MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE! :D (kinda late but this is so I can let everyone know lol)
Previously, on A Jedi in Exile...
The activation of the entire Sith temple with this immense power has us enraptured, and quite honestly not sure what to do yet, when the woman's voice speaks again.
"I have been waiting," she states.
"What is going on?" I ask her.
"The power to destroy life and change Reality, is at your command!"she states, much to our shock.
"What?!" Ezra exclaims. "No! No no that's not what we wanted!"
"Then perhaps the other who approaches, will claim it instead!"she states in contempt.
I whip around in alarm, sharing a concerned glance with Ezra, whose eyes were wide in surprise and dread.
"Maul," he realizes.
"No wonder my dad didn't trust him," I state angrily.
Together, we both rush out of the center of the chamber and towards the ledge to try and warn the others.
"Kanan! Ahsoka, Jarik! Maul trick us! This temple's a weapon!" Ezra yells.
Once we came to the edge I couldn't see anyone nearby, however the Force suddenly grew as I could sense a familiar being enveloped in darkness approaching. I widened my eyes in horror upon sensing who it is, Ezra slowly sensing it as well. A bright light suddenly flashed into our vision blindingly for a few moments, causing us to raise our arms. Once we got over the light, we both looked up to see Darth Vader soaring down closer to us on top of his TIE Fighter, lightsaber already ignited.
His cold mechanical breathing was audible to me even across the crackling electricity and the engines of his TIE fighter, as he stared down at me and Ezra. I swallowed nervously for a moment before hardening my gaze, laying a hand on my lightsaber, prepared to fight with every ounce of power that I've got.
Mara POV...
With a swing of his crimson lightsaber, Darth Vader leapt from his TIE Fighter directly towards us. Me and Ezra both backed up nervously, and I whipped out my violet blade as he came in for a landing, and Ezra turned on his blue lightsaber as well. Vader landed right in front of us in a crouch before standing up, marching towards us menacingly.
"You have unlocked the secret of the temple," he states, sounding almost impressed, before his tone becomes hard. "How did YOU accomplish this?"
"You're a smart one," I retort with a glare. "Figure it out!"
Vader swings his saber at me and I move to block it, grimacing at the absurd power behind his attack, before he shoves me away. Ezra also swings his lightsaber forwards, being easily blocked. The two of us try slashing our lightsabers at him, but he easily blocks both of us, catching our two sabers in one blade lock before pressing down hard to shove us away.
"No matter," he says uncaringly, towering over us. "The power within will soon serve the Emperor!"
"I don't fear you!" Ezra declares.
"Then you will die, braver than most," Vader replies, raising his lightsaber overhead.
I widen my eyes and move forwards, blocking his lightsaber and shoving the blade away with a grunt of exertion. I swipe at him quickly from below and then above, but he easily deflects my attacks before swinging upwards with a heavy blow, sending me flying a few feet away. Ezra attempts to attack, but Vader retaliates with a downwards strike, stumbling him off balance, and then slashing upwards. Ezra goes flying backwards with a cry and lands on the ground, his lightsaber clattering to pieces beside him.
"Perhaps I was wrong," Vader muses.
I widen my eyes and scramble back to my feet, standing in between Vader and Ezra determinedly, the latter of which scoots back fearfully. My purple blade lights up my face with a violet glow, contrasting against Vader's blood red.
"You never give up do you Jade? Just like your mother," he states, raising his lightsaber.
I tense up in preparation for Vader to throw everything he has at me, when a voice cuts through the conflict.
"And neither do you," Mom says calmly.
Vader falters in his swing, lowering his lightsaber to turn around and face Mom, who was standing there calmly, staring intently at him.
Ahsoka POV...
Seeing Vader for the first time had me unsure and hesitant, especially once he faltered in his attack on Mara and Ezra to slowly turn around and face me. The idea that the man underneath all of that fearsome armor was Anakin... seems almost impossible. Still, I had just revealed myself, and so I took a deep breath to steel my nerves and gazed right back at him, offering a slight nod.
"It was foretold that you would be here. Our long awaited meeting has come at last," he says, his voice sounding more machine-like, so unlike Anakin.
