Hi guys welcome to Chapter 4 of The Trial of Anakin Skywalker sorry for the long wait. As you know this is a Mass Effect crossover. And what's a Mass Effect crossover without an appearance from the Normandy. Read on to discover this for yourself.


Chapter 4: An Unexpected Arrival


For a moment, there was a long pause as the Illusive Man studied each of us. He chuckled as he looked at Ahsoka and then moved onto Alex who was scowling at him.

"We have quite a long history" The Illusive Man sighed "don't we?"

"We do" Alex panted "though I recall it wasn't a very pleasant one."

"Master," Ahsoka said nervous "who is this guy?"

For a moment Alex looked hesitant to answer, but he answered in a calm tone.

"This" he gestured towards The Illusive Man "is the Illusive Man, real name unknown. I met him a few 50 years ago. When I was just discovering the wonders of the universe"

"We have a long and troubled past" The Illusive Man told Ahsoka "so would you it would seem"

"What does that mean?" Ahsoka asked nervously.

"All of the events surrounding your quest" The Illusive Man said "the quest for the Galaxy Keys" he looked at Alex who was ignoring him "You have them by now? I presume?"

"6" Alex said. 6? Last I saw him we had only got 5. Alex must've found another during his 5 month absence.

"2 more remain" The Illusive Man explained "it is said, when all 8 are brought together, they have the power to unlock the legendary Eternity Clock. Which will grant anyone the ability to control time"

Alex's eyes widened in shock "that's impossible. No-one but the Time Lords can control Time"

"Where do you think the Eternity Clock came from?" The Illusive Man said, he waited for the shock to register on Alex's face.

"Gallifrey" he gasped "The Eternity Clock... Is from?"

"Gallifrey" The Illusive Man confirmed, Gallifrey was Alex's home world, home to the Time Lords. I say was, because supposedly some time ago in the Last Great Time War. A war fought between The Time Lords and another race called the Daleks. Galifrey was destroyed in the final days of the war. Alex told me. But some Time Lords and their relics survived. The Doctor and Alex were prime examples of Time War survivors. Alex being sent away to Coruscant before Gallifrey's destruction. While relics like the Genesis Arc and The Eternity Clock being prime examples of ancient Gallifrayen relics.

Another image came on the Illusive Man's hologram, a massive clock, with dark grey clouds in the middle, swirling around in a Vortex. the Time Vortex. Around the clock were Ancient Gallifreyan symbols that only Alex could read.

"I discovered this five months ago." The Illusive Man continued "when you led the Vanguards into battle with the Dark Vanguards. When you killed the Dark Vanguards leader Korraban. The Eternity Clock activated." he gestured towards the symbols "and these Symbols appeared, you recognise the language"

"Ancient Gallifreyan" Alex confirmed "The ancient language of the Time Lords"

"Yes" The Illusive Man smiled "I thought you would. Given you've had enough time to study up on your people"

"Hold on!" Ahsoka said, she was getting confused "you said I was tied into all of this. That the events of the quest happened because of me?"

"Ahsoka" Alex said quietly "don't!"

"He never told you?" The Illusive Man gasped in mock surprise, "my my, we have been keeping secrets haven't we?"

"Secrets?" Ahsoka stammered, she looked at Alex who seemed to be tapping buttons on a device. "What secrets?"

"Alex?" I said curious, wanting to know what he had hidden from us this time.

"Rule 1" Alex said, he always did this, used his rules to explain things. Rule 1 was that, the... The "the Avatar always lies"

Ahsoka took a step back from him "no!" she clasped her hands around her mouth "what, is he talking about?" She asked me like I knew the answer "Anakin?"

"I... Have no idea" I stammered.

"It's simple really" The Illusive Man smiled "The Avatar has been lying to you the whole time"

"About what?" Ahsoka panted, she raised her voice at Alex "about what!"

"You think our meeting was a coincidence?" Alex asked "no, I just had to see, Ahsoka your past and my past, it's a troubled thing, your life, my life, I know it's complicated in a Timey Wimey sought of way"

"What do you mean my past and your past?"

"We've known each other since childhood" Alex explained "we were both in Clawmouse Clan. You never noticed me until that day. The day I discovered I was the Avatar"

"And I'm glad I did" Ahsoka smiled, she looked at the Illusive Man "see it's a good thing we met"

"No" Alex said "no it wasn't"

"Master?" Ahsoka said getting nervous "what do you mean?"

"5 months I've kept away from you" Alex explained "for the same reason, I've always regretted meeting you Ahsoka"

"Is someone, forcing you to say that?" Ahsoka said in disbelieve, this was so unlike Alex to say that.

"No" The Illusive Man chuckled "he is for once telling the truth" he looked at Alex,revelling in his misery "tell her, why you regret meeting her"

"Because" Alex sighed, no point in making a comeback "one day, you'll stop, I've seen it happen, Ahsoka I've been making my absences longer now, because one day, you'll fade from me, leave me or worse, you think I'm running away from you, but no, I'm running to you." he looked at me and smiled "you and Anakin, before you flare and fade from me'" he then looked at the Illusive Man'a hologram and said

"Time's up"

The Illusive Man looked confused and then realised what Alex did.

"You didn't "

"I did" Alex smiled "baiting Ahsoka, gave me all the time needed"

"Needed for what?" then a brilliant white light appeared from an incoming spaceship.

"You called them!" The Illusive Man growled "Leng!"

Too late the ship's megaphone boomed with a voice, a light toned voice that sounded familiar.

"Hello down there, this is Jeff "Joker" Moreau! Captain of the SSV Normandy SR 2"

"No!" The Illusive Man said and disappeared as Leng picked the hologram up and dove off the viaduct.

"You took your time" Alex said into the device I saw earlier

"Well" Joker laughed "ya know, traffic was hell"

"Good to hear from you too Joker" Alex smiled "can we board!"

"Commander says your good to go!"

"Thanks" Alex tapped some more buttons on his device and turned to face us. "Come and meet my new friends"

"New friends?" I asked shocked

"All that was a distraction?" Ahsoka gasped she looked up at the Normandy "who are these people?"

"As I said before" Alex smiled "friends" He took Ahsoka's hand as a shuttle came to great us. "Where do you think I've been for the past 5 months?"

If this is what Alex had been doing for the past five months, he had me weary, I didn't like the look of the Normandy, but if these were Alex's friends, he had a lot of explaining to do...