Author's Note: Hello readers! The chapter we've all been waiting for! Also, happy three year anniversary of the Shaniverse! :D
Just a heads up though, my spring semester for college has officially begun today (1/19/21) so I'll be a bit more busy over the next few months.
World Between Worlds
Jarik POV...
Upon jumping through the portal I was met with the familiar sensation of falling through space and time. The universe seems to pass by all around me as I travel through the dimensional barrier. Up ahead, I could just barely make out the forms of Ezra and Mara also soaring through the tunnel. Like a moment of deja vu, I'm struck by a chorus of voices echoing all around me.
'Truly wonderful the mind of a child is.'
'What is this place?'
'A conduit through which the entire Force of the universe flows.'
'Luminous beings are we, not this crude matter.'
'Is that what he was? Or was he always true to himself, no matter what personality he wore?'
'Just when you think you understand the Force, you find out how little you actually know.'
'Train yourself to let go, of everything you fear to lose.'
'I will never, ever break my bond with her!'
'What you need you already have. Unfortunately, you seem to be letting it all go.'
'I won't let him lose his way. Not like I did.'
There's a flash of light, and I exit through the other side of the gateway into the mystical plane of existence, landing gracefully on my feet. I look down to see Ezra and Mara sprawled on the 'ground' in front of me, and recall with some amusement how my first time entering this place wasn't that much different from them.
"You two okay?" I ask them.
"Yeah, I think we're... good..." Ezra trails off.
As they pull themselves to their feet they take notice of where they are and fall silent, gaping in astonishment and awe at the mystical landscape around us. I can't help but marvel at the universe as well, as it's something that I don't think one could ever not be awed by. Pathways and clear roads stretch out far into the cosmos, twisting around and turning in great loops, multiple gateways leading to other locations and time periods scattered along them.
"Dad... where are we?" Mara asks with wide eyes.
"I'm not sure," I admit. "I've taken to referring to it as the World Between Worlds."
"The World Between Worlds?" Ezra repeats incredulously. "Wait, you mean this is like some sort of... alternate dimension?"
"One that connects the entirety of our universe together," I confirm with a nod. "From the earliest form of civilization, to the end of all things."
If they were shocked already, then their minds must be broken out of disbelief now. They continue to gaze out at the endless cosmos, taking it all in.
'The Force is what gives a Jedi his power. It's an energy field created by all living things. It surrounds us and penetrates us; it binds the galaxy together.'
I couldn't have said it any better than Obi-Wan, I suppose.
"I can hold my things now, Mara," I tell her.
She nods numbly in response, wordlessly handing me my bag.
Lothal Jedi Temple, Lothal - Outer Rim Territories
3rd person POV...
Veris Hydan stood behind his desk inside one of the mobile command centers, pouring himself a cup of tea. He turns around as two death troopers roughly escort Sabine into the room, and allows himself a small smile.
"Please sit," he says kindly.
It was anything but kind, as evidenced by the death troopers shoving her into the desk and then forcefully pushing her back into a chair. She glares at them in frustration while Hydan takes a datapad handed to him, looking it over with a thoughtful hum of interest.
"Ah, of course. Sabine Wren," he says with another smile. "It's no wonder you took such an interest in the paintings from the temple. The Grand Admiral has spoken highly of your talents. You know, he's acquired a small collection of your work."
"I'm flattered," she scoffs, crossing her arms.
"I would never consider myself an artist, but more of... a critic, perhaps," he continues to say, passing a cup over to her.
She doesn't touch it.
"That explains a lot," she replies sarcastically.
"I will admit that you and your friends swiftly solved something that I could not. Now, tell me, how did you open the portal?" Hydan inquires, bringing a cup of tea to his lips.
"I'm smarter than you," Sabine proclaims, smirking.
Hydan takes a sip of his tea and regards her with a raised eyebrow, humming in amusement.
"Me? Or Jarik Shan?" he rebukes her.
"Wouldn't you like to know," she scowls.
The minister regards her with a thoughtful gaze, giving her a smile that doesn't reach his eyes.
"I have informed the Emperor that he has entered the temple. He was... reasonably frustrated, I'm sure you could imagine," Hydan says, a little uncomfortable at the thought before continuing. "However, what of the other two? Shan's daughter, Mara Jade, of course. But Bridger? How peculiar. One would think it to be difficult for him now, if not for the fact that he's leeched onto Shan. Is that not disrespectful to the memory of his former master?"
Sabine looks down with a pang of grief at the mention of Kanan, quickly reverting her gaze into a frustrated glare.
"Yes. Kanan Jarrus, or Caleb Dume. Whichever," Hydan says dismissively, sighing in false sympathy. "Such a pity he chose the path he did and fell to such a meaningless end."
"You think you're powerful, but you're just a pawn!" Sabine snaps angrily.
"Oh, well, it's true," he pleasantly responds, much to her surprise. "My power is but a reflection of the might of my Emperor."
"And yet, for all his might, he couldn't safeguard his very own palace. Nor could he open the door, which Ezra and Mara did themselves," she retorts fiercely.
Hydan's smile fades into a thin frown, beginning to lose a bit of his patience.
"Your friends are not safe beyond the veil," he states coolly, getting up from his chair. "Perhaps you are not aware that Shan has already tried to thwart him once this very same way. Now that the door is open the Emperor will find them, and your friends will suffer. It's only a matter of time."
Sabine nervously averts her gaze, having no reason to doubt the minister's claim since she's already witnessed the Emperor's power first hand.
"But there is hope. You have an opportunity to help them, if you help me," Hydan reassures her, pressing a button on his datapad to broadcast several holographic images. "As an artist, I would think that you would relish the opportunity to study the temple. Do you even realize what it is?"
Sabine looks around at all of the pictures, before focusing on one in front of Hydan's desk.
"That portal... It's not just a way into the temple," Sabine murmurs in growing realization and fear. "It's a―"
"―pathway between all time and space," he finishes with a firm expression, desirous of it. "He who controls it controls the universe."
World Between Worlds
Jarik POV...
When the Black Loth-wolf spoke to me she mentioned which gateway I would need to access while in the World Between Worlds. Although I'm not sure where it is located I do know what to look for, and so I begin walking down one of the many pathways in search of it, Mara and Ezra both following me. The wolf also mentioned that Ezra would learn an important lesson in here as well, though I don't know what it will be. In any case, as we make our way through the cosmos a chorus of voices echo around us, getting our attention.
'Rejoice for those that transform...'
'I see your eyes. You already know the truth...'
"Hello? Master Yoda? Obi-Wan? Where are you?" Ezra calls out.
"They're not here, Ezra," I inform him.
'Whosoever holds of this hammer...'
"Well, where are they coming from?" Mara asks, looking around in search of them.
'I'm one with the Force, and the Force is with me.'
'The time to fight is now!'
"They're spoken from the past, in the present, and even from a distant future that we have yet to experience," I explain.
The two teenagers look at each other in astonishment, and we continue on.
'Show me...'
'We'll see each other again.'
'...Grandfather...'
'I believe that.'
'...know that your father and I will always love you.'
