The Apprentice

Tandi shifted uncomfortably in the pilot's seat as the Dauntless tore through hyperspace, Mon Mothma hadn't stopped staring at her since they'd left the fleet. To say their encounters over the last two years had been awkward would be a criminal understatement. The Grey Jedi's resentment was only made worse by the former senator's obvious regret and contrite attitude, now however she was sensing something else as Mothma's eyes bore into her.

"Endor is still a few minutes off, if you have something to say, say it." Tandi reached out and turned a dial before sitting back in the pilot's seat and setting her gaze firmly ahead.

"You never mentioned you had a sister." The redhead glanced over at the co-pilot's seat and raised an eyebrow at the former senator.

"You didn't need to know."

"Knowing you had a family member at the centre of the Imperial Remnant would have been useful information." Tandi rolled her eyes, her grip tightening on the controls.

"Mara would never have betrayed Palpatine, he indoctrinated her from a young age, he was all she knew." Mothma felt her heart sink slightly at Tandi's words, would someone so fanatically loyal to Palpatine be willing to ally herself to his enemies? "I'm sure she's anxious to see him avenged." Mothma glanced over at Tandi, the redhead's gaze was still set firmly forwards, her green eyes hard. She often forgot that Jedi, or whatever Tandi was, could sense others' emotions and thoughts.

"Mara Jade can't be her real name." Mothma frowned at the Grey Jedi. "Or Tandi Thurinos isn't your real name."

"It's my real name." Tandi groaned in the back of her throat, her eyes rolling so hard they spun into the back of their sockets. "The Emperor gave her a new one when he began her training as a Sith Acolyte." Mothma sat forward intently as her chair spun around to face Tandi's.

"So what's her real name? Knowing it may help the negotiation."

"It won't, she doesn't go by that name anymore, using it will only rile her up." Mothma sighed as she leaned back in her chair, she wished other members of the council could have joined her, but the Remnant had been insistent that only she and Tandi would be granted safe passage, she was on her own.

"How did you even contact her? Have you had Remnant communication codes this whole time?" Tandi shook her head, her grip slackening on the controls as she took a deep breath.

"No, I don't have codes, but I never told any of you where I got this ship." The former senator's eyes widened as she stared at the Grey Jedi.

"No." Tandi grimaced.

"Yeah, Mara gave it to me, well, not directly. It has an encrypted two-way link to her ship, I guess we're lucky it survived the invasion of Lothal."

"This is a Remnant ship?"

"It's my ship." The former senator sat back, stunned into silence by the Grey Jedi's tone. There was an awkward pause, then Mothma sighed bitterly.

"Listen, Tandi, I know I've said it before, but I am so-"

"Don't you dare apologise again." Tandi rubbed her forehead with an open palm as she slumped back in her seat.

"But after everything we did to you, you still returned and rejoined our ranks, and now you've given a chance of ending the war so much sooner than we thought possible." Mothma sighed and bowed her head shamefully. "It is so much more than we deserve, the Alliance owes you a debt that can never be repaid."

"I'm not here for your Alliance Mothma." The redhead reached out with her free hand and dialed a few commands into the navigational systems as she prepared to drop them out of hyperspace. "I'm here to fulfill my vow to my Master and destroy Remnous, your Alliance is a means to an end, nothing more. Once the job is done, I walk." Mothma nodded understandingly, her eyes downcast.

"I understand."

"Good, now, get yourself ready." The ship shuddered as the blue vortex of hyperspace faded away and they dropped into real space over the Endor system. Mothma gulped nervously as she glanced around them. Han's 'friends' had been misinformed, fifteen Imperial Class Star Destroyers, most of them seemed sound, though many of them showed obvious signs of a recent battle and a few were a couple of blasts away from being wrecks. The Grey Jedi's eyes lingered on a particular behemoth, it looked like a standard destroyer, save for the massive artillery barrel mounted to its underside.

In a long term engagement, this small armada would be picked off in a matter of weeks, but it may be just enough to tip the scales of power in their favour for one last battle to crush the Regime's leader. "Because into the Rancor pit we go."

##

"Enter." Remnous barely glanced up from his terminal as a sharp knock rapped against the door to his accommodations; despite delegating most of his responsibilities there was still a surprising amount of work to do that needed his personal touch. He was so absorbed in his work that it took a good few minutes for him to look up again and see that Starkiller was stood in front of his desk, his arms held respectfully behind his back as he stood at attention.

"Oh, Starkiller." Remnous frowned as he searched his thoughts. "Was there something we were supposed to discuss?" The Sith Assassin shook his head.

"No your Majesty, I came to inform you that I have completed my Inspection of the dig site, it's as ou thought, all that is worth finding has already been dug up, there is no point in continuing excavations, Remnous nodded as he leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temples tiredly.

"Then have the equipment removed, it's wasting space." The clone nodded stiffly.

"As you command, our Majesty." He turned on his heel to leave, only to halt as the Emperor called him back.

"Wait." Starkiller turned back to Remnous and tilted his helmeted head to one side questioningly. "Sit." The Sith Lord nodded to the chair opposite from his. "It's been some time since we've had a chance to talk." Starkiller took the seat, folding his arms against his chest as the liquor bottle on Remnous desk levitated into the air and poured two generous helpings into some nearby glasses. "Drink." Remnous nodded to one of the glasses as it slid across the tabletop towards the Assassin, the other levitated into his waiting hand. "That's an order." Starkiller sat and pulled off his helmet before reaching for his glass, the Emperor continued to stare at the clone, undeterred by the obvious Dark Side corruption that had taken a hold of Starkillers face. "To unbroken vows."

"To a better Galaxy." The Emperor's golden eyes stayed locked with the Assassins orange ones as they drank, "I hope I can continue to fight alongside you." The clone set his glass down heavily. "As he should have."

"Still you doubt yourself?" Remnous sat back in his seat, swilling the contents of his glass around. "You have kept his vow, my friend, you are the true Starkiller, reborn." A fierce spark of pride flared to life in the Emperor's eyes. "I'm just grateful I managed to resurrect you in time for us to take the Empire together, just as we planned." The Sith Lord drained his glass and held it out as the bottle rose into the air to refill it again. The clone stayed silent as he watched Remnous take another drink, he couldn't help but doubt the other Siths words, Remnous frowned. "I sense discord in your mind."

"If I'm your friend, why is Sabine disposable?" The Emperor's eyes hardened as he set his glass down.

"It is in no way disposable, it's a vital asset, and it is not Sabine."

"I know about the other clones." A heavy silence fell over the room, the two still hadn't broken eye contact.

"So, I suppose there's no point in denying anything." Starkiller shook his head, his sickly orange eyes burning with rage.

"No. So don't insult me." The Emperor scoffed as he picked up his glass again.

"I would never lie to you old friend."

