Temple Island; Ahch-To
Jarik POV...
Hiccup and Astrid both gape in bewilderment as Elita slowly transforms up into her bipedal form. Toothless and Stormfly also squawk and flap their wings in alarm, while Zenna remains a little cautious. Once Elita completes her transformation, she quickly, crouches down to be closer to eye level, offering a small, comforting smile.
"Hello," she greets.
"Yeah, kind of crazy huh?" Mara asks rhetorically.
"Uhhh... mmhhmmm, uhhh..." Hiccup trails off dumbly, still shocked.
"Could I have presented myself a little better?" Elita asks me cautiously.
"I don't think there's any easier way to do so," I admit with a shrug.
"How... eh, what... what?" Hiccup sputters in surprise.
"I didn't- you got the vehicle to do this?" Astrid asks in bewilderment.
"No, no, I didn't," I quickly tell her as Elita makes a face. "Funny thing is, she's actually very much alive and living."
"Living?" Hiccup asks slowly. "Like... like us?"
"Yup," Mara says in confirmation.
"But... how?" Astrid asks.
"I guess it does seem strange from your perspective but yes, I am just as alive as any other living creature," Elita tells them gently.
"Wow..." Hiccup breathes in awe.
"Sorry for... not realizing you were then," Astrid apologizes, coughing nervously a few times.
"It's fine," Elita says with a good-natured chuckle. "I completely understand."
"Sorry if this seems rude but, uh... what, are you exactly?" Hiccup asks.
"I'm an autonomous robotic organism from the planet known as Cybertron. Or for short, an autobot," she tells them. "That's only my faction though, as my race are actually known as Cybertronians. As for my name, you can call me Elita One, or just Elita for short."
"Never heard you guys mention people like that before," Astrid remarks to Mara.
"Well, there's actually a good reason for that," she replies. "Cybertron isn't actually in our own galaxy."
"Huh," Hiccup remarks. I guess the scope and scale of that statement isn't exactly reaching their understanding yet, which I suppose is excusable. However he eventually does get the meaning, and widens his eyes. "Ohhhhh!"
"What?" Astrid asks him.
"All of the places that they know of? That the Empire is in control of?" Hiccup says rhetorically, gesturing to me and Mara. "It's actually in just one single galaxy. Basically - if I understand it properly - it could be compared to the distance between here and Berk is like the galaxy, while the distance between Berk and the other side of the world is the distance between galaxies."
Astrid gapes at him in bewilderment, while Mara and I both raise our eyebrows at him and cross our arms.
"Wow. That's... actually a pretty accurate comparison. I'm honestly really impressed by that," I admit with some amusement.
Hiccup smiles nervously in response. "Thanks."
"Woah... but that's so far!" Astrid exclaims, looking up at Elita. "How did you get here then?"
Elita falters for a moment and looks down at us, and I take that as the cue to start explaining.
"She's actually been trapped underneath the island for a long time in what you'd call a really deep coma," I explain. "Now, Elita's people live very long lives, so that's the only reason she's still alive today."
"Like how long?" Hiccup asks. "Were you in a coma for a few years? Maybe even a decade?"
Elita and I share a sheepish look. "Uhh..."
Mara scoffs. "Try six thousand years."
"Haha very funny," Hiccup replies, rolling his eyes.
"Your jokes are usually better than that Mara," Astrid adds, crossing her arms while shaking her head in amusement.
"No I'm serious," she deadpans.
Hiccup and Astrid both stop and just stare at her, which she returns with a no nonsense look, and then slowly turn to face me and Elita. We both admit the truth to Mara's statement with a nod, and their faces slowly morph into complete shock.
"WHAT?!" Astrid exclaims incredulously.
"Six thousand years?!" Hiccup adds in disbelief.
"Hey, are you gonna be more surprised by that then the sight of a vehicle turning into a giant person? No offense," Mara says.
"None taken," Elita replies.
"But... but seriously? Six thousand years?" Hiccup says again.
Mara thins about it for a moment before shrugging.
"Ok I'll give you that," she admits, before a mischievous gleam comes into her eyes. "Wanna know how old she is?"
"Alright Mara, let's not make them faint in shock," I scold her.
"...how old?" Astrid asks warily.
Mara grins at them, and I sigh in exasperation, shrugging helplessly at Elita.
"700,000 years old," she says.
The two Vikings both gape at her in complete shock, and one of Astrid's eyelids begins twitching. Hiccup then falls over to the ground as he faints, in a very comical way I must say. Toothless yelps in surprise and rushes over, sniffing him as he slowly comes back to, while Astrid is still standing there, gaping like a fish out of water.
"Mara," I say calmly.
"Yes dad?"
"You're so grounded."
Rebel Base; Atollon
3rd person POV...
