, this command center will be in flames,” Bode promised, rolling the remote detonator between his fingers. “They won’t be able to figure out what we stole.”
“I like the sound of that.” Cal grinned.
Once Bode slid his helmet back on, the two men hurried out of the room. They made it into the lift without a hitch, Bode pressing the detonator as soon as the door slid open on the main floor. There was a muffled explosion from the second floor, responding shouts and frantic comm-chatter barely audible over the noise as the facility went dark.
“We have about twenty seconds before the emergency generators kick in.” Bode said, grabbing Cal’s hand as, at long last, they broke into a sprint.
“Just enough time, then,” Cal joked, easily keeping pace with the older man. “Let’s hope our transport is still where we left it.”
“You got BD on standby just in case?” Bode questioned as they rounded a corner.
“Sounds like you’re doubting me again, Jetpack.” Cal teased, turning on his commlink with his free hand, “Yeah, I got him. He should be able to bring the Z-95 in for a scoop job if necessary.”
“Now where’s your optimism?” Bode ribbed, “Come on, the exit should be this way.”
They sprinted out of the front doors just as the red-orange emergency lights flickered on. Mere feet from their stolen transport, a warning screamed at Cal through the Force, giving him just enough time to tug Bode back by the hand before the transport exploded, the resulting fire as well as the blazing searchlights from a pair of TIEs hovering overhead momentarily blinding the pair.
“Yeah, I saw that coming.” Bode noted.
“I was wondering when my usual luck would catch up with me.” Cal added, already reaching into his briefcase for his lightsaber.
“Not yet,” Bode warned. “Not unless we have to.”
“You’re too cautious.” Cal sighed, backing off all the same.
“Stand down, insurgents!” an Imperial ordered over loudspeakers.
“Oh hey, look, they did demote me to just another insurgent.” Cal joked.
“Glad you’re having fun, Cal, but we gotta go.” Bode said, already pulling Cal back towards the academy entrance.
As they sprinted back through dimly-lit corridors, Cal activated his commlink.
“BD, can you meet us at the southern landing zone?”
A moment of silence, and then, in amused binary:
“Plan = go wrong again?”
“No, not…exactly, just…” Cal sighed.
“BD = calculated this possibility. Ship = waiting outside landing zone.”
“Thanks, bud. See you soon.” Cal promised.
“I won’t say ‘I told you so,’ but…” Bode teased.
“You literally just did.” Cal pointed out as they rounded yet another corner, “Just save it until we get to the ship.”
“Stop right there!”
Cal didn’t even have a moment to react before Bode pulled his blasters and landed quick shots to each of the four troopers that had moved into their path. Neither man slowed down, leaping over the pile of bodies without hesitation just as the alarms began to sound.
“Bode…!” Cal exclaimed, noticing as rows of blast doors began to slowly slide closed in their path.
“I see them.” Bode reassured him, “Do you trust me?”
“Obviously,” Cal promised.
“Jump.”
“What?” Cal questioned.
“Now!”
Without time for further questions, Cal leapt, flying forward in spite of having only lifted slightly off the ground. Soaring through seven pairs of blast doors, Cal rolled upon landing, springing back to his feet in time to see Bode sprinting towards him, leaping through the narrowing doorways.
“Throw me!”
Adrenaline and the Force spurring him on, Cal obliged, seizing Bode with the Force as he neared and pulling him through the last few doorways behind him before pushing him through the final three in front. Leaping after him, Cal landed on all fours, getting to his feet again in time to see Bode brushing himself off.
“They’ve only slowed themselves down, now.”
“Wh-where did you learn to do that?” Cal gasped.
“I didn’t,” Bode shrugged. “Just thought I’d try something out.”
“And here I was thinking you didn’t have any more surprises.” Cal grinned.
Hurrying to the door that led out into the landing zone, they quickly discovered that it was locked.
“Well that’s helpful.”
“Think you can crack it?” Bode questioned.
“I’m not BD, but I can try.” Cal answered, already prying the access panel loose, “Watch my back.”
“Copy that.”
Ripping several blue wires loose, Cal gritted his teeth through the resulting electrical output before continuing on.
“Nice to see they didn’t change the wiring too much from that of old Venators.” Cal said, rifling through the remaining wires until he found what he was looking for, “Got it!”
The door hissed open just as the ones behind them began to reopen.
“I knew you could handle it, Scrapper.” Bode smiled as they hurried out into the landing zone, the older man shooting out the remaining door controls.
“BD, we’re in the landing zone.” Cal reported into his commlink, “Where are you?”
“TIEs = spotted. BD = circling back around now.”
“This just keeps getting better.” Bode sighed, already positioning himself behind a crate as the first few stormtroopers began to cut through the sealed doorway.
“Patience, Jetpack,” Cal joked, echoing Bode’s earlier chastising. “BD will be here any minute.”
At that moment, several of the dormant TIEs behind them exploded, Cal whipping around just in time to see Bode’s Z-95 fire another pair of bolts at a third fighter.
“I think he’s learned something from you.” Cal teased, already hurrying forward as BD landed their fighter in the now-clear area.
“About time,” Bode chuckled, following close behind.
As BD rocketed up out of the pilot’s seat, Cal vaulted in.
“You know that’s my seat, right, Scrapper?” Bode teased, climbing in behind Cal.
“Hey, first one in gets to pilot.” Cal retorted.
“Fine, but if we crash, I’m gonna make Merrin bring you back just so I can haunt you.”
“Fair enough,” Cal chuckled, pulling back on the steering yoke just enough to get the Z-95 off the ground. “Let’s make sure the Empire can’t follow us.”
Turning their fighter to face the remaining two TIEs and a Lambda-class shuttle, Cal fired, grinning at the sight of the resulting explosion.
“I see why you took out those other ones, BD. Blowing up Imperial property is satisfying.”
BD chirped happily from his place on the back of Cal’s seat. Bringing them higher just as the first red flashes of blaster-bolts whizzed past them, Cal waited until they were in the upper atmosphere to program the coordinates for their rendezvous into the navicomputer.
“So, you got the fun you wanted?” Bode teased as they finally breached the atmosphere.
“I dunno, I was expecting a bit more of a firefight.” Cal chuckled, pulling the hyperspace lever.
“That’s not very Jedi-like of you.” Bode mused.
“Fine, what did you think?” Cal grinned back at his partner.
“Eh, I was hoping I’d get to punch a buckethead or two,” Bode shrugged. “But blowing up the command center kinda helped cancel that out.”
“Agreed. So…who’s this contact we’re giving the intel to?”
“A pilot for a larger rebel cell in the neighboring system.” Bode said, “She can get the intel to the higher-ups.”
“Y’know, I kinda like what the Rebellion is turning into,” Cal sighed in thought. “Back when I was working for Saw, it was a lot of just…fighting without a larger goal. Now, well… It feels like everything we do actually has a purpose.”
“Yeah,” Bode hummed. “Feels good.”
“It does.” Cal said, his heart lifted with hope, something he wasn’t sure he’d felt in a long time.