Chapter 82 – Betrayal

Author's Note: Did you really think everything would continue going well? ;)

To Pjo crossovers: I'm glad! I forgot that meeting happened honestly. Lol.

To Vcx: Thanks. :)

To Jayden: About Maul... oh you'll find out soon enough what his fate is. ;)

Thank y'all so much for reviewing! :D:D:D 💖💖💖

~ Amina Gila

Marr can only be grateful now, for all those times his mother and Obi-Wan had forced him to meditate when that was the last thing he wanted to do. He has to do it all the time now, to follow any indications from the Force of what to do next. He's using the spare time he has that he's in hyperspace on the next mission for that, when a familiar figure materializes in front of him.

"Revan?" Marr asks. He didn't call for him this time, which generally means he has something to say – although sometimes, he summons him by accident when he's reaching deeply enough into the Force.

"You have been troubled," Revan says.

"Thrawn is causing problems," Marr explains, "I... I'm concerned he might realize what we're planning and then this may all be for nothing."

"The Force needs balance," he replies, "For the universe to exist, it will naturally return to this state in time. The birth of a Chosen One only indicates that the scales are tipping too dangerously, and time is running out."

A small hope flares inside of him. "Does that mean... we're going to succeed?" he asks. He refused to believe they couldn't, but way inside, he knows how high the chance of failure is.

"Only time will tell," he answers cryptically, as always, "The Force has many paths to achieve balance, but we must still work for it."

Many paths to achieve balance... This isn't the only way, but it's the only way he knows of. But it does mean that, one way or another, Sidious will fail. Even if he doesn't fail right now. Whatever they do, it won't be in vain, and that's something. It tells him enough to know he needs to keep pursuing this, no matter what. It won't be for nothing.

"You told me to help Anakin," Marr speaks up, "I didn't know what you meant before, but... could I have stopped this?" He doesn't know if he wants the answer.

"Many paths lead to the same consequence."

Does that mean... he could have or couldn't have? He doesn't know, but it probably really means that he should stop worrying about it, because there's nothing he can do. It's the past. "How do I help him now?"

"What did you need when you Fell?"

"Support, guidance..." he trails off, "I answered my own question, didn't I?" He figured as much, but somehow, it feels so much more difficult than back on Mortis. That is what he needs to give Vader, and it would be so much easier if Obi-Wan would help him. If there's anyone who could especially give that to Anakin, it's him.

"The Force will guide you," Revan replies before fading out again.

It helps, knowing that someone will defeat Sidious, even if this plan fails. The Force is on their side of this – or at least it's against Sidious – and there isn't a better ally they could ask for.

**w**

Maul had given them the information he found about this base, which Marr is grateful of, though he's... wary about working so closely with the Sith. Maul is not trustable, though he has no reason to betray them. Marr doesn't know why he has a bad feeling about it, as he, Anastasia, Ahsoka, and BD enter the building through a side door. There are cameras, so they will have to be careful.

Something feels off, but he isn't sure what. "I have a bad feeling about this," Marr mumbles.

Ahsoka looks around, eyes narrowed, in that predator stance like she's ready to pounce. "We should make this fast."

Marr nods warily, and they start off down the hallway. There's no stormtroopers right around here, which is good. They're supposed to be getting some Imperial information while they're here, plus the bonus of any weapons they can pick up. It's a pretty normal mission, so why does something feel so wrong?

"I'll head to the control center," Ahsoka decides, as per plan, and sprints off down the hall. She came mainly with the purpose of collecting Imperial information while Marr and Anastasia are here for weapons – the Rebellion could always use more.

BD plugs himself into the wall to search for the building's schematics. They set out as soon as he finds them – only, the moment they start moving down the hall, a door slams shut between Marr and Anastasia.

What?!

No one even saw them here. Unless there's cameras somewhere...? It doesn't matter. They obviously know they're here now, and he needs to move quickly.

There are no controls on the wall here, so Marr reaches out with the Force, ripping the first blast shield down with it. He doesn't use the Force this deeply very often, but he definitely knows how to, and he will if he must. With a power as deep as the one he has, it can easily be misused. That's why he always does his best not to overuse it.

