A/N: This Episode would've been Season 3's second episode.
Episode 2 – Resurrection
A Long Overdue Homecoming! With the Sith Empire pushing the Republic ever further into the core worlds, the Jedi have been forced to leave their hidden temple on the planet Ossus and return to their ancestral home of the Jedi Grand Temple on Coruscant! As the Jedi adjust to their new home, the Jedi have gained a new member in the form of former Sith Lady, Talzin Kenobi, the daughter of Obi Wan Kenobi and Asajj Ventress!
Jedi Temple – Training Room
Talzin was stood in the middle of a round chamber with both her lightsabers active, a white blindfold on around her eyes as her Master's distinctive breathing sound echoed throughout the chamber. A pair of training remotes came flying in, firing a short barrage of low powered, non-lethal bolts, Talzin masterfully deflecting the bolts right back into the remotes, the remotes falling to the floor, inactive.
"Got 'em." She said as Anakin circled the room, watching her.
"Again." Anakin ordered, the remotes reactivating as two more joined them. Talzin however deactivated her lightsabers, the remotes quickly vanishing into the shadows of the room.
"What's the point of this, Master? I know how to do this already." Talzin said as Anakin turned towards her.
"You know how to react as a Sith would. You must unlearn what you have learned, and learn to react as a Jedi would." Anakin said as Talzin sighed, lowering her head.
"How can I learn to react like a Jedi when I don't even know how they would react?" Talzin asked.
"A Jedi does not take life except in self-defense." Anakin said as Talzin arched a confused eyebrow.
"Wasn't that what I was doing just now? Defending myself?" Talzin asked back.
"Yes, but taking a life needs to be your last resort." Anakin said, raising his hand and pulling one of the remotes to his hand with the Force, turning it to show the scorch mark on it from where Talzin had deflected the bolt back into it. Talzin raised the blindfold enough to see the mark and understood what he meant. She'd deflected for a kill shot instead of disabling it.
"How did you do it? Adapt to becoming a Jedi after two decades of being a feared and powerful Sith Lord?" Talzin asked, removing the blindfold.
"You ask as if I have successfully adapted. I still hear this voice echoing back at me, still see this mask in every mirror I pass, still feel the same fear, anger, and hatred that turned me to the Dark Side and kept me there. Not every Sith that turns away from the Dark Side will truly ever be free of it." Anakin said. Talzin seemed worried by this statement.
"Then am I just wasting my time?" Talzin asked.
"No. You have changed, Talzin. We have walked a similar path but at our core, we are different. The moment you heard that the Sith were constructing a new Death Star, what did you feel?" Anakin asked as Talzin thought back to the incident.
"I felt a knot in my stomach, like my heart had grown heavy. I felt horror, fear, disgust…anger." Talzin said as Anakin looked towards her.
"When I first learned of the Death Star, I knew immediately what it was to be used for. I had no remorse, no hesitation, no second thoughts. I fully believed that Tarkin's technological terror would help to maintain order within the Empire by instilling fear within the galaxy. I watched without remorse as Alderaan, my daughter's homeworld, was destroyed. I even held her back as she was forced to watch. Now, tell me we are similar. Tell me that your sins outweigh the lives of billions of dead innocents." Anakin said, his disgust in his own actions clear in his voice. Talzin swallowed nervously, looking at him with shock and pity as she realized Anakin's own moral suffering was far greater. He had endorsed the use of the terrible weapon while Talzin had been driven to defect by the mere thought of it.
"I never realized." Talzin said as Anakin approached, putting a hand on her shoulder.
"We all carry scars, Talzin. Some will never heal. The key is to never let those scars prevent you from doing what you know to be right." Anakin said as Talzin looked down in remorse.
"I won't, master." Talzin said as Anakin pat her on the shoulder.
"I don't believe you will. I sense that you are afraid of something, my apprentice. A fear that I believe is unfounded." Anakin said as Talzin looked at him curiously.
"What fear is that, Master?" Talzin asked as Anakin looked at her, holding out his hand and pulling the Kenobi lightsaber to his hand from her belt.
"You fear that you will not live up to the name Kenobi." Anakin said as Talzin gave a nod.
"Yes master. I want to follow in my father's footsteps. I want to know who he was." Talzin said as Anakin looked at the lightsaber in his hand.
"You will never be able to live up to his legacy, Talzin. Nor should you try to hold yourself to such a legacy. Kenobi was a great Jedi, yes. I loved him like a brother. But do not cast yourself within his shadow. Do not attempt to overcome it. If anything, step out of it. Do not strive to let the name Kenobi define who you are, Talzin." Anakin said, confusing Talzin.
"Are you saying I'll never be a Jedi?" she asked but Anakin glared at her.
"No. I am saying you can become a great Jedi of your own making. If I can turn away from the Dark Side and return to the Jedi, so can you. You mustn't let your linage define your life." Anakin said as Talzin nodded understandingly.
"I understand what you're saying. Just because my last name is Kenobi, doesn't mean I'll ever be as great a Jedi as he was. Nor should I not strive to be as great. I should strive to do what I know is right, regardless of my ancestry. Whether or not I become a great Jedi like my father is something that will have to come as a result of my actions." Talzin said as Anakin handed the lightsaber back to her and put a comforting arm around her for a moment, leading her out of the training hall and into the rest of the temple, Talzin putting her hood up over her head as they emerged.
"You still have much to learn, my young apprentice. I have every confidence that you will become a great Jedi in your own way." Anakin said as Talzin smiled appreciatively.
"Thank you Master." She said, not noticing as Mara Jade approached them.
"There you are, old man. I knew you were still here." Mara said, Anakin turning to glower at his daughter-in-law.
"What is it, Jade?" Anakin asked as Mara took a sigh of relief.
"I'm in a bit of a parenting bind right now. I just got a message from Talon Karrde on a hot piece of intel and the rendezvous point is in a sketchy part of town. Luke's off on a mission with Anakin, Leia's tied up in meetings, Han's Force knows where on the Falcon, both of your other grandkids are doing their own things, and I'm sure as hell not leaving the droids in charge. Could I impose on you to-." Mara said but Anakin raised his hand, cutting her off.
"I would be honored to look after my grandson. Do you think such a task beneath me, Jade?" Anakin asked with a haughty snort from his mask, causing Talzin and Mara to both smile at him.
"Thanks. I can't begin to tell you how much I appreciate it. R2 and 3PO are in there with him for the moment. They're fine on a short term basis but they…well, they make me nervous leaving them alone." Mara said as Anakin gave a slight nod.
"I agree. Move along, Jade. Don't keep Karrde waiting." Anakin said as Mara gave a nod.
"I owe you one old man." Mara said, turning and hurrying off down the halls. Talzin cleared her throat.
"I suppose I better return to my quarters for now." Talzin said but Anakin blocked her with his arm.
"Actually, I'd like for you to join me." Anakin said as Talzin looked at him curiously.
"You'd trust me around your grandson?" Talzin asked. Anakin turned to loom over her.
"Is there a reason I shouldn't?" Anakin asked, Talzin thinking for a moment.
"I've never really been around kids much." She replied softly.
"Then this is a perfect opportunity to learn." Anakin said, turning with a flare of his Jedi cloak, walking off down the hall as Talzin followed after him with a shrug.
…
Luke and Mara's quarters were actually three single Jedi apartments knocked into one unit. The unit had all the amenities and all the room a family of three needed, with a commons space complete with kitchenette, a room for Luke and Mara on one end of the room and a room for Ben on the opposite end. The commons room, had a large couch, a pair of chairs, a round oval shaped dining table with chairs, one of which had a booster seat for Ben. Also in the commons room was a computer terminal that was code locked so nothing too sensitive could be accessed accidently. R2 was quietly plugged into the computer terminal as 3PO walked in from Luke and Mara's room.
"There, that is that. Seriously R2, I should not be the one to take care of Master Luke's laundry. That sounds like the job of an astromech." 3PO quipped, earning an indignant reply from R2 who swiveled his head around towards him.
"What do you mean, I'd look good in an apron? What does that have to do with anything?" 3PO asked as Ben walked in with a brightly colored holobook.
"Three-pee! I finished reading my book." Ben asked the golden droid.
"Very good, Master Ben. Now, I believe I promised you a story for your hard work." 3PO said as Ben gave a nod.
