Chapter 68 – Friends Long Gone
Author's Note: Things are getting interesting! :D
To Guest: I'm so glad that you're enjoying this fic! And I don't think you'll be disappointed in the least whenever Marr and Athea reunited. ;) This will be a major canon divergence by the end, and it is Marr's story, so the story will end once his story is... over. And I'm not trying to say that he'll die at the end. Lol. Idk what would ever happen in a sequel with his descendants. xD I think that everyone's arcs will reach a satisfying conclusion. ;)
~ Amina Gila
"I didn't want to fight against the Empire at first," Marr says, "But then my sister, Anastasia, found me on Odessen. They found out I was a Jedi, and I had to run, so she took me to Mandalore. I accepted my heritage for the first time there, and I married Bo-Katan. Vizma – she was named after my father. I left Mandalore for a while to find balance, and I ran into Maul."
"Maul?" Ahsoka asks, clearly unhappy. "He's still out there?"
"He doesn't seem to stay dead," he quips, smiling faintly at the memory of another lifetime when Obi-Wan said the same thing. Another lifetime of peace and light and happiness, despite the war. Those times are gone, though.
"I learned more about the Dark Side and won the Darksaber before returning to Mandalore. The Empire tracked me down not long later, and I had to leave with Vizma to keep her safe. Satine... she died there." It still hurts to talk about. They were close in many ways, and he misses her. He misses Bo and his sister and everyone back home, but he doesn't think he can go back there, knowing Satine's not there too.
Or, more importantly, if the Empire will be waiting for him there.
"You went into exile," Ahsoka deduces. "I understand that. Rex and I... well, I haven't heard from Rex in a long time now. He left the fight with a couple other clones who survived, that we were able to help. It wasn't easy for him, after the reality of the loss of the Republic sunk in."
Marr winces. "I can imagine." Of all of them, Rex was the one hurt the most. His brothers were all turned against him, blindly, and Marr can't imagine how that must feel.
"I was... discouraged at first," Ahsoka continues, "But I knew I had to fight. It's what Anakin would have wanted."
It's his memory that's driving her, Marr knows. "I see so much of him in you." It slips out before he can stop it.
"He's the one who should have been here," Ahsoka replies, maybe a little too shortly. "He should have been leading the Rebellion and fighting the Empire. Not me."
Marr doesn't mention how there's still a very, very dark part of his mind that fears Anakin is still alive, just not where they wish him to be. "Have you heard from Obi-Wan?" he asks instead.
She shakes her head. "No. Not a word. If he's out there, he's keeping a very low profile."
"Which means, probably not," Marr replies. He very much doubts Obi-Wan is physically capable of doing such a thing. It's just. Impossible.
"I wished you were with me a lot at first," she admits, "But I knew I couldn't ask that from you. It wasn't like during the Clone Wars. I was one person and had no idea where to start."
"Of course. We had an army back then. We had the Jedi. We had our masters. We had..." Theseus trails off, not daring to voice the most important thing he lost. A family. They'd had a family, one he thought nothing could take away.
The Empire took it from him. Not once, but twice.
"It became easier as time went on," she adds. "I knew how to tie it together. It wasn't hard, and I learned from Anakin. He... he knew how to do it. I don't know how. I never asked, but I took it from there."
It hurts to talk about the past like this, but Marr has to admit that he feels better about it. For years, he's been with people who never knew Anakin or Obi-Wan or Athea or the clones. They were unable understand the magnitude of who and what was lost. After so long, he can only be grateful.
"He would be proud, you know," Marr tells her. He wishes he could say the same about his own master.
"I don't know. Perhaps. I only wish he was here instead."
Maybe that's for the best. He's not sure he could stay as Marr instead of Theseus if everyone from his past came back, but maybe that's just a pointless concern. Theseus was... something from the past. He's not a Jedi anymore if he uses the Dark Side, and nor can he be again. Plus, he can't be a Jedi when there's no Order to be a part of.
For a brief moment, Marr lets himself wonder if Obi-Wan really is still alive somewhere, but unlike Marr, he didn't have someone to drag him out of his depression back into the fighting. It had taken Marr years, after all. He can't imagine that, though, and nor does he want to, because if he's wrong... he doesn't want to hope for nothing.
That's not who he is, but telling Ahsoka that will likely only make this more difficult.
**w**
Kanan doesn't seem to be taking terribly well to the change in surroundings. Marr is glad to be back here in a setting like this, where so many people are fighting for a common cause, but Kanan is not. Marr can't blame him for that. Kanan used to be a Jedi, and he's stayed with much of that. Marr... he's a Mandalorian, so he can't imagine any other life. He doesn't know how to help him with that, or if he even can.