Sitting in her power chair, Shaak-Ti slowly approaches Kanan as Hera leaves him, observing his meditative state. After a few moments she pulls up beside him, staring out towards the horizon. Krykna spiders roam around beyond the perimeter fence, and a few small dokma crabs scuttle across the ground near Kanan.
"How are you faring Kanan?" she asks.
"Alright, I guess," he replies. "I was planning to talk to Ezra in a moment."
"That's probably for the best. I sense a lot of tension between the two of you," she points out.
"Yeah. Ever since Malachor he's been different," he says with a sigh.
Shaak nods quietly in understanding, and gazes at the horizon for a few more moments before speaking again. "Did you feel it?"
"Feel what?" he asks.
"The presence in the Force," she specifies. "It called to you, just as it called to me."
"You heard it to?"
"Yes."
"Well, what does it mean? Do you know what it is?" Kanan asks her.
"No... I do not," Shaak admits in reply. "But whoever that presence belongs to is powerful, and they called to us for a reason. Whatever that reason is, we may be learning soon."
"I hope this isn't a trap," he says uneasily.
"Perhaps. But I did not sense any deceit, and this presence felt ancient, far older than even Master Yoda," she replies.
"Really?" he asks.
"It would seem so. And they are powerful," she confirms.
Kanan hums thoughtfully in reply, continuing his meditation for a short while longer, and Shaak-Ti remains beside him, looking out across the horizon and delving into the Force herself.
When Darth Vader stabbed her through the gut, causing irreparable damage, she dropped her lightsaber. She no longer has it with her, the weapon being left behind on Naboo in the quick and desperate escape. Most likely it has been confiscated by the Empire by now, probably destroyed. Not that it would be of much use to her anymore, as she is now confined to a power chair for the rest of her life with her legs no longer responsive. As such, meditation has been a way of providing much needed calmness and peace, in an otherwise distraught galaxy.
*:*:*
Ezra was lying on his and mulling over his thoughts, with the Sith holocron lying on the shelf and out in the open, sitting quietly. When the door opens, his face morphs into one of surprise when he sees Kanan standing there. He quickly gets to his feet as well as Kanan enters the room.
"Kanan! Uh, hey, what are you doing here?" he asks. He carefully reaches out to grab the holocron to conceal it, but Kanan unintentionally. blocks his way by leaning against the shelf before he can reach it.
"I think it's time for us to talk," Kanan replies.
"Really? Uh, now is not a good time," he says uneasily, glancing between Kanan and the holocron anxiously. "I've been promoted and assigned a really important mission."
"Yeah, I've heard," Kanan admits.
He moves his hands back against the shelf casually in the hopes of entering a conversation, when his fingers brush against the holocron. Ezra's heart races anxiously as Kanan touches it again, picking it up with a frown.
"The Sith holocron?" he murmurs, and when he feels it more closely, alarm races through him. "You opened it?"
"Yeah, I opened it. So what?" Ezra demands.
"Ezra, you know only someone who uses the dark side can open this thing," Kanan points out in disapproval.
"The things I've learned from it have really helped me," he argues in response.
"You're using it?!" Kanan exclaims incredulously.
"Maybe you should, too. You might actually learn something!" Ezra retorts angrily.
"Ezra, do you have any idea how dangerous this path is?" he asks.
"Everything I've learned has helped me win one battle after another. I'm using it for good!" he argues in response.
"Acting out of anger offers quick results, but it's a trap!" Kanan warns him.
"Really? Then why does Jarik get to use the dark side? What makes him different and special?" he snaps.
"Jarik doesn't use his anger or the dark side!" Kanan replies irritably. "He simply has a firm understanding of how it works, and the way it is used by the Sith!"
"Ha! Yeah, because threatening to cut my throat out isn't a sign of anger at all," Ezra growls sarcastically.
"You're the one who pushed him that far when you accused him of not caring about Ahsoka!" Kanan retorts in frustration. "Can't you see that the holocron is using you?"
"Unlike you, I actually make my own decisions," he snaps furiously. "So no, it isn't using me!"
Kanan lets out a defeated sigh, shaking his head at Ezra in disappointment.
"I can't let you keep this," he says quietly, turning to leave the room.
"Fine. I don't need it. Just like I don't need you. Or Jarik," he states angrily.
Kanan stops at the doorway for a moment. "And what about Mara?"
Ezra falters for a moment, trying to formulate a response, but Kanan leaves the room after he's unable to. He clenches his fists tightly and then slams them down on the shelf angrily, breathing heavily.
*:*:*
The list of strategies and tactics lays pooled out across the desk of SHaak-Ti's quarters, which she is sitting in front of. She's mulling over the different battle tactics and strategies in preparation for a class the next day, which she is supervising. Since the Rebellion is still small, open warfare is not going to be a thing for a while, so most battle plans were smaller 'hit-and-run' operations,' or 'recovery' missions. She looks up from the desk as Kanan walks into the room, not looking happy.
