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Chapter Text

“Where exactly are we going, Master Kenobi?” Ahsoka asked. “The coordinates we have logged don’t have much information on the temple records.”

The Jedi’s T-6 shuttle hurtled through the blue void of hyperspace towards their destination. Anakin Skywalker and his former master Obi Wan Kenobi sat in the pilot and copilot’s seats, whilst Ahsoka Tano, Anakin’s Padawan, sat behind them.

“I’ve found that the temple records aren’t always reliable,” Obi Wan replied. “And often, incomplete. The planet we are headed to is called Lothal; it’s a small, sparsely populated farming colony.”

“And why are we visiting farmers?” Ahsoka added.

Obi Wan shook his head. “I’m not entirely sure… Master Yoda didn’t give us specifics on the mission, he simply said… we should be here.”

“And Master Yoda looooves to be cryptic.” Anakin added, earning him a scornful glare from Kenobi.

“He said, ‘the Force will guide you.’”

“Which is just about as helpful as the other hundred times he says it.”

Obi Wan sighed. “Just fly, Anakin.”

The shuttle dropped out of hyperspace, abruptly bringing the planet of Lothal into view. Its surface was a mixture of rocky yellows and savannah-like greens, quickly making it evident that this was, in fact, a farming world. Anakin piloted the ship down into the planet’s atmosphere, and soon enough they were flying across the surface, maneuvering between craggy mountain peaks.

“So,” Anakin said. “Is the Force guiding you yet?”

“Give me a moment.” Obi Wan replied, before closing his eyes and reaching out his hand. A droning whistle filled the air around them, signifying that the Force was reaching out to them. It suddenly ceased, and Obi Wan opened his eyes.

“We’re close,” he said. “I sense something… I’m not entirely sure what, but whatever it is, it’s causing a massive disturbance in the force.”

Anakin flew the ship in the direction Obi Wan directed him in, and eventually they came upon a massive, solitary peak resting at the head of a lake. Intricate circular patterns were embedded in the ground surrounding the peak, almost unnoticeable. The Jedi set the ship down gently, and the three disembarked from their craft.

“What is this place?” Ahsoka peered at the designs on the ground. “It looks like a giant version of… ancient Jedi meditation circles?”

“I think it is…” Obi Wan stated. “Although these serve a different purpose, I believe. We’re looking at a Jedi Temple, and a very old one, too.”

“Umm, I see a mountain.” Anakin said sarcastically.

“The mountain is the Temple,” Obi Wan said. “The door is locked. And clearly, the Force is the key.”

Anakin peered at the circles in the ground. He could see now- there were two that stood out from the others, placed perfectly apart, with lines that traced back up to the mountain ahead of them.

“Wait,” Anakin turned to his former master. “You’re telling me we need to use the Force to MOVE THE MOUNTAIN!?”

Obi Wan simply nodded. “You and Ahsoka should do it.”

The young Togruta looked nervous. “Uh, why don’t you try it instead, master Kenobi?”

“I believe it requires a master and an apprentice to open,” Obi Wan explained. “And since Anakin is no longer my apprentice, I cannot help him do it.”

“But… I just don’t think I’m ready for something like this.” She pleaded.

“Believe in yourself. Trust in the Force.” Obi Wan encouraged her. “Think of it as one of Anakin’s more… unorthodox lessons.”

Ahsoka paused for a moment, before nodding.

“C’mon, snips,” Anakin said. “Let’s do this.”

The two assumed position in each of the circles, and stretched their hands out towards the mountain, their eyes closed in concentration. Obi Wan stood behind them, stroking his chin thoughtfully. The pair began to let out groans of exertion as a great rumbling shook the ground, before the mountain slowly began to rise up out of the ground, turning like a giant drill, revealing a massive column of rock underneath. The rock kept rising until it was over fifty meters high, and only then did the two stop. The mountain buckled, shaking the ground, but remained in place. At the base of the rock, where the designs etched into the ground met, there was an open doorway waiting for them.

“I guess that’s our entrance,” Anakin said, gasping for breath.

“Shall we take a look inside?” Obi Wan added with one of his trademark grins, before he began to approach the doorway. Anakin and Ahsoka followed close behind, and together the three of them entered the Jedi Temple.

The inside was plain and bare, consisting of smooth, carved rock walls, with the occasional crudely carved rock column. Eventually, the three of them entered a square room, with a series of four columns arranged in the center. Across from their entrance was a tunnel that looked nothing like the rest of the temple, going off into darkness. It took the three of them a while to finally notice the dead, skeletal body leaning against one of the columns.

Ahsoka nearly gasped in fright at the sight of it. Anakin simply peered at it in a confused manner, and Obi Wan actually knelt down to study it.

Whoever it was, they were dressed in Jedi robes- but not the traditional Jedi robes, these looked much, much older. Obi Wan parted the hem of the robes with a hand, finding a necklace with a medallion on it, engraved with the symbol of the Jedi Order. At least, it looked like the Jedi Order symbol, however just like the dead man’s robes, it was incredibly outdated.

“This is the symbol of the ancient Jedi Order,” Obi Wan said aloud. “My theory must be correct; this temple is thousands of years old.”

“How do you think he died?” Anakin asked.

“If I had to guess, this temple serves as a trial for Padawans,” Kenobi explained. “This master must have waited for eternity, but it seems his student never completed their trial.”

“But why would the Force guide us here?” Ahsoka said, confused. “You two are far from Padawans, and I’ve already completed many trials of my own.”

“Perhaps there is a different reason we are here,” Obi Wan suggested. "Maybe-”

“Wait!” Ahsoka interrupted him, her head snapping to the side, alert. “Do you hear that?”

“Hear what?” both the senior Jedi asked.

“That… sound…” Ahsoka trailed off, looking in the direction of the tunnel. “It sounds like… voices.”

“Snips, that’s crazy,” Anakin said. “This place is abandoned.”

“No, I hear something!” Ahsoka suddenly ran off towards the tunnel. “I know it!”

“Ahsoka! Wait!” Anakin groaned, running off after her.

Obi Wan simply stood back up, rolling his eyes and sighing. “Always on the move,” he muttered, before chasing after the two.

The three of them ran through the tunnels that branched out in the darkness for what felt like hours. Eventually, Ahsoka shouted.

“I see something,” she said. “A light!”

“Ahsoka, wait!” her master shouted.

It was too late. All of a sudden, they were blinded by a flash of light, and everything went dark.

The three Jedi woke up suddenly, and found themselves in an unfamiliar place.

It looked like the void of space- completely dark, dotted with distant stars. A giant circle illuminated by white lines was spread out before them, with intersecting pathways and bridges. Everywhere they looked, they saw various shapes facing like paintings on a wall. They heard distant whispers all around them, barely audible;

“I am one with the Force, and the Force is with me.”

“Good soldiers follow orders…”

“Everything leading up to this moment has been rehearsal.”

“Size matters not...”

“I will finish what you started…”

“Nothing happens by accident.”

“There are some things far more frightening than death…”

“What is this place?” Ahsoka asked as the three of them got to their feet.

“I have no idea…” Anakin replied.

The trio walked off in separate directions. Ahsoka peered at the window-like shapes that lined the walkways. All of them were circular, accompanied by various patterns along the outside. The one they had come through was surrounded by a circle of canine creatures. The next one she spotted, which was several feet to the right, had an intricate pattern of different symbols.

Suddenly, the inside of the circle shimmered, and formed into an image. Ahsoka watched as the inside of the circle depicted an unfamiliar man, surrounded by fire. He held out his hands, and the fire parted around him.

“Kanan!” a female voice shouted.

Ahsoka looked to see a hovering craft carrying several people; a male and female human, and a green-skinned Twi’lek. The man parting the fire shared a long look at the Twi’lek, before he directed his hands towards them. The ship was pushed out of the way, and the fire consumed the man, killing him.

He was using the force. Ahsoka realized. But who was he? And how was I being shown this?

Ahsoka moved on, giving the other windows glances. They all depicted moments or events that she didn’t recognize. Eventually, one caught her eye- the circular window was set inside of a large triangle.

She watched the image materialize, seeing a figure dressed in all black, with a flowing cape. He stood inside of a massive, pyramid-like structure, with a crystal in the center that was emanating bolts of violet electricity. The figure was holding out his hand, pulling something towards him.

She saw a young boy, holding a small triangular object in his hands, accompanied by a man who wore a Jedi Temple Guard mask on his head. Intrigued, Ahsoka continued to watch as it seemed the dark figure was pulling the object with the Force. Suddenly, someone started coming up behind the figure, and before he could turn around, the person surged forwards, and in a silver flash, sliced the dark figure with a pair of lightsabers.

It was then that Ahsoka saw who the person was- it was herself. A much, much older version of herself. She was holding two silver-bladed lightsabers, which seemed like a minuscule oddity compared to what she was seeing now. “Ahsoka!” the voice came from the boy inside of the image. “Come on, hurry!” The Ahsoka inside the window turned to the boy, and began to walk towards him, before a voice stopped her.

A very familiar voice.

“Ahsoka.”

It was garbled and distorted, but it was unmistakably the voice of her own master.

“Anakin?”

Both Ahsokas called out for their master at the same time. The real Anakin came running up behind her. “What is it, snips?” his face immediately fell when he saw what was being depicted on the window.

The dark figure’s mask had been sliced open, revealing a portion of the human underneath. A bruised, battered, and burned Anakin Skywalker gazed at the older Ahsoka.

“I won’t leave you,” said Ahsoka in the image. “Not this time.”

A long moment passed as the dark-robed Anakin let out odd, robotic wheezes. Then, his brow furrowed.

“Then you will die.”

A red lightsaber was ignited in his hand.

Outside of the image, both Anakin and Ahsoka were shocked.

Elsewhere, Obi Wan was having his own revelations.

A circle he found had revealed an image of a hallway in some sort of facility. Two figures, one in brown robes and the other in black robes, were having a Lightsaber duel. The figure in brown robes was wielding a blue blade- something Obi Wan had seen before- whilst the figure in black robes was wielding a red blade. 

THAT caught Kenobi’s attention. He had only ever seen four people wield red-bladed Lightsabers; Count Dooku, who was by all accounts a Sith Lord, Asajj Ventress, Dooku’s assassin, and Darth Maul and his brother, both of whom might still be alive. But this figure wasn’t any of them, whoever it was, they were entirely unfamiliar.

After several moves, Obi Wan was able to see the face of the figure in brown robes- it was himself, or rather, a much older version of himself. The old man Kenobi had grey hair and a grey beard, causing Kenobi to subconsciously stroke his own beard thoughtfully.

Suddenly, several men in white armor ran over towards the pair in the image. Obi Wan almost mistook them for Clone Troopers, but quickly realized that was false. These soldiers were all different heights, and the armor also looked incredibly different. Far behind the group of white troopers, a group of people walked into the large chamber, approaching a pathetic excuse for a freighter starship.

There were four individuals; three humans, two male and one female, and a large Wookiee. One of the males had blonde hair and was wearing what looked like the clothes of a desert farm boy, meanwhile the other had brunette hair and was wearing a dark vest over a white shirt, with long, dark blue pants. The female human also had brunette hair, and was wearing princess robes.

“Ben.” The young man with blonde hair said, quietly. Departing from the others, he ran towards the soldiers, the dark figure, and the older Obi Wan. He stopped halfway across the chamber, staring.

The fight between older Kenobi and the dark figure halted, and old Obi Wan averted his eyes towards the boy, albeit briefly. Then, he made a smirk, and looked back to the dark figure in front of him. He closed his eyes, and held his blade up, leaving himself vulnerable. The dark figure saw their opportunity, and swung the red-bladed saber at Kenobi, slicing clean through his body.

Obi Wan watched through the window in horror as his older self was killed, his body inexplicably disappearing, leaving behind an empty cloak and a deactivated Lightsaber, both of which plummeted to the floor. “NO!” yelled the blonde boy, prompting the group of white-armored soldiers to turn around, before a blaster fight broke out.

Obi Wan looked away from the window. He couldn’t process what he just saw or where they were. Despite his reservations about just witnessing his own death, he needed to figure out what this place was.

Meanwhile, Anakin and Ahsoka had found several more windows that depicted other moments. Some were moments they had seen or experienced themselves; they saw a young Anakin successfully destroying a Trade Federation starship, and a slightly younger Ahsoka earning her second Lightsaber. Other moments they knew of but had only heard about from others; Qui Gon and Obi Wan’s duel with Darth Maul on Naboo, Obi Wan interrogating the bounty hunter Jango Fett. However, many of the moments they saw were completely unknown to them; a Lightsaber duel between an unfamiliar, blonde-haired man, and the dark figure they now knew was Anakin- or at least, a Sith version of him. They also saw a moment depicting a different dark figure speaking to a girl, attempting to perform a Force mind probe on her.

“Anakin! Ahsoka!” Obi Wan’s voice called. “You need to see this!”

The pair hurried over to Kenobi, finding him standing in front of another window. The moment being depicted was taking place in Chancellor Palpatine’s chambers. The Chancellor was there, but he looked very different; his skin was shriveled and grey, and he looked as if he had been burned by something. Kneeling in front of him was Anakin, only slightly older than he was now.

“What have I done!?” said Anakin inside the window, his voice full of regret.

“You’re fulfilling your destiny, Anakin.” said Palpatine in an eerie, deep tone. “Become my apprentice. Learn to use the Dark Side of the Force.”

There was a long pause, before Anakin spoke again.

“I will do whatever… you ask.”

“Gooooood,” Palpatine responded.

“Just help me save Padmé’s life,” Anakin added. “I can’t live without her.”

Both Obi Wan and Ahsoka glanced briefly at the real Anakin, before turning back to the moment.

Palpatine wheezed. “To cheat death… is a power only one has achieved, but, if we work together, I know we can discover the secret.” the Chancellor wheezed again.

“I pledge myself…” Anakin said. “To your teachings.”

“Good, good…” Palpatine said under heavy breaths. “Good.” he let out a painstakingly long wheeze, his lips curling into an evil grin. “The Force is strong with you… a powerful Sith you will become! Henceforth, you shall be known as Darth… Vader,”

The three Jedi turned away from the window, letting the moment continue to play.

“At first I wasn’t sure what exactly this place was,” Obi Wan said. “But after seeing what I have seen here, I figured it out. This realm is known as the ‘World Between Worlds.’”

“Wait,” Anakin said. “Isn’t that a story for younglings? I thought it was completely fictional.”

“Normally, it is used for children’s stories, yes,” Kenobi continued, “But there was one text I was able to find, deep in the Temple archives. It was so ancient that when I showed it to Jocasta Nu, she actually laughed.”

“That’s freaky,” Anakin said.

“Indeed.”

“Madame Jocasta never laughs,” Anakin earned himself another glare from his former master.

“What is the World Between Worlds?” Ahsoka asked, breaking the tension.

“A realm that is beyond time,” Kenobi said. “Where one can view events from the past, present, and future. Everything we see here has already happened, or will happen at some point.”

Anakin was devastated. Everything? Was he really destined to turn into… that?

“Commander Cody,” Palpatine’s voice drew their attention back to the window. “The time has come. Execute Order 66.”

The Chancellor was now wearing a hooded black robe, and standing over a hologram projector, showing the Clone Commander of Obi Wan’s 212th legion. “Yes, my lord.” the trooper said, before the window abruptly shifted, showing many scenes in rapid succession, but all of them the same; Clone Troopers, turning on their Jedi generals. Ki-Adi-Mundi and Aayla Secura being gunned down by their own men, Plo Koon’s starfighter destroyed right out of the skies, Obi Wan getting blown off the side of a cliff by a mass driver cannon, even Ahsoka herself, being attacked from all sides by Captain Rex and the 501st.

“It’s… horrible,” Ahsoka murmured. “Is this all really going to happen someday?”

“It’s hard to say,” Obi Wan answered. “It seems that this is the timeline we are currently in, however, the Force could not have guided us here only to see our own demise. There are people here we are seeing that we either don’t know yet, or don’t even exist yet.”

“I agree,” Anakin said. “We can’t have come here for no reason. The question now is, what do we do with the information we’ve seen here?”

“I think we should tell the Council,” Ahsoka butted in.

“If we told the Council about this, they’d think we were crazy,” Obi Wan pointed out. “However, I think that our combined accounts should prove sufficient evidence for the Council to conduct an investigation.”

“If we’re lucky, they’ll hear us out,” Anakin finished. “Good plan.”

“Back to the council, then.” Kenobi said. “That is, as soon as we figure out how to get out of here.”

Chapter Text

“The World Between Worlds?” inquired Mace Windu. “Isn’t that an old legend?”

A great deal of the Jedi Council had been assembled in the chambers to hear out the report of Obi Wan, Anakin, and Ahsoka. So far, they had been entirely skeptical of the trio’s story; except Master Yoda, who of course, remained as cryptic as always.

“Indeed it is,” the hologram of Plo Koon shimmered in his seat. “However, the prospect of a Jedi Temple on Lothal is intriguing.”

“And unheard of,” Kit Fisto, who had chosen to be in person, added. “The temple archives have no record of such a structure ever existing.”

“I do believe Master Kenobi’s investigation on Kamino proved that the temple records are sometimes… incomplete.” Shaak Ti’s hologram was being broadcast from Kamino, where she oversaw the training of Clone Troopers.

“And, as I said, the body of the deceased master wore the old Jedi Order symbol.” Obi Wan spoke, standing in the center of the room alongside Anakin and Ahsoka.

“Were you able to identify the body?” asked Windu.

“Unfortunately, no,” Obi Wan answered. “However, we did retrieve his Lightsaber, and submitted it to the Lightsaber archivist for analysis.”

“I’ve seen him work,” Ahsoka added. “I think his memory banks will prove to be more trustworthy than the archives. He even remembers when Master Yoda made his Lightsaber.”

“Agree, I do.” Yoda spoke. “However, the discovery of a Jedi Temple on Lothal, question it, we do not.”

“It is your journey through the World Between Worlds that we question.” Mace Windu finished. “What you’ve told us that you’ve seen is… impossible.”

“All three of us saw it!” Ahsoka blurted. “It was real!”

“Perhaps you received a vision?” Ki-Adi-Mundi’s hologram sat in his seat. “Perhaps it was the Dark Side attempting to confuse you?”

“With all due respect, Master,” Anakin replied. “If the Dark Side were tempting us, I don’t think it would show us things we would find repulsive.”

“Skywalker has a point,” came Plo Koon’s hologram. “I do not believe what they have seen was some manner of collective vision. They may very well have visited this ‘World Between Worlds.’”

“Thank you, Master Plo.” Ahsoka smiled at him.

“If Palpatine really is a Sith Lord, like you were shown,” Mace Windu said. “Then our worst fears have been realized. He has control of the Senate and the courts…”

“We can’t just apprehend him over the word of three Jedi,” Kit Fisto added. “But… we may be able to conduct an investigation of sorts. We’ll keep a watchful eye over him, and present any evidence we find to the Senate.”

“But to take this task, who should?” Yoda inquired.

“I’ll do it.” Anakin stepped forward, “The Chancellor and I are already good friends. I may be able to keep an eye on him.”

“You must be careful, young Skywalker,” Plo Koon said. “If the Chancellor is attempting to turn you to the Dark Side, as these windows showed you, he will intensify his efforts the more time you spend with him.”

“Agreed.” Windu replied.

“And what of this… ‘Order 66?’” Eeth Koth chimed in. “How exactly was it triggered?”

“There were chips implanted in the trooper’s brains,” Ahsoka explained. “It programmed them to attack the Jedi if they ever heard the order.”

“In that case, we should conduct an investigation on that as well.” Eeth Koth replied.

“I will aid in conducting the Clone investigation,” Shaak Ti offered. “From Kamino, I can study the Clones as they are produced.”

“The Kaminoans won’t like that,” Kit Fisto pointed out.

“They won’t have a choice.” Mace Windu said, “In any case, this matter has been settled. Council adjourned.”

After the meeting, Obi Wan, Anakin, and Ahsoka walked through the halls of the temple together.

“You didn’t mention what… I… said about Padmé,” Anakin said to Obi Wan. “Why?

“Well,” his former master started. “For a while, I’ve had a hunch that you two were seeing each other, in one way or another.”

Anakin tried to hold back his surprise. “Y-you did?”

“I figured it would be intrusive to ask if my suspicions were true.”

“And you’ll keep my secret?” Anakin pleaded.

“You are going against the Jedi code, so, in theory, I should turn you in…” Obi Wan smirked. “But on the other hand, I believe that I, too, have violated the same rule you have.”

“Satine.” Anakin said.

Obi Wan’s face was struck with sadness. “Were she still alive, yes.”

“We’d have to tell them eventually,” Ahsoka asked. “Right?”

“That remains undetermined,” Kenobi stroked his chin in thought. “We are still in the middle of the war. Hopefully, with this information, we can bring it to a quicker end…”

Suddenly, the whole building shook, and an explosion echoed through the halls. The three Jedi nearly toppled over, but quickly became alert to what was happening.

“The hangar,” Anakin said. “I feel it too.”

A patrol of white-and-gold Temple Guards rushed past them, heading towards the source of the disturbance. The three followed behind them quickly, arriving at the hangar. The entire room was engulfed in a thick, black smoke, accompanied by roaring flames. Combining their efforts, the trio pushed with the Force, forcing the black cloud away from the source. Their efforts revealed a multitude of charred corpses, many of them Clones and hangar mechanics, along with what appeared to be six Jedi, their brown robes covered in ash. A few of the clones were still alive.

“Guards!” Anakin shouted to the Temple Guards. “We need medics here, now!”

The group nodded, and one of them ran back off into the hallways.

“Who could have done this?” Obi Wan said in shock. “Who would willingly attack the Jedi Temple?”

Ahsoka scanned the scene, seeing a figure garbed in black robes standing clear on the other side of the hangar. They were silently observing the scene, the hood of their robes obscuring their face.

“There!” she shouted. “Across the hangar!”

Realizing they had been spotted, the figure turned and began fleeing.

“After him!” Anakin yelled.

Ahsoka somersaulted over the wreckage, using the Force to propel herself through the air. She landed several meters behind the suspect, and began to pursue them. She chased the perpetrator through the temple, past many open rooms. They made it into a large open hallway, where a trio of Temple Guards appeared at the opposite end, barring the intruder’s way.

“Cease hostilities.” they demanded.

The cloaked figure looked between Ahsoka and the Temple Guards, before they reached into their robes and withdrew a lightsaber, emitting a deep blue blade.

“A Jedi?” Ahsoka said aloud, in utter disbelief.

Before she could react, the figure charged her, and began attacking manically with the blade. Ahsoka would’ve assumed that the perpetrator had stolen this Lightsaber; after all, what kind of Jedi would bomb their own temple? But she noticed the individual used form, and was clearly trained in the use of a Lightsaber.

The three Guards approached the intruder from behind, bright yellow blades ignited. Throwing a glance over their shoulder, the intruder whirled around, immediately cutting down the first Guard that advanced. His body fell to the floor, a smoldering cut sliced into his chest.

Ahsoka attempted to attack them from behind, but was met with a flying kick, knocking her off her feet. The remaining two Guards struggled to handle the intruder, but were cut down by the blue blade. Ahsoka seized her opportunity, using the Force to launch the figure out a window, glass shattering.

Ahsoka quickly hopped onto the windowsill, seeing the figure lying on the ground of the Uneti Tree courtyard. Their hood had been cast off, but they were facing the ground, struggling to their feet on their hands and knees. Ahsoka descended, pointing her Lightsaber blades at the intruder. The perpetrator turned to her, and the Togruta gasped when she saw who it was.

“Barriss?” she asked.

The Mirialan padawan spat onto the ground. “A shame we have to fight each other, Ahsoka.” she said.

“But… Why?” Ahsoka pleaded. “Why bomb the temple? Why betray your fellow Jedi?”

“The Jedi,” Barriss scoffed. “The Jedi have lost their way. This war has changed them, as it has changed the Republic. We’ve lost our way… we are more like Sith.”

Ahsoka was near tears, but held steadfast as Barriss got to her feet and re-ignited her lightsaber. The Mirialan formed into a battle stance, and Ahsoka did likewise, before the two clashed once more.

As Ahsoka continued to battle Barriss, she could see several Jedi running into the courtyard- Anakin and Obi Wan, along with Kit Fisto, Luminara Unduli, and several others. All of them ignited their lightsabers, forming a brigade of blue and green blades. Barriss’s eyes darted back and forth, desperately trying to find an escape. While she was distracted, Ahsoka mustered all of her strength, and assaulted Barriss with a massive Force push, sending her flying across the courtyard, crashing into the Uneti tree.

Ahsoka, along with the rest of the Jedi that had entered the courtyard, approached Barriss. The Mirialan apprentice groaned, eyeing the Jedi that had her pinned against the tree.

“Well done, Ahsoka.” Obi Wan said.

A few days later, Barriss had been put in a max security prison. There was a special cell in the Republic Center of Military Operations, a cell initially planned to imprison Count Dooku, should the time ever come. It was incredibly secure, with no way to see out, and thick walls that dulls the senses of whoever was inside, preventing them from using the Force on anyone outside the cell.

Obi Wan, Anakin, and Ahsoka had been gathered in the Jedi Temple war room, where Shaak Ti had contacted them with an update from the Kamino investigation.

“After a great deal of difficulty, the Kaminoans allowed us to study some of the fully-grown troopers,” her hologram spoke. “We did a thorough, atomic-level scan of an individual trooper’s brain, and discovered one of the chips you spoke of. Afterwards, we did similar scans on two other troopers, and found they too had chips in their brains.”

“Did you remove them?” Ahsoka asked.

“Yes,” Shaak Ti replied. “Afterwards, we checked the birthing chambers, and discovered that the chips were implanted in the earliest stages of development. With this evidence, we were able to issue an order across the entire city to have all Clones there processed to remove these chips.”

“What about the troopers across the galaxy?” the hologram of Commander Wolffe inquired, standing next to Plo Koon’s hologram. “There are so many of us out there, and we all have those chips. We can’t just stop the war to remove them.”

“We have thought that through,” Shaak Ti answered. “We have sent several Medical frigates to every known front of the war, with reference scans depicting the chip’s location, and the necessary equipment to perform the surgeries. It may take at least a month, but we can ensure that every trooper of the Republic will have their chips removed.”

“At least it’s being taken care of,” Plo Koon’s hologram piped up. “What of the Supreme Chancellor? Skywalker, have you found anything?”

“Not yet,” Anakin said. “I’ve been preoccupied with helping to clean up after the temple bombing, so I haven’t had the chance.”

As the conversation continued, Ahsoka spotted a Clone Trooper with grey markings appear alongside Plo Koon’s hologram, whispering something in his ear. Once the trooper walked away, Plo Koon called for everyone’s attention.

“I have just been given information that may ease everyone’s concern,” Plo Koon announced. “It would appear that Darth Maul has been captured, fleeing from a Separatist cruiser. He is currently being held on board the Tribunal, not far outside of the Stygeon system.”

“That is good news,” Anakin mused. “If we can keep Maul secure, that’s one less Sith we have to worry about.”

“I will arrange for the Tribunal to return to Coruscant, hopefully we can find a way to keep him contained.”

“Keeping Maul in one place, difficult it will be,” Yoda pointed out.

“I agree with Master Yoda,” Obi Wan butted in. “I’ve found that Maul is… incredibly resistant to capture.”

“Master Plo, inform the crew of the Tribunal that they should keep guns trained on Maul at all times,” Anakin said.

Plo Koon nodded. “In the meantime, Commander Wolffe and I are continuing our siege on Cato Neimoidia. With every passing day, we get closer to capturing the capital.”

“Anakin,” Master Windu caught the Jedi’s attention. “You should inform the Chancellor of Maul’s capture. His reaction may give us clues as to where his true intentions lie.”

“Yes, master.” Anakin gave a polite bow, before exiting the war room.

Anakin flew a Jedi Airspeeder over to the Senatorial apartments, resisting the urge to visit Padmé on the way to see the Chancellor. After seeing what Palpatine was planning to do via the World Between Worlds, Anakin was not only beginning to resent the Supreme Chancellor, but also became scared of him. If Palpatine was the powerful Sith Lord that they believed him to be, who knew what he was capable of. Anakin entered the Chancellor’s personal apartment, finding the hallway inside flanked by red-robed senate guards.

“Anakin,” Palpatine swiveled in his chair to see him, his face bearing a warm smile. “It is good to see you, old friend.”

“It’s good to see you as well, Chancellor.” Anakin nodded.

Palpatine motioned at the guards. “Leave us.” Both the guards bowed, and exited the apartment, leaving Anakin and Palpatine alone.

“I hope you have brought good news,” Palpatine stood up from his chair, approaching Anakin with his hands folded behind his back.

The Jedi folded his hands in front of him. “We’ve received word that the rogue Sith, Darth Maul, has been captured by our forces.” Anakin made sure to leave out the location, in case the potential Sith Lord planned on doing any mettling.

“That is… good news,” Palpatine said, his face faltering only slightly, showing a tinge of… frustration? “Do you know where he is?”

Anakin decided to play the part of a Padawan upset with the Jedi, lulling Sidious into trusting him. “The Council refused to inform me of that,” he lied.

“They don’t trust you,” Palpatine rested a hand on Anakin’s shoulder, which made the Jedi a bit uncomfortable given his recent discovery. “They’re underestimating your abilities.”

Anakin knew that was partly true, but not without reason; they didn’t want him to unleash his raw power in the worry he may tap into the Dark Side. Anakin would admit he had gotten a little carried away a few times over the course of the war- he Force choked Poggle the Lesser into giving over information, he had nearly killed Rako Hardeen for murdering Obi Wan (who had actually faked his death, as he learned,) not to mention the numerous times he would lose control and attack with relentless fury.

“I haven’t even earned the rank of Master yet!” Anakin played along, imitating a childish tantrum. “It’s not fair.”

“I agree, old friend,” Palpatine said. “The Jedi are-”

He was cut off by the apartment door opening, followed by the entry of Mas Amedda.

“Forgive my intrusion, Chancellor,” the Grand Vizier spoke. “But the delegation from the Banking Clan is here to meet with you.”

Palpatine sighed. “Very well then. Anakin, I will be happy to see you after my meeting to continue our discussion.”

The Chancellor followed Mas Amedda out of the apartment room, and Anakin watched them go, standing in place. As soon as they were out of the door and it shut behind them, he hurried to the Chancellor’s table, and opened up the data archives. A hologram appeared, showing multiple documents of various political importance. Anakin sifted through the documents, until he found one that stood out from the others. It was unmarked, but he realized some of the document was written in Geonosian, with Aurebesh translations underneath.

Anakin opened the document, revealing it to be blueprints for some sort of interstellar battle station, capable of hyperspace travel, and… a superweapon? Anakin searched through the Chancellor’s desk, finding a drawer containing datatapes. He took one, and inserted it into the desk’s outlet, downloading the plans onto the disc. Anakin put it in his pocket, and then pulled up the communication log of his holoprojector.

Many of the transmissions seemed to be rather unsuspecting, mostly communications between the Chancellor and other politicians, senators, and representatives. One of the more recent ones stood out to him, being a transmission sent to the Chancellor from the Stygeon Prime system. Anakin played back the transmission. The projector emitted a hologram that Anakin recognized as Count Dooku, and he knit his brow in rage at seeing the Count. It abruptly shifted, showing a hooded figure that was almost unmistakable as being Palpatine.

“Speak, Lord Tyrannus,” the hologram of Palpatine said, before it shifted back to Dooku, who was kneeling and bowing his head.

“I have unfortunate news, my master,” Dooku’s hologram replied. “It would seem that your former apprentice, Darth Maul, has… escaped.”

“Escaped?” Palpatine said, his tone becoming frustrated. “How did he accomplish this?”

“He had help from his Shadow Collective, along with a squad of Mandalorian warriors.”

“Death Watch…” Palpatine growled, his eyes shining out of the darkness of his hood.

“It would seem so,” Dooku said.

“It is imperative to our plan that you recapture him,” the hooded Palpatine ordered. “Do not fail me again, Tyrannus.”

“It will be done, my master.”

The playback of the recording ended.

Anakin continued to sift through the recordings, finding many more between the Chancellor and Count Dooku. He took another datatape out of the desk, and downloaded the transmissions onto them. He then shut off the desk’s projector, and hurried to exit the apartment.

The evidence he had found here would definitely be sufficient enough for the Jedi’s investigation.

Chapter Text

Maul had lost everything.

Darth Sidious had stolen Maul from his mother, used him as a weapon against the Jedi, and when Maul failed, he was cast aside. When Maul proved to be alive, however, Sidious came running. That proved Maul’s suspicions- Sidious was scared of Maul’s power, the criminal empire he had built. Maul had gained more political power over the course of a week that Sidious took months, and even years to achieve.

Maul began to laugh, his hysterics echoed off the walls of his cell. Sidious was actually afraid of him. He was afraid that Maul would rip apart the fabric of Sidious’ elaborate plan, one which he had been sewing for many, many years.

“Hey!” a voice from outside his cell shouted. A Clone Trooper. “Quiet in there!”

Maul narrowed his eyes at the door, ceasing his laughter. How naive they were to believe that they had actually captured him. Maul was cunning, and he knew that he would not have been able to get far before Sidious’ forces would catch up with him, and Maul would be a dead man. Sidious knew better than to keep the Zabrak in a cell for long, he was a vicious and unpredictable animal, better to put him down when he had the chance. But the Republic… Maul may be dangerous enough for them to issue an execution, but it would have to go through their democratic system first. And also, they wanted him alive.

What a fatal mistake.

Maul was one of the most powerful Force wielders in the galaxy, and they had only put him in handcuffs.

Maul concentrated, using the force to unlock the binders around his wrists. They clattered to the floor, and the former Sith flexed his hands. His face bore an evil smirk as he crept over to the door’s exit cell, using the Force to open it. The trooper outside whirled around, blaster raised, but he didn’t have a chance.

Maul pounced, grabbing the Clone’s blaster hand, forcing his finger off the trigger. The trooper groaned in pain as the Zabrak twisted his wrist painfully, and the blaster clattered to the floor. The trooper tried to throw a punch with his other hand, which Maul caught, before tightening his grip on the Trooper’s clenched fist, and forcing his entire hand backwards, breaking his wrist with a dull cracking. The Clone started to scream, and Maul delivered a punch to his helmet, knocking it off his head. Covering the trooper’s mouth, Maul wrapped his arms around the Clone’s entire skull, before twisting violently, snapping the trooper’s neck. The body of the Clone Trooper went limp, and Maul dragged him and the helmet back into the cell, piling both in a corner. Suddenly, the trooper’s comlink gauntlet went off.

“CT-6632, come in.” a Clone Trooper’s voice echoed through comm static. “Fluke, are you there?”

Maul got an idea, and removed the comlink gauntlet from the dead trooper’s arm, placing it upon his own. Re-exiting the cell, Maul closed the door, sealing it shut. The Zabrak looked around, spotting a ventilation duct in the ceiling. Using the Force to open the duct. Maul hopped up into the vent, closing it behind him as he began navigating the ventilation system of the cruiser.

“Fluke? Fluke, where are you?” The Clone continued trying to reach the gauntlet’s original owner. Maul adjusted the comlink so that it would pick up all outgoing communications on the ship’s channel.

“Bridge, this is Lieutenant Vaughn, CT-0292.” the Clone on the comlink said. “I’ve lost contact with the guard assigned to Maul’s cell.”

“Acknowledged, Lieutenant.” the voice of a Republic officer responded. “We’re sending a squad down to investigate.”

“We should also send additional troops to reinforce where Maul’s Lightsaber is being held,” Vaughn added. “If he’s escaped, he’ll be going there next.”

“Affirmative, Lieutenant. Diverting troops to reinforce sector D-1.”

Maul smirked. Now that he knew where his Lightsaber was, it was all a matter of getting there.

“We’re making the jump to lightspeed,” came the bridge’s channel. “Next stop, Coruscant.”

If they’re going to Coruscant, Maul thought. I can try to pull them out of hyperspace near a planet where neither the Republic nor the Separatists have a presence. I just have to hope I can time it right.

Maul felt the ship buckle as the cruiser jumped to lightspeed. Continuing to crawl through the ship’s vents, he attempted to find a way to the sector that the troopers had said his Lightsaber was being held in. After navigating the vents for what felt like nearly an hour, Maul heard and saw through the vents several Clones rushing through the halls.

Maul watched and waited until the troopers were out of sight. Once the former Sith knew the coast was clear, he dropped down from the vents, and began to scour the hallways, following the direction the Clones had gone in. He made several turns through the hallways, trying to keep track of where he was going, until he turned a corner and came face-to-face with the white helmet of a Clone trooper.

“It’s Maul!” the trooper shouted.

Growling, he struck out with a hand, using a Force push to send the trooper flying backwards down the hall, toppling over another pair of troopers. A small group remained, on the other side of the hallway. They raised their rifles, and began firing. Blue bolts whizzed around Maul, who barely even lifted a finger to dodge them. He used the Force to pick up one of the fallen Clone’s bodies, keeping it hovering in the air for a moment.

“Fall back, fall back!” the troopers shouted, and some of them began to turn down the next hallway before Maul threw the body, knocking two of them back.

Maul slowly turned the corner ahead, finding the corridor full of troopers, all of them firing their blasters at him, all the bolts missing and hitting the wall behind him. Reaching out with the Force, Maul pulled a panel off the wall, knocking aside a Clone as he did so. Maul held the panel in front of him, blocking many of the blaster bolts with the metal shield. Using his other hand, he threw one of the troopers to the ceiling, before slamming him back into the floor. Maul then hurled the panel horizontally, straight into the necks of two troopers.

Their decapitated bodies fell to the ground, followed by their helmets. Maul grasped two more wall panels through the Force, wrenching them from the wall and catching two Clones between them, causing the two to fall to the floor. He brought the panels in front of him, forming a wall from the blaster bolts. Maul threw one of the panels at the Clones, taking down several more in one fell swoop. The remaining three Clones continued to fire at him.

“Ridge is down!” one of them shouted. “Maul’s coming for his saber!”

“Seal the door!” came a voice from the trooper’s comms.

“Seal the chamber!” the trooper yelled to one beside him, who backed up into the room behind them, pressing a button on the wall that began to close the blast door. The other Clones retreated into the room as it was closing, only risking a few blaster shots over their shoulders.

Maul cast aside the remaining wall panel he had been shielding himself with, and saw the Clones getting away. He reached out with the Force, and began pulling one of the troopers by his arm. The Clone’s arm was pulled into the doorway, which was rapidly closing. The other troopers tried desperately to pull him back, but it was no use. With a scream from the Clone and a metallic slicing sound, the trooper’s arm was severed from his body, falling to the floor.

Maul approached the doorway, growling with frustration. His Lightsaber was just on the other side, he could feel it, he could hear the Kyber crystal crying out to him, screaming for bloodshed. Knitting his brow and closing his eyes in concentration, Maul used the Force to push the door. The metal creaked and protested against his efforts, but finally gave in, forcing the door open. The screams of the troopers that had been cowering behind the door were abruptly cut off as the metal caved in on them.

The Zabrak entered the room calmly, his yellow eyes scanning it for his Lightsaber. He could hear the desperate cries through the smoke, and found a small box resting in the back of the room. Using the force to bring the box to him, Maul opened it, finding the remaining half of his old saber staff. He ran his hand over the cold metal of the hilt, and felt the crystal inside singing a song of death, as if reacting to his touch. Maul removed the saber from the box, and threw the box aside, strapping the hilt to his belt. Now armed with his weapon, he ran back through the halls of the Venator, heading for the main reactor. Pulling the ship out of hyperspace from the bridge would be too risky, there were too many men there and Maul would be overwhelmed. If he got the ship to crash on a planet, he could erase his tracks.

“Riot? Come in, Riot!” a voice came from the comlink belonging to the severed arm that lay outside the chamber. “Come in! Did you seal the chamber?” After several seconds of silence, the voice continued. “Riot’s not responding. We have reason to believe that Maul has escaped and is now in possession of his Lightsaber. All squads head to sectors D-2 and D-3. Cut him off!”

Maul grinned and ignited his lightsaber, the red blade hungering for death, as was Maul himself. He sprinted through the hallways, until he found himself facing down a squad of Clones. They raised their rifles to attack, and the hallway was filled with an onslaught of blue bolts. Maul propelled himself forwards, spinning while swinging his lightsaber, slicing fiery orange cuts into both the hallway and the troopers attacking him, decimating everything in his path.

Maul was getting closer to the reactor chamber, and the waves of Clone troopers attacking him were beginning to wear thin; they were running out of manpower. Maul forced open the door to the reactor room, finding several troopers barring his way across the bridge.

“It’s Maul!” the one in the front shouted, and they all collectively began firing at him. Maul deflected the bolts back at the troopers, catching many of them and killing them. The ones that did not die were cut down by his blade, which he felt was still hungry for bloodshed.

Several Clones rushed in on raised platforms that were mounted on the massive, cylindrical hyperdrive generators. “Maul’s in the hyperdrive chamber!” one of them said into his comlink. Maul used the Force and threw the trooper off the platform and into the abyss, before throwing his lightsaber like a boomerang. It cut through the troopers that remained on the upper platforms, before he guided it back to his hand with the Force. There were only a few troopers remaining, guarding the control hub of the chamber. They all took up blaster pistols and fired at Maul, but he deflected their bolts back at them, killing them all.

The former Sith stepped into the center of the middle platform, and held his hands out, pointing his open palms at the two hyperdrive generators. Closing his eyes in concentration, he began to clench his fingers, squeezing the massive hunks of metal. The sounds of metallic scraping and sparks flying filled the room as the generators began to fail, rocking the entire ship.

“This is the bridge!” a panicked voice shouted through the comlink gauntlet. “We’re, uh- we’re being pulled out of hyperspace!”

The ship shook even more as Maul attempted to maintain his footing. Finally, he wrenched his hands downwards, and the two massive generators collapsed, plummeting into the abyss below. Alarms blared throughout the entire cruiser, and Maul knew that freedom was only a few moments away.

Not wasting time, Maul ran to the cruiser’s hangar as orders were issued throughout the intercom, telling the crew to abandon ship. When he made it to the large, open hangar, he found troopers and crew members alike, running around in a panic as the ship plummeted towards whatever planet they were headed for.

Maul spotted a starfighter sitting out in the open, and ran towards it, the crew around him too panicked to realize he was stealing a ship to escape. The Zabrak hopped inside the cockpit and closed the canopy, powering up the Starfighter. It hovered through the massive hangar, until Maul caught sight of the side entrances for the hangar. He fired the ship’s payload of torpedoes at the blast doors, blowing them open.

Immediately, a massive vacuum began to suck everything nearby out of the hangar and into the void of space- troopers, crew members, cargo, and even ships. Maul hit the thrusters and the fighter shot out of the hangar, leaving him to watch the Venator cruiser plummet towards the surface of a grey and green planet.

There was a long moment of silence as Maul watched the cruiser hurl soundlessly towards the surface of the planet. Then, he opened the ship’s navigational log to see what planet he had arrived at. There was almost no record of the planet on any archive, leaving him with nothing but a name- Bogano.

Maul sighed in relief, and then began laughing hysterically. He was free- actually, truly free. Kenobi and Sidious would be dealt with in due time, but for now, he would rest on an uncharted planet and discover what he could. Sidious may have great, elaborate plans, but Maul’s were even more elaborate, tenfold. And better yet, he had the will and the resolve to execute his plans as soon as possible. No waiting years and years to finally take action, no hiding in the shadows.

Maul was an animal, bred for the hunt.

And he would take revenge on those who wronged him.

Chapter Text

Obi Wan was in the war room, meeting with some members of the council when he received the news. A Clone trooper had contacted them, and informed them that Maul had escaped custody, before promptly crashing the ship into an uncharted planet. The only survivors of the ordeal had been the crew of the bridge, including the trooper who had sent the message, Lieutenant Vaughn. The rest of the crew, along with Maul, was presumed dead in the crash.

However, Obi Wan wasn’t so sure. His instincts told him that there was still something amiss besides Palpatine’s meddling, and besides, he had learned by now that Maul was incredibly resistant to dying.

“What do we know of this planet?” Mace Windu inquired.

“We’re not sure, sir.” the hologram of an injured Lieutenant Vaughn spoke. “The only information we can get on it is its name, Bogano.”

“Thank you, lieutenant.” Master Windu said. “You are dismissed.” Vaughn’s hologram saluted, before cutting out.

“What do we know about the planet Bogano?” Obi Wan asked. “I’ve never heard of it before.”

“Not much,” Windu answered, sighing. “The only information the temple archives have on it is that it was discovered by a Jedi Master Eno Cordova. However, Cordova gave up his seat on the council decades ago.”

“Do you think Maul survived the crash?” Anakin’s hologram was being transmitted from Ringo Vinda, where he and the 501st were currently fighting against Separatist forces. On Anakin’s right was Ahsoka, and on his left was Rex. To Rex’s left was the ARC trooper Fives, and to Ahsoka’s right were Jedi masters Tiplar and Tiplee, accompanied by the grey and green Commander Doom. Luckily, the medical freighter from Kamino had reached the 501st before they left for Ringo Vinda, so all the troopers were free of their chips.

“I doubt it,” Obi Wan said. “If our experiences with Maul have taught us anything, it’s that he tends to not stay dead. It’ll take more than a hyperdrive malfunction and a cruiser crashing into a planet to kill him.”

“Agree with Master Kenobi, I do,” said Yoda. “A formidable opponent, Maul is. Search the wreckage, we must.”

“I know some guys who might be up for the job,” added Commander Cody, who stood beside Obi Wan. “Contact Clone Force 99. They’ll take care of finding Maul.”

“Right away, sir.” came the voice of Trapper, a clone trooper in the 212th. He rushed out of the war room to contact Kamino and inform Clone Force 99 of their mission.

Obi Wan stroked his chin thoughtfully, catching the attention of Yoda.

“Master Kenobi, troubling you, what is?”

“It isn’t like Maul to be this sloppy,” Obi Wan admitted. “He thrives on causing chaos and discord, yes, but there was always a method to his madness, always an end goal.”

“You think Maul may have crashed the cruiser intentionally?” Windu asked.

“He may very well have,” Kenobi responded.

“Perhaps he is trying to trick us into believing he is dead,” Plo Koon’s hologram said. He was still off on Cato Neimoidia, with Commander Wolffe next to him. “The question I have is, why this planet? Why is it significant?”

“Maybe he crashed there by accident,” Anakin suggested.

“There are no accidents, Skywalker.”

“I have an idea,” Obi Wan interrupted. “I could talk to Madame Jocasta Nu. If anyone were to know about Eno Cordova, I imagine it would be her.”

“So now you’re back to trusting the archives, master?” Anakin’s hologram smirked.

“Like old times, Anakin,” Obi Wan smirked right back. “You do the fighting, while I do the sleuthing.”

“Very well then,” Mace Windu butted in, sensing another sarcasm-filled battle between Skywalker and Kenobi. “Master Kenobi, talk to Madame Jocasta Nu, and find out anything you can about this Eno Cordova.”

Obi Wan nodded, before leaving the war room for the library.

The Jedi Grand Archives were always a sight to behold; stacks on stacks of glowing blue data tablets, each one containing a whole planet’s worth of knowledge. Of course, Obi Wan didn’t always see it that way. In his experience, the archives weren’t always reliable, and oftentimes, they were even incorrect. Regardless, Kenobi quickly spotted the elder Jedi and hurried over to speak with her.

“Madame Jocasta Nu,” Obi Wan gave a polite bow.

“Master Kenobi,” she replied, giving a smile. “To what do I owe the pleasure of seeing you today?”

“I have a question,” Obi Wan explained. “Regarding a Jedi master who used to sit on the council. What do you know of Eno Cordova?”

Jocasta’s fact lit up. “Eno Cordova? My, my, I haven’t heard that name in a long time.”

“Who was he?”

“Cordova was a very wise Jedi master, and a good friend of mine,” Jocasta Nu explained. “In my younger years, he held the role of keeper of the Holocron. However, he was offered a seat on the council, and so gave up his position as keeper, leaving me in charge.”

“What about the planet Bogano?” Obi Wan inquired. “Do you know anything about that?”

Jocasta Nu’s face fell. “Bogano…” she trailed off. “Yes, I remember Bogano. One day, Cordova was upset with the council’s decisions. He confided in me… then he requested to take a Holocron from the archives, and hide it in a vault on the planet.”

“What’s on the Holocron, Madame Jocasta?”

“A list of every known Force-sensitive child in the galaxy…” she mused. “A secret well left to be kept in the unknown.”

Obi Wan was taken aback. This presented an even bigger threat; if Maul realized where he was and what he could accomplish, there was no telling what he might be able to do.

“What’s wrong, Master Kenobi?” Jocasta Nu’s voice brought him back to his senses.

“Madame Jocasta,” Kenobi explained. “Darth Maul has crash landed on Bogano. If he finds out that there’s a Holocron there-”

“He will never be able to open it,” Jocasta assured him. “He’s a Sith, not a Jedi.”

“I suppose you are right,” Obi Wan said. “But it’s the prospect of him finding it that worries me.”

“Yes, yes, your concerns are justified,” Jocasta Nu replied. “However, I will leave the logistics of that plan to you.”

Obi Wan nodded, and rushed out of the library, heading back to the war room. When he entered, some of the members that had been there were absent, both holographic and in-person. The group on Ringo Vinda was absent; Anakin, Ahsoka, Rex, Fives, Tiplar, Tiplee, and Doom, as was Commander Cody and many of the other high-ranking Clones that often stood in on council war meetings. The only ones who remained in the room were Master Yoda, Mace Windu, and the holograms of Shaak Ti, Ki-Adi-Mundi, Plo Koon, and Commander Wolffe.

“Master Kenobi,” Plo Koon’s hologram motioned for him to come over to the table. “What have you found on Eno Cordova?”

“Him and Jocasta Nu were friends,” Kenobi explained. “She gave him a Holocron from the archives, which he hid in a vault on Bogano.”

“And what exactly is in this Holocron?” Mace Windu asked.

“A list of every Force-sensitive child in the galaxy.” Obi Wan said, not bothering to sugarcoat it.

“That is most troubling,” Ki-Adi’s hologram said. “If Maul were to get his hands on that kind of a list-”

“We would be facing another Sith Lord,” Made Windu finished for him “With an army of Force-Sensitives at his command.”

“Unstoppable, he would be, “ Yoda added. “Confirm that Maul perished in the crash, me must.”

“I’ve heard of Clone Force 99,” Commander Wolffe spoke up from his spot next to Plo Koon. “They’ll make sure there’s nothing left of Maul.”

“I agree with Commander Wolffe,” Shaak Ti said. “Their methods may be unorthodox, but they are much more efficient than any other commando unit.”

“I hope the trust you put in them is well-placed,” Obi Wan mused. “For all our sake.”

A few days passed, and Obi Wan was back in the war room, meeting with Commander Cody and a few other Jedi, along with their Clone Commanders. Cody began receiving a transmission, and redirected it to the war table’s holoprojector. It began emitting the hologram of a Clone Trooper in all black armor, holding his helmet at his side, with long black hair and a bandanna around his forehead.

“Good to see you, Hunter,” Cody said. “Any success?”

“Unfortunately, no, Sir.” Hunter sighed. “The crash site of the Tribunal is a complete mess, we were able to search very little of it, including the surrounding area. However, one of the hangar bay doors looks to have been blasted open. My best guess is that a missile payload was triggered by accident and blew it open.”

Another trooper stepped into the hologram next to him, wearing a helmet that had an enormous pair of goggles on the front. “I calculate there is a ninety-nine point nine percent chance that Maul perished in the crash.” the trooper said.

