The Tusken cell door slammed open. The guard growled and grunted at them, gesturing the Aang, Jo, and the Rodian to follow. As they exited the cell, they became surrounded by other Tusken Raiders. The three of them had collectively, but not vocally, decided not to speak until they arrived where they were being taken.
Through some halls and 'Up a lift?', they found themselves in a big room. There was a big empty table, save for two bowls of water and a chair on the opposite end.
"Where are we?" Jo asked. "This is no ordinary Tusken camp."
"You'd be surprised what you can accomplish when you assert complete and total dominance over these guys. Sit. Drink" The Tusken leader, Marek, said, announcing his presence. He went over and sat in his chair.
"Okay, really, who are you, and, why are you here?" Aang asked aggressively. He and the other two got on their knees. When he finished asking his questions, he took a couple sips.
Jo was about to lean down to sip, but noticed the Rodian didn't have a bowl; so he just slid the bowl over to him to drink.
"My mission is of no concern of yours or the Republic's. I will be asking the questions, so why don't you start by answering that one?"
"That's confidential information." Aang answered.
"Well if you have nothing to share, then we have nothing more to do here." Marek said.
"We're unchained." Aang said, sensing hostile intentions behind the last sentence. "My friend and I could take all of you."
"Yeah you probably could." Marek said, leaning back in his chair.
That made Aang and Jo speechless. Aang looked over at Jo, who shrugged, then back directly into Marek's eyes. "What's going on?"
"Now that I can answer." Marek said with a chuckle. "You see, we're in an installation in the middle of nowhere; the nearest settlements are weeks in every direction. On foot, that is. I'm going to give you a chance to escape on your ship-"
"So our ship is here? We could still take all of you and escape safely."
"Ah-ah-ahhhh!" Marek said, wiggling his finger. "We not only took your ship, but also a couple vital components it needs to function; and we've hidden them all over this compound. If you win, you can fix your ship and leave."
Aang thought about it for a moment; but as he was about to answer, Jo piped up and requested a moment to ponder the offer. "What, Jo?" He whispered.
"He has to be bluffing." He said equally as quiet. "Think about it. What possible reason could he have to be so intricate in trying to keep us from escaping? He doesn't know us; we don't know him. Why go through the trouble? He knows we could take him out."
"You bring up a good point, but it goes deeper than that." Aang told him. "His father, Galen Marek worked for the Republic before they betrayed him. He disappeared, left his family behind; and this one blames all Jedi and the Republic for his father's disappearance. Keeping Jedi here to kill them is his form of revenge."
"You never mentioned this, why?" Jo asked, vocally dismayed.
"Well obviously, the odds of running into him were abysmally low."
"So, what are we doing?"
Aang sighed. "I can't believe I'm admitting it, but Exar probably would've handled this better."
"Yeah he probably would've bulldozed through the place." Jo thought.
"Maybe we should try fighting, too." Aang said, hesitantly.
"Hey," Jo said somewhat comfortingly, "I got it well figured out." He lightly tapped his metal arms, and winked.
Aang silently agreed with the plan, then said aloud, "We'll do it."
"Excellent!" Marek said. "The gladiator will commence!" He proclaimed, raising his arms.
"Oh! So we're actually fighting!" Jo said quietly.
"And, I'm dead." The Rodian said.
Aang stepped over to the Rodian and quietly assured him, "Don't worry, Jo's all over it."
"These guys don't, play, fair." The Rodian said with a growing shaky voice.
Aang sensed the Rodian's fear and thought of a solution. "And in desperate times, neither do we."
Bolen pressed his palm flat onto the platform where Calista's odd goings-on occurred. Mustafar was a complicated planet, cursed for years by the dark side to be a place of death, and the events his associates and his wife had reported just dug the rabbit hole deeper. He remembered the pictures taken for the reports, showing the platforms as new; and much of the volcanic rock hill that supported it was fresh. Now it was reverted to its present state with the rest of the planet: gradually, lushly growing.
'Calista said 'high above the peak.' ' Bolen said, looking up. He didn't sense much, other than Mustafar's atmosphere. 'Did this happen anywhere else?' He thought. He reached his hand up, estimating his aim to where Calista described the crux of the anomaly was.
'Patience.' Bolen told himself. 'The dark side will hide their tracks, so uncovering them won't be eas-' Bolen then lost consciousness, but received a vision.
So many things happened, but he couldn't make sense of any of it; but it all seemed to center around a mask. It was unique, but the build was distinct. He had a suspect.
