disclaimer: i do not own star wars or any of its associated characters; they all belong to their respective owners. i only own any characters or plotlines that you do not recognize. I also do not own any of the dialogue i may quote from the franchise.

It has been a year since Palpatine returned and was defeated

for the second time. Though the evil Sith lord is now gone,

there is unrest in the galaxy. New threats begin to take shape,

and the One Republic scrambles to contain the new threats,

but they cannot contain threats they are unaware of.

After another failed attempt to bring back Palpatine,

MOFF GIDEON moves on to another project, working

alongside an old threat to the Republic. With their

strategy, they are sure they will not fail.

The war for MANDALORE is renewed, and with it new enemies.

The DARKSABER has been missing for twenty-five years,

without it the Mandalorians have no hope of winning back

their throne. But there are those who would see to the

glass planet's restoration, no matter the cost…

Oblivion

Darkness. All that is known is darkness. And pain, so much pain. Fire crawling over her body in a memory, burning her skin and her mind. A sense of being forgotten, so lonely and so lost. Where is her mind, if not everywhere and only here.

"I will see you again. I promise."

Nova gasps as consciousness washes over her. White fluorescent light stings her wide open eyes and sweat coats her skin. Her back is stiff, and her head is sore. Nova looks around her, taking in the room she is in.

She is on a hospital bed, there are straps for restraining but they are not fastened to her limbs. To her right is a counter filled with little bottles and a case of syringes. To her left, a floating table with differing medical tools. She is in thin clothes, a shirt and pants no shoes, which does nothing to chase away the chill. Despite her insides being hot, her skin is cold.

A woman stands at the counter, her back is to Nova as she fills a syringe with a clear liquid. Her inky black hair is pulled back in a tight braid, she wears a grey lab coat and old boots. Nova glances back to the floating tray and grabs a scalpel. Pushing herself off the bed, Nova sits up and stands. Her legs shake but they do not give out.

Nova lunges for the woman, she grabs her shoulder and turns her around. The woman, the doctor, drops the syringe in alarm. It shatters on the ground, clear liquid oozing from the shattered casing. The woman is young, her skin is smooth and her eyes are a deep shade of brown.

Nova holds the scalpel to the woman's neck and breathes hard. Her actions are taking more of her energy then she would prefer. The woman eyes her nervously, but does not fight back. If anything, she looks relieved.

"Where am I?" Nova pants. Her vision swims.

"If I am to understand correctly, if I don't answer your question honestly, you will kill me." the woman says, keeping her eyes level with Novas.

"Yes."

"Fair enough." the woman glances at the closed door before looking back at Nova. "You are on Moff Gideons light cruiser."

"How, how long have I been here?"

The woman raises an eyebrow. "Are you sure you want to know?"

Novas vision clears just a bit and she lowers her eyebrows. "Why wouldn't I?"

"I'm not sure how long you have been on Moff Gideons cruiser, but I do know how long you've been frozen in carbonite."

"Ive been frozen in carbonite?"

"Yes, for twenty-five years."

The room spins and Nova feels frozen. Her legs go numb and her head feels light.

"Why… why was I taken?" Nova asks.

"I wouldn't know. I am just here for the after care. Well, they did want me to euthanize you too. But that was a new order."

Nova lets go of the woman and goes to sit on the bed. The woman leans against the counter and crosses her arms. Nova grabs the scalpel again and goes to the doctor.

"Is Gideon on this ship?"

The woman gulps and nods.

"Take me to him."

"I will be killed for assisting you." the doctor whispers.

"Then once we get there you can run and make it to the escape pods, I assume you know where those are." the doctor nods. "Good. Gideon will be distracted by me anyways."

The doctor sullenly makes her way to the door, Nova follows closely behind with the scalpel pointed at the doctors back. The doctor leads them through empty hallways and past empty rooms. Nova catches a glimpse of black armor through one of the doors but she doesnt stop. When they reach the bridge and the doors slide open, Nova lowers her arm.

"Go," she says to the doctor, who wastes no time in brushing past Nova and fleeing down the hallways.

