Author's Note: Sorry for the late update, I hit a big period of writers block on all of my stories.
(P.S. Wow... C.E.W you just blew me away with that! I'm gonna use it! xD)
Temple Island - Ahch-To
Jarik POV...
As I stood at the landing site on the island, arms crossed, I couldn't help the small amount of frustration that I was feeling. Mara said they would be here a little while ago, yet they still haven't showed up yet. It's gotten to the point where I'm tapping my foot impatiently. I suppose maybe this bitter impatience could be a result of the dark side attempting to take me over.
Just another thing I have to worry about now apparently.
Hopefully though my idea of how to possibly reconnect the holocron's will work with Mara back. Maybe the Keeper has an idea of what I could do in order to find Ahsoka, or that orange dream world I saw with her younger self in it could also be explained. I really want to get her back, so that we could be together again, so Mara could have her mother back, so I could have my wife back, and to make sure I don't turn to the dark side and bring harm to anyone I'm close to.
The sound of a ship coming in for a landing gets my attention, and I look up to see the Knight Hawk approaching. The ship comes down to land right next to me on the flat rock, and the ramp opens up to allow Elita to disembark. I raise an eyebrow at her driving off, and Mara and R5 join her soon afterwards. Even so however, I take a few steps forwards and give Mara a welcoming hug, which she returns with enthusiasm, before looking up me.
"Are you alright Dad?" she asks in concern.
"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?" I ask in reply.
"You seem really stressed... and anxious," she says, frowning.
I don't respond for a moment, glancing away with a frown before sending her a reassuring smile. "I'm alright kiddo, just tired from trying to figure things out."
She still doesn't seem convinced, but I turn to face Elita before she could respond, crossing my arms.
"So... What made you want to come back?" I ask Elita curiously.
She transforms into her bipedal mode, making us all take a step back to give her some room, and then crouches down low to better talk to us.
"I just wanted to know if I could find the remains of my ship," she explains.
"Wouldn't it be destroyed after all of this time?" I ask her.
"Our ships are really durable thanks to our metal, so I think there'd be some bits left," she replies confidently.
"After deteriorating for six thousand years?" Mara asks doubtfully.
"Yup," she replies. R5 beeps a few times with his own doubtful response, and she looks at him. "Hey, my ship is more tough than anything you could hope to work on tinny."
R5 squeals in outrage and rolls over to Elitsa, and begins zapping her arm with his electric prod. Unfortunately for him, Elita was just too large and tough for his electric prod to have any affect, leaving him more frustrated, and he continues to try harder. Elita just rolls her optics, and I can't help but chuckle in amusement, Mara snickering as well.
"Keep going, I'm sure you'll get it eventually," Elita teases.
R5 beeps some rude comments at her, so I walk forwards and start pulling him away, much to his protests.
"Alright, alright R5, you can stop now," I tell him. He makes a frustrated retort and I roll my eyes at him. "Yeah, well I'd prefer you not to lose power over trying to electrify Elita here, since obviously that wasn't working."
He beeps in frustration, before rolling off and into the ship with some grumbling. I watch him go, shaking my head before turning over towards Elita.
"How are you planning on looking for your ship anyways?" I ask her.
"I'll just walk long the ocean floor with my scanners and see if that works out.," she shrugs.
"Walk along the ocean floor?" I ask dryly.
"Not like I need to breathe air," she reasons, and I shrug in agreement.
"How about water pressure? Y'know, getting forced down by the intensity of it," Mara points out.
"Like I said, Cybertronian metal is very durable, and I'm made of Cybertronian metal," she says, gesturing to herself.
"Fair enough," Mara sighs.
Phoenix Squadron - Atollon
3rd person POV...
Sabine was spending more time with Fenn Rau in his prison cell, playing a game with him on a hologram provided by Chopper. This was another one of her subtle attempts to try and convince Rau to join the Rebellion. So far however, he's been adamant on not doing so, much to her frustration. Still she continued on with her attempts to do so.