They're in the briefing room when Chopper comes in with a transmission, that Kanan orders him to play despite Hera's obvious disapproval. They're not in private so it's technically not proper, but Marr couldn't have expected anything more from him.
"Hey, it's Old Jho!" Ezra exclaims.
"I can't see you, but I can hear you, my friends," he says, "Time is short and there's someone here desperate to speak with you. I told her I couldn't find you, but she wouldn't take no for an answer. She says she needs your help."
"We're always ready to help someone in need," Ezra agrees exuberantly.
"Yeah, well, this one's different," Jho warns.
Old Jho disappears off the hologram being replaced by... Minister Tua? She was one of the Imperials on Lothal who Marr remembers was causing a lot of problems for them.
"Minister Tua?!" exclaims Zeb. "We can't trust her. She's an Imperial."
"Please, I beg you," she requests. "Listen to my request."
"End transmission now, Chop," Kanan snaps.
"Wait," Marr cuts in. "We should at least hear this through."
"Minister, what do you want?" Hera asks.
"My life is in danger. I need you to give me safe passage off Lothal."
What? That's... unexpected. What changed?
"You're not really considering this?" Zeb demands incredulously.
"Quiet!" Hera snaps.
"I assure you, my intentions are sincere," she argues. "To prove it, I will trade secret Imperial information."
"You're defecting from the Empire?" Hera clarifies.
"Yes, I am."
"She's telling the truth. I can sense her fear," Ezra says, turning to Kanan. Marr smiles faintly. The boy is always trying to see the best in people, but sometimes, that can be a weakness. For all they know, the minister could be double playing them to lure them into the Empire's hands. She's obviously afraid of something, though, unless it's that they're going to see through her façade. It doesn't seem that likely, though, but they can never be too careful.
"Yeah, but of what?" Kanan points out.
After a few minutes of... semi-negotiations, Minister Tua offers to give them a list of rebel sympathizers on Lothal, and the true reason the Empire came to the planet. That is what really piques Marr's curiosity. There must be something special about the planet which they don't yet know.
"I'll stay here," Marr decides. He knows it's dangerous, of course, but if the Empire was really setting up a trap, they would try something less obvious. Hopefully. Also, Marr would really like to spend more time with Ahsoka. They've been apart for too long.
**w**
The mission goes badly. Kanan didn't have a good feeling about it from the start, which was part of the reason, aside from simple common sense, that he didn't want to take it. He can feel the Dark Side here, stronger than it was around the Grand Inquisitor, and he's afraid another Inquisitor – or multiple – might be here.
Not to mention Ezra's home was destroyed, Minister Tua was killed, and now, the Empire is trying to turn the people of Lothal against them. What's worse, is that he fears it's working.
His fears were realized, too, when he suddenly senses an icy presence behind him as they make a dash for the Imperial shuttle they were stealing.
Kanan stops both at the sensation and the sound of people approaching, as does Ezra, abandoning the shield generators they were taking with them – which is literally the one thing that came out of the mission. It might've been better if Marr was here. At the very least, they would have one other experienced Jedi with them.
A group of stormtroopers is behind them, but the person in front is...
He feels darker, stronger than the Grand Inquisitor. He's humanoid, but his armor completely conceals him. The control panel on his chest and the sound of mechanical breathing make it obvious he's a cyborg – though that only serves to make him more intimidating.
The presence is so dark, darker than any he's felt.. Maybe ever. So why is there a very small part of him that almost finds something about it... familiar?
He doesn't have a second longer to ponder it, though, because the Sith – Kanan is certain he's a Sith – ignites his crimson lightsaber, standing out menacingly in the darkness of the night. Stormtroopers suddenly run into the hangar behind him, and start shooting,
The fight goes badly from the start, especially since it seems like the Sith is just playing with them. Kanan has no idea how to stop him, but he's far more powerful than either of them can even compare too. He could have killed Ezra, but he's taking his time, almost as if he wants them to survive.
Kanan doesn't take the time to consider it, just runs as fast as he can the moment the Sith lifts the burning walker off him without a hint of effort. If he's not dead yet, he'll kill them before they hurt him.
They barely manage to make it off the planet without getting caught, and now, they know they can never come back, because the Empire is using the citizens of Lothal against them. It looks like they'll be staying with the Rebel fleet after all. He really wants to talk to Marr about this as soon as he gets back. If what Kanan fears is true – if this person is really a Sith – they have a very, very major problem on their hands. The Rebellion may well be doomed.