My heart pangs with a rush of emotion at the sound of my mother's voice, and I think briefly for a moment on what could have been. I could have lived a happy life with my mother and father, grown up in their care, never having to worry about wars and the fate of the universe, never became a Jedi... never met Ahsoka...
What could have been...
'And now do you see your destiny...?'
'I chose my side.'
'And I will finish...'
'You will give the people of Earth, an ideal to strive towards...'
'I won't lose you Padmé.'
'...what you started.'
I shut my eyes at hearing Anakin's voice, full of love and devotion to Padmé. Another reminder of a time long past that, had things been different, could've led to a much different future.
What could have been...
'Destiny arrives all the same.'
'It is his nature!'
'I'll never turn to the dark side.'
'The belonging you seek is not behind you...'
'This is our most desperate hour.'
'...always remember to look for the Light.'
'...shadow of greed, that is.'
'Help me Obi-Wan Kenobi, you're my only hope.'
I stop for a moment at hearing the familiar hoots of a convor, and look over in the direction it came from. One of the portals up away is shaped in the design of a triangle, very reminiscent of a Sith holocron, and I catch a glimpse of green feathers on top of it.
"What're we looking for?" Mara asks.
I glance down at them both, seeing they both look completely lost as to what to do.
"This way," I tell them, and resume walking.
'You never would've made it as Obi-Wan's Padawan. But you might make it as mine.'
'Good luck out there...'
Hearing Anakin's voice once again, followed by the very last words Ahsoka said to me before our separation just prior to the fall of the Republic sends another pang of grief and sadness through my heart, but I brush it aside to focus on the present. We come to a small intersection and turn left, approaching the triangular portal. The edges were covered in ancient Sith writing, exactly the same as the writing that covered the temple on Malachor. Up on top of the portal sat Morai, who looks down at us with bright eyes.
"Morai..." I murmur in recognition.
"Morai?" Ezra asks, before noticing the convor as well.
'I am Daughter.'
"Is that the bird's name?" he continues to ask.
"It is," I nod in confirmation.
Morai hoots once more, fluttering her wings.
"Morai..." Mara says slowly, looking at me. "Who is she Dad? She... she's followed you and Mom around before, right?"
"She's an old friend," I explain with a small smile. "She saved Ahsoka's life once, and has been a guide ever since."
"Is that how she got here?" Ezra asks, and I nod my head.
"Morai..." Mara repeats again, testing the name. "Can she help us?"
"She has to, right? That's got to be why she's here," Ezra suggests hopefully.
I remain silent for a moment while gazing up at Morai, who gazes back at me with a knowing glimmer in her eyes.
"Can you help us?" I ask her.
Morai flutters her wings with an acknowledging chirp and directs her gaze down at the portal, which begins to emit a red glow from the center. I take a cautious step back, my heart pounding with dread and anticipation at what I think is about to appear. The other two are similarly uneasy, confused by what's happening.
"What is this?" Ezra asks warily. "What is she showing us?"
The red glow fades into a shadow of dark purple mist, a few flashes of lightning arcing through the portal before it clears up into the scene of that fateful day: the cold breath of Darth Vader sends a rush of fear through me as the Sith Lord himself appears, igniting his blood-red lightsaber with a vicious hiss. His back was turned towards us as his focus was instead directed in front of him, where Ahsoka stood a few feet away. Mara gasps, tears welling up in her eyes and she covers her mouth with her hands, trembling in horror. Ezra widens his eyes in disbelief, a stunned look on his face.
"No..." he murmurs.
On the other side of the portal I can see myself just beyond the chamber of the temple, holding back a panicking Mara. Kanan was similarly preventing a younger Ezra from also rushing into the chamber.
"Mom!" Mara cried out in terror.
"Ahsoka!" Ezra yelled.
"It can't be," Ezra says in present-time.
"Dad...?" Mara whispers, looking up at me in anguish.
"No! Noooo! Mom!"
I shut my eyes to prevent myself from succumbing to the aching sensation of grief, Mara's screams of desperation pulling at my heart. Forcing myself to open my eyes I watch as the obelisk chamber's door slams shut and Vader brings his lightsaber down on Ahsoka, who raises her blades just in time to block it. He turns around and parries his next two swings, deactivating her sabers briefly to roll past him and then pops up on her feet and reignites her blades, her back facing us. Vader presses forward, striking down at her with unrelenting fury, and as if she'd never left I can easily analyze Ahsoka's movement, recognizing that she's near exhaustion. Morai chirps insistently, jumping up and down on top of the portal.
"What? What can we do?" Ezra asks incredulously.
"We- we've got to do something!" Mara says, panicking, desperately looking at Morai for answers. "What're we supposed to do? Please, tell us!"
I quickly shift my gaze between the duel and Morai multiple times, also unsure of what to do. I know that I can just jump through the portal right now, but as much as I desperately want to do so... there's still the lingering hesitation of whether or not I'm supposed to. Morai hoots once more, gazing at me with complete urgency and frustration, demanding that I do something.
I look back down at the portal to see Ahsoka raise her lightsabers just in time to enter a blade lock with Vader, directly in front of the portal: a foot closer and they'd fall right through. With a slight tremble I hesitantly hold an arm up as if reaching out to her, trying to reconnect to her through my shattered Force bond... her head tilts to the side, as if sensing something. I let out a quiet gasp.
For the first time in over two years, I can feel something through our broken bond.
I make my decision.
"There is something we can do," I state determinedly. "Mara, you and Ezra get ready to pull us back through when I give the word."
"W-what? Pull...?" Mara sputters, bewildered.
"What do you mean?" Ezra asks in confusion. "How are we supposed to do that?!"
In the portal, Ahsoka shoves Vader back a few feet with a Force push and jabs her lightsabers into the floor. Vader marches forward again, his yellow eye gleaming with hatred and raw fury.
"The same way I can do this," I reply.
Reaching a hand out I use the Force to pull Mara's lightsaber from her belt and into my hand, igniting the blue blade as I rush for the portal.
"Hey!" Mara exclaims, surprised.
Within a second I cross through the rift of time and jump into the past for a second time. The ethereal energy of the World Between Worlds is instantly replaced by the dark and ominous environment of Malachor I―the tremendous power of the temple's Infinity Stone also surges to the forefront of my senses. The moment I cross the time barrier, Ahsoka suddenly collapses on her hands and knees with a cry of anguish, and I immediately realize the cause for this: my very presence here is what caused our bond to snap apart. Vader also pauses in his step, gaping at me in shock.
I guess anyone would be the same if someone appeared out of thin air right in front of you.
With a fierce yell I jump forward and swing my lightsaber at him, causing him to raise his own blade just in time to catch mine. Before he can adjust to my surprise attack I disengage my blade from his and thrust my arms forward, throwing him back with a Force push. I take a moment to glance at the ceiling at sensing a deadly spike of energy from the Infinity Stone, and recall that the temple exploded after we escaped. Deactivating my lightsaber I turn around and sprint back over to Ahsoka, who weakly looks up with a hand held to her head, widening her eyes in shock.
"...Jarik?" she whispers incredulously.
