His comm chimed. It was always an unwelcome sound when he was asleep, but the lifetime of training and condition made it impossible for him to simply ignore the sound. Shifting his legs and hips to work out the stiffness that settled up his spine on the rare occasions he was allowed to sleep for extended periods of time, he was met with unexpected resistance at his side. Looking down from his place on his back, sighed at the sight of Sinda lying against his chest, head resting on his shoulder as the rest of his arm curled around her body. She held him at the waist, oblivious to the chirping that he needed to answer, but his desire not to wake her started a war within himself. When the sound cut off mid-chirp, cold dread spread through his stomach, knowing he'd have to answer the missed call.

As much as he wanted to stay in bed and continue to hold his beloved in his arms, the call of service and duty was too loud to ignore, so he extracted himself from her strong grasp as gracefully as he could. Kicking his feet over the edge of the bed and sitting up, he rubbed the sleep from his eyes as he stretched his neck, a series of pops and cracks loosening his vertebra. Just as he was about to stand, two hands encircled his chest as her warm body molded to his back. He sighed at the feeling of her breasts pressing against his bare skin. His morning-stiff cock ached as he grappled with his inability to throw himself atop her and start his day off by making love to his ruma'r. The flames of his desire were stoked further by her hot mouth kissing the thick, corded muscle that curved from his neck to his shoulder.

"We don't have time," he groaned as his hand rested against his length, unconsciously stroking to her enticing action.

"I do not care," she replied, nipping sharply before soothing the spot with her tongue.

As temptation whispered in his ear, the sudden thunder of dozens of small feet beyond the door shocked him back to reality. Although he had no idea what time it actually was, he knew if the younglings were awake, he was in late. Jumping to his feet, he snatched his compression suit from the back of the chair and stuffed his feet into them. With an amused smile, Sinda stood and likewise dressed, without the slightest sence of urgency.

"I hadn't meant to stay here all night," he explained, slapping the pieces of his armor into place.

"I know, but do not panic. Everything will be fine," she replied in a tone far more relaxed than he could believe.

"If I'm caught here-"

"Check your chrono. The younglings wake up for morning meditation shortly after dawn. You are not as late as you think."

Unhurried, she opened the plait of her hair and rummaged through her pack for a polished wooden comb. Checking the time, he felt a measure of comfort that she was correct, he wasn't yet late, though he needed to get back to the base soon. The pace of his dressing slowed as he watched her divide and rebraid her hair with one larger braid at the top of her head and two smaller ones at each side that remained close to her scalp, incorporating a thin leather thong with a crystal attached to the end on the right side. Once her hair reached the back of her neck, she joined the sections into a single, thick braid that, once plaited, would rest down nearly the full length of her spine. The crystal draped free at her neck and rested against her shoulder, much like a padawan's braid.

By the time she was finished, he was fully dressed and anxious to leave. He reached for the door, but she stopped him, holding a finger to her lips. Outside another round of foot thunder passed by. The older younglings were returning from their morning lessons to clean up and change for breakfast. As they waited, Rex studied the deep blue crystal that hung from her hair. Gazing into it reminded him of the sacred pool beneath the srika tree, an endless galaxy of sparkling stars, extending into eternity yet contained within a vessel so small.

"Do you like my shard of Aauraa?" she mused, watching him study the crystal.

"It's beautiful," he whispered.

"In my clan, when a child is born, it is believed their soul came from one of Aauraa's tears. Seer chooses a crystal as a gift for the child. It is their connection to gods. At times, the wearer can hear the gods speaking to them through the kyber. Seer says that when it is our time to die, we hear The Mother calling to us, calling her child home."

Rex inhaled sharply at the thought of losing her, "Well, let's hope you don't hear her while on this mission."

Outside the door, the cucophony of innumerable pre-teens exiting their rooms and filing down the hall interrupted the quiet moment. Closing her eyes and extending her senses, Sinda listened down the corridor for a moment. Upon opening her eyes, he saw a flash of aggravation on her face, but she said nothing. Instead, she gathered her pack and slung it over her shoulder before returning to the door. Taking hold of the upper edge of his pauldron, she pulled him into an intense, if brief, kiss.