"Uh-huh but it can wait until my nap." Ben said as he set the datapad down on a coffee table near the couches.
"Very well, Master Ben. Hopefully your mother will be back very-." 3PO said as the door opened, allowing Anakin's tall and imposing form to enter.
"Jade will not be returning until later, 3PO. I will be watching after Ben for now." Anakin said as Ben turned and ran into his grandfather's arms the moment he saw him.
"Grandpa!" Ben cheered, not the least bit intimidated by his grandfather's appearance.
"Oh! Master Anakin, it's so wonderful to see you again." 3PO greeted, R2 beeping happily from the terminal as Anakin held Ben up on one arm so they were eye-level.
"I love it up here!" Ben said as he now towered over the two droids. He then noticed the hooded Talzin smiling up at him in amusement. Ben, not knowing who she was, looked at her curiously.
"Hello, I'm Ben Skywalker, I'm this many." Ben said, holding up two fingers but Anakin shook his head.
"No, Ben, you are this many." Anakin said, holding up three fingers. Ben furrowed his brow in confusion before smiling.
"Oh that's right, I had my birthday. I got to ride in mommy's spaceship." Ben said as Anakin carried him towards the couch, Talzin closing the door behind them, removing her hood.
"I suppose I better introduce myself then. I'm Talzin. I'm…this many." Talzin said, flashing ten fingers three times. Anakin then sat down on the couch, letting Ben sit on his right leg. Talzin quietly smiled at the sight of the fearsome former dark lord, armor and all, doting on his youngest grandchild. She could almost see him smiling beneath his helmet.
"Have a seat, Talzin." Anakin said, Talzin obeying and sitting down in one of the armchairs. Ben proceeded to slip off his grandfather's lap, walking towards Talzin, looking at her curiously.
"What's that on your face?" he asked, referring to Talzin's Sith tattoos.
"Master Ben, you shouldn't ask a complete stranger something like tha-." 3PO said but was cut off by Anakin.
"No, 3PO, let him ask." Anakin instructed, 3PO falling silent. Talzin took a deep breath, trying to think of a way to phrase it to a youngling.
"They're tattoos. I got them because I did bad things." Talzin explained. Ben looked at her curiously.
"Do they hurt?" he asked. Talzin gave a slight nod.
"Yeah, they do. When I first got them, they really hurt my face. But over time my face stopped hurting. Now they don't hurt my face, but…when I see them when I look in a mirror, I hurt in here." She said, putting a hand on her chest. Ben looked confused.
"Why?" he asked. Talzin looked at Anakin, realizing that this was partially why he wanted her to join him.
"Well…I did bad things. Things that I'm ashamed of. Things I hope you never do. And these tattoos, well they remind me of the bad things I did. I was a very bad person, probably still am." Talzin said but Ben looked at her curiously.
"I don't think you're a bad person. I think you're nice…and pretty." He said, catching Talzin off guard, causing her to snort with a smile.
"Well…thank you, Ben, that's one of the nicest things anyone's ever said to me." Talzin said as Anakin chuckled as best he could given his mask.
"The mind of a child is truly wonderful." Anakin said, a smile clear even in his voice.
"I think I get the point, Master." Talzin said as she stood up.
"What point would that be, Talzin?" Anakin asked coyly. Talzin smiled at him.
"Are you leaving already?" Ben asked as Talzin gave a nod.
"Yes but I'll come back soon if your grandfather says its okay. I've just got a lot of thinking to do." Talzin said as Anakin gave a nod.
"You have made excellent progress today, Talzin. I hope you-." Anakin said before R2 was suddenly shot across the room as the computer console he'd been plugged into overloaded, R2 screaming as steam billowed from beneath his dome, the droid looking around in confusion.
"Oh my! R2! Say something!" 3PO exclaimed as R2 beeped in alarm and confusion, Anakin rising to his feet.
"R2, diagnostic, now!" Anakin ordered as he approached the droid, kneeling down to look at the startled astromech. R2 beeped his response. Talzin, meanwhile backed away towards the door.
"I'll see myself out." She said, earning no response as she departed. Only Ben noticed her departure.
"R2-D2 how careless of you! You should know better than to poke around in strange systems." 3PO said as R2, no longer smoking, beeped in argument. Anakin turned towards the console.
"He's no stranger to it, 3PO." Anakin replied, moving to the smoking console, examining it while 3PO stood over him.
"Pardon me, Master Anakin, but what makes you say that?" 3PO asked.
"He helped design it." Anakin retorted. Meanwhile Ben noticed the open door and quietly followed after Talzin. As his grandfather and 3PO talked about the console, Ben quietly walked out into the halls of the Jedi Temple, looking around curiously, taking in the wondrous new place he was in. There were Jedi and Temple guards walking through the halls, going about their business. Ben finally spotted Talzin in her Jedi robes, walking away towards the halls leading to a still unfinished wing of the dormitories. As he followed after her, he didn't notice a MSE droid rolling along through the halls but stopped when it spotted him. The droid then extended an antenna, making a semi-rhythmic beeping noise as the droid started following Ben. Back in the Skywalker quarters though, Anakin had easily finished repairing the console.
"There. That should do it." Anakin said, placing the cover back on the console. R2 beeped happily at him.
"Yes, I quite agree, R2. Perhaps you wouldn't mind examining the servos in my left arm, Master Anakin. They haven't felt quite right lately. I think they might be malfunctioning." 3PO said as Anakin rose to his feet, looking around.
"3PO, R2, where is Ben?" Anakin asked, the two droids looking around.
"Oh dear, he appears to be hiding again." 3PO said but Anakin saw the still open door to the quarters, suddenly breathing in loudly.
"I sense him getting further away! He is attempting to escape! R2, help me look for him! Use your scanners! Find him! 3PO, you remain here if he returns! Use the comlink to notify us!" Anakin said as he and R2 headed out of the quarters.
"Oh, uh, yes sir! I'll remain right here." 3PO said as the door shut behind the Jedi Master and astromech.
"Oh dear, oh dear." 3PO muttered worriedly.
…
Elsewhere in the temple, Ben had lost Talzin in the almost maze-like corridors (maze-like to a 3 year old at least) and was looking around when he heard the "der der der-der, der der der-der" of a MSE droid nearby, suddenly feeling the small droid bump into his right leg. Ben looked at the droid curiously, the droid moving back and forth slightly as it beeped at Ben.
"Are you lost too?" Ben asked. The MSE extended a small parabolic antenna, swiveling the antenna away from Ben.
"That way?" he asked, the MSE doing a quick three point turn to face in the direction its antenna was pointing, beeping in its unique Droidspeak. Ben started following the droid as it led him down the hall, the antenna retracting.
"Are you sure we're going the right way?" Ben asked, the droid beeping its response but Ben couldn't understand it. Instead, he kept following the droid through the halls. Ben followed the droid into a part of the temple cordoned off by construction signs and yellow hazard holograms, being small enough to avoid tripping the holographic hazard tape stanchions. As he entered the area, he didn't go completely unnoticed.
"Ben?" Talzin Kenobi asked as she approached from an adjoining hallway, watching the youngling following the droid into the construction zone. Talzin quietly followed after him, ducking under the stanchions as she followed him, not noticing a white and blue astromech round the corner behind her, his scanner dish spinning around above his dome.
Ben was still following the MSE droid as it swerved into an area filled with construction droids working on the final renovations of the Jedi Temple. Ben looked around at the droids with curiosity and wonder. An EV-series droid with a yellow chassis and a black and yellow hazard striped head was overseeing the construction droids when he noticed the MSE droid rolling up, beeping at it. The droid looked up to see Ben looking around curiously.
"Hey, you!" the droid said, approaching Ben looked up at the droid curiously.
"Me?" he asked as the droid loomed over him.
"State your age, human." The droid ordered as Ben looked at him curiously, raising his left hand.
"This many." Ben replied, holding up three fingers.
"Splendid." The droid said before backing away, motioning to Ben. One of the construction droids then approached with a large metal crate while another, a small security drone, hovered up near him. Suddenly Ben was shot with a stunner, the young boy falling to the ground, unconscious. Talzin then quietly rounded the corner, spotting Ben from the shadows just as the construction droid proceeded to scoop Ben up and drop him into the empty crate. Her eyes widened in surprise and was about to make a move to rescue him when the construction droid made a series of low beeps to the EV droid.