"Hey Sweetie Horns!" I grin in response, too exhilarated right now to feel as emotional as I normally would.
"YOU!" Vader roars.
I glance back to see him charging straight for us at a complete sprint, his visible eye glowing bright yellow with seething fury. Beneath us, the floor was also cracking immensely as a result of Ahsoka stabbing her blades through it.
"Time to go. Now!" I shout, grabbing Ahsoka's hand and reaching out with the other where I know the others are watching.
"What―" Ahsoka starts to ask.
A pair of hands then appear from the air to grab mine, cutting her off as we're yanked through the portal. And not a moment to soon, because just as they did Vader swung his lightsaber through the space we both occupied only milliseconds before. The floor then collapses underneath him and Vader falls through while a deafening noise blasts through my ears as the temple explodes.
Ahsoka, Mara, Ezra and I are tossed through the air from the force of the explosion, Ahsoka and I going farther than the kids. We tumble across the ground several feet away from the portal, and my vision goes black.
Lothal Jedi Temple, Lothal - Outer Rim Territories
3rd person POV...
Hydan stands before another hologram showcasing a different, more simplified, concept of the Mortis gods, though standing in the same position as the original painting.
"I discovered these images while going through the Jedi Temple archive on Coruscant," he was saying, gesturing at the hologram.
Sabine leans back in her chair, feet propped up on the desk, feigning boredom.
"Still not interested," she scoffs.
"I doubt that," he retorts calmly. "Now, these three figures appear throughout the Jedi's recorded history."
"Mmm-hmm. They're archetypes," Sabine sighs, rolling her eyes.
"Yes, precisely. They're sometimes referred to as the Father, Son, and Daughter," he readily agrees, looking at her intently. "Now, do you notice anything about their depiction on the Lothal temple?"
Sabine hesitates for a second.
"I-I don't know. They look the same to me," she tells him.
Hydan narrows his eyes coldly at her.
"I am no fool, Lady Wren, so do not mistake my pleasant demeanor for weakness," he warns evenly. "The painting has changed."
"You noticed that, huh?" she smirks.
"Yes. The loth-wolves have moved. In fact, they now form the portal. I also find it interesting that the position of the Daughter's head and the hand of the Father has changed," he remarks, looking at her expectantly. "Do you care to share what their significance is?"
Sabine smiles at him with every intention of remaining silent. However, the two death trooper guards start to advance threateningly on her, prompting her to jump out of her chair and offer something of value.
"The- the hands are a language," she quickly says.
Hydan looks at the image with a frown.
"I could find no similarity between it and any known language. How is it that you can read it?" he asks.
"Remember? I'm smarter than you," she declares.
Hydan withholds a frustrated sigh, turning his head to look at the painting with clearly restrained annoyance, his patience beginning to fade.
"Lady Wren, I had hoped we could have a civil conversation about art, but I see the Mandalorian in you only understands one form of discourse!" he states firmly.
Sabine widens her eyes in alarm and turns around just in time to watch one of the death troopers swing his blaster rifle. She falls to the floor with a pained cry, feeling a bruise beginning to form on her face and looks up angrily, flinching when the death troopers take aim with their weapons: a clear warning. Hydan steps forward into her view, regarding the troopers with a smile before looking down at her with cold satisfaction.
"Now, where were we?" he asks.
World Between Worlds
Jarik POV...
I let out a quiet groan of exhaustion as I feel myself leave the realm of unconsciousness and emerge back into wakefulness. My head is pounding with a dull throbbing headache, and I place a hand on my head in an effort to dispel the feeling. Shaking my head I start to pull myself up from the ground, vaguely noticing as Mara, Ezra, and Ahsoka do the same. The soft hoots of Morai then echo through the air and I look up at her in momentary confusion― wait...
Ahsoka.
Suddenly alert I burst up into a sitting position and get into a crouch, turning my head around desperately in search of her. My heart stops in astonishment, a rush of emotion flowing through me when I see her, looking no different than she had over two years ago, wearily pulling herself up from the ground in clear exhaustion. She holds a hand to her head for a moment, blinking her eyes several times to try and gain a sense of her surroundings.
"Ahsoka?" I ask softly, almost unable to believe my eyes.
She slowly turns her head in my direction and meets my gaze, her eyes lighting up with surprise and recognition.
"Jarik?" she murmurs in reply.
A sob threatens to escape me and I immediately pull her into a tight embrace, shutting my eyes to prevent the tears from flowing. Ahsoka hesitantly returns the hug, still a bit confused, but I don't care and keep hugging her tight, refusing to ever let her go.
"I thought I lost you..." I whisper in joyful relief.
"I- when did you..." Ahsoka says slowly, baffled.
"Mom?" Mara's hopeful voice cuts through the air.
Ahsoka wiggles around uncomfortably and, with extreme reluctance, I let her go from my grip so that she can see the others. Mara and Ezra were crouching beside us, gazing at Ahsoka in a mixture of amazement and happiness, Mara's eyes wet with tears. Ahsoka blinks at them in bewilderment, even more stunned now than she was with me: they've grown up.
"Mara?" she asks softly, bewildered by her appearance. "And... Ezra?"
Ezra offers her a smile, relieved to see her as well whereas Mara, unable to contain herself any longer, lunges forward to wrap her arms around Ahsoka in a fierce hug, crying into her shoulder.
"Mom... you- you..." she cries, unable to get the words out.
"I'm okay, Mara," Ahsoka responds softly, hugging her back as well. "I promised, right?"
Mara cries even more, a few tears of joy also falling from my eyes: she has no idea how heavy that response hits. Ahsoka then holds Mara's shoulders to get a good look at her, her gaze switching between me, her, and then Ezra, who admittedly seems a little bit unsure of what to do, seeing as he technically isn't part of our family. I glance over sadly at him, feeling a bit guilty after sensing Ezra's longing for a similar reunion with his own master.
"Look at you... You all look so..." Ahsoka murmurs, amazement starting to change into confusion, then panic. "Wait... what happened? Where am I?"
She gets to her feet and looks around with wide eyes, another rush of fear and pain then passing through her as well when she looks at me.
"Jarik, our... our bond," she realizes with a horrified expression. "What―"
"I know, Ahsoka. I know," I quickly say, laying a comforting hand on her shoulder. "I felt the same when it happened. It's... a long story."
Ahsoka stares at me with an intense gaze, her eyes searching mine desperately for answers. I can feel her trying to reach out across our shared bond, trying to figure out what's wrong―I'm reaching out to her as well, seeing if there's a way to repair it now that we're in each other's presence again―but with the connection still broken all I can sense from her is a faint tug, just a small sliver of her presence. Mara looks up at her worriedly, happy that Ahsoka's back but also concerned by her panic.
"What happened?" Ahsoka asks, looking around at us.
"You were fighting Vader," Ezra starts to say.
'Kenobi and Tano once thought as you did.'
"We saw you in there. He was going to..." Ezra continues, gesturing over to the portal. "So Jarik jumped in and, well, we grabbed you and pulled you out of there."
