Temple Island - Ahch-To
Jarik POV...
After the defeat of the Red Death, which is the name everyone decided to give it, the village immediately changed for the better. Vikings and dragons were living together in peace, and the villagers were showing signs of being nicer, and appreciative of who and what they had. Even Ahsoka was now being treated just like anyone else, the Vikings having finally accepted her differences happily. Everything was going good. Sadly for us, the Empire was still a big threat, and the peace between dragon and Viking doesn't change anything in that regard, no matter how wonderful it is. So a few days after Hiccup woke up, we returned to Temple Island.
Since me and Mara crashed our landspeeder, I had to call R5 to fly the ship over and pick us up, which he did, although with great reluctance. He whined and complained about how we were gone for so long, but soon quieted down after we didn't react to much, much to my amusement. Luckily in our absence, nothing important had happened, but that could change any minute. Right now, we were all sitting down out in the courtyard of the Jedi Village, a small transceiver set up nearby. It was constantly monitoring for any important messages, particularly in the Lothal Sector, or for the Unknown Regions, where Sidious was sending ships.
"Hiccup definitely took that bomb you dropped on him well," I said sarcastically.
"You couldn't have at least broken it too him slowly?" Ahsoka asked.
Mara shrugged with a grin. "Eh, it was worth it."
"Thought he was going to go into another coma from shock for a moment there," I admitted.
"Like I said, worth it!" Mara replied happily. "The look of absolute shock on his face... it was so funny!"
A thought then crossed Ahsoka's mind, and she started to chuckle lightly, holding a hand in front of her mouth to block her snickering, but it was pointless. I eye her in confusion, before sensing what she was thinking about. My eyes widened in dread, and I started shaking my head.
"What's so funny?" Mara asked in confusion.
Ahsoka kept snickering, and I shook my head quickly at her, waving a hand. "Mmm mm. Mmm mm. No, we're not talking about that," I immediately said.
"Oh come on Jarik!" Ahsoka said with a laugh.
"Nope, don't you dare," I threatened. Mara was grinning now, and R5 suddenly rolled up close to us, looking between the three of us.
"You want to talk about... funny faces Mara?" Ahsoka asked between laughs with a smirk.
"What happened?!" she asked eagerly.
"Nothing! Nothing!" I said in exasperation.
R5 had now caught on and began snickering as well, much to my irritation. Unfortunately, my pleas and warnings continued to go unheard.
"You should've seen the look on your dad's face when Rex called me back," she said, grinning widely. I threw my arms up in the air in defeat.
"What for?!" Mara presses eagerly.
"Some time after I left the Jedi I was called back to siege Mandalore," Ahsoka explained, and I slumped in my seat with an irritated expression. "I swear, I thought Jarik was going to pass out for a second when he saw me on the hologram!"
"I wish I could see that," Mara says, throwing me a devious smirk. R5 beeps a few times before showing a hologram of that moment. I gape at him in disbelief.
"R5! Why do you even have a recording of that?!" I exclaim in bewilderment.
He beeps at me rudely to shut up, and the hologram plays. I watch with a irritated expression as a younger version of me, Obi-Wan and Anakin, all walked into the communications center, R5 rolling beside me.
"Alright Admiral. What's so important that you brought us all the way back here?" Anakin asked, before stopping with a shocked expression on his face.
A hologram of Ahsoka and Bo-Katan are on the table with Admiral Yularen standing in front of it. Ahsoka glances behind her, and then turns around, with Bo-Katan following suit. Obi-Wan's eyes were wide in surprise, and the most... while I had the most bewildered and shocked expression on my face.
"Hello Master... Jarik... it's been awhile," she says.
The hologram of myself was at a loss for words, trying to formulate a sentence.
R5 then shuts it off, and all three of them burst out into laughter while I sit there pouting, arms crossed in front of me, slumped in the seat with a dull expression.
"Oh Force, that is hilarious!" Mara exclaims in delight, and I let out an irritated sigh.
Why did I always get the short end of the stick?
"I forgot how shocked you looked. You definitely weren't expecting that!" Ahsoka says in amusement.
I rolled my eyes.
"Is there going to be no mention of the stunned expression on Anakin's face?" I offer, attempting to divert their attention away from me.
"That is nothing, compared to you Jarik," she replies with a smirk.
I prop my head on my fist, glaring forwards glumly.
"Way to turn a sensitive moment into a laughing fest," I state, giving R5 a kick in the side, which he squeals in protest at.
"Oh relax, we're only teasing," Ahsoka says.
"Besides, it's so easy to make fun of you! You can't deny that!" Mara says joyfully.
I shake my head in exasperation, but there's a hint of a small smile on my face. Just then, the transceiver starts beeping, signaling that there was some sort of message coming through. Our joy slowly went away as we shared a happy look, before I got up from the chair and headed over to the transceiver, and opened the hologram.
"Huh... this is being broadcasted over the Lothal Sector from a Communications Tower," I observed.
"Why would the Empire broadcast something publicly with that?" Ahsoka asked in confusion. "It's not like them..." she trails off.
