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 XXXVIII

Cere was in the midst of talking to Merrin when BD-1 scuttled aboard and hopped onto the hologram table before beeping furiously. Holding a hand up to pause their conversation, Cere tilted her head as she listened to what the little droid was saying. Though unable to understand what BD was saying, Merrin could sense the urgency behind the whistles and beeps from the little droid.

"Greez, start the ship now!" Cere snapped as she rushed to the cockpit.

The Latero waddled into view from the kitchen where he had been preparing a meal for them.

"What's going on?"

"The Empire is here! We need to get off Bogano now!"

"But Cal and Jana are still-" Greez protested.

Merrin shot off the couch and ran down the ramp towards the vault in the distance. From where she was positioned, the Nightsister could see Stormtroopers and someone who looked like an Inquisitor approaching the vault at a fast pace. Knowing she was in no position to battle all of them, and partly to prevent them from discovering their presence since it seemed they were distracted, Merrin cloaked herself and ran towards the vault.

Hold on Cal, I'm coming!


Cal could sense the approach of the Stormtroopers surrounding the vault and knew he had to play along if he wanted to get both him and Jayna out of there alive and unharmed.

"Don't move," he said.

"Excuse me?" Jayna replied, whirling around just in time to see Cal coming at her with his lightsaber.

Her own saber was barely ignited in time to block the strong blow from Cal as the latter rained blow after blow down onto her. Jayna was put on the defensive as she was forced to fight for her life. Compared to Cal who was trained as a Jedi since he was young, she lacked the finesse and grace he exhibited when it came to dueling with lightsabers. It took all her strength to even maintain a steady grip on the weapon as she blocked blows.

"Cal! What's gotten into you?!" she hissed, ducking as his lightsaber swung over her head.

"There's Stormtroopers and a Inquisitor here! Play along if you don't want to die!" he replied.

The doors of the vault flew open and the Seventh Sister appeared from the smoke along with a small battalion of Stormtroopers right behind. Upon seeing Cal engaged in battle with Jayna, the Stormtroopers spread out and aimed their blasters at the girl.

"Hold your fire!" Cal ordered as his lightsaber was locked onto Jayna's.

"Wait for an opening, and do try not to hit the First Brother."

"Yes Seventh Sister."

Cal jumped back just in time as the blasters opened fire upon Jayna and him. While he was able to retreat a safe distance away, Jayna could only send the blows back with her weapon. Eventually the sheer amounts of blasts pelting her forced Jayna to her knees. Cal held a hand up and the Stormtroopers stopped firing at his orders.

"Capture her," the Seventh Sister ordered.

Two Stormtroopers ran forward and bent to haul Jayna to her feet when she suddenly struck one of them across the chest with her weapon. Yet before Cal could step in to intervene, the Seventh Sister used the Force to immobilize Jayna before lifting her off her feet. Forced to remain still and play along in case the Seventh Sister saw through his plan, Cal could only watch as the Inquisitor approached a helpless Jayna.

"You certainly are an interesting one, Jayna Shan."

"How do you-"

"Uh uh, remember who I am. I can see everything you're trying to hide from me," the Seventh Sister replied as she removed her helmet.

The Stormtrooper standing beside Cal came forward and handed him something. It was his helmet which must have dropped back when he was on Nur. With no other option but to accept it, Cal placed the helmet over his head to hide his expression but he was inwardly worried while biting his lips behind the visor.

"Kill me now!" Jayna spat at the Inquisitor, her eyes glaring daggers at the latter.

A cold laugh echoed off the walls of the vault as the Seventh Sister placed a hand under Jayna's chin, forcing the latter's head up to meet her eyes.

"I wish I could, but Lord Vader will have my head if I bring you in dead. No matter, you'll either soon join us or be dead. I'm not concerned with what happens to you once we return to Nur. I have to hand it to the First Brother though, you certainly did one hell of a job as an Inquisitor for tracking down a powerful Force-sensitive like this one here."

Cal forced himself to remain calm and emotionless.

"We have the girl. Let's go," he said before turning on his heels and heading for the doors.

The Stormtroopers followed after him while Jayna was escorted by the Seventh Sister personally.


The doors to the vault opened and Merrin found herself face to face with Cal and a small group of Stormtroopers. Immediately she threw her hands up and took out several of the clones before the others retaliated by firing on her. The Nightsister's hands glowed green as a barrier was conjured to block the blasts.

"Cal! What are you doing? Where's Jayna?" she shouted over the sounds of blasters firing.

Cal didn't answer physically but she could hear his voice in her head.

Merrin, get out of here while you still can. Don't ask why, get back to Cere and the Mantis. This is the only thing I can do to keep you all safe until I find a way to escape with Jayna again.