“Thank you, Tech.” Cody nodded. “You boys get back to Kamino. Stay safe.” The three troopers saluted each other, before the transmission ended.

“It seems that Maul is dead, General,” Cody said to Obi Wan. “Feeling any better?”

“It’s the point one percent chance that worries me, Commander,” Obi Wan stated. “Maul is crafty. He’ll find ways to survive, as he always does.”

“Don’t worry about it too much, General,” Cody assured him. “We still have a war to win.”

“Speaking of which,” Anakin’s hologram butted in. “Our incursion on Ringo Vinda was successful. We have Admiral Trench in custody, although he’s being real grumpy about it.”

“And good timing, too,” Mace Windu said. “The data archivist droids finished going through the datatapes you brought us from Palpatine’s office, and they managed to narrow down an origin point for Dooku’s transmissions.'' He pressed a button on the war table, bringing up a star chart of the galaxy, with one planet highlighted in red. “The Serenno System.”

“That’s near Mandalorian Space,” Rex said, standing next to Anakin.

“We’ve already made plans for an assault,” Windu explained. “Anakin, you and your troops are to return to Coruscant. Once you’re back here, you will be joined by Kenobi, and your combined legions will launch a joint operation on the planet. If we can capture Dooku, the war could very well come to an end.”

“We’re on our way, Master Windu,” Ahsoka said happily, before their hologram dissipated.

“What of Palpatine?” Obi Wan inquired. “Is there anything we can do about him yet?”

“If we capture Dooku alive, there is a slight chance we will be able to force a confession out of him,” Mace Windu said. “From there, it’s his word against the Chancellor’s, and he’s already on thin ice.”

“I suppose we should wait for Anakin’s arrival,” Obi Wan replied. “Cody, round up the men.”

“Yes sir!” Cody saluted, before running out of the war room.

The only Jedi remaining in the room after the meeting were Obi Wan, Mace Windu, and Yoda. Windu placed a hand on his chin thoughtfully.

“I sense a plot to destroy the Jedi…” he said. “Not from the chancellor… but from somewhere else.”

“Sense it as well, I do,” Yoda added. “Uncertain, our future is. Cautiously, we must step.”

Obi Wan nodded. If they were to successfully take Count Dooku and Chancellor Palpatine out of the game, it would create a power vacuum in the Dark Side, and power hates a vacuum. One way or another, the Dark Side would prevail.

They just had to be prepared.

Chapter Text

A Venator-class Star Destroyer, the Resolute, tore through hyperspace towards the Serenno system, where they would launch their assault on the headquarters of Count Dooku. It was accompanied by three other Venators- the Defender (which had received massive repairs since its time on Ryloth) and two newly-assembled ones, the Dexterity and the Emissary. There was also a host of much smaller light cruisers accompanying the two massive cruisers.

The leaders of both the 501st and 212th Legions were gathered in the hangar bay of the Resolute, going over their battle plans; Anakin, Obi Wan, Ahsoka, Captain Rex, Commander Cody, and the Arc trooper Fives. Dozens of other Clone Troopers stood around them, listening in on the meeting.

“This operation will be difficult,” Anakin said. “Serenno is well defended. Pre-scans show that it’s defended by a massive fleet- no less than six frigates, two dreadnaughts, and a Trade Federation control ship.”

“That’s a lot of firepower,” Fives mused.

“Indeed,” Obi Wan joined in. “However, we do have a strategy to take out the entire fleet. Cody?”

At the General’s word, Cody stepped forwards, with Obi Wan’s astromech, R4-P17 beside him. The little droid beeped and trilled, before projecting a hologram of the fleets- both the Republic’s and the Separatists’.

“The Dreadnaughts will be the least of our worries,” Cody explained. “As long as that Lucrehulk is there, the tinnies have a commander. They’ll be organized.” Cody made a gesture with his hand, and hologram mock-ups of several small starfighters poured out of the Venator’s hangars. “Two squads of bombers will head for the frigates. ARC fighters to escort and defend them. Keep those battleships occupied. While they do that, General Skywalker, General Kenobi, and Commander Tano will fly inside the control ship, and attack the reactor core, blowing it inside out.” three individual hologram fighters appeared, heading for the droid control ship. The hologram of the control ship promptly exploded.

“With the control ship out of commission,” Rex took over. “That’ll leave the commanders of the Dreadnaughts in charge. With the combined firepower of all four of our cruisers, we can broadside ‘em.”

“Alright men, get to your ships!” Anakin ordered. “And may the force be with us.”

“Sir, yes sir!” the crowd of troopers saluted simultaneously, before rushing off in all directions to their ships. Ahsoka walked over to Anakin after the troopers had scattered, looking nervous.

“I can’t believe this is happening,” she said. “We might actually capture Count Dooku.”

“Let’s just hope he doesn’t escape offworld before we make it planetside,” Anakin told her. “The naval assault is just one third of the battle.”

“Oh, I agree,” Obi Wan sidled up next to them. “If Dooku realizes there’s no escape, he’ll put up quite the fight.”

“Let’s hope he does realize there’s no escape,” Anakin commented. “It’s time for Dooku to pay for everything that he’s done.”

“General Skywalker,” the voice of Admiral Yularen came through Skywalker’s comlink. “We are approaching Serenno now. Preparing to drop out of hyperspace.”

“That’s our cue,” Anakin said. “Get to your fighters, both of you. Let’s go!”

With the three Jedi and all of the Clones in their starfighters, the four Venators exited the blue void of hyperspace, bringing them before the dark green planet of Serenno. The Separatist fleet was there to meet them, and almost instantly swarms of Vulture droids began to pile out of the control ship.

“Here we go,” Anakin said as the roof doors of the hangar began to open. “Let’s do this.”

The Venators launched fleets of red-and-white ARC fighters and yellow Y-Wing bombers, headed by the three Jedi interceptors; one yellow, one red, and one red and white. The two fleets clashed in a blaze of blue, green, and red bolts. Starfighters exploded and pilots screamed.

The two groups of Y-Wings peeled off from the main attack force, each heading for the trios of Separatist frigates that flanked the Dreadnoughts. They were accompanied by groups of ARC fighters, which defended them against the hordes of Vulture droids that came for them. Meanwhile, Anakin, Ahsoka, and Obi Wan headed for the control ship, dodging and blasting the droid fighters that attacked them.

“The control ship is crawling with Vulture droids,” Anakin observed.

“Yes, I see it,” Obi Wan commented. “Oh, this is going to be easy.”

“We need backup!” Ahsoka shouted.

“Oh, I agree,” Obi Wan tapped into the comms. “Oddball, do you copy?”

“Copy, red leader.” the voice of the Clone pilot came through.

“Mark my position, form your squad up behind me.”

“We’re on your tail, General Kenobi.”

The three interceptors were promptly joined by the squad of ARC fighters, which went into formation behind the Jedi.

“This is where the fun begins.” Anakin smirked.

The Vulture droids tore through space towards the squad of Republic fighters, sending a barrage of red lasers in their wake. The Republic ships scattered, with only a few ARC fighters getting caught in the storm of bolts. One of the fighters exploded, leaving the limp bodies of the two Clone pilots floating in space. Another ARC fighter was tailed by three Vultures, blasting at it in a glaze of red.

“They’re all over me!” The pilot shouted desperately “Get them off my-” his pleas for help were abruptly cut off by an explosion as his ship was destroyed.

“Hang in there, squad,” Anakin assured the other pilots. “As soon as the three of us get inside that ship, you break off.”

“Understood, gold leader.” The voice of another pilot confirmed.

The Republic fighters were almost at the entrance to the Lucrehulk when a massive squad of much larger Vulture droid models tore out of the hangar, headed straight for them.

“Hyenas!” one of the pilots shouted. “Bank right!”

The Republic ships broke formation as the droids neared, but the larger fighters simply flew past them, not even paying the fighters any mind.

“They overshot us!” Obi Wan said.

“No, wait,” Ahsoka looked at their flight path. “They’re headed for the Defender!”

Anakin looked at his radar, and saw that his Padawan was right- the Hyena bombers were making a B-line for the Venator cruiser.

“I’m going after them!” Ahsoka said.

“Ahsoka, no!” Anakin stopped her. “We need to stay focused!”

“But they’re-”
“This is no time for arguing, we’ve got to complete our mission!” Anakin contacted the cruiser on his comms. “Defender, this is Skywalker. There’s a squad of bombers headed right for you!”

“Acknowledged, General Skywalker,” the comms responded. “Forward guns, track those bombers.”

The Defender’s turbolaser batteries began to open fire on the Hyenas, picking off a few of them with blue lasers. When the bombers were within range of the cruiser, they suddenly broke off, and many of them headed straight for the Emissary.

“They’re making for the Emissary!” Ahsoka shouted.

“Emissary, this is Defender!” the comm channel crackled to life. “Intensify forward firepower!”
“It’s too late!”

The Hyena bombers dropped their payload right into the neck of the Emissary’s bridge, destroying it. The command centers began toppling down onto the ship below, breaking apart the back of the cruiser. The Emissary was done for.

“All squads, this is… This is the Defender.” a solemn voice announced. “We’ve lost the Emissary.”

“Ahsoka, stay focused,” Anakin encouraged her. “We still have a job to do.”

“R-right.” She replied.

The three Jedi interceptors made it to the control ship, banking into the hangar.

“Break off, Broadside,” Anakin ordered. “Get your men out of here!”

“Copy that, gold leader,” The pilot responded, and the ARC fighters broke off their attack. “Give ‘em hell!”

The interceptors flew through the hangars of the Lucrehulk, passing by tanks and starcrafts that were stored inside. Automated turrets were activated, dropping out of the ceiling and firing at the starfighters as they flew past. They were getting closer to their goal, the reactor core.

“As soon as we fire our torpedoes, we have to turn around,” Anakin said. “These corridors are small, so it’s gonna be a tight turn.”

“Right beside you, skyguy.” Ahsoka assured him.

Finally, the reactor core was in sight, and all three fighters launched their proton torpedoes at the core, before making an abrupt turn-around. They hadn’t gotten very far when a massive explosion shook the entire ship, and a wall of flame began to chase them back through the hallways. The Jedi put all the speed they could into their ships, forcing them to go faster, until they cleared the hangar exit, getting out of the ship as it was consumed by the explosions within. The entire Lucrehulk was engulfed in flames, and destroyed. A quick look over their shoulders showed that the Y-Wings had been successful in their bombing runs of the frigates; the two Dreadnoughts were all that remained of the Separatist fleet.

“Cruisers, this is General Kenobi,” Obi Wan spoke into the comms. “The control ship is destroyed. You may start your attack on the Dreadnoughts.”

“Affirmative, General Kenobi,” Admiral Yularen’s voice responded. “Defender, I want you on the portside of the Resolute. Dexterity, take Starboard. Have all batteries charged and ready to fire.”

The Venators started moving into position, with the Resolute aimed right between the two Dreadnoughts, where the control ship had been. The Defender flanked the left side of the left ship, while the Dexterity did the same on the right. On Yularen’s command, the cruisers powered in between the two massive Separatist warships, turbolaser batteries blasting away. The broadside attack was successful; the three Venators completely decimated both Dreadnoughts, leaving nothing but the metal carcasses of their hulls.

“All fighters, return to your cruisers,” Anakin said with a smirk. “It’s time to make planetside.”

The Jedi had been extremely bold in their attack on Serenno. It was through the strategy of a most impressive maneuver that they were able to break through the blockade. Count Dooku folded his arms thoughtfully behind his back, observing the red hologram of the battle occurring in orbit. The Separatist fleet was completely gone, leaving his palace defenseless. Suddenly, his holoprojector beeped, indicating he was receiving a transmission. He patched it through, and the hologram shifted to the unmistakable image of Darth Sidious.

“Lord Tyrannus,” the hologram regarded him.

“My master.” Dooku knelt down and bowed.

“It would appear that the Republic has launched an assault on Serenno,” Sidious sounded frustrated. “How has this happened?”

“I am… as confused as you are, master.” Dooku said. “They arrived suddenly and without warning. I am making plans for a retreat now.”

“No.” Sidious commanded. “You will stay.”
“But master-”
“MY WORD IS FINAL!” Sidious shouted. “You are on unstable ground, after the incident with Maul.”

“I will not disappoint you again, master.”

“I know you won’t,” Sidious’s face contorted into a malicious grin. “Because if you do, it’ll be the last mistake you ever make.”

Sidious’ hologram cut off, and Dooku rose to his feet, pressing several buttons on the holoprojector. It began emitting an image of a Super Tactical droid, who regarded the Count with a bow.

“Yes, Count Dooku.” it asked in a monotone voice.

“General, prepare all our defenses for an attack,” Dooku ordered. “I want you to throw everything we have at the Republic forces. If it is in our armory, use it.”

“By your command.” The Super Tactical droid bowed again, and Dooku cut off the transmission.

The Republic wouldn’t get him without a fight.

And even then, they still wouldn’t get him.

Chapter Text

The Resolute, along with the Defender and Dexterity, hovered in orbit over Serenno. Inside the hangar, the leadership of the 501st and 212th forces had gathered yet again, this time to discuss the plan for their ground assault on Dooku’s palace.

“The palace itself isn’t that well protected,” Obi Wan said to the surrounding men, indicating a holographic map in front of him, being projected by R2-D2, Anakin’s droid. “It’s more of a vanity statement than a fortress. However, the defenses outside the palace are what we should worry about.”

“Dooku set up a long line of defenses in between the nearest available landing site and the front steps of his palace,” Anakin said. “It all totals to about fifteen artillery cannons, twenty tanks, and over thirty troop transports.”

“Not to mention the thousands of battle droids,” Rex added. “Along with the hundreds of spiders and crabs he’s hiding.”

“Well, how’re we gettin’ down there?” asked one of the Clones.

“We’re going to launch our gunships at the rainforest right here, just beyond their line of artillery fire.” Anakin pointed at the rainforest on the holographic map, and a blue dot appeared there to emphasize his point. “We can set up camp there, and use our walker’s cannons to take out their artillery and tanks.”

“Like Geonosis all over again, eh, Rex?” Cody nudged the captain.

“Ugh, don’t even remind me.” Rex responded.

“As the walkers proceed, we’ll send scout walkers and troops ahead of them to take out the other tanks,” Anakin continued. “We’ll use rocket launchers to take out the troop transports from afar. Other than that, we just have to worry about getting past the battle droids.”

“Alright men, let’s get moving!” Cody ordered. “Troopers, to your gunships! Arrow, I want those tank lifters in the air now!”

“Yes sir!” One of the Clone troopers responded, before rushing off to direct the walker-carrying gunships.

“C’mon, snips,” Anakin said to Ahsoka. “You’re with me.”

“Aren’t I always?” she smirked.

In a few short minutes, the attack force was fully loaded, and heading down to the surface. The transports descended further through the atmosphere, withstanding the pressure and heat of entry. They had barely gotten past the layer of clouds when they were suddenly assaulted by an upward shower of red bolts, causing many of the gunships to swerve out of the way.

“Flak fire!” One of the pilots shouted over the comms. “Take evasive action!”

“I can’t-” the voice of the other pilot was cut off by an explosion as one of the gunships was shot down by artillery.

“I thought you said we were beyond their line of fire!” Ahsoka shouted over the roar of the gunship’s engines.

“I meant they wouldn’t be able to shoot the tanks!” Anakin shot back.

“Just like Point Rain, huh sir?” Rex said to Anakin.

“Hopefully not!” Anakin’s head was filled with memories of the second battle on Geonosis.

Next to Rex was Fives, and next to him were Jesse, and another ARC trooper, who was named Cobalt.

“Geonosis had bugs, at least Serenno doesn’t.” Cobalt leaned in next to Fives. “You’re lucky you weren’t there.”

The gunship rocked back and forth as it dodged more flak fire, until the ground started growing closer.

“We’re approaching the rainforest, sir!” The gunship pilot announced over the comms.

Rex peered through the slits in the gunship’s doors, seeing one of the walker-carrying gunships get blasted out of the sky. The ground was coming up rapidly, and the gunship pilots all slowed their descent to land safely beneath the trees. The doors of the gunship hissed open, and the occupants rushed out.

“Let’s get set up quickly,” Anakin said. “We’ve got no time to lose.”

“Get those AT-RTs ready!” Rex shouted. “Walker drivers, get those mass drivers aimed at the artillery!”

“Yes sir!” Several Clones with grey and brown markings on their helmets piled out of one of the gunships and started to climb up onto the AT-TEs, mounting themselves on the mass driver cannons. The cannon turrets swiveled around, aiming at the artillery cannons beyond the tree line. With a cacophony of fire and the blaze of blue bolts, the walker cannons decimated the artillery that was across the field.

“Good work boys!” Rex said. “Awaiting your orders, general.”

Anakin looked to see Obi Wan and Commander Cody arriving with the rest of the 212th battalion in tow. “Well, master?” he asked. “Shall we?”

Obi Wan nodded. “Let the festivities commence.”

Rex thrusted his hand forwards. “ATTACK!”

The AT-TEs marched out of the jungle, albeit slowly, followed by the massive swarm of Clone troopers. With the Jedi and commanding officers at the head, they charged at the defensive line that had been set up between them and Dooku’s palace. There were several metal ramparts set up to block them, accompanied by AAT tanks. Several meters ahead, far beyond the lines of tanks, were MTT transports, ready to deploy additional troops when ready.

And, of course, the battlefield was already covered in thousands of battle droids, spider droids, and crab droids.

The battlefield was lit up with a symphony of blue and red bolts as the two sides clashed, with the Clones receiving backup from the AT-RT scout walkers that came charging out of the forest, and the AT-TE’s anti-personnel cannons. The AAT cannons began to lay into the crowd of attacking troopers, picking them off in small groups. Even more clones were killed by the barrage of blaster fire coming from the droids. A few of the crab droids went feral and began charging, their mechanical legs sharp enough to slice a trooper in half.

Anakin met the crabs in force, jumping over one and slicing it in half while mid-air, then using the Force to throw both halves at the swarm of battle droids, taking down several of them. The second crab droid swung a leg at him, which he ducked underneath, slicing it off in the process. Using the Force, he threw the severed leg at the third crab droid, the sharp point breaking right through the center eye and destroying its droid brain. Anakin whirled back around, stabbing his lightsaber through the center eye of the second droid, deactivating it for good.

Ahsoka wasn’t far behind her master, both her Lightsabers slicing apart B1 droids at every turn. She picked up one of the metal ramparts with the Force and threw it at a squad of droids, crushing them. The Togruta focused on one of the spider droids, which fired its cannon at her. She jumped straight into the air, the bolt impacting the ground where she had been. Ahsoka somersaulted through the air and landed on top of the droid, stabbing her Lightsabers through both the droid’s eyes.

Captain Rex was close behind both Jedi, his dual DC-17 pistols blasting every droid in sight. Fives, Jesse, and Cobalt were behind Rex, firing their pistols as well. Meanwhile, Obi Wan was dealing with an entire AAT himself, using the force to fling the driver on top, before thrusting his Lightsaber into the front hatch, stabbing the droid inside. Cody followed his general, blaster rifle on full auto.

“Rex!” Cody shouted to the captain, who turned around at his call. “The troop transports are moving into position!”

Rex took cover, quickly taking out a pair of electrobinoculars. Cody was right; the MTTs were moving out towards the battlefield. The captain turned on his comms, contacting the walker pilots. “AT-TEs, target those troop transports!”

“Copy that, captain.” replied one of the drivers, followed by a crescendo of mass driver cannon fire. The blue bolts from the walkers made impact with the MTTs, and when the smoke cleared they saw that the transports were unharmed.

“Blast it!” Rex cursed. “Those transports must be ray-shielded!”

“Then we’ll have to face them head on!” Anakin shouted. “Come on, keep pushing!”

The Republic forces continued to push forward through the droids, making good time as the AT-TEs brought up the rear. So far, the droid losses were outweighing the Clones, putting the Republic at an advantage. Unfortunately, they had only made it halfway through when the MTTs finished advancing, and opened fire on the Republic troops with their twin heavy cannons. Many of the troopers in front were killed by the blasts, causing the Jedi generals and their Clone commanders to make for cover.

“Those tanks are gonna blow us to bits!” Fives shouted. “We can’t make it past ‘em!”

“Their shields are too strong for the AT-TE cannons,” Jesse replied. “We don’t have anything stronger!”

Rex got an idea. “Don’t we?” He turned to Anakin. “General Skywalker, I have an idea on how to take out these transports!”

“Let’s hear it, Rex.” Anakin said.

“The walker’s cannons may not be able to penetrate the shields,” he explained. “But I bet our bombers can!”

Anakin nodded. “Good thinking, Rex. I’ll contact the admiral.” the Jedi activated his comlink, patching him into communications with the Resolute in orbit. “Admiral, we need a bomber strike on our location!”

“A… bomber strike, sir?” the admiral questioned.

“Yes,” Anakin said. “Send all the ships you can.”

“Yes sir, General Skywalker.” Yularen replied. “You might want to clear the area.”

“Everyone!” Anakin shouted as soon as his comlink was deactivated. “Fall back!”

“Sir, you can’t be asking us to retreat!” Cobalt pleaded.

“Not retreating,” Anakin said. “Just follow me.”

The mass of Republic troops retreated back several meters, taking cover as the MTTs continued to try and blast them with barrages of red bolts. Once they were far enough away, they started to hear the engines of Y-Wings, and looked up to see the yellow-painted fighters diving down towards the ground. They released their payload of proton bombs, pelting the troop transports with a rain of fire. The Clone troopers cheered as the bombers flew back off into orbit, leaving the MTTs in ruin. When the smoke cleared, the transports were gone, but it revealed a larger force of battle droids, this time, accompanied by legions of Super Battle Droids.

“Supers!” Cobalt shouted. “They’ve got supers!”

“Everyone, push forward!” Anakin commanded. “We can’t give up now!”

The Republic troops charged back into battle, blasters firing and Lightsabers swinging. The new force of droids came to meet them, with Super Battle Droids using their twin wrist blasters with devastating effect. The Jedi went to work cutting the supers to pieces, carving a path for their troops. The AT-TEs caught up with the rest of the force, and began peppering the battle droids with their anti-personnel cannons. They were getting closer to passing the last line of defense.

Obi Wan could see the command center, and the Super Tactical Droid that was in charge of the droids. “Cody!” he shouted. “I see their commander! In the station, across the field!”

Cody scanned the area until he spotted the droid. “I see him!” Cody took aim with his rifle, and fired at the droid. The bolt pierced the commander right through its eye, destroying its head completely. The headless droid toppled to the floor of the station, leaving the rest of the droids in disarray.

“We have a path to Dooku!” Anakin shouted.

“Commander, you finish up the battle out here,” Obi Wan said to Cody. “Anakin, Ahsoka, and I will face Dooku ourselves.”

“Copy that, general!” Cody nodded. “Good luck!”

The three Jedi made a long leap from where they were, launching themselves over the final line of defense and right into the entry courtyard of Dooku’s palace. The defenses were too occupied with the onslaught of the Clone Troopers to deal with the Jedi, so they were free to waltz right into the palace.

The courtyard was decorated by small hedges, marking the path towards the entrance. Anakin, Ahsoka, and Obi Wan sprinted towards the palace, wasting no time. Suddenly, several droids burst out of the hedges, wielding vibroswords. They were Commando Droids; efficient, cunning, killing machines. Four blocked their way to the palace, and the Jedi turned around to see two more behind them.

“This complicates things,” Obi Wan commented.

“We can take ‘em.” Anakin retorted.

The Commando Droids pounced, their swords whistling through the air. The blades were quickly cut to pieces by the Jedi’s Lightsabers, leaving the droids weaponless. That was, until one of them lunged forward, and grabbed Ahsoka by the neck. She gagged, slicing wildly with her Lightsaber and severing the droid’s midsection. The droid’s upper half remained vigilant, choking her with a durasteel grip. Seeing his apprentice was in trouble, Anakin thrust his Lightsaber at it, impaling the droid through the side of the head. Its eyes went out, and it released Ahsoka’s neck, the body falling to the ground.

Two of the droids took advantage of Anakin’s distracted state, and grabbed him by the arms, holding him in place. Ahsoka noticed and made a leap over her master and the droids, slicing the droid’s heads off with her sabers. Meanwhile Obi Wan was dispatching two of them single-handedly, stabbing one through the other’s chest. With a powerful swing, Anakin cut the last droid diagonally, the two halves falling to the floor.

“I think that’s the last of them.” Obi Wan said. “Ahsoka, are you alright?”

“Yeah,” she coughed. “You two go ahead. I’ll help the Clones with the droids out here.”

“You sure?” Anakin asked.

The Togruta nodded. “Just go on.”

Anakin and Obi Wan exchanged glances, before running off towards the palace entrance. It was finally time to face Dooku.

Chapter Text

Anakin and Obi Wan made their way inside Dooku’s palace, walking through the triangular hallways until they found themselves in the main chamber. A large window made up the back wall, looking over a cliffside. Right in front of the window was a large desk with a holoprojector. 

Sitting at the desk was Dooku himself.

The Sith Lord saw them, and stood up from his desk, making his way to the other side as the two Jedi descended the stairs to the floor below.

“This time we will do it together,” Obi Wan said to Anakin.

“I was about to say that.” the former Padawan replied.

“Your swords, please,” Dooku insisted. “We don’t want to make a mess of things all over my floor.”

“You won’t get away this time, Dooku.” Obi Wan shot, before igniting his Lightsaber. Anakin did the same, and then the Count ignited his red saber.

The three clashed in a flurry of saber blows, with Dooku single-handedly fending off the attacks of both Jedi on his own. Anakin would attack, and Dooku would block, followed up by Obi Wan’s attack, which was also blocked by the Count. Obi Wan made his way around behind the Sith, attempting to attack from behind, but Dooku divided his attention skillfully, whirling around to block and parry every strike the Jedi made. Finally, Obi Wan backed away, leaving the three standing there, Lightsabers humming.

Dooku grinned. “I’ve been looking forward to this.”

“My powers have doubled since the last time we met, Count.” Anakin said.
“Good,” Dooku continued to grin while retorting. “Twice the pride, double the fall.”

The Jedi continued their attacks, with Dooku parrying to throw some of his own strikes in. It was a fight between three equally matched swordsmen, and none could seem to strike a blow on their opponent. Anakin and Obi Wan combined their efforts and swung their blades together, only for Dooku to hold his Lightsaber horizontally, blocking both sabers at once.

Dooku forced their sabers back, before pushing Obi Wan with the Force, sending him across the floor. Anakin swung with his Lightsaber sideways, which Dooku ducked underneath. The fight carried itself up the stairs by the entrance, while Obi Wan got back to his feet and hurried up the other set of stairs to flank Dooku from behind. The Count noticed this, and deflected Anakin’s next strike, before whirling around to Force choke Obi Wan, keeping him in place. Obi Wan’s saber deactivated as Dooku threw a kick behind him, knocking Anakin off his feet. The Count proceeded to throw Obi Wan across the room, where he crashed into the railing of a platform, falling to the floor below, unconscious.

Dooku reached out with the Force, and pulled the platform down on top of Kenobi, pinning him to the floor. Anakin recovered, jumping forwards and kicking Dooku in the chest, sending the Sith flying backwards, reverting into a backflip onto the floor below. Anakin jumped over the railing and landed in front of Dooku, resuming their battle. The Jedi attacked Dooku with a series of fierce saber strikes, trying to break through Dooku’s seemingly unbreakable guard. Their sabers clashed into a blade lock, with the two Force-wielders attempting to push the other back.

“I sense great fear in you, Skywalker,” Dooku taunted. “You have hate. You have anger. But you don’t use them!”

Anakin growled, breaking the blade lock before throwing a powerful strike at the Count, which Dooku was almost unable to block. Anakin threw several more blows at the Sith, who parried every single one of them. Anakin’s attacks became increasingly more aggressive, practically using his saber like a blunt weapon. Dooku continued to parry, launching a few of his own attacks, before their sabers engaged in another blade lock. This time, Anakin reached forward, grabbing Dooku’s saber with his other hand, and swiveled his own Lightsaber around, bringing it up through Dooku’s wrists, severing both his hands.

Dooku gasped, staring at his stump-wrists in utter horror, falling to his knees. His saber hilt had been sent flying through the air, which Anakin caught, igniting it, and formed the two sabers into an X at the Count’s neck, threatening to decapitate him.

Slowly, Obi Wan regained consciousness underneath the weight of the platform that was pinning him by his midsection. He looked across the floor, seeing Anakin holding Dooku at his mercy. It looked like he was about to kill the Sith.

“Anakin, no!” Obi Wan shouted, and Anakin gave a sideways glance at his former master.

“Dooku is a monster,” Anakin growled. “He deserves death.”

“Anakin, listen to me!” Kenobi insisted. “If we take Dooku alive, we can prove Palptaine’s identity! We can stop the entire Clone war, but we need him alive!”

Anakin’s eyes darted back and forth between Dooku and Obi Wan, trying to make a decision. Finally, he sighed, and deactivated both of the Lightsabers. Dooku let out a breath of relief, which was quickly interrupted by Anakin kicking him hard in the face, knocking him out. Using the Force, he lifted the fallen platform off of Obi Wan, freeing him.

“You did well, Anakin,” Obi Wan complimented him. “What we’ve done here will save countless lives throughout the entire galaxy.”

Anakin sighed again. “I just wanted… to get justice. For all that he’s done.”

“Your intentions were noble, Anakin,” Obi Wan said. “But your actions would not have been as commendable.”

There was a noise in the direction of the entrance, and the two looked to see Ahsoka rushing in, followed by Rex, Cody, and several other troopers. They all stopped and looked at the scene of what was before them.

“Is he… dead?” Ahsoka asked.

“Fortunately, no.” Obi Wan said. “Cody, call a shuttle and take Dooku to the brig on the Resolute. We’re going to have some questions for him when he gets back to Coruscant…”

Dooku had been taken to the same facility Barriss was being imprisoned in, however they gave him a slightly less secure cell. With no hands, he had no way to use the Force to choke or shoot lightning, and besides, he seemed far too humiliated to put up any resistance. Two red-marked Coruscant guard troopers stood in the back corners of the cell, electroshock-prods in hand, just in case the Count did decide to try anything.

Anakin stood outside the cell, looking through the translucent force field as Mace Windu and Obi Wan interrogated Dooku, who barely answered any of their questions.

“Where is General Grievous?” Obi Wan asked.

Dooku remained silent.

“Where’s Grievous, Dooku?” Windu demanded. “This will be easier if you cooperate.”

Normally in interrogations like these, Obi Wan would be considered the “good cop” and Windu would be the “bad cop.” However, in this case, they were misleading Dooku into thinking that was the case. In reality, both Obi Wan and Windu were assuming the role of “good cop.” Anakin was waiting for his turn, where he would be the “bad cop.” While the two older Jedi definitely didn’t approve of Anakin’s more aggressive measures, they had all agreed that it would be necessary for Dooku. Besides, it wouldn’t be like Anakin relentlessly abusing an innocent prisoner of war- Dooku had far too much innocent blood on his hands.

“We have one more question,” Mace said. “Is Palpatine a Sith Lord?”

At this, Dooku perked up, and actually looked at them from his cross-legged sitting position on the floor.

“That certainly got a reaction,” Obi Wan commented. “But we need a verbal response. Is Palpatine a Sith Lord?”

“You should have listened to me, all those years ago on Geonosis,” Dooku replied. “I told you everything you needed to know.”

Obi Wan and Mace exchanged glances.

“Very well then,” Mace said. “I see we’ll have to use more… Extreme measures.”

The force field in the doorway of the cell dispersed, and the two Jedi stepped out, prompting Anakin to step in, his eyes blazing with anger. The Count met his gaze, and Anakin could see in that moment that the Count was beginning to regret his decisions.

“Leave us,” he said to the two Clone troopers.

The troopers looked at each other, before hesitantly walking out of the cell, the force field closing behind them. Anakin then began to approach Dooku, not breaking eye contact.

“Answer their question, Dooku.” Anakin growled, “Is Palpatine a Sith?”

Dooku grinned- the most emotion he’d shown in the past twenty minutes. “You’ll have to do better than intimidation tactics to-”

Before Dooku could even finish, Anakin reached out and used the Force to pull the Count right into his grasp, holding his chin tightly.

“Is Palpatine a Sith?” Anakin demanded again.

“What could you possibly do to make me talk?” Dooku scoffed. “The Jedi are peacekeepers. They never cause harm in order to achieve their goals.”

The Jedi scowled. “I don’t have such weaknesses.”

He proceeded to Force push Dooku against the back wall, keeping him pinned. This was a Sith, using a Lightsaber for intimidation wouldn’t work. He had to use methods that even he was a bit uncomfortable using.

“If you won’t tell me what I want to know,” Anakin said. “Then I’ll just have to take it.”

He approached Dooku, and held an open hand out in front of Dooku’s head. Mind probing was one of the more unconventional Force tricks, even for those who bathed in the Dark Side. Anakin had never actually attempted it, so it was more likely that he would be causing Dooku pain rather than gain any knowledge. However, if that pain got Dooku to talk, it would be enough.

The Count knit his brow and closed his eyes as the pain started to grow in his head, as if he had a migraine. Gradually, it grew greater and greater, until Dooku started thrashing against the wall, groaning.

“I don’t see anything,” Anakin said. “Maybe I’ll just have to crack your skull open!”

Dooku began yelling and screaming, shaking wildly. Finally, he caved. “Cease this pain, cease it!” he shouted. “I will tell you!”

Anakin released Dooku, and the Count fell to the floor, shaking his head.

“Well?” Anakin pressed. “Tell me!”

“Yes,” the Sith said after a while. “Palpatine… he is a Sith. My master… His name is Darth Sidious.”

“Palpatine is Darth Sidious?” Anakin asked.

“Yes,” Dooku said. “He orchestrated the Clone War, with my help…”

Anakin grinned. “You’ve been very cooperative, Count. Perhaps your death sentence will be… less painful than this.”

With that, the Jedi left Dooku’s cell, finding Obi Wan and Mace Windu standing outside, their backs turned to him. They turned around, revealing a datapad that was displaying a live security camera view of Dooku’s cell.

“It’s the strangest thing,” Obi Wan said. “The security feed seemed to cut out right as you entered Dooku’s cell.”

“It looks as if he gave the information away willingly,” Windu smirked. “Good job, Skywalker.”

“Wait,” Anakin was confused. “You guys didn’t see… or hear, any of that?”

“We only heard his confession,” Obi Wan said. “At least, that’s what the security recordings show.”

Anakin raised an eyebrow. “Are you just…”

“Turning a blind eye? You could say that,” Obi Wan replied. “However, I wish that something of that nature never happens again.”

“I understand, master.” Anakin said.

“In all honesty,” Mace Windu continued smirking. “I think Dooku deserved what you just gave him. Fortunately, now, we have at least some evidence to prove our case. Now all we need is something a bit more than the words of a known Sith Lord.”

“I may have something that will prove sufficient,” came a new voice. All three Jedi turned to see Kit Fisto approaching them.

“Master Fisto,” Obi Wan addressed him. “What have you found?”

“Our data analysts looked through the communication log from Count’s impounded solar sailer,” Fisto explained. “And found a transmission between him and the Chancellor, one which they were able to tinker with.”

He held out a holoprojector, which emitted a hologram of the cloaked Darth Sidious, his face hidden in shadow. The Hologram slowly zoomed in on the head of the cloaked figure, before it shifted, revealing the unmistakable figure of the Chancellor, clear as day.

“The council has agreed to present this information to the senate, the next time they are in session.” Kit Fisto said.

“Well, they’re in session right now, aren’t they?” Anakin said. “They’re meeting to discuss what to do with Dooku.”

“Then we have no time to waste,” Windu said. “We have to go to the Senate Building as soon as possible.”

Chapter Text

The Senate was in session, discussing what was to become of the newly captured Count Dooku, the leader of the Separatist Alliance. As usual, they all had differing opinions, and were taking hours to make any decision. Of course, this didn’t mean that all the senators were incompetent.

And Padmé Amidala was one of them. She stood in her repulsor pod, listening to what the other senators were saying. To her right, and behind her, was Captain Typho, the current head of the Naboo Security Force. Sitting further to the back of the booth was her most trusted handmaiden, Teckla Minnau.

“Count Dooku is guilty, but I do not believe a death sentence is necessary,” announced Senator Bail Organa from his pod. “Even the most tyrannical dictators deserve mercy.”

“While I agree with senator Organa’s sentiment,” came the voice of Lott Dod, the Neimoidian representative of the Trade Federation. “I do not believe Count Dooku is guilty. He was simply the leader of the Separatist Council- to call him guilty would be to call our own Chancellor guilty.”

“Blasphemy!” shouted someone from the audience of other senators. “We all know the Trade Federation is allied with the Separatists!”

“I will not be associated with the traitorous Nute Gunray!” Lott shouted. “We-”

“We cannot allow Dooku’s misdeeds to go unchecked!” Senator Mon Mothma spoke up. “Millions of people from innocent systems have suffered from his influence!”

“I agree with Senator Mothma,” Riyo Chuchi, the young senator from Orto Plutonia said. “Dooku’s war crimes cannot be left unpunished.”

“Pardon the interruption senators,” came a voice, and everyone turned to see a pod descending, with several Jedi standing in it; Master Yoda, Obi Wan Kenobi, Mace Windu, and Anakin Skywalker.

Anakin gave Padmé a warm smile as the Jedi’s pod passed hers, hovering only a few meters from the central seat where Chancellor Palpatine sat.

“I hope you have a good reason for this intrusion, master Jedi,” Palpatine said. “We are in the middle of an important discussion.”

“As a matter of fact, I do believe what we are bringing to the table is relevant to the current subject,” Obi Wan said, holding up a data disc, and inserting it into the pod’s information port, which connected to the meeting chamber’s enormous holoprojector. The projector emitted a large hologram of Count Dooku.

“What of the Zygerrian Queen?” Dooku asked, clearly in the middle of a conversation with someone outside the hologram.

Suddenly, the hologram shifted to an unfamiliar figure in a large cloak, with a hood that obscured their face.

“Long have Sith empires been built upon the backs of slaves,” the figure said. “To carry on this tradition, we will require… millions.”

The hologram shifted back to Count Dooku. “I assure you, the Queen’s defiance will not sour your plans, Master.”

It shifted back to the cloaked figure. “If she fails to see the error of her ways… end her rule.”

The hologram froze on the cloaked figure, and zoomed in on the obscured head.

“The case of the Zygerrian slave trade has long since been resolved, and the Count’s part in it was never questioned,” Palpatine said, and Padmé couldn’t help but notice how similar he sounded to the figure in the hologram. “I fail to see how this has any bearing on our current predicament.”

“It’s not the Count we’re proving the guilt of,” Mace Windu replied, stepping forward. “We have recently discovered that Dooku has actually been serving a master- Darth Sidious, the figure in this hologram.” he gestured to the large hologram of the hooded figure.

“So Dooku had an accomplice,” Palpatine retorted, in a tone that was unusually hostile and dismissive for the Chancellor. “What does it matter?”

“What matters is that we also discovered the identity of this Darth Sidious,” Windu pressed a button on the pod’s control panel, and the hologram shifted, revealing the face underneath the cloak.

The entire room collectively gasped. The face underneath the cloak was none other than Palpatine himself. The Chancellor- the real one, not the hologram- scowled at the Jedi, his eyes blazing.

“We also have a confession, from the good Count himself,” Obi Wan stepped in, inserting another data disc. A recording began to play, clearly the Count himself, sounding distressed.

“Palpatine… he is a Sith. My master… His name is Darth Sidious.”

“In other words,” Windu continued, “You are under arrest, Chancellor.”

“Are you threatening me, Master Jedi?” Palpatine growled.

Windu looked at the room of Senators surrounding him. “The Senate will decide your fate.”

“I AM THE SENATE.” Palpatine hissed at him.

“Not yet,” Windu shot back.

Slowly, the Chancellor stood up on his podium, all eyes in the room were on him now. A Lightsaber hilt suddenly shot up his sleeve and into his hand. “It’s treason, then,” Palpatine said, before the saber ignited.

The chamber descended into chaos as the occupants of the pods closest to the Chancellor attempted to fly away, screaming. Captain Typho ushered Padmé into a crouching position, taking cover behind the front of the pod. Lott Dod was in a complete panic, like the coward he was, while Bail Organa and Mon Mothma stood strong, watching the situation play out.

Meanwhile, Palpatine advanced, letting out a feral scream as he spun through the air, heading straight for the Jedi. All four of them ignited their sabers, blocking Palpatine’s attack. The Chancellor, now Sith Lord, jumped backwards into the air, using a Force push to knock three of them- Obi Wan, Anakin, and Windu, straight off their feet, sending them tumbling to the floors below. Master Yoda stood strong in the face of Palpatine’s attack, his emerald green saber shining in contrast to the crimson red of Sidious’ blade.

The Sith Lord attacked again, jumping at the small green Jedi, who jumped towards him in turn. Yoda deflected his attack and kicked him in the face, sending him backwards and back onto the podium. Mas Amedda, the Grand Veizer, panicked, tumbling out of the platform, falling to his likely demise. The two red-robed Senate Guards attempted to defend Palpatine, but Yoda Force pushed them off the platform, sending them flying. The two saber wielders began to clash again, jumping around each other wildly, with audible cackles coming from Palpatine.

Another pod flew past Padmé, and she saw that it was filled with several Clone troopers with red-marked armor, denoting their affiliation to the Coruscant Guard.

“Set for stun!” yelled the commander. The other clones nodded, and pointed their rifles at the pair of Force wielders ruthlessly battling it out.

Palpatine sent another Force push Yoda’s way, sending the Jedi into another unoccupied pod. Suddenly, bolts of lightning began to shoot out of the Sith’s fingers, and Yoda held out his hands, which began to glow blue as the lightning was inexplicably absorbed.

Palpatine ceased his attack, confused, and Yoda suddenly pushed out both his hands, sending the lightning right back at Sidious. The Sith Lord was not prepared for this, and got knocked backwards, falling into the seat of the podium. The Clone troopers fired their blasters, sending several stun rays at Palpatine. Before he could react, the rays hit him, and the Chancellor fell unconscious.

The chaos of the Senate chamber died down as the threat of the Sith Lord had been subdued, the enormous hologram of his cloaked head ironically still being displayed by the holoprojector. Yoda turned to the Coruscant guard troopers.

“Arrest him,” he said.

“Yes sir,” the commander said. “Call someone to bring in the new binders.”

Now that the fight had finished, Padmé suddenly remembered the other Jedi, and stood up to pilot her repulsor pod. She directed it down to the bowels of the chamber, finding Anakin, Obi Wan, and Windu sprawled on the ground. For a horrible moment, she thought that they were dead, but saw that they were visibly breathing. Padmé hopped out of the pod, and hurried to Anakin’s side, shaking him awake.

“Ani,” she urged. “Ani, wake up.”

He groaned, and his eyes slowly opened. “What’s got you looking so sad?” a smile cracked across his lips.

Pamdé rolled her eyes.

“Is it over?” Anakin asked. “Is he…”

“Yes,” She said. “Palpatine- Darth Sidious, he’s been captured.”

Anakin’s smile slowly fell. “There’s a lot we need to talk about…”

Sidious was in custody. The troopers hadn’t been kidding- they were entirely new and unique binders that had never been seen before. They were made up of three thick, metal clamps; two around his wrists, and one around his neck. The binders were connected by streams of electricity, forming a triangle between all three clamps. The clamp around his neck also formed into a sort of collar, which wrapped around his mouth, preventing him from speaking. 

The clamps also used technology that they had received from the Mandalorians- intended for use in the imprisonment of Darth Maul when he arrived at Coruscant, however they had lost him, so this was a better use. The clamps suffocated the Force connection of whoever was wearing them, preventing them from using the Force at all. They imprisoned him in one of the same cells as Barriss- no windows, no viewports, thick walls that muted sound, and an armed guard with guns trained on him at all times. Palpatine would not go anywhere.

Unfortunately, the Clone Wars were not over just yet. Even with both his superiors in Republic custody, General Grievous stubbornly refused to surrender. However, without his superiors his strategies had become erratic and temperamental; his capture was inevitable.

Anakin had also informed Padmé about the World Between Worlds (something she was reluctant to believe at first) and how Sidious had intended to turn him against the Jedi and become his apprentice. However, this future had been prevented, and he assured her that the future of the Republic was bright.

Unfortunately, there was still one other evil at large in the galaxy…

Chapter Text

Maul had been exploring this planet for quite some time. It had an odd connection to the Force, one which he didn’t fully understand. On his first day, a Republic shuttle had arrived, and inspected the Venator crash site. He had hidden himself and the fighter that he stole from the hangar until they left, after which he continued to explore the planet.

He discovered a very large and vicious species of frog-creature, which seemed scared of him- no doubt sensing the darkness within him. 

On the second day he fell down a hole and into a cave, where he found a much larger variant of the frog creature, which attacked him immediately. It had wrapped his body up in its long, adhesive tongue, which Maul had severed using his saber blade. The frog had tried to crush him under its weight, but Maul simply forced it to stay in one place, and stabbed it in the eyes with his blade. He left its corpse to rot in the waters of the cave he had found it in.

On the third day he explored some more cave systems and discovered a workshop of some kind, with actual Lightsaber parts in it. He figured that a Jedi had lived here for a while, which was unsurprising given its connection to the Force. Maul used the Lightsaber parts to restore his saber staff to its former glory, and was pleased to ignite it and see two blades once more.

Several months later, Maul located the source of the planet’s Force connection- a large, hollow mountain of some kind, with a cylindrical entrance inside of it. He crawled through the narrow passageway, finding himself in a circular, domed room, with odd mirror walls and a thin layer of water covering the floor. A small, circular niche was located in the center of the room, with a circular hole in the roof above it, letting daylight in. Maul eyed it as he walked past, approaching the mirror walls. The Zabrak cocked his head as he walked towards the wall, holding out his hand to touch the mirror.

The second his finger made contact with his reflection, he was thrown into a vision, falling while surrounded by darkness. He felt the pain of a thousand saber cuts- something he had actually felt before- while a familiar voice spoke in the background.

“Far above, far below, we don’t know where we’ll fall. Far above, far below, what once was great is rendered small.”

Maul suddenly found himself in a familiar place, the Mandalorian plaza, with a mural dedicated to Tar Vizsla and the Mandalorian crusades. A familiar figure also stood in front of him; his master, Sidious, twin red blades ignited.

“I’m not going to kill you,” he said. “I have… other uses for you.”

Maul wasn’t afraid. He’d had visions that were much worse than this one.

“You’re not real.” He addressed the vision of Sidious, and the entire environment began to shimmer and disappear, finding himself back on Bogano. He felt the Force connection, stronger than ever before, and turned to see a Jedi Holocron, slowly rising from the niche in the center of the room.

Intrigued, Maul approached it. He knew only Jedi could access Jedi Holocrons, however, he had figured a way around this.

Maul focused on the Holocron, and cleared his mind of all his anger and raging thoughts, going completely blank. He closed his eyes, and filled his head with the only positive and light-oriented thoughts he could.

Mother Talzin. She cared for him. When Sidious had cast him aside, she rescued him, and cured his mind of the poisonous amnesia that had plagued him.

Savage Opress. His brother, who had actually made the journey to save him. Maul had truly cared for Savage, and the two stayed side by side until Savage’s untimely death at the hands of none other than Sidious himself.

With those thoughts in mind- compassion for his mother and brother- he reached out to the Holocron.

It unlocked.

To his utter surprise, it actually unlocked.

Maul opened his eyes, and watched as the Holocron projected an enormous map of the galaxy. He studied it, and then realized its purpose; it wasn’t just a map, it was an index. An index of every known Force-Sensitive child in the galaxy.

In Maul’s head, a plan began to form.

Sidious had once talked about kidnapping Force-Sensitive children before the Jedi could induct them into the order. He planned to put them through a brainwash program, implanting chips in their heads that made them submissive, and form an army of Sith warriors.

Maul chuckled at the thought. How ironic would it be if he stole Sidious’ plan, and then accomplished what his master never could? Maul knew he could do it himself. The plan formed in his head, and he smiled. It was genius, and the perfect way to unleash his rage on the entire galaxy. 

They would come to fear the name Maul.

The former Sith returned to his starfighter with the Holocron, and looked at the five most secluded and unsuspecting planets- Shili, Corellia, Devaron, Sriluur, and Lothal. Maul chuckled to himself- Five of them, it would be perfect. He logged the coordinates of the planets into the starfighter and started up the engines, leaving Bogano’s atmosphere and jumping to hyperspace.

Over the course of a week, Maul had visited four of the five planets; Shili, Devaron, Sriluur, and Lothal. The four children laid asleep in the rear seats of his fighter- a female Weequay, with their characteristic wrinkly skin, a male Devaronian, with red skin and lacking the horns they normally had due to his infancy, a male Togruta, with pale grey skin and miniscule montrals on his head, and finally, a male human, with tanned skin and a tiny patch of dark hair on the top of his head.

There was only one planet left to visit- Corellia.

Corellia was an industrial and crime-ridden planet, with nearly no law beyond the syndicate that ran it. Maul did not own this Syndicate, however he did need to stay out of their sight, as if they saw him he would be compromised.

When Maul located the child, he found a poorhouse. Perfect, he thought. The most unsuspecting place to find a Force-Sensitive child. The Zabrak had donned a cloak over his head to conceal his identity, and knocked on the door.

It was answered by a weary-looking woman with long red hair, with bags under her eyes, and stunk of spice and alcohol.

“Yes?” she asked in a rough voice.

“You have a child?” Maul asked.

The lady scoffed. “Unfortunately. Come on in.”
None of the other parents had this reaction. Maul followed her into the house, finding it in a rather poor condition. There were food scraps and trash everywhere, chairs and tables were knocked over. Maul heard the baby crying.

“Oh, shut up, you little brat.” the woman demanded. She walked over to a sofa chair, where the baby was sitting, completely exposed other than a diaper. It had deathly pale skin, and looked hungry. A small tuft of red hair stuck out of the top of the child’s head.

“What is your name?” Maul asked the woman.

“Jade.” she said. “Monsha Jade.”

“And the child?”

Monsha scoffed again. “I don’t know why you’re so interested in her. She’s a little brat, that’s all she is.”

“Does the child have a name?” Maul continued to ask her.

The woman sighed. “Mara. Not that I care.”

Maul had an idea. “Would you do anything to get rid of her?”

Monsha shrugged. “I guess. Nobody’s offered though. Corellia is no place for children to grow up, not that I would care what happens to her anyways.”

The former Sith knew how to convince people like her. He reached into his cloak, and withdrew a small packet of spice. “I have this…”

Her eyes widened. “How about this,” she said. “You give me the spice, and in return I’ll give you the damn kid so that both of you stop bothering me.”

Maul nodded. “If that is what you wish.”

Monsha practically shoved the baby into Maul’s arms, and he gave her the spice packet.

On the way back to the ship, Maul snatched a blanket off a sleeping homeless person, and an abandoned bowl of soup off a kitchen table. When he arrived back at his fighter, he bundled the baby in the blanket, and held the soup to her lips. The child willingly slurped down the bowl of warm liquid, and stopped crying. The child promptly fell asleep, and Maul placed her in the back seat with the other sleeping children.

“Mara Jade.” Maul mused, remembering the name the woman had told him. “You will prove a testament to the will of the Force, that something can come from nothing.”

