Author's Note: Who would've thought that this conversation, the one I've been eager to write for months now, would be so difficult to write? :P But here it is! :D
Previously on Rebirth...
::Ahch-To is no longer safe. They found us!:: R5 beeps frantically.
Jarik steps back in shock, staring at him in horror while Mara gasps in disbelief.
"What?!" she asks anxiously.
"What's wrong? What's he saying?" Astrid asks in concern.
::The Knight Hawk's scanners just detected a cruiser coming out of hyperspace!:: R5 wails.
"Oh no..." Jarik murmurs in despair, overcome with guilt and horror.
Right at that moment, a booming sound reminiscent of thunder cracks through the air. The group looks up at the sky to see the small form of a dagger-like warship hovering in orbit through an opening in the otherwise cloudy atmosphere. The Vikings gasp in surprise and fear, the dragons flinching at the sudden burst of loud noise.
"Umm... were you expecting visitors?" Fishlegs whimpers fearfully.
"Well done on bringing us here successfully, Vah'nya," Ar'alani congratulates.
"Thank you Admiral," the young Chiss female replies. "It was much more arduous than I'm used too though. Using Second Sight to determine where an object has been is... difficult."
Vah'nya relinquishes possession of the slightly curved cylindrical object back into the hands of Ar'alani: the lightsaber of Jarik Shan, which Mitth'raw'nuruodo managed to deliver to them for precisely this reason.
"Nevertheless, you succeeded," the Chiss Admiral states, a hint of a smile appearing on her face, though it vanishes just as quickly. "Now, let us hope that this effort will be well worth it."
"Captain, isolate the location of the signals you are detecting, and take us in."
Temple Island - Ahch-To
Jarik POV...
I look up warily at the cruiser high up in orbit, still trying to figure out exactly what type of ship it is. Maybe it just got here accidentally, similar to how the Knight Hawk did...? The empty section of clouds soon blows over, obscuring the ship from sight, and I stare at the ground with a hand to my chin in thought.
"What're we gonna do?" Fishlegs asks nervously.
"I'll tell you what we're gonna do!" Snotlout growls, punching his palm fiercely. "We're gonna fight these guys and show them that coming here was a big mistake!"
"How about blowing them out of the sky?" Tuffnut suggests.
"I like that idea," Ruffnut snickers.
"Guys, stop," Astrid reprimands them. "It's not going to be that easy."
"Dad..." Mara asks me in concern.
"It can't be the Empire..." I say quietly, a deep frown on my face.
"It isn't?" she says in surprise.
"R5, get back to the ship. Shut everything down, and then yourself, just in case," I order him.
For once, the astromech doesn't complain about being shut down himself, and takes off on his jets to do so.
"How do you know it's not the Empire?" Hiccup asks warily.
"There's only one ship here, and its design doesn't look Imperial," I explain quickly.
"Then who could it possibly be?" Mara asks uneasily. "Not just anyone can find this place!"
"We did," I point out.
"You're saying they might have gotten here by accident too?" she questions.
"What'd you send the tin can off for?" Snotlout demands.
"To shut down any electrical systems we have, so that we won't be detected," I explain.
"Makes sense," Astrid nods in understanding.
"So, what next?" Mara asks.
Before I could answer, however, R5 comes flying back over to us on his thrusters, beeping in a mixture of urgency and concern. I frown at him in slightly annoyance, confused.
"R5, I told you to go shut everything off!" I tell him irritably.
He beeps back in reply, and my annoyed frown turns to a surprised and cautious one.
"They're hailing us?" Mara repeats uneasily.
"Hail? You mean they control the weather too?!" Tuffnut exclaims.
"I don't see any hail!" Ruffnut scoffs.
"That is not—" I start to say, before thinking better of it and shaking my head. "Nevermind."
"I'm guessing this means they've already detected you?" Hiccup deduces warily.
I nod my head grimly in confirmation.
"Oh great. Just our luck," Snotlout scoffs.
I don't want to have anything screwing this over, so I tell the group to move away, Astrid and Hiccup helping to police that. Once I'm satisfied I turn towards R5 and give him the go ahead. He beeps in acknowledgement and starts listening into the broadcasting frequency the warship is giving off, playing the audio to us.
"This is Admiral Ar'alani of the Chiss Defense Fleet. As a representative of the Chiss Ascendancy, I am requesting your immediate response," a woman's voice states, incredibly stern, and speaking with a familiar accent.
"Chiss?" Mara exclaims, looking at me in surprise.
I look back at her and then stare down at R5's satellite dish, a heavy frown on my face, and I close my eyes for a moment.
"He actually found us..." I mutter in defeat, my earlier fears rising again.
"Who found us?" Astrid asks in concern, she and Hiccup standing nearby.
"Thrawn," I reveal bitterly.