At the front of the bridge stands Gideon, an impressive figure in his freshly laundered clothes and shining chestplate. The stars behind him give him the effect of someone regal, someone powerful.

"Nova Djarin, it is Djarin now, isn't it?" Gideons voice cuts through the air as Nova steps forward. "I was wondering if you and I would ever get a chance to talk."

"Why did you take me." Nova grips the scalpel a bit tighter now, five storm troopers and three officers stand in a circle around her.

"We needed your blood to resurrect Palpatine," Gideon says, there is a light in his dead eyes. "We couldn't find the Child so we had to make do with you. And it's a good thing we did, a human's blood worked more miracles for us then that green creature."

Nova feels a rage burning within her, a rage rimmed with loss. How dare this man speak of the Child as if he is nothing more than a pawn in whatever sick, twisted, game this man plays.

Nova reaches forward and pushes at Gideon, pulling on the strings that connect the galaxy, she pulls on the Force.

And nothing happens.

It is like her veins are on fire. Nova cries out and clutches her arm to her chest. She falls to her knees and waits for the pain to subside.

"What did you do to me?" Nova gasps.

"We stole your connection, a Sith showed us how. Did you know there are ancient ways of pulling someone's Force essense from their body?" Gideon laughs. "It didn't work perfectly, hence the pain. But you get the idea."

The pain has dulled now, Nova pushes herself to her feet but sways as she does so. She hates how she shakes, from fear or pain she does not know. Maybe both.

"Unfortunately for you, we no longer have use of you. Palpatine was defeated so phase one of our plan is complete." Gideon turns away from her, as he does so the five storm troopers rush forwards and grab her, they tear the scalpel from her hand and grip her shoulders and wrists. "Throw her out of the airlock."

The troopers drag her from the bridge and through the ship. Nova tries to fight but it is of no use, she is weak and she is tired. A sadness overcomes her and maybe, just maybe death wouldn't be such a bad option. If it is inevitable, why fight it.

The troopers halt as one of them falls to the ground, a syringe sticks out of his neck. The other four troopers turn and Nova sees the doctor standing with her fists raised and determination written on her face. Two of the troopers rush the doctor while the other two continue to hold Nova. The doctor dodges the troopers fists and kicks at their knees. She hits one and the trooper screams.

Nova lets herself fall and since the troopers are holding her so tightly they fall with her. She rolls on top of one and grabs his blaster. She shoots him in the face before turning to the other trooper, who grabs her arms and aims a strike at her head. Nova turns her head just in time and swings a fist at the trooper. He grabs her leg and flips her, the blaster flies out of her hand and skids across the floor to where the doctor is wrestling with the other troopers.

The trooper that pins Nova grabs at her hair and yanks, she yelps and bits down on his wrist, but it doesn't do much because of his thick sleeves and thin armor. Two blaster shots can be heard, then a third. The trooper on Nova slumps forwards and ceases to move. Nova pushes him off of her and sits up to see the doctor holding the blaster in her hands. The doctor extends a hand and Nova takes it. She helps her stand up and Nova raises an eyebrow.

"Im Vega," the doctor says.

"Nova," Nova pants and grabs Vegas' shoulder to steady herself. Nova mutters an apology and lets go, leaning her weight against the wall instead. "I thought you had fled."

"I changed my mind."

Nova laughs. "Alright, do you know how to get to the hangar?"

Vega nods. "I can get us there, but why would we go to the hangar when the escape pods are in the other direction?"

"Because we are going to steal a ship."

0

The ship's hangar is nearly empty. A few troopers lounge on barrels and crates, they laugh and jeer at each other. Empty alcohol bottles are strewn on their makeshift table, and they appear to be playing Sabacc. Across from the troopers there is a small unmarked ship, it is a small cargo vessel and its cargo ramp is open and inviting.

"That one?" Vega asks. "You want to steal that one?"

"Yeah, do you have a better idea?" Nova responds.

"Could we maybe steal a ship that isn't in plain sight of those troopers?"

