Jarik POV...
I frowned, sensing a sudden darkness seeping through the Temple, far below our current position. I tried to focus in on it more but it was... strange, and foggy. I couldn't sense it properly.
"Can you sense that?" I ask Ahsoka softly through our bond.
"...I'm not sure. What do you sense?" she replies.
I allow her to get a feeling of what I'm sensing, and in response she feels troubled.
"No, I can't sense it. Do you think this could be related to what Satele warned you about?" she asks.
"Maybe," I say with a quiet sigh. We were silent for a few moments before I spoke up again. "Have you ever considered the kind of life we could have... away from all of this?"
"Sometimes," she admits. "I often imagine it though as life on Ahch-To."
"It is quiet there. Away from the war, away from our burdens... just the three of us, and the others on Berk," I say softly in agreement.
"Maybe one day we could have an even larger family... away from the war," she suggests, feeling happy at the thought.
A small smile forms on my face at the idea. "Wouldn't that be something..."
For several moments after that, I don't sense any form of response from Ahsoka, or her being anywhere nearby, making me frown in confusion. Opening my eyes, I look around in stunned surprise upon seeing I was in a different area, but a familiar one. Standing to my feet, I turned around to see the mural of the Ones before me, the Force seemingly beckoning me to approach it.
"He's almost achieved his goal..." Satele's voice suddenly echoes in my mind. "Enter the World Between Worlds, and restore the shift in time..."
Furrowing my brow cautiously, I look at the mural before allowing a determined expression to form on my face, and approach it. Raising my right hand, I place it on the Daughter's hand, letting the Force flow through it. It shifts in response, and I watch as the mural starts to glow with golden lines, and Morai looks up at her Father with a nod of her head.
"We are the Ones who guard the power. We are the middle, the beginning, and the end," she says softly.
The Father then points towards the wolves, and like before they lift their heads to gaze at me, before standing up and walking to the side. I follow their path and watch as they start to form a circle, showing the location of the portal, which is now open. Before entering however, I feel another chill of the cold flow through me, and glance behind me for a moment with narrowed eyes. I can almost feel an image forming in my head, with Satele standing close by, a man right beside her...
Looking back forwards, I step up to the portal and then enter the World Between Worlds, to put a stop to whatever Sidious is trying to do.
3643 BBY - Satele POV...
Darth Sidious begins to wave his hands around the fire, speaking in the language of the Sith. His eyes glowed a sickening yellow as he glares at us.
"Any ideas?" Theron asks me in alarm.
Hearing the words that Sidious was saying, I recognized them as some sort of Sith Sorcery, and took notice of how the blue flames in his cauldron were responding to his movement. Realizing what he was about to do, I shoved Theron behind me and readied myself in the Force as Sidious unleashed his fury. Waves of blue fire shot out from the cauldron as he thrust his hands forwards, along with an echoey scream that I recognize from the holocron.
Holding my arms out, I called upon the Force to block the flames, parting them so that they shot alongside either side of me. I grunted in exertion, ignoring Theron's surprised yell as I parted the continuous wave of blue fire. Whoever this Sidious is, I've never encountered someone who seems nearly as powerful as what he's doing right now! There is Darth Malgus, but he is most powerful in physical combat, being a furious fighter and warrior unmatched by many. But this... this is something else!
The power behind this fire attack kept shoving me backwards slowly, dragging me across the ground, but thankfully he eventually let up in his assault, and I collapsed to my knees in exhaustion. Theron came up beside me with a worried hand on my shoulder.
"Satele, are you alright?!" he asks in alarm.
I look up at Sidious as he begins to cackle, the laugh echoing loudly throughout the cavern we were in. He approaches the edge of the portal, moving around his cauldron of blue fire.
"We have to leave, now!" I exclaim, getting to my feet.
Theron is more than happy to agree, and he pulls me to my feet before we start running for the exit as fast as we could. Behind us, the blue fire of Sidious starts to follow, his horrific scream heard alongside it.
Present Time - Ahsoka POV...
When Jarik had suddenly disappeared it was a little bit alarming, and I had looked around in surprise and uneasiness. I eventually managed to come to the conclusion that the Force was showing him whatever he needed to do, in order to help Satele in whatever way she seemed to need him for. Kneeling on the ground, I continued with my meditation, hoping for some words of wisdom from Master Yoda, or whatever else the Force wished to show me.
Ahsoka...
I opened my eyes in confusion, looking around warily. Did I just hear... did I hear Anakin's voice? No, I couldn't have. Shaking my head, I looked forwards again and closed my eyes, continuing my meditation.
"Ahsoka. Why did you leave?"
Anakin's voice clear in my head startles me from my meditation, and I look up with wide, shocked eyes. I can sense him... right behind me. I can see him clearly in my mind... glaring at me.
"Where were you, when I needed you?!"
I look down, feeling a sense of shame and hurt by how he was talking down to me, blaming me for this. Am I... am I the one too blame?