"What's wrong?" she asks in concern.
"The trouble is this," Kanan replies.
Reaching up, he places the Sith holocron in the middle of Shaak-Ti's desk. She looks down at it before widening her eyes in alarm and disbelief, glancing back up at him incredulously.
"A Sith holocron?" she whispers, recognizing it instantly.
"Yeah. What's worse is that Ezra opened it," he adds grimly.
"He opened it?" she exclaims in alarm, and instantly spots the piece of the holocron to signify that it's opened. "But the only one's who can open such a holocron use the dark side."
"I know Master. That's what worries me," he tells her.
Shaak lets out a troubled sigh, rubbing her forehead anxiously with a look of concern.
"Where did he even find a Sith holocron?" she demands.
"We found it in the Sith Temple on Malachor," he explains.
"Does Jarik know about it?" she asks.
"Yes Master, we all knew about it," he answers. "But after we left he didn't comment on it, still hurt by his Force bond being snapped. I don't think any of us expected Ezra to open it."
Shaak stares at the holocron firmly, thinking about what to do. She reaches a hand out to touch the holocron, shivering briefly from upon sensing the darkness within it, as well as the presence of some ancient being.
"Jedi..." a female voice whispers in her ear with an angry hiss. "You shall fall..."
She calmly pulls her hand back from the holocron and sighs. "What's important for now is we keep the holocron out of Ezra's reach for some time, and wait for its pull on him to wear off. The more he draws strength from it, the further he falls into darkness."
"Can we close it so that it isn't as effective?" Kanan asks.
"Just as it requires someone using the dark side to open it, so too does it require the dark side to close it as well," she informs him grimly. "I'm afraid we can't do so, lest we risk exposing ourselves to it as well. However, if necessary I would suggest bringing it to Jarik to perform the task, and possibly confiscate it."
"Why do you want him to take it?" he asks warily, uncomfortable with the idea of the holocron possibly corrupting him.
"He's the best choice among us to keep it," she explains with a deep sigh. "I don't like it, but he understands the dark side better than either of us. He knows the danger it can inflict, and will be able to take counter measures against it."
"I hope you're right Master," Kanan says uneasily.
Temple Island; Ahch-To
Jarik POV...
*:*:*
A volcano engulfed in shadow erupts, spewing out magma... no, not magma. A purple substance, flustering with evil. It explodes outwards in a massive eruption. Massive cracks filled with purple light spread across the ground around the volcano.
The massive eruption of the purple material can be seen even from space. Those same cracks of purple light spread across the entire world, covering it complete: a world forged from chaos. Then the entire planet explodes, destroying all life on it, and heralding the return of a horrible darkness. From the rubble of the planet comes forth a massive being cloaked in darkness, looking like the very bringer of all evil in the universe.
Horns and spikes cover his body, and protruding from his back are wings, although they are broken and ripped. Two menacing purple eyes open with a sickening and triumphant gleam.
"I awaken."
*:*:*
I open my eyes with a gasp, sitting up from the bed. Breathing heavily, I force myself to calm down and relax as the realization of it being a vision comes back to me. I let out a shuttering sigh, rubbing my forehead tiredly.
"That's the third time I've seen him..." I mutter quietly, troubled.
I don't know what the deal is with this vision, or who it is that I'm seeing in it, but this has been the most troubling of them yet. The first time I saw such a thing happen was over a year ago, when Hiccup and Astrid discovered the dragon's nest. The second time was just before Mara, Ahsoka and I departed to rescue Thrawn from Oryx. Thinking about that, the addition of wings and horns on this being make me thing it could be Oryx. Or at least it would make me think it's Oryx, if it wasn't for the fact that he isn't the size of a planet, nor does he have two purple eyes. No, this is something else.
But the premonitions I receive are never given to me for no reason, they always have a purpose. Ever since encountering the Taken King, I haven't dreamed of him since, most likely because I now know of the threat he poses, and what he plans to do. But this new entity, now I'm receiving a harsh vision of him, and right after...
"...right after reawakening Elita," I murmur in realization, completing my thought. "That can't be a coincidence."
It's possible that's the case, but I really just don't know. But this strange being full of evil, obviously has to exist outside of our galaxy right? If someone that massive, and that powerful was hiding within our galaxy, much less as a planet if that's what I'm getting, then not even the dumbest or weakest of Force users would be unable to sense their presence. And Palpatine has not shown any sign of knowing about any massive creatures of pure evil aside from the Hive.
The idea of there being even more atrociously evil beings out there, more horrible than anything that anybody could imagine, and that they're just waiting to kill us all, it's... it's-
"AGH!" I yell out angrily, punching the wall.
