Unknown Location - Spirit plane
Jarik POV...
Looking at the ancient shrine, I couldn't help but compare the architecture to what I remember of the Father's monastery on Mortis. It's been approximately two decades since I was there, and I wasn't even in the monastery long enough to appreciate it. But I could detect some faint similarities from what I remember, mainly with the spires. The Mortis monastery is much larger by far, but the spires bear a similar design to each other, the blocky towers also resembling some of the architecture down on Malachor as well.
At this point it's a clear and definite fact that this place had influence from Force-wielders, the Ones having been confirmed having a hand in its construction by the Keeper. As for what it's guarding... I can't sense any definite location, but I can definitely sense a strong source of power here, yet it's also very subtle. It almost feels like... like it's probing me. As if this source of power is alive, and trying to read my thoughts.
"You said this place safeguards one of the most powerful objects in the universe," I ask the Keeper, following him through the shrine. "What is that exactly?"
"A remnant of one of six singularities that existed before the Universe itself," he explains, much to my surprise. "An Infinity Stone."
I come to a stop, recognizing those from someone else... someone else more sinister. Back during the final days of the Clone Wars, when I was first introduced to the master of the dark side, Snoke.
~Flashback~
"An object that has existed for eons... something of great power. We can use it to bring balance back to the Force, and to end all wars across the galaxy," he says, watching me expectantly.
"And that object is...?" I ask with a raised eyebrow.
He smiles, and leans forwards to answer.
"An Infinity Stone," he says. "One of the six singularities that predates the Universe itself. To hold just one would make you the most powerful being ever... if it did not destroy you first."
"What a load of bull," I scoff in disbelief. "Really? Something that existed before the universe? How would that even be possible if there was nothing?"
"You can't make something out of nothing, my dear Jedi," he replies with a grin.
I falter for a moment, truth resonating in that statement to me. And it was worrisome.
~Flashback Ends~
I look down at the ground with a troubled expression, worried about what all of this means. As time passes, more and more about these Infinity Stones keeps getting thrust at me, much like how my visions of Oryx increased just before encountering him. It gives me a really bad feeling that something is going to happen soon.
The purple Stone underneath Vader's castle on Mustafar is one of them, Snoke revealed this much. And he also referred to Malachor, which means that warping matter underneath the temple has to be another one. And now I'm in the presence of - at least spiritually - a third Infinity Stone. All three sources of power that I've felt are very different, but one quality about them is always exactly the same, confirming that they are Infinity Stones.
What worries me the most is that some people out there are already looking for them. Vader has one right at his fingertips, Snoke has plenty of knowledge on them, even the Third Brother of all people sought out a Stone as well, yet he mentioned he had no plans on giving it to the Emperor. So who does he really serve?
"Dangerous people out there are looking for these Stones," I tell the Keeper worriedly.
"They are not the first, and they will not be the last," he replies in understanding, much to my surprise. "A lifetime ago, I too sought the Stones."
"Is that how you found your way here?" I deduce. "You were trapped?"
"I held a Stone in my hand once, but it banished me here," he explains, stopping to look at me. "Forcing me to guide others to a treasure I cannot possess; the Soul Stone"
I look at him with a sense of sadness a pity, realizing he isn't here guarding the stone voluntarily. Although it seems he searched for the Stones as well, leaving me wondering if he had honorable intentions, he still had his own life as well. Perhaps that is why he looks the way he does, despite feeling human from what I could sense.
"I'm sorry to hear that about you," I tell Keeper quietly, before frowning. "You... speak as if the Stone was sentient."
"The Infinity Stones all carry certain qualities that may never be understood, carrying a certain... wisdom, some more so than others. Enough to judge those who seek it out," he explains solemnly. "The most powerful Sith to ever live once found his way here, seeking the Stone for himself."
"The most powerful Sith..." I murmur, widening my eyes in surprise. "Vitiate?"
"The very same," he nods in confirmation. "Yet even with all of his great power, he was unable to acquire the Stone, something which frustrated him for all of his life."
