Thanks to Eznf98 for the feedback!

Eznf: Yeah, that's a critique of mine as well. My chapters simply aren't long enough, and that really does bug me. My personal goal one day is to get to 5k, and I am making progress along that, but it's slow. My first ever chapter of a story was barely over 500 words, and that's with the author not and everything.

Enjoy!

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Few things in life came easy. During the War, victory was often determined by which side pressed the hardest. And after Order 66, life became all the harder. Life changed from being the hunter, to becoming the hunted.

The mission to Umbara had been assigned based on the resistance levels to the previous invasion. Captain Rex had worked with them to determine how to best subdue the Umbarians, but he hadn't foreseen the clones turning on them.

That told two things. One, that the Captain had no knowledge of the betrayal, and thus it couldn't be held against him. Two, the fact that the Captain was now working alongside Commander Tano meant that he had escaped that fate.

It also meant that Commander Tano, and likely Commander Bridger, had forgiven Captain Rex and trusted him enough to work alongside him. Although, several rumours that had spread around the Temple were that Captain Rex and Commander Tano were closer than most Jedi and their seconds.

Impossible to prove, certainly, but given how the rumours surrounding Senator Amidala and General Skywalker had ultimately proven to be correct, anything was possible. And, ultimately, inconsequential. Using one's loved ones as bargaining chips to orchestrate their demise was dishonourable. And, although destroying Vader was right, how that happened mattered just as much.

Killing Vader wouldn't bring back Master Ta'll, or Master Kenobi, or any others the Sith had been responsible for destroying. Research showed that the Empire in which Vader had a hand in building had killed Caleb Dume, so that was another death that could be laid at his feet.

The wild card in this situation was Commander Bridger. While Dume's death had affected him, certainly, there was little sign of it continuing to trouble him. At least, not to the extent of the others. Captain Wren still felt guilty, it seemed, even all these years later. General Syndulla, while being able to move on, in no small part to Jacen Syndulla, still showed signs of grief.

But Commander Bridger, while possessing the strongest bond with Dume, had managed to completely move on, it seemed. Much of that could likely be attributed to Commander Kestis and, surprisingly, General Skywalker. Granted, much had happened in the decade since the Liberation of Lothal, and Commander Bridger was currently battling the Spirit of Revan, so it could very well be hidden.

Sedyn Marr intended to find out.

. . . . . . . . . .

Sabine entered the Medical Bay to find Ezra standing at a small table, a variety of...something...before him. "Ezra?"

He looked up sharply. "Sabine." He returned to...whatever he was doing. "Welcome."

Slowly, she inched up to him. "What is this?"

"A spell of locating." His hand danced above the-was that a crystal? "It's to find Maul."

Sabine thought back to the day before. Hera had commed them, for the first time in days, frantic, insisting that Maul had taken Jacen. That he was somehow back. She hadn't believed it, but something in Ezra's eyes had darkened.

"You really believe he's back?"

Ezra nodded. "I do. If I-if Revan can come back, then Maul can too." He shook his head. "Never was there a creature more filled with hate."

"Hey." Sabine stopped next to him at the table. "You okay?"

Ezra let out a humourless laugh. "Everyone keeps asking that, as if they know me. But no one knows me."

Sabine frowned. "I know you."

Returning to the spell, Ezra laid the husk of crystal inside a wooden bowl. "The only problem with this ritual," he explained, glancing at her, "is that it requires a massive amount of Force Energy."

Sabine's frown grew. "Is Cal or Anakin going to take over, complete it?"

"No." Ezra shook his head. "I am." He looked at her horrified expression. "There's no choice. We have to know if Maul is returning."

Before she could argue, her comm beeped, and she glanced at it. "It's Rex." She apologized. "I should go see how they're doing."

Ezra nodded. "Go."

Sabine left the room, activating her comm. "Go ahead, Phoenix Seven."

Blaster fire punctured Rex's words. "General Skywalker and I have engaged the stormtroopers on Mygeeto!" He grunted. "Just wish we had more Jedi!

Sabine nodded. "I wish we were there too, but things are happening here as well. Just make sure you and Skyguy destroy the Crystal."

A lightsaber was heard. "Easier said than done, Five. And I thought I asked you not to call me that?"

Sabine smiled. "How can I resist?"

"Great." Anakin was quiet for a moment, with only blaster fire filling the silence. "How's Spectre Six?"

Sabine glanced at the closed door behind her, and moved several paces away. "I don't know." She admitted. "When you're done there, get back here as soon as possible. We may have a situation."

"Understood. Phoenix Seven, out."

Sabine replaced her comlink and re-entered the room, to find Ezra standing over the wooden bowl, seemingly preparing himself. "Ezra! You're doing it now?"

He nodded. "Now is all that matters."

Sabine grabbed his arm. "Are you crazy? You aren't strong enough!"