"I- I made a choice. I couldn't stay!" I reply anxiously.
"You were selfish!" he accuses, making me widen my eyes in horror.
"No!" I breathe out, closing my eyes to hold back the tears threatening to form.
You abandoned me! Left me for that wretch who claims to love you!" he yells in my mind.
Hearing Anakin speak so hatefully about Jarik made me choke back a sob. "How- how could you say that? Jarik wanted to help you!"
"He's nothing by a lying, traitorous fool, just like you have become! You FAILED ME!" he roars, causing tears to come to my eyes. How could Anakin ever think this about him, or me... what happened to my Master? His voice then suddenly becomes dangerously cold, and quiet.
"Do you know, what I've become?"
I then sense a horrible darkness forming in the place of Anakin. Cold, mechanical breathing starts to echo through the air, as the presence of Darth Vader I felt starts to breathe down my neck, glaring at me. Darkness swirled around him, more powerful than when the Son corrupted him on Mortis.
"No..." I whisper in horror, tears starting to stream from my face. "AAHHHH!"
With a furious yell full of grief, I whirl around with my lightsaber, aiming to cut through this horrible feeling of Darth Vader, who was once my Master, but there was nothing there, except for the cold steps of the Jedi Temple. I lower my lightsaber and deactivate it with a shuddering sigh.
Letting it drop to the ground, I lean over and let the tears start to flow, as I sob for the fate of Anakin.
World Between Worlds, Jedi Temple; Lothal
Mara POV...
"Master Yoda, you're powerful. You must know a way to destroy Vader and his Inquisitors," Ezra asks.
I listen as Master Yoda lets out a quiet scoff, shaking his head. "Padawan... Thousands of Jedi once there were. Then, came war," he says, pointing upwards.
We direct our gaze to where Master Yoda was pointing with his cane, and something begins to form. A smoky image lightens up to reveal an army of CLONE Troopers, all standing in perfect formation, with massive cruisers taking off into the air behind them. The image then shifts to show those troopers firing, against many Jedi warriors, who were slowly being taken out as they tried to retreat.
"In our arrogance, join the conflict swiftly, we did," he continues. "Fear, anger, hate..."
Ezra looks down thoughtfully, while I think about how similar what Master Yoda is saying to what my parents have said as well.
"My parents, especially my dad have said similar things," I says.
Master Yoda nods his head. "Understand this all too well, did they. Consumed by the dark side the Jedi were. See through it, only your father did young Mara."
"But, was it wrong for the Jedi to fight? Is it wrong for me to protect my friends?" Ezra asks with a frown.
"Wrong? Hmph! Wrong..." Master Yoda replies. "Long time fought I did, as did Ahsoka and Jarik."
With another wave of his cane, he shows another image in place of the previous. There, me and Ezra see as a younger version of mom and dad appear, lightsabers out as there were fighting against battle droids... dueling General Grievous together... and then dad was standing before the Jedi Council, looking angry.
"To fight, or to not fight, difficult decisions they are. For in fighting the battles, the bloodshed, already lost we did, in the Clone War," Master Yoda tells us. "Set up for many years it was, by the Emperor, blinding our sight, using to his advantage our ignorance."
While he was speaking, I caught a glimpse of Master Yoda looking off to the side, as if he was staring at something, or someone. However when I followed his gaze, I didn't see anything there, and shrugged to myself.
"So... by fighting in the Clone War, you had already lost?" Ezra questions.
"Yes," he replies. "Thousands of years there were Jedi, yet misguided we became, as time passed. And see it I did not... until lost Padawan Tano we did..."
"When she was expelled?" I realize, and Ezra shoots me a surprised look.
"Expelled?" he asks with wide eyes.
"Foolish we were to expel her. Uncaring we were, blinded by the Jedi tradition, and cost us it did," he says sadly. "Understand you must, that know everything, one cannot. And after her loss, consumed by fear I was... though see it I did not," he tells us.
"You, were afraid?" Ezra questions in surprise.
"Yes," he says with a small laugh. "Surprised are you? A challenge, lifelong it is, not to bend fear into anger."
Me and Ezra share a worried look with each other, thinking about what Master Yoda was telling us. Whenever I fight the Second Sister... I'm starting to think that's exactly the mistake that I've been making.
I'm afraid of her.
World Between Worlds, Jedi Temple; Lothal
Jarik POV...
I stepped through the portal, keeping myself standing upright this time so that I'm not dumped onto the ground. Once I'm in the World Between Worlds, I look around at the tremendous and awe-inducing place, where all of the glowing transparent bridges, pathways, and portals lie scattered in every direction, as far as the eye could see. Stars twinkled beyond in the black void of space, while I looked around.
"Alright... where too now?" I ask myself quietly.
The sound of voices nearby gets my attention, and I look over, surprised to see Master Yoda, along with Ezra and Mara, who were kneeling before him. They were only several feet away, so I take a few steps closer, listening into their conversation.