"Thrawn...?" Hiccup murmurs, trying to recall the name. "Wait, that really smart Admiral you guys mentioned?"
Mara glumly nods her head in confirmation.
"But I thought he was with the Empire," Astrid recalls in confusion.
"He is, but he's also one of the Chiss, a race with blue skin and red eyes," Mara explains.
"From what I know, which isn't much, he came from the Chiss Ascendancy before joining the Empire," I add.
"I will not repeat myself a second time," 'Ar'alani' suddenly says, her voice firm. "We know you are listening, Jarik Shan. If you do not cooperate, then this planet shall face the consequences."
The three teenagers gasp in unease and dread. Zenna, Toothless, and Stormfly all let out quiet growls of concern, picking up on their respective rider's fear. I narrow my eyes at the clear threat, which, while frustrating and terrifying, also revealed a positive: the Empire doesn't know about this.
Even though that's a good thing, the relief is minimal due to Ahch-To still being in clear danger.
"R5, answer the call. But keep it strictly to audio," I tell him tensely.
Once he beeps in acknowledgement, I continue on to converse with the Chiss Admiral.
"Alright, you have my attention," I state irritably. "Now what do you want?"
"I would desire a share of dialogue, Jarik Shan," Ar'alani responds. "It has reached the attention of the Chiss Ascendancy that you could be of great benefit to us."
"And who told you that?" I demand.
"I believe you are familiar with Mitth'raw'nuruodo?" she questions rhetorically. "He currently serves as Grand Admiral of the Galactic Empire, under the core name of Thrawn."
"Yes, I know who he is," I reply tensely. "What could I possibly have that benefits you?"
"That, is what we shall discuss together. If fortune is with you, then you will have little to worry about," she tells me.
"And if I refuse this, 'discussion', with you?" I ask warily.
"If Mitth'raw'nuruodo's assessment of you is correct, then I'm sure a warrior of your talents will know the answer," Ar'alani states calmly.
Her voice is calm and even, but the warning was there too, and she was right: I do know what will happen if she doesn't like my response. I remain in silence for a few short moments, pondering my options, although it's clear I don't have much of a choice if I want to keep Ahch-To safe.
"Very well," I reluctantly concede.
"Excellent. I shall be arriving at your coordinates shortly," she says in satisfaction. "If there is any trouble, or if you attempt anything against me, then it will not be long before the Galactic Empire is on your doorstep."
With the warning given, Ar'alani cuts the transmission. I stand in uneasy silence for a moment, pondering over how this 'meeting' might go. There is too much at stake here for things to go wrong.
"I don't get it... what would they want with us?" Astrid asks worriedly.
"They're using Ahch-To as leverage, to ensure I cooperate with them," I reply, scoffing bitterly. "And there's not much I can do about it except give them what they want."
"What could they possibly want from us?" Mara asks warily. "There's not much we can really give."
"I guess we'll find out," I sigh grimly in resignation.
"So Thrawn managed to find us, and instead of telling the Empire, he told the Chiss?" she says slowly, a bit confused. "That probably means he's turned traitor against the Empire."
"Maybe," I remark thoughtfully. "But I don't think that's quite it. Thrawn isn't the type to just betray the Emperor without a good reason..."
An idea starts to form in my head the more I think about it: Thrawn operates based on what he logically believes to be the best solution to a large problem, and the only thing I can think of that he'd put as more troubling than anything else... is the Yuuzhan Vong. Could that really be it?
"So, if this ends up going wrong... what are we going to do?" Astrid says uneasily. "Dagur's going to be the least of our issues."
She, Hiccup, and Mara, share worried looks with each other, dreading the possibility.
"Astrid," I start to say, more serious than ever. "I will do everything in my power to make sure your planet is kept safe. I can promise you that."
"And we're grateful for that," Hiccup replies in gratitude.
"Since I'll likely be negotiating for Ahch-To's safety, it would probably be wise if your father joined the discussion as well," I suggest.
"He probably would want to know we've been discovered," he sighs in agreement. "But it'll take too long to fly back to Berk before those Chiss people get here."
"Not if you take the Knight Hawk," I point out. "Mara, you should take them all back to Berk, and R5 can add Stoick to the discussion."
"Okay," she nods, and R5 also beeps in acknowledgement.
The Ghost - Hyperspace
3rd person POV...
While Hera spoke with Mich Matt and the prisoners, who all seemed eager to now join the Rebellion, Sabine and Ezra spoke to Kanan about what Saw was trying to find, as well as the giant kyber crystal they had just destroyed. Kanan hums deeply in thought, a hand on his chin as he frowned in concern at the information
"I don't like the sound of this kyber crystal," he says uneasily. "It's the third one we've prevented the Empire from getting their hands on."
"Saw seemed convinced that they're trying to weaponize it somehow," Sabine tells him. "Is that even possible?"
