Summary

Ahsoka and friends arrive to their destination in the Unknown Regions.

Jinn reveals the significance of the Sith location.

Ahsoka navigates to the planet.

Maul talks to Jinn about tactics and hope.

Ahsoka and friends go rescue Anakin while the 501st fight Dooku's droids in orbit.

The plan goes well until it doesn't.

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47.

When the ship arrived at the coordinates in the Unknown Regions, Ahsoka discovered a problem. They had arrived in an area of space composed of a large red gas cloud. It looked like a dark and dangerous storm. She saw flashes of lightning strike inside it. Ahsoka sensed that Anakin was somewhere inside, but she wasn't sure how to reach him.

Rex stepped beside her as she looked out the window and said, "So, the General is in there."

Obi-Wan said, "Yes, but where are we?"

Jinn answered, "Exegol. It's a Sith planet. It's also the place where the nexus is to cross over into another world."

Maul was intrigued and said, "If you know of this place then why didn't you say anything before?"

Jinn said, "I was hoping that Dooku would take Anakin elsewhere. Exegol is a dangerous place. I was planning on investigating Exegol after Bridger completed his training. The Darkness is strong here. I can feel it calling to me."

Maul said, "Yes, as do I."

Ahsoka said, "Then do you know how to get to the planet safely?"

The amber Jedi said, "No. I have never been to Exegol. I've only heard of it. We will have to trust the Force to get us through it safely."

Ahsoka didn't like the sound of that, but she knew that didn't have a choice. Her Force-bond to Anakin had led her this far. She had to trust that it would lead her farther. She nodded her head to Jinn and walked over to the controls of the ship.

"Step aside, trooper."

"Yes, Commander."

The clone didn't argue. He got up and offered Ahsoka his sit. However, instead of sitting down and taking the controls in hand, she remained standing and faced the windows. She closed her eyes and raised her hands and let the Force guide her. The controls came to life under her command and the ship started to move towards the gas cloud.

The team nervously watched as Ahsoka maneuvered the ship into tight spaces and blind sharp turns into the raging red storm inside the red gas cloud. Bolts of lightning shot all around them.

Maul approached Jinn and said, "Are you sure Lady Tano can do it?"

"Yes, I trust Miss Tano completely."

Maul didn't know what Lady Tano did to earn Master Jinn's trust. However, he knew that unlike the rest of the Jedi, Jinn was not so easily swayed by his personal feelings. However, he felt uneasy about landing on Exegol.

"Can I have a word with you in private?"

"Of course."

XXX

Jinn escorted Maul down a corridor to an empty conference room. He shut the door behind them. Once they were alone, the amber Jedi turned around to face him. The Sith looked pensive as he considered their options.

"I think we should keep our alliance to ourselves for the time being."

Jinn rubbed his beard and said, "Yes, I agree. You should try and appeal to Dooku. See if you can get close enough to spoil his plans. Perhaps plant a seed of doubt in his mind. Tell him he is not Sidious' first choice for apprentice."

Maul raised his brow and said, "Once again, I am surprised by your dark nature, Master Jinn. However, how do you know that I can be trusted?"

"I have seen any evidence to think otherwise. Besides, you owe me a debt."

Maul placed his hand on his thigh and said, "Yes, I do."

"Is there something else on your mind?"

"How do you do it?"

"Do what?"

"Keep the Darkness at bay?"

Jinn smiled mischievously and said, "I don't. The Darkness is a part of me, but it doesn't control me. Darkness is hatred. The Light is peace. And a little too much of anything isn't good for your health."

"Yes, but what keeps you from falling? Is it your sense of morality?"

Maul said the word morality like it left a bad taste in his mouth. Jinn found his distain amusing. Though, he thought about the question seriously. Jinn didn't consider himself particularly moral. It wasn't like he was a saint.

"I suppose there are lines I won't cross."

"Then you've never been desperate. When you have nothing then you have nothing to hold you back."

"You're wrong. I've been desperate. Alone. Hunted. Haunted."

"Then what kept you from turning Sith?"

Jinn met Maul's gaze with his amber eyes and said, "Hope."