"Am I your friend? Or am I like her? Am I even the same clone that helped you take down Palpatine?"

"Of course you are." Remnous sat up a bit straighter, a new look burning in his golden eyes. "You are the only Starkiller."

"Is that what you tell Sabine?"

"It's never asked, I make sure Li makes alterations to its memory to iron out any inconsistencies before they're implanted into a fresh clone body, as far as it's concerned it's the same clone that won the trial of the Dark Saber."

"Really raising my confidence in you, old friend." Remnous's eyes narrowed.

"And you push your luck."

"How many?" Remnous smirked as he replayed the memories of each clone's death in his head, they'd all been nothing but imitations, but extraordinarily convincing imitations he had to admit, and he had found an odd satisfaction in ending each of their lives.

"Hard to say, I've lost count." A look of disgust flashed across Starkillers eyes, his face unchanging.

"Why?" The was a dangerous edge to the Sith Assassin's voice, somehow, in the twisted fragments of his soul, he felt pity for the other clones, his 'sisters'. Remnous's smirk twisted into something more haunting as a soft look of nostalgia appeared in his eyes.

"Why do we Sith do anything Starkiller? Because we want to because we like it, and I've found I take a great deal of pleasure in killing Sabine Wrens." Silence fell over the two of them as Starkiller stared at the Emperor, in his mind's eye, he saw the small, frightened Ezra Bridger rising to his feet, a red lightsaber in his hand, vowing to defend Sabine to the death. What had he created? "I believe you should spend some time away from the camp, have one of the shuttles take you to the Loth Wolf and wait there for my instructions." Starkiller stayed still, his orange eyes still fixed on Remnous, the Emperor glared. "Leave me." There was a tense second of silence, then Starkiller stood and put his helmet back on.

"I will await your command, your Majesty." Remnous watched as the clone left, his metal hand gripping his glass so hard cracks began to appear around his fingertips, perhaps it was time he had Li send a fresh Starkiller clone to Coruscant, just in case.

##

Tandi frowned and tilted her head to one side as a raised voice echoed dully through the wall behind her, it had been half an hour since Mothma had begun negotiations with Mara, so far they didn't seem to be going well. Her suspicions were confirmed as the door next to the bench she was sat on opened and a stunned looking Mon Mothma skidded out of the conference room, a gust of telekinetic energy propelling her.

"Not a promising start." Tandi groaned in the back of her throat as she got to her feet. "What did you say?" The former senator readjusted her robes as she sniffed indignantly.

"I recognised her from one of Palpatine's galas." The Grey Jedi frowned, a look of confusion in her eyes, Mothma sighed. "You never told me she used to be an exotic dancer." Tandi slapped her forehead as she clenched her eyes shut.

"You didn't!"

"Of course not!" Mothma's face fell slightly. "But she must have sensed that I'd recognised her." Mothma glanced up and down the corridor before leaning in towards the Grey Jedi and lowering her voice. "We should leave, she's erratic, I doubt I can get her to see things our way."

"Maybe you can't." Tandi rolled her eyes as she drew her blaster and checked the power cell. "There isn't much of a chance I can either, but we've come all this way, so I should at least try." The Grey Jedi spun the blaster around in her hand and offered the former weapon. "Keep you back to the wall and your eyes open, call if you need me." With that she strode past the former senator and waved a hand through the air; the door slid open revealing a long conference table and a large window that took up the whole far wall. Endor and all its moons hung below them in the void, Mara had her back to the door as she leaned against the window with one arm, a half-empty bottle held in the other.

"Hello, sister." Tandi grimaced as she stepped into the conference room, the door sliding shut behind her.

"Mara Jade." The other redhead swayed unsteadily as she spun on the spot and leant her back against the window.

"Tandi Thurinos." An odd half-smile spread across the Grey Jedi's face she pulled out a chair from the conference table.

"Can we talk?"

##

A quiet air hung over the Inquisition as they assembled on the field outside the dig site, four funeral pyres had been set up just outside the walls, the body of one of the four Inquisitors that had fallen in the battle with Palpatine's guards rested on each pyre. Dhara Leonis cleared her throat and tried to say a few words, then she just shook her head and lit the pyres with a large torch, her yellow eyes blotchy and bloodshot. The silence was broken as the pyres caught fire and flames began to rise into the darkening evening sky. Dhara sighed tiredly as she ran an eye over her thinned ranks, the Second, Seventh and Ninth Brothers, along with the Eighth Sister had fallen in the fight, they were down to six, and two of them couldn't be trusted.

"Third Brother, Fourth Sister." The two Inquisitors snapped to attention at her word, their eyes facing firmly forward. "The Emperor has requested guards, report to his accommodations." The two agents saluted and swiftly made their exit, the somber silence returned as they walked away, then after a few minutes, the Tenth Brother turned to leave. "Wait a minute." The Inquisitor turned back and tilted his helmeted head to one side questioningly. "There's something the four of us must discuss." The Fifth and Tenth Brothers exchanged puzzled glances, the Sixth Sister kept her eyes on the Seventh Brother's funeral pyre.

"Discuss?" The Tenth Brother turned back to his leader. "Discuss what?" The Grand Inquisitor took a deep breath.

"I believe it was time Remnous fulfilled his vow and called for the election of a new Supreme Chancellor, the New Regime was founded to eliminate tyrants, and I've seen enough of the Galaxy to know what the Emperor is becoming." There was a moment of stunned silence, the Fifth Brother shook his head incredulously.

"Grand Inquisitor, what you're suggesting, it's-"

"Treason." All three of them turned to face the Sixth Sister, the red Twi'lek had pulled her helmet off and had just finished wiping her eyes. "You're asking us to commit treason." Dhara nodded slowly.

"Yes, yes I am." The Sixth Sister turned away from the pyres, Dhara flinched slightly when she saw the brutal scar that had been slashed across the young woman's face, her left eye was missing and her nose had been reduced to a mauled stump.

"I'm in."

##

"How long has it been?" Mara's words slurred slightly as she poured some of her half-empty bottle into a glass, the Sith Apprentices hair was askew and beginning to frizz up and deep shadows ran under her eyes, she looked like shab.

"Two years." Tandi shook her head and raised a hand as Mara offered her the glass. "No thanks, I quit." Mara frowned and nodded to her belt.

"Then what's with the flask?"

"Oh." Tandi smiled as she pulled the dented metal container off her belt. "It's empty, I just keep it for luck, one last gift from my Master."

"How sweet." The Sith apprentice's voice was teeming with sarcasm as she rolled her eyes at the older sister, she held the glass out again insistently, Tandi scowled, then raised a hand a pulled the glass into her hand with the Force. "See, that wasn't so hard, was it?" Tandi held the glass under her nose and took a long sniff as Mara pulled out a chair opposite her and heavily took a seat. The Grey Jedi shuddered as she felt as the temptation to take a drink pull at her gut.