Ahsoka glances at me questioningly, her eyes slowly widening in realization. She then looks down at the ground while I glance up at the stars, feeling a pang of hurt at the echo of Vader's voice.
'You don't know the power of the dark side.'
"Anakin..." she murmurs in despair.
I meet her gaze and shake my head with a regretful sigh, knowing how much she wanted―wants―Anakin to be back.
"I'm sorry Ahsoka," I tell her.
She looks at the ground again with a mournful expression, sadly acknowledging that even she isn't enough the bring Anakin back from the shadow of Darth Vader. There's likely no one left who can.
Mara and Ezra both share a worried look with each other and I sense their confusion at the mention of Anakin. Fortunately, the possibility of being questioned by them passes when Morai starts hooting once more, prompting Ahsoka to look up at her in pleasant surprise.
"Morai? You're here?" she asks with a smile.
Morai flutters her wings and chirps happily, taking flight and dropping down to land on Ahsoka's outstretched arm.
"She led us to this portal, Mom," Mara explains happily. "She helped us save you."
Ahsoka's smile falters momentarily at her words, glancing at Mara before turning her gaze to me, the question burning in her eyes all too clear: why would I break the laws of time by doing this...? Why would Morai want us to? Isn't this something that no one is supposed to mess with, no matter the reason?
Truthfully, I'm not sure of the answer to that either. I don't know if there are consequences as a result of this, or why I've been instructed to do this exact thing that is supposedly very much wrong in any other case scenario. I avert my eyes from Ahsoka's gaze, unsure of how to answer that.
"Then I guess I owe my life to her twice now," she cautiously replies, not pressing the issue for now. "How did you all get here? And where's Kanan?"
Ezra's smile vanishes and he glumly stares down at his feet, grief flooding back into him. Mara and I look at him sadly and she places a hand on his shoulder to offer a bit of comfort, small it might be.
"You've missed a lot," Ezra says.
Ahsoka furrows her brow in confusion, concern filling her gaze when she notices his sorrow. Mara and I also share an uneasy glance with each other on how to respond, considering there's so much that has happened since then.
It felt like it took us a long time to let Ahsoka in on what has happened since Malachor, even with it summarized as best as we possibly could, though we still needed to leave a few things out. Deciding to keep it as simple as possible we gave an explanation of what has happened in the last few weeks, starting from after our mission on Mandalore.
Ezra talked about the assault on Lothal, Hera's capture, and how Kanan died on their rescue mission, leaving her surprised and a bit lost in how to respond, greatly saddened by it. He then talks about his encounter with a giant loth-wolf named Dume, which caught our interest. After he was finished, Mara and I gave our side of events, revealing Thrawn discovery of Ahch-To, our deal with Ar'alani, a little bit of Mara's activity with the dragon riders, and my encounters with the black loth-wolf. We also revealed that Atollon has since been abandoned after the Empire discovered it.
Once we were finished Ahsoka took a few minutes to ponder the load of information, asking a few questions for some clarity on certain points, but to her credit she takes it all relatively in stride. I can't believe I almost forgot how more wise and steadfast she could be, a stark contrast from when we were younger. It's as if she and I have switched roles from when we were Padawans, the more I think about it. Even so, from the occasional glance she sends my way I know there are still some things she wants to know from me that haven't yet been answered.
Soon enough though, conversation turned to the present and we start moving away from the Malachor portal.
"This place is ancient... like a world between worlds," Ahsoka remarks, looking at me. "I'm guessing this is that very place?"
"It is," I confirm with a nod.
"How can something like this even exist?" Mara asks, looking around.
"I don't think we'll ever know fully," I say thoughtfully.
"If you ask me, it feels like that dream where I met Dume," Ezra comments.
"The creature named Dume... it appeared after Kanan died?" Ahsoka asks with a frown. "That has to be more than a coincidence."
I bring a hand to my chin, pondering the connection. It's quite clear to me that Kanan has manifested his consciousness after death to become a spirit, like I taught him and Cere prior to our departure, but manifesting himself as a wolf? That's a new one for me... I suppose the same can possibly be said for the black loth-wolf, too.
"I know. Caleb Dume, a wolf named Dume..." Ezra continues, pulling me out of my thoughts. "What does it mean?"
"Maybe Kanan if the wolf, or his spirit is connected to it somehow," Mara suggests.
"But how could that be the case?" he asks in confusion. "If he's dead, then how can he still be around?"
"Death isn't necessarily the end of one's existence, Ezra," I tell him, letting out a sigh. "Before we left, I shared a closely guarded secret with Kanan and Cere."
"What kind of secret?" he questions.
"The ability to return from the Netherworld of the Force by manifesting your consciousness in the physical world," I reveal.
Mara already knew about this, from when she met the Bendu, but the others were both surprised.
"You mean... he's still alive?" Ezra asks in shock.
"No, he's not alive," I shake my head in response. "But if he learned what I told him, which I'm sure he did, then his spirit still thrives. Even though he's gone, he can still manifest himself to the living, either as just a voice, or even as a ghost."
"When did you learn that?" Ahsoka asks me in clear astonishment.
"Well... Master Yoda taught me and Obi-Wan at the end of the War," I admit with a sheepish, apologetic, expression. "For some reason, I... never got around to telling you about that."
Ahsoka lifts an eyebrow and frowns, not angry with me but definitely a little annoyed.
"Clearly," she says. "Anything else you need to tell me?"
"Most likely," I readily admit, still sheepish.
Ahsoka shakes her head with a disapproving sigh of exasperation while Mara rolls her eyes at me, partially amused. Ezra, however, is deep in thought, an intense look of concentration visible on his face.
"So, if it was Kanan who sent me here, then..." he trails off.
"What is it?" Ahsoka asks him.
"I thought I was sent here to stop the Empire, but then we found you!" Ezra states, gesturing at her. "Don't you see?"
I sense an idea rapidly building in his mind and can't help but feel uneasy by it. Ahsoka frowns with a small amount of confusion, pondering what he's implying.
"You think that Kanan sent you here to help me?" she asks carefully.
"Not just you!" he says firmly.
'Want a ride?'
The four of us all look around at the sound of Kanan's voice, and I widen my eyes in realization of what Ezra wants to do, filling me with dread.
"Oh no..." I murmur quietly to myself.
"I-I can do it! I can save Kanan just like we saved you!" Ezra insists, hope rising in him.
"Ezra..." Ahsoka says, reaching out to him in warning.
'You can learn what it truly means to be a Jedi.'
We all look up at hearing the sound of Kanan's voice again, and Ezra takes off running down the main pathway.
"Ezra, hold on!" I call out to him.
Morai chirps in alarm and takes flight with a flap of her wings in pursuit. Ahsoka and I share a worried look before running also, Mara right behind us.
'Kid, I'm about to let everyone in on the secret.'
"Ezra, just stop for a second!" Ahsoka cries out, but he's not listening.
"What's wrong?" Mara asks, confused. "Can't we bring Kanan back too?"
"Not like this," I reply anxiously.
Kanan's voice continues to echo around us as we follow Ezra through the world between worlds.
'I survived one war. I'm not ready for another one.'
