Hi y'all! Thanks so much for the amazing support that you've given me so far in this story. It means so much to me!

Major stuff happens in this chapter, and I"m still working on the detail part of the story, so if you're confused by anything, review or PM so I can clear something up for you. It's always nice when I can help.

Did you guys hear about Jon Favreau's new live-action Star Wars TV show? It's supposed to be all about the restoration of Mandalore that would be awesome because we could see so many familiar faces like Bo-Katan Kryze, Fenn Rau, and Sabine! I also just love the Mandalorian culture, so I'm super excited!

Reviews answered at the bottom of the chapter.

Disclaimer: I don't own any aspects of Star Wars except my plot and Darth Timora (Rhea). Lucasfilm and Disney (who might have the right idea for once) own Star Wars.

(published 8.8.18)

Chapter Eighteen: Familiar Face

3 BBY

Rex walked into Senator Organa's office. "You wanted to see me, sir?" he asked.

"Yes, Captain," Bail smiled. "Sit down."

The clone took a seat. Rex had gotten older by now, thanks to the kriffing age accelerator that was used to make clones. Rex always wondered what all his friends from the GAR, other than Wolffe and Gregor, of course, would look like now. Fives, if he were alive, and Cody. Clones, even though they had the same faces, tried to make their looks as unique as possible.

"So, what's this about, sir?" he asked politely, although his serious Captain persona was gone. But he did have a tendency to call Kanan 'General' once in a while. Rex had been working in the Rebellion with Ahsoka for practically fifteen years, and he had seen many rebel cells, but none impressed him like the Lothal cell that was in charge of Phoenix Squadron. Not only did they have Jedi, but they were more than just colleagues; they were family.

"You heard about this mysterious… Timora, haven't you?" Bail asked tentatively.

Rex cocked his head. "Yes, of course." Ezra had told him all about how powerful she was, how he had sent him flying with a single push. Ahsoka was obviously disturbed when they tried to talk about the commander of the Imperial Navy, and always tried to change the subject.

"Well, I'm thinking that we'll need a lot more Jedi to defeat her," Bail said. "I know that they said they were... what was it, retiring?"

"Wait, wait, wait, hold on, you want to find them?" Rex asked incredulously.

"Yes, I do - "

"But I thought that we were respecting their privacy," he said. "They don't want to come."

"Rex," Bail warned. "Take the Phantom."

He nodded. "Of course, sir. I'll try to get him to come."

"'Do or not, there is no try.'"

"I'm not sure I understand, sir."

He laughed. "I don't, either. Safe travels, my friend."

Rex left to find Hera. Boarding the Ghost, he could hear spray-paint, angry droid beeps, and equally annoyed yells. The crew was obviously enjoying their leisure time.

He entered the cockpit to see a green Twi'lek working on something on a datapad. "Hera?" he asked and the captain looked up.

"Rex!" she smiled. "What can I do for you?"

"Senator Organa wants me to take the Phantom to… well, to recruit some old friends," he explained vaguely.

She narrowed her eyes. "Okay… Well, do you want anyone to go with you?"

Rex laughed. "No, your crew seems to be having a good time. I'll leave you alone."

"Alright, but I want my ship back."

"Now, what could possibly happen to it?" Rex replied. He made his way to the ship and set a course for Tatooine.

"Hey, Dad, I'm heading over to Tosche Station!" Luke yelled from downstairs.

Anakin's voice came from upstairs. "No, you're not!"

Luke frowned. "Why not?"

"You have an order at the shop, and tonight you're helping out Owen at the farm."

He groaned. "I just want to hang out with my friends! I never get to," he complained.

"I thought you liked fixing stuff," Anakin said and then sighed. These were the perks of having a sixteen year-old kid.

"I do!"

Where Luke was tinkering, a man entered the shop with a twinkle of a bell. The boy looked up. "Can I help you, sir?" he asked politely.

"Are you the General - er, Anakin Skywalker's son?" he said.

Luke narrowed his eyes. This man knew their real last name. "Yes, I am. Do you want me to get him?"

"That would be great," he smiled.