The blast shield is ripped down easily, only for him to hear the sound of blaster shots from right around the corner. He breaks into a run, not even reaching the end of the hall before danger flares through the Force. Stormtroopers come into view, shooting.

He dodges out of the way, pulling out the Darksaber, deflecting the shots into the walls. He can hear more shooting from right around the corner, probably from whoever Anastasia is fighting.

He cuts through the troopers, or knocks them unconscious as quickly as he can, but more keep coming. And now he can hear the blast doors behind him opening again. Another blaster shot rings out, this one from behind, striking his shoulder.

The armor repels it, but if he's being fired at from both sides, this won't be easy. This was a trap, wasn't it? He realizes with sudden growing horror: the Empire knew they were coming. He's almost certain of it now.

But the question is how?

How could they have known? Marr would be unsurprised if there was a spy among the Rebels, but this mission was not common knowledge, and he trusts all those high up in their ranks. "BD, splice into the network and see what you can find," he orders.

The droid runs to the port on the wall, plugging in, and Marr throws all his focus into fighting off the stormtroopers on both sides. He sends a Force-shove at the ones behind him, throwing them down, before sprinting forwards. He needs to get there, faster and – another door slams in front of him, cutting him off again. The Empire is clearly bent on capturing them, and he needs to warn Ahsoka, provided she hasn't already figured it out. It would be... very bad if any of them were captured, though it would be worst if it were Anastasia. She can't shield her mind. Memories of the last time he was captured flicker in the forefront of his mind, and he hastily forces them back. Now is not the time to dwell on it.

"BD?" he calls.

The droid beeps, almost angrily, pulling back from the wall and displaying a holorecording for him to see.

Maul.

It's – he – why?!

A burning anger hits Marr instantly. Maul betrayed him, turned them over to the Empire. He sent them into this trap intentionally. Is any of what they're looking for even here?! It doesn't matter at this point, because they need to get out.

He takes down the rest of the stormtroopers as fast as he can, with the Darksaber and the Force, before running in search of Anastasia. There's more stormtroopers coming; he just needs to stay ahead of them.

He rounds the corner in time to see his sister falling to the ground unconscious, his mother standing over her.

No.

Of all things in this galaxy, this was not supposed to happen. Of all the people who could get captured, not his sister. Whether she'd like the truth or not, she'd be the least able to escape or resist in... what's probably to follow.

"Stop!" Marr yells, past the panic flooding him, though he knows it's stupid and pointless.

His mother doesn't pay him any mind, raising a hand and hitting the controls on the wall, closing the blast doors between them. He sprints forwards, grabbing the first one with the Force and jumping through. He knows realistically, even as he moves forwards, fueled by panic, that it's fruitless. It won't bring her back. The Empire has her, and they have no chance of freeing her if he follows blindly. He'll have to cut them off.

The doors finally slam closed, sealing them apart. "Ahsoka?" he calls, pushing a button on his comm.

No response but static.

The signals are jammed. Great. Now he has no way of knowing what's happening to her either, but he doesn't sense any danger with her right now. Whatever it is, hopefully she can handle it. He needs to catch up with Anastasia.

Marr knows the floor plans of the facility, but he has no way of knowing where his mother is taking her. This is... it's the first time they've ever met. Will she even hesitate to hurt her? Does his mother even know who she is?

All he can do is keep following the trail, and hoping, even though he already knows deep inside what the result will be. There is no way around it.

He tries circling through the facility after her, but in the end, it's pointless. There's nothing he can do without getting himself captured too. And he needs to find Ahsoka!

Except she finds him first. They run into each other almost literally as he's sprinting through the halls, looking for some other entrance out, to find a way back to their ship.

"They knew we were coming," she says, breathlessly.

"I figured that out!" he exclaims, "They took Anastasia!"

"What? How did that happen?"

"My mother," he explains, shortly, "She took her. I don't know what we can do." They can't just leave her, but they can't do something stupid and reckless either. His time captured by the Grand Inquisitor flickers through his mind again. If his mother knew who Anastasia was, she wouldn't... torture her, would she? (She also nearly killed him, though he doesn't know if she would actually have gone through with it.)

"We need to get back to the ship first," Ahsoka replies, "Everyone's alerted to our presences here. They're waiting for us."