"...In our arrogance, join the conflict swiftly, we did," Master Yoda says. "Fear, anger, hate..."
Ezra and Mara develop thoughtful expressions on their faces, as they think about what he's saying.
"My parents, especially my dad have said similar things," Mara says.
Master Yoda nods his head. "Understand this all too well, did they. Consumed by the dark side the Jedi were. See through it, only your father did young Mara."
I look at Mara with a small sense of pride, glad she was taking me and Ahsoka's lessons to heart. And to hear that Master Yoda was agreeing with them... it was wonderful. But, did they really not notice me yet? I'm practically right beside them.
"But, was it wrong for the Jedi to fight? Is it wrong for me to protect my friends?" Ezra asks with a frown.
"Wrong? Hmph! Wrong..." Master Yoda replies. "Long time fought I did, as did Ahsoka and Jarik."
With another wave of his cane, a smoky image forms in the air above them. I'm surprised to see myself and Ahsoka as we fought against battle droids, then against General Grievous on Florrum, and me standing before the Jedi Council, not looking too happy. I'm pretty sure this is when they demanded I remove the Force bond with Ahsoka.
"To fight, or to not fight, difficult decisions they are. For in fighting the battles, the bloodshed, already lost we did, in the Clone War," Master Yoda says. "Set up for many years it was, by the Emperor, blinding our sight, using to his advantage our ignorance."
Looking down from the image during Master Yoda's lesson for the two teenagers, I blink in surprise upon seeing Master Yoda looking at me, an indescribable expression on his face. I return the look, and his gaze becomes softer, and he gives me a tiny, almost unnoticeable smile, which I return softly. Mara seemed to take notice of Master Yoda's look, and turned to face me. However to my surprise, she narrowed her eyes as if confused, before shrugging, turning back to he original staring.
I guess she and Ezra couldn't see me.
"Come, time is almost run out..." a voice says.
I turn around to see Morai come soaring by in convor form, heading down a long pathway. Following after her, the scene of Master Yoda, Mara and Ezra soon seems to fade away, and then once again, voices start to fill my mind, echoing around me.
This place is ancient... like a World Between Worlds.
Huh... that was Ahsoka. Does she come in here too?
A pathway between all time and space...
...greater than any Jedi...
He who controls it, controls the universe...
Well that doesn't sound comforting. Not at all.
...shadow of greed, that is...
In the Spirit World, your emotions become your reality...
Everything we know about them, was wrong!
There's Master Yoda, Hiccup, and someone else I don't know.
...you know him Elita?
I do...
Elita... Elita One?
I know all about waiting.
We'll see each other again... I believe that.
Something tells me that's the girl I saw in my vision back on Ahch-To.
Balance. Powerful light, powerful dark.
...because of your sacrifice...
Death follows him like a shadow...
...it is his nature!
Morai then takes a turn towards a certain portal, reminiscent of what the portal to Lothal looks like. She perches on top of it, and I head in that direction, looking up at her. She chirps down at me fluttering her wings, and I look at the portal, readying myself for whatever I might find.
"Show me," I finally say.
The portal then starts to reveal an image from a blue glow, and to my confusion I see the familiar cavern that the portal on Lothal is hidden. My confusion turns to shock when I see Satele standing there alongside another man, who if I'm correct is... Theron? And the they whip around, as a smoky circle forms behind them, depicting a cloaked figure, who I recognize in an instant, shocked and horrified.
"Sidious?!" I exclaim in disbelief.
"And you... Grand Master Satele, and Theron Shan! Finally... mine to destroy, at last!" he declares with a sickening grin.
A horrible, cackling laugh of Darth Sidious rings around the scene, and Satele prepares herself, keeping Theron behind her. I then watch, horrified as Sidious starts to perform some sort of Sith Sorcery, speaking words in a language I do not know, before shooting blue fire at the pair. Luckily Satele manages to block the flame,s although with great effort.
"How can he even do this?!" I exclaim in disbelief.
"He's is among the most powerful Sith Lords in history..." Satele's voice suddenly says, and her spirit forms beside me. "He's long since sought for this power."
After some time the fire dissipates as Sidious halts his attack, but he continues to laugh. Satele and Theron then start to run for the entrance, but Sidious shoots fire again, chasing after them.
"Well, what am I supposed to do to help you?" I demand, staring at the scene with wide, horrified eyes.
"As he has broken the laws of time... you two, must do so in order to set things right," she tells me, before disappearing.
So helpful of a Force spirit.
Glancing around at the portal wildly, I grumble to myself in a panic, trying to know what to do as I continue to watch Satele and Theron being chased by the fire. It's quickly gaining on them before they could reach the other side of the cavern...
"Break the laws of time, to set it right..." I mutter to myself, thinking furiously. Sidious obviously should not exist in that time period...
"Kriff it all," I growl angrily. Taking a step back, I charge at the portal with a yell and then crash through it, a massive burst in the Force following the effect, making me lightheaded.