Luke called up the stairs, "Hey, Dad, there's someone here to see you!" He could hear his dad coming downstairs, looking perplexed.

"Who - " His eyes looked around, trying to figure out who the man was, and then it hit him. His face dawned with familiarity. "Uh, Luke, you can go to Tosche Station."

"But you just said - "

"Go," Anakin begged, and Luke narrowed his eyes even further, but walked out. This was all very strange…

"Rex?" he asked and the man in question nodded.

"Yeah, General," he joked. Anakin grinned and ran to hug him. The two old friends smiled as they embraced; Captain and General once again.

"Take a seat!" Anakin smiled, gesturing to the table. He pulled out a glass of bantha milk and poured it into two cups. "Rex… why are you here?" he suddenly asked.

"The Rebellion," he stated simply.

"You're part of the Rebellion?"

Rex nodded. "So is Ahsoka. Senator Organa told me to come and get you. We need someone like you."

He sighed. "I told you, Rex, I'm not joining the fight. I have a son to take care of."

"Yes, but…" Rex faltered.

"But what?"

"It's Timora. A powerful Dark Side user. Ahsoka is convinced she's a Sith Lord."

Anakin bit his lip. He knew about Timora, who she really was. If Ahsoka found out… "Wait. Why is Timora worried about a ragtag group of rebels?" he found himself asking.

Rex nearly laughed. "You won't believe it, Anakin, but about a year ago, Ahsoka found a group of rebels stationed on Lothal. There are two Jedi on the crew."

"Two Jedi?" Anakin said, surprised.

"Well, a Master and an Apprentice," Rex explained. "Kanan Jarrus and Ezra Bridger."

"I never knew a Kanan Jarrus," Anakin said. "But wouldn't he have some, uh, problems with you?"

"Oh, yeah, we had our problems at first, and then I kind of got myself captured and he came and saved me, so I guess we're at least okay now."

He laughed. "Sounds like something you would do, Rex. And… how is Ahsoka?"

"Oh, she's great, going by the code name Fulcrum, though she revealed herself as a Jedi to these Inquisitors. Now the Empire knows there are three Jedi," Rex explained.

"And that sounds like something Ahsoka would do," he said sarcastically. "But Rex, you know I can't go. I have a son, and he needs me."

"Bring him with you. Teach him," Rex begged. "It's time for him to know about his father. His real father, not the mechanic Anakin Skywalker."

"I'm sorry," Anakin whispered, his head down.

The clone nodded. "I understand." He began to walk to the door, but stopped. "Ahsoka talked to Padmé."

His breath hitched. "She did? What did she say?"

"I'm not sure, but she's well," Rex said. "And your princess… she's a strong girl."

"You've seen her?" he breathed.

"The spitting image of her mother, but she's got the personality of her father," Rex told him. "I've been training her a bit. Ahsoka started teaching her to use a lightsaber, or sticks, or whatever. I think it'll pay off."

Anakin's eyes shone with longing. "Maybe someday I'll come to the Rebellion. But not now."

"I understand, General," he smiled. "I'll see you later. I'm picking up some supplies, then I'll be on my way back. And come to Alderaan. The crew, especially Kanan, will want to meet you, and Padmé will love to be able to see you."

The Jedi looked down again. "Bye, Rex," Anakin murmured as the clone walked out of the shop.

Luke stood outside the house, gaping at what he had just heard. He wondered, Who is my father? Well, he knew his father was Anakin Skywalker - pilot, moisture farmer, mechanic - but when that other man, the clone, came he had called him General. Luke was pretty sure that Anakin wasn't a General.

What war? What army? My father never told me about him fighting!

He was obviously covering something up, something that he didn't want Luke to find out about.

Anakin was pacing nervously. He had to tell his son. He could feel Luke's presence outside, no doubt listening in. It had been too long since he had been called Master or General, but to Luke he had always been Dad.

He looked up to see his son glaring at him. "Explain."

Anakin bit his lip. "I can't, Luke." They were the most painful words he had ever spoken.

