8 months ago…

Secret Rebel Headquarters, Atollon

The remainder of the Ghost Crew watched in anticipation and dread as the Phantom came within view. Once it landed near the base, everyone held their breaths.

When only Kanan and Ezra stepped out, Rex knew that something had happened to Ahsoka. His closest friend since the Clone Wars. He bottled up his emotions and went to his private quarters.

He kicked off a couple of items in his room, trying to defuse his anger. "I can't believe it ! She… she can't be… No… No ! I should've gone with her !"

He heard a knock. "Rex. You ok ?" He recognized the voice as Sabine's.

He took a deep breath. "Come in."

The Mandalorian walked in, looking with saddened eyes. "Rex… I am SO sorry. Ezra told me the details. He believes Darth Vader… killed her…"

Rex clutched his head in his hands. "Should've never let her go… Poor Ahsoka… She didn't deserve such a fate…"

In another room, Hera held on to Kanan, whom was blinded. "What happened ?"

"We encountered a former Sith known as Maul. Ezra was separated with myself and Ahsoka. He allowed him to tag along with us so we could get that Holocron… against my better judgement. Next thing I knew, Maul tried to take me down… thankfully, he only grazed my eyes… Somehow, I managed to grab hold of him and toss him down the Temple. For Ahsoka, I could only hear Ezra pleading her to join us… She told her adversary "I won't leave you. Not this time." Chopper manned the Phantom and we were out of the danger zone. I… I don't know what happened to Ahsoka afterwards…"

She hugged him tighter, tears falling. "Oh, Kanan. I'm so sorry about Ahsoka. But what can we do about those eyes ?"

He let out a deep sigh. "I don't know…"

Imperial Headquarters, Coruscant

Emperor Palpatine sat on his throne, watching as Vader almost crawled to him. "Lord Vader, so you've returned… what happened to your mask ?!"

Vader wheezed. "Forgive me, my Master… I have failed… The Rebels have obtained the Holocron. I faced the apprentice of Anakin Skywalker. I have underestimated her abilities. I gave her the chance to tell us about the remaining Jedi. She denied any knowledge of them. I was forced to do battle. We fought outside the Sith Temple. She began to tire and I Force-pushed her down the Temple. As I was attempting to take the Holocron for our use, she sneaked up from behind and managed to get a lucky shot, slashing my helmet. As the Temple crumbled around us, I tried to finish her off, but the coming explosion separated us. I could not find her, so I assumed she was dead."

Palpatine rose from his throne, looking at Vader with much disappointment. "Not only have you failed to obtain the Holocron, but you also failed to terminate Skywalker's apprentice ?! What of the Inquisitors that were sent to deal with Maul ?"

"All dead, my Master."

Palpatine turned away. "So be it. It would seem that the Inquisitorius is not as useful as I had hoped. No matter. I'll have other means to deal with the Rebels. If he succeeds his current mission, a newly acquired Admiral will be promoted to the rank of Grand Admiral. He is a tactical genius, one who will not fail the Empire."

With Vader's opened mask, he raised a visible eyebrow. "What is his name ?"

Palpatine turned back to his wounded apprentice. "Thrawn. A Chiss with a rather interesting way to deal with opposition. He studies them, learns their weaknesses… then moves in for the kill. He can tell what they are simply… by admiring their art. Curious, don't you agree, Lord Vader ?"

Vader's suit needed much repairs, he had a hard time breathing… even with his respirator. "While I heal, perhaps he will succeed where my Inquisitors failed."

Bail Organa's Office, Alderaan

Senator Bail Organa was busy keeping his contacts with the various Rebel Cells up to date. His adopted daughter, Leia, sat by his side.

He wrapped an arm around her. "Your mission at Lothal has been a success. Thankfully, the Empire still doesn't suspect us to support the Rebellion."

"I owe the Ghost Crew a huge thanks for helping me out, Father. If it weren't for them, those Hammerhead-class cruisers would have never been "stolen" by the Rebels. What are you doing now ?"