**w**
Marr is in the briefing room with Commander Sato and Ahsoka when Hera suddenly bursts into the room, with Kanan and Ezra close behind. "We need the fleet to jump out of here immediately!" she cries, desperately, "Our shuttle was tracked."
Force, this was never supposed to happen. Whatever happened on Lothal, he doesn't think it was good, especially considering that the Minister isn't with them and that they clearly had a very failed escape. But they need to get out of here now. It's not too late –
"Commander, I'm scanning a ship entering our sector!" calls another of the rebels from across the room.
So much for that. "They're already here," Marr breathes. That was fast, but the Empire is obviously getting desperate to track them down.
They immediately activate a holomap on the table, where Commander Sato observes that there's only one fighter out there and sends Phoenix squadron to intercept. Hopefully, they should be able to shoot the ship down and get out of here before the rest of the Empire's fleet arrives.
Except the pilot is... good. Better than good.
"He's heading right for us!" Ezra yells in warning, a split second before the entire room shakes violently, and the lights flicker.
They were supposed to have escaped Lothal safely, but so much for that. It's only dooming the entire fleet.
"How can one fighter best our entire squadron?" exclaims Sato.
"He might be another Inquisitor," Marr replies. "He must be Force-sensitive. It's the only way." What exactly that means, he neither knows nor wants to. All he does know is that he hasn't see a pilot this amazing since... the Clone Wars. He cuts off the thought there, not wanting to name him least his fears return. Anakin would never do this. He wouldn't. (Right?)
He doesn't want to deal with another Inquisitor. Bad things have happened both times he has, and... he's not ready for it again.
"Your pilots are outmatched, Commander," Hera replies, whirling around and running for the door.
Kanan and Sabine immediately take off after, Zeb shadowing close behind.
"Mind if I tag along?" Ahsoka asks.
"I'm coming," Marr decides, firmly. If Hera is taking the Ghost out into a fight against a pilot this good, she'll need all the help she can get.
"The more, the merrier," Ezra agrees, and they run after.
The Ghost takes off to join the fight, but the small fighter continues to evade them, taking out more Rebel pilots as the battle raging onwards. The ship flies over the command cruiser before they can stop it, opening fire on it.
"We lost our shields!" Sato warns.
"Moving to engage!" Hera assures.
"The Force is strong with him," Ahsoka observes as the pilot spins out of the way of all laser fire with ease, shooting back at the Ghost.
"He's an Inquisitor," Marr reminds. "I assume. I didn't know there were any left."
"There's something familiar – the cold," Ezra says, from over the comms, "The fear, the hate, the anger. I think I know who it is."
Marr frowns. "Who?"
"We fought him, back on Lothal," Ezra replies.
"He was stronger than the Grand Inquisitor," Kanan objects. "He could be a Sith."
Something twists uneasily inside of Marr, but he hastily shoves away his doubts again.
"Why don't we find out how strong he is?" Ahsoka suggests, raising her hand.
"Yes," Marr agrees. He raises his own hand, reaching outwards, towards the black hole in the Force that's much too close to them.
"How?" Kanan objects.
"Just remember your training," Ahsoka advises, before narrowing her eyes in concentration.
Marr continues to probe outward, this time towards the dark being. He's definitely not an Inquisitor. Even feeling him this strongly, there's nothing he could be but a true Sith.
And... he pushes against it, just a little bit harder. Something about the presence is familiar, too familiar. He can suddenly feel it, in that moment – their long suppressed and heavily shielded bond, though greatly weakened in all the time they've been apart. The presence is so different than the last time all those years ago that Marr felt it, but it's undeniably him.
He still burns in the Force, his presence almost as strong as it used to be, except now it's... dark. It feels black instead of white. Anakin's presence used to be a brilliant light, with a touch of darkness at the edges, but now the darkness is all throughout. It's all Marr can sense, but he thinks – maybe – there's still something light there burning in the center of it.
Horror and denial are the first emotions that set in. He's beyond relieved to feel the presence again after so many years, even if it's now so warped and twisted and dark.
Anakin. He's alive, and he's literally flying right next to them, and – and he's also a Sith and working for the Empire.
"No!" Ahsoka screams next to him and collapses backwards into Marr's arms the same time Anakin viciously shoves them away, breaking any attempt at concentration.
Marr's heart pounds wildly, his mind whirling. He – he could almost think that he didn't feel right, but if Ahsoka's reaction is anything to go by... No, he couldn't have just imagined what he felt. But it means... it means that all these years what he feared the most was right. Somehow, the Emperor had gotten Anakin to join him, but Force, he's alive. His brother is still alive.
"Ahsoka?" Marr asks, worriedly.
"What happened? What did you feel?" Kanan demands.