"Stay here. You'll know when it's safe."

"Wait, what?"

Rather than answer, she opened the door and strode out without looking. He moved to follow, but a singular sound made his blood run cold.

"Sinda!" General Skywalker called, approaching down the hall.

Rex froze in the doorway, certain he was going to be discovered. Standing dumbly wide-eyed with his helmet tucked under his arm, he waited for the inevitable. Just as his superior officer came into view, the door mercifully slid shut. It took a moment for him to realize he was, in fact, hidden in the room, not that it stopped the racing of his heart against his sternum nor the cold sweat against his compression suit. After several deep breaths, he coaxed his body to move and listen at the door.

"Skywalker," she greeted cooly. "What can I do for you?"

"You and I need to talk," his tone wasn't welcoming. "In private."

Rex panicked, knowing they were headed for the very room he was desperate to escape, but Sinda managed to keep her wits, "I was going to get breakfast before heading to the ship. Perhaps we can walk and talk."

"Fine," he grumbled.

Their boots departed and the corridor once again fell silent. Waiting several more minutes, he opened the door and snuck out. He stayed close to the wall and watched his back as much as the front. Recalling the turns from the prior night, he made his way out of the dormitory maze.

Or at least he thought he had. Turning right to, what was supposed to be the main hallway, he found a dead end and swore. He was absorbed in talking out the steps to himself, he didn't hear the approaching steps and nearly shrieked when he turned.

"Well, well, well. Awfully early for you to arrive at the Temple, isn't it Captain?" Talia teased with a smug grin on her face. "You wouldn't be trying to sneak out after staying the night, now would you?"

"General Riva-I-you see-" he stammered as panic flashed through his wide eyes.

"Breathe, Rex," she chuckled. "I'll bet you're lost and need some help."

"Yes," he exhaled.

With a wave, Talia turned on her heel and retraced their steps, "It's actually easy to get turned around in this part of the dorms. There's a false wall that hides the turn on the way in, but you'll see it on the way out and mistake it for your turn."

"I appreciate the help."

"That's two you owe me," a smile tugged at one side of her face as they returned to the main dormitory corridor and made their way out. "After last night at the bar, Storm and I had a feeling you two weren't going to spend the night apart. He kept an eye out for you at the barracks and commed me when you didn't show up at the gym first thing, like you always do when you're planet side. Skywalker requested an audience with the Council and seeing his mood as he left the chamber…well I knew there was only one place he was likely headed."

"Is he really that unhappy with Sinda's mission?"

"You know Anakin. If he disagrees with a Council decision, he'll argue to the length he's allowed while maintaining respect and then do whatever he wants anyway," she opened her mouth to continue, but held back.

"What is it?"

"I shouldn't say anymore than I have. He's your General."

At that, Rex stopped and took her arm at the elbow, "Do I need to be worried about something?"

"Worried? No…"

"But…"

She inhaled and pressed her lips together for a moment, "I suspect, and this is only speculation, he might see her as a threat."

"A threat? To what?"

"To the people he cares about most. He didn't know it was you with Sinda a couple years ago and now he does. He knows you have a life outside your service. Then the Council is sending his padawan on a mission with her, someone who is for all intents and purposes an unknown in his eyes."

"She wouldn't-"

"I know that. We know that. But Anakin Skywalker isn't exactly the most trusting person, especially when it comes to his attachments," she resumed walking in the hopes of putting the conversation to rest.

Rex strode alongside in silence for a moment, "If I shouldn't be worried, what should I be then?"

"Cautious," as she answered, they emerged from the dormitory to the main entrance. "With any luck, this mission will be brief and things can go back to normal."

"And if they don't?" He asked, donning his helmet.

Talia thought for a moment, reluctant to answer once more, "My Master always told me not to invite trouble by dwelling on worry too long. Best to wait and see how things unfold."