"I'm glad I gave you something to look forward to," I manage to reply calmly.
As he deactivates his lightsaber without sparing a glance to the kids I gave Mara a firm look, signaling her to get herself and Ezra back. She reluctantly agreed, and helped to lead Ezra away from Vader slowly.
"We need not be adversaries. The Emperor will show you mercy, if you give Shan over to the Empire, and tell me where the remaining Jedi can be found," he demands coldly.
"There are no Jedi!" I exclaim in upset. "You and your Inquisitors have seen to that!"
"Perhaps these children, will confess what you will not," Vader says darkly, turning around to stare down at Ezra and Mara, who freeze in alarm. Mara raises her own lightsaber again defensively.
"I was beginning to believe I knew who you were, behind that mask, but it's impossible!" I say angrily. "My master could never, be as vile as you!"
"And you believe that?" Vader retorts, turning back around to look at me, most likely glaring. "Shan has told you all there is to know? You are a fool to follow him."
"Jarik is not a bad person! He wanted to help you, but he never got the chance to do so!" I exclaim sadly.
"Jarik Shan is a liar, a traitorous fool, and a war criminal," Vader says with cold fury. "You are no better than him, I see that. Especially with how you are... married to him?"
I widen my eyes, glancing down at the ring on my hand. It's not that visible, yet he could clearly see it. But this knowledge came to him beforehand, I could sense it! How...?
"How... how do you know about that?" I ask with a whisper, tears threatening to break.
"You think you can keep everything so secret Tano?" he growls mockingly. "You think that you will ever achieve happiness with Shan?"
"He and Obi-Wan just wanted to help, but the Emperor manipulated you to his advantage!" I plead with him, trying to make him see reason. "I can understand your hate for Obi-Wan, I heard what happened! But with Jarik... why? He wanted to help save Anakin Skywalker, just like I want to as well!"
"You have no idea of their crimes," he growls. "Anakin Skywalker was weak. I destroyed him!"
I shut my eyes, a tear streaming forth upon hearing how much hate he was spewing against my friends. Master Kenobi I can understand, but I know that what Jarik has told me is the truth, I could feel it! How could he say such things about Jarik, and about who he was? Can I... really, redeem him...? Maybe Jarik was right... maybe this isn't something I can do.
With a tear rolling down my face, I reopen my eyes and glare at Vader with newfound determination. "Then I will avenge his death!"
"Revenge is not the Jedi way!" he replies, almost tauntingly.
My gaze hardens, knowing how wrong that comment was. He should know as well.
"I am no Jedi!"
With those words and the firm glare on my face, I slowly pull out my lightsabers and activate them, allowing the silvery glow to light up my face. Vader does the same, letting his crimson blade flare to life slowly with a snapping hiss, and holds his lightsaber out in from of him.
After a momentary pause, I dash forwards quickly at a sprint, and jump into the air for Vader. I kick out with my feet for his head, but he leans to the side and slashes horizontally, to which I duck underneath. I swing my lightsabers up to bat his blade away, to which he raises it and slams it back down, requiring me to block with both blades. I twirl around his lightsaber and slash out with my second blade, but he brings his own to block it as my first blade comes in to join the strike. We shove our sabers around in a momentary blade lock before I separate. I backpedal and duck under his next swing, and then thrust my arms out to blow him several feet away with the Force.
"Mara, you two retrieve the holocron," I order firmly.
"But-" she starts to protest.
I don't pay any attention to her next words before jumping high into the air with my white blades raised. Vader looks up to see me falling towards him and holds up his lightsaber with one hand. I slam my blades onto his before flipping over him, ducking underneath his next swing and then raising my lightsabers to block his. He slams his lightsaber down hard onto me, pressing harder and forcing the blades closer to my face. With a grunt I shove him away before flipping backwards to avoid the next few swings he aims for me.
Vader continues to advance forwards, pushing me further outside the main chamber of the temple while I keep weaving and deflecting his strikes, backing away.
Mara POV...
"I need a lot more training," Ezra remarks in awe.
"She is good," I reply proudly despite still being worried, when I recall the problem. "The holocron!"
We both whip our heads around the look at the holocron, where it was sizzling with purple electricity and the strange flowing red matter from before, which just gave off immense levels of power.
