I've decided to rewrite the final three chapters and flesh out the epilogue for this story to not only better it, but make it more coincide with the coming episode I'm creating. I hope you enjoy the changes I've made!
Chapter 8: Redemption
Coruscant, 2 ABY
Jedi Temple
Vader's stride caused all to stop and salute until they returned to work. He hated coming here. He hated the atmosphere, symbolism, all of it. There was too much here for Anakin Skywalker. All Vader saw was a ruined relic of everything he aspires to destroy.
He walked through the grand hall and towards the stairwell that lead below. Palpatine was specific with his orders. He was to makes sure that…it…was safe for when the time came.
They were coming…Eon and his band of traitors. Backed by the Star Forge, the Emperor saw it as essential to use Coruscant to take out as much of the Revanites before they got to Endor. Vader was here to make the necessary preparations and leave. He wouldn't be stupid enough to stay. The planet had already fallen; they just haven't seen it. He had more important matters to attend to anyway.
He descended the steps until the area was only lit by lights hanging from the top. He came to a long hall and spotted the door at the end, which was his destination. He could already feel the force being manipulated around him as he approached.
When he reached the door, he forced it open with a wave of his hand. Inside was a circular room and in the middle sat a hooded figure in a meditative state. Vader wasn't sure what…it…did all this time and he honestly didn't care. This was something Palpatine kept to himself among other things.
The figure didn't move, but Vader knew it was alive. "Prepare yourself. The enemy approaches," he then reached for his belt and tossed a lightsaber hilt at the being and watched it suspend in front of it. "You know what to do."
Vader then exited and shut the door behind him. As he walked away he felt a discharge in the force…and the lights shut off for good.
Whatever it was…he hoped it killed Eon.
Rectifier, 2 ABY
Hyperspace
Xur shuffled through the growing stack of data pads, his mind trying to be in a thousand places at once. Each one held ship manifests, fleet numbers, fuel necessities, combat simulations, accounts of ancient battles, and so on. His mask projector, robe, and lightsabers we scattered across the floor in the places he had dropped them, leaving only his boots, armored leggings, combat belt, and upper-body robing.
Dropping a data pad, he placed his hands on his face. The Force warned him of something during his earlier meditation…something ancient…something evil, and he had a feeling that it may be waiting for him on Coruscant. He had to be prepared for anything and everything, especially with Palpatine cornered.
It was too late to turn back now.
Among all his stresses for the coming battle, he couldn't help but realize how far he had come; being an abandoned child to the last Revanite. The friends he had made…and lost, all the enemies he had defeated, and most of all…the ones he cared for most. Obi-Wan was dead, Mace was dead, the Jedi were dead, his family was dead, Anakin was dead, and Yoda had just recently joined them. His old life had been destroyed, everything taken from him…except for one.
Ahsoka was all he had left. The young and brash Xur took her for granted…cast her aside when faced with his goal. He still grimaced when he thought about it. How could he?
I didn't know. He told himself time and time again., but it didn't make it right. It was an excuse…a weak one at that. Xur never forgot what happened to him when she was gone, and he couldn't…he never would.
Xur never thought about Anakin and Padme, simply because he didn't care. Anakin betrayed him…and he would never trust him again. Even so, he saw what Skywalker was coming from. He would do anything to keep Padme safe, and Xur couldn't help but ask himself the same question; would he do the same for Ahsoka?
No matter which way he attempted to soften his response up, he couldn't say no. He would kill for her, die for her, burn cities for her, topple armies for her…he would do anything. She was everything to him.
Love is essential to life. We should never shut it out. We should embrace it…for it is the life blood for everything there is. What we love shapes what we are…and not even the Jedi can tell you that what I say is untrue.
Xur didn't need to think hard to figure out who had said that. Revan was right in almost every way with that memory. It must've sparked when he thought about Ahsoka…like most memories did.
He sensed her presence enter the room, and the door to his quarters shut soon after. The sudden sound snapped him out of his trance, and he picked up the data pad he was studying before.
"Perfect timing," he acknowledged, grabbing another data pad and handing it to Ahsoka as he turned. His sudden action caused her to fumble it in her hands before eventually getting ahold of it. "I need help analyzing these flight patterns."
Ahsoka was caught off guard, but eventually looked down at the pad he had handed her. "The Battle of Rakata Prime?" she asked, narrowing her eyes.
Xur was now pacing back and forth, making hand gestures as he spoke. "The Sith fleet was reacting to every strategy the Republic put into place, and thus was ripping it to shreds. If we could just-,"
"Xur," Ahsoka tried to intervene.