He nods, past the sinking feeling swelling inside of him. He's leaving his sister behind, and... he doesn't know what's going to happen to her, when they're going to see each other again. He brought her here because he thought it would help, that it would be safer for her to be here than Vizma. Instead, he got her captured, and he knows what the Empire does to their prisoners. He knows firsthand. His only relief is that it's not his daughter – she's only a child, though this isn't much better.

It's also... potentially dangerous, seeing how much Anastasia knows about the Rebellion, but that's currently a minor concern.

They have to find her as soon as possible. So, they need to start by figuring out where she's being taken, because the Empire would never keep her here.

**w**

Athea isn't surprised to see another unidentifiable Mandalorian with her son, but what catches her attention instantly is that this one also has the marks for Clan Vizsla on her armor. That's not really that surprising, but something about her feels... familiar.

Knowing Theseus and Ahsoka, they won't stop looking for their friend, so the only place to keep her away from them will be going to the Inquisitor's Fortress. Interrogating a Mandalorian won't be the easiest, anyway. Athea has... too much experience with them to know that.

She lifts the other's helmet off with the Force once she's been secured in the back of the ship. The woman has blond hair, and – she looks familiar. She has more than a vague resemblance to Athea herself. And she's working closely with Theseus.

Is she...

Athea stills, just watching her. It's possible, isn't it? The daughter she never got to know?

It's been so many years since everything happened. It's been so many years since she was apart from Theseus. She's almost ashamed to admit that she hasn't thought much of her daughter in... a while. What was the point, when she knew she'd never see her again?

Athea doesn't have to wait long before the Mandalorian starts to stir, slowly opening her eyes. A scowl twists her face for a moment, but it's instantly replaced with a defiant mask. (So much like how Theseus would be.)

"I've had more pleasant captors," the Mandalorian says snidely, and that voice – it's familiar, too.

A mess of emotions twists inside of her, but she clamps down on them. She knows what her mission is here. She can't let Sidious be suspicious, and perhaps in time, she and Vader can overthrow him, becoming the true Sith. She already gave Theseus the option to join her, and he refused; she doubts her daughter will be any more inclined to listen to her. Their paths are separate, and she long since accepted that. But still...

"Oh, I imagine you have," Athea replies lightly, "Most traitors captured by the Empire never leave."

"Apparently, you don't know much about Mandalorians," she shoots back.

"I would say I know a little too much."

She scoffs. "You – you are the only traitor here. A traitor and a coward. Don't think I don't know who you are."

They are going to have to talk to about this, aren't they? Athea doesn't hesitate to face challenges, so why is there something about this that makes her want to avoid it so much? Her feelings are too confusing and... "Anastasia?" she asks, despite herself. She needs to know for sure.

"I suppose I shouldn't have expected you to recognize me," Anastasia snarks, in a tone that very much implies she thought she should have. "Seeing how little you've ever cared about or shown any loyalty to your family."

The words shouldn't hit as hard as they do. It reminds her a little of what it was like meeting her granddaughter. They're very angry with her, and... maybe they have the right to be. She wants to talk to Theseus again, but it's not really her first priority right now. He'll never see the Dark Side the way she does, which is fine, but for now, it means that they're on opposing sides of the conflict.

"Sometimes, duties have to come first," she replies, evenly. She doesn't like it, but she had to grow used to it as a Jedi. She always wanted to just be with her son, but... she could see sometimes why the Jedi had the rules they did. Her attachments always held her back from doing what she needed to.

Anastasia makes a disgusted noise. "Oh, so that's what you call abandoning your daughter, turning on the very organization you gave your life to instead, then trying to kill your son for no reason. I'll keep that in mind. This is why I never want to be a mother." She's radiating fury, but beyond that, Athea thinks there might be... a small twinge of betrayal?

"I would have thought you'd be happy on Mandalore with your... father," Athea responds. She doesn't know how to have a conversation like this. She doesn't even know her daughter, except for only right after she was born. Seeing her all grown up, knowing she never did or will get to be a part of her life... It's an old wound that's being reopened.

"Happy knowing my mother kidnapped my twin brother and was brainwashing him against us?" she snaps.