*:*:*
3643 BBY - Jarik POV...
I roll across the ground, and look up to now find myself in the same room as they are, Satele and Theron about to run by.
"You cannot escape my might!" Sidious says tauntingly to my ancestors.
Glancing back, I see no visible portal for wherever I came from, and decide to worry about that later. The fire seems to be just about to burn at Theron's heels, so I dash forwards directly for them. Satele and Theron then notice me and look over in surprise, when I swing my right arm back and focus on the Force, calling it in defense. I then slash through the blue fire right as they pass me, and skid to a stop in between them and Sidious.
The fire I slashed with the Force is blown off to the side, and it stops as Sidious lets out a furious roar of rage. Both Satele and Theron suddenly stopped in their tracks, looking at me in shock.
"What the- who are you?!" Theron demands.
"Talk later," I reply, too caught in the moment to realize I'm actually talking to a living member of my family!
Well, in the past, living.
"So... you continue to get in the way of my plans... Jarik Shan!?" Sidious demands furiously.
I close my eyes for a moment, knowing that pretty much screwed me over.
"What?!" Theron exclaims in shock.
"Shan...?" Satele murmurs in confusion, very much alive.
Opening my eyes, I glare back at Sidious and pulled out my lightsaber, twirling it around for a brief moment before pointing it threateningly at him.
"You've been ruining my life since the day I was born," I state coldly. "It's only fair.
"I will not be stopped by your blunder Jedi!" he growls. "Soon, you will all die as one!"
Satele then steps up beside me, much to my surprise, and seems to accept my appearance without question, at least in the current moment. I glance at her for a moment, taking her appearance in, noting how despite her short stature, her presence just screams wisdom and power. Reminds me a little bit of Master Yoda.
"That will not happen today Sidious," she declares firmly.
Darth Sidious only starts cackling in response. "Fools."
With a loud roar, he suddenly sends a furious burst of flames shooting out of the portal, catching me by complete surprise. It blows me and Satele back with the violent ferocity of the attack, and my lightsaber deactivates. Theron was also thrown back against the wall, and as I look up, I see some of the fire wrap around his ankle and start pulling him quickly to the Sith Lord.
"Ahh! Kriffing Sith!" he yells in alarm, scrambling onto the ground to keep himself back. He pulls out his blaster with one hand and tries firing at the portal, but it only deflects off of it like a shield.
"Theron!" Satele exclaims in worry.
Thinking fast, I dash forwards and grab onto Theron's arm, holding on to a nearby stalagmite with my mechanical arm, trying to keep him from being pulled further. Then I see something that terrifies me even more.
"He's coming through!" Theron shouts.
Sidious was cackling in glee as he started to push himself through the boundaries of the portal. How he even managed to connect to the World Between Worlds is beyond me, but if he's only now coming through, that means he was prevented from entering before, because he's not actually in it like I was! But now that he's latched onto someone...
"Satele, cut him off!" I yell.
Thankfully she doesn't question it and rushes towards the fiery coil dragging Theron closer, and with a slash of her saberstaff, cuts the blue fire apart. I hear as Sidious lets out a furious scream, and a sudden burst throws us all away from where Satele cut the fire. I hit the ground again with a pained grunt, slowly pulling myself up.
"Did it work?" Theron asks warily with a groan.
"I don't know..." Satele replies cautiously.
I blink my eyes for a few moments and then turn my gaze towards the portal. It's still there... but right in front of it, a cloaked figure is slowly rising from the ground. We all widen our eyes in horror as Sidious stands to his full height, yellow eyes gleaming.
"I told you Shan... you cannot stop me," he says fiercely, a grin on his face. "Your line ends here. Before your story can ever begin."
He then thrusts his arms out, and two lightsaber hilts and shoved into his hands from underneath his cloak. With a violent snapping hiss, two blood red blades flare to life, and he holds them up, allowing their glow to accentuate the sickening grin on his face.
"Theron, you have to get out of here," Satele says as we stand up. "Get to Bumblebee."
I glance at her for a moment, surprised at hearing that name as well. Theron seems reluctant at first, but eventually nods his head.
"Alright," he says.
Me and Satele share a look with each other, sharing the same thought without having to speak. Facing Sidious, I pull out my blue lightsaber while Satele activates her saberstaff, getting into a ready battle stance.
As Theron makes for the doorway however, he's suddenly slammed painfully against the wall by a burst of the Force from Darth Sidious, knocking him out cold. Me and Satele barely have time to cry out in alarm before Sidious leaps at us with a furious yell, slashing his lightsabers. I roll to the side and bring my blade up to block his attack, and Satele does the same on his other side.
I lash out with my lightsaber towards his side, but he easily parries my blade and swings at me, causing me to backpedal. He unleashes a frighteningly fast series of attacks, leaving me shocked and scrambling to keep up. He then throws me against a stalagmite painfully, turning his attention on Satele. I groan, looking up as she duels the Sith Lord, flipping around his strikes and slashing for his back. However he also evades her attack and sends her flying with a Force enhanced kick.
