Valour only half-listened to the conversation around her as she focused on the Imperials who were slowly making their way towards them as they prepared for a long night of work. She heard the Mandalorian explain to the Jedi how to potentially open the temple. When she turned back to see the two males approach the painting and touch the hand of the female god, she knew that would gain attention.
"Whatever you are doing, make it fast!" Valour ducked down further and slipped back deeper into the shadows. Moments later troopers approached the Mandalorian as the Jedi slipped down behind some equipment that lined the wall near the painting. Valour was impressed by the woman's ability to bluff her way out of trouble for the most part with the troopers but she was still steered away to be questioned as to why she there. Apparently, the trooper from whom she'd liberated the armor from that she was wearing was overdue for check-in.
As the troopers began to walk Sabine away toward Operations the Jedi could be seen placing their hands on that of the female Mortis god's image once more. Valour was amazed as the lines began to shift in response. The head of the female painted god turned to look off to the side where the Loth-wolves stood, and the older male god's hand changed position to point toward them as well.
How can a painting move? Even more so, it seemed as if it was speaking to them as well.
Valour watched as the wolves moved and then walked off to the side toward a blank section of wall. They then began to move around into a large circle.
"Kanan?" Ezra was a bit bewildered.
"They moved. I know." Kanan said as he moved to walk along the wall in the shadows. "Follow them."
Valour watched in amazement when it appeared that a doorway was opening. "Looks like you've found what the emperor has been looking for."
When the alarms started to sound Valour was about to suggest that they get out of here when the younger man put his hand through the rock. Behind them the Mandalorian said one word. Go. To that the two Jedi stepped through the portal, walking directly through rock, then disappeared.
Valour moved to prevent two troopers from following the Jedi but was stunned by one of the others who approached with Minister Hydan. Sabine watched as her friends disappeared and as her new ally fell to the ground. The old man sneered to have Valour shackled and taken away as he motioned for Sabine to be brought with him. He'd interrogate her himself.
Valour woke with a massive headache and saw that she had been taken toward the small building that she'd yet to go into. The detention area. There was always one at every complex, no matter what kind, within the Empire. Valour looked around and saw that there were two guards stationed outside the room, but they didn't seem to really be paying much attention to her.
Valour looked down to her hands in the restraints that had been put on her while she was unconscious. Knowing that she was going to have an even bigger headache soon, she did her best to concentrate on them. She had to get out of here because the minister would only be distracted but for so long. Once he deemed her worthy of his time, he was bound to deal with her traitorous acts soon enough. And Valour didn't intend to die today.
"Kanan, what is this place? I've never seen anything like it?"
"I don't know," Kanan shook his head. This place felt different. In this place he heard things that he couldn't tell if they were from the past, the future, or even if they were happening now. "Tell me what you see?"
Ezra looked around. "Well, it is just a lot of blackness. Some white lines, paths I guess, to walk along. And there are lots of other... portals? I wonder where they all lead."
The pair passed a portal and Ezra stopped to watch a vision of the rescue of Hera play out before him. He could see Kanan and Hera racing toward the transport that he and Sabine were in. But the events in the portal weren't how he remembered them. Just as Kanan and Hera were about to join him on the transport he saw the walkers in the distance shoot the fuel pod that the two were on.
Ezra watched as the Kanan in the portal used the force to stop the flames from reaching the rest of them. He used the force to push Hera onto the transport and to then send them all away from the fire. When he watched Kanan engulfed in the flames Ezra felt as if he'd been kicked in the gut.
"Kanan! That's not what happened!" Ezra turned to his master and while the man couldn't see, he had no doubt that he knew what was being displayed in the portal.
"I know. But that is how it was meant to happen," Kanan said since he knew that Ezra was seeing the same thing that he'd been shown in his force visions.
"What do you mean this is what was supposed to happen? You can't die!"
"And I didn't. Why? I'm not sure. But I have to say, for whatever reason, I'm grateful." Kanan gave a smile to the younger man as he steered him down the path, past the portal that showed the events of the last night. "Do you see anything else?"
Ezra looked around, being the eyes of his friend and master. "Wait," Ezra spotted the green owl-like creature that he found perched onto another portal as it hooted. He walked over toward the owl with Kanan at his side. "Hey. I've seen you before. Yeah, whenever Ahsoka was around, you were always close by. How did you get here?"
"What's it doing?" Kanan asked.
The owl hooted more and then looked down to the portal that it was perched on.
"The portal is changing," Ezra said as the image of the temple of Malachor came into focus. "No! It can't be! Its Ahsoka! She's battling Vader!" The hooting increased and became insistent. "What? What can I do?" Ezra asked the owl.
Kanan listened to the battle in front of him. That was a day that had changed so much. "Ezra, what-"
In the portal Ezra saw the image of Ahsoka was right in front of him. She had her back to him, and Vader was about to bring his lightsaber down onto her. Acting out of instinct Ezra reached out and grabbed her. He then pulled her through the portal and the two of them collapsed to the path that was the ground in this strange place.
