Spoilers for Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season 7, Episode 12
Thanks to V, Guest, Eznf98 and Xertib for the feedback!
V: Normally, I post a chapter, and then two hours later I get a notification that you've commented on the chapter before the one I just posted, so it's a rare privilege to actually mention it here. As for your actual review, as per the episode that aired today, Rex's fate is a bit ambiguous. We see him on the ice planet with Ahsoka, but where does he go from there? Ahsoka goes into hiding, but what about Rex? Hmm...
Guest: Truthfully, I don't know how wise listing this story as a crossover is either. Problem is, this is now so much larger than a Star Wars: Rebels story. Sure, Ezra and Sabine are the two main characters, but so is Anakin. So is Cal. There isn't a general tab for all the characters at the moment, which is a pity. I don't quite know what I'm going to do.
Eznf98: I'm not sure if that's an admonishment or not. I mean, yes, you're probably right that this story will never end, simply because Star Wars will never end. I take great pride and joy in mixing in all the new stuff. For instance, the new Mandalore Arc episodes, I've been sprinkling in little snippets here and there. I actually re-edited For You Alone Chapter 7 because of it. I'm glad you love the story, I hope you keep loving it. As for the First Order, well, wouldn't want to give anything away, would I?
Xertib: Yep, on to Revan. If it says anything, it took the destruction of an entire planet for Anakin to even consider the mission. Revan's scary. And Anakin is scared for good reason. Messing with Sith Spirits...doesn't usually work out. As for the fate of Rex, who knows? It is something that I am very curious about.
For those of you who have seen Episode 12: Did I sense a Rex/Ahsoka moment in the middle of all that? Not quite sure, but it felt like it. Hmm...
Enjoy!
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The Ghost emerged from hyperspace near a dark, stormy planet, and Anakin nearly recoiled at the darkness on the surface. While darkness and light were both necessary for proper balance, you didn't want one to overpower the other. This place was consumed by the darkness. "Let's just find the mask and leave."
Taking control of the ship from Ezra, who was still unresponsive, Anakin landed the ship in a clearing away from the rocks that jutted from the surface. Sharing an uneasy look with Rex, Anakin tentatively laid a hand on Ezra's shoulder. "Ezra?"
His eyes unseeingly stared past the viewport. "Dabar Mes'll Ziur."
Anakin stood and backed away from him, glancing at Rex. "Cover me."
As Rex pulled out his pistol, Anakin reached into the Force, scowling at what he saw in Ezra. The Kid was battling something dark, and he wasn't winning.
Calling on the Force, Anakin reached out and gripped Ezra's throat, lightly applying pressure. After a moment, Ezra stopped fighting the Dark Side and focused on Anakin, who released him. "Kid?"
Rex holstered his pistol as Ezra fell to the floor, gasping. "Ezra, say something!" After a moment, he amended. "In Basic!"
Slowly, Ezra stood, leaning on the hull as he caught his breath. "Exegol…"
"Ezra?" Anakin had his hand on his lightsaber, prompting Rex to place his hand on his pistol. "Where are we?"
The haze seemed to clear from Ezra's eyes, and he looked around. "Wha-where are we?"
Anakin sighed, but removed his hand from his belt. "I just asked you that." He paused and looked around. "I sense darkness here."
Rex flipped his viewfinder down. "There's no-one out here." He zoomed in on a large structure, some sort of mask. "This place gives me the creeps."
Anakin exited the Ghost and focused on the Force. "The Mask is here." He glanced at the others. "Let's find it and leave. I don't want to be here any longer than necessary."
A rumble resonated through the ground, and Rex backed away. "General?"
Anakin sighed. "Tremor." Because of course. "Stay together."
. . . . . . . . . .
Sabine entered the cantina on Nevarro. Ahsoka had agreed to stay away, seeing as Nevarro was the home of the Bounty Hunter's Guild, and a former Jedi would have a very large bounty on their head. So did Sabine, but her armour changed often enough that she was virtually invisible.