Maul started up the fighter’s engines, and took off from Corellia, jumping to hyperspace. He wasn’t sure where to go now that his plan had just started to go in motion. Oba Diah, he realized. It wasn’t too far, and the Pykes were part of his shadow collective. From there, he could contact the other Syndicates of his plan- or at least, the parts he wanted them to know.

Maul activated his transmitter as the ship dropped out of hyperspace, and the pale white planet of Oba Diah came into view. He piloted the Starfighter down to the surface, landing at the platform. He opened the fighter’s cockpit canopy and hopped out, finding a delegation of Pykes waiting for him, led by their leader, Lom Pyke.

“Lord Maul,” he said in a sly and venomous voice. “I was… not aware you survived your ordeal with the Separatists.”

“Your loyalty is noted, Lom Pyke,” Maul said. “I have been surviving just fine without your help.”

“I will inform the other syndicates of your survival-”

“I will inform them myself,” Maul shot. “Contact them now. I have a plan.”

Chapter Text

It was less than a week after Palpatine’s arrest, and the Republic was moving forward into what might be considered a new golden age. It was heavily debated who should take Palpatine’s place as Supreme Chancellor, but the vote ended up being almost unanimous- Bail Organa was appointed as Chancellor of the Republic.

It was then that Padmé broke the news to Anakin; she was pregnant, and very close to giving birth.

Anakin was excited and terrified at the prospect of becoming a father, however there was a complication; the baby’s birth certificate. If Anakin had his name on the certificate, he would essentially be announcing the fact that he had broken the Jedi code. Anakin had a plan, though; he would present a case to the Jedi council, and attempt to convince them of his reasoning.

A few months passed, and Anakin was in the war room, studying the table labeled with General Grievous’ last known locations. The war was still technically going on, however Grievous was running out of droids and planets to hide on. It was then that Anakin received a message to head to the hospital. As discreetly as he could, he took his leave, and rode an airspeeder over to the Coruscant hospital.

When he reached Padmé’s room in the maternity wing, he found her with two small children, bundled in her lap. The doctors let him in to see her, and he approached the bed to see the children.

“Have you thought of names yet?” he asked her.

“I was thinking maybe of naming one after your mother,” Padmé said. “I didn’t expect to have two, but now we have more options.”

“Maybe we could name the boy after your uncle Ono?” he suggested.

“I have a better idea,” she said, smiling. “Luke, and Leia.”

Anakin nodded. “They’re perfect.”

There was a knock on the door, and Anakin turned to see who it was. To his surprise, it was Ahsoka.

“This is unexpected,” she said. “May I come in?”

“Of course,” Anakin responded.

“Does Obi Wan know yet?” Ahsoka asked.

“Not yet,” he said. “I planned on telling him as soon as Padmé gets out of the hospital. Besides, I’m gonna need his help for the coming storm.”

“What coming storm?” The Togruta cocked her head.

“Anakin plans on putting his name on their birth certificates.” Padmé said.

Ahsoka’s eyes widened. “If you do that… you’ll be expelled from the order!”

“I’ve been thinking about that, and I have a solution,” he said.

“What is it?”

“I’ll tell you when the time comes,” Anakin told her. “But even if I do end up getting expelled, I’ll come to terms with it. I’ve never been more content than I am right now.”

“Everyone will miss you, though,” Ahsoka stated.

“I can live with that.”

A few days later, the birth certificates were submitted, and word got out about who Padmé’s husband was. She kept her maiden name, but both of the babies were given the name Skywalker. Anakin told Obi Wan about it, and his former master was surprised, but supportive. He informed him that the council was meeting to decide whether or not he would be expelled, and they wanted to give him a chance to plead his case. Anakin had his argument prepared, and he would present it to them.

He entered the council chambers to find that everyone had arrived in person. He was a bit nervous, but held himself high and didn’t falter. He glanced at Obi Wan, who gave him an encouraging nod.

“Hello, Skywalker,” Mace Windu greeted him. “I imagine you already know why you are here.”

“Yes, I do, master,” Anakin replied. “I am fully prepared for the repercussions, however I have prepared my reasons for what I’ve done.”

“You may proceed,” Mace Windu said.

“With all due respect, masters,” Anakin began. “The law forbidding Jedi from having attachments is severely flawed.”

A murmur ran through the council chambers. Windu held up a hand for silence. “Explain.”

“Well, despite our obvious ability to use the Force, what makes us different from other groups who fight in the name of peace, like the rebels on Onderon, or the freedom fighters of Ryloth?”

Mace Windu began speaking. “A Jedi’s resolve, their strength of will-”

“Any peacekeeper can have those,” Anakin said. “What truly makes them different from the Jedi?”

There was no answer.

“They have something to fight for,” Anakin said. “They have their families, their loved ones… in these cases, their attachments are not weakness, but rather, their greatest strength.”

“The Jedi fight in the name of peace, justice, and security,” Plo Koon said. “You feel these aren’t enough?”

“It is a worthy cause, there’s no doubt about it,” Anakin replied. “But in the case of other Jedi, like me, and many others…” he avoided making eye contact with his former master, remembering his relationship with the Mandalorian Duchess. “There are other things we’d rather fight for. I would do anything to protect my Wife and children… if any of you had significant others, would you not do the same?”

There was a long pause, and the council members talked amongst themselves.

“Perhaps, right you are, young Skywalker,” Yoda said. “A long overdue update, this old law needs.”

“We never had any intention to expel you,” Windu revealed. “In fact, after this discovery, some might argue that your attachments made you a better Jedi than some in this very room.”

“I don’t understand,” Anakin said.

“They are offering you a place on the council,” Obi Wan explained.

“Not only that,” Windu continued. “But we grant you the rank of master.”

Anakin struggled to contain his excitement and relief, simply smiling and bowing politely at the elder Jedi. “Thank you, master.”

“Take a seat, young Skywalker,” Mace gestured at the empty seat next to Kenobi. “Now, we’ll discuss this amendment to the attachments law.”

In the following months, several attacks were launched on worlds still controlled by the Separatists- or at least, what was left of them. After both sides of the war realized they were both being played by the same person, a peace treaty was signed between the Galactic Republic and the Separatist Alliance. The remaining members who remained loyal to the cause now headed by General Grievous were exiled, assuming the name “The Confederacy.”

Among the worlds still controlled by the Confederacy, three were attacked by the Republic- Scipio, Utapau, and Skako Minor. The 104th Wolf Pack, headed by Plo Koon and Commander Wolffe, attacked Scipio, the homeworld of the Banking Clan. With the war dying down, the Banking Clan was running out of cash cows, and they were forced to surrender. The 501st attacked Skako Minor, discovering an experimental facility run by Wat Tambor, one of the leading members of the Confederacy. They also discovered his pet project, a Clone Trooper once thought to be dead: CT-1409, nicknamed Echo. It took him a short while to regain his memories, but he was delighted to see his old friends, Rex and Fives, and at least return to some sense of normalcy. The attack was successful, and Wat Tambor was captured.

The 212th legion, headed by General Kenobi and Commander Cody, attacked Utapau, and discovered that it had been General Grievous’ final hiding place, along with the remaining members of the Confederacy that had refused to sign the peace treaty. Among them were Nute Gunray, Poggle the lesser, and Shu Mai, the president of the commerce guild. 

Obi Wan had been delighted to jump down and say “Hello there,” before dueling General Grievous. The official final battle of the Clone Wars commenced, with Kenobi and Grievous’ fight traveling across the entire city. Eventually, Obi Wan finally succeeded in killing Grievous, who remained stubborn to the end, refusing to surrender. The Republic’s attack finished with all the remaining Battle Droids being either destroyed or deactivated, effectively ending the Clone Wars for good. The Republic could rest.

Anakin was happier than he’d ever been, raising his two children with Pamdé. There was no doubt that they were strong with the Force; as soon as they could walk, they were using it to pick up their own toys, and make them float in the air. R2-D2 would also play with them, although Anakin insisted his little friend keep his shock prod and other dangerous tools deactivated when around them.

They would grow up to be exceptional Jedi, he could feel it.

Chapter Text

Twelve years after the twin’s birth, they were already exceptional Jedi, becoming Padawans underneath their father. Although it was unheard of for a master to have two apprentices, it was allowed given how much was already changing around the temple. In the previous year, they had made their journey to the ice planet of Illum, earning their Kyber crystals and constructing their Lightsabers with the Lightsaber Archivist, a droid named Huyang.

Luke’s looked incredibly similar to his godfather Obi Wan’s, with a wide circular top to the hilt, and coiled metal strips that wrapped around the neck until about halfway down, followed by a handle that was shaped almost like Master Yoda’s. His Kyber crystal was a deep emerald green making it also similar to Yoda’s Lightsaber, however Obi Wan reminded him that his master, Qui Gon Gin, had a green bladed saber, and Luke was happy to carry on Gin’s legacy by wielding a green saber.

Leia’s Lightsaber looked like a combination of Mace Windu’s hilt design and Obi Wan’s hilt design, with an elegant copper-and-silver coloring. It had a traditional padded handle, similar to the look of her father’s Lightsaber handle. The rest of it looked like a downsized version of Kenobi’s, with a coiled tip and a thin neck. Leia’s blade turned out to be a light blue color, identical to Anakin’s blade. He was proud of both his children and their Lightsabers.

The twins were dueling in the temple, while Anakin oversaw it, their sabers in training mode so as to not do any actual harm. While Luke had exceptional swordsmanship skills, Leia had proved to be better than him. She blocked and parried her way through all his attacks, sweeping him off his feet with a swift kick.

“Ouch!” Luke whined. “Dad!”

“Don’t look at me,” Anakin said. “If you want her to stop kicking your butt, then learn to adapt.”

“Yeah, Luke, learn to adapt.” Leia mocked her brother.

“Leia, what did we talk about,” her father scolded. “Leave the sass for the enemy. The REAL enemy. You two are siblings, be nice to each other.”

“Sorry,” Leia apologized.

“Ok, you two, reform, and try it again,” Anakin instructed them.

Luke got to his feet, re-igniting his Lightsaber and facing down his sister. The two clashed, their sabers bouncing off each other with every strike.

“Luke, try to go with her attacks, not against them,” Anakin said. “Let your actions flow.”

The boy tried to do as he was told, allowing Leia to attack while he parried. With a precise move, Luke ducked under one of her strikes, and brought his blade up until it was level with the back of her neck.

“I got you,” he said, out of breath.

“And I got you,” Leia replied.

Luke glanced down, and saw that Leia’s saber was aimed at his stomach.

“Oh, come on!” he shouted. “I can’t win against you!”

“It’s not about winning, Luke,” Anakin told him, motioning for the twins to deactivate their Lightsabers. “It’s about learning. If you never learn, you never improve on what you already know. Master Yoda once told me that failure is the greatest teacher. Failure allows us to learn from our mistakes, and make ourselves better.”

“Oh, I agree,” Obi Wan’s voice came from the entrance of the room, alerting the three Skywalkers to his presence. “I could not have said it better myself.”

“Master Kenobi,” Anakin said. “How nice of you to join us.”

“I wanted to see how the twins were doing,” Obi Wan said, “I hear they’re learning fast.”

“Well, they certainly didn’t inherit it from me,” Anakin laughed. “I am a slow learner.” he turned to the twins. “Why don’t you two run off to the library?”

“Okay!” they both said, before hurrying out of the training room.

Once they were gone, Obi Wan spoke again. “I’ve heard they have inherited your knack for causing problems.”

“Indeed,” Master Yoda entered next to Obi Wan. “Twice the trouble, they have become.”

“Master Yoda,” Anakin bowed politely. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”

“We bring unfortunate news,” Obi Wan explained. “The syndicates that make up Maul’s Shadow Collective have become increasingly more active in previous months.”

“Afoot, the Dark Side is,” Yoda said. “Alive, Maul may be.”

“That’s impossible, he was killed when the Tribunal crashed,” Anakin responded.

“Remember, Anakin, I cut him in half and he survived,” Obi Wan said. “It would take more than a cruiser crashing into a planet to kill him.”

“Resilient, he is.” Yoda agreed.

“In any case,” Obi Wan continued, “the Pykes have raided an old shipyard belonging to the Confederacy, stealing parts belonging to a Subjugator-class cruiser.”

“If I remember correctly…” Anakin said. “That’s the same type of ship as the Malevolence, from the beginning of the war.”

“We believe Maul may be planning to reassemble the parts, and build a Subjugator of his own.”

“That would be… problematic.” Anakin commented.

“I agree,” Obi Wan replied. “The Subjugator was designed to house a massive ion cannon, but who’s to say that Maul may refit it with a more… destructive weapon.”

“Allow this, we cannot,” Yoda said, “Intervene, we must.”

“The council had authorized an investigation into the Pyke’s homeworld, Oba Diah. They’re sending the two of us, as fate has it.” Obi Wan said.

“Just like old times, master,” Anakin said

“Let’s hope not,” Obi Wan smirked. “If it were that case, we might end up engaging in ‘aggressive negotiations.’”

“Well then, let’s get going.”

The Jedi’s shuttle dropped out of hyperspace, coming into view of the white-and-grey planet of Oba Diah, the homeworld of the Pykes and the base of their crime operations. The Republic had no jurisdiction out here, so the Jedi had to be as diplomatic as possible. They flew in and landed on the landing pad, exiting their shuttle to see a delegation coming to meet them, led by none other than Lom Pyke.

“Greetings, Jedi,” the Pyke said, in a voice that would be more befitting of a snake. “We were not expecting you.”

“We’ve come to speak with you, regarding recent events,” Obi Wan addressed him.

“Of course,” The Pyke said, motioning for them to follow him.

As they did, Obi Wan leaned in to whisper to Anakin. “Lom Pyke is a coward,” he said. “The negotiations will be short.”

He led them through the small city, and into a room that seemed to be for formal meetings. The other Pykes that escorted them stayed outside, while Lom Pyke entered with them. The two Jedi sat at a long table, while Pyke sat across from them.

“To what do I owe the pleasure?” the crime lord asked.

“We’ve received intelligence that a Confederacy shipyard was recently attacked by your syndicate,” Obi Wan said bluntly. “We were told that they stole parts belonging to a large, weaponized cruiser.”

Lom Pyke shook his head. “This is the first time I am hearing of it.”

“Weren’t you part of Darth Maul’s Shadow Collective?” Anakin pressed.

“Lord Maul has no jurisdiction here,” Lom Pyke waved a hand dismissively. “The Pykes who attacked the shipyard must have been unaligned brigands.”

“I question the phrasing of your statement,” Obi Wan smirked. “Maul has been dead for some time. How could he have jurisdiction anywhere?”

The crime lord looked back and forth nervously. “I… have to speak with my… associates.” he said, before getting up from the table and walking out of the room, the door closing behind him.

Anakin and Obi Wan sat in silence for a short time.

“He’s definitely hiding something,” Anakin said.

“Oh, I agree.” Kenobi replied. “He should have no reason to be nervous.”
“That we know of,” Anakin added. “Based on what he said, Maul might be alive.”

Suddenly, there was commotion outside, and the door hissed open to reveal two men in black-and-red armor, carrying blasters. They looked almost like Clone troopers, but the armor was visually very different. On their chests, they had an unfamiliar insignia- a pair of fangs, with a long, serpentine tongue in between them. The two soldiers aimed at the two Jedi, and fired.

Anakin stood up first, and held up his hand, using the Force to redirect the blaster bolts into the walls, before pulling the blasters right out of their hands, and tossing them aside. Obi Wan stood up to join his former apprentice, and the two Jedi ignited their Lightsabers.

The troopers fruitlessly attempted to fight the Jedi hand-to-hand, only to be cut down by their Lightsabers. The pair exited the room to find more of the same troopers down the hallway, some of them holding riot shields and carrying electro batons. The Jedi deflected bolts fired from the enemy trooper’s blasters as the soldiers with shields advanced.

Anakin sliced both the shields in half with a single swing, but the troopers were not deterred, resorting to their batons. These soldiers were well-trained, as the two with batons were able to go toe-to-toe with the two Jedi for some time, until they were cut down. The remaining soldiers were killed by deflected bolts, clearing the way out of the hallway.

“I think it’d be best to leave,” Obi Wan shouted.

“Agreed,” Anakin said. “Let’s go!”

The two Jedi ran out of the building and through the city, encountering a few more of the riot shield-wielding troopers, whom they were almost overwhelmed by. Anakin was pinned down by three of them, zapping him with their electro batons. The Jedi retaliated with a two-handed Force push, sending all three of the soldiers flying. Obi Wan cut down the two soldiers attacking him, their bodies falling to the ground.

“There’s the shuttle!” Anakin pointed.

The two made a break for it, sprinting towards the shuttle, and up the boarding ramp. The landing pad was quickly swarmed with the red-and-black troopers, fruitlessly firing their blasters at the shuttle that was taking off. It was no use, and the shuttle left the planet’s atmosphere, safely off into space.

“You were right about one thing, master,” Anakin said. “The negotiations were short.”

Chapter Text

Maul stood in the mouth of the cave, the shards of the ice waterfall lying on the ground around him. It was Jedi tradition for apprentices to come here to get their Kyber crystals, however the planet was unmonitored, allowing him to slip in unnoticed, bringing his own apprentices with him. They were currently all around twelve years old at the time, and it was custom for learners to receive their Lightsabers around this time.

Currently, the five of them were off in the cave, no doubt enduring their separate trials to receive their crystals. Maul didn’t know if the Kyber crystals would respond to Sith apprentices the same way, but he did know that they responded to Force users, no matter their orientation.

He heard rapid footsteps coming from the cave ahead of him, and looked to see his Devaronian apprentice, Vras Tyrion, approaching. A smug grin was on his face, and he clutched something in his hand.

“I found one,” he announced proudly.

“It seems you have,” Maul said. “Where are the others?”

“Don’t know,” the boy said gruffly. “Haven’t seen them.”

“Then we will wait.”

Shortly thereafter, two others joined them; Roos Lassi, the pale-skinned Togruta boy, and Teela Sidus, the Weequay girl. Teela had found a singular crystal, as had Roos. Eventually, they were joined by a tanned boy with long, dark hair- Gideon Rax. He brought a single crystal too, and looked content about it.

“Are we leaving soon?” he asked. “It’s cold here.”

“We must wait for Mara,” Maul said. “She has yet to return.”

“Typical,” Teela whispered.

“Silence, whelp,” the Sith master snapped at her. “You will respect her.”

They waited for some time, but finally, the young, pale-skinned girl with long red hair emerged from the cave, clutching her hands to her chest.

“Mara, my dear, come,” Maul said. “Show me what you have found.”

She held out her hands timidly, revealing two crystals. “They both called to me… I didn’t know which one to take, so…”

“That’s cheating!” Vras shouted. “Right?”

“Quiet, Vras,” Maul commanded. “It’s quite alright, Mara. It is not uncommon for some Force wielders to have two Lightsabers, this simply makes you unique. Now, hold out your crystals, all of you.”

The five children held out their hands, presenting their crystals. One by one, Maul held his hand over the crystals, and touched them with the Dark Side. Slowly, they began to shift color, changing from blue and green to a crimson red, save a few. Teela’s crystal shifted to a deep indigo, while Roos’ shifted to purple. By the end, Mara held one red crystal, and one purple crystal.

“Your crystals have been touched by the Dark Side,” Maul explained. “Now, they each have colors befitting a Sith. Let us return to the transport, it’s time to return.”

Maul guided his five apprentices through the snowstorms of Illum and back to their transport craft. Once inside, Maul powered up the engines and left the planet’s atmosphere, making the jump to hyperspace towards Oba Diah. While they were on their way, Maul suddenly began receiving an urgent transmission from none other than Lom Pyke himself. Maul answered, and a hologram of the crime lord appeared on the ship’s dashboard projector.

“What is it, Lom Pyke?” Maul asked.

“My lord…” the Pyke said nervously. “Our operation has been discovered! Two Jedi are here, they’ve come to negotiate on behalf of the Republic!”

“WHAT?” the former Sith raged. “Jedi? On Oba Diah?”

“Yes, my lord!” Lom Pyke was shaking. “What am I to do?”

“The Republic should never have brought them into this,” Maul said. “Kill them immediately.”

With that, the transmission was cut off. When he arrived back at his base, he would need to have a talk with the cowardly crime boss.

After landing back on Oba Diah, he found the Pykes in a panic. There were dead bodies of his soldiers littering the ground, with scorched Lightsaber cuts on their bodies. A great deal of them were still alive, which Maul was pleased with. The black-and-red troopers were part of his new empire- Blood Soldiers, he called them. On their chests they bore Maul’s insignia, a pair of snake fangs and a forked tongue, which was a mock-up of the facial tattoos that were on Maul’s chin. He chose this symbol for a reason; snakes were sneaky, cunning, intelligent, and most importantly, they were deadly. He found the commander of his Blood Troopers, whose name was Cheng.

“What happened?” Maul asked.

“The Jedi were resistant,” Cheng responded. “I sent in my best men to kill them, and they failed.”

“Evidently, they were not your best men,” the Zabrak commented.

“I am deeply sorry, Lord Maul,” Cheng bowed his head submissively.

“Your apologies are unnecessary, Commander Cheng,” Maul waved a hand to dismiss his bow. “You are not to blame for this failure… Lom Pyke is. Where is he?”

“In his chambers.”

“Very well,” Maul growled. “I will have to speak with him.”

The former Sith navigated the rest of the city until he found Lom Pyke’s throne chambers, which were rather small. Two Pyke guards stood on either side of Lom Pyke’s throne, along with the crime lord’s advisor, Fife.

“L-Lord Maul,” Lom Pyke stuttered. “I am glad to see you have returned-”

“You may dispense with the pleasantries, Pyke,” Maul said. “There are more important matters to discuss, like how two Jedi were able to infiltrate your city and kill twelve of my men.”

Lom Pyke paused for several moments, standing from his throne and approaching Maul timidly. “They knew about the raid on Pammant Docks,” he admitted. “They had come to see if it had anything to do with you. They thought you were dead,”

“And I had rather it stayed that way,” Maul replied. “What do they know?”

“They’re fairly certain that you are alive,” Lom Pyke said.

Maul narrowed his eyes, and turned around, facing away from the Pyke.

“I can make it up to you,” Lom Pyke pleaded. “I can-”

“Who were they?” Maul interrupted him. “The Jedi?”

Lom Pyke gulped. “It was Skywalker… Anakin Skywalker. And I believe that the other one was none other than Obi Wan Kenobi-”

As soon as the name left the crime lord’s mouth, a solitary red blade ignited in Maul’s hand, and he whirled around, stabbing the Lightsaber straight through Lom Pyke’s gut. The Pyke gasped in pain, his eyes wide in fear. Maul kept the saber in the crime lord’s chest, staring into his dying eyes.

“I will not have Kenobi on my trail,” Maul said. “Not yet.”

The blade was extinguished, and Lom Pyke collapsed to the floor, dead. Maul turned to his advisor, Fife, whose face was obscured by a mask generally worn by Pyke soldiers.

“You are in charge now, Fife.” Maul commanded, before gesturing to the two guards. “And you two, clean up this mess.”

Reluctantly, the two guards hurried over to drag away the body of their deceased former boss, taking his corpse out of the room. Fife nodded silently, and took a seat on Lom Pyke’s throne.

“I trust you will not make the same mistakes as your former superior?” Maul asked.

The Pyke shook his head. “Of course not, Lord Maul.”

Maul grinned contently, before contacting Commander Cheng on his comlink. “Gather the men, and ready our crafts. We will make for the Unknown Regions. Hopefully, our efforts will be able to carry out undisturbed.”

“As you wish, Lord Maul.”

Within a few hours, their fleet was ready. Currently, the flagship was an old Confederate Dreadnaught, which had been repainted to match Maul’s colors- red and black. A larger version of Maul’s insignia was plastered across the side of the ship, which Maul had named ”The Virulence.” Also among his fleet were two Confederate frigates, repainted with the same red and black color scheme and named “The Maleficent” and “The Vindictive” respectively. There was also a single Confederate Support Vessel, which was named “The Vehemence” and was currently acting as a massive cargo ship, along with storing the numerous fighters and ships that currently made up Maul’s navy. The rest of his fleet were made up of other smaller freighters and cruisers, including several Gozanti-class freighters from the Black Sun.

While Maul was watching his troops load up into their ships, Mara Jade approached him.

“Where are we going, Master?” she asked.

“The Unknown Regions, dear,” he answered. “There, I will be able to oversee your training without interruption by the Jedi, as well as the formation of my new empire.”

Mara cocked her head innocently. “Are the Jedi really that bad?” she asked.

Maul turned to her, and knelt down until he was at eye level with her, and took one of her small hands in his.

“Mara, dear,” he told her. “The Jedi are selfish, arrogant, and devious. If I had not saved you, they would have come for you, inducting you into their order and brainwashing you to follow their morals blindly.”

“That’s terrible,” she said.

“Indeed,” the Zabrak nodded. “Which is why we oppose them. One day, you will live in a galaxy free of their influence. We will wipe the Jedi out of the universe, and they will never plague the galaxy again.”

Mara nodded.

“Now, get to your transport,” he said. “You wouldn’t want to be left behind, would you?”

“Ok!” she ran off in the direction of the transport that would take her up to the Vehemence, and was joined by the other four apprentices.

I need a better name for them, Maul thought. Only the Sith had apprentices, and while he was definitely raising them in the ways of the Sith, he was not a Sith any more, nor would his students ever be.

They needed a name that would strike fear into those that heard it. They would be enforcers of his will, agents of his name. Once they reached the proper age, they would carry out his operations as emissaries, or executors. No, more like…

Inquisitors.

Maul smiled. It was a perfect name to give his students. Inquisitors. They would strike fear into the hearts of anyone who called themselves a Jedi, or sided with the Republic. With them carrying out his operations, his empire would be unstoppable.

The fleet was ready to depart, but beforehand, Maul contacted the leaders of his crime syndicates from the bridge of the Virulence. Of the ones that remained in the Shadow Collective, he saw the Pykes, the Black Sun, and a newer one that had just surfaced, Crimson Dawn, led by a young man named Dryden Vos. The Hutts were no longer a part of his collective, nor did he seek to reclaim them. When Maul returned from his exodus to wipe clean the slate of the galaxy, the Hutts would crawl back to him, and he would laugh as he refused their cry for help.

He commanded his collective to carry out their criminal operations in his absence, but not to draw too much attention to themselves. He needed this to remain off the Republic’s radar, and he had already drawn too much attention. The official story of Lom Pyke’s death would be that he was assassinated by a rival crime gang, leaving Fife in charge.

With everything in order, the fleet jumped to hyperspace, bound for the Unknown Regions, at the edges of the galaxy.

Chapter Text

The galaxy had been at peace for eight years now. After the fiasco that happened on Oba Diah, Lom Pyke was mysteriously assassinated by a rival gang, leaving his successor to take over the Pyke Syndicate. After more negotiations, he confidently said that he had no affiliation with the former Darth Maul, and the Pyke Syndicate was off the hook. The other syndicates that once made up Maul’s Shadow Collective were quiet, causing virtually no trouble. That was, until two days ago.

A syndicate that was rather new to the business, Crimson Dawn, had made an appearance on the planet of Florrum, raiding the pirate installation there. Hondo Ohnaka, a “friend” of master Obi Wan Kenobi, had contacted the Jedi council, asking for help to deal with this menace. The council could not refuse a call for help, especially from one of their most valued informants inside the criminal underworld. They would have sent their normal go-to trio of Anakin, Obi Wan, and Ahsoka, but Ahsoka was assigned to teach some of the younglings, Kenobi was “getting too old for this” and Anakin would rather someone else take the assignment, to get some hands-on experience in the field. So, the council sent two Jedi Knights, the children of Skywalker himself.

Luke and Leia were now twenty years old, and almost more accomplished than their father had been at their age. Together, they had made an excellent team, and were almost inseparable. Accompanying them was a small detachment of clones, led by an ARC trooper named Cobalt. Captain Rex, or rather, Commander Rex, as he was called now, had insisted on coming with them. Unfortunately, much like Obi Wan, he was becoming far too old, having been assigned to Kamino to train newer batches of Clones. Also accompanying them was Anakin’s trusty Astromech R2-D2.

Their shuttle dropped out of hyperspace, bringing into view the red-brown planet of Florrum. Obi Wan had described this planet to them before; a barren wasteland, he had called it, “but one far more sustaining than Tatooine.” He had also described the pirates who lived there as being “a band of lawless, pillaging brigands.”

The shuttle touched down outside the pirate’s base, and the two Jedi departed, the squad of clones following behind them. Instantly, several Weequay pirates jumped out from behind several boxes and crates, blaster pistols aimed at the intruders. The Clones raised the rifles in turn, and the two Jedi ignited their Lightsabers, green and blue blades raised in defense.

“We’re here on behalf of the Jedi Council,” Luke explained. “Obi Wan Kenobi sent us.”

“Kenobi?” A jovial voice called from behind the wall of pirates. The men parted, revealing an old Weequay in a red coat, and wearing a helmet with goggles. He strutted over to the two Jedi, motioning for his men to lower their blasters. They did so, and the Clones did the same, with the Jedi extinguishing their sabers. R2-D2 rolled down the ramp behind them, sensing that the threat of conflict had ceased.

“Kenobi got my message?” the Weequay man asked.

“He did,” replied Luke. “He would have come himself, but sent us in his stead.”

“Well, I’m always happy to serve friends of Kenobi,” the man bowed politely. “Hondo Ohnaka, at your service! And you are?”

The twins exchanged glances.

“I’m Leia,” the sister said. “And this is Luke. We’re the children of Anakin Skywalker.”

Hondo nodded. “I had heard rumors that Skywalker had children… I actually knew him, during the Clone Wars. We were… more or less friends. Did he mention that?”

Luke recalled Anakin telling the story on how Hondo had captured himself, Obi Wan, and Dooku, and held them for ransom. “He might’ve mentioned it.”

“Well, I’m glad he did!” Hondo swiveled around, and motioned for them to follow him. “Come, come! We have matters to discuss!”

Luke turned to the ARC trooper. “Stay with the ship, sergeant.”

Cobalt nodded. “Yes sir.”

“And Artoo, you’re coming too,” Luke said. “Come on.”

The Astromech beeped defiantly.

“Don’t talk back to me, come on!”

The twins, accompanied by R2-D2, followed Hondo into his pirate base. There was a large hangar, with an assortment of ships that they could only assume were stolen from various places. Hondo led them through the hangar and into a side hallway, which eventually led to his office, composed of a simple table and three chairs. Mounted on the wall behind him was the stuffed head of a Reek, adorned on either side by a cycler rifle. Hondo plopped down in the chair and put his feet up on the desk, resting his hands behind his head. He motioned for Luke and Leia to sit in the chairs across the table from him, and they did so.

“You said Crimson Dawn attacked your base?” Luke inquired.

“Oh, I thought it was Crimson Dawn, yes,” Hondo said. “But then I saw these troopers.” he placed a holoprojector on the table, which began emitting a recording of several dark-armored men in unfamiliar armor, firing blasters at off-screen foes. They looked almost similar to Clone troopers, except the design of the armor was very different. They also had an insignia on their chest that was composed of two fangs, with a forked snake tongue in between.

“Who are they?” Leia asked.

“I don't know,” Hondo shrugged. “But things only got worse from there.” he gestured at the hologram, which continued to play. Suddenly, a figure that was also clad in dark armor rushed on screen with incredible speed, swinging a double-bladed lightsaber. Whoever it was, they were a Devaronian, with one of their horns broken off. The twins watched the hologram follow the mysterious figure as he cut down several of Hondo’s men, before he held his hand out, causing several of the pirates to be launched backwards by nothing.

“He’s a Force wielder,” Leia observed. “What would a Force wielder be doing here, with an army following him?”

“What did they do, exactly, besides kill your men?” Luke also asked.

“Oh, what didn’t they do!” Hondo pretended to be melodramatic, throwing his hands up. “They stole nearly everything. Everything! My weapons stockpile, my treasure, even some of my ships!”

“Why would they need any of that?” Luke said. “What would be the purpose?”

Suddenly, there was an explosion from outside. All three of them shot up, with the two Jedi igniting their Lightsabers, and Hondo pulling a concealed blaster pistol out from underneath the table.

“Don’t tell me…” he muttered.

“Sir!” Luke’s comlink went off. “Someone’s attacking!”

At the same time, Hondo’s comlink crackled to life. “Boss, they’re back!”

“Give me the hologram!” Luke said to Hondo. “We can present it as evidence to the Council!”

Hondo nodded, throwing them the deactivated holoprojector. Leia caught it, and knelt down next to R2-D2, prompting him to open his datatape slot. She inserted the holoprojector. “Hold onto this for me, Artoo.” the little Astromech beeped.

Luke and Leia rushed out into the hangar, with R2-D2 following as closely behind as he could. Several red laser blasts slammed into the ground outside the hangar, and they saw pirates running around in a panic. The two Jedi attempted to run out of the hangar and to their shuttle, but the laser blasts of whatever ships were attacking cut them off, leaving a wall of flaming debris between them and their ship.

“Sergeant, take off, get your men out of here!” Luke shouted into his comlink. “We’ll find another way out, and rendezvous at Coruscant!”

“Yes sir!” the voice of Cobalt responded. “Good luck!”

Luke looked up to see one of the fighters attacking them fly by. They were completely black with red markings, and had sleek, two-pronged wings like an interceptor. Their transport shuttle escaped unscathed, returning to orbit. However, it was clear the attention of the two starfighters was on the Jedi, not the Clones.

“How do you suppose we get out of here?” said Leia.

“We take something from the shipyard,” Luke replied. “Come on, follow me!”

The twins retreated back into Hondo’s hangar, searching through all the ships that were there. Not many of them looked functional at all, except for one; a Corellian YT-1300 freighter.

“What a piece of junk!” Luke commented as soon as he saw it.

“It’ll have to do,” Leia said. “Come on, you’re flying.”

The twins, followed by R2-D2, climbed up the boarding ramp and into the ship. Leia climbed into the ventral gunner seat, getting a feel for the controls, while Luke hopped into the pilot’s seat in the cockpit, which jutted out of the ship’s right side at an angle. There were so many controls on the ship’s dashboard, and it was clearly meant to be piloted by two people. Unfortunately, they would have to make do with one.

“Let’s hope this thing can even get off the ground,” Luke said. “Artoo, magnetize! This might be a bumpy ride!”

R2 beeped and trilled, locking his feet to the floor of the ship with a metallic clunk. Luke successfully located the engine switch, powering up the sublight engine. The ship made a small hop off the floor of the hangar, rocking the entire thing as it hit the ground. He tried again, and this time it hit the ceiling with a metallic scraping sound.

“What are you doing up there?” Leia shouted through the comlink.

“It’s kind of hard to fly this without a copilot!” Luke retorted. “Just hang on!”

Finally, he got the freighter into gear, knocking aside several other ships as it plowed through the hangar, flying out the front entrance. Almost immediately the ship was pummeled by the enemy starfighters, and Luke glanced at the radar to see that they were being tailed by four of them.

“Shields, Luke! Shields!” came Leia’s voice.

“Right!” He searched the dashboard, and flipped the switch to activate the deflector shields. Maneuvering the freighter across the surface of the planet’s rocky terrain, Luke tried as best he could to dodge the fire from the enemy fighters.

“Leia! You’re welcome to shoot back at any time!” he pleaded.

“Working on it.” she said, before a cacophony of cannon fire sounded from the ventral gun. The fighters behind them swerved out of the way, returning fire with their own cannons. The freighter was taking quite the beating, but luckily the shields seemed to be holding.

“We need cover!” Leia shouted. “There’s a canyon up ahead!”

“That’s suicide!” Luke shot back. “We’ll crash!”

“Just fly, Luke!”

Bracing himself, the Jedi made an abrupt dive into the nearby canyon, with the black fighters close on their tail. One of them got unlucky and crashed straight into a rock column, causing a fiery explosion as the ship was destroyed. The remaining three stayed vigilant, assaulting the freighter with bolts as Leia returned fire as best she could. There was a fork in the canyon ahead, and Luke flew the freighter straight at the center of the split, making it look like he was going to crash the ship. At the last minute, he swerved clear to the left, causing the fighters to split up, with only one of them remaining behind the freighter while the other two were forced to the right.

At the same time, Leia finally hit her mark, and the starfighter was struck by a volley of cannon fire, severing one of the wings from the central pod with an explosion. The rest of the ship spiraled out of control, crashing into the side of the canyon.

“Nice one!” Luke called to his sister.

The freighter continued through the narrow canyon, until finally reaching a point where it opened up into a wider valley. Immediately, the other two starfighters were on them, attacking from the right. Luke maneuvered towards them, piloting the freighter straight underneath the fighters as one scraped across the top of the ship. The starfighters made a quick turn-around, resuming their chase and firing on the Jedi’s ship. Leia returned fire with the ventral gun, successfully picking off another one of the fighters, hitting the central pod directly. The remaining fighter tailed them relentlessly, with the freighter’s shields beginning to wear down.

Up ahead, Luke saw a winding series of narrow canyons, and piloted straight towards them, using the same move he had previously. He titled the ship vertically, sliding right into the walls of the canyon as the other fighter was forced to go in the other direction. Their freighter moved dangerously through the narrow canyon walls, making a complete loop around. Suddenly, they turned a corner, and found the starfighter headed straight for them. The pilot had no time to react, as Leia’s Jedi reflexes were infinitely faster, blasting the fighter right out of the air with a volley of cannon fire. The freighter blew straight through the flames of the explosion, making an upward turn out of the canyon. The twins whooped and hollered as they returned the ship to orbit, setting the freighter to autopilot.

Luke met his sister in the corridors of the freighter, pulling each other into a sibling hug.

“Where to now?” she asked. “Back to Coruscant?”

“I would, but…” Luke winced. “There’s a problem. The nav computer says the hyperdrive is broken.”

“Kriff…” Leia cursed under her breath. “We’d better try fixing it.”

Back in the engine room, they found a box of tools, a pair of gloves, and a welding mask, which Luke donned before taking a look at the hyperdrive.

“Have you figured out how to fix it?” Leia shouted over the loud humming of the sublight engine.

“It’s heavily modified, I’ve never seen anything like it,” Luke shouted back. “I don’t know if I can!”

Suddenly, the whole freighter shook, and Luke tilted up the welding mask, looking at the ceiling.

“What was that?” Leia asked.

“Nothing good,” Luke took off the gloves and mask, rushing to the cockpit with Leia and R2-D2 behind him. They looked out the viewport to see the mouth of a massive bulk freighter slowly moving over them, swallowing their ship.

“Pirates,” Luke said.

“What do we do?” Leia asked.

“Freighters like this sometimes have hidden compartments…” Luke mused. “We hide in there until they pass.”

The twins hurried back through the ship, finding the floor panels that opened up to reveal hidden cargo compartments.

“Come on, Artoo,” Leia heaved as she picked up the Astromech, lowering him into one of the compartments, putting the floor panel back over to conceal him. The metallic clanking got louder as the ship was now fully inside the mouth of the larger freighter.

Luke hopped into his own compartment, and Leia joined him. They placed the floor panel over top of themselves, and waited, quieting their breath.

The clanking and clanging continued as their freighter was secured. Suddenly, it stopped, and a moment of silence ensued. The twins waited until they heard the boarding ramp being lowered, and the sound of an interior door opening, followed by two pairs of footsteps. After a moment of silence, they heard whoever had just entered the ship speaking.

“Chewie,” it was the voice of a man, “We’re home.”

The footsteps continued, proceeding deeper into the ship. They didn’t hear the person talking anymore, but they did hear a heavier pair of footsteps walk right over the panels they were under. Luke shifted his footing, and accidentally kicked aside a wrench, causing a loud clanging sound.

Both sets of footsteps stopped. After a moment, they got closer, until they were practically right on top of them. Suddenly, the floor panel was ripped off, and the twins looked up to see a man, about their age, with brunette hair and wearing a black vest, pointing a blaster pistol at them.

“Who the hell are you two?” he asked in a gruff voice.

Chapter Text

“Where’s the rest of the crew?” the man pressed questions. The twins saw that the second individual, who had removed the floor panel, was a large, burly Wookie, with a bandolier over his shoulder. “Where’s the pilot?” the man asked.

Leia pointed at Luke.

“Him?” the man raised an eyebrow.

The Wookie growled.

“I can see that,” the man said, casting a sideways glance at the furry creature.

“You understand that walking carpet?” Leia shot.

“Yeah,” he retorted. “And that walking carpet can understand you too, so watch it. Get out of there.”

The twins obliged, and were happy to see the man holster his blaster pistol. He crossed his arms and frowned at them.

“Where’d you get this ship?” he demanded.

“Florrum,” Luke blurted, earning him an elbow from Leia.

“The pirate rock?” the man said, sounding surprised. He turned to the Wookie. “Told you we should’ve double-checked the Sertar Sector.”

The Wookie grumbled in response.

“Who had it?” the man asked.

“Hondo Ohnaka,” Luke answered. “We, well, stole it from his shipyard.”

“And he stole it from me,” the man said. “Well, you tell him that Han Solo just stole back the Millennium Falcon. Permanently.”

“Wait, who are you?” Leia squinted at him.

“Han Solo,” he replied, shrugging his shoulders in an exaggerated manner. “I’m captain of the Millennium Falcon.”

Both the twins gave him confused looks.

Han looked disappointed. “You’re telling me you’ve never heard of the Millennium Falcon?”

“Should I have?” Leia asked.

“It’s the ship that made the Kessel Run in less than 12 parsecs,” Han said. “I’ve outrun Republic starships. Not the local cruisers, mind you, I’m talking about the big Venators.”

“So you’re a criminal,” Leia scoffed.

Solo pointed a finger at her, frowning. His eyes then darted to the hyperdrive that was in the back. “Who broke my hyperdrive?”

Luke shrugged.

“Chewie,” Han said, gesturing at the two of them. “Get these two on a pod and jettison them at the next inhabited planet.”

“Wait!” Luke pleaded. “We need your help!”

“My help?” Han scoffed.

There was a banging sound from the other cargo compartment, and the Wookie walked over to it, removing the panel. Immediately, R2-D2 rocketed out with his boosters, beeping angrily. He landed on the floor of the ship, and began beeping at the twins.

“I’m Luke Skywalker, and this is my sister, Leia Skywalker,” Luke said. “We’re carrying important information and we need to get back to Coruscant as soon as possible.”

“Coruscant…” Han muttered.

“Please,” Luke said. “We just need transportation there.”

“Kid, if I took you to Coruscant, I might as well be throwing myself into a Sarlacc pit,” he said. “It’s a one-way trip to prison for me.”

Han walked off into the ship corridors, prompting Luke and Leia to follow him, determined to get his help.

Luke had an idea. “We can make you rich,” he said.

Han stopped, and cast a glance over his shoulder at them.

Leia, understanding where Luke was going, nodded. “Our mother is a senator, and our father has a seat on the Jedi Council. If you helped us, your reward would be…”

“What?” Han asked eagerly.

“More than you can imagine.” Leia finished.

“I don’t know,” Han said, smirking. “I can imagine quite a bit.”

Han nodded slowly, and opened his mouth to talk, before a loud clunk shook the whole ship, and his smirk fell.

“Oh, don’t tell me a Gundark’s gotten loose…” he muttered, before turning around and rushing out of the Falcon.

“What!?” both siblings said, before following Han out of the freighter, with Chewie in tow. They found him looking at a monitor in the massive cargo bay of the bulk freighter, and they peered at it to see a camera view of black-painted Gozanti-class freighter docking at the side of Han’s ship, the Eravana.

“Oh, great,” Solo said, pointing at the ship on the monitor. “It’s the Black Sun. Must’ve tracked us from Vanqor.”

“Vanqor?” Luke asked. “Gundarks? Are you smuggling Gundarks?”

“Yeah,” Han replied nonchalantly.

“Why?”

“None of your business,” Han shot. “It was supposed to be a quick job.”

Chewie growled.

“I know,” Han retorted. “You two better find a place to hide, and take your droid with you. If we get out of this, I’ll fly you to Coruscant.”

“What are you going to do?” Luke asked him.

“What I always do,” Han smirked. “Talk my way out of it.”

Chewie grumbled something, and Han’s smirk faded into a frown, before he turned around and pointed a finger accusingly at the Wookie.

“Yes I do!” he said. “Every time!”

The twins hurried off to find a place to hide, and R2-D2 followed them. Meanwhile, Han and Chewbacca walked off into the rest of the ship, preparing to meet with the Syndicate that was after them. The two found themselves in a long hallway, before a door opened on the far end, and Solo turned to see several masked, muscular foot soldiers walk in, headed by a male Falleen.

“Han Solo,” the Falleen called. “You’re a dead man.”

“Kor Sel,” Han replied. “What’s the problem?”

“Problem?” the Black Sun enforcer chuckled. “The problem is, you owe us fifty thousand credits for the Vanqor job. You have a debt to pay, Solo.”

“I spent that money,” Han said. “But I can get you more, really soon!”

“You also took fifty thousand from the Hutts,” Kor Sel added.

“You think capturing Gundarks is cheap?” Han replied. “Or easy, for that matter?”

“We don’t care,” Kor Sel retorted. “We want our money back now.”

“Look, I have a big score lined up real soon,” Solo pleaded. “As soon as I get my money, I’ll pay you back!”

“The Hutt clan wants their investment back, too.” the Falleen said.

“I never made a deal with the Hutts!”

“Tell that to them.” Kor Sel gestured at the door on the opposite end of the hallway, which promptly opened, followed by several Weequay and Klatoonian pirates, led by a Rodian bounty hunter, who scowled at Solo.

“Greedo,” Han said. “Good to see you.”

“Not this time, Solo.” Greedo said in Huttese. “You’re fresh out of luck.”

“You can’t talk your way out of this one, Solo,” Kor Sel shouted. “You’re finished.”

“Look boys,” Han pleaded. “You’re both going to get what I promised. When have I ever lied to you?”

“Several times,” Greedo said almost immediately.

“It seems you have the Millennium Falcon back, too,” Kor Sel said, and Han turned to look at him. “Funny thing. Crimson Dawn just reported it was being piloted by two Jedi. Jedi that they are after.”

Han was a little shocked by that. He hadn’t known that Luke and Leia were Jedi, let alone wanted by Crimson Dawn. What had they done to get mixed up with the syndicates?

Suddenly, a loud metallic clang echoed throughout the ship, followed by a cacophony of animalistic howls. All the gang members looked around nervously, and Han swallowed in anticipation.

“I’ve got a bad feeling about this,” he muttered.

“Kill them!” Kor Sel shouted. “And search the ship!”

Before either gang could fire a single shot, several large, canine creatures with four arms erupted from the side hallways, catching them off guard. Han turned to see Greedo reaching for his blaster, and the smuggler quickly drew his, firing off a shot before the Rodian could. The bolt hit the bounty hunter square in the chest, and Greedo’s blaster fired a stray shot only a second after, whizzing past Han’s head. Solo and Chewie quickly hurried out of the hallway as both Syndicate groups were torn apart by the vicious Gundarks. On their way through the hallways, the two ran into the twins, with R2-D2 following behind them.

“What did you do?” he hissed.

“His fault,” Leia jabbed a thumb at Luke. “He tried to close the doors on the two Syndicate members.”

“Hey!” Luke protested.

“No time,” Han cut them off. “Back to the Falcon.”

The five of them hurried back through the Eravana’s corridors, before one of the Gundarks suddenly emerged from around a corner, the leg of a gang member disappearing into its maw. The creature turned to them, growling. Both Luke and Leia reached their hands out, sending the Gundark flying backward through the hallway and into a wall, knocking it unconscious.

“You two are Jedi?” Han asked, the suspicion now confirmed. “Damn it, what’ve I gotten myself into this time…”

They kept running through the corridors of the bulk freighter, until they arrived at the hangar, where the Corellian freighter was waiting for them. The group quickly boarded the ship, and Han jumped into the pilot’s seat, with Chewbacca taking up position in the copilot seat.

“Everybody buckle up, this is gonna be rough!” Han shouted to Luke and Leia, who quickly sat down on a padded seat in the lounging area, strapping themselves in. Solo switched on the engines and angled the ship towards the opening of the Eravana’s hangar. He punched the throttle, and the Falcon shot forward like a blaster bolt, leaving the larger ship behind.

Han smirked, giving Chewbacca a high-five, before exiting the cockpit.

“C’mon, Chewie,” he said. “We gotta get the hyperdrive fixed if we want to get to Coruscant.”

Once they had arrived back at the Republic’s capital, Luke and Leia were met on the landing pad by their parents. They introduced Han, and explained how he had helped them in return for a full pardon for his smuggling crimes, and of course, the reward. They obliged, with Senator Amidala scraping up over a hundred thousand credits from her reserve, much to Solo’s delight. Afterwards, the Skywalker twins met with the Council to show them their findings.

The Jedi Council had changed quite a bit since the end of the Clone Wars; many Jedi had passed away or retired, including Ki-Aid-Mundi, Oppo Rancisis, and Eeth Koth. Many of those who remained on the Council were fairly old now, relying on the newer generation of Jedi to carry out the Order’s missions. There were some newer members, though; Kanan Jarrus, the former padawan of Depa Billaba, who was also a council member, and an elderly Lasat Jedi, Jaro Tapal. Ahsoka Tano had also been offered a seat on the council, but she had refused.

R2-D2 projected the hologram recording given to them by Hondo, showing the council the attack on the pirate’s base by the dark-armored troopers, and the strange new Force Wielder who they had never seen before.

“Those troopers,” Obi Wan pointed out. “We’ve seen them before… on Oba Diah, when we went to negotiate with Lom Pyke.”

“I remember,” Anakin added. “They tried to kill us.”

“Do we know who this new guy is?” Kanan butted in, gesturing at the masked Devaronian in the hologram. “Whoever he is, he’s got training.”

“The symbol on the trooper’s armor is familiar,” Obi Wan said. “I recall it being a part of Darth Maul’s facial tattoos.”

“Working for Maul, this strange newcomer is, you think?” Yoda questioned.

“Darth Maul is supposed to be dead,” Plo Koon said. “However, as Master Kenobi has said on occasion, he always seems to survive.”

“Not to mention how suspicious it was that Lom Pyke was found murdered a day after we met with him,” Anakin added. “He had talked about Maul like he was still alive.”

“If he is still alive,” Mace Windu said. “Then that means these troopers are working for him, as is this mysterious warrior.”

Suddenly, they began receiving a transmission, and Windu responded to it, causing the hologram of a Republic officer to appear.

“Sir, we think we’ve found something,” the officer said.

“Go ahead.” Windu replied.

“An unidentified ship has been spotted in orbit around Ryloth. We’ve confirmed it to be a Confederate Dreadnought.”

“A Confederate ship?” Anakin said. “What’s it doing there?”

“We don’t think it’s the Confederacy, sir,” the officer continued. “Images taken of the ship show this symbol on the side.” The hologram shifted to a projected image of the same insignia that was on the armor of the troopers from Oba Diah and Florrum.

“Maul.” Obi Wan said.

“We must respond,” Mace Windu said.

“Contact Admiral Yularen to mobilize a fleet,” Anakin said to the officer in the hologram. “We need to launch an assault on that ship as soon as possible to confirm if it really is Maul.”

“There’s another problem,” The officer said. “A separate ship with the same markings was also seen heading towards Geonosis- a smaller ship.”

“The Dreadnought must be a distraction,” Obi Wan observed. “We’ll launch an attack on the Confederate ship, while at the same time dispatch a team to investigate this ship heading to Geonosis.”

“I’ll lead the assault,” Kanan Jarrus volunteered.

“I can lead the investigation,” Luke offered. “Leia can come with me. Sergeant Cobalt and his squad can accompany us.”

