C.E.W: Yeah that's a valid point. When setting up the Shaniverse I've been so eager to get to future events and dropping hints that it sometimes causes confusion... case in point: being with the Avengers. But this stuff has already been revealed so I can't really turn back now and set up the Shaniverse in a more proper chronological order... I'm not as sophisticated as the MCU I'm just one guy haha. Although I'm sure you can make the guess that the World Between Worlds will hold special significance for Jarik and Ahsoka later on...
Ryry-24: Yeah, Like I just mentioned in the above comment, the whole timeline does seem a bit confusing right now since I haven't really set up/introduced things in a more proper, chronological order. I'm just too anxious to get to these things haha. However I do have all of the details mapped out, so it's not like I'm messing up continuity within the stories. Later on in this story a major plot point will make much greater sense of your concerns in regards to the timeline of events.
Author's Note: So yeah, plenty of very reasonable and valid concerns about the timeline and chronology of the Shaniverse right now. Just wanted to reassure you guys that I do have the events all mapped out and explained, so it isn't just thrown in there 'just because.' For this reasoning I'm also gonna hold back on "Galactic Civil War" as well as "Alien Robots... and Fulcrum?" until I, at the very least, arrive at a reasonable point within the Legacy of Jarik Shan story that explains these chronology plot holes, just so that I can maintain continuity and not unnecessarily skirt around important plot points.
Your support and enjoyment of the Shaniverse continues to be wonderful! :D
Capital City - Lothal
3rd person POV...
Ezra and Kanan are both sitting on the rooftop of a quiet building on the outer limits of the Capital City, waiting. The former takes the time to look through his binoculars, zooming in on the sight of the Imperial Complex and the city around it, a sense of despair, sadness, and slight anger overcoming him.
"Look at all those ships. Ryder said it was bad, but this is worse than bad," he says unhappily, lowering his binoculars. "Lothal is my home, Kanan. I can't stand seeing it like this."
"So let's do something about it," Kanan replies calmly.
"If only Ryder would hurry up and get here," he responds bitterly.
Ezra then falters as he senses something cold through the Force, shivering slightly.
"You feel that?" he asks cautiously.
"I do," Kanan replies grimly. "Looks like we're not the only Force users on Lothal."
"Isn't that just great," Ezra scoffs quietly, becoming anxious. "I just hope it's not Vader... Come on Ryder, hurry up..."
Chopper then rolls out from behind the pair when a signal starts beeping, and he points his clawed arm in a certain direction with insistent beeps. Ezra looks over and raises his binoculars, spotting Ryder being chased by a pair of scout troopers on speeder bikes.
"There he is! And he's been spotted," Ezra exclaims.
They begin to sprint across the roof as Ryder speeds in on his landspeeder, causing a stormtrooper to duck out of the way to avoid being hit.
"Hurry! Get on!" he calls out to them.
Ezra and Kanan both jump off of the roof to land on top of the speeder, while Chopper flies down to land in the seat beside Ryder. They all duck down a wide street as the stormtroopers and a scout walker give chase, only to run into a turret gunner at the other end.
"Look out! Blockade!" Ezra warns him.
Ryder swivels the landspeeder around to avoid the turret shots, causing Ezra and Kanan to stumble around in an attempt to regain their footing. Luckily for Ezra he gains a perfect view of the trooper at the turret, and swiftly pulls out his blaster to shoot him with a single shot. With the speeder turned around, Ryder blasts off at top speed and shoots pasts the two scout troopers, who quickly swivel around in an attempt to chase them, firing their turrets.
Up ahead the scout trooper opens fire on the group, but Ryder positions the landspeeder at an angle. Working in tandem, Ezra and Kanan both get onto each side thruster of the speeder and whip out their lightsabers, slicing through the walker's legs as they zoom underneath it. The walker collapses with a groan and slams into the ground, prompting a laugh from Ryder.
"Sure is good to have you back on Lothal!" he comments.
"I think you're the only one who feels that way, Ryder," Kanan replies in amusement.
"Uh, guys? We got trouble," Ezra calls out in alarm.
Ryder and Kanan both glance back, the former using his Force sight, and spot a third speeder back zooming along with the other two. Astride this third speeder bike is none other than the Second Sister, her cape flapping wildly in the wind. She holds her arm out to the side and activates her crimson blade with a snapping hiss, letting it trail alongside her dangerously as she speeds after them.
"That doesn't look good," Ryder says uneasily.
"Oh great. Her again," Kanan scoffs.
"Uh, Ryder? What's the plan? We can't outrun these guys," Ezra says anxiously.
"Don't need to outrun 'em. Just have to get 'em up to 190," Ryder replies, facing forwards again.
"Does this thing go up to 190?" Kanan asks incredulously, deflecting a blaster bolt.
"Sometimes! Think fast thoughts!" he responds quickly.
Second Sister narrows her eyes underneath her helmet and then ignites her saberstaff's second blade. She draws her arm back and then swings it forwards with all of her might, throwing her lightsaber with a shout. The lightsaber cuts through the air like a dangerous buzzsaw, and Ezra just barely manages to smack it aside with his own green blade, the saberstaff returning to Second Sister's hand.
"I'm thinking fast thoughts! Nothing's happening!" Ezra exclaims tensely.
"Keep watching," Ryder replies sternly.
As the two scout troopers continue to fire their blasters, one of them begins to receive warnings on his bike, a beeping sound increasing in intensity. The trooper's bike engine then begins to overheat at dangerous levels, the engine actually glowing and sputtering with fire. Second Sister glances at him upon taking notice, and then also looks down when her speeder bike starts beeping warnings at her as well.
The first scout trooper struggles to regain control of his speeder bike, but it finally explodes in a violent blast that kills him instantly, much to Ezra's shock. The second scout trooper swerves away from the explosion but loses control of his back, meeting a harsh stop as his bike slams into the ground as well.
Second Sister snarls in rage as her speeder bike starts to overheat as well and, in an act of desperation and anger, she jumps off in the direction of the rebels. It explodes just as her feet leave the surface, and she raises her lightsaber with a cry, intending to slice it down on their speeder. However, Kanan reacts in time and thrusts his hand out to blow her away with a Force push. She fumbles through the air before managing to regain control, softening her fall just enough to where it wasn't fatal, however it did hurt as she rolled across the hard pavement with a sharp cry of pain.