I breathe in and out heavily to try and calm myself down, holding back a choked sob as I recollect myself. I remove my metal fist from the wall and slowly sit back down on my bed, hugging myself.
"I'm losing it..." I mutter quietly, feeling vulnerable. I don't know if I can handle this stress anymore...
Glancing over at my nightstand, I focus in on the two lightsabers there, more specifically, Ahsoka's old green lightsaber. The twin kyber crystals pulse soothingly within the blades, and I let the familiarity wash over me with a content sigh. Even when Ahsoka is... is gone, her presence still finds a way to comfort me.
*:*:*
The sun has set a few minutes ago, leaving the island to the mercy of the cold air blowing. With the winter returning again soon, the climate has become colder and less hospitable, as it usually does at this time of year. So because of that, I'm wearing my cloak overtop of a jacket to keep the cold out, the ocean breeze whirling by. After recovering from their shock, Hiccup and Astrid struck up some conversation with us and then flew back to Berk not long after we introduced them to Elita. Mara and Zenna have gone to bed at this point, like I was planning to before my vision struck.
Speaking of the vision, I walk up to the Saddle where Elita is staying to see her sitting on a rock, fiddling with her blaster emplacement. I watch her for a moment before approaching, getting her attention. She puts the blaster away, turning it back into her hand and looks down at me curiously.
"Elita... I have to ask you a question about something," I start off.
"Sure, what is it?" she replies.
"Do you know of any Cybertronians with devilish horns and purple eyes?" I ask her.
"Could you be more specific?" she asks with a confused frown.
"Perhaps with broken angel wings on their back? Looking like the face of evil?" I suggest.
She thinks on it for a moment, eventually replying with a slight shake of her head.
"I don't know... but the description kind of sounds a little familiar," she replies. "Why do you ask?"
"No reason, just curious," I tell her, a little bit disappointed. "Well, good night."
I move away and head out back to my hut, where I'll either try and get more sleep or ponder over this vision more. Maybe some of Satele's journal might have a mention. I haven't read all of it yet...
"Wait," Elita says with a sigh.
I turn around and look at her as she responds. "I think I might have an idea of who you've described."
"Who?" I ask her.
"Unicron," she answers grimly.
A shiver runs through me as I hear that name, and I can almost hear an echoing laugh, although I'm probably imagining it. Still, it instantly gets my attention.
"Is he a Decepticon?" I ask her.
She shakes her head. "No. He's far worse than any Decepticon. Even Megatron."
"Then who is he?" I ask, feeling alarmed.
"Who was he," she corrects, making me frown in confusion. "Unicron is, and always has been... a legend amongst my kind. He fell into the shroud of myth and mystery eons ago. No one has ever since him since he was defeated by the Thirteen."
"The Thirteen?"
"The Thirteen original Primes. They were the first to be given life by Primus, the creator of our race," she explains. "Before my race began, billions of years ago there was Primus, and there was Unicron. Primus was our life-giver, our god, and a being of creation, while Unicron represents only destruction and chaos. The two gods fought for eons, until Primus eventually defeated him by creating the Thirteen, and cast him out."
"And what happened to Unicron?" I ask her cautiously. "Did Primus kill him?"
"I can only imagine so. Unicron has never been seen or heard of since then," she replies with a shrug.
"Until now..." I murmur uneasily.
"What do you mean?" she questions with narrowed optics.
"As a Force-wielder, I'm able to receive visions from the Force itself," I start off with a sigh. "And I think I've seen him."
"You think you've seen Unicron?" she asks with wide optics, looking fearful.
"I don't know for sure, but I think I may have," I admit grimly. "I've only had this vision three times, but each time it's the same. A planet is destroyed to give way for some massive entity rising from within."
"I seriously hope that isn't the case," Elita says nervously. "I can't even imagine the horrors that he could cause if he does somehow return."
Rebel Base; Atollon
3rd person POV...
After coming to a decision on what to do with the Sith holocron, Shaak decided to meditate out by the perimeter fence, in the hopes of encountering the strange presence from earlier. Hoping to do the same, Kanan decides to join her, and kneels down on the ground in his meditative pose as well. As the sun slowly sets below the horizon, the presence eventually comes back to them.
"I can help you..."
Shaak opens her eyes and looks out, sensing the presence in the Force flowing by her again, like a soft breeze in the air. When Kanan stands up, she instantly knows that he felt it as well.
"If we may ask, who are you ancient one?" Shaak murmurs, allowing the words to drift through the Force.
"Where are you?" Kanan adds quietly, taking a few steps forwards.
"Come to me..."
The presence diminishes a little bit, but they both sense something in the Force, 'pulling' them to enter the wilderness, to find the presence that is communicating with them. Although blind Kanan still shares a brief glance with Shaak, who subtly sends her feelings of confirmation through the Force so that he could feel her meaning.