"We can't let him get it!" Ezra realizes.
Helping him to his feet I shut my lightsaber off, and the two of us rush over towards the obelisk, where the holocron continued to glow with harsh energy. Ezra gets closer and attempts to reach his hand out to grab it, but a flash of light sends Ezra flying back with a startled cry.
"Ezra!" I exclaim in alarm. "Are you alright?"
"Yeah I'm fine," he groans, getting back to his feet. "But how are we supposed to get the holocron out?"
My face contorts to one of worry as we look back at the holocron. If it rejected Ezra, then what are we supposed to do? I have complete faith in my mom, but I still know that even she can only delay Vader for so long. How did he even know that Mom and Dad were married anyways...?
Jarik POV...
I dash forwards, jumping up to the next level of the temple, desperate to ascend as fast as I could. It was when I was running through a small courtyard that I noticed someone else approaching. They jumped down from the level above, landing on the ground in a roll on the opposite site. As they came to a stop, I quickly realized who it was just as they looked up to meet my gaze.
I narrowed my eyes furiously at Maul, and he scowled back at me before taking off. Growling to myself, I sprinted after him as fast as I could. He tried to outrun me, but I used the Force to quickly increase my speed and leapt for him, tackling him to the ground. He tumbled down with a few pained or angry grunts of exertion, before he kicked me off of him, activating his lightsaber. I rolled to the side and popped up with my own two blades, catching him in a blade lock.
"Why can't you stay out of my way?!" he roars furiously.
"Why can't you just die in a pit already?!" I retort, referring to how Obi-Wan first defeated him.
He yells furiously and begins slashing his lightsaber with frightening ferocity, but I dodge and evade his strikes while twirling around them with the occasional deflection, and then press off the ground in a powerful upwards saber strike. Maul stumbles backwards from the blow, and I raise both of my sabers to bring them down for a hard strike. He raises his saberstaff and blocks both of my lightsabers, before lashing out with his foot and kicking me, causing me to stumble backwards.
Maul quickly goes on the offensive again, and I move quickly to block and deflect his strikes, jabbing out with my sabers in retaliation. Unfortunately he twirls his sabers through my defense and manages to dislodge my green blade, forcing me back. I then sense him tensing up on his lower body, and quickly lean out of the way of his next attempt at kicking me. However this time I reach out with my left arm and grab his leg, causing him to grunt in surprise. With a yell, I whip around and use the momentum to slam him down onto the ground harshly, kicking him in the gut to send him rolling away.
"You've lost Maul! Just surrender now!" I declare.
"Never!" he growls, roaring and jumping to his feet again.
I backpedal while quickly deflecting his fast paced strikes before twirling around his next attack and shoving him away. Reaching out an arm, I call my green lightsaber back to me and whip around just in time to activate it and block his next attack with both of my blades. We shove against each other, scowling furiously.
"Unlike last time, I'm not a simple kid," I tell him.
"Oh we shall see Shan," he says darkly. "We shall see!"
Mara POV...
I was thinking furiously about how we could remove the holocron from the obelisk, when an idea came to mind.
"Wait, I have an idea! The Sith work with the Rule of Two right?" I tell Ezra, to which he nods. "That means we both have to pull the holocron out!"
He lights up in realization, grinning. "You're right!"
Together, we both move towards the obelisk and reach out our hands, intending to grab the holocron. We were just about to lay our hands on it, when the holocron suddenly flares up violently and explodes with a burst of light, sending us flying away once again. I grunt in pain upon hitting the ground, shaking my head for a moment and then looking up incredulously at the holocron.
"What?! how could that not work!?" I exclaim.
"It takes a Master and and Apprentice!" someone calls out.
Recognizing the voice, me and Ezra both look over to see Kanan approaching slowly, being led along by R5 much to my surprise, with the Knight Hawk sitting just outside of the chamber.
"Kanan!" Ezra says happily.
We both get to our feet and rush over towards Kanan, but once we get close we begin to notice the mask of a Jedi temple guard that he was wearing on his face, bringing a concerned frown to mine.
"Wait, what happened? Why re you wearing that?" Ezra asks.