"Vitiate was capable of wiping out entire worlds with the Force," I recall in astonishment. "Yet he wasn't strong enough to wield an Infinity Stone?"
"He could wield it of course, but the Soul Stone would not reveal itself to him. He could never find it," he tells me.
"Why not?" I ask him.
"In order to take the Stone, he had to lose that which he loved most. A soul, for a soul," Keeper reveals.
I slowly nod my head in realization and understanding. "And he never knew love like that..."
From what little I know of him, I do know that he once had a wife and children. How someone could love and marry a monster like him is beyond me, but it happened. Yet while he may have possibly felt some fondness for them in the beginning, Vitiate never truly came to love them.
As I'm thinking about this, the Keeper restarts his walk towards the other side of the shrine, and I follow him without a thought. Eventually I come to stand at the edge of a high cliff, the drop going all the way down to the bottom of the mountain, where there was a strange circular engraving. A thought then comes to me, making my blood run cold.
"You said that to acquire the Soul Stone, you have to lose what you love most?" I ask Keeper, whipping my head up to look at him.
"The judgement of Soul," he tells me, taking a step forwards.
"Judgement of-" I falter in exasperation, now becoming upset. "So the entire reason I've been called here is to perform a sacrifice?!"
"If you think that Darth Sidious is the greatest threat you'll face, you must think carefully. War and death will spread across the universe with the coming conflicts," the Keeper informs me. "Soul it seems, has taken an interest in you. The possession of just one Infinity Stone will enable you to face these threats head on."
"Achieving ultimate power is not worth sacrificing loved ones," I retort with a glare.
"If you do not perform the deed, then somebody else will Master Jedi. And you may not like the goal he has in mind," Keeper warns me.
I growl angrily at him for a moment, turning instead to look down the cliff in frustration. I will NOT play to the whims of these all-powerful 'stones' and 'beings.'
"Even if I ever wanted to, I couldn't," I say, voice dangerously low. "I came here to you so that I could seek for a way to get Ahsoka back, to save her from whatever fate has fallen over her. And yet you're asking me to sacrifice her."
I clench my fists angry, struggling not to lash out at the Keeper in fury, just barely containing the dark side. I was trembling... rightly so...
ooo00ooo
Mara POV...
I begin to grimace, focusing even more heavily on Dad when a sense of anger and cold rage starts overcoming him. He's clenching his hands, his face contorting to anger in a way that's extremely rare for him, much to my alarm. The Sith holocron glows more red, and I look at him nervously as I sense the dark side beginning to sweep in.
"Come on Dad..." she says nervously. "Please hang on!"
I gather up some more power in the Force with the light side, and attempt to let it flow through him. I don't know what's making Dad so mad, but I gonna do everything I can to try and help him calm down.
But how am I supposed to do that exactly? All he said was to keep filling him with 'light side energy!'
ooo00ooo
Jarik POV...
Eventually though, I managed to stem my rage and lower it, though I was still upset. Lashing out at the Keeper would bring me nothing, and I'm not even sure I would be able to do much to him, if the Stone is as powerful as he says. He's tasked with guarding it, for how long I do not know.
"It is the Jedi way to do what is necessary to save lives, and protect them regardless of your emotional attachment, is it not?" he asks me.
"Not my way," I reply bitterly. "Even if I wanted to do this - and that's a big if - it's impossible. She's gone, and I can't bring her back."
"Is she really as gone as you think she is?" he asks me.
I turn around to give him an angry retort, only to falter in my tracks, mouth gaping open as I look at the person moving forwards beside the Keeper. An orange skinned togruta woman with white and blue colored lekku, wearing a style of Jedi armor. Ahsoka...
"Can you do it Jarik?" she asks me.
Ahch-To - Unknown Regions
Elita POV...
The ocean floor of this planet goes pretty deep, which isn't too surprising considering the largest landmass is still classified as a planet. Thank Primus I don't need to breathe air, and can withstand immense pressure, otherwise I'd never be able to pull this off! At this depth in the water, barely any light is able to reach down here. Human eyes definitely would see nothing but inky blackness. Luckily I have my vehicle mode headlights to help me see, which are positioned on my chest, along with my optics being able to see through darkness better.