A quiet anger settles in her, as she thinks back to that time, that day when Pre had realized she was a Jedi. "I did not kidnap him," she says, lowly, "He was my son, too. Not just your father's."

"So, that's why you left me?" Anastasia all but yells, "You never even cared about Marr did you? You only took him because he was Force-sensitive! You only had any interest in him because he was nothing but another Force-sensitive the Jedi thought they had the right to claim –"

"Enough," Athea snaps, "I did care about your brother. I cared about you too. But I didn't see any other choice."

Anastasia even cares about this? She thought her daughter would only hate her, and maybe she does, but she wouldn't feel this betrayed if there wasn't something else there, too. "You don't seem to have any problem betraying your beliefs," Anastasia spits, "Why couldn't you have just stayed? Or at least left my brother alone."

Athea doesn't know why she's telling her this, but it starts coming out anyway. Maybe some of the truth is long overdue. "When I first came to Mandalore, I was on an undercover mission from the Jedi. I had just been Knighted, and it was... one of my first solo missions. When I met Vizsla, I didn't know he was... a terrorist."

"We're not terrorists," Anastasia growls, though some of the venom in her tone is gone. She obviously wants to hear this, too. "We're warriors."

"Warriors who burn down villages when they don't bow to them? Where is your Mandalorian honor in that?" Athea snaps. She remembers when Theseus had told her about that, after coming back from Carlac. "Pre didn't know who I was either. I had to keep it a secret for my mission. We became... friendly, and eventually that progressed to something more. I knew, as a Jedi, I shouldn't do it, but I was young and foolish then. When I became pregnant, I... we were both worried."

"You never wanted us, did you," Anastasia says, bitterly.

"I never saw it coming," she answers, seeing more the past than the room surrounding her, "But I did want it. I was thinking about leaving the Order, but I couldn't do that until my mission was over. So, I kept my identity hidden and kept working. It was right after both of you were born, that I... finally found out what was I trying to, that Vizsla was one of the very Death Watch terrorists I was trying to find. And he found out at the same time that I was a Jedi. We were... both furious."

"Of course, he was," Anastasia mutters, "You lied to him about everything."

"And he didn't to me?" Athea replies, stiffly, "Everything fell apart, and I didn't know where I would go other than back to the Order. I knew of no life beyond that, and now, I was beginning to see that they were right about attachments, because for a moment, I almost wanted to stay even though I knew it was wrong. I couldn't stay with Pre after I knew what he was. I don't expect you to understand that, but I can't condone his actions."

"As if you're any better now."

"I don't kill innocents senselessly," she answers, icily, "I didn't want to leave both of you, but the only place I could go was back to the Order, so I took Theseus. If I had taken you, they would have... I don't know, but I didn't really have time to think it through, so I left. I may have made mistakes, but I saw no other way to handle it."

Silence fills the room for several long moments. "Then why did you abandon Marr?" Anastasia asks finally, voice still hard.

"I left to find my own path. I gave him the chance to join me multiple times, and he refused," Athea replies.

"Because if he doesn't do exactly what you say, you abandon him on the spot?" she scoffs.

"Whatever you're aiming for, you won't succeed with the Rebellion," she answers.

It's a bait to make Anastasia say something she doesn't mean to, but she doesn't.

She does wonder what's really going on, though. At first, she thought that Crimson Dawn was only acting up because the Empire was a little taken up with the Rebellion, but after Maul's latest transmission, she does have to wonder if there's not something more going on. He didn't say much, and it was only to make a deal with the Empire so they would leave some of his 'territory' alone, but she does wonder.

What are the rebels up to?

It might, if nothing else, prove to be the distraction she needs to concoct a plan against Sidious. Maybe. For now, she'll keep all her suspicions to herself. She doesn't have any real answers, anyway.

"Now, I believe there are some other things for us to discuss."

"Do your worst, Mom," she drawls, tone and expression changing completely, "I'm not telling you anything." All of the anger and hatred she was feeling at the beginning of the conversation seems to be back now.

"I was hoping this could be a simple conversation," Athea replies. And she was, but she doesn't know what to do if Anastasia will be stubborn. And of course, she will be.

Drugging her won't be that harmful and... Athea knows how to do mind invasions about as painlessly as she can when the person is resisting. It won't be anything permanent.

