Chapter Three

Returning Together

Previously..

The woman held Nick's shoulders and looked him up and down. "You look just like your father.."

Nick knew then exactly who this woman was supposed to be. "Mother?" He asked. She nodded, tears in her eyes as Nick suddenly lost consciousness..

A Week Later, Royal Palace, Cloud City, Bespin..

Nick opened his eyes and had no idea where he was, but he notice d a weight on his side. Moving his head to look, he smiled as he saw Sariana'head leaning on his side, her hand holding his. Squeezing her hand, Sariana's head shot up, the girl blinking tiredly as she focused on Nick. "Hey." He greeted her.

She smiled wide. "You're finally awake. We've been so worried. Let me get the others. Be right back." She rushed out of the room.

Soon, the room had been filled by Sariana, Elliot, Corbyn, Bechka, Laurana and the woman who had identified herself as his and Laurana's mother. "Thank god, mate," Corbyn shook his head. "We were starting to think you wouldn't wake up at all."

"How long was I out? Wasn't Coruscant yesterday?"

Laurana spoke. "Nick, that was a week ago. When you lost consciousness, none of us knew what to do. We've all been taking turns watching over you, waiting for you to wake up," Nick could see she was about to cry. "I was scared I had lost you."

"Oh, Laurana. You know I'm a resilient bastard. Nothing keeps me down. What I don't understand is what exactly happened to make me lose consciousness in the first place."

"None of us do. As soon as you collapsed, we brought you to the Cloud Hopper's medical bay. The doctor said there was nothing wrong." Elliot said.

Nick thought about what Laurana had said. "What about Master Jiang? If I've been out for a week, then we're six days overdue to check back in at the temple."

"I have already notified him of both your team and Laurana's location," Said his mother, which caused the anger Nick kept deep inside to come out as she continued. "He told me to make sure you were all alright before I allow you to travel back to his care."

"I don't want to hear anything from you, mother," Dreeana visibly flinched at his tone. "I have so much to say to you. Why didn't you ever try to find us?! You left Laurana and I to grow up not only as orphans, but apart for twelve years. For all you knew, we both could have been part of the fucking Inquisition!"

Laurana intervened. "Nick, stop! I know you're angry, but that doesn't mean you should let it control you. Didn't your Master teach you all that?"

Sariana crossed her arms. "Laura's right, Nick. At least give your mother a chance to explain why she never came. Laurana's been scared to ask those same questions because she knew you had to hear what she had to say as well."

"Great, now they're ganging up on me," Nick mumbled. "Fine. I'm listening."

Dreeana sighed. "I understand your being angry with me. I've been pissed off at myself since Jiang informed me either of you were even alive. When your father was killed, there was no mention of either of you, so I thought you had died along with him. I have mourned you both every year when either yours or Laurana's birthday came along, every day I couldn't see you again, thinking I never even had a real chance to love you like I would have had your father not thought being in hiding would keep you all safe. I failed you both back then, and as I told Master Jiang, I have vowed to make sure that I do everything in my power to never let that happen again. I must go, there is something that requires my attention." Not letting her children or their allies see her tears, Dreeana stormed out of the room.

Beckha looked at Nick angrily. "No matter the situation, Nick, that was low. If either of my parents wound up being alive, I wouldn't hesitate at the chance to know them and at least try to be friendly, no matter how upset I'd be. What you should go and do is apologize. You owe it to her for saving you and Laurana back on Coruscant."

Nick lowered his eyes, focusing on the fabric of the sheets on the bed he laid on. Beckha was right, he knew that. Other than Corbyn, the lot of them were technically orphans and only had each other to even consider family. He sighed. "You're right, Beckha. I'm going to go apologize. Alone." He said as Laurana opened her mouth. "I fucked up, I have to be the one to fix it." As Nick got out of the bed and stretched, a man appeared in the doorway, the same one who had found him and Laurana.

"You might want to turn the HoloNet on. There's been an attack." Fearing the worst, Nick reacted instantly, pushing out with the Force to manipulate the HoloNet receiver into turning on.

"This just in from our Outer Rim contacts. Last week's disturbance in the Outer Rim was not a random happening. We are now getting reports that the Inquisition ship known as the Rancor bombed the surface of Iego, completely obliterating a town full of surviving Force-sensitive individuals. Our contact, being Force-sensitive themselves, said they felt the town's death from their location in the Deep Core.." Nick tuned himself out to the rest of the broadcast as suddenly he realized.

"That's why I passed out. I've never felt people die through the Force before because I wasn't in tune with it. Now that I am.."

"Its not possible," Elliot said, shaking his head. "If that was the case, then why didn't any of us pass out as well?"

"Because of something Master Jiang told me shortly after we all first arrived on Taivas. He said that as powerful as each of us are, I have a deeper connection to the Force despite no formal training. I have to tell him, he may not know about Iego."

"That can wait. Right now, you have something more important to take care of." Laurana said, grabbing one of Nick's arms. "Let's go." When Nicklas attempted to resist, his sister sighed. "Have it your way. Saria, little help?" Giggling, Sariana grabbed Nicks other arm and the two began dragging him out of the room.

"Elliot! Help!" At his best friends laughter, Nick growled. "Fucking traitor!"