"Those bikes are from the Imperial factory. I have people on the inside who build them to break!" Ryder explains triumphantly.
"You've infiltrated the assembly line?" Kanan asks in bewilderment. "I'm impressed!"
"That's the perfect cover to do some serious damage," Ezra adds in agreement.
"I wish I could take credit. Idea came from an old friend of yours," Ryder admits in response.
As the small group of rebels turns off of the street and into the wilderness, Second Sister gets back to her feet, watching them go. She holds her left arm with an angry scowl on her face, narrowing her eyes at the group.
"Jedi scum," she hisses.
Temple Island - Ahch-To
Jarik POV...
"...Revan, you certainly seem like a punk."
I let out a sigh of exasperation as I browse through Satele's journal, reading more. To be honest though it isn't fully limited to her experiences, as there are actually a few passages from Revan as well. How that happened I don't know, but I can only assume that she found some things that he left behind and added them to her journal.
Right now I'm reading a little bit about his experiences with Mandalorians, mainly the time when he was working with Canderous Ordo to help retrieve the mask of Mandalore. I can only imagine how well the other Mandalorians were treating that alliance. Not to mention it's definitely a huge coincidence that Revan seems to be overlooking their hatred of him.
Because of course he would.
"...sort of... acts like me..." I grumble to myself.
It's funny because based on a picture I've seen of him before, Revan really does look a lot like me. Well, technically it's me who looks like him, but whatever.
Yay genetics!
I turn the page and read a little further, where Revan wrote a little bit about Mandalorian armor... yeah I'm bored. Reading passages about the metal Mandalorians use for their armor which is called 'beskar,' or 'vibranium' depending on what dialect is used, which is strong enough to resist even lightsaber blows for a short time. No wonder Sabine survived two blaster bolts being redirected at her, by Darth Vader no less.
I shut the book with another sigh and roll my eyes, setting it down beside me and running a hand through my hair. Honestly, why in the universe did Revan decide to make an entry about freaking Mandalorian metal and armor as if he were some educational teacher?
Kriff it all, I'm bored!
One would think that'd I'd relish in the opportunity of not having to worry about Sith, the Empire, or just simply people trying to kill me all the time. However I'm no longer a kid glad to have no real responsibilities for the time being. Instead, all this is turning out to be for me is just plain boredom, with nothing to really do or focus on.
"I need to punch more stormtroopers," I sigh tiredly.
I guess being involved in war all my life makes to hard to imagine doing anything else. I just can't sit around doing nothing anymore! Maybe I should now take this time to remove my suicide chip...
Not like I have anything else to do.
Imperial Complex - Lothal
3rd person POV...
Second Sister wrenches her arm away from the medical droid after it gave her a shock during its check up. She then waves it off to end its job and stands up from the metal table, placing her helmet back over her head. The helmet clicks into place with a hiss, the red light beam in the front of her mask lighting up once more. She sighs in content at the anonymity it gives her, allowing her to better work her position with silent intimidation.
"Having troubles in your work?"
Whipping around, Second Sister silently groans to herself in anger at the sight of Grand Admiral Thrawn in the doorway of the medical station, walking in with his hands behind his back. He's a slippery, formal, and calm as ever, and she absolutely despises him for it, as he's constantly giving off the annoying persona of authority and smugness. Still, even she has to give credit where creidt is due; Thrawn is a brilliant strategist, and there is a reason he has the position of Grand Admiral.
"Grand Admiral Thrawn," she greets stiffly, narrowing her eyes at him. "It's not wise to sneak up on an Inquisitor."
"I see the value in that advice," he calmly nods in reply, and she remains silent. "I've received reports that you encountered the two Jedi from Phoenix Squadron today."
"I did, in a small skirmish," Second Sister responds after a moment's hesitation. "There is something I need to report."
"Then perhaps you can explain directly to me why you failed to capture them," another voice interrupts.
Second Sister flinches, fear running down her back at the sound of the deep, menacing voice. She turns to her left to see Darth Vader standing in the doorway, his presence exuding dominance and fear the likes of which can only be contested by the Emperor himself. The constant echo of his cold, mechanical breathing only adds to his imposing figure.
"Lord Vader," she greets him, bowing her head out of respect. "I do have an explanation for you."
"Do tell, Second Sister," Vader says coldly.
She winces once more at his booming voice but responds to the best of her ability, looking at both Vader and Thrawn.
"I was chasing the Jedi through the outskirts of the city with two other scout troopers, using speeder bikes in the pursuit. However, all three of our bikes malfunctioned prematurely without warning, cutting our chase short. I was unable to continue without proper equipment," Second Sister informs them.
"Malfunctioned?" Thrawn asks curiously.
"Yes. The engines exploded," she explains.
"You were halted by a simple speeder bike malfunction?" Vader asks, displeased.
"No just a simple malfunction, my Lord," she replies. "The bikes were sabotaged."
"That is troubling to hear, and also coincides with recent information I've gathered," Thrawn remarks thoughtfully, turning towards Vader. "The vehicles that are assembled at the factories here on Lothal malfunction at a rate far higher than that of others, most likely due to poor craftsmanship, or even sabotage."
"Then this is an issue for the Imperial military," Vader decides, looking over at Thrawn. "Investigate the factories to root out the cause. You may also continue work on your project in Section A-2, as the Emperor has given you permission to do so."
"Of course, Lord Vader. I will begin my work immediately," Thrawn says, departing from the room.
"Inquisitor," Vader adds, and she tenses up in response. "Due to the circumstances of this event, the blame for such failure cannot be laid upon you."
"Thank you my Lord," she replies, relaxing slightly in relief.
"However, I will not be as merciful in the future," Vader replies in warning, pointing a finger at her. "These rebels are the key to locating Jarik Shan, and there can be no tolerance for further error."
"I understand, Lord Vader," she says, gritting her teeth.
Vader then leaves the room with a flourish of his cape, leaving the Second Sister to her thoughts. Scowling with rage, she nevertheless releases her fury with a sigh of anger, leaving the room a few moments afterwards.
Temple Island - Ahch-To
Jarik POV...
As I make my way down to the Jedi village where Mara should be hanging out, I take a moment to observe the landscape once more.
Porgs flap around and give shrill cries every so often, otherwise staying in their nests, while Terrible Terrors either mind their own business perched on rocks, or fight over some fish they snatched from the water. Despite having lived here now for several years, the peaceful and natural landscape never ceasing to amaze me with how tranquil it feels compared to the rest of the galaxy.