"Blade to cube face four? That's a showy move. You play with too much bravado," Rau comments with crossed arms.
"Strategy is an art, Rau. Maybe I'm lulling you into a false sense of security," Sabine suggests in response.
"There's nothing false about it," he retorts with a chuckle, facing the game determinedly. "Blade to cube face two."
The holographic piece moves, and Sabine blinks her eyes in a small amount of surprise while Rau smiles triumphantly at her.
"I win. I'll bet your game has slipped since you left Mandalore," he says, before frowning. "Why do you keep coming back here? You and your rebels have imprisoned me. My Protectors have orders to give you safe passage through our space. What more do you want?"
"Reset the board, Chop," Sabine requests, and he does so with a few confirming beeps. "I want the same thing we've always wanted. For you and your Protectors to join us, to fight the Empire."
"I made a deal with the Empire to survive. I made a deal with your Rebellion to survive. But joining you? My only true loyalty is to Mandalore," he states firmly.
"Well, I'll keep trying," she replies with a shrug.
"I admire your persistence, Sabine Wren. You could have been a Protector, if not for your traitorous past," he remarks.
"Oh, not this again," she sighs in exasperation.
"We could still work together now, if I were free. Not for the rebels, not for the Empire. And certainly not for the Shan's," he reasons, frowning in disgust at the last bit, and Sabine grimaces. "For Mandalore."
"Sorry to interrupt playtime," Zeb suddenly interrupts, walking up to the prison cell from outside. "But Hera wants you in the war room for a briefing. Both of you."
*:*:*
Sabine and Rau were up on the bridge of the corvette, along with the rest of the Ghost Crew, and Commander Sato. In front of them was a hologram depicting Concord Dawn, which was the subject of conversation.
"We've lost communications with the Mandalorian base on Concord Dawn," Hera explains.
"Rebel leaders are concerned your Protectors are setting a trap for us," Sato tells Rau.
"Impossible," he instantly disagrees. "My men are loyal to my word. Your safe passage through our system is secure. If you've lost communication, something's happened."
"I'll go check it out," Sabine offers.
"I should go with you," Rau suggests. "They're my men. I can talk to them."
"Wait. Isn't he our prisoner?" Zeb asks incredulously.
"More like a cranky guest," Kanan replies with an amused smile.
"He can go, but he stays in binders," Hera concedes, looking at Sabine. "Take Ezra and Chopper. Do a recon sweep of their base, then come right back. You are not to land or engage. And try not to wreck the Phantom II. We just got that thing."
"Understood," Sabine nods.
As she, Chopper and Rau start to head out, Ezra follows them.
"Would be nice to have Mara coming along," he says wistfully.
Rau and Sabine instantly come to a stop, the latter turning around to look at him irritably.
"Ezra!" she scolds.
"What?" he asks in confusion.
"The only idea worse than that, is if you brought him with us," Rau states while glaring at Ezra, who widens his eyes in realization, rubbing his head.
"Oh right... you don't like them... because of what Revan did-" he mumbles with a sheepish smile.
"Ezra!" Sabine, Kanan and Hera all exclaim in irritation.
"Sorry, sorry! Just slipped out!" he quickly apologizes.
Unknown Space - Classified Location
3rd person POV...
"Are you ready to put the plan into action?" Sylvia questions.
"Of course I'm ready," Third Brother retorts.
"Then let's begin phase one of the plan, and start drawing them into a convergence," she says firmly.
"Are you sure you can get the message out?" he asks doubtfully.
"I wouldn't be here if Father didn't think I was capable," she responds with contempt.
Third Brother sighs quietly in aggravation.
Protectors Camp - Concord Dawn
3rd person POV...
Sabine, Ezra, Chopper and Rau walk slowly through the destroyer camp of the former Protectors, which was still on fire, showing that the attack had to be recent. Rau kneels down to pick up a damaged Mandalorian hemet, looking at it bitterly with sadness.
"Precision detonations, laser strikes from above. Definitely a surprise attack by another clan," he states.