When they had left, Beckha looked at Corbyn. "Did that.. Really just happen?"

"Nick is a stubborn bastard." Was all Corbyn said as the three continued listening to the HoloNet broadcast.

Queen's Private Chambers..

Dreeana gaped as she could hear her son unleash a massive string of curses from down the hall, until she heard a thud. "Shut up already! God, man up!" She chuckled at the voice of the girl who hadn't left Nick's side while he was unconscious. Sariana, she remembered was her name.

The door to her chambers opened and in came Sariana and Laurana, dragging a scowling Nicklas behind them. "Sorry, mother. He has a smuggler's attitude most times." Laurana apologized.

Dreeana smiled. "No harm done. You'd be surprised about your father when he was your age."

"Really? Well, we brought the idiot to you because he has something he wants to say. Don't you, Nick?" Laurana glared at her brother.

Nick opened his mouth to speak when Sariana hit him again. "Ow, Saria!"

Sariana put her arms behind her back. "Sorry. I thought you were going to say something smart."

Nick made a face. "Anyway. I came, even if against my will, to apologize for the way I acted. It was immature to lash out at you in my anger."

Dreeana smiled. "Oh, sweetheart, there's no need to apologize. I understand your anger, more than anyone here can see. Being queen of more than half of a planet is very angry and tiring work. Some days I just want to take your fathers first lightsaber out of my drawer there and slash all my advisors down." Nick stared at his mother, slightly scared. "But, it would tarnish the memory of your father if I did."

"Neither of us barely knew him. I was only a few months old when he was killed, and Nick wasn't much better off, being just over a year old." Laurana was holding her arm, a sign she was upset. "Can you tell us about him?"

"Of course I can. You're my children. But, if you're to be a Jedi, I think you're missing something young lady." The matriarch opened the drawer she had pointed out before and took out a polished silver tube they all recognized as a lightsaber. "Since Nicklas has his own, I think you should take your father's." She held it out for Laurana.

The teenager took the weapon and ignited it, a yellow blade springing forth. Turning it back off, Laurana held it to her chest with tears starting to fall from her eyes. "Thank you, mother. It.. It feels right." She smiled as her mother nodded.

"Now, do you want tales of your father to be said between just us or would you like the rest of your friends to hear them as well?"

"As much as it seems like a family-only thing, everyone should hear. Beckha only knows tales of Jedi from the time of the Empire and the First Order, really, so she'd probably enjoy hearing something more recent. And, my team is family to me." Nick said, leaving the room to get the three in the other room.

Meanwhile, Kamino..

The Supreme Inquisitor stalked into the office of the Kaminoan in charge of the cloning facility. "I have need of you, Kyto."

"Ah, Supreme Inquisitor Jarell. What can I and my facility do for you?"

"I need a clone made from this DNA." Garruf said, placing a large vial of blood onto the desk.

Picking it up, the Kaminoan eyed the leader of the Inquisition. "This blood has the feel of the Force. Reduced to cloning your own Knights for more power?"

Garruf chuckled. "Not exactly. That blood belongs to a defector to the Jedi. They were very powerful, powerful enough to break my hold on them because of their loyalty to family. I want a clone made raised with altered memories, ones that tell them their family abandoned them instead. You and your cloners fixed the life cycle inconsistencies, correct?"

Kyto nodded. "Yes, but now and then an accelerated growth clone does still expire before they should. How soon do you need this clone?"

"How soon would it be ready?" The Inquisitor asked back.

"If I begin today, I can have it ready in two months."

"Very good. I will await your message and pick them up myself. Good day, Kyto." He stormed out of the office.

One Standard Hour Later, Bespin..

The whole group had been listening to Dreeana talk about Nick and Laurana's father, the many stories she had of their younger years traveling the galaxy. Nick looked at the door of his mother's room moments before colonel Calrissian popped his head in. "My lady, there is an emergency message being transmitted to all Opposition leaders as well as the Force Shadow. Should I patch it in to your chambers?"

"Yes, please Falco."

Suddenly, a holographic projector activated from the center of the ceiling, showing Master Jiang. "Greetings. I am Master Fyaruk Jiang, and I have grave news. On the planet Iego, a village of potential Force-users has been destroyed if you have not yet heard. The Inquisition is trying to snuff out what could become their enemy, but as many of us know the Force does not like the balance of life being messed with. I have also come by the plans for a new, more destructive Death Star, one they have aptly named the Supernova Cannon. As I have told you all before, my apprentices have already seen visions of this weapon, which could not only destroy a planet as the original Death Star, or an entire system such as Starkiller Base. No, this will be much worse. The Supernova Cannon is not yet operational, but once it is, it will be capable of sending the star in the center of our galaxy into a supernova state, completely wiping out what they will think is only the Deep Core and Core systems. The reality is that if that star goes supernova, it will wipe out all life in the galaxy due to a miscalculation of its power. I urge all Opposition leaders to change their bases of operations to somewhere safe, as I would like to offer the Hidden Temple. We need to unite and stop this station from becoming operational at all costs, or we will not have anywhere to call home. Please relay any replies to Admiral Zarr on Csilla."

