Chapter XXV: Uneasy Alliance
Trilla - Ordel, the Remnants of the Mantis
Again and again, her fingers tapped on the hilt of her lightsaber, one of its unactivated ends pointed squarely at the Ninth Sister as it rested on her knees. They sat amidst the former Inquisitor's makeshift camp, with Cal to her left and her former ''colleague'' to her right.
''This is ludicrous, even for you.'' Trilla spat with her every word hulled in potent venom.
How couldn't it be? In all of her years, she has never heard even something as remotely logically bankrupt as 'time travel'. The very concept of it itself almost made her eyes roll back into her head with enough severity that she was sure that her optical nerves would tether this very second. This had to be some excuse, some ploy of the Empire weaved to bring them in. Force knew she has done plenty of similar stunts in the past. As has the Ninth Sister, often with her own assistance too. But what was she waiting for?
''It's the truth.''
Ninth Sister's reply wasn't overly emotional. She sat next to her in a suit of armor that Trilla could only describe as barbaric, her legs locked in a meditative stance, her head lowered towards the ground. Some would argue that Ninth Sister looked at peace, yet Trilla knew her better than that. She has seen this woman turn to an enraged brut within mere seconds, a beast with no care in the galaxy except delivering destruction. She couldn't fool her. Not like she did Cal.
''It really is, Trilla. I mean ... damn, look around. I thought that I was crazy, but ... '' Cal shook his head wildly.
She scoffed at that. Did he really believe that she hasn't picked up on all of that? Without any insult to Cal, Trilla wrote the book on all manners of perception and analysis. There was a reason she was so feared within the ranks of the Inquisitorius, after all. Her logic and her keen mind brought her nothing short of victory after victory, a fact that didn't go unnoticed by the Grand Inquisitor - and even the feared Darth Vader. And yet, it was the same thought process hat currently hunted her mind. How could this absurd idea even be remotely close to reality? Time travel just wasn't possible. She didn't know what sort of Death Sticks Ninth Sister had to abuse to get to this state of cognizance, but ...
You know it to be the truth and yet you won't accept it. Why?
A feeling of warmth crept through the textures of her clothes and spread through her body. It was the mysterious voice that was trapped within the confines of the Holocron.
''Because it's just so ... ludicrous!''
Cal probably though that Trilla was addressing him if the movement of his lips were any indication. However, his words didn't reach her as the Sith's voice banished any other thoughts from her mind.
Is it? Many years ago, I have watched as a self-proclaimed god tore out the very fabrics of life itself from the surface of a planet. I have seen an empire declaring itself to be eternal vanquish both the Republic and my own home with sophisticated machines that would put anything present to shame. Indeed, the very entity I have hunted once tried to eradicate the Force itself - and thus all of life. Believe me, you and I are more similar than you might realize. Thus I ask of you to take my wisdom in that matter: when it comes to the mysteries of the Force, we know nothing.
The voice disappeared as quickly as it entered her head, leaving Trilla behind with a pieceless array of doubt. The voice spoke the truth, that much was certain. Her words resonated in her chest and made her sigh internally: she too has seen wonders of the Force that she thought to be in the realm of impossibilities beforehand, Cal's Force Psychometry serving as a good example. But there was a difference between exceptionable feats and this.
'' - ... find Cere and the others. They have no idea that we're still alive.''
And then there was that, Trilla thought. A lot of things could've happened within the span of one year. And though she cared deeply to know Cere's fate, there were other factors to be aware of.
''What of the Empire? Has anything happened in this year?''
Though Cal grimaced slightly at her sharp interruption, he too stared at Ninth Sister with a certain degree of interest shortly thereafter.
''The Empire? Eh, well. Same old, really. You've probably seen the Star Destroyer over Stone Town, yeah? That's the Heartseeker. Used to be stationed up there, ironically. It's here for good. A constant base of operations for the Empire on Ordel. Usual assets for such an occasion. Scientists and scholars, special forces, and highly ranked officers. Not a surprise, given what this planet houses.''
''You mean that ... time temple?''
Ninth Sister giggled at that, even if it was difficult to tell under her tribal mask.
''I think the two of you would be happy if I'd tell you what I know, eh?''
''Oh please, indulge us.'' replied Trilla sharply.
The former Inquisitor wasn't faced by Trilla's harshness. She merely groaned and left her meditative stance, readying both her body and her mind to tell her tale of woe.
''Where to even begin. Let's start by the beginning ...''
Ninth Sister - ?
It hurt. Like a fire that engulfed her constantly, rending apart flesh and crushing the very bones beneath it. Yet it wasn't her body that was wounded- nothing that she wouldn't survive, at least - it was her mind that was in an endless maze of torment.