"At that scale... I don't know," he sighs in response. "We do know that it can be used to power other things, since Jarik used the last one we secured to revive Elita."
"And if a kyber crystal like that could reactivate a dormant Cybertronian... what else could it give power to?" she asks rhetorically, dreading the possibilities.
Kanan doesn't answer, also dreading the same possibilities that Sabine was.
"What if Saw's right?" Ezra says anxiously, and they both turned to look at him. "And the Empire's already on the verge of winning a war, most of the Rebel Alliance doesn't believe has already begun?"
The statement sent an ominous chill through them, once again unsure of the possible horrors the Empire could create with such power.
"In any case, we'll need to get Jarik's input on this once he gets back," Kanan decides.
Isle of Berk - Ahch-To
Mara POV...
If this isn't one of the most stressful moments in my life, then it sure is up there, because I can't recall feeling so anxious and stressed out before. The only other time I can recall feeling this helpless is when I was captured by Palpatine and Vader and imprisoned on Coruscant. But now, everyone on Ahch-To, the planet that I've basically come to call home, is at risk of the same fate, or worse.
All because this so-called 'Chiss Ascendancy' now knows our location, seemingly thanks to Thrawn's efforts.
As there was no time to waste for joking around or anything of the sort, Hiccup, Astrid and I gathered everyone up and into the Knight Hawk for our fast trip to Berk. Dad had his own communicator and was informing Ar'alani about this, so that they wouldn't get suspicious about seeing the Knight Hawk moving away from our island. It was a rather tight fit to get all of the dragons into the ship, but we managed, and it would not be for very long anyways, so it was acceptable. Most of them were still complaining though, letting out constant whines and growls of discomfort.
Within only a couple of minutes of flying we reached Berk, and wasted no time in rushing out of the ship after parking. Hiccup, Astrid and I got onto our dragonst—I brought R5 onto Zenna's back with met—and took off for the Great Hall, where Stoick was supposed to be at around this time, while the rest of the group handled their own dragons, the gang's quest for the rogue Dragon Rider currently put on hold because of this. My heart was pounding as we flew to the Great Hall, fear and worry for everyone on the planet at the forefront of my mind.
Once we got there, Hiccup and Toothless opened the door before swooping in, with us following them. There was a line of Vikings waiting in front of Stoick, who was seated in his throne at the other end for village business. There were a few startled exclamations at our sudden entry, and Stoick practically jumped in his seat.
"Dad!" Hiccup exclaims.
"Wh- Hiccup?" Stoick replies, surprised and momentarily bewildered.
"We need to talk, now!" he continues to say.
Toothless skidded to a stop on the floor beside the chair, and Hiccup swiftly hopped off his back. Astrid and I did the same, R5 dropping down with his thrusters while Stoick watched, confused and wary.
"Did you find the rogue Dragon Ri—" he starts to ask, before realizing me and R5 were also here. "Mara? When did you get back?"
"Just now, really," I reply, look anxiously at him. "We can't chit chat though. We need to tell you something."
"I'm afraid you've caught me at a bad time," Stoick says, shaking his head. "I'm in the middle of important business."
"Dad, trust me, nothing is more important than this," Hiccup says, his panic and urgency surprising Stoick. "We have a serious problem!"
He looks cautiously between us in concern and slight curiosity.
Everyone by this point has cleared out of the Great Hall by now, leaving just Hiccup, Astrid and I, along with R5 and our dragons. Gobber and Gothi had also been summoned immediately, both with hugely worried looks on their faces, while Stoick himself paced back and forth with an intense gaze.
"So... Thrawn: what does he want from us?" he finally asks, his voice even yet stressed.
"None of us know. But now that he's discovered Ahch-To's location, he now has the greatest leverage over us he could ever want," I explain glumly.
"And if Jarik doesn't do what he says, he'll give our planet to the Empire?" he deduces gruffly.
I wordlessly nod my head. Stoick then stops pacing after that, staring aimlessly at the wall in deep thought, though through the Force I could sense just how worried he was.
"How did this 'Thrawn' guy find us anyway?" Gobber asks.
"Apparently he's super smart, and somehow he managed to figure," Astrid explains.
"Like, Hiccup-smart?" he asks.
"He's far smarter than I am, from what Mara's said about him," Hiccup tells him with a sigh.
Gobber blinks in surprise at the knowledge, sharing a concerned look with Gothi.
"And this, Admiral Ar'alani, where does she come into play?" Stoick questions. "Is she Thrawn's representative?"
"I guess so, but probably because he doesn't want to expose himself as doing this all behind the Emperor's back," I respond, shrugging my shoulders. "Ar'alani works for the Chiss Ascendancy, which is where Thrawn originally came from. They want something from my Dad, and if they're not satisfied..."
"Ahch-To will fall under the control of the Empire," Stoick finishes grimly, before softly speaking: mostly to himself. "In all my years of being a chief... never did I think a day like this would come."