Bail sighed loudly. "I have to make a drastic change to the "Fulcrum" file." There was Ahsoka Tano's personal file. Where her status was listed, he changed "active" to "deceased".

Leia did a double-take. "D-deceased ?! F-father ! Is this some kind of a bad joke ?!"

Bail removed tears from his eyes. "I'm so sorry, my daughter. I know that you loved her. She was almost family to us. Alas, I've received a report from Commander Sato. You remember Ezra Bridger ?"

Leia blinked for a few moments. "Of course, I remember him ! But I fail to see what Ezra has to do with Ahsoka's current state…"

"He was the last one to see her alive, Leia. They visited the planet of Malachor, in hopes of discovering a way to end the Sith rule. Unfortunately, Ahsoka ran into Darth Vader. Must I remind you what happens to people that cross paths with him ?"

Leia stood up, nervously pacing around. "No. You need not remind me, Father. But… Ahsoka was strong… I doubt that even Vader was able to kill her ! I refuse to believe that my good friend Mina is now without a mother !"

Bail motioned to his daughter to sit back with him. "I can understand your sadness, Leia. I've already sent my condolences to Senator Lux Bonteri and his daughter, Mina. They're as broken-hearted about it as we are." He held her in a comforting hug. "You need a distraction from all these grim news. Go to the library and try to study, please ?"

Leia rose from her seat, nodding. "Yes, Father. I'll go immediately." She went off.

Bail shook his head. "Now I need a replacement…"

Present

Bonteri Private Residence, Onderon

Ahsoka woke out of her nightmare, breathing heavily. "Again… That same vision… Why do I keep feeling responsible for Anakin's fall ?! I had nothing to do with it !"

Lux, now awake by his wife's loud breathing, turned to her. "'Soka ? Having another of those bad dreams ? You've been having them since you fought with Vader, over 8 months ago…"

She sat up on the bed, propping the pillow to support her. "I'm sorry, Lux. I didn't mean to wake you… I don't know why I still feel guilty about Anakin's fall… It's not like I begged him to turn to the Dark Side, you know ?"

"Of course, I believe you. You've seen all the psychiatrists in Iziz to help you with your trauma. None could come up with a solution to overcome your guilt…"

She stared in her husband's eyes. "Maybe psychiatrists can't help me with this… I've been thinking. Perhaps someone wise could help me."

Lux raised an eyebrow. "Anyone in mind ?"

She laid back on the mattress, sighing loudly. "Master Yoda. Thinking back when I was younger, either he or Obi-Wan knew how to solve many issues. Perhaps I ought to "face the music" and speak with him. Problem is, a part of me really doesn't want to, since what I've experienced in my trial by the end of the Clone Wars…"

Lux wrapped a loving arm around her. "Perhaps you should try to speak with him. Let bygones be bygones, you know ?"

"I guess. Please, don't let Mina know that I'm leaving again. I don't want her to worry…"

Lux chuckled. "She inherited your Force-sensitivity, you expect her to not sense your emotions as of now ?"

As if on cue, Mina Bonteri, 15-year old Half-Human/Half-Togruta, showed up at the door. "Mom… are you still letting that un-existing guilt eat away at you ? You've told me your last meeting with your Master on Mandalore… There is NO way he could think you're responsible for his fall… I don't care what you do to get rid of that guilt, just DO IT !"

Ahsoka rose out of bed, stretching herself and making her bones crack. "Ok, ok. I guess I'll try to find out where Master Yoda is hiding."

"Dagobah." Mina whispered.

Ahsoka raised an eye marking towards her daughter. "What makes you think that ?"

Mina had learnt how to trust her instincts like her mother. "Just a hunch, Mom. Give it a shot. What do you have to lose ? I doubt the Empire is scouring around Dagobah, for one…"

Ahsoka walked up to her daughter, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Now Mina, should anything happen to me, my lightsabers are yours. You've already mastered Djem So and Jar'Kai. You are more than ready. I doubt Stormtroopers will give you trouble."

