The trip through hyperspace back to Atollon would take a few hours, giving Ahsoka time to dwell on what happened on Lothal.

Once again, she and her friends had escaped certain death by the skin of their teeth.

To say she was proud of them all was a colossal understatement. They had all proven their worth in executing what was essentially a gambit. They were more likely to win a game of Sabacc than succeed in their mission.

Yet despite all odds, the crew of the Ghost had done it again.

And they had also acquired not only Thrawn's newest prototype fighter for study, but gained a new valuable ally in the process.

Currently, the former Agent Kallus sat in the Ghost's cockpit with Hera, discussing their pasts. Kallus had made an effort to apologise to each member of the crew for his past actions against them.

It was clear to Ahsoka that Kallus was trying to redeem himself. And she was glad the others were willing to let him try.

In all of the chaos of the aftermath, Ahsoka had managed to sneak away into a secluded chamber of the Ghost.

She had completed her mission, which meant she had to report to Senator Organa.

Accessing her encrypted Fulcrum comm link, she keyed in Bail's number.

Seconds later, a hologram appeared before her.

But it was not the Organa she was expecting.

"Princess?" Ahsoka was surprised to see the young daughter of Bail and Breha answer the channel rather than the senator himself. Was something wrong? Was Bail ok?

"Hey Aunt Soka, dad is busy right now."

For some reason, Leia had one day starting calling Ahsoka her aunt, despite the lack of any blood relations. Hell they weren't even the same species.

When Ahsoka enquired, Leia had told her that Bail had said she was her aunt.

At the time, that had perplexed Ahsoka considerably. Sure, she had mentored the girl a bit, helped her here and there, but that was not enough to form that close of a bond, right?

So Ahsoka had asked Bail, and Bail had told her that Leia looked up to her greatly.

So Ahsoka had readily accepted the title of 'Aunt'.

"No problem princess, let him know I need to talk to him would you?" Ahsoka asked, smiling at the hologram of Leia.

Leia smiled and nodded back, before a surprised look overtook her face.

"What's wrong with your waist?"

Ahsoka looked down. A freshly wrapped bandage, courtesy of Kaeden Larte, was now carefully wrapped around her midsection, holding a bacta pad against the burn wound she had received from Thrawn's blaster.

"Took some fire Princess, nothing you need to worry about." Ahsoka replied. Leia was still young, she didn't want to cause any more alarm for her.

"If you say so. I've gotta go Aunt Soka, take care of yourself." Leia replied.

Ahsoka smiled at the transmission. "You too Princess."

Leia moved to disconnect the call, but halted.

"You'll come and visit me soon, right?"

The question came out of nowhere. Ahsoka felt her heart warm at the desperation in the princess's voice. She had missed the young Organa.

"I promise." Ahsoka replied truthfully. When she had the time, she would go to Alderaan and meet with Leia in person.

The hologram of Leia faded before her, leaving Ahsoka in the dark once more.

Bail would get back to her when he had some free time, and it would still be a few hours before they got back to Atollon.

Ahsoka felt her eyes beginning to droop slightly. The day's events, as well as the injury she suffered, had worn on her.

Laying down on a nearby bed, Ahsoka closed her eyes, and allowed sleep to claim her, if only for a few hours.

She was in the dark forest again, alone and without weapons. All around her, ghostly figures moved, some passing by her, others right through her.

For the first time in years, Ahsoka Tano was genuinely terrified.

"Ahsoka." A whisper of a voice, indistinguishable to her montrals.

"I would never let anyone hurt your Ahsoka." Another whisper, this time she recognized it. An empty promise from the man she once admired.

She moved forward, through the dark trees and spectral figures before her.

"Why are you doing this?" The voice from before whispered to her again, another question from the past. One she still didn't know how to answer.

"She will be expelled from the Jedi Order!" A different voice whispered to her again, this one bringing great anger to her.

"Your Padawan status will be stripped from you." A second whisper followed in a different voice, both memories of an unfair trial, where she was used as a scapegoat by people she had learned from.