"Jarik thought it'd be a good idea to include you in negotiating," Hiccup says.
"As a representative, no doubt," he nods in reply. "Not just of Berk... but for all of Ahch-To."
"So, no pressure I guess," Gobber says in an attempt to lighten the mood.
Gothi and the others glare at him, though Stoick himself doesn't, still in deep thought. R5 then beeps anxiously to me, and I acknowledge him with a nod.
"R5 says that Ar'alani just arrived," I tell them. "Are you ready, chief?"
"Aye, that I am," Stoick replies determinedly, a hard glare on his face. "Let us begin our 'negotiation.'"
Temple Island - Ahch-To
Jarik POV...
I stood near the edge of one of the cliffs of the Saddle, anxiously waiting for the arrival of the Chiss. With R5 over on Berk to enable Stoick the ability to join in on the discussion, I had my own holoprojector to display him and vice versa. I also made sure to inform the Caretakers of what was happening, and to make sure they stayed safe and out of the way so as to not become possible targets.
It didn't take too long before the sound of a ship's thrusters reached my ears, and I looked up to see a shuttle of some sort on approach, having breached through the cloud layer. I mentally prep myself by steeling my nerves, refusing to show any hint of weakness to them. The blast of air generated by the moving shuttle makes my hair and cape flutter a little bit, the shuttle lowering down on the small flat section of grass a short ways in front of me. I take slow steps in its direction, having never seen anything of its design before, and a ramp on the back opens, allowing the Chiss to step up.
Two Chiss guards stepped out, checking for any threats and instantly taking note of my presence, gesturing for me to stop. I do so, crossing my arms with a neutral expression on my face. Once the guards are satisfied that there seems to be no danger present in the area they step to either side of the ramp, and who I can only assume to be Admiral Ar'alani walks out.
At first sight, I'm slightly bewildered by how much she seems like Thrawn: not just in physical appearance, but her demeanor as well. Like Thrawn, Ar'alani has blue skin, blue/black hair, and almost glowing red eyes, though hers seem to be even more intense and authoritative than Thrawn. She's dressed in a military uniform that's nearly all white, almost reminiscent of the Empire's Grand Admiral uniform, though with some small differences, such as a large black belt buckle around her waist, and a black leather strap traveling from her right shoulder to left hip.
Two more people then step out behind Ar'alani as well, one of them being a female Chiss woman that looks to be around Sabine's age, wearing an outfit similar to Ar'alani's except black, and a bit looser, likely indicting a different rank of some sort. The third person however seems very familiar, and I do a double take upon noticing it to be none other than Eli Vanto, the ensign who we rescued along with Thrawn from Oryx. He notices my stare of recognition and glares back in a mixture of unease and satisfaction, to which I narrow my eyes and turn my attention over to the Admiral.
"Admiral Ar'alani, I believe," I state calmly.
"That is correct," she nods in confirmation, the same accented voice from earlier. "On behalf of the Chiss Ascendancy, I give you my greetings, Jarik Shan."
I respond with a grunt and simple nod of the head. We both take a moment to observe each other, Ar'alani's gaze analytical and slightly critical, based on her small frown.
"Mitth'raw'nuruodo has spoken highly of you, Shan," she states. "Though I hope to determine that for myself. I would hate to be disappointed."
"And what will you do if you are?" I demand, challenging her. "Give me up to the Empire?"
"For everyone's sake, let us hope that does not happen," she replies, meeting the challenge.
"Indeed. Let's hope it doesn't," I retort with a glare.
I fall silent and consider her for a few moments, a deep frown on my face.
"Since the fate of this planet is currently in your hands, I can't imagine there would be an issue if one of the native leaders participated in our little chat?" I ask carelessly, raising an expectant eyebrow.
"This is meant to be a conversation between you and the Admiral. Not outsiders," Vanto chimes in with a distrustful glare.
"It's not my home that is on the verge of being given up to the Empire, Vanto," I snap in reply, glaring irritably at him. "I'm sure the Emperor would be just as happy to know who's been going behind his back to make small talk with his most hated enemy."
He widens his eyes in response, anxious and a bit fearful at the threat I just made against him and Thrawn. Ar'alani glances at him with a stern gaze of disapproval before returning her focus to me, her expression tense.
"If you insist, I shall allow it," she tells me. "Just remember, I do not take to threats lightly."
"Then we both agree on something," I say in reply. "So, should we have our meeting in a more suitable location? Or would you prefer to stand here in the grass?"
Ar'alani gazes at me for a few moments, eyes narrowed cautiously in thought, before she concedes with a small nod.
"Very well. Lead the way," she says.
