So... Hi?

It's been almost two years since I updated this story, but I had a few chapters written before I went on hiatus, so why not post them?

However, I probably won't be writing any more chapters, just posting the ones that I had previously written. Also, I'm going to go back to the already-posted chapters and edit them.

Since it has been a few years, you might not remember what's going on, so feel free to go back and reread previous chapters!

Disclaimer: I do not own the Star Wars franchise.

(Published 4/10/21)

Chapter Thirty-Four: Anticipation

3 BBY

The rebels were busy for the next few hours setting up a perimeter of sensor markers around the base to keep the crawlers away. Kanan and Sabine were taking a break near a pole that they had recently set up.

"I think your fence is gonna hold," Kanan said, arms crossed.

Sabine ignored his remark. "You'd better go talk to Hera." She had seemingly been the only one to notice the pilot's reactions to the Jedi going to Malachor—the feeling of abandonment that Hera had.

He turned around, surprised, seeing Hera walking under the shade of one of the Atollonian tree structures. "Why? What's wrong?"

Sabine held her head in her hand, rolling her eyes. "Kanan, wake up! She might agree with your mission, but you're still walking out, and taking Ezra with you."

Suddenly, he realized… how had he been so ignorant? Taking one final look at Sabine, he sprinted after Hera.

The Mandalorian gave a small smile as she watched the events unfold.

"Hera…" came Kanan's voice, and she stopped in her tracks.

She blinked before turning around. "I told the Commander the site is secure, and operations can resume. Anakin and Rex should be prepping the Phantom."

"We're gonna be okay. You know that, right?"

Hera crossed her arms, shooting back, "You realize I know when you're lying, right?" Kanan looked down and sighed. Finally, Hera let out what she had been wanting to say all day. "Whatever you're facing, I wanted us to face it together."

Kanan smiled. "We'll see each other again. I promise." They embraced, and Hera wished it could always be this way, the two of them and their crew, their family, in a peaceful galaxy… but peace wasn't something either of them could fathom right now. Hera somehow knew that a Kanan was lying, but she simply stood there with him, and it was a good moment.

A moment of peace.

Ezra reached out for the spider, trying to grasp its mind… but the crawler only screeched, causing him to cry out in shock.

He scrambled backwards, then fell onto his back. He let out a sigh as the crawler retreated to the wilderness.

"Fine," he said, falling again onto his back. "I guess we won't be friends." Ezra stared up into the red sky, only wondering what was in store for them on the ill-fated planet of Malachor.

And then he saw the bird, flying overhead. Weird, he hasn't seen any of those on Atollon before. Any other time he saw those were when…

Ahsoka's face came into view, playfully smirking. "Ahsoka?" he said, jumping up.

"I see the base is coming along nicely," she said, motioning to the sensors. Ezra sensed a sadness to her voice, as if she knew that something was coming…

"Yeah! Um, these creatures almost ruined it, though. No matter what I do, I can't seem to connect with them," he complained, motioning to the nuisance.

Ahsoka tilted her head curiously towards the spiders, and Ezra followed her gaze. "In my experience, just when you think you understand the Force, you find out how little you actually know."

Ezra gave a little smile. "I don't think I ever understood the Force to begin with."

She chuckled. "We should get going."

Ezra took one final glance at the Atollonian skyline before walking off with Ahsoka. Maybe she was right.

Something was coming. He just didn't know whether it would be for better or for worse.

The bird screeched in the distance.

A group was gathering close to the Millennium Falcon's landing site. Even Sato had emerged from the command center with a suspicious look on his face. "What is going on? That isn't one of our ships, Skywalker."

"Luke and Obi-Wan are one there. Obi-Wan is hurt," said Anakin, feeling the Force surrounding them.

Padme breathed a sigh of relief. "You're sure, Anakin?"

Just then, Han Solo walked out of the ship. "Hey kid, there's a crowd here for you. Or maybe for me. Huh…"

Anakin rolled her eyes, but his face morphed to happiness when he saw Luke cheerfully walking out of the ship—clutching something in his closed fist.

Padme ran forward, pushing through the crowd to embrace her son even before he stepped off the ramp.

Anakin saw them exchange a few words, and then he made his way over. He caught Luke's eye, and his son frowned. Force, he hates me. For my outburst.

The crowd began to disperse. "Dad," murmured Luke, pursing his lips.

Anakin sighed. "Son. I don't want you to be mad, but I'm not blameless. I—"

"Rawrr!" came a Wookiee's voice, a low growl. On the ramp was Chewbacca, helping a limping Obi-Wan.

"Master," Anakin breathed, wanting to go over to meet Obi-Wan, but the older man caught his eyes.

"Anakin," he told him through their bond. "Go talk to your son."

He looked backwards. Luke was still standing there, looking sad, a melancholy feel surrounding him.

As Obi-Wan was led away to get medical attention, Anakin looked back at his son with guilt. "Luke. I just want you to be safe. I'm your father."

Suddenly, Luke surged forward and embraced him. "I love you, Dad. We were in danger, but I thought about you, and our family, and we ended up being okay."

Anakin stood there in silence, wrapping his arms around his son, and Padme chuckled. "You got into much worse scrapes in the Clone Wars, didn't you, Ani? I think you've been hypocritical." Anakin joined in the small laugh as his wife joined their hug.

Then, Luke held up his fist. Inside, a small, green kyber crystal. "No way," Anakin said, taking the crystal from his hand. And there was an eerie familiarity to it… "It's Master Qui-Gon's crystal, isn't it," he whispered.