With a nod, she turned and departed into the temple, hands clasped behind her back as the long, single braid swayed back and forth with her short stride. Talia had certainly given him a lot to think about. Halfway down the stairs, he paused and looked back and the sacred monolith, bathed in the glow of morning light. He knew to trust Sinda and her abilities as a Jedi. He knew to trust General Skywalker and his judgment about a mission or conflict. What he didn't know was what to do when those two forces were at odds with one another.


"So, are we clear?" Anakin asked as the lift opened to the landing pad.

"No, I was not actually listening this entire time. Can you repeat yourself?" she sarcastically replied.

"Sinda…" his tone was a caution to his rising mood as she walked past him.

Before he continued, she turned abruptly, "Do you think I like this any more than you do? Hmm? I agreed to never take a padawan upon my departure. That I would let all the knowledge of The Force I have die with me. The Council demanded it as a condition of my release from the Jedi and my commitment to The Order. I happily agreed and have kept my word, because I do not trust my own mind to know what is truth anymore. I no more want to be responsible for your padawan than you want me to be, so do not stand there and lay your distrust at my feet when I do not trust myself in the first place."

Anakin's spine straightened as her gaze burned into him, "I didn't know."

"Oh what a shock that must be. Something Anakin Skywalker does not know," she inhaled deeply in an attempt to reel her frustration back in. "I am just as uncomfortable as you, but our discomfort should not be the reason these younglings continue to suffer, should it?"

"No," he agreed with a degree of reluctance.

"Do you really think your padawan is of such a weak mind that anything I could say would influence her to stray from her path?"

"No," his answer was more confident.

"I will not speak my mind to her, but I also will not lie. She is curious, if I can see that, surely you must know."

A sharp sigh escaped his lungs, "That's what I'm worried about."

Sinda likewise sighed out a deep breath, "Shielding her from the truth will only cause more harm. I understand that you do not want her to follow my path. You care for her…deeply. As though she was a child of your own in a way."

"I do."

"My path is my own. Ahsoka's is very different because of her Master's choices. She has a Master who cares for her, respects her, and is invested in seeing her rising to her potential. Do you truly think anything I could say could undermine what you have taught her?"

At that, Anakin didn't answer, in part because he was afraid to be wrong.

"I have no interest in corrupting your padawan. I want to find these lost younglings, return them to where they can get care for their trauma, and return home. This place…I cannot be here any longer than I must. Surely you can understand such a feeling."

As he nodded, he looked past her shoulder and saw Ahsoka emerge down the ramp of the spice freighter, Artoo following close behind. A concerned pull at the center of her brows indicated she was well aware of the conflict between the two. He hadn't expected Sinda to be so intuitive of his worries, though he supposed he should have expected it. During their return from Sertha, she'd been brimming with questions about the mysterious, departed Jedi. While he answered what he could, he knew for every question she voiced, there were more left unasked.

Despite his instinct to keep Ahsoka close and protected, there was nothing he could do, short of refusing a Council directive. "Be careful and good luck."

With a nod, Sinda strode to the ship. As she approached, both Ahsoka and the droid turned and ascended. The padawan confidently sat in the captain's seat and within moments the ship lifted off. Sinda fastened her the harness of her seat and glanced around the rickety freighter with questionable expression.

"Are you sure this ship can hold up in hyperspace?" she asked.

"Master Skywalker tuned her up himself. She may not look like much, but the Twilight has never let us down."

The ship merged into a GAR hyperspace lane, the comm immediately chiming. Ahsoka reached to open the channel, but hesitated to take action. Smirking, Sinda settled back in the seat and rested a boot on the edge of the console.

"Between the two of us, you are the one with authority," she mused incredulously . "I have no business answering that."

After a light sigh and discretely rolled eyes, she flipped the toggle and opened the channel, "GAR tower this freighter Twilight requesting priority hyperspace clearance."

"Freighter Twilight, transmit authorization codes for your request," the clone on the other end dryly stated.

