"Here we go again." - C-3P0

Prologue:

Days Gone By

"Two years ago, today, the Republic – no, the entire galaxy – was saved from destruction from the Shadow Brigade's superweapon: the Galaxy Gun. The short but brutal war claimed the lives of many beings, loved ones, and heroes. Blaze Marko was one such hero. The man who fought and won the final battle of the Clone War and who sacrificed himself to end the Shadow War. On this day, we celebrate the freedom his sacrifice has brought and the lives that continue on because of him!"

The planet of Coruscant erupted in thunderous applause. But, then again, Bail Organa – now Chancellor - always had a way with words. When he was the Senator of Alderaan, his speeches were the stuff of legend. One could say his words could move the minds of Neimoidians if he so chose to do so.

Ahsoka knew that he was the best option when Padme Amidala stepped down after her second term. The galaxy would have gladly let her go on for a third term, but she and Anakin had decided to purchase a house on the Naboo Lakefront while Anakin took a break from his Jedi duties. The new rules that Blaze had put into place at the end of the Clone War were still in place.

Blaze.

Her fiancé.

Her late fiancé.

Her hand twitched at her side, emotions rising up in her throat. For a moment, she thought they would get the better of her. But, she regained her composure, took another breath, and straightened up just as a camera droid took a wide angle shot of the suite.

She had forgotten that she was in one of the more luxurious suites of the newly refurbished Senate Spire. In the center, as he always was, was Organa delivering the speech. Beside him were his two advisors and their proud smiles were evident to the entire room.

She cast a look to the side and saw Mara playing with her siblings, Max and Lexiah. Max took on more of his father's qualities. Dark brown hair, emerald eyes, and tan skin. The only thing that he had gotten from her was the white tattoos that were visible on both biceps. They were small, trivial lines that swerved a little down, crooking them a bit. As he aged, they would grow.

Lexiah, on the other hand, was the opposite. She had dipped into her mother's gene pool. White and blue lekku and orange skin that was slightly lighter than Ahsoka's, a glitch in the pool from Blaze's human side. Lexiah's eyes were a mixture of blue and green, a turquoise hue that seemed to peer into her own crystal blue orbs.

They were perfect. They were hers. They were theirs.

She reached down and pulled a drink to her mouth, her mind seeming to melt away into the past. Try as she might, and she did try, she could not help the rush of memories that assaulted her mind. Even now, they were as vivid as ever.

The beginning.

The middle.

The end.

Day 730 without him.

All of those memories were wrapped up like a neat present in her head and the hands of her mind continued to open them, as if it was Life Day.

In a way, it was Life Day. Sacrifice to breed new life. She was glad she didn't have to explain it to her children yet. They were far too young for such truths, but one day they would ask her and she would have to answer. There was no escaping it.

"Ahsoka."

She turned, seeing Jake Marko walking to her, a small smile on his face. One, she knew, was laced with hidden pain. But, he too knew when to be open about his feelings and when to hold them within.

Nonetheless, she opened her arms wide to him, enveloping him in a hug. After a few seconds, they parted and Jake cast a glance to the center podium.

"Good speech?" Jake said.

Ahsoka saw the perspiration on his forehead glinting in the overhead light. She took note on how his tunic was thrown on and realized that part of his upper torso sagged a bit and reeked of softener.

She smiled, "Chancellor Organa has a way with words. He always has." She pointed quaintly at his shirt, "Good sleep?"

Jake's face turned red for a moment and an impish grin took place of his features, "Long night."

Ahsoka nodded, then turned back to the podium tower, gesturing for Jake to stand beside her. He did and looked out. Once again, the beauty of such a thing couldn't be lost on even him.

Jake Marko, now the ripe age of nineteen years old, had grown up remarkably fast considering everything he had gone through since his arrival in the galaxy far, far away. Two years ago, he would have classified himself as a hot-shot with the skills to boost his ever-inflating ego. But, after the war, he forced himself to take root and enjoy the finer things that the galaxy, and the Jedi, had to offer.

At first, grief had nearly consumed him, but he had buried himself in his work. He traveled to hundreds of planets, aiding in whatever he could. If there was a petty squabble happening on a derelict world that requested the help of the Jedi, Jake Marko was at the head of the team sent to help.

He enjoyed it, Ahsoka knew, but it was merely a pastime to hide his true feelings. That was not to say he did not enjoy helping others, but even he needed time. And, now, Ahsoka could still see the pain behind the eyes. The lines under his eyes, however, the ones from unbearable pain, had almost ebbed away completely.

As for Ziv, she did not know. She had not seen him in many months when he had accepted a mission for relief missions in the Outer Rim with his mate. She made a note to try to regain contact soon.

Organa continued to speak, his voice booming throughout the entire structure. People cheered, drinks were popped, and laughs rung all around. Inside the suite, many of their friends were joining in on the celebration.

Ahsoka knew Anakin was most likely watching from his home on Naboo. He had never enjoyed events such as these, but she could hardly blame him. Most of the time – and she did stress most – there was pointless chatter followed by even more pointless posturing from everyone but the Chancellor.