She wandered through the undergrowth of Ordel like a frenzied creature, literally growling at even the tiniest sounds that she managed to pick up. No matter how hard she tried to make any sense at all out of this situation, the Inquisitor just couldn't. She remembered seeing Kestis and the Second Sister through that arch and that she jumped through it right after. After that, though, there was nothing else to recall. However, Ninth Sister did know that she simply shouldn't be here. She couldn't, to be more precise. This wasn't Synta. But then, where was she?
''Blast this. All of this.''
Kicking away a couple of rocks with more force than necessary, she eventually made her way to a shallow river.
You need to let go. Don't fight it.
With a hellish scream, Ninth Sister ignited her saber in one quick motion. Whirling up the dust beneath her feet as she turned around, she snorted as the only thing she faced was empty air. Despite the enormous headache that plagued her, she could've sworn that someone just ...
In the water. Let go.
As if lightning struck her very being, the chaotic storm in her mind turned to a gentle breeze as she looked towards the stream. Somehow, her thoughts were taken back to that strange and mysterious realm among the stars. A trick of the ruin she found on Synta, no doubt. Ninth Sister wasn't an amateur when it came to exploring ruins strong with the Force. She knew that they just loved to play tricks with the minds of those that dared to explore deeply within their depths. And yet, there was something else. As she kept creeping into the water, there was a soft touch at the back of her head, nothing more than a mere nudge. Her breath steadied itself and her heart calmed almost instantly. Suddenly, she was gifted with a serenity that she had felt only once before. It was the same calm that she felt within the halls of the ruins, as she entered the room with the arches.
''What are you?'' she exclaimed with a tired voice, her eyesight once more fixated on the clean water.
There was no answer. The only thing she felt was a sudden urge to wander into the river, to let her body be embraced by its soothing current. And for some unexplainable reason, Ninth Sister didn't fight it. Leaving her saber on the shore, she lifted her legs and made her way carefully towards it. As her toes stepped over the edge of the solid ground and dangerously close into the water, Ninth Sister took a deep breath before she let go, falling into it like a child without a care in the world.
It was cold at first, painful a fragment of a second later. The water seemed to drown the world around her, adding unimaginable pressure to her throat like she herself did many times before on her own victims through ways of the Force. Ninth Sister tried to scream and yet her pleads fell on deaf ears. As she moved, however, a jolt of energy ripped through her. As if she was hit by an imperial shuttle, she was catapulted into oblivion.
Suddenly, the violent torrent was gone - and so was she.
''Sir, we need some advice. Damn droids might have been dealt with but we still need a way to get those supplies to Coruscant.''
''W-What?''
Ninth Sister's words seemed to stumble upon themselves as her lungs aggressively expanded, struggling for much-needed air.
The river was gone. In front of her stood a Clone Trooper, his scorched and blaster mark riddled armor evidence of an earlier battle. They were in a metallic hallway, a big window with countless tiny cracks next to them. Outside, the endless vastness of space extended amongst a sea of stars.
''I ... what is this?''
She looked down on her hands and then upon her own reflection within the glass.
Impossible.
What greeted her was the sight of two eyes starring back at her, her face free of any noteworthy wounds or scars. She was clothed in a brown tunic, a simple yet sturdy lightsaber placed upon it.
''Sir? Tide, Sir? Uhm ... the supplies? You know how the Coruscant guard is. Impatient, the lot of them.''
With amble confusion written in her healed face, she hastily turned to the soldier. Masana Tide knew this man. Back when she was still a Jedi, this trooper joined her on many of her missions, starting from the beginnings of the Clone Wars itself until the day the - ...
Force!
A creeping cold climbed her spine as she realized where she was - or rather when she was. It was the day Order 66 brought the so-called traitorous Jedi to their knees, the fateful day their own Clones - many of them she herself considered her own friends - turned against them, against her, within seconds.
Panic dominated her mind as she recoiled from the man, putting her back towards the window as her shaking hands wandered to her face.
In a couple of minutes, her world would plunge into chaos. Originally, she was tasked with protecting this medical station from a CIS attack. A simple raid, nothing out of the ordinary. Back then, however, she didn't know that the Clone Wars were basically already won as both the traitorous Dooku and the insidious Grievous were brought to justice. And although she has heard some rumors about the battle of Coruscant and the Siege of Mandalore, she figured that it would still take some time until the entirety of the CIS would surrender.
Not like that mattered right now. Firstly, Masana wished to know what she was doing here. Was this a trick? An illusion or a result of the trauma she endured? That feeling as she stood in front of the river - was she still in the ruin on Syntha? Was this all part of one gigantic cosmic theater act?