Scanning the life-forms in the cantina, Sabine frowned as her sensors settled on a lone man in the corner, who was watching her. Making her way to the bar, Sabine settled opposite the man, nodding her thanks to the Aqualish bartender as he put a drink in front of her.
The blast door opened, and Sabine turned her head away from the man's table to see the newcomer. After analyzing the Quarren male, she returned to facing his table, noting with dismay that he had left, a pile of credits on the table.
Sabine activated her comm. "Spectre Five to Fulcrum, status?"
Ahsoka's voice came through her helmet's speakers. "I've arrived at the location Rex sent me. I'll comm you if I find anything. How's your mission?"
Sabine sighed. "I can't find the Clan. After what happened, can't say I blame them for hiding." She looked around the cantina one final time. "I'm going to head back to the ship. Spectre Five, out."
Ahsoka nodded and stared at the man in front of her. "Stay safe, Five." Lowering her comlink, she raised her lightsaber. "Why come to me?"
The man lowered his head. "I thought I killed him. The man I served with for hundreds of battles, I…it was like something took control of me."
Ahsoka deactivated her lightsaber and returned it to her belt. "That happened to Rex, too." She revealed. "The Kaminoans put chips inside your head, made you turn on General Kenobi. Just like Rex turned on me."
Cody raised his head, white fringe falling into his face. "Rex?" He murmured. "But, you said…"
Ahsoka nodded. "Rex turned on me, but I removed his chip. We escaped together."
Thanks, Kid. Sorry about before. I almost killed you.
Cody almost looked hopeful. "And…General Kenobi?"
She looked down. "Gone." She admitted. "Vader killed him."
Cody seemed to collapse in on himself. "If-If I had been able to resist, I-I could have helped the General."
Find him. Find him. Fives. Find him! Fives!
Ahsoka blocked off the memories. "We can't dwell on what was, only on what is."
Cody, composing himself, nodded and handed her a datapad. "These are all the Imperial Prisons in the Outer Rim. Some of them are heavily fortified."
Ahsoka scrolled down, one entry in particular snatching her attention. "Lola Sayu?" She looked up at Cody. "Who's being held in the Citadel?"
The old clone shrugged. "I don't know. Could be a Jedi, or a clone unit that disobeyed Order 66."
Interest piqued, Ahsoka set the data pad on a rock. "Where there any units that disobeyed Order 66?"
Cody thought back. "Only squad I can recall that completely disregarded Clone Order 66 was a Clone Commando Squadron. They were serving under General Ta'll when the Order was given, and the Captain just ended the transmission and continued fighting alongside the General."
Ahsoka's comm beeped. "Fulcrum, come in."
She glanced at Cody and raised her comlink. "Spectre Five?"
"I've arrived at the ship, but we seem to have company."
Grabbing the data pad, Ahsoka stood. "On my way." Returning the comm to her belt, she looked at Cody. "Sure you don't want to rejoin the fight?"
"You have Jedi, right?" Cody shook his head. "If someone sends me that Order, then you're all at risk. I'll remain here and help where I can."
Ahsoka nodded. "May the Force be with you." Returning to her speeder, she grabbed her comm. "Spectre Five, I'm inbound to you now. Three minutes."
Sabine glanced at her comm and activated the darksaber, slowly advancing on the man she had watched in the cantina. "Why are you here?" He was in Mandalorian armour, but his helmet was the same as the Imperial Super Commandoes, just painted black and white. "How did you track me down?"
To her shock, he pulled out a lightsaber of his own and ignited it, a yellow blade appearing. "You are consorting with a traitor to the Jedi Order." He raised his lightsaber in what Sabine recalled Kanan teaching her as the Makashi salute. "Surrender him or die."
As much as Sabine disliked Anakin for who he had been, she could at least see he was making an effort for redemption. Besides, if it was really just a ploy, she wanted to be the one to kill him.
So she raised her lightsaber in the vertical stance Kanan had taught her years earlier. "Never."
. . . . . . . . . .
Ezra led them into a cave, casting a cautious glance to the shadows. "Do you think any animals lives here?"