"Then it sounds like you're out of luck," she responds, pointedly rolling her eyes up to the ceiling.

"I have time," she replies, reaching up and closing the visor to her helmet, "All the time I need. No one will know where to find you."

**w**

Ahsoka is not surprised when they fail to find Anastasia before she's taken off-planet. She's being transported elsewhere, and based on the ship's trajectory, they can only suspect she's being taken to the Mustafar system – the same place Marr himself was being taken to. Except, she presumably won't be handled by Vader, for which Ahsoka is grateful. She doesn't know how she would take Anakin hurting one of her friends.

They don't wait – waiting could mean they come in too late, but the planning is tricky. Marr and Ahsoka will go in alone, try to break into the facility. If they don't come back, well, everyone knows better than to follow. (She's fairly confident Anakin wouldn't let that happen, anyway.)

The trickiest part is getting to Nur, where Fortress Inquisitorius is located. The majority of its occupants are now dead, but they both suspected it's still a major player in the Empire's hunt for Jedi.

The Ghost drops them off over the planet after making it past the Star Destroyer still above the surface and uses the clouds and fog for cover. They're hidden from view, when Marr and Ahsoka jump out. Marr flies to the fortress, while Ahsoka lands in the water, swimming to it. Her approach is definitely safer, seeing as she's hidden by the murky water.

She swims underneath it, opening a hatch with the Force, pulling herself inside. The place feels of the Dark Side, of death, even if she's felt it stronger in other places before.

Ahsoka darts into the main hall, looking around. She's well-accustomed to stealth, which is required here. There's a few stormtroopers moving around, but it's easy enough to avoid them. "Marr, I'm inside," she calls quietly, into her comm.

"Good," he replies. "I'll be in there in moments. BD and I are right near the command center. Scouting out for a way inside. See what you can figure out."

"There won't be much, seeing that I can't plug myself into the wall," she snips, but starts forwards anyway, making her way through the halls. The detention level must be much higher than this, for the side of the fortress. Seriously, what are they keeping here? She doesn't think there could even be more than a couple Inquisitors left, and Vader doesn't stay here.

Which means... what else do they do with this place?

Curiosity getting the better of her, she starts looking around. And one step into the never-ending hall of one of the levels immediately makes her wish she didn't.

It's full of tombs.

Of dozens – or is it hundreds or more? – of Jedi. Her eyes fall on a youngling first, and then to another Jedi Master she recognizes instantly. Tera Sinube. He was once a friend of hers, even if she'd almost forgotten him.

There are others too, but she doesn't want to look anymore. There's nothing more to see. They're dead, and for some sick, twisted reason that she doesn't even want to think about, Sidious wants to keep their bodies.

She's never been so grateful when her comm finally beeps. "Where to?"

Marr gives her the directions immediately, and she sprints out of the hall, heading for the upper levels. "I found out what they're doing with this place." she says, as she goes. Now isn't the time to talk, but it will only take a minute.

"What?" he asks, warily.

"Tombs," she replies, "Of... Jedi. I better go."

She cuts off the communication there. Luckily for both of them, the route to the prisons is short for Ahsoka. It's many floors above, but she's right by a lift which she doesn't hesitate to take to her destination. She can feel the way the Dark Side is steadily growing, and she can feel...

He's here. Of course, he's here. Why is she so surprised?

Anakin is here, and Ahsoka has absolutely no idea what to think of that. Hey may have let them go before, but would he do the same again? She doesn't know him anymore, and it hurts. Once, he had been her best friend, her brother, her master, the center of everything in her life. He still is, but it's his memory, no longer him. Anakin is no longer the person she once was. He's dark, and Ahsoka has no idea if he's gone too far. Marr doesn't think so. She doesn't want to think so, but it's what the Jedi always said. Marr may have Fallen, but he never did anything... that bad.

The same cannot be said for Vader.

Ahsoka forces her raging emotions behind a durasteel wall, moving forwards. She opens the door to the prison cell, bracing herself for what's inside. She can sense someone – one of the Inquisitors – in there, and there will be a fight. Anakin trained her well, she knows. This is nothing she can't handle.

Ahsoka ignites her lightsabers and steps inside.

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