Summary

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Ezra, Luke and Jinn make an unfortunate discovery.

Ahsoka meets alternate-Dooku's master.

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50.

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"Sabine?"

Ezra couldn't believe it. She was Sabine. Her face was wrinkled and aged, but there was no mistaking that it was her. Ezra recognized her when he looked into her eyes. He didn't think he'd ever see her again. Yet, she wasn't Sabine. It was like Jinn said. This was another time and other place.

He pulled her hands away from him. When he lowered his hands, he balled one of them into a fist. He felt like he had let his Sabine down. He couldn't imagine how long he had kept her waiting. He didn't know how long he kept everyone waiting. His friends probably went on with their lives yet, he had been stuck. It wasn't fair. He wanted to be with the people he loved. He wanted to be with his family.

Suddenly, Jinn placed his hand on Ezra's shoulder. The amber Jedi moved to stand between him and Sabine. Jinn's long brown robe nearly eclipsed Ezra from Sabine's view. He bowed to Sabine.

"It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Miss Sabine. I am-"

She cut him off by raising her hand and said, "There's no need for introductions. I know who you are. Captain, you and your men can leave. These are guests of mine that arrived early."

The captain stepped forward and said, "Are you sure, mama?"

"It's fine. You can go back to your post. Sorry for wasting your time."

"Yes, mama."

Sabine waited for the officers to leave. There was a long silent pause as she watched them leave the site of the temple. After she was sure they were out of earshot, Sabine turned her attention back to Ezra. She noticed that bearded younger man was standing between her and him. He was definitely guarding Ezra like a mother Loth-cat with a kitten. Sabine had never met him before, but she couldn't ignore his face. He even looked like the famous Jedi General Obi-Wan Kenobi. Then, there was Luke Skywalker. He was the Grand Master of the New Jedi Order. Sabine made it her business to keep up with Jedi matters for Ezra's sake.

"So, care to explain to me what's going on?"

Ezra had collected himself and said, "Yeah, we're looking for the portal. We're from a different timeline and we're trying to stop a version of the Emperor from a past timeline from taking over all of time and space. We want to gather our friends and stop him."

Sabine raised her brow and said, "That sounds-complicated."

Of all the explanations Sabine expected to hear, this was not anywhere close to what she expected. She didn't think she'd ever see Ezra again, let alone being the same exact age he looked the day he disappeared.

Ezra sighed and said, "I know. So, you'll help us?"

Sabine adjusted her helmet and under her arm and said, "Sure, but there's a problem with your plan."

Luke asked, "What's the problem?"

Sabine said, "The mural was destroyed."

Ezra said, "What! What happened?"

Sabine walked around the stone temple to the side where the mural resided. Ezra saw that the entire side of the mural was destroyed just as Sabine said. He reached out to touch the stone and saw that someone had blasted the mural out from the stone. Only the outer edges of the mural remained.

"It was destroyed by a radical faction called the First Order. They were trying to steal the mural, and it was destroyed when they resisted the local authorities on Lothal."

Ezra placed his hands on his head and exclaimed, "No! That was our best chance of getting back to our friends. What are we going to do now?"

Luke said, "Don't worry. The Force will show us the way."

Ezra turned to his master and said, "Jinn? Do you have any crazy ideas?"

Indignantly, Jinn said, "Not all my ideas are crazy, Bridger."

The teen said, "No, they usually are. So?"

The amber Jedi reached for his black sword but grasped air. He muttered something intangible under his breath and made a fist. Jinn's pride as a warrior was insulted when the Sith took his sword. He had forged it on his mother's home planet. He made the journey alone. He was only a few years older than Ezra was now. The journey was long and lonely. The land was war torn and treacherous. He lived in hiding from the Clans in the Black Woods. The ancient black trees blotted out the sun. They were as wide and tall as skyscrapers. He had mined the ore from Mount Spine with his hands and simple tools. He smelted it with the Force and quenched it with water and blood. The sword was a part of him. It whispered to him from across the fabric of time and space. He could feel the cold touch of the Sith on the hilt.

"Jinn?"

"Yes?"

Ezra said, "What should we do now?"

The amber Jedi sighed and said, "I can only think of one other way to reach our friends."

Excited, Ezra said, "Great! What is it?"

"It will mean going back to where it all began. We go find the disturbance in the Force that I got lost in, in the first place."

Luke's expression turned serious. He narrowed his brow and said, "Wait. Are you sure you want to do that?"

Ezra said, "Your brother is right. The last time you went into that portal you didn't see your family for 30 years."

Jinn briefly closed his eyes and said, "Yes. I know. However, it's something that must be done. I can't leave the Sith to do what he likes. Besides, he has something that belongs to me."

Ezra said, "Then, you should tell your family. You shouldn't disappear on them like you did the first time. They should know that this time it was your choice to leave."

Luke shrugged and said, "The kid's got a point."

Jinn nodded his head and said, "You're right. Let's go."

However, just before they moved to return to their ship for the journey back to Coruscant, Sabine stopped Ezra by calling out to him.

"Ezra."

Jinn looked towards Luke and said, "We'll go on ahead, Bridger."

The young rebel was now alone with an elder alternate counterpart of his friend. He awkwardly rubbed his arm and then the back of his head. He wasn't sure what he should say. She wasn't his Sabine, but she was Sabine.