The group thought that was the end of the transmission, but there was more, most likely only for them to hear. "Nicklas, Beckha, Elliot, Sariana, Corbyn and Laurana, I urge you all back to the temple. I realize, for Nick and Laurana both, that right now is a hard time to leave Bespin, but we cannot allow the Inquisition to sense any of you and bomb Cloud City next. Dreeana, my dear, you are welcome to come and stay safe along with your children, but right now is not the time to be careless. If you need your capital ship, you are welcome to dock it in the upper hangar bay closer to the surface of Taivas' canyons, but please relay your reply through the good admiral first. Also, I didn't ask in our meeting last week, but who is your weapons outfitter? If we are all to work together to defeat this menace, I believe we will all need some new tricks. Nicklas may already know what I am thinking. Again, make haste to the temple. I expect the six of you to return in the next two days. May the Force be with you." Then the message ended.

All eyes turned to Nick. "Do you know what he's thinking?" Elliot asked.

"I'm not sure, but if I do, then Pyrell better be available to move locations." Nick looked at his mother. "Will you be coming to Taivas, mother?"

Dreeana nodded. "I'd rather be there for you when you need me. However, I will have to get one of my Holodroids out of storage to take my place here. We can't have the Inquisition thinking I'm not at home if they come knocking."

"Nice to know where Nick got his brains from," Sariana smiled. "Is the ship ready to go?"

"Of course. Maintenance and refueling was done when we first arrived. Before you all leave, though, could I speak to Sariana alone for a moment?"

Nick looked between Sariana and his mother before nodding. "Yeah, sure. Come on, guys, we gotta get the ship ready for liftoff." The group left the room, leaving Dreeana and Sariana alone.

"Have I done something wrong?" Sariana frowned.

Dreeana laughed. "Oh, no. Not at all, honey. I just wanted a moment alone with the girl my son is obviously so smitten with." Sariana's eyes widened. "Don't look so worried. As much of their lives as I have missed, a mother notices these things. Maybe one day, you'll see what I mean." Sariana bit her lip at that, remembering her vision of herself and Nick in bed together. "I also see that Nick and you have a connection, one I wasn't expecting to stem between him and a woman at all, given the circumstances. How do you feel about my son, Sariana? In your own words."

Sariana froze. She hadn't really thought about that. The visions had started becoming a reality, but with the last month being so busy the thought of what her and Nick actually shared, what they were as far as others saw when they saw each other. Laurana had teased her on Coruscant saying she was dating Nick, but they hadn't really had something she'd think of as a date. Except maybe the shopping trip on Malastare. "Well, I, uh.." She was nervous, and couldn't form her words right, there were too many thoughts rushing through her head, mixing into an incoherent blob.

"I can see that you're nervous, Sariana. Relax your mind, take a deep breath. Think of it as you meditating." Dreeana advised, somewhat concerned for the young Jedi apprentice.

Nodding, Sariana closed her eyes and took a deep breath, clearing her mind of all thoughts but how she herself felt about Nick. "I.. I truly care for him. I've never really had any friends outside of Laurana, so boys are especially foreign to me. Nick saved my life when he took me off of Utapau, even if we couldn't save Laurana that day. Nick makes me feel safe, protected, and I want to be able to protect him like he does me. I don't know how else to really describe how I feel, I'm not very good at talking about my feelings. All I know for sure is what the Force has shown me, and that I want that future, especially if it means having Nick by my side."

Dreeana smiled. "I know how that feels, Sariana, and not just because I actually have bodyguards. The first couple of months I knew Nick and Laurana's father, I didn't know how I felt about him, not really. But then he said he loved me, and it was right then and there I knew I wanted to always be with him. We were married to each other by the time we were both nineteen. My advice, sweetie, is take the chance and see how things go."

Sariana nodded. "I will. You know, he kind of likes it when I call him a nerf-herder."

Dreeana shook her head. "Sounds like the kind of quirk he would have after growing up on Corellia."

"Yeah. Also, have you given this talk to Elliot?"

The queen looked at her, confused. "No, why would I have?"

"Because according to him and what Laurana told me, he's been in love with her since they were little kids in that orphanage."

Dreeana looked genuinely shocked. "Really? Well, maybe next time. Now, go join your friends and get back to your training. I hope to join you all there in a matter of days." She went and hugged the seventeen year old. "Take care of Nick, won't you? Try to keep him out of trouble."

"I will, although with his track record, trouble finds him. Goodbye, your majesty." Sariana smiled as she left the room, rushing off to the hangar bay.

Sariana came into the cockpit and sat next to Laurana. "Everything alright?" She asked.

"Yeah, Laura. Everything's fine, your mom just wanted to ask something of me." She smiled at her best friend, glancing at Nicklas in the pilot's seat.

"I see. Well, I'm going to get some sleep." Laurana leaned in to her best friend's ear. "Did you know Nick's personal room on the ship is actually next to the room the other boys sleep in?" Laurana whispered, winking at her, and Sariana gasped at what her friend was implying.

Nick turned around to see Sariana's face turn a beet red. "You okay, Saria?" He asked.

"Fine. I just need a moment. How long until we reach Taivas?" She covered, changing the subject.