The council members talked amongst themselves.

“Very well,” Mace Windu said finally. “Master Jarrus will take a fleet to engage the Dreadnought over Ryloth, while the Skywalker twins investigate Geonosis. May the Force be with us.”

Chapter Text

Ryloth hadn’t seen a Separatist cruiser over it since the Clone Wars. Needless to say, civilians were in a panic when a Confederate Dreadnought suddenly dropped out of hyperspace and remained in orbit over the planet. The Virulence, returning from its days in the Unknown Regions, had been heavily modified with more powerful cannons, heavier shields, and a hangar designed to store Maul’s new starfighters, called Blood Slicers. Just as the Jedi suspected, The Virulence being placed in orbit over Ryloth was a distraction, but it didn’t mean the ship may start bombing civilian villages to get the Republic’s attention.

A Venator-class cruiser, The Bulwark, dropped out of hyperspace, meeting the Dreadnought head-on. The two ships launched their respective fleets at each other, with the Republic’s composed of ARC fighters and Y-Wing bombers, with Jedi Master Kanan Jarrus leading in his Interceptor. The Virulence launched swarms of Slicers at the approaching starfighters, and the two fleets clashed.

On the bridge of The Virulence, Vras Tyrion, one of Maul’s Inquisitors, stood overlooking the battle that was occurring. The Devaronian subconsciously ran his fingers over the stump on his head where a horn had once been; a reminder of what his master would do if he was to ever fail. He wasn’t entirely sure of what Lord Maul’s plans were, but he would serve his master without question.

Meanwhile, in Kanan Jarrus’ fighter, the battle was taking a turn for the worst.

“This is grey seven, I’ve got fighters all over my tail!” A Clone pilot screamed into the comms.

“Hang on, Byte,” Kanan said. “I’m coming to help!”

The Jedi piloted his interceptor in behind the trio of Slicers that were tailing the Clone’s ARC fighter, blasting them to bits with volleys of fire from his ship’s guns.

“Thanks, general.” The Clone trooper sighed.

“We’re not done yet,” Kanan pointed out. “That Dreadnought is targeting our cruiser!”

“Target their cannons!” Another voice shouted.

Kanan headed a fleet of Y-Wings as they flew along the side of the massive cruiser, blasting apart the cannons that were aimed at the Venator. Several of the Clone fighters were destroyed in this attack, leaving the Jedi with less than half of the force he had arrived with.

“All fighters, this is Admiral Yularen,” the admiral’s voice echoed through the comms. “Return to the Bulwark! We’re retreating.”

“Copy that, Admiral,” Kanan said. “You heard him, boys. Let’s head home.”

The remaining ships made for the hangar of the Bulwark, with Kanan following alongside them. Suddenly, his fighter was struck by a stray cannon blast from the Virulence, sending him spiraling out of control.

“The general’s hit!” someone shouted in the comms.

“It’s too late, we need to get out of here!” came another voice.

Kanan’s starfighter was caught in Ryloth’s atmosphere, plummeting to the surface of the planet in a fiery heap. The Jedi lost consciousness as the fighter careened towards one of the cities, crashing straight into a plaza.

Meanwhile on Geonosis, the Skywalker twins, along with their Clone backup, tracked the location of the ship that was spotted. They found it in a valley, which was surrounded by the large, hole-filled spires that the insectoid Geonosians often dwelled inside. Since the end of the Clone Wars nearly eighteen years ago, the Geonosian species had gone mysteriously dormant. There were rumors that they had gone underground, and were now living deep underneath the planet’s surface. The Republic shuttle landed near the freighter-craft that was marked with Maul’s symbol, and they searched the valley the ship was in, to no avail.

“Sir,” Sergeant Cobalt approached Luke. “Our thermal scanners are picking up something in that rock formation up ahead.” The Clone pointed at a particularly large spire, which looked like it could have been mistaken for a castle.

“What is it?” Leia asked the ARC trooper. “A bug? Maul?”

“We can’t tell,” Cobalt responded. “But there’s several of them, spread throughout some sort of cavern system.”

“Let’s move in, sergeant.” Luke ordered, before he and Leia approached the spire castle, with the Clone troopers in tow.

Upon entering the spire, Cobalt held up a hand, prompting his unit to stop. “I can make out the heat signatures now,” he said. “There’s a group of them further down this corridor, and two all by themselves, in two separate places.”

“One of them has to be Maul,” Leia commented.

“Sergeant, you keep going down the corridor, and deal with the larger group. Me and Leia will split up, and take on the other two.” Luke said.

“Copy that,” Cobalt motioned for his unit to follow him, and they continued down the hallway. The twins stayed behind, splitting up and heading down a hallway that forked out in two directions. The corridor Leia took tilted upwards and off to the left, while Luke’s went down gradually.

Eventually, the corridor Luke followed dropped down into a large, arched hallway that had large niches lining the walls, which looked like they might’ve been used as sleeping areas. The hallway ended at a large, metal door, which Luke approached, before opening it with the Force. It opened up into a massive chamber that looked like it may have once been a giant factory of some kind. There were large conveyor belts adorned with mechanical arms, metal presses, and large vats of molten lava that had solidified over time. There were also several maintenance platforms held in the air by metal support beams. Luke jumped down onto a conveyor belt below him, and began to walk across it, searching around for whatever life form was waiting for him.

“Luke Skywalker.” a voice suddenly echoed from above him, and he looked to see a dark-clad figure standing on one of the maintenance platforms. They stepped forwards, and descended gracefully down to the conveyor belt he was standing on, appearing to use the force to slow their fall. He realized it was a woman, dressed in a tight black uniform, with a mask covering her face. She had shoulder-length, bright auburn hair that flowed behind her. When her boots hit the ground, two Lightsabers ignited in her hands, one with a purple blade, and one with a red blade.

“Do I know you?” Luke asked.

“No,” she replied. “But I know who you are, Jedi filth.”

“What are you, a Sith wannabe?” the Jedi smirked.

“I am an Inquisitor, a servant of the dark Lord Maul,” she said. “And it will be my pleasure to cut your head off, and bring it to him personally.”

With that, she dashed towards him, and Luke quickly called his saber into his hand with the Force, igniting the emerald blade to deflect her attack. The two began to fight, their blades clashing in a blaze of crimson red, amethyst purple, and brilliant green.

Elsewhere, Leia was searching the corridor she had taken. She could sense a disturbance in the Force, but couldn’t locate where it was. Whatever it was, it had the most suffocating aura of dark about it, making her feel nauseous. Eventually, the corridor led her into a circular chamber that had a hole at the top, letting in a ray of sunlight. The chamber had four hallways leading into it, (including the one she had come from) each going off in a different direction.

Leia stood in the center of the room, trying to concentrate on the source of the disturbance. Suddenly, she heard footsteps, and sensed several lifeforms coming towards her. She looked around to see several dark-armored troopers rushing in through the four hallways, blocking her exits with weapons raised. She recognized them as the same troopers from Hondo’s hologram, each of them bearing Maul’s insignia on their chest. Leia ignited her blue saber, forming into a defensive stance.

Then, she felt the dark presence growing closer, accompanied by heavy footfalls. She turned around, seeing several of the troopers parting to reveal a tall Zabrak in dark robes, with red facial tattoos and dark skin. His bottom half was prosthetic, with a pair of mechanical humanoid legs. It didn’t take Leia too long to realize who it was;

It was Darth Maul himself.

“I was hoping for Kenobi…” he muttered. “Why are you here?” the Sith exaggerated every word to prove his point.

Leia poised her Lightsaber towards him, keeping him at a distance. Maul didn’t even seem concerned that there was a saber being pointed at him, keeping his arms folded behind his back, and slowly circling her around the room. She kept her saber pointed at him, following his every movement.

“Leia… Skywalker, is it?” Maul said. “I can’t say yours is a name familiar to me.”

“Well, I know you.” Leia responded.

“Yes, I imagine we have… several mutual friends.”

“I wouldn’t put it that way,” she retorted.

“Of course not,” Maul shot back. “But I’m afraid your way of thinking is behind the times ahead.”

Leia continued to keep her eyes and her blade on him, not faltering at any of his words.

“I was certain that Kenobi would have come himself,” Maul continued. “Perhaps bringing his loyal foal… your father, I believe.”

“Master Kenobi has more important matters than you,” Leia said.

“Indeed…” Maul frowned. “But why you… why did Kenobi send you?”

“Why don’t you surrender, and then we can both go and ask him.” she suggested sarcastically.

“My surrendering…” The Sith chuckled. “Well, that would be pointless, for if I am correct, the Jedi and the Republic will no longer be the controlling interest in the galaxy.”

“And who will be,” Leia raised an eyebrow. “You?”

Maul laughed. “A straightforward train of thought, but precisely the point.” he then shifted his eyes to the soldiers surrounding her, and nodded his head.

Suddenly, the room was filled with zapping energy as every Blood Raider in the room began firing stun rays at her from all angles. Leia tried desperately to defend herself, deflecting the rays with vigor. However, it was too much, and the Jedi was hit, collapsing to the ground. The last thing her eyes saw before she lost consciousness was the face of Maul, looking down at her with an evil grin.

Meanwhile, Luke was still dueling with the redhead Inquisitor in flashes of red, purple, and green. Whoever this woman was, she was practically an equal match for the young Jedi, and neither one could land a single blow on the other. Their blades locked, and Luke grinned at her face mask, causing her to groan in response.

“I would applaud your skills, if you weren’t a filthy Jedi,” the woman said.

“I’ll take that as a compliment,” Luke smirked.

She dashed at him again, but this time Luke hit her in the face with a front-facing kick, sending her flying backwards, the mask knocked off her head. When she turned back to him, he was surprised to see that she was younger than he had thought, maybe the same age as him. She was also quite striking, and Luke struggled to maintain his composure.

“What’s wrong, Jedi?” she said. “Distracted?”

“On your life,” Luke retorted.

“Not if I take yours first!” the Inquisitor charged back at him, their blades colliding once more. They engaged in a blade lock again, and suddenly there was a beeping sound from the woman’s armband. She backflipped away from the Jedi, landing on one of the maintenance platforms above him.

“Leaving so soon?” Luke smirked.

“I have things more important than keeping you entertained,” she shot back. “But I promise you a rematch, if you’re up to the challenge.”

“If that is the case,” the Jedi said. “Could you at least give me your name?”

“Mara Jade,” she replied. “Keep it in mind, Jedi, because it’ll be the name of the woman who kills you.” Mara jumped from platform to platform, before climbing onto a ledge, and exiting into a doorway.

Luke watched her go, before his comlink suddenly came to life. “Sir!” It was Sergeant Cobalt. “It’s Maul’s men! They’ve got the commander!”

“Leia!?” Luke replied. “Where are they?”

“They’ve almost reached their transport!”

“I’m on my way!” panicking, Luke jumped up onto the ledge he had come from, using the Force to enhance his speed, running back through the corridors of the rock spire. He exited the tunnels to see the red-and-black freighter taking off to the sky. It aimed a cannon at the Republic shuttle, and fired, blasting it to bits.

On the boarding ramp of the freighter, Luke could see Mara Jade looking down at him. She gave him a taunting wave, before retreating up the ramp as it closed. The freighter took off into orbit, and Luke caught a glimpse of it jumping to hyperspace. Luke activated his comlink, contacting Coruscant.

“This is Skywalker,” he sighed. “We have a situation on Geonosis.”

Chapter Text

The Council was understandably concerned about the events of the previous day. Kanan Jarrus was still missing in action, and Leia Skywalker had been captured. Anakin was understandably upset, and was trying everything to find out where the freighter had gone. They sent scout ships to search the freighter’s suspected course, only to find nothing. From Geonosis, it had taken a straight path through the entire mid rim, and could be anywhere. The Virulence had escaped from Ryloth as well, and its whereabouts were unknown.

It was confirmed now that Maul had returned, and was indeed alive, some of Sergeant Cobalt’s men had seen him themselves, escorting a stunned, captured Leia Skywalker to the freighter ship. They also had some insight into his forces; he had an army of Blood troopers supporting him, and two Force users dubbed ‘Inquisitors’ serving him. So far, Mara Jade was the only one with a confirmed name, but they gathered that the Devaronian who had attacked the Pirate encampment on Florrum was also an Inquisitor, and the Council theorized there may be more.

Luke sat cross-legged in one of the meditation chambers, eyes closed. He was concentrating on the Force to try and find his sister- as twins, they had a very strong bond, and could sense each other from parsecs away, if they concentrated hard enough. He focused harder, and images began to enter his head.

A dark, rocky planet, rich with fuel sources.

Intelligent creatures that walked on their hands.

The homeworld of someone his father knew in childhood.

The dark void of space, from inside a cruiser.

A green and blue planet, flourishing with life.

Lush forests and flowing, beautiful waterfalls

Palaces with pale green roofs and tan walls.

His mother’s birthplace.

Naboo, Luke realized. She’s on Naboo. Or at least, near it.

The young Jedi knew the Council would never approve a mission based on a hazy Force vision. To do this, Luke would have to find someone that could smuggle into the territory unnoticed.

Smuggle… he was struck with an idea. Han Solo! If he’s as good as he says, this won’t be a problem.

Luke wasn’t sure where the scoundrel had gone, but with the Republic having cleared his name, Solo could be on Coruscant, hiding from the Syndicates that wanted his head. And if there’s one place he knew smugglers would hide, it was the underworld. As his father once told him, “If you want to find a criminal, you look in a saloon.”

He was right- Skywalker found the smuggler lounging in the corner booth of a bar in the Coruscant underworld. It was packed with unsavory characters, but he was quickly able to pick out Solo’s black vest and off-white shirt, not to mention his massive Wookie friend.

“Didn’t think you’d come lookin’ for me,” Han said as Luke sat down across the table from him. “I can only imagine you’re here to ask me a favor.”

“You’re very perceptive,” Luke replied.

Han smirked, and nudged Chewbacca. “I told you, didn’t I?”

The wookie grumbled in response.

“So,” Solo put his feet up on the table, placing his hands behind his back in a cocky manner. “The great Jedi has resorted to asking a criminal for help. The mighty have fallen, haven’t they?”

“You may be a criminal,” Luke said sincerely. “But I can sense that you have good intentions. The Force moves about you like a man with a great destiny.”

Han scoffed. “The Force…”

“You don’t believe in the Force, do you?” Luke inquired.

“Kid,” Solo said. “I’ve flown from one side of this galaxy to the other. I’ve seen a lot of strange stuff, but I’ve never seen anything to make me believe in one all-powerful force controlling everything. There’s no mystical energy controlling my destiny.”

“But you’ve seen me in action,” Luke commented. “You saw me and Leia push that Gundark.”

Han shrugged. “It’s all a lot of simple tricks and nonsense.”

Chewbacca growled in agreement.

Solo smirked, and took his boots off the table, reaching for his drink. Suddenly, it was ripped off the table, flying through the air, and into the hand of Obi Wan Kenobi. Luke’s eyes widened when he saw the elder Jedi.

“Master Kenobi!” Luke stuttered. “I, uh…”

“You’re going to save your sister,” Obi Wan finished for him. “Without the Council’s permission. You really are your father’s son.”

Han was still slack-jawed, staring at the cup in the Jedi Master’s hand. Obi Wan met his gaze, and smirked.

“So what?” Han’s face immediately shifted back to his standard, unimpressed expression. “Like I said, parlor tricks.”

“What about money?” Obi Wan sat down in the booth, next to Luke. “We can get you twice your previous reward.”

Han scoffed. “Yeah, right. Where are you gonna get two hundred thousand credits?”

Kenobi leaned forward. “You will be doing a great service for the Republic. Money is no object.”

Han nodded slowly, thinking.

“Alright,” he said finally. “I’ll help. But I better get that reward. If I know the Jedi this job’ll be dangerous…”

Leia slowly regained consciousness on the cold metal floor of a detention cell. She sat up, and she remembered what had happened; Maul captured her from Geonosis, and he had said something about taking over the galaxy. She reached to her belt for her Lightsaber, and found it wasn’t there.

Of course it wouldn’t, she mentally scolded herself. Maul is cunning.

Suddenly, the door to her cell opened, and two Blood troopers walked in, carrying blasters.

“Lord Maul requests your presence,” one of them said in a gruff voice. “Come with us.”

The two grabbed her arms roughly, and brought her through the corridors of whatever ship or base she was on. Eventually, they pushed her into an elevator, which brought them into a room that was decidedly the bridge of a ship, and a very large one. Standing aside the helm, with his hands folded behind his back, was Maul himself. To his left was a redheaded woman clad in a black suit, and to his right was a man that she recognized, but couldn’t place. Then, she realized who it was.

“Governor Tarkin?” she questioned.

“You are quite correct,” the man replied. “However, it is ‘Grand Admiral’ now.”

“I thought you served the Republic,” Leia said. “Why are you working with this monster?”

Tarkin clicked his tongue. “I served chancellor Palpatine. Whether or not he was a Sith Lord was irrelevant to me, he had promised me a position in his Empire, when the time came. But you Jedi meddlers had stopped him, and I was forced into the humiliating position of governor.”

“Then I approached him,” Maul turned around, facing Leia. “And promised him glory, and the rank of Grand Admiral in my Regime.”

“Regime?” Leia inquired.

“Maul’s own Empire,” Tarkin said. “And unlike Palpatine, Maul delivered.”

“While we are discussing history,” Maul butted in. “Why don’t we talk about a pivotal moment in the Clone Wars? Surely, you have heard of “The Malevolence.””

Leia thought for a moment, before she remembered. “A Separatist cruiser,” she said. “Equipped with a massive ion cannon.”

“One capable of taking out entire cruisers,” Maul continued. “While it was the only one ever assembled, the Confederacy had made plans to assemble other Subjugator-class cruisers, but they never got the chance.”

Suddenly, Leia recalled an event that had happened when she was still young- the Pyke syndicate had raided a Confederate shipyard, and stolen parts belonging to a Subjugator-class cruiser. The Council had theorized it was Maul’s doing, but never had any proof. She looked around the bridge, and saw that many of the control stations matched diagrams she had seen of Confederate ships.

“This… is a Subjugator?” she said aloud.

“Indeed,” Maul put on an evil grin. “However, an ion cannon is far too subtle for me. No, I desired something more destructive. Imagine, if you will, a Kyber crystal, fifteen times the size of a normal one, powering a Lightsaber the size of a starship. What do you think that would do to another ship, or a planet?”

Leia looked out the bridge window, and saw the planet they were orbiting- her mother’s home planet of Naboo. Her heart plummeted, and her eyes widened. “NO!” she shouted.

“I’m afraid so,” Maul turned to Tarkin. “Go ahead, Grand Admiral.”

Tarkin nodded, before speaking into a comlink. “You may fire when ready.”

The entire ship vibrated with the sound of a massive weapon powering up, and Leia watched in utter horror as an enormous, green laser beam was fired from the port side of the cruiser, piercing the surface of the planet. The mantle cracked, and the planet exploded from the inside out. Naboo was destroyed.

Leia collapsed, and burst into tears. Her mother hadn’t been on the planet, but Leia knew people who had been- Padmé’s sister, her aunt, the queen… thousands of innocent lives, ended in a matter of seconds.

“Take her away,” Maul said. “Let her wallow in sorrow. Then, we will execute her.”

The two Blood troopers grabbed Leia’s arms, and took her away.

The Millennium Falcon traveled through hyperspace, bound for the planet of Naboo. Han Solo and Chewbacca were in the cockpit, while Luke and Obi Wan sat in the lounge area. Suddenly, Kenobi clutched his forehead, and nearly doubled over. He managed to seat himself on top of a crate, while Luke took notice, and ran over to check on the elder Jedi.

“What is it?” he asked.

“I felt a great disturbance in the Force,” Obi Wan said. “As if millions of voices suddenly cried out in terror… and were suddenly silenced.”

Luke closed his eyes for a moment. “I feel it too,” he said after a moment. “Leia… she’s in pain. She’s mourning.”

“Maul.” Obi Wan added. “He has done something… something terrible.”

“We’re dropping out of hyperspace here soon,” Han called from the cockpit. “Get up here and strap in.”

The two Jedi hurried up to the cockpit as the freighter exited the blue void of hyperspace, before suddenly being assaulted by a massive field of asteroids. Chewbacca roared in surprise, and Han quickly swerved the ship out of the way.

“Uh, we’ve come out of hyperspace into a meteor shower, some kind of asteroid collision,” Han shouted. “It’s not on any of the charts!”

“What’s going on?” Luke peered out of the cockpit viewport.

“Our position is correct,” Solo said. “Except… no Naboo.”

“What do you mean, where is it?” Luke asked.

“That’s what I’m trynna tell you, kid,” Han continued. “It ain’t there. It’s totally blown away.”

“What! How?”

“Destroyed, by Maul.” Obi Wan pointed out.

“The entire starfleet couldn’t destroy the whole planet,” Han turned to look at the older Jedi. “It’d take a thousand ships with more firepower than I’ve-”

He was cut off by a rapid beeping from the Falcon’s console. Han peered at it, before his eyes went wide with panic.

“There’s another ship coming in!” he shouted.

“Maybe they know what happened?” Luke suggested.

“It’s one of Maul’s fighters,” Obi Wan said.

They heard a roaring engine, and looked out of the viewport to see the streamlined, black interceptor fly overhead.

“There aren’t any bases out here, where’d it come from?” Han commented.

“He sure is leaving in a hurry,” Luke observed. “If he contacts Maul’s fleet, we’re in big trouble.”

“Not if I can help it, kid.” Han jumped into action. “Chewie, jam its transmissions!”

Solo began piloting the Falcon to tail the Blood Slicer, staying several meters behind it. Suddenly, the fighter made a loop around, revealing a massive cruiser that had been sitting there. Their mouths were agape at the sheer size of it.

“That’s a Subjugator-class cruiser,” Obi Wan pointed out.

“Impossible,” Han said. “The Confederacy’s been gone for far too long, who the hell does it belong to?”

“I have a very bad feeling about this,” Luke muttered as they continued to follow the fighter towards the large Subjugator.

“Turn the ship around,” Obi Wan told Solo.

“Yeah…” Han nodded slowly. “I think you’re right. Full reverse, Chewie, lock in the auxiliary power.” 

The whole ship suddenly shook, and Chewbacca grumbled something. Nothing happened, and the Falcon maintained its course towards the massive cruiser.

“Chewie, lock in the auxiliary power!” Han shouted.

The two pressed and flipped every button and switch they could on the freighter’s console, but the Falcon continued in the same direction. Chewbacca let out a panicked roar.

“Why are we still flying towards it?” Luke cried.

“We’re caught in a tractor beam, it’s pulling us in!” Han said. “There’s nothing I can do about it, kid. I’m full power, we’re gonna have to shut down. They’re not gonna get me without a fight.”

The four watched as the freighter was pulled into the hangar of the Subjugator cruiser, slowly being set down on the metal floor.

“You can’t win,” Kenobi said. “But there are alternatives to fighting.”

Chapter Text

The floorboards of the Falcon’s secret cargo compartments were slowly lifted up after a squad of Blood troopers had left the freighter’s corridors. Han and Luke emerged from inside it, with the former carrying his DL-44 blaster pistol.

“I use these for smuggling…” Han muttered. “Never thought I’d be smuggling myself in them.”

The other compartment was opened, followed by the emergence of Obi Wan. Solo frowned at the elder Jedi.

“This is ridiculous,” he said. “Even if I could take off, I’d never get past the tractor beam.”

“You’ll leave that to me,” Kenobi replied as he began climbing out of the compartment.

“Damn fool,” Han muttered. “I knew you were gonna say that.”

“Who’s the more foolish, the fool, or the fool who follows him?”

Chewbacca emerged from the compartment next to Han, growling in agreement.

“So, what’s the plan, old man?” Han asked, petting the top of Chewie’s head.

Obi Wan explained the plan: they would take out the next squad of troopers that came into the ship, and lure the guards inside the freighter. Stealing their armor, Luke, Han, and Chewbacca would head to the hangar control station, and take out the troopers there. Obi Wan would locate the tractor beam and disable it, while the other three located and freed Leia. The plan went into motion as a squad of troopers boarded the Falcon, promptly being taken out by the passengers.

“Hey, down there,” Han called to the guards outside. “Do you think you could give us a hand with this?”

The two Blood troopers proceeded inside, and were promptly knocked out. Donning their armor, Luke and Han snuck out and headed to the hangar control station, followed by Chewbacca and Kenobi. Once they made it inside, Han began blasting away at the crew manning the station, and Chewbacca charged, roaring and tackling one of the troopers, smashing him against the wall. There was a single black-and-red Astromech droid manning the console, which Chewbacca batted aside. Once they were all taken out, Luke scolded Han.

“Between his howling and your blasting, it’s a wonder the whole ship doesn’t know we’re here!” the Jedi said.

“Bring them on!” the smuggler replied. “I’d prefer a fair fight to all this sneakin’ around.”

Luke looked at the console screen, and sighed. “I don’t know how to figure this out. If only Artoo were here!”

“Perhaps our small friend could help.” Obi Wan gestured at the red-and-black painted Astromech that was currently lying on the ground. Luke nodded, hefting the droid back onto its feet, and removing the restraining bolt that was on it. Immediately, the droid began beeping and trilling in a panic.

“Hey, hey, calm down little guy,” Luke urged. “We’re not going to hurt you.”

The droid finally managed to calm down, and Luke asked what its name was. The droid told him its designation was R3-D15, a service droid on the Revengeance.

“Revengeance?” Han asked.

“The ship,” Luke explained. “I guess Maul isn’t very subtle when it comes to naming.”

“Ok, whatever,” Solo rolled his eyes. “Ask him if he can get into the computer.”

“Can you help us with this terminal?” Luke asked. “We need to know where the tractor beam generator is.”

The droid beeped in response, before proceeding over to the console, inserting its computer interface arm. After a few moments, its head swiveled around to look at Luke, and it let out several happy trills, before projecting a hologram of the ship. A portion of it began to glow green, and another portion, on the other side of the ship, began glowing red.

“He says the green is where we are, and the red is where the generator is,” Luke translated.

“I’ll go alone,” Obi Wan volunteered. “No use in all of us getting captured.”

“Whatever you say,” Han said. “I’ve done more than I bargained for on this trip already.”

“Wait, Master Kenobi,” Luke pleaded. “I wanna go with you.”

“Be patient, Luke,” Obi Wan stopped him. “If anything happens to me, find a way back to Coruscant. The Republic needs to know about Naboo and the Revengeance. May the Force be with you.”

Luke nodded, and watched Obi Wan exit the station, the door closing behind him. Once he was gone, Chewbacca grumbled, and Han nodded in agreement.

“You said it, Chewie,” Han said. “Where did you dig up that old fossil?”

“Obi Wan is a great man,” Luke shot back. “Now come on, we need to find my sister.” he walked over to R3, and knelt down to talk to the Astromech. “We need your help. There’s a prisoner on this ship- Leia Skywalker. We need you to find her.”

“I think ‘we’ is pushing it a bit,” Han commented, earning him a glare from the Jedi.

R3 continued to search the console database, before projecting another hologram of the ship, with the same green and red highlighted sections, only this time a different section was highlighted, one closer to the base of the bridge.

“She’s in detention block A113,” Luke said. “We need a way inside.”

“What’s the plan, kid?” Han asked.

Luke scanned the room, until he saw a pair of binders. He used the Force and brought them into his hand, before approaching Chewbacca.

“I’m going to put these on you,” Luke instructed. Chewbacca roared in protest, shoving the Jedi away. Luke groaned, and handed them to Han. “Here, you put these on him.”

“Don’t worry, Chewie,” Han smirked, taking the binders. “I think I know what he has in mind.”

As they donned their helmets again and prepared to leave the room, R3 beeped in protest. Luke turned to the droid, pulling a comlink from his belt and tossing it to the Astromech.

“Here, take this,” he said. “We’ll contact you if we need help.”

The droid caught the comlink in one of his manipulator arms, and the trio exited the control station. Walking through the hallways with Chewie posing as their prisoner, they found themselves in a massive chamber with a railway tram system. One of the tram cars slowed to a stop in front of them, and an automated voice announced, “Mind the gap.” The tram car took them through several narrow tunnels, and they got closer to the detention center.

“This is not gonna work,” Han muttered to Luke, his voice muffled by the helmet.

“Why didn’t you say so before?” Luke asked.

“I DID say so before.” he replied.

The tram car finally arrived at the detention center, which was manned by several officers and crew members. Luke and Han ushered Chewbacca off the car, trying to look like he was their prisoner. An officer at the control console eyed them suspiciously.

“Where are you taking this… thing?” the officer asked.

“Prisoner transfer from cell block 1138,” Luke said.

The officer cocked his head. “I wasn’t notified. I’ll have to clear it.” he motioned for two Blood troopers to approach the captive Wookie. As one of them got close, Chewbacca roared, snapping the binders with his bare hands, and batting aside the trooper.

“Look out, he’s loose!” Han shouted.

Luke handed the heavy blaster he had been carrying to Chewbacca, trying to make it look as if the Wookie had wrenched it from his hand. A blaster fight ensued, and in the scuffle the trio managed to shoot all the guards that had been stationed there, and destroy the security cameras. As the situation cooled off, Han approached the control console, shoving aside the smoking body of an officer that had collapsed there.

“Let’s see which cell your sister’s in…” Han looked at the console, and Luke peered over his shoulder “Here it is, 2187. You go and get her, I’ll hold them here.”

The Jedi rushed off down the detention cell hallway while Han pulled his helmet off, looking at the console which was rapidly beeping at him. He pressed a button, activating the transmission, and spoke into it.

“Uh, everything’s under control, situation normal,” he did his best.

“What happened?” a voice asked through the console.

“Uh, had a slight… weapons malfunction, but, uh…” Han improvised. “Everything's perfectly all right now, we’re fine, we’re all fine here, now, thank you… how are you?”

“We’re sending a squad up,” said the voice.

“Uh, uh…” Han continued. “Negative, negative! We have, uh, a reactor leak here now, give us a few minutes to lock down. Largely… very dangerous.”

“Who is this?” the voice questioned. “What’s your operating number?”

“Uh…” realizing he wasn’t going to be able to talk his way out of it, Han grabbed his blaster and fired it at the console, cutting off the transmission. “It was a boring conversation anyways… Luke! We’re gonna have company!”

In the detention hallway, the Jedi looked around for the cell Leia was in, until he finally located it, opening the door. Leia was sitting cross-legged on the floor meditating. She opened her eyes as the apparent Blood trooper walked into her cell. Then, Luke removed her helmet, and Leia’s face lit up.

“Luke!” she jumped up and pulled him into a sibling hug.

“Where’s your Lightsaber?” Luke asked.

“I don’t know…” Leia replied. “Does it matter? Let’s get out of here!”

Suddenly, a symphony of blaster fire was heard outside the cell, and the two hurried out to see Han and Chewie engaging in a firefight with a squad of Blood troopers that had come in on another tram car. The smuggler and his Wookie companion hurried down the hallway towards the two Jedi, retreating from the troopers.

“Can’t get out that way,” Han said.

“Looks like you managed to cut off our only escape route,” Leia commented.

Han turned to her. “Maybe you’d like it back in your cell, your highness?”

Leia was about to retort that she was not a princess OR a queen, when a blaster bolt tore through the air, prompting them all to take cover. The hallway was filled with hundreds of red bolts, preventing any of them from moving or returning fire.

“There isn’t any other way out!” Luke shouted.

Chewbacca growled, and Han snuck a few shots around a corner. “We can’t hold on forever!” the smuggler responded. “Now what!?”

“This is some rescue,” Leia said. “You didn’t have a plan for getting out?”

“Your brother’s the brains, sweetheart!”

Suddenly, Leia wrenched the blaster from Luke’s hand, and fired at a vent that was on the floor, blowing it open.

“What the hell are you doing!?” Han shouted at her.

“Someone has to save our skins!” Leia retorted, jumping out from behind her hiding place to fire several shots at the Blood troopers down the hallway, taking a few of them out. “Into the garbage chute, flyboy!” without hesitating, she jumped into the vent.

Chewbacca walked over to inspect the grate, and growled in protest.

“Get in there!” Han yelled at him. “Get in there, you big furry oaf, I don’t care what you smell!” delivering a kick to the Wookie’s rear, prompting the furry creature to climb into the vent, roaring the whole way. “Wonderful girl,” Solo yelled at Luke. “Either I’m gonna kill her or I’m beginning to like her!”

Luke gave the smuggler a glare, before hopping into the chute himself. Han snuck off several more shots at the troopers down the hall, before diving in himself, letting out a triumphant whoop as he did so. The four of them descended down the chute, before crashing into the ship’s garbage disposal area.

Chapter Text

With an angry yelp, Han landed in the trash disposal room, straight into a small pond of murky water. Chewbacca was already clawing at the door, growling in distress. Solo got to his feet, seeing the twins already trying to help him with it, attempting to open it with the Force.

“Garbage chute?” Han shouted at Leia. “What a really wonderful idea! What an incredible smell you’ve discovered!”

Leia rolled her eyes. Han approached the door, his blaster raised.

“Get away from there,” he said.

“No, wait!” Luke pleaded.

It was too late. Han fired his blaster at the door, and the bolt bounced right off, ricocheting off of nearly every damn wall in the room, nearly hitting them all several times. Finally, it went straight into the water, and sizzled as it made impact with something under the surface.

“I already tried that!” Luke said. “It’s magnetically sealed!”

“Put that thing away, you’re going to get us all killed!” Leia shouted at the smuggler.

“Absolutely, your worship,” Han said, before launching into an argument. “Look, I had everything under control ‘till you led us down here!” He glanced up at the chute they had come through. “Y’know it’s not gonna take them long to figure out what happened to us.”

“It could be worse,” Leia retorted.

As if to prove her point, a loud moaning sound vibrated through the entire room, like some kind of bizarre creature had been awakened. The group all looked around nervously.

“It’s worse,” Han stated bluntly.

“There’s something alive in here,” Luke said, reaching for his saber.

“It’s your imagination,” Solo said, half to reassure the kid, and half to reassure himself.

Luke suddenly twisted around, looking into the water. “Something just moved past my leg,” he said.

Chewbacca growled, and in response something else growled even louder. Luke pointed at the water, and they all glanced to see something long and tendril-like moving through it.

“Look,” Luke said. “Do you see that?”

“What!?” Han panicked.

Chewbacca growled some more, and pounded on the exit door. Leia began to back cautiously out of the water, climbing up onto one of the piles of trash as the ripples and eddies settled in the murky liquid. Han shifted nervously, and pointed his blaster randomly at what he thought was movement in the water. 

Suddenly, a large eyestalk emerged, and looked back and forth between the occupants of its apparent home, before retreating back underwater. Luke caught a glimpse of it, and realized what it was- A Dianoga, more commonly known as a trash squid. Before Luke could say anything, a tendril suddenly wrapped itself around his leg, and he was yanked under the water.

“Kid!” Han shouted, jumping at the spot where Luke had vanished. “Luke!”

Chewbacca growled in distress as Han shouted the young Jedi’s name several more times, fishing his hand in and out of the water in an attempt to find his friend. While he seemed to not care for the kid on the surface, he didn’t want the Jedi to get eaten by some kind of underwater monster.

Suddenly, there was a splash and a hiss, followed by Luke emerging back from out of the water. Han placed his hands on the Jedi’s shoulders, helping him up. The boy was completely soaked and gasping for air.

“What happened?” Leia asked in a panic, moving to help her brother out of the water.

“I don’t know,” Luke responded between coughs. “It just… let go of me, and disappeared.” he spat out some more water lodged in his throat.

The whole room suddenly lurched, and Han looked around nervously. “I got a bad feeling about this,” he said.

Suddenly, the walls began to move inwards, pushing lumps of trash towards them. This wasn’t just a garbage disposal chamber- it was a trash compactor! Chewbacca growled, continuously banging on the door in a panic. The Wookie tried to push the walls back fruitlessly, and Leia moved to the center of the room.

“Get back!” she shouted, holding her hands out. “I’ll try to hold it!” the Jedi pushed out with the Force, trying to prevent the walls from closing in, causing them to begin emitting loud, metallic screeches.

Luke grasped for the comlink on his belt, and activated it. “R3!” he shouted, hoping the small Astromech was listening. “Come in, R3!”

Nothing happened for several minutes as the walls got closer. Luke continued to shout the droid’s name into the comlink as Han quickly grabbed Leia by the waist, lifting her out of the water and into an unfortunately flattering position on his shoulders. Finally, R3 responded, the droid’s worried beeps and trills coming through the small device.

“Will you shut up and listen to me!” Luke demanded. “Shut off all the garbage mashers on the detention level!”

The walls were beginning to get closer, and Leia heaved, no longer able to hold them back. Luke winced in as the compactor squeezed his leg, recoiling in pain. R3 beeped at him through the comlink, and after a moment, the compactor system suddenly stopped.

“Ha!” Luke laughed. “He did it!”

The others hollered in relief, and Han actually shared a hug with Leia. R3 got the wrong impression, taking their screams as sounds of dying. Luke assured the Astromech that they were all right, and he did great, which earned the Jedi several approving trills.

“Now,” Luke said, “Open the door, and get us out of here!”

Obi Wan was old, but fortunately, stealth was still one of his strong suites. He had disabled the tractor beacon without getting caught, and was making his way through the hallways of the Revengeance, searching for his companions. He suddenly felt an overwhelming presence of darkness, and turned a corner to see Maul standing there, dual red saber ignited.

“Obi Wan Kenobi.” Maul said matter-of-factly. “I thought I sensed something familiar.”

Obi Wan said nothing, igniting his Lightsaber and holding it ready to defend himself. Normally, the Jedi would have a string of cocky insults ready to launch at his opponent, but this time, Obi Wan sensed it would be fruitless. Maul was not a rabid animal anymore- he was focused, composed.

“I’ve been waiting for you, Kenobi.” Maul approached him slowly. “Look what has become of you. A shriveled, old man.”

“Look what I have risen above,” Obi Wan retorted.

“I’ve been waiting for this moment, Kenobi,” Maul said, and the two began to circle one another. “To finally bathe my saber in your blood, and finally take the revenge that is rightfully mine.”

“And that is why you have done all this?” Obi Wan asked. “All of this death and destruction, just to kill me?”

Maul chuckled. “Not just you. My vision has expanded now… My master had once spoken of the great empire he had wanted to build. How viciously ironic would it be if I were the one to complete that goal, whilst he suffers in the gutter?”

Obi Wan simply listened. Nothing was going to shake Maul from his speech.

“My Regime will encompass the stars,” the former Sith continued. “Everyone will fear me, as they should. I will take what is rightfully mine, and hold this galaxy in an iron fist.”

“If you define yourself by your power to take life,” Obi Wan stated. “The desire to dominate, to possess… then you have nothing.”

Maul growled. Without warning, he dashed at Kenobi, and their sabers met. It had been nearly centuries since the last time their blades had clashed, and the last time they had seen each other, Maul had murdered the love of Kenobi’s life, dutchess Satine of Mandalore. This would end here, for one of them, whether it be Maul finally getting the revenge he so desperately desired, or Kenobi putting an end to the former Sith’s rampage for good.

The group of Han, Chewie, and the Skywalker twins moved cautiously through the hallways of Maul’s flagship. The duo of Solo and Luke had ditched their Blood trooper disguises, switching back into their previous clothes. Suddenly, they turned a corner and ran into a group of Blood troopers.

“It’s them!” one of the troopers shouted. “Blast them!”

Han fired a shot into the group, prompting the rest of the troopers to retreat, with the smuggler and his Wookie companion in tow.

“What are you doing!?” Luke called after him.

“Get back to the ship!” Han shouted as he turned the corner up ahead.

“He certainly has courage,” Leia said to her brother.

“What good is it gonna do us if he gets himself killed?” Luke guided Leia in the opposite direction, through several more hallways, until they found themselves in the hangar control station again. R3 was waiting for them, and when they entered, the door across the room also opened, followed by Han and Chewbacca, with the former screaming while blaster bolts tore through the area around him. The smuggler shut the door behind him, shooting the control panel to seal it closed.

“You came in that thing?” Leia asked him, pointing out the window and at the Millennium Falcon. “You’re braver than I thought.”

“She’s not much, but she’s got it where it counts,” Han stated, peering out the window at his freighter. “Who’s the redhead broad?”

Hearing this, Luke ran to the window and looked out, seeing a familiar figure with fiery orange locks, standing and watching the Millennium Falcon.

“It’s Mara Jade,” Luke said.

“Mara Jade?” Leia asked.

“One of Maul’s Inquisitors,” he explained. “I fought her on Geonosis. She promised me a rematch, and I intend to hold her to that.”

“Luke,” Leia pleaded. “Come on. We need to leave.”

“I’ll distract her,” Luke said. “You guys get to the ship.”

“Sounds like a plan to me, kid,” Han smirked. “Go get ‘er.”

The group, followed by R3-D15, made their way into the hangar. Two guards standing outside the Falcon spotted them, but were taken out by shots from Han’s blaster. Mara Jade turned to face them, being met with Luke’s green blade.

“Skywalker,” She said, as if the name left a taste in her mouth that was both bitter and sweet.

“I wasn’t gonna leave without saying hello,” Luke smirked. “How about that rematch?”

Leia noticed that her Lightsaber was clipped to the Inquisitor’s belt, and used the Force to bring it into her hand. Before Jade could react to that, Luke was on her, his saber swinging. Mara was quick to ignite her two sabers, blocking his blade with both of hers. The two began to clash as Han hurried to the ship, prompting Chewbacca to go in first, followed by R3. The smuggler had never seen a Lightsaber duel up close, and it was intriguing.

The two locked their sabers, and Luke took the chance to throw in some of his typical Skywalker banter.

“You look happy to see me,” Luke taunted.

“Don’t think too much about it, Jedi!” Jade retorted, pushing forwards and out of the blade lock.

Their sabers clashed some more, and Luke used the Force to knock the Inquisitor backwards several meters. Suddenly, a door across the hangar opened, revealing the elder Obi Wan, dueling Maul.

“Obi Wan!” Luke shouted, and was about to run to him before the way was blocked by a squad of Blood troopers.

Kenobi glanced over at Luke, and was struck with the biggest sense of deja vu. He recalled what he had seen in the world between worlds, more than a decade ago at this point. The situation was very familiar, and filled him with an overwhelming sense of dread. The only thing changing here was the context and the cast. Instead of the dark-armored Sith-Anakin, it was Maul. Obi Wan knew how this was going to play out.

Perhaps I was always destined to die, Kenobi thought to himself.

If he were to die, it would be for a greater cause. He thought to himself about everyone who had passed before him: His master, Qui Gon Jinn. He was one with the Force now. His beloved, Satine. She shouldn’t have had to die that way.

However, a glimmer of hope shined on the horizon for Kenobi. He was content with the fact that he would be leaving the galaxy in good hands. The Skywalker twins, and their father. Bail Organa, the most competent chancellor the Republic had seen in years. The newer members of the Jedi Council, and the new generation of the Order. Maybe, he would even be able to help them, in some way, from beyond the grave.

With that, Obi Wan held his saber high, in surrender. And with a swipe of Maul’s blade, Kenobi’s body vanished, becoming one with the Force.

“No!” Luke shouted.

Instantly, the attention of the troopers was drawn to him, their blasters blazing. Luke deflected many of the bolts, and behind him, Leia used the Force to call Obi Wan’s dropped saber hilt into her hand.

Maul kicked the empty, fallen cloak in confusion, wondering where Kenobi’s body was, while still being satisfied with the fact that his rival had finally been vanquished. Mara Jade simply stood there, an evil smile curling up her lips.

“Kid, c’mon!” Han shouted from the boarding ramp of the Falcon, returning fire at the Blood troopers with his pistol. “Let’s go!”

“Go, Luke!” a disembodied yet familiar voice filled Luke’s head, and he ran for the freighter, followed by his sister. The two boarded the Falcon, and hurried to the cockpit, where Han was powering on the ship’s engines.

“I hope the old man got the tractor beam out of commission,” Han muttered. “Or this is gonna be a short trip!”

The landing gear folded in, and the engine burst, propelling the freighter forwards, and knocking back the troopers that had been in the way. Maul watched them go with a grin. Word would get out about his new superweapon, yes, but that was exactly what he wanted. It would instill fear in the entire Republic.

Chapter Text

The Millennium Falcon was cleared to land at the main platform of the Jedi Temple, and a delegation of Clones and some of the council members were there to greet the passengers, along with Anakin himself. Padmé was there too, immediately bringing her children into a tight embrace when she saw them. Anakin watched the boarding ramp, hoping to see his old master there, with one of his trademark smirks, and maybe a wisecrack. But he wasn’t there.

“Where’s Obi Wan?” Anakin asked.

Leia sniffled, and withdrew a metal object from her belt. It didn’t take Anakin long to realize that it was Obi Wan’s Lightsaber. His eyes darkened, and a scowl crossed his face. Nobody had seen him this angry in quite some time, but it was justified.

“Maul is going to pay for this.” he said, before storming off to contact Admiral Yularen.

It didn’t take long for the council to authorize a strike force to assault the Revengeance. Everyone collectively agreed that the time to strike was now, and they wouldn’t get another chance like this. Anakin insisted on leading the force personally, and the twins would accompany him. The squad of clone pilots were gathered in a briefing room, accompanied by the three Jedi.

“The battleship is heavily shielded, and carries a firepower greater than half the starfleet,” Admiral Yularen led the briefing. “Its defenses are designed around a direct, large-scale assault. A small, one-man fighter should be able to penetrate the outer defense.”

“Pardon me for asking, sir,” one of the Clones spoke up. “What good are stunt fighters gonna be against that?”

“Maul does not consider the prospect of a one-man fighter to be of any threat,” Yularen continued. “An analysis of the ship’s blueprints, provided from the captured droid-”

He was interrupted by a cacophony of angry beeping from R3-D15, who was currently plugged into the briefing room’s holoprojector.

“Er, sorry. Liberated droid,” the admiral corrected himself. “The provided blueprints have demonstrated a weakness in the battleship. The approach will not be easy; you are required to maneuver straight down the ship’s starboard trench, and skim the surface to this point.”

The hologram of the Revengeance lit up on the side of one of the ship’s massive weapon spheres, indicating a tiny opening.

“The target area is only two meters wide. It’s a small thermal exhaust port, right below the main port. The shaft leads directly to the reactor system; a precise hit should start a chain reaction, which should destroy the ship. The shaft is ray shielded, so you will have to use proton torpedoes.”

“That’s impossible!” one of the Clone pilots shouted. “Even for a computer!”

“Don’t worry, boys,” Anakin announced. “Me and the twins will take care of it.”

This put the men at ease- Anakin had been through many space battles, and committed feats greater than this. It would be no problem.

“Man your ships,” Yularen announced. “And may the Force be with you.”

The pilots assembled in the new hangar that had been constructed outside of the Jedi temple, specifically for starfighter assault preparations. They would be jumping to hyperspace using docking rings, as Maul’s cruiser would surely detect a large Venator coming out of hyperspace, and leave before they even had a chance to launch fighters. They would, however, be escorted by a small light cruiser, one large enough to act as support, but weak enough that it would not be considered a threat.

In the hangar, Luke found Han readying his ship. He quickly realized Han was packing to leave, not join the fight.

“So,” Luke said, startling the smuggler. “You got your reward, and you’re just leaving, then?”

“Yeah, that’s right,” Han attempted to maintain his stoic attitude. “I got some old debts to pay off. Shame, though. You’re really good in a fight.”

“Come on, take a look around,” Luke gestured at the ill-prepared Clones fueling up their ships. “You know what’s about to happen, what we’re up against. We could use a good pilot like you, you’re turning your back on us.”

“What good is a reward if you ain’t around to use it?” Han said. “Besides, attacking that thing ain’t my idea of courage, more like suicide.”

“All right,” Luke huffed. “Take care of yourself, Han. I guess it’s what you’re best at, isn’t it?”

Luke walked off to his interceptor, but his comment left an impression on the smuggler. With a sigh, Han called out for the Jedi’s attention.

“May the Force be with you.”

Luke smiled slightly, and went back to readying his fighter. Chewbacca growled in discontent, and Han shot a glare at the Wookie.

“What are you looking at?” the smuggler grumbled. “I know what I’m doing.”

R3-D15 had been happy to assist Luke, as R2-D2 would be joining Anakin in his fighter. Apparently, the black-and-red droid had gone through some abuse aboard Maul’s freighter. While the Blood troopers were organized like an army, many of them were still lowlifes and scoundrels. The Astromech had been graciously refitted with an orange-and-white paint job, much to his content. While R2 seemed a bit jealous of the new droid, he understood what the Astromech had gone through, and was sympathetic towards him. Besides, R2 belonged to Anakin, not Luke. Leia was assisted by Ahsoka’s old Astromech, R7-A7.

The Republic ships flew into orbit, with the small Arquitens-class cruiser to support them, dubbed “The Avenger” in remembrance of Obi Wan. The small fleet of fighters, bombers, and interceptors docked in their hyperspace rings, making the jump to the space that had formerly been Naboo.

The fleet dropped out of hyperspace and faced down the Revengeance, which was still in the same spot it had been before. As soon as they dropped out of hyperspace, a fleet of Blood Slicers was launched from the cruiser’s hangar, headed right for them.

“Look alive, men.” Anakin’s voice sounded through the comms. “We have one chance at this. Let’s not waste it.”

“Copy that, gold leader,” one of the Clones responded. “You take the lead, we’ll cover you!”

The two fleets clashed together, tearing each other apart in flashes of blue, green, and red. The trio of Jedi interceptors, accompanied by six Y-Wings, made for the trench that ran along the starboard side of the Revengeance, and were fired upon by point-defense turrets that were placed along the edges. Two of the bombers were picked off in the crossfire.

“Watch those towers, boys!” Luke said.

“I got a problem here,” One of the Clones said, as his Y-Wing was pummeled with turbolaser fire.

“Eject!” Luke shouted to him.

“I can hold it!” The Clone insisted.

“Pull up!”

“No I’m all ri-” The pilot’s voice turned into a scream as his ship was blasted out of the air, leaving them with only half the bombers they had come with.

The remaining group was tailed by a squadron of Blood fighters, headed by one that looked incredibly different. Luke instantly sensed that something was different about this one, like a familiar presence. Mara Jade, he realized. Of course Maul’s most prized Inquisitor would be leading the cruiser’s defense personally.

“Watch it, you’ve got one on your tail!” Leia’s voice was directed at one of the Y-Wings, which was being tailed by one of the Blood fighters. Luke quickly did a loop around, locking onto the fighter and blasting it away.

Suddenly, Luke was being tailed by another fighter. “Green leader, you’ve got one on your tail!” one of the pilots called to him.

“I can’t shake him!” Luke insisted.

“I’m on him, Luke.” Leia’s voice filled his ears, and the fighter on his rear was promptly blown to bits by his sister’s interceptor.

“Good shooting, Leia!” he said.

“We’re almost in position!” Anakin said. “Just a little further!”

“Switch all power to front deflector screens,” One of the Clone pilots instructed.

Suddenly, the ship being piloted by Mara Jade, accompanied by two other fighters, was tailing the group. She began targeting both of the Y-Wings, sending volleys of fire their way.

“It’s no good, I can’t maneuver!” One of the Y-Wing pilots yelled.

“Stay on target,” the other insisted.

“We’re too close!”

“Stay on target!”

“Loosen up!”

Mara’s fighter let loose a serenade of cannon fire, destroying one of the bombers, the remains of the craft crashing into the side of the cruiser.