"They had someone using Battle Meditation…wait, I know who it was…Revan's memories you idiot. It was Bastila Shan! Of course-,"
"Xur."
"If we had Battle Meditation behind our fleet, then it'd be invincible! I could just study the tactic-,"
Two gloved hands grasped his wrists, bringing his pacing to a stop, and his blue eyes shifted around before he realized what had happened. Ahsoka then moved to take the data pad from his hands. "I'll take that," she said, placing it back in the pile. "Just sit down," she pointed towards his bed.
Xur's eyes panned back to the pile. "But-," he protested, until Ahsoka's hand flicked forward, and a ripple in the Force didn't give him much choice. "Yes ma'am," he conceded after the bed stopped bouncing from his sudden impact with it.
"Thank you," she smiled, eventually taking a seat next to him. The zabrak didn't look her in the eye, but instead kept his eyes trained on the floor.
Ahsoka leaned in. "What's wrong with you?"
To her relief, the crazed look in his eyes seemed to fade away, and they shut soon after. His head shook slowly, and she could feel something emanating from him that was so unusual, that she felt it transfer to herself.
Fear.
"I-I don't know," he began, his eyes opening once again. "I feel like I've done everything right…everything I could…and yet, I'm not sure it's going to be enough."
She kept her gaze on him. "Are you afraid?"
He paused, still not looking at her. "This is the most powerful I've ever been-,"
Her hand grasped his upper arm. "Xur, are you afraid?"
An eerie quiet took over the room, but Ahsoka could feel the muscles in his arm relax in her grip. The zabrak then finally met her gaze.
"I'm terrified."
The togruta's expression occupied that of concern, and her free hand grasped his forearm. "Of what?" she asked.
No answer came, just silence…and his head turned away from her. After what felt like an eternity of nothing, Ahsoka let go of his forearm and reached for his chin, pulling his head back towards her. "Hey," she said softly. "Tell me."
He sighed. "Do you remember what you said on Kashyyyk…right before you left?"
Ahsoka swallowed hard, feeling the emotions return from that horrible day. "I…I try not to."
Xur shook his head, and then took the hand on his chin into his own. "You said one of the reasons you wanted to leave…was because we never settled down or…or-,"
"Raised a child," Ahsoka finished for him. She shook her head. "It was a selfish thing to say…especially with all that had happened."
"No…no you don't understand," Xur tried to clarify, and then turned to face her, taking her hands into each of his. "I'm terrified that we were never meant to be together…because…th-that's all I've ever wanted; to have a child," he then looked down again. "I knew the day that I stopped you from walking down those steps that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with you. There wasn't a doubt in my mind. A-and then…when the Empire rose into power and I started down such a dark path…I…I never thought I'd ever be good enough for you."
Ahsoka shook her head, gripping his hands tightly. "Don't ever say something like that again. You think because your natural ability to embrace something greater…somehow makes you less valuable to me?"
Xur didn't know what to say, but she beat him to it anyway. "Look at me," she said, and he complied. "You mean everything to me, dammit. You're the descendant of Revan, and the hero of the damn galaxy as far as I'm concerned."
The zabrak chuckled, breaking his somber demeanor. "Let's not hand out medals yet."
Ahsoka shrugged. "That reminds me, I came in here to tell you that it'll be a few hours until the fleets mobilize," she informed him, letting go of his hands and rising to her feet. "Just wanted to make sure you were aware."
She began to walk out, but was stopped by a firm grasp of her right arm…and she smiled to herself.
"You didn't come here to say all those things and just walk out did you?" Xur asked, his eyes narrowed.
Ahsoka shook herself free and turned towards him, her arms crossed. "Well, Captain Rex offered to play some Corellian-Five poker, and Galen wanted to pract-," she was cut off by Xur pulling her down onto his bed, making her laugh as they rolled over, leaving her hovering over him.
"I've got a better idea," Xur offered, a smile on his face. The zabrak and togruta then kissed, both madly engaged in every aspect of it.
A few seconds later, they pulled away. "Mmm," Ahsoka mumbled. "I'm liking this idea."
Before long, they were kissing again, followed by feelings long buried releasing themselves at last.
Scourge approached Xur, who was clad in Revan's armor and topped with shimmering gold-plated shoulder armor, along with small golden horns protruding from the top of his mask. The large Sith nodded, crossing his arms.
"You are ready," he said, and he was eventually followed by Darth Malak.
"Indeed," he agreed, his voice projected by his mechanical jaw. "My old master would be more than pleased."