"I'll explain later. R5, get the Knight Hawk ready," Kanan says, his voice a little muffled, and R5 beeps in confirmation before rolling back. "Ezra, Mara, help me to the holocron."
"Kanan... your eyes," Ezra says quietly, guilt slowly seeping in.
"It was Maul, wasn't it?" I ask in horrified realization.
"Lets worry about that later," he says in reply, and we both get on either side of him to help lead him along. "We've got to get that holocron. Where's Ahsoka?"
Ezra glances at me in concern, and I let out a nervous sigh.
"She's with Vader," I inform him.
3rd person POV...
On the large outstretch of stone outside of the massive temple chamber, Ahsoka was battling Darth Vader, slowly being forced back. He came at her with swift and heavy blows, slashing and swiping his saber to keep her constantly on the defensive. He rushes forwards fiercely with a few large swings, which she just manages to deflect, swiping back at him. He bats her attack aside and then raises his blade overhead, slamming it down fiercely, and she leans back to block the attack and backpedals further.
Vader continued to attack her relentlessly, swinging his lightsaber back and forth to continue batting her lightsabers away. The exhaustion was clearly beginning to show in Ahsoka as she kept deflecting his lightsaber strikes to the best of her abilities, having never been in a battle as intense as this before. Still she persisted, raising both of her lightsabers to block Vader's next horizontal strike, and then jabbing out with one of her own lightsabers towards his mask. Vader quickly raises his lightsaber defensively to block it, and then lowers his lightsaber before swiping it up in a powerful strike, causing her to stumble back more.
Ahsoka quickly backpedals away from Vader's next attack, and swipes her lightsabers to deflect his next intense barrage of swings and slashes. Vader bats her blades to the ground and then uses his momentum to twirl around for another powerful striking, which she blocks and holds there for a moment before he shoves her away. Vader slashes his lightsaber several more times at her, leaving her on the brink of exhaustion before brining his lightsaber back for one more powerful stroke. She recovers in time to raise both of her lightsabers, and the two enter a fierce blade block.
Ahsoka stood there with both lightsabers up to block Vader's strike, gritting her teeth intensely as she scowled up at him. However the Sith Lord remained impassive and steadfast, and separated briefly before slashing at her two more times. With one final strike he knocks her off balance and then thrusts out an arm, using the Force to blow her off the ledge with a startled cry.
Vader watches Ahsoka fall down the side of the temple, and then turns his attention towards the inner chamber, where the Sith holocron still lay.
Mara POV...
I help Ezra lead Kanan closer to the obelisk, which was flashing furiously with purple lightning and the weird, red swirling energy that gave off freaky echoes.
"A few more steps guys!" I grunt out towards them, pushing Kanan gently in front of me so that Ezra could help direct his hand.
"Now reach! Higher!" Ezra says, grunting as he and Kanan reach out towards the holocron.
"We almost have it!" he tells Kanan encouragingly, and with one final stretch of their arms, the two wrap their hands around the holocron. Immediately, the energy within the obelisk and the temple's surroundings begins to flare violently from the tampering.
"Now pull!" he exclaims.
The two yank on the holocron as hard as they can, and manage to dislodge it. However the removal of the holocron causes them to get blown back with startled cries, the explosive energy wave also knocking me on my back too. I hit the ground with a pained grunt, rubbing my head before looking up, widening my eyes in alarm. The temple's structure was starting to crack, and the energy seemed to only grow, it's power pulsing erratically and dangerously.
"The temple's starting to collapse!" I exclaim in warning.
Jarik POV...
I keep slashing my lightsabers at Maul, determined to take him down and not lose now. I was furious at him for so many different things, hurting Kanan, manipulating Ezra, hurting Obi-Wan and Ahsoka, and for hurting me, killing my parents! However I managed to keep my rage under control for this, using it just to amplify the speed and strength behind my attacks, but not my mindset.
Keeping myself on the offensive I keep slashing at Maul with quick speed, forcing him to back up defensively and deflect my fast blows from hitting him. He growls in rage like an animal and then lashes out for me in retaliation, to which I intercept his strike and twirl my lightsaber through his defenses, ripping his lightsaber from his grasp and then kicking him to the ground. I stand above him with a lightsaber held warningly to his throat, causing him to glare up at me in rage.