"Take the new acquisition to the loading dock. He will make a fine addition to the project." The droid said, causing Talzin's eyes to widen in shock.
"Project? No, it can't be." She whispered, pulling her hood up over her head. The EV droid walked away to oversee more of the construction, giving Talzin an opening to slip through the occupied construction droids after the one carrying Ben's crate out to the loading dock outside. She managed to reach the loading dock just as the construction droid was on its way back inside, leaving a series of cargo crates, all identical to the one Ben was in, sitting neatly stacked around the loading dock. She was looking the crates over when she heard a familiar beeping behind her. She looked to see R2-D2 rolling towards her, beeping at her curiously. Talzin quickly shushed him.
"Quiet, droid. Help me find your master. He's in one of these crates. Hurry before the transport arrives." Talzin said in an urgent whisper, R2 extending his scanner dish again, beeping a confirmation as the two started hurrying through the loading dock. Talzin was walking quietly through the area, trying to rely on the Force and her instincts to find Ben.
"He's got to be here somewhere." She muttered to herself. Looking inside crate after crate but only found crates full of parts or debris. She then heard the sound of a large engine approaching. She turned and saw a large cargo airspeeder approaching the temple, starting to touch down. The airspeeder resembled a small-scale version of an old Trade Federation lander but with straighter edges and a more boxy main hull. Talzin quickly ducked down behind some crates near where R2 was scanning as an Aqualish man disembarked the airspeeder, the EV droid approaching the transport. The Aqualish then turned to the droid, speaking in its native tones.
"Regular shipment and one acquisition. The proper associates have been notified." The EV droid said, the Aqualish looking around curiously, speaking to the droid again. Talzin heard the Aqualish speaking and from what she could tell, the Aqualish honestly thought the "acquisition" was an assortment of parts or debris the Jedi wanted to dispose of.
"Acquisition is in container THX1138." The EV reported, the Aqualish giving a nod before turning and boarding the transport. A pair of Gotal men then disembarked the transport, beginning to move cargo crates into position beneath a number of large magnetic grapplers on the wings, the crates becoming magnetized and being pulled up onto the grapplers. As Talzin watched, R2 prodded her with one of his smaller manipulator arms, beeping something to her while motioning at one of the crates. Talzin looked and saw the aurabesh markings on one of the crates reading THX1138. She gasped as the transport's engines started to rev up, the Gotals climbing back aboard.
"Come on." She said to the astromech, hurrying towards the transport, Force Jumping up onto the wing of the transport, looking for some means of disabling the grapplers. R2 flew up using his booster rockets to land on the opposite wing just as the transport started to rise into the air.
"They're taking off! Lock yourself down, quick!" Talzin yelled, hurrying to find a secure footing and grab onto the wing of the transport as it started to fly away from the Jedi Temple into the Coruscant skyline, joining the lanes of airspeeder traffic, the pilot and crew unaware of the two stowaways. R2 had magnetized his feet to the hull and even fired his grappling cable onto the wing he was standing on for added security. Talzin similarly pulled a grappling cable launcher, firing it into the hull of the transport, clipping the other end to her belt as a safety line. She could sense Ben's faint presence in the Force within the crates beneath her. She wasn't about to let Ben go so easily as the transport turned into another lane, now headed for the Works district. Talzin glanced over her shoulder to see the Jedi Temple getting smaller. She turned back towards R2, the droid beeping in confusion.
"Steady, droid!" she yelled to the droid. R2 was locked down but still had his booster rockets extended just in case. The transport entered the Works District, flying past the large chimneys and stacks to the various industrial plants and facilities within the district. It then turned and started heading towards one of the many large round pits that went for miles down into the planet. Ships and transports were rising and lowering in and out of the large pit as normal. The transport then started to lower itself down into the pit, descending at a moderate pace, past level after level on its way down. It was several miles below the surface before it stopped descending and turned to fly towards one of the large docking areas along the walls of the pit. The transport approached one of the areas that was cordoned off by yellow lines with the logo of a local salvage company. As they approached, R2 extended a transmitter dish from his dome. Talzin and R2 quickly jumped off the transport, hiding behind a series of large and empty waste disposal bins waiting for pick-up by other transports. Talzin looked out as the Aqualish and the two Gotals disembarked, being approached by a Twi'lek man in bio-hazard gear.
"Got a call from the foreman up at the Jedi Temple. Said he's got an acquisition for us." The Twi'lek man said as the Aqualish gave a nod, motioning towards the crates as the Gotals retrieved the crates from the grapplers, loading Ben's crate onto a cargo-sled as the Aqualish spoke to the Twi'lek. Talzin could tell through the Force as well as the Aqualish's tone that he didn't suspect what really was inside the crate. The Twi'lek however seemed to smile a little sinisterly as the crate was brought to him.
"Right, we'll make sure you get a cut of the price for any good salvage." The Twi'lek said as the Aqualish gave a nod, turning and leading the Gotals off towards one of the nearby offices to retrieve more cargo sleds. The Twi'lek then took the sled with Ben's crate on it, starting to push it towards an airspeeder van guarded by a pair of armed thugs. The thugs helped to open the crate, the Twi'lek looking inside and grinning darkly.
"Take a sample. We'll get a bonus if the boss likes him." The Twi'lek said as one of the thugs produced a small syringe. Talzin and R2 quickly crept their way through to hide behind a parked cargo loader. As they did, the Twi'lek looked towards the loader suspiciously, drawing a blaster as he approached. When he rounded the corner to look behind the transport, all he found was a blue and white astromech, working on the circuitry to the loader, R2 looking at him with a curious beep. The Twi'lek ignored the droid, looking around suspiciously before holstering his blaster. Above them, hiding amongst a series of overhead pipes and vents, Talzin watched as the thugs drew a blood sample from Ben, whom she could clearly see still passed out within the crate. She snarled at the thugs as they closed the lid, loaded him onto the van, and then boarded the van while the Twi'lek leapt into the driver's seat. Talzin quickly landed on the ground behind the van, scrambling quickly onto the top of the van just as its engines started up. She heard R2 beeping at her in alarm as he hurried towards her. She turned and saw R2 approaching, one of his dome-hatches opening and a small cylindrical object appearing inside. Talzin held out her hand, R2 proceeding to launch the object into the air, Talzin pulling it to her hand with the Force. It was a tracking beacon. She quickly jammed the beacon's built in magnet into the hull of the van, leaping off the back of it just as the van took off.
"Alright, we can track them now." Talzin said as she watched the speeder pulling away from the facility. R2 then beeped at her excitedly, causing her to turn towards him.
"Yeah, I know, we shouldn't lose them. Where can we find a transport though?" Talzin asked as R2 beeped, turning with his transmitter dish raised again, rolling towards the edge of the facility.
"You've already got something on its way?" she asked, confused and surprised by the droid's statement. R2 beeped a confirmation, looking up towards the top of the pit. Talzin looked up with him before finally seeing a small arrow-shaped object zipping around in the air, flying towards them. Finally, she could make it out. It was an old but refurbished Delta-7B with faded race yellow paint. The old JSF came to idle near them, R2 rocketing up and into the droid socket, the cockpit canopy opening. Talzin was quietly impressed.
"Okay, reminder to myself: never to underestimate Skywalker's droid again." Talzin said to herself, climbing into the cockpit, the fighter taking off before the canopy had even closed. Within seconds Talzin spotted the airspeeder van flying out of the pit area.
"There it is, keep on that signal, we can't afford to lose them." Talzin said, slowing the fighter down to match the van's speed, the van flying out and over the Works, the evening sun just starting to set on the horizon. She saw the van starting to approach a large tower within the Works. R2 beeped something as they approached the tower.
"Yeah, they're heading for that tower alright. The old LiMerge Building…I was afraid of that." Talzin muttered to herself, bringing the fighter in low towards where the tower disappeared into the surface of the Works. The van proceeded to enter the tower through a large hatch, the van disappearing inside. Talzin brought the fighter in to land on a narrow inspection platform that hadn't been used in decades. As Talzin climbed out of the fighter, she looked up at the tower with apprehension. She then turned to R2, looking at him as he remained snug in the droid socket.