Kanan slowly grabs one of the sensor beacons, and the two begin moving out of the base perimeter and into the wilderness. The krykna give them both a large berth, hissing at the sensor beacon as they pass by.
*:*:*
Marching through the mostly dry and barren wilderness, with krykna following along behind them, there isn't for the two Jedi to discuss at the moment. However as Kanan brushes aside some of the old coral foliage, Shaak spots a brown colored convor sitting on a higher branch, chirping at them. She senses that Kanan feels its presence as well, his interest a little piqued. The convor stares down at them curiously before taking flight, soaring away with a long call.
"What is the significance of the convor to you Kanan?" she asks.
"What do you mean Master?" he asks in confusion.
"I can sense that the convor is significant to you in some way," she states.
"Oh... whenever Jarik and Ahsoka have been around, a convor has been with them as well," he explains.
"Really?" she asks. "Was the convor a companion of theirs?"
"I don't think so," he says with a shake of his head. "They never acknowledge it to us. But every so often it would show up, like how it did as we were departing for Malachor, according to Ezra."
Shaak hums thoughtfully, unsure of what it means. Like most of the Jedi Masters of her stature doing the Republic, she does not believe in luck, or coincidences. And whatever this convor was to Jarik and Ahsoka, she doesn't think it to be a coincidence either. Her thoughts on the subject drop as they move past a large piece of coral and enter a low dip in the ground, sort of like a small valley or dried up waterbed of some kind. The presence that contacted them feels very strong here, leading them to only one conclusion.
"This is the place," Shaak murmurs, and Kanan nods in agreement.
"Hello! Are you there?" Kanan asks, while the two slowly move around the bowl. "We can sense your presence!"
There isn't any response, and the two come to a stop. Shaak suddenly frowns as she senses something, and turns around to see a large coral tree moving. Or... at least she believes it to be a coral tree. She watches in stunned surprise and reverence as a massive creature slowly emerges from its crouched position, and upon hearing the noise Kanan turns to face it too. The creature has large antlers on its head, appearing to be partly made of coral himself. On his front is a large red beard, and two pale, gray eyes open up to gaze down at them.
"Hello," the creature greets.
"You're the one who reached out to us," Shaak states in a sense of wonder.
"Ah, you heard my call! Good," he replies with a nod, seemingly pleased. "Your imbalance woke me from a deep slumber."
"Imbalance?" Kanan asks.
"Your presence is like a violent storm in this quiet world. Much like the Sun and Moon before," the creature comments.
Shaak-Ti frowns thoughtfully, wondering who the creature was referring to.
"You're a Force wielder," Kanan breathes out in surprise, setting the beacon into the ground and kneeling. "But you're not a Jedi."
"Wielder? Hmm. Jedi and Sith wield the Ashla and Bogan, the light and the dark," the creature states, and Shaak listens intently. "I'm the one in the middle, the Bendu. What do you call yourself?"
"I am Kanan Jarrus, Jedi Knight," he answers.
"And I am Shaak-Ti, a Jedi Master," she adds.
"Hmm, interesting," Bendu remarks. "You have suffered great sorrow Shaak-Ti, Jedi Master. Yet you are no longer troubled now."
"I've learned that things aren't as I once saw," she admits, nodding in agreement. "I can never be the Jedi I was before, not with how things have been now."
"The partial loss of movement in your body does not cause you great sorrow?" he questions.
"As nice as it would be, my days as a warrior are over. Now I hope to guide the next generation along their path," she states. "I've made peace with that."
"Very wise indeed, Shaak-Ti, Jedi Master. Nature is not always forgiving to those in life, but it shall go as it desires. The greatest asset, is not always knowledge of the blade, but wisdom of the mind," Bendu advises, and she nods in understanding.
"As for you... you carry conflict with you, Kanan Jarrus, Jedi Knight," Bendu states unpleasantly.
Kanan sighs in response, reaching back to pull out the Sith holocron. "It's this."
"Ah. Interesting," Bendu remarks.
At the sight of the holocron, Bendu reaches a hand out and uses the Force to slowly bring the holocron to him, holding it before him. He then starts to open it fully, much to Kanan's alarm, and Shaak's wariness.
"Careful!" Kanan calls out. "It's... dangerous."
"How so?" Bendu questions.
"It's a Sith holocron, a source of evil. My student's been using it, and I'm afraid it's changing him," he explains.
"An object cannot make you good or evil," Bendu disagrees. "The temptation of power, forbidden knowledge, even the desire to do good can lead some down that path. But only you can change yourself."
Shaak listens intently to Bendu's words, feeling a hint of familiarity in them, or at least the ideas they present. After a few moments she manages to connect the dots, and realizes that the saying feels something because it's like something that Jarik talked about back on Naboo, and how he viewed the workings of the Force. Did he... has he already spoken with the Bendu? Has Ahsoka done so as well?