The speed, ferocity... and sheer power behind Sidious is terrifying. I don't even know if I can hope to fight this!
Sidious then pays the two of us no heed, and marches for Theron, who is slowly waking up. Why would he...
I then widen my eyes in horrified realization. He's gone through the trouble of all of this... going back in time... to wipe out the Shan bloodline! He probably considers me his most dangerous adversary, and if he kills Theron, he kills me before I could be born!
"At last, the Shan's are no more!" he declares, raising his lightsabers.
"Oh no you don't!" I yell fiercely.
Jumping to my feet, I dash for Sidious while pulling out my green lightsaber, at the same time Satele gets to her feet as well. Sensing us approaching quickly, Sidious scowls and spins around to face us, dragging his lightsabers across the ground. I twirl through the air and send slashing blows at him, while Satele jumps in with a vertical strike. Sidious deflects my attacks before the three of us get into a blade lock.
He starts to cackle again, the sound grating on my ears, and quite frankly more annoying now than terrifying. It's all he seems to do.
Present Time - World Between Worlds, Jedi Temple; Lothal
Mara POV...
The shaking of the area around us, followed by dust appearing out of nowhere for whatever reason, has us looking up in alarm.
"What's happening?!" Ezra asks in alarm.
"Found you, the enemy has," Master Yoda says grimly.
"Oh no..." I say worriedly, looking up.
"But Master Yoda, how are we supposed to win if we don't fight back?" Ezra asks urgently.
"Win? Hmph," he replies, as if the thought is silly. "Win... How Jedi choose to win, the question is."
"We already chose! We're going to fight!" he says firmly.
I glance at Ezra in some concern, before looking back at the old Master as he sighs in apparent disappointment.
"Seek more guidance from Jarik and Ahsoka, you must," he tells us. "Find... Malachor."
"Malachor?" I asks, frowning in confusion.
"Whose Malachor?!" Ezra adds urgently.
The sound of cracking and shaking around us gets our attention as dust and small rock falls around us. When we look back to Master Yoda, we widen our eyes upon seeing him not there, and are instead back inside the Lothal Temple.
"Master Yoda? Master Yoda!" Ezra yells desperately.
I get to my feet, getting a bad feeling about how the Temple was shaking unnaturally. "He's gone Ezra, we have to go. Come on!" I tell him.
*:*:*
Ahsoka POV...
Anakin...
Anakin is Darth Vader... he's murdered, betrayed, suffered, and caused terrible things. He's become a monster... is it all my fault?
The shaking of the Temple around me causes me to look up in concern, and I can sense darkness nearby. How are we supposed to defeat the Empire, against such odds, and such loss? Unless...
"There's still a way," I remember, a small smile forming on my face. Jarik told me about his, Obi-Wan and Master Yoda's original plan when the Empire was first created.
Anakin's children. Luke and Leia.
With these thoughts in mind, I get back to my feet and rush our of the room to meet up with the others.
3643 BBY - Jarik POV...
I stumbled backwards, glancing up in alarm before rolling to the side as a red lightsaber came slashing down in my previous space. Sidious came whirling towards me like a hurricane, slashing and stabbing with his lightsaber faster than I could keep up. I catch his two sabers with my red and green blades, but he quickly shoved them to the side and kicks me away.
Satele then leaps for him in an attempt to kick, but he leans back out of the way. She attempts to follow up by sweeping her lightsaber at his feet, but he backflips over it and points his saber at her, while I get to my feet. He grins savagely at the both of us while we circle around him, waiting for our next move. A groan from behind me gets my attention, and I glance back to see Theron slowly coming too.
Unfortunately, my brief distraction cost me, as Sidious suddenly dashes forwards with a gleeful yell, slashing with his lightsabers. I quickly raise my lightsabers in alarm in order to block them, but while I catch one blade with my blue lightsaber, the other slashes through my metal arm, not severing it, but causing it severe damage. I stumble back onto the ground with a pained yell, the artificial nerves shocking me where they connect to my real shoulder.
"Jarik!" Satele exclaims in alarm.
Sidious chuckles, and then whirls around to block both blades of Satele's saberstaff, using his height advantage to tower over her.
"Your bloodline is nothing compared to me!" he declares, shoving her away.
Turning off one of his lightsabers, he then outstretches a gnarled hand and sends a burst of Force lightning shooting out at Satele, catching her by surprise and sending her rolling back across the ground with a pained cry. Satisfied, he then turns around and makes another move for Theron, lightsaber raised while I watch, recovering from the stinging of nerves.
With a furious yell, I jump forwards and place myself between him and Theron, blocking his attempted killing swing with my good arm, holding his lightsaber back with my blue blade. He growls in anger and moves viciously, swinging his lightsaber left and right in furious attacks, causing me to stumble back onto the ground in order to avoid them. He then slashes at me again, and I give a startled yell of pain as he slices his blade across my side, not too deeply to be serious, but enough that it hurts a lot. My lightsaber is then batted out of my hand, rolling a couple feet away.