"Why didn't you tell me you fought in a kriffing war? The clone called you a general, and - "

"Rex is just an old friend of mine who is now working for Viceroy Organa of Alderaan," Anakin cut in sharply. "And watch your language."

Luke ignored his father. "And the Rebellion! What's that all about?" He was very perceptive.

"He wants me to fight. It's nothing. I'm always here for you."

"Who's Kanan? And Ezra? Are they really Jedi? I thought they were all extinct!"

Well then, you're looking at a piece of history, son, Anakin wanted to say.

"And Ahsoka and Padme? And some princess? Who are they?" Luke said in anger. "What does this have to do with your cylinder? Yeah, I've seen it and I don't know why you're keeping it a secret. You keep everything a secret."

"That cylinder is just a piece of scrap metal!" Anakin said, exasperated once again.

"You're lying!" his son yelled. "I can sense you're lying!"

"You can… sense I'm lying?" Anakin asked in a daze.

Suddenly, Luke looked up as if there was someone else was there. Talking to the ceiling, he said, "Master, I need answers. You told me that I needed to wait, but I've been waiting for over a year!" He paused again. "Maybe it's unwise, but I don't care. I'm getting off this planet and I'm getting answers."

Anakin held up his hands. "Luke, what are you talking about? Who are you speaking to?" But Luke was already out the door, sending sand flying towards the house.
The former Jedi didn't go after him right away; he knew that his son needed to find his own place in the galaxy and see different planets - planets that were not Tatooine. But still, Anakin had promised to always protect his son.
"Anakin, let go," said a familiar voice. Anakin's head snapped up.

"Master Qui-Gon?" he asked, but there was no reply. After Obi-Wan had begun to communicate with his dead master, Anakin had joined in with feeble hope that he could communicate with the Jedi. It had never worked. Qui-Gon had never talked to him.

The Chosen One sighed and let his head fall back. How did I ever get into this mess?

Luke found where the clone had left his ship, in a hangar bay. The ship was a small light freighter, probably fitting about eight people. He felt the urge to go and explore, find out what kind of hyperdrive it had, but he needed to sneak aboard.

"That's the problem, how do I get aboard?" Luke asked himself.

Suddenly, his master's voice came to him. "Use the Force, Luke. You are more powerful than you realize." He nodded and took a deep breath. Reaching out his hand, he closed his eyes and pictured the door sliding open for him…

He heard a whoosh.

Luke smirked. He raced inside, searching for a place to hide, locating a supply closet, probably where rations were kept, and squeezed in. The air didn't seem fresh, and it smelled like a large, hairy monster had been residing there. Would he really have to be in here the whole time?

A few minutes later, the voice of the clone - Rex - flooded into his ears. "...not a success. That stubborn guy, he won't come with us."

A woman's voice through what seemed like a comlink. "Sorry, Rex. Dock at Senator's Organa's ship and then come straight to Garel. Ezra's been having these Force-visions about his parents. He wants the Phantom to go back to Lothal and check it out."

"Sure, Hera. I'll see you soon." The comlink beeped off and Luke heard Rex humming a melody to himself. The ship hummed to life and he felt it growl and lift off from the ground and take off from the spaceport.

There was no turning back now.

There we go. I gave you a small hint at what this arc of the story will be about. Get excited! Also, guess who we meet next chapter! It's our favorite smuggler and there was recently a movie about him. *WinkWinkHintHint*

Ah, the Tosche Station jokes are abundant! Have you guys heard the Tosche Station song? I love that song.

Tofunator (Guest): I'm so glad that you enjoy this story. You will be receiving a chapter completely dedicated to Rhea (Timora) pretty soon, I think. I can never be sure because I keep adding filler chapters. I definitely agree with you. How did this Jedi Padawan become the most feared being in the galaxy, a Sith Lord? This will all be explained. I'll be getting back to Rhea (Timora) in a little while.

CloneWarsNerd: Thank you so much!

And now, a little challenge for you all: From the hints I gave you, can you tell what episode of Star Wars Rebels will be featured in the next few chapters? It's pretty obvious, I think.

Please remember to review, follow and favorite.

May the Force be with you and God bless!

-HH