Behind them, the droid chirped and it's scomp key whirred in the socket.

"Roger that, Commander Tano, you are cleared for priority hyperspace lane 23-0, continue in your current heading."

The line cut and the ship fell quiet. Although she didn't want to think about the past, memories persisted and pushed to the forefront of her mind. Feeling the thrusters engage in her stomach as the ship ascended higher and higher. Seeing the last traces of the atmosphere vanish and looking down to realize just how high they had climbed. That first glimpse of the open, inky darkness of space beyond a planet, both awe inspiring and intimidating in its vastness came into view as the ship readied for the jump. All at once, the stars became streaks followed by the graceful swirling blue of hyperspace.


Rex exited the shuttle and climbed the stairs to the plaza outside the base. His mind spun Talia's carefully chosen words around and around, trying to decrypt her warning. What could Sinda have done to earn General Skywalker's distrust? With his brows furrowed and eyes downcast, he crashed into a blur of tan and black as someone rushed down the stairs. Returning to the present as his helmet dropped from his grasp and began bouncing down the steps, he turned and scolded the presumed shiny that just ran into him.

"Watch where you're going!" he barked, realizing as the words left his mouth, it wasn't a brother. "General Eleri!"

"Captain Rex, good morning," No'Citta greeted airily, seeming nearly out of breath. "My apologies, I didn't see you."

He looked around the otherwise vacant plaza, as his brain failed to keep up with his mouth, "Is everything alright?"

"Yes, everything is fine. I was met with General Riva and Captain Storm to discuss a joint mission," her golden eyes darted across his face as she picked up his bucked, which lay at her feet.

"General Riva is still at…" he began but trailed off mid-sentence as she extended the item to him.

"Out for a stroll, are you captain?" she pointedly asked, a knowing smile pulling at the apples of her cheeks.

His spine snapped straight at the counter query, "Y-yes, general. A walk."

"I hope you had a pleasant morning."

There was no mistaking the undertone of her words, so he merely confirmed it was and accepted his helmet. With a smile and a nod, she continued on her way. In the wake of her departure, the gentle scent of Naboo spring blossoms wafted from her hair. It was a smell he knew well, having noticed it on General Skywalker on many occasions. Once the tension eased in his stomach, he resumed climbing the stairs and crossed the plaza.

Entering the base, he strode to the mess hall, guided by the growling of his stomach. With a tray in hand, he found Fives and Jesse, both of whom looked up abruptly at his approach. Neither could suppress the smug smiles that tugged at their faces, though Fives had conspicuously little commentary to offer. Rex couldn't help but notice the sleep-deprived circles under his eyes, which left him wondering what kept him awake all night.

"Captain," Jesse finally greeted with a forced-straight face. "We missed you at PT this morning."

"I went for an early walk," he replied, taking a bite of his ration bar while still eyeing Fives.

"Captain Storm is looking for you too," Fives added between bites.

As he opened his mouth to reply, a faint aroma drifted under his nose…Naboo spring blossoms. His eyes immediately narrowed, "Interesting. I ran into General Eleri on my way in. She said she was meeting with Storm and General Riva."

Fives froze, mouth slightly agape with wide eyes boring into his Captain's, "Wh-I…he-"

"Rex!" A voice called, mercifully breaking the focus on the floundering ARC trooper.

Turning toward the summons, Rex saw the shrewd expression of Captain Storm, "Storm, heard you were looking for me."

"Yeah," he nodded. "Eat up quick, General Riva just called. She needs us at the Jedi Temple, double quick."