"A day or two, and Nick is already falling asleep at the helm even after having been asleep the last week. So, you go rest yourself." Elliot said to Nick. "Can't have you getting us killed if I need some sleep."

Nicklas sighed. "Fine, I'll go rest." He got up from the pilot's seat. "Corbyn, you have the helm if you're up for it." Nodding, Corbyn placed himself in the seat.

Sariana waited a few minutes before going to the girls' room to change into a pastel purple tank top and half-length capri pants she had gotten on Malastare. Taking a breath, she walked back out and down the inner hallway to the end, where a door lead into what Sariana thought was one of the 'flippers' interior. Knocking, she heard his voice call back. "Come in."

Sariana entered the room and froze as she saw Nick lying on top of the sheets of his cot, shirtless with his lean, muscled chest exposed to her. He looked at her. "Saria? You alright?" He asked, breaking the girl out of her daze.

"What? Oh, yeah. I just wanted to come and talk to you about something. But, if it's a bad time I can always- eep!" She started to walk back out the door, but Nick rolled his eyes and used the Force to bring her to him, causing her to trip over the side of the cot and land on top of him. "Nick!"

"Yes? Just talk to me, Saria. What's wrong?" Nick ran his hands up her arms, making her shiver.

"I.. I.. Wanted to talk about us. Like, what are we? I wasn't around many boys my age, so feelings never really came into play and now I just don't know how I really feel because I don't know how you feel about me and.." Nick began laughing. "What's so funny?" She pouted at him.

"Oh, just how adorable you are when you start ranting. Sariana, I know we've barely known each other a month, but I know what I feel is love. I want to protect you, I would sacrifice myself if it meant you would be safe. I don't want there to be a day of your life that I miss. I love you, Saria." Nick looked away as he confessed.

Sariana twisted his face back and pressed her lips to his, smiling the entire side. "Good, because I feel the exact same about you. But, what does that make us?"

"I'd say that makes us, at the least, dating. The two of us, we have a connection that I don't want to ignore. Why the sudden questions?"

Now Sariana looked away. "Your mother.. She asked me how I felt about you, and I wasn't completely sure how to answer her."

"Really? The Inquisition doesn't really scare you but my mother does?"

"She's royalty, Nick! And so are you. I thought she'd think I was nowhere near good enough for you."

"Aww, she does care. Don't worry, Saria. I wouldn't change anything about our relationship."

Smiling, Sariana laid her head on his chest. "Thanks, Nick. I think I'm just going to rest here. Now, I don't want to leave you."

"Alright, Saria. Rest it is." Nick said as they both closed their eyes.

Twenty Standard Hours Later..

"Nick! Wake up, we're approaching Taivas." Elliot's voice announced, rousing Nick and Sariana from the peaceful sleep they had been enjoying.

"Alright, El. Be over there in a few minutes." Nick said, absentmindedly stroking Sariana's hair. "Although, I really don't want to leave this room right now. Who knows how long it will be before we have another chance like this."

Sariana hummed, tightening her grip on Nick's body. "Agreed. Why does Master Jiang even keep us women away from the men?"

"Because even if he wants us to let our attachments make us stronger, he doesn't want any even younger students to take care of." He chuckled as Sariana looked at him. "Not that I wouldn't mind that, but I like to respect the elders who at the least try to look out for me. Come on, let's get going before someone comes to see what's taking us." He kissed her forehead before getting up, going over to the closet for a change of shirt. "Its also a good thing Master Jiang doesn't have us wear Jedi robes. We blended better wearing our casual outfits."

Hidden Temple Hangar Bay..

As the group unloaded themselves from the Force Shadow, they were greeted by Master Jiang and the twins, both of whom tackled Nick in a bear hug. "We were so worried!" Palom said, her eyes openly tearing.

"Yeah. We may not like your training or disciplinary actions, but you're still our big brother!" Porom continued, tightening his hold on the older boy.

"Alright, alright. I'm fine, guys. Thank you for caring, though. And now, you have another big sister," He whispered the last bit close to them, looking back at Laurana who was holding hands with Elliot, overly nervous about even being here. "Go say hello and make her see she belongs here." He patted the two of them on their backs before they rushed over to Elliot and Laurana.

"Welcome to the temple, Laurana!" They said in sync, making Elliot chuckle. "We've wondered when Nick would be able to save you."

Laurana giggled, smiling at the youngsters. "Oh, aren't you two adorable. Nick's munchkin army still a thing, then?" She laughed, asking Elliot.

"No, these two are only four years younger than us. They just look up to Nick and listen to him. Plus he disciplines them in a way they get scared if they don't listen."

"Hey, enough ragging on me," Nick called to them, turning to Master Jiang. "Sorry for the late return, Master." He said, bowing.

Fyaruk smiled. "It's alright, Nicklas. You felt the attack on Iego, and as long as you are all safe, then you could have returned later."

Nick shook his head. "No. As nice as it was to meet our mother," He looked at Laurana. "I wanted to keep her safe, although she'll probably end up here in a few days. And I figured Laurana needed to be safe. That's been my top priority since becoming a pilot."

"And that determination makes you an excellent Jedi. Laurana, please come here." He beckoned a nervous Laurana over.

Laurana looked at Elliot, who squeezed her hand and nodded. "You'll be alright." He whispered in her ear.