"I don't get it. Why would Mandalorians attack Mandalorians?" Ezra asks in confusion.
"It's complicated," Sabine tells him, looking over at Rau regretfully. "Look, Rau-"
"This is all your fault!" he suddenly snaps, whipping around to glare at her. "If I'd been here instead of locked away by you and your rebels, I could have prevented this."
"We didn't mean for this to happen. You know that!" Sabine retorts firmly. "They were my people, too."
Don't talk to me about your people. What do you know of loyalty? You've betrayed your people for the worst crime possible by working with a Shan!" he snarls furiously.
"I am not your enemy, Rau," Sabine says, taking off her helmet to stare back at him. "None of this makes any sense. Which of the clans has the power to do this? Who would want to? The Protectors are loyal to the throne. They recruit the best warriors from within all the clans."
Temple Island - Ahch-To
Jarik POV...
"Good luck," I tell Elita.
"I'll be fine," she replies.
"Says the metal lady walking into the ocean to find a crashed ship," Mara adds.
Elita rolls her optics in exasperation, but then lowers herself off the side of the land where the Knight Hawk is placed, stepping into the water. She sinks to about waist height in depth, and then starts walking forwards, going deeper into the water. We watch her go for a few moments, up until her head disappears, and I shake my head.
"Can't believe we'd be seeing off a large metal woman walking into the ocean like that," I remark.
"I guess it's not the weirdest thing we've seen," Mara points out.
"Fair enough," I admit in agreement.
Glancing to the side at the Knight Hawk, I remember that R5 is still onboard, and swiftly come to my grim decision. Looking down at Mara, I pat her shoulder and then gesture to the Jedi Village.
"Hey Mara, why don't you go on ahead to the village? I'll catch up with you in a few minutes," I tell her.
"Alright. Any particular reason?" she asks me.
"Just need to talk to R5, make sure the ship is still in good condition," I explain with a smile.
She scoffs in response. "Yeah, I'm sure he'll love that. He treats the ship like his baby."
"That's true. He learned everything from me," I say with a grin. "But I didn't give him everything I know."
"Figures," she replies, rolling her eyes. "Well, I'll see you in a bit."
She salutes me and then starts making her way up the steps, before coming to a stop, looking at me questioningly.
"Hey, is Zenna here by any chance?" she asks.
"I don't know, you call her," I shrug carelessly.
She throws her arms up in exasperation before continuing up the stairs, and I laugh quietly at her as she goes. Still, once she's far enough away the smile drops from my face to be replaced with a depressed and exhausted look. I look back at the Knight Hawk and then make my way into the ramp, entering the ship. Once inside I stand against the wall of the hallway and then pull something out from my belt, looking at it sullenly.
It's a small injection gun, which is caring a small device I managed to construct inside of the tube. Pulling back part of my cloak, I hold the gun up to the side of my neck with a grimace, shutting my eyes. I grunt quietly in a small amount of pain as I shoot the small device into my neck, and pull the gun away. Rubbing my skin to make sure it's perfectly fine now, I put away the injection gun and then take out another small device, which consists of just a simple button.
Making my way to the cockpit, I find R5 in there running a few tests on the ship's systems, and he beeps at me upon my entry.
"Hey R5," I tell him tiredly. "Can you do something for me?"
::Kind of busy right now Master Jarik,:: he replies with some snark.
"Not as important as what I'm about to tell you, and you can't tell anyone," I say seriously.
He stops his work and turns his dome around to look at me having noticed the seriousness in my voice.
::What do you mean?:: he asks.
"What I'm about to ask you to do is... gonna be difficult," I hesitantly admit. "But you can't tell anyone at all. Especially Mara."
::Why not? What's wrong Master Jarik?:: he asks in confusion and concern.
I take a deep sigh and look down for a moment.
"The dark side is corrupting me R5," I say quietly. "I don't know how long I have, but it'll only be a matter of time before I turn. Then all of you will be in danger."