Xur's eyes shifted behind his mask, noticing Darth Traya appear as well. "The time has come for you to destroy the last of Darth Bane's Sith pretenders, and only one as rare as you will be able to do so."
He nodded. "All three of you have made this possible…thank you."
"Finish it," all three of them said simultaneously.
Xur's eyes slowly opened as he returned to reality, the sound of Ahsoka shuffling to his left, and his eyes turned to see her pull over her upper robe. Her head rolled around as she let it settle comfortably around her upper body. Knowing what that meant, he rolled over until he sat upwards, beginning to put his armored leggings back on as well as his own upper robe.
When Xur had finished dressing himself aside from the heavier items in his wardrobe, he rolled back over, sitting directly behind Ahsoka as she strapped her boots on. His arms found their way around her waist, and he rested his chin on her shoulder, closing his eyes as he bathed in her aura.
Ahsoka smiled, feeling his heartbeat on her back. "Hey," she greeted.
A euphoria swept across his body as he let himself lean against her. "I never want this to end. I never want us to end."
The togruta leaned back, falling back onto the bed with Xur, shuffling to his side until her head lay atop his shoulder. Her gloved hand fell onto his chest and she closed her eyes, feeling each heartbeat his two made.
"It won't," she said.
After a moment of silence, Xur chuckled. "I can't wait to see what zabrak-togruta babies look like."
Ahsoka laughed along. "Probably with more horns atop their heads than we can count."
"Probably," Xur agreed.
No further words were shared for a long moment. This was quite literally the happiest Xur had ever been in 20 years, and possibly his entire life. In his arms lay his world, his purpose, and the true essence of everything he had ever loved. To him, no matter what the circumstance, it was all he would ever need.
He turned and placed his forehead onto hers, knowing full well what was coming, but in this moment, was unwilling to let it stop him.
"I love you, Ahsoka Tano," he whispered.
The togruta stirred, her hand dragging along his body until it reached his face. "I love you too, with all my heart…forever."
They shared one last kiss, but knew what needed to be done.
To see their future, the Empire must fall.
The war room of the Rectifier was filled with anxiety over many issues that the people occupying it were due to face. Many questions that arose were "how is that possible" or "are you sure we will have enough?" No one knew the answer to either of those questions.
Xur Eon stood over the holotable that projected a map of the surface of Coruscant highlighting each of their main strike points. Ahsoka Tano was to his left and around the table was Rham Kota, Starkiller, Generals Rex and Raven and Admiral Yularen respectively.
The zabrak, unmasked and with his hood pulled down, pointed at the Jedi Temple. "This is where we will focus much of our attack. Our scouts have indicated that it houses inquisitors for training and we'll need heavy numbers to match them."
General Raven nodded. "We have 250 clone assassins prepped for the assault. They're trained specifically to deal with inquisitors."
Xur nodded. "Good. We'll need as many as we can to take the Temple. I want one regiment of the 502nd trailing behind. Raven will lead it while Ahsoka and I will take the assassins into the Temple. Galen, you'll take about a third of them around to pull off a flanking maneuver if they pin us down."
Kota nodded. "Sounds effective, but we still need forces to take other strike points such as the Senate Building."
Xur nodded. "You and General Rex will be in charge of securing the building. If we take the Temple and the Senate, the planet will fall in days."
"In theory this is easy," Yularen pointed out. "But if we can't punch through the blockade then you won't even reach the surface."
Ahsoka zoomed out so that the entire planet was in view. "Xur and I are going to lead Dragon squadron along with a large platoon of starfighters and bombers to punch a hole through. However, we're looking at between 3 and 5 Star Destroyers in our path to create an effective hole."
Xur crossed his arms and gave the blockade a look. It was the biggest assembled force he had seen in a long time, but it wasn't impenetrable. They just needed a big blast to push through…but from what?
"We have the numbers," Yularen pointed out. "But we'll need to focus all our fire on one central point. The only problem is it will leave us vulnerable to being flanked."
"I think it's a risk we'll have to take," Starkiller voiced. "Once we spit the blockade you should be able to pick off the rest of the fleet. Make use our numbers."
Xur nodded. "I agree. If all else fails we can have the Star Forge send more ships, but I don't want to endanger another star system just to win this battle." Since the Star Forge used the power of a star to operate, any use of it could kill the star altogether. They were lucky enough to say that they had avoided any sort of man-made supernova…for now.
Ahsoka patted him on the shoulder. "I think that's the right thing to do." She knew that that had made him feel more confident in his decision…at least until the battle started.