I've already come across a few sea creatures, the most dangerous of which appeared to be some sort of sea-class dragon. From what my memory circuits can recall, some of them are known as Scauldrons, while others are known as Thunderdrums. The Thunderdrum that crossed path with me almost ruined my audio receptors thanks to its sonic roar, which completely surprised me. A few warning shots from my energon cannon were able to scare it off, much to my relief.
Needless to say I decided to turn off my audio receptors for the moment, leaving me effectively deaf. Thought it's not like I need them underwater anyways.
"Let's see if I can still get some sort of signal..." I think to myself.
I pull out a scanner from my subspace and activate it, seeing if I could find the signal of my lost ship. Pressing a few buttons, I wait for it to complete its search, only to come up with nothing.
"Guess I shouldn't be too surprised," I remark.
While my comments about Cybertronian metal to Jarik and Mara were completely true, they did have a point when mentioning how long its been since my ship crashed into the ocean. Six thousand years later, the hull and shape of the metal may be intact, but all of the delicate machinery and wiring inside of it would be long since destroyed, leaving it effectively useless.
Getting another idea of how to search for the ship, I reconfigure the search parameter's on my scanner to analyze the change in landmass of the area surrounding Temple Island. I know what direction away from the island the ship crashed, but landmasses change over long periods of time, and I'm sure that was accelerated a little bit from when Onslaught decimated the mountain to bury me beneath it. A flashing light on the scanner tells me it's finished, and I bring up a small hologram to watch a time-lapse.
The island changes subtlety, moving along the ocean floor thanks to the tectonic plates beneath the ocean floor. According to the scan, the island moved about 200 feet over the last six thousand years. I heave a sigh upon realizing this means I have to cover ground for several hundred square feet.
"Well, not like this was ever going to be easy," I think in grim resignation.
Starting in the proper direction along my search parameters, I begin trudging through the black water in order to try and find my lost ship.
Hyperspace - Outer Rim Territories
3rd person POV...
Sabine and Ezra were stunned by the revelation of Fenn Rau's father knowing Jarik Shan's father, the former especially. To think that other Mandalorian's actually knew, maybe even tolerated being in the presence of a Shan is just completely shocking to her.
"Your father, was friends with a Shan? Jarik's father?" she asks in surprise. Rau chuckles in response.
"No, he wasn't friends with a one. Shan's father was a Mandalorian himself," he corrects her.
If they were shocked by the previous information, than this completely changed that. Sabine's eyes were as wide as saucers, filled with shock and incredulous disbelief at that. Ezra wasn't that far behind.
"Wait wait wait, back up," he interrupts. "I thought you Mandalorian's hated Jarik's family."
"We do," Rau answers.
"Then... how could his father also be Mandalorian? That doesn't make any sense," he asks in confusion.
"Please tell me you're joking," Sabine asks dryly.
"I'm not joking," Rau replies sternly. "And yes, it doesn't make much sense. That's because his father wasn't a Shan himself, but instead he was married into that. Jarik Shan's mother was of Revan's bloodline, not his father."
"Ohhhh..." Ezra remarks thoughtfully. "Wait, but he was still-"
"His father was a Mandalorian, and decided to be married to a Shan?" Sabine interrupts incredulously. "How did that ever happen?!"
"I don't know the full story, I was too young to be properly acquainted with him," Rau begins to explain. "Shan's father was Marcus Sohl, and was a part of Clan Ordo. He was a skilled Mandalorian warrior."
"Clan Ordo?" Sabine comments in surprise. "Huh. I guess that makes things a little easier to understand."
"How? Who's Clan Ordo?" Ezra asks, still confused.
"Clan Ordo is one of the Mandalorian clans, founded by the legendary warrior Canderous Ordo, who went on to become Mandalore the Preserver," Rau explains. "He was a loyal ally to Revan."
