Chopper Base; Atollon

Jarik POV...

Not long after arriving on Atollon and introducing Elita One to the rebels, Kanan and Ezra were called by Commander Sato for another mission, and were to meet up with a corvette transport. While they've been gone, Hera eventually took the rest of the Spectres on another mission of their own, leaving Elita, Mara and I with Boil and Rex, and Shaak-Ti. At the moment, the three soldiers were comparing war stories with each other, much to me and Mara's amusement. Elita was sitting on the ground to be lower to them.

"So you actually managed to throw a punch at this 'Jedi killer's' face?" Elita asks.

"Yeah. Me, Cody and the rest of the boys attempted to hold him down, and in the process I just took my fist and clobbered him," Boil says, reenacting the scene. "Grievous wasn't so happy about that."

"Yeah. The head clanker was never happy about anything," Rex comments.

"Considering this Grievous is supposed to be capable of taking on Jedi, I have to say that's a very impressive effort," Elita remarks with a nod.

"Oh there's plenty more stories I have to tell," Boil remarks with a grin.

"What about you Elita? I can't imagine war is any different for your people," Rex says.

"Not really, war is the same universally," she replies. "I have had my fair share of intense battles myself though."

Shaak then approaches me and Mara, and we both look over at her presence. She smiles, and I realize that this is the first time she's met Mara. Allowing the other three to continue their conversation, we turn to face Shaak and give her our attention.

"Hello Jarik. And... Mara, right?" she asks.

Mara nods in confirmation, and I take the moment to provide introductions. "Yup, this is my daughter Mara. Mara, this is Shaak-Ti, a member of the Jedi Council during the Clone War."

"Nice to meet you Master Ti," Mara says with a respectful bow.

"Good to meet you as well Mara," she replies.

"So, how are you feeling?" I ask her, taking note of her choice of movement.

"My injuries are healed now but, sadly the lower half of my body is paralyzed," she says with a sigh.

"I'm sorry to hear that," I reply regretfully.

"I've come to terms with it," she reassures me.

"It doesn't bother you not being able to walk?" Mara asks.

"I may miss it, but I feel that it is a good humbling point," Shaak says. "My fighting days are over."

"Well, that's reassuring to hear, I suppose," I reply with a sigh.

"So, I'm curious to know more about you Mara. I was surprised to hear that you were Jarik's daughter," she remarks.

Mara glances up at me, and I shrug back at her. "I guess so. I definitely am happy with it, and he helps teach me a lot."

"I'd imagine so," Shaak replies with a smile.


Space

3rd person POV...

Kanan and Ezra both re-enter the bridge after dropping off the rebel soldier in the medical bay. If what he said was true, and there is another Inquisitor on the loose, then the implications of the danger it means are huge, especially with the crew in danger.

"Got the Ghost for you now sir," the pilot says.

The transmitter in between the two pilots then turns on to reveal a hologram of Hera. She's standing up with her hands behind her back, a nervous expression on her face. Ezra doesn't notice however, and greets her in relief.

"Hera! Am I glad to see you're alright," he says.

"Kanan-" Hera starts uneasily.

"There's another Inquisitor after us. He knows where the Ghost is!" Kanan warns.

"Kanan... It's not another Inquisitor," she replies, before being shoved out of the image.

"Oh no!" Ezra says in alarm as a familiar figure enters the hologram.

"What, who is it?" Kanan asks in concern.

"Just an old friend, Master Jedi," Maul leers at them with a savage smirk.

Ezra glares furiously at Maul, clenching his fists in anger. "Maul, you betrayed me!"

"Hm, no. I betrayed your friends, but I would've remained loyal to you," he replies in disagreement. "Speaking of which, how are the other two doing? Are Mara and Jarik around?"

"You don't get to talk about them!" Ezra snaps angrily.

"And why not? We have such a history," Maul asks in mock sadness. "I merely wish to know how the three of them are doing... or, is it two now?"

Ezra growls furiously, but Kanan puts an arm on his shoulder to quiet him. "We're not telling you anything about them. Now what do you want?"

"Hm, very well," he muses. "The Sith holocron, that our apprentice and I acquired on Malachor."

"We don't have it," Kanan states, crossing his arms.

Maul shakes his head in disappointment. "How unfortunate. Because if that's true..."