"We could, but all the other ships are obviously imperial. Besides, those troopers are obviously drunk."

"They might shoot better when intoxicated."

Nova snorts. She glances around the hangar before nodding to herself.

"Okay let's go."

"Wait…" Nova grabs Vega's arm and drags her up. They begin to briskly walk across the hangar, in the open. The troopers pause their game and turn to look at the women walking towards the cargo ship.

"Wait, are you authorised to be going on that ship?" one of the troopers says, his voice slurs.

"Yes, sir. We are doing a routine check for mold." Nova stands as straight as she can, keeping her arms straight at her sides. Vega mimics her movements.

"Mold?"

"Yes sir. Mold can make one very sick if routinely inhaled, especially in an enclosed space like a cargo ship."

The trooper's head moves forward, and Nova wonders if he is squinting at her.

"How sick?"

"Uh, well,"

"Vomiting." Vega pipes up. "Lots and lots of vomiting. And foot fungus like you wouldn't believe."

"Orange fungus." Nova adds. "With some yellow and green spots in it."

The trooper's body convulses like he's fighting down a gag reflex. He waves his hand and Vega and Nova turn and swiftly board the cargo ship. Nova hits the door controls and the ramp closes. She runs to the cockpit to find Vega already there turning the ship on, and laughing.

"I haven't done something that ridiculous in a while." Vega says. Nova straps into the co-pilot's seat as the cargo ship leaves the hangar. "I mean, the people I used to travel with, they had some crazy half baked plans like that, you would have liked them."

Nova searches the star maps and chooses a planet. She plugs in the coordinates and the ship makes the jump to hyperspace.

Melancholy overcomes Vega at the mention of her old friends. "I miss them." she whispers.

Nova looks at her hands. It's been twenty five years. She wonders where Din is now, probably dead, left in the past where she cant reach. A place left behind. Even if he did still live, would he even remember her? He'd be twice her age now, or does Nova even have an age anymore? All these questions spin in her mind, the voices getting louder and louder with the promise of insanity to come.

"You okay?" Vegas' voice breaks into Nova's mind and scatters the thoughts.

"Have you ever had someone that you can just be… you with? Someone that makes you better. Someone that…" Nova feels tears threatening to spill and she swallows hard. "And then they're gone."

Vega smiles sadly. "I used to be a part of a family, I wasn't related to any of them, but we were family. They were a small rebel group during the time of the Empire, they needed a medic and when I came along it was the perfect fit." she laughs at a memory. "Our pilot, she uh, she had this droid. Devious little thing. It pranked us all the time and she was the only one who could control it."

"That sounds like it was nice."

"It was. Then one of us died, another disappeared, then I was taken." Vega shakes her head. "Sometimes I'm afraid I'll forget them, my mind isn't what it used to be."

Nova tilts her head to look at the young woman. "Because of the carbon freeze?"

Vega nods. "Your mind should be fine, but I was frozen and unfrozen over and over for many years."

"You seem like a smart doctor, you'll figure it out." Nova says. "Besides, I don't think we ever truly forget those who impact us. I remember when I was really young, there was a tourist in my fathers city. He could do the thing I could and he taught me how to call on it. I may not remember his face but I remember his actions."

Vega looks down. She swipes a hand across her cheek and looks at the navicomputer.

"Where are we going?" she asks.

"The only place I trust, or at least I did trust."

000

The planet of Nevarro is surprisingly unchanged. The village Nova had visited before is still standing and bustling with life. A memory, walking down this same road with Din playing that word game of theirs. Laughter flits through the air and Nova can almost pretend that she is in that moment instead of here and now.

"Nova?"

Nova turns to the familiar voice. Greef Karga remains regal and put together as always, despite his age. He is a much older version of himself, and he floats in a wheelchair.

"Greef?" Nova says.

"How is it that you are here?" Greef says. His eyes roam her face. "Last I saw you, the Child had been taken and you and Mando were off to rescue him. That was twenty five years ago."

Nova smiles sadly. "I know."