''Sir, are you ... '' the trooper raised his hand and brought it to his helmet ''sorry, need to go to the debriefing. Apparently the Coruscant Guard can't wait some minutes. I'll be right back, aye?''
Masana didn't dare usher a word. She remembered the next minutes vividly. He'd return followed by some of his brothers, their rifles all trained at her. They'd get a couple of hits in before she managed to put up a defense. In her confusion, she would trace her saber to the window, blasting it open and leaving the attackers to the cold embrace of space whilst she protected herself with the Force. She then fled through the countless hallways of the station as the screams of her fellow Jedi haunted her every step, making the very bones of her skull tremble in pain as she did so. She remembered the utter dread and despair she felt as she tried to hide from those she called comrades mere moments ago, being forced to kill those that she swore to protect ever since becoming a part of his senseless war.
She recalled the dying screams of her beloved Padawan. The incomprehensible pain that followed soon after. How her fear and dread turned into anger followed by strength and fury. And through that fury, she turned from prey to hunter, killing anyone and everything onboard.
Truthfully, Masana Tide died back then. Perhaps not in a physical sense, but that what made her unique within the Force - her charm, her compassion, and her connection to those around her - they were all extinguished by the rising tide of the Empire. What was left of her was nothing but a husk, a beast enraged by her own hurt.
Vowing to herself that she wouldn't be caught unaware by the Clones again, she pulled her lightsaber from her belt and entered a defensive stance. There were a lot of names that crossed her mind, fallen companions that needed to be avenged. And there was nothing more in the galaxy she enjoyed more.
Just as once before, the soldiers marched into the hallway, their rifles trained at her. This time, however, Masana was more than prepared. Using the Force to lift them off of their feet, she rammed them straight into the ceiling, the sound of broken bone and cracking armor alike ringing through the hallway. Sparks were brought into life as loose wires dangled from the roof, a howling alarm echoing through the station's speakers.
''Come then, you bastards. I've dreamt of this so many times!''
Don't. Let go, Masana Tide.
A fiendish feeling claimed her lungs as she was brought to her knees, excruciating pain nesting itself into her lungs. Her eyes were blinded by dark tides of water as she drowned, her limbs trembling with suffering - until they didn't.
''Sir, we need some advice. Damn droids might have been dealt with but we still need a way to get those supplies to Coruscant.''
''W-What?''
Like a broken clockwork, Masana stood in front of the damaged window anew.
The trooper she killed not mere seconds ago rested comfortably at her side, tapping up and down with his foot as if he was bothered by nothing in the galaxy. Masana wildly rocked her head and pushed herself away from him, utter and unfiltered confusion claiming her thoughts.
''Sir, are you ... '' the trooper raised his hand and brought it to his helmet ''sorry, need to go to the debriefing. Apparently the Coruscant Guard can't wait some minutes. I'll be right back, aye?''
Just like before, he repeated the same words like a datapad would with a broken audio recording. He turned his back towards her and walked away, putting himself on his way to receive his new set of orders, the same that would mark the demise of everything she knew.
Yet this time, he didn't make it that far.
Masana screamed like a banshee, grabbing the man with her bare hands as she put one knee in front of the other. With pure physical strength, she threw him onto her knee, forcing him to squeal in pain as his breath was forced out of his body. Pushing him further down onto the ground, she raised a foot and guided it down against his face without remorse, stamping onto it until the synthetic material of his helmet wasn't distinguishable anymore from his bare face. Upfront, the remaining troopers barged into the hallway, no doubt hoping to investigate the source of such a commotion.
And just like that, they all brought one of their hands to their helmets, the enthralling tone of Order 66 turning them into senseless thralls.
They got some good hits on her, Masana had to admit. Unluckily for them, however, every ounce of pain only served to fuel her strength even more. With one gigantic push, she created a merciless wave of Force energy, knocking the Clones back onto their backs with a satisfying thud. Igniting her lightsaber, she strolled over to them, a wicked grin drawing on her face.
Don't. Let go.
Pain. Water. Drowning. Stars.
''Sir, we need some advice. Damn droids might have been dealt with but we still need a way to get those supplies to Coruscant.''
The same words, the same clone. Now though, her entire body was frozen into place, her face forced to look into the cracked window.
Masana tried to call upon her anger once more, wishing to use it to break the mysterious chains that held her in place. Yet no matter how much she tried, there was nothing to call upon. All she could do was to look at her own reflection.
'Sir, are you ... '' the trooper raised his hand and brought it to his helmet ''sorry, need to go to the debriefing. Apparently the Coruscant Guard can't wait some minutes. I'll be right back, aye?''