Maul then takes a step forwards, and the hologram expands to reveal Sabine, Hera, Zeb and Chopper all on the ground before him, with two droids on either side wielding blasters. He then activates his red lightsaber, the implied threat all too clear.

"...then your friends have no future."

"Ok!" Ezra exclaims in a panic. "We have it! Just, not with us."

"Oh really? Is it in Shan's possession then?" Maul questions thoughtfully.

"We'll give it to you," Kanan offers. "As long as our friends remain safe."

"Agreed. Good!" he says in satisfaction, deactivating his lightsaber. "Oh, and one more thing. Your Jedi holocron, give that to me as well."

"Kanan no!" Hera urges.

Kanan turns his head away momentarily and scowls, replying through gritted teeth. "Fine."

"I shall be in touch with coordinates for our rendezvous," he informs them. "DON'T, disappoint me."

With that warning given the hologram disappears, and Kanan turns to Ezra.

"I can't believe you told Maul that I have a holocron!" he says in annoyance.

"At the time, he was still on our side!" Ezra replies defensively. "Is it still on the Ghost?"

"Where else would I keep it?" Kanan retorts, sitting down.

"Well what about the Sith holocron?" he asks.

"Yeah... that's, not gonna be easy," Kanan says.

"I thought you said it was safe!" Ezra replies in exasperation.

"It is safe," he replies. "That may be the problem."

"I'm guessing you gave it to Jarik or something, so would that mean he's wary about giving it back?" he asks.

"It's not with Jarik," Kanan tells him.


Chopper Base; Atollon

Jarik POV...

"It's still hard to imagine you turning from a young Padawan to a wise Jedi Knight," Shaak muses.

"Wise? I don't know about wise," I disagree with a shake of my head.

"I concur!" Mara chirps happily.

I send her an exasperated and annoyed look, and she just grins unabashedly right back at me. Shaak chuckles lightly in amusement.

"And I see that some of that side has bled down to Mara as well," she remarks.

"Trust me, she's a lot worse," I state dryly.

"Seriously?" Mara asks.

Before we can say much more, a CR90 corvette comes in for a landing across the landing pad. Elita, Boil and Rex halt in their conversation momentarily to give it a glance as the ship lands, allowing Kanan and Ezra to depart. Upon spotting us, they head over to us with grim expressions, and I frown at the troubled sense they're feeling.

"What is it?" I ask them.

"We've got a serious problem," Kanan states.

"Maul's back, and he's captured the Ghost," Ezra says angrily.

"What?" Rex asks in surprise.

He and the others approach us, and Elita crouches down low a few feet away to listen in. I narrow my eyes at the mention of Maul, struggling to push back the anger that threatens to surge forth.

"Darth Maul?" Shaak asks in both confusion and alarm. "But I thought he was defeated at the end of the Clone Wars."

"Who is this Maul?" Elita asks, confused.

"He's a former Sith Lord, and he escaped capture during Order 66, where he eventually turned up on Malachor with us," I explain through gritted teeth.

"Are the others alright?" Mara asks in concern.

"He's keeping them hostage for now. In exchange for their release he wants the Sith holocron, and my Jedi holocron," Kanan says.

"What would he want with both holocrons?" Shaak asks with a furrowed brow, thoughtful.

"I don't know," he replies helplessly.

"Kanan and I are about to go get it, from whatever he left it," Ezra tells us.

"And where would that be?" I ask, crossing my arms.

Shaak glances at Kanan knowingly for a moment, something that I don't miss, and I cross my arms suspiciously.

"It's, a little complicated," Kanan replies cautiously. "I'll explain later once we get it."

Then it all clicks into place, Kanan and Shaak's knowing look, and his elusive response: they've seen the Bendu!

"Huh. Well what do you know..." I remark thoughtfully, raising an eyebrow. "You've hid it in the 'wilderness,' haven't you."

I can sense Kanan and Shaak's surprise once they realize that I was onto them, while the rest of the group look at us in confusion.

"You know?" Kanan asks in surprise.

"I do," I confirm.

"Uh, know about what?" Mara asks in confusion.

"Is there something you aren't telling us?" Ezra questions with a frown.

"You're about to find out Ezra," Kanan replies.