Bolen woke up only moments later. From there, he went full-on machine mode. Not thinking, just doing what he knew he had to do.
Quia nearly fell out of her seat when she received a one-way coded transmission, in which she recognized the coding to be of Governor Bolen's. 'Viran was totally not joking if he's involved.' She put on a head set to listen, for maximum privacy. She hoped to hear words, but instead heard a form of morse code. She listened intently, understanding the slow clicks. As the words slowly came through, her mood darkened. When she thought the message ended, she received another one on the same line. 'Viran. Ephraim. Meet. Naboo.'
She was immediately on the case.
Viran and Ephraim were helping Garm prepare a case for the rumored attack when Viran received the message from Quia to meet the Governor on Naboo.
"The Secretary of Defense has notified me that the Governor has requested us to meet with him on Naboo."
"Us?" Ephraim asked, confused.
"We're on the case too." Viran confirmed; then he turned his attention back to the Senator. "I'm sorry for the sudden departure. I wish you the best of luck in the case."
"Wish us the best of luck. It's no Corellia, but Coruscant is also my home."
"May the Force be with you." Viran said, before retreating with Ephraim.
"And also with you."
Quia and Viran arrived at Naboo very shorty after they received Bolen's messages. They both thought it strange of Bolen to be cryptic in his request; but they figured it meant it was that important, and that he didn't want any time wasted. With Naboo in the picture, they had been able to connect some dots; but the urgency didn't add up to them.
Ben Solo was taking a lonely stroll through the garden that previously belonged to his grandmother. He shortly happened upon a series of statues that looked over the garden, and stopped in front of the statue most beautiful. He looked upon the image of Queen Padmé Amidala, hovering a hand near the elegantly-carved stone; then hesitantly placing a hand upon it.
He took a big, deep breath and closed his eyes.
"Grandmother. . . " He started, trying to form words. He wanted to make a sentiment about her, but struggled. He figured he should speak from his heart and tell her why. 'Why' everything. "Something happened. . . I was, given a second chance. I spent too much time obsessing over my grandfather, the embodiment of everything you were against, and it cost too much. Being an agent of the dark side cost me nothing but despair and pain. If. . . I act on your behalf, on behalf of your beliefs, I believe I can make a better change." He let out a rough sigh and dipped his head down. "I wish I could talk to you." He whispered.
"Excuse me, highness. I didn't mean to eavesdrop," An elderly woman made herself known, "but I couldn't help but overhear your predicament." Unsure how to properly respond, Ben simply didn't. "I could provide some help. Well, the closest thing to it."
Ben raised his eyebrow. "Who are you?"
"I am Neeyutnee." She bowed. "The Naboo queen that followed your grandmother." She said, pointing to the statue. "I knew her."
Ben had been literally shocked before, but that didn't amount to what he felt now. He's standing before a former queen, and one that knew his grandmother no less. He was flabbergasted. "W- W- Wha-" He tried forming a sentence, but his emotions were failing him.
"You must have many questions." Neeyutnee said. "If I may, your highness, I can help you."
Ben and Neeyutnee strolled around the garden and palace as Neeyutnee shared stories about Padmé; her husband Anakin; and Ahsoka Tano, apprentice to Anakin, and close friend to both. She didn't know too much about the latter two, but shared the stories nonetheless.
"I read about that virus in one of the First Order's archives." Ben chuckled. "That Gungan sounded like a piece of work."
"Oh he was. No one was bothered enough to do anything about him, though."
"Tano was one of the few that actually knew of his marriage?"
"Yes. A shame that the secrecy led to the downfall of the entire Galactic Republic." Neeyutnee sighed.
Ben thought for a moment, then asked, "Why tell me this?"
She stopped and faced him. "One tends to grow wiser in old age." She answered. "Your past is catching up to you. I sat on that throne before; and speaking from experience, you won't be able to avoid the coming conflict. Not neutrally." She said. "Your grandmother was an excellent queen. She resigned to be a Senator, and a fighter. She and your mother were the political voices in your family tree; your father and grandfather were the front line fighters. I believe you can become both. Be the fighter, and the King. Mend the bloodline broken by the dark side."
"You sure take it seriously."
"War has that effect. Decades of it will reshape you, and shape generations to come. The terror Darth Vader brought will not soon be forgotten. If there are people out there, trying to replicate the Empire again, I beseech you, I beg of you," She kneeled before him, clasping her hands, "please don't sit back."
