Disclaimer: See Summary.
A/N: Yes, I am aware of what I said about school preventing me from getting anything done. However, I am equally frustrated by the fact that this story, as short as it may have been, has been denied the final chapter for so long. So here it finally is.
She was in her quarters, meditating. She had been through so much, from finding out that someone had reprogrammed a prototype training droid to impersonate her, to finding out that it had then carry out such horrendous actions. To make matters worse, the fake had killed an innocent, framed her best friend, and almost got her killed as well. Even though Anakin had apprehended the imposter, the damage had been done. Ahsoka left the order, and Barriss was stuck. It just didn't seem right.
Her thoughts were interupted when someone entered her tent. It was Kaori. "Hey, luv. Wha's wrong?"
"Oh, hello, Kaori." Barriss replied, forlorn. "Nothing's wrong."
"So the fact that you were kidnapped, imprisoned, impersonated, blamed for crimes you never committed, then supposedly pinning the blame on your best friend doesn't hurt you anymore?" Kaori asked.
Barriss didn't make eye contact. Kaori sighed. "Sorry, luv. But I can tell you're feelin' upset 'bout all this."
"It's not just that, though." Barriss replied. "It's just that, I still feel responsible for what happened. If only I knew who it was that attacked me, I would have been able to stop them. And on top of that, a lot of people still look at me as if I was the one to sneak the droid into all of this."
Kaori knew about this. A number of people would try to accuse Barriss of staging her own kidnapping in order to throw everyone off the trail. And try as she might, Kaori couldn't ignore how plausible that was. However, Kaori refused to believe that Barriss would actually do anything like that, and it surprised her that Barriss herself wasn't as certain about it.
"Barriss, luv, look at me," She said, cupping her friend's chin in her hands. "You were as much of a victim in this as any of us. If anyone's at fault for anythin', it's Master Windu for playin' everythin' off as Ahsoka's "Big Trial". Stubborn as an Ox, he is."
"You're right, Kaori." Barriss said after a breath. "But still, the fact remains that I feel like I could have done something to prevent this."
"Maybe, maybe not." Kaori sighed. "Thing is, luv, we can't go back in time and rewrite history. An' if you think you're takin' this hard, you should 'ear wha' Anakin had to go through. Poor chap wouldn't eat for a week straight, he was so down."
Barriss' eyes widened. "Seriously?" She asked, receiving a nod from her friend. "And did anyone try to cheer him up?"
"Me obviously," Kaori replied. "Surprisingly, Nazo tried to 'elp too. But I think the only one who eventually got through to 'I'm enough to get him back into the fight was Senator Amidala."
"I can only imagine how she did it." Barriss deadpanned. It was no secret among the "Unbreakable Four", that Anakin was more than just a close acquaintance of the Naboo Senator. In reality, the four of them, along with Ahsoka, knew the truth, though they suspected that Obi-Wan was on to them.
Kaori maintained her composure for a solid ten seconds, then burst out laughing. Fortunately, not a lot of troopers were within earshot. Kaori felt her laughter get a tiny bit out of hand, and then she did the one thing that she knew could destroy a woman's dignity: She snorted like a pig.
"Well, well, aren't you a little pig." Barriss snickered, earning more embarrassing laughter from her fellow Jedi. "Not very lady-like, you know."
"Screw being a lady." Kaori sputtered, as she struggled to get herself under control. "I'm alone in a tent with my sister an' no one else can 'ear us."
Barriss caught on to something. "Did...did you just call me your sister, Kaori?"
"Course I did, luv." Kaori replied, as if she was surprised that Barriss didn't already know this. "We've known each other since we were just kids, B. You can't expect two young women like us to 'ave known each other and practically grow up together that long an' not see each other as sisters..." She developed a mischievous look and added, "Unless you see me as something else."
Barriss blushed, then pushed Kaori with a playful brush to the shoulder, as the four of them - meaning the two of them, as well as Anakin, Nazo, and formerly Nadhar - were known to do around each other.
Kaori sighed as they returned their attention back to the original topic. "Look, luv." Kaori sighed. "Ahsoka might not be a Jedi anymore, but she's still going strong. Last I 'eard, she's busy 'elpin' to fight a civil war on Mandalore. Somethin' 'bout Maul."
"The Zabrak that Master Kenobi mentioned?" Barriss asked, surprised.
