I finally beat the game and was thinking, what if Trilla wasn't killed by Vader in the end? What if Cal managed to save her in time? Thus, the birth of this story came about XD (I blame my muse once again)

Summary: Cal Kestis managed to escape Fortress Inquisitorius with Cere and a redeemed Trilla. With the Holocron destroyed to prevent the Empire from tracking down the Force-sensitive children, Cal and his crew begin searching for alternate ways to weaken the Empire. Yet Cal is not safe, for Emperor Palpatine has tasked Darth Vader with bringing him back...with the intention of turning him into his new Inquisitor.

Rating: T

Setting: AU (divergence from main storyline in the game)

Disclaimer: I do not own anything related to the Star Wars franchise aside from my own plot.

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Star Wars Jedi Fallen Order: Redemption

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Chapter XXV

Trilla scowled at the bipedal droid when BD-1 climbed on top of her head for the tenth time despite being swatted off previously. The droid was keen on perching itself on top of her head for some reason. More imporantly, why was it here? BD normally hangs around Cal and only goes off scanning when they're in a new environment. With Cal's physical state being compromised, wouldn't it make more sense for the droid to be by its master's side?

If only she could understand Binary like Cal could.

Giving up on making the droid move from her head, Trilla uncrossed her legs and was just about to get up when she heard Entiran stirring beside her on the ground.

"You're not breaking out of those any time soon," Trilla said when Entiran tried breaking the cuffs apart.

"Where am I? Why did you bring me here? Where are the Fifth and Ninth Sisters?!"

"You won't be seeing them for a while. As for why I brought you here, maybe it's because I want to toy with you," Trilla replied casually, one hand patting BD.

"Don't screw with me. You brought me here so I can't report back to the Inquisitorius, which would lead to me being branded a traitor for deserting the ranks," Entiran spat angrily, glaring at her now that his helmet had been broken.

"That's one reason."

Ahsoka Tano chose that moment to come over with a bowl of water to give to Trilla.

"I'll take the first watch, and please do us a favor but not provoking him," the Togruta said before walking off towards the entrance of the base.

The two watched the Togruta walk off before Trilla held out the bowl to Entiran.

"You most likely poisoned it," the human male Inquisitor scoffed.

"Drink it or don't. You can dehydrate yourself for all I care. It just makes it easier for me when I throw your body at the Fortress for all to see," Trilla said, taking a drink of the clear liquid.

"If I wasn't cuffed with these I'd wipe that smirk off your face with one hand!" Entiran threatened.

"You tried and failed many times in the past. Have you forgotten why I was promoted to Second Sister instead of you?"

"Tch," Entiran tried to muster strength to break free of the cuffs, but it felt like his body was tied down with heavy stones.

The night air felt cool against Ahsoka's skin as the Togruta sat outside the base of the hideout. The other members had gone inside to get some rest, leaving Ahsoka alone with her thoughts as she leaned back against the door-frame. So much had happened within the past few days, but still she was no closer to finding where Ezra had gone. Sabine hadn't called in either, which meant the Mandalorian wasn't having much luck in locating their friend.

A small puff of air formed in front of Ahsoka as she let out a small sigh.

So much has changed from the time she first joined the Order after being found by master Plo-Koon, to becoming disillusioned after being framed for bombing the Jedi Temple back on Coruscant.

Maybe Bariss had been right.

The Jedi were too dogmatic in their views of the world, maybe that's why they were wiped out so easily by the Emperor when he executed Order 66.

Or did Palpatine only do it once he had Anakin in his grasp as Darth Vader?

"Why can't things be simple for once?" she said quietly.

"Something on your mind?"

Cal limped into view from the entrance, gently lowering himself down on the ground to sit beside the Togruta.

"Shouldn't you be inside resting? It's not good for you to walk around in your condition," Ahsoka said with a small frown.

"Merrin's asleep. I didn't want to wake her. Besides, I've slept enough for the day," the Jedi Knight replied.

The two stared out into the night sky in silence for a while.

"Can I ask you something?" Cal broke through the awkward tension between the two.

"Sure. What's wrong?"

"When I uhh...looked into your past, I saw you left the Order. Did something happen that made you do so?"

The question caught Ahsoka off-guard since she rarely had people ask her this.

"I...became disillusioned after the Order framed me for a crime I didn't commit," she finally revealed.

"I see."

Cal wanted to press further but upon sensing the apprehension in Ahsoka's voice, decided it would be best if he didn't pry too much. After all, everyone had their secrets and pasts no one would want to share.

He was no different.

"I left after the High Council acquitted me of the crime, but everything I've been taught just seemed like a lie at that point so I chose not to return."

"I see."

"What about you? I remember you told me you hid on Bracca for five years. Were you planning on remaining that way for the rest of your life?" the Togruta turned her gaze onto Cal as she spoke.

Both of them sensed a disturbance right at that moment and shot to their feet. Ahsoka signaled to Cal to keep quiet as they crouched into a defensive position, their hands hovering just above their lightsabers.

Footsteps approached the entrance from the darkness, growing closer and closer as the two held their breaths. With a nod of her head from the Togruta, both Cal and Ahsoka ignited their weapons and launched themselves at the enemies, only to be met with two blue lightsabers that clearly belonged to Jedi.

"Ahsoka! It's me!" a male voice called out.

Ahsoka froze as she let out a small gasp.

"E-Ezra?" she said in disbelief.

Cal was bewildered when Ahsoka signaled for him to lower his lightsaber.

The shadowy figure emerged from the darkness and onto the illuminated frame of the hideout and Ahsoka's hands flew to her mouth.

"Can someone tell me what's going on?" Cal asked, switching his lightsaber off as he gave a pointed look to the Togruta.