"You're nothing Shan," he snarls. "Perhaps I do not need to kill Theron, as you have presented yourself to me like a pig for slaughter!"
I glare up at him through my pained expression, but before he can strike, he's suddenly blown away by a powerful Force burst from Satele, slamming him into a wall. She continues up the barrage, keeping the Force on him to pin him there. Yelling in fury, he slowly pushes back against her power, putting his lightsabers and allowing electricity to flow across his fingertips.
As Satele attempts to subdue the Emperor, I glance back at his still open portal, sensing it to start fluctuating a little bit. It's power is waning, meaning it'll close off soon.
"Satele!" I called out, getting her attention to glance at me. "The portal is closing!"
She glances over at the portal and also widens her eyes in alarm, before narrowing them back at Sidious. I pull myself up to my feet, grimacing in pain as the harsh stings from his cut against my side make themselves clear. Calling my two lightsabers back to me with the Force, I slowly glance between Satele and Sidious, the latter of which was growing even closer and closer to her, despite her attempts to contain him with the Force.
What do I do?!
Eventually, Sidious breaks out of Satele's grip with a yell, sending her flying back with a powerful Force push, combined with a lightning strike.
"I am not Darth Malgus you fool!" he roars in rage.
Scowling to myself, I run forwards as fast as I could and does something he could never have expected, and bodyslam him. He yells in surprise and rage, while I shove him towards the portal as fast as I could run, getting so close. However he retaliates, gripping me with the Force and stopping me in my tracks, before slamming me against the ceiling and the floor. I groan in pain, as he strides up to me, glaring down at me with yellow eyes flaring in fury.
"You're a pathetic excuse for a Jedi," he snarls, spitting down at me.
"Sidious!" Satele yells.
He looks up, only to give another outraged yell as Satele once again hits him with a blast of the Force, sending him flying straight through the portal, his back hitting the side of his fire cauldron.
"You talk too much!" she proclaims.
"No... NO!" he roars in fury.
Standing to his feet, he thrusts a hand out, sending blue fire screaming at us. I struggled to move, managing to get to my knees, but I wasn't going to make it in time!
*:*:*
Ahsoka POV...
As I ran through the Temple, I suddenly sensed a feeling of fear and danger through the Force. Coming to a brief stop, I focused on it, not sure how, but knowing that it was from Jarik. I can't exactly describe what I did next, I just sort of... did it. As if I knew all along.
Reaching through the Force to him, I could see an image of Morai in my mind, and a surge of immense power came over me, lending itself to Jarik across the bond.
*:*:*
Jarik POV...
When the fire seemed like it was just about to hit me, I could suddenly feel unimaginable power flowing through me, coming from Ahsoka across the bond. this strength was enough for me to raise an arm, and completely stop the fire in its tracks, white light beaming out of my right hand. The fire seemed to explode in a redirection, getting sent back towards the portal Sidious was standing in.
It slams into the portal, and with one final roar of rage from the Sith Lord, the portal collapses in on itself, the impact too much too handle. Feeling that power drain from me right afterwards, I slumped over with a heavy breath, panting as I tried to take in air. A hand against my shoulder caused me to look up, to see Satele's concerned face gazing down at me.
"Are you alright?" she asks me with worry.
"I'll... I'll live," I manage in reply. "Thank you."
Slinging my right arm over her shoulders, she helps lift me too my feet, and from there I manage to support myself on my own.
"It is no problem... Jarik," she replies, frowning at the end. "You are a Shan as well?"
"It's... complicated," is all I can say in reply.
"And this Sidious," she adds. "Where did he come from?"
I look at her questioning gaze, unsure of whether or not I should tell her.
"He..." I start, before sighing. "Promise me you won't tell anyone, and Theron can be the exception?"
"You have my word," she replies. "It is the least I could do for you after you appeared to help us in our time of need."
Nodding in satisfaction, I slowly give the answer in reply. "Sidious, is a Sith Lord... from the future."
"The future?" she asks in bewilderment. "Would that make you so as well?"
"I am," I confirm with a sigh. "The last of the Shan bloodline."
We were silent for a few moments, as she was obvious bursting with questions, just unsure of what to ask, or how to say it. The mural directly behind us then starts to shudder, dust falling from the ceiling around it, and a sense of urgent warning streaming through the Force.
"You must get back now..." I hear Morai's voice say in my head.
"I'm afraid I have to go," I tell her.
"Must you?" she asks in uncertainty.
"I'm already breaking the laws of time further," I tell her. "The only reason I came was to stop Sidious, who obviously did something he shouldn't."
"In order to kill you... before you could be born?" she deduces in realization.
I nod my head grimly. "Yeah..."
"Very well. I bid you farewell then, Jarik Shan," she says in response. "I will keep this place a secret, as no one should have power over time."