"Alright, that's a wrap. This is it gentlemen. It's do or die, and the future of this entire galaxy rests on our attack. Dismissed." Xur concluded. A few nods took place but Xur knew everyone held some bit of doubt, even he did. Everyone began to file out, but Ahsoka stayed behind with him. Once the room was clear, Xur brought up the image of the Jedi Temple.
"You wanted me to stay," she stated, and he didn't ask her how she knew.
"There's something there…something evil," Xur explained. "I don't know how to explain it, but it feels familiar."
Ahsoka placed her hands on the edge of the table and leaned in. "I'm afraid of what they did to it. It can't be good. That place was our home for so long…I just can't believe we've been away from it for so many years now."
Xur nodded in agreement. "War can do that to you, especially one of attrition such as this…but we cannot pull back. There's no room for doubt anymore. It's either us or them."
The Togruta shared his sentiment but she still worried when he talked like that. He sounded too much like a war-mongering dictator of sorts…a Sith. However, she reminded herself time and time again that he was different. He was the caring man who murdered, the just person who chained others…the Jedi that was a Sith. No one was like him…only Revan, and even then, she wondered.
There was so much she still didn't understand. Her heritage didn't give her enough clues to figure out what she was meant to do. She was the Hero of Tython…the Jedi who destroyed the Sith Emperor Vitiate when Revan could not. It didn't add up however…Vader wasn't the Sith Emperor, or maybe she was over-analyzing the situation. It didn't have to be perfect…did it?
"I just hope that we make the right choices for the sake of the galaxy," she voiced
Xur nodded. "We will…it's what we were born to do."
The rush. It was something Xur had not felt in so long. The battle hadn't even begun and he could already feel adrenaline fill him as he sat in the cockpit of his fighter. The Star Forge did more than create massive battleships; it made some of the finest Starfighters he could even imagine. He found it almost impossible that the Republic could beat the Sith conventionally during the reign of Darth Malak. The clone pilots that flew them all had similar evaluations: it really moved.
The stage was set: Coruscant was in their sights at last, but the Empire had a massive fleet in their way. It was going to take everything they had to get past. They would; they had to.
"We have exited hyperspace Commander, you may now launch all fighters," Yularen's voice chimed into his communicator.
"Copy that Admiral," Xur replied and then switched back to his squadron's frequency. "This is it gentlemen. Today we send those Imperial dogs running back to their slime holes."
"We read you Commander! Let's show them what freedom tastes like!" Xur recognized the tone of Mars, one of his best pilots. He was the commander of the Dragon Squadron, a name that struck fear in the hearts of even the best Imperial Pilots.
Xur chuckled a bit. "Indeed. Stay behind me and protect the transports. We won't take the planet if they don't make it through," he warned as he fired up his ship, prepping it for takeoff.
"Yes, I'd rather not be shot down before we even break atmosphere," Raven chimed in from his transport ship.
Mars laughed. "You've got nothing to worry about old-timer. We'll make sure you get there."
"As will we," Ahsoka assured. "Starkiller and I are ready to fly Xur."
"I'll lead my squadron underneath the Imperial fleet. Hopefully we can strike from below," Starkiller suggested.
Xur nodded as his ship flared to life and began to levitate off the hangar floor. "Affirmative Galen, good hunting." He then launched from the hangar and into the depths of space, his squadron close behind. It was oddly quiet for the first few moments. He looked to his right to see the Imperial blockade and Coruscant in the distance just holding their positions. Their fleet must've been out of range for now.
His fighter's wings flapped out and he felt the speed increase as he flew alongside the Rectifier. The rest of the fleet was in front of him. He took a moment to look in awe at what it was. The Star Forge had created something truly beautiful and terrifying at the same time.
This was what he had strived to create all those years ago…a force that would bring the Empire to its knees at last. The time had come.
He looked ahead to see TIE fighters pouring out of the many amount of Star Destroyers, but looked around to find many of his own fighters coming to his side to surpass their numbers. His masked face showed no emotion, but he felt everything come together for this one moment. His hands tightened around the control sticks, and his muscles tensed up around his arms. Time slowed almost to a stop.
Savior, conqueror, hero, villain. You are all things, Revan... and yet you are nothing. In the end, you belong to neither the light nor the darkness. You will forever stand alone.
Malak's words echoed through his mind. Alone? Xur thought. That is where you are wrong. I have never stood alone.