"The same, luv." Kaori replied. "'pparently he's been busy tryna take over the planet, and Mandalorian natives want him out. Bo-Katan, I think her name was. She wanted Obi-Wan to help her, but since he's been preoccupied with th' war an' all, she sought out Ahsoka instead."
"You think she can handle someone who's essentially returned from the dead?" Barriss asked, nervously.
"Wouldn't be the first time." Kaori shrugged. "Then again, unlike that rusty old junka, Grievous, Maul's a former Sith."
After a moment where neither of them spoke, Barriss sighed. "Thanks for helping me out, Kaori."
"Anytime, luv." Kaori replied, in that bubbly Corellian accent that seemed to cheer people up.
It was at that point that Kaori's second-in-command, a human male referred to as Commander Storm, came in.
"Miss Galium, Knight Offee, you're needed outside."
I wonder what the others are up to, Kaori wondered, as she and Barriss trudged towards the sentry point. What surprised them was the fact that the fields that just the previous day had been crawling with Droids, were now completely barren.
"How odd," She thought out loud. "An' you said they just retreated?"
"Affirmative, Lady Galium." Storm replied. Kaori couldn't help but worry about what this might mean.
She suddenly groaned, clutching at her head as her too associates tried to call her name. But all that was around her was wiped from her mind as she was instead greeted with horrifying visions. Visions of Jedi across the Galaxy being cut down.
Ki-Adi-Mundi was facing droids on Mygeeto, and called to his men to follow him. She saw as he ran out, unaware for a second that his men had stopped running, and were now raising their weapons on him. He turned around in time to see them open fire. He quickly raised his own saber, blocking a few shots, and even taking out one or two of the turncoat soldiers before the first few shots broke through, and the rest was inevitable.
She saw the swampy world of Kashyyyk, were Barriss' own master, Luminara Unduli, was fighting alongside Quinlan Vos, his fiancé Ventress, and Grand Master Yoda. The Clones at Luminara's side suddenly aimed at her, catching her by surprise. However, they did not kill her, but rather, they took her prisoner.
Elsewhere on the planet, the clones fighting alongside Vos and Ventress received the order, but before they could take them down, the Wookies reacted, stalling the troopers and allowing the two force sensitives to flee into the jungles.
The troops approaching Master Yoda, however, had the least amount of luck. They didn't even have time to ready their blasters before the diminutive Jedi Master leapt up and decapitated them.
On Utupau, members of the 212th received the order, and opened fire on Obi-Wan Kenobi, who was still scaling the walls of the pit atop his dragon ride. The poor creature was hit, and both rider and dragon plummeted, supposedly to their death. Kaori even witnessed as Cody, the Clone trooper she had been taught by, lowered his head in defeat, even as he watched some of his brothers seem ready to celebrate the death of the Jedi they had just moments ago been trying to support.
Finally, she regained a sense of where she was, and turned to Barriss, who looked equally fearful. "So it has begun." She stated grimly, having been especially hurt from sensing the fate of her former Master. They were pulled from their thoughts by the approach of the troops.
Barriss reached for her lightsaber. "Commander," one of the troopers said, though she sensed unease in his voice. "We have just received the orders to kill you." The Mirialan Jedi prepared to fight, but Kaori stopped her. "But that doesn't mean we plan on listening." The clone added.
"We will have to leave, now." Kaori said. "Troopers, can you help us escape?"
As the clones prepared for the two Jedi to escape, Barriss turned to her friend and asked, "Where are we going to go?"
"I don't know why," Kaori said. "But I feel that we are going to be needed on Polis Massa."
As he strode through the carnage he and his troops had just caused, he saw some of the men donning cloaks, as a possible way to trap any Jedi that tried to enter the temple. He was upset, for a number of reasons. First, these weren't technically his men. The thing is, the 501st seemed to have vanished just prior to the order to storm the temple. The second problem, was that Anakin was still having trouble coming to grips with what he had just done. Was this truly worth it? Was he really doing the right thing?
He was pulled from his thoughts when he sensed someone nearby. He swiftly approached the door and opened it. Inside, was a youngling. She had short ebony hair, and she looked up at him with a cross between fear and acceptance etched on her face. She seemed to have immediately accepted the fact that she was about to die. Then, something flashed through the newly appointed Sith Apprentice's mind.
He recalled that this had been one of the force sensitive infants he had rescued from Mustafar. He also realized that he hadn't yet activated his blade, in order to strike down the youngling. Then, he suspected that he couldn't.