“Gold five to green leader, we’ve lost gold six!” The remaining Y-Wing announced.

“Hang in there, Hook!” Luke tried to ease the Clone’s panic, but to no avail.

“It came from behind-!”

The final Y-Wing was blasted into a fiery inferno by Mara’s fighter, leaving only the Jedi interceptors in the trench.

“We’ve lost the bombers!” Anakin yelled. “It’s down to us. Ready your torpedoes and follow me!”

Mara was already on the elder Skywalker’s tail, assaulting him with cannon fire. One of his engines was hit, and the interceptor spiraled out of control, away from the battle. Now, only Luke and Leia remained.

“R3, try and increase the power!” Luke yelled to the droid. The little Astromech beeped in response, putting a boost into the interceptor’s engines.

Mara’s fighter targeted Leia next, and she was forced to retreat, leaving Luke as the only remaining fighter in the trench. Luke fumbled with his targeting scope, trying to get a lock on the shaft of the main weapon, but was unable. Suddenly, a voice filled his head, but it wasn’t from the comms.

“Use the Force, Luke.”

It was unmistakable- Obi Wan!

“Let go. Trust me.”

Nodding slowly, Luke switched off his targeting scope. He would have to eyeball it, the shaft was too small, and the Force would be his guide.

“Luke, you’ve switched off your targeting computer,” the force commander’s voice entered his comms. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” Luke assured him. “I’m all right.”

The interceptor sped towards the main weapon, gaining speed and making good time. However, Mara’s ship and her fighter escort were closing in, and a rapid beeping let Luke know she was locking onto him. A cacophony of fire roared overhead, grazing the wing of his ship. R3 was hit, and the little droid deactivated from the blast.

“R3!” Luke shouted. He wasn’t sure if the droid would be fine, but there was no time to think about it.

Mara almost had him. Luke was nearly there, he just needed a little more time.

More cannon fire shot over him, but it was interrupted by a blast at one of her escorting fighters. The ship was destroyed, and a familiar voice filled Luke’s comms.

“YAHOO!” whooped Han Solo.

The Millennium Falcon soared overhead, and the distraction caused the other fighter to knock into the side of Mara's, sending her spiraling out of control and off into space. The fighter that had bumped into her wasn’t so lucky, crashing into the side of the Revengeance in an inferno.

“You’re all clear kid, now let’s blow this thing, and go home!” Han shouted.

Luke tensed, launching his torpedo payload and pulling away from the ship. He used the Force, directing the bombs right into the exhaust shaft, making a complete downwards turn into the main weapon. Him and the Falcon got far enough away from the cruiser, and waited.

After a painstakingly long moment, the Revengeance’s weapon spheres exploded, sending a chain reaction that engulfed the entire ship in a fiery blaze. There was a symphony of cheering through the comms, and Luke smiled. He caught a glimpse of Mara Jade’s fighter still spiraling out, but unharmed. She rightened herself and jumped to hyperspace, making Luke feel both disappointed, and relieved.

“Great shot, kid!” Solo whooped. “That was one in a million!”

“Remember,” Obi Wan’s disembodied voice filled his head. “The Force will be with you. Always.”

The remaining ships returned to their hyperspace rings, and along with The Avenger, they made the jump to hyperspace, back to Coruscant.

Chapter Text

The Republic was celebrating the destruction of the Revengeance, having rid the galaxy of a terrifying new weapon. However, reports told them that Maul had not been on the ship when it exploded, leaving his whereabouts unknown. Fortunately, the traitorous “Grand Admiral” Tarkin had been on the ship, so he was as good as dust. Master Jarrus finally returned from going missing on Ryloth, having been rescued from his crash by a Twi’lek woman named Hera Syndulla. R3-D15 had thankfully survived his ordeal at the Revengeance. After learning he was being considered a hero by the other droids, he was understandably in a good mood.

Unfortunately, there was no time for the Republic to rest. Only a few days after the Revengeance’s destruction, Maul’s Regime returned in force, with the now-infamous Virulence leading a new fleet of light cruisers that had been assembled using old Confederate blueprints. Over the course of a single year, they captured numerous planets in the expanse of the outer and mid rim; Geonosis, Ryloth, Christophsis, Utapau, D'Qar, Rodia, Malastare, Lasan, Sullust, and Mustafar. They established their main base of operations on the two lava-based planets, with their command headquarters on Mustafar, and a factory on Sullust, forcing the local populace into labor camps to help build the Regime’s army.

After hearing that her home planet of Ryloth had been taken by the Regime, Hera Syndulla volunteered her services as a pilot, which were graciously accepted. Her other crew member, a Lasat named Garazeb Orellios, was also eager to dish out some payback, as word got out that the Regime had enslaved his people on their home planet of Lasan. Finally, they were supported by an old C1 droid, nicknamed “Chopper” who quickly formed a rivalry with both R2-D2 and R3-D15.

Han Solo also decided to join the force- hell, he’d basically been the Republic’s saving grace at the “Battle of Naboo” as it was being called, and was given the rank of Captain in the Republic fleet. Him, Luke, Leia, and Chewbacca formed a great team, serving on a few missions together, while Kanan Jarrus and his padawan, Ezra Bridger, joined the “Ghost Crew” of Hera Syndulla.

Despite everything that had transpired, there was still no sign of Maul. He had completely vanished, and the Republic had no idea where he might be. Until, one day, they received two tips from spies in the outer rim: ships heavily associated with Maul himself had been spotted on two separate planets. A ship that was identified as a stolen ARC fighter, adorned with Maul’s symbol, was spotted going to the planet of Mandalore, and a freighter that they recognized as the one that had been on Geonosis, heading for Dathomir. There were valid reasons for Maul going to either planet, so the Council sanctioned two stealth missions to both planets- two Jedi each. Luke Skywalker and Kanan’s apprentice, Ezra Bridger, would head to Mandalore, while Leia would go to Dathomir, accompanied by the Knight Cal Kestis.

Luke and Ezra’s shuttle dropped out of hyperspace and into the Mandalore system, bringing the pale white planet into view. Upon entering the planet’s atmosphere, they were immediately flanked on both sides by Mandalorian Gauntlet fighters, who contacted them.

“State your business,” one of the pilots demanded.

“We’re Jedi, on a diplomatic mission to the city of Sundari,” Luke explained to them. “We wish to speak with Prime Minister Bo Katan.”

There was a moment of pause, and Ezra nervously eyed the fighters escorting them. They had suspiciously shifted into attack formation, putting both Jedi on edge. After a while, they were contacted by the fighters again.

“What are your names, Jedi?”

“I’m Luke Skywalker, and my partner is Ezra Bridger.” Luke then threw in, “We were friends of Obi Wan Kenobi.” he knew Obi Wan had some ties to the Mandalorians, and hoped that this might ease their dilemma.

After several more minutes, the fighters shifted out of attack formation, and the Mandalorians contacted the shuttle.

“You are cleared for landing, Jedi. We are to escort you to the capital of Sundari.”

“Thank you,” Luke said, before switching off the comms and turning to Ezra. “See? What’d I tell you?”

“You told me, ‘this might not work,’” Ezra said. “I’m pretty sure we were about to get shot.”

“But we didn’t,” Luke smirked.

Ezra nodded slowly “I guess you’re right.”

The city of Sundari was encased inside a massive glass dome, a byproduct of the Mandalorian wars of old. The planet's surface was completely uninhabitable, so the Mandalorians had to live in these domed cities that had supportable environments. The Jedi’s shuttle landed at the bay, and the two Gauntlet fighters peeled off, heading to separate landing bays. As they exited their shuttle, they saw a group of armored Mandalorian warriors coming to meet them. 

Their leader was unmistakable- her blue-and-grey armor and helmet with a painted white owl face was recognizable from a mile away. Behind her were several other warriors donning armor that was grey and gold, with similar owl-eye designs on their helmets. As the Jedi approached the Mandalorians, the figure in front took off her helmet, letting her orange hair flow free. Bo Katan was a warrior, not a politician, but she was well-respected as the prime minister of Mandalore. The two warriors behind her removed their helmets, revealing themselves as another woman with tanned skin and dark hair, and a younger woman that was about a year older than both Jedi, with tanned skin and hair that was dyed a vibrant purple.

“Luke Skywalker,” Bo Katan held out her hand, and the young Jedi shook it respectfully. “What brings you to Mandalore?”

“We have received troubling news,” Luke told her. “A starfighter belonging to Darth Maul was spotted heading here, and we have reason to believe Maul may be hiding somewhere in the city.”

Bo scowled at the mention of Maul’s name. Luke had heard from Obi Wan that her and Maul had a history- the former Sith had killed not only her mentor, Pre Vizsla, but took control of the city, and murdered her sister, Dutchess Satine. Bo Katan had nothing but hatred for the Zabrak

“If Maul were here,” the older woman said, “We would know it.”

“I wouldn’t be so certain,” Luke said. “He seems to have a knack for making himself unseen.”

“Maul is not here,” Bo said dismissively.

“Could you at least let us search the city?” Ezra butted in. “If you’re so sure he’s not here, then a little investigation wouldn’t hurt, right?”

All eyes were instantly on him, and the Mandalorian girl cocked her head. Bo seemed to consider this. Finally, she nodded.

“I will give you a week,” she said. “However, I don’t want you out of my sight. Sabine here will keep an eye on you.” she gestured to the younger Mandalorian, who stepped forward and gave a polite bow. Luke bowed back, and elbowed Ezra to do the same. The other Jedi had been transfixed on staring at the girl, and stumbled through his bow, nearly toppling over.

“Follow me,” Sabine instructed. “I’ll lead you to your quarters for your stay here.”

Luke and Ezra followed her, but Bo Katan stopped Luke by putting a hand on his shoulder. She motioned for the other Mandalorians to go, leaving her and Luke alone.

“He’s here,” Bo whispered. “The others don’t know it yet, but I’m sure.”

“Why haven’t you told them?” Luke asked, wide-eyed.

“As Prime Minister, it is my duty to keep my people at ease,” she explained. “But I know he’s here. I’ve seen his starfighter.”

“You’re absolutely sure?”

Bo nodded. “Tenth level up. He’s hidden it there.”

“I understand,” Luke said. “I’ll take care of it, Lady Katan.”

Bo gave him a brief smile, the most emotion she had shown since he had just met her. “Maul killed my sister, Skywalker. I want justice.”

The two bowed at each other in respect, and Luke hurried after Ezra and Sabine.

Sundari was a lot more beautiful than Luke had thought it’d be. It was a metropolitan city, but nothing like the bland, grey buildings of Coruscant. These buildings had texture to them, with bright grey concrete and square blue glass panels. Many of the buildings were shaped like cubes- actually, most of the things in the city were shaped like cubes, even the trees and plants. The whole thing looked like it had been made out of Holocrons.

Sabine didn’t say much to them, but Ezra would continuously pester her with the occasional question, or an attempt at flirting. They learned that her family name was Wren, and she had been born one year before the Clone Wars ended. Like her mother, she was a member of Bo Katan’s Nite Owls, a group of elite warriors that were mostly female.

They also learned that, when word had gotten out about Maul’s apparent death, years ago, the Mandalorians that followed him had lost their grip on the city, leaving room for Lady Katan to take her place as leader, pushing out the traitors led by Gar Saxon and Rook Kast. The former prime minister, Almec, had been put in prison, making Bo Katan’s rule undisputed.

Luke payed attention to what Sabine had been saying, but he kept watch on the city around them (someone needed to, Ezra was preoccupied with looking at Sabine) looking for signs of Maul’s presence; Blood troopers, spies, or maybe even one of his Inquisitors. His rematch with Mara Jade hadn’t been much, and he was eager to try and get a proper fight out of her. As Sabine led them through the city, Luke got a nagging feeling that he was being watched. The Force was trying to tell him something. It was guiding him elsewhere in the city.

“You two go ahead,” he said to Ezra. “I need to check on something.”

“Where are you going?” the raven-haired Jedi asked.

“Following a feeling,” Luke replied. “You keep Wren distracted.”

Ezra nodded, and Luke dashed off into a secluded part of the city, following his instincts. He descended several flights of stairs into an unfinished part of the city that was unlit, with half-constructed buildings here and there.

Suddenly, he heard the sound of a Lightsaber being ignited behind him, and quickly whirled around to dodge a double swing from a pair of blades; one red, one purple. Luke drew his saber, the emerald blade illuminating the dark in front of him to reveal Mara Jade, who had donned the same mask she had worn on Geonosis.

“Jade,” he said. “I was hoping I’d see you here.”

“I can’t say the same,” Mara replied, her voice slightly distorted by the mask. “I think you’ve figured out by now that my master isn’t here?”

“I suppose,” Luke smirked. “But I’d much rather fight you than him.”

Mara growled, rushing at him and swinging both her blades wildly. Luke deflected her attacks with his blade, pushing her backwards with the Force. She recovered quickly, and her sabers were on him again. Their blades clashed into a lock, and Luke looked into the visor of her mask.

“You’ve gotten better,” he said. “Our last rematch wasn’t what you promised it’d be.”

Jada growled. “Why won’t you SHUT UP!” she shouted, kicking him in the knee. Luke stumbled, and she almost landed a blow on him with both her sabers, but the Jedi rolled out of the way, dodging the attack. He got back to his feet, and resumed his taunting.

“I thought you enjoyed our little talks.”

“You’re impossible,” Mara shot. “And you assume too much.”

She resumed fighting him, and in between blows, tapped a button on her wristband. Eventually, the stolen ARC fighter appeared beside the building, being auto piloted by a guidance system that was tethered to her wristband. She launched a heavy Force push at Luke, knocking him off his feet. She took the opportunity to jump into the fighter and close the canopy, but Luke was up in an instant, making a desperate jump onto the wing of the craft, and holding on for dear life as it shot through the city.

Jade glanced over her shoulder, seeing the Jedi on her wing ignite his Lightsaber, and begin stabbing it into one of the engines. She tried to shake him, swerving the ship into a tight corridor that led out of the city, completely blowing past the landing platform until Sundari was a speck behind them. Luke managed to cut into the rear of the cockpit, entering to try and wrestle the controls from her.

“What are you doing, fool!?” she shouted. “You’re going to crash us!”

“Let go!” Luke shouted, grabbing a hold of the throttle.

The two tried to combine their efforts of keeping the fighter stable, but it had somehow managed to get into orbit and was now heading for Mandalore’s moon, Concordia.

“We’re going to suffocate, you idiot!” Mara shouted, gasping for air. “The cockpit-”

“Hold on!” Luke yelled, flooring the throttle and sending the fighter veering towards the moon. The ship caught fire in the atmosphere, and both occupants began to lose consciousness as their oxygen became depleted. Luke was able to direct them towards the moon’s surface, before passing out.

The fighter crashed into the surface, breaking through a rock face and into a cavern below.

Chapter Text

The shuttle containing Leia and Cal Kestis dropped out of hyperspace, headed for the bloodred planet of Dathomir. Cal was much older than Leia; she was only twenty one years old, while Cal was twenty six. He was an esteemed Knight at this point, having long since passed the trials he had been given. He carried a single-bladed blue Lightsaber, much like Leia.

“So…” Leia attempted a conversation. “Ever been to Dathomir?

“Nope,” Cal replied. “I’ve read about it, though. The Nightsisters were massacred by General Grievous during the Clone Wars… I wouldn’t expect us to run into any trouble.”

“I hope you’re right,” Leia’s voice trailed off as the surface of the planet grew closer. The red color of the surface was quickly covered by fog as they neared the surface of the planet, filling her with a foreboding sense of dread. They touched down, and Cal got out of the pilot’s seat.

“Come on,” he said. “I’ve got a lock on the freighter’s location. It shouldn’t be hard to find it.”

They exited the ship, and Leia’s nose was instantly assaulted by an overbearing smell of sulfur. She looked up at the wicked branches of the trees, seeing that there were some sort of gelatinous pods hanging from them, the liquid that had once filled the pods still dripping. Even more eerie, she could see a trail of footsteps leading from underneath the pod, and off into the distance.

“This way,” Cal directed her, walking off into the fog. He was certainly headstrong, and Leia was slightly annoyed that he hadn’t bothered to wait for her. She rushed to catch up to him, keeping her hand near to the hilt of her saber, just in case. The Nightsisters may be dead, but that didn’t mean this planet didn’t have any other native species, and Leia was fairly certain the ambient whistles and clicks she kept hearing weren’t the wind.

Eventually, a large temple-like structure loomed out of the fog, with a carving of a female face at the head of an archway. Both Jedi eyed it suspiciously, before continuing through, heading for the location of Maul’s freighter. The archway led them into a large, circular chamber, which had some sort of pedestal in the center, and a ledge across the room from them that led out of the chamber.

“It’s that way,” Cal pointed at the ledge across the room.

“Right.” Leia said.

Suddenly, an eerie voice echoed through the room. “Intruders.”

Both Jedi stopped, igniting their sabers and holding them up defensively. The voice came a second time, from the top of the pedestal in the center. The Jedi looked to see a figure appear seemingly from nowhere with a green misty effect. They quickly realized it was a Nightsister, around Cal’s age, with pale white skin and grey markings on her face. She was garbed in a dark red robe, and had wavy, silver hair that was tied in a bun behind her head.

“You trespass, Jedi.” she spat.

“You must be a Nightsister,” Cal said matter-of-factly. “I had heard you were all dead.”

“Not all,” the sister shot. “Dathomir is forbidden to you. Leave at once.”

“I’m afraid I can’t do that,” Cal continued. “But perhaps we could help each other-”

“We think Darth Maul is here.” Leia interrupted him, figuring that his flustered blundering was going to get them killed.

That seemed to catch the sister’s attention, and she cocked her head at them.

“Darth Maul has not been here in over twenty years,” the sister said. “He was deemed a traitor by the sisters that remain.”

“And where are your sisters?” Leia inquired.

“You may not see them,” she responded. “They are in hiding. You may talk only to me.”

“That’ll have to do,” Cal said. The two Jedi deactivated their Lightsabers, sensing that the sister was no longer a threat. “We’re looking for a ship, a freighter belonging to Maul. We believe that he’s here, on Dathomir.”

“Maul is not here,” the sister said defiantly. “However, disciples of his are.”

“The Inquisitors,” Leia said. “If we can take them out-”
“Maul has one less weapon to use against us,” Cal finished for her. “Can you show us where they are?”

The Nightsister lifted a solitary finger, pointing towards the ledge they had been heading towards. “They are waiting for you. I want them on my planet no longer.”

“Thank you, er…” Cal stuttered.
“Merrin.” the sister said. “You may call me Sister Merrin.”

“Thank you, sister Merrin,” Cal said. “Come on, let’s go.”

The two Jedi ran across the room, climbing up the ledge that led to another passage, out of the temple structure. They came across a valley with a large drop-down, and sitting at the bottom of the valley was the same freighter Leia had seen on Geonosis. She shuddered. The last time she had seen that freighter, Maul had captured her, and then destroyed the planet of Naboo the next day.

“That’s it, isn’t it?” Cal asked.

“Mhmm,” Leia replied.

“Welp,” Cal said. “Let’s investigate.”

The two slid down the side of the rock face, making it to the bottom, where the freighter was. The boarding ramp was open, but Leia didn’t sense anyone inside. Something was very off about this situation.

“I have a bad feeling about this…” she muttered.

Suddenly, the Force alerted her to a disturbance.

“Duck!” she shouted, putting a hand on his back, and forcing them both to duck down. A dual purple-bladed lightsaber sailed overhead, spinning like a razor blade. It sliced the side of the ship, leaving scorch marks, before returning back the way it came. Leia whirled around, seeing the Lightsaber returning into the hands of a pale-skinned, male Togruta wearing dark armor, with the symbol of Maul’s Regime painted in red on the chestplate. One of the Togruta’s montral tails was cut off, leaving him with a single tail. He was accompanied by another figure bearing similar armor, with a helmet over his face, and a single red-bladed saber in his hand.

Leia and Cal ignited their sabers, getting to their feet and forming defensive stances.

“What a delight,” the helmeted figure said, his voice distorted by his mask. “Two Jedi for us to hunt. I’d say our trap was successful, eh, Roos?”

“Shut it, Gideon.” The Togruta said in a gruff voice. “Let’s just kill them and get this over with.”

“At least let them put up a little bit of a fight,” the figure named Gideon said. “It’d be more fun that way.”

The four Force users charged at each other, their sabers clashing- purple and red on blue. Leia hadn’t seen Cal in training before, but she instantly saw that his form was ruthless, revolving around brute strength. This made him an equal match for the Togruta, while Leia dueled the other Inquisitor. Gideon’s fighting style was unnerving, like he was enjoying it more than he should. She quickly noticed one of his hands was actually mechanical, as on multiple occasions it made complete turns of the wrist that would be impossible for any organic being. He used this to his advantage, spinning his lightsaber as though it had two blades.

“Leia Skywalker,” Gideon said as they engaged in a blade lock. “Your reputation precedes you.”

Leia grunted. Unlike her father and her brother, she wasn’t one for in-combat banter, reserving her insults for either before or after the fight, and usually both. This didn’t seem to deter Gideon, though.

“What’s the matter, little girl?” he teased. “Nexu got your tongue?”

“SHUT UP!” Leia shouted, swiping her saber a little too hard, catching the side of Gideon’s helmet, making him recoil in response. She had just missed taking out his eye, as when Gideon looked up, his mask was cracked to reveal tan skin, and the angry yellow eye of someone turned to the Dark Side.

“How’s that for talk?” she said between heavy breaths. “I’d advise against irritating me any further.”

“As you wish, little girl.” Gideon growled, before jumping back into battle.

Cal was having just as hard a time fighting his Inquisitor. While his fighting style did revolve around heavy attacks and quick retreats, the Togruta was infinitely more strong. On multiple occasions, he broke Cal’s guard, nearly landing several blows on the Jedi Knight. Even so, Cal refused to go down, regaining his stamina and striking at the Inquisitor with newfound speed. The red-haired Jedi launched a powerful Force push at the Inquisitor, knocking him off his feet. The Togruta recovered, reverting into a backflip, and landing on stable footing.

“You are strong, Jedi,” the Togruta spat. “Not that it will help you.”

The Inquisitor launched an even stronger Force push back at Cal, sending him flying backwards, rolling across the ground. He rolled a little too far, and straight off a cliff, falling to his demise.

“Cal!” Leia shouted.

“Oopsie,” Gideon chuckled. “Looks like it’s two on one now, Skywalker.”

Leia shrugged off the loss of Cal, forcing herself to stand strong. She wouldn’t go down without a fight.

Suddenly, heavy blaster fire tore through the area, and a bright light suddenly shone on the Inquisitors, blinding them. Leia turned around to see what it was, but the light from it blinded her as well. Then, her eyes adjusted, and she saw the Millennium Falcon, Han Solo’s ship, hovering off the ground. The boarding ramp lowered, and the smuggler himself stepped out, waving at her.

“Jump!” he shouted.

Leia nodded, performing a Force-assisted jump onto the ramp of the Falcon, and ducking inside with Han as the ramp closed. The two of them hurried to the cockpit, finding Chewbacca in the copilot’s seat. He growled in greeting to Leia.

“Alright, Chewie,” Han said, hopping into the pilot seat. “Let’s give these guys our parting gift.”

The two aimed the Falcon at the freighter belonging to the Inquisitors, and two proton bombs were suddenly launched from between the mandibles in the front, blasting the freighter to pieces.

“That’ll teach ‘em!” Han whooped. “Let’s get outta here!”

Back on Dathomir’s surface, the Inquisitors watched as the Republic freighter retreated into orbit. Gideon activated his comlink.

“Marauder, this is Gideon,” he said. “Let’s make sure they don’t escape the system, yes?”

“Copy that, commander.” a voice replied. “Dropping out of hyperspace now.”

Far up in orbit, a ship recognizable as a large, Recusant-class light cruiser once belonging to the Confederacy, dropped out of hyperspace, and the turbolasers opened fire on the Millennium Falcon.

Chapter Text

Luke slowly regained consciousness to a pained, distorted screaming. He quickly recalled what had happened- him and Mara had been fighting inside of her ship, but managed to make it to Mandalore’s moon of Concordia before the void of space took all their oxygen. He turned to see who was screaming, and saw that it was Mara Jade herself, the distortion coming from her mask. The cause of the screaming was her leg- it had been twisted in the crash, either sprained or broken. Luke was bruised up, but was fine himself.

Using the Force, he knocked the cockpit canopy off its hinges, jumping out to inspect where they were. The ship must have landed on an unstable surface, they were inside some sort of hidden, underground canyon, the roof supported by columns of rock. Behind him, he heard even more screaming, and turned to see Mara trying to force herself up and out of the ship. She managed to stand, and held up her Lightsaber, igniting the purple blade. Luke was unimpressed, and used the Force to rip the blade from her hand, deactivating it.

“No!” she shouted, before stumbling forward, toppling out of the ship’s cockpit. Luke walked forwards, and she reached for her other Lightsaber, the red one, only to find that it had been damaged in the crash, broken in half, the crystal shattered. “What are you doing!?” she cried.

“I’m thinking about how easily I could kill you,” Luke said. “You’ve tried to kill me countless times… But, I’d rather wait for you to heal, so we can finish our fight, fair and square.”

The two settled there, quickly realizing they would need each other’s help to survive.

“Cycles work differently here,” Mara winced, clutching her leg. “It will be night soon.”

Luke scoffed. “Don’t tell me you’re afraid of the dark.”

“It’s not the dark I’m afraid of,” she retorted. “It’s what lives in the dark. There could be any manner of creatures down here.”

Luke stepped forwards, and ripped the mask off her face, much to Mara’s dismay. She didn’t want him to see her in distress like this, for him to see her this weak. She needed him to fear her, otherwise…

She growled. “How is it that you’ve bested me, even once?”

“Oh, get a sense of humor, Jade,” Luke approached the fighter, climbing inside to inspect the wreckage. He plucked a piece of hardware off the console, and held it up for her to see.

“The transponder,” she nodded. “Probably damaged in the crash? If you can repair it… maybe we can get a signal out to the Regime.”

Luke scoffed again. “I think I’ll take my chances with whatever we’re sharing this hole with. I know what Maul does to Jedi.”

“You don’t know much,” Mara replied. “Cooperate, and you might be spared.”

“Cooperate…” the Jedi chuckled. “You’re the one who needs to cooperate here. Leg.”

Mara hesitated, before shifting her leg into a visible position. Luke unclipped the Lightsaber from his belt, igniting the green blade.

“Wait, wait, what are you doing!?” she cried, shuffling away from him.

“Calm down,” Luke assured her. “I need to cauterize your wound, so it doesn’t get infected. Hold still, and brace yourself.”

Very reluctantly, she obliged him. Luke tore a piece of cloth from his robes, rolled it up, and handed it to her. She took it, and placed it in between her teeth, closing her eyes and readying herself for the pain.

“You ready?” he asked, the saber hovering above the bloody wound on her leg.

Mara nodded.

He pressed the blade against her leg, only briefly, and barely. Mara’s screams were muffled by biting down on the cloth from his robe, and her eyebrow was knitted in pain. After less than a second, he removed the blade, deactivating it.

“Alright?” he said.

Mara spat out the cloth, frowning at him.

“I’ll take that as a yes.”

“Why are you helping me?” Mara asked, genuinely curious. “Every time we’ve met, I’ve tried to kill you. Why aren’t you doing the same?”

“Because Jedi have compassion,” Luke approached the wreckage of the ship, cutting a piece of metal off the wing, and retrieving a package of medical supplies from inside. “We’re not heartless, like you seem to believe.”

Luke approached her, placing the piece of metal against her leg, and using a roll of medical tape to strap it to her thigh. She didn’t like the feeling of his hands on her, but she didn’t have much choice. Besides, for someone she had been at odds with since they met, he didn’t seem like a horrible person.

After fixing the splint to her leg, Luke got to work on fixing the transponder. His dad wasn’t just a Jedi and a pilot, after all. In his youth, he would put together entire droids, and even fix podracers. He had taught his son everything he’d known about mechanics. Fixing a transponder was easy work. Finally, the machine emitted a radar-like beeping sound.

“There,” Luke said. “Fixed it. And I adjusted the frequency, now anyone can pick up its signal.”

“So?” Mara said, sitting herself up. “Maybe you won't die today. But the Regime will win. Every day we recruit more soldiers, every day we take more planets.”

Luke scoffed. “And, every day more people get fed up with living in fear.” The Jedi saw the shattered pieces of her red crystal, and scooped them off the ground. “Here. Kyber crystals are filled with the living force. No saber should have to go out like that.”

“Th-thank you.” she took the shards of the crystal from him, and slipped them into her pocket.

An echoing roar suddenly filled the cave, and Luke grabbed his Lightsaber off his belt, looking around.

“What do you think’s down here?” she asked him.

“I don’t know…” he got to his feet, swiveling around. “But I don’t want to find out, either.”

Thundering footsteps began gradually approaching, and Luke whirled around to see a massive reptilian creature emerge from the darkness of the cave. It walked on all fours, and had a long tail, with stone grey skin and glittering yellow eyes. Its jaws were adorned with two long, curved horns, jutting out like sideways tusks.

“Like this day couldn’t get any better…” he muttered, rolling out of the way as the creature brought down its massive paw on where he had been standing.

Mara was panicking, trying to get to her feet and behind cover. “What is that thing?” she shouted.

“I think it’s a Mythosaur!” Luke replied, the creature’s focus still on him.

“Aren’t they extinct?” Mara asked.

“Tell that to him!” Luke slashed at the beast’s legs, but his Lightsaber bounced off harmlessly. The creature swiped at him, knocking the Jedi aside. His saber was extinguished, and Mara’s own Lightsaber was thrown from his belt. It landed on the rock next to her, and she eyed it.

Luke managed to get back to his feet, and the Mythosaur cornered him. Mara approached them, igniting her saber. She had two choices- attack her sworn enemy and risk fighting the creature, or attack the Mythosaur, and prove herself a hypocrite. Mara groaned, and swallowed her pride, rushing at the creature with her purple blade lit. The Lightsaber did nothing to harm it, but the beast didn’t seem to like the feeling of a saber blade clashing against its scales.

The two Force users continued to strike the creature with their blades, not relenting until it retreated into the darkness it had emerged from. Once its footsteps faded into the distance, the two deactivated their sabers, and Mara nearly collapsed. Luke was quick to catch her.

“Thank you,” she admitted. While she could certainly stand and walk, it was still painful.

“No,” Luke said. “Thank you. You did the right thing.”

Mara smirked at him, the first sign of genuine affection he had seen from her, ever. “Don’t get sentimental, Skywalker.”

Luke set Mara down in a sitting position, and then sat himself down across from her. “Why do you hate the Jedi so much?” he inquired. “Truly. How many Jedi have you met?”

“Well…” Mara paused. “Only you, really.”

“And do I seem so bad?”

Mara shook her head slowly, as if she was unsure of her answer. There was a long pause of silence between them, until she spoke up again.

“Out of all Maul’s students, I was the lowest.” she explained, “The others liked to pick on me. My mother sold me for a bag of spice. I was trash before Maul took me in.”

Luke listened intently, not wanting to interrupt her.

“As children, Maul would test us,” she peeled back part of her outfit, revealing a scar that ran from her shoulder, and likely over her breast. Luke inhaled sharply; he knew a Lightsaber cut when he saw one. “He wanted us to understand that we were not his apprentices, that we meant nothing to him. So he left a mark on all of us.”

“All of you?” Luke asked.

Mara nodded.

Luke recalled the Devaronian in the hologram from Hondo, a year ago. The Inquisitor had been missing one of his horns. Did Maul really defile the bodies of his students, just to prove that point?

“Despite that, he always seemed to favor me over all the others,” she continued. “The others lost whole parts of their bodies- a horn, a hand, a foot, even Teela’s ear… but he only left a scar on me. That just made the others hate me even more.”

“Did he ever tell you why?”

“Yes, actually,” Mara nodded. “He told me it was because my pain was different from the others. The smallest cut meant more to me than it would to them.”

The two sat in silence, the mood understandably bleak. They waited for what felt like an hour, until Luke was sure that Mara could stand without being in pain.

“Alright,” he said, getting up. “Time to go.”

He motioned for Mara to walk around behind him, and he hefted her up onto his back. She wrapped her arms over his shoulders, and her legs around his waist, holding on tight. They would need to climb out- she couldn’t move much, and he couldn’t perform a Force-assisted jump with her on his back. As he approached the wall of the cavern, she stopped him.

“No, no,” Mara instructed, “Don’t climb the walls, go up the pillars.”

Luke was about to question her, when the roar of far-off Mythosaur deterred him from arguing further.

“I hope you’re right,” he grunted.

The Jedi grasped the rock column with both hands, and started climbing it upwards, towards the opening in the cavern ceiling. He nearly slipped and lost his hold, but managed to regain his balance.

“This is a terrible idea!” he shouted.

“Just climb,” she insisted.

They heard a cacophony of thundering footsteps and reptilian hisses, and Mara looked over her shoulder to see the Mythosaur emerging from the darkness, followed by another.

“There are two of them!” she warned. “Climb faster!”

“Kriff,” Luke cursed. “I’m trying, but you’re a lot heavier than you look!”

Mara would’ve kicked him in the ankle for that comment, if he wasn’t the only thing keeping them from the jaws of the Mythosaur. Luke continued to climb while Mara shifted her hands from his shoulders to around his neck.

“Jade-” he gagged. “Stop that, you’re- choking me!”

“Oh, I’ll choke you all right,” she retorted. “If you drop us!”

Suddenly, Mara lost grip of his neck, and fell off his back, nearly landing into the jaws of the Mythosaur. She cried out in fear, only to realize she was hovering midair. Jade looked up to see Luke extending his hand, holding her in place with the Force. He moved her closer to the hole in the ceiling, and grunted.

“I hope this works!” he hissed between clenched teeth.

“Hope?” she panicked. “Hope what works!?”
With a heave, Luke pushed his hand out, and Mara was sent flying up through the hole, letting out a startled scream. She landed safely on the surface above, but Luke’s movement loosened the grip he had on the rock column, and he himself fell. The Mythosaurs nearly had him, until he realized that he wasn’t falling- Mara was doing to him the same thing he did to her. However, due to her injury, her hold on him through the Force was weak, and she was exerting too much energy.

“Get ready to grab on!” Mara shouted.

Luke nodded.

She pulled her hands backwards, and Luke was thrusted forwards, just far enough for him to grab a hold of the ledge above. He struggled to climb up, swinging his legs up out of the hole, before climbing the whole way out. The Mythosaurs hissed in dismay- their only prey for who knows how long had just escaped.

“Thank you,” Mara said between labored breaths.

Luke chuckled. “It seems the both of us have been owing each other thanks today.”

Morning crept over the horizon, and the two Force wielders awoke to find themselves leaning on one another, underneath a rocky overhang. They quickly recoiled from each other, blushing profusely. They heard the sound of an engine overhead, getting closer.

“That’s… a ship.” Mara said.

“Yeah,” Luke agreed. “But who’s?” He got to his feet, and held out his hand for her to take. “Come on.”

Reluctantly, Mara took his hand, and he helped her to her feet. He supported her as she limped forwards, and they reached the head of a valley to see the ship that had landed- it was the Ghost, Hera Syndulla’s ship.

“Ah,” Jade sighed. “Your friends did find you.”

“I told you they would,” Luke said. “Y’know, we would treat you fairly.”

Mara thought about how many atrocities she had committed against the Republic, and shook her head. “I’ll… take my chances with the Regime… Luke.”

Luke smiled, and gave her a respectful bow. She bowed back, and hid herself as Luke ran off to the Ghost. Mara watched him go, and sighed. She felt something towards him from the very beginning, but now that this ordeal had passed, what would she do?

Chapter Text

Cal Kestis awoke in a heap at the bottom of a cliff face. He groaned, trying to get to his feet. The fall hadn’t killed him, but he wasn’t exactly in perfect condition.

“Get up, Cal Kestis,” a familiar voice filled his ears, and he looked to see the Nightsister Merrin standing over him. “You are not dead yet.”

“What… happened?” He asked.

“You fell,” she explained. “Luckily, the swamps of Dathomir caught you.”

“Where’s Leia?” He looked around to see if the young Skywalker was there, too. Merrin simply pointed up at the sky. Cal tilted his head to look up, and saw a large, Separatist cruiser in orbit, firing at a small object that was trying desperately to avoid it. Upon a closer look, Cal realized that the smaller object was actually a freighter, and not just any freighter- it was the Millennium Falcon.

“Oh, no…” he muttered

The Millennium Falcon was being pummeled by turbolaser fire from the Recusant cruiser, while also being tailed by a squad of Blood Slicers. The freighter’s shields were holding for now, but they wouldn’t hold forever. Padmé’s protocol droid, C-3PO, had come along, as Leia’s mother felt he would be helpful on board. Although Han refuted that if by “helpful” she meant “annoying” then that would be true.

Chewbacca growled as the Falcon took another direct hit from a Blood fighter’s fire.

“I saw ‘em, I saw ‘em!” Han responded.

“Saw what!?” Leia asked

“Recusant cruisers, two of ‘em. They’re coming right up on top of us.”

“Sir,” 3PO entered the cockpit. “Might I suggest-”

“Shut him up or shut him down!” Han shouted to Chewbacca, prompting the Wookie to grab the protocol droid by the neck and hold him in a headlock.

“Check the deflector shield,” Han said. “Great. Well, we can still outmaneuver them.”

Han flew the Falcon straight in between the two massive cruisers, causing them to crash into each other. With the cruisers now trying to recover, the Falcon was left with only the Slicers on its tail.

“Prepare to make the jump to lightspeed,” Han said.

“But Sir!” 3PO protested.

“They’re getting closer,” Leia said.

“Oh yeah?” Solo put a hand on the hyperdrive throttle, and pushed forwards. "Watch this!" The ship made a noise, but nothing happened, and they remained in real space.

“Watch what?” Leia asked sarcastically.

Han looked around, confused. “I think we’re in trouble,” he said.

“If I may say so, sir,” 3PO interjected. “I noticed earlier, the hyperdrive motivator has been damaged. It’s impossible to go to lightspeed!”

“We’re in trouble,” Han repeated, jumping out of the pilot’s seat and heading into the Falcon’s engine room. Chewie followed him, checking the ship’s wiring systems.

“Horizontal boosters!” Han shouted. “Alluvial dampers?”

Chewbacca growled in response to both questions, and Han knocked his head on one of the overhanging pipes, grunting in pain.

“That’s not it, bring me the hydrospanner!”

Chewie grabbed a box of tools and set it down on the floor next to the shaft Han was in. Solo grabbed the tool, and retreated back into the shaft to continue trying to fix the motivator.

“I don’t know how we’re gonna get out of this one,” he said.

Suddenly, the ship was shaken by an explosion, tipping the box of tools off the platform, falling straight on Han’s head. He yelped in frustration, emerging from the shaft as the Falcon was shaken by another explosion.

“That wasn't a laser blast,” Han said. “Something hit us.”

“Han, get up here!” Leia shouted through the comms. The smuggler returned to the cockpit, with Chewbacca close behind.

“Asteroids,” Leia said.

The captain got back into his seat, motioning for Chewbacca to get into his. “Chewie, set two-seven-one.”

“What are you doing?” Leia questioned. “You’re not actually going into an asteroid field?”

“They’d be crazy to follow us, wouldn’t they?”

The Falcon veered and swerved through the massive field of space debris, dodging rock after rock.

“You don’t have to do this to impress me,” Leia shook her head.

“Sir!” 3PO shouted. “The possibility of successfully navigating an asteroid field is approximately three-thousand-seven-hundred-twenty to one!”

“Never tell me the odds!” Han retorted.

As the freighter continued to maneuver through the asteroids, one of the Blood Slicers accidentally hit a rock, exploding in a shower of sparks. They kept flying through the debris, and another fighter was hit, spiraling out of control until it smashed into the side of a larger asteroid in a blazing inferno.

“We’re going to get pulverized if we stay out here much longer,” Leia said.

“Ain’t gonna argue with that,” Han replied. “I’m going in closer to one of the big ones.”

“Closer!?” Leia and 3PO both panicked at the same time.

Han piloted the Falcon through a large canyon on one of the asteroids, tilting it sideways to fit through the tiny crack, as the remaining two Blood Slicers crashed into the walls.

“Oh, this is suicide!” C-3PO cried. “There’s nowhere to go!”

“There,” Han pointed at a large hole in one of the asteroids. “That looks pretty good.”

“What looks pretty good?” Leia asked.

Not responding, Han flew the Falcon in a large loop, straight into the hole of the asteroid. It was sufficiently dark, secluded, and covered meaning they would be able to make repairs safely while they waited for the Regime ships to pass by.

“I hope you know what you’re doing,” Leia said.

“Yeah, I do too…” Han replied.

Merrin guided Cal Kestis through the swamps of Dathomir, trying to guide him back to his shuttle. She knew the territory well, and was doing her best to find a way.

“So,” Cal attempted to make small talk. “What do you know about the Jedi?”

Merrin paused. “I know that they use the Force,” she said. “Although I am not quite sure what the Force is.”

“The Force, it’s…” Cal struggled to explain it. “Well, it’s what gives a Jedi their power. It’s an energy field created by all living things. It surrounds us, penetrates us. It binds the galaxy together.”

“That sounds outlandish,” the Nightsister commented.

“It is kind of outlandish,” Cal replied. “But, if you could do this on a daily basis, you wouldn’t think so.” to emphasize his point, he used the Force to lift a rock off the ground, and throw it into the distance.

“I suppose,” Merrin answered.

A moment of silence passed between them as they ascended a rock face.

“Watch,” she insisted. “These rocks are unstable.”

“Don’t overreact,” Cal said. “There’s nothing underneath-”

He took a wrong step, and his foot broke through the soft rocks, causing the entire ground around him to collapse. Merrin cried out in surprise as Cal fell, rolling down several sloped rocks and into a massive underground chamber. It was huge, they had to have been climbing the side of some kind of mountain. There was a large opening near the ceiling that looked out into the distant sky.

“Cal!” Merrin’s voice echoed from above.

“I’m ok!” he shouted up to her. “There’s some kind of chamber down here, it’s massive.”

“What will you do?” the sister asked.

“I’ll find another way out, don’t worry!”

“Be careful!” Merrin called. “There are worse things on Dathomir than spiders and Nydaks.”

“Worse things…” Cal muttered, looking around for a way out of the cave. “What could be worse than a spider?”

As soon as he said that, he regretted it. He heard titanic shuffling from behind him, and slowly turned around to see what it was.

Crawling up the side of the wall was a massive bat-like creature. It eyed him hungrily, before jumping off the side of the cave wall, landing on the ground in front of him with a thunderous crash. Cal ignited his Lightsaber, holding it up to defend himself.

“Things just got worse,” he muttered.

Meanwhile, on the Falcon, Leia was doing her best to assist in repairs. Much like Luke, her father had shown her quite a bit when it came to repairing anything mechanical. She held up a welder to part of the ship’s wiring, and tried her best to re-insert the pieces. The Jedi was so busy with the part that she hadn’t sensed Han coming up behind her, until he wrapped his hands from around her, trying to help with what she was doing. Leia jumped, shoving him away.

“Hey, your worship,” he said. “I’m only trynna help!”

“Don’t call me that,” she retorted.

“Sure, Leia.”

The Jedi sighed. “You make it so difficult sometimes.

“I do, I really do,” Han nodded. “You could be a little nicer, though. Come on, admit it, sometimes you think I’m all right.”

They had been spending some time together in the years following the Revengeance’s destruction. As a captain in the Republic’s navy, Han was spending more time with Leia, whether it was in planning meetings, or off world on a ship, or even on some of the Republic’s outposts.

“Occasionally,” Leia admitted. “Maybe… when you aren’t acting like a scoundrel.” She hissed as her hands were cut by the machinery, and Han grabbed her hands in his, holding them tightly.

“Scoundrel…” he said. “Scoundrel? I like the sound of that.”

After a few minutes, Leia tried to yank her hands away. “Stop that.”

“Stop what?”

“Stop that, my hands are dirty,” she said.

“My hands are dirty too,” Han insisted. “What are you afraid of?”

“Afraid?”

“You’re trembling,” he pointed out.

“I’m not trembling.”

He leaned forwards, getting closer to her face. “You like me because I’m a scoundrel. There aren’t enough scoundrels in your life.”

Leia shook her head. “I happen to like nice men.”

“I’m a nice man.”

“No you’re not-” Solo completely cut her off by pressing their lips together, sharing a kiss. Leia’s heart fluttered, she hadn’t quite felt this way with anyone before, let alone Han. When their lips finally parted, she hurried off shyly, and Han watched her go, smiling.

Once the repairs had been finished, they took off from the inside of the asteroid, unexpectedly running into another Recusant cruiser. Once again, the Falcon was assaulted by turbolaser fire.

“Let’s get out of here,” Han said, putting his hand on the hyperdrive thruster. “Ready for lightspeed?”

Chewbacca growled in agreement, and the two attempted to make the jump, to no avail.

Han sighed. “It’s not fair,” he said.

Chewbacca started wailing in frustration, and Han turned to look at him.

“The transfer circuits aren’t working! It’s not my fault!”

“No lightspeed?” Leia said.

“It’s not my fault!”

The ship was shaken by more fire from the cannons of the Recusant cruiser. Han suddenly had an idea.

“Turn her around,” he said, and Chewbacca growled in protest. “I said turn her around! I’m gonna put all power into the front shield!”

“You’re going to attack them?” Leia asked.

“Sir,” 3PO pleaded. “The odds of surviving a direct assault on a Recusant-”

“Shut up!” Leia shouted.

The Falcon did a loop around, heading straight for the main bridge of the cruiser. The turbolasers tried desperately to shoot down the freighter, but the Falcon flew right past the bridge’s viewport, before seemingly disappearing. Han had magnetically attached the Falcon to the back of the bridge’s mount.

“Sir, they’re not on any of our scopes!” one of the deck officers said.

“Impossible,” the captain said. “No ship that small has a cloaking device.”

“They must have been destroyed,” another officer said.

“Very well,” the captain said. “Set course for Mustafar, and make the jump to lightspeed.”

The cruiser turned slightly, and jumped to hyperspace, all the while having no idea they were bringing the crew of the Millennium Falcon with them.

Chapter Text

Once the Recusant-class cruiser had dropped out of hyperspace over Mustafar, the Millennium Falcon detached, flying off out of the view of the cruiser’s scopes. They hovered there, trying to decide what their next move would be.

“What’s your next move?” Leia asked Han.

“We gotta find a safe port somewhere around here…” Solo pulled up the star chart of the surrounding area. “Any ideas?”

“Where are we?”

“The Mustafar system,” Han answered.

“There’s not much around here,” she said.

“No…” Han cycled through lists of nearby systems. “Well, wait… this is interesting. Lando.”

“Lando system?” Leia questioned.

“Lando’s not a system, he’s a man,” Han explained. “Lando Calrissian. He’s a cardplayer, gambler, scoundrel. You’d like him.”

“Thanks…” Leia scoffed.

“Bespin,” Han read from the chart. “It’s pretty far, but I think we can make it.”

The Jedi peered over his shoulder at the details on the planet. “A mining colony?”

“Yeah, a Tibanna gas mine,” he replied. “Lando conned somebody out of it. We go back a long way, Lando and me.”

“Can you trust him?”

“No…” Han sighed. “But he’s got no love for the Regime, I can tell you that.” The captain powered up the sublight engines. “Chewie, set course for Bespin.”

After traveling at sublight for an hour, the large, gassy orange planet of Bespin came into view, and Leia smiled.

“You have your moments,” she said. “Not many of them, but you do have them.” she planted a kiss on his cheek. The smuggler was beginning to grow on her. When they entered the planet’s atmosphere, it didn’t take long for them to be flanked by two small, bright orange security ships. The ships had contacted the Falcon, asking for Han’s landing clearance.

“No, I don’t have a landing permit,” Han said. “I’m trynna reach Lando Calrissian!”

The ships suddenly opened fire on the Falcon, shaking the freighter.

“Woah, wait a minute!” Han shouted. “Let me explain!”

“You will not deviate from your present course,” one of the pilots demanded through the comms.

“Rather touchy, aren’t they?” 3PO said.

“I thought you knew this person,” Leia inquired.

Chewbacca grumbled in neutral disagreement.

“That was a long time ago,” Han told her. “I’m sure he’s forgotten about that.”

Suddenly, the security ships contacted them. “Permission granted to land on platform three-two-seven.”

“Thank you,” Han shot, before shutting off the comms. “Nothing to worry about. We go way back, Lando and me.”

“Who’s worried?” Leia said sarcastically.

The security ships guided the Falcon through the deep orange clouds of the planet’s gassy atmosphere. They emerged from a large one, seeing a massive, floating city in the distance. The freighter flew towards the floating metropolis, which was shaped like a spinning top, with a long spine-like shape jutting out from underneath. The Falcon touched down on the landing pad, and the security ships peeled off. Han lowered the boarding ramp, and the four of them piled out onto the platform. Solo eyed the door across the platform nervously, while 3PO pointed out the absence of a welcoming committee.

“I don’t like this,” Leia said.

“Well, what would you like?” Han shot.

“They did let us land,” C-3PO pointed out.

“Look, don’t worry,” Han assured her. “Everything’s gonna be fine. Trust me.”

There was a mechanical hiss, and Han turned to see a delegation of security officers, led by a human with a cybernetic implant on his head, and a dark-skinned man in an ornate, light blue shirt, black pants, and a long, light blue cape with a gold inner trim. The man wore a cross expression as he stormed up the landing pad towards Han.

“See?” Han nodded to Leia. “My friend.” The smuggler began walking down the platform to meet his friend. “Hey!” he said, holding his hands out in a friendly manner.

“Why, you slimy, double-crossing, no-good swindler,” Lando said, putting his hands on his hips. “You’ve got a lot of guts coming here, after what you pulled.”

Han made a confused gesture at himself.

Lando approached Han slowly, keeping a glare on the whole time. When he was less than a foot in front of the smuggler, he swung a fist, looking as if he was going to punch Solo, who flinched in fear. Lando paused mid-swing, and burst out into laughter, wrapping Han into a friendly hug.

“How ya doin’, you old pirate?!” he smiled. “So good to see you!”

The two jumped into a small conversation, and Chewbacca grumbled something, and 3PO nodded.

“Well, he seems very friendly,” 3PO said.

“Yes,” Leia muttered, following the other two as they approached Lando and Han. “Very friendly.”

Lando cackled happily. “What are you doin’ here?”

“Ah, repairs,” Han explained. “I thought you could help me out.”

Lando’s face fell. “What’ve you done to my ship?”

“Your ship?” Han scoffed. “Hey, remember, you lost her to me fair and square.”

“And how you doin’, Chewbacca?” Lando peered over Han’s shoulder. “You still hangin’ around with this loser?”

Chewbacca growled in response.

Lando’s eyes fell on Leia, and his complexion changed completely. “Hello, what have we here?” he said. “Welcome, I’m Lando Calrissian. I’m the administrator of this facility. And who might you be?”

“Leia.” she replied as he approached her. She could tell from his swagger that he was a womanizer.

“Welcome, Leia,” Lando took her hand, and kissed it politely.

“Alright, alright, you old smoothie,” Han got between them, and took Leia’s hand from his friend. The two walked off into the city as Lando followed behind them, completely ignoring the introduction that C-3PO launched into.

“What’s wrong with the Falcon?” he asked Han.

“Hyperdrive,” Solo replied.

“I’ll get my people to work on her,” Lando said. “You know, that ship saved my life quite a few times. She’s the fastest hunk of junk in the galaxy.”