Rex shook his head. "I don't think so. According to General Kenobi's research, Exegol is home to Sith Cultists."
"Sith Cultists?" Ezra stopped and looked at Rex. "There are people who worship the Sith?"
Rex shrugged, turning on the headlamps on his helmet. "There are people who worship the Jedi too." He sighed as they rounded yet another turn. "Do you even know where you're going?"
Ezra looked sheepish. "Maybe?"
Rex sighed and activated his comlink. "I think Spectre Six and I are lost."
A chuckle could be heard. "I would join you, but Ezra insisted I stay at the ship to guide you guys back."
Ezra nodded, his lightsaber casting green shadows. "When we set up the base on Hoth, Hera staying on the Ghost was the only way we found our way home. I really don't want to get lost here."
"Do you remember how you even got us here?"
Before he could answer, the ground broke loose in front of him. With Rex's cry of 'Kid!', Ezra fell in, hearing his wrist comm shatter against the rock wall. As he fell, the Force seemed to get darker, until the sheer blackness of it knocked him out.
. . . . . . . . . .
Sabine rolled away, blocking a vertical swipe with the darksaber, insanely grateful for all of Ezra's training. Her enemy surged forward, launching a series of jabs that she had to use all her acrobatic skill to avoid. Forcing him back with her repulser. Sabine grabbed her blaster pistol and fired, watching in dismay as a small blue energy shield appeared on his wrist.
The man pointed his lightsaber at her. "I will ask you one final time. Surrender Vader to me, or die."
"Why do you want him?"
The man whirled to face Ahsoka, who had her lightsabers out. "Vader destroyed the Jedi Order. He killed my Master, and so many others. He must die."
Ahsoka lowered her lightsabers. "You were a Padawan during the War." She took a step forward. "You must know that giving in to your anger isn't the Jedi Way."
"So long as my anger does not control me, it is not a problem." He shifted and looked from Ahsoka to Sabine. "If you do not tell me, I will find Vader on my own, but I will come after all of you."
Sabine raised the darksaber and lunged for him, but he activated his jetpack and flew away. She started to follow, but Ahsoka held her there. "Let him go."
Sabine stared at the dot vanishing in the distance. "He's going to come after us." She turned back to Ahsoka. "If whoever that was is indeed a Mandalorian, then their idea of revenge may go deeper than your Jedi principles."
"I know." Ahsoka nodded. "We'll be ready for him."
. . . . . . . . . .
Ezra groaned and stood, feeling a dull ache in his head that had nothing to do with the fall. Feeling the Force, and nearly recoiling from the darkness, Ezra struggled to locate a way out of the dark ravine he had fallen into. Maybe his backup comm could-
I can save your son…
Ezra whirled, lightsaber ignited. "Who said that!"
Your wife, your family, they are not yet lost…
Ezra searched the darkness, slowly turning in a circle, green light exposing shadows. "Show yourself!"
Only together, can we save their future…
The light from Ezra's lightsaber shone upon a mask, and he picked it up, frowning. Something about it seemed…familiar. His lightsaber showed that it looked like a Mandalorian's mask. Maybe Sabine could tell him about it once he-
Ezra!
Startled, Ezra dropped the mask and pointed his lightsaber at it. "What do you want?"
To save that which would otherwise perish…
A vision entered Ezra's head. Sabine, impaled on a red blade. Cale, a teenager, serving the Emperor. Himself, lying lifeless at his son's feet, killed by his blade.
You can stop this…
More visions. Cale, dressed as an Imperial Inquisitor, decimating Lothal with legions of troopers. Rex, Cal, Anakin, all dying. Death Stars as far as the eye could see.
Gasping, Ezra fell to his hands and knees. "How…how can I stop this?"
Together…
Ezra pressed his back against the stone wall and picked up the mask once again. Once again, it called out to him, but it was warm, inviting.
As one…
Ezra, as if guided by some force other than his own, slipped the mask onto his own head, and blacked out.
. . . . . . . . . .
"Any sign of him?" Anakin stared at the Temple. "I don't want to go in there."