"You have no idea." She set the glass down. "You won't even consider joining us?" Mara scoffed as she took raised the bottle to her lips.

"Why would I? The Alliance is the enemy of the Empire. We don't deal with our enemies, we destroy them."

"But the Alliance is also the Regimes enemy, and the enemy of my enemy is my friend."

"How does joining your little attack on Lothal benefit the Empire?" Tandi rolled her eyes as Mara wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. "I won't defile my Master's name by allying the last of his forces with Rebel scum."

"Palpatine is dead, the Empire is dead." The Grey Jedi pointed out the window at the fourteen other Star Destroyers that hung alongside Mara's in the void. "This is all that's left of your mighty armada." Mara glared at Tandi as the Grey Jedi lowered her arm. "The Empire will never rise again, its time is over, but you can still play a part in ushering in a new era of history, you can shape the Galaxy, one last time and destroy Palpatine's ultimate enemy in the process." The Sith Apprentice rolled her eyes as she took another swig from the bottle.

"Cute sentiment, but why would I help the Alliance that plans to persecute myself and officers for war crimes once the battle is over?"

"We can deal with that." Tandi sat forward and rested her forearms on the conference table. "We can't just pardon massacres, but the bulk of your forces will be permitted to return to civilian life once the battle is over." There was a moment where Tandi was sure she had managed to get through to Mara, she could see her sister considering the offer in mind, then she snorted and shook her head.

"Like I'd believe that." Tandi's head slumped forwards, thudding loudly as it hit the table.

##

Sabine sat in the Falcons common area cleaning her blasters, she was mostly operating on muscle memory, her eyes and mind far away.

"Hey." The Mandalorian jumped slightly, one hand snatching a blaster of the Dejarik board as her head whipped around trying to find the source of the voice, she relaxed when she saw Han Solo.

"Oh." Sabine smiled as she set the blaster down. "Hey Han."

"You alright?" The smuggler frowned as he sat down on the opposite side of the board from the Mandalorian. "You seem jumpy."

"I'm fine," Sabine sighed as she leaned back and rested her hands on the table. "I just have a lot on my mind." The Correllian nodded understandingly.

"I get it, can't be easy having your, twin, hanging around." The Mandalorian shook her head as she closed her eyes for a moment.

"It isn't having her around that bothers me, we'd never spoken before, so it was easy for me to imagine her as a soulless shell, a living doll." Her face twisted with discomfort, her eyes still closed. "But she isn't, she's alive. She thinks, feels and has dreams, just like I do."

"But she isn't you." Sabine shook her head as she opened her eyes.

"No, she isn't me, she's what I could have been when I first learned what Ezra had become, he begged me to join him, he said that together; we could rule the Galaxy, and the be the masters of our fates." Sabine bowed her head shamefully. "And for a moment, I wanted to join him, if I had..."

"But you didn't." Sabine looked up as Han reached forward and took her right hand in his left. "You stuck to your principles, even though it broke your heart, do you have any idea how much strength that takes?" The Mandalorian scoffed as she softly squeezed the smuggler's hand.

"I have an idea." There was a moment of silence between the two. "We haven't had a chance to talk, have we?" Han shook his head, a fatigued smile spreading across his face.

"No, the rebels don't waste time when it comes to throwing you back into the thick of it." Sabine smiled as she ran her thumb over Hans's knuckles, the smuggler's eyes darted down to watch her, curiosity flittering to life in the brown irises. "Was there something you wanted to talk about?"

"Us." Han raised an eyebrow, a surprised smile spreading across his face.

"Us? There's an us to talk about? I thought you said to forget about it?" Sabine frowned as she stopped stroking Hans knuckles, her grip on his hand tightening slightly.

"I know, and I've had two years to think about those words." Hans scoffed bemusedly as he returned the Mandalorian's gesture.

"Two years? I still can't wrap my head around it, it feels like yesterday." Sabine squirmed slightly in her seat, her head still bowed.

"Well, it's been a lot longer for me, just before you went under, Ezra came to me." Han frowned slightly, his brown eyes puzzled.

"But I thought Ezra was-"

"He is." Sabine cut him off before he could finish the sentence, obvious lingering pain in her voice. "But death isn't the end for a Jedi, and we finally got to say goodbye." Sabine closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "It gave me a lot to think about, it made me realise that I had been so caught up in feeling sorry for myself that I had forgotten something really important." Han sat forward slightly.

"And what was that?"

"What Ezra's sacrifice was for, he gave his life so we could all go on living, and what I've been doing all these years since I lost him isn't living, you could barely call it surviving." Sabine tentatively ran the fingertips of her left hands over the back of Hans as she held it with her right, she still hadn't looked up or met his eye. "And when I came to that realisation, I had to admit to myself that you were right. I did try to shut my heart away and go back to just being a warrior after Remnous broke it." Han reached over the board and gently took her left hand in his right as she took a shaky breath. "But in doing so, I was dishonouring his sacrifice, effectively denying his final wish. I realised..." Sabine trailed off, after a moment of silence, Han released her left hand and placed two fingers under her chin gently tilted her head up so she would meet his eyes.

"What did you realise Sabine?" The Mandalorian gulped as their brown eyes met.

"I realised that I had to admit to the truth, that I do feel, something for you, something I haven't felt in a very long time, and that I was so afraid of being let down again that I had been pushing you away so I wouldn't have to confront those feelings." Han nodded understandingly, her brow furrowed as she recognised the look in his eyes. "Qi'ra broke your heart didn't she?" Han sighed as his smile turned bittersweet.

"The way only a first love can." Sabine nodded as she smiled her own bittersweet smile. "So, what now?" Han tenderly caressed her left cheek with two fingers as they smiled at each other.

"Now, I'd like to start living again, but it's been so long, I've forgotten how, I was hoping you could help me out with that." Hans's smile turned sardonic.

"Little problem with that plan." Sabine's heart sunk.

"What?"

"I've forgotten too, but if you want, we can work it out together." The Mandalorian smiled.

"I don't mind that idea."

##

On the other side of the lounge, the clone of Sabine had frozen still in the doorway, her eyes widening as she saw Han and the other Mandalorian lean in towards each other. The clone quickly turned her back on the sight and hurried back the way she'd come, an uncomfortable tightness twisting in her chest. The way he'd looked at her, Remnous had never once looked at her that way. She was so caught up in her thoughts that she didn't watch where she was going and collided with Hera.

"Woah there, careful." The Twi'lek hurriedly took the clone by the arm to stop her stumbling backwards. "What's wrong?" Hera frowned at the Mandalorian perplexedly before glancing over her shoulder into the lounge, her eyes widened as a look of realisation spread over her face. "Oh, honey." She gently rubbed the Mandalorian's arm as the younger woman's eyes began to fill with tears. "Come on, let's get you out of here." Hera gently led the clone away, subtly glancing over the shoulder to take another look behind her as she did so.