Internally Rex screamed profanity, knowing exactly why he was being given the runaround. A friend though she was, Talia seemed to enjoy making him question his sanity at just the right moment. Despite the frustration inside, his face remained non-reactive, save for the faint twitching of his right eye, typically reserved for his commanding officers' mission briefings or his ARC trooper's mission reports. All the same, he shot Fives a scowl, indicating he knew something was going on, and downed the mug of scalding caff in a single gulp. Snatching the ration bar off the tray, which he left for Jesse to bus, he stood with his helmet and followed Storm out of the mess, retracing his steps back to the Temple


The Twilight was silent, at least in terms of speaking. To pass the flight time, Sinda dug the holopad of data she received out of her pack and reviewed the files once more, hoping to glean a previous missed detail. Unfortunately, despite the quiet, the mind of the Togruta to her left hummed with unasked questions. Amusing as it was to watch Ahsoka restrain her curiosity, it wasn't a productive use of time.

"Did you know the younglings that were taken?" Sinda asked, handing the holopad over, interest piqued in her perspective.

"No, since becoming Master Skywalker's padawan, I've spent most of my time on missions. I haven't been able to get to know the current younglings very well," she opened a file of surveillance footage and watched as General Krell stood in conversation with a soon-to-be padawan in a corridor. Following the exchange, the pair entered a lift and the file ended. "Wait, that's it? The temple has more surveillance than that, there should be more."

"Indeed there should, however it seems the recordings were corrupted at some point. As were the files of the other padawans. At best, there are glimpses, but no clear destination was documented."

"Where did they go?"

"According to the GAR hyperspace tower, Krell requested hyperspace clearance within twenty minutes of each recording, however he failed to file a flight plan every time."

Ahsoka sat back in her seat, brows furrowed in contemplation, "What could Master Krell want with them?"

"That is the great mystery, is it not? Not that it really matters. Krell is dead and gone, his motivations along with it. What matters is finding them, hopefully alive," silence again filled the cabin for an extended pause until Sinda finally spoke again, once more amused by the padawan to her left, "Would asking me the questions you are so loudly thinking help calm your mind for this mission?"

The Togruta looked over sharply with surprised eyes, clearly embarrassed at the intrusive nature of her thoughts being noticed by another, "It…it isn't my business."

"That has never dampened natural curiosity, has it?" A mischievous glint sparkled in her eye.

"I suppose not," she admitted with a measure of relief. "Both Rex and Master Skywalker are like brothers to me. You're clearly someone of significance to both of them and yet I never even knew you existed before a few days ago."

"What reason would they have to talk about me, hm?" The inflection of her tone left the question rhetorical. "My bond with Rex is technically unsanctioned by Grand Army regulations. If he wasn't who he was as an officer and figurehead in the military, he would have likely been sent back to Kaminio for reconditioning or termination."

The casual way with which she spoke of Rex's execution made Ahsoka cringe inside, accurate though it was.

"And as for Anakin," she paused, using a deep breath to calculate her words, "our paths crossed but that is all. Little more than two streams that met and immediately diverged."

"Did you leave the Order because of your attachment to Rex?"

"Many factors made me decide to leave, Rex being one of them."

"Was it hard? Leaving, I mean."

At that question, Sinda paused longer. She was determined to keep her word to Anakin, but she knew the insightful padawan wouldn't accept anything less than the truth. "Leaving the Jedi was a difficult decision," she began but pulled a face at the words, disliking them once she heard them spoken. "Making the choice was easy. It was getting to that place that was difficult. I always knew I had a home, a place to go, but I did not want to give up on being a Jedi even on those darkest days. Then the war came and everything changed. I am…attuned to people, that it's my gift in the Force. Feeling death as a Jedi, feeling life escape…Hearing the last thoughts of my men as they died…I knew that was not the purpose we were taught to serve. And then the Council…"

Ahsoka watched her closely, "The Council…"

Her mouth formed a line, seeing the discernment staring back, "The Council and I disagreed. Irreparably. My leaving was best for everyone."

"How did you learn about your home planet? I thought Sertha wasn't part of the Republic."

"It once was. I learned the history of my people in the archive just as you did. I learned of Druka, Aauraa, the God Tree. Hearing the names and stories filled a place I did not know was empty. When I first heard my people sing, I wept. Long, long ago many Jedi hailed from my home."

"What happened?"

"Darkness rose.