Suddenly the door opened, and Ezra rushed into the room and shouted, "Ashoka did it! We made it."

Jinn patted the teen's shoulder and said, "Come on, let's not keep Dooku waiting."

XXX

As Ahsoka and her friends drew near the surface of the planet, they were immediately fired upon by Dooku's ship. It was hovering in orbit around the planet. A team of droid fighters started bombarding them. The bridge of the ship shook as they took damage from the attack.

Obi-Wan grabbed the railing on the bridge and said to Ahsoka, "Well, they definitely know that we're here."

Jesse said, "Don't worry, General. We can take it from here. You can take your team down to the surface and go rescue General Skywalker."

Obi-Wan said, "Alright, we'll contact you once we've found him."

Jesse nodded his head and said, "Good luck, General."

The Jedi Master replied, "May the Force be with you, Jesse."

Rex piloted the smaller ship down to the surface. He had with him Ahsoka, Padme, Obi-Wan, Jinn and Ezra. He noticed that someone was missing.

"Where's Maul?"

Jinn said, "Maul is playing double agent. He'll find his own way down."

Exegol was a dark and barren. It was cast in blue shadows and mist. It was full of rocks and desert flats. Its dry conditions, combined with the rubbing of dust particles in its atmosphere, created enormous static discharges that appeared as lightning strikes on the planet's surface. The desolate world was covered with enormous fissures that reached deep into its crust.

They landed near an imposing large black structure. It was shaped like an upside-down pyramid.

Obi-Wan looked around and said, "How cheerful."

Ezra said, "Yeah, real welcoming but how do we get in?"

Ahsoka looked around and saw a strange hexagon tile on the floor and said, "There. It looks like a lift. We can take it to reach the lower level."

Rex shook his head inside his helmet and said, "I've got a bad feeling about this."

Ahsoka stepped on board the lift with everyone else and said, "I know. I do too, but we don't have much of a choice."

The lift lowered into the ground and into a vast space below. There were several large statuses of Sith of the past that were carved in stone. Jinn's reflective eyes glowed amber in the dimly lit chamber. It gave him an eerie appearance among his friends.

"What?"

Ezra narrowed his brow and said, "Why are your eyes like that? It's creepy."

Annoyed, the amber Jedi said, "I told you, Bridger. I am only half human. I have eyeshine from my maternal side. It affords me better eyes sight in the dark."

Ezra said, "Then shouldn't you be up front instead of Ahsoka?"

Jinn shook his head and said, "No, Miss Tano is following Skywalker's Force signature. She would know where to go better than I do."

The teen said, "Back on the ship, you said that Exegol is a nexus between worlds. Does that mean this is the dangerous place you said the gateway is?"

"Yes. It's also the reason why I wanted you to complete your training before coming here, but clearly our plans have changed."

Obi-Wan turned to Jinn and said, "So, do you have a plan once we find Anakin?"

Jinn said, "We work together."

Obi-Wan wasn't reassured, but Jinn's simple plan, but saw no other alternative for the time being. Teamwork was all they really had. He trusted that the Force wouldn't lead them astray.

Ahsoka stopped once she reached the end of the chamber. She saw that they had entered a large throne room made up of jagged rocks. Behind the throne was a massive wall of stone with a crack that led down to the throne. In the middle of the throne room were two large stone pillars. Anakin was tied up between the two pillars. He was slumped over. His head was lowered, and he wasn't supporting his weight on his feet. In front of him was a large stone cauldron. Something black bubbled inside.

"Anakin!" shouted Padme.

The brown-eyed beauty quickly ran to her husband. However, before she could reach him, Dooku stepped around one of the pillars.

"I'm afraid this is no place for you, Senator."

Padme narrowed her brow and said, "Dooku, what have you done to him?"

He said, "I will do far worse to you, if you come closer."

Obi-Wan ignited his blue lightsaber and said, "Try me."

However, Jinn stepped forward and placed his hand on Obi-Wan's shoulder and softly said, "Stick to the plan, rescue and assault teams." The amber Jedi then turned to Ezra and said, "Bridger, you're with me."