"Is that another Jedi?" the taller male inquired.

The Togruta ran forward and threw her arms around the other male in a tight hug, leaving Cal standing behind in bewilderment as the Jedi Knight observed the duo closely. Recalling how Ahsoka was searching for her friend Ezra the first time they met, and the fact that she just called out his name, the younger one had to be her missing friend.

"Ezra...how did you find your way back?" Ahsoka was speechless.

"A giant loth-wolf whom I named Dume appeared before me, leading me back home to Lothal," Ezra explained, still gripping Ahsoka's hands.

"The others will be so glad to see you!"

Ezra gave Ahsoka another hug and smiled at the Togruta.

"I know."

Noticing the ginger-haired male standing there observing him, Ezra turned his attention towards the latter curiously.

"Who are you? Why do you carry a lightsaber?" he asked suspiciously.

"It's fine Ezra. This is Cal Kestis, a Jedi Knight who survived Order 66 and the Great Purge," Ahsoka explained, stepping in between the two.

"You escaped the Purge just like Kanan did! I never thought I'd meet another Jedi who survived Order 66!"

Cal gave a strained smile of his own.

"Are you a Padawan like I am?" Ezra inquired.

"No. I'm a Knight, but I was a Padawan up until the point where Cere knighted me," Cal explained, rubbing the back of his head with one hand.

"That's cool. Who was your master? Are they still alive by chance?"

"No. My master died protecting me aboard the Venator we were on when Order 66 was given," the ginger-haired Knight said quietly.

Ezra sensed Cal's sadness and reluctance to reveal more so he let the matter drop.

"We need to tell the others! Hera will be so glad to see you're alive!" Ahsoka said, dragging Ezra behind enthusiastically while Cal remained behind on watch.

Trilla concentration was broken by a flurry of excited movements and whispers as the rebels suddenly rushed to converge in one particular area of the hideout. The Togruta Jedi came into view dragging an unfamiliar person behind enthusiastically, and judging from the boy's appearance, Trilla had a feeling this boy was also a Force-sensitive. Unfolding her legs after making sure Entiran wasn't going anywhere after BD offered to remain behind and shock the latter if he tried anything, she headed over to where everyone was gathered to see what was going on.

"Ezra! I can't believe you're alive!" she heard one of the female rebels exclaim happily.

"I thought I'd never see you again!" another male rebel cried.

"Who's the new guy?" Trilla asked, cutting through everyone's celebratory mood.

All eyes turned on her at that moment, but Trilla remained unfazed as she crossed her arms to stare at the new person.

"I can sense you're a Force-sensitive. Who are you?" she repeated again.

Ahsoka narrowed her eyes slightly and stepped in front of the male.

"His name is Ezra Bridgers, Padawan of the late Kanan Jarrus."

Instead of responding to that, Trilla ignited her lightsaber then threw herself at an unsuspecting Ezra. The latter twisted out of the way just in time but Trilla swung her body around to strike his abdomen. Ezra's own lightsaber parried the blow, and he even managed to force Trilla back until Ahsoka stepped between the two with her dual lightsabers activated to block their blades.

"What's going on?!" Ahsoka hissed, glaring at Trilla.

"Looks like he can hold his own," Trilla merely said, relaxing her stance and switching off her lightsaber.

Everyone in the room was stunned.

Without another word to anyone else, she turned around and went back to the room given to her by Hera and shut the door behind.

BD-1 looked up at Trilla when the door slid open, the bipedal droid quickly hopping off a paralyzed Entiran and out the door before it could close behind. Trilla had an inkling of what happened when she was outside. No doubt Entiran tried to break free of his bonds and the droid shocked him into submission.

She'll have to tell Cal to thank BD later.

"I did warn you he packs a punch," she said, sitting back down on the bed and folding her legs.

Entiran merely glared at her.

Trilla smirked in response and closed her eyes again.

Disoriented by the sudden influx of noise coming from the outside, Merrin opened her eyes blearily, blinking several times before her vision focused itself. Noticing the space beside her was empty, the Nightsister opened the door and stuck her head outside. There was a group of people converging in one corner of the base, with everyone talking excitedly among themselves. Not wanting to intrude on whatever it was they were celebrating, Merrin slowly walked along, using the wall for guidance until Ahsoka caught her eye. The Togruta indicated towards the entrance of the hideout with a small incline of her head. Giving a small smile to the latter in response, Merrin headed towards the entrance and stepped outside to find Cal leaning heavily against the doorframe, a hand pressed against the wound from Vader as blood slowly trickled down his lips.

"Cal!"

She rushed over and immediately began casting a healing spell on his body.

"Hey Merrin..." Cal groaned in response, then coughed several times.

"What happened?" the Nightsister held her hand over Cal's own and focused on sending the healing waves into the wound.

"Vader..." the ginger-haired Knight sighed in relief when the pain began to fade.

"Was he in your mind again?"

Cal merely nodded his head in response to her question.

Once the pain was entirely gone from his body, Cal slowly rolled up his shirt to reveal the lightsaber wound from Vader's attack. Merrin's fingers hovered over the site and she quickly retracted them.

"The cold has gotten stronger..." she whispered.

"His grip is growing...Merrin...I need you to help me fight it," Cal gripped her hands.

"When you are fully recovered, we will continue with your training of the dark side," Merrin promised.

"I'm glad I met you on Dathomir."

The two of them shared another fleeting kiss just as Ahsoka came out with Ezra to take over the watch again.

To be continued...

Ezra's back baby!

I did think about bringing Kanan back as well, but it just felt kinda weird so I didn't in the end lol.

Hope everyone had a happy new year!

See you next time!

Celsius Fate~