There is no need for anger, no need for darkness. Use your powers - feel the thoughts buried within him.
Masana wanted to scream. How dare anyone tell her what to do? And yet, she knew that she had no choice. Not here, not trapped like that in some messed up nightmare. And thus, she used her talent when it came to connecting with those around her.
It wasn't difficult to breach into the man's thoughts. And what she found wasn't surprising either. He was happy, emboldened by the recent victory they achieved against the CIS and their many droids. There was a deep pride entrenched in the man, his thoughts drifting to the medical supplies they successfully protected from their enemies. He knew that they would be used to save his countless brothers, no matter in which theater of war they did battle.
And then, his thoughts drifted to her. The name 'Masana Tide' danced over his lips and his mouth carried a proud smile. He wasn't only honored to serve under her, he was humbled.
She tried to speak yet no words left her mouth. They didn't need to, as the mysterious voice in her head responded almost instantly.
You have no idea what you meant to them, all of them. It wasn't their choice - you know this.
She wanted to shake her head, to disenchant such a silly notion. It didn't matter what they thought about her, it didn't matter whatever wires were crossed in their brains when Order 66 was executed. They tried to kill her - no, they successfully murdered the person they apparently so much admired. Why should she care?
But why? You too have drenched in your own sorrow because of this. You. Them. Even your former enemies - they were all part of a game, puppets. Nobody chose this.
She didn't care. They took everything from her. They turned her into this hideous blood-lusting monster. It was their actions that put them in front of Vader, their actions that brought upon countless hours of excruciating torture and psychic horrors.
And yet, you mourn that you too are stuck in another man's games. You will not escape their plans for you until you forgive those that have wronged you.
The voice was swallowed by silence, granting her command over her own body once more.
''Yeah, well fuck them. They'll all pay, in the end.''
Her lightsaber found its way back into her hand. Masana ignited it quickly, readying herself for another onslaught.
''Master ... I have a question.''
The hallway disappeared, its cold and lifeless metal quickly being replaced by the warmth and inviting stones that were the Jedi Temple, her home for so many of her years. Masana's eyes peeked upwards, looking at the slender body of her apprentice. He smiled awkwardly at her, as he always did when he thought that one of his questions was unworthy of her time. And no matter how often she tried to tell him that he'll always be worthy of her time, her apprentice still seemed to slip into the same unsureness he carried with him ever since he became her Padawan from time to time.
''I ... we had training with Master Skywalker today. We talked about a lot of things and ... I, well - the subject of mercy was brought up. Forgiveness. And I just - damn it.''
He turned away from her, not wishing for his master to see the shame in his eyes.
It was only then that Masana realized that she wasn't sitting in front of him. As a matter of fact, she was sitting nowhere. She watched from above, like a creature of the night ready to descend on its pray.
''Come on. We talked about this. Look me into the eyes and just ... just speak to me. You can always speak to me.''
''I know that, Master Tide. It's just ... ''
A gust of wind rocked her inner core. She was back in the hallways of the medical station, her eyes glued to the damaged window anew. It wasn't her own reflection that stared right back her this time, however. It was her apprentice, his eyes desperately searching for answers within her own.
''I'm just ... so afraid that my mercy won't be enough. What if - no matter how much good I do - there'll always be someone that I can't reach. That I can't save. Some of the other Padawans were talking about their missions, about all of the people that - ... '' he gulped ere he continued ''... died. There is ... I don't even know, anymore. So many thoughts keeping me up at night. Master Skywalker keeps talking about peace and the ideals of being a Jedi - and yet we're at war and I ... ''
One word left his mouth faster than the one before, a slight panic mirroring itself in his eyes.
''And then it feels like he himself doesn't really believe what he says. Neither do the other Padawans. I just want to know what it means to be a Jedi, a good Jedi! Like the ones in the stories you told me.''
Her mouth - her actual mouth - opened up this time. Even though she herself didn't do the talking.
''I know, my Padawan. I know. It's a strange time, especially for a youngster like you. Unlike you, I know what the Jedi were before all of this ... and I still struggle to come to terms with everything. Between you and me, I honestly don't think anyone here has it figured out quite yet. But the thing about mercy? I know about mercy. About compassion. And you need to believe me: it's always the right thing to show mercy, even to those that might not deserve it. The Force works in mysterious ways, my Padawan. And yet, I believe that if we add goodness to the galaxy, it will travel through it like a quiet breeze of wind. And with every act of kindness, we add to that, those brushes of wind turning into a storm of justice over time.''
''But why did you betray those ideals, master?''
