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 XXVI

It took a full two days of rest for Cal to recover completely from the battle with Entiran. By that time, Trilla was successful in breaking down the first barrier the Sixth Brother had put up around his mind. It seemed their time alone in the room proved more beneficial to the former Inquisitor than it did her companion. Cal was curious but at the same time, didn't really want to know exactly what Trilla did.

With the threat of the Inquisitors gone from Lothal, it was easy for the remaining rebel forces to push back the Stormtroopers from the slums and influential areas of the planet. Cal and the Mantis crew remained to help Hera and her rebels establish a firmer foothold on Lothal. Ezra was eager to help as well, giving the ginger-haired Knight a good glance at the latter's prowess.

"Thanks for everything. We really appreciate it," Hera said once their supplies had been distributed.

"We were glad to help in any way possible. I just hope the Empire will think twice before trying to launch another assault like this on Lothal again," Cal replied as the rebels clapped and gave them warm smiles.

"The Empire will never stop until they have the entire galaxy under its rule," Entiran hissed from beside Trilla.

Trilla gave a harsh yank on the chain leading to his cuffs, sending the Inquisitor sprawling on the ground for everyone to laugh at.

Cal frowned slightly at Trilla's actions while everyone was laughing.

Then he felt the familiar pull of Vader on his mind and immediately gripped Merrin's arm.

You may think you've won this Cal Kestis, but that was only the beginning. Let's see how you fare against my personal apprentice Starkiller .

The telltale sign of a TIE Fighter approaching overhead was enough warning for the Knight as he shouted for everyone to take cover.

No sooner did he say this that the sky began raining with plasma bolts fired from the Fighter. Those who didn't make it to cover in time were blasted into the air, their bodies falling with a thud against the ground and going limp.

"What's going on!?" Hera demanded, firing off shots from her blaster at the aircraft.

"It's Starkiller!" Cal shouted.


So these were the ones who managed to take out the three Inquisitors sent by Vader?

They hardly looked capable of anything, much less fighting off three of the Inquisitorious at the same time.

No wonder Vader sent him here to clean up the mess.

Despite the encounter with the Kaminoans shaking his beliefs slightly, he was still a part of the Empire. That meant he was to obey his orders without question, and his current objective was to stem the flow of rebels, and take the Jedi known as Cal Kestis back to Nur so Vader can turn him into an Inquisitor.

Flying over the area where the rebels were gathered, Starkiller fired off at the group below, watching as bodies were sent flying into the air when they didn't make it to cover in time.

Perhaps this would be easier than he thought.


"We need to do something about that Fighter!" Ahsoka shouted, deflecting stray plasma bolts with her lightsabers.

Lifting a hand in the air, Cal focused all his concentration and curled his fingers inwards, using the Force to pull the Fighter towards him. The strain was evident on his face as he fought for control. The pilot was desperately trying his best to pull free from Cal's Force grip, and the ginger-haired Knight could feel his grasp slipping. It wasn't until Ahsoka lent her aid to Cal's pull did the two Jedi manage to bring the Fighter down.

"Those who aren't injured help the others flee! This is not an opponent you can take on!" Ahsoka ordered, having sensed the powerful presence behind the TIE.

Ezra ran up beside the two with his own lightsaber in hand, and that was when Cal noticed it had been crudely fashioned out of the end of a blaster.

Who was he to judge though?

"Be on your guard. This person is not like the Inquisitors we have faced so far. One wrong move and it'll be over for all of us," the Togruta warned, igniting her lightsabers as the red glow of the enemy's began searing apart the pilot window.

"Who is this guy?" Ezra breathed, gripping the hilt of his lightsaber tightly.

"Starkiller, Darth Vader's personal apprentice," Cal answered.

Ahsoka stiffened slightly beside him when she heard this person was her former master's personal apprentice as a Sith Lord.

"Incoming!"

The shadowy figure of Starkiller leaped into the air to land between the trio. Ezra blocked the first blow with his lightsaber, but his time wandering in the void took its toll on his body and he was easily knocked aside with a Force push.

"Don't worry about me," Ezra groaned from somewhere behind a pile of rubble.

Cal was targeted next as Starkiller launched himself at his opponent.

"I have orders to bring you back," Starkiller revealed, pressing down on the hilt of his saber.

The ginger-haired Knight struggled under the weight of the attack, desperately pushing back to prevent the lightsaber from searing his flesh.

"I have no intentions of going back with the likes of you," he retorted, kicking Starkiller in the abdomen to draw some space between him and his opponent.