He shook her off. "My strength may surprise you." He closed his eyes, and the bowl began to light with blue energy. "Dei-"

Sabine shook her head. "Wait!" She waited until Ezra looked at her. "Use my Force Essence. That should provide enough energy to power the ritual."

"I can't." Ezra regarded Sabine. "That's an ancient ritual in itself. Besides, using your Force Essence…it might kill you."

Sabine swallowed and nodded. "I know. But I trust you to leave enough to save me. But you're far more important to defeating Maul than I am." She smiled. "I trust you."

"Sabine…" Suddenly, Ezra began to laugh. He nearly doubled over. "Why…why am I doing this?"

The Mandalorian frowned. The laughter was strange enough, but Ezra's voice had changed. It had become significantly lower. "What?"

Ezra stopped laughing with a few chuckles and smiled. "I mean, Anakin's the one with the link to the Emperor, so I don't even know why I'm still keeping you around." He turned to her, a mocking grin on his face. "Maybe it's because of your endless support, even when I'm doing to complete opposite of what you think I should do. You convince the others to follow me, even when their guts tell them not to." He smiled sadistically. "Even when their guts are right."

Sabine's eyes widened, every odd interaction suddenly making sense. "Revan…?"

Revan nodded. "In the flesh." He took a step closer and Sabine grunted, suddenly being unable to move her arms. "Now, I will use your Force Essence, Sabine, just because you asked so nicely, and when Anakin and Rex come back to find your lifeless corpse on the ground, I will tell them the truth, Sabine. I'll just tell them, 'Anakin-'" He shook his head, a mock grin on his face, and his voice shifted to Ezra's normal voice. "'Anakin, she knew the risks.'" His eyes widened in mock sadness. "'She wouldn't take no for an answer.'"

Revan lifted his hand and Sabine screamed, pain filling her every fibre. She could feel something being drained out of her, when suddenly the Sith stopped. Slowly, Sabine opened her eyes to find Revan staring at his hand, an odd look in his eyes.

"Well, hello, Ezra."

. . . . . . . . . .

Ezra nearly jumped to his feet when the door opened. For a split second, all he could sense was dark, and his lightsaber ignited almost of its own free will. Then Maul strode in.

Seizing the opportunity, without thinking, Ezra used the Force to hold the Sith still, raising his saber to strike him down, to end the threat, to-

Ezra, it's not Maul! Look at him!

His vision changed, and Ezra recoiled as Maul morphed into Sabine, clutching at her throat. Eyes widening, Ezra tried to let go, but something wouldn't him. Exercising all his energy on the Force, Ezra made himself let go of Sabine.

Then Sabine vanished too.

Ready to submit?

Ezra cradled his head in his hands. "N-never."

We shall see.

. . . . . . . . . .

Anakin stumbled out of the Ghost, exhausted. It had taken forever, but he had managed to hold back the 501'st on Mygeeto long enough for Rex to destroy the kyber crystal. Shaking his head at that thought, he used the Force to lower the loading bay door, allowing Rex to exit first. "Let's go see what the lovebirds have done now."

Rex chuckled. "Oh, you should have seen them before they got married. Always dancing around each other. Like a tooka chasing his own tail."

Smiling, Anakin entered the Medical Bay, to find Ezra sitting at the table, a bowl before him, and Sabine pressed against the wall. "Sabine…?"

She looked at him. "Anakin, that's not Ezra!"

Grabbing his lightsaber, Anakin and Rex were thrown against the wall next to Sabine, and Revan stood. "Welcome back, Chosen One."

Anakin grunted as he strained to move. Ezra's dark mood made sense now, anyway. "I thought I destroyed you."

The Sith chuckled. "You destroyed the mask, but I moved on to a new vessel." He grinned. "And he's all mine." He sat back down. "Your General thinks Maul has somehow come back to life. I'm just trying to determine if that is indeed the case." He eyed Anakin. "You should thank me."

Sharing a look of shock with Anakin, Rex scowled. "Why would you care if Maul returned? I thought the Sith only wanted to destroy one another."

Revan chuckled. "Maul is an animal. Unhinged. His only goal is revenge, and with Kenobi gone, he will focus on the one who spurned his offer of friendship."

Sabine gasped. "Ezra."

"Ezra." Revan smiled. "So you see, I'm the only one that can keep your friend safe. I can destroy Maul."

Anakin strained to move. "And destroy Ezra in the process!"

Revan shrugged. "There is no victory without sacrifice." He tilted his head. "We will, however, be meeting again soon. I suggest you prepare.

Before anyone could even move, Revan was gone, and Rex groaned as the sounds of the V-19's engines firing up could be heard. Once the ship was in the air, they were all released.

As Anakin and Rex got to their feet, Sabine remained on her knees. "How could I not see it?" She murmured. Anakin wouldn't have been surprised to see tears. "All that time, Revan was playing us."

Anakin sat down beside her. "He fooled all of us."

Sabine stared at the ground. "Does Ezra even know what's happening?"

Anakin was silent for a long time. "I don't know."