The picture of her apprentice disappeared, replaced by her own. As the voice of her fallen apprentice resonated in her head, she watched upon the glass of the window how she mindlessly slaughtered the clones within the station, both in her past and in her attempts before. The anger and the wrath she brought into this world - and how it spread through the cracks of the galaxy. How one act of cruelty multiplied by itself, bringing untold suffering to the galaxy.
How a hooded man stormed into the Jedi temple, his blue lightsaber raised against the youngest amongst them.
How Vader kneeled in front of a crashed Venator, the howling winds of a snowy planet burying helmets of slain Clones as he watched on, his eyes fixated on a single lightsaber.
How a man in imperial uniform watched as a planet was reduced to ashes as a young woman cried tears of suffering behind him.
How a dark sorcerer clad in crimson-black robes channeled unspeakable energies of the Dark Side towards the sky, destroying an unimaginable amount of ships within seconds.
And then she saw a woman that stood in front of him, whispers of darkness that try to guile her into obedience. Whispers that were empowered by decades of evil and cruelty, empowered by people like her.
Let go, Masana.
It was the mysterious voice. It was the voice of her Padawan. The voice of the Clones and the voices of those that have fallen beneath her blade.
And thus, she did what she was asked - she let go. And with a simple blast of the Force, the window in front of her was torn to pieces, pulling her out of the station and into the cold darkness of space.
Masana fought for every ounce of breath she could get once she crawled out of the water. She didn't make it far before a strange small creature spread its wings in front of her. It was a convor with emerald-like green eyes, jumping up and down as if to greet her.
This is the beginning of a new life for you, Masana Tide. Remember what you've learned. Let go of the hatred that bound you to this game you were unwilling to play.
For the fragment of a second, Masana's eyes seemed to play tricks on her. It was as if the convor morphed into a woman, her hair almost as green as her eyes. But just like, she was gone, taking the bird with her into the unknown.
All she was left with were her own thoughts and the beginnings of something she never once dared to believe in:
A new hope.
Trilla - Ordel, the Remains of the Mantis
''A convor? A bloody bird?! I do grow so tiresome of your lies, Ninth Sister.''
''My name is Masana Tide. Former Jedi Knight.''
''You're as much a Jedi as I am, sister.'' Trilla spat as she clenched her fists.
There was nothing more Trilla wanted to do than to knock the light's out off the former Inquisitor - or whatever she called herself now. But the presence of the holocron made itself known once more. There weren't any words that were exchanged this time. A mere reminder of their conversation was conjured into Trilla's head, wordlessly begging her to believe the Dowutin. That was all that was needed for her to stay such thoughts of violence.
Somehow, this enraged Trilla even more.
''What happened then ... Masana?''
Cal ushered her name with care, his serene voice gritting on Trilla's nerves like one would pull strings on a badly tuned hallikset.
Tide shifted uncomfortably as she sighed.
''Not much. The convor appeared in my dreams, from time to time. Taught me how to do that thing with my lightsaber, purifying the kyber crystal in it, I mean. She said that she would help me. She'd help me even if I wouldn't ... well.''
She stood and walked towards the exit, raising her hands slowly towards Trilla to show that she meant no harm. Grunting as Cal decided to follow her with no care in the world, they made their way to the outside of the ship's remains, their heads turned to Ordel's rocky mountainside.
''This temple ... this gateway to this world between worlds. It's one of hers. And it houses immense power.''
As if on command, two imperial shuttles flew past them. Though not low enough that they'd appear on any sensors, the group had no trouble watching them as they made their way to the center of the explosion that changed life on Ordel forever.
''Power the Empire wants.'' Cal stated matter of factly as he glared from the sky towards Stone Town, sadness pulling his lips into a frown.
''Yes. Not only here. There's one on Syntha too - and one that is still hidden. If they manage to unlock the secrets of those ruins ... ''
Masana turned towards them, lifting her mask from her face and looking each of them directly into their eyes.
'' ... time itself will be held hostage by the Empire.''
AN: I'm back, sorry for the (long) delay. My country is now returning to something akin to normal life again, so expect more regular updates from now on. I hope that each and every one of you stays healthy during such tiring times. Thanks for continuing to be a part of his journey. I struggled a lot with this chapter, as I did with those before it. The price of not writing for weeks and being thrown out of the rhythm.
There are a lot of new people here! To those: welcome and thank you all so much for reading! 3 I'll respond to your reviews, PM's and like in the next chapter.
Also RIP content support for Battlefront 2. But did anyone else watch the Clone Wars finale? And we finally got a free fighting mode for Fallen Order and a New Game Plus!