Kiara carefully removed the restraints from her wrists now that they weren't of any use. She paid special attention to make sure that neither she nor the restraints made any sound. She glanced around for anything that she could use as a weapon, but it appeared that the room was chosen for a reason. There wasn't anything in it at all. It was completely empty. She'd even been sitting on the ground instead of a bunk. Kiara made her way silently to her feet as she heard a thud just outside the door. The troopers who had been standing guard were now laying on the ground at the feet of the Lasat as the door opened.
"Am I glad to see you."
"I figured you could use a little help. Hera's seeing about freeing Sabine then will look to see what kind of options we have to get out of here once we can get to the others."
"Kanan and Ezra went through the portal. I'm not sure how to get to them. Sabine was taken to be interrogated by Minister Hydan. As for a ride out of here, let me see your comm device. I can call for my ship."
"You have a ship?" Zeb handed his device over and watched as the woman changed the frequency before she spoke to what sounded like a droid on the other end of the transmission.
"Just come to the site and stand ready. It will be me, a Lasat, a Twi'lek, an astromech, and three other humans. If you see us running, we need you to come in hot with the ramp down."
"Of course, Mistress Kiara. And do be careful."
"Always, Tac."
"Are you?" Kiara closed the channel as she shook her head.
The Lasat chuckled. "I guess this means that I'd best let Hera know about the change of plans."
Ahsoka shook her head and soon realized that she was no longer on Malachor. When she sat up, she saw that she was now in a strange place that was dark with a stark contrast of white lines that provided paths for as far as the eye could see. When she turned, she saw Ezra sitting up as well.
She was about to push herself up when a hand was extended to aid her. She looked up and saw that the hand belonged to Kanan. But he'd changed. Both of them have changed.
"Ezra? Kanan?" Ahsoka accepted Kanan's help as she looked between them. "You look- Wait, what happened? Where am I?"
"You were fighting Vader," Ezra explained as voices could be heard filtering in from the various other portals. "I saw you in there. He was going to- So I- I grabbed you, and I pulled you out of there."
Ahsoka thought about the fight that she'd only moments before been in the midst of. "Anakin." She was lost in her thoughts for a moment before she heard a familiar hooting. "Morai? You're here?"
Kanan released Ahsoka's arm so that she could extend it toward the owl as it flew to its place at the woman's side.
"Morai?" Ezra couldn't remember hearing Ahsoka ever calling the owl by name before.
"She's an old friend. I owe her my life," Ahsoka affectionately ran her other hand along the feathers of the owl, "and now I owe you that as well." After looking around some more Ahsoka asked, "How did you get here?"
"We'll tell you what we know," Kanan said as they began to stroll along the weird pathways. As they walked along Ahsoka commented on how the place was so strange and referred to it as a world between worlds. Kanan figured that was as good of a way to describe it as any. "Now that we're here, though, what are we supposed to do? It seems this place shows not just what has happened but what could happen. If this were to fall into the hands of the Emperor-"
"Everything could be in danger," Ahsoka finished for Kanan. "We can't stay here. You opened the door to this world. Do you know how to close it?"
"Sabine will know," Ezra said confidently. "We can do it together. They'll be so happy to see you."
"I can't go with you," Ahsoka said while shaking her head. She was about to explain why when the voice of the emperor came from a portal behind the trio.
"Perhaps I can."
"Ezra! Get behind me!" Kanan jerked his apprentice behind him as Ahsoka, too, put herself in front of him. The owl squawked in response to Palpatine's image being revealed in a portal.
"Kanan Jarrus, Ezra Bridger, and Ahsoka Tano. Mine at last!" The man let out a cackle that could only be described as evil.
Valour crept in behind Zeb as he led the way toward where he'd left Hera. She appeared to be working on the engines of Minister Hydan's transport. For what Valour didn't know. When he explained that Valour had called for her own ship, that they didn't have to swipe one, she asked how soon the ship could be there.
"My droid is just on the other side of that ridge with my ship. He can be here as soon as we call him."
"Good. Now we just need to get to Sabine." Hera climbed out from under the transport.
"I'll tap out a message to her as soon as you're ready," Zeb said as he pulled out his bow-rifle to use to tap out his word of warning.
"Now, Zeb!"
Hera nodded before she motioned for Valour to join her off to the side. Valour was surprised to see the transport tip up to one side as half of the propulsion engines were ignited. Inside, Sabine moved nimbly as the ship turned on its side. She was able to slide down to the entrance and slammed directly into the guard who had been standing watch at the doorway as she jumped out. Spotting her friends Sabine joined them quickly.
"You good?" Hera asked as Zeb helped the young woman to her feet.