"Not always," Kanan says grimly, pulling her from her thoughts.
"Aha! Your conflict becomes clear!" Bendu declares triumphantly. "That device in the ground, why do you have it?"
"It's a sensor beacon, which keeps the spiders from attacking us," Shaak answers.
"May I see it?" he asks, and the two Jedi nod.
Bendu picks up the beacon between two large fingers, and gazes at it for a few moments. With a disapproving frown on his face, he easily snaps the beacon in two, much to Kanan and Shaak's alarm.
"Hey, hey! What did you do?!" Kanan demands, scrabbling along the ground for the broken pieces.
"I am helping you," Bendu replies.
"It was the only thing protecting us from those creatures!" he retorts.
Shaak glances behind her to see the krykna approaching from the top of the hill, and frowns in concern. She doesn't know much about these creatures, or this planet, but there must surely be a way to interact safely with them through the Force. The Force runs through everything. Perhaps that is what Bendu is trying to say, but even still the sight of the krykna makes her feel uneasy.
"You believe that, but you must learn to see things differently now," Bendu says.
"Look, I can't see anything, not anymore!" Kanan says in despair, his voice breaking.
"Kanan, you have the Force to see. Do you not remember the lessons as a youngling back in the temple?" she reminds him.
"Shaak-Ti, Jedi Master, speaks the truth. You are unwilling," Bendu states.
"Are you guys saying there's a way to restore my vision?" he asks hopefully.
"Your sight cannot be healed, but I can teach you to see if you're willing," Bendu tells him.
Kanan doesn't answer for a few moments, but he eventually takes off his mask, revealing the upper half of his face. Shaak gets her first good luck at the damage caused, recognizing the scar across his eyes and nose from a lightsaber blade.
"What must I do?" he asks.
ISD Chimaera; Space
3rd person POV...
Aboard the bridge of Grand Admiral Thrawn's flagship the Chimaera, Agent Kallus, Grand Moff Tarkin, and Admiral Konstantine stood around a holotable, where the Admiral was expressing his doubts.
"I'm certain Governor Pryce is overestimating how organized the resistance is," he says dismissively. "While it's true there are pockets of rebellion, there has never been any evidence of a larger scale, galaxy-wide operation."
Tarkin frowns thoughtfully in response, disagreeing with him, while Kallus walks on, glancing between them with an impassive, yet careful gaze. Considering he's now a Fulcrum Agent, attending meetings like this are very important.
"And I would like to keep it that way, Admiral Konstantine," a voice suddenly says.
The three men look over to see Thrawn stepping forwards with a stern gaze of confidence, Governor Pryce standing by his side.
"Grand Admiral Thrawn," Tarkin greets.
"Grand Admiral?" Konstantine asks incredulously.
"The Emperor recently promoted me after my victory at Batonn," Thrawn explains calmly.
"Civilian casualties outnumbered the insurgents at the time," Kallus points out with a frown.
"Acceptable margins, Agent Kallus, for there are no longer rebels in that sector," Pryce tells him.
Kallus only frowns deeper in response, but opts not to respond.
"Well, Thrawn, what do you think of Governor Pryce's theory about the rebels in the Lothal sector?" Tarkin questions.
In response, Thrawn pulls up an image on the holotable of a prisoner file, displaying a weequay man, who he identifies for them.
"This is a pirate our rebels rescued from Naraka prison, Hondo Ohnaka. Within the last hour, the Phoenix Squadron destroyed Mining Guild ships using the Sereeda Hyperspace Waypoint. Taken separately, they may seem unrelated, but Ohnaka's cellmate was a laborer at our starfighter reclamation plant in the Yarma system, one jump point away from the Sereeda attack," he reveals.
As he talks, a few other images pop up on the hologram to show what he was talking about.
"Grand Admiral Thrawn believes the rebels intend to raid the plant and steal fighters for their fleet," Pryce adds firmly.
"Every ship they add to their arsenal increases the threat to our own armada and the Emperor's plans," Thrawn states.
"I trust you have a solution?" Tarkin deduces.
"I will start my operations here, and pull the rebels apart piece by piece," Thrawn says with a small smile. "They will be the architects of their own destruction."
"I see," Tarkin says with a nod. "And what of your other project? The Emperor has informed me you are currently seeking the whereabouts of Jarik Shan."
Kallus widens his eyes in surprise, looking between Thrawn and Tarkin with a small sense of alarm. He quickly covers it up before the others could notice, but listens intently.
"My search for him shall take time, as he is very good at what he does, and has no doubt worked to keep himself hidden for years," Thrawn admits with a nod, pulling up another map of the galaxy, namely the Unknown Regions. "However he undoubtedly has taken up refuge within the Unknown Regions."
"How can you be sure of that?" Konstantine asks doubtfully.