Greef reaches forward and takes Nova's hand, as if to reassure himself that she was real. Nova doesn't understand his uncertainty, she doesn't remember being close with the man. But maybe it has less to do with her as a person and more to do with the fact that she hasn't aged.

"Come with me, I have something for you." Greef turns his wheelchair around and makes his way through the crowd. Nova glances at Vega and shrugs. They follow the man to his office.

"You should know, he was searching for you." Greef says.

"Who?" Nova looks around the office. It is small and tidy, dust on the floor and jumbled shelves.

"Mando. He came here after you were apparently taken. He, Cara Dune, and Mayfeld left in search of you, but they never returned."

"Mayfeld?"

"Yes, he sought out Cara Dune here and stuck around."

"And Moff Gideon? He escaped from prison, do you know how?"

"Well that's why C ara went with Mando to find you, Gideon had spies in my ranks and he used them to escape. Cara had been searching for him and had a lead she planned on following when Mando got here. He just went with her."

Nova leans against the desk. Vega's hands fidget as she stands near the door.

"You said you had something for me?" Nova says.

"Yes, Mando left a few of his things with me for safe keeping. I'll get them out of hiding for you." Greef goes to a wall and presses a hidden button. A panel opens, revealing a canvas bag inside. Greef moves out of the way and Nova goes to the opening in the wall to survey the bag's contents.

Across the top, too long to actually fit in the bag, lies the beskar staff. Nova picks it up and leans it against the wall as she searches through the rest of the contents. A few miscellaneous items cover something wrapped in cloth at the bottom. Nova picks up the item and unwraps it, a piece of cloth falls aside to reveal the Darksaber. Nova swiftly rewraps the sword and hides it in the bottom of the bag.

"The lead Cara Dune had, did it have coordinates?"

"Yes, in fact it did."

"Do you still have those coordinates?"

Greef nods and goes to his desk. Nova presses the wall where the hidden button was, and the panels close. She grabs the beskar staff from where it leans against the wall.

"I'm going to go wherever those coordinates take me." she says to Vega. "Nevarro is a good planet, you'll be safe here."

"No way, I'm going with you." Vega says. "If at least one of us can find closure, then I'm all in. Besides, I have nowhere to go and nowhere I truly want to go."

Nova nods to the woman and turns back to Greef who is now holding a data stick.

"The coordinates are in here." he hands the stick to Nova. "If you could come back and tell me what you find,"

"Of course." nova says. "And I will return for the rest of his things, if you don't mind holding onto them for a while longer."

Greef assures her that he doesn't mind. Nova and Vega leave Greef Kargas office and return to their stolen cargo ship, and after that they leave the planet. Nova plugs in the coordinates and the ship jumps to lightspeed.

They travel for hours, during that time they clear out two bunks and rest. The covers are a bit dusty and could use some deep cleaning, but Nova doesn't complain. She falls asleep and stays that way until the ship's alarm system chirps to let her know that they would be leaving hyperspace soon.

Vega and Nova reach the cockpit as the ship leaves hyperspace. Before them rests a planet covered in clouds, making the actual planet difficult to see.

"The coordinates will put us somewhere in the sky above this planet, maybe it's a floating city." Vega says.

"Do the coordinates tell us where we are going?"

Vega shrugs. "The only thing on here that is words and not numbers is the name 'Bespin'."

Up ahead a floating city is surrounded by clouds. The cargo ship slowly approaches the city and lands on a landing pad.

"I wonder if anyone even lives here anymore." Vega says as she unstraps from the pilots seat. "No one contacted us as we landed."

"Maybe it's abandoned." Nova says. She grabs the beskar staff and leaves the ship behind Vega.

They walk through an abandoned house, old blaster bolt burns stain some of the walls and doorways, dust coats every inch of flat surface. Doors stay half open and lights flicker on and off. They leave the house behind and descend some stairs that dump them onto the main road or walkway. They explore the city in its silence, definitely abandoned.