He stops at a three way intersection, pondering which direction to take for a quick second and then sprints down the left pathway, waving at us.
"This way!" he tells us.
'Battles leave scars. Some you can't see.'
Ezra stops for a second, looking around in visible frustration.
"One of these portals must lead to Kanan!" he says fiercely.
We finally catch up to him and stop in our tracks, Ahsoka and I both starting to panic a little bit.
"Ezra, think about what you're doing!" she urges him.
"I know what I'm doing!" he snaps, looking around while approaching a portal. "Here, in this place, I can change things. I can stop Kanan from dying!"
"You don't know that," she replies worriedly.
"Yes, I do," he retorts.
"No, you actually don't!" I shoot back, feeling myself get a little frustrated. "Actions taken in this place have consequences, Ezra! You can't just change things however you please!"
"Well based on what I've seen, I actually can," Ezra scoffs disbelievingly, narrowing his eyes at me. "We changed Ahsoka's fate, right? I can do it for Kanan too."
"Listen to me, Ezra," I respond with a frustrated scowl. "That's not how it works!"
"Then how does it work, Jarik? Huh? Are you saying I can't do it? Or you won't let me?" he says accusingly, making me pause. "What gives you the right to stop me when you didn't have any problem about pulling Ahsoka out?!"
I widen my eyes in astonishment and open my mouth to say something, only I don't have anything to say, and guilt starts to swell up in me.
"Hey, knock it off!" Mara says, a little bit angry. "That's not fair, Ezra!"
"You're right, Mara, it isn't fair!" Ezra seethes, glaring at me. "Because it's always about the great Jarik Shan, the most important man in the galaxy! He gets to have everything, because he always knows what's best for us!"
I swallow the lump in my throat, guiltily averting my eyes and flinching at every mocking accusation. It hurts to hear him say that, but... he's not wrong. What right do I have to lecture him about not altering the past, when I just did so in order to save Ahsoka? Why shouldn't he get to save Kanan?
I look down at my feet in shame, thinking about my own inability to let go of Ahsoka, even though I haven't had any reason to think she was alive before the wolf spoke to me. In a way I'm just like Anakin was, unable to let go of the ones closest to me even at the deprivation of someone else's hopes and desires... someone like Ezra.
"You... you kr―" Mara starts to say, outraged.
"Mara, don't..." I murmur quietly, cutting her off mid-sentence.
Ahsoka gazes sympathetically at me, sensing my guilt and inner turmoil. Ignoring us Ezra steps forward to a portal in front of us, determined to rescue Kanan from death. Ahsoka reaches out to place a reassuring hand on my shoulder in understanding of why I feel so ashamed, not a trace of blame or accusation on her face.
She then moves forward to where Ezra is standing in front of the portal, which comes to life with a soft white glow. The sound of an AT-AT blast echoes from the portal, and within it the cityscape of Lothal comes into view, followed by Kanan rushing forward on top of a fuel pod to hold back a wall of fire.
"I can reach him," Ezra says in anticipation, his body tense.
"Ezra," Ahsoka says gently. "Kanan gave his life so that you could live. If he's taken out of this moment... you all die."
"You don't understand what you're asking me to do," Ezra growls back, his voice breaking.
The pang of guilt and shame swells even more in my heart at hearing his desperation.
"Yes, I do. You can't save your master, and I can't save mine," Ahsoka replies sadly, empathizing with Ezra. "I'm asking you to let go."
I watch through a haze of sorrow and bitterness at hearing Ahsoka's words to Ezra. Her ordeal with losing Anakin to the monster that is now Darth Vader has taught her one of the greatest lessons of all: how to let go.
It's something I'm still unable to learn.
Ezra slowly reaches a hand out to Kanan's figure through the portal, the pain and desperation clear in every ounce of his being: he wants nothing more than to reach through and save Kanan from his fate, but is halted only by what Ahsoka is telling him, something that I wouldn't have been capable of getting him to understand. Mara also looks on sadly, her brief anger towards Ezra disappearing at seeing his anguish over Kanan's fate. Ezra finally lowers his arm in resignation, dropping his head in defeat so as to not see Kanan being consumed by the flames for a second time.
"KANAN!"
The portal is overcome with fire, which slowly fades away into emptiness, and Ezra turns away from it and begins walking away in grief. Ahsoka turns around as he steps past her, her expression also saddened.
"I'm sorry, Ezra, but you must see. Kanan found the moment when he was needed most, and he did what he had to do, for everyone," she tells him.
"That's the lesson," Ezra realizes bitterly. "I didn't see it, but now..."
I finally muster the courage to look back up at him and meet his gaze.
"I know how you feel, Ezra," I say gently. "Really... I do."
"I'm... sorry for what I said to you, I..." he apologizes.
I shake my head in response.
"No, don't be," I tell him. "What you just did... it's something I still don't have the strength to do."
Ezra nods numbly in reply, letting out a sad sigh.
"It's just that... sometimes I wish my life were different," Ezra admits, and Ahsoka lays a hand on his shoulder. "I wish I could see my Mom and Dad."
"I wish I could too," Mara also says. "But... I guess we take what we can get, right?"
"I guess," he replies.
Ahsoka looks up at me and I avert my gaze with a heavy sigh, still feeling slightly ashamed of myself. A sudden crack of thunder interrupts our moment of remembrance and longing, and we all look around in confusion at the noise. I start to gain a growing sense of dread, worried that the noise might be heralding the presence of something dangerous that's coming: it almost feels like deja vu for me of when... when Snoke revealed himself to me.
"We can't stay here," I say warily.
"You know how to close the door, right?" Ahsoka asks me.
"We can't simply close it this time," I shake my head in reply. "The Emperor won't stop until he can control this place. In order to prevent that from happening, we need to seal the gateway for good."
"Can we even do that?" Mara asks.
"There should be some way to do so," I reply.
We start walking away from the portal, looking around to figure out where the arrival portal was.
"Maybe Sabine will know," Ezra says optimistically. "We can do it together. The others will be so happy to see you."
However, Ahsoka shakes her head in reply.
"I can't go with you," she says.
"What?" Mara asks in surprise.
"Neither can I," I also admit.
She and Ezra both stop in their tracks to gape at us, and Ahsoka looks questioningly at me. I stare back at her, attempting to convey a message with my eyes. She frowns in reply and I sense that she has a vague understanding of what I'm trying to tell her, but she's still very confused. Before anyone could ask us about what we meant a dark, chilling voice permeates the air, freezing me in place with fear.
"If they won't join you, then perhaps I can."
The four of us whirl around in surprise at the sound of the voice and see none other than Darth Sidious standing inside the portal, a cauldron of blue flames placed in front of him. I widen my arms in alarm, Ahsoka and I quickly rushing forward to place ourselves between him and the others.
"Ezra, Mara, stay back!" I warn them.
Even from this distance the Emperor's gleaming yellow eyes were still quite visible, peering out at us from the darkness with sinister glee.
"Ezra Bridger, and the Shan family! Mine at last!" he declares triumphantly.
Gleefully, he starts cackling, his groveling voice grating at my ears. His laugh quickly fades though and is replaced with a vicious glare while his face morphs into a snarl of pure, unrivaled hatred.