He had elected not to go because he simply did not want to. In the back of her mind, Ahsoka wondered if he still couldn't face what had happened. What he had failed to do, in his mind. He was the Chosen One, and in the end – again – it was Blaze who had made the ultimate decision. Not only that, but that they had fought. Vader had surfaced due to the Dark Influence.

Memories flashed before her eyes. She saw Blaze and Kane fighting side by side, Vader hammering away at their defenses. Blaze was already badly injured and Kane was beginning to look the same. She joined into the fight, half of her squad with her. It wasn't long before they were cut down, men she had served with since Blaze came into their world.

And, while she had Vader distracted – something that felt oddly familiar – Blaze separated Anakin from Vader. Then, Kane had restrained her and pulled her into the throne, which an escape pod then materialized around them. She remembered rebar sticking out of her love's shoulder and ribs, blood pooling onto the ground.

Before they were out of sight, she saw Blaze cut Vader down. Then, he had spoken through their bond one last time.

She willed herself not to remember, the pain becoming too much, her heart hammering too fast. But, she couldn't help it. The words drifted through her ears as if she was hearing them clearly for the first time.

"My purpose. I found it."

Then, in less than a minute, he was gone. The world erupted in fire.

Suddenly, she was back in the suite, gazing onto the floor as tears streamed down her stoic face. She reached up, wiped them away, and continued to stare out, reaching for the Force to give her peace.

Jake caught it.

His hand laid upon her shoulder and she stiffened slightly, then relaxed somewhat.

"I miss him too." Jake said softly, a tone she rarely heard from him. "I miss him every day I wake up."

"I know you do." Was the only thing she could get her mouth to say.

Jake squeezed slightly, "I held out hope that my brother had survived somehow. You know him. Stubborn." He said, "I searched for weeks for anything. Something."

Ahsoka nodded. She did remember. She remembered weeping against her former Master and Obi Wan while Jake blasted off to the battle site to search and search for Blaze. A brother's love, she thought, was a bond undeterred by mere facts.

"Then, I realized he was gone." Jake continued. "But, just like him, he went out saving me. Saving you." He pointed his head at Max and Lexiah and Mara, "Saving them." He picked up the cup beside him and offered it to her.

Ahsoka took it, downed the glass, and set it on the railing. She was glad it was only water.

"Even now," Jake said. "I wait for him to appear outside my door and ask me if I want to go for a run in Core Square." Tears of his own sprang up, "My mom. My dad. My brother. Gone. The last of the old Kentic family." He wrapped his arm around her shoulders in a protective embrace, "But, I gained more family. You. Max. Lexiah. Mara. He's still here through all of you."

Ahsoka sniffled, then she looked at him. His blue eyes were full of emotion, but his face was strongly set. He was right.

She wiped her face again and gave a watery smile, "Thank you, Jake. He would've been proud of what you've done and who you've grown to be. I know I am."

Jake returned the gesture, "That means the world to me, my sister."

Ahsoka felt her heart warm. That was the second time he'd ever referred to her as his sister. She and Blaze hadn't even been married yet before his death, but Jake and everyone else had already etched it into their hearts and minds.

They were family.

Master Yoda had said before that the shadow of greed from attachments would ultimately lead to the Dark Side, but Blaze had convinced him otherwise. That love and compassion unabated could lead to something much more powerful. And, it had. It had given birth to something much stronger: hope and fulfillment. There had now been a sense of love that the Jedi of old had felt. Something personal for them to fight for. At the end of the day, they would come home to the person, or people, that they loved the most.

Jake smiled, then turned to look at the kids, "Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to play with my nieces and nephew." He slowly crept towards them and pounced on them.

Ahsoka smiled, then frowned as her comlink beeped. Was it Anakin calling on her to check up? She did not doubt it.

She excused herself from the room and stepped out into the hallway. She keyed the device and chuckled, "Master, I thought you'd call sooner."

"It's not Skywalker."

That voice.

For an instant, her heart stopped beating. Then, she replayed the voice, taking into account past experiences and vocal tone. The pieces fit back into place, and the frown deepened.

"Kane."

"Miss Tano. Good to know you're still around." He said, his voice an exact copy of Blaze's with a darker undertone.

One of Blaze's last requests, via a telepathic link to Kane himself, was to watch after Ahsoka until the twins were born so that she did not sink into despair. Kane had agreed for his template. It had been over a year since she had heard him, let alone seen him.

But, here he was. Out of the blue.

"Rough patches are rough patches." Ahsoka said, her voice devoid of all emotion. She willed herself to stop shaking and her body obliged her. "What do you want?"

There was a pause. "I just wanted to check on your wellbeing."

Ahsoka felt the pause as if it was two hands stopping a moving target on their own, "And?"

"There is something out of balance in the galaxy."

Ahsoka nodded, more to herself than to Kane.

Besides the dread of the current day, recently, the Force had felt out of balance. There was a certain…mutation to the normal ebb and flow of the universe. At first, she had just thought it was her own thoughts and emotions adding to the mixture of the current lifestyle.