"You are beaten Maul! Unlike other times, there's nowhere to go," I tell him confidently.
The temple suddenly begins to flare up with violent bursts of energy, drawing our attention away from it for a moment. Then to my surprise and confusion, Maul begins to chuckle in amusement, making me whip around to glare at him.
"Oh young Shan you fool," he says in amusement, grinning widely up at me. "Have you forgotten about your precious wife? And... who she's with?"
I stare intently at him for a moments, before my face slowly contorts to horrified realization. Whipping my head up to look at the temple again, I faintly notice a TIE Fighter floating near the chamber up top... Vader's TIE Fighter. A quick check through the Force bond and I realized that Ahsoka was fighting Vader right now!
"Such a pity, the weaknesses of your love," Maul remarks in disgust.
Then without warning, he suddenly lashes out with his feet to make me stumble back, and then uses the Force to blow me away. I roll back across the ground and look up to see Maul standing at the edge of the terrace, lightsaber in hand. He grins smugly at me and offers a wave.
"Until next time Jarik Shan!" he says mockingly, and then jumps out of view.
I scramble to my feet, giving one last helpless look to where Maul had disappeared. With a frustrated scowl I turned away from him and ran towards the walls of the temple.
Reaching back, I put away my lightsabers for the time being and bring out a small grappling gun, aiming it up high and shooting the hook. Within moments it hit the height of its arc into the temple wall, and I quickly began ascending up the side of the temple dozens of feet as fast as I could. Reaching a small ledge at the end of the hook, I put the grappling gun away and then use the Force to continue to ascent, jumping up the temple to several ledges, panic soaring through my mind.
Landing at the top of one more terrace, I glance over to see Ahsoka pulling herself to her feet and widen my eyes.
"Ahsoka! Thank the Force!" I exclaim, rushing over to her.
"Jarik?!" she asks in surprise, looking up, and I quickly help her up to her feet.
"What happened? Why's the temple going crazy?!" I ask.
"No time to explain, we gotta go!" she says urgently. "Vader's up there!"
I widen my eyes in alarm and without another second to waste Ahsoka starts running up the staircase to the top, with me following quickly afterwards. We continued ascending several more staircases before finally reaching the top, and I look over the edge. I could see Vader standing there in the center near the obelisk, his hand outstretched. On the other side of the chamber I could see Ezra frantically trying to keep hold of the holocron, with Mara holding his arm and Kanan holding hers. Vader was trying to take the holocron, slowly walking towards them.
"Jarik!" Ahsoka says frantically.
"Come on!" I tell her, whipping out my blue lightsaber.
I charge into the chamber directly towards Vader with my blue lightsaber trailing by my side, Ahsoka not to far behind me. We were running at a sprint and, as we got closer, Vader could sense us coming and slowly turned around, releasing his hold on the holocron.
Using our Force bond we immediately came up with a plan of attack, and not a moment later Ahsoka used the Force to throw me forwards. Soaring through the air towards Vader, I lash out with my lightsaber as I fly over his head, but he blocks my strike as I go past him. However that was merely a diversion, and as I was still flying past him I reached out with an arm and yanked Ahsoka forwards with the Force to send her flying directly at Vader. He realized our attack too late and turned around to block her, but he only succeeded in deflecting one of her lightsabers.
With a furious yell, Ahsoka slashes her other lightsaber upwards and cuts open his helmet, causing him to fall down with a pained yell. Ahsoka and I both go tumbling to the ground while our lightsabers shut off, with me landing in between her and the rest of the group.
"Mom, Dad come on! Hurry!" Mara yells out towards us, waving a hand.
I get to my feet and quickly move after her in haste when a voice cut through through me, halting me in my tracks with a look of shock.
"Ahsoka!"
Ahsoka had also stopped in shock upon hearing that voice, and I slowly turned around to see her face Vader. We both stared at him as he was crouched on the ground, his mechanical breathing sounding more like a pained wheeze. He then slowly lifts his head to show part of his mask was sliced open, revealing one glowing yellow eye... and eye that we both knew...