::But you can fight it off. I thought you said that you defeated that 'darker you' or whatever, a few years ago,:: he points out.
"I know, I did," I nod in confirmation. "But Ahsoka is the only thing that kept me rooted to the light side. And without her... I can only resist it for so long. I'm doomed to follow Revan's path."
::Mara should know then! Why are you telling me this?!:: he beeps loudly in alarm and frustration. ::I'm a droid! I can't understand the Force!::
"No, I will absolutely not tell Mara about this!" I snap furiously, blinking in surprise and reeling my anger back in with a shaky breath. "I can't... she's already lost too many people."
::But what am I supposed to do?:: he demands.
"Take this," I tell him, handing him the small button device.
::What is it?:: he asks, accepting it with his clawed hand.
"...the switch to kill me," I reveal quietly.
::WHAT?!:: he squeals, shocked.
"Keep it down!" I hiss at him. "This switch is the last resort in stopping me if I do turn to the dark side."
::You're giving me a switch that's made to kill you?!:: he squeals again.
"I implanted a chip just now that'll activate once that button is pressed," I explain. "Once it's activated, there'll be twenty minutes before it kills me with a blue shadow virus toxin."
::Wh- wh- blue shadow virus?! How the kriff did you even get that?!:: R5 demands.
"A small vial was stashed on the Separatist ship we stole years ago," I tell him. "Ahsoka and I didn't know how to dispose of it safely."
::Why would you want me to kill you Master Jarik? I can't do that! Even though you're a kriffing jerk sometimes!:: he squeals angrily.
If he were a living creature I'd imagine he might be crying.
"Because you're the only one I trust to do it if I do turn to the dark side!" I state fiercely, holding his chassis in place. "I don't want to risk myself being the one responsible for killing hurting anyone I care about! Shaak-Ti won't be able to fight me off with her paralysis. And you and I both know that Mara, Kanan and Ezra are no match for me in a fight. This is the only way to stop me!"
::I- I can't!:: he protests.
"You can," I insist firmly. "You maybe have more personality than any other droid I've ever met, but you won't be held back by emotion if it comes to it. I trust you, to see it through if I do turn."
::Is that supposed to make me feel better?:: he retorts with angry beeps.
"No," I admit. "But you have to do this for me. I don't want to hurt any of you."
He remains silent for a long time, looking down at the button in his clawed hand.
"Can you do it for me?" I ask him softly.
::...I hate you,:: he finally replies.
I chuckle softly, but without humor, upon recognizing that as a 'yes.'
"Thank you," I tell him gratefully.
Protectors Camp - Concord Dawn
3rd person POV...
While Ezra and Chopper were being interrogated in the camp by Gar Saxon, Sabine and Rau were hiding on a nearby cliff ledge above the camp. Sabine was looking through her scope, surveying one of the Mandalorian troopers approaching the their shuttle.
"We're going back," she says determinedly.
"For Bridger? Pawns are meant to be sacrificed," Rau scoffs.
"Okay. One, he's not a pawn. Two, Ezra can take care of himself," Sabine retorts irritably. "But the Phantom has our base coordinates on board. We cannot let the Empire get their hands on that."
"You think I actually care about him or your rebels?" he replies sharply, before looking down bitterly. "To think the Protectors fell to these traitors."
"The leader... He looked familiar," Sabine comments.
"He should. He's Clan Vizsla, like you," he says, looking at her irritably. "His name is Gar Saxon. He wanted to be our ruler, but he had no honor."
"That's why the Empire put him in charge," Sabine states.
"You think you're any better than him?" Rau retorts. "Everything that's happened here is because of you rebels."
"Okay, look. You may not like it, but right now, we need each other," she retorts irritably. "Help me get my ship, get Ezra, and then we'll all get out of here together. Deal?"
"You want to get yourself killed trying to rescue your friend? Be my guest. All I care about is making Saxon and his traitors pay," he replies firmly. "But now is not the time for that."