I slowly bring my head up to brush it along the side of my neck, sighing as I think about the chip implanted there once more. Looking back on it now I really was kind of messed up, and I forget the reason why we didn't just destroy that substance of blue shadow virus that we found the moment we laid eyes on it. Oh well.
Reaching the village I take a moment to look around, spotting Mara sitting near the cliff side with a datapad in hand, Zenna snoozing beside her.
"Hello Mara," I say cheerfully, sitting down beside her.
"Hey Dad," she replies. "What's up?"
"Not too much... well actually there is something. I need to leave for a day or two and meet up with Senator Organa," I inform her. "There's something I need to talk to him about."
"About what?" she asks curiously, looking up from her datapad.
"Nothing too important..." I reply, but she cuts me off.
"It's important if you have to go meet him personally instead of, I don't know, calling him?" she points out, raising an eyebrow.
"Fair enough," I admit, rolling my eyes.
"So when are we leaving?" she asks, before narrowing her eyes at me. "Oh wait, you're not taking me huh?"
"That's correct!" I confirm with a grin, although she scoffs. "On a serious note, though, it's more of a confidential secret. It's not necessarily about the Rebellion, but it does involve him."
"You're just being overprotective again," she accuses me.
"Also true," I reply, nodding. "But this is also just something you don't really have to bother yourself with. All I'm doing is meeting the Senator, talking for a bit, and then coming back. I doubt you'd enjoy yourself with that."
"But I'm bored!" she whines.
"Hah!" I exclaim in laughter. "So am I... but you have friends here remember? You haven't really been hanging out with them as much as I thought you would."
Mara glances away sheepishly.
"Oh... yeah. Right," she admits.
"Tell you what; I go talk to Bail, and while I'm gone you go fly off to Berk and do whatever it is you guys do with each other. Deal?" I suggest.
"Alright, sure. Sounds reasonable," she nods in agreement.
Relief rushes through me as I hear that, glad that I don't have to tell Mara about my suicide chip. I smile at her and pat her on the shoulder, standing up.
"Great! So I'll see you in a day or so," I tell her.
"Wait, you're leaving now?" she asks in surprise.
"Yeah. Were you expecting me to wait or something?" I ask her.
"Right. What was I thinking?" she replies in a sarcastic deadpan.
Imperial Factory - Lothal
3rd person POV...
Ezra, Kanan and Chopper enter the Imperial factory along with an old family friend of Ezra, Morad Sumar, who works at the factory as a double agent to sabotage construction. Chopper is disguised with his Imperial paintjob while Ezra and Kanan are wearing stolen worker uniforms. The four of them line up with the other workers assembled in the large hangar amidst several vehicles, while stormtrooper guards keep watch.
Ezra then glances over as Agent Kallus walks forwards, he and Lieutenant Lyste flanking Governor Pryce. They remain in their cover as Governor Pryce turns to Kallus, issuing an order.
"Agent Kallus, make sure the workers are all present and accounted for," she tells him.
"Yes, Governor Pryce," he replies, a hint of bitterness in his voice.
"Kallus has a new boss," Ezra remarks with some amusement. "Must be the one Sabine told us about."
"Look sharp. This factory is being honored by a surprise visit from Imperial High Command," Kallus informs the workers.
Kallus, Lyste, and Pryce all turn around and stand at attention as the new figure emerges, walking forwards at a slow, even pace. He reveals himself to be none other than Grand Admiral Thrawn, wearing his recognizable white uniform with blue skin, accented by his blood red eyes.
"Thank you for the introduction, Agent Kallus. My visit is not an honor, however, but an investigation," Thrawn states in a subdued tone.
"Thrawn," Ezra murmurs in recognition, not forgetting what happened on Ryloth, as well as Mara's warnings about him.
"Vehicles assembled in this factory malfunction at a rate far higher than that of others. I believe poor craftsmanship is to blame, and it has cost your Empire troops and missions. This will not be tolerated," Thrawn states in clear displeasure.
As Thrawn walks along the line of assembled workers, he comes to a stop in front of Ezra, turning to look at him. Ezra tenses up anxiously and flickers his gaze between Thrawn and the floor, fearing that he'll be recognized. However the tense moment passes when Thrawn turns away from Ezra and instead looks back at Morad.
"Worker 5473. You were pressed into the Empire's service?" he questions.
"Yes, sir. After losing my farm," Morad replies, a bit unsettled.
"Do you stand by your work?" he asks him.
"I do," he responds after a moments hesitance.
"This 624-AVA is the last bike you personally inspected and assembled," Thrawn states, gesturing towards a speeder bike set on display. "Please, demonstrate for me how quickly it can achieve full speed."
Morad hesitates in fear and glances back, and Ezra realizes the problem, horrified. Morad helped in the construction of this speeder bike so that it would malfunction when used in combat by the Empire. But if he uses it now... it'll explode against him!
"We don't have all day," Thrawn adds dangerously, glaring at him.
A stormtrooper moves forwards and grabs Morad's arm, pulling him past Thrawn and shoving him over to the speeder bike. Ezra steps forwards in response with a pained and fearful expression on his face, but Kanan wisely pulls him back.
"Back in line," a stormtrooper snaps, noticing his movement.
Morad is pushes towards the speeder bike and looks at it uneasily, slowing walking forwards. Hesitantly he climbs into the seat, and once he does the stormtrooper backs off. Grabbing the controls, Morad begins to power up the speeder bike to what would be a high speed, constantly watching the monitor. Soon enough the engine begins to glow brightly as a sign of it overheating, much to his alarm.
"Something's wrong. It's overheating!" Morad says anxiously. "Gonna have to shut it down."
"No," Thrawn replies with a cold gaze. "The demonstration is not yet over."
Pressing a few buttons on his datapad, Thrawn overrides Morad's control of the speeder bike and charges it up to full speed, the monitor beeping dangerously at critical levels.
"I can't stop it!" Morad cries out fearfully. "NO-"
His yell is cut short as the engine blows up violently, killing Morad within seconds. Ezra gasps in horror as the speeder bike explodes, and a charred and ruined workers helmet clatters to the ground in front of the group. Kallus widens his eyes in horror at the sight, whereas Lyste watches in fascination and Governor Pryce smirks in cruel satisfaction. Several of the workers cry out in horror and fear, and Thrawn turns to face them with a stern gaze.