"Yeah. We gotta get to the temple painting."
Hera shot a few troopers who moved to intercept them on their way to the painting. They had to move fast.
"What about the others?"
"They're on their way!" Sabine answered Hera. She'd heard that the doorway was changing while she was still inside with the minister.
Kanan and Ahsoka both were quick to use the force to block a weird blue force fire that the Sith sent toward them through the portal. After only a moment of confusion and hesitation Ezra joined the other two. Once the force fire was repelled the Jedi all panted from the exertion.
Ezra asked Ahsoka if she was alright while the Sith Lord could be heard cackling on the other side of the portal.
"Run!" Ahsoka told the men with her as she led the way back to the portal that she had come through. The three ran as fast as they could for what felt like forever. When the force fire caught up to Ezra, it wrapped itself around his legs and started to pull him toward the emperor's portal.
"Kanan! Ahsoka!"
"Show the way, Ezra!" Palpatine guttural voice oozed forth along the blue fire as he pulled the boy towards him. "Help me."
"Ah! He's coming through!"
"Hang on!" Kanan ignited his lightsaber and sliced the force fire as Ahsoka reached to pull the teen back onto his feet. Palpatine pulled his hand back as if in pain and squealed in response.
The three Jedi once more began to run at their top speed. When Ahsoka told Ezra to keep running he asked why she wasn't coming with him; Kanan was the one to explain.
"She has to close off her portal that was created when she came through, just like we have to close ours! Otherwise, he could still use them!"
Ezra hadn't thought about that. He turned to Ahsoka as she prepared to head down the path that would take her to the portal that he'd pulled her through. "When you get back, come and find me!"
"I will. I promise." Ahsoka nodded to both men before she raced down along her own path as they continued toward the one that they had first entered in from.
When it came into view Kanan shouted, "Ready?... Together!"
Both men jumped as one and tumbled as they hit the dirt and rock that told them that they were back at the dig site. Behind them on the wall the painted Loth-wolves continued to run in the circle that had formed the gateway.
"Ezra"
"Kanan!"
Both Sabine and Hera called out to the Jedi as they raced to help them up onto their feet and started to pull them away toward where Kiara's ship was on its way to meet them.
"No! We have to seal the portal," Ezra said and Kanan agreed.
"Ezra's right. We can't leave it for the emperor!"
Zeb and Hera were the only ones who still had their blasters, so they led the way to the painting. Valour watched as the astromech that belonged to the Twi'lek drove an excavation vehicle toward some troopers, sending them running for cover. She fought a laugh as she turned back to watch the Jedi. Zeb, however, didn't hold back his own laughter.
"Chopper's got 'em. Let's move."
"Sabine, which one do we activate?" Ezra asked as he looked up at the painting.
"The son! That one!"
Ezra guided Kanan's hand to join his as they both stood up on a box that had been moved toward the base of the painting. Each placed a fist next to the one painted for the younger male deity.
"Stop them!" Hydan shouted at the troopers around him. He heard the high-pitched tone that told him that the doorway was being closed.
Kanan heard a voice as Ezra saw the eyes of the son in the painting glow red. "The future, by its nature, can be changed."
That was the last thing either of them heard or saw before they both passed out.
Zeb picked Kanan up as Valour and Sabine worked together to drag Ezra between them as they each had an arm across their shoulders. Hera then led the small group toward where a freighter was seen descending from overhead.
"I'm assuming that's our ride?" Hera shouted as she fired her blaster while trying to give as much cover as she could for the others.
"It is." Valour didn't have to wait but a moment for the landing ramp to come within only a foot from the ground as Tac skillfully had the ship hover for her and the others. Around them the rocks all began to tremble, and the ground started to shake. Once they were all onboard, she called to her droid. "Tac, Hurry! Get us out of here!"
Kanan and Ezra both began to slowly wake up and neither knew where they were as they came to. Kanan put his hand to his head as Ezra tried to get to his feet.
"Careful," Zeb said as he stepped forward to steady the teen.
"What happened?" Ezra asked as he let Zeb guide him back onto a bunk that he'd been on when he woke up. It appeared that he and Kanan were in a bunk room of an unknown ship.
"You tell us," Sabine snickered. "The two of you closed the portal then-"
"Where's Hera?" Kanan asked her.
"Outside."
When the two Jedi made their way down the loading ramp of a ship that neither had ever been on before Ezra saw Hera staring off to a flat section land. "Where are we?"
"The Jedi temple," Hera said as she turned toward the two men before she stepped forward and hugged Kanan. She'd been afraid that she would lose him. She wasn't quite ready for that.
"How?" Ezra stared out to where there was no evidence that there had been an Imperial excavation project here only hours ago. "Kanan, it's all gone."
"When we flew out of the dig site the ground just seemed to open up and swallowed everything and everyone. No one else got out before..." Hera's voice trailed off.