"I guess we'll get ready to leave?" Boil deduces.

"I think you three should sit this one out," I advise, looking at him, Rex, and Elita.

"Any particular reason?" Elita asks me.

"Jedi business, kinda complicated," I explain simply.

"I agree. This is for the best," Shaak says with a nod. "At least for now."

Elita, Boil and Rex all share glances before nodding, albeit a little reluctantly.

"Alright," Elita says.

*:*:*

With our party of five Jedi, we all traveled through the wilderness on speeder-bikes. Ezra was driving the first one with Ezra sitting behind him, while I was driving the other, Mara sitting behind me. Shaak was on her own specialized speeder bike, making things much easier. By the time night falls we reach the small clearing that is home to the Bendu, coming to a stop at the edge of the hill.

"So, you hid the holocron down there," Ezra remarks.

"Eh, more like I, left it with someone," Kanan admits.

"Someone?" he asks in confusion.

"Who could possibly out here that's willing to hold onto a Sith holocron for you?" Mara asks in bewilderment.

"You'll be very surprised Mara," I tell her.

"How do you know of him anyways Jarik?" Kanan asks me.

"Right before Malachor... me and Ahsoka spoke with him," I admit.

"Wait, is this why you guys said you sensed something calling to you?" Mara asks me.

"Yup," I reply.

"I'm very confused right now," Ezra says.

"Lets keep moving," Shaak advises.

We drive our speeder-bikes down into the clearing, stepping off and powering them down. I help Shaak get off of her speeder and get into her chair, and Ezra plants down a sensor beacon as we walk forwards. I glance at the beacon for a moment with a slightly amused sigh, knowing that Bendu was going to take it. I can sense him looking at us quite clearly.

"Bendu? Bendu!" Kanan calls out.

"Bendu? Who's Bendu? There's nothing here," Ezra says.

I don't bother telling the others when I sense the Bendu take the sensor beacon, although I do share a look with Shaak.

"He was here," Kanan states.

"Maybe you're just hearing things that aren't there," he replies doubtfully.

"Bendu is here alright Ezra," Shaak says.

"Bendu! I need the holocron!" Kanan tries again. "Bendu?"

"Are you guys sure?" Mara asks.

"Yeah, because I don't see your friend," Ezra adds.

The sound of hissing gets our attention, and we look over to see several krykna scuttling in our direction. Ezra and Mara both gasp in alarm, and back up warily.

"Oh, but I do see crawlers. Lots of 'em!" he exclaims nervously. "Hey, where's our thumper?!"

"Uhh, Dad?" Mara asks uneasily.

"Both of you stay calm. The krykna are not a threat to us," I tell them firmly.

"Really? Because they seem pretty threatening!" Ezra retorts.

"You must control your fear Ezra," Shaak urges.

"Dad?" Mara asks again.

"Stay calm Mara. They respond to emotion," I advise. "If you're calm, then they won't attack."

I can tell Mara really wants to pull out her lightsaber, but she's conflicted about whether she should bring it out, or listen to me. Ezra however, doesn't do the same, whipping out his green lightsaber.

"Right!" he scoffs.

The krykna hiss and screech at the sight of the lightsaber and begin to surround us. Mara presses herself close to my side from her nervousness, while Kanan and Shaak both remain calm themselves. Ezra however is pointing her lightsabers around at the krykna in an attempt to keep them at bay.

"Ezra, you're only making it worse. It's possible to get along with them," Kanan says.

"Yeah, tried that remember? They almost ripped my face off!" Ezra retorts.

"They're responding to you Ezra," Shaak states.

Before he could respond, or make a move against the krykna they all hiss at the same time. The Force swells with the presence of the Bendu, and the krykna all rush away at his presence. Ezra and Mara both look around in confusion, while the rest of us understand what it means instantly.

"He's here," Kanan says.

"What? Where?" Mara asks.

The sensor beacon suddenly clatters to the ground next to us, and Ezra and Mara glance at it in surprise. Ezra then turns off his lightsaber as he and Mara follow our gaze in front of us, widening their eyes. Uncurling from his position, camouflaged with the wilderness, the Bendu rises up and slowly turns around to face us, a look of curiosity and intrigue showing on his face.

"The two Jedi return, and with the student! Along with the Sun and his daughter," he announces. "Perhaps for a talk, eh?"