"Well, I'm not after revenge. Just my friends," she says.
"You talk a lot like Marcus," Rau mutters to himself.
"What?" Sabine asks. "What are you talking about."
"Nothing," he replies stiffly.
Sabine frowns at him in confusion, but decides not to comment for now.
Temple Island - Ahch-To
Jarik POV...
Convincing R5 to literally hold my life in his hands wasn't easy at all, like I expected. Fortunately he eventually agreed to do it without me having to program that order into him, so I now had a fail safe. He also has a combination code to activate the switch remotely if I were to take it from him when I'm corrupted. A code that I made sure was something that I have no idea about.
With that done now, I head over to the Jedi Village and find Mara's hut. Just outside of it I can see her petting Zenna, who is purring in admiration and gratitude from the petting, her eyes closed and spikes smoothed out.
"Hey Mara," I greet.
"How Dad," she says, scratching Zenna's chin. "So what's up? Got an idea of how to connect the two holocrons again?"
"Yeah... but it's a risky idea," I admit uneasily. "I'd have to use the dark side from the cave to try and work it."
"I thought you wanted to keep yourself distanced from that though," she recalls with a frown.
"Well, unless Maul show's his face and decides he wants to work with us, we don't really have much choice," I shrug helplessly.
"Fair enough," she sighs in agreement. "I guess I'm gonna be using your holocron?"
"Maybe... no, maybe not," I decide. "I'm getting the feeling that whatever I saw doesn't want to show itself to you, so it wouldn't work if you do it. I'll have to use both sides simultaneously."
"Seriously?" she comments in surprise.
"Yup," I reply, popping the p.
"Then what the heck am I here for?" she asks with a raised eyebrow, crossing her arms.
Zenna squawks curiously, looking between us."
"You know how I'm trying to distance myself from the dark side?" I remind her, and she nods. "Well, without your mother here, I'm a lot more vulnerable to it. So I need you to keep me focused on the light side as well so that the dark doesn't overtake me."
"So... my job is to... act like a rope for you to hold onto when falling off a cliff? Except in Force terms?" she deduces.
"Basically."
"Huh. Well why don't you do one of the six or eight things you do best," she remarks.
I look at Mara weirdly with a deadpan stare full of confusion and exasperation, and she turns slightly red in sheepish embarrassment.
"Sorry... I thought that sentence worked," she apologizes.
I shake my head with an exasperated groan, muttering to myself. "Only my daughter could turn out like this..."
"You know you just insulted yourself right?" Mara points out with a smirk.
"Gah!" I cry out in frustrated exasperation. I slam my head against the wall of the hut with a huff, and Mara snickers at me in amusement. Zenna also manages her own squawking laugh, further annoying me, while also making more fond of the two.
"What is it with the women in my life," I mutter quietly, so they couldn't hear.
*:*:*
I open the door to my hut and step inside, instantly laying eyes on the Sith holocron sitting on my desk, right beside my Jedi holocron. I slowly approach the holocrons and then pick them up, holding my holocron in my right hand, and the Sith holocron in my left.
"...Shan..."
I banish away the whisper with an irritated thought, and exit the hut, heading over to Mara. I hand her my holocron, which glows a faint blue for a moment, and keep hold of the Sith holocron in my left hand, not by accident. Considering I have a robotic hand, it'll definitely help against any possible dark side influence the holocron may still hold.
"So, to the Mirror Cave then?" Mara asks me.
"To the Mirror Cave," I confirm with a nod.
"Let's fly there, I don't really want to walk that far," she suggests.
"Why? Getting lazy?" I tease her.
"No!" she retorts. "Just seems more practical."
I shrug my shoulders in response, having no problem with it, and a few moments later Zenna comes over after a mental call from Mara. She crouches down to allow us easier access, and Mara climbs into the saddle first, quickly followed by me behind her. Standing up straight, Zenna squawks and spreads her wings, and then flaps them hard to leave the ground, taking flight into the air.