He bent down to look her right in the eyes. "Do you wish to stay alive, child?" He asked her. She, for whatever reason, gave him a simple nod. Perhaps she was under too much emotional stress to speak at the moment.
He sighed, wondering what exactly was driving his decisions, but accepting what he was going with anyway. He stood up, and gave her a stern glare. "Stay here, young one." He instructed. "I will return to take you in later. Understand?" She nodded again, and he sighed as he closed the door.
"What are your orders, sir?" One of the clones asked.
"The child in there is to be kept safe until I can return." Anakin instructed. "Under no circumstances is she to be harmed. In fact, see to it that she is in good health while I take care of some other business."
The soldier saluted and gathered the nearest men to assist in tending to the youngling. He wasn't sure why he had killed so many others, and yet had spared her, but something convinced him not to change his mind.
At last, a chance to face a worthy opponent. Nazo had arrived shortly before Anakin and Obi-Wan were called back to Coruscant. He, Captain Rex, and Ahsoka Tano had led the troops to rally with the Mandalorians. Rex was off with the other Clones, while Nazo assisted the former Padawan in facing Maul himself. In the meantime, they had caught up a bit.
Then everything went south. Halfway through the battle, the two of them were separated. Nazo took off after Maul, determined to finish him off. Ahsoka was about to follow, when Rex cut in warning her that the other clones had just received an order to kill the Jedi. Ahsoka, although reluctantly, sought to meet up with Rex so that they could escape. Nazo, for his part, kept up the fight against Maul. The two clashed sporadically as they attempted to navigate through the madness going on around them.
Maul eventually tried to flatten his pursuer by bringing a large pillar down on top of him. Nazo was not killed, but Maul was able to get away.
"Coward!" Nazo shouted. "Come back here and face me!"
"Perhaps I will," Maul sneered. "But not today, Jedi. Oh, and send Lady Tano my regards, if either of you survive, that is."
At first, Nazo was unsure of what he meant. Then a group of Clones arrived. "You're just in time, troops." Nazo breathed. "He's getting away. We need to stop him before he leaves the planet."
Without speaking a word, the clones leveled their weapons not at the fleeing Maul, but rather, straight at Nazo. Instincts kicked in, and Nazo effortlessly blocked the barrage of attacks being sent his way, in spite of his incredible fatigue.
Even when a few shots got through, he managed to stay on his feet. He didn't know what it was, but something began to fill him with newfound strength, just like on Geonosis and on Umbara. He continued to deflect the oncoming blaster bolts, but strode forward, using the same technique he had used so skillfully against the Geonosians and the Umbarans, among others. The treacherous clones began to collapse, and Nazo simply strode past them. He continued to deflect the shots from the other clones who were still firing at him. Then he remembered that Ahsoka could be in trouble.
He quickened his pace, hoping she had survived. What he didn't notice was the Mandalorian, loyal to Maul, who fired a missile straight at him. A combination of fatigue, and focus on helping Ahsoka, blinded him to the missile until it was too late.
Later, within the medical center on Polis Massa, Barriss Offee approached the two Jedi masters.
"She will survive." She said, relieved. "But she will certainly need to rest for now."
Obi-Wan ran his fingers through his beard, as he was known to do, and considered something. "We will need to keep the children separate for their own safety." He said. "I will take the boy to his Aunt and Uncle, on Tatooine."
"And what of the girl, Leia?" Barriss asked.
"I will take care of her," Bail answered. "My wife and I have always wanted a child."
"Knight Offee," Master Yoda spoke up, as Obi-Wan and Bail went in to speak with Padmé. "Heard anything, have you, of other Jedi survivors?"
"Yes," Barriss replied. "Apart from us, Kaori, Ahsoka, and Master Kenobi, I believe Master Vos and Asajj Ventress survived. Also, I sense that Masters Ti, Fisto, Koon, Secura and Allie are alive as well."
"Mm," Yoda contemplated. "Remain hidden, they must, if to survive, the Jedi Order is."
"So where will you be going, Master?" Barriss asked.
"Deep into exile, I must go." Yoda answered solemnly. "Sorry, I am, but reveal the planet, I should not."
"I understand, Master." Barriss replied. The two of them entered the chamber where Padmé and the others were.
"I'm sorry it must be like this," Obi-Wan sighed. "But it is for their own safety."
"I know," Padmé replied, sadly. "Just as long as they know about each other, and about me."