Taking a breath, Laurana stood next to Nick and bowed as he had. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Master Jiang."

Jiang chuckled. "Good to see old Jarell hasn't turned you dark enough to forget your manners," He eyed the lightsaber now clipped to her belt. "Is that..?"

"My father's lightsaber. Our mother thought I should have it since Nick already has his own. And what an interesting lightsaber he has, too."

Master Jiang looked at Nick. "What does she mean by that?" He asked.

Nick scratched the back of his head. "Well, apparently my lightsaber has a whip mode. I kinda decapitated one of the High Knights to make sure Laurana was coming back with us."

The elder Jedi's eyes widened in surprise. "Really? They must not have been part of the Knights very long if they were taken out by a technical padawan."

"Right? Either way, though, we did what we set out to do. How did the queen know where we were going to be, anyway? I realize she's most likely part of the Opposition, but to be on Coruscant to ensure Laurana and I got off the planet alive? She had inside information."

"Yes, well. Once she heard your name when I was explaining you and your friends' determination to help stop the Inquisition, she insisted she know where and when you would be to make sure both of her long-lost children returned home safely. That reminds me, we now have the Opposition's full support, due to the schematics I found and sent to all the separate leaders."

"That's another thing, too. How did you actually get those plans?" Corbyn asked, the question having been lingering in the whole group's minds since the hologram message they'd seen on Bespin.

"Persuasion is a skill that can be very handy in most situations." Jiang said, smirking. "I just had to find a techie in the Inquisition's ranks and persuade them to download the schematics to a data card. Then I returned here and sent the message and plans out via the good Chiss admiral. Any other questions?"

Sariana put her hand up. "Did Jewel's eggs hatch yet?"

"No, not yet. But, the clutch should be close to hatching by now. Why ask that, of all things Sariana?"

"Because I for one have never seen a baby Varactyl. And I bet they're just absolutely adorable." She turned away, blushing as the other teens laughed.

Laurana looked at Jiang again. "So, now I'll train with the others to be a Jedi, right?"

"Of course. Lessons begin tomorrow for you, to allow you some rest. For the others, it's time for some meditation before we eat. Go on. Oh, Sariana? Please show Laurana to the dorm rooms."

"Of course, master." Sariana said before grabbing Laurana's arm and bringing her to the dorm wing as the others all filed out of the hangar towards the meditation chamber.

Sariana and Laurana entered the room Sariana had chosen. "You don't mind sharing, do you? Everyone else has separate rooms, if you'd rather that."

Laurana smiled at her best friend. "Of course I don't mind. This way we can talk like we always did growing up. So, you and Nick disappeared the whole trip back here from Bespin.."

"Yes, and nothing happened but one of the best rests I've ever had. Nick and I are taking things slowly, it helps since we both know I'm not always good with emotions."

"I know, but I'm happy for you two. I feel that because of me getting taken all those years ago made Nick have to grow up too fast to really enjoy his life. But, since Utapau, I can tell the two of you are having a much better time in life. The happiness just radiates off of you both."

"Yeah.. But, what about you and Elliot? There's been something there for a long time, it seems. Plus, its funny Nick thinks you should have slapped Elliot."

Laurana giggled. "Yeah, I guess there has been. The problem when you're a kid is that any attachment you have to someone, you never really know what it means. I was always with Nick and Elliot on Corellia, but I tended to stay around Elliot more when I could. I don't know when that all changed, but when I was going to Coruscant, I couldn't bear the thought of hurting Elliot." Laurana explained somberly. "Aren't you supposed to be with the others meditating?"

"Yeah. I guess I should head down there. I'll come get you when its time to eat, alright?" The younger Nekron sibling nodded. "Alright, now get some rest." Sariana laughed as she left the room.

Laurana sighed as she sat down on a cot that sat next to the one she could tell her friend slept in. "I just hope I can be strong. For everyone."

"That's good," Stated an unfamiliar voice that Laurana could have sworn she had heard before. "Doubting yourself after what you've been through is normal, princess." Looking towards the voice, Laurana saw a blue ghostly figure of a man that, at first, she thought was Nick.

"Wh-who are you?" Laurana asked, frightened by the sudden visitor.

The ghost chuckled. "Its not surprising you don't remember me. You were only a few months old when the Inquisition found and murdered me, leaving you and Nicklas all alone on Corellia." The words clicked in Laurana's head as she gasped.

"Father?" The ghost nodded. "Why show yourself to me?"

"Well, Nick already has his own little ghostly sponsor, really. And, I couldn't deny my little girl some advice and comfort in this difficult time for you."

"Mom misses you. You should have sent her a message telling her where Nick and I were. I wouldn't be feeling like this if you hadn't made both our lives so hard." Laurana's anger created a small spark of electricity in her hand.

Elias nodded. "Yes, I know. But, it was necessary. If I had told your mother, the Inquisition would have gone and destroyed Bespin. Better to have our family live apart until you were ready instead of making it easier for the Inquisition to find you and Nick. I can't ask you to forgive this departed soul's mistakes, but I will always be here when you really need me. Just know you are on the right side of this conflict. Our family is powerful, as is your friend Sariana's. Only together can the Jedi now hope to fight the Inquisition. I must go, but meditate on what you want out of your life, alright princess?"