Ben listened and realized through Neeyutnee's words that neutrality would only mean a target for destruction. The cursed planet of Mandalore was the prime example. And even the planets that suffered Operation: Cinder, Naboo being one that barely escaped it, would influence him.
"She didn't sit back, did she?" Ben asked, rhetorically.
Ben helped Neeyutnee back on her feet, and she reminded him what she said earlier, "No. No, she didn't. She'd even occasionally put herself in more danger than the Jedi would themselves. She was, one of the bravest people the Republic ever knew."
In a way, Ben felt that these stories of the light side of his family had helped resolve some of the dark trauma he'd caused and endured, like many weights were suddenly lifted from his conscience. His mind felt clearer, and he felt more confident about himself.
"I feel like I'm going somewhere I wouldn't have been able to see without your help. I would like to offer you a seat on my council."
Neeyutnee's face deadpanned. She was neither appeased nor resentful towards the offer; it was not a decision she would be hasty to decide upon.
Just as she was about to answer, one of the guards approached Ben with speed, alerting him, "Sir! Sir! More Republic ships approaching."
"What kind?" Ben asked.
"By the looks of it, it seems the Governor is paying us a visit."
Ben sighed. He knew this meeting had a possibility of turning out awry. "Attend to this woman's needs; she is in our care." He ordered before leaving.
Bolen, Quia, Viran, and Ephraim were greeted on the landing platform outside the palace by Ben and his small escort. Viran, knowing Bolen, rushed outside his ship quickly to catch Bolen. He caught up to him and said, "Your honor, wait. Just, remember we don't have any jurisdiction, here." He said, hoping it would coax away any aggressive interrogation or intervention Bolen may have intended.
"Not yet, if my vision plays out."
"He's right." Ben told Viran, drawing all attention to himself. "My past is catching up to me. My son is drawing me and the Republic together; and soon, it won't matter if we're neutral or for the Republic. It won't make a difference in his eyes."
"What are you implying?" Ephraim asked.
"I think Naboo will join the Republic once again; I wish to follow in my grandmother's footsteps in helping bring peace. But I will confer my council, first." He answered Viran, then turning to Bolen. "Now, come. Tell me about this vision of yours." He said, gesturing them inside.
"There was an anomaly on Mustafar. Our standard investigations couldn't explain anything, so I went over to use an advanced method. There, I was granted a vision of doom. At its center was you, or rather someone donning the helmet of Ren. However I was convinced it was destroyed."
Ben slowed down briefly. Everyone saw his slight hesitance and figured he knew something; Ben could sense the tension rise in everyone, so he figured he would come clean. "There, is another. The helmet, was, not all my design." He said, a moment of silence following. "I don't know much else; but I know enough that we should be praying that if he's a possibility, the Ren bloodline should be the least of your worries."
Bolen could sense nothing but absolute sincerity from Ben, so he asked, "Could you tell us what you know about him?"
'That went much more smoothy than I expected.' Viran thought.
A Tusken guard opened a door, revealing a large assembly of melee weapons. He went in and selected two sturdy spears to hang onto until the gladiator started. The Tuskens escorting Aang and Jo were mentally alert at all times around them.
They were led through a series of consistent hallways until they stopped upon a large arched door. The Rodian was already there, guarded by another Tusken. The Tuskens handed Aang and Jo their spears, stepped back, and pulled a lever. A metal gate separated the trio from the Tuskens.
After a little while, Aang and Jo heard commotion outside. It didn't sound like much; it sounded like just a couple groups gathered to watch the spectacle.
"You ready?" Aang asked.
Jo closed his eyes and remained still; Aang heard a loud humming sound coming from Jo's metal arms. Only after a moment, Jo replied, "Yeah, I've been waiting for this."
"I sincerely hope you have something good up your sleeves." The Rodian said.
The commotion outside stopped, then they heard muffled speech. It was distinctly Marek's voice. The speech wasn't long; it seemed like everyone really wanted to get the show on the road.
After a brief moment of silence, the door in front of them slowly began lifting, and the commotion started up again. Aang rolled his head around, cracking his neck a little, then spinning his spear. The three of them slowly stepped onto the field and observed the arena. It was small for an arena, but big enough for the small factions of Tusken raiders.
"Hey," Aang asked the Rodian, "Are we only expected to fight Tusken raiders?"
"It's not the opponents I'm worried about." The Rodian replied. "Things have changed since Marek took charge; he's advanced their culture significantly. We fight with their spears, but they-" He was interrupted as the doors on the other side of the stadium opened up. From there, several Tuskens of bigger size emerged with technological weapons. Arm cannons, blasters, and vibroblades. "They have those." The Rodian finished.