"Of course," Bail replied. Then, he turned to Barriss. "I believe you could be of some help to our cause, miss Offee."
"Me?" Barriss replied.
"Yes." Bail answered. "You could provide us with medical support, and we will need it for the rebellion, after all."
"Rebellion?" Barriss repeated. "What do you mean?"
"We are going to begin working on organizing a rebellion against the Empire." Bail explained. "For now, we're going to have informants scattered throughout the Galaxy, keeping watch for anyone standing against the Empire. Ahsoka Tano has already agreed to serve as one of these informants."
"I see." Barriss sighed. "Well, I guess you can count me in."
"Wha's this I 'ear about a rebellion?" Kaori chimed in, intrigued. "If there's a rebellion brewin' already, then sign me up! I'll start organizing my troops from the war into rebels. No doubt they want to fight as much as we do."
As the different groups began to depart, Barriss turned to Obi-Wan and asked, "Does Ahsoka know about...Anakin?"
"No, I'm afraid not." Obi-Wan replied, somberly. "She is convinced he was one of the casualties when the Temple was attacked."
"After the twins were born," Barriss said. "Padmé kept saying that she still saw the light in him. Do you think she could be right?"
"I do not know, Barriss." Obi-Wan sighed. "We can only hope now."
"And we could use all the hope we can get." Barriss added. "I just received a transmission from Aayla Secura. She says she needs to get in touch with Senator Organa, and he wants me to find her."
"May the Force be with you, young one." Obi-Wan said.
"And with you as well, Master Kenobi." She replied.
It had been a big struggle. With more troops coming in to help absorb the already crippled and divided planet into the Empire, things were beginning to take a turn for the better. A small group of Imperial troops discovered the body of the Jedi known as Nazo Malfoy. They were busying themselves by preparing to dispose of the body.
What they didn't notice was the dark chill that snaked through the rubble, seeking out the nearly dead Jedi. It absorbed into him, merging with his soul. As the small group of soldiers set him down for a moment, they didn't see when his eyes, which had once been a brownish green, flashed open with a crimson glare.
In the blink of an eye, the air pressure in the immediate vicinity seemed to drop to almost zero. The men closest to the body gagged, and they collapsed, suffocating. Nazo slowly rose to his feet, a sinister air about him. He glared down at the open wound that indicated where his left arm had been blown off. With barely any effort, he glared at where his arm had once been. Although it was not seen by the troopers nearby, he saw an amorphous cloud of darkness grow out of the wound. It spread outwards, then slowly taking on the shape of his arm, before finally morphing completely into a new arm.
He then reached out with the Force, draining the nearest soldiers of their very life essence. With every body that dropped, his strength returned, and his movements became less pained. Having replenished enough of his strength, he began sending hapless troops flailing at deadly speeds as he sought out a ship.
He smiled. "So, perhaps you were right about one thing." He said, though the individual to whom he was speaking was nowhere to be seen. "This power is truly worth the risks. It's a shame I had to die in order to realize that."
The dark entity that had brought him back smiled within the confines of Nazo's mind. "I'm glad you finally see reason. How fortunate that we also happen to share a similar goal: The destruction of the Chosen One."
"So he has fallen, as you predicted." Nazo said.
The darkness within him replied, "Yes. And I believe he once was aware of this fact. A shame he did not retain those memories. But consider this, my friend. Now you have your soul back, and I can carry out my goals, just as I should have quite some time ago."
"Very well," Nazo growled. "Show me the power that you have once had. Show me what I need to know, and I will finish what you started."
A/N: And that's that for Uncertain Futures. Forgive me if this chapter seems a bit mediocre compared to the others. I barely had any sleep by the time this chapter was being developed, and it's messing with my head. I intend to fix that soon.
Anyway, I know it might still be a bit vague as to how Nazo becomes the Stalker, but I still intend to stick to my guns and wait until I reach the right part of Fates Rewritten before revealing the last few details of the Stalker/Nazo Malfoy. That is, assuming you haven't already guessed it already.
So, I probably might not get any new chapters up for any of the stories I'm working on for a while, so just sit tight. I am working on a story called "What We Could Have Been". It ties into the Altered Destinies Canon, but with some pretty significant changes. Maybe I'll add the second chapter to that story before I officially go on FanFiction Vacation.
Until then, please RRF&F, and I'll see you all next time. Peace out, and may the Force be with you. Always.