"Hera?" The clone's voice was empty, her eyes overcast and absent.

"Hmm?" The Twi'lek pulled the clone against her side and wrapped an arm around her shoulder.

"Will, I ever have that?" Hera glanced down at the Mandalorian, and smiled softly.

"Of course honey, there's someone for everyone in the Galaxy, we'll take care of you once all this is over."

##

Tandi rubbed her temples as she sat back in her seat, her still untouched glass sat in front of her; Mara had her head buried in a nearby cabinet as she rummaged around looking for a fresh bottle.

"Don't you think you've had enough?" The Sith Apprentice snorted as she sat back and examined a half-empty bottle made of deep green glass.

"What are you, our mother?" Mara rolled her eyes as she tossed the bottle over her shoulder and stuffed her head back into the cabinet.

"No." Tandi raised her hand and caught the bottle with the Force, freezing it in mid-air. "Our mother died in the Spice Mines of Kessel, three months after our father." Mara sat up and braced her hands on her knees, her back still to her sister. "You never looked into what happened to them." Tandi lowered the bottle and rested it on the table, Mara's hands closed into fists as she bowed her head.

"What would have been the point?" The Sith Apprentice shakily rose to her feet, one hand taking the cabinet to steady herself, she leant her weight against as she scowled to herself. "I told you, they were less than strangers to me." Mara spun on the spot and stumbled back to her seat. "Even if I had known what happened to them, I wouldn't have been able to save them, I didn't have that kind of power back then." Tandi's eyes hardened as the younger sister slumped heavily back into her chair.

"Is that all you have to say?"

"What else is there?" Mara ran her hands over face tiredly, her yellow eyes somber. "I'm not the same girl they took from Lothal Tandi, I'm not Niobe." Regret flashed in the older sisters' eyes. "Niobe died a long time ago." Tandi sighed heavily, then she picked up her glass and downed the contents in one swallow.

"I know my sister is dead." Mara sat back and raised an eyebrow, a smug smirk spreading across her freckled face.

"I thought you quit?" Tandi rolled her eyes as she pushed back her chair and stood.

"I see coming here was pointless now." The Grey Jedi turned to leave. "You needn't worry about us leaking your location to the Regime, my word is my bond."

"Wait." Tandi turned back, Mara sat up a little straighter and took a deep breath. "The girl you grew up with might be dead, but we're still bound by blood, you are my sister."

"Than why won't you help me?" Mara smiled sadly.

"You said it yourself sister, the Alliance won't pardon serious crimes once Remnous has been defeated, and the name Mara Jade is far from an innocent one." The Sith Apprentice sighed, her yellow eyes far away. "I've done things that can never be forgiven if I join you and we lose, I die. If we join you and win, I'm executed for war crimes, or imprisoned for the rest of my days." Mara shrugged helplessly. "I want to avenge my Master and get settle my scores with Remnous, but I also want to live through it, and have a life to look forward to." Tandi nodded, the weight of Mara's words sinking in as her mind raced, she knew her sister wasn't innocent, she knew the kind of tasks the Emperor's Hands were expected to undertake. It would be naïve to assume any differently just because they were related.

"There is away." Mara's eyes narrowed.

"What are you talking about? They'll never just let me go."

"No, but you can repent another way, Luke has been tasked with building a new Jedi Order." The Sith Apprentice's eyes widened as her face twisted with revulsion.

"Me, a Jedi?" Mara scoffed as her sister nodded. "Not happening."

"It's the only way." Mara glared at the Grey Jedi, the older sister glared back sternly. "You want revenge? This is how you get it."There was a moment of tense silence, then the younger sister sat back and groaned lowly.

"Very well then. I wouldn't worry about bringing the fleet around to the idea, at this point, they don't care who wins, as long as Remnous loses." Mara grinned grimly. "As you said, the enemy of my enemy is my friend."

##

Once the news that the last of the Remnant's fleet would join the assault on Lothal; preparations were immediately kicked up into high gear. Frigates were made ready for battle while the fighter wings were checked and rechecked as the pilots mentally prepared for what would surely be the fight of their lives.

For Sabine Wren, however, an entirely different kind of preparation was required, if she was to successfully pose as her clone, she'd need to make a few alterations to her appearance; starting with her hair.

The Mandalorian was sat in her cabin on board the Ghost as her double worked on her head, she'd already dyed it black and added the highlights, now she was just finishing up the trimming. The left side of her head had almost been shaved bald, while the right side and back had been cut very short, more or less leaving the top untouched. Despite herself, Sabine couldn't help but admire the speed and skill of her doppelganger.

"You're done." The clone Sabine set her clippers down and picked up a small mirror. "What do you think?" Sabine frowned as she turned her head from side to side, examining her reflection.

"It isn't too bad actually."

"I should hope not since you came up with it." The clone Sabine joked shyly as she took the mirror back and set it down on the desk, there was a moment of tense silence; the clones smile faded. "I'm sorry."

"No, it's alright, we do have the same memories and personality, we are practically the same person." Sabine scoffed. "Well, other than Remnous's upgrades."

"And his tweaks." The clone muttered cynically as she pointed at her temple, Sabine frowned.

"That's right, Galen said they can alter memories." The original stroked her chin thoughtfully. "If that's the case, I wonder; what did they change exactly?"

"I'm not sure." The Clone Sabine frowned thoughtfully as she sat down on the bunk, also stroking her chin as her mind worked. "There is one memory that I keep coming back to. It was just after I, we, found out Remnous wasn't Ezra, we were on Mustafar." Sabine nodded, a pained look in her eyes.

"I remember." The clone sighed, the same pained look in her eyes.

"I remember, him holding out his hand, and asking me to join him. In my memory, I took his hand." Sabine sat back in her folding chair and shook her head.

"It figures, that's the moment I rejected him."

##

Remnous snarled as he slammed his metal fist through the screen of his terminal, the clone of Sabine Wren has been missing for several days now, it was ignoring attempts to contact it and it had somehow managed to disengage its tracker. Normally he'd just pull out a new clone, but it had fled so soon after the battle there hadn't been a chance to back up its memory, the sudden amnesia would be too difficult to explain away.

"Damn Clone" He growled lowly as he yanked his metal arm free of the now ruined terminal. "More trouble than it's worth!"

"Is it?" Remnous glanced up to see Vera stood in the doorway, the markings on her face stretching as an amused smile spread across it. "I could have told you that years ago."

"Vera." The Emperor rose to his feet as he lazily dusted off his synthetic arm. "What do I owe the pleasure? My dear Apprentice?" The Apprentice casually gripped the hilt of her estoc as she strode into the room.

"Thrawn and Hyden have completed a preliminary examination of the portrait, they're concluded there's a piece missing, some sort ok key or cypher necessary to decipher the painting and open the portal." Remnous frowned as he braced his arms on his desktop, his thoughts racing.