The sun was being to set in gold and pink. The two moons were starting to rise in the sky. Ezra gave a backward glance and saw Jinn and Luke were nearly back to the ship. He turned and saw that Sabine was silently studying him. He awkwardly looked away. He wasn't sure what she saw when she looked at him.

"For what it's worth, I'm sorry that your Ezra left. He-he did what he thought he was supposed to do. I don't have any regrets. I had to save everyone. It was the only thing I could-"

Sabine closed the distance between them and gave him an unexpected hug. Ezra froze for a moment, before dropping his arms and returned her embrace. When they finally let go of each other, he wiped his eyes with the palm of his hand to brush away the tears.

"Ezra, you don't owe me an apology and I know you aren't my Ezra, but it's good to see you. I still believe that I'll see my Ezra again, but knowing there's someone like him, someone like you, living the life I know he would have led gives me peace of mind. May the Force be with you, Ezra Bridger."

He smiled and said, "Thanks, Sabine."

XXX

Meanwhile, in another place and time, Ahsoka followed Count Dooku into the Jedi Temple. The Temple looked as it always had. She didn't sense any evidence of the Sith as she entered the hallow halls. The Masters and Padawans that roamed the halls looked normal. Silently, she followed Dooku to the main lift that led to the High Council chambers. Unfortunately, Ahsoka knew the chamber well from her past life. Yet, as she approached the chamber, she saw that there was only one person inside the room.

Ahsoka gasped when she saw who was inside and immediately placed her hand on her lightsaber.

She narrowed her brow and hissed, "Sidious."

Dooku gave her a curious glance and said, "No, this is my master, Sheev Palpatine. He is the Jedi Grand Master."

"What?"

Ahsoka raised her white marked brow and slowly lowered her hand from her weapon. She knew that timelines could be different, but she had no idea they could be this different. However, she kept a ready stance and kept her distance. Everything inside her was telling her to fight or flee, but her instincts were telling her to stay.

Sheev turned to face Ahsoka from his place by the window and looked at her curiously. He folded his hands into his sleeves. He was dressed in traditional Jedi robes. His hair was short, and he wore an amused smile on his face.

"Well now, who do we have here?"

Dooku bowed to Sheev and said, "This is Miss Ahsoka Tano. However, she is not a dark acolyte. This Miss Tano is a follower of the Light."

Sheev raised his brow and turned to Ahsoka and said, "Yes, I can sense as much. Please, won't you have a seat, Miss Tano. I'm sure you have quite a story and I for one would like to hear it."

Ahsoka didn't want to talk. She felt on edge seeing the Sith. Yet, she knew if she wanted to get answers then she had to take the first step forward. She couldn't let her experiences cloud her judgment. She closed her eyes for a moment and centered herself. Without a word, she strode over to a seat and sat down.

"Alright, I'll tell you, my story."

Sheev sat down opposite her and patiently waited for her to continue. She was surprised that Dooku didn't sit down immediately but chose to serve them tea. She never expected to see the Count behave so-normal. It was unnerving. Ahsoka watched as the steam poured out from the plain clay spout and into the cups Dooku had laid out on a tray. He politely gave her the first cup before handing one to his master.

Ahsoka found it easier to look at the rising steam in her cup rather than Sheev. She knew this was a different timeline. She knew he wasn't Sidious, but the mere sight of the Sith's face conjured feelings she didn't want to name. Sheev calmly took a sip of his tea.

"I sense that I remind you of someone."

Ahsoka raised her head and met his eyes and said, "Yes. I come from a different world. In that world, I am a Jedi. However, your counterpart is a Sith."

Sheev leaned back and placed his hand under his chin. "I think I can understand your feelings towards me now, Miss Tano. Tell me, how did you come to be here in this world?"

"My companions were trying to help me save my master from the Sith. It was a trap. It was all a plan to steal a Force-artifact from one of companions so he could use it to open a portal to another timeline. One where all of his dark ambitions can become a reality."

Ahsoka didn't think it would be wise to reveal the details of her story. A watered-down version of events was all she was willing to share. She had long since learned from being Anakin's apprentice that half truths were sometimes the best course of action when dealing with people in authority.

Dooku interrupted and said, "I fail to see how such a Force-artifact can exist."

She turned to him and said, "Well, it does exist because that's what brought me here. However, I'm worried that the Sith will use his new ability to obtain even more power. He said he wanted to become a god."

Sheev huffed and said, "A god? I must admit that your story is rather hard to believe."

Ahsoka got up and said, "Doubt me all you want, but I need to find a way back to my friends and defeat the Sith. Now, since I've told you my story, I will take my leave."

Sheev said, "Wait a moment, Miss Tano. I said your story was hard to believe, but that doesn't mean I don't believe you."

Dooku narrowed his brow and turned to him and said, "Master?"

Sheev raised his hand to stop his protest and said, "I must say that such an ability piques my curiosity. Such power has infinite possibilities."

Ahsoka stopped and looked over her shoulder and said, "Such power shouldn't belong to anyone."

"You're correct, Miss Tano. Such a power would make someone essentially a god." He then paused and placed his hand under his chin and said, "Perhaps, I can offer you a proposition."

XXX

TBC

XXX

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