"Stay with the ship. I'll signal you if I need you." She said, holding up a comlink. R2 beeped to her, worried.
"Don't worry. I'll get him out or die trying." Talzin said, pulling the hood up over her head as she turned away, headed towards the tower. R2 watched her leave before turning his attention towards the empty cockpit. He beeped something to himself as the transmitter dish extended into place. Meanwhile, Talzin quietly scaled her way up the side of the building, carefully using the Force to jump from level to level until she reached a part of the tower that was still powered. She entered through a door linked to a causeway that wrapped around the building and led to some old landing pads that had long since been removed. She made her way through the darkened facility, entering a maintenance shaft. She crept through the rusting shaft, using the Force and her instincts as her guide, until she saw light streaming through a grating in the ceiling ahead. Shadows moved across the grating, the sound of footsteps accompanying the moving shadows.
She could also hear voices echoing from above. She paused to look up through the grating, watching as a pair of soldier-like men in make-shift armor patrolled through a larger chamber overhead. As she looked closer she could recognize that despite their mismatched armor, they all carried the same weapon: E-22 Blaster Rifles, manufactured by Rebus Arms, a Sith owned and aligned small arms and armor manufacturing firm. Talzin could also hear something that made her stomach churn, the sounds of children, lots of them, crying out for their parents. Talzin continued through the shaft, making her way out and towards a ladder leading up. She quickly climbed the ladder, cautiously peaking up to see a pair of guards walking away from her down a hall, the two on patrol. She quietly climbed off the ladder, creeping through the corridor in the opposite direction from the troops.
She had the troops pegged right away: Sith Special Forces. They wore the mismatched uniforms in an attempt to disguise themselves as an ordinary mercenary group but it was the E-22s that gave them away. As she made her way through the hall, she heard a voice echoing from a small hangar bay ahead. She quickly hurried on towards the hangar, hiding in the shadows just outside the bay. She looked inside the bay from her hiding place, taking care not to be seen. Inside was the airspeeder van, the Twi'lek and the two thugs standing guard over the crate with Ben's sleeping form inside, the lid open and on the floor of the van. Two troopers stood guard over the three until finally a bald headed man in dark clothes emerged from deeper within the facility.
"We've got another one for you. Probably a keeper. Snatched him right from the Jedi Temple, if Gabbo's right." The Twi'lek said as the bald man looked the unconscious Ben over. Talzin recognized the man. She'd seen his face countless times. It was one of the Sith's cloned Dark Jedi. She saw a standard issue Sith doublebladed lightsaber clipped to one side of his belt along with a force whip.
"From the Jedi Temple? Yes, I can feel it. This boy may be most valuable to the Empire." The Dark Jedi said as the Twi'lek smirked.
"Enough to pay…double perhaps?" the Twi'lek asked as the Dark Jedi turned away, giving a nod to one of the troopers nearby. The trooper turned and headed into an adjoining room, returning with two cases. The trooper opened one case to reveal it filled with neatly arranged rows and layers of small green crystalline bars. Processed Nova Crystals, worth a fortune and accepted by virtually every known economy. The Twi'lek grinned as his associates were handed the cases.
"A pleasure as always." The Twi'lek said as he and his thugs stepped away from the crate, boarding the van as a pair of troopers emerged from within the main storage area, picking up Ben's unconscious form from within the crate, the jostling waking Ben up.
"Huh, where am I? Where's grandpa?" Ben asked, confused.
"Not to worry young one. Soon you won't need your grandfather. In time, the Empire will satisfy all that you will need…if you behave yourself, of course." The Dark Jedi said, Ben looking at him and the troopers with increasing discomfort and fear.
"You're not a nice man, are you?" he asked, his latent connection to the Force warning him of danger. The Dark Jedi merely smirked and looked to the troopers.
"Put him with the others. Signal the freighter to stand-by for loading." The Dark Jedi ordered the troopers who dragged the struggling Ben away into the cargo bay where the other crying children were. At the same time, the Dark Jedi motioned for another trooper to approach him.
"Let's not take any chances. Give Mr. Tazeem his severance package." The Dark Jedi ordered, the trooper nodding and approaching the airspeeder van just as it started up, turning around as the hangar doors opened. Once the airspeeder was turned around, the trooper planted an explosive device on the speeder mere seconds before the speeder took off into the Coruscant skyline. The Dark Jedi watched with dark pleasure as the van flew a few hundred meters away before suddenly exploding, its burning wreckage tumbling towards the surface. Talzin snarled in frustration at the Dark Jedi's actions as the Dark Jedi and his escorts reentered the cargo bay. Talzin quietly crept away, finding a quiet maintenance corridor and ducking inside. Once she was sure she was alone, she ran a hand over her face.
"Come on, Talzin, think. There's got to be something you can do." she muttered to herself. She happened to look up and saw several sheets of transparasteel in storage, seeing her reflection in the glass, seeing the Sith Tattoos on her face. The sight of the tattoos gave her an idea. She quietly made sure her hood was up over her head and adopted a menacing scowl before turning and walking brazenly out into the hall, walking straight towards one of the troopers. The trooper saw her and raised his weapon, not recognizing her at a distance.
"Halt! Who goes there?!" the trooper ordered as Talzin sneered at him.
"Stand down trooper! I haven't the time for your paranoia! I am Darth Talzin, and you will take me to your commanding officer at once!" Talzin ordered, the trooper hesitating before quickly snapping to a salute.
"L-Lady Talzin! We weren't expecting-…right away, ma'am." The trooper replied, turning and leading her into the cargo bay. When Talzin saw the inside of the cargo bay, she froze. Inside the bay were large metal cages with thick durasteel bars lining the edges and low-powered forcefields being projected between the bars. There were at least six cages, all filled with at least a dozen children each, mostly human but some of other races as well. The children were all younglings, all of them between the ages of two and five, all of them crying for their parents or just crying in general out of fear. The troopers paid them no mind. Talzin was quietly horrified by what she saw as she made her way past the cages. She saw Ben amongst the younglings in one of the cages but he hadn't noticed her yet. The trooper hurried to the Dark Jedi, whispering in his ear. The Dark Jedi looked at him, startled, before turning to look at Talzin as she looked the cages over. He then quietly straightened his robes, turning, and approaching her. He then bowed to her.
"My Lady Talzin, your arrival is unexpected. It is indeed a great honor to be in your presence." The Dark Jedi stated but Talzin gave a dismissive wave.
"You may dispense with the pleasantries. The Empress is most displeased with you and your men." Talzin said, speaking like the Sith Lady she used to be. The Dark Jedi was startled.
"M-milady, we have been carrying out our end of the project to the best of our abilities. We've managed to keep our operation a secret successfully ever since starting it last year. What have we done to anger her majesty?" the Dark Jedi asked as Talzin walked past him, giving off an air of annoyance and superiority.
"I'm surprised that you yourself are not aware of your failures. Needless to say, the Empress has sent me to put you straight. First, when was the last time you communicated with your Commanding Officer?" Talzin asked as the Dark Jedi looked nervous.
"It's been at least a month, milady." He said. Talzin rolled her eyes at him in contempt but internally she was breathing a sigh of relief. The fact he hadn't communicated with the Sith in over a month meant that it would be almost impossible for him to know of her recent defection.
"Typical. I want a complete review of your standing orders as well as any relevant data. I've been ordered to bring this information back to the capital for review. The Grand Admiral wants to review it for the purpose of finding alternative routes and solutions." Talzin said as the Dark Jedi bowed.
"Yes milady. Right this way." The Dark Jedi replied, leading her towards a flight of stairs leading up to a makeshift office that overlooked the cargo bay. Once inside, the Dark Jedi picked up a datapad, calling up the information she requested.
"Here we are, as requested. Our standing orders are to covertly rescue children born to Republic families and ship them off-world to Ziost. That is all." The Dark Jedi reported as Talzin looked over the datapad.
"What age ranges are targeted?" Talzin asked, expecting him to know the answer.
"Three to five galactic standard years. Exceptions can be made for children one year younger or older than the target range on a case-by-case basis. Force Sensitives are given priority." The Dark Jedi reported.
"And this is going towards…what?" Talzin asked, looking at him expectantly.