Lothal Jedi Temple, Lothal - Outer Rim Territories
3rd person POV...
Sabine and Hydan stood before the hologram depicting the painting of the Mortis gods, currently in discussion about the hidden meaning behind the figures. Although she didn't like having to help him out there was little choice but to do so, both to stall for time and to avoid being executed by the death troopers. So she opted to be as vague and questioning as possible, letting him do the heavy thinking.
"The Father is clearly showing the way to the portal," Hydan was saying, while she listens closely. "The wolves are the portal guardians."
"Okay. What about the owl?" she asks, gesturing to it.
"A servant of the Daughter, or possibly the Daughter herself when acting as a spirit guide," he theorizes.
Sabine frowns thoughtfully, finding some validity in the idea: Mara and Ezra both mentioned that the owl seemed to follow Jarik and Ahsoka, and if they had both met the Mortis gods during the War, it definitely means there's a connection. She refrains from mentioning that, as there's no reason for her to reveal something so significant like that to Hydan.
"Hmm," she hums in thought. "So if the Daughter opens the gateway..."
"...the Son would close it," Hydan finishes.
"Huh. There's something I didn't know," Sabine admits.
Hydan smiles kindly at her and takes a few steps forward to the image.
"Yeah, see? We can help each other," he tells her.
A stormtrooper then rushes into the room.
"Minister, something's happening to the portal," he reports, a bit out of breath.
Just then a series of knocks can be heard echoing around the room, causing the Imperials to look around in confusion. Recognizing it, however, Sabine smirks up at Hydan.
"Huh. I know that language too. Sorry about the mess," she says casually.
Hydan lifts an eyebrow at her in confusion. A loud noise then echoes around the room, followed by the floor starting to tilt over and Hydan cries out in surprise and alarm. Sabine manages to maintain her balance while the Imperials start to flail around in growing panic, the mobile command center's boosters having been manually activated and lifting the entire structure up and into the air on only one side.
World Between Worlds
The four Jedi stood in fearful anticipation, gazing at the Sith Lord while he readies his use of sorcery. Waving his hands around the flames Darth Sidious begins to chant a spell in ur-Kittât, the ancient Sith language, all the while eyeing his enemies with a fierce glare. Reaching the climax of his spell, the Emperor then thrusts his hands forward and sends a wave of fire hurtling at them all with a terrible roar.
Ahsoka and Jarik react by holding their arms out and forming a 'v' shape with both hands to create a Force shield. The fire hits their shield and splits apart to rush past either side of them, their hands shining with a bright glow in response to the great amount of energy required to maintain their defense under such power. Ezra and Mara instinctively step back and hold their arms up to cover their heads with startled cries of alarm, and Morai flaps her wings to avoid being hit by the fire.
Gritting her teeth in exertion Ahsoka struggles to maintain the shield, pouring even more power into it, though she was starting to feel pained. She throws a side-glance over at Jarik, who was similarly struggling against the fire.
"I can't hold it!" Ahsoka exclaims, panicking.
Jarik scowls in fierce determination, internally cursing his lost limb that serves to handicap his ability to properly use both arms to perform the maneuver, and calls on even more energy to sustain their shield. Behind them, however, the pressure is eased up a bit when Ezra and Mara also hold out their hands to add their own power into sustaining the Force shield, taking on some of the burden. Even so, it was still extremely strenuous on all of them, and Ahsoka and Jarik collapse to their knees when the fire attack fades away, the former holding her abdomen in pain.
"Are you all right?" Ezra asks in concern.
They both look up to see the Emperor moving in front of his cauldron cackling madly, the dark side of the Force surging from the portal in suffocating waves. Remembering what Sidious did during his last encounter in the World Between Worlds, Jarik pushes himself to his feet and helps Ahsoka up as well.
"Run! Go!" he urges.
Hold his arm out right next to the portal, Sidious unleashes another great blast of blue fire that surges forward into a massive wall. Mara and Ezra both widen their eyes in terror and the four start to run down the pathway as fast as they could, the wall of fire right behind them. Morai flies through the air along with them and moves ahead, guiding them to where they need to go. Before long, however, a tendril of fire suddenly winds its way around Ezra's foot and pulls him down, causing him to cry out in surprise and fear. Mara notices with wide eyes, and looks over at the other two.
"Mom! Dad!" she calls out.
They both stop and turn around in alarm to see Ezra scrambling to free himself while getting pulled back through the fire.
"Show me the way, Ezra! Help me!" Sidious cries.
He stretches his hand through the portal barrier, a fierce grin forming on his face.
"Ahhh! He's coming through!" Ezra exclaims.
"Ahsoka, saber!" Jarik calls out.
Without a second's hesitation Ahsoka tosses him one of her lightsabers and he charges forward, igniting the shimmering white blade. As he lunges forward to cut Ezra free, however, some of the fire blasts out from the main wall and slams into Jarik, throwing him back with a pained shout.
"Fool! You cannot stop me a second time, Shan!" the Emperor roars.
Ahsoka narrows her eyes and takes out her second lightsaber, dashing forward as well while Jarik gets back to his feet. More fire blasts surge forward to intercept her, but Ahsoka manages to evade the first few by rolling along the ground and then jumping into the air, blade held high to cut through the rope around Ezra's foot. Unfortunately she's also struck down by burst of fire, but this was intentional so as to allow Jarik the opportunity to throw his lightsaber, cutting Ezra free.
Sidious yells in pain as his hand starts burning, forcing him to withdraw his arm back through the portal. Furious, he thrusts both hands outward to resume his fire attack while Mara helps Ezra to his feet, which she does so just in time for the four to continue running before the fire could reach them. Jarik tosses the lightsaber back over to Ahsoka and spots the Malachor portal up ahead, followed by the Lothal portal a little farther away down the other fork in the pathway.
"Keep going you two! You can make it!" he tells Mara and Ezra.
"But what about you guys?!" Mara asks worriedly.
"We'll be fine! I promise!" Ahsoka replies. "We'll see you again soon!"
"Good luck!" Ezra nods in reply.
With that being said they split up into two pairs, branching down either side of the fork, and the fire moves to follow them. Morai goes with Jarik and Ahsoka as they head for the Malachor portal, the fire right on their tail the entire way. Fortunately, the three of them reach the portal in time and jump through, disappearing while the fires stops harmlessly at its frame, unable to go any farther.
Darth Sidious growls furiously at noticing their escape, outraged most of all at loosing his two greatest threats, and directs all of his focus now onto the other two, pouring all of his hate and fury into increasing the power of his fire in order to catch them both. If he could just grab hold of them and gain access to the World Between Worlds himself, then the loss of the other two will be of no more concern.
"Look, the portal's just up ahead!" Ezra cries out, pointing it out.
"Keep running!" Mara replies urgently.
They push themselves to their very limit and run as fast as possible, able to see the blue fire at the corner of their vision trying to grab at them. Their endurance pays off, and they both jump through the portal and are thrust safely on their way to the other side, all the while hearing a yell of outrage from the Emperor. Mara and Ezra suddenly find themselves sprawling out across the hard rocky ground, Sabine, Hera and Zeb stopping in surprise right in front of them.