Laurana nodded. "Yes, father. Of course."

Elias smiled. "By the way, my lightsaber looks good with you. Use it well, and try not to lose it. Lightsabers are becoming more and more rare these days."

"I will." Laurana said as the force spirit vanished from sight. Sighing again, she laid down on the cot and closed her eyes, attempting to get some rest.

Meanwhile, Sariana and the others were all meditating, each in their own heads as they struggled to connect themselves to the Force. Sariana opened her eyes to what she thought was the meditation chamber, but instead found herself in a field, a small castle overlooking where she was. Looking around, she spotted a man she recognized, even whithout them being tinged in blue. She approached him. "Where am I?" She asked.

Anakin's Skywalker turned towards her and smiled. "You're currently connected to the Force, actually. This was mine and my wife's retreat on her home world of Naboo. The same island your friend Corbyn and his family have lived in for the last few decades. I see you found it," He said, pointing at the lightsaber clipped to her belt. "Master Obi-Wan hated that I kept losing lightsabers, but that one was the first that I made after I became a Jedi Knight."

"I felt it call to me on Malastare. Why?"

"Still haven't figured it all out, huh? Well, let's just say that lightsabers can sense familial connections through the Force. I wouldn't be able to tell you exactly how, but you are the latest and currently last heir to the Skywalker family. That means you are powerful, just as powerful if not more than your boyfriend and his sister," He laughed. "But that power comes with a price. One I almost destroyed the galaxy for."

Sariana was confused then. "What do you mean? What price?"

"The price of corruption that comes with power. I fell to the Dark side, became Darth Vader. My grandson Ben Solo became Kylo Ren of the First Order. Our family has trouble staying on one side, but I believe your friends can keep you anchored to the Light. The Nekron children are just as powerful, but as for any Jedi they could be related to, I cannot tell you. Most Jedi from the Republic had families they had left, so with no outside contact to them the Order wouldn't have even known if say Obi-Wan Kenobi had a brother or sister who passed by the Empire and their children with the First Order. Again, I wouldn't be able to tell you."

"Alright.. What about Laurana? We've saved her, but I feel that events I've seen in my visions haven't changed."

"It's normal to feel that way. Some visions don't change, just come about in different ways. Believe me, I would like to tell you that your journey will be easy, but that would be a lie. For Jedi, the journey of life, of who, when and where to fight, is a constant struggle that will pull you towards either Light or Dark. It is up to you to ensure you stay the path."

Sariana nodded. "I understand, Master."

Meanwhile..

Nick, however, was in a different location he was sure he'd never seen before. There were trees taller than even the tallest skyscrapers on Coruscant, and many had large huts built around the trunks. He was standing in front of a hut that had seen much better days, looking like it had been burned down at some point. "Seriously? Where the hell am I now?"

"This is Kashyyyk, homeworld of the Wookiees." Said a new voice. Turning around, he found a man that Nick thought could have been an older version of him. "It is also the place of both my birth and my kidnapping."

"But, who exactly are you? I've never seen you in any of the temple's archives."

The man chuckled. "Chances are, you wouldn't. My name is Galen Marek, and I was also known as Darth Vader's secret apprentice." Now Nick remembered reading something about this man.

"What happened to you? The archives all say you disappeared months before Vader tried to get the Death Star plans from Senator Organa. Leia, that is."

"Yes, because I wanted nothing more to do with the Empire or the Rebellion that ironically fought using the family crest." Galen pointed into the ruined shack, where a familiar symbol was still visible on the back wall. "So I retreated to Ithor with my pilot, Juno Eclipse. We lived under new identities, creating a life for ourselves as well as each other. Then, we relocated to Corellia, where my descendants have made their homeworld ever since."

"Alright, that seems like a little more information than I was expecting. What does your family history have to do with me?" Nicklas said, scowling.

"I figured you'd be used to meeting new relatives by now," Galen smirked. "You and your sister are my last living descendants. I was also the one who hid the Omnisaber you carry with Master Yoda."

Nick thumbed the hilt on his belt. "But, you used two regular lightsabers. Where did this one come from?"

"I built it. I used the Force to combine every Kyber crystal I found in my travels, and it became a silver crystal. The multifunction use was Juno's idea, but I see it has already found its uses for you."

"That's why we're so powerful, isn't it? Me and Laurana? Because you were so powerful you had mastery over most all of the Force abilities." Galen nodded. "That's why Jarell wanted Laurana." He trailed off. "Then why show yourself to me now?"

"Master Jiang had yet to put you to the test until he allowed your little trip off of Taivas. I'm glad you all passed that little trial. But, you are not a Knight just yet. There were several trials I myself underwent in the ruins of the Jedi temple on Coruscant before the Force acknowledged me as a Jedi. Jiang may be an enigma, even for a Jedi, but he knows what he's doing. If you ever find yourself here, for whatever reason," The man known as Starkiller motioned to their surroundings. "You will find more remnants of our family's past inside the hut. I never went back, but I always felt Kashyyyk call out to me."

"I will. I only have one question for you, then. How did you really know you wanted nothing more to do with the Dark Side? From what I've read, you just made a one-eighty and turned against it."