"Now that I have your attention, know this. Whatever you build here you will test personally," he warns them coldly, before brushing off a bit of dust from his uniform carelessly. "I expect your malfunction rate to drop substantially."
Ezra growls with fury and moves forward, but Kanan grabs his shoulder and pulls him back, much to his frustration.
"See to it that no one leaves or enters the facility," Thrawn tells Pryce. "I wish to inspect the line for sabotage."
He, Kallus and Pryce begin walking away while Lieutenant Lyste stays behind, turning towards the stormtroopers and assembled workers.
"Hold them here. The factory is on full lockdown," he orders.
Kanan quietly pulls out his comlink and keeps it hidden from the Imperials, lifting t to his head.
"Ryder. Get word to Hera. We're trapped inside and need help," he whispers urgently.
Chopper beeps in response, and Ezra deduces the reasoning grimly.
"They've already jammed the comms," he says bitterly.
Grand Admiral Thrawn marches at a calm pace through the factory as he inspects the vehicles assembled, Agent Kallus and Governor Pryce flanking him.
"Grand Admiral, you don't think the rebels have infiltrated section A-2 as well, do you?" Pryce asks doubtfully. "The secrecy of that project is-"
"Is imperative. Which is why I've ordered anyone attempting to enter the area without my personal code to be terminated on sight," he replies firmly, glancing at her to express some disappointment. "You should not have compromised security here by hiring locals."
"This factory has quotas to meet," Pryce explains defensively.
"Indeed it does, but you forget that the rebels are also resourceful in their methods," Thrawn replies sternly. "Even Jarik Shan himself requires some way of gathering information, perhaps through the work of spies."
Kallus tenses up briefly but continues walking in a formal march, using his training and experience to hide his unease about the comment. To brush it off he continues with the subject of conversation.
"I can question the workers, but I won't know if they're lying without more information about this new project," he offers in suggestion.
Governor Pryce looks at him with a brief warning glare before responding in contempt.
"All you need to know is that the Admiral has a new fighter initiative here," she states simply.
"A new fighter?" Kallus asks in confusion, and their group comes to a stop. "Difficult to see how one small ship will change much."
"Agent, victory and defeat are often determined by the smallest detail," Thrawn replies, turning to face him. "For example, take this walker."
The three of them look up at the scout walker they came to a stop underneath, and Thrawn narrows his eyes momentarily. Turning around he surveys the room and lays eyes on a nearby factory worker.
"Is this your work?" he questions.
"Yes, sir. I oversaw its construction," he responds.
"Have the walker step forward," Thrawn says, turning to Kallus.
Kallus frowns but does as ordered, pressing a few buttons on his datapad. The walker swivels its 'head' around a few times and then steps forwards. Immediately a problem arises as the walker stumbles on its steps, moving uncontrollably and toppling forwards. Workers cry out in alarm as it falls forward while Thrawn, Kallus and Pryce step out of the way and watch it fall.
The walker hits the ground with a booming thud, and Thrawn turns his head to glare at the worker responsible. The worker backs up nervously while two stormtroopers aim their blasters at him, and Thrawn gestures to them with narrowed eyes.
"No, no. It wasn't that one. It was the one next to it!" the worker protests desperately.
Rebel Hideout - Lothal
"The factory's on full lockdown. Communication is jammed. I can't reach Ezra and Kanan. The new Imperial in charge is pretty thorough. Didn't catch his name, but I hear he has red eyes," Ryder informs Hera.
"Grand Admiral Thrawn," Hera realizes grimly.
"Before the mission we also had a quick run in with one of those red blades I've heard about," he adds.
"An Inquisitor," she identifies for him.
"That can only be the Second Sister," Sabine adds from beyond the hologram's sight. "She's tough to take down too."
"My team will attack the Imperial compound's east gate," Ryder suggests. "It's the weakest point, so this Thrawn might expect it. But at least it'll keep his eyes off the factory for a bit."
"Very well Ryder, but be careful. Thrawn is smart, and if he's working with an Inquisitor then that's an extremely dangerous pairing," Hera warns him.
"I'll keep that in mind," he replies.
Polis Massa - Outer Rim Territories
Jarik POV...
The warped view of space returns to normal as the Knight Hawk pops out of hyperspace. Directly in front of me is a large asteroid field, one of the largest asteroids carrying the hidden facility of Polis Massa, which is run by Senator Organa. R5 beeps up at me, and I spare him a glance before responding.
"It has been a while," I say in agreement.
A pair of A-Wing fighters then make their way over to us, swiveling around to flank the Knight Hawk on either side, guns at the ready.
"Unidentified vessel, you have entered a private sector of space. State your business," a pilot orders.
"This is Fulcrum responding. Sending in clearance codes," I reply.
R5 swivels his arm socket in the astromech port, delivering the codes. We wait for a bit before the pilot responds.
"Alright, your code checks out. Welcome back sir," he says. "Senator Organa has hangar bay 6 on standby for your arrival."
"Thank you," I tell him in response, ending the transmission.
The A-Wings ever off as I fly the ship in the direction of hangar bay 6. Spotting it near the edge of the facility I slowly bring the Knight Hawk in for a landing, the hangar's shield replacing itself once I'm through.
Shutting the ship down, I get up from my chair and make my way to the exit with R5 following behind me. I press the button to open the entry ramp and then step out into the hangar, finding two familiar faces waiting for me.
Senator Organa stands patiently as I approach him, his senator robes and cape still looking the same as ever and portraying his status. He's gotten older in recent years with his hair and beard now sporting several streaks of gray, and more wrinkles adorn his face; his eyes however still carry the same sparkle of kindness he's always had, although hiding the stress and sadness behind them. By his side is a familiar blue and silver astromech droid, who's appearance has not changed at all since I last saw him.
"It's good to see you again Jarik," Bail greets warmly.
"You as well Senator," I reply with a small smile.
We share a quick hug before Bail turns and gestures to the astromech droid.
"I'm sure you remember Artoo," he adds.
R2-D2 trills with excited beeps as he looks up at me, rocking on his treads, and I smile down at the droid.
"I definitely remember him," I confirm with a nod.
R5 then rolls forward and confronts Artoo, beeping insistently. Artoo beeps back in kind, the two already getting themselves into a bit of another quarrel with each other, although I could pick up on the hidden friendship they both held with each other.
"And so does R5 of course," I say jokingly.