The Bendu laughs at the remark, while Mara and Ezra both look forwards with wide eyes in disbelief.

"Woah..." Mara whispers.

"I don't believe it!" Ezra says as well.

"Unfortunately, we don't have time for a chat Bendu," Kanan admits, stepping forwards. "We've come for the holocron."

"Ah yes, the keeper of the shadow lore. Why do you want it?" he asks.

"Tell him, Ezra," Kanan says, laying a hand on his shoulder.

"Uh, okay. We need it to save our friends. A Sith, Darth Maul, has them. He wants it," Ezra explains.

"I do not know this darksider, but I know his kind," Bendu remarks with a frown. "Why does he want it?"

"I don't know. But he also wants my Jedi holocron," Kanan says.

"Oh. He would bring them together!" Bendu realizes quietly.

Shaak widens her eyes as well. "Bring them together? I've heard of something like that happening before, a very long time ago. From what I know, the result was not good."

"Such a vergence carries grave danger," Bendu says in agreement.

"Why? I thought the holocrons were just libraries of information," Ezra says in confusion.

"Holocrons do carry information, but that is not what truly makes them special Ezra," I tell him, thinking about my own holocron.

"The Sun is correct," Bendu confirms. "If two such powerful sources of knowledge are united, they will grant a clarity of vision beyond your kind."

"Clarity of vision? What do you mean?" Mara asks curiously.

"When joined, any secret, wisdom or destiny can be seen through the Force," he reveals, and I widen my eyes in surprise. "One could bring much chaos with such hidden truths. I have seen it before. And so has Sun."

Having figured out what Bendu meant by 'Sun,' the others look at me curiously, and I nod my head in confirmation. "That's true, I have."

"When?" Mara asks.

"I'll let you know later. Right now I'm more worried about what Maul wants to know," I say, crossing my arms with a frown.

"Well, we can't control what Maul will do," Ezra states.

"That's his point, Ezra," Kanan replies.

"Well, we still need it to save our friends, Kanan!" he retorts, looking up at the Bendu. "So, are you gonna give it back, or not?"

I frown in disapproval at the aggression hidden behind Ezra's voice, noting that the holocron's influence still has some effect on him. Apparently Bendu senses it as well, as he looks intently at Ezra.

"Hmm. The object you seek is a source of imbalance between you and your teacher," he replies. "If you want it, you must seek it out with him."

"Where is it?" he asks.

Bendu smiles and then turns to his left, and we follow his gaze to see a hole leading into a krykna's nest. "Somewhere safe."

"Well isn't that perfect," Mara says dryly.

"All right, I'll go, but I'm going alone," Ezra declares, moving forwards.

"The cave runs deep, with many twists and turns," Bendu remarks curiously. "How can you be sure where it is now? Huh?"

We all watch him continue to walk towards the cave, when I shut my eyes tightly with a grimace, sensing something. I can feel whispers in my mind, probing at me... seeking to dominate me. A female's voice, most likely the presence in the holocron.

...So, a Shan returns to me again...

Listening and feeling the holocron's presence, I can't help but feel a strange sense of familiarity with it. Yet the familiarity I feel, is not my own.

"I hear something," Kanan says quietly.

"So do I," I add, reopening my eyes.

Bendu leans over closer to us, and I give him a brief glance out of the corner of my eye. "If you listen, you can hear it."

Ezra glances back at us for a moment and then continues forwards, but Kanan follows him as well. He then reaches an arm out and takes it with the Force, much to Ezra's annoyance and confusion.

"I'll hold on to this," he states.

"Kanan! The spiders-" he starts to protest.

"Will attack as soon as you turn it on," he interrupts firmly. "Use your comlink instead. I'll try to guide you from here."

"No Jedi is weaponless Ezra. Remember, you do still have the Force," Shaak reminds him.

"I'd rather have my lightsaber," Ezra mutters, but still he continues onwards.

"Why take his weapon?" Bendu asks Kanan.

"He's gotta learn how to solve problems without it," he explains.

We watch as Ezra disappears into the mouth of the krykna cave, and Mara glances up at me in concern. "Should we be a little worried for him?"

"The only danger to him in that cave is himself," I tell her with a troubled frown.