"I didn't know it at the time, but it was always Juno. I can't say why or how we ever really fell in love, just that we did. I vowed to myself to do whatever would keep her safest. The same promise you have already made over that Sariana. You do know-"

"Yes," Nick sighed. "I know she is the Supreme Inquisitor's daughter. But she is her own person living her own life. I just plan on being a part of it."

Galen smiled. "That's good. But, be prepared for the uncertainty of the future. Sariana Prinall may not be the only girl you fall in love with." Nick narrowed his eyes at his ancestor. "Do not worry. You and Sariana have quite some time before anything to break your relationship happens. I'm just telling you to be mindful that even happiness does not always last forever. She also isn't the only Skywalker still alive. I must be going. Live life to the fullest, Nick, but never lose sight of what is truly important."

"Yes, grandfather, I will." Nick replied, bowing before the vision landscape broke itself.

Meanwhile, Mandalore..

A teenage girl made her way through the deserted shell of a city, hoping to find something of value to help her survive until anyone came to the planet that could take her off the barren world. When the Inquisition arrived seven years ago, they came to broker a truce between their modern Empire and the Mandalorians. The Mandalorians, remembering the negative history associated between their people and the workings of the Empire and it's successors, declined and so the planet-wide genocide had begun. For several months, Inquisitors and their troopers hunted down every Clan to extinction. All except for her, the lone survivor of Clan Wren, and descendant of the Rebellion's Phoenix Squad. Both Jedi and Mandalorian, she thumbed her grandmother's legendary weapon, the Darksaber and the second blue blade that she kept slung over her Mandalorian armor on her right shoulder. "Grandfather, grandmother.. Will I ever find my way off this now dead world?"

Keryne Bridger-Wren.. Came a voice in her head.

"Who is that? Show yourself!" A blue ghostly form manifested in front of her, and she gasped at recognizing the man as her forefather Ezra Bridger. "Grandfather."

"Hello, princess. I am here to give you advice that my fellow Jedi who have passed have told me is of great importance to you. Follow the will of the Force. It will lead you where you belong. Be patient, and you will find the happiness you deserve. And never stray from the path you will walk as a Jedi, no matter how hard things get."

"Yes, grandfather. How will I know who to trust?"

"You will meet a group of Force-users, Jedi, in the coming months. One will speak Mando'a." Keryne nodded as that was all she needed to hear before Ezra's form vanished once again. Taking a breath under her helmet, Keryne began walking towards something that was pulling her towards it in the Force.

Taivas, A Week Later..

Nicklas was bombarded by a new set of Force visions, none of the events seeming familiar to him..

A girl removed the Mandalorian helmet she wore to reveal dark blue almost purple or black shoulder-length hair and piercing electric purple eyes. She smiled and spoke in Mando'a. "I expected you all a couple of months ago, if I'm being honest."..

.. The scene changed, now the girl was using a black lightsaber-like weapon along with a blue bladed lightsaber as she along with the other young Jedi fought off waves of Inquisition troopers. She smiled at him, winking before back flipping behind a row of troopers and cutting them down, blowing a kiss to Nick as he fought his share of the enemies..

.. She was in bed with him now, resting her head on Nick's chest. "I know you miss her. It's painfully obvious since this is pretty much the best I'll get right now. You have to let go, though. Sariana wouldn't want you to stay hung up on her when there's a chance for you to be happy."

Nick stayed silent, not knowing what to really say. The girl growled. "Damnit, Nick!" She climbed off of him, opting to sit on the edge of the bed. "Let me in! Why won't you open up anymore?!" She was sobbing now, the shaking of her body making the bed shift slightly.

"I promised her nothing bad would happen to her, and I failed. I loved her, Ryn. I'm not ready to take that chance." Was all Nick said.

After a long moment, the Mandalorian girl sighed. "Fine then. If you want to just sit and mope like a pathetic womp rat, then do that. But if you decide you want that second chance at happiness, you know where to find me." With that, the girl got up and walked out of Nick's room..

.. Now he stood in the cockpit of the Force Shadow, with Elliot in the copilot's seat. "You're doing it again." Elliot said, referring to Nick subconsciously fidgeting with Sariana's lightsaber, which he now kept with him.

"Fuck off, El. I can do what I want." Nick replied, not realizing his voice had a whiny tone to it.

"Yeah, you can. But you need to stop obsessing over losing her. We're all still hoping Sariana will come back to us, to our little family, but we also know it won't happen. But.."

"Does everyone on this ship have it in their heads that I have to move on?" Nick was getting angry not with Elliot, but about everyone pushing him past his grieving.

"Kind of. I mean, you and Sariana had that connection that bound you both together. Unfortunately, now she's gone and you've withdrawn yourself so deep even Master Jiang worries about you. Not to mention there is, and Laurana knows about this opinion of mine, a gorgeous and obviously interested Mandalorian girl onboard who feels a connection to you just like Sariana. You mean to tell me that the nights Ryn goes and stays with you in bed means nothing to you?"

Nick sighed. "That's not it. I know something is there between me and Ryn, but if I look at her, I still only see Saria." Elliot sighed as the duo stayed in silence..