"What we're looking for can't be far away." The Emperor idly traced the outline of the scar on the left side of his face with the fingertips of his metal hand. "The fact that the cypher is missing at all implies sabotage, someone, or something; doesn't want us openning that portal."

"I have been sensing a disturbance somewhere on the planet." Vera murmured as she took a seat on the couch and crossed one leg over the other.

"As have I, though whatever it is, it certainly isn't human, or any other race of Force Wielders I've ever encountered, we should proceed with caution."

"I'll have the Third Brother and the Fourth Sister dispatched to investigate." Remnous nodded thoughtfully at his Apprentice's words.

"Yes, they are our most competent remaining Inquisitors, have them report to you directly and monitor their performances." Vera raised an eyebrow.

"You planning on reshuffling the Inquisition?"

"I don't see much of a choice, we lost almost half our agents, and the Grand Inquisitors integrity can no longer be relied upon. It's the dawn of a new age, my Apprentice, and we can only favour progress." The Apprentice bowed lowly.

"As you command, my Master, your will be done," Remnous smirked at Vera's tone. "What of the clone?" Her yellow eyes returned to his gold ones as she straightened up. "Her guards claim she remained on Tatooine to lay in weight for Sabine Wren." A look of annoyance flashed over the Emperor's scarred face.

"It hasn't killed her, it would have returned if it had, chances are it's dead or has been captured." The Emperor smirked jovially. "If that is the case there is the possibility they would try to send the real Sabine in to take its place, but I doubt even the Rebels would be that that foolish."

"Oh, I don't know." Vera chuckled darkly, Leia Organa's memories playing in her mind. "I think we're both aware of just how far the Rebels are willing to go." Remnous scoffed, an odd look in his golden eyes.

"Yes, we are." The Emperor hummed thoughtfully as he took a seat on one of the chairs that stood opposite the couch. "We've both come a long way, haven't we?" There was a heavy pause as the two Sith Lords thought on Remnous's words, he raised an eyebrow curiously. "Do you ever wonder about what could have been? If Bridger had never fallen? Where we would be?" Vera's yellow eyes flashed as her mind raced as memories of the last five years raced through her mind's eye. Leia Organa had lived a hard life, well, hard for a princess. She'd fought a losing war for her entire life, forever haunted by a vague sense of underachievement. No matter how hard she fought, no matter how many supplies she smuggled to struggling worlds, or how many speeches she gave in Palpatine's puppet senate, she'd always felt like she wasn't doing enough, that she had more to offer the universe.

That had all changed the day Leia Organa was captured by Darth Remnous. Despite all her adoptive parents had given her, no matter how much they assured her she was a born a daughter in their eyes, they had always denied her the one thing she craved above all; the truth. The truth of her origins, who her real family was. Remnous had held nothing back from Leia, in her few weeks with him, she had felt more alive than she ever had on Alderaan. Leia Organa hadn't been lost to the Darkness, she had eagerly given herself to it. She had found a new purpose at Remnous's side, she would serve his vision and bring his dreams to life. Darth Vera smirked, the markings on her face twisting grotesquely.

"Never." Remnous's face split in a grin of his own as he rubbed the Sith Markings on his neck.

"Me either." The Sith Emperor examined his Apprentice, a fierce pride burning in his heart. "I am very, proud, of you, Vera." Something she couldn't quite place flared to life in Vera's chest at her Master's words; slowly, her limbs trembling, she rose to her feet and took a few uncertain steps forwards, Remnous smirked as his Apprentice sunk to one knee before him, her head bowed.

"Thank you. My Master." Suddenly she felt an intense sensation pull at her gut, the Sith Lord clenched her eyes shut as her head sunk lower; it was an unfamiliar feeling, but still recognisable, guilt. In all their years together, she still hadn't told Remnous about what had happened on Mustafar, he was still in the dark, he still didn't about his, their, child. Perhaps now was the time. Vera's eyes snapped open as Remnous's cold metal hand wrapped around her face, pinching her chin tightly as he tilted her head up to look at him, his golden eyes gleaming as his index finger traced the lines on her chin.

"My greatest creation." Vera melted into her Master's touch, savouring the cold caress of his metal fingers as they ran along her skin. "My Apprentice." The Emperor's golden eyes burned with an intense flame. "My Darth Vera."

"I will always be yours." Vera's yellow eyes momentarily flashed with golden light; no, now was not the time, the Sith Lord thought to herself as Remnous's face inched towards hers. One day, when the Galaxy was at last under the Regime's total control, then she would present him with their son. "My Master. "

"I know." A predatory growl rumbled to life in the back of the Emperors throat as his golden eyes drilled into her. "My Vera." The distance between them vanished as Remnous leaned forward and kissed her.

##

"This isn't going to work." Clone Sabine muttered to herself as she finished detaching the last of the armour plating from her undersuit. Sabine scoffed as she set last of her own armour plating down on the bunk next to the clones.

"I wish you'd told me that before you cut my hair." The clone shook her head as she held her hands up.

"Sorry, I didn't mean that I was just-" Sabine quickly put a hand on her doubles shoulder and squeezed it reassuringly.

"I was kidding." She felt the tension in the clone's shoulder disappear and she visibly relaxed. The more time that she spent with the clone, the more Sabine realised that while they were alike in most ways, there were several subtle, but critical differences between them. The way the clones instinctively waited to follow while she always stepped forward to lead, how she always looked people around her in the eye while the clone kept her gaze on her boots. The way the other her shoulders flinched when she heard a raised voice, and the tears that formed in her eyes whenever anyone used her first name. Sabine had an awful suspicion about the how and why of these differences, but she was almost afraid to ask, how do you ask yourself if you've been abused?

"You're very brave." The clone murmured, her eyes on her feet. "For doing this."

"I've run plenty of undercover ops before, I'll be fine." The Mandalorian frowned as the clone's face twisted with worry. "Earlier, you said you couldn't do this, not wouldn't, couldn't. You aren't just scared." The clone Sabine screwed her eyes shut as she bowed her head. "What's he done to you?" Her clone pointed at her temple again.

"You know how I said Remnous made a few tweaks?"

"Yeah?" Sabine raised an eyebrow thoughtfully, the clone Sabine fidgeted nervously.

"Well, he didn't just change my memories, he put barriers in my mind, there are things I just can't do." Sabine's eyes widened with horror at her doubles words.

"Things like what?" There was a haunted edge to the Mandalorian's voice, the clone gulped.

"Lie, say no." Sabine felt goosebumps rise on her skin as a cold shiver ran over her as the clone took a shaky breath. "Fight back." The original's eyes narrowed suspiciously as the clone subconsciously rubbed her left side.

"What do you mean to fight back?"