"Ahsoka," the voice of Anakin says, something I had not heard in a lifetime.
"Anakin..." Ahsoka whispers in reply, shocked.
We both watch as Vader- no... Anakin, slowly gets to his feet a few feet from the crackling obelisk, facing mostly Ahsoka with a stern gaze. She looks back at him while I survey the scene with wide eyes, shocked to hear Anakin once again, and also worried for Ahsoka.
"Jarik... please go..." Ahsoka whispers across the Force bond.
"What?!" I exclaim in bewilderment, whipping my head over to face her. She didn't turn to me, but a tear was rolling down her cheek.
"I won't leave you!" she tells Anakin, before softening her voice. "Not this time."
Anakin gazes at Ahsoka, his yellow eye actually softening for a few moments, considering.
"Ahsoka, you said we'd always be here for each other no matter what!" I tell her frantically. "I promised I'd help you bring Anakin back!"
She gives me a brief, momentary glance, and Anakin does as well, his yellow eye narrowing furiously again. Through the Force, I could sense her resignation.
"We can't," she says sadly. "Please tell me you can feel it... this is meant to happen."
"No..." I plead desperately to her, a tear rolling from my cheek.
"Then you will DIE!" Vader declares, his eye widening with wild rage as his red lightsaber snaps to life.
"We'll see each other again... I believe that," she tells me softly, and I widen my eyes in shock.
I've heard those words before, but I always thought they belonged to someone else! How could I not recognize the voice as... Ahsoka? The Force swirls wildly around me in this very moment, telling me to go. I don't want to, and every instinct I have is telling me to stay with Ahsoka, with my wife, to the bitter end, but all I could feel was the opposite.
Would I... Would I see her again?
I hope so.
With great reluctance and grief, I close my eyes tightly to hold back the tears and back out of the chamber before I could change my mind. apparently I wasn't slow enough because Ahsoka slowly raises an arm to push me away with the Force outside of the chamber, where the doors were now closing.
"Mom!" Mara screams in horror, rushing forwards.
"Ahsoka!" Ezra yells in a panic, but Kanan grabs his arm to prevent him from leaving the ramp of the Knight Hawk.
I quickly reach out and grab her around the middle to keep her from going further, and she fought against me with furious protest, screaming for Ahsoka. My heart was breaking all the while, and I wanted nothing more than to do exactly what I was preventing Mara from doing.
"No, no! Mom!" she yells.
Ahsoka glances back at us, a tear rolling down her cheek as well, but she was resigned. Vader then marches forwards and raises his lightsaber, slamming it down. Just in time, Ahsoka whips out her lightsabers again to block his strike from behind her head, gritting her teeth. The doors close down in finality as Mara screams for her, sobbing.
"No! Noooo! Mom!" she yells.
"Jarik! Mara let's go!" Kanan yells from the ramp where he and Ezra stood, the latter also horrified and crying.
Shutting my eyes tightly as my heart broke in two I rush Mara towards the Knight Hawk, and she was no longer trying to fight me anymore, just sobbing hysterically at what just happened. As soon as we were on board, the ramp closed so that R5 could fly the ship out of Malachor. We were all sitting down in the common room, me and Kanan both attempting to comfort the younger kids as best as we could when it happened.
My Force bond with Ahsoka snaps.
I gasped in pain and fell to the ground, groaning and crying out in agony as I clutched at my head from the feeling of having the Force bond snapped apart like that. It was just like Mortis all over again, but this time there was no Daughter...
"Jarik? What's wrong?!" Kanan asks in a panic.
I pulling myself up to my knees, holding onto the wall for support while Mara kept sobbing, getting an understanding of what happened. Tears were rolling down my cheeks as I looked up to the others with wet eyes.
"My bond with Ahsoka... it- it snapped," I croak out, voice breaking.
Mara's cries only tore at my heart even more.
Chopper Base - Atollon
3rd person POV...
The sun was low in the sky for twilight as the Knight Hawk came in for a landing on Atollon, where the rest of the rebels were eagerly waiting for their return. Once landing however, Hera's smile quickly changed to one of shock and horror as the four Jedi departed, Ezra helping to lead Kanan, whose eyes were bandaged. She rushed forwards, holding his face tenderly with her hands before hugging him tightly.