"Ezra! Mara!" Sabine says, rushing forward to help them up. "Come on, come on! Get up! We're leaving!"
"No!" Ezra replies firmly. "We have to seal the portal!"
"Wait, where's Jarik?" Hera asks in alarm.
"He went somewhere else, so he's fine," Mara explains, glancing back at the portal warily. "I hope."
The three rebels glance at each other warily and Ezra waves them onwards.
"Come on, lets get to the painting!" he urges.
Dozens of stormtroopers begin to charge at the group, firing their blasters at them, and they take off running for the portal. Mara whips out her blue lightsaber to deflect blaster fire while Hera and Sabine shoot back, Zeb also blasting with his rifle while helping Ezra along. They quickly reach the painting and Mara steps in front of the group with her lightsaber out, defending them from most of the bolts shot their way while Ezra approaches the painting. Just then, a pair of mining vehicles move forward to cut them off from the stormtroopers, manned by R5 and Chopper.
"Hah, those droids have got them running!" Zeb laughs.
"They're so special," Mara comments in amusement.
Ezra looks up at the painting and frowns.
"Sabine, which one do I activate?" he asks.
"The Son. That one!" she points out.
He looks up at the Son and then over at Zeb, who nods and steps forward to help him reach it. Mara turns to watch with a keen eye, observing them in case her help is also needed. Ezra places his fist against the Son's and closes his eyes, concentrating.
"Stop him!" Minister Hydan cries out in a panic, seeing them from afar.
The stormtroopers try to get an angle on the rebels, but are unable to with the two astromech droids flailing their vehicles around wildly, kicking up a lot of dust. The circle around the Son's hand then glows red, his eyes also glowing as a surge of dark, destructive power exudes from the fist.
'The future... by its nature, can be changed.'
Ezra then falls back through the air, suddenly unconscious, and Zeb catches him in slight surprise. The rebels all look up at the painting in surprise and a bit of unease as it glows even brighter, the light covering it a deep red color. The Son then places his hands together and bows submissively to the Father before he starts sinking down into the ground, the Daughter also dropping down as well. All around them, the ground starts to shake and crack, rock's falling from the top of the cliff.
"Uh, Mara? What's happening?" Hera asks in alarm.
Mara looks around in realization.
"We've got to leave, now!" she replies.
Sparing her no doubt whatsoever the group turns away from the painting and make a run for Chopper's vehicle: R5 rams his into one of the mobile command centers with a joyous beep and then flies out on his rocket boosters to join the others. Mara hops onto the vehicle and starts deflecting blaster fire, and Sabine shoots a few stormtroopers after climbing up herself. Zeb lifts Ezra up to allow Hera to grab him, and then climbs on as well.
"Chopper, get us out of here!" Hera orders.
Chopper beeps in confirmation and starts directing their vehicle out to the exit ramp, whereas Minister Hydan stumbles his way over to the painting in horror, desperate to preserve it.
"The temple, it's collapsing!" he cries.
The loth-wolves that formed the gateway run back over to the main painting, disappearing into the ground. The Father raises both of his arms and then brings them together, his hands glowing full of golden power with the intention of erasing the temple from the surface.
"What have they done? The knowledge... Everything will be lost!" Hydan says in despair.
Mara glances back at the temple painting to see Hydan's silhouette, hearing him scream in horror before being engulfed in the golden light. She widens her eyes in astonishment at the sight, sensing a tremendous amount of power exuding from the painting, and deactivates her lightsaber to follow the others inside of the vehicle.
"It's gonna be close!" Hera exclaims.
The golden light shines even brighter now, as bright as the sun, prompting Mara to hold an arm up to cover her eyes from the light, hearing a voice echo through the air.
'The Force will be with you, always.'
Mara POV...
I wasn't sure what to expect on this mission, though now it's quite clear to me now that Dad wasn't telling me a lot of things about what he planned to do... even R5 wasn't aware, though I suppose it would be of little use trying to explain himself to a droid about such a strange and mysterious topic, given the Force isn't something that even living beings can understand very well. I have a feeling he wasn't entirely sure either. Where did he and Mom go?
Mom... she's back.
I don't think I've ever been more relieved and happier before now in my entire life, and at the same time so disappointed. I finally get to know that Mom is still alive after all this time of thinking she was dead, only to be separated from her once again. And this time Dad is gone too, leaving me by myself.
"Mara, how... how did this happen?" Hera asks softly.
I glance at her as she walks up beside me in the middle of the empty field, gaping at the clearly altered landscape in total disbelief and confusion. I look back down at the ground to see the circle there, the same circle that we would normally stand in when opening the temple.
"I don't know," I admit, just as lost as her.
"And Jarik?" she asks cautiously. "Where is he now?"
"...I don't know that either," I also say, feeling a pang of heartache. "But... I hope he'll be back soon."
And with Mom too.
We both stand there in silence, pondering over our own concerns, doubts, and fears, and soon enough Ezra walks over to meet us as well, looking around in confusion at being unable to recognize the location.
"Where are we?" he asks.
"The temple," Hera answers.
He widens his eyes in shock and disbelief, looking at me incredulously, but I nod my head in confirmation.
"What?" he breathes out in bewilderment. "Where? I mean, how?"
"You two tell me," Hera replies helplessly.
"Kanan and I stood here, when we first came to the temple," Ezra realizes, spotting the circle.
Hera glances at him sadly.
"He's gone now, isn't he?" she asks softly. "I mean, really gone."
"Yes," he tells her.
I watch them with a sympathetic gaze as they look out at the rising sun.
"I know what we have to do now," Ezra continues. "In a way, Kanan showed me. One last lesson."
Hera smiles at him and turns around, placing a hand on his shoulder and walking back to the vehicle. Ezra turns and looks at me hopefully.
"You want to be a part of it?" he asks.
I nod my head with a small smile of my own.
"Why the heck not?" I reply.
He grins back and we turn to follow Hera back to the others, though I stop with a bit of confusion when Ezra seems to pause and turn around. The question I'm about to ask dies away from I see a white loth-wolf standing at the top of the ridge, partially silhouetted by the sunlight. It gazes at us for a short while and then turns around, disappearing into the light.
"Goodbye, Kanan," Ezra murmurs.
I watch him sympathetically, patting his shoulder before we continue on to rejoin the rest of the group, leaving the ghost of the temple behind.
TWO DAYS LATER...
Imperial Palace - Coruscant
3rd person POV...
Galactic Emperor and Dark Lord of the Sith, Darth Sidious, sat on his throne, staring at the image of Grand Admiral Thrawn being projected by his private comm display. He wasn't happy, having spent the better part of the last two days venting his rage over the loss of the Lothal Jedi Temple, and with it his access to the World Between Worlds. Furthermore, recent weeks have shown a troubling increase of doubt over the Chiss Admiral's true loyalties, which has tested his patience even more. Was Thrawn a senior Imperial officer? Or a quiet traitor? He no longer knew for certain.
But he would find out. He always finds out.