They continued to walk through the city, and Han began to talk to Lando about the Cloud City operation.

“How’s the gas mine?” Han asked. “Still payin’ off for you?”

“Not as well as I’d like,” his friend answered. “We’re a small outpost, and not very self-sufficient. I’ve had supply problems of every kind, I’ve had labor difficulties…”

Han laughed.

“What’s so funny?” Lando said.

“You,” Han responded. “Listen to you. You sound like a businessman, a responsible leader. Who would’ve thought that, huh?”

“You know, seeing you sure brings back a few things.”

Han nodded, patting Lando on the shoulder. “Yeah.”

“Yeah, I’m responsible these days,” Lando continued. “It’s the price you pay for being successful.”

As the group walked off, C-3PO fell behind, getting distracted by a door hissing open, to reveal a sleek, silver protocol droid. The droid looked almost exactly like himself.

“Ooh,” he said. “Nice to see a familiar face.”

“ E chu ta, ” the droid cursed at him in Huttese, before pushing past the gold-plated droid.

“How rude!” 3PO muttered, before hearing the beeping of an Astromech droid that was startlingly familiar. “That sounds like an R2 unit in there. I wonder if… hello?”

Without even thinking about it, 3PO walked off into the chamber the Astromech’s sounds were coming from, expecting to find his friend, R2-D2. Suddenly, a blaster clicked, and a gruff voice shouted out of the darkness at the protocol droid. 

“Hey, droid.”

“Oh my!” 3PO responded. “That voice… Do I know you?”

A familiar figure with a wide-brimmed hat stepped out of the darkness, blaster pistol pointed right at the protocol droid’s chest. “I’m your worst nightmare, pal.”

“No, please don’t-” The protocol droid’s pleas for mercy were cut off by the blaster firing, blowing his head right off. With a shower of sparks, 3PO fell to the floor, deactivated, the door hissing shut behind him.

The crew of the Millennium Falcon had been given a luxury apartment for their stay in Cloud City. Leia looked out the window at the busy city. She had been given a new set of clothes- an elegant and ornate dress that matched the pristine white of Cloud City itself. Ever since they had arrived here, something felt wrong, like the Force was trying to warn her of something. All arrows pointed to Lando, but he had been incredibly friendly and inviting to her and Han. The door hissed open, and Leia turned to see Han walking in.

“The ship’s almost finished,” he said. “Two or three more things and we’re in great shape.”

“The sooner, the better,” Leia approached him. “Something’s wrong here. No one has seen or knows anything about 3PO. He’s been gone too long to have gotten lost.”

Han put his hands on her shoulder to calm her down, and planted a kiss on her forehead. “Relax,” he assured her. “I’ll talk to Lando and see what I can find out.”

“I don’t trust Lando,” she protested.

“Well, I don’t trust him either, but he is my friend. Besides… We’ll soon be gone.”

Suddenly, the door hissed open again, and Chewbacca hurried in, carrying a box. Leia quickly realized the box was filled with the severed body parts of C-3PO.

“What happened?” she asked.

Chewbacca growled and grumbled in response.

“Where?” Han replied. Chewbacca growled again. “Found him in a junk pile?”

“Oh, what a mess,” Leia sighed. “Chewie, you think you can repair him?”

Chewbacca shrugged and grumbled.

“Lando’s got people that can fix him,” Solo said. As if the name had summoned him, Lando himself entered the room.

“No thanks,” Leia whispered to Han.

“Sorry,” the caped man interjected. “Am I interrupting anything?”

“Not really,” the Jedi replied, her tone defiant.

Lando grinned, and smiled at her. “You look absolutely beautiful,” he said. “You truly belong here with us, among the clouds.”

Han rolled his eyes, and facepalmed slowly.

“Thank you,” Leia replied.

“Would you join me for a little refreshment?” Lando held out his hand for her to take. “Everyone’s invited, of course.”

They all stood up, and Han took Leia’s hand from Lando.

“Having trouble with your droid?” he asked.

“No,” Han was quick to reply. “No problem. Why?” The two walked off into the hallway, followed by Chewbacca, leaving Lando confused as to the droid’s condition. He hurried after them. While they walked, he told them more about the inner workings of the city.

“You see, since we’re a small operation,” Lando explained. “We don’t fall into the jurisdiction of the Regime.”

“So you’re part of the mining guild, then?” Leia inquired.

“No, not actually,” he replied. “Our operation is small enough not to be noticed, which is advantageous to everybody, since our customers are anxious to avoid attracting attention to themselves.”

“Aren’t you afraid the Regime’s gonna find out about this little operation, and shut you down?” Han added.

“It’s always been a danger that looms like a shadow over everything we’ve built here, but things have developed that’ll ensure security.” Lando guided them to a stop in front of a large door, which led to the dining room. “I’ve just made a deal that will keep the Regime out of here forever.”

He pressed a button to open the door, and it hissed open to reveal the dining room with a long table in the center. Sitting at the head of the table, facing them from across the room, was the dark figure of Lord Maul. He stood up as the door opened. Chewbacca roared, and Han quickly drew his blaster, firing off four whole shots at the Zabrak, who redirected them into the walls of the room, before pulling the blaster with the Force, right into his hand. Leia reached for her Lightsaber, and had barely gotten it ignited when Maul used the Force to yank it out of her hands.

“We would be honored if you would join us,” Maul’s face bore a sadistic grin.

A figure emerged from behind Maul’s chair, revealing himself as a Duros bounty hunter in a long trench coat and wide-brimmed hat- Cad Bane. Behind the crew of the Falcon, they heard movement and turned to see squads of Blood troopers filling the hallways behind them.

“I had no choice,” Lando explained. “They arrived right before you did. I’m sorry.”

Han sighed, and gave Lando a glare. “I’m sorry, too.”

Chapter Text

Luke’s Jedi interceptor dropped out of hyperspace, detaching from the hyperspace docking ring. He had sensed a disturbance in the Force, and followed it to the gas planet of Bespin. Leia and Han were in trouble, and he had to help them. From the droid socket of his ship, the orange-and-white R3-D15 beeped a question at him.

“No, 3PO’s with them,” Luke answered. “Just hang on, we’re almost there.”

He descended his ship into orbit, setting coordinates for Cloud City.

Meanwhile, back on the city, Lando, Cad Bane, and several Blood troopers were standing outside the chamber being used to torture Han Solo. The smuggler’s pained screams echoed from inside, and Lando was struggling not to make eye contact with the blue-skinned bounty hunter. The red-eyed Duros smirked sadistically. He was enjoying this. Solo’s screams finally faded out, and the door of the chamber hissed open, followed by Maul exiting the room.

“Lord Maul,” Lando said.

The former Sith completely ignored him, and addressed Cad Bane. “You may take Captain Solo to Jabba the Hutt after I have the Skywalker boy.”

“He’s no good to me dead,” Bane protested, following the Zabrak as he stormed down the hallway.

“He will not be permanently damaged,” Maul said.

“Lord Maul,” Lando protested. “What about Leia and the Wookie?”

“They must never again leave this city,” he answered.

“That was never a condition of our agreement,” Lando stepped forwards. “Nor was giving Han to this Bounty Hunter!”

“Perhaps you think you’re being treated unfairly?” Maul’s questioning tone was threatening at the same time.

Lando gulped, and shook his head. “No.”

“Good,” Maul replied. “It would be unfortunate if I had to leave a garrison here.”

The former Sith stepped into an elevator, the doors hissing shut between him and the caped businessman, who turned around and began walking away in a huff. “This deal is getting worse all the time…”

Chewbacca and Leia were being kept in a large cell when the doors opened, followed by a Blood trooper tossing in Han’s limp body. He was bruised and battered, and the pair helped him up, laying him on a table.

“Why are they doing this…” Leia cradled Han’s head in her lap.

“They never even asked me any questions…” the smuggler groaned.

Leia was about to kiss his forehead, when the doors hissed open, followed by several city security guards, and Lando himself.

“Lando,” Leia said to Han, making him sit up. Chewbacca roared at the traitorous friend.

“Get outta here, Lando.” Solo spat.

“Shut up and listen,” Lando interrupted. “Maul’s agreed to turn Leia and Chewie over to me.”

“Over to you?” Han interjected.

“They’ll have to stay here, but at least they’ll be safe.”

“What about Han?” Leia questioned.

“Maul’s giving him to the bounty hunter.” Calrissian answered.

“Maul wants us all dead.” Leia argued.

“He doesn’t want you at all, he’s after somebody called Skywalker!”

Han and Leia paused. “Luke,” the smuggler said.

“Lord Maul set a trap for him,” Lando explained.

“And we’re the bait!”

“Yeah, well, he’s on his way,” Lando said.

Han got to his feet, walking towards his former friend. “You fixed us all real good, didn’t you?” Before Lando could respond, Han socked him in the jaw, making Lando fall over. The guards were on top of the smuggler before he could throw another punch, smacking him over the head with the butts of their blasters.

“Stop!” Lando said, getting to his feet. The guards stopped, and Leia knelt down next to Han’s body. “I’ve done all I can. I’m sorry I couldn’t do better, but I’ve got my own problems.”

“Yeah,” Han winced, sitting up on the floor. “You’re a real hero.”

Lando faltered for a moment, before motioning for the guards to follow him out of the cell, leaving Leia, Han, and Chewbacca, along with the box of C-3PO’s parts. Leia helped Han to lean against a ceiling support of the room, and shook her head.

“You certainly have a way with people,” she smiled.

The Ugnaught technicians and mechanics of Cloud City had successfully finished preparing a carbon freezing chamber, and Maul was helping inspect it, along with several of his Blood troopers.

“This facility is crude,” Maul said. “But it should be adequate to freeze the Skywalker boy for his journey to my true main base.”

“Lord Maul,” an officer walked up to him. “There is a ship approaching, an Actis-Class Interceptor.”

“Good,” Maul replied. “Monitor the Jedi and allow him to land.”

The officer bowed, and hurried out of the chamber. Lando stepped forward, and spoke to the Zabrak.

“Lord Maul, we only use this facility for carbon freezing,” Lando protested. “You put him in there, it might kill him.”

“I do not want my prize damaged,” The former Sith demanded. “We will test it on Captain Solo.”

Lando’s eyes widened, and he was horrified. This was going terribly, terribly wrong.

Not long after, the crew of the Millennium Falcon was escorted into the chamber by a squad of Blood troopers, with the half-assembled C-3PO on Chewbacca’s back. They all stepped onto a large, circular platform, with a deep hole in the center that had a circular platform that could be raised and lowered. Han walked up behind Lando, and scoffed.

“What’s goin’ on, buddy?” Han asked sarcastically.

Lando sighed. “You’re being put into carbon freeze.”

Across the chamber, Cad Bane was talking to Maul.

“What if he doesn’t survive?” Bane asked. “He’s worth a lot to me.”

“The Regime will compensate you if he dies,” Maul assured the bounty hunter. “Put him in!”

Chewbacca roared as the Blood troopers closed in, smashing, punching, and batting them aside. He picked up one by their elbow, and threw him clear off the elevated platform they were standing on. Han started shouting at Chewbacca to stop, getting between him and the troopers that were raising their blasters. Maul signaled for them to hold their fire.

“Hey! Hey!” Han shouted. “Listen to me Chewie! This won’t help!”

Several Blood troopers took advantage of the distraction, and put binders on the large Wookie.

“This won’t help me,” Han insisted as Chewie continued to growl in protest. “Hey, save your strength. There’ll be another time. The Jedi- you have to take care of her. Do ya hear me?”

Leia stepped up next to Chewbacca as the Wookie nodded, grumbling timidly. She and Han locked eyes, before leaning in for a kiss. After a few seconds, two Blood troopers stepped forwards, grabbing Han by the shoulders and pulling him away from Leia. They forced him to stand on the platform in the center of the chamber, and Leia couldn’t handle it any longer.

“I love you,” she stated, keeping her eyes on the smuggler.

Han nodded. “I know.” He kept his eyes on her as the platform began to lower him into the freezing shaft, followed by a loud hiss and a plume of freezing gas. Chewbacca roared in despair, and the gas continued to fill the chamber for several minutes, before the hissing stopped.

Maul watched as the technicians pressed several buttons on a control console, lowering a large claw arm into the shaft, grabbing a hold of what was in it. The arm retracted, pulling out a large, rectangular object. The claw released it, causing the object to fall over onto the floor. It was Han, encased inside a large block of solid carbonite, an agonized expression on his face. Leia looked on in sorrow as Lando approached the block, checking the monitor that was on the side.

“Well, Calrissian,” Maul asked. “Did he survive?”

“Yes, he’s alive,” Lando sighed. “And in perfect hibernation.”

“He’s all yours, Bounty Hunter," Maul turned to Cad Bane, who nodded, before the former Sith turned to the technicians. “Reset the chamber for Skywalker.”

An officer approached. “The Skywalker boy has just landed, my Lord.”

“Good,” Maul nodded. “See to it that he finds his way in here. Calrissian, take the Jedi girl and the Wookie to my ship.”

“You said they’d be left in the city under my supervision!” Lando argued.

“I am altering the deal,” Maul stated. “Pray I don’t alter it any further.”

Shocked, Lando turned to Leia and Chewbacca, the former of which was clinging to the Wookie’s arm, her eyes completely glued to Han.

Luke crept through the hallways of Cloud City. It was suspiciously quiet and empty of any beings, putting Luke on edge. He kept his hand on his Lightsaber, ready for a fight. R3 followed behind, trying to keep up. The Jedi turned a hallway, and suddenly darted back to cover, seeing a convoy of city security guards, led by a Duros bounty hunter that he recognized as Cad Bane. The guards were guiding a large, floating object that looked almost like a coffin of some kind. Behind them were a few Blood troopers, confirming to Luke that the Regime was here. Once he was sure that they were gone, he ducked out from behind cover, intent on following them to investigate. He walked up to the corner they had gone past, and peaked around.

Suddenly, Cad Bane was there, down the hallway. He fired his dual blaster pistols, causing Luke to duck behind the corner. After a few minutes, the fire ceased, and Luke followed the direction the bounty hunter had gone in. He took several turns in an attempt to cut them off, and was successful. He saw the front of the convoy, led by a Regime officer and a well-dressed, dark-skinned man. Several Blood troopers stepped forwards, firing their blasters. Luke ducked briefly, before igniting his Lightsaber to deflect the bolts.

He saw the officer holding his sister hostage, and his eyes widened. He was quick to pursue, catching a glimpse of Chewbacca as well. Due to the incoming fire from the troopers, he wasn’t able to get too close, seeing them going through a door up ahead.

“LUKE!” Leia shrieked. “Luke, don’t! It’s a trap!”

The final Blood trooper exited through the door, leaving Luke to wonder what her words had meant. What was a trap? Who was trying to catch him?”

Maul, He realized.

Luke hesitated, before following in the direction they had gone in. The doorway was an elevator shaft, he realized. Luke stepped inside, taking the elevator up, and accidentally leaving R3 behind. The elevator took him into a large, dark chamber, with an elevated, circular platform in the center. He looked around, before walking through the chamber cautiously. The room was suddenly filled with an unfortunately familiar voice.

“The Force is strong with you, young Skywalker.”

Luke whirled around, seeing that it was exactly who he feared it was- Maul.

“But you are not a Jedi Master yet.”

Luke sighed, and ignited his green saber, preparing himself for a fight.

Chapter Text

Leia was being escorted alongside Chewbacca through the hallways of Bespin. Lando was in front of them, and the half-built C-3PO was strapped to Chewbacca’s back. Leia was worried about Luke- she wasn’t sure if he would avoid Maul’s trap, and if he did fall into the trap, she wasn’t sure if he could hold his own against the former Sith. Suddenly, they were surrounded by several Cloud City security guards, who pointed their blasters at the Regime officer and the Blood troopers. The Blood troopers had their blasters confiscated, and Lando turned to the head of security; the same human with a cybernetic implant that had been on the landing pad.

“Well done,” Lando said, “Hold them in the security tower, and keep it quiet. Move.” The man nodded, and he led the security guards as they escorted the Blood troopers and Regime officer away, leaving Lando with Leia and Chewbacca. He handed Leia her Lightsaber, and turned to remove Chewbacca’s binders.

“What do you think you’re doing?” she demanded.

“We’re getting out of here,” Lando said.

“I knew all along,” 3PO said from Chewbacca’s back. “It had to be a mistake.”

“Do you think that after what you did to Han, we’re going to trust you?” Leia shouted.

The binders were removed from Chewie, and immediately the Wookie roared, grabbing Lando by the neck and choking him.

“I had no choice!” Lando gagged.

“What are you doing?” 3PO pleaded. “Trust him! Trust him!”

“Oh, we understand, don’t we Chewie?” Leia scoffed. “He had no choice.”

“I’m just trynna help!” Lando choked.

“We don’t need any of your help.”

“Ha-” Lando tried to say something, but Chewbacca’s grip was too tight. “Ha- Ha-”

“What?” Leia asked.

“Han…”

“It sounded like ‘Han.’” 3PO said.

“There’s still a chance to save Han…” Lando wheezed. “At the east… platform…”

“Chewie!” Leia urged.

After a moment, Chewbacca let go of Lando’s neck, and the man struggled and gasped for air. Meanwhile, the two ran off to the east platform as 3PO desperately tried to apologize. They rushed through the hallways of Cloud City, with Lando leading them, suddenly running into an orange-and-white Astromech droid, who beeped at them.

“R3?” Leia said.

“R3-D15, where have you been?” 3PO demanded. “Hurry, hurry! We’re trying to save Han from the bounty hunter!”

The door to the platform hissed open, and Leia saw Cad Bane on the ramp of his gunship, which was beginning to take off. The bounty hunter turned, drawing his pistols and shooting them at a rapid pace. Leia ignited her Lightsaber, deflecting the bolts as Lando and Chewbacca returned fire with their stolen blasters. It was too late. The ramp to Bane’s gunship began to close, and he gave them a taunting tip of his hat, before rushing inside. The gunship took off, leaving the city behind.

“Oh no, Chewie, they’re behind you!” 3PO shouted, and they all turned around to see a squadron of Blood troopers approaching. Chewbacca and Lando fired at the troopers, taking several of them out as they hurried back through the hallways. They piled into an elevator as several troopers opened fire on them, the doors closing to block the bolts. The group reached a door, and Lando tried to open it using the panel, but to no avail.

“The security code has been changed.” Lando said.

“R3, you can tell the computer to override the security system,” 3PO instructed the Astromech. “R3, hurry!”

The Astromech inserted his interface arm, beeping compliantly. Lando walked up to a panel on another wall, pressing several buttons, prompting a microphone to jet out of the wall.

“Attention, this is Lando Calrissian,” he spoke into the microphone, and his voice echoed through the entire city. “Attention. The Regime has taken control of the city. I advise everyone to leave before more Blood troopers arrive.”

R3 was unable to get the door open, so Lando called for them to follow him back through another wing of the city. They passed several people who were fleeing in terror, screaming as they evacuated their families. As they ran, Chewbacca fired at several troopers that had been chasing them, taking them out. They found another door, and R3 inserted his interface arm, trying to get it open. Chewbacca and Lando took up positions in the hallways, firing at the troopers that approached. The Astromech beeped at 3PO.

“Ah! We’re not interested in the hyperdrive of the Millennium Falcon, it’s fixed!” the protocol droid protested. “Just open the door, you stupid lump!”

After a few more seconds, the door hissed open, and the group headed through, seeing the Millennium Falcon on the landing platform outside. The Blood troopers continued to fire as they reached the ship, and Chewbacca climbed up the boarding ramp into the ship. Leia ignited her Lightsaber to deflect the blaster bolts, and Lando helped by returning fire with his blaster, taking out several troopers.

“Leia!” he shouted. “Go!”

She nodded, extinguishing her blade and heading inside the Falcon, followed by Lando shortly afterwards. The ship took off from the platform, leaving the city and the troopers behind.

Luke’s green saber clashed with the dual red of Maul’s staff.

“You have learned much, young one.” Maul pointed at Luke.

“You’ll find I’m full of surprises!” Luke lunged at the Zabrak, who deflected the Jedi’s attack with his saber. Maul was much more experienced than the young Jedi, and he was able to knock the hilt out of the boy’s hand with several precise parries.

“Your destiny lies in the Dark Side, young Skywalker,” Maul pointed his blade at the Jedi.

“No,” Luke said.

Maul pushed forward, forcing Luke to fall back, falling into the carbon freezing shaft that had been there.

“All too easy.” Maul flipped the activation switch using the Force. The chamber hissed, and filled with gas. Luke quickly jumped up out of the shaft and into the rafters, without Maul noticing. “Perhaps you’re not as strong as I thought.”

The former Sith heard clanging from above him, and looked to see Luke hanging onto the rafters of the ceiling. Growling, Maul sliced upwards, severing a pipe and forcing Luke to let go of the ceiling. In doing so, however, the pipe he had cut began emitting gas straight into Maul’s face, causing the Zabrak to recoil angrily.

Luke called his Lightsaber back into his hand, igniting it to resume fighting the former Sith. Their blades locked together, and Maul grinned.

“Your father has taught you well,” he said. “You have controlled your fear.” The Zabrak launched several more swings at the Jedi, before their blades locked again. “Now, release your anger. Only your hatred can destroy me!”

Luke backflipped over Maul, blocking his attack in the process. He delivered a swift kick to the Zabrak’s head, knocking him off the platform with a grunt. Maul seemingly disappeared afterwards, and Luke extinguished his Lightsaber, jumping down to search after him. He found a long, circular tube that was filled with lights on the inside, and the Jedi crawled through, finding himself in some kind of maintenance hallway, with a large, circular window that looked out onto a massive, empty ventilation chamber.

He heard footsteps, and whirled around to see Maul approaching, igniting his Lightsaber. The Zabrak didn’t attack, however, and suddenly several objects in the room began launching themselves at the Jedi. He managed to cut several of them out of the air, but was overwhelmed, and a box hit him in the back. One of the heavier objects crashed through the circular window, creating a vacuum that sucked Luke out of the hallway and onto a catwalk below.

Luke looked up to see Maul descending on him, and the Jedi rolled out of the way as the red blade punctured the catwalk where he had been standing. The fight made its way onto a larger catwalk that was suspended over the huge, open chamber, with an assortment of antennas on the end. With several more strikes, Maul forced the Jedi to the ground, and pointed his saber at the Jedi’s head.

“You are beaten,” he said between exerted breaths. “It is useless to resist. Don’t let yourself be destroyed, like Kenobi.”

At the mention of his uncle, Luke batted away Maul’s blade with his own, and landed a blow on Maul’s mechanical legs, producing a shower of sparks. The Zabrak growled angrily, and resumed his fight with the young Jedi. In a few swift moves, Luke’s guard was broken, leaving him open to attack.

Maul swung his saber at Luke’s arm, and the boy’s hand was severed.

Luke screamed in agony, collapsing back onto the edge of the platform, his Lightsaber was lost, having been in his hand when it was sliced off. Luke clutched his stump-wrist, looking at Maul, who stood over him.

“There is no escape,” Maul said. “Don’t make me destroy you.”

Luke shook his head, backing up onto the antenna that jutted out of the catwalk’s edge.

“You do not yet realize your importance, Skywalker,” Maul told him. “You have only begun to discover your power. Join me, and with our combined strength, we can bring order to the galaxy.”

“I’ll never join you!” Luke growled through clenched teeth.

Maul sighed. “If only you knew the power of the Dark Side. Did your father not tell you how he came to be?”

Luke had nothing else left to say.

Maul grinned. “There was a story that my master often told me. A Sith legend, from long ago. The tragedy of Darth Plagueis the Wise.”

“Darth Plagueis was a dark lord of the Sith,” Maul continued. “So powerful that he could use the Force to create life.”

“No…” Luke muttered.

“Has your father ever told you about his childhood? Born to a mother, with no father. It was as if the Force itself had intervened, creating one who would be destined to bring about the destruction of the Sith.”

Maul chuckled. “But that wasn’t the case. It wasn’t the Force that intervened… It was Palpatine.”

“No.” Luke shook his head. “No…”

“Palpatine needed an apprentice to help bring about the destruction of the Jedi… and that would have been your father.” Maul’s evil grin nearly split his head in half.

“That’s not true,” Luke cried. “That’s impossible!”

“That destiny lives inside you,” Maul continued. “Come with me. It is the only way.”

Luke refused, shaking his head. He let go of the antenna, and fell down, through the shaft, plummeting to his doom. Maul watched him descend, shaking his head. He was hoping to turn the son of the Chosen One to his side, but it seemed that plan worked as well as Sidious’ own plan.

Luke was sucked through a smaller ventilation chamber, flying through a small tube until it spat him out on the underside of Cloud City, holding onto the hanging antenna for dear life. A layer of clouds was below him, and letting go would mean certain death.

Out of desperation, he reached out through the Force.

“Leia…” he wheezed.

On the Millennium Falcon, his sister felt it.

“Luke,” she whispered, before turning to Lando. “We have to go back!”

“What?” Lando questioned.

“I know where Luke is,” she explained.

“What about those fighters?”

“Chewie, just do it,” the Wookie nodded, and the Millennium Falcon looped around. Lando went to protest more, but Chewbacca’s roars deterred him. They made it back to the city, flying along the underside of the massive city.

Lando pointed at an antenna on the underside of the city. “Look, there’s someone up there!” he said.

“It’s Luke!” Leia said. “Chewie, slow down. We’ll get under him. Lando, get the top hatch!”

The Falcon flew underneath the antenna Luke was clinging to, hovering there. Luke finally let go, falling on the top of the Falcon as a hatch opened, and Lando emerged, dragging him inside.

“Lando?” Leia asked from the cockpit.

“Ok, let’s go!” Lando replied in the comms.

Several Blood fighters began pursuing them as the Falcon flew off. The fighters fired on the freighter, trying to destroy it. Lando ran up into the cockpit, and jumped into the pilot seat as Leia took care of Luke. “All right, Chewie, let’s go.”

The Falcon flew through the clouds as it was tailed by several Blood fighters, the shields taking a beating. They ascended into orbit, and saw the large body of a black and red cruiser looming over them.

“Recusant cruiser,” Leia observed.

“All right, Chewie,” Lando said. “Ready for lightspeed.”

“If your people fixed the hyperdrive,” Leia added. “All the coordinates are set. It’s now or never.”

“Punch it!” Lando shouted.

The two pushed the hyperspace throttle, and once again, the ship’s engines whined in protest, refusing to jump. Both Leia and Chewbacca turned to Lando. The Wookie began growling angrily.

“They told me they fixed it!” Calrissian protested. “I trusted them! It’s not my fault!”

Chewbacca growled something along the lines of ‘forget this’ and rushed out of the cockpit, heading into the engine room as the Falcon took on more fire from the Slicers chasing them. Things were looking grim as the Wookie attempted to fix the Hyperdrive engine, meanwhile R3 and 3PO argued over the condition of the latter’s legs.

“Chewie!” Lando shouted.

Chewbacca roared, slamming his wrench into the engine, producing sparks. R3 beeped in frustration, rolling himself over to a wire socket in the side of the Falcon’s wall. He extended one of his manipulator arms, fumbling with the wires inside, until a blue light went on. The hyperdrive was fixed.

With a flash, the Millennium Falcon made the jump to hyperspace, bound for Coruscant. Everyone on board was bearing expressions of dismay- the Republic had suffered a heavy loss today.

Chapter Text

The mood was bleak when the Millennium Falcon arrived on Coruscant. Luke was rushed to the medical station to get his hand replaced, and Padmé was quick to console her daughter’s sadness over the loss of Han. Lando was nearly arrested for playing a part in Han’s capture, but Leia vouched that he was not allied with the Regime. Ezra and Cal Kestis returned to Coruscant, both of them seeming to have developed a romantic relationship with their female companions, Sabine Wren and Sister Merrin respectively. Anakin walked into the medical bay, finding his son being fixed with a robotic hand. Luke sensed him come in.

“I’ve failed, father…” he said sadly.

“Don’t be so hard on yourself,” Anakin assured him. “Look, now we match.” he pulled the glove off his right arm, revealing his robotic hand and lower arm.

Luke cracked a small smile.

“You lost your Lightsaber, too?” Anakin asked.

Luke nodded.

“Don’t worry,” Anakin reached into his robe. “I’ve got a replacement.” he retrieved the hilt of his own saber- sleek, silver body, with a black grip and slanted emitter.

“I-” Luke was taken aback.

“Go ahead, take it,” his father insisted. “I’m much too old to need it, anyways. I want you to have it.”

Reluctantly, Luke reached out with his other hand, the one that was still flesh and bone, and grabbed the saber out of his father’s hand. He held it up and ignited the blade, which was a vibrant, light blue.

“I don’t know what to say.”

“You don’t have to say anything,” the elder Skywalker said. “It’s yours now. But, do try to take good care of it. Your weapon is your life.”

The younger Jedi nodded. He remembered Obi Wan telling him this many times on occasion.

“One more thing,” Anakin quickly took the saber back. “I probably should’ve done this before giving you the saber… stand.”

Luke did as he was told, standing up to face his father. Anakin took a small step back, igniting the saber. Anakin held it high in the air, before suddenly bringing it down to hover over Luke’s shoulder. Luke flinched as his father moved it from one shoulder to the other.

“By the right of the council,” Anakin recited. “By the will of the Force, I proclaim thee, Luke Skywalker… Jedi Knight.”

Luke’s eyes widened. “Wh-”

Anakin extinguished the blade, handing the hilt back to his son. “The war against the Regime has tested you much more than any Jedi trial ever could. And not just anyone could stand up to Maul and hold their own,” his father then leaned in. “Besides, I know there’s something you didn’t tell me about that encounter with the Inquisitor girl.”

Luke blushed.

“You passed your trials,” Anakin said, “And the council gave me permission to grant you the rank of Knight. Bear the title with pride, my son.”

“What about Leia?” Luke asked.

“Her trial hasn’t come just yet…” his father sighed. “But I have a feeling it will. Sometime soon.”

Luke nodded, and gave his father a bow, which Anakin returned. The elder Jedi then left, allowing Luke to get some much needed rest, and let him get used to the new hand.

In the weeks following the incident on Bespin, The Regime went on a rampage across the galaxy, taking more systems. It didn’t take long for them to capture the planet of Bespin itself, before moving towards Hutt Space, capturing the planets of Toydaria, Nal Hutta, Teth, and Kessel. Maul had seemingly gone missing, leaving a new figurehead to lead the Regime in his place- an uncanny Force user named Malicos, who was identified as a former member of the Jedi order.

In the year following Malicos’ installment, he directly controlled the Inquisitors, guiding them into several successful battles. Luke, now armed with his father’s Lightsaber, participated in several of these battles, including one over a defense outpost on the planet of Scarif, preventing the Regime from getting to Kamino. However, he never seemed to meet Mara Jade on the battlefield. Eventually, some Republic spies reported in, saying that Mara had been stationed at the Regime’s palace on Mustafar, receiving direct counsel from Malicos himself. Luke was going to volunteer himself for a stealth op to the palace, when he received some vital intel; they had located Han Solo. He was being held at Jabba’s Palace on Tatooine. The council approved an infiltration mission to recover the captain, which would include Luke, Leia, Chewbacca, Lando, R3-D15, and C-3PO.

Lando was already at the palace, disguised as one of the guards. Leia would infiltrate the palace disguised as a bounty hunter, with Chewbacca as her prisoner. The Wookie wasn’t very content with playing the role of the prisoner, but if it meant saving Han, he was all for it. Now, it was just a matter of getting the captain back…

On the planet of Tatooine, two droids approached the massive front gate of the notorious Hutt’s palace- one, an orange-and-white Astromech, the other, a sleek, gold protocol droid. As they approached, the protocol droid got nervous as always.

“R3, are you sure this is the right place?” 3PO asked.

The little droid beeped affirmatively in response.

“I’d better knock, I suppose,” the protocol lifted one of his hands, and knocked on the large metal door. After waiting no less than a second, he turned around. “There doesn’t seem to be anyone here. Let’s go back and tell master Luke-”

Suddenly, a large, eye-like gatekeeper droid jutted out of the wall, startling the protocol droid and speaking in Huttese.

“Goodness gracious me!” 3PO shouted. Searching his databases, he responded to the gatekeeper in Huttese, naming himself and R3. He then asked if they could see Jabba.

The gatekeeper looked back and forth between the two droids, before responding in Huttese, and retreating back into the wall.

“I don’t think they’re going to let us in, R3.” the protocol droid said. “We’d better go.”

The wall suddenly rumbled, stopping the gold droid in his place as the massive door creaked open, revealing the dark and foreboding insides of the palace. R3 took the initiative, rolling himself into the palace as the door continued to open.

“R3, wait!” 3PO shouted, before sighing. “Oh dear! R3!”

The protocol droid continued to call for the Astromech to slow down as his companion wheeled through the darkness of the palace. Not paying attention to where he was going, he suddenly bumped into the body of a large, burly creature on two legs. A pig-like snort alerted him to the fact that it was a Gamorrean, a race of green-skinned pigs that were notorious for serving the Hutts. 3PO hurried up behind his Astromech companion.

“Just you deliver master Luke’s message and get us out of here.” He was startled by footsteps, turning to see another Gammorean hefting a large axe coming up behind him. “Oh dear!”

A loud creak followed by a KA-CHUNK altered both droids that the front gate had closed behind them; there was no turning back now. Another voice speaking Huttese made 3PO turn back around, seeing a pale, lanky Twi’lek approaching them in a blue robe. It was Bib Fortuna, Jabba’s advisor. Fortuna posed a question to them in Huttese.

“Oh my!” 3PO said, before replying in Huttese, and bowing respectfully. “We bring a message to your master, Jabba the Hutt.”

Bib asked them another question in Huttese, before glancing at the droids. R3 beeped an addition.

“And a gift,” 3PO translated, before realizing what R3 had said. “Gift? What gift?”

R3 beeped and trilled. Fortuna approached, and said something else in Huttese, before resting a hand uncomfortably on R3’s dome. The droid shivered and recoiled in fear, prompting the Twi’lek to continue in Huttese. R3 let out several nervous beeps.

“He says that our instructions are to give it only to Jabba himself,” 3PO translated.

Bib Fortuna glared at the protocol droid, removing his hand from R3’s dome. Clearly, the Twi’lek had misunderstood the message. He growled in discontent.

“I’m terribly sorry,” 3PO said. “I’m afraid he’s ever so stubborn about these sorts of things.”

Fortuna growled, before making a dramatic stance and pointing down the hallway. The droids and Gammoreans followed him, supposedly to Jabba’s throne room.

“R3, I have a bad feeling about this…” 3PO muttered.

The Astromech beeped in agreement.

Jabba’s throne room was filled with all sorts of criminals and scum of various races and occupations. Bounty hunters, pirates, smugglers, even prostitutes and exotic dancers on occasion. Sitting at the head of the room, on a dais that was placed in front of a large grated floor, was the giant, slimy, son-of-a-skug himself. He turned to look as his advisor escorted two very clean, very out-of-place looking droids into his throne room. The droid stood in front of him, and Bib Fortuna whispered something into Jabba’s ear.

“Good morning,” 3PO said, bowing at the large Hutt.

Bib said something else, and Jabba leaned forwards inquisitively.

“The message, R3, the message!” 3PO demanded, ushering the Astromech forward.

Jabba spoke in Huttese, his voice deep and commanding.

R3 beeped in response, before projecting a hologram that flickered into an image of Luke Skywalker, dressed in his new Jedi Knight robes.

“Greetings, exalted one.” the hologram recording said. “Allow me to introduce myself. I am Luke Skywalker, Jedi Knight and friend of Captain Solo.”

Jabba’s eyes widened- it wasn’t every day he got a direct message from a Jedi.

“I know that you are powerful, mighty Jabba,” Luke continued. “And that your anger with Solo must be equally powerful. I seek an audience with your greatness to bargain for Solo’s life.”

Jabba chuckled menacingly.

“With your wisdom,” Luke went on. “I’m sure that we can work out an arrangement which will be mutually beneficial. And allow us to avoid any unpleasant confrontation. As a token of my goodwill, I present to you a gift- these two droids.”

“What did he say?” 3PO said, panicked.

“Both are hard-working, and will serve you well,” Luke said.

“This can’t be!” C-3PO couldn’t believe it. “R3, you’re playing the wrong message!”

The hologram faded out, and the entire room slowly started laughing at the protocol droid. Bib fortuna leaned towards his boss and asked him something in Huttese. Jabba exclaimed, before bellowing in Huttese.

“ There will be no bargain! ”

“We’re doomed.” 3PO muttered. 

“ I will not give up my favorite decoration! ” Jabba gestured towards a secluded back area of the room. “ I like Captain Solo where he is. ” In the direct center of the wall, between the stuffed heads of a Tauntaun and a Nerf, was the carbonite-frozen Han Solo.

“R3, look!” 3PO pointed out. “Captain Solo! And he’s still frozen in carbonite!”

The whole room burst into manic laughter, entertained by the fact that some great Jedi had sent two droids in an attempt to bargain for Han Solo’s life.

Chapter Text

Jabba’s palace was in an uproar. The droids had been admitted into his service, with C-3PO as a translator, and R3-D15 as a drink server. Cad Bane was there as well, the bounty hunter earning himself a reputation as the one who brought Solo in.The large Hutt was enjoying his favorite past-time of dropping exotic dancers into the pit underneath the throne room, when suddenly blaster fire sounded from outside the room. They heard fighting, and one of Jabba’s pirate guards rolled down the steps, dead. An armored bounty hunter stormed in, towing behind her a large wookie with a chain collar, the leash in the bounty hunter’s hand. The bounty hunter spoke in Huttese.

“ I have come for the bounty on this Wookie, ” she said.

“Oh no, Chewbacca!” 3PO said, hiding behind several people.

Jabba laughed. “ At last, we have the mighty Chewbacca, ” he said in Huttese, before demanding C-3PO to come forward.

“Yes,” 3PO emerged from behind the Hutt. “I am here, your worshipfulness. Yes?”

The Hutt spoke to 3PO in Huttese, and the droid translated.

“The illustrious Jabba bids you welcome, and will gladly pay you the reward of twenty-five thousand.”

“ I want fifty thousand, ” the bounty hunter replied. “ No less. ”

“Fifty thousand,” 3PO translated. “No less.”

Jabba roared, and batted the droid aside. He spoke more Huttese, and 3PO struggled to his feet to continue translating.

“Wh- what did I say? 3PO questioned. Jabba said something more, and 3PO translated. “The mighty Jabba asks why he must pay fifty thousand.”

The bounty hunter said some more, before producing a small, metal sphere from her belt, clicking it as it began to produce a beeping sound.

“Because he’s holding a thermal detonator!” 3PO cried.

The crowd of people in the room ducked and screamed in panic, and Cad Bane drew his dual pistols, pointing them at the other bounty hunter. Despite everyone in the room screaming in panic, Jabba laughed in genuine amusement. This bounty hunter had some nerve, threatening a crime lord into giving her money.

Jabba said several things in Huttese, prompting Cad Bane to lower his pistols. 3PO turned around to face the bounty hunter in utter fear, translating the Hutt’s offer. “Jabba offers the sum of 35… and I do suggest you take it.”

There was a long pause, before the bounty hunter responded in Huttese, and disarmed the detonator.

“He agrees!” 3PO cried in relief.

The bounty hunter stepped forwards to accept her reward, while Chewbacca was carried off by two Gamorrean guards. As Jabba’s band resumed their joyful music, the bounty hunter turned to look at Cad Bane. The Duros tipped his hat to the other hunter, and she nodded in return. Chewbacca was thrown into a prison cell in the lower areas of the palace. Unbeknownst to all, Lando, disguised as a guard, had been watching the whole thing. So far, the Republic’s plan was going off without a hitch.

In the middle of the night, the whole palace was asleep. The female bounty hunter crept through the silent throne room, and past the sleeping bodies of the occupants. She bumped into a hanging set of wind chimes, and quickly held them still, silencing them. After waiting to see if anyone stirred, she continued. She crossed the entire room, walking right up to the frozen Han Solo. The bounty hunter peered at the controls on the side of the block, pressing several buttons, until it began to glow a warm orange color. The hunter watched as it began to hiss and emit gas, before the unconscious Han Solo himself toppled forwards, out of the carbonite.

The hunter knelt down next to the captain, shaking him awake. He was shivering, and barely able to see due to just coming out of deep-freeze. Solo looked up at the blurry helmet of whoever was kneeling over him in fear.

“Just relax for a moment,” The hunter said, her voice incredibly distorted by her helmet. “You’re free of the carbonite.” Han began to rub his eyes. “Shh,” the hunter continued. “You have hibernation sickness.”

“I can’t see.” Han said.

“Your eyesight will return in time.”

“Where am I?” Solo continued to shiver.

“Jabba’s palace.”

“Who are you?”

The bounty hunter removed her helmet, and while Solo couldn’t see it, it was a familiar face. However, when she spoke, he did hear a familiar voice.

“Someone who loves you.”

“Leia.”

She leaned forwards and kissed him. “I gotta get you out of here,” she said. In order to go undercover as a bounty hunter, she had left behind her Lightsaber, and was refraining from using the Force. Before she could move too far, a booming laugh filled the room.

“What’s that?” Han asked as the laugh continued. “I know that laugh.”

The curtains that had been covering Jabba’s dais were drawn, revealing the Hutt lord himself, surrounded by his court, who were all laughing. Jabba began speaking in Huttese, and Leia turned to look at him.

“Hey Jabba-” Han pointed in the wrong direction, and Leia had to turn him around to look in the right direction. “Look, Jabba, I was just on my way to pay you back, and I got a little sidetracked. It’s not my fault!”

“ It’s too late for that, Solo, ” Jabba bellowed. “ You may have been a good smuggler… but now you’re Bantha fodder! ”

“Look-” Han started.

“ Take him away! ” The Hutt shouted.

“Jabba, I’ll pay you triple!” Han begged as two guards stepped forwards to detain him. “You’re throwing away a fortune here. Don’t be a fool!”

His pleas fell on deaf ears as he was dragged away to a cell. Jabba yelled something in Huttese, and Leia was pushed in front of him. She recoiled in disgust. The Hutt’s mouth smelled like something had died in it. She was uncomfortably close to him, and was trying desperately to get away.

“We have powerful friends,” she said. “You’re going to regret this.”

The hutt’s tongue slipped out of his mouth, and Leia turned her head away. This was not going well.

Han was thrown into a dark, dank cell, looking around in panic. The fact that it was dark in the cell didn’t help the fact that he was partially blind. Han was afraid- Jabba could’ve thrown him into a cell with any sort of unsavory creatures. The crime lord was beyond caring about the smuggler’s well being. Suddenly, there was a familiar grumbling sound, and Han stared into the darkness.

“Chewie?” he asked. “Chewie, is that you?”

Chewbacca growled, and rushed forwards to embrace the smuggler in a Wookie hug.

“I can’t see, pal,” Han stuttered. “What’s going on?”

Chewbacca grumbled a response.

“L-Luke?” Han questioned. “Luke’s crazy! He can’t even take care of himself, much less rescue anybody.”

The Wookie growled in disagreement.

“A Jedi Knight!?” Solo shook his head. “I’m out of it for a little while, everybody gets delusions of grandeur.”

Chewbacca hugged him again, and rubbed his head.

“I’m all right, pal. I’m all right.”

In the palace entrance, the door was forced open by something, and a cloaked figure walked in uninvited. Two Gamorrean guards approached them, their axes raised. The figure held out his hands, and the pigs were thrown into the walls, falling unconscious. The figure continued walking through the palace, entering the throne room. Everyone was napping, and Bib Fortuna approached him, grumbling in Huttese.

“I must speak with Jabba,” the figure said. Bib Fortuna said something in disapproval, and the figure repeated himself, waving his hand. “You will take me to Jabba now.”

Bib repeated exactly what the figure had said, in Huttese.

“You serve your master well, and you will be rewarded.”

The Twi’lek repeated that, too.

The cloaked figure walked up in front of the dais, and Bib Fortuna walked around to speak with his master. The figure looked at the dais, seeing Leia herself sitting in front, dressed in a rather scandalous pair of gold-and-velvet undergarments. The figure averted his eyes.

“At last!” C-3PO exclaimed, recognizing the figure. “Master Luke’s come to rescue me!”

At that, Jabba woke up, startled. Upon seeing the Jedi in front of him, and his advisor’s apparent entranced state, he bellowed in outrage.

“ I told you not to admit him! ” Jabba shouted.

“I must be allowed to speak,” Luke said. The Twi’lek repeated what Luke said to his master.

Jabba grabbed his advisor by the ear. “ You weak-minded fool! ” the Hutt roared. “ He’s using an old Jedi mind trick! ” He pushed Bib aside.

Luke pulled off his hood. “You will bring Captain Solo and the Wookie to me,” He demanded.

Jabba barked a laugh. “ Your mind powers will not work on me, boy. ”

“Nevertheless,” Luke continued, slowly approaching Jabba while Gamorreans and other guards slowly surrounded him. “I’m taking Captain Solo and his friends. You can either profit by this, or be destroyed. It’s your choice, but I warn you not to underestimate my powers.”

Jabba inhaled in frustration.

3PO suddenly realized something. “Master Luke! You’re standing on-”

Jabba shouted, cutting the droid off and yanking on Leia’s neck chain. “ There will be no bargain, young Jedi! I shall enjoy watching you die. ”

Luke jumped into action, using the Force to pull a blaster into his hand from one of the guard’s belts. Immediately, one of the Gamorreans was on him, grabbing his arm and forcing the blaster towards the ceiling. It went off, and Jabba slammed his fist down on a button, opening the trapdoor and forcing Luke to fall through, the Gamorrean falling down alongside him. The entire dais was moved forwards so that Jabba could see the events transpiring in the pit.

The pit was composed of a large cavern, with a big metal door on one side, and the other side had a small exit chamber that was sealed shut. Luke threw off his cloak, and the Gamorrean squared up to fight him. Before it could, however, the large metal door groaned and creaked open, revealing the feet, claws and then head of a massive, wrinkly beast- a Rancor, from Felucia. The creature roared, and the Gamorrean panicked, squealing as it ran towards the hole it had fallen through, only for the grated door to slide closed. Luke backed up as the Rancor seemed fixed on the pig, which was making more noise than him. The Gamorrean guard squealed in fear as the Rancor grabbed it by the waist, lifting it to its massive, salivating jaws. With a sickening crunch and snap, the Rancor devoured the Gamorrean.

The hand and legs of the green-skinned pig disappeared into the creature’s mouth, and it turned towards the Jedi, only now noticing the other occupant of the cave. It charged forwards, and Luke grabbed a large bone off the floor, shoving it into the creature’s mouth, preventing it from closing. The Rancor recoiled in anger, trying to close its mouth to no avail. Luke ran for the exit door as the creature recovered, snapping the bone in half. He ran underneath the large open door and towards the exit, going past the Rancor, which was dazed in confusion. He tried to get the door open, but was forced back by two men that were on the other side of it.

Thundering footsteps let him know that the Rancor was approaching. This wasn’t like his fight with the Mythosaur on Concord Dawn, especially since he didn’t have his Lightsaber, nor the assistance of a possible ally. The Rancor roared and went to pounce on him, when Luke noticed the control switch for the big door. He waited until it was standing underneath the door, and used the Force on the panel, forcing the door closed. The Rancor was forced down, getting impaled by the spiked bars of the door.

Immediately, the laughter from above stopped. All heads turned to see Jabba’s infamous Rancor lying dead on the floor. Jabba roared in outrage, angry that his favorite pet had just been murdered by a Jedi.

Luke may have escaped this ordeal, but the worst was yet to come.

Chapter Text

Han, Luke, and Chewbacca were being sentenced to death. There was no sugarcoating it, that’s what was happening. Jabba’s massive sail barge, and the two skiffs that escorted it (one of which containing the prisoners and a disguised Lando) were floating over a trench in the sand of the dune sea. The trench, in question, was the Great Pit of Carkoon, a pit that contained a massive, hundred-year-old Sarlacc. A plank extended from the skiff, and a Weequay guard with a spear poked Luke forwards. Jabba’s voice bellowed in Huttese from inside his barge, and shortly afterwards C-3PO spoke through a microphone, his voice echoing from inside the craft.

“Victims of the almighty Sarlacc,” 3PO announced. “His excellency hopes you will die honorably. But should any of you wish to beg for mercy, the great Jabba the Hutt will now listen to your pleas.”

“3PO!” Han shouted. “You tell that slimy piece of worm-ridden filth, that he’ll get no such pleasure from us!” He turned to Chewbacca. “Right?”

The Wookie nodded profusely, grumbling in agreement. On the top deck of the barge, R3 was moving into position.

“Jabba,” Luke called. “This is your last chance. Free us, or die.”

The barge bursted into laughter, and the Hutt barked a laugh, before saying something in Huttese. The Weequay pushed Luke forwards, and he stepped out onto the plank. The Jedi turned to Lando, who stood on the skiff. He gave him a subtle nod, which Lando returned. The young Skywalker looked up at the deck of the barge, seeing R3 was in position. He gave the droid a salute, smirking. Jabba shouted in Huttese, and the Weequay moved to push Luke again.

Without warning, Luke jumped forwards, grabbing the plank, launching himself upwards. He flipped over the guards on the skiff and landed, holding out his hand. R3 launched an object from its hidden compartment in his dome, and Luke caught it, igniting the light blue blade of his father’s saber.

The Jedi went to work slicing apart the guards on the barge, while Lando freed Han and Chewbacca. On the barge’s deck, some of the pirates assembled a heavy cannon, firing at the skiff. Lando lost his balance, and tumbled over the side of the skiff.

“HELP!” He shouted.

The thrumming of rocket boosters alerted Luke to a new opponent- Cad Bane. The bounty hunter landed on the deck of the skiff, his blasters raised. Luke swung his Lightsaber, slicing the blasters in half. The hunter retaliated with a cable launcher, wrapping up the Jedi’s arms.

“Han!” Lando yelled. “Chewie!”

“Lando?” Han said, looking around blindly.

Luke cut the cable that was binding him, and deflected another bolt from the deck cannon, which went straight into the floor behind Cad Bane, making him fall down. More blaster fire altered Luke to the other skiff, which was approaching them. He jumped onto it, and started hacking and slashing at the pirates on it. Cad Bane got to his feet, raising his gauntlet to fire a dart launcher at the young Jedi.

Chewbacca growled at Han, who was hefting a polearm he had found on the deck.

“Cad Bane?” he panicked. “Cad Bane, where?”

Han whirled around, and the stick hit Bane in the jet boots, launching him into the air. Bane shrieked uncharacteristically as he was thrown across the gorge, crashing into the side of Jabba’s barge. The hunter tumbled onto the sand below, and with another scream and a squeal of the Sarlacc, the notorious Cad Bane was devoured.

Jabba, having seen this, bellowed with outrage. Unbeknownst to him, Leia had untangled her chains, and came up behind the Hutt. She wrapped the chains around the crime lord’s fat neck, and began strangling. Jabba began to gag and protest, his tail wriggling in pain. His tongue lolled out, and he struggled for air. Using the very chains he had bound her with, Leia strangled Jabba the Hutt to death.

Back on the skiff, Han was trying to help Lando up with the pole he had found.

“Lando, grab it!” He shouted.

“Lower it!” Carlissian protested.

“I’m trying!”

More cannon fire pummeled the skiff, and it tipped to the side, unstable. Han nearly toppled over the side, but Chewbacca grabbed him by the foot.

“Grab me, Chewie!” Solo yelled. “I’m slipping! Lando, grab it!”