Mara helps direct Zenna over in the direction of the Mirror Cave, and Zenna obliges. In no time at all we're at the correct spot, and Zenna comes in for a landing on the rocky surface just above the cliff ledge leading to the hole. Once there, Mara and I climb off Zenna's back and approach the side of the cliff. Zenna chirps for a moment and rubs her head against Mara, who gives her a quick scratch before focusing on the objective.
Standing at the top of the cliff, with the cold wind and harsh ocean raging around us, we look down at the hole where the black vines crawl out of, the darkness inside of it ominous as usual.
"Here's an idea, why don't you go through the Gathering again," I suggest jokingly.
"I've already got my lightsaber," thanks," she replies, holding her hilt up for emphasis.
Smiling lightly, I jump down the few feet onto the rocky surface, and Mara follows right after. Zenna walks up to the ledge to observe us from above as we approach the hole. I walk around to the other side of it while Mara remains at the front, so we're facing each other with the hole in between us. I kneel down into a meditative position on the ground and look up at Mara, holding my hand out.
"Holocron," I say, and she tosses it to me. "Thanks."
Placing the two holocrons on the ground in front of me, I look between them and the dark side hole for a few moments, hardening my gaze as I feel the dark side attempting to seep out over me.
Protectors Camp - Concord Dawn
3rd person POV...
Sabine wasn't happy at all, watching as Rau flew away on the Phantom II, leaving them at the mercy of Gar Saxon and his Mandalorian's. Cursing Rau under her breath in Mando'a, she turns around to face the approaching Mandalorians along with Ezra, who activates his lightsaber. Gar Saxon then flies overhead on his jet pack and lands in front of his squad, facing them.
"Sabine Wren," he states in recognition.
Sabine is surprised, but quickly offers a retort. "I don't know you."
"Well, I know you and all about how you've joined the Phoenix Squadron... among other people," he replies in disgust. "I also know that your mother is looking for you."
"Don't believe him," Sabine tells Ezra.
"Sabine never told you about her family? Well. She lies as well as you, boy," Saxon tells Ezra. "Her own mother stands with me and the Empire now."
"I doubt you gave her much choice, traitor," she snaps.
"She came around herself after you abandoned the Imperial Academy. Your cowardice shamed your family's name and standing. But what really ruined your family's reputation is that you've been working with that demagolka, Jarik Shan."
Sabine bristles at the accusation, yet also feels a sense of shame at knowing he's right. Ketsu Onyo was able to look past it, just barely, because they're friends, but since then it's not a heavily guarded secret that she's been working with Jarik.
Had you not disgraced your family by working with such a lowlife, and honored your commitment, you could be wearing this armor now," Gar Saxon continues, gesturing at his armor.
"Sorry, Saxon. I like a little more color," she retorts. "And let me make myself clear that working with him wasn't really a choice."
Sabine holds her blaster pistols at the ready, and the other Mandalorian's aim their weapons at the three of them.
"As if that's supposed to clear you of such a crime?" he scoffs in contempt. "You think yourself a loyalist? The Empire will make Mandalore stronger than ever before. Starting with the death of the last of the Shan's."
"Well if you're looking to kill him, the only one's capable of doing so don't care about you," she retorts. "Besides, the only one who's gotten stronger under the Empire is you."
"Out of respect for your family, I'll give you a choice," Saxon says quietly. "Give me Fenn Rau and swear allegiance, or you and your friend die."
The Mandalorian's begin to inch closer to them, and Ezra waves his lightsaber around warningly, glaring at their opponents.
"I yield," Sabine finally says.
"Sabine, don't," Ezra protests.
"We have no choice," she replies regretfully. She takes off her helmet and then hands it over to Chopper, leaning close to him and whispering. "On my mark, send feedback to frequency 337."
Sabine then turns forwards and kneels submissively on the ground, and Ezra deactivates his lightsaber. Gar Saxon walks forwards and stands in front of her, pointing his blaster rifle.
"Say it," he growls.
"I swear... That you're a fool!" she exclaims. "Chopper, now!"