"Project Resurrection, milady." The Dark Jedi said as Talzin glared at him, quietly ejecting a data disk from the datapad with all the datapad's information written to the disk, pocketing the disk inside her robes.
"Very good. I sensed something when I arrived. A disturbance in the Force. You have something." Talzin said as the Dark Jedi gave a slight smile and a nod.
"Yes, milady. We've recently made a marvelous acquisition. A youngling that is very strong with the Force. Abducted straight from the Jedi Temple just this afternoon." The Dark Jedi said as Talzin handed the datapad back to him.
"Show me." She ordered.
"Of course." He replied but as they headed for the door, one of the troopers approached.
"Pardon the interruption, sir, ma'am, but we've received a signal from the freighter. They are on final approach to the facility. Shall we begin preparing the cages for transfer?" the trooper asked.
"Ready the men for the transfer." The Dark Jedi ordered as the trooper nodded.
"Yes sir." The trooper said with a salute before returning to his post. The Dark Jedi then gave a confident smile to Talzin.
"This will give us an excellent opportunity to show you our operation in action." The Dark Jedi said as Talzin motioned to carry on, following behind him as they made their way back to the cargo bay floor. Talzin was quietly trying to figure out a way to rescue the children. Her first thought was to join the freighter crew as it departed and then hijack the transport. Talzin lingered back as the Dark Jedi ordered the troopers guarding Ben's cage to release him for inspection. The guards entered the cage and forced Ben out, bringing him to the Dark Jedi who turned towards Talzin, holding him by the arm. Talzin had turned away so that Ben wouldn't be able to see her face for the hood.
"The boy you requested, milady." The Dark Jedi said as Talzin cleared her throat.
"I'd like a moment alone with him, if you please." She said as the Dark Jedi bowed away, shoving Ben forward. Talzin quickly and quietly knelt down, covering Ben's eyes as she knelt down close to his ear.
"Ben Skywalker, don't be afraid. I'm going to get you and the others out of here. I will return you to your parents and grandfather." Talzin whispered. Ben recognized her voice.
"Tally?" he asked shakily, still scared by his surroundings.
"Shh, don't say a word. Stay quiet and trust me. Follow my lead. I won't let any harm come to you." Talzin said as they heard a series of loud metallic sounds from one end of the room. Talzin recognized it as the docking mechanisms for the Sith Freighter engaging as it docked with the tower. Talzin then took him by the hand, leading him back towards the Dark Jedi.
"I will be escorting this one personally." Talzin said as the Dark Jedi gave a nod.
"By all means, milady. The freighter has just finished docking with the facility." The Dark Jedi reported as Talzin gave a nod.
"Very good. Carry on." She said, the Dark Jedi bowing away to attend to and oversee the transfer. Talzin then knelt down to Ben.
"You like piggyback rides?" she asked as Ben gave a quiet but nervous nod.
"Alright, climb on." She said, pulling back her hood as Ben climbed onto her back, his arms around her neck as she stood up. The large bay doors then opened, allowing a few squads of Sith Troopers in full uniform to enter the room accompanied by a uniformed Sith Officer. The Officer approached the Dark Jedi.
"Are the acquisitions ready for transfer?" the Officer asked as the Dark Jedi gave a nod.
"They are. I'd recommend being as efficient as possible. We're being observed by Lady Talzin." The Dark Jedi said but the moment he said that, the Officer's eyes widened.
"Lady Talzin?!" he asked, looking towards where Talzin stood. The minute he and Talzin locked eyes, Talzin immediately sensed trouble, reaching for her lightsabers. The Officer drew his side arm as he stepped behind the Dark Jedi.
"Fool! Lady Talzin's betrayed the Empire! The Empress ordered her excommunication!" the Officer reported, the Dark Jedi spinning around to glare at her in anger and confusion.
"What?!" The Dark Jedi exclaimed as Talzin activated her lightsabers, the uniformed troopers aiming their blasters at her and Ben. Talzin did a quick look around. She was surrounded by Sith Troopers, as even the non-uniformed troopers took aim at her. She scowled in anger as the Dark Jedi activated his double-bladed lightsaber.
"So you are a traitor!" the Dark Jedi said as Talzin scowled at him.
"The 66th Legion has footage of her willfully saving the life of Anakin Skywalker from ex-Sith Assassin Darth Maul as well as willingly boarding Skywalker's private vessel. Order 66 has been issued against her." The Officer said as the Dark Jedi spun his lightsaber.
"By the Empress's Command." He said as he started to approach Talzin.
"Ben, get down and find some cover." Talzin said, Ben obediently dropping down and hurrying towards one of the cages, ducking down near it as Talzin and the Dark Jedi started to circle one another. Before either one of them could strike though, the lights within the building suddenly went out, dim red emergency lights coming on, the only other light sources being Talzin and the Dark Jedi's lightsabers.
"What's happening?! What's going on?!" the Officer yelled. They could hear the sound of crinkling and groaning metal echoing throughout the room over the hum of the lightsabers. The children had fallen silent, looking around confused. Talzin and the Dark Jedi though sensed a disturbance in the Force.
"He's here." The Dark Jedi said with a nervous gulp. That's when they heard it, a familiar breathing sound, the breathing sound getting closer. They could also hear a couple of men suddenly start strangling for air coupled with a faint rumbling and the sound of their blasters clattering to the floor. They also heard a series of metallic clanking as emergency shutters on the cages slammed shut, shielding the children inside from being able to see outside their cages. Ben, as he knelt on the floor near one of the cages, suddenly felt a warm but strong gloved hand placed on his shoulder.
"Ben, close your eyes and cover your ears." He heard his grandfather's voice say softly to him. Ben did as instructed, closing his eyes and putting his hands over his ears. The darkness of the bay was suddenly illuminated by a single blue lightsaber blade, the blade clearly revealing the towering dark visage of Anakin Skywalker as he stood near Ben.
"Open fire!" the Officer exclaimed just as Anakin took a wide swipe with his lightsaber, cutting down two Sith Troopers in a single swing. The troopers opened fire on him, the former Dark Lord deflecting their shots as he stormed through the bay, mercilessly cutting down the Sith Troopers, is fury raging through the Force around him. At the same time, Talzin quickly turned and swung at the Dark Jedi who deflected, the two engaging in duel as Anakin ruthlessly cut down the Sith Troopers, Force Choking some into the air before cutting them down or snapping their necks. Or he would pull their blasters from their hands before cutting through them. The Officer saw this and swallowed fearfully, turning to run towards the freighter only for the loading bay doors to open and reveal several squads of 501st Stormtroopers with their blasters drawn. The trooper attempted to blast them but he was hit with a stun bolt within seconds. As they dueled however, the Dark Jedi quickly shoved Talzin away, running towards the crates, snatching Ben up with one arm, the youngling crying out in fear. Anakin snapped his head around towards them at the sound of Ben's voice, watching as the Dark Jedi ran for one of the other exits with Ben in his arms.
"Ben!" Anakin yelled but saw Talzin giving chase, running after the Dark Jedi. Talzin followed Ben's crying through the halls, following the Dark Jedi out to a landing platform where an old shuttle was landed but when Talzin arrived, the shuttle was burning on the platform and two squads of 501st Stormtroopers stood with their blasters trained on the Dark Jedi. The Dark Jedi snarled and reactivated his lightsaber, putting it to Ben's throat.
"Take another step and the youngling dies!" the Dark Jedi yelled to the Stormtroopers and Talzin. Talzin snarled at him with her lightsabers ready, the stormtroopers keeping their blasters trained on him but not opening fire due to his hostage. Ben was looking at the lightsaber with fear, tears streaming down his face.
"Put him down." Talzin ordered as the Dark Jedi snarled at her.
"You don't give me orders, traitor!" the Dark Jedi said as Talzin inched towards him, deactivating her lightsabers, clipping them to her belt, raising her hands defensively.
"There's no way out of this. Either way, you're coming with us." Talzin said as the Dark Jedi moved his lightsaber away from Ben, holding it defensively in front of him as he backed towards the edge. The Stormtroopers kept their blasters trained on him.
"I find it ironic that you, of all of the Empress's Hands, would suddenly take an interest in stopping me." The Dark Jedi said as Talzin scowled at him.