"Why are you the one telling me?" Ahsoka said. "Surely, the Council would sense it before you."

"The Council is more focused on small time offenses and land squabbles than actual threats. Even in light of recent events, I would think that you realize that." Kane said. "No. You are the only person I am comfortable informing. Not to mention, the only one I can."

"And, what, pray tell, would be so important that you would need to contact me?" Ahsoka said, the back of her mind bristling with unwanted thoughts.

Kane, like Jake, had set off to try to find Blaze after the end. The reason being that Blaze and he were linked. If Blaze died, theoretically, then Kane would die as well. But, he hadn't. In fact, he felt as if the loss of life was more beneficial to his spirit without actually experiencing the life leaving the original's body.

That fact had led Kane to believe that Blaze was still alive, somewhere in the cosmos. There was no solid lead onto that speculation other than Kane's own continued existence. A singular fact duly noted by Ahsoka, Jake, and Kane in unison.

After six months of using all of the Shadow Brigade's resources, equipment, and personnel, Kane had come up short handed, just as Blaze's brother had. The trail was nonexistent and the clock had struck the final hour on Blaze Marko.

That was when the hope of universe truly died.

From then, Kane continued his mission to protect Ahsoka and make sure she continued on for her children.

Kane was silent for a moment, then when he spoke his voice had taken on a cautious tone, "Do you remember what I told you about the main crystal that powered the Galaxy Gun?"

Ahsoka nodded, "That it was one of the strongest kyber shards in the galaxy. That its untapped potential was dangerous."

"And, where is that shard now?"

Ahsoka thought back to when Jake came back, the metal box with clear glass surrounding on all sides, peering within. Inside the containment unit was a kyber shard made of lime green crystal. On either side were small needles that seemed to stab into the crystal, withdrawing semi-clear air particles that resonated with the Force. When Ahsoka had tried to reach out to the crystal, it screamed back into her mind, echoing off the walls of her brain as if it was trying to expand the space already there.

"Only the Master Yoda and I know of its existence and location, besides its protector. It is within the Spire with Master Huyang." Ahsoka said, not realizing the words pushing past her lips till her own auditory receptors picked up on the syllables, "The vessel is ever travelling so acquiring the shard will be nearly impossible without the energy signature."

Kane seemed to ponder her words then said, "Good. Now, remember how that felt. The power within the shard. Put that into a mental image and reach out with your senses."

"You want me to try to reach for that specific feel through the Force?" Ahsoka asked, hesitant. Not out of fear or indecision but out of confusion.

"Yes."

Ahsoka did just that. With the power of the Force flowing through her, she stretched out with her feelings. The net of energy spreading out to encompass the entire galaxy. Within seconds, the energy of the cosmos was made bare to her. Her presence reached out to touch the very strands of reality, the multi-colored beams of life energy surging around and penetrating everything, even her. She was aware of the cosmic existence she now found herself in.

Life.

Peace.

Air.

Water.

Sadness.

Death.

Life.

Courage.

Fear.

Triumph.

Love.

Confusion.

Weakness.

Power.

There it was. Power. That overwhelming aspect of power. That reality bending, head-turning, bound breaking, limit shattering, galaxy-wide expanse of unbelievable power.

She homed in on it, consciously realizing how hot her skin was becoming as her mind approached it. Then, she centered. The power doubled back on her, became infinitely stronger, then became a focal point, a bright white light emanating from the center of the flow of strength.

She opened her eyes, seeing no one around. She looked down at her communicator and nodded to herself, then spoke to Kane, "I feel it. Where?"

"You must realize this is a gamble." Kane said. "This is a mission too dangerous for you alone."

"Tell me."

"Felucia."

Ahsoka knew the planet well. Her first mission to Felucia taught her to be humble in retreat. Her second mission taught her to be more vigilant around her rather than simply focusing on the path laid before her.

The third trip, she told herself, would teach her another lesson yet again she was sure of.

"I can feel it. I've seen it." Kane said softly. "The natives have gone mad. The question is: why? The answer is: the shard. It has been found by someone, or something, and it has poisoned the planet and its people."

That only left one mystery unsolved.

Ahsoka frowned, "If you can feel it, if you can sense the corruption, then why haven't you gone for the shard? You want it. You may not be at war with us anymore, but you still crave such power."

Silence hung in the air. Sweat formed on Ahsoka's forehead.

"In all honesty, the last time I sensed THIS power, I watched Blaze Marko die."

The blood in Ahsoka's veins turned to ice, but her voice remained still, "Do you think it is him?"

"No."

Blood flowed again, followed by hollow sadness.

"But, one can hope."

The fire ignited.

Hope.

Ahsoka abruptly shut off the channel and turned towards the closed door of the suite. She reached her hand out at Jake, then thought better of it and put her hand down.

Indirectly, Kane told her to bring someone along. She needed someone calculating, headstrong, and good on the terrain. There was only one person who had the instincts and talent necessary for such a mission. Someone she trusted with her life and with her children if need be. Someone who had served diligently with her since her induction into the Clone Wars.

Captain Rex.