The two Chiss guards maintained their watch, one marching in front of Ar'alani, Vanto, and the other woman, and the second guard marching behind them all. I was up at the very front, so it was obvious that it was simply a means of the guard keeping himself between me and Ar'alani. On the way to the Jedi village, the group looked around at the surrounding landscape, the Chiss with subtle, but noticeable feelings of discomfort and slight contempt. They also become extremely wary when a few Terrible Terror's fly nearby with inquisitive gazes, the guards tightening the grip of their weapons.
"Don't mind the Terror's if they get close," I suggest. "They're harmless, as long as they don't feel threatened."
"And if they do?" Vanto questions.
As if to answer his question, a flock of porgs suddenly flies out into the air, starling the terrors. One of them hisses angrily shoots a burst of flame at the porgs, causing them to scatter with frightened squawks, though none were hit.
"That happens," I nod.
"Lovely..." the Chiss girl murmurs to herself, a bit wary of them.
The distance between the Saddle and Jedi village isn't long at all, and soon enough we reach it. In the center of the courtyard I already set up a small table using some rocks, with a chair on either side for me and Ar'alani.
"Here we are... my humble dwelling," I state dryly.
"I fail to see how this is a practical location for you," Ar'alani remarks, frowning. "How could you even manage the work you do here?"
"Are you here to ask questions about how I live my life?" I ask in response. "Or are we going to start talking about the real reason?"
Ar'alani narrows her eyes at me, her lips pressed into a thin line of annoyance.
"So far, I see little to convince me of the accuracy of Mitth'raw'nuruodo's report on you," she says, before speaking to Vanto, though without breaking the stare. "Eli'van'to, what do you make of this?"
He's briefly taken aback by the sudden question, but he observes the village and then me with a thoughtful gaze, while I look back at him with crossed arms, unamused.
"Well, I do know enough that his slicing skills are unrivaled. His equipment could be just as crafty and subtle, or it's all on his ship," he remarks thoughtfully. "He's also a dangerous warrior."
"I'm flattered," I deadpan.
Ar'alani gives me another look, but neither of us waste any more time and take our respective seats at the table, sitting across from each other. Vanto and the I take out my communicator, and, seeing the guards tense up I lift it up for them to clearly see, then press a button to let R5 know I'm ready before setting it on the ground next to the table.
"He should be up in a moment," I tell her, to which she nods in reply. "So I know who you and Thrawn's protégé are, but do you mind me asking who the third person is?"
Vanto blinks in surprise and bewilderment at me reference to him, seeming a bit unsettled that I knew that, while Ar'alani merely nods her head.
"This is Vah'nya, one of our..." she pauses momentarily with a small frown, and glances back at Vanto. "Ozyly-esehembo?"
"Sky-walker," he translates.
I practically do a double take upon hearing that, unsure if he was being serious or not: by Ar'alani's satisfied nod, he was.
"Greetings," Vah'nya says softly, offering a small incline of her head.
I gaze at the three of them with wide eyes, lingering on Vah'nya for a bit, and then turn my attention towards Ar'alani with a hardened glare.
"Skywalker?" I demand warily. "What exactly do you mean by that?"
"They are the navigators of the Chiss, who use Sight, or what I'm told you know as the Force, to guide our vessels through space," Ar'alani states calmly.
I focus more on Vah'nya at hearing that, noticing that she is indeed Force-sensitive, although her connection with it seems... different somehow, compared to what I'm used to feeling. As if her connection to it is minimal, not refined, and limited in her abilities. I frown in confusion upon sensing something else extremely familiar about her... no, not her, rather, something she's carrying...
"―believe I understand your confusion," Ar'alani was saying, interrupting my focus, and I turn back towards her. "Mitth'raw'nuruodo once reported his dealings with another Jedi named Anakin Skywalker, who you may have known."
"Yes... I did," I murmur in reply, glancing down at the table momentarily.
"Both are entirely unrelated with each other, just so you understand," she reassures me, before narrowing her eyes. "Although I would advise you keep this knowledge to yourself. I am only this forthcoming with you because you have little bargaining power."
I nod absentmindedly, unsure of whether to feel flattered or insulted. Just then, my communicator beeps in acceptance, and a hologram of Stoick sitting in a wooden chair appears to my right of the table. I'm sure Mara and the others were just beyond the hologram's viewing range.
"Jarik, good to see you again," he greets me.
"You as well," I reply, before facing the Chiss Admiral. "Admiral Ar'alani, this is Chief Stoick the Vast. He'll be representing the wellbeing of his homeworld."
Ar'alani takes a moment to observe the burly Viking chief, and I could tell she, Vanto, and Vah'nya held some amount of surprise at his size, though Ar'alani's expression didn't change. Likewise, Stoick stares back at her with a wary, extremely distrustful gaze, his face set into a scowl that's mostly hidden by his beard.
"I see. My business is with Shan alone, Chieftain, but I will hear your concerns, and take them into account," Ar'alani says.