"Oh what did they do this time?" I said sarcastically.
"Did the Spectre's do something stupid?" Mara asks.
"Depends on what they did. The betrayal of Trayvis hit them hard, particularly Ezra," Ahsoka stated.
"Well, then let's see what it is that they pulled off," I commented, playing the message. We all moved forwards to stand around the hologram, and the profile image of Ezra came up, followed by a volume bar as Ezra's voice then streamed through the speakers.
"We have been called criminals, but we are not. We are rebels, fighting for the people, fighting for you. I'm not that old, but I remember a time when things were better on Lothal. Maybe not great, but never like this. See what the Empire has done to your lives, your families and your freedom? It's only gonna get worse... unless we stand up and fight back. It won't be easy. There will be loss and sacrifice. But we can't back down just because we're afraid. That's when we need to stand the tallest. That's what my parents taught me. That's why my new family helped me remember. Stand up together. Because that's when we're strongest- as one!"
The message was then abruptly ended, and the three of us looked at each other, unsure of what to think. Mara however, wasn't as unsure, not yet seeing the bigger picture.
"Wow..." Mara said, a small smile forming on her face. "That's a very inspirational message! So many people had to have heard that!"
"Yeah... a lot," I agreed, still unsure., sharing a knowing look with Ahsoka. Then R5 beeped at us, his voice sounding a little more grim than normal. I widened my eyes in alarm.
"Kanan's been captured?" I asked.
"What?! How?" Mara exclaimed in surprise. R5 beeped again, and Ahsoka scowled.
"Tarkin," she muttered.
"Oh I hate that guy," I said in full agreement.
"Who's Tarkin?" Mara asked.
"Some, arrogant, no-good snobbish sleemo," Ahsoka replied with a sarcastic wave of her hand.
"So, the usual Imperial punk then?" she says.
I shrugged. "He definitely is arrogant, but that doesn't make him a pushover, just more tough of an opponent. He's ruthless, and will go to great lengths in order to get what he wants," I told her.
"Well that sounds splendid," Mara deadpanned.
"He's cruel, but despite hating him, you have to admit that he can actually get things done, unlike most Imperials," Ahsoka admits with a sigh, shifting so that a hand was on her hip. I nodded in agreement.
"How long ago did this happen?" Ahsoka asks me.
"Umm..." I turn around and quickly pull up the date for when the message was originally sent. Since Ahch-To is so far out in space, messages that are broadcasted publicly on an Imperial Tower take a while to reach us, unless I'm actively searching with a signal amplifier. "A little over a day ago," I informed them.
"Alright..." Mara starts. "Kanan's been captured for a day, Ezra sent out an inspiring message, and now the team is most likely trying to rescue him... so what's next?" she questions, unsure of the answer. Me and Ahsoka both share a worried glance.
"We'll have to make a call," I answered.
The three of us were all sitting at the table inside of our communications hut with Ahsoka in the middle, and R5 standing in front of us. He was broadcasting a hologram of Hera, sending the cloaked Fulcrum image to her end. Through the hologram, we could tell fairly easily how frustrated she was from what Ahsoka was telling her.
"Kanan knew the risks, accepted them. I'm sorry, but you must focus on your next objective." Ahsoka said.
"But, Fulcrum, Kanan is our objective. We can still find him!" Hera replied determinedly.
"At what cost? You? Your unit? The overall mission?" Ahsoka sighed. "There's something else, Hera. The transmission Ezra was able to beam out has attracted attention, not just from civilians, but from the highest levels of the Empire."
"It was Kanan's plan. I guess it worked," she admitted, turning around.
"Your mission was to be unseen, unnoticed, and now-"
"Kanan wanted to inspire people. He wanted to give them hope." Hera interrupted.
"Well, he was successful. But if you are caught, if Ezra is caught, that hope will die. To protect your unit, to protect Ezra, you must stop your search for Kanan and go into hiding." Ahsoka replied regretfully. Hera looked down sadly, and the transmission ended a few moments later. She leaned forwards, her elbow on the table and propping her head on her hand.
"So we're just going to leave him mom? I don't get it!" Mara spoke up, disbelief running through her voice.
"We aren't leaving him," I replied.
"But that's you you guys said," she argued.
"I said they need to call off their search for Kanan. It's too dangerous for them, especially with the Empire's higher levels turning their eyes towards them now, including Vader." Ahsoka reminded her. "I never said anything about us."
Mara stopped for a moment. "Ohh... so we're gonna rescue him?"
"I am. You two will be backup at a moments notice," I spoke up.
"Why can't I go with you?" Mara demanded with a frown.
"Because it involves Tarkin, and most likely an Inquisitor, or several. I'm going to be infiltrating a Star Destroyer," I told her. "I just checked a minute ago, and Kanan is imprisoned on the Sovereign, Tarkin's personal ship. You aren't ready for something of this level yet."
"I'm sure I am! So what if its a Star Destroyer? You know how to navigate those," she argued back.