"Once, at the start, we sparred, and I beat him." Sabine couldn't help but smile at that, any excuse to imagine herself knocking Remnous on his ass was good enough for her. "He mustn't have liked that, because ever since that day, I haven't been able to defend myself, when..." The clone trailed off.

"When?"

"When he comes for me." A horrified silence lingered in the air as Sabine stared at herself aghast. After a few minutes, the clone cleared her throat uncomfortably and turned around so her back was to the other Mandalorian. "We should change, we might not have much time." Sabine nodded mutely and reached to the neck of her suit. "Um." She glanced up. "Can you turn around?" Sabine scoffed slightly and raised an eyebrow.

"Why? It's literally nothing either of us hasn't seen before."

"Please." Sabine lowered her eyebrow as she frowned.

"Alright." She turned on the spot and took a step away from the other her, her head cocked to the side as she listened intently, once she heard the telltale sounds of the clones undersuit being pulled down her arms, then she cautiously took a quick glance over her shoulder. The clone flinched as Sabine's horrified gasp echoed loudly around the cabin.

"I asked you not to look." She moved to pull the suit back on but was stopped as Sabine grabbed her right arm.

"Why didn't you say tell us?" Sabine whispered, her tone filled with dismay as she stared at the patchwork of different coloured bruises that ran over her clone's body and arms. The clone bowed her head and screwed her eyes shut as she crossed her left arm over her chest. "Sabine." The clone's eyes opened and she stared at the other Mandalorian in astonishment. "Why didn't you tell us?" The clone Sabine shook her head helplessly as Sabine looked down to take another look at the bruising, then she noticed something. "That son of a bitch..."

"What?" The clone glanced down anxiously, Sabinewas staring down at her right arm. "What's wrong?"

"Your tattoo."

"What about it?" Sabine shook her head as she stared at the small number sixteen. "It's always been there."

"Sabine." The Mandalorian looked her clone right in the eyes. "The clone of me I fought on Mandalore had a number two on her arm." The clones face twisted with confusion, her eyes widening with alarm.

"No, no that can't be right, I remember that day, I was there, you cut my suit, I looked down and I saw the number sixteen." She grabbed the marking with her left hand, her voice rising with alarm. "It was me, those are my memories."

"Sabine, I saw it as clearly as I'm seeing you now, it was a two, and we already know they can alter memories." The clone's chest began to rise and fall heavily as she struggled for breath.

"If that's true, then, then..."

"Then you aren't the clone who killed our mother, and there have been fourteen others." The clone Sabine's brown eyes shone as they began to brim with tears, her mind swirling with chaos as confusion, relief, betrayal, disgust, and horror coursed through her in equal measure. Sabine put her arms around her double and pulled her close as she began to cry.

So, this is what watching yourself have an existential crisis was like, not that she'd ever wanted to know.

##

Tandi took her place alongside the Jedi as silence swept across Home One's briefing room, she could feel the tension in the air, the surviving commanders of the Imperial Remnant had cooperated with the Alliance commanders and together they had managed to formulate a plan. Whether or not that plan managed to survive the first contact with Remnous's blockade was still up in the air.

The raised seating around the chamber had been divided in half, one for the rebel commanders, and the other for the Remnant Officers, their crisp, dark uniforms contrasting sharply with the Alliances makeshift, brightly coloured regalia. She already had a bad feeling about this.

"Welcome." The Grey Jedi rolled her eyes at the sound of Mon Mothma's voice, the former senator had stepped onto the small stage, Galen nudged her and nodded forwards as Mothma paused to take in the whole room. "We meet on a historic day, one that will be remembered for all time, as the day the Alliance and the last of the Empire came together for the greater good of the Galaxy, and struck down the tyrant that lured the people into a gilded cage with false promises of freedom!"

"And." Tandi groaned quietly in the back of her throat as Mara cut in, appearing at the former senator's shoulder. "The day the usurper pays for his crimes." The Sith Apprentice had cleaned herself up, sorted her hair out and seemed to have returned to her usual self, well, as far as Tandi was aware, they'd only spoken a handful of times in the last decade. Mothma nodded uneasily before clearing her throat. "Oh, of course, continue." Mara melted back into the crowd as Mothma took a breath.

"Thanks to the intelligence provided by Manda'lor Wren, we now exactly what planet Remnous is on, we know he intends to stay there for some time, this, alongside our reconnaissance missions and the recent discovery of the Separatist garrison presents us with an unprecedented opportunity to end the war by taking out the head of the Regime. An opportunity you are all aware we have decided to take. Remnous has established himself as the sole ruler of his government, he has kept his lieutenants in the shadows, away from the public eye. In the wake of his fall, none of them will have the sway to win over the New Galactic Senate. Which, we have concurred, largely seems to be autonomous, as well as functional and a largely incorrupt body of government, which does seem to have actual influence over the Galaxy. I have friends that can convince the Senate to step in and call for the election of a Supreme Chancellor." The former senator grimaced. "As loath as I am to praise Remnous's work; his infrastructure should be built just well enough to survive without him." Mothma gestured to Admiral Ackbar as the Mon Calamarian stepped up and took his place on the stage. "Admiral Ackbar will brief you on the mission plan."

"Thanks to our scouts, we know that Remnous has a fleet of thirty-five Star Destroyers and one Star Destroyer orbiting the planet of Lothal; after coordinating with the Commanding Officers of the Imperial Remnant, we have formulated a plan that will allow us to not only allow us to get our forces to the ground the engage the Regime on the planets surface, but will also allow us to defeat their fleet, greatly reducing the Regimes strength in the Region."

A holographic projection of Lothal and the Regime's fleet appeared over the central console. "After analyzing all available data and assessing the strength of our forces, we have selected a two-pronged approach. The Rebel fleet will emerge from hyperspace on the Regime's right flank engage their forces in an all-out assault."

There was a flicker of light as a holographic representation of the Rebel Fleet appeared next to the Regimes. "Once the Regimes fighters have been drawn into an engagement with our own, we will utilise the element of surprise and have the Remnant drop their ships out of hyperspace on their left flank."

The projection flickered as the Remnants and the droid carriers materialised. "They will then clear a path for the troop carriers using the experimental Xyston class Star Destroyer." In the audience, the clone Sabine suddenly sat up much straighter.

"The Xyston?" She turned to Mara and raised an eyebrow. "You actually got that working?" The Sith Apprentice shrugged as her face twisted into a thoughtful expression.

"Sort of, the weapon is functional, we only ever managed to build one working prototype before the Regime invaded Lothal."

"Uh, ladies?" The clone and Sith turned to look at Lando. "Could you help out those of us that don't know what a Xyyston Class Star Destroyer is?" Mara rolled her eyes as she let out a long breath, then she got to her feet.