Dooku smiled and said, "Do you really think a child can help you, Master Jinn?"

The amber Jedi removed his outer robe and drew his sword and saber. However, he didn't rush in to fight the Sith right away. Instead, turned to Ezra.

"You may have the first dance, Bridger."

Ezra said, "Okay, I got this."

Dooku glared and said, "This is an insult. A Padawan is no match for me."

Ezra drew his sword and lightsaber. Dooku laughed, but Ezra moved to take off his arm. The Count frowned and blocked his attack. He then stepped back and raised his hand.

"I'll make you regret that, child."

Dooku shot a bolt of Force-lightning at Ezra, but he raised his beskar sword and shielded against it. The Count was shocked to see his attack deflected. Instead, Ezra raised his hand and briefly closed his eyes. He used the Force to grab hold of Dooku's left leg and lifted it out from under him. The Count stumbled and fell to his hands and knees.

"What is this?"

Jinn shot a bolt of Force-lightning at Dooku's back. The Sith cried out in pain as the electricity coursed through his body.

Meanwhile, Ahsoka and Rex quickly ran to Padme to help her free Anakin. Ahsoka used her lightsaber to cut Anakin free. Rex grabbed hold of Anakin and eased him down. Padme moved to check on him. He was groggy and raised his hand to his head.

"Thanks, Ashoka. Rex."

Obi-Wan approached his former-apprentice but kept his focus on the fight between Dooku, Ezra and Jinn. It looked like Jinn had trained Ezra well. The two made a good team. They were overwhelming Dooku with their skill. Obi-Wan felt confident to leave Dooku to them.

He helped Rex grab hold of one of Anakin's arms and together they started to walk back towards the exit. However, a chilling voice stopped them in their tracks.

"Leaving so soon, Master Obi-Wan Kenobi?"

Ahsoka turned and said, "Sidious. So, you've finally showed yourself."

Sith Lord stepped away from behind the stone throne. He wore a long black cloak. Only his sinister smile was revealed beneath his hood. He saw that Dooku was losing to Master Jinn and his apprentice. He raised his hand to strike the boy down with Force-lightning. Jinn rushed to step between them. He raised his hand absorbed the bolt into his sword hand.

Meanwhile, Ezra closed his eyes and raised his sword and lightsaber to brace for the attack. He opened his eyes when it never came. He looked up and saw Jinn standing in front of him. Smoke and crackles of electricity coursed around his body. His amber eyes were aglow.

Panicked, Ezra shouted, "Jinn!"

Sidious smiled as he lowered his hand and said, "Most impressive, Master Jinn. However, you have played right into my hands."

"If your plan is to meet your end, then so be it."

Sidious chuckled and said, "Such confidence. I sense no conflict within you. It's a pity. You would have made an excellent Sith."

"Now, now, Sidious. Flattery will only make the Count jealous."

"Jest all you want, but I have already set the wheels in motion. Soon I will achieve something far greater than simply ruling the galaxy. There is only one element missing from the equation, but now I have it within my grasps. I have you to thank, Master Jinn."

The amber Jedi narrowed his brow and said, "What are you talking about?"

Without warning, Anakin ran towards Jinn and grabbed a jagged rock from the ground and stabbed him through his side. Anakin's eyes were yellow, and his lids were dark. He held Jinn close by grabbing hold of his grey robes and whispered into his ear.

"This is what you deserve for betraying me."

Anakin then stepped back and removed Jinn's black sword from his hand while he kicked him to the ground. Meanwhile, Padme was stunned what she saw. She shook her head and ran to Anakin to stop him.

"Anakin, no."

He grabbed her arm and said, "You'll see, Padme. You'll see that I'm doing the right thing for all of us."

Anakin approached Sidious and presented him with Jinn's sword. The Sith Lord smiled and took the sword from Anakin's hands.

"Yes, very good young Skywalker. With this sword, I now have the key to open a portal into another timeline. A timeline where your mother lives and my power is absolute."

Obi-Wan said, "Anakin, whatever Sidious promised you, it's a lie."