. . . . . . . . . .

"How's it going, Kid?" Ezra tried to smile as Anakin sat down beside him, but failed. "Everything okay?"

Ezra looked at the floor. "I thought I saw Sabine."

"Thought?" He could almost hear Anakin's frown. "Ezra, Sabine's off-world."

Somehow, that didn't even surprise him anymore. "Where?"

"She went to Ryloth." Anakin scratched the back of his head. "Something about helping Hera look for Jacen."

At the mention of Jacen's name, Ezra closed his eyes, holding back the wave of grief that had been beating at him ever since Mandalore. How Sabine was managing, he didn't know.

Anakin stood. "I'll see you later."

As the doors slid closed, covering Ezra in darkness, he felt tears spring to his eyes. He had known his son for only a few weeks before the Empire had taken him. The knowledge that the Emperor was keeping him alive was actually more terrifying.

Was it worth it?

Ezra knew what the voice was talking about. The Blue Spirit. Taking his vengeance for the supposed death of Sabine. Abandoning his family when they needed him most.

Ezra closed his eyes. So much had happened during that time. Looking back, there were several times when he had seen Sabine, but had written her off as a vision or hallucination.

"Ezra! Stop!"

"You're not her!"

One time he had even fought her.

That was probably the worst memory. He had received a data file of a Mandalorian killing a street gang. The file had sent him to a dark place, because the Mandalorain had been wearing her armour.

At the time, he thought that someone had stolen it, and had gone after them. Now, though, it was clear that Sabine had been chasing him. Trying to find him, to save him from himself.

Sighing, Ezra stood, balancing his weight against the wall. It was time to get to work.

. . . . . . . . . .

Something had changed.

Sedyn Marr was crouched on top of the roof of one of the buildings adjacent to the Medical Bay, where it seemed most of the Rebels time was spent. A few days prior, a transmission from CC-2224 had sent Captain Rex and General Skywalker away from Kamino. Their return a few hours ago coincided with Commander Bridger leaving Kamino using a V-19 Torrent Starfighter.

He watched as Captain Wren ran out, sans helmet. She looked disturbed, proving his theory that the Jedi and the Mandalorian were more than they seemed. He masked his Force Signature as General Skywalker and Commander Kestis joined her, lightsabers drawn.

Sedyn crouched down a little further as Captain Wren quickly scanned the rooftops, then whirled on General Skywalker. Zooming in with his rangefinder, he watched as her fingers tightened on the triggers to her blasters. As quickly as the standoff had begun, though, it ended, with Wren storming into the S-161 XL. Kestis followed her, but Skywalker remained alone in the rain.

Slowly, Sedyn reached for his Master's lightsaber. His own had been lost on Umbara, and his Master's had been found next to the body of a fallen clone. It was fitting he would use the weapon to avenge him.

Sedyn flattened himself against the roof as Skywalker turned to his direction, lightsaber raised in defence. Slowly, he moved forward, brow furrowed.

Having lost the element of surprise, Sedyn jumped down, using his jetpack to land in front of Skywalker. "I told you we would meet again."

If Skywalker was surprised, he didn't show it. "There's more going on than your mission to destroy Vader. The Sith Lord Darth Revan lives."

Sedyn frowned underneath his helmet. "Commander Bridger seemed to have the situation well in hand."

Still no reaction to the fact that he had been watching them long enough to know of Bridger's struggle with the Sith. But Skywalker did begin to circle him. "We don't need to be enemies. The Empire has taken friends from me as well."

Sedyn barked out a laugh. "The Empire? My mission is to get vengeance for my fallen Master by destroying Darth Vader. Then will I turn my sights on the Empire."

Eyes narrowed, Skywalker raised his weapon in the Makashi salute. "The Kid's too important. I can't let you kill me."

Sedyn raised his lightsaber in the same salute. "It is not up to you."

Then he charged.

. . . . . . . . . .

Chapter Notes!

I). Sedyn Marr, the Mandalorian Jedi that's been popping up every so often, is a really fun character to write. He's all military, having grown up in the Clone War. Thanks to Compared Dread 12 for the character!

II). Right, so, the Ezra/Revan thing. It's what I've been hinting at the past few chapters. Basically, there were two narratives that you can likely sort out based on how Ezra acts to those around him. The cold side of Ezra, the one that pushes to get better and shuns assistance is Revan. The Ezra that is lost in his own head is actually Ezra. Confusing? Hopefully. Now you know why this arc has been so hard to write.

I tried to make it easy to distinguish once you have this last piece. Revan's story is mostly told by the others, such as Sabine and Cal. Ezra's story is told through his own eyes, as that is really all there is.

III). Surely you didn't think Revan would be a problem for a chapter and a half and disappear, right?

Thanks for reading! In all honesty, getting everything right (which I am in no way certain I did) was very hard, so I would appreciate you guys letting me know just how well I did. It was fun, though, so there's something.

Thanks!

Judge