With that, she turns away, and I watch her head back over to Theron, who was pulling himself to his feet, before turning my attention to the Daughter's mural.
"This is really confusing..." I mutter to myself.
Present Time - Jedi Temple; Lothal
3rd person POV...
The four Inquisitor's finally manage to bring the Temple up completely, the artwork and lines surrounding its front glowing red from the misuse of the dark side to open it. Grinning to herself, Vifi closes her mask while the four Inquisitor's march for the Temple entrance.
Activating their lightsabers, they head inside single file, Second Sister first, followed by Vifi and then the Third Brother, with the Fifth Brother going down last.
"The secrets of this Temple will be ours," Vifi states victoriously.
*:*:*
3rd person POV...
In a small room which multiple corridors in the Temple connected too, the five Force users that came on the mission all met up with each other. However when Jarik entered the room, holding his side and stumbling along with pained grunts, Ahsoka and Mara widened their eyes in alarm, the former rushing forwards to help him.
"Oh Force, Jarik! Are you alright?!" Ahsoka exclaims.
"I'm fine, but we won't be if we stay here," he grunts in reply.
"What happened?!" Mara asks in worry.
"Later Mara, we gotta go," he insists.
"But guys, you won't believe what me and Mara-" Ezra starts to say
"Tell us later! Come on!" Kanan interrupts fiercely, waving the group down the tunnels. Ezra and Mara soon follow him, followed lastly by Jarik and Ahsoka as she helps to support him in their run, one of her hands held to his injury while she held his right arm around her shoulders.
*:*:*
Vifi POV...
Walking down the steps into this Jedi Temple was admittedly unsettling, from how it was shaking lightly, causing dust and small pebbles to break off from the ceiling. Not to mention the only light here came from our lightsabers, and the Force was not welcoming. Not comforting like I've found the dark side to be.
Beside me, Fifth Brother was anxious and jumpy, expecting someone to jump out of the walls and strike at any moment. Third Brother was more controlled, and Second Sister was just as calm on the outside, although I could sense their wariness. Second Sister though was mostly focused on striking back against the girl Mara Jade, and then her father Jarik.
The thought of those two made me roll my eyes underneath the mask, irritated and exasperated with her obsession with them. I suppose she can feel angry towards them, yet it was her own blunder that keeps causing her to fail and be humiliated when in battle against them. How she was promoted to be the next Grand Inquisitor with her failures is beyond my comprehension.
"They must be here somewhere," Third Brother says quietly.
"This Temple is making it difficult to sense their location," she replies.
"Well, there is only so many places they could go. And I do have the best experience with Jedi Temples," I say casually.
"Is that so, Seventh Sister?" Fifth Brother questions doubtfully.
"Doubt me if you will," I retort. "But remember that of the four of us, I alone grew up amongst the Jedi."
"A most sickening prospect," Second Sister hisses in disgust, and I shoot a glare at her back.
Becoming quiet again, we reach the bottom of the stairs into a large, circular room, and looked around cautiously. There wasn't any side besides the cracking and groaning of the stone, as pebbles and dust continues to fall. We subconsciously form a circle upon noticing the different tunnels branching off from this chamber, and decide which place to search next. A sudden and loud crack of the rock had us whipping our lightsabers around in its direction, expecting someone to be here, however, it was only a false alarm.
Yet why could I now sense multiple beings approaching... some feeling familiar?
Behind us, the sound of a lightsaber has us igniting could be heard, and we turned around to see a figure calmly approaching, a yellow blade held in front of him. However what was shocking, was the Sentinel armor that he was wearing from the Jedi Temple guards back during the Clone Wars. And...
"Grand Inquisitor?!" Fifth Brother exclaims fearfully.
"What?" Third Brother says in shock.
"You should never have come here, servants of the dark side," a voice says behind us, followed by another lightsaber igniting.
Another man approaches, this time holding a green lightsaber by his side, clad in a golden mask and armor, and a dark hood and robes. I widened my eyes in shock, fear overcoming us as we recognize this figure as Revan! How?!
"Revan?!" Second Sister hisses in disbelief.
All around us, Temple guards activate their yellow lightsabers, having us surrounded as they slowly march closer to us. Grand Inquisitor swings his lightsaber to the side, an impassive expression on his face while he, Revan and the guards continue their advance.
Glaring at all of our enemies, we form a defensive circle and activate our sabers spinning feature, holding them out in an attempt to be threatening. These... these ghosts however, pay no heed, and continue their advance. Grand Inquisitor approaches Second Sister, while Revan approaches me, his famous mask filling me with fear. Snarling, I slash my lightsaber out at him several times, Second Sister attempting to do the same.
However, Revan wards off my attacks with laughable ease, and the sentinels draw even closer, pointing their lightsabers at us. We try to force them back, but it is unstoppable, and a bright light starts to flare in my face as Revan slams a lightsaber overhead against me.
"No! NOO!" Second Sister shrieks in rage.
I'm blinded by the light, and by my terror.
*:*:*
Jarik POV...