"A Nightsister? What is a Nightsister doing on a planet like Bogano?"

Merrin's train of thoughts was broken when the Seventh Sister joined the fray as the Inquisitor spotted the Dathomirian blocking their path.

"If you're not going to fight her, at least stand aside so you won't get caught."

The Seventh Sister made to engage Merrin in battle but Cal held a hand up as a signal to stop. Scowling at this but nonetheless, the Seventh Sister had to obey since her rank was lower.

"We wasted enough time already. Lord Vader is not going to be pleased if we delay any longer. Leave the Nightsister," Cal said as his eyes silently pleaded with Merrin to play along behind his visor.

"Leave Jayna alone!" Merrin said, having gotten the initial message as her hands glowed again.

"Come and get her," the Seventh Sister taunted.

"Enough!" Cal demanded.

Wishing he had another option but this, Cal used the Force and pushed Merrin backwards with just enough power behind the blow to knock her out briefly.

"Merrin!" Jayna yelled as she struggled against the Force hold keeping her in place.


Cere was just about to go searching for Merrin when she spotted the Nightsister limping towards the ship from a distance. Merrin was holding her arm and looked to be in pain. Rushing over to the ramp, Cere helped Merrin aboard and brought her over to one of the chairs. The Nightsister was sniffling quietly as tears dripped onto her hands.

"Greez get us out of here now," Cere said.

"What about the kid and Jayna?"

"Cal and the Empire captured Jayna," Merrin revealed quietly.

"What? Why would..." Cere trailed off and realized she made a grave error in believing Cal's words earlier.

Merrin seemed to have sensed Cere's thoughts and reached out to touch her hands gently.

"Don't misunderstand. Cal spoke to me through our thoughts...he said he had to do it to protect us. He's going to find a way to escape with Jayna and find his way back to us."

"Didn't he just escape from the Empire with you? What's he doing bringing Jayna back to them!?"

The Nightsister lowered her head and contemplated on whether she should tell Cere and Greez about Cal being forced to deal with the rebels on Lothal.


Aboard the transport that would take them back to Nur, Cal briefly dismissed the two Stormtroopers guarding Jayna's cell and he stepped inside. He found her curled up against a corner, with her head buried in her knees. Her lightsaber had been confiscated to prevent her from using it as a means of escape. Cal quietly approached and knelt down beside her.

"Jayna."

"Don't touch me! You betrayed me Cal! How could you! I thought we were friends!" she said angrily, tears evident in her eyes as she looked up to glare at him through watery pupils.

Cal sighed heavily in defeat.

"I'm sorry. I know you probably hate me...but please understand I'm doing this to protect everyone."

"By sacrificing me!"

"I'll find a way to help you escape!"

Jayna scoffed at his declaration and turned her head away.

"Just leave me alone."

With no other choice since a Stormtrooper came to inform him he had a message from Vader, Cal could only give Jayna an apologetic look before he left the cell to answer the call.

Vader's hologram was hovering in front of the Seventh Sister when Cal arrived on deck.

"Lord Vader," Cal answered, his voice flat and cold.

"Cal Kestis, the Emperor has ordered you to bring the girl to him on Coruscant. Your mission to destroy the remaining rebels on Lothal will be on hold until after your visit."

"Yes my lord," he replied with a small bow of his head.

The hologram flickered briefly before cutting out, leaving Cal alone with the Seventh Sister.

"Set course for Coruscant," he ordered to the pilots.

"Yes First Brother."

Cal spent the remaining duration of the trip trying to figure out a plan to get Jayna away from the Emperor's clutches without risking the lives of his friends.


To be continued...

Review?

I've gotten comments from readers about the timeline of the story etc etc.

I'm pretty sure I've stated before the timeline of this story merges with the other timelines in Star Wars.

Please remember this is a fanfiction, it's completely derived from my imagination.

Please understand this and respect my wishes to have different timelines merged together, it's the only way I can get this story to continue flowing smoothly after all. I'm sorry if some of you are offended by the inaccuracies of my story, but this is MY fanfiction. I'm not trying to come off as snippy or mean, but if you have time to write a comment about my story in regards to the timeline and how you tried to give my story a chance, then why not write one of your own? We each have our own creative license to do so after all.

For the rest of my readers who enjoy this story, I sincerely thank you from the bottom of my heart.

You guys are my reason to keep this story going.

Now that the Mandalorian season 2 is over, I have an idea of how I want the next few chapters to flow. Don't be surprised if you see Din and Grogu appearing for a majority of the next chapter ;D

Also, Happy New Year! (Better late than never right?)

Until the next update!

Celsius Fate!