Chopper sends the painful feedback through all of the helmets, causing the Mandalorian's to cry out in pain and clutch at their heads. Sabine takes her helmet back and puts it on, and then walks up to Ezra, wrapping her arms around him.
"Whoa," he says in surprise.
"Hang on!" she tells him.
Sabine then blasts off into the air with her jetpack, carrying a startled and surprised Ezra with her, who yells out.
"Whoa!" he exclaims.
Chopper quickly takes off into the air after them, leaving the Mandalorian's to suffer through the pain. Quickly though, the frequency dies out, and they all get back to their feet with pained groans. Saxon looks at them escaping, attempting to shoot them down with a few shots but misses.
"I want those rebels alive!" he roars furiously.
Temple Island - Ahch-To
Jarik POV...
"So how do you want me to go about doing this?" Mara asks.
"Once I start using the dark side, try and push the light side at me," I tell her. "Your influence should be able to keep something for me to grasp onto in case I slip to far."
"Alright, I think I get it," she replies in hesitant confirmation. "Are you sure the Sith holocron still works? It's pretty badly damaged."
I glance at it with an uncertain frown, cautiously probing it with the Force. A small amount of dark side energy suddenly bites at my probe, and I withdraw instantly, sighing.
"It's still got a small amount of energy," I tell her.
Looking up at her, I give her a nod to start, which she understands. Closing my eyes, I delve deeper into the Force, drawing on the light side first, and letting it fill me. Along with that, I sense Mara attempting to also use the light side, filtering her presence over to me. I touch her presence lightly through the Force to show I could feel her, and then turn away from the light, looking to the dark.
Instantly, the whispering darkness of the Force surrounding the area and the hole seeps forwards and into me, battling against the light. I grimace for a moment to keep it under control as it surges faster than I want, forcefully shoving the darkness into submission. Mara helps, also pushing back what sort of dark side she could, and I make sure to keep both sides of the Force in harmony.
Once that's done, the light and dark swirling through me, I stretch my presence out towards the holocrons, and float them in the air a few inches off the ground with the Force. The whispering call of Darth Traya attempts to pull at me, but I force it away, just focusing on keeping a balance between both side. Then, I slowly edge the holocrons closer together, and prepare for their contact.
The holocrons touch together, leaving everything still for a moment. I frown upon sensing nothing happening after several long seconds, and prepare to separate them again. However before I could, a surge in the Force suddenly overcomes me, and my vision goes blindingly white.
~Vision~
I blink my eyes to get rid of the shockingly blinding light, and slowly look around with a groan, finding myself laying on the rocky surface of the ground. Getting to my feet, I widen my eyes in surprise and relief once I see that I'm back in the rocky world where I met the Keeper, the dark sky still present, the wind blowing around the mountain.
"And so you have returned, Jarik Shan. Son of Marcus and Lara Shan," a voice proclaims.
I turn around to find the Keeper approaching, his hood still up, although his red face is visible.
"Keeper," I greet him. "I'm honestly a bit surprise I actually managed to make it back."
"Soul wished for it," he states. "A shame the judgement was unable to proceed before we were interrupted."
"Soul?" I ask, frowning.
"Yes, Soul," he replies. "If you will please follow me."
He turns around and begins to make his way up the broken stairs. Cautious and still wary, I follow him nonetheless, heading further up the cold mountain.
Concord Dawn - Mandalore Sector
3rd person POV...
Having escaped from Gar Saxon and his Imperial Mandalorian's, Sabine couldn't be more relieved, especially considering that Fenn Rau came back to help them. She was a bit disappointed about her destroyed jetpack though, but she's made deal without one for a while. She walks past Ezra and takes off her helmet, looking at Rau with a bit of surprise.
"I really thought you left us," Sabine says.
"I considered it" Rau admits. "Then I realized you were willing to die for your people, even though they are not Mandalorian."
Sabine sits down in the copilot's seat and smiles as Rau looks at her.