"Because of his legacy, Clan Ordo probably hates the Shan family the least of all compared to the rest," Sabine adds, frowning. "That doesn't mean they liked them either though. However, from what I know they've been shamed by the rest of the clans."
"That would be because of Marcus," Rau explains.
Sabine nods her head slowly, realizing the implications of what that means. Ezra of course, is still in the dark about it though.
"Why would the clan be shamed because of Marcus?" he asks.
Sabine and Rau both look at him in exasperation.
"Because Marcus married a Shan, Ezra. Isn't it obvious?" she says incredulously.
"Oh," he replies in realization. "But still, why does that shame the clan?"
"Associating yourself with a Shan is considered one of the highest forms of treason and betrayal for a Mandalorian, much less marrying one," Rau explains in a small amount of disgust. "What could of compelled Marcus to marry that woman is beyond my knowledge, but his actions reflected on Clan Ordo's. Therefore, the rest of us disavowed them for upbringing someone who would go against our ways."
"Well that sounds stupid," Ezra remarks.
Fenn Rau glares irritably at him, while Sabine groans, holding her hands in her head. "Ezra!"
"What? It is!" he says defensively. "Why would you guys shame an entire group of people just because of what one guy did? Force, I still don't get why you hate the Shan family!"
"It's not that simple Ezra, we've been over this!" Sabine states.
"But why though? Yeah, I get that Revan did a horrible thing to you guys, but that was thousands of years ago! It's not like anyone today is responsible for that!" he argues.
"Because the Shan's have been a plague on Mandalore since that time," Rau interrupts with a harsh glare. "You would do well not to meddle in affairs that are not for you to decide."
"Dude, seriously?" Ezra asks with a raised eyebrow.
"Ezra!" Sabine exclaims to get his attention, before sighing. "Look, let me try and simplify it for you. Do you support the actions of the Separatists and what they stood for during the Clone War?"
"No," he answers instantly.
"And how would you feel if you met someone who supported the Separatists for subjugating and conquering hundreds of different planets, often times killing innocent people?" she asks.
"I'd think they're crazy, and I probably wouldn't like them..." he answers, slowly trailing off as he comes to a realization.
"That's how we feel about the Shan family," Sabine tells him with a confirming nod. "Because of what Revan did, that family stands as a constant reminder of our humiliating defeat, and our worst times. We were fractured and broken because of him, because he took away Mandalore's mask, leaving us without a leader. His descendant's flourished, while we were left to rot away."
Ezra remains silent as he takes in this information with wide eyes, suddenly unsure of how to feel.
"So, boy, you can see how we detest the existence of that family," Rau states firmly.
"Then... how did Marcus ever come to marry one of them?" Sabine asks.
"I can't imagine what would have driven him to do so," Rau scoffs, looking away. "But it doesn't matter. He was disavowed by all Mandalorians once this came to our knowledge."
Unknown Location - Spirit plane
Jarik POV...
Ahsoka stood before me, next to the Keeper, leaving me completely breathless as I took in her appearance. I tried to feel for her along my broken Force bond to see if it's really her, but it's still broken. However I could still feel her presence right in front of me to. This... it has to be her!
"Ahsoka?" I manage to say quietly. "Are you... are you really...?"
"I'm here Jarik," she says softly, stepping closer. "I'm really here."
"How... how can you be?" I ask her softly.
"I never died on Malachor Jarik. I found a way to keep living," she answers.
I step even closer to her so that I'm standing within inches of her, and slowly reach a hand out. I lightly touch her arm, and then move my fingertips up to her face, while she lets me do so. After a few moments, tears start to fall down my face as I feel that she must be here in front of me, and I draw her into a tight hug. She hugs me back just as tight, and we stand in the embrace for a long while. I'm just grateful to be able to have her back.
Eventually we separate, and I look at her desperately, questions and a sense of longing clear in my gaze.
"Why didn't you come back? We missed you," I ask her.
"I- I couldn't Jarik... no matter how much I wanted to," she replies sadly. "But I'm here now."
"I won't let you go again," I promise her.