"How about we compromise?" Ahsoka offered, drawing our attention to her. "Hera may listen to my message, but I highly doubt the others will, and will try to continue their rescue op whether we like it or not."
"Good point," I agreed.
"So, instead of infiltrating the Star Destroyer Mara, you can go with the crew, make sure they don't get into too much trouble," she says.
Mara shifts uncomfortably. "But... Sabine doesn't really like me."
"Doesn't matter. She won't go as far as too attack you," I told her. "Besides, even if she tries, the others will be there to stop her."
Mara considers the idea, and I can tell she really wants to go with me instead. Luckily, she agrees to Ahsoka's plan with a sigh.
"Good. Now let's get ourselves ready," Ahsoka says.
Mustafar - Atravis Sector
3rd person POV…
"You have heard by now of the rebel cell stationed around Lothal?" Thrawn asks.
"What relevance do they have with Shan?" Vader responds with an unseeing frown.
"After I first encountered Jarik Shan a few years ago in the Brema Sector, I took it upon myself to study him immensely, for weaknesses, battle strategies, and how he thinks." Thrawn told him, recounting the various cases he had analyzed.
"Then you would be no doubt aware that he is exceptional in the art of slicing," Vader states. "It is that and his training that allows him to remain hidden so well from the Empire."
Thrawn nods his head.
"I agree. However, even he is not infallible," he replies. "While undercover as the smuggler, Aven Ikorria I was able to see how he operated, leaving no trace, yet gathering near perfect intel despite our efforts."
Vader listens intently as Thrawn continues.
"Using those cases, I have found similarities in how they operate compared to the rebels on Lothal. Many of their heists, while encountering setbacks, have shown to be successful in bypassing Imperial security, which leads me to believe they have an informer, an agent of some kind, who supplies their missions," he explains. "Whether they know who it is or not I am unsure. But it is my belief that this agent of their's is the very same Jarik Shan. My belief was strengthened when the Grand Inquisitor reported Mara Jade working alongside those rebels as well."
"And Mara Jade was rescued by Jarik Shan..." Vader mused, the gears in his head ticking. "If that is true, then you have my attention Admiral."
Thrawn nods again, pleased.
"And considering the recent capturing of their leader, Kanan Jarrus, I am certain that Shan will be involved one way or another in his inevitable rescue attempt," he reasons.
"Your perceptiveness is to be admired Thrawn," Vader said, a rare moment of praise from the Sith Lord. "But if this turns out to be wrong, and Jarik Shan is not involved with these rebels whatsoever, there will be... consequences, for wasting my time."
Thrawn nods his head.
"I understand Lord Vader. Rest assured, I am certain that Shan will unveil himself soon," he says confidently.
Temple Island - Ahch-To
Jarik POV...
"You sure you're ready to go through with this?" Ahsoka asks me.
I nod my head.
"I am. Kanan's a good kid... well, was the last time I saw him," I remark.
"How much have you two interacted?" she questions, crossing her arms.
"Well, it was only brief, so he probably won't remember. First time he accidentally bumped into me in the way to one of his classes, and then another time he was the messenger to me from Yoda," I admit.
"And you can tell he's a good kid from that?" she asks with a raised eyebrow. I smirk at her charmingly, brushing my hair aside.
"I happen to be a rather good judge of character!" I proclaim proudly, and she scoffs in amusement, shaking her head. "Besides, he had a spark of innocence to him."
"If you say so," she replies with a small smile, before growing serious. "Jarik... I know that you know where the Sovereign is headed right now."
My face falls equally grim. "Yeah. Mustafar."
Memories from years ago resurface, ones that I've shared to Ahsoka about my duel with Barriss there. I thought that she should know about what happened to our best friend after the war. And there was also the rumor, which I am certain is true, that it's where Vader's personal castle is set up. A wave of guilt suddenly hit me; how can I say she deserved to know Barriss' fate... when I haven't told her of what happened to Anakin yet?
"If Vader is there, he may very well know you are as well the moment you exit hyperspace," she warned me.
"I know. Especially because of how much he hates me," I add glumly.
She sidles closer, placing a hand gently on my arm for comfort.
"One day I hope you'll be able to tell me what it is that you did to get on his bad side..." she says slowly, and I flinch slightly. "But until then, just stay safe for me will you?"
"I will Sweetie Horns, I promise," I replied sincerely.
She smiles in return, and we both wrap our arms around each other, sharing a tight hug as I rested my chin on her shoulder, while she buried her face in my cloak. It may seem like one of 'those' goodbyes, but we both like to share our feelings as much as possible. This is still a very dangerous galaxy after all, and who knows what could happen?
Oh Jarik, still don't have to courage to tell her. He's gotta get over that soon...
Next chapter will cover the events of Fire Across the Galaxy, the season one finale of Rebels. Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter, and I also hope the Vader and Thrawn exchange was done well. I want Vader to still be intimidating and obviously the guy in charge while also taking Thrawn's insight into consideration.
Thanks for supporting this series so much, and there is... way more to go. We still have all of the Empire Era to get through!