"Certainly," Bail smiles in response before becoming more serious, turning to me. "So what is it exactly that you wished to speak to me privately about?"
"It's a more sensitive subject," I admit with a sigh. "I'll explain while we head over to your office."
"Of course," he replies.
He gestures down a nearby hallway and leads me along, R5 and Artoo both following behind us and beeping in conversation with each other. As we walk down the hallway we pass by the occasional worker or rebel operative, and a good number of them all stare at me with looks of awe and amazement. I do my best to ignore my 'hero' status and begin talking instead.
"So like I said, this is more sensitive, and I'd prefer to keep it quiet. Which is why I came to you," I tell him.
"Do you have information that we can't risk the Empire knowing about?" Bail asks curiously.
"No, it's not related to the Empire at all, actually," I admit.
He frowns in confusion, and I take a deep breath before delving into my explanation, a little hesitant on revealing the full story.
"A little while back I began to lose myself to the dark side due to the influence of a Sith holocron. I'm good now, so you don't need to worry about that. But before I realized the cause, I was afraid of turning and felt like I would inevitably lose myself. So in order to prevent me from causing any harm 'when' I did turn..." I trail off, making a face before continuing. "...I gave myself a kill switch."
By this point we've reached his office and walked inside, to where he stops and turns to face me with a bewildered expression.
"A kill switch?" he questions cautiously, his expression morphing more to one of disbelief and horror as he realizes what I meant. "You created something for you to use to commit suicide?!"
"It's a chip implanted in my neck," I tell him, pointing at the area. "It's... got traces of the blue shadow virus in it. Ahsoka and I discovered the substance when we acquired the Munificent cruiser."
Bail stares at me incredulously with wide eyes, shaking his head after a short period of silence.
"That's just... that's just insanity!" he exclaims. "Why would implant a chip like that for killing yourself?!"
"At the time I wasn't thinking straight, I just..." I break off with a sigh, crossing my arms. "I thought me turning to the dark side was inevitable, and I couldn't bare the idea of hurting everyone around me. Because when you think about it, if I were to decide to go against the rebellion right now, who would have the power to stop me? Kanan, Ezra, Mara, Shaak-Ti, they're the only ones who would be capable of challenging me in battle, and I know for a fact that I outclass all of them. And I just... I couldn't take that risk."
R5 and Artoo had gone silent during the conversion, recognizing how serious it was, and Artoo lets out a low, long beep of concern. Bail stares off in his thoughts for a second before turning to face me again.
"Who else knows about this?" he asks quietly.
"No one except R5. I entrusted him with the kill switch, since I doubted anyone else would be willing to do what was necessary if needed," I inform him grimly. "Mara definitely would've gone insane if she found out I did this."
"...I see your dilemma then," Bail says softly. "I don't approve of or understand why you would ever think to such an extreme, but I realize you were in a stressful position. I'm assuming you're here to get the chip removed?"
"Yes. There's no one else I'd trust to have the resources and the willingness to keep it quiet," I confirm.. "I don't want the others to know, since they would definitely go crazy and get upset."
"That, I can understand. You've rethought your position, and want to move past the whole ordeal now," he replies, nodding his head. "Very well. It's a good thing you had the foresight to come here, since there are medical staff available that can perform an operation for what you need."
"Thank you, Bail. This really means a lot," I sigh in relief, smiling gratefully at him.
"Thank me once we remove that blasted chip from your neck," he remarks in response. "I'd rather not have to deal with another blue shadow virus outbreak."
"Yeah, that would be nice," I say in agreement.
Imperial Complex - Lothal
In his office, Thrawn is standing silently with a hand to his chin, analyzing the various forms of art and images scattered around him. Some of the images include Mandalorian graffiti art, the helmet of a Jedi Temple Guard, and pictures of Hera Syndulla and Ezra Bridger. Others also display the Transformers, dragon riders, and Jarik Shan.
Analyzing them all, Thrawn then focuses on the 'starbird' symbol, which is colored on the surface of a retaining wall. The artist is most certainly the Mandalorian, Sabine Wren. Formerly an Imperial cadet, Wren forcefully left several years ago with another Mandalorian, eventually ending up with the rebels. She's always displayed an enjoyment of art based on reports about her, and has even used it to assist in several missions. The starbird symbol is one of the most common pieces of artwork that Wren leaves behind, as a symbol of their cause and commitment. Many of these symbols happen to be on Lothal, indicating a special significance...
The door to Thrawn's office opens, allowing Agent Kallus and Lieutenant Lyste to enter. The come to a stop in the office and watch him, becoming a bit confused and uneasy when he doesn't respond to them, Lyste especially growing nervous.
"Sir?" Lyste asks cautiously.
"Lieutenant, what can you tell me about this?" Thrawn asks calmly, gesturing to the painting.
"Uh... It looks like a section of the retaining wall, sir," he replies in dismissal, confused.
"Ah," Thrawn comments, disappointed. "Agent Kallus?"
"It's the mark of the Phoenix Squadron," Kallus responds acutely. "A creature of flight rising in the flames. A symbol of their commitment to victory."
"It is that and more," Thrawn nods in agreement, pleased. "I've seen it everywhere, marking territory. It is a commitment, but to this world specifically. These rebels have an attachment to this place and will always return."
Thrawn turns his gaze over in the direction of a hologram displaying another symbol of art. Other Imperials will be clueless about its relevance, even Colonel Yularen. It's a red banner with a long rectangular shape, the end portion of it forming a triangle. Four gray circles are arranged in a line down the middle, all connected by gray lines, though the fourth circle is the largest and is connected to the edges of the banner by four thicker lines. It's a banner symbolizing an Order from the ancient past, dug up from the pages of Jedi history.
"And with every step closer we come to learning about these rebels, the closer we are to uncovering information on Jarik Shan," he states.
Kallus narrows his eyes slightly but remains silent and impassive, remaining at attention as Thrawn turns around to face them.
"So, have you found more subversives?" he asks.
"Actually, sir, we've... lost some," Lyste replies, coughing nervously. "Two workers went missing after your speech. We found their uniforms."
"I am confident we will locate them once we issue an alert," Kallus reassures him.
"No, I think not," Thrawn disagrees. "The defectors will have new disguises by now. They'll hide as technicians or troopers to gather data and escape."
"So you think the rebels are more than just saboteurs?" he asks.