"You'll have to though," she tells me regretfully.
I blink at her, shocked that she would say something like that without any doubts or hesitation. "Why?"
"So that you can save the universe from those who would harm it," she tells me. "To keep everything in balance."
"Yeah, and I'll keep that on my check-list with you along to help," I reply sarcastically.
"I'm serious Jarik, it must be done," she insists.
"What must be done?" I ask warily, looking at her uneasily.
"The Keeper is right," she tells me. "Other beings will attempt to claim these Infinity Stones, and use them for great destruction. You have to take hold of them to prevent that from happening."
I remain silent for several long moments, trying to understand what she's asking me to do, and coming to the horrifying realization. I widen my eyes at her in shock, hurt that she would ever think of this.
"No! I'm not sacrificing you for an Infinity Stone!" I exclaim.
"But Jarik-" she starts.
"I lost you twice already, I'm not about to lose you a third time!" I interrupts fiercely, grasping onto her shoulders with tears flowing down my eyes. "I can't let you go!"
"But you have to. If you don't then others will exploit all of this power. You know that Snoke is searching for the Infinity Stones!" she reasons.
I freeze momentarily, noticing something about what she just said that made me suspicious. Something isn't right about her...
"You do realize what you're asking me to do right?" I tell her, standing at the edge of the cliff. "You're asking me to throw you off so that I gain take the Soul Stone."
"I know it's hard Jarik... and it breaks my heart to force this on you," she says, moving close to stand right behind me, laying a hand on my shoulder. "But my life can't stand in the way of the safety of the universe."
"But breaking my Force Bond with you... it's unbearable. I can't stand the pain of it," I whisper softly.
"I know," she replies, just as quietly. "But I've accepted my fate long ago. And you'll be able to continue on, even when our bond breaks."
This is not Ahsoka.
I turn around to face whoever this is, a hard glare coming on to my face, as I glare at them with cold fury. Whoever it is notices the change instantly, as they blink in surprise before frowning, becoming worried and uneasy.
"Jarik?" Ahsoka's voice asks.
Taking a few steps closer to her illusion, I continue to glare coldly at them, inciting a look of unease and fear from them.
"What's wrong Jarik?" she asks nervously.
It hurts my soul to hear Ahsoka sounding so worried, and appearing so afraid because of me. But this is not Ahsoka. Nothing is adding up.
"The problem is, you are not Ahsoka," I state coldly.
"What?" she asks incredulously. "But I'm right-"
"I told Ahsoka about Snoke, and that there was a purple stone beneath Vader's castle," I start to say. "I never told her that Snoke was searching for Infinity Stones."
Ahsoka's illusion widens its eyes in alarm, but I continue advancing towards it.
"Mainly because I didn't believe they were real," I shrug carelessly. "But what really sold it, is that you think our bond is still connected. It snapped months ago on Malachor."
Backing the illusion against a wall, I trap them there was a hard look.
"Now who are you?" I demand furiously.
Ahsoka's illusion drops the act, no longer looking afraid or worried. Instead, a cold glare forms on her face, followed by a sinister smirk, with eyes glowing a sickly yellow.
"Well done Master Shan," she says.
Hearing Ahsoka sound so cold and sinister is unsettling, but I brush it off.
"You're right, I'm not Ahsoka. My only mistake was not realizing that her journey through that portal snapped the Force bond you share with her," they say thoughtfully.
I widen my eyes in shock and disbelief at hearing that.
Ahsoka… went through a portal?
"And you never shared my knowledge with anyone else?" she asks me again, smirking.
I take a few steps back, horrified momentarily before tensing up with clenched fists, glaring at him furiously. I know who this is now.
"Snoke," I growl.
"Indeed," he replies, chuckling.
I whip my head around to glare at the Keeper, who has been watching the scene impassively the entire time.
"You're an agent of his?!" I demand.
"No. Like I said, I'm cursed to guide others to the treasure that lies here," he says calmly. "I cannot withhold assistance to anyone, no matter their affiliation or goals."