"The irony isn't lost on me. I just got to the point where I couldn't stand it any longer." Talzin said as the Dark Jedi smirked evilly at her.
"Hmph. How much have you told the Jedi? Did you tell them about Project Resurrection? Did you tell them whose idea it was to kidnap children from across the galaxy, to turn them into loyal soldiers and Dark Jedi for the Empire?" the Dark Jedi asked as Talzin scowled.
"I thought I told them enough, but clearly I didn't." Talzin said as she continued to inch towards him, the Dark Jedi reaching the edge.
"You truly believe the Jedi will accept you after all that you've done against them? You are a fool to believe they will." The Dark Jedi said.
"Then I'll gladly be a fool if it means being a fool with a clear conscience." Talzin argued, taking a step towards the Dark Jedi but the Dark Jedi quickly shifted to hold Ben out over the edge, dangling him over the edge of the platform, Ben looking down and quivering quietly.
"Don't think I won't drop him, milady! What's one child's life compared to all the ones you saved just now? Surely you don't think you can save all of them!" the Dark Jedi taunted as Talzin scowled at him. The Dark Jedi started to laugh tauntingly at her, mocking her frustration at not being able to do anything.
"Yes, I feel your anger, Milady. Your hatred. Very un-Jedi-li-…ACH!" the Dark Jedi gasped as he dropped his lightsaber, putting a hand to his throat in alarm. Talzin was surprised by this as she recognized the effects of a Force Choke. She looked and saw Anakin Skywalker standing nearby, his right hand raised in a pinching motion. As the Dark Jedi struggled to free himself from Anakin's Force Choke, he gave Talzin a snarl of defiance, Talzin realizing what he meant to do, her eyes widening.
"NO!" she exclaimed but was too late as he dropped Ben over the edge. Anakin however quickly raised his left hand towards Ben, catching him with the Force. Ben found himself levitating and being pulled towards his grandfather, the Dark Jedi being released from Anakin's grip in the process. The Dark Jedi turned to grab Ben but was suddenly skewered from behind with a blue lightsaber, Talzin running him through before he could react. The Dark Jedi's face was one of surprise as Talzin pulled the blade from his back. He then looked over his shoulder at her, a weak grin on his face.
"You saved this bunch…but you know that it is nothing more…than a drop in the ocean." The Dark Jedi said before he fell off the edge, dying well before he even hit the ground. Talzin watched his corpse disappear into the seemingly bottomless pits of Coruscant's surface before turning to see Anakin catch Ben in his arms, holding him close while dropping to his knees. Ben was embracing his grandfather with a smile. Talzin found the sight of Darth Vader holding a little boy in a caring embrace odd but touching, allowing a smile to appear on her face.
"Are you alright, Ben?" Anakin asked as Ben smiled up at him.
"Mmm-hmm. Tally saved me." Ben said as Anakin looked up at Talzin, rising to his feet.
"So she did." Anakin said as he carried Ben with him while approaching her.
"I'm sorry about all this, Master." Talzin said as she hung her head in shame.
"Don't be." Another voice said from nearby. Talzin, Anakin, and Ben, all looked to see Luke and Mara, followed closely by R2 and 3PO approaching from within the facility.
"Ben!" Mara exclaimed with a relieved smile, Ben smiling and reaching for his mother.
"Mommy!" Ben cheered as Mara took him into her arms, holding him close while Luke hugged them both, the two dropping to their knees with relief. Talzin turned away with a smile as R2 approached her, tooting happily at him.
"You what?" she asked the droid, confused.
"R2 contacted us and told us what had happened. We all got here as quick as we could." Luke said, as Anakin quietly walked back inside the facility with his stormtroopers. Luke then rose to his feet, approaching Talzin with a warm smile on his bearded face.
"You saved my son's life, Talzin. A Sith Lord wouldn't have done that. My father told me that you've been having doubts about whether or not you're truly a Jedi. After this, you shouldn't doubt anymore." Luke said but Talzin didn't smile, instead sighing and lowering her head with sadness.
"Forgive me, Master, but I'm afraid I cannot accept your gratitude or your kind words. Because, although I might've saved your son's life, were it not for me, he wouldn't have been in danger in the first place." Talzin said, confusing both Luke and Mara.
"Don't be absurd. You saved him. How would he have been in danger because of you?" Mara asked as she approached, Ben having fallen asleep on her shoulder from the stress of the adventure. Talzin shook her head in shame.
"It would seem that I have a lot more explaining to do, Masters." She said, pulling her hood up over her head before walking back into the tower, leaving a confused Luke and Mara behind. R2 merely beeped worriedly after her. Inside the tower, Talzin walked back into the cargo bay to find the 501sts and a number of newly arrived Jedi and Temple Guards were helping to guide the freed younglings out of the bay. Talzin could sense her Master's presence on the upper level, in the office. She quietly made her way up the stairs to the office in time to find Anakin looming over the Sith Officer and a group of captured Sith Troopers before him. Several 501sts stood guard.
"How did you find us, was it the traitor?" the Officer asked, defiantly.
"Don't act so surprised, Captain. We received a transmission tipping us off as to your actions. I want to know what happened to the plans on this datapad." Anakin said, holding up the datapad with the Sith's instructions as he paced back and forth in front of the row of prisoners. The datapad was burnt out, having been destroyed deliberately via a remote self-destruct.
"I'm just a meager officer, doing his duty to his count-." The Officer replied but was cut off as Anakin wheeled back towards him.
"You are a part of the Sith Empire and a traitor! Take him away!" Anakin ordered, his anger clear in his voice. As the stormtroopers escorted their prisoners away, Anakin turned to one of the 501st Officers.
"Captain, tear this place apart until you've found those plans, and bring me the other prisoners! I want them alive!" Anakin barked, the 501st Officer saluting and moving to carry out his orders.
"That won't be necessary, Master. I have them here." Talzin said, reaching into her robe and producing the data disk, handing it to Anakin. The sight of the disk calmed him down significantly.
"You have done well, my apprentice. Yet I sense you are ill at ease." Anakin said as Talzin gave a nod.
"Yes, master. With your permission, I feel it would be best to tell everything before the Council." Talzin said as Anakin gave a nod.
"As you wish." Anakin replied. Talzin was still stood before him when she suddenly felt him embrace her in a strong but surprisingly warm hug.
"You saved my grandson. Know that this is proof enough to show you, that you are no longer a Sith. You may not consider yourself a Jedi yet, but you are well on your way to becoming one." Anakin said as Talzin rested her head on his shoulder, a smile of relief on her face as a tear ran down her cheek.
"Thank you, master." She said softly.
Later that evening…
The Jedi Council had convened within their temporary chambers, Talzin standing in the center while Leia and Director Shan from the Republic Intelligence Bureau were projected into the room via Imagecasters.
"Before we begin, I want to reiterate mine and my family's personal gratitude for your actions in saving my son, as well as the sons and daughters of all the parents whose children may have been lost forever tonight were it not for your actions, Talzin." Luke said as Mara gave a nod.
"Here-here." Mara said, most of the other Jedi silently expressing their agreement.
"And allow me to reiterate that your gratitude is wasted, Masters. If I am to truly become a Jedi, I must make a clean breast of it. Yes, were it not for me, your son would've been lost to you. However, were it not for me, he would not have been in any danger to begin with." Talzin said as Luke sat back in his seat, a worried look on his face towards her.
"As you've said, Talzin. But you have earned our trust, this night. We are here, and we are listening." Luke said as Talzin took a deep breath, calming herself.
"Project Resurrection. I'm sure your Intelligence Bureau has heard whispers of it." Talzin said as she looked towards Galen.
"And only whispers. Whatever it is, it's very secretive to the Sith." Galen said as Talzin looked towards Anakin who gave a reassuring nod.
"Allow me then to shed some light on it. Back when the Emperor first devised his plans for the Sith Empire, he knew that it would need loyal soldiers to fight in its name. To that end, two ideas came to mind. The first was a clone army like the Grand Army of the Republic had used during the Clone Wars. That was Project Assemblage, which resulted in the construction of a cloning vessel. I understand that you're aware of the clone ship already." Talzin said.
"That is correct. Your old Master, the Nightsister Silri, told an ally of the Republic about it while sharing a cell with that ally on the Malachor V Prison facility. We've been hunting for it since." Galen said as Talzin shifted slightly on her feet.