Ahsoka tried in vain to block out the whispers, moving through the never-ending forest, trying to get away from the shadows that followed her. She didn't want to be reminded of her past.

"You abandoned me! You failed me! Do you know, what I have become?" The whisper snarled this time, in anger and hatred.

Ahsoka ignored it. He was dead now, he could never hurt her again.

"Ahsoka, it's so good to see you." A new whisper occurred, sounded excited. Ahsoka was hopeful for a second. Then she realized.

No, she was dead also.

They were all dead, all of her friends. Her past.

And none of them had stood by her when it mattered. Those that had, either died, or turned traitor.

"Back into the order, you may come." A broken croaking whisper of a man she once thought of as the wisest in the galaxy echoed throughout the forest.

Ahsoka continued, moving around trees in vain, trying in desperation to escape. Tears freely ran down her face, anger and depression running rampant within her.

But try as she may, the ghostly figures followed her. And the whispers continued.

Suffice to say, Ahsoka Tano did not get a good rest.

Several hours later, the Ghost arrived back at Atollon and proceeded to land at Chopper Base. The captured TIE Defender, piloted by Miara, followed the Ghost, landing next to the freighter.

With Thrawn's prototype now captured and under rebel control, they could effectively take it to pieces and analyse it.

Ahsoka had woken from her nightmare ridden sleep shortly before exiting hyperspace, and was thus in the cargo bay the rest of the team by the time Hera had landed the vessel.

Ahsoka glanced at her comrades. Kaeden was locked in a discussion with Kanan and Ezra, inquired about Jedi training and what it entails. Ezra was describing in detail his trip to the temple on Lothal, where he had acquired his first kyber crystal. Ahsoka noticed however that the young Jedi was over exaggerating certain aspects of the story. Kanan had already interrupted the recount several times to correct Ezra's interpretation of events.

"No Ezra I did not abandon you in the temple, and I certainly didn't get killed by the Inquisitor."

"You did Kanan, I saw it with my own eyes!"

Ahsoka chuckled under her breath, watching as Kaeden listened with interest.

The Togruta's gaze shifted to another discussion going on in the cargo bay.

"You were right about asking questions Garazeb. I'm glad I did."

"So am I. It's good to have you on our side Kallus."

The two former foes had put aside any animosity that lay between them. It had surprised Ahsoka that Zeb had been the most readily accepting of Kallus.

Still, she was glad to see someone was accepting him. Whilst everyone else had, they were still weary of his true intentions, being a former ISB agent after all.

Something suddenly bumped into Ahsoka's legs, and her gaze immediately shifted downwards.

Chopper was at her feet, looking up at her.

"You ok Chopper?" Ahsoka asked. It was rare for the droid to spark up conversation with anyone. Unless of course he was just seeking to be a nuisance to someone.

The astromech beeped back at her.

"No more suicide missions please."

Ahsoka laughed. The mission to Lothal had been dangerous, but she wouldn't call it a suicide mission.

"Remind me to tell you about the mission to the Citadel later." Ahsoka spoke, running her hand along Chopper's dome affectionately. Now that had been a suicide mission.

Suddenly a sound echoed throughout the cargo bay, and the ramp descended.

Ahsoka wasn't expecting anyone to greet them when they got back.

She was wrong.

"Where have all of you been? I've been worried sick?"

The entire group of individuals in the cargo bay stared with confusion.

Ezra stepped forward first.

"Oh hey AP5, we had a mission."

AP5's head moved in all directions, scanning the faces of the people before him.

"A mission? Why was I not told, I could have been of considerable help?"

Ahsoka could have sworn the droid was feeling somewhat hurt inside.

"You know, I guess we sort of forgot about you. Sorry AP." Ezra replied, a small sheepish smile appearing on his face.

AP5 was silent for a minute. Then he spoke.