They explore for a few hours when Nova hears a familiar noise. She pulls Vega behind a crumbling wall and they hide as a pair of dark troopers walk the road.

"Dark troopers." Nova hisses in frustration, she adjusts her grip on the beskar staff. She is feeling better after she slept, though she feels like she could easily sleep for another week.

"They have an official name?" Vega whispers. "I always saw them patrolling the hallways of Gideons ship when I was unfrozen."

"You never gave them a name of your own?"

"Well I did, but it's not exactly appropriate."

Nova huffs and shoots Vega a grin. She grins back but her smile falters.

"They were always guarding the room they brought me to." she says.

"What?"

"Whenever I was unfrozen, I had to heal someone. Those droids were always guarding the operating room."

"And since there are dark troopers here on Bespin…"

"That means they are guarding something."

Vega and Nova slip from behind the wall and follow the dark troopers at a distance. The troopers lead them through more twisting streets till they reach a lower level of the city. The troopers pass another pair that guard a reinforced door.

"The tech on that door looks too new to have been built when this city was thriving." Vega whispers. "And it doesn't fit the design of this place at all."

"Are you saying someone built that door after this place was abandoned?" Nova asks.

"Maybe, I mean it's just a theory."

Nova nods as she thinks. The two dark troopers they followed disappear down the path, continuing on their patrol.

"I'll take those two guard troopers out with this staff, then we can see what's behind that door." Nova says to Vega, whose eyes widen in panic. "Regular blasters don't penetrate the dark troopers, trust me I've tried. Besides, I have some pent up restlessness I need to work out."

"Being asleep for twenty five years can do that to a person."

Nova shakes her head and adjusts her grip on the beskar staff. She leaves Vega behind a building, out of sight, and runs at the dark troopers. She spears one in the head before it can react. The other trooper starts shooting at her, creating such a ruckus that Nova is sure the other two troopers on patrol will hear and come as well.

"Dank farrik." Nova mutters as she dodges the blaster bolts. She falls to her knees and turns, swinging the staff at the trooper and spearing its arm. It pauses in its movements as if trying to process its next move, but Nova doesnt give it that option. She yanks the staff out and stabs it through the troopers neck. The droid falls with a thud as the two dark troopers on patrol round the corner and start firing at Nova.

Nova holds up her hand and is about to use the Force when she thinks better of it. She throws the spear and it strikes one of the troopers in the neck. She runs around the other and makes to grab the spear, but the last dark trooper grabs her and throws her against the wall.

"Hey, wire brain!" Vega shouts at the trooper. Distracted, the dark trooper drops Nova and starts to walk towards Vega. Nova scrambles towards the beskar spear and pulls it free from the one dark trooper. She jumps and stabs it through the last dark trooper.

Nova pulls the beskar staff free and leans on it while she pants. Vega approaches and starts working on getting the door open.

"I can't tell if you need therapy or a gym." Vega says as she hacks the keypad. Nova shrugs and the door slides open. They enter and Vega searches the wall for a light switch. She finds it and turns it on, flooding the room with light.

The room is large, but it feels small. It has a low ceiling and dark walls with dark stains that extend to the floors. The room is freezing, and the harsh white light hurts Nova's eyes. Inside the room are rows and rows of people in carbon freeze.

"How… how many do you think are here?" Nova whispers, almost afraid she will wake them up, though it is not possible.

"I dont know." Vega steps farther into the room. Nova walks through the rows of frozen people, not all of them human. "We should search them, there might be someone we know."

"Maybe." Nova says. In front of her is the frozen body of Cara Dune. "Found one."

Nova checks Cara's vitals on the side of the carbon freeze. Once she is sure that Cara is still alive she moves on. More faces and more people on either side as she walks.

"I think I know this one." Vegas' voice carries from the far side of the room. Nova is nearing the back, she feels like she should.

"That's good." Nova responds. In the back row there are three frozen people, two she doesnt recognize, but the third. Seeing the third is like an icy punch to the gut.

Nova goes to stand in front of that last carbon freezing, the one on the far right. She stands as frozen as he does.

"Din?"