.. "I know why you don't look at me when I sleep with you," Ryn(?) Said as she and Nick traveled across plains on a world he couldn't recognize in a landspeeder that Nick also didn't recognize.

"Really? Please tell." Nick replied, not wanting to really talk about it.

"Why do you only see her? Contrary to whatever Corbyn might think, us Mandalorians do have feelings. And it's very upsetting that you can't get over Sariana. Don't you want to have someone like Corbyn and Beckha? Elliot and your sister? Tayla and Keyrinn even?!" Nick couldn't just hear the girls' pain but feel it in the Force, making him remember again that the connection he felt to this other girl was stronger than the bond him and Sariana had felt.

"Ryn, please. Despite how I act, I do feel our connection. And me not being over Sariana is on me, not you or anyone else. I don't see her when I look at you. I'm scared. Scared of losing anyone I let in like Sariana. I should have been able to save her. When I see that clone and Saria's father again, they will pay. I won't risk losing anyone to the Inquisition again." Nick stopped the speeder and leaned back, looking at the clouds rolling across the sky. He spoke to the young Mandalorian in her native tongue now. "You being so Sith-damned gorgeous doesn't help the situation, either."

Ryn blushed, not expecting Nick to actually acknowledge her in that way. "Then why ignore it? Ignore me? Sariana was my friend too, and I understand not wanting something between us. Moving in on a friend's man? That's not honorable and would shame me if my people were still alive. But, Sariana is gone, as painful as that is to realize, and you can't let that ruin who you are."

Nick's lips curved upward in a hinted smile. "And who exactly am I, then?"

"For starters, you're incredibly brave, and powerful in the Force. You're also incredibly dense at times, and other times you're a total idiot. You have a personality that causes people you befriend to trust you, almost instantly in some cases. You have the heart of a Mandalorian, really, complete with your sense of honor.

"And you won my heart just like you first won Sariana's: By being yourself. You don't need to worry about me getting hurt, I can take care of myself better than she ever could. And I think I've proven to you that if you're ever in trouble, I come and help quicker than any of the others."

"You're right about that, you have proven you want to make sure I stay safe as much as I do for the rest of the crew. But, why do you not hesitate to come through for me? Other than that Mandalorian pride."

"I promised Sariana I would keep you safe. She.. She knew about the connection between you and I. She saw herself die, and I guess she saw you being how you have been in the year since. She told me that if anyone could make you happy again, it was going to be me."

Nick was surprised. He hadn't known anything about that. "I'm sorry, Keryne."

"Save it, Nicklas. You can apologize when you decide to stop brooding and do something." Nick laughed as she stuck her tongue out at him..

.. Now they were sparring, Nick using his and Sariana's lightsabers as Keryne stood several steps away from him, her black and blue sabers twirling in her hands. Nick sent a bolt of force lightning at the Mandalorian, who held her darksaber out to absorb the attack, sending a force push at Nick in retaliation. Nick stood his ground before jumping, landing on top of Keryne, disarming her in midair. "Ha! Got you!"

Keryne smirked playfully before Nick was flipped onto his back, the Mandalorian now bent over him, giggling. "I think you have that backwards, love." She said, leaning down and kissing him.

"Damnit, Ryn. How do you always do that?" Nick asked, scowling playfully.

"I'm Mandalorian, honey," Keryne replied in Mando'a. "We know how to fight close quarters combat much better than some half-royal Corellian."

Nick gaped at her, feigning hurt. "You're royal, too. Literally, you are a legend just being alive." Now the woman looked hurt. "But you're still my little royal Mandalorian. Can I get up now? As much as I like you on top."

"You punk. Come on then. We have a class to teach in an hour." She sauntered away, looking back at him from the doorway as he started getting up with a smile aimed right at Nick..

.. Elliot shook his head as the group watched Keryne take control of a small assignment. "Why are you so damned lucky, Nick?"

"Why, whatever do you mean, Elliot?"

"First, you met Sariana, who is to this day one of the most beautiful women we've both ever met, and that includes Laurana of course. Then, when we all were still just training to be Jedi, we rescue Keryne from the ruins of Mandalore, and you are the only one who can speak Mando'a here, which if anyone from the Inquisition knew, there would be more bounty hunters after at least you. Just that trait alone made her fall for you. Granted, with the circumstances between, I can understand. You're just really lucky when it comes to attracting beautiful women, all I'm saying." He chuckled at the end, causing Nick to shake his head..

The meditation room in the temple came into focus, and Nick was shocked. Just what was going to come about? And if he found a way to change things, would he go through with changing the future, consequences be damned?

A/N: This chapter was difficult for me. I finally started rewatching Rebels after stopping at the season 2 finale, and I realize that it's actually ended season three with at least one of the Ghost/Phoenix crew dying, but I haven't gotten there yet. I just thought that the implications for Sabine and Ezra being possibly together gave me the idea that what if they had a kid? So input new plot twists and I've officially fixed the timeline that was horribly skewered in the last chapter and created all brand new ones. Granted, I plan on having this series expand into its own saga, but I know I'm going past an Episode III for New Age. Anyway, broke the chapter record length again. Next chapter, I'm going to Focus on some of the Inquisition side, maybe bring a planet or two that hasn't been seen often into it.