"Yes," said Luke, eyes lighting up. "So I guess we didn't even have to go to Ilum in the first place, but it was a good experience. We can explain more in the mission summary, or whatever we need to report on."

"Sounds good," smiled Padme. They turned around to see Ahsoka standing there, Ezra on her tail.

"We're leaving," she said quietly. "As soon as possible." Then, a message only to Anakin that said, We need to talk.

He nodded and turned to his family. "Excuse me for a second." He ran off to where his apprentice was standing. "What is it?"

She leaned against her ship, running her fingers over the painted images of clone trooper helmets. According to her, she had bought this ship soon after becoming Fulcrum and had painted the clone helmets on in honor of all the brothers that had been lost during the war. In fact, she thought of many of those clones as her own brothers, which pleased Anakin.

And those clones had betrayed them—he had to remind himself that it hadn't been their fault, though.

"Anakin," she started hesitantly. "If I don't come back—"

"Don't talk like that!

"Please!" she said. "Let me speak. If I don't come back from Malachor, you have to continue my work for the Rebellion."

He let out a shaky breath. "I will."

Ahsoka continued. "I've talked to many people, and I'm not the only Fulcrum. I've recruited lots of people. I left a full list on your datapad. And… just don't be surprised when you see some, uh, questionable people on that list."

Anakin didn't question this, not fully knowing what it meant.

"On Atollon, there is a wise being that I met. If I don't come back—" He shot her a glare, which she ignored, "—I need you to seek him out."

He gave her a smile. "You're coming back, so I won't need to worry about any of that. Got it?" He embraced her, and she nestled her head in his shoulder.

Just like old times, except everything was different.

Kanan, Ezra, and Ahsoka left that afternoon. Anakin asked Hera if she could introduce the Ghost to Luke—to take her mind off of Malachor. Only a blind man wouldn't be able to see their feelings for each other. Luke came out of the lesson extremely pleased and the Twi'lek seemed to be a bit less angry.

Later in the day, Rex contacted Ahsoka on the Phantom. Anakin only walked in on the conversation via hologram by the end.

"You don't exactly outrank me anymore," Ahsoka was saying.

"In my book, experience outranks everything," the clone replied, using his popular phrase.

Sh chuckled. "Then I definitely outrank you."

There was a pause and Anakin decided not to walk in. "May the Force be with you." Rex sighed, sitting down.

"Hey," he said. Rex looked up, smiling. "They'll be alright."

"I really, really, hope so."

Anakin woke up in cold sweat, light of a crimson red lightsaber igniting in his mind. Ahsoka was in trouble on Malachor. He had seen it. "No," he whispered, looking at Padme, then grabbing a spare robe from their makeshift room. "No, no, it was a mistake for them to go."

He ran back to the bed and kissed his wife on the head, making sure he didn't wake her. He crept into Obi-Wan's quarters, reaching out to him with the Force. Sleepily, he murmured, "What is it this time?" A pause. "Malachor?"

Breathing hard, focusing on what he had seen in his dream, he replied, "Yeah. We have to go."

He left the room, bumping into a small figure. "I'm sorry…" He looked down.

Luke was standing there. "I couldn't fall asleep, and I heard you get up. Where are you going?"

"I'm going somewhere that you're not going," said Anakin. "And this time, I really mean it. Malachor was forbidden by the Jedi because it's dangerous. Even for a Jedi. Ahsoka and the others need help. I know it."

"I'll stay on the ship. I just wanna get out again," Luke said excitedly. Then he fixed him with an accusing glare. "Does Mom know about this?"

"What?" Anakin was surprised at this. "Uh, no, but does that really matter?"

Obi-Wan emerged from his quarters. "We don't exactly have a ship. It was too damaged to even bring along with Solo's ship."

"Sithspit," complained Anakin, then… "Wait, Solo's ship. I'm sure he wouldn't care if we took the Falcon out for a little fly."

Luke shook his head. "No way. He would never let you do that. Besides, taking the ship out in the middle of the night is a bit questionable."

Anakin ran his hand through his hair. "We've got to help them. So… we steal his ship. For one day."

Obi-Wan sighed. "Indeed, I knew you would say something like this, Anakin. But if they are in danger, we must take the, uh… necessary precautions." It almost sounded like his old master was breaking the rules. Anakin grinned.

Shut up, Anakin, came Obi-Wan's annoyed voice in his head.

Luke frowned. "I still don't like it, but if we can help Kanan, Ahsoka, and Ezra, we have to do it."

The faint hum of music emanated from the Millenium Falcon, although it was late at night, and Anakin almost felt like he could smell… ugh. Alcohol.

"Hey, Han?" Luke asked, causing the smuggler to jerk his head up. "We need to borrow your ship. Our friends are in danger."

Han's eyes narrowed. "You people are going to be the death of me."

A moment of anticipation…

"Take the kriffing ship," he finally said. "I don't know why I even deal with you rebels. But only for one day. Then I'm out of here." Solo stood up, rubbed his eyes, and picked up his bottle of Corellian ale. "Take care of her." Of course, referring to the Falcon.

"How can we take care of her? It's already a hunk of junk," muttered Anakin.

Han gave him a pointed stare. "One more mouth-off and I might regret my decision."

Malachor is coming up! Hopefully I'll be posting the next few chapters within the next few weeks. :)