I glare at the Keeper for a little bit longer, before forcing myself to direct my rage elsewhere. I can't exactly blame him for this, because I can tell he's being truthful. He was cursed into this existence as the Soul Stone's guardian.
Snoke continues to smirk at me sinisterly, now standing tall and without fear, still carrying the illusion of Ahsoka. Only now she looks more sickly and pale, with dark veins traveling along her skin. It reminds me so much of how she appeared when the Son corrupted her on Mortis. But this isn't Ahsoka at all… unless Snoke did something.
"What have you done with Ahsoka?" I demand furiously.
"I have done nothing," he replies dismissively.
"Have you corrupted her? Answer me!" I exclaim.
"Oh please Shan, I am not the Son. What you see before you is merely an illusion," he scoffs. "I'm only saddened you didn't carry out the deed."
"Well I'm glad I didn't," I retort, reaching for my lightsaber. "You wanted to take it, something I will not let happen."
He chuckles in response. "You can't deny the Infinity Stones from me forever. You already have enough enemies Shan."
"But I can deny you this one," I reply, smirking as I realize something. "You suffer the same weakness as Vitiate don't you?"
Much to my satisfaction, that comment makes him go silent, and he frowns at me.
"There is no love in you," I state with cold glee, smiling. "Maybe you can take the others… but without love, you will never be able to take the Soul Stone."
Snoke frowns at me in displeasure for a long time, before smirking.
"So it would seem Shan… but I have other means of retrieving it," he states confidently.
"Then I'll stop you again," I declare.
"Before you do that though…" he trails off, walking around with his arms behind his back.
Seeing Ahsoka's body act this way is still unsettling.
"...I would take care to worry about your wife if I were you."
I falter momentarily, glaring at him angrily as I pull my lightsaber off my belt, not yet activating it.
"So you do have her!" I accuse angrily.
"Oh no," he says, shaking his head. "But others do."
Sensing something behind me, I turn around to look at whatever it is, but don't see anything. However something enters my vision as the Force shows me something… something horrible.
I see Ahsoka… not Snoke's illusion, being held at some sort of stand or platform, hands bound behind her back. She's kneeled down on the ground and looking down, resigned and sad.
Behind her is Darth Vader, holding his lightsaber at her neck. And in the background I could see the Emperor… laughing.
An execution.
Vader raises his blade and then swings it. I see a flash of red…
I gasp in horror as the vision goes away, and whip my head around to face Snoke, who is smirking at me, chuckling in amusement.
"Soon, your precious wife will be gone!" he says gleefully. "And you will become darkness!"
Clenching my fists tightly, I activate my lightsaber and dash towards Snoke with a furious roar. I slice my lightsaber through him, and he disappears with a puff of dark smoke, which wisps away, leaving the echo of his laugh behind.
I breathe heavily, panting as horror and fear overcomes me, and I look over at the Keeper, who is still standing there.
"Where… where was that?" I ask pleadingly.
"I cannot help you on this journey Jarik Shan. Only you can continue this," he replies calmly. "But I must warn you, if you leave now the Judgement of Soul will be incomplete."
"Why should I care about that?!" I demand bitterly. "All I am getting from this is being used!"
"You do not wish to let go of your love?" he questions.
"Never," I state fiercely. "Not even for an Infinity Stone."
"Very well then," Keeper says, resigned. "But I must warn you, another being may attempt to take the Stone in the future, and use it for great devastation. And unlike Snoke, he is capable of love."
Before I could ask him who he's talking about, the Keeper begins to float in his ghoul form, and waves his hand. My vision is blinded by white light, and I feel myself falling unconscious, leaving this strange world…
ISD Chimaera - Space
Thrawn POV…
These last few weeks have proven to be quite interesting, and shown many new things to learn about. The appearance of these Transformers is the most intriguing discovery I've made, and also raises a lot of questions.
Our galaxy certainly does not have the means of creating technology so advanced, and they do not appear to be simple droids either… rather they seem alive, just like any other being. They definitely do come from beyond our galaxy, just like the Yuuzhan Vong.