"We can talk about it once this is over," Marr answers, grimly. He can't voice what he thinks right now, and he wants to talk to Ahsoka about it privately first. He doesn't understand how this is possible, how it could have happened. But...
Suddenly, he remembers again, all those years ago on Mortis, when Revan had told him that he needs to help Anakin. He thought he was, but... maybe Revan had always meant something entirely different than what he was doing. And Anakin had Fallen there, though they never knew why.
Just thinking about all this is... No, he must talk to Ahsoka. He doesn't know what to think or feel.
"He's breaking off his attack," someone from back at the base exclaims at the fighter spins a distance away from the Ghost. And for a moment Marr almost wonders if it's because he just realized who he was fighting, but... No, he doesn't think so.
"Whatever you're doing Captain Syndulla, keep it up. The fleet can recover," Commander Sato calls.
Ahsoka still doesn't move, remaining motionless in Marr's arms.
"No!" Kanan objects, "Commander, you need to get the fleet out of here now!"
"I will not abandon our command ship!"
"Look, whoever this is – he's better than all of us!" Marr replies. Because it's Anakin, and Anakin was the best pilot he ever knew, maybe in all the galaxy, and never in his life did he imagine those skills would be used against them. "We have to get out of here before reinforcements arrive."
And that, of course, is when several Star Destroyers promptly come out of hyperspace.
The fighter – Anakin's fighter – is chasing after and shooting at the Ghost again, but at least they're keeping it away from the rest of the fleet.
Marr feels only half present as the rebels escape – it's obvious Anakin is leading them away – before the Ghost barely manages to escape after them, probably barely missing getting pulled into a tractor beam.
**w**
Marr doesn't know how it happened, but it makes so much sense. It's everything he feared and more. Anakin nearly killed Kanan. He nearly killed Ezra and Sabine. He could have cut through all of them, and...
What happened to him?
"Ahsoka..." he begins, slowly. He's not sure how to broach the topic with her. No doubt it hurts her more than him. Marr embraced the Dark Side once, and he would never think the less of someone because of it, but Ahsoka cannot say the same. She's still loyal to the Jedi.
"I know," she whispers, staring out at the stars. "I know what I felt, but it doesn't make sense."
"Doesn't it? You remember what Maul told us, right? I think it makes more sense than either of us want to admit."
"Anakin would never do this. He – he wouldn't! I can't believe you're suggesting he would."
That's the fierce little Togruta he used to know. Being around each other is making them both act and feel young again. "I know why he would support an Empire," Marr confesses, "What I don't know is why he would support this Empire."
"I don't believe it."
"I don't blame you, either." It hurts. It hurts so much. He doesn't know what to say or do or... anything. Even so, he accepted the possibility a long time ago that Anakin may have Fallen. He doesn't know what to say to that, either. When Marr lost his way, Anakin had been there to help him back.
"I don't want to believe it, but I felt him."
"We should tell the others," Marr says quietly. "Kanan spent years believing he died at the Temple. I – I hoped he was still alive, but I didn't know... I knew after what Maul said, there was a high chance he had Fallen, but I didn't want to believe. But now at least if he's alive, maybe we can help him back."
"If it's him," Ahsoka agrees, "But after what happened..."
"I came back," Marr replies firmly. "If anyone can do it, Anakin can. He'll need our help though. Don't forget, Sabine was fooled into supporting the Empire, too. Many people have been. We can't think worse of them. They don't know, and maybe they only see the good. Maybe they only want to see the good."
Ahsoka glances at him, and he knows she's thinking about the same thing he is: that Anakin was so much like that. He was always very naïve, always trying to see the best in people, which sometimes simply didn't exist. Like in Sidious.
"My master would never fall to this level," Ahsoka argues, shaking her head, "And they said he was a cyborg. I – I don't know how this could have happened. It doesn't make sense. We need answers to know for sure."
She's in denial, and after having believed Anakin dead for years, Marr can't blame her for it. "I – Ezra looks up to Anakin. So does Vizma. If there's a chance Anakin is out there, they should know. I don't want them to find out suddenly. It would be... hard for them. They should have a warning."
"I agree," Ahsoka concedes at last.
Marr knows how it feels to be trapped in denial of something for a long time. He was, too, back when he discovered the truth about his family. He also knows how it feels for someone to conveniently not tell him something he really ought to know, and how his mother went against orders and told him, anyway. He won't do that to another person, not ever.
After a few more minutes of silence while they try to recollect themselves, they gather in the common room where they can talk about this properly while being seated.
"What happened?" Hera asks, quietly.