Ahsoka followed with a flurry of strikes against her former master's apprentice, feeling as if there was a personal vendetta driving her to fight Starkiller. The latter was more skilled than he appeared, easily blocking all of the Togruta's strikes. Cal and Ezra searched for signs of openings to attack, but it seemed the two were locked in a long battle with one another.

Ezra made to join the fight but Cal held him back with one hand.

"Don't. You'll only be a burden to her," he said with a shake of his head.

"We can't just let her handle him all alone!" the latter protested.

Searching for a way to help the Togruta, Cal noticed a bunch of materials left behind by the rebels in their rebuilding efforts. If they could distract Starkiller and lead him over towards it, perhaps they stood a chance by tying him down briefly.

"Push him towards those," Cal indicated towards the discarded ropes on the ground.

"You got it."

The two of them joined the fight from the left and right sides, guarding Ahsoka's flanks as the Togruta managed to draw some space between herself and Starkiller.

"We need to distract him long enough to run," the ginger-haired Knight said.

"Those ropes won't hold him for long though," Ahsoka said, having overheard what the two were discussing.

Recalling what Merrin had said about tapping into the dark side, Cal took several deep breaths and prepared himself mentally.

"I'll handle it once he's distracted," he said.

The trio launched themselves with renewed vigor at Starkiller, but even when he was pinned on all sides by the three, he was able to hold his own. Darth Vader must have trained him rigorously if he could handle three Jedi at the same time with ease. Cal activated the other end of his lightsaber and split it apart, whirling around while Ahsoka did the same, both slamming their weapons into their enemy's unguarded sides.

Starkiller blocked his left flank with his saber and used the Force to prevent Ahsoka's sabers from making contact with his right. Ezra attacked from the front with his lightsaber, forcing Starkiller to break off the parry to evade. The trio aimed a kick each at his abdomen, sending him flying backwards into the pile of trash like they expected. Ahsoka quickly used the Force to tie the rope around Starkiller's body, leaving him struggling to break free.

"It won't hold for long," the Togruta said again, concentrating intently as her fingers curled on themselves.

"Go. I'll handle this," Cal said.

"But-"

"Go! I'll be fine, I promise!"

Giving the ginger-haired Knight a final look, Ahsoka grabbed Ezra's hand and ran towards the entrance of the base to help the others evacuate.


With the other two gone, Cal turned his attention back to the struggling dark Jedi on the ground. After seeing the past of Starkiller back on Kamino, a part of Cal wanted to see if he could somehow be redeemed.

"I know who you are," he said, slowly approaching the latter.

"You know nothing of who I am," Starkiller bit back.

"I saw your past...and I know...you're just a-"

Starkiller broke free of his bonds before Cal could finish speaking and quickly lashed out with his weapons. The former barely managed to block the blows in time as Starkiller attacked him mercilessly. All Cal could do was take on a defensive stance, protecting himself against the latter's frenzied attacks.

"I know you're not truly evil! There's still good in you!" Cal said desperately, his knees buckling from one of Starkiller's attacks.

Having heard enough of Cal's pleas, Starkiller leaped backwards and unleashed a barrage of Force Lightning towards him. Recalling Ahsoka's words about how his lightsaber could block the attack, he lifted up his weapon and watched as the lightning was absorbed into his lightsaber.

"Please just-"

"Enough!"

Using the Force to yank Cal's lightsaber free from his grip, Starkiller released another wave of Force Lightning.

Cal wasn't willing to get hit by another Force Lightning attack after what he experienced last time. Drawing on the Force from within his body, Cal reached out and narrowed his eyes in concentration.

'Do not be afraid of the Dark Side of the Force,' Merrin's voice echoed within his head.

Exhaling quietly in meditation, Cal felt power well up in his fingertips and pushed out, a barrage of Force Lightning erupting to meet Starkiller's halfway.

The latter was clearly stunned by what he just witnessed.

Calling his weapon back to his hand, Cal ignited his lightsaber and leaped towards Starkiller, this time successfully knocking the latter out with a hard blow to his solar plexus.

With the adrenaline gone from his body, Cal's legs gave out from beneath as he fell on his knees.

"Cal!"

Merrin rushed towards him from the base after the others were safely evacuated.

Neither failed to notice a shadow hiding in the alcove above with a blaster in hand. A single plasma bolt was fired, piercing Merrin right above the heart as her body fell to the ground motionlessly.

"Merrin!"


To be continued...

I'm back and I'm still alive despite the coronavirus situation that's going on here.

See you all next time!

Celsius Fate~