Xur's ship accelerated to max speed as the TIE fighters began to fire on him, and the Battle of Coruscant had begun. Green beams raced past his ship as he deftly dodged each one with precise movements only the Force could enable him to make. He then fired back, and TIE fighters began to explode one by one in front of him as they met their untimely demises. His red beams were seemingly Death itself as not a single set missed their target. Xur then passed through the first wave of fighters, and his own pilots engaged the wave behind him. He sensed quickly that they would lose little pilots to this first engagement.
"Send the transports. The first wave of Imperials is clear," Xur ordered as he pressed forward, inching closer to the blockade. The Imperial frigates were the first obstacle, but would be no issue getting past. It was the Star Destroyers in the back that would give him the worst headache. He himself could slip through the blockade, but he couldn't take an entire planet alone even if he tried. The transport ships had to be protected at all costs.
"We're right behind you Commander! Press on!" Raven called in, and Xur nodded. It was time to break to the surface.
"Dragon Squadron, protect the transports! We must break through!" he ordered as he accelerated towards the blockade. "Admiral! We'll need cover fire from the Rectifier. Unleash the new toy if you have to."
"Will do sir. Be careful out there," Yularen replied. The Revanite fleet then began to fire at the Imperial blockade itself, but initial blasts were met with shields…shields that would eventually break.
Xur growled as the second wave of fighters approached; more beams he had to dodge. The wave met the same fate as the other; ships exploding almost spontaneously as Xur pushed through to the other side. He found himself flying above the first line of frigates, and heavy fire began to pour in. The Zabrak flipped his ship and fired proton torpedoes at the nearest frigate's shield generator, seeing the explosion in the reflection of his cockpit. His squadron would finish it off.
All that stood in his way was a Star Destroyer, and he hoped that Ahsoka's squadron had made it underneath. His squadron along with the transport ships were behind him, but they couldn't beat a Star Destroyer alone. They would lose too many ships.
"Go Xur!" Ahsoka called in. "Trust me!" Xur hesitated, but knew exactly what her word was worth. Without second thought, his ship pushed forward, and they engaged.
"Target the shield generator!" Xur ordered his squadron. He fired on the bridge, but just saw his beams do no damage against its shields. A wave of hostile fire came upon him, and he had to use all his wits to avoid being hit. It wasn't quite enough however as his wing was clipped by one beam. Sirens blared as his fighter struggled to stabilize, and he prayed that Ahsoka acted soon.
Almost on cue, the Star Destroyer's hull exploded and her squadron came up from below. At last, they had broken through. His ship finally stabilized and he headed for Coruscant itself, leaving the space battle behind.
"Are you all right?" Ahsoka asked through the comm channel.
He grunted. "Yeah, just took a little hit. I'll be fine," A cone of orange formed around the front of his ship as he broke atmosphere and was soon enveloped in clouds. As soon as he appeared on the other side of the cloud cover, the city was in view.
It was no different from what he had remembered, lively and peaceful. He longed for the day to return, but now he was forced to attack his home in order to reclaim it.
He looked to his left and spotted the magnificent Jedi Temple; his destination. "Onward to the Temple!" he ordered. "We will march on it from there." He set off in that direction, choosing to land a little way from the temple itself. His ship set down cleanly and he hopped out, the transports behind him. "Dragon Squadron, make sure no one finds interest in us."
"Copy that Commander, have fun down there!" Mars replied and the squadron took off towards the city center. The transports began to unload Revanite troops, their gray armor and division-specific colors making up most of his view as they rushed out. General Raven rushed to his side and the rest of the purple 502nd legion followed.
"The legion is ready Commander, the clone assassins await your orders," Raven informed him.
Xur nodded. "Tell them to lie in wait behind the army. I will signal them to take the front when it is time." Raven gave him a nod and turned back to the legion. Xur sensed the arrival of Ahsoka and turned his attention towards her, noticing Starkiller with her.
"I can lead the assassins into the higher levels," Starkiller offered. "We can strike from above."
"I like that idea, see to it," Xur gave him the clearance, and he began to take the legion with him. Only Ahsoka remained now.
"We're ready," she nodded.
"Are you ready?" he asked.
Ahsoka gripped her lightsabers. "Really? You're asking me that now?" she joked.
That was all Xur needed to turn towards the temple giving it one last look before the attack begun. His army was behind him, and the Infinite Fleet battled in space above. Everything he had done and built led to this moment. The time had come.
He grasped his saber but did not ignite it…and marched.
If you couldn't tell, I rewrote Xur and Ahsoka's moment into a romance scene instead to make the transition into Episode V make more sense. Besides, I think it's better off this way. I also made a few dialogue changes but not too many. If you enjoyed, please follow/fav and leave a review! Thanks for reading, and the Endgame rewrite will come out soon!