"During my expedition out into the Unknown Regions, he answered the call of my distress signal relatively quickly. Far quicker than would've been possible anywhere else," he explains.
"I can only hope that your efforts on either project are not hindered by the other," Tarkin adds.
"They will not be, I assure you," Thrawn replies with a nod. "The rebels in the Lothal Sector will be defeated, and Shan will be found in time."
"Very well Thrawn. I shall leave the matter to you," Tarkin states in confirmation. "And considering this particular rebel group has heavy Jedi involvement, Second Sister of the Inquisitorius has been assigned under your command, to assist you if necessary."
Thrawn nods his head in understanding, while a sense of great alarm comes over Kallus. Although he's remaining impassive in the outside, Kallus's mind was racing in absolute panic. This was not good at all, especially in the case of Jarik. If Thrawn manages to find his hidden refuge... he can't even imagine how horrible it would be.
Yarma System
Boil POV...
"No Imperial traffic on the scopes, but no sign of the station either," Sabine reports.
"It is down there, my friends," Hondo says eagerly. "And those ships are ripe for plunder."
"There's no telling what we're flying into," Sabine retorts.
"Let's find out. Take us down," Ezra orders.
Sabine reluctantly pilots the Phantom deeper into the planet's atmosphere, the yellow clouds passing by us and flashing with lightning. Me and Rex share a look with each other, but not too much later we catch sight of the station in the distance.
"There it is. Reklam Station," Hondo confirms.
"Chopper, get a count on those bombers," Ezra says. Chopper's beeping reply sounds, and moments later a hologram of the base pops up. "There! Y-wing light bombers. Looks like they're in decent shape, too."
"Yeah, but according to Chopper's scan, there's only 15 left," Sabine tells him. "Correction. There are only 14 left. Looks like they're being destroyed."
"We need to move in now. There won't be any ships left if we wait!" Ezra exclaims.
"Hold on. Our orders are to recon the station, not go after ships!" Zeb reminds him.
"We should advise Captain Syndulla," Rex says, stepping forwards.
"What if the Empire detects our transmission?" Ezra retorts, whirling around to face him.
"They won't kid. We've done plenty of similar missions before, and they haven't shown any sign of detecting it," I tell him, stepping up beside Rex. "Especially not with Jarik watching over Imperial communications as Fulcrum."
For whatever reason, the mention of Jarik seems to make Ezra only more upset, and he glares at the both of us.
"Look, I was given command of this assignment. I know what the objective was and I am changing it. We're going in now! That's an order!" he demands fiercely.
Rex and I stare back at Ezra just as firmly, but he continues to glare at us before turning around towards the front. I frown irritably at his back, not liking his new change of attitude. It hasn't been good recently, but now with him in a commanding position it seems to have gotten to his head. I share a troubled look with Rex, recalling the last time a Jedi in charge abused his power over his soldiers.
"Yes, sir," Sabine mutters.
Atollon; Lothal Sector
Shaak-Ti POV...
So far I've found the Bendu to be quite an interesting creature. He is ancient, and knowledgable about the Force, and yet he is also very powerful. He reminds me of Master Yoda, and yet he is so much more different in many ways. Through the Force I can sense his presence very strongly, yet I don't sense what I normally might. There is no sense of light or darkness within him, just... the Force.
"So, tell me, how do I restore my sight?" Kanan asks him.
"You must be empty. There is only the Force. Now, turn and walk forward," Bendu states, gesturing with his hand.
"I'm not sure this is such a good idea," Kanan says uneasily, but he does so anyways.
"And why not?" Bendu asks.
"Because those spiders are out there, waiting," he replies irritably.
"How do you know this?" Bendu asks.
"In what way do you know they're there Kanan? Sound? Smell?" I add, looking for a particular answer. Bendu hums in interest.
"I hear them," Kanan states.
"Good. Keep walking. Sound relates them to you," he remarks. "What else?"
"I can feel them in the ground, their vibrations when they move," Kanan says.
"Indeed, you are perceptive," Bendu says in approval. "Are they close?"
"No," he replies.
I watch with interest as Kanan walks forwards, unaware of what he's walking for. One of the krykna spiders is standing only a few feet away, yet he's so focused on the lesson that he doesn't notice it. His descriptions of the spiders show that he is fearful of them... yet right now he is not afraid of them. Curious, I continue to watch as Bendu instructs Kanan. Having never had the experiences Kanan has, I have no fear of these spiders.
"Continue on then. How else do you relate to the spiders?" he asks.
"Before, in the caves, a foul smell. It was old, decayed," he replies.
"Ah, a fascinating description. You see much for being blind," Bendu hums with interest.
"How else can you see them Kanan? With your other senses? Or something within?" I ask him again.
"Yes, how so?" Bendu adds in agreement. "As Shaak-Ti advises, how else do you see them so well?"