Ezra glanced at Jarik and Mara, the latter of which was holding onto her adoptive father, eyes still bloodshot with tears, while the former just looked depressed, hiding his grief. Boil and Rex slowly walked forwards upon noticing the scene, and Ezra turned his gaze towards them. After analyzing the group for a few moments, their eyes widened in horrified realization, and Boil placed a hand on Rex's shoulder. The soldiers closed their eyes in respect for their fallen Jedi commander, and Ezra does the same as well.
Jarik surveys the Spectres with a weary, depressed gaze, his mind still throbbing in pain from when the Force bond with Ahsoka was snapped. He held Mara close to him as she continued sobbing into his armor, and shares a look with Boil and Rex. They both look over at him, their eyes filled with sorrow and grief at the loss of someone they all cherished and loved.
Sith Temple - Malachor I
A lone figure limped heavily out of the smoke and onto the flat, glassy surface of Malachor. His breathes were heavy and weak, the breathing apparatus causing a wheezing sound from his injuries after that intense battle between him and his former apprentice.
On a ledge far above the glassy surface, the owl of Morai watched Darth Vader's retreating figure, before taking flight with a shrill and sad cry, heading back down underneath the surface of Malachor. Flying back through the smoke, she returned to the ruins of the Sith Temple, heading directly for a triangular doorway in the side of the Temple.
Walking slowly into the doorway were two figures, both giving off their own, faint glows through the Force. The smaller, more feminine figure held her arm as her body seemed to generate a silvery glow of light visible through the Force. The larger, more masculine figure in comparison was letting off his own glow, though his was more golden in color.
To most, they would never see it, but for those strong in the Force, the dim glow seemed to shine around the two figures. The Sun and the Moon.
Then they disappeared in the darkness of the Sith Temple.
Isle of Berk - Ahch-To
Back on Berk, the gang, along with Stoick, Gobber and Gothi were all gathered in the small field just outside of the village with their dragons, eagerly watching as the Knight Hawk came in for a landing. They were all hopeful to hear what their journey showed them, and if they were able to find a way to defeat the Empire. When the ships passengers departed, their moods changed instantly.
Instead of relieved or happy, Jarik and Mara had walked slowly down the ramp, the former holding his daughter in a one armed hug. Her crying had long since stopped on the way to Ahch-To, but the signs were still heavy on her face, and her eyes were a little puffy. Zenna rushed forwards with a concerned squawk, prodding and sniffing at Mara, while the rest of the group were concerned, and confused. Mara barely reacted to Zenna's presence though, and just started walking, leaving her father's arms and heading towards the edge of the forest. Jarik watched on sadly, barely containing his grief.
"Mara? What's wrong?" Hiccup asks in confusion, but she ignores him, stopping by the tree line and slumping to the ground. Zenna sadly trots over to her, sensing the grief coming from her favorite human.
"Mara?" Astrid calls out.
Toothless rumbles in worry, and the dragons also chirp their concern, getting the sense that something wasn't right.
"What's her problem?" Tuffnut asks quietly, but Ruffnut shrugs.
"Jarik, what happened?" Stoick asks in confusion, his eyes roaming him and the ship. "Where's... where's Ahsoka?"
All eyes turned to Jarik, who slowly closed his eyes, shaking his head. It was then that realization began to dawn on the group, and Gothi's eyes were wide in shock and sadness. The rest of the gang were stunned, horrified, and in disbelief.
"No..." Astrid whispers in horror.
"Oh gods," Hiccup says quietly, glancing at Mara again.
Tears started to well in the eyes of the Vikings, and even the Twins and Snotlout could understand the seriousness of the situation, struggling to withhold tears. The dragons all let out low roars of sadness.
Stoick eyed Jarik with empathy and sorrow, understanding all too well what the Jedi Knight was going through.
Temple grounds - Malachor I
3rd person POV...
The Eighth Brother stumbles desperately towards his TIE Fighter up ahead, groaning and cursing the Jedi for his predicament.