The Temple was seemed to be collapsing, although in what way I'm not sure, as while it's shaking and releasing pebbles, small rocks, and forming cracks in the walls, nothing seemed to be truly falling apart.
Nevertheless, the five of us ran for the exit as fast as we could, trying to get out of the Temple before the Inquisitor's found us. Ahsokka helped to support me as we ran, my right arm slung around her shoulders, but all I could think about was the fate of this Temple. The loss of this place to the Sith was awful and very worrying. If Darth Sidious manages to uncover its power...
"Up ahead! A way out!" Kanan exclaims, seeing the opening.
Mara and Ezra run after him quickly, but as me and Ahsoka were following, we came to a stop. Sensing a familiar presence in the Force, turned around curiously to see it.
Sitting on a boulder at the end of the hallway, was Master Yoda. He looked much older and exhausted now, as age seemed to finally be catching up to him. However, he smiles warmly at us, looking genuinely happier than either of us had ever seen him before, and waved a small, three fingered hand.
We smile back at him fondly, giving him brief nods, just as glad to see him again. Sharing a glance with Ahsoka, we give Master Yoda one last parting look of farewell, and then continue out of the cave.
Outside, the markings that surrounded the entrance to the Temple were glowing a Sith red color, and the whole structure still continued to shake. Up in the air, we watched as the Knight Hawk came soaring in above us, and Mara waved her hand frantically.
"R5!" she yells, getting his attention.
Through the comlinks that me, Ahsoka and Mara wore, his voice beeped at us while the Knight Hawk floated gently above the ground, the entry ramp extended.
"He says Imperial forces are on their way!" Mara tells us.
Once we piled into the cargo bay, the ramp closed up and R5 took off into the air. We were all exhausted from the run, and Ahsoka set me down on one of the crates, sitting beside me to examine my injuries.
"These are lightsaber wounds... what did you do?" she asks me incredulously.
"Later," I say with a sigh. "I promise I'll tell you."
"So you'll be alright dad?" Mara asks in concern.
I give her a reassuring smile. "I will, thank you."
After a few moments of silence, Ezra speaks up. "Back in the Temple, me and Mara saw Master Yoda!"
"Saw him?" Kanan asks in surprise, and Ahsoka looks over in interest as well. "What did he say?"
"He told us to find Malachor," Mara answers, looking over at us. "Who's Malachor?"
Kanan, Ahsoka and I all share worried looks, and memories of my encounters with Snoke come to mind. Back when I first spoke to him at the end of the Clone War, he told me about Malachor and the hidden power underneath it. And just before this mission as well...
"Malachor isn't a person Mara," Ahsoka answers gravely. "It's a place."
Mara and Ezra share a surprised look with each other. "Well... what kind of place?" Ezra asks uncertainly.
Mara widens her eyes in sudden realization. "Wait... Malachor V?" she asks meekly.
I let out a tired sigh, getting everyones attention, as well as a sad, knowing look from Ahsoka. I know this better than anyone, considering how tied to it my most famous ancestor is.
"Malachor, is a place of evil," I say ominously.
Jedi Temple; Lothal
3rd person POV...
An Imperial dropship flew through the air as it headed for the uncovered Jedi Temple, Imperial forces moving to secure the area.
Already on the ground, the dark lord of the Sith, apprentice to the Emperor, Darth Vader, strode purposefully into the Temple, escorted by two Stormtroopers. His mechanical breathing echoed against the rocky tunnel surrounding him. As he came to an open room, the Stormtroopers stepped to the side, allowing him to gain a clear view of the four Inquisitors, who he looked down on.
"My Master will be most pleased with this discovery," he states, his voice booming.
"Lord Vader," Fifth Brother says in greeting, and all four Inquisitors bow their heads before their master.
"The Jedi continue to grow in their power my lord," Second Sister reports with a scowl.
Darth Vader is silent for a moment before responding, his breathing the only sound that could be heard.
"It will be their undoing," he states ominously. "Shan and Tano will soon be revealed."
Hello dear readers! Wow... there was a lot going on in the Shroud of Darkness, so much that even when split into two chapters, they're among some of the longest I've written! I hope I did everything justice enough for you guys, because it has enough crazy that it makes me uncertain on whether it was done well.
I'm also hoping that I did Sidious, Satele, and Jarik's power levels in their fight properly, as Satele and Sidious both are very powerful in the Force, the latter obviously still stronger. I'm also hoping that his defeat isn't too unbelievable considering the circumstances, and I will admit some scenes of dialogue make me a feel a little bit of cringe, but it's done the best that I could do. After all I'm still just one teenager with a huge imagination, not some god like Dave Filoni.
I originally planned to have Bumblebee meet Jarik in these chapter (at least briefly), but with all that was going on there was just no realistic way to fit it in. Anyways, thank you all so much for supporting this story, and I hope you enjoyed this chapter! I love reading your reviews and hearing your feedback on the story, it means a lot! :D