"That's right, and the Sith know that you are looking for it. That's why Project Resurrection was activated." Talzin explained.
"And what is Project Resurrection?" Kyle Katarn asked.
"You got a sample of it this evening. It is the mass abduction of children from across the galaxy." Talzin said as Mara's mouth fell open. The Jedi were quietly surprised by this as well as repulsed. Even Leia and Deena were alarmed by the revelation.
"Mass abduction?" Mara asked as Talzin looked at her grimly.
"And mass indoctrination. It was the brainchild of Admiral Brendol Hux, the father of General Armitage Hux. Project Resurrection's objective is to kidnap children from across the galaxy and indoctrinate them into becoming fanatical and loyal soldiers of the Empire. Had Silri not discovered the four-thousand year old Sith Army frozen in Carbonite, the Sith Empire would've used Project Resurrection to form their army instead of Project Assemblage. The galaxy's children would've been turned on their parents." Talzin explained as the Jedi whispered amongst themselves.
"So why now? Why activate the project now when we still have as of yet to find this cloning vessel?" Leia asked as Talzin turned to look at the Chancellor with a sad gaze.
"A precautionary measure in case the Republic ever does find the Assemblage and manage to cut off their supply of cloned soldiers. Make no mistake, they have more than just the assemblage churning out their cloned army. There are several other cloning and training facilities across Sith Space, but the Empress isn't prepared to let you know about it without a contingency plan. What's more, she's hoping to strengthen the First Order of the Sith itself by finding new potential Dark Jedi to either take on as apprentices or to confront the Jedi Order in general." Talzin said as Luke looked up at her.
"Potential Dark Jedi, like Ben." Luke said as Talzin gave a nod.
"Yes, masters." Talzin said as Mara looked at her curiously.
"And you blame yourself for this?" Mara asked as Talzin took another breath.
"I do." She replied.
"Complicity does not entirely equal having committed the act yourself, Talzin." Galen said but Talzin looked towards Anakin.
"It is not complicity she is confessing to." Anakin said softly but loud enough for everyone to hear. They all understood his meaning and looked to Talzin who gave a grim nod.
"Yes. It was my idea to reactivate Project Resurrection in the wake of Silri's escape and the news that the Republic had learned of the Assemblage. The Empress had been reluctant to activate the Project prior to the war as it could draw unwanted attention towards the Sith before they were ready to strike. I suggested that, since the Assemblage was at risk after Malachor V, that the Sith explore other means of maintaining its army. I also had access to Silri's files from her time as one of the Hands, and they mentioned Project Resurrection. With the Empress's blessing, I gave the order to doom the lives of billions of innocent children." Talzin said, looking at Luke.
"So you see, Master Skywalker, were it not for me, your son would never have been put in the situation he ended up in." Talzin said before turning to Anakin with a face wracked with guilt.
"You told me earlier, Master, about your willingness to go along with the plans to build and use the Death Star. How you forced the Chancellor to watch her homeworld get destroyed. You asked me if I thought my sins outweighed the lives lost at Alderaan and beyond. Answer is, Master, they don't. Alderaan was destroyed quickly and at least most if not all of the people killed there died instantly and painlessly. I ordered the ruination of billions of lives. Now, tell me that we are similar." Talzin said, a tear running down her cheek as she turned to leave. She had just taken a couple of steps towards the door when…
"We are similar, Talzin…" Anakin said as he rose from his seat, turning towards Talzin. Talzin turned to look towards him as he approached.
"You made a choice, Talzin. As did I. A choice that will haunt you until your final breath. But also like me, you made another choice. A choice to atone. A choice to turn away from the Dark Side, to seek peace. Turn that guilt, the self-anger, the self-hatred, into a driving force to do good. To remind you of the reason you turned away from the Dark Side. Instead of letting the Dark Side draw you away from the Light, let it push you into the Light." Anakin said as he approached her, Talzin turning to look up at him with a look of surprise on her face. She was stunned by the mercy she was being shown.
"Master." She whispered in shock. She then noticed Luke and most of the other Jedi Masters rising to their feet, all sharing the same supporting expressions.
"We will not give up on you so easily, Talzin. Know that we will never give up on you." Anakin said as Luke gave a nod.
"The woman who saved my son's life, is not the same woman who, a year ago, would've ordered his abduction. You must see that, surely." Luke said as Mara nodded in agreement.
"And if you think you're the first Dark Sider to turn away from the Dark Side in this room, you're mistaken." Mara said as Kyle nodded in agreement.
"Ex-Imperial Stormtrooper here." Kyle said.
"I blew up at least two star systems with an Imperial Superweapon." Kyp said.
"I was one of Emperor Palpatine's Emperor's Hands. Even tried to kill my future husband on his order." Mara said, she and Luke putting an arm around each other.
"I yielded to the Emperor's power when he reappeared with the Reborn Empire." Luke added.
"I was trained as a Sith Assassin by Vader. Killed at least two Jedi and countless innocents." Galen said.
"I fell to the Dark Side, tried to kill a Senator." Maris said as X2 straightened his robes.
"I carried out Order 66 during the Clone Wars against my first Master." X2 said as Kam looked to Tionne with a smile and then to Talzin.
"I was a slave to the Emperor and the Dark Side. Made into a puppet, memories stripped away." Kam said as Talzin looked them all over, her eyes settling on Anakin.
"You are not alone, Talzin. Even your own mother was a servant of the Dark Side at one time. No one is without redemption. The scars of the past will never truly fade. It is what you do to ease the pain that matters most." Anakin said as Talzin gave a nod of understanding, tears streaming down her cheeks as she smiled at him.
"Thank you…thank you all." She whispered, too choked up to speak any louder. It was at this moment, for the first time in her life, not only did Talzin feel like she actually belonged. More than that, for the first time since she was a little girl on Tatooine, she felt at peace.
Meanwhile…
Within Sith Space, Grand Admiral Thrawn stood in his quarters on his flagship, the Chimera-II, admiring a broken lightsaber hilt resting on a pedestal inside an alcove on the wall, the same lightsaber that Galen Marek had thrown to Talzin during the battles on Mustafar. As Thrawn studied the broken lightsaber, Admiral Daala entered with a datapad in hand.
"The report on the Death Star Project, Grand Admiral." Daala said, handing the datapad out towards Thrawn.
"On my desk will suffice." Thrawn replied, not looking away from the lightsaber. Daala silently did so, placing the datapad on Thrawn's desk before looking at the lightsaber as well.
"Why do you have a broken Jedi weapon?" Daala asked as Thrawn glanced at her from over his shoulder.
"Admiral Daala…what do you know of this weapon?" Thrawn asked with a small smile.
"It's a Jedi weapon. Nothing special about it." Daala said. Thrawn stepped aside and picked up the lightsaber hilt, examining it in his hand.
"Every Jedi lightsaber, from Grand Master to Padawan to even the Temple Guards of old, is unique. Hand crafted by its wielder to conform to their own unique style of swordsmanship, to allow them to use the Force at their peak ability. To the Jedi and indeed even the Sith, this weapon is their life. Every detail from its shape, design, weight, and the materials used to make it, speaks of its creator. For instance, the metals used to forge the exterior casing of this lightsaber. Do you know what metals were used in its creation?" Thrawn asked as Daala shrugged. She was silently awed by Thrawn's attention to detail.
"N-no. I presume a…light weight metal for ease of manipulation." Daala said as Thrawn held the hilt up to the light, showing off a light grey color to it.
"It is quadanium. A unique alloy blend of it at that. A blend used only twice by the Empire. I believe you would be very familiar with the blend, Admiral Daala." Thrawn said as Daala blinked in realization.
"The Death Star's hull. But why does this matter?" Daala asked.
"The Death Star is perhaps most infamously known for killing a star within the Galaxy: Alderaan. It is a star killer. How appropriate would it be, for a lightsaber to be forged of metals from the destroyed battle station, by one who carries a similar moniker?" Thrawn asked, placing the lightsaber back on the pedestal.
"Galen Marek. That lightsaber is his. How did you come by it?" Daala asked as Thrawn placed his hands behind his back.