When he fell off the Temple from his broken lightsaber, the Jedi must have thought him dead, but they were foolish to believe otherwise. He suffered great injuries from the fall, but he managed to soften his impact with the Force, the worst of his injuries being a broken arm and a few ribs.
Wheezing, he swore furiously to himself that he would have his revenge on Shan, the Jedi, and the Shadow once he had recovered. But Lord Vader and the Emperor certainly wouldn't be too pleased about his failure. He might have to... go rogue, to escape punishment. But if he managed to kill those Jedi and bring in their heads, perhaps he would be forgiven...
He whipped his head up upon sensing a presence approaching, and looked around wildly for the disturbance.
"Whose there?!" he calls out, trying to mask his nervousness. "It is not wise to sneak up on me!"
Nobody answered his demands or threats, but still he could sense someone nearby stalking him.
"Show yourself you coward!" he screams. "Who are you!?"
The sound of a lightsaber snapping harshly to life has the Eighth Brother whipping around in a panic, but before he could react a crimson colored blade was stabbed straight through his chest. He only had a few moments to gasp in surprise and pain, and look at his killer.
"ME, Inquisitor," Maul hisses in contempt, eyes shining with hidden glee.
Maul yanks his lightsaber back out of the Eighth Brother and deactivates it, and watches as his body falls limply to the ground, dead. He spit on the corpse of the Inquisitor that proved to be a great annoyance in his quest to lay low, and then looks at the TIE Fughter he was trying to reach.
"Hmm... this will do nicely," he muses in satisfaction.
Second Sister sat in her TIE Fighter as she flew silently away from Malachor, cursing Mara Jade before humiliating her so badly.
Unknown location - Space
3rd person POV...
Third Brother was shoved to the ground before the large throne, the back of which was facing him. He glared up behind him to where the witch-like pale woman stood, gazing at him with narrowed eyes. Slowly turning his head forwards he shifted his gaze towards the throne, looking more nervous. The throne was turned away from him, hiding its occupant, but the hooded blue-gray creature stood beside it, glaring at him
"Why were you on Malachor?" the creature demands with his groveling voice.
"We were hunting five Jedi that traveled there," Third Brother carefully explains. "Ahsoka Tano is dead."
"And what relevance is she to us?" the pale woman scoffs.
"She was a powerful Jedi that could've stood in your way," he replies.
"Your mission, is to retrieve that Stone!" the creature growls. "Not chasing after Jedi or some meager Sith holocron!"
"I know that, but there is only so much I can do! I keep telling you this!" Third Brother exclaims frantically.
"I am well aware of your limitations, Third Brother," the occupant of the throne interrupts, his voice booming.
Third Brother looks up nervously as the throne slowly turns around to reveal its occupant: a huge armored figure who rises from his throne. A powerful Titan, he was built like a weapon, imposing and clearly dominant. Third Brother cowers before his cold gaze.
"When I gave you this assignment I had hoped you would've succeeded by now," the Titan states in disapproval.
"My Lord, I continue searching for a way to enter Vader's castle every day-" Third Brother starts to explain uneasily.
"Clearly not, if you were messing around carelessly on Malachor," he scoffs in reply, making Third Brother flinch. "You had no reason to be there."
He turns away from the Third Brother in clear disinterest. The Inquisitor keeps silent for a few moments before responding.
"Actually... there is actually something on Malachor that you will be please to know," he says.
"And what, my dear, would that be?" the pale woman questions mockingly.
Third Brother ignores the mocking question and gazes up at the Titan with an eager, hopeful expression.
"Underneath the Sith temple, I found another Stone," he reports.
The Titan's two servants widen their eyes at the unexpected news and share a glance with each other, before turning their attention to their master. The Titan himself remains silent for a long time, pondering the information. Eventually, however, he slowly turns his head to look at the Third Brother, a wide and sinister smirk spreading across his face. At the sight of his smile, third Brother can't help but shiver in fright.
"At last..." the Titan murmurs.
Oh man, this chapter... this was too much! So much emotional crap going on, geez!
Chapter will soon be posted for the update on the next (and final) installment of the Legacy of Jarik Shan. Thank you guys for continuing to be such avid readers of my stories! I'm glad you're all able to enjoy them so much, and I can't wait to keep continuing with them! :D