Luke, noticing his friends were in danger, he jumped up onto the side of the Barge, climbing up onto the side of the skiff. He charged the cannon that had been assembled, slicing both it and the pirate that had been manning it to pieces. Meanwhile, Han was still trying to help Lando back onto the skiff.

“Gently, now!” He said. “All right, easy, easy! Hold me, Chewie!”

One of the Sarlacc’s tentacles shot up, and wrapped around Lando’s leg.

“EYAH!” Lando yelped.

“Chewie!” Han shouted.

The Sarlacc had begun to pull Lando closer to it, and Calrissian was panicking.

“Chewie, gimme the gun!” Han shouted, and the Wookie handed him a blaster that had fallen on the deck. “Don’t move Lando!”

“WAIT!” Lando shouted. “I thought you were blind!”

“It’s all right, I can see a lot better! Don’t move!”

“A little higher!” Lando directed him. “Just a little higher!”

Han fired the blaster, and hit the Sarlacc’s tentacle. It released Lando’s leg, and retreated back into the gorge. Lando crawled forwards, and grabbed the pole Han was reaching out with.

“Chewie, pull us up!” Han said.

Back on the sail barge, R3 had freed Leia, and he and C-3PO were rushing to the deck, where Leia was helping Luke with the guards and pirates.

“Get the gun!” Luke shouted, pointing at the cannon that was lying on the barge’s deck. “Point it at the deck!”

Luke sliced at more of the pirates that rushed him, decapitating a Gamorrean. Leia operated the gun, pointing it at the deck of the sail barge. Meanwhile, R3 had pushed 3PO off the deck, and the three fell into the sand. Leia fired the turret, causing the deck to burst into flames. Luke grabbed a hold of a rope that was dangling from the sail, and motioned for Leia to follow him.

The sail barge exploded as the skiff flew away, grabbing R3 and 3PO on the way. The Tatooine ordeal was over, and Han had been rescued. Next stop; Coruscant.

Upon their arrival back to Coruscant, Han was immediately rushed off to a medical facility, so he could fully recover from his carbon sickness. Leia, Chewbacca, and Lando went with him, leaving Luke to report to the council for a debriefing. However, they gave him extremely unfortunate news- Master Yoda had sadly passed away in his sleep, dying of old age. The Grand Master had lived to be over nine hundred years old, and had been at his limit. The title of Grand Master was passed to Mace Windu, who appointed Anakin Skywalker as his second-in-line. Luke told them of his mission on Tatooine, and how it had nearly gone entirely off the rails. The Council all agreed that with Jabba dead, the galaxy was one step closer to being safe. However, the Regime was still a factor in play.

Their spies on Mustafar had sent word; Mara Jade was indeed on the planet, serving as a bodyguard and enforcer for Maul’s puppet, Taron Malicos. The Republic was very eager to knock out two birds with one stone, but they had no way of sending a large attack force to Mustafar. There was an enormous blockade fleet, and the planet’s surface was too uneven and volatile to think of launching a ground assault on the palace. They would have to send a one-man operation, and the Council all agreed on who was to go. Luke had already proven himself to be a great Jedi Knight, and had sparred with Mara Jade on multiple occasions. He was the perfect candidate to take out both figureheads in one fell swoop.

Unbeknownst to the Council, however, Luke had no intention of killing the Inquisitor. He knew there was light in her somewhere, he just had to find it.

In the hangar, Luke was preparing his interceptor for takeoff when he felt a hand on his shoulder. The Jedi turned around to see Han standing behind him. The smuggler was once again dressed in his trademark vest, bearing a smirk befitting of a scoundrel.

“Hey, Luke,” Han said. “Thanks. Thanks for coming after me. Now I owe you one.”

Luke laughed, pulling Han in for a friendly hug. “Don’t mention it. Jedi don’t often call in favors.”

Han nodded slowly, before continuing. “So… I hear you’re throwing yourself into the Gundark’s nest?”

The Jedi flinched. Han must’ve heard about the mission, and come to talk to him about it. Luke really hadn’t wanted him to, he didn’t need any of his friends trying to throw themselves into danger for him. He had to do this alone.

“I know that look,” Solo commented. “Don’t worry, I’ll be keeping out of trouble for you. Leia, though… I’m not so sure about her.”

“Does she know?” Luke asked.

Han shook his head.

“I need you to promise me not to tell her,” he continued. “If she found out where I went, she would come after me, and get herself killed.”

“Yeah, I got that,” Han replied. “I’ll keep an eye on her.”

“Thank you, Han.”

“All right, don’t get all mushy on me, Kid,” The smuggler chuckled. “Now get outta here before I change my mind.”

Luke smiled, before hopping into his interceptor’s cockpit. He wouldn’t be bringing R3 with him either. The Astromech was sure to get himself caught, and probably end up in a scrap heap, or worse. Luke couldn’t have that. As he was about to close the canopy, Han stopped him.

“May the Force be with you,” Solo said. 

This was uncommon for the smuggler, as despite everything he had seen thus far, he wasn’t the biggest fan of the Force. Luke knew that Han using this old Jedi saying was genuine. He gave the captain a nod, before closing the canopy of his fighter, and flying it off into orbit. He docked with one of the hyperspace rings, and made the jump to Mustafar.

Luke gazed at the bright blue lines of hyperspace that surrounded him, and thought about Mara Jade. He hadn’t seen her since their encounter on Concord Dawn, which was now a year ago. A lot could’ve changed since then, for better or for worse. Maybe this new “Malicos” guy had fully turned her back to the Dark Side? Or maybe, with Maul’s absence, she was beginning to slip out of her master’s grip? Luke intended to find out. One way or another, he would free Mara from the Dark Side.

The fighter’s console beeped, indicating that he was nearing Mustafar. He made the preparations to undock from the ring, and when the ship exited hyperspace, he could see the foreboding, black-and-orange planet of Mustafar. Barring his way was a fleet of five ships- one he recognized immediately as the Confederate Dreadnaught the Virulence, and the other two he soon realized were the frigates of the Maleficent, and the Vindictive. The last two were Recusant-class light cruisers that he didn’t know the names of. This was a fully-armed blockade.

Not a second after he had dropped, Luke’s comms crackled to life with a signal from one of the ships.

“Hailing unidentified Republic starfighter,” The voice said. “This is the Virulence. State your business, or we will open fire.”

Luke swallowed hard, before activating his comms to respond. “This is Luke Skywalker,” he said. “I’ve come to surrender myself.”

“Skywalker?” The voice in the comms sounded surprised, and the signal was promptly cut off. Luke smirked, figuring that the officer on board had just earned himself a potential promotion as ‘the guy that caught Luke Skywalker.’ A few minutes later, they contacted him again. “Stand by for a scan, Skywalker. No tricks.”

He felt his ship buckle as it was caught in a tractor beam, and he turned to see two unfamiliar models of ships flying alongside him. He realized they were heavily augmented Blood fighters of some kind, each of them bearing some sort of dish on opposite sides of their bodies. Luke figured out that they were the ones projecting the tractor beam; it was taking the combined efforts of both ships to escort him.

Luke’s comms came to life again. “Your ship has been cleared. Stay put, and our fighters will escort you to Fortress Obsidian.”

Fortress Obsidian , Luke thought. That must be the name of Malicos’ palace. Seems that Dark Side users are never subtle about naming things.

Luke’s interceptor remained locked in between the two tractor beam fighters, and they flew him down to the surface of the volcano planet, where Malicos and Mara Jade would be waiting for him. There was no turning back now.

Chapter Text

The Fortress Obsidian was a massive, jagged structure that jutted out of a cliffside on Mustafar’s surface. It was entirely black, and almost looked like someone had broken a sheet of opaque glass, and left one shard embedded in the rock face. There was a rather large flat of land between the palace’s front door, and a series of craggy, lava-filled trenches. Spanning across the plot of flat land was some sort of landing pad or military munitions yard. 

As the tractor beam fighters brought him closer, Luke could see it was a mixture of both- there were an entire fleet of Blood Slicers lined up neatly along the outside of the platform, accompanied by some other unfamiliar vehicles that looked like tanks. Luke squinted, and finally recognized them; they were Confederate AATs, albeit heavily modified ones. The long cannon they usually had on the front of the swiveling turret had been switched out for a heavy, twin repeater cannon, and the anti-personnel blasters had extra weapons added to them, including a missile launcher, and a concussion grenade launcher.

The Jedi’s interceptor was set down at the far end of the platform, across from the palace’s entrance. He could see a squad of Blood troopers heading towards him, led by a Blood trooper that was taller, bearing a red pauldron on his shoulder, and a dark cape trailing behind him. This must be their commander. Luke’s canopy opened, and the Jedi exited his ship to face the commander. The Blood troopers behind him all had their blasters aimed at the young Skywalker, ready to fire should he make any sudden moves.

“Your saber, Jedi,” the commander said in a deep voice. He held out his hand. Reluctantly, Luke unclipped his father’s Lightsaber from his belt, and placed it in the commander’s open hand. The trooper stepped aside, and another stepped forwards, carrying a pair of binders, which he put on Luke’s wrists. The squad of troopers, led by the commander, then escorted Luke across the platform and towards the fortress. The inside of the structure looked no different from the outside; shiny, black surfaces that were formed into odd geometric and triangular patterns. This was Sith architecture, all right. The troopers walked him all the way through the fortress to a large door, which hissed open to reveal the throne room.

If it weren’t a monument to evil itself, Luke would consider it impressive. It was massive, and loosely shaped like a half circle. All along the outer walls were windows that looked off the cliff the palace sat on. The windows were adorned with enormous, bright red curtains that bore Maul’s symbol in black. At the head of the room was a wicked-looking throne, which was occupied by an old man with long, grey hair and a scraggly beard, wearing a tattered dark cloak. Standing firm and still along the edges of the room were eight figures Luke had never seen before. They were dressed in thick, red armor that has black accents, and faceless helmets with two slitted eyes. They all carried a series of different bladed weapons- long broadswords, curved spears, dual-bladed scythes. Luke noticed the blades of the weapons would occasionally crackle with purple electricity. They were electro-reinforced, which meant they could block a Lightsaber. These figures were guards.

Standing beside the throne was a female figure with long, fiery auburn hair in an Inquisitor’s outfit. Luke knew who it was even with her back turned. When she heard the door open, the Inquisitor turned around, and her eyes went wide when she saw the Jedi. He could tell she wanted to run to his aid, but stopped herself, either because she was having second thoughts, or because she didn’t want her superior to see she cared for the Jedi.

The troopers held Luke in place as the commander approached the old man in the throne. Luke realized this must be Taron Malicos; he had pictured the fallen Jedi as looking a little different, but then Luke saw where the man’s robes dipped down over his chest, revealing hundreds of small scars. The commander placed Luke’s saber in Malicos’ hand.

“Thank you, Commander Cheng,” Malicos said in a voice that was like sandpaper. “You and your troopers may leave now.”

Cheng looked a bit startled. “Er… sir?”

Malicos gestured at the cuffs on Luke’s wrists. “He is in binders! What can he do?”

The commander paused, before nodding, and motioning for his men to release Luke. The troopers filed out of the room, and the door hissed shut behind them.

“I am not a fool, Skywalker,” Malicos said once the troopers were gone. “You wouldn’t have come here without a plan. I know this is all a ploy.”

Luke called upon his Skywalker charisma. “Then you’re more perceptive than I thought you’d be.”

Malicos laughed. “You Jedi, always so quick-witted with your comebacks.” The former Jedi studied the Lightsaber in his hand. “This is your father’s, if I am not mistaken?” He then set it on the armrest of the throne next to him.

“It was my father’s,” Luke said, “And now, it is mine. And I respectfully ask for it back!” Luke jumped into action, using the Force to open the binders on his wrists, reaching out for his Lightsaber. It hadn’t even gotten halfway through the air when it suddenly froze, and Luke’s body felt stiff. He realized that he could not move- Malicos had used a Force freeze, something the Jedi were forbidden from doing. While Luke stood frozen, Malicos flicked his fingers, and the Lightsaber returned to the armrest it had been on.

“Did you really think that would work?” Malicos sounded disappointed. “I expected more from the son of Anakin Skywalker.”

Luke tried to respond, but could only make an exerted groan. Malicos flicked his fingers again, and Luke was forced into a kneeling position.

“You have your father’s fighting spirit,” the former Jedi said. “And I imagine his talent for improvisation as well. Imprisoning you would be unwise… which is why you must die.”

“It won’t work, Malicos,” Luke managed to say between clenched teeth. “If you strike me down, I shall become-”

“More powerful than I could possibly imagine, I know,” Malicos interrupted him. “I’ve heard that one before. Do you know what happened to the Jedi that said that to me? I murdered him. And nobody ever knew that it happened.”

Luke struggled against Malicos’ Force grip, but the man was somehow infinitely more powerful.

“I will present your severed head to Lord Maul,” Malicos continued. “And he will reward me for it. Your Republic will crumple to its knees in submission by the time he’s done with it.”

“Lord Malicos,” Mara spoke up, and the former Jedi turned to look at her. “Shouldn’t we bring him to Lord Maul personally? Surely he could be more useful to us alive.”

Luke noticed two things in what she said- firstly, she had called the fallen Jedi ‘Lord Malicos’ instead of ‘Master.’ The old man had no real control over her. The second thing, she was arguing for Luke’s life. Whether or not she truly meant what she said, she must care for him, deep down.

Malicos nodded slowly. “A shrewd thought. Perhaps you are right…” The fallen Jedi then scowled at Jade. “Are you an idiot? We would be playing into the Republic’s hands! By taking young Skywalker to Lord Maul, we would lead the Republic right to him!”

Mara flinched at his insult.

“He must be killed,” Malicos flicked a finger, and Mara was shoved towards Luke through the Force. “And since it was your bright idea to keep him alive, you will learn your lesson the hard way.”

“What do you mean?” Mara whimpered.

“Kill him,” Malicos said bluntly. “Kill him now.”
“But-”

“DID I STUTTER?” The old man bellowed. “DO IT.”

Mara swallowed hard, and turned to face Luke. Malicos flicked his fingers, and Luke was moved by the Force. Now he was facing Mara, and she was facing Luke in the direction of Malicos- the old man wanted to see her kill him. Mara looked down at Luke, her expression neutral. She unclipped her Lightsaber from her belt, and held it by her side, thumb over the igniter switch.

“I know what I have to do,” she said. “But I don’t know if I have the strength to do it.”

“Mara,” Luke pleaded. “Don’t do this.”

“You think you can turn her?” Malicos barked a laugh. “Pathetic boy. I can see her mind, I can see her every intent. I see her turning the saber to strike true…”

As Malicos spoke, Mara began moving her hand holding the Lightsaber. She was turning the emitter towards him, aiming it at his face. With a flick of the switch, her saber would ignite, and kill Luke.

“And now, foolish boy,” Malicos continued. “She ignites it, and kills her enemy!”

The sound of a Lightsaber igniting echoed throughout the room. Luke had closed his eyes, bracing for the inevitable darkness of death, but it hadn’t come. Suddenly, the Force hold on him was released, and he collapsed to the floor. The Jedi turned around, and his eyes fell on Malicos’ throne.

The old man had been skewered through the side of his waist by Anakin’s saber. Luke realized that, while Mara had been turning her Lightsaber, she had also been turning the other Lightsaber using the Force. Malicos slowly looked down at the blue blade that was currently puncturing his midsection, before looking back up at Mara. That would be the last thing he ever saw, because then, Mara yanked the saber using the Force, and it cleaved straight through the old man’s body, slicing him in half.

As the saber flew through the air towards the two Force wielders, Luke caught it, getting to his feet to look at his newfound ally with a smile. Behind him, he heard the thumping of Malicos’ upper body toppling over, and Mara smiled back, igniting her purple blade. They had no time to share a tender moment, however, as Malicos’ bodyguards were up in arms, raising their electro-weapons to fight.

The young Jedi and now ex-Inquisitor formed into defensive stances, back-to-back as the red-armored guards approached. In a flurry of blades, the eight warriors clashed with the two Force Wielders. Luke and Mara blocked and parried their way through several oncoming attacks from the guards, working together to keep the red-armored warriors at bay.

Mara sliced at the ground in front of three of the warriors, deterring them as another came at her from the side. Luke was there immediately, stabbing his saber over the back of her shoulder, impaling the guard through the chest. The red-armored figure toppled to the ground, dead. One down, seven to go.

The two were separated from each other, and now had to take on the multitude of guards on their own. Luke launched a kick at one of the guard’s helmets, knocking him backwards as he sliced at another, cutting him along the torso and killing him.

Mara was fighting two of them on her own, and managed to graze one of them on the shoulder. An electro-whip suddenly launched from the other guard’s gauntlet, wrapping around her wrists and preventing her from retaliating. The warrior gradually began reeling her in as she struggled to free herself, growling angrily. When she was within arm’s reach, the guard grabbed her by the neck with one hand, holding the point of his sword close to her throat. 

Mara growled as he choked her with his hand, until she suddenly ducked down, underneath the arm of the opposing warrior, tangling him in his own electro-whip. She brought her saber upwards, slicing through the torso and arm of the guard, severing his forearm. She whirled around, throwing his severed arm through the air, bringing the electro-whip along with it. The whip and forearm hit one of the curtains covering the windows, lighting it on fire.

The other guard she had been fighting was getting up, recovering from his shoulder wound. He was holding one of the double-ended scythes, which he suddenly separated, making it two scythes. The guard swung them for effect, and Mara twirled her saber, roaring in response before charging.

Meanwhile Luke was having to deal with the other four guards, two of whom were attacking with spears. One of them locked his spear with Luke’s blade, and the other did the same, catching his saber in an X-formation. They held him in place as another guard approached for the death blow, but Luke broke through their blade lock, knocking them aside. He ran at the warrior that had been about to kill him, stabbing his Lightsaber straight through the chest of the guard, before throwing him to the floor, dead.

Luke watched as the other warriors circled him, their swords and spears in a defensive formation. The Jedi tried to keep track of them, until he spotted Mara across the room, battling with the fifth guard. The warrior blocked one of her swings, and sliced his sickle at her arm, leaving a nasty cut as she cried in pain. The three circling Luke took advantage of the situation, and one of them began swinging his sword in an arc, moving forwards to attack him.

Luke sensed this coming, and whirled around, blocking the attack. At the same time, the other two with spears seized their opportunity, charging at the Jedi’s open flank. Luke had to whirl around to deflect both of their attacks with a single swing, but one of the spears caught him in a blade lock. The guard who had been wielding the sword advanced, and Luke improvised, ducking underneath the blade of the spear and causing the warrior to run right into it, stabbing himself in the chest and falling to his knees. Luke broke the blade lock he had been stuck in and swung his Lightsaber at the fallen guard, decapitating him.

Mara was struggling to hold her own against the guard with the dual scythes. She swung at him, but he ducked under her attack, swinging his blades at her. Jade backed up out of the way, and held up her saber to block his next attack. In doing so, she left herself open, and the warrior kicked her in the stomach, making her fall down. The redhead quickly recovered, swinging her saber defensively as the guard launched more attacks with his sickles.

The young Skywalker was still fighting with the two guards that had spears, deflecting the attacks that came his way. He kicked one of them in the knee as the warrior advanced, before forcing his saber through his chest, stabbing it into the floor below and killing him. This left him unprepared to block the remaining guard’s attack, and when he backed up to block it, he dropped his Lightsaber. Luke tried to catch the spear when the guard attacked him again, but the warrior held on, moving behind Luke and holding him in place, using the shaft of the spear handle to keep the Jedi in a headlock.

Meanwhile, Mara’s guard had gotten her into an equally trapped position. She swung at him with her saber and he closed the scythe blades on her attack, catching her Lightsaber and holding her arm in place. She wouldn’t be able to free herself without getting sliced by the blades, unless she dropped her saber. Jade realized that’s what she had to do- so she dropped the saber hilt out of her hand. While it was falling, she pulled her arm from the warrior’s grip, ducking down to catch her Lightsaber before it hit the ground. Swinging the blade twice, she cut the guard apart at the knees and neck, and his dead body toppled backwards onto the ground. The ex-Inquisitor turned around, seeing the Jedi in trouble.

“Luke!”

Skywalker turned, and saw Mara throw her Lightsaber hilt, extinguishing it as it flew through the air. Luke held out his hand and caught it, aiming the emitter behind him. With a quick on-and-off ignition, he burned a hole through the head of the guard holding him. The red-armored warrior went limp, and Luke threw him off, dropping the spear.

“Mara,” he said, walking towards her.

She flinched away as he approached, and he remembered how reflexive she was. He slowed down, and held out her saber hilt for her to take. Mara eyed it in confusion, before grabbing his wrist. Before he knew what she was doing, Jade pulled him into a hug, wrapping her arms around him.

The Inquisitor he knew was gone.

She was just Mara Jade now.

Chapter Text

“How do you feel?” Luke asked Mara as they broke the embrace.

“Horrible…” she responded, rubbing her temples. “I have a terrible headache.”

“We can worry about that later,” The Jedi held out his hand, using the Force to retrieve his Lightsaber hilt from beside the charred corpse of the guard he had killed. “For now, let’s get out of here.”

“And go where?” Mara said. “Coruscant? As soon as I set foot on that landing platform, I’m as good as dead.”

“I won’t let that happen,” Luke assured her.

“How can I trust you?” she demanded. “You’re a-”

“A filthy Jedi?” Luke smirked. “I thought we went over this. Jedi are compassionate. We care for the well-being of others, even if they are our enemies.”

“And you… care for me?” A solitary tear rolled down Jade’s cheek.

Luke nodded. “Very much so.”

Mara blushed. She wanted to kiss him, right then and there. But before she had a chance, there was a clattering sound, and shouting from outside the throne room doors.

“They’ve probably figured out what happened,” Luke said. “Come on.”

The two ran through the large door and through the hallways of Fortress Obsidian. They went almost unopposed, reaching the vehicle yard that was outside the front door. Luke pointed across the yard and at his interceptor that sat on the other side.

“That’s my ship,” he said. “Hurry!”

“There’s no way we’re both going to fit in that,” Mara retorted.

“We don’t have any other options!”

As they got closer to the Jedi’s fighter, cannon fire suddenly tore through the air, ripping up the interceptor in a fiery explosion. Luke and Mara whirled around to see several of the red-and-black AATs, their modified guns trained on them. Beside it, several Blood troopers were marching towards them, led by Commander Cheng. He spotted Mara Jade standing next to Luke, and raised his blaster rifle.

“Traitor!” he shouted.

More cannon fire punctured the air, and the AAT next to Cheng was destroyed. He looked up at where the fire had come from, and his men began firing wildly into the air. The AATs swiveled their turrets upwards, adding to the onslaught, but more lasers pummeled the ground, blowing up troops and tanks alike. Luke looked to see where the cannon fire was coming from, and was blinded by a bright light. When his eyes adjusted, he was relieved to see the hull of the Millennium Falcon flying overhead, the quad laser cannon on the underbelly blasting away at the tanks.

The Falcon hovered over a clear patch of the landing yard, and the boarding ramp began to lower. Luke and Mara began running towards it, but a volley of blaster fire cut them off. They turned to see Commander Cheng emerging from the fiery wreckage of the destroyed AAT, his cape in flames. The trooper ditched his cape, and threw aside his blaster rifle. Luke cocked his head in confusion, until he saw the Commander reach behind him, and withdraw a small object, which started to extend until it was a two-meter long pole, with purple electricity glowing at each end- and electrostaff.

Mara stepped forwards, motioning for Luke to stand aside. “I’ve got this.”

The ex-Inquisitor ignited her purple blade, and stormed towards Cheng, who walked at her in an equally aggressive manner. Their weapons collided in a shower of sparks and light, purple-on-purple. Cheng parried her blow and swung aggressively, which Mara blocked with her saber. She charged forwards, locking her blade against the reinforced handle of the staff.

“You were always trash,” Cheng shot.

“Bring it on, tinhead.” Mara smirked.

The Commander broke free of her blade lock, and swung two times, forcing Mara to dodge backwards. Their weapons collided two more times, before Cheng made a sideways swing at her waist, shocking her. Mara grunted and recoiled, but the temporary stun had left her open to Cheng’s next attack. He smacked her across the chest with his staff, and she collapsed to the ground.

The second Mara’s body hit the floor, Luke was already in action, and the Commander had no time to react. With a swing of the blue blade, the Jedi sliced vertically, cleaving the Blood trooper commander completely in half. The two halves of the body collapsed to the ground, dead. Luke knelt over Mara.

“Are you alright?” he asked.

“Yeah, just a little bruised…” she coughed. “Let’s move.”

Luke helped her up, and she leaned on him as the Falcon made a quick landing, and the two climbed up the ramp, boarding it. He heard Han’s voice calling from the cockpit.

“He’s on board. Chewie, hit it!”

Skywalker helped the ex-Inquisitor limp into the lounging area, setting her down on the couch. He sat down next to her, and Mara placed a hand on his leg.

“Thank you…” she said.

“No,” Luke replied. “Thank you. You did the right thing, truly this time. You’ve broken free from the Dark Side.”

Mara scowled slightly. “I am no Jedi.”

Luke smiled. “Of course not. But you don’t have to be.”

The redhead smiled back, and closed her eyes. “I like the sound of that.”

The Millennium Falcon buckled, and Luke heard the sound of the hyperdrive powering up, indicating that the ship had jumped to lightspeed. The Jedi ran his fingers through Mara’s hair, comforting her. As long as he lived, nothing would happen to her. He heard footsteps coming from down the hall, and he looked up to see Han turning the corner, followed by Leia, climbing up from the lower gun seat.

“We’re bound for Coruscant,” Han said. “So, how’d-” his eyes went wide when he saw the figure lying on the couch next to Luke, and he drew his blaster pistol.

“NO!” The words had barely left Luke’s mouth when Solo pulled the trigger, discharging a blast from the DL-44. Luke’s blade was ignited in a second, deflecting the bolt into the ceiling of the ship. Han fired another shot reflexively, which Luke also deflected, nearly hitting the smuggler. The captain jumped out of the way, startled. Next to him, Leia’s saber was also ignited.

“What the hell is wrong with you!?” Han shouted.

Behind Luke, the commotion had woken Mara, and she was currently cowering behind him.

“Luke, she’s the enemy!” Leia scolded. “What are you doing?”

“Calm down!” Luke shouted at the both of them. “Put your weapons down! I’ll explain everything.”

Reluctantly, Han lowered his blaster, and Leia extinguished her saber. Luke did the same, and pointed at the other chairs in the room. “You might wanna sit down for this,” he said.

Luke recounted his recent history in Mara, giving them the truth about what had happened on Concord Dawn, how she had saved his life twice, and he saved her at least three times. He told them how she had been staying out of the war effort, and when Taron Malicos had ordered her to execute Luke, she refused, betraying the old man and killing him. However, he left out the part about them having feelings for one another; he didn’t want anyone to know that just yet.

Han’s eyes darted between Luke, the ex-Inquisitor sleeping on the couch, and the hole in the ceiling of the Falcon where his own bolt had been deflected.

“Luke,” Leia said. “Sometimes, you’re too compassionate. Mara could be playing you.”

“What part of this don’t you understand?” Luke said. “She betrayed Maul AND Malicos. She’s done bad things, but she’s not a bad person!”

“Against my better judgement, I gotta agree with the kid,” Han said. “This ain’t a coincidence.”

“Who’s side are you on?” Leia shot at him.

Han held up his hands defensively. “I’m trynna be a mediator here!”

Mara began mumbling something in her sleep, and all three of them turned to look at her.

“Follow…” She said, “Orders. Follow orders. Follow…”

“What’s she saying?” Han was shushed by the two Jedi.

“Follow orders…” Mara continued in her sleep. “Follow orders. Kill… Jedi.”

Suddenly, she shot awake, screaming and grasping her forehead.

“What’s wrong?” Luke shouted.

“IT’S IN MY HEAD!” Jade cried. “GET IT OUT!”
“What’s in your head?”

“I DON’T KNOW!” her screams turned to weeping. “Help me… get it out…”

“We need to get her to a doctor,” Leia said. “I don’t care if she’s evil… something can’t be right.”

“Chewie!” Han shouted as he began running to the cockpit. “Give it more power!”

The Falcon dropped out of hyperspace and flew towards Coruscant’s surface at breakneck speeds. Solo completely ignored all of the landing tower’s calls to slow down, refuting that they were in need of emergency medical. When the freighter touched down on the platform, a delegation of Jedi, clones, and medical officers were there to greet them. Luke and Leia helped the screaming, crying Mara Jade down the boarding ramp, bringing her up to the medical staff. Everyone on the platform had shocked expressions, even the present members of the council, which included Luke’s father Anakin. The Clone troopers raised their blaster rifles, but thankfully did not fire them.

“Isn’t that-” one of the medics started saying.

“OH, BANTHA CRAP!” Luke shouted at him. “She needs a doctor!”

“Y-yes sir!” The medics lifted Mara onto a hoverbed, and she started thrashing. Luke put a hand on her arm, and that seemed to calm her down. Out of safety, he grabbed her Lightsaber off her belt, in case she wound up going ballistic.

When they arrived at the medical facility, Mara was rushed to the emergency care wing. Luke stayed by her side the whole time, and realized she was still clutching her forehead.

“Wait!” he said. “Get her into the scanner.”

“Sir?” one of the officers asked.

“The cranial scanner!” Luke replied. “Do a level five scan!”

They nodded, carrying her off to the scanner room with Luke in tow. Mara was thrashing so much that they couldn’t get her into the device, so the doctors injected her with an sedative. Almost instantly, she slowed her movements, and stopped. Luke stood in the observation room, watching as Mara was run through the machine, which began whirring and buzzing as it rotated around her head. A live feed of the scan was coming up on the observation room’s monitor, and Luke watched as slowly, an anomaly began to appear near her frontal lobe, small enough to be almost unnoticeable, but Luke picked up on it.

“What is that?” Luke pointed at it, and the medical droid running the scan peered down at it.

“It is foreign to the body,” the droid said. “It appears to be technology of some kind.”

“A chip…” Luke was reminded of the story Obi Wan had told him. It had happened shortly before he was born; all the Clone troopers in the galaxy had their heads scanned, and they found chips that would have activated a Jedi kill-switch, or so Obi Wan had said.

“Can you remove it?” Luke asked.

“It would be very dangerous,” the droid stated. “Our technology may not be precise enough to-”

“I can.” Luke whirled around to see Leia standing there, a determined expression on her face. “I’ll remove it.”

“Leia-”

“While you were honing your swordsmanship,” his sister interrupted. “I was honing my skills in the Force. I can do it.”

Slowly, Luke agreed. “Don’t you dare kill her.”

Leia nodded, and motioned for the droid to turn off the machine, and pull Mara out. The unconscious body of the redhead was slid out of the scanner, on her hoverbed still. Leia approached the ex-Inquisitor, and reached her hand out towards the girl’s forehead. Luke’s sister closed her eyes and knit her brow in focus, like she was searching the inside of Mara’s head- which she probably was.

“I found it,” she said suddenly. “I’m going to try and pull it out. Droid, get in here and be ready to patch her up.”
One of the medical droids, which had multiple arms that had an array of different surgical tools, rolled into the room with Leia, taking a position at the head of the bed, hovering over Mara’s head. His sister knit her brow harder, and began flexing her fingers. Mara slowly twitched, and Leia stopped, before continuing.

“Almost…”

A cut gradually began forming on Mara’s forehead, like something was crawling out from inside her skull. Suddenly, it shot out, a small trickle of blood running down the redhead’s face as the object was withdrawn from the cut.

“Droid, now!”

The medical droid went to work instantly. It moved so fast that its arms looked like a blur, patching the forehead wound closed and bandaging it. Panicked, Luke peered at the monitor in the observation room. For a terrifying minute, it looked as if she had flatlined. But then, her heart began beating gradually, and he saw her chest rising and falling gently.

“She is in stable condition,” the medical droid said.

Luke let out a breath that he didn’t realize he had been holding. “You did it,” he said to Leia. “You saved her.”

His sister nodded reluctantly, and her expression was conflicted. She motioned for one of the medical officers to come forward, and he walked up holding a glass of sterile liquid.

“Get this analyzed,” she said, dropping the chip into the cup. “Quickly.”

As the medical officer walked off, Luke and Leia saw the angry face of their father approaching. His eyes darted to the ex-Inquisitor, sleeping on the hoverbed.

“Explain,” he demanded. “Now.”

Chapter Text

Mara was still recovering while Luke was taken to the Jedi Temple for the debriefing of his mission to Mustafar. By all accounts, it had been a success; Taron Malicos was dead, the vehicle yard had been destroyed, and the fleet stationed there had retreated into the unknown. What concerned the Council, however, was the fact that the Inquisitor he was intended to kill was not only still alive, but she was here on Coruscant. He had to tell them about the truth of his crash on Concord Dawn, and also told them about what had transpired in Fortress Obsidian. Much like with his friends, he kept his feelings for her a secret. The Council would not be happy if they found out he cared for the ex-Inquisitor, even if attachments were no longer forbidden.

“Are you sure you can trust this… Mara Jade?” Plo Koon inquired. When it came to the Council members, besides Luke’s father, Master Plo was often the most understanding.

“I am certain of it, Master,” The young Jedi said. “She’s had the opportunity to kill me on many occasions, and never took it. Plus, she killed Taron Malicos herself.”

“Dark Side users are known for their deceit,” Shaak Ti interjected. “Perhaps this is all an elaborate trap?”

“I don’t think so,” Luke shook his head. “The chip in her head must be an explanation for her erratic behavior, and why she was so conditioned to hate the Jedi, even when she was putting her trust in me.”

“I have a feeling we’ll know for sure when she wakes up,” Kanan said. “If the chip was truly controlling her in some way, its absence will show.”

“I concur with Master Jarrus,” Jaro Tapal added. “If this girl was really being played, the removal of the chip will have a noticeable effect on her.”

Anakin hadn’t said a word since he dragged Luke to the temple. Young Skywalker could see that his father was deep in thought, taking in what he had just heard. Ever since his visit to the World Between Worlds all those years ago, Anakin had become more and more inclined to hate and resent the Sith and the Dark Side. First, he learned that one of his closest friends and mentors was a Sith Lord, grooming him to become his apprentice, then Maul destroys his wife’s homeworld, and kills Obi Wan. Luke imagined that, after hearing his son had befriended one of Maul’s Dark Side enforcers, he was not happy.

The Council chamber’s holoprojector beeped, before projecting an image of the Republic’s chief medical officer.

“Masters,” the woman said, bowing. “She’s awake.”

“Bring her here,” Mace Windu instructed. “We’re going to have to interrogate her.”

“There’s a slight problem,” The officer continued. “She is refusing to leave, and will only see the Skywalker boy.”

All the Council members glanced at Luke, and he tried to avoid making eye contact with any of them.

“We can’t allow that.” Windu said bluntly.

“If I may, Master,” Luke interrupted, and the Jedi Grand Master turned to look at him. “Maybe you could allow me to speak with her for a short time. I can try and ease her concern, convince her to cooperate with us and allow herself to be questioned.”

The Council members exchanged glances with each other, and Windu put a hand on his chin thoughtfully. After a moment or two, he nodded.

“I’ll give you five minutes,” he said. “And not a second more.”

“Thank you, Master.” Luke bowed, before exiting the Council chambers and heading for the medical facility.

He found Mara sitting in an examination room by herself, sitting up on the edge of a bed. She was running her fingers over the bandage patches on her forehead, where Leia had removed the chip from the ex-Inquisitor’s head. Her jet-black outfit had been swapped for a pale blue medical gown, which looked unnatural on her.Mara looked up as Luke entered the room, and her facial expression changed, seeming a bit happier.

“How are you feeling?” Luke asked.

“Better,” Mara said. “I feel like… there has been this giant weight on the back of my head, ever since I could remember. And all of a sudden… it’s gone.”

“The chip,” he explained. “It was probably conditioning you to be aggressive towards all Jedi.”

“I never would have thought…” she shook her head. “All this time, I thought my Mast- Maul was telling the truth about the Jedi and the Order.”

Luke approached the bed she was sitting on, and sat next to her. She reached for his hand, interlocking their fingers. “Maul can’t hurt you anymore,” Luke assured her. “He can’t control you. You are your own person.”

Mara chuckled lightly. “You say that like I haven’t known any other way.”

“You can start over,” he replied. “You can make things right. You’ve already taken the first steps in that direction.”

She scoffed. “Being a Jedi?”

“Being a good person.”

She leaned forwards, wanting to kiss him, but decided against it. They weren’t quite there just yet, but they could be soon.

Luke indicated the bandage on her forehead. “Can I see?”

Reluctantly, Mara peeled off the bandages. The cut had more or less healed, and the stitches were all but gone now. All that was left was the startings of a medium-sized scar, etched vertically right above her left eyebrow.

“How does it look?” she asked. “I’ve been too afraid to look in the mirror.”

“You look badass,” Luke smiled. “It fits you. And unlike your other scar, you can wear this one proudly.”

She nodded.

He opened his mouth to ask her something else, when the door to the room slid open, followed by the medical chief.

“The Council wants to see you now,” she glanced between the two of them “Both of you.”

The news feed was almost never running on the Council chamber’s holoprojector. The Jedi tried to stay out of politics as much as they could, but when Luke caught a glimpse of what the news was reporting, he understood. It seemed that word had gotten out of Mara Jade’s presence on Coruscant, and the Senate had been called to an emergency meeting. Many of them were calling for blood, for Mara to be executed. A few of them, including Chancellor Bail Organa himself, Senator Mon Mothma, and to Luke’s surprise, his own mother, were arguing to let her live. The feed was cut off as soon as Luke and Mara entered the room, but the expression on her face showed that she had already seen what was playing.

“Mara Jade,” Mace Windu addressed her. “I imagine you already know what this is about.”

“I do, sir,” she responded timidly. “I am willing to atone for my crimes, but I beg for your mercy.”

“As long as we can help it, you will not die.” Plo Koon assured her. “However, you must first prove to us your innocence in Maul’s plans.”

Mara swallowed nervously, and cast a sideways glance at Luke. He nodded encouragingly, and she went on.

“By no means am I innocent of his plans,” Mara admitted. “At the time, I went with them willingly. I slaughtered innocents. I did things that I am not proud of… but I want to start over, with a clean slate, by helping you defeat Maul.”

This got a reaction out of some of the members.

“So, you’re offering information in exchange for your life?” Kanan inquired. “I have to say, that doesn’t always work out in the end.”

“Not just information,” Jade said. “I will fight alongside you. I want to end Maul.”

“I do hope you realize how suspicious that sounds,” Anakin said, and Luke could tell his father was trying to keep his rage in check. “Not two hours ago you suddenly arrived on Coruscant uninvited, and now we’re supposed to follow you blindly?”

“I agree with Skywalker,” Mace Windu added. “What assurance do we have that you won’t stab us in the back?”

“If I might add, Masters,” Luke said, stepping forward. “The chip in her head was no doubt conditioning her against us. Now that it is removed, I do believe we can trust her.”

“You would vouch for her, then?” Shaak Ti asked.
Luke nodded, and Mara felt a little more at ease.

“Do we have any other assurance you aren’t still loyal to Maul?” Kanan interjected.

Mara nodded. “If this would suffice, I would never willingly return to his side after he did this.” She then lifted up part of the medical gown she was wearing, revealing the scar that ran from her shoulder to her chest. A few of the council members winced, and others inhaled sharply. They all knew Lightsaber cuts when they saw one.

“Maul did that to you?” Anakin was the first to speak.

The ex-Inquisitor nodded timidly.

There was a moment of silence in the room, which was eventually broken by Plo Koon.

“I believe her,” he said.

“As do I.” Shaak Ti added.

“And I, as well.” Said Luminara Unduli.

Slowly, all the Council members began to nod in agreement, leaving Windu and Anakin as the only outliers. All eyes were on the Jedi Grand Master and his second-in-line.

Finally, Anakin nodded, followed by Windu.

“Master Skywalker and I will go to the Senate building and present the chip as evidence.” Windu said. “The rest of you will report to the war room. Jade, I advise you to give us everything and anything you have on the Regime.”

This was the largest gathering of Jedi and military leaders in the war room since the end of the Clone War. Nearly all the Council members were in attendance, excluding Mace Windu and Anakin Skywalker. Additionally, Cal Kestis and Padawan Ezra Bridger were there as well, along with a few other Padawans that Luke recognized as Ahsoka’s old students, and the sisters Tiplar and Tiplee. Leia was there too, standing next to Han, Chewbacca, and Lando. The crew of the Ghost stood not far from them. Many of the current Clone leadership were there too, including the two ARC troopers, Sergeant Cobalt and Sergeant Umbra, Lieutenant Thire of the Coruscant Guard, Captain Vaughn, and the former ARC troopers Fives, Echo, and Jesse. The trio of Commanders Rex, Cody, and Wolffe were being transmitted from Kamino via hologram, so they could provide some insight. Sitting in the back of the room was Clone Force 99, flanked by the Republic Commando Delta Squad, along with an older Commando named Gregor. Many of the Republic’s military officers, including the elder Admiral Yularen, were there as well. Finally, the holograms of Prime Minister Bo Katan, Sabine Wren, and her mother Ursa wren were being transmitted from Mandalore, as they were very eager to jump at the opportunity to find Maul.

“The Regime controls many planets,” Mara said. “The ones with the heaviest presence are Sullust, Malastare, Utapau, and Christophsis.” The war table projected a massive star chart of the galaxy, and the four planets she had named were highlighted in red. “Sullust serves as the Regime’s weapons manufacturing plant. With the base on Mustafar in tatters, I have no doubt they’re working overtime.”

“We know all of this already,” Crosshair from Force 99 said from the back, his tone harsh. “Tell us something we don’t know.”

“Maul has spies implanted on all the planets he aims to control,” Mara glared at the Clone before continuing. “Mandalore, Orto Plutonia, Onderon, Muunilist, Zygerria, Kashyyyk, Nevaro, Mygeeto, Cato Neimoidia, Scipio, Corellia, Alderaan, and of course, Coruscant.”

A murmur went through the gathered crowd.

“Aside from the obvious, those planets all have either key assets, or major cities on them,” Admiral Yularen said. “If he were to control all of them…” The Admiral didn’t need to finish his sentence.

“Are YOU his Coruscant spy?” The hologram of Bo Katan glared at the ex-Inquisitor. The Prime Minister of Mandalore harbored an understandable hatred for Maul’s students.

“Of course not,” Mara was quick to deflect the backlash. “I imagine they’re somewhere in the underworld.”

“It doesn’t matter,” Luke said. “What matters is that we know what planets he wants to control. We can defend them.”

“That won’t work,” Jade interrupted him. “He has a much larger fleet of ships than what you’ve seen. More Dreadnaughts, like the Virulence.”

“Impossible,” Yularen said. “We would have spotted them by now.”

“That’s because you’re not looking in the right place,” Mara pointed at a part of the map, which was completely empty. “Here. The unknown regions. That’s where he was hiding for all those years, that’s where his original fleet was constructed, and that’s where he’s hiding his next big weapon.” She then spoke in a small voice, “It’s where I was trained.”

“I’ve been there before,” Han Solo interjected. “It’s a death trap. There’s nothin’ but asteroids and space debris. No way through it.”

“I know the safe way through,” Mara replied.

“Hold on, you said ‘next big weapon,’” Kanan Jarrus said. “What next big weapon?”

Mara gulped. “He’s been working on another Subjugator-class cruiser, identical to the Revengeance. He calls it ‘The Cataclysm,’ and it’s almost finished construction.”

“Another Revengeance?” Fives spoke up. “We’re toast.”

“So, where is Maul?” Bo Katan asked. “If you know so much.”

“There’s a planet in the Unknown Regions,” Mara explained. “It’s very ancient. Maul found an old Sith temple there, and started using it as a secret base.”

She pointed at a blank space in the star chart, way past where she said the Unknown Regions were. A red planet shape appeared, indicating its location.

“Exegol.”

Chapter Text

To say the Republic was mobilizing the fleet would be an understatement. Nearly every Venator in the shipyard was being prepared, including the old Resolute, Defender, and Dexterity. There were five others that would be used as well, named “The Bulwark,” “The Bastion,” “The Traveler,” “The Fortitude, and “The Tempest.” There were also at least six Acclamator-class cruisers, and several more Arquitens-class light cruisers, including The Avenger from the Battle of Naboo. Thousands of starfighters and bombers were being loaded into the larger cruisers, along with equal amounts of gunships, landing crafts, and ground vehicles that included several models of walkers, multiple Juggernaut Tanks, and many more TX-130 and RX-200 tanks.

Nearly every Clone Legion that was in service was being brought in, along with some of the Commanders that had retired to Kamino. Rex admitted that for him, it was never really retirement, he was waiting for an opportunity like this to come back around. Cody and Wolffe were equally as eager to get back into the fight, rallying their respective Clone battalions. Almost the entire Jedi Order was joining in, each of them preparing an Interceptor for themselves. Anakin would remain in his fighter, since he had given his Lightsaber to Luke. R2-D2 would be supporting him, happy to once again be in the droid socket of Anakin’s old interceptor. R3-D15 would be assisting Luke, and Leia was receiving assistance from Obi Wan’s old Astromech, R4-P17. Ahsoka was joining the fight as well, bringing out her old interceptor, and her droid R7-A7.

The Millennium Falcon and The Ghost would also be a part of the Republic’s fleet, volunteering themselves. Lando had gotten his name cleared by the Government, and was willing to assist Han via the gunner turret of the Falcon. Mara Jade would be accompanying the ground force in a shuttle, where she would guide them through Maul’s temple on the planet’s surface.

Luke found the ex-Inquisitor standing nervously in the Republic’s shipyard, watching the preparations that were being carried out.

“I don’t think this is gonna work,” Mara said timidly. “If Maul got word that I betrayed the Regime, he’s going to be ready for us.”

“He’s not going to be ready enough,” Luke placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

“You haven’t seen his fleet,” she replied. “I have. He has at least fifteen dreadnaughts, all of them refitted with more firepower than they originally had. Our fleet is toast…”

“It’ll work out,” Luke assured her. “I can feel it.”

“You’re willing to bet the success of this mission, all of these lives, everything… on a feeling?”

“It’s kind of what we Jedi do,” Luke smirked. “Our best work is done when the odds are against us.”

Mara smiled back. “Sometimes I envy your optimism, Skywalker.”

The intercom of the shipyard echoed an order; “All personnel, get to your cruisers. The fleet will depart in t-minus thirty minutes. Repeat, all personnel report to your cruisers.”

“We’d better get going,” Luke said, grabbing her hand. She flinched reflexively, but quickly relaxed herself. “We’re going to be leading the fleet from the bridge of the Resolute.”

“We?” Jade questioned.

“You said you know your way through the Unknown Regions,” He replied. “That means you’ll be our navigator.”

“Great…” Mara sighed, and the two made for the Resolute. This was going to be quite the journey.

Once everyone partaking in the assault had loaded into their ships, the massive fleet of cruisers started to lift off. With the Resolute in the lead, they left Coruscant’s atmosphere, where they met up with the additional cruisers that would be joining them; a small force of three extra Venators. On the Resolute’s bridge, all the command of the 501st crew had gathered- Anakin Skywalker, Ahsoka Tano, Commander Rex, Commanders Fives, Echo, and Jesse, Sergeant Cobalt, Admiral Yularen, Han Solo, Lando Calrissian, Luke and Leia Skywalker, and of course, Mara Jade. The group of people gathered around the bridge’s holotable, where a general map of the Unknown Regions was being displayed.

“We can jump to the Regions, but not through it,” Mara explained. “The debris and asteroid field make it too dangerous to travel using Lightspeed- you’d hit something, sure as daylight.”

“How do we get through, then?” Rex asked.

“There’s a sort of passageway, here,” Mara drew her finger through the map of the Regions, forming a visible path. “We’ll have to sublight travel through there, but it’s too thin for the whole fleet to fit. We’d have to come through a few cruisers at a time.”

“Sounds like an easy catch,” Anakin commented. “Is there another one?”
“Unfortunately, yes,” Mara moved her finger to point at the planet they were headed for. “Maul has a sizable fleet stationed just over Exegol- the Virulence, multiple Light Cruisers, the two Munificents, and the two support vessels, along with the Cataclysm.” as she pointed, tiny holograms of the ships appeared, highlighted in red. “That’s only half the battle, he has many more of his new Dreadnoughts waiting on the surface, along with a massive army- troops, tanks, vehicles… not to mention the millions of Blood fighters he has waiting for us.”

“So we brute force it, then?” Cobalt interjected. “Punch through the orbital fleet, take out the support ships, and launch a ground assault.”

“There’s still the problem of the Cataclysm,” Luke indicated the massive, Subjugator-class cruiser. “If what Mara says is true, the ship’s weapon isn’t operational yet. But even still, it has more firepower than our entire fleet combined.”

“Taking it out won’t be as easy as last time,” Leia added, nodding.

“You call that easy?” Han scoffed.

“We’ll have to divide the fleet,” Anakin said. “Most of the Venators will remain in orbit, and keep the fleet occupied. Meanwhile, the Resolute and the Defender will make it into the atmosphere, along with the Acclamators. From there, we can launch a ground assault.”

“Just like Ryloth, eh, sir?” Rex eyed his old general.

“Ryloth had a smaller fleet,” Anakin shook his head. “This isn’t going to be as easy.”

“Are we ready then, sir?” Yularen asked.

“Yes, Admiral.” Anakin nodded. “Alert all the other ships to make the jump. We’ll meet up at the entrance to the Regions, and head through.”

With that, the fleet made the jump, arriving at the Unknown Regions soon after. The passageway Mara had indicated was there, all right, and just as small as she said it would’ve been. They would have to go through two cruisers at a time, and meet up on the other side, where they would all jump to Exegol. As the cruisers began to slowly traverse the winding passageway of the asteroid field, it began to change, going from grey, rocky asteroids, to dark nebula clouds that occasionally crackled with lightning.

“Reminds you of Kessel, don’t it, Lando?” Han said while looking out the bridge’s viewport.

Calrissian shuddered. “Don’t remind me.”

Luke walked up to the viewport alongside Mara and his sister, peering at the dark clouds that surrounded them. Occasionally, he would hear an eerie, far-off screeching sound, followed by the lightning illuminating large shadows that moved through the dark nebula.

“What do you think’s out there?” Leia asked quietly.

“Who knows,” Mara answered. “The nebula storms are too unstable, nobody’s ever gone inside. Probably some kind of… vacuum-breathing lifeforms, I imagine.”

Luke shuddered. He didn’t want to see what any of those kinds of creatures would look like. He had already faced some nasty beasts in his lifetime, but he had no desire to face anything bigger than a Rancor.

“Look!” Leia pointed out the viewport, and many of the crew members turned to see a massive, blue-skinned whale-like creature with tentacles emerge from the clouds, flying alongside the Venator. It was accompanied by several others, which were much smaller. “What are they?”

“Purrgils,” Anakin said, stepping up behind his children. “Admiral, tell the cruisers to hold their fire! We don’t want to anger them.”

“Yes sir!” Yularen responded, his tone confused but still obedient.

One of the smaller Purrgils flew up alongside the viewport of the Resolute, looking in at the occupants. Luke gazed at its eyes, which seemed to convey an unnatural amount of intelligence for a creature of its size. They were startlingly blue, and almost seemed to move, mimicking the look of… hyperspace?

Eventually, the largest Purrgil let out a deep moaning sound, and floated off back into the nebula clouds. The others followed it, disappearing into the darkness.

“Where are they going?” Leia asked.