"I would hope so," Stoick replies with a stern voice. "I cannot deny that I'm not at all pleased to hear that you are using my planet as a bargaining chip."
"If the result of our business here is acceptable for the Chiss Ascendancy, then you need not worry about us," she calmly responds.
"Then let's begin," I state, leaning forward slightly with my hands on the table. "What exactly do you want from me?"
"My needs from you are actually quite simple, Master Jedi," she tells me. "Mitth'raw'nuruodo believes you would be an invaluable asset to the Ascendancy against a common foe we all face: the Yuuzhan Vong."
I ponder her statement for a moment, finding myself not too incredibly surprised by her answer, now that I think about it.
"Alright, I'm listening," I say carefully. "What exactly do you mean by that? Do you want me to fight them for you?"
"You have received prior knowledge of this enemy, knowledge that even the Ascendancy has not yet learned for decades now," she says, a slight frown on her face. "Eli'van'to has shared with us his recounting of the Yuuzhan Vong, as well as their leader."
"You want to me to tell you what I know," I deduce.
"Indeed," she nods in confirmation. "Who is this, 'Oryx?' What is he capable of?"
"Before I answer anything, we need to establish something," I respond, giving her a skeptical look. "If I help you, how do I know that you won't just give me up the Empire anyways? Why should I trust you?"
"I would like to know that as well," Stoick adds also. "I don't know much about this 'enemy' of yours, and I likely won't ever be involved in that conflict here. But because of you, my home is at risk of being destroyed, and you've given me no reason to trust your word!"
"I suppose you make a fair argument," Ar'alani concedes. "Let us bargain then. I have several terms I wish for you to honor, Shan, but I shall let you and your chieftain give yours first."
I nod my head once in acceptance before sharing a look with Stoick, contemplating. Since he's a better representative of Ahch-To than I am, seeing as he lives here, I gesture for him to go first.
"My main wish, Admiral, is that my world remains safe from harm. We do not possess the same technology that your people do. For us, Ahch-To is all we know, and likely ever will know," he tells her. "If the Empire finds us here, there is nowhere that we could go, and we would have no hope of defending ourselves. Surely you can acknowledge it would be wrong to leave an entire society helpless to defend ourselves, can you not?"
"My only concerns lie with the wellbeing of the Chiss Ascendancy, as I'm sure yours lie with your own people," Ar'alani replies neutrally. "But assured, the Chiss will always honor an agreement, as long as we are certain promises to us will be kept."
At that, she shifts her gaze over to me, and I respond with an even stare, recognizing her implication.
"I'm sure you already know I don't have much of a choice but to accept your terms, Ar'alani," I retort.
"You could always just abandon this planet, could you not?" she casually points out. "It would be easy for you to do so. There are many other places for you to hide."
I harden my gaze at her comment, crossing my arms with a frustrated frown. Stoick's expression also darkened as he glanced between me and Ar'alani, an angry look on his face toward her. By this point I'm sure Stoick knows my stance on this, so he's aware I would never just abandon them to the mercy of the Empire to save my own skin. Even so, I can also imagine that the side of him that's worried for his people would be feeling some doubt, since he also knows I could just as easily do what Ar'alani suggested.
"That's not who I am," I state irritably. "And Thrawn knows that for a fact."
She narrows her eyes at me with an analytical gaze, considering, and glances over at Vanto, who nods his head.
"Very well then," she says. "Now, what would your terms be, Master Jedi?"
"I know Thrawn is honorably enough to hold his end of the bargain, but he also presents an issue himself," I start off carefully. "Regardless of how much would agree that the Hive are the greater threat, we are still enemies. While I will help you against the Hive, I will not accept it if you want me to stop fighting the Empire too. Thrawn is a Grand Admiral, serving a cause that I am fighting against."
"Indeed. This, of course, makes an alliance between us very tricky to work with," Ar'alani replies in agreement, before becoming skeptical once more. "To be completely honest, I do not yet understand his belief of you being an invaluable asset. The Ascendancy, and I also for that matter, believe the Empire to be great assets against the Vong. It's military might is invaluable, and it operates far more efficiently than the previous government, which your Rebellion seeks so desperately to reinstate. If I were faced with making a decision between you or the Empire for assistance, the choice would be easy to make."
She gives me a frown, and I tense up anxiously at her statement, growing uneasy.
"If that's the case, then why did you even bother coming here?" Stoick demands angrily.
"Because while I question Mitth'raw'nuruodo's decisions often, I cannot deny that he is often correct in his assessment of things," she admits. "And if this 'Oryx' carries such powers as have been reported, then the Ascendancy does not have anyone who could hope to face him, as the ozyly-esehembo can only navigate, not fight. We need someone who wields the full potential of such power."
"Which is where I come in," I state in realization, and she nods in agreement.