"Starkiller threw it to Lady Talzin during the battle at Mustafar. She kept it, even when she defected on Tatooine to Skywalker. Apparently in the scuffle twixt her and Maul, she dropped it. I ordered its recovery. I find it is very telling about Starkiller. More information that I can use to insure Starkiller's defeat." Thrawn said as Daala sneered slightly.
"Which reminds me. I received a report about Lady Talzin's more recent actions. Our Resurrection Cell on Coruscant has been dismantled. Lady Talzin aided in its destruction." Daala said as Thrawn sat down at his desk, tenting his fingers before him.
"Yes, I am aware. It is for that precise reason that I overruled the order for its deactivation." Thrawn said as Daala blinked in surprise.
"You wanted her to root out the cell? That's treason! The Republic is aware of Project Resurreccion now!" Daala said but Thrawn merely looked at her a gentle but coy smile and an evil glint in his red Chiss eyes.
"That's tactics, Admiral Daala. That is war. You assume that the Republic would not have learned of Project Resurreccion from Lady Talzin without the dismantling of the cell on Coruscant. Every perceived victory, every advantage the Republic assumes they've gained, will be turned against them in time." Thrawn said as he looked at another of his art pieces: the top of a table adorned with the Marek Family Crest, the exact one from the original Marek Homestead on Kashyyyk.
The following morning on Coruscant…
In the Skywalker's Quarters, Mara and Luke sat together on the couch watching as Ben played with a stuffed taun-taun doll. Ben then looked curiously at the doll and then at the door before looking back at his parents.
"Daddy, what is a taun-taun?" Ben asked as Luke thought back to his time on Hoth.
"They're animals native to the planet Hoth. It's a very cold planet with ice everywhere." Luke replied.
"Can we go there sometime?" Ben asked.
"Maybe when you're older. It's far too cold and Hoth…well last time daddy was there, he didn't have a good time." Luke said as Mara scoffed.
"Remind me again, which part of a Taun-taun smells worse? Inside or out?" she asked as Luke looked at her with a slight scowl, turning a little green at the memory.
"Inside. Believe me. Inside for sure." Luke muttered as Mara sniggered to herself. Ben looked at them confused. There was then a knocking at the apartment door.
"Ah, your babysitter's arrived, Ben." Luke said as 3PO entered from one of the side rooms.
"Master Luke I thought I was the one looking after Master Ben today." 3PO quipped as he headed for the door.
"You are, but someone else volunteered to assist." Luke said as 3PO answered the door, allowing Talzin to enter.
"Oh, Mistress Kenobi, how wonderful to see you again." 3PO greeted as Talzin entered.
"3PO. I came as requested, Grand Master. I apologize for my tardiness. The last of the parents have only just departed with their children." Talzin said as Luke and Mara both rose to their feet.
"No apology necessary. I sense peace within you." Luke said as Talzin gave a nod.
"Yes, Master, I do feel at peace. I still know there are more younglings out there and more parents suffering from my actions. But so long as even one child is reunited with their families, I'm relieved." Talzin said as Luke put a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"I'm glad to hear it, Talzin. Your father would be proud of you." Luke said as Talzin smiled at him.
"One day, Master, you're going to have to tell me about him." She said as Luke pat her shoulder.
"One day I will. Ask me again sometime." Luke said.
"Why not tonight? We'd be honored if you would join us for dinner, Talzin. Consider it our beginning to thank you for saving Ben's life." Mara said as Luke nodded in agreement.
"I apologize in advance if it seems like simple fare. It's…my turn to cook and all I know to make is Ronto Beef Stew and other traditional Tatooine fare." Luke said apologetically. Talzin though smiled almost excitedly at the thought.
"Ronto Beef Stew is…it's more than acceptable. I practically grew up on it." Talzin said as Luke smiled at her.
"Me too. Growing up on Tatooine doesn't offer much in the way of cuisine does it?" Luke asked as Talzin chuckled.
"No sir it doesn't." she replied, Mara rolling her eyes.
"Oh Force, another moisture farmer!" Mara groaned as she headed for the door.
"We're everywhere, Mara. Just like the sands we were raised on. We're everywhere." Luke said, following after her.
"And we have a tendency to itch." Talzin muttered, causing Luke to snort with laughter before turning to Ben with a smile.
"Now you behave yourself for Talzin, okay Ben? And no adventures today, okay?" Luke asked as Ben nodded.
"Okay daddy." Ben replied as he and Talzin exchanged smiles.
"Good. We'll be back as soon as we can." Luke said.
"Take your time, Masters. I won't let Ben out of my sight." Talzin said as Luke and Mara both nodded.
"We know." Mara said as the door closed behind them, both of them confident that their son was in good hands.
End Episode 2
Project Resurrection is based off of the same project revealed in Star Wars: Battlefront II (EA).
…
Post Cancellation Notes: This would've been the first of a few Jedi Talzin centric episodes. Talzin's next appearance would be part of a mission to capture her old flagship, the Ventress, for the Republic. However, the plan predictably would go wrong and she would be imprisoned on the ship by Grand Admiral Thrawn who would reveal he had predicted her inevitable defection given her past actions. Despite torture, Talzin would remain true to the Jedi and eventually escape thanks to a plan concocted by Anakin Skywalker. The Ventress would be destroyed but Thrawn would escape.
Talzin would also make peace with her former foes such as the crew of the Ghost as well as Kento Marek.
Later in the series, Talzin would join her Master in the battle over Dromund Kaas, the Sith Capital world, in an attempt to try and convince Akul to turn away from the Dark Side. The Battle would become another melee between Anakin, Akul, and Darth Maul as Maul attempts to usurp her. However the attempt to turn Akul would be a failure as Akul would have been assassinated by Darth Stalker while Maul is betrayed by Lumiya and killed (Silri being executed as well), Lumiya being accepted back into the Emperor's Hands under Stalker who assumes the identity of Darth Vader and becomes Emperor. Akul would die in her former Master's arms, still clinging to the Dark Side.
Talzin would help Anakin cope with his failure to bring back Ahsoka. Anakin would then announce his departure from the Jedi Order altogether as the ascension of his evil doppelganger in Vader has stirred up resentment within the Republic against Anakin for being the original Vader. Talzin would attempt to go with him but he would beg her to remain with the Jedi as he did not want to corrupt her father's legacy. Talzin doesn't take much convincing as she realizes Anakin is the Chosen One and is fulfilling his destiny. Anakin then goes on to form the Third Empire as the Republic and Sith Empire both fracture under new leadership on both sides, with Anakin naming himself Emperor of the New Empire. Talzin does not follow her master.
Talzin would instead remain with the Republic and the Jedi. However the Jedi also schism in the wake of Anakin Skywalker's separation as Luke and Mara Jade are both pressured externally by the public at large to step down from the Jedi Council, both doing so. The Skywalkers go into exile to escape prosecution by the Republic while Leia similarly (after her term as Chancellor has expired), escapes to form the Resistance against the Sith who have lulled the Republic into signing an armistice agreement, halting the war but leaving the galaxy divided. Talzin would sympathize but not join the Resistance, remaining with the Jedi. She's hailed as a hero for helping bring down Akul as well as saving the new Chancellor from an assassination attempt. The only association Talzin would have with the Skywalkers after their exile would be to train Ben Skywalker in the ways of the Force, with Ben going under the alias of Ben Lars, to protect him from harm. Talzin, while not part of the Jedi Council, would remain an inspirational and influential figure within the Jedi.
Talzin, along with the Jedi, would finally join the Resistance when Emperor Vader attempts to destroy the Republic using the Darkmoon, a Death Star-like superweapon built into a preexisting moon (basically a literal moon turned into a space station, essentially a smaller scale Starkiller Base). Talzin would lead the Jedi Order while Galen Marek would lead the reborn Rebel Knights (Jedi who joined the Resistance) into fighting the Sith.
After the war, the Skywalkers would remain in exile but Ben would join them. Talzin would eventually ascend to the Jedi Council, remaining a highly respected member of the Jedi Council until the day she would become one with the Force. Her first Padawan after Ben, would be an orphaned girl named Vestara Khai, the daughter of an ex-Sith Acolyte from the now defunct Sith Empire.
As for Project: Resurrection, it would continue throughout the war even as the Sith's Cloning Vessel is destroyed by the Republic. It would ultimately be shut down after the fall of the Sith Empire.