Anakin turned to Obi-Wan and said, "No, you're the one whose been lied to. From the start, Jinn had the power to change things, but he didn't. It's because he's weak. The power should never have been his. It belongs in the hands of someone who has the strength to wield it."

Obi-Wan shook his head and said, "No, Anakin. There is no power that can change everything. We must change it ourselves."

Anakin said, "That's what I intend to do. Don't worry, Master. Soon, I will have the power to save everyone."

Padme grabbed Anakin's shoulders and said, "No, Ani. This is wrong. The people you want to save, they are only in danger because of Sidious. Don't you see? He's only using you."

Anakin reached up and cupped Padme's cheek. She lowered her gaze at his touch. Tears fell from her eyes. She didn't want what happened to Anakin in the other timeline to happen to him. She desperately placed her hand over his on her face.

"Please, Ani."

"I can't, Padme. The power I have now isn't enough. I need to get stronger so I can protect you. Now, I can be with everyone I ever loved. If Sidious can make that happen, then I'm willing to sell my soul to the devil."

Anakin then withdrew his hand from Padme's face. Padme was horrified. Anakin was standing right in front of her, but he had ever felt so far away.

She hardly noticed that Ezra and Rex were trying to stop the bleeding on Jinn's wound. The amber Jedi lay unconscious on the floor. He had lost a lot of blood. Rex had picked up Jinn's outer robe off the floor and was telling Ezra to use it to put pressure over where he had been stabbed.

"Leave him. I can already feel his life-Force fading."

Rex drew one of his blasters as Dooku stepped closer towards them. Ezra got up and glared at the Count and ignited his lightsaber.

Ezra shouted, "You! Stay away from him! I won't let you kill him."

Dooku said, "Your master is as good as dead and so will you and your pitiful friends."

Rex stood up and said, "Not if I have anything to say about it."

Dooku raised his hand and used the Force to fling the captain into one of the stone pillars. Rex managed to fire two shots. One missed, but the other clipped Dooku in the arm. The Count staggered back. Ezra roared with rage and swung his sword and lightsaber to cut him down, but Dooku deflected his attacks easily.

"You're good boy, but you are still no match for me."

Suddenly, Dooku gasped as a red lightsaber pierced him through the chest. The smell of burning flesh filled the air as his insides began to boil. A second later, the red lightsaber disappeared. When Dooku fell, Ezra saw that Maul was standing behind him.

Meanwhile, Ahsoka confronted Sidious alone. She saw that he was standing at the edge of the stone cauldron.

"Stop right there, Sidious. I won't let you take another step farther."

The Sith Lord frowned and said, "Let me? Child, what makes you think you are capable of stopping me? Though, you are not a child at all."

Ahsoka's eyes widened in shock, but then returned to her serious expression. She raised her lightsaber and katana.

Sidious smiled at her surprised and said, "Yes, I know who you are. Skywalker has told me your secret. He has told me of my impending victory."

"Not if I stop you first, Sith."

"You can't stop destiny."

Sidious raised the black sword, but instead of attacking Ahsoka, he plunged it into the black liquid inside the cauldron. A gust of violent winds suddenly exploded out from the cauldron and into the chamber. Ahsoka was blown back. She had to use one of her lightsabers to stop from being blown off her feet.

A bright light appeared inside the cauldron. The light grew brighter and brighter. It wasn't long before the entire chamber was swallowed up in light. Then, in a flash, everyone disappeared.

XXX

TBC

XXX

Notes:

Exegol is a Sith planet that appeared in the movie, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.

Here is the summary from Wookieepedia:

Exegol (also spelled Ixigul in ancient texts) was a dark desert planet located within the Unknown Regions that, according to legend, was the hidden redoubt world of the Sith. It was occupied by the Sith Lord Darth Sidious and the Sith Eternal by 35 ABY. It was also the birthplace of Supreme Leader Snoke, whom Sidious created to rule the First Order while concealing himself in the shadows. Exegol was used to hide the Final Order, which was a fleet amassed by Sidious and the Sith Eternal, from where they planned to deploy their Star Destroyers and establish a new Sith Empire. Exegol was the site of a battle during the war between the First Order and the Resistance, which saw the defeat of the Sith loyalists.

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