"Indeed I do, Agent Kallus," he replies in confirmation. "After all, it is not an unlikely possibility that Jarik Shan himself has several agents scattered to assist in collecting data from the Empire. These rebels are after information, likely heading to section A-2. Secure it."
Polis Massa - Outer Rim Territories
3rd person POV...
Having just completed another successful relief effort mission, Princess Leia and her best friend Katooni had come to a quick stop at the Polis Massa facility on their way back to Alderaan.
With their ship refueling at the facility, they took the time to settle themselves down and converse with each other about friendly topics instead of just work subjects. It was while they were both walking down the hallways together that they stumbled across Leia's father, Bail, speaking with an unfamiliar man. It only took them both a moment to recognize the man as none other than Jarik Shan himself, filling the Princess with awe and wonder while Katooni was more stunned and in a state of disbelief, having not thought at all about the prospect of seeing him again, especially in such a random occurrence.
"Oh!" Leia says in surprise as they come to a halt.
Bail and Jarik both look over, the latter narrowing his eyes for a second before also recognizing them, gazing at Katooni specifically.
"Leia, Katooni! Wasn't expecting to see you both here," Bail comments in pleasant surprise.
"We... we just came back from another relief mission. We decided to drop by since our ship needed some refueling," Leia explains hastily.
"That's good to here," he smiles in response, turning to be more in between them. "Well, Leia, I'm sure you've already recognized him, but this is Jarik Shan. And, Katooni, I know that you both remember each other."
"Y-yeah, I do," Katooni stutters in response, bewildered.
Leia coughs to clear her throat and stands herself in a more formal position, straightening her back.
"It's an honor to meet you, Master Shan. I'm Princess Leia Organa," she greets.
"It's nice to meet you as well Leia. You can call me Jarik if you prefer," he smiles in reply.
Leia glances down momentarily, struggling to hide her embarrassment and sheepish expression at hearing him address her. Jarik the turns to Katooni, who tenses up in response and offers a nervous grin of her own, unsure of how to communicate.
"Uh... well... I wasn't expecting to see you again so, uh, so suddenly," she manages to say.
"I can definitely relate. You'd grown a lot," he remarks, smiling. "But it's still good to see you again Katooni."
Despite her uncertainty Katooni smiles back in reply, and the two embrace each other for a few long moments before separating.
"You too, Jarik," she says.
"I would love for you both to catch up, but unfortunately there is a bit of a timetable we have to meet," Bail interrupts apologetically.
"Of course, Bail," Jarik nods in understanding, glancing back at them. "I suppose I'll see you later then."
Katooni waves awkwardly as Jarik walks off after Bail, she and Leia both staring after him. When their out of sight Leia turns to Katooni with amazement plastered all over her face, gaping at her.
"Did that actually just happen?" she asks.
"Yeah... it did," Katooni replies, still stunned.
Imperial Factory - Lothal
3rd person POV...
Ezra, Kanan and Chopper continue rushing down the hallway towards the lift doors, the stormtroopers far in pursuit behind them. Reaching the lifts, Kanan begins jamming his finger repeatedly against button, his anxiety and frustration growing when it doesn't open.
"Come on," he mutters angrily.
Thankfully the lift door opens, but as they move to get inside they come to a surprised halt at seeing who's in there: Agent Kallus. They look at each other silently, Kallus frowning in a way that unnerves the two Jedi.
"You two. Come with me to secure the perimeter!" Kallus snaps at them.
Surprised at the order they falter for a second, but nonetheless step forward and enter the lift, closing the door behind them.
"Stop them!" a stormtrooper shouts just before it closes.
Thought still very tense, Kanan and Ezra both allow themselves some measure of relief at having avoided capture and recognition. That quickly changes when Kallus speaks up in a dangerous voice.
"Don't move, rebels," he warns them.
The two glance at each other and then whirl around, shoving Kallus against the wall. A few punches are thrown, and Kallus responds in kind in an attempt to defend himself, but they effortlessly overpower him and pin him to the wall.
"Listen to me! I'm Fulcrum!" Kallus exclaims.
"Yeah, right," Ezra scoffs.
"You want us to believe that?" Kanan adds mockingly.
"By the light of Lothal's moons," Kallus says.
Taken by surprise, Kanan lifts his helmet off of his head while Ezra raises the face mask of his own helmet, both of them wearing expressions of shock.
"The code phrase. He's Fulcrum?!" Ezra asks incredulously.
"Your friend Zeb trusted me on the ice moon. I saved Sabine Wren at the fighter academy, and now I'm trying to save you!" Kallus insist, pleading his case. "But you have to trust me."
Kanan and Ezra still remain silent and doubtful on the issue, but Chopper adds in his support.
"Your droid trusts me," Kallus points out.
"Yeah, that's not a good thing," Ezra retorts.
"Would it help for you to know that Shan personally reached out to officially make me an agent?" he shoots back.
"What?!" he exclaims incredulously.
"Fine," Kanan finally says in frustration. "You wanna help us so badly? We need to get a signal to our friends."
"Then we'll have to move quickly," Kallus informs them.
In one of the control rooms for communication, an Imperial officer was going about his typical business, doing their work in the consoles while two stormtroopers remained on guard for security purposes. Without warning the door suddenly opens, and Agent Kallus backs into the room while firing his blaster pistol.
"Watch out. They're rebels!" he cries out in a panic.
The stormtroopers move over to the entrance but Ezra and Kanan rush into the room and attack first, the former shoving Kallus against a trooper behind him with the Force so they both collapse against the wall. He then blasts the other stormtrooper with the Force as well, and when the officer attempts to draw a pistol Kanan shoots him with a stun blast. With the coast clear, Chopper rolls into the room while Kallus sits up with a groan of pain, looking up at Ezra in annoyance.
"You could've warned me you were going to do that," he groans in complaint.
"Where's the fun in that?" Ezra replies with a smirk, amused at being able to mess with him.
"Your droid can open your comlinks from this port," Kallus states, gesturing to it. "I'll provide the access codes."
To his surprise however, Chopper beeps back confidently and plugs himself into the port, stating he doesn't need them.
"He doesn't need them? This C1 of yours is quite efficient," Kallus compliments while getting to his feet, and Chopper replies happily in smug content.
"Figures Chop would get along with an Imperial spy," Ezra grumbles, deactivating his lightsaber.
After a few seconds Chopper beeps in confirmation, and Kanan pulls out his comlink.