"The Xyston is an experimental class of Star Destroyer, it's armed with a canon that's based off miniaturised Death Star technology." There was a moment of silence, Mara smirked. "It was Emperor Palpatine's idea, he came up with it after we told him the Remnant didn't have the resources to build another Death Star."

"So." Luke slowly rose to his feet. "You're saying that the Xyston has the same firepower as the Death Star?" Mara shook her head regretfully.

"I'm afraid not, though that was our initial goal, we found that the frame of an Imperial-class Destroyer wasn't capable of handling the backlash of a blast strong enough to destroy a planet, so we had to scale back." The Sith Apprentice shook her head. "We went through a lot of ships trying to make it work. Eventually, we got the Xyston, it was supposed to be deployed in fleets of five or more. Together they could destroy a planet."

"And it works?" Mara screwed her face up as she pondered the Jedi's question.

"Well enough, trust us, it'll clear a path for the droids." There was a polite cough on the stage as Ackbar gestured to the display. Some of the Regimes ships had vanished and the droid carriers were streaming through the gap; everyone in the audience sat down again.

"Thank you, now, once the carriers have reached the surface, the two fleets will combine, forming a perimeter around the Regimes fleet, from there, it will await the word of a strike team that will infiltrate the Loth Wolf and take the command deck, cutting off their fighter coordination tower and turning its guns on their lines. Once chaos takes hold, we will push in and crush them between us."

"I dunno, that does leave a lot to chance, who's in the strike team?" Galen rose to his feet in answer to Han's question.

"I am, and I'm going alone." There were murmurs of interest at the Jedi's words, in the seat next to him, Juno frowned.

"But why you? And why alone?" Galen took a deep breath as he looked down at the blonde.

"Because that's where Starkiller will be, I can feel it." Juno nodded, her eyes were anxious, but understanding.

"You sure you'll be able to take it alone?" Galen glanced over at Han and nodded grimly.

"Don't worry, I've done it before."

"I'm not doubting the Jedi's competence." Heads turned to look at a young woman with dark hair, tan skin and brown eyes she was dressed in an armoured black flight suit. "But I still believe the plan, as the smuggler put it, leaves a lot up to chance." Mara cleared her throat as she rose to her feet.

"Captian Iden Versio." The Sith gestured to the soldier with one hand. "The commander of Inferno Squad and one of my most trusted lieutenants." Iden nodded gratefully to Mara before turning to Ackbar.

"With respect, Admiral, I believe we should take the commander of the Regime's Forces into account, Remnous will have no doubt have given the job to Thrawn." The whole briefing room turned to the clone Sabine for conformation, she nodded slowly.

"She's probably right."

"How do you propose we counter this obstacle, Captain Versio?" Ackbar glanced at Mothma before turning back to Iden.

"On the battlefield, Thrawn is unbeatable, we can't win against him in a fair fight." The captain tapped a few commands into her wrist-mounted console. "But he does have a chink in his armour." A holographic projection of a Noghri appeared over her wrist. "His bodyguard; Rukh."

"We are aware of him, but our intelligence indicated that he is loyal to Thrawn, what makes you so sure he is a chink in Thrawn's armour?"

"Because there's something he doesn't know that we do." Iden glanced at Mara, she nodded. "During the clone wars the Noghri homeworld Honoghr was poisoned, Lord Vader and the Empire later offered to cure their world; in thanks, the Noghri bound themselves to Vader; who passed them on to Thrawn." A bitter expression flashed across Iden's face. "What they didn't know, and still don't to this day, is that Vader ordered the Empire to continue to poison Honoghr to secure their loyalty indefinitely."

"And if Rukh were to know this, would he act on it?" Iden nodded.

"The Noghri are a proud race, once Rukh learns the truth Thrawn's fate is sealed."

"Can it be done?" Iden turned back to Ackbar.

"I wouldn't have brought it up otherwise, the Corvus is specialised for information ops, so it shouldn't be too hard to hack his personal communicator and send the information." The Mon Calamarian nodded.

"Then that shall be Inferno Squad's task in this battle."

"Well, that's all well and good." Ackbar turned to see that Mara was still on her feet, he rolled his large eyes as he prepared himself. "But there's still a Remnous sized hole in this plan. Does anyone have any actual ideas on how we're going to kill him?"

"I might have a few ideas." Heads turned and a shocked gasp ran across the whole room, even the disciplined Remnant officers turned to stare in awe as Ahsoka Tano strolled into the centre of the space. Galen sat back, a broad grin spreading across his face.

"Lux Bonteri, let it never be said ou aren't a man of your word." The Togruta had been restored, it was almost as if nothing had happened, she was even dressed the same, though he did note the bodysuit was now a one-piece and she had taken to wearing thin grey gloves; and, despite the time between now and when he and Juno had left her on Onderon, there were still dark lines under her eyes. There was only one detail that broke the illusion it had all been a bad dream; the scars from where the Stalker mask had been fused to her flash hadn't quite faded, a long line ran around the outline of her face. "It's good to have you back." The Jedi rose to his feet and offered the Togruta a hand.

"It's good to be back." Ahsoka took the hand and shook it, the gears in her new arm turning silently. An odd smile spread across her tired face. "I should thank you, Galen Marek, for not giving up on me. Perhaps I should have had more faith in you." Galen scoffed as he shook his head.

"No, you were right not to trust me, I was taking you for a ride." The Togruta chuckled as she folded her arms over her chest.

"Oh, I know that, I meant that I should have had faith in your potential for good." Galen smiled at Ahsoka as she glanced around the room. "Where's Rex?"

##

Rex glanced around the mostly empty hanger as he hurried towards the Lambda-class shuttle they'd managed to capture in a raid a few months back, he'd have to be quick.

"Thought you could go without saying hello?" The clone paused mid-step and turned on the spot, his eyes wide with wonder and disbelief, Ahsoka frowned as she stroked her chin with a gloved hand. "Or is it goodbye?"

"Is it really you, old friend?" Rex rubbed his eyes, maybe his accelerated aging was getting to him and he was starting to see things.

"Most of me." The Togruta peeled off one of her gloves and held up one of her new synthetic hands. "Lux put me back together on Onderon, I needed some time to rest and, find myself."

"And, you're back? From the Dark Side" Ahsoka frowned as she examined the upgraded prosthesis.

"I think so. It was so strange, waking up for the first time without that mask. The world was shrouded in darkness and pain, then I woke up, and the pain had stopped. For so long I was convinced that the only way to escape it was death." Rex placed a warm hand on her shoulder and smiled as he tried to hold back tears. "It's alright, I lost some time, and a little of myself, but I learned that pain always ends, and death is by no means the only release."

"Yeah, that's you in there." Rex reached behind his back and pulled a dented and scratched up lightsaber hilt from his belt. "Then I can finally give this back." Ahsoka's eyes widened as she took the hilt, she hadn't seen it in years, not since she had jumped onto the blockader runner trying to save 'Ezra'.