Yet who are they? What are their goals?
One of them has clearly allies themself with Jarik Shan, the pink colored transformer who appears to be female in design and body shape. Yet the other three transformers are not allied with her. They've destroyed several Imperial bases over these last few weeks, most likely in their efforts to find her.
Zooming in on the apparent leader of the three male transformers, I notice a symbol etched into the center of his chassis. A strange metallic head with angular and harsh designs, seemingly glaring.
Switching my focus over to the female, I also zoom in on her chassis, also finding a similar mark. However this one is different, appearing less harsh and more friendly, yet showcasing a sense of power, along with nobility.
Two different factions, it would seem.
Enemies.
Yet they are the same species of metallic beings. A civil war among their people perhaps?
But then what would have drawn them out to our galaxy? The three male transformers do not care for the Empire, their only goal being to hunt down the female, who is their enemy. Yet the female transformer helps Jarik Shan and the rebels, despite having no reason to.
Her faction must be freedom fighters of sorts.
But still, the question remains of why they would travel to our galaxy in the first place, when they clearly have their own disputes to settle.
"Grand Admiral?"
I look up from the holotable to spot Agent Kallus approaching, a datapad held in his hands. Second Sister lingers nearby, sulking with whatever she's thinking about, but I pay little attention to her.
"Yes Agent Kallus?" I ask him.
"Our officers just received a coded transmission. Intercepted or given to us, we are unsure, but we've managed to decode the message," he reports.
"And the details of this message?"
Kallus hands me the datapad, and I take it with a curious gaze, narrowing my eyes thoughtfully upon reading it.
"The message claims that Jarik Shan will be traveling to Onderon to prevent an execution," he states.
I look over the decrypted message with a thoughtful eye, yet also a bit suspicious as well. As I think about it, the reasoning for Shan to travel there does make perfect sense, as he has history with the one who will be executed. However… it seems too convienent to be receiving a message like this. Shan wouldn't let something like this get out…
"Where does this message originate from?" I ask Kallus.
"We are trying to determine that now sir," Kallus responds.
"Shan is traveling to Onderon?" Second Sister suddenly asks.
I don't react to the Second Sister's sudden appearance next to us, having noticed she was approaching silently, and also used to her behavior.
"I'm not sure. While he does have the motivation, a message like this seems to conviently timed," I tell her.
"If there is a chance of his presence there, then we should take it!" she declares fiercely.
"And what if it is a misdirection?" Kallus suggests.
"It very well may be a set up Agent Kallus," I reply in agreement. "Still, since the events on Malachor he has become a little off balanced. He may have slipped up without noticing because of this."
I think hard about the situation for a little while longer, glancing at the map of the galaxy that is off to the side on the holotable, which is being used to search for him.
"I will inform Lord Vader and the Emperor of this development. This may very well be a misdirection set up by some party out there, whether it's the rebels or not I am unsure at the moment. So we shall be cautious," I inform them. "But if Shan will be there, then this provides us with an opportunity to capture him and remove a great threat to the Empire."
"Very well Grand Admiral," Agent Kallus says with a respectful nod.
I eye him for a moment, noticing a sense of hesitance or unease from him, but brush it off. I have bigger concerns to worry about for the moment.
"I would hope to join this mission to take down Jarik Shan once and for all, and his daughter," Second Sister states.
"If the Emperor allows you, then you shall have your chance Inquisitor," I reassure her.
Nightsister Fortress - Dathomir
3rd person POV…
Maul was brooding.
Something he typically did these days, ever since returning to the Nightsister's Fortress on Dathomir. The Fortress If his mother…
Remembering how she is now dead makes his blood boil, and he clenches his fist in rage. Oh how he would love nothing more than to run his lightsaber through Darth Sidious for all the pain he caused him. A shame he was unable to take revenge on his mother's killer, General Grievous. That chance was robbed from him by Kenobi.