Marr takes a deep breath, suddenly feeling slightly nervous. He knows they'll be upset, but he doesn't know how much. "I think we know who it is," he begins. "We can't let this information get out. I don't know it for certain, but if what we sensed is true... the Force doesn't lie. I don't want this information getting out though. It could be dangerous."
Kanan crosses his arms. "Do you know him?"
Marr grimaces. "Unfortunately, yes, I do."
"Isn't that a good thing?" Vizma asks, way too optimistic. "If you know something about him, maybe we can figure out a way to stop him?"
If only it were that simple. "No," Marr replies. "He – we think he was once a Jedi. One we know. It will be hard to accept, but I am certain it's true."
"Who was it?" Kanan asks, instantly wary.
He swallows, holding back his nervousness. He's fought in battles before. There's nothing so hard about this. "Anakin. Anakin Skywalker. He must have Fallen to the Dark Side."
Kanan's eyes widen, and he takes a full step back. Ezra outright gapes at him, and Vizma lets out the high-pitched shriek of, "what?!"
"I don't know how that could have happened," Ahsoka interjects.
"I don't have any answers," Marr continues, "But if it's true, I didn't want you to find out in a worse manner. At least we can – hopefully – have time for this to settle in before we encounter him again. If I know Anakin, he only would have Fallen for someone he loved."
"Kanan said he was the greatest warrior the Jedi had," Ezra says, "That... would explain it."
"He was," Marr agrees, trying to ignore how much it hurts to say. "He was... brave. Reckless, sometimes, but he always came through. He was the best pilot I have ever seen, and that's what I saw in that Sith."
"I can't believe he would do that," Kanan replies firmly. "He almost killed Ezra and I."
"My mother nearly killed me when she Fell," Marr reminds. "The Dark Side... changes people, and we don't know what's happened to him since the Siege of Mandalore. The last time I spoke with him, I knew something was wrong. I never had time to ask him what it was."
"He was my master," Ahsoka adds. She's trying to stay calm, but Marr doesn't miss the underlying pain in her voice. "What was surprising was how kind he was. He cared deeply about his friends and looked out for them until the end."
"If – if it's true," Marr continues, breaking off the strained silence that settled over everyone. "We need to find him. I need to talk to him. It was Anakin who helped me when I lost my way so long ago. It's only right I do the same."
"You can't help him unless he wants you to," Kanan reminds.
"I can't believe he would do this!" Vizma blurts out, her shock transforming to anger, and – oh, no. That's what Marr was afraid of. She follows the Mandalorian code of honor, and that includes their very harsh view of betrayal.
"I don't want to, either," Ahsoka replies, "But the Force doesn't lie."
"You know, I hardly know who that is," Zeb grumbles, way overly dramatically, because there's no way he doesn't know about the heroes of the Clone Wars.
"He was one of the Jedi who liberated Ryloth," Hera replies.
"And if I had been there, I would have met you," Marr adds, a little amused.
"That would have been... interesting," Hera agrees, dryly.
"I don't understand how this could have happened," Kanan repeats, again. After Marr and Ahsoka, he's pretty sure the news is hurting Kanan the most. He did know Anakin, and he looked up to him so much back then – still does, actually.
"I don't know what to say," Marr confesses. "I want him to be alive, but if he is, he's a Sith."
"And a traitor," adds Vizma darkly, crossing her arms.
"Vizma," Sabine reminds, "I was fooled into supporting the Empire once, too. I don't know how a Jedi could, but I guess they can fool anyone."
"I agree with Sabine," Hera murmurs.
BD runs up, beeping loudly. "Should I do a virus scan on him?"
"That doesn't work on organic beings," Marr reminds, for what he could swear is the thousandth time.
BD almost deflates, then looks up at him again as if suddenly being enlightened. "He is not fully organic."
"Still isn't going to work," he replies, though, at least, it adds the slightest note of humor to it. If only solving problems with the Dark Side were that simple. The galaxy wouldn't be in such a big mess if it was, because someone could have done that to Sidious a long time ago.
Chopper beeps in BD's support, grumbling something about why are organic beings' malfunctions so much more difficult.
"Hey, top people have defected from the Empire before! Like Minister Tua!" Ezra offers, brightly.
"This is different," Kanan objects.
"Is it?" Sabine argues, "I don't know anything about the Force, but anyone can change their minds about what they're doing." Hera nods her agreement. Vizma still doesn't look happy.
"I... I need to talk to him," Marr says slowly, shaking his head. Somehow. "I could... reason with him." He's certain of that much. No matter what happens, he refuses to believe that Anakin could really be totally lost to the Dark Side. If Marr could come back – even if he hadn't done anything in support of an Empire like this – there's no reason Anakin couldn't, too. If nothing else, he must try.
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