"You haven't forgotten our ways. That has earned my respect," he says.
"Don't take this the wrong way, you guys, but, uh, Mandalorians are crazy," Ezra interrupts.
"Crazy enough to join you," Rau replies with a chuckle.
"Honestly?" Sabine asks, gaping at him in surprise. "Even with..."
"Yes, even with... him... pulling the reins," Rau says, discomforted at the mention of Jarik. "But I suppose we share a common enemy with the Empire, so I'll join you. If you'll have me."
"I'd rather have you with us than against us," Ezra says happily.
"Welcome to the family," Sabine says with a smile.
Rau smiles back in gratitude and then pulls the hyperdrive lever, sending the Phantom II hurtling through hyperspace. Once that's done, he sits back in his chair with a sigh, everyone else following suit. Sabine however, still had something nagging at her mind.
"I don't get it though... When I found out that, Jarik, was working with us, I was furious, and it took me a long time to look past that. I still have some discomfort with him," Sabine says, looking up at Rau questioningly. "If I was that mad... then why do you seem fine with it?"
Rau glances down hesitantly, and Ezra leans forwards, interested in what might be said.
"You're right, I'm not as mad at the idea as any other good Mandalorian would be," Rau says in agreement, glancing at her. "That's because I know something about him that makes me unsure, something that not even he knows."
"What?" Sabine and Ezra both ask in surprise.
"What do you mean you know something about Jarik that he doesn't know?" Ezra asks in bewilderment.
"That's because my father, knew Jarik Shan's... father," Rau explains quietly.
Sabine and Ezra both gasp in shock, eyes wide at the realization, while Chopper beeps incredulously.
Unknown Location - Spirit plane
Jarik POV...
Along with a bone-chilling breeze at the top of the mountain, there is also some light snow coating the ground around me. I hold my cloak to keep it from blowing off, and to keep out some of the cold. Whatever sort of creature that Keeper is, must adapted to the cold, or he's just been here long enough that he's immune to it. Strangely enough though, he feels... human, despite his supernatural qualities.
Just what is he?
Regardless of that, I take a look around the place as the Keeper leads me through. These ruins are obviously ancient, yet power still seems to flow through them. Two large monoliths stand on either side of the crumbled walkway, a few pillars going along with it. Still, everything else is crumbled and destroyed by time, much more so than the Jedi Temple on Ahch-To.
"What was this place?" I ask Keeper.
"It is a shrine, built many ages ago to safeguard a hidden treasure. Among these builders were beings known as Celestials. You knew three of them," Keeper explains.
I come to an instant stop upon hearing that statement, staring at the Keeper with wide eyes.
"What? The Ones, helped to build this place?" I ask, shocked and in a state of disbelief.
"They, and other Celestials like them," he confirms, stopping as well to look at me.
I look around in bewilderment, resting my gaze upon a certain piece of crumbled stone. It may be barely recognizable but... the image on it looks almost exactly the mural of the Father in the Lothal Temple.
"Holy Force..." I breathe out, unsure of what to think. "Wait, you said they built this place to safeguard something?"
"One of the most powerful objects in the Universe," Keeper tells me. "Now come, we must move to the other side of the Shrine."
The Keeper continues on his walk through the Shrine, and I give one last look to the mural depicting part of the Father, before following after him.
"Built by the Ones... and whoever else," I murmur to myself.
When I first began my career as a Jedi, I thought it would just be fighting against battle droids and the Separatists, which later on became stormtroopers and Sith Lords. who knew I'd eventually come to the point where I communicate, and walk with god-like beings, and powerful entities?
Certainly not me that's for sure.
Well isn't that an interesting chapter? O_o so many things to speculate about, and so much to learn. I should totally make a petition to have Dave Filoni include Jarik Shan into his work. xD
Lol, I wish.
Hopefully I'll be able to get out more chapters much faster now. I know exactly what I want to story to be like for these next 4-5 chapters, I just don't know how to write it out, and that totally screws with my motivation. :P