"YOU FORGOT ABOUT ME! AFTER ALL I HAVE DONE FOR YOU AND THE REBELLION! HOW DARE YOU! I'M GOING TO…"

AP didn't get to finish his rant, as Chopper came down the ramp bumping into him, before speeding off in a random direction.

"Why you no good piece of scrap metal, come back here this instant!"

Ahsoka watched as the two droids disappeared from sight. Beside her, Ezra laughed.

Hera then proceeded down the ramp of her ship, stopping beside her crew.

"Ok everyone, we need to report to Commander Sato." The Twi-lek spoke, once again seizing authority over everyone else.

With groans, the crew of the Ghost began to move towards the command centre of Chopper base.

This left Ahsoka with Kallus. She turned to face the former imperial.

"You did well today Kallus. Thank you for your help."

Kallus nodded back. "Thank you for this chance to start again. It means a lot."

Ahsoka smiled. Kallus have proven his worth, in more ways than one. And he made an excellent information supplier.

"So? How would you like to work as one of my agents?" Ahsoka asked, assuming her own authority voice. She was back to being Fulcrum.

"What do you mean commander?" Kallus enquired confused. He assumed he would just be put on basic duties to begin with. He was half expected latrine duty.

Instead, here was Ahsoka Tano offering him a position by her side, or so it seemed.

"You showed great skill and cunning, as well as the willingness to take risks, over these past few months. How would you like to be a proper Fulcrum agent?" Ahsoka replied more forcefully. Kallus was everything she sought for in one of her agents.

A wave of surprise hit Kallus. She was offering him a job, and a respected job that he could do.

Kallus realized in that moment that he was truly free. No longer did he have to deal with the bureaucracy of the empire, or the manipulations of people such as Thrawn.

Now, he could help those who needed it, the right way.

"I'd be honoured Fulcrum." Kallus responded, snapping into a salute.

To his surprise, Ahsoka saluted back.

"Then welcome to the rebellion Agent Fulcrum."

Captain Rex watched from the side as Ahsoka spoke to Kallus. She seemed to be readily accepting of him.

But that wasn't what was bugging Rex. Instead, it was what had happened on Lothal.

When he saw her eyes turn yellow, if only for a brief second.

Anyone else would have left it alone, not daring to anger the Togrutan women.

But Rex hoped he was close enough to the Togruta to raise the issue without upsetting her.

Miara had already gone ahead to the control centre to meet up with the others, and as Rex saw Kallus depart from Ahsoka, he seized the opportunity.

"Ahsoka? Can we talk?" Rex called out to her.

Ahsoka turned and saw him, a bright smile appearing on her face. He hoped it would remain when he had said his piece.

"What's up Rex?" Ahsoka said once she was within earshot.

The clone hesitated for a second. She would understand his concern, right?

"I need to talk to you about something that happened on Lothal."

Ahsoka's face changed quickly, concern appearing.

"What's wrong? Is someone else hurt?" She asked. Rex had yet to enquire about the shape of his friend's wound.

"No Ahsoka, it's about you." Rex spoke.

"What about me? You don't need to worry about me Rex. I'll heal soon enough."

Rex didn't want to beat around the bush, but he didn't want to upset his oldest friend either.

"It's about what happened in the warehouse. When you killed all those troopers without remorse." Rex spoke boldly.

Ahsoka's face changed to one of surprise. "What about it?"

Rex took the risk of asking. "Your eyes Ahsoka, they went yellow for a second, like a Sith's."

Ahsoka's face didn't change. "No they didn't."

Rex wanted to hug the woman, to tell her it would be alright. But another part of him wanted her to listen to what he had to say.

"I'm worried about you Ahsoka. That wasn't like you. You haven't been the same since Malachor."

Ahsoka took a step back from the clone, trepidation evident in her body language.

"Whatever you have to say Rex, just say it."

So Rex did.

"Have you been using the Sith holocron from Malachor?"

Ahsoka replied instantaneously. "I've opened it yes."

Rex wanted to shout at her. To warn her about it. He knew that holocrons of any affiliation were extremely powerful.