*:*:*

As we wait, we were all seated on the ground next to Bendu, watching the mouth of the cave as Kanan directed Ezra along. He's been down in the tunnels for a few minutes now, following the directions that Kanan was providing to him over the comlink. However, Ezra was admittedly being, a little difficult.

"Ezra, keep to the left," Kanan says.

"Left? You sure about that?" he replies doubtfully.

"Trust me," he urges.

We wait for a few more moments before hearing a sudden screech, and a static noise.

"Ezra? What's happening? Ezra? Ezra!" Kanan asks in alarm.

"Should we go down and help him?" Mara asks me.

"Not us," I reply.

Kanan then gets up, leaving both his and Ezra's lightsabers on the ground next to us. "Keep an eye on those, will ya?"

"No problem," I tell him, and we watch as he heads into the krykna cave after Ezra.

"Perhaps master and apprentice will rediscover their balance," Bendu muses, before shrugging. "Or perhaps they'll be eaten. Such is the way of things."

For such a wise creature, that comment seems so strange and out of place that I just have to look over at him with a raised, disbelieving eyebrow.

"Seriously?" I ask.

"That's reassuring," Mara adds sarcastically.

"Nature plays out in various ways," he replies.

We all sit in silence for the next few minutes, unsure of what to say to each other. Even Bendu in all his wisdom, was more interested in Kanan and Ezra's lightsabers than he was in talking. It wasn't an uncomfortable silence really, just... silence. It's eventually broken by Mara when she speaks up.

"I do have a question," she says, looking at me and then up at the Bendu. "Why is he calling you the 'Sun?'"

I look at her for a few moments, trying to decide how to answer, and Shaak looks up curiously as well. However, fortunately, or unfortunately, Bendu decides to answer for me.

"Sun? Because that is what he shines as my dear," he says simply.

"Shine?" she asks with a confused frown.

"His power in the Force is strong, powerful, and full of the goodness needed for life, much like nature needs a star to provide energy," he explains. "Much like Ahsoka Tano, former Jedi Knight, who shines as the Moon."

The others all stiffen up at the mention of Ahsoka, and Mara stares at me with an expression even I have a hard time reading. Most likely she's surprised, confused, saddened, and bitter all at the same time. Shaak furrows her brow at the knowledge, looking at me with a curious glance.

"I know this is more personal for you Jarik, but is this possibly due to your encounters with the Mortis Gods?" she asks curiously.

"Partially," I admit.

"But not all," Bendu adds. "They were only the catalyst for Sun and Moon's destinies."

"Catalyst?" Shaak asks.

"That can't happen anymore though Bendu," I tell him with a sigh, looking down. "She's gone."

"Gone? How so?" he muses.

"We lost her, to Vader... when she stayed behind on Malachor," Mara says quietly, hugging herself.

"And so she is lost then. That could mean many things," he reasons.

"I felt our Force bond get ripped apart! To this day it still hurts!" I snap angrily, feeling hurt.

"So you suppose that means death?" he asks in response.

"You said it yourself when we last met Bendu," I state bitterly, looking away from him. "The encounter on Malachor would change Ahsoka, with death."

"What?" Mara asks incredulously.

"And you believe death is an absolute? Eh?" he questions with a raised eyebrow.

My breath catches in my throat, as I and the others look up in bewilderment to stare at Bendu, and Mara gasps quietly with wide eyes.

"Are you saying she's alive?" I ask quietly.

"Did I now? I didn't know that," he muses with a shrug. "But you must understand, death is not an absolute, not through the Force. What do you know of it when a creature expires?

In my confusion, I don't reply for a few moments, and Shaak goes to answer.

"There is no death, but only the Force," she replies. "When a person passes on from life, they flow into the cosmic force and become one with it, ultimately loosing their identity."

"The viewpoint of any Jedi no doubt," Bendu says with a nod, and I grimace, hearing the oncoming 'but,' at the end. "And what do you know Shan? What is it that you have been taught by your masters, eh?"

Shaak frowns in confusion and turns to me with a questioning look. "What does he mean?"

I've already told Mara about this concept that I learned from Yoda, so she already knows. But Shaak doesn't, since while she agrees with a fair amount of my viewpoints, she still is very much a Jedi of the Old Republic.