"With that being said, I suppose we must each reach an agreeable compromise," Ar'alani declares firmly. "We shall agree to not take your conflict against the Galactic Empire into consideration. However, I am demanding that you cease interfering with Mitth'raw'nuruodo's specialized fighter project."
"The TIE Defenders?" I ask, furrowing my brow.
"That would be it," Vanto confirms. "Those fighters would be super helpful against Vong ships."
"And any other operations he is conducting, excluding those which are ordered by the Emperor himself," Ar'alani adds.
"That's a seriously high demand," I say, frowning in displeasure. "And that seriously hampers my ability to help the Rebellion in so many ways."
"I suppose then that I can also concede to you that if something directly threatens your 'Rebellion,' then that can also be forgiven," she continues, her expression hardening. "That is as much as I will offer. The Defender project, and anything non-threatening to your rebels, you, your Jedi apprentice, and your astromech droid, are not to interfere with."
"As long as you understand this: I do not make decisions for the Rebellion. If they decide on their own to try and sabotage Thrawn's TIE Defenders, which they definitely will, you cannot hold the three of us accountable for it," I tell her.
"As long as you do not contribute to that," she responds dangerously, pausing for a moment. "Then I will accept."
I let out a small sigh and nod in satisfaction, accepting her response.
"Alright then. I will help you," I say in resignation.
We stand up and shake each others hands with neutral expressions, sealing the deal.
"I would have hoped to gained more knowledge about the Yuuzhan Vong, but unfortunately we are rather pressed for time as of right now," Ar'alani tells me. "Still, I am at least content with an agreement being met."
"Glad to hear it," I say in reply.
"And Ahch-To will remain hidden from the Empire?" Stoick asks warily, for extra assurance.
"It shall. As long as our terms are met," Ar'alani responds in reassurance, giving me another look. "Though there is one other thing, I suppose, for further trust of my intentions..."
She turns toward Vah'nya and says something in a language I'm unfamiliar with, and the girl approaches me with a neutral gaze, albeit a bit timid from what I could sense. She reaches into a small bag she was carrying by her side, held from a strap over her opposite shoulder. I furrow my brow in slight confusion before widening my eyes in astonishment at seeing my lightsaber in her hands, suddenly realizing why I sensed something familiar from her. Vah'nya holds it out to me, and I wordlessly take it into my hands, using the Force to sense the crystal inside that confirmed it as mine.
"...how did you get this?" I ask quietly in bewilderment.
"It was recovered by Mitth'raw'nuruodo, who then gave it to us as a means of determining this planet's location," Ar'alani explains calmly. "As such, we no longer need it."
I nod quietly in response, running my hand down the cracked and damaged hilt before looking up at her.
"Thank you," I tell her, for the first time genuine.
She nods dismissively in reply before glancing at Vanto, gesturing for him to step forward as well.
"We will remain in touch with this communicator," she says, and Vanto hands me the aforementioned device. "Do not lose it. I am expecting a transmission within the week."
"Understood," I tell her.
"If that is all, then we shall take our leave," Ar'alani says, and the two Chiss guards snap to attention, ready to head out. "Until our next meeting, Jarik Shan."
"Of course," I say in acknowledgement.
Satisfied, Ar'alani, Vanto, and Vah'nya start walking back in the direction of their ship, flanked by the two guards. I watch them go for a moment and then turn towards Stoick's hologram, seeing him look a bit troubled and anxious, yet also relieved.
"Crisis averted it would seem," I tell him. "For now."
"Do you believe they will keep their word?" he asks me.
"I don't trust them," I admit, glancing back to watch as they continue walking. "But I believe they will honor the agreement. I just have to tread even more cautiously from now on."
Stoick nods in acknowledgement, and his hologram then disappears as the transmission comes to an end.
Left to my own thoughts now, I look down at my newly returned lightsaber and inspect it critically, turning it over in my hands. There's a bit of a gash on one side of it, exposing the crystal inside; it probably received the damage when Megatron struck me out of the air. Upon closer investigation, however, I frown in disappointment and glumness at noticing even the kyber crystal had a small crack on its surface. It wasn't very major, but that, combined with the damage done to the hilt, makes it very risky to ignite the blade. A damaged kyber crystal especially would be an issue, as the energy would be extremely unstable, something which ancient Jedi attempt to fix by using the crossguard hilt design, which had vents to divert extra heat generated. If ignited my lightsaber as it is right now, it would probably explode.
I let out a slightly depressed sigh at realizing I still was without a functional lightsaber, though I am pleased to still have it back with me. Even damaged, the kyber crystal emits the familiar thrum of energy just the same, a feeling that I've missed for a while now. Having both my kyber crystal, and Ahsoka's kyber crystal still with me... it's good enough.
THE NEXT DAY...
Base One - Yavin 4
3rd person POV...
The Spectres, along with the Mantis crew, were all gathered in the command center of the base, listening intently to what Mon Mothma had to say. Garm Bel Iblis was also present, standing beside the Rebellion's de facto leader.