And also extremely dangerous to force sensitives.

"Dammit Ahsoka, you can't do that. It's dangerous for someone like you to open those things, especially one belonging to the Sith!"

Ahsoka's eyes hardened, repressed rage deep within them. Rex was sure she wouldn't attack him, but she was clearly upset.

"I know what I'm doing Rex!" Ahsoka spoke slowly and forcefully.

"Do you? You keep using it and you will end up like your traitorous master!"

Rex felt the punch before he saw it, which was a remarkable feat in itself. Ahsoka had decked him in the face, sending him to the floor. He lay on his back, clutching his eye where he had hit him. It would definitely leave a bruise.

Ahsoka stepped above him, towering over him, looking straight down, anger written on her face.

Once again, Rex saw a brief pigment of yellow in her eyes, but stronger than before.

"Don't you dare compare me to Vader, Captain! I am nothing like him, and never will be!"

When she finished her sentence, Ahsoka turned and stormed off into the wilderness of Atollon, nothing even caring about the mission report.

Rex slowly sat up, still holding his face.

He wouldn't hold it against her. She was upset and angry, and he had pushed too far. Frankly he deserved it.

But he had to ask her, because she had to know what he thought, about what had happened.

She was his closest friend. The only person he had left from a time when he had a family.

And he couldn't lose her the same way he lost Anakin.

He wouldn't.

Grand Admiral Thrawn sat in his office, surrounded by three holograms.

His nose was broken, a bright purple bruise have appeared on his face from where the Togruta had head-butted him. He had done what he could to bandage his nose. The bones would just take time to heal.

That wasn't his concern right now. What was was the debrief he was about to undergo. No doubt he was about to be reprimanded for losing the Defender prototype to the rebels, as well as letting the traitor Kallus escape.

'If only they knew.' Thrawn thought.

His thoughts turned to the holograms before him, of the people they represented.

On one side was the Governor of Lothal, and his friend, Arihnda Pryce. She was always willing to support him, even in his most risky plans. Thrawn hoped today that she was on his side.

On the other side of him was the hologram of Grand Moff Tarkin. Thrawn despised the man, seeing him as nothing more than a power hungry despot. Tarkin had no depth of understanding of risks that needed to be taken. He preferred a straight up fight, preferably one where he had superior strength to his opponent. Tarkin would most certainly not be on his side.

The third hologram was that of Emperor Palpatine himself, who currently had his eyes closed, as if he was listening to something. Thrawn knew enough about force sensitives to know that the Emperor was listening to something in the force.

Tarkin clearly didn't have the patience to wait any longer.

"Your excellency, I believe we need to discuss the situation."

Palpatine's eyes opened, and immediately shot an aggressive look at Tarkin.

"Do be patient Grand Moff. But you are right, we have much to discuss."

Thrawn prepared for what he knew was next.

Tarkin began his rant. "Thrawn has not only managed to lose one of our prototype weapons, but has also lost the traitor. The rebellion will only grow stronger because of his blunder. He must be punished."

If Thrawn was alone, he would have rolled his eyes. Tarkin really was a naïve fool.

Palpatine turned next to Pryce.

"Grand Admiral Thrawn did indeed lose the prototype, but we also managed to uncover Agent Kallus as the traitor who was giving away our information. That is a victory in itself."

Tarkin did not wait to be addressed before he spoke up. "Yes, but Kallus escaped to help the rebels. Thrawn's over ambition has cost us dearly today!"

Thrawn wanted to bring up the point about over ambition. That sounded more like Tarkin than Thrawn.

Clearly the Emperor agreed, as he did roll his eyes at the human male.

Pryce continued her points. "Thrawn may have acted recklessly today Grand Moff, but he has been responsible for many victories in the past, some that no one else could have achieved. This one defeat today does not outshine all the good he had done for the empire."

The debate stopped briefly, Tarkin sneering at both Thrawn and Pryce, before slumping down in his seat. Even over the hologram, Thrawn could tell Tarkin was sulking.