"There were once twin brothers, both born strong in the Force. A'sha and Raa'ma. The Jedi came and took both to train. Both were gifted, quickly outshining their peers, though they often competed with each other.

"For Raa'ma the Jedi way came easily. He was selfless, mindful, patient and saw fighting as only the last resort. Not A'sha. Jealous of his brother, he struggled to find balance in himself and in the Force. But, A'sha was a powerful Jedi, skilled in ways few had seen.

"Not even his master knew the whispers in his mind, the echoes of darkness that warped his thoughts. Despite the pain inside, he tried to be a good Jedi, like his brother, until he killed a padawan in anger. Desperate and afraid, A'sha fled the temple, returning to Sertha to hide. It was there that he had a vision of his fate to rule the planet. To spread the darkness that infested him and seize the power the gods had given us."

As Ahsoka listened to the story intently, she felt herself vanish within the pace and cadence of the spoken words, becoming enthralled in the tale. The faint subharmonic vibrato she heard when they met became more pronounced, tingling down her montrals and into her spine. As the sensation spread, images of the shared history manifested in her mind, lulling her into a trance through the Force. Alarming as it was initially, the sheer potency of the sensation was not one she could fight. Rather, her eyes unfocused and slipped closed.

"He wasted no time in cutting down those who dared challenge him. Village by village he roamed, seeking all those connected to the Force and killing them, no matter their age. Aauraa screamed night and day as her beloved children were slaughtered beneath his red blade. Yet the Jedi never stopped him.

"When he reached my village, at the foot of the great mountain, seeking the power that lay within, Raa'ma finally came. They battled until the trees burned, the sky blackened, and Druka himself tore the ground asunder, but that did nothing to stop them. Light against dark, brother against brother, Raa'ma came to realize that he couldn't not exist without A'sha, nor A'sha without Raa'ma. As fire rained from the sky like water, A'sha laid down his weapon, unwilling to be his brother's demise, and opened his arms in a gesture of peace and love.

"Raa'ma had come to hate his brother so deeply, that he rejected the gesture of surrender, and lunged to attack. A'sha took home of Raa'ma as that red light saber plunged into his belly, and wept. The ground beneath their feet trembled and split. A great chasm opened and swallowed them both into the fire of Druka's forge, both forever trapped within his fire to burn for all eternity as penance for their crimes.

"The leaders of the surviving clans met and agreed: Druka's anger as he wielded his mighty ax to end the slaughter served as a warning. Never again would a Jedi rise from Sertha again. Indeed, A'sha and Raa'ma were the last Jedi of Sertha.

"Until me."

Sinda glanced over at Ahsoka, who was asleep, breathing deep and even. Behind them, the droid trilled a series of alarmed beeps while rocking side to side with agitation. Rising from her seat, she turned it off, before it could cause trouble. Calm silence filled the small cabin. She felt a pang of guilt at having used dráv'sha on the padawan, but had little choice. Keeping her from harm as she sorted through her master's demons necessitated the Force trick that was unique to her people, despite its use being prohibited on outsiders.

Returning to the copilot's seat, she checked the countdown. They were close to their destination. A stone settled into her stomach, reminding her of the feelings she long tried to shed. The fear, the anger, the loneliness, everything that seeped into her bones while she learned at her Master's feet remained intertwined with the reverence she still warred with. What wretched things he had done to countless people, yet part of her resisted the urge to willingly dive deeper, to let the light into all the deepest, darkest corners of the galaxy his legacy still occupied.

Taking a deep breath, she cleared her mind, acutely aware of the crystal's weight on her shoulder, the reminder she wasn't alone, that Aauraa was always near. Bolstered and calm, she fastened her harness and took the controls. The timer on the dash chirped repeatedly, signaling it was time to drop from hyperspace. Flipping the proper switches and pulling back the toggle, the streaking stares stilled and the hyperdrive disengaged. Reaching out with the Force, she let her mind guide her through the system, searching for the missing younglings.

Little did they know, someone had already arrived.