Rex grabbed his comm. "Phoenix Seven to Spectre Six, check in. You missed rendezvous."
A moment later, the comm crackled back. "Sorry."
Anakin frowned. Something seemed off. "Kid? Where are you?"
"At the ship."
The comm turned off, and Anakin began running back to the Ghost. "Something's wrong!"
Hearing Rex follow him, Anakin grabbed his lightsaber. Ezra was standing in front of the Ghost, but there was something on his head. As he drew near, Anakin slowed to a stop. That was Revan's Mask.
"Ezra?" Rex glanced at Anakin, who ignited his lightsaber. They both knew what might happen if the mask was put on. "Everything okay, Kid?"
A sudden Force Push threw both of them against the hull of the Ghost, and Anakin grunted. "Ezra, you have to fight it! Don't let him win!"
The Mask chuckled. "Ezra Bridger is long gone. Only I remain." The Force increased, and Anakin grunted as the metal behind him began to dent. "And you are no match for me, Chosen One."
The voice being modulated out of the mask was deeper than Ezra's normal one, and even the Force felt distorted. Anakin's mind raced as he recalled everything he had ever learnt about Revan. "Why are you doing this? Why betray everything you worked for?"
"Balance." The Mask took a step closer. "Light has become stronger than Dark. That needs to be remedied. That's why I called you here."
Rex tried in vain to grab his blaster pistol. "You called us here?"
"Indeed." The Mask moved towards the cockpit. "I lured Bridger here using visions and voices. A few possibilities into his head, and he was mine."
Anakin watched as The Mask sat down in the pilot's seat, and struggled fruitlessly as he and Rex were carried into the ship. "What are you doing!"
"Flying us out of here." The Mask tilted to regard him. "Unless you'd like to stay as my guest?"
Rex strained once more against the Force. "Where are you taking us!"
Anakin could sense a mocking smile as the Ghost cleared the atmosphere. "Home."
. . . . . . . . . .
"Ahsoka!"
So, we're just going to surrender? Admit defeat? Is that it?
She opened her eyes and regarded a worried Sabine. "Yes?"
Those men may be willing to die, but I am not going to be the one that kills them.
Sabine handed her a data-pad. "I did some research on our friend."
"Oh?" Ahsoka scrolled down, sifting through the information. "Do we know his name?"
"No." Sabine sat opposite her. "But that armour looked familiar." She shook her head. "It was the executioner variant of the helmet, I thought it was an Imperial Super Commando helmet."
"Okay?" Ahsoka handed her back the data-pad. "What does that mean?"
Sabine sighed. "It means he is a Mandalorian. And he is also a Force User."
"Who wants revenge on Anakin for the death of his Master." Ahsoka finished her thought. "Great."
"We have to go back to Kamino. It's our best defensive location."
Ahsoka nodded and grabbed her comm. "I agree. Fulcum to Rebound Two, we need to head back to Kamino."
"Copy that, Fulcrum."
Sabine settled back as the Mantis surged into hyperspace, and allowed a genuine smile to appear. Even despite the dangers, despite everything that had been lost, she still had Ezra. And Ezra would know how to stop the Empire, how to get Cale back.
All she had to do was keep believing.
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Translations for Ezra's Sith:
Dabar Mes'll Ziur: Now we'll see.
Chapter Notes!
I). So, Sabine's been angry with Anakin for a while now. Imagine her response when they get back and Ezra has an ancient Sith Lord inside him...
On that note, this is something I'm iffy on. Canonically, Sith's can possess people, but is there a criteria? Like, you have to have a crumbling spirit or something?
II). The Mandalorian Jedi is a character that was requested by Compared Dread 12, and is a character we will be seeing more of. Because Mandalorians in general at this stage of For You Alone are fascinating.
III). Sabine's mental state probably isn't the greatest either. Especially when you compound it with her husband is basically a demon now. She's going to be angry, and she's going to take that anger on whoever is unfortunate to get in her way, be it the Mandalorian Jedi or a certain Anakin Skywalker...
Thanks for reading!
Happy May the Fourth!
Judge