"Ryder, it's Kanan. You there?" he asks.
"Closer than you think. We're about to hit the east gate, give you a chance to escape," Ryder replies. "You'll need to move if you want to make it out."
"We will. And thanks," Kanan replies.
"Make for the east vehicle pool. You'll find a walker there you can escape in," he informs them, and then looks around with a frown. "Now, I just have to make this look convincing."
"Okay," he shrugs.
Raising his arm, Ezra blasts Kallus with a Force push, and he cries out in pain as he slams through the glass of a holographic monitor, collapsing to the floor in a wild heap.
"Ezra!" Kanan admonishes.
"What? That is convincing," he argues, and they begin heading out of the room.
"Yeah, but I was gonna do it," Kanan replies in a quieter voice, groaning in annoyance.
"Well, if he's one of us now, you'll get your chance," Ezra says reassuringly.
Thrawn paces slowly through his office, a frown on his face as he surveys the information on his holopad. Maintaining his calm persona however he hands the datapad over the Governor Pryce and stares out the window.
"An unlicensed droid accessed the computer in section A-2. I can only assume that they have acquired my plans," Thrawn remarks in disappointment, frowning. "But something has changed. The rebels should have attempted to escape via the factory by now."
"Maybe they realize they're trapped," Pryce suggests.
"More likely they have found an unexpected ally. Or perhaps an expected one," he says thoughtfully.
"I'm not sure I follow," she replies in confusion.
"The rebels will attempt a different means of escape, and we must adapt our strategy accordingly," he states firmly.
Thrawn leans over his desk and presses a button to answer a call, and Lieutenant Lyste's voice filters through.
"Grand Admiral, there is a small band of rebels attacking the east gate," he reports. "I've deployed two AT-ATs. Should I send backup?"
"Yes, Lieutenant. Let's play their game," Thrawn says calmly.
Polis Massa - Outer Rim Territories
Jarik POV…
I blink my eyes drowsily, squinting in response to the bright light shining in my face. Moving slowly I sit up on the cot, blinking a few more times and bringing a hand to my head.
"How are you feeling?" I hear Bail ask me.
"Tired…" I reply, glancing at him and moving a hand to my neck. "Is it out?"
"Yes, the chip has been removed," Bail informs me, and one of the doctors beside him holds up the implant to show me. "We'll be sure to dispose of it completely so that we don't accidentally cause an outbreak."
"Fantastic. Thank you," I say gratefully, standing up from the cot.
"Were there any more traces of that virus that you found?" he asks me.
"No, that was all of it. Just a small vial," I inform him.
"That's good to hear," he replies.
I rub my neck where I can feel the batch patch over the place they removed the chip from, and begin walking out of the medical room and into the hallway with Bail right beside me. Now that the chip is gone it feels like some sort of weight was lifted off my shoulders. Not nearly as big of a relief as when I learned the holocron was to blame for my growing darkness, but still reassuring nevertheless.
"While you were having your chip removed, Jarik, I remembered hearing about a few, 'rumors', I guess you could say, that I think you should know," Bail says.
"What kind of rumors?" I ask him.
"As you're well aware, Emperor Palpatine, wants nothing more than to see you captured and killed," he informs me. "I've heard talk about Grand Admiral Thrawn and Darth Vader working together in order to discover your hiding place."
I turn to look at him in alarm, anxiety running through me at the statement.
"Working together? Are you sure?" I ask uneasily.
"I'm afraid so," he confirms grimly. "I understand that Thrawn may be just as dangerous as Vader."
"He most definitely is…" I murmur quietly, worried.
The prospect of having Thrawn or Vader hunting you down is scary enough. But to have them working together? That's a complete nightmare… Vader's raw power and limitless stamina combined with Thrawn's patience and strategic genius would be near impossible to defeat, for sure. Adding to the fact is that both of them know me very well in their own ways.
"Seems like things get more dangerous every day," I say grimly. "If they're working together then I can't risk participating in strikes against the Empire anymore, neither is it safe to remain on my planet for long periods of time."
"It is a troubling dilemma," Bail says in agreement. "Unfortunately, the grim reality is that everywhere you go seems to be at risk."
I nod my head in response, staring hard at the ground and thinking about what to do.
"I can still remain as Fulcrum of course, but I can't risk being in one place permanently for too long. And to an extent, neither can Mara," I say with a sigh.
"What is it you plan to do then?" he asks me.
"I think Mara and I will have to alternate weekly between Chopper Base and our planet. That way we can remain in touch while also not risking the prospect of being discovered as easily," I decide, looking at him.
"Very well then. I wish you luck in maintaining your secrecy," Bail tells me.
"Let's hope so," I reply.
So now I have to go back to Ahch-To and explain the situation to Mara, before traveling out to Atollon to rejoin with the Rebellion. Things are only going to become more stressful from now on, so I just hope that everyone can handle it.
At least now I don't have to tell Mara I gave myself a suicide chip, so that's a plus.
Chopper Base - Atollon
3rd person POV...
Sabine fiddles around with the controls on the holoprojector, working on decrypting the data sent by the others. Kanan and Ezra had just completed a mission where they were undercover in the Imperial factory on Lothal, just barely getting away with the help of Ryder and his team. Unfortunately they heard the news that one of their friends was killed during the ordeal, much to the teams sorrow.
Still, they had retrieved the secret data from the factory, so it was important to figure out just what it was they needed to worry about.
"I think I almost got the data decrypted," she murmurs while working.
Turning towards an astromech standing behind her she plugs in a data tape to its dome, and the droid immediately displays blueprints of an unfamiliar Imperial fighter design, catching the others by surprise.
"Whoa. I've never seen an Imperial fighter like that," Hera says with wide eyes. "Sabine, talk to me."
"Looks like some new kind of TIE interceptor, but this one has shields," she informs them uneasily.
"But TIE fighters never had shields before," Hera replies, surprised.
"Not to mention the extra modifications this ship seems to have added in," Rex adds, and Boil explains them for him.
"Missiles, extra cannons, and it also looks like they're planning to add a hyperdrive to it," Boil points out in bewilderment.
"Maybe that's why it's so secret," Zeb deduces.
"If they're actually building these in numbers, our pilots won't stand a chance," Hera says worriedly.
"And neither will the rebellion," Kanan replies grimly.
"How'd you get past Thrawn with these plans?" Hera asks curiously. "Someone's losing more than their job for that."