Pryce meanwhile had a smug look on her face. She hated Tarkin just as much as Thrawn did, so any chance to take him down a notch was worth it.

"What say you Grand Admiral?" Emperor Palpatine spoke up for the first time since the discussion had begun.

'Finally!' Thrawn thought. He could reveal the scope of his genius.

"I allowed the rebels to capture the Defender prototype."

The look of surprise on Pryce's face, as well as the confusion on Palpatine's was worth it. But Tarkin's face almost made Thrawn laugh.

Anger had overtaken the Grand Moff's facial expression. "You betrayed the empire! You let them escape!"

Thrawn nodded. "I did, because by doing so we will learn the location of the rebel base."

That caught the attention of the others.

"How?" Pryce asked, leaning forward. Even Tarkin looked mildly interested.

"When I took command of the project, I discreetly altered the design. Built within the prototype Defender that was stolen is a small tracking beacon. Completely undetectable to anything the rebellion currently possesses."

Palpatine's face lit up with a sinister smirk.

"So we can track the rebels to their base?" Pryce inquired.

"Indeed Governor, once the signal stops moving, I believe we will have found the location of the rebel base." Thrawn continued.

Palpatine cackled aloud.

"So you see Grand Moff Tarkin, I may have allowed the rebels and the traitor to escape, but in doing so, they will lead me directly to their rebel base. And I will annihilate them all!"

Author's thoughts

And finished. Phew.

I hope everyone enjoyed this epilogue, even if it does leave the story incredibly opened ended.

I suppose I should speak about the elephant in the room however: Ahsoka's treatment of Rex. I know some will deem it OOC for her, and I agree. But as I alluded to in this chapter, as well as the last, Ahsoka has been actively using and studying the Sith holocron, like Ezra does in canon. That, coupled with Sidious' influence, as well as her nightmares has put Ahsoka on the edge, and Rex was just unlucky enough to unleash it in the worst possible way. Rest assured, it will be something that is addressed in the future.

Speaking of which, part three of this four part AU story is still under construction, (I have written 2/3 of it by this point). I will begin posting it shortly, just need a break for a few days.

Funny anecdote time: While writing this fic, I completely forgot about the existence of AP5, which horrified me as he is one of my favourite characters in rebels, and I couldn't just have him materialize from nowhere. Hence, I added him in as a joke in this chapter.

Oh, and did you all really think they got away from Thrawn that easily? :D

As usual, feel free to comment on this story, as well as what direction you think this might go.

Speaking of comments:

Mysterious Guest that commented on chapter 13: Sidious is indeed hunting Ahsoka, and she will need allies if she wished to face him. Maul is still alive at this point, but he is off doing his own thing. He will reappear however, sooner than you think.

FossilQueen1984: Looks like Thrawn did booby trap the Defender. Sucks for the rebels. As for whether or not Thrawn survives this series, I can't outright say who will and will not survive, as that ruins the tension. However, if you truely want to know, I will tell you. I personally do not like killing characters, (this coming from the author who killed Vader) as I find it to be a somewhat lazy method of storytelling, with some rare exceptions. (Obi-Wan for example) Personally, a character living offers greater depth to a story than just being killed "because plot demands" or something, one of the main reasons I am adamantly against Ahsoka dying at the hands of Vader. (a debate for another day :D)

Now that comment analysis is over- I want to personally thank anyone who has even read this story, as well as those who have commented about it. When I started, I honestly didn't expect much of a response. Knowing that there are people who enjoy the way I tell a story means a lot. So thank you.

And before I go, I want to leave you all with a tease of the next fic. So...

"Hearing a voice in her head, Ahsoka Tano travels to a distant planet in the outer rim to uncover a hidden truth. Meanwhile, a Grand Admiral plots his next move."

The story will continue in: Vendettas and Stratagems

Till next time.

Feel free to comment and the like, as well as PM if you wish to know something more secret, (like the fate of a certain character, if your worried that is, I know I sometimes get that way)

SirLoozElite