"Well, I know what they look like Master," he tells me in response. "I saw them when I had my sight."
"Then picture them in your mind," Bendu advises. "Are they close?"
"No," Kanan states, coming to a stop.
"Are you certain?" he asks again.
Seeing that Kanan is now standing only a foot away from a spider, I watch with interest as he hesitates, and then slowly reaches a hand out. When he lays his hand on the shell of the spider, it takes a moment for him to register what it is, and he backs up in surprise.
"What should I do?" he asks nervously.
"Don't focus on your fear of them Kanan. Fear can cause irrational decisions," I remind him.
"Perhaps," Bendu remarks. "But what do you want to do? Hmm?"
"Run," he admits, but upon sensing another coming near he falters. "But there's another one right behind me."
"You are beginning to see. Ha!" Bendu states happily. "Now, be empty and continue onward."
Still, Kanan hesitates. "Why aren't they attacking?"
"It is not in their nature," he remarks.
"Well, it has been, in my experience," he retorts.
"Because you do not see them," Bendu states.
"You mean, see them for what they are?" Kanan asks.
"Tell me Kanan, why do the spiders not seem to be attacking me? what makes me different?" I ask him.
It is true, the spiders are paying me no mind. It could be because of the Bendu's presence, but they are still walking close by behind us, I can sense them. Because I don't have the same experiences that Kanan had, I do not fear the spiders. They respond to fear, and I do not have any of it. I can see what Bendu is trying to teach Kanan, as it isn't just about his sight, but about himself. About the Force.
I notice that Bendu seems to smile when I think about this, but it quickly disappears as he focuses on Kanan again.
"Look closer," he advises.
"There's nothing. I can't sense them!" Kanan says uneasily.
"Look within," Bendu says.
"I see... Fear," he replies.
"In what?" I ask him.
"In the spiders?" Bendu questions.
Kanan remains silent for a few moments, although his anxiety and worry begins to grow. "Ezra!"
"Ah, your thoughts dwell on your apprentice," Bendu comments.
"He's in danger," Kanan replies, before his alarm spikes to a great intensity. "No!"
He backs away fearfully and pulls out his blue lightsaber. The spiders all hiss in response, becoming more aggressive, while the Bendu frowns deeply in response. I watch Kanan deeply in worry and concern.
"No... It's not Ezra or the spiders," he slowly says in realization. "It's It's me. Fear, grief, anger, that's how they see me. That's how I see myself."
"Ah, your sight returns!" Bendu declares happily with a chuckle.
"I distanced myself from everyone. From the Force too," he says, turning off his lightsaber.
"Your connection to the Force allows you to see in ways others cannot," Bendu remarks. "If you can see yourself, you will never be truly blind, Kanan Jarrus, Jedi Knight."
"I understand," Kanan says, now calm. He then begins to walk away, heading back to the base.
"Where are you going?" Bendu asks.
"Ezra needs me. They all do," he replies.
"What of the spiders?" he asks softly.
"I can see them, so there's nothing to fear," he states confidently.
"And what of this, hmm?" Bendu asks, revealing the Sith holocron.
"Keep it, as a gift!" Kanan tells him.
"Oh," Bendu remarks, chuckling in amusement.
I smile at Kanan's disappearing form, marveling over how he has grown so quickly, and then turn to face Bendu.
"In all my years, there has been only one person I have encountered with wisdom such as yours," I tell him.
"Oh? Is that so?" he asks in amusement. "And who is this other person you speak of?"
"The head of the late Jedi Order, Master Yoda," I tell him. "Many consider him to be the wisest Jedi in history."
"Perhaps," Bendu comments with a nod. "I do recall seeing one, who met with the Force and its mysteries, in the hopes of learning something greater..."
I'm not sure who he is talking about, but I give it a pass. Beings such as the Bendu often like to talk in cryptic ways, and with his power they can see over great lengths of the Force.
"I may return soon. I would like to converse with you more, if that is fine," I tell him.
"Ah, how interesting. I would like the same as well, Shaak-Ti, Jedi Master," he states.
Originally planned to add more to this chapter, but it was starting to get really long, so I'm adding it to the next chapter lol. Sorry. :P
Something I've been noticing, but find myself unable to get around, is that whenever I include one of the Berkians in a chapter, I always somehow exclude the dragons from the conversation. I know they can't talk, so they wouldn't really be involved heavily in dialogue between characters, but I still feel like I should be adding them in somehow. Idk, sad face.
Hope it was good though! :D
(P.S. I may or may not have Elita choose a vehicle mode from the Empire/Rebel Alliance, so if you have any ideas then I'd be happy to hear them. Just PM me or leave it in a review. The choices are pretty limited though since Elita is a ground vehicle, and we all know that the majority of vehicles in Star Wars are for flying.)