"I guess we can thank Agent Kallus. He knew Fulcrum's secret code phrase," Kanan informs them.
Hera raises a brow in surprise, the rest of the group bewildered as well. Rex and Boil both share a surprised look with each other while Sabine gapes at him.
"Wait, wait, wait. Kallus is Fulcrum? How does that even make sense?" she asks incredulously.
"Karabast..." Zeb mutters, rubbing the back of his neck nervously. "I must've recruited him! You know, accidentally."
"You mean when you were stuck on that ice moon with him?" Ezra asks curiously.
"Yeah, well. We didn't kill each other. So I guess we're friends now?" he replies, shrugging helplessly in response.
"Still, we'll use caution with our new 'friend' until we're sure we know what game he's playing," Hera states warily.
"He's playing the right one."
Everyone jumps in surprise at the new and unexpected voice, and it takes all of the two clone war veterans military training to not back away in alarm as Jarik and Mara suddenly appear right behind them. Mara snickers at their bewilderment while Boil rolls his eyes with a scoff, grumbling to himself.
"Way to make an entrance," he mutters.
"You can trust whatever Kallus has to say," Jarik continues to say.
"So you really did talk to him, like he told us?" Kanan asks in surprise.
"I did, and I've decided for myself that he's sincere in his change," he reassures him. "Like other agents, he helps relieve the burden of this area when it comes to gathering information."
"What do you mean others?" Ezra asks.
"You didn't really think one guy could handle all of the secret information for an entire galaxy wide rebel movement, even if said guy is a genius, all on his own did you?" Jarik asks him in response, raising an eyebrow.
"Fair point," Ezra concedes.
"Talk about ego," Mara murmurs about Jarik's statement.
"Heard that," he retorts, before looking at the TIE Defender schematics and crossing his arms. "So, there's a new class of fighter being assembled?"
"A dangerous one. If the Empire can mass produce these then we'll be at a serious disadvantage," Hera explains grimly.
Jarik narrows his eyes at the schematics, knowing exactly the mindset behind why Thrawn would go to the effort of producing TIE Fighter's such as this.
"He's always focusing on the little details..." he mutters.
Imperial Complex - Lothal
In Thrawn's office, Lieutenant Lyste, Agent Kallus, Governor Pryce, and the Second Sister as well were all gathered together while Thrawn gazed at the starbird symbol, listening to Lyste's report. Once the report was given he nods his head in Lyste's direction.
"Thank you, Lieutenant. Dismissed," he says.
Lyste stands at attention and nods his head before walking out of the room.
"Agent Kallus, I read your report. Several troopers confirmed your encounter with the Jedi. It was very helpful," Thrawn remarks, turning around to face him before pacing slowly. "You know, after analyzing the rebels' escape, it's clear to me they had help from one within our Imperial ranks."
Kallus did his best to remain stoic and calm in order to hide his anxiety at Thrawn's mention of a spy, unlike Governor Pryce who is filled with outrage.
"The rebels have a mole? Then all personnel must be interrogated. This spy must be found!" she exclaims furiously.
"Patience, Governor. Acting out of emotion will not serve us here," Thrawn replies calmly.
"This is certainly news to hear, Grand Admiral," Second Sister states with a hiss. "Lord Vader won't be happy to know your ranks are compromised."
"An understandable reaction, no question. But I believe Lord Vader would be inclined to agree in how we may gain an advantage from such a spy," Thrawn replies, beginning to walk through his office. "We must wait, and watch. And when we find our spy, and we will find them, we shall turn them from an obstacle to an asset. Wouldn't you agree, Agent Kallus?"
"Your strategy is without flaw, Grand Admiral," Kallus responds, feeling a bit uneasy. "As always."
Second Sister tilts her head to the side to glance at Kallus, narrowing her eyes underneath her mask, but otherwise doesn't respond. All she could sense was a brief moment of hesitancy from the Imperial Agent, though it could be for a multitude of reasons.
Nightsister Fortess - Dathomir
Hidden within the dark caverns of the abandoned fortress on Dathomir, Maul is sulking with bitter anger.
Ever since the events of the past few weeks have taken place, such as learning about the survival of Kenobi and facing Sidious, he's been angry. Knowing Kenobi is alive is one thing, but finding him is another matter entirely, something that frustrates him to no end. He's been looking for clues everywhere, desperate to uncover the old fool's location, but he had to grudging admit that Kenobi knew how to remain hidden. If the Empire hasn't found him after all this time, why should he expect any better? If only his 'apprentice' hadn't broken the connection between the holocrons, preventing him from seeing Kenobi's hiding place.
And then there's the other false trail...
Why would Mother Talzin lie to him? Why would she lead him to a place that was surely meant to be his death? She hates Sidious as much as he, so why would she want her own son to die at the hands of that betrayer?! No... it simply makes no sense. The only thing that could explain such deception is that it never was Mother that came to him, just an illusion crafted by Darth Sidious to lure him.
That must have been the case!
Maul growls angrily to himself and gets to his feet, pacing around the cavern. Despite feeling assured that Mother Talzin was an illusion, he's come to distrust Nightsister magic if he's not the causation of its use. It was only thanks to his other adversaries that he was able to escape Onderon, and apparently young Mara Jade was captured in the process. It brought him amusement to know that Jarik must certainly have been suffering a great deal through such a loss, especially so soon after losing Lady Tano.
Needless to say he was shocked when he heard of Jarik storming Coruscant to recover, and actually succeeding without casualty.
"Who's grown arrogant and weak now, Lord Sidious?" he sneers mockingly.
Maul admittedly found himself amused and sneering at his former Master for becoming so complacent as to believe he was safe in his fancy palace, that ruling the galaxy and letting his minions do his dirty work actually meant he had power. Oh, Sidious certainly holds great power, but he never came to fully respect or understand the struggles faced to acquire such things. It's why Maul was able to survive his injuries on Naboo all those years ago, and why Sidious could not.
Despite all this however, Maul still has no way of locating Kenobi so that he can finally end his miserable life. He snarls to himself, looking at the Nightsister coffin and several magic items scattered around. Fortunately there is a way of reconnecting to what the holocrons displayed so that he can find Kenobi, but he will require his 'apprentice' much more.
As Maul formulates the plan in his mind, he passes by a small storage room that houses some more personal items, some of which include the dark saber and an old set of Mandalorian armor.