"Master Ti, remember during the end of the Clone War, when Master Yoda felt that he was hearing voices?" I ask her.

She frowns, recalling the memory. "I do. We meditated nonstop for nearly a day, and yet we sensed nothing. We decided it was just an attempt by Darth Sidious to fool him."

"I know. But it wasn't Darth Sidious. He really did hear a voice," I tell her. "Qui-Gon."

She stares at me for a moment, before widening her eyes in surprise and confusion. "But that can't be possible. Qui-Gon has long since been dead."

"It is possible to retain your identity after death," Bendu tells her. "Only a select few are able to do so, for they must be clear and empty."

"But I haven't..." I start to say before faltering, choking up in horror as I realize what I forgot to tell. "...I never taught her how to retain her identity."

Mara's eyes well up a little as well at the mention, and I find it hard not to do so either. How could I have been such a fool?! Master Yoda taught me and Obi-Wan how to transcend into the Living Force after death, because Qui-Gon taught it to him! How could I have forgotten to tell Ahsoka, so that she could do the same?! I'm such a kriffing moron, and because of that she's now gone forever!

"But that is not Moon's destiny," Bendu replies calmly.

"I don't... I don't understand," I say helplessly.

Bendu frowns thoughtfully for a few moments before leaning down, reaching out with his massive hand to collect something from the ground. "Look here. Tell me what you see."

The three of us look over in confusion, and Mara glances up at the Bendu. "A seed?"

"Yes, a seed," he replies, seeming amused. "When plants grow to bloom and live, they all eventually die at some point. Yet they leave behind seeds. These seeds then give birth to new life, and as they grow, they will become just as strong, if not even stronger."

As he speaks, he gently digs a small hole in the ground, and places the seed in the dirt. He then slowly covers the seed back up into the ground, a calm and content look in his eyes. My mind starts racing as I think about the meaning, and look back up at the Bendu with a sense of hope: a feeling I haven't felt in... a while, I can't remember how long.

"So you're saying that Ahsoka will be reborn, in some way or another? She still lives?" I ask, daring myself to hope.

"It is not a certainty that the Moon will experience... rebirth," Bendu replies. "That is up to the Force to decide."

I slowly turn my gaze over to Mara, who looks back at me as well. We exchange a look with each other tears welling up in the hopes that Ahsoka is still out there... somewhere, and probably misses us as well. It seems crazy and unbelievable still, my shattered bond with her is proof of that, but the possibility of seeing her again is something I admit to selfishly wanting desperately.

"I hope so..." I whisper to myself.


Unknown Space; Classified Location

3rd person POV...

"You failed to retrieve the power beneath Malachor!?"

The Third Brother flinched heavily in fear, taking a few nervous steps back as the warlord's voice boomed in dangerous fury. He was still attempting to recover from his fight on Malachor, which was a fight he was seriously outmatched in, much to his terror. The imposing figure of his master didn't help his nerves as he stomped towards him, glaring down with icy blue eyes.

"My lord, I- I had it but-" he begins to stammer.

"But what, Third Brother?" the warlord demands coldly. "That you somehow managed to lose one of the most powerful objects in the universe, when it was unprotected and ripe for the taking?"

Off on the sidelines were the other two subordinates, the creature in the blue hood, and the pale witch-like woman at his side. They watched with a level of indifference, yet some amusement as well.

"It wasn't unprotected like I thought! They were there!" he reasons nervously. "They're too powerful for me to fight on my own, and they completely blocked the chamber. I couldn't get to it!"

"So that's why you returned with several lightsaber marks on your face?" the warlord muses quietly.

"Pathetic," the creature scoffs, and Third Brother would've glared if he wasn't so nervous.

"Fine. It's clear to me that you are considerably outmatched against those two," the warlord says. "But I want a positive result, and soon. You better complete your original assignment."

Third Brother shivers at the cold glare sent his way, already guessing what would happen if he failed one more time.

"There won't be another chance for you otherwise."


Quite an interesting chapter huh? some crazy stuff at the very end right there, and Bendu also manages to find a way to surprise even the wisest or most powerful of Jedi. He tends to do that lol.

I originally planned to do the full Holocrons of Fate episode, but then that last conversation with the Bendu came to mind, and I really liked it, so I left it in. Next chapter soon! :D