"So, Grand Admiral Savit is a traitor," he states.
"So it would seem, Your Majesty," Thrawn says.
"Believing he was serving the Empire, while merely serving himself," the Emperor continues to say.
"Yes," he once more replies.
"And what of you, Grand Admiral Mitth'raw'nuruodo?" he demands. "What of you and the Chiss? Tell me how that is not a similar situation."
"It is not at all similar," Thrawn explains calmly, but the Emperor could see he was tense, both of them aware that he was walking dangerous ground. "Admiral Ar'alani's force arrived in the Empire without my permission or knowledge. When they revealed themselves, it was to warn of the growing threat against the Empire."
"Yes, Lord Vader has informed me about your skirmishes against the Yuuzhan Vong. He tells me the threat they pose is still distant," the Emperor replies dismissively, looking intently at the Admiral. "He also tells me the danger is primarily against your Chiss Ascendancy."
"Lord Vader's assessment is correct," the Chiss Admiral acknowledges. "But I respectfully submit that it is also incomplete. The presence we uncovered of the Yuuzhan Vong in the Kurost sector is proof of their active interest in the Empire. Particularly dangerous is the fact that their observation brought them perilously close to Stardust."
"Hardly close to Stardust," he scoffs. "Merely to one of Krennic's many supply lines."
"But even the most insignificant supply line leads eventually to the center," Thrawn points out. "May I also remind His Majesty that the Yuuzhan Vong at the post were already seeking to learn the ways and means of suborning Imperial citizens. Consider the possibility of the Death Star in enemy hands, combined with the might of their Dreadnaught, and you will surely understand my concern."
The Emperor narrows his eyes angrily at the hologram, his face forming a small scowl. It bothered him to no end that even with all of the secrecy and precautions he and Krennic had taken, Thrawn still managed to figure out the name of the project. He set aside that issue for the moment, however, as Thrawn did have a valid point about the risk posed by Stardust falling into enemy hands. Considering everything he's learned of these savage beasts, Stardust is needed more than ever to effectively combat the capabilities of the Dreadnaught. Once the Rebellion is destroyed, of course.
"No one but the Empire will ever control Stardust," he growls. "Not the Yuuzhan Vong. Certainly not the Chiss."
"I do not seek Stardust for the Chiss," Thrawn assures him. "Indeed, I would fight with all my skill and strength to make sure that did not happen."
"Would you? You clearly understand its capabilities," the Emperor counters his statement. "Securing it for the Chiss Ascendancy would undoubtably grant them a defense against the Yuuzhan Vong."
He narrows his eyes further at the Chiss Admiral, intently gauging his reaction.
"Your loyalty is in question, Grand Admiral Mitth'raw'nuruodo," he states evenly.
"My loyalty remains firm, Your Majesty," Thrawn says determinedly. "There is no conflict with my service to the Empire and my recent cooperation with the Chiss."
"You made the same statement and claim to Lord Vader," the Emperor says. "I wonder perhaps if that excuse is wearing thin."
"If you wish to remove me from my rank and position, that is of course your right," he admits begrudgingly. "But I contain to remain my commitment and loyalty to you and to the Empire."
For a long time, the Emperor remained silent as he observed the Chiss Admiral, considering the possibilities open to him. Thrawn was useful and formidable, that much was clear. But he could also be equally so as an enemy. If his loyalties are indeed divided, as he suspects, then he is no servant at all. But should he simply get rid of him once and for all?
There are other alternatives, for if Thrawn was indeed loyal to him and the Empire as he claims, then how would his own people react? Would they try to eliminate him as a potential threat?
Then of course, there is the threat of the Yuuzhan Vong. A threat that he is furious to admit terrifies him more than anything else in the universe, even more so than Jarik Shan does: the descendant of Revan is not capable of annihilating entire fleets of warships at a whim, nor would he desire to do so even if that was the case. This 'Oryx' was perhaps even more bloodthirsty than the most cruel of Sith Lords, possessing powers unlike any he had ever heard of: even he, one who has studied all the knowledge acquire from the line of Darth Bane, could not fathom what Oryx is capable of.
Perhaps the future did require an alliance between the Empire and the Ascendancy if they were to survive, with Thrawn serving as the tool that would accomplish that union. And once their shared objective was accomplished he, the Emperor, would be in command of both.
He allowed himself to feel a bit of content in the intriguing thought, but pushed it aside for later. The answers to that would require more meditation, and there were more urgent matters as of right now. A matter found on Lothal which could grant him the ultimate power needed to finally ensure the destruction of all his enemies.
"We will speak of this another time," he informs Thrawn. "I'm sending you instructions on a chamber I wish for you to construct aboard the Chimaera. After you reach Lothal, and put down the rebel activity, you will bring Ezra Bridger to that chamber."
He allows himself a small smile, confident at least in this aspect of Thrawn.
"I'm sure you'll find a way to persuade him to join you," he adds.
"I will endeavor to do so, Your Majesty," Thrawn nods reassuringly.
"Then I leave you to your duties," the Emperor says. "And Grand Admiral Mitth'raw'nuruodo?"
"Yes, Your Majesty?" he questions.
"I am not blind to the hidden desire you carry to keep Shan alive for your own purposes," he states.
The Emperor notices the sudden surge of tension in Thrawn's expression, and allows himself to smile once more.
"When the business on Lothal is finished, you will return to Coruscant," he says, his yellow eyes gleaming. "Where you and I will have a long, long talk."
3 BBY - OVER TWO YEARS EARLIER...
Sith temple, Malachor I - Outer Rim Territories
Jarik POV...
For what seems like the third time today I wake myself from a moment of unconsciousness, blinking my eyes to adjust my vision to the new environment I'm currently in: or rather, an old environment. Black, ash-covered stone from the ruins of the Malachor Sith temple surround me every which way I can see. Beside me, Ahsoka was also pulling herself off of the ground with an exhausted groan while Morai stood on a stone beside us, chirping insistently.
"How many times have you been in there now, Jarik?" Ahsoka asks wearily. "Because I don't want to go in there again."
"That's certainly relatable," I say in agreement, helping her to stand up.
Morai chirps, fluttering her wings to get our attention, and we both look at her.
"Jarik... why did you come back?" Ahsoka asks me. "Should you not have stayed in the present?"
"I had to come. There's a lot that we have to do," I tell her, looking back with unease. "I just hope the others made it out okay."
Ahsoka follows my gaze with a sigh, placing a hand on my shoulder.
"I'm sure they did," she reassures me.
I look back at her, feeling her sense of steady calm and certainty, and allow myself a small smile of nostalgia, having missed that feeling. She holds a hand to her side though, a bit hurt from Darth Sidious' fire attack, and I help her to walk.
"We should get going," I say.
With many thoughts in mind for us to ponder over, we both start walking down the stone steps of the ancient ruins, following Morai as she leads us to a triangular doorway of the Sith temple.
Author's Note: Certainly a lot to unpack from this chapter. I'll let you all sort through it! But here's a challenge, see if you can correctly identify all of the quotes heard in the World Between Worlds! :D
Ahsoka is back! Woooo!
