Epilogue

Author's Note: Aaaand... this book come to a close! But don't worry. The sequel, When the Sun Sets, which includes ROTS as well as the chaos on Mandalore has started being posted. Thank y'all so much for reading, favoriting, following, and/or reviewing! :D

~ Amina Gila

Ahsoka Tano

With Bo-Katan here, we actually have a way to contact Anakin and Aniya now, and I don't know what to think. We're about to see them again. I can hardly believe it.

It's... I don't even know how to feel about it. I knew it was going to happen, and I've been mentally preparing for it ever since Fives and Echo first came to us, but now that it's about to happen, this is something entirely different.

We haven't seen them in months. I don't know what things have been like all this time. I don't know how they've been out there, without us constantly being with them. I don't even know how to talk to them anymore.

"I don't know what to think of this," I say finally, once I manage to get a moment alone with Alema again.

"Me either," she admits, "I knew it was going to happen, but it's different now that it is."

"I don't know if I'm ready," I reply, reaching over to take her hand. Idly, I realize it's a form of affection I picked up especially after becoming Anakin's padawan. The twins did it with each other all the time, and later with us, once we were closer.

I miss them so much, so why am I suddenly so nervous at the thought of seeing them again?

"I want to see them again," Alema says, quietly, "But I'm..."

"Not as excited as you thought you would be?"

"Not not excited, but... nervous?"

"Yes, I know what you mean." I tighten my grip on her hand. It's been so long, and I know they'll be glad to see us again, but there's more than that to it.

It's leading us right back to the Order, and it's that that I'm really not ready to face. Everything that happened with Rafa and Trace had me thinking again, though. "The Martez's explained to me why they don't like the Jedi," I begin, after a pause.

Alema looks up. "Why?"

"It was during the chase for Ziro, and a ship started crashing. Luminara got it back under control, but she had to choose between crashing it onto a landing platform full of people, or going into the wall of the portal, and you know what she chose. They lived on the other side of that wall, and their parents were killed in that. So was Poe's father. The Jedi or Republic never even did anything for them. And before that, Trace was telling me that... she'd always looked up to the Jedi until then, until she realized they were nothing truly like what they heard in the stories." I still don't know how to feel about all of that.

"That's... awful," Alema breathes, "I knew it was bad from how Rafa was acting, but I didn't guess that. I can see why they have such a low opinion of the Jedi."

"Me too," I admit, even if I know Luminara had little other choice at the time. That doesn't change that the Martez's lost everyone that day. "I just – I guess I never really realized what the Underworld was like. What people think of the Jedi down here."

"It's... jarring," Alema admits, "I'm only used to hearing negative comments from the Separatists. Or meeting the people who seem to worship us or something."

"Not only that," I add, "I – I guess I didn't realize how much the Jedi meant to the people?" It's never something I've given much thought to. Especially not after what happened to me Aniya, and Alema because of the Jedi.

I'll never agree with Barriss or forgive her for what she did, but I suppose some of the things she said when she was brought to the Senate weren't entirely untrue. The Jedi aren't what they're supposed to be, not anymore.

At least not completely. There's so much they ought to be doing that they aren't, because of the war. It's like what Trace was saying after those gangsters came to attack her. If I hadn't been there, I don't want to know what could have happened to her or even Poe.

"I know what you mean," Alema says, though she looks slightly uncomfortable almost, "I don't really know what to think of it."

"She said we're still – what she always saw Jedi as being."

"We aren't, though," Alema replies, shifting.

"Aren't we?"

"We left. And I want a family, something I can never get in the Order. Do you... want to go back?"

I still at the words, considering. "I don't know." I certainly can't say yes, but I don't think we'll be able to just walk away from this, whatever happens, as though it never happened at all.

"I don't either."

We fall silent for a few long moments, before I break it again. "Once we meet them in person, we'll have to tell them about Fives and Echo, too." We told the clones what happened briefly, and they opted to stay behind. That's probably for the best, because legally if they show up, they'd be arrested. Technically, we're legally in trouble for helping them, but it's not as if anyone but Anakin and Aniya need to know that.

"Of course," Alema agrees, "It's probably a good thing we aren't waiting any longer." That, I definitely agree with, even if I still wish we could have found something to implicate Palpatine, the way Fives was saying. We'll have to make do with what we have, and hope the twins believe us. I'm only a little worried because I know how much they look up to the Chancellor – actually I'm even more worried for their sakes because of that.

"I still believe this may be nothing but a waste of time," I hear Bo-Katan saying, from the other side of the hold.

"Obi-Wan will help us, if he is able to," Satine replies determinedly. I'm mildly surprised seeing the two of them together. They've been on opposite sides of a conflict for years, but Aniya did tell me when she left Mandalore all those months ago, that Bo-Katan was planning to rescue Satine from Maul. Apparently, she succeeded.

"I see no reason the Republic would turn this opportunity down," I declare, approaching them. Maul may not have been a major problem, but he's still a Sith and could be dangerous. Besides, on second thought, I'm sure there's information he has about Sidious that could be helpful.

"The Jedi will likely be unwilling to be involved in another war," Bo-Katan retorts.

"They do have reason to be cautious," Satine points out, though she doesn't seem happy, but about what, I'm not quite sure. The whole situation, probably.

"Yes, and non-violence will not save Mandalore," Bo-Katan retorts harshly before turning to walk away.

"Don't worry, we'll do everything we can to help you," Alema promises, approaching Satine.

She nods. "Thank you. I can understand it if the Republic will not intervene, but your help will still be invaluable."

"I'm surprised you're... that you want to fight," I blurt out, then wince. "I mean – "

"It's fine," Satine assures me, "I don't want this, but we cannot leave Maul in control anymore. I don't know what will happen after he is gone, but..."

"Do you think you'll be able to keep leading?" Alema asks.

She looks... Almost sad. "It is unlikely. My sister will never want it, and I don't know if the people will either. They believe we fell to Maul because we were no longer warriors." I hold my tongue from saying that maybe they aren't entirely wrong.

"I know how you view fighting, and I know it should usually be a last resort, but sometimes, it's important to at least be ready to defend yourselves," I point out.

"It's the always being ready to fight that destroyed my people years ago," Satine argues.

"But there has to be a middle ground," Alema argues.

We don't get past that, before Bo-Katan approaches again. "It's time," she says, "If we are contacting Kenobi and the Skywalkers, we must do so immediately."

My momentary distraction with Satine, someone else from my past who I haven't seen in a very long time, vanishes instantly, replaced with my skyrocketing nervousness. I'm not ready for this, but when will I ever be?

But what do I have to be afraid of? They know why we left. They accepted it, even if we missed each other. There's nothing I want more than to see them again, even if trying to get to know each other with this massive time gap in our lives will be difficult. It will make our choices, and the Council's actions, seem even more real.

The moment is here, though, as we and Bo-Katan step in front of the holotable to make our call.

A literal call to the past, to the life we left behind so long ago.

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