Kenobi…
That old fool is still alive, and is in hiding. He would know where to find him, if it wasn't for Kanan Jarrus interrupting the joining of the holocrons, therefore preventing him from uncovering that knowledge. Still, a planet with twin suns…
It's not much, but it gives him some clues of where to find Kenobi. Still, he's been trembling in quiet misery at his inability to do anything to locate his old enemy faster.
Maul glances over his shoulder into the room where he keeps his prized possessions. The Dark Saber, his token of victory over that fool Pre Vizsla, as well as a particular set of Mandalorians armor underneath it's stand…
A constant reminder of his failure to take Jarik Shan when he was an infant.
A sudden flash of green draws Maul out of his thoughts, as he looks over in surprise as the Nightsister shrine starts to glow with wispy green smoke. He instantly gets to his feet, confused and wary by the magic being activated.
"Who is doing this?" he demands with a growl.
"Maul… my son…" a woman's voice says.
Maul widens his yellow eyes in shock, gaping at the shrine.
"M- mother?" he asks.
"It is I, Maul," her voice confirms.
"What trickery is this?" Maul growls furiously. "Show yourself Sidious!"
"I am not a trick my son. It is me…"
"Mother Talzin is dead!" he roars.
"I am dead… but I came back to speak to you from the netherworld, with a message," she replies.
"This can't be," he snarls, uncertain.
"Listen to my words Maul. You sense it to be true…"
Maul remains silent, probing along with the Force to uncover this trick. But all he could sense was the shrine..
"Is it really you mother?" he asks pleadingly.
"Yes my son. I do not have much time, but I must tell you something."
"What is it mother?"
"...your old enemy will arrive on Onderon. The Jedi," she reveals.
"Kenobi?" he questions.
"Yes… Obi-Wan Kenobi," she confirms. "You will go there, and you will be able to seek the vengeance you've always desired over him."
A smirk slowly crawls onto Maul's face, as this opportunity is presented to him.
"Thank you mother," he says gleefully. "I will finally put an end to Kenobi."
Temple Island - Ahch-To
Jarik POV…
I open my eyes with a gasp, and collapse forwards onto my hands and knees. The holocrons come apart in a bright flash, rolling across the ground. Mara is instantly at my side and helping me to sit up, hands on my shoulders.
"Dad!" she exclaims. "Are you alright?"
"I… I think so," I manage to say, still shocked by what just happened… what I learned.
"What happened? You felt so angry a few times… but I managed to help calm you down," she says, frowning uncertainly. "I think."
"You did fine Mara," I tell her with a soft smile.
I look down at the holocrons, feeling a lot more shocked and worried about what I just witnessed, and what may be possibly about to happen.
"Dad, what happened?" she asks me. "Did you figure out what you wanted to know?"
"Maybe… I think Ahsoka's still alive," I tell her.
She widens her eyes, tears starting to trickle down in relief. "She is?"
"Yeah, but… I saw a vision where she was being… executed by Vader," I reveal uneasily.
Mara gasps in horror.
"Executed?" she whispers, and I nod silently. "Well we have to save her!"
"Believe me, I plan to," I state firmly, getting to my feet.
"What are we gonna do? We don't know where this's going to happen, we don't know how, or when-" she starts saying in a panic.
"I know where it will happen," I interrupt her. "Onderon."
I give her a determined look.
"We're going to save your mother."
Unknown Space - Classified Location
3rd person POV…
"Is it done?" the titan asks.
"Yes father. All three different parties will be busy with each other," she says.
"I made sure that message to Thrawn was received. He will be suspicious about its origin and credibility, but the chance is great enough that he will inform Sidious and Vader. They will not miss this opportunity," the man beside her reports.
"The one called Maul will also be there. And I made sure that Jarik Shan knows about the… execution," she adds.
"Very well. I look forward to your retrieval of the Power Stone," the titan says.
Author's Note: Wow, lots of interesting things happened in this chapter!
And I'm sure the greatest of all is that this confirms I am also bringing in the Marvel Cinematic Universe! Pretty cool huh? The movies themselves are still going to be a while away though, just so you know. :)
Also, it seems that all of these different people are being drawn into a confrontation with each other, manipulated by another party...