“Who knows,” Han replied. “I’ve heard of Purrgils before… They migrate across the galaxy for hundreds, even thousands of parsecs in a single planetary rotation.”

“How could they cover a distance like that in such a short time?”
Solo shrugged.

“We should be nearing the exit soon,” Mara said.

Sure enough, up ahead they saw the nebula clouds parting back into the void of space. The Resolute made its way through the exit, and waited as the other cruisers caught up. Once the whole fleet had arrived, they set course for Exegol, and made the jump. They didn’t go for too long until they arrived at the planet.

The planet of Exegol was clearly a pale white color, but it was so overshadowed by dark storm clouds that it appeared a darker grey. Sitting in orbit was the fleet Mara had mentioned- the Virulence Dreadnought, the two Munificent-class frigates, at least five Recusant-class light cruisers, the two support vessels, and the half-constructed Subjugator-class cruiser, the Cataclysm. Most of it looked complete, but parts of it were missing, exposing the ship’s metallic skeleton.

“All right everyone, get to your ships!” Anakin ordered. “And may the Force be with us.”

It took longer than they should have, but the fleet was finally mobilized. The massive pack of ARC fighters, Y-Wing bombers, and the newer V-Wings moved into position as the Venators approached the fleet that sat above Exegol. The Jedi piloted their interceptors at the head of the pack, ready to engage.

“All leaders, report in.” Came the voice of Luke’s father.

“Green leader, standing by,” Luke replied.

“Red leader, standing by,” said Leia’s voice, followed by the voice of Mace Windu and several of the other senior Jedi.

“Grey leader, standing by.”

“Blue leader, standing by.”

“Delta leader, standing by.”

“Echo leader, standing by.”

“Lock fighters into attack position,” Anakin said. “Let’s move in.”

“Fighters, coming in!”

As the message came through the comms, a swarm of Blood Slicers was unleashed from both the support vessels, and the two fleets clashed in a series of explosions and laser fire. Multiple ships were destroyed on both sides, and the Republic bombers made their way for the weakest part of the fleet, the two Munificents, which were sitting suspiciously without backup on the far end of the blockade. The Resolute and the Defender followed suit, with the Acclamators in tow.

“R3, get a reading on the Cataclysm’s weapon,” Luke said. “I want to know how close it is to being finished.”

R3 beeped a negative response.

“What do you mean, you can’t get a reading?”
The droid beeped again.

“How could they be jamming us if they don’t know…” Luke trailed off, and it hit him. Quickly, he contacted the bridges of the two Venators. “Resolute, Defender, break off your attack!”

“What’s the problem, commander?” came the voice of a Clone officer.

“Break off your attack!” Luke shouted. “They were ready for us!”

Suddenly, two massive ships dropped out of hyperspace, flanking the Venators from their undefended side. They were Dreadnoughts- bigger than normal. They began to rain turbolaser blasts on the two Republic cruisers, unleashing their firepower.

“Take evasive action!” Admiral Yularen’s voice shouted. “It’s a trap!”

The Defender and the Resolute were taking a beating, and their shields were about to fail. Quickly, Luke devised a plan.

“Gold squadron, on me!” he said, contacting the bomber fleet.

“Sir?” one of the Clone pilots asked, confused.

“We need to help the Venators,” Luke explained. “I have an idea!”

“I think I know what he’s getting at,” Anakin said. “Gold squadron, form up on me and Green leader. We’re gonna rush those Dreadnoughts!”

The squad of Y-Wings fell into formation behind Luke’s interceptor, being joined shortly after by his father’s yellow-painted fighter. They made for the two Venators that were under attack, putting the cruisers between them and the Dreadnoughts. The bulky starships were too preoccupied with the two cruisers to notice the fleet of bombers heading for them, so when the squad of Y-Wings suddenly appeared on the horizon, there was no time to react.

“Bombers, target the bridges!” Luke instructed. “Give it all you’ve got!”

The Y-Wings let loose a whole armory’s worth of proton bombs on the opposing Dreadnoughts, tracing explosions all the way up to their bridges. The command centers of both ships were destroyed, leaving them dead in the water. Shortly thereafter, chain reactions went off through the ship’s hulls, and they exploded into fiery husks.

“Punch through those frigates,” Yularen’s voice filled the comms again. “We make for the surface!”

It didn’t take the Venators much effort to destroy the two frigates that remained, and the other light cruisers were helpless to stop the Republic ships as they descended towards the surface of Exegol. The rest of the fleet remained in orbit, engaging what was left of the Regime’s blockade.

The easy part was over. Now, the real work began.

Chapter Text

Luke flew his interceptor through the swarm of landing crafts that had begun to approach the surface of the planet, finding the shuttle that he knew Mara Jade was in. Luke flew alongside it, following the craft to the pale, rocky surface of Exegol. The landing crafts completed their descent, and they began to prepare the attack force. Gunships opened up as Clone troopers spilled out of them in hundreds, and vehicle lifters deposited their quarries of tanks and walkers. Three massive HAV Juggernauts were deposited, each of them having required two tank lifters each to carry. Legions of AT-RTs bounded out the rear hatches of the gunships. The army was ready.

Luke landed his starfighter alongside Mara’s shuttle, and hopped out to see the boarding ramp of the shuttle lowering, followed by the elder Commanders Rex, Cody, and Wolffe. Bringing up the read behind them was Mara Jade herself, looking around nervously. Luke could tell she wasn’t happy to be back here, even if it was on different terms.

“You ok?” he asked her. “You don’t have to come if you don’t want to.”

“No, it’s fine,” Mara assured him. “I have to make things right.”

“Don’t worry, general,” Rex nodded to Luke. “We’ll keep ‘er safe.”

Mara scoffed. “More like I’ll be keeping you guys safe. I have a Lightsaber, you know.”

“In my book,” Rex looked down at the redhead. “Experience outranks everything.”

“Then I’d say the two of you are tied,” Luke butted in. “Come on, let’s do this.”

Leia’s starfighter landed beside them shortly afterwards, and Luke’s sister hopped out. “You guys weren’t going to start without me, were you?” she teased.

“Not at all, commander,” Cody said. “We’re waiting on the rest of our attack force.”

That was shortly followed by the landing of the Millennium Falcon. The boarding ramp lowered, and Han Solo descended, followed by Chewbacca. Lando followed them as well, but stayed on the ramp.

“I’ll take good care of her,” Lando said to Han. “She won’t get a scratch. All right?”

“Right,” Han said, not taking his foot off the bottom of the ramp. “I got your promise. Not a scratch!”

“Would you get going, you pirate?” Calrissian laughed. “Good luck.” 

“You too.” The two friends saluted each other, before Han walked off the boarding ramp, and Lando walked back inside the Falcon. Soon after, the boarding ramp closed, and the Falcon took off. Han stared at the Falcon as it kept ascending back into the sky, and Leia shook his shoulder.

“Hey,” she said. “You awake?”

“Yeah,” Han was shaken out of his trance. “I just got a funny feeling, like I’m not gonna see her again.”

Leia shook her head. “Come on, Captain. Let’s move.”

This was the largest assembled Clone army in the history of the Republic. More than half of the army’s battalions and legions had amassed- 501st, 212th, 104th, 327th, 181st, 41st, 87th, and even the 91st- to create a massive army that would assault Maul’s temple.

The planet of Exegol crackled with occasional lightning strikes that made an eerie shrieking sound, as if the planet itself was alive. Hundreds of meters ahead of them, the Sith temple loomed out of the dark fog. It was an enormous, cubic trapezoid shape, engraved with ancient designs. Surrounding the front entrance, they could see an equally enormous army of Regime troopers assembled to fight them- thousands of Blood troopers, many of whom had blasters, but some of whom were wielding large shields and electro-batons. Hundreds of modified AATs accompanied the army, along with several other refitted infantry vehicles- speeder tanks and bikes, old repainted Separatist artillery cannons, and several other land crafts that were recognizable as either Confederate or used by pirates.

“Ready, commanders?” Luke turned to the Clones.

Rex nodded. “Let’s give ‘em hell, sir.”

“CHARGE!” Cody shouted.

The Grand Army of the Republic advanced. With the Jedi and commanding officers at the head, the massive force of Clones stormed across the rocky field. AT-RTs bounded ahead towards the enemy, and were fired upon by the Regime’s artillery cannons. Following close behind the force of Clone troopers were their heavy machinery- AT-TE, AT-AP, and AT-OT walkers, as well as multiple UT-AT, TX-130, and RX-200 tanks. The behemoth HAV Juggernauts roared across the battlefield, nearly making headway past the main force of Clones.

The Regime, probably realizing they weren’t going to win this fight without getting their hands dirty, sent in their attack force. Blood troopers charged, followed by the speeder bikes and speeder tanks. The modified AATs came in behind them, firing away with their twin cannons. Both Republic and Regime troops were picked off in the resulting firefight. A speeder tank opened fire on a group of Clone troopers, sending their white-armored bodies flying. An AT-TE opened fire on the speeder tank, destroying it and leaving a fiery, metal husk. Blood troopers with electro batons beat down several Clones, only to be trampled by one of the Juggernaut tanks with a sickening crunch.

Luke and his friends made their way across the battlefield, with the three Force Wielders swinging their Lightsabers wildly. Han Solo and Chewbacca followed close behind them, with the former firing away with his DL-44, and the latter using his bowcaster. A speeder bike swooped towards them, and Luke swung his saber at it, cutting off the front mandibles as it flew by. The speeder was sent spiraling out of control, crashing into the ground and exploding.

“Keep pushing!” Rex shouted. “We’re not through yet!”

Following behind the Commander were the ARC troopers- Fives, Echo, Jesse, Cobalt, and Umbra. Suddenly, an artillery blast blew Umbra off the ground, and his body fell flat. Cobalt rushed over to help his friend up, but the trooper was dead. Another artillery blast impacted the ground next to Han, and the smuggler fell to the ground.

“Han!” Leia shouted.

“Skywalker, come on!” Mara scolded.

“I can’t leave him!” Leia protested. “You two go on ahead!”

Reluctantly, Mara nodded, and let Leia rush to Han’s side, with Chewbacca next to her. Luke and Mara continued to run across the battlefield, seeing a Juggernaut crawling alongside them. A panel opened on the side, and a trooper leaned out, motioning for the two to jump on. They did so, and the massive ten-wheeler broke through enemy lines, coming to a stop right outside the massive temple.

“This is as far as we can go, general,” The trooper said to Luke. “Good luck.”

He and Mara jumped out of the Juggernaut as it began to unload upon the enemy lines with its many armaments. The two ran inside the temple, which was strangely empty. As they kept running through the massive corridors, they came across a giant, open room with a circular platform embedded into the center of the floor. When Luke and Mara stepped onto it, the platform buckled, and began to descend through the floor, into a chamber below.

“Looks like this is it,” Luke said to Mara.

“I guess it is…” her voice trailed off.

There was an awkward moment of silence between them as the platform slowly descended, until Luke broke it.

“Look, if we don’t make it out of here, I… I need to tell you something-”

“You don’t have to,” Mara smiled. “I already know.”

Skywalker cocked his head. “You do?”

Mara touched his cheek gently with her hand. “Yes.”

The platform hit the floor below, and the two were forced to break the tender moment, getting back to the mission at hand. They walked cautiously through the massive, dark corridors, passing giant, stone statues that seemed to be of ancient Sith lords. The first of them had a skull-looking mask on and a pointed helmet, which Luke vaguely recognized- Darth Bane. Across Bane was a Sith with a bald head, and some sort of collar-mask around where his bottom jaw should have been. Next to that statue and Bane’s were two others, one of whom had another skull-like mask and a hood, while the other wore a hood with a T-shaped visor mask, similar to a Mandalorian. There were many other statues after them, but Luke and Mara were too busy moving.

Eventually, they turned a corner, and stopped. The direction they had to keep going in was to their right, but further down the massive hallway was a group of four figures in dark armor- Maul’s Inquisitors. They approached slowly, and Mara began walking towards them.

“Mara, no.” Luke tried to stop her, but she pushed away his hand.

“Keep going,” She said sternly. “Take care of Maul.”

Reluctantly, the Jedi nodded, leaving Mara to confront her former friends. Luke kept going through the hallways, eventually stumbling across a giant room with a high ceiling, higher than the other hallways. In the center of the room was a wicked, evil-looking throne, surrounded on all sides by spiky rocks. Sitting on the throne was Maul, although he did not look happy about it. On either side of him were two guards clad in the same red armor as the ones on Mustafar, each of them holding an electro-spear.

“Welcome, young Skywalker,” Maul said, his voice echoing through the chamber. “I have been expecting you.”

Luke said nothing, but gradually approached the throne with his hand on his Lightsaber. The guards alongside the throne kept their masked gaze on him, their electro-spears glinting in the eerie blue glow the room was encapsulated by.

“What do you think of this place?” Maul said. “The Sith lords of old called it ‘The Citadel.’ Much too flashy for my tastes.”

“That’s abnormal,” Luke shot.

“My master, Sidious, spoke of this place many times,” Maul ignored the Jedi’s insult. “He dreamed of harnessing this planet’s connection to the Dark Side of the Force… One more thing that he failed to accomplish, only for me to do it before him.”

Luke raised an eyebrow.

“And now you have come running… bringing me back my favorite pet, whom I had thought was lost… I will enjoy re-collaring her.”

“You’re gravely mistaken,” Luke replied. “You won’t turn her, as you did the first time.”

“Oh, no, my young Jedi,” Maul stood up from the throne. “You will find that it is you who are mistaken… about a great many things.”

“Your overconfidence is your weakness,” Luke retorted.

“Your faith in your friends is yours,” Maul snapped. “Everything that has transpired has done so according to my design. See for yourself.”

Maul made a motion towards the ceiling with his hand, and it suddenly began to part, like a massive screen opening in two directions. As it fully opened, Luke could see the fleet up in orbit, along with the massive half-skeleton of the Cataclysm.

“From here, you will witness the final destruction of the Republic,” Maul went on. “And the end of your chapter in history.”

Meanwhile, Mara had begun to duel the four Inquisitors. Her own purple Lightsaber was ignited, and she faced off against the other four- Gideon, with his single-bladed red saber, Vras, with his double-bladed red saber staff, Teela, with her single-bladed saber that had an indigo blade, and Roos, with his dual purple saber.

They advanced on her, and Mara had to use her experience with the Mustafar guards, as well as the rest of her training, to defend herself from them. She blocked an attack from Vras’ staff, before whirling around and kicking Roos in the face. Teela advanced, and Mara used a Force push to send the Weequay flying backwards. Gideon charged, his mechanical hand whirring as he spun his Lightsaber in an arc, but Mara used the Force to knock black his blade, before kicking him in the chest.

A saber blade grazed her leg, and Mara cried out in agony. Vras had gotten back up, and sliced at her legs. Not enough to sever them, but enough to leave a cut that would be painful- they had learned from the scar Maul gave her. Teela and Roos followed suit, with the Togruta leaving a cut on her back, and Teela slicing at her arm, causing Mara to drop the saber. Things were looking grim, as the four Inquisitors circled her.

“You were always weak,” Teela taunted. “Now, you will die.”

Mara looked up at them, afraid.

Back in the throne room, Luke was watching the two fleets fighting in orbit. Mara’s screams echoed from throughout the halls, and the Jedi whirled around to look at the exit. He was about to run for it, when two more of the red-armored guards stepped through the doorway he had come in, blocking his exit.

Maul chuckled coldly. “As you can see, young Jedi, your friends have failed. Now you will witness the firepower of the fully armed and operational battle cruiser.” The former Sith leaned into his wrist comlink. “Fire at will, commander.”

Up in orbit, the Subjugator cruiser began to power up, and a blast of energy suddenly shot out of the starboard weapon sphere, aimed straight at the Venator cruiser, the Bastion. The capital ship was destroyed in moments, leaving nothing but fiery debris. Anakin’s eyes widened.

“That blast came from the Cataclysm,” Plo Koon’s voice sounded through the comms. “It’s operational!”

“All squadrons, prepare to retreat,” came the voice of a fleet admiral, from one of the other Venators.
“Admiral, we won’t get another chance like this,” Anakin said.

“We have no choice, General Skywalker,” The admiral replied. “Our cruisers can’t repel firepower of that magnitude.”

Before the Venator could do anything, another blast was fired from the Cataclysm, destroying the cruiser. Everything was going horribly wrong, and the fleet couldn’t take much more.

Back on the surface, Leia was attending to Han in the heat of the battlefield, while Chewbacca was defending them with his bowcaster.

“Leia…” Han groaned.
“Shh, save your strength,” she said. “You’re going to be fine.”

“Yeah, I’ll be fine,” Solo nodded. “But Luke might not be. Or the Jade chick. You gotta help them, Leia. You gotta.”

Leia shook her head. “I can’t leave you!”

Behind them, Chewbacca growled in annoyance, and Han laughed wheezily. “Chewie’s got me, don’t ya?” The Wookie nodded.

Leia sighed, before going to run off. Han grabbed her hand, and stopped her.

“I love you,” he said.

“I know,” the Jedi responded.

The two kissed briefly, before Leia ran off in the direction of the temple, using the Force to enhance her speed. It was all down to her now- she had to help Luke and Mara, or the battle may very well be lost.

Chapter Text

Up in orbit, the Republic fleet was taking a beating. The Cataclysm fired another shot, targeting The Tempest. The Venator cruiser went up in an inferno, sending chunks of debris everywhere. Anakin Skywalker was at the heart of the conflict, doing his best to help his allies.

“Skywalker!” Mace Windu’s voice came through the comms. “I’ve got three on my tail!”

“Hold on, Master Windu!” Anakin located the Grand Master’s deep purple interceptor, and flew in behind him, shooting at the Blood fighters tailing the Jedi. All three were destroyed, the green bolts of Anakin’s interceptor tearing them apart.

“Good job, Skywalker!”

Suddenly, the Cataclysm unleashed another shot, which grazed the side of Mace Windu’s interceptor, tearing off his wing.

“Agh- I’m hit!”

“Master Windu!” Anakin shouted. “NO!”

It was too late. Windu’s fighter spiraled out of control, badly damaged. It plummeted towards one of the Recusant cruisers, smashing right into the side of the armored hull. Master Windu was gone.

Anakin looked around, seeing the Republic fleet in shambles. Turbolaser fire from the Regime cruisers and bolts from the Blood Slicers tore apart the ARC fighters and Y-Wings they had brought with them. Anakin watched as a whole group of ARC fighters were destroyed by a group of the black ships, and another Jedi starfighter- he couldn’t remember who’s- was hit by turbolaser fire, destroying it. The voices of panicked Clone troopers and Jedi filled the comms.

“General, what’s our next move?” One of the Clones asked.

“Anakin, what now?” It was Ahsoka.

Anakin sighed, his head hanging. He couldn’t save all of them, he couldn’t lead the fleet. It was over for them. “I’m sorry…” he said to nobody in particular, not even activating his comm system. “We can’t… I can’t do this alone…”

“Who said you were alone?”

Anakin perked up. That hadn’t come from the comms. And even more, he recognized who it was; someone he thought was dead.

“Obi Wan?”

Anakin’s comms crackled to life, and a new voice entered the fray.

“Hang on, Skywalker,” said someone oddly familiar. “We’ve got your back.”

His ship’s radar indicated several objects about to drop out of hyperspace, all of them varying in sizes. Anakin pulled his Fighter back into gear, flying over to see who it was. The first ship to appear was a large Mandalorian gauntlet fighter; Bo Katan. She was followed by several smaller Gauntlet fighters, until the whole space erupted into various ships coming out of hyperspace. Battleships and corvettes belonging to the Alderaan military, massive torpedo-shaped cruisers from Mon Cala, even several assorted vessels bearing symbols Anakin recognized: The rebels of Onderon, led by Saw Gererra, and Cham Syndulla’s freedom fighters from Ryloth.

“We’re all here to help, Skywalker,” said the voice of Chancellor Organa. “You’re not alone.”

Anakin laughed, and the voice of Obi Wan once again echoed through his head; “The Force will be with you… always.”

Mara was being beaten down by the other Inquisitors. She couldn’t hold her ground against them, they were much more powerful than her. Lightsaber cuts covered various parts of her body, and Mara’s Lightsaber lay abandoned on the floor. The ex-Inquisitor struggled to her feet, looking around nervously at the other Inquisitors. They had beaten her. Again.

Suddenly, a figure landed behind Mara, and the redhead whirled around to see who it was. Standing in front of her was Leia Skywalker, her blue Lightsaber ignited. The other Inquisitors stepped back slightly, especially Gideon. They knew what the Skywalker daughter was capable of. Leia and Mara met each other’s gaze, before nodding synonymously.

Then, they went to work.

Leia whirled around and swung her saber at Gideon, slicing into the face of his mask. The Inquisitor cried out, collapsing to the ground and holding his face- Leia had taken out his eyes. Mara ducked underneath a swing from Teela, and used the Force to call her Lightsaber into her hand. With the purple blade ignited, Mara retaliated at the Weequay, taking her head off. The Inquisitor’s decapitated body fell to the ground, lifeless.

Meanwhile, Luke had ignited his own saber, attempting to strike at Maul. The former Sith simply pushed him backwards with the Force, and the four red-armored guards that had been standing around the throne went into action, swinging their spears. Luke deflected a blow from one of them, locking his blade with the weapon. With a twirling motion, he forced the spear out of the wielder’s hand, and used the Force to fling it into the chest of another guard, killing him. Luke sliced his father’s saber at the now weaponless warrior, cutting him down across the chest.

Mara and Leia worked in tandem, dealing with the remaining three Inquisitors. Leia used the Force to push the blind Gideon into the feet of Roos, knocking the pale Togruta off his feet. Next to the Jedi, Mara sliced into Vras’ forearm, quite literally disarming the Devaronian. He growled in pain as his weapon clattered to the floor, and Mara took the quick opportunity to slash off his other horn, before slicing him across the waist, killing him. As Roos got back up, Leia stabbed her Lightsaber straight through the Togruta’s chest, and he fell to the ground, dead. Gideon, the only one left, swung blindly, unable to see. Mara took the opportunity and Force jumped over him, grabbing him from behind and thrusting her Lightsaber through his chest, letting his lifeless body collapse to the floor. All four Inquisitors were dead now.

Back in the throne room, Luke was dealing with the remaining two guards. One of them swung his spear, which Luke blocked, sending a horizontal strike across the warrior’s head, and killing him. The remaining guard charged, and Luke Force pushed him into the far wall with a resounding crack, breaking the warrior’s spine. With all the guards dead, he heard Lightsaber swings and strikes, turning to see Mara and his sister cutting down the guards that had been blocking the door. The two women approached Luke, and they all nodded collectively, turning and raising their sabers towards Maul, ready to fight him three-on-one. The Zabrak laughed at them, standing in front of the throne.

“Stand together, die together.” He said.

Maul held his hands out, and to their utter surprise, he unleashed Force lightning from them. Luke realized Maul hadn’t been lying when the former Sith said he had harnessed the planet’s connection to the Dark Side, which was probably why Maul was able to use the lightning. The three of them convulsed in agonizing pain as the lightning coursed through their bodies, dropping their Lightsabers and falling to the ground. The former Sith ceased his attack, peering at the bodies on the floor in front of him. They were all still alive, but none of them had suffered a shock from Force lightning before. Maul grinned wickedly.

Far above the surface, The Millennium Falcon, piloted by Lando Calrissian and an old Clone pilot, Broadside, flew into the fray. While the Republic had received massive reinforcements in the form of the Mandalorians, Alderaan & Mon Cala military, and the rebels from Onderon and Ryloth, the battle was still far from over. With the Cataclysm’s weapon fully operational, it could destroy their entire fleet over the course of a single hour. The weapon had fired four times already, and was overheated. However, it wouldn’t be long before it was operational again. They had to take this chance, and destroy it.

“R2,” Anakin said, seated in the cockpit of his interceptor. “Get me a scan of the ship and compare it with the old blueprints of the Revengeance. Maybe we can take it out the same way.”

The Astromech trilled, and after a few seconds, a small hologram was projected from the console of his starfighter, showing the Cataclysm’s weapon spheres. To his dismay, the exhaust port was absent from both of them. They had definitely learned from their mistakes.

“How are we gonna destroy this thing?” Anakin muttered, continuing to study the blueprints of the cruiser while R2 auto piloted the ship. Finally he spotted something- an opening that led to a massive shaft in the center of the ship. When he had been on the Malevolence years ago, this shaft had been used to transport cargo and troops via a railway tram system. Since the Cataclysm was incomplete, the shaft was relatively empty, and more importantly, accessible by starfighters. They had a straight shot right to the cruiser’s reactor core.

“All fighters, this is Skywalker,” Anakin said into his comms. “I’ve got a plan to destroy the Cataclysm, but I’ll need support.”

“We are listening, Skywalker,” Plo Koon’s voice assured him.

“There’s an opening in the front of the ship that leads to a shaft,” Skywalker explained. “If we can make it inside, we have a straight shot to the reactor core.”

“Sounds risky, but…” Ahsoka said. “It’s worth a shot.”

“Captain Calrissian, Lady Katan,” the elder Jedi continued. “I want the two of you backing me up. Gold three, Red five, follow us in.”

“On your lead, Master Jedi.” Bo Katan’s voice said.

“Good luck, master.” added Ahsoka.

The squad of five ships headed straight for the Cataclysm’s bow; Anakin’s interceptor, the Millennium Falcon, Katan’s Gauntlet fighter, a gold-painted Y-Wing, and finally, one of the red-and-white ARC fighters. Turbolaser fire tore through the air as they approached, but the squad was able to make it through, entering the shaft through the front of the ship.

“R2, lock onto the strongest power source,” Anakin instructed. “It should be the reactor.”

“Form up, stay alert.” Bo Katan added. “We could run out of space real fast.”

Behind them, a large squad of Blood Slicers went into pursuit, swarming through the narrow entrance. One of them knocked into the side wall and spun out of control, smashing into the side of the shaft and exploding. The fighter in the lead kept close, launching a bravado of cannon fire. The bolts hit the ARC fighter’s engines, and it exploded.

As they continued to fly, a narrow passage came up on them, and all four ships had to duck down in order to fly through. The Millennium Falcon barely made it, but the satellite dish on top was hit, getting wrenched right off the freighter.

“That was too close,” Lando muttered.

Outside of the Cataclysm, the battle raged. Admiral Ackbar, the leader of the Mon Calamari navy, sat on the bridge of his MC75 star cruiser.

“We’ve got to give those fighters more time!” he said. “Concentrate all fire on that Confederate Dreadnought.”

The batteries of the Mon Cala cruisers unleashed their power onto the Virulence, but the shields held up. One of the Y-Wings flew past the bridge, launching proton bombs at the shield generators. They were destroyed, leaving the bridge defenseless. A Republic V-Wing was hit by several blasts from the cannons, and spiraled out of control, heading straight for the Virulence’s bridge. The fighter crashed through the ship’s viewport, and the whole command station exploded, leaving the Virulence dead in the water. With several more blasts from the Mon Cala cruisers, the Dreadnought was destroyed.

Back inside the Cataclysm, the four ships were getting close to the reactor core. The Y-Wing fighter was hit and destroyed, leaving Anakin, Bo Katan, and Lando as the only ones left.

“There it is.” Anakin said, and the three entered a massive chamber in the center of the ship, where the reactor core was.

“Launch torpedoes!” Bo Katan shouted.

All three ships fired their payloads of proton torpedoes, straight at the core. They did a loop back around, returning through the tunnel they had come through. The Blood fighters that had been tailing them had no time to react, and either maneuvered around the three ships coming at them, or flew straight into the walls and were destroyed. The fighters that had maneuvered around were instantly incinerated by the resulting blast from the reactor core, which began to engulf the inside of the cruiser. The three ships sped through the bowels of the Cataclysm, making it out in time to see the entire ship explode from the inside out. Cheering filled the comms as the three surviving ships retreated to the fleet, leaving the Regime’s navy in ruins.

Down on the surface, Maul looked up in anger as his newest ship was destroyed, leaving nothing behind. He turned his gaze to the three young Force Wielders in front of him, eyes blazing. Mara was the first to get up, raising her Lightsaber and igniting it. The redhead let out a fierce battle cry, and charged at the Zabrak she had once called master.

“Not now, my dear,” Maul flicked his finger, and the saber was pulled from her hands, landing on the ground next to Maul’s throne. Mara was then thrown through the air, colliding violently with the wall across. She didn’t get back up.

“Mara!” Luke shouted, on his hands and knees in front of the throne. He reached out towards her, and Leia put a comforting hand on his shoulder, before turning her gaze to Maul.

“You’ve lost,” she said through labored breaths, still recovering from the lightning shock. “Your precious superweapon is destroyed, and you will die.”

“Silence, whelp!” Maul roared, sending a short burst of lightning at Leia, which shut her up. “I will always survive. I always have, and I always will.”

“You’re delusional,” Luke spat. “The Dark Side never wins. The Light prevails, always.”

Maul sighed. “Such a simple point of view, for someone who fell in love with a dark disciple.” He threw Luke and Leia further back across the floor, before shocking them once more with lightning. “What you’ve done to her disgusts me. I’ll have to start over from scratch, wipe her mind… She will never remember you, or any semblance of emotion whatsoever.” Maul shocked them again, this time for several minutes. Any more, and they would most definitely die.

On the other side of the room, Mara slowly regained consciousness, looking across the floor to see Luke and Leia curled up, with Maul facing them. She silently got to her feet, looking between her former master, and her new, would-be friends.

The Zabrak walked back up to his throne, turning around towards the twins. “And now, young Skywalkers… you will die.”

Lightning shot forth from his fingers.

“NO!” Mara shouted, and began running across the room, using the Force to enhance her speed.

Time seemed to slow as the arcs of lightning got closer to the bodies of the Skywalker twins. At the last second, Mara stepped in front of them, her hands outstretched. Inexplicably, the lightning started to curve and condense, seemingly into the open palms of the redheaded Force wielder. Luke looked up from where he was lying on the ground, and recognized what she was doing, whether she realized it or not- Force absorption. This was one of the strongest abilities a Force wielder could use, normally used to block blaster bolts. However, to absorb energy at a scale like this, only one other person had done it in the Republic’s history: Master Yoda.

Maul frowned, confused, as the lightning from his fingers was absorbed into the hands of his former student. When he ceased his attack, Mara’s hands crackled with electricity, and she looked at them, confused. She didn’t realize what she had just done.

“A grave mistake,” Maul growled. “Now, you shall pay the price for your lack of vision!”

Maul unleashed another stream of lightning, and Mara absorbed it into her hands again. Slowly, she powered through the oncoming storm, walking towards her former master.

“Foolish girl!” Maul yelled at her through the cacophony of lightning. “You are giving everything up for this… whelp?!” he nodded in Luke’s direction. “Think of all we’ve built, think about everything I’ve done for you! You were NOTHING until I found you, and without me, you WILL BE NOTHING!”

“You’re wrong,” Mara said, as tears began to stream down her cheeks. “Without you, I have friends. I have people who truly care about me. Not people who are SELFISH, like YOU!”

She thrusted her hands forward, and the lightning was no longer absorbed by her palms- it was being deflected, right back into her former master’s face. Maul began to yell in anguish, the lightning a burning memory of how Sidious had tortured him.

“You broke me down,” Mara continued. “And now, I’ve built myself back up. I’m stronger now. And you?” she stared right into the Zabrak’s yellow eyes. “You mean nothing to me.”

With that, the redhead unleashed all the lightning she had been absorbing. The storm hit Maul full force, and he could do nothing to stop it. His body was overloaded by electricity as he began to wither down to a skeletal husk, screaming the entire time. When all the electricity had been sent back into his corpse, what little remained of his body exploded in brilliant blue arcs, sending shockwaves throughout the entire temple. The ceilings and walls began to collapse, and Mara was forced to hold out her hands, preventing the rubble from falling onto them. The entire citadel collapsed into the ground, but the three Force wielders luckily remained unscathed.

As the dust settled, sunlight gradually began to shine on the aftermath of the destruction. With no Dark Side energy presiding in the planet any longer, the clouds of darkness had parted, letting rays of light that looked almost as if the sky itself was cracking open.

Mara Jade stood wearily, swaying from side to side. She had used up so much strength and energy when she had absorbed Maul’s lightning, she was completely drained. Without warning, she collapsed onto the ground.

The last thing she heard was Luke desperately calling her name, and then her world went dark.

Chapter Text

Mara Jade awoke with a start, quickly finding herself in a hospital room, lying on a large cot. Instantly, a hand was placed on her shoulder, and she turned to see Luke himself, sitting on a chair next to her bed.

“Wh-what happened?” she asked. “How did I get here?”
Luke smiled. “Slowly. We thought you’d died.”

The redhead scoffed. “Gee, thanks.” There was an awkward pause, before Mara continued. “Is Maul…?”

“Dead,” Luke nodded. “You destroyed him, literally.”

Mara laid back, letting out a huge sigh of relief. “What happened afterwards?”

Luke went on to explain that, in the aftermath of the citadel collapsing, the remaining ground forces had surrendered. The cruisers, too, after seeing the destruction of both the Virulence and the Cataclysm, had given up and ceased fire, announcing on an open comm channel that they were surrendering.

“How long have I been out?” Mara asked.

“Nearly three days,” a new voice came from the other side of the room, and Mara turned to see Leia standing in the doorway.

“Leia,” Mara said.

“Hey, Jade…” Leia sighed. “Listen, I just wanted to say… Thank you.”

“No,” the redhead interrupted her. “Thank you. You could have left me to die at the hands of the other Inquisitors. Instead, you saved me. I owe you a debt.”

The Skywalker sister raised an eyebrow, before smirking. “Don’t look too much into it, Jade.”

As Leia turned to leave, Mara stopped her. “Leia.” Luke’s sister turned around, and gave the redhead a questioning look.

“Does this make us…” Mara paused. “Friends?”

The two girls stared at each other for some time, before Leia nodded.

“I guess it does.”

With that, she left, leaving Luke and Mara alone once again.

“Am I dreaming, or did she just soften up to me?” Jade cocked her head at Luke, and the two bursted out in laughter. After they stopped laughing, Luke leaned forward.

“Hey, about what Maul said on Exegol…” Luke blushed. “Do you… I mean, uh… are you really, er-”

Mara cut him off, grabbing his face in her hands, and pressing their lips together. Luke’s eyes went wide for a second, before fluttering closed. They kissed for nearly a minute, before they withdrew.

“I’ll take that as a yes…” Luke stammered.

While nearly the whole universe was celebrating the destruction of the Regime, the Battle of Exegol hadn’t been won without sacrifice. Many Clone troopers and pilots had been killed in the fighting, along with the crews of the Venators that had been destroyed by the Cataclysm’s weapon. Lastly, but certainly not least, Mace Windu had died during the battle, alongside Jaro Tapal. The funeral for both masters was held in the Jedi temple, their bodies being buried among the many others that lay beneath the temple. Solid beams of light shot out of the floor once the coffins had been lowered, and all the Jedi present raised their Lightsabers in respect. Han was still recovering from his injuries in battle, and Lando was continuously and profusely apologizing for the damage the Falcon had suffered. The smuggler didn’t seem to mind, he was just happy that both his ship and his friend had survived a battle against a planet-killing superweapon.

A while after the funeral, the Council had called a meeting to discuss the fate of Mara Jade. She had indeed killed Maul, but they hadn’t exactly thought on what would come next. With Windu’s death, the title of Grand Master had been passed to Anakin himself. Once more, Ahsoka had been offered a seat on the council, as Anakin’s right hand, but she had refused, suggesting instead that Plo Koon take the seat. Master Plo graciously accepted the offer. The meeting was called, with Mara standing in the center of the room, with Luke and Leia flanking behind her.

“The Republic owes you a great debt, miss Jade,” Anakin said. “As do I- you saved my children, and for that, I am truly grateful.”

“Thank you, Master Skywalker,” Mara bowed respectfully.

“You seem to have changed a great deal since Exegol,” Plo Koon said. “How are you feeling?”

“Clearer,” Jade answered. “With… Maul gone, I feel as if a great weight was lifted from my shoulders.”

There was a pause of silence, before Anakin spoke again.

“I hope you understand that the Council has been faced with a difficult decision,” he said. “Even with your heroics, some members of the senate are still calling for your head, and some of our own order don’t trust you.”

Mara’s face fell. She hadn’t seen this coming, even though she should have.

“However, with great difficulty, we have come to an agreement,” Grand Master Skywalker smiled at her. “You’re being acquitted of all your misdeeds, and we’re even willing to offer you a place in the Jedi Order.”

Mara felt tremendously relieved. She was more happy that she was being given her freedom, after everything that had happened. The Council could have thrown her in prison to rot alongside the three other Force wielders that were there, but they had chosen peace. However, there was one other thing.

“While I’m flattered by your offer,” Mara said, “I must decline. I am no Jedi, simply a wielder of the Force.”

Anakin nodded in understanding. “The offer stands, should you change your mind.”

With that, the meeting was adjourned, and the three young Force wielders exited the Council chambers. There were more matters to discuss, namely, Leia’s unexpected engagement.

While he had been in the hospital, Han had proposed to Leia. It was partially half-baked, due to the fact that he had no ring, nor was he able to kneel in front of her. Despite this, Leia had accepted, and informed her mother first. Padmé was delighted to hear of her daughter’s engagement, however Leia left it up to Padmé to tell Anakin. While the new Grand Master was skeptical of Han, his daughter had risked her life to save the scoundrel, and he had risked his life multiple times for the Republic. The elder Skywalker had nothing but respect for the former smuggler.

Leia’s first thought was to host the wedding on Naboo- before remembering the planet was destroyed. Han suggested Coruscant, but Leia denied. Padmé then offered they have it on Alderaan, as the planet was stunningly similar to Naboo itself. Han and Leia agreed, and the two began making plans.

Weeks later, the wedding was ready, and the invited parties made for the planet of Alderaan. Luke had been appointed as Han’s best man, alongside Lando and Chewbacca. The Wookie couldn’t exactly wear any sort of formal clothing, so the tailors fashioned him a vest and tie he could wear instead. Meanwhile, Leia had asked Mara to be her bridesmaid, which Mara was quick to accept. Anakin, Padmé, and Ahsoka were in attendance, but Luke and his father sensed another presence watching over them during the wedding; a presence of someone familiar.

After the ceremony had ended, the afterparty had commenced. People danced, several bottles of Alderaanian wine were opened, and everyone was having a pleasant time. After a single drink, Luke walked out to the balcony, and gazed at the sunset in the distance. The planet was truly beautiful, and did remind him of Naboo, from the few times he had visited it in his childhood. He couldn’t shake the feeling that he was being watched, and he kept a hand near his father’s Saber, which was hidden underneath the formal jacket he had worn for the wedding.

“Luke.”

He whirled around, ready to ignite his Lightsaber and attack whoever was approaching him, but he stopped at the figure before him.

“Obi Wan?” the boy asked.

“Yes, Luke,” The blue, ghostly figure answered him. “It’s me.”

“But- how?”

“He learned a few tricks from me,” a new voice said, followed by the appearance of another ghostly figure, whom Luke didn’t recognize. He began to wonder if he was intoxicated- He had heard Alderaanian wine was strong, but he had only drunk a single glass.

“Luke, this is my master,” the ghost of Obi Wan said. “Qui Gon Jinn.”

“It is very pleasant to finally meet you, young Skywalker.” Qui Gon’s spirit said.

“Are you… real?” Luke asked

“Indeed we are,” Obi Wan said. “From a certain point of view.”

“How?”

“When a Jedi dies, they become one with the Force,” Obi Wan explained. “If a Jedi is committed enough, they can shape their forms into… something tangible, that the living can see.”

“I was the first to learn of this,” Qui Gon added. “When Obi Wan reached a certain age, I gave him guidance on how to do the same. And eventually, I also taught-”

Familiar, goofy laughter interrupted the ghostly master, followed by a third figure appearing, this one much smaller, taking a seat on the railing. Luke recognized him instantly.

“Master Yoda?”

“Learn too much, one never can,” Yoda’s ghost said. “Even more to discover, the three of us have.”

“In time, we will teach you what we know,” Obi Wan continued. “But for now, I just want you to know… I’m proud of you. You, your sister, and your father. You’ve made leaps that even I would have been incapable of doing.”

“To carry the title of Grand Master, an easy task, it is not.” Yoda commented. “Guide the young Skywalker, I will.”

“He’s not so young anymore, old friend,” Qui Gon pointed out.

“A young padawan, in my eyes he will always be.” Yoda said, smiling.

“Someone is coming,” Obi Wan interrupted them. “We must go. But know this, Luke; when you need guidance, simply ask.”

“Thank you, masters.” Luke bowed, and the three bowed back, before fading away as footsteps began approaching. He looked to see Mara Jade walking out onto the balcony, a smile on her face. She was wearing a brilliant black dress that had been hand-picked for her by Padmé, which paired excellently with her red hair.

“Who were you talking to, Skywalker?” she teased.

“Oh, just myself,” Luke smirked, approaching her. “How’s it going in there?”

Mara chuckled. “The Wookie started dancing. I’ve never seen one of them dance before- he’s actually pretty good at it.”

Luke laughed, trying to imagine Chewbacca dancing at all.

“You know,” Mara continued. “We could join them.”

Luke cocked his head. “Aren’t I the one who’s supposed to ask you to dance?”

“I prefer to take the initiative when I see it,” Mara shrugged. “But if you insist… I’ll let you.”

The young Jedi smirked, holding out his hand. “May I have this dance?”

Mara took his hand in hers. “Of course, my dear.”

The two proceeded back inside as the music being played started to calm down, and they began slow dancing, gazing into each other’s eyes as they did so. Everything was looking right in the universe for them. The Regime was gone, they were all getting what they wanted… it was almost too good to be true.

Unbeknownst to all, a figure sat perched in a tree outside the palace. He adjusted the zoom function on his helmet, peering through one of the windows from a distance. The man’s scope highlighted two figures; Leia Skywalker, sharing a romantic dance with her partner, Han Solo himself. Underneath his helmet, the figure smirked.

“Not bad, Solo,” Boba Fett muttered. “Enjoy your retirement… while it lasts.”

Nobody heard the sound of a jetpack engine roaring, and the Bounty Hunter was gone.

Chapter Text

On the planet Salucemi, A large, cat-like creature stalked through the old fields of a long-abandoned farmhouse. The Nexu sniffed the air, sensing the presence of several Eopies, grazing in the grass beyond. Its deep, red eyes locked onto the livestock animal, and it slowly approached, making slow, silent movements.

Little did the creature know that it, too, was being watched and hunted. Clawed hands gripped a long-range blaster rifle, the red-filmed scope highlighted the feline’s heat signature. The gunner kept his aim steady, keeping his mark locked onto his prey. The Nexu was ready to pounce, when-

A blaster shot echoed throughout the valley.

The Eopies scattered in a panic, running in all directions away from the creature that had just been slaughtered near them. As the valley went silent once more, several reptilian figures emerged from the field around the slain Nexu. They were Trandoshans; intergalactic sport hunters. They hefted the Nexu on their shoulders, and brought it to their gunship, returning into orbit.

Far above the planet, the smaller gunship docked with a large freighter, and the Trandoshan crew disembarked, dragging their kill with them. They deposited the Nexu’s corpse onto a table, where one of them unsheathed a large hunting knife, before he began to skin the creature. In the captain’s chair, one Trandoshan sat alone. He was garbed in a neon yellow flight jacket, and had pale green scales. A Relby V10 mortar rifle rested against the side of the chair, and his yellow, reptilian eyes darted across the star chart he was reading.

“Bossss,” one of the Trandoshans called from the cutting board. “Come join ussss! We have made a wonderful kill, the ssssscorekeeper will be proud.”

“The ssssscorekeeper cares not for lowly Nexu,” the leader hissed. “There isssss no creature left in the galaxy I haven’t faced, sssssave one…” His claws brought up the coordinates for a planet he knew all too well- Kashyyyk.

“Sssssset coursssse for Kasssshyyyk,” Bossk ordered. “I will kill Chewbacca myssself.”

A young girl, no more than ten years old, ran through the dark streets of Corellia at night. She held her quarry close to her chest- a single loaf of soggy bread. An angry gang was following close behind, yelling insults and death threats.

“Get that street rat!” One of the men shouted. “Dirty thief!”

“Don’t let her escape!”

The girl turned a corner, desperately trying to lose her attackers. She had been living on the streets of Corellia for some time, and she knew the area well. She wasn’t going to let Lady Proxima and her White Worms get their hands on her again, she couldn’t go back there. As she turned another corner, she was stopped by a group of three goons. The girl yelped, falling to the ground. She turned around, but the other half of the men were already there. She was trapped.

“Nowhere to go, rat,” the leader said, brandishing a knife. He was pudgy and overweight, with a disgusting belly that slipped out of his shirt’s waistline. “Mirax! Kargan! Hold her against the wall.”

Two burly goons stepped forwards, grabbing the little girl by the arms and forcing her against the wall of the alley. She thrashed in their grip, shouting angry protests.

“I think I’ll cut your hands off first,” the fat man approached her, the glow of the night time street lights reflecting off of his blade. “That way you’ll never even think about stealin’ from us again. Maybe I’ll mount ‘em on my wall.”

“Let me go!” the girl shouted. “Someone, help!”

“On second thought, I’ll have to cut out that tongue,” he growled. “So I can shut you up!”

“HELP!”

The man took a step towards her, but before he could go any further, blaster bolts tore through the air, killing the two goons that had been holding the girl in place. They all looked up to see a figure clad in black descend from the roofs, with an orange helmet on their head.

“Why don’t you pick on someone your own size,” the figure took a glance at the man’s overweight stomach. “If that’s even possible.”

“Why you-” The man lunged at the figure, who sidestepped the attack, grabbing his arm. In one swift motion, they broke it with a dry snap, causing the man to cry out in pain. The figure then wrenched the knife from his hand, stabbing him in the back and killing him. The figure looked at the remaining henchmen, who exchanged glances before running off.

The figure turned to look at the little girl, who was still holding the loaf of bread close to her chest. “Brave kid, stealing food from Proxima’s gang,” the figure removed their helmet, revealing themselves to be a woman with long, black hair that was braided in a ponytail. “You ok?”

“Y-yes…” the girl stammered.

“What’s your name, kid?”

“Alyysa,” the girl answered. “Iddo. Alyysa Iddo.” 

“That’s a pretty name,” the woman smiled. “I’m Fennec Shand. Why don’t we get you some real food?”

On the planet of Nevarro, Magistrate Greef Karga sat inside a cantina, stacking credits on the table in front of him. Various bounty hunters milled about the cantina, laughing and sharing drinks. A waiter droid brought the Magistrate a glass, which he took, gulping it down in a single swallow. The door to the cantina opened, and a figure walked in, clad in various pieces of salvaged armor, including the helmet of a Clone scout trooper.

“Ryn,” Magistrate Karga chuckled. “Take a seat, please.”

The armored figure sat down across from the man. “You know what I’m here for.”

“A job, of course,” Karga laughed. “You always were predictable.”

The magistrate tried to rifle through his pockets for a new bounty puck, and was only able to find one. He placed it on the table, and slid it across for the hunter to see. Ryn grabbed the puck, which displayed the image of an unfamiliar human woman. The reward: six million credits.

“Six million,” Ryn commented. “Why’s she so special?”

Greef Karga winced. He looked around, before leaning forwards and whispering. “You may have heard the rumors surrounding Jabba the Hutt’s death,” the Magistrate said. “And that Cad Bane went with him.”

“Bane’s dead, too?” Ryn nearly shouted, and Karga waved a hand for him to lower his voice. “How?”

“How do you think?” Karga said. “The Republic. They went to rescue Han Solo. Jabba and Bane died in their attack.”

“Solo,” The bounty hunter had heard the name of the infamous smuggler before. Nearly every bounty hunter in the galaxy had a grudge against him. “What does this woman have to do with him?”

“This is his wife,” Greef tapped a finger on the puck. “Leia Skywalker. Someone wants revenge for Jabba’s killer.”

On Tatooine, the village of Mos Pelgo had been through much. A man stood outside the town’s cantina, with his hands on his hips, and a blaster at his side. He gazed out across the sunset horizon of the desert at a speeder that approached, and his brow furrowed. After the vehicle had arrived, four Nikto guards disembarked from it, alongside a female Zygerrian. The cat-person approached the man, with the guards behind her, their hands on their blasters.

“Marshall Vanth,” the Zygerrian said.

“Am I supposed to know who you are?” the sheriff responded, raising an eyebrow.

“Perhaps not,” The Zygerrian replied. “My name is Yanes Elna. I am here on behalf of the crime lord Jabba the Hutt.”

“I don’t know if you’ve heard, but Jabba ain’t around no more,” Cobb Vanth shot.

“Word travels fast, it seems,” Yanes said. “Nevertheless, I am here to discuss terms of real estate, by the orders of Daimyo Fortuna.”

Vanth scoffed. “Bib Fortuna can’t tell his Lekku from his ass. And Mos Pelgo ain’t for sale, pack up and get out of here.”

“I urge you to reconsider-” Yanes began, before she was cut off by the ground rumbling.

The Zygerrian stepped forwards onto the porch Cobb Vanth was standing on, and her four guards looked around nervously. The rumbling got louder and louder, until the ground began to crack. The desert sands opened up to swallow the four guards that had accompanied Yanes, along with their speeder. A large, serpentine body shot through the sands, followed by a howling roar. The creature passed entirely through the town, reaching the very end, where it pounced out of the sand, revealing an armored, diamond-shaped head with horns. It lunged at a Bantha that had been grazing next to one of the moisture vaporizers, devouring it whole. Faster than it had appeared, the creature was gone.

Cobb Vanth laughed at Yanes’ shocked expression. “Nobody wants land infested by a Krayt Dragon.”

Deep inside the Republic Center of Military Operations, there was a special cell. It was heavily reinforced, and guarded at all times. Two red-armored Coruscant Guard Clone troopers stood outside, rifles at their sides. On the inside, there were six Clone troopers- four holding blasters, the other two carrying electrostaffs. In the center of the cell was the elderly prisoner, restrained and bolted to the floor. Thick metal rings covered his wrists and his neck, bonded together by strands of electricity. The four troopers with blasters had their weapons trained on the prisoner, as though he could break free at any second.

At the moment, however, he looked sleepy.

There was a knocking at the door, and it slid open to reveal a new Clone trooper, carrying a metal canister.

“Suppertime, Palpatine,” the trooper teased in a singsong tone. “I brought your favorite- microwave sludge.”

The trooper stepped forwards and inserted the top of the canister into an indent on Palpatine’s mouth-collar. Within seconds, the contents of the canister were emptied into the inmate’s mouth; a semi-liquified excuse for a meal. The trooper unscrewed the canister, and walked out of the cell.

“Enjoy your meal for the next month,” The Clone said, before the door to the cell closed with a hiss.

Palpatine closed his eyes thoughtfully. They had taken extreme measures to ensure his imprisonment, and he sensed they were still trying to decide whether to execute him or not. If he were them, Palpatine would have been killed years ago. However, he also sensed something was amiss.

His former apprentice, Maul. He had succeeded where Palpatine had failed. He created an empire, even created his own superweapon. He carried out all of the plans Palpatine had hoped for himself, and he had done it flawlessly.

But in the end, did it matter? Maul was dead now. A massive ripple had been sent through the Force, and Palpatine had felt it. With Maul gone, his Regime would fall, and his followers would scatter.

Power hates a vacuum, and while Palpatine was in no condition to fill it, he knew someone would.

The Dark Side of the Force always had a face, a figurehead. It was all a matter of who.