"Hmm." Aang hummed. "And we have these."
Jo shifted himself, then his arms suddenly detatched from his body, then the arms separated into several compartments that looked like little drones. They hovered and flew around, shooting at the Tusken warriors.
Marek stood up from his viewing booth, furiously shouting at the other Tuskens. "Get down there and stop them!"
The Rodian was so shocked that his guard was let down, but not Aang's. Shortly, there were Tuskens coming from behind them to restrain them. Aang used the Force to push and hold them back, "Ah, ah, ah!" He said.
In just a matter of moments, the Tusken warriors were corpses on the ground. Jo's arms returned to him, and he looked up and faced Marek. "Is this all you've got? Are you not entertained?!" He shouted.
Then every Tusken in the audience stood up and aimed their rifles at the three of them.
"They have that too." Jo complained quietly.
The next thing they knew, the three of them were all chained together. The entire squad behind them, and Marek and three executioners in front of them.
"You can't do your arm thing again?" The Rodian asked.
"It takes too much power for each individual compartment to function independently." Jo explained.
Marek leered down at all of them. "I counted on making Jedi pay." He said to them. "I won't count on being disappointed." He nodded to the executioners, who each pointed their rifles at their heads.
"First time for everything." One of the executioners said, turning and pointing his rifle at Marek. He shot at him in a non-lethal spot. The other two executioners shot at the chains on Aang, Jo, and the Rodian.
The Tuskens were stirred up again; but before they could shoot at anyone, a Republic ship flew in from the sky, shooting down at the Tuskens.
Aang, Jo, and the Rodian were too lost in the sudden noise to register what had happened, but they found themselves on the Republic ship with the three executioners. They removed their Tusken masks, in which the faces of Exar, Rye, and Erickson were revealed.
No one said anything.
"You don't seem surprised." Exar observed.
"Well, I knew three Tusken executioners couldn't possibly be as strong in the Force as I sensed. And there was something about your Force signatures that seemed familiar." Aang said.
Exar hummed contently.
"Though something seems different about you." Aang said to Exar.
Exar exhaled a breath he didn't know he was holding. "I. . . opened my mind." He didn't know exactly how to phrase it, but it seemed as though Aang understood.
"So, you guys are all Jedi?" The Rodian asked.
"Uh, yes." Rye said, the first of the three acknowledging his presence on the ship. "I'm Jedi Master Rye Follnor; this is my brother, Erickson Follnor; and this is Exar Sunrider, one of our fellow students alongside the two you seem to be acquainted with."
"Okay, before we go anywhere." Aang interrupted urgently, "the ship we arrived on was disabled. The Tuskens down there have the parts they took; we need to get them back."
"I figured as much." Exar said. "There was a high chance you would've crossed Tuskens' paths on the way to the base, so on the way here I called in a specialized group to handle it." He said, patting the box he was sitting on. "They'll fix the ship, then take it back to Kashyyyk."
"So we'll be dropped off, then you'll be heading back to the edge of town?" The Rodian asked. "I do need to bet back to town."
"Oh!" Exar exclaimed, remembering something. He got off the box he was sitting on and opened it up. He picked up a bag of supplies -he knew were neither Aang's nor Jo's- and held them up. "We found these with the other confiscated items. These yours?"
"Yes!" The Rodian exclaimed in relief. "There's something in there you'll actually need." He said, taking the bag and looking through it. He took out the charted map. "If you don't know where you're going, you could refer to my map."
Exar took a look at the map. After reading it over, he actually looked surprised. "I'm impressed. You actually got close." Exar complemented. "It's been a while since I've been home, so I could only give an estimate direction to the Jundland 'Wound.' "
"It's in The Wound?!" The Rodian asked.
Exar looked up from the map with a perplexed look in his eyes. "You never thought to look in the famously unnatural rock formation in the middle of the Jundland Wastes?"
"You couldn't remember where the Jundland Wastes were."
"I remember where the Jundland Wastes are. It's where The Wound is I have trouble remembering."
"So you lived, where exactly? On top of it?" The Rodian asked.
"In it. We built our home, our life inside the rocks." Exar explained.
"Oh I have to have a conversation with you when you're done." The Rodian said.
"We still have a little time." Exar said, enlightening the Rodian.
The ship landed at the entrance of the Jundland Wastes. Exar, Aang, and Jo offloaded to start the end of their journey.
"Hey, you three!" Rye called. "May the Force be with you!"
"And with you, Master!" Exar replied.