"We received this transmission two days ago," Mothma was saying, displaying a hologram of Ryder Azadi.
"The Empire is beginning trials on a new version of its TIE Defender," Azadi was saying. "Intel from our spies in the capital reveals the upgraded fighters―"
All of a sudden, the transmission sputters and fizzles out, leaving the others puzzled, Ezra particularly alarmed at the interference.
"What happened?" he asks anxiously.
"Ryder Azadi's transmission from Lothal was cut off," Iblis informs him. "We haven't been able to reestablish any contact with them, which means the Empire is jamming all frequencies, allowing only authorized transmissions to get through."
"I have witnessed the threat of the TIE Defender firsthand," Mothma picks up. "If there's been a new development with these fighters, the Rebellion needs to know. I also know how important Lothal is to you, Commander Bridger. I'm looking for volunteers."
"When do I leave?" Ezra asks without hesitation.
"When do we leave," Hera chimes in, placing a hand on Ezra's shoulder. "We're all going."
The Mantis crew share quick glances with each other at the statement, while the Spectres gather around Ezra in support of Hera's proclamation.
"I understand, captain. Your squad does work best together," Mothma acknowledges.
"I must warn you, though, that all of our reports state that the occupation of Lothal has become a complete lockdown," Iblis adds in concern. "Even if you make it through their defenses, I'm not sure there's a guarantee we can extract you if something goes wrong. It's a risky mission."
"I've had a long time to think about this," Ezra replies determinedly. "We'll get that intel but I'm going home to help my people, which means I'm there to stay."
"Are you sure Ezra?" Sabine asks.
"Absolutely," he nods, resolute.
"Very well, Commander Bridger. You are dismissed," Mothma replies, nodding her head to him. "May the Force be with you."
Ezra nods back in gratitude, and the two Rebellion leaders take their leave. Zeb turns to face the Mantis crew with a questioning gaze.
"You guys interested in tagging along?" he asks them.
"I'm afraid we're a bit tied up with our own assignments, big guy," Greez responds with an apologetic shrug.
"Senator Iblis wants us to aid Cham Syndulla on Ryloth for the next few days," Cere explains. "Boil is also traveling with us."
"Well good for you guys," Sabine comments with a small smile.
"Yeah, sounds like fun," Cal remarks, also grinning.
"Just don't let my father push you around too much," Hera advises with an exasperated sigh. "I'll get the Ghost ready for our mission."
Ezra nods and smiles at her in gratitude, and she pats his shoulder before heading off, while Merrin leans closer to Cal with a cautious expression.
"Is this 'Cham Syndulla' someone we should be wary of?" she asks, thinking about Hera's warning.
"He can't be worse than Saw, right?" he asks rhetorically in response, to which she shrugs in agreement.
Kanan then approaches the pair, grinning jokingly at his friend.
"Don't worry, I can't imagine you'll have any problems with Cham," he tells them. "Just don't make yourself look stupid."
"How can I? You're the one dating his daughter," Cal teases in reply.
Kanan shakes his head with an exasperated sigh, growling in good humored frustration.
"Yeah, yeah, whatever you say," he says dismissively.
The two then share a quick hug with each other before separating, and Kanan pats him on the shoulder.
"Good luck out there. With any luck, I'll have an easier time on Lothal than you will, so I'll see you again soon," Kanan tells him.
"Same to you, Kanan," Cal says in response.
Mandalore - Outer Rim Territories
3rd person POV...
Raman, Bo-Katan, and Ursa stood around the table in their command tent—as did HK-47—arms crossed and with troubled frowns on their faces as they discussed the current issue with their guests.
"If it's true that Durge is employed by the Empire to take us down, then we have a serious problem," Bo-Katan was saying.
"Statement: Even I would be hard-pressed to kill him," HK-47 admits, a statement that nobody would previously have ever expected to hear from the assassin droid. "Gen'Dai have always been extremely rare, and their regenerative abilities make them essentially unkillable."
"I do not understand how this could be," Ursa says worriedly. "Was Durge not killed before?"
"It took everything my clan had before, and even then he was still standing," Raman replies, shaking his head. "I thought our final effort finally put him down, but evidently that isn't the case. The only other possibility I could think of is throwing him into a star."
"Sarcastic statement: Good luck making that happen," HK-47 scoffs.
"I hate to say it, but the droid does have a point," Bo-Katan begrudgingly agrees. "We'd never be able to force Durge onto a ship to do that."
"There is one other way," one of their guests, a woman, speaks up. "Though it does carry a lot of risk."
The Mandalorians and assassin droid look her way curiously, and the other person, a man, glances at her in concern.
"You sure about this?" he asks, and she nods in confirmation.
"What did you have in mind?" Raman questions.
In response, she lifts her gleaming white staff.