"How do you have this?" Rex scratched the back of his neck.

"The scouts found it in the wilderness, I kept it, just in case you came back to us one day." He frowned, his old face wrinkling even further. "Sorry it's all scratched up, I tried to clean it up."

"No." Ahsoka smiled as she clipped the lightsaber to her belt. "It's perfect this way." The Togruta glanced over the old Clone Troopers' shoulder at the shuttle. "You're going AWOL, aren't you?" Rex bowed his head. "Cody?"

"Remnous promised him a chance to fight for something that matters again." Rex snarled as his fists clenched. "But I've seen the Regime's Network, Remnous has left him on guard duty over Coruscant for the last two years, he exploited my friends need for a cause and stole Kamino's army. I know I can through to Cody, and if I can, he could turn Remnous's clone army against him."

"And without the Clone's support, he'd have to step down, even if we failed on Lothal." Ahsoka nodded thoughtfully. "It's a risky plan, but the risk is our whole business if you truly believe you can do it, go for it."

"You mean it?"

"Just don't die alright, you and I have a lot of catching up to do, I want to know everything I've missed." Rex grinned.

"That may take a while." Ahsoka smiled as she offered her hand.

"We'll have all the time we need." Rex glanced down at the hand, then scoffed and spread his arms, Ahsoka smiled and accepted the embrace. After a few seconds, they broke apart.

"See you on the other side, Commander." He turned and jogged the rest of the distance to the shuttle, pausing at the ramp to take one last look at Ahsoka, then he hurried up the ramp. The blast doors were open, so he wouldn't have a problem slipping through the ray shield and escaping, the door to the cockpit. Rex froze in place as Bran glanced around from the pilot's seat and raised an eyebrow questioningly. "Where we're going, there may be no coming back kid." The blonde rolled his eyes.

"Are we going or not?" Rex raised an eyebrow, then he shrugged and hurriedly sat in the co-pilot's seat.

"Alright, let's go." Bran nodded as he activated the engines and eased the ship off the ground, Rex shook his head. "You're a crazy kid."

##

Tandi sat back on one of the cushioned benches in the Dauntless's common space, much like the ones on the Ghost and Falcon it was connected to a small galley a and was made up of a few tables, a Dejarik board and the same padded couches you found in every starship in the Galaxy. She, Luke, Kanan, and Mara were sat waiting for Ahsoka so they could formulate a strategy to beat Remnous. They'd decided to meet in the Dauntless since it had been selected to ferry them to the surface and the battlefield. The Grey Jedi had just had a thought; if you didn't count Inquisitors, once the Togruta arrived, over half the Force Wielders in the Galaxy would be in one room. For some reason, she found that amusing. The door to the door opened and Ahsoka stepped into the cabin, the heels of her boots clanking on the deck plate.

"Good, you're all here." Kanan nodded and got to his feet.

"I made sure they all got here right after the briefing." He offered a hand to the Togruta, his eyes bright and his smile wide. "It's good to see you."

"Likewise." Ahsoka grinned as she shook his hand. "Fatherhood becomes you, Kanan." The Jedi chuckled as he sat down next to Luke again, the young Skywalker rose to his feet and bowed respectfully to the Togruta.

"It's an honour to meet my father's Apprentice."

"The honour is mine." Ahsoka frowned darkly. "I failed your family Luke, I abandoned the Jedi Order, if I hadn't, your father may never have turned, and as your sister was being turned into a monster, I just stood by and watched." Luke raised a hand, pain flashing in his eyes.

"It's forgiven, you were just as much a prisoner as she was." Luke paused. "Is, is there any hope for Leia?" Ahsoka shook her head sadly.

"I'm afraid Leia Organa is gone, she willingly gave herself, mind, and body to the Dark Side, and Remnous." Luke's face fell, behind him, on the couch next to Tandi; Mara rolled her eyes melodramatically.

"So, do you have a plan?"

"Of course." Ahsoka set a stern eye on the Sith. "I watched Remnous for a long time, his power is great. Too great for anyone of us to beat alone, so our only option is to fight him one after the other with all we have, avoid serious injury and hope we can take him down. It won't be an easy fight, but together, we may well have the strength to best him."

"If we win." Tandi glanced at Mara as she rose to her feet. "I get the killing blow."

"No." The Grey Jedi's eyebrow rose as Luke got to his feet. "I do, Remnous killed my father and turned my sister into a monster, he has to pay." Tandi shook her head.

"And that's exactly why you can't be the one to do it." Luke frowned at the redhead bemusedly.

"I've killed before."

"In self-defence, when you had no other option." The Grey Jedi got to her feet. "It's different when you hate the person you're killing." Tandi shot Mara a withering look before turning back to the Jedi. "That's why I'm going to do it."

##

Sabine felt more than a little uncomfortable in her clones armour, it fit perfectly and was in many ways superior to hers, but it just didn't feel right, it wasn't hers. She hoped she could get over herself before she got to Lothal, Remnous would notice right away if she was uncomfortable in her armour. The Mandalorian sighed deeply as she set one foot at the base of the loading ramp on her clones Kom-RK class starship, it was time to go.

"Be careful." Sabine smiled as Hera took her hands between hers.

"As careful as I can be."

"And you know what to do?" She nodded.

"Maintain cover, mark his location and report all relevant tactical information to Kalani." The Twi-lek nodded, then she yanked the Mandalorian in and threw her arms around her.

"Don't let, him, get under your skin." Sabine shook her head as she pressed it into Hera's neck.

"I'll try." Hera sniffed as they broke apart.

"That's my girl." Hera gently caressed the Mandalorian's cheek one last time, then she smiled again, nodded and turned to leave.

"Mothers." Sabine smiled as she turned to face Han, the smuggler glanced over his shoulder at Hera's retreating back. "I know losing your mom wasn't easy, but having her must have helped."

"You have no idea." Sabine murmured as she wrapped her arms around Hans's waist and pulled him close, he wrapped his arms around her and held her close for a while. "Let's hope this works."

"I think it will, I've seen you Rebels pull off the impossible again and again."

"You Rebels?" Han sighed as he sardonically rolled his eyes.

"Alright, us Rebels."

Authors Note: You know what sucks about a mass epidemic shutting down your job and the Prime Minister of your country ordering everyone to stay indoors? Everything about it sucks! One upside, I have nothing but time to write now! Three to go, next time we kick off the three-part finale with; The Beginning of the End.

As always leave a review with your thoughts, how do you think this is going to play out? Who do you think will survive or fall? Let me know, I'm really interested in what you guys think is going to happen. Plus, the more you review the faster I write.

On a serious note, The Coronavirus does present a legitimate risk, so I caution you to follow official policy, practice social distancing, wash your hands thoroughly several times a day and take care around the elderly or vulnerable.

Stay say.

So, until we meet again

Regards

Nighttrek