Mina looked up to her mother. "Now you're being silly. You'll overcome your guilt, come back as determined as ever to rid the Galaxy of the Empire, the Rebels will win, end of story !"

Ahsoka gave Mina a gentle hug. "If only things were as easy as you believe them to be, Mina. I'm afraid it's more complicated than that."

Mina shoved her mother out the door. "Yeah, yeah, yeah. Quit your yapping, Mom. Just do what needs to be done. I feel you'll do just great."

As Ahsoka left to her private ship, Lux turned to his daughter. "You shouldn't encourage her so much, Mina. Your mother is capable of much, but I don't want her rushing off to her death."

Mina hopped on the bed, sitting where Ahsoka laid before. "Oh, Dad. You always worry too much. You know that Mom succeeds in everything she does, right ?"

Lux nodded. "She does… but she also tends to be overconfident. That can be a weakness enemies can exploit."

Grand Admiral Thrawn's Office

The Chiss sat besides his desk, studying various datapads. He broke from his concentration when he saw a high-ranking Imperial Security Bureau member walk into his office. "Agent Kallus, I've been expecting you. Please, have a seat."

Kallus took his designated spot. "Thank you, Admiral."

Thrawn narrowed his eyes towards the ISB member. "Have you been successful in locating whomever may be responsible for aiding the Rebels… within our ranks, I mean ?"

Kallus fought to stay focused. "I'm afraid not, Admiral. I haven't been able to get any leads…"

Thrawn handed Kallus a specific datapad. "The identity of this… traitor… will be unveiled in due time. But I've summoned you here for another reason, Agent Kallus. Do you know of the Rebel informant codenamed "Fulcrum" ?"

Kallus looked a bit unnerved. "All that I know, is that this informant seemingly faded off from existence following Lord Vader's mission on Malachor ? Is there a relation ? I wouldn't know…"

Thrawn rose from his seat, turning his back to Kallus. "We have been able to trace the identity… Does the name Ahsoka Tano ring a bell to you ?"

Kallus knew all-too well. "Ahsoka… Tano ? Wasn't she one of the Jedi of the Old Republic ?"

Thrawn paced around his office. "She was at one point. Apparently, she was falsely accused of murder… Another Jedi, by the name of Barriss Offee, had done the deed… I've taken a particular interest to her file. At some point in the Clone Wars, she was… close to Senator Lux Bonteri, whom represents Onderon for the Galactic Senate. Wouldn't it be surprising if these two got reunited following Order 66 ?"

Kallus raised an eyebrow. "But if she was a Jedi at the time of the Republic… how would she have survived Order 66 ?"

"According to her file, she had left the Jedi Order several months before Order 66 was issued."

Kallus scratched his chin in thought. "So… you suspect that she would be still alive… and with Senator Bonteri as we speak ?"

"I will verify these suspicions on my own when I visit the Senator's home… myself." Thrawn motioned Kallus to step outside his office. "Thank you, Agent Kallus. That will be all."

So much for wanting to take a break for several months. A couple of weeks was the most I could stand before the almighty writing itch came to me again. Thus far, my most successful story has been Unchanging Fates, giving us a glimpse of how things could have occurred if Ahsoka had remained in the Order. Several clamored for a sequel. This story takes place between the half of Season 3 of Rebels. I am a firm believer that Ahsoka survived her duel with Vader. While Ahsoka deals with her guilt for leaving Anakin, Agent Kallus has to shake off Grand Admiral Thrawn from discovering that he is the new "Fulcrum" Rebel agent. Over the next chapter, Ahsoka visits Master Yoda for advice and Agent Kallus warns Lux from Thrawn's future visit. The part with Bail and Leia talking between each other was intentional. As most of you already know, famed actress Carrie Fisher passed away a few days ago. Her portrayal of Leia in the Original Trilogy and Episode VII gave us a character to remember for a very long time. She will be missed. I hope this little tribute of mine is a fitting one. I wasn't planning on starting a new story right on New Year's Eve, but I felt inspired. Happy New Year everybody ! Hopefully 2017 will bring the Star Wars universe many positive things. Feel free to leave a review.