Chapter 16 - Preparations for Battle

Author's Note: The climax is beginning! :D

~ Amina Gila

Anakin Skywalker

I know who it is, as I make my way through the base as fast as I can. Still, I have no idea how the Twi'lek-who-is-apparently-our-grandfather could have found us here. But all that matters is that somehow he did, and we have to stop him. What worries me most though is that if he could find us, Plagueis could too, especially considering whatever it is going on with his bond with Sidious. Nothing should feel that unnatural. It feels like a failed attempt to merge their souls or something, except they never quite managed because they could never fit like two pieces of a puzzle as Aniya and I do, or even like I do with Obi-Wan.

I really don't want to know how it happened, especially seeing that Sidious doesn't seem to like its existence at all. Some things are best left unknown.

And all of that is assuming it wasn't Plagueis who sent him here.

We sprint to the area where Sidious is staying – he doesn't usually leave, because too many people seeing him here wouldn't be good – because I already know without asking that that's where the Twi'lek – Cosinga – will be headed.

It's obvious that they both have a single-minded fixation on one another, and I don't care to know the details about that. They don't really matter.

"You're weak," Sidious is mocking. And from the look of it, he definitely is still the one with the advantage.

"You will still die," Cosinga sneers, "They will still die. Plagueis will find them."

Sidious lashes out, hurling him across the room. "He has no way to find us."

No, not one of these arguments again. I still don't know what to make of the last one. And wait, he's still working with Plagueis? Maybe the Muun cared less about what he did than I thought. Or maybe he never gave him the choice, because he has his uses...

"Doesn't he?" Cosinga retorts, "Do you truly believe you could hide from him? From me? After what you did –"

"I'll do it again," he snaps, "And again. You will not challenge me."

"You would have been nothing if not for me," Cosinga snarls.

Maybe we should intervene or something, but they're hardly even fighting right now, more just... yelling at each other. Also, I do not want to know what it would be like to be raised by this maniac.

"I had everything once you were gone," he growls, unleashing a blast of lightning on him, which he instantly blocks with his lightsaber.

The door abruptly slides open, none other than Clone Force 99 appearing in the doorway, their weapons drawn.

"Is that the Emperor?" asks Hunter, incredulously.

"He's the one you should be shooting," Aniya hastily interjects, pointing to the Twi'lek instead.

"Why?" Wrecker yelps.

"He is working with Plagueis – the Sith we are still fighting. Sidious is opposed to him," I explain, though I can hardly blame them when they look very unconvinced.

The Sith attack each other again, trading blows until the Twi'lek throws Sidious across the room, then turns to us. As if he could even hurt us right now? Clearly, he severely overestimates his abilities. I draw my lightsaber, but the clones are already reacting. They don't care about Sidious – and I don't blame them for that – but they'll still do anything to protect me, even knowing everything I've done. I'm not sure what to think about that.

But either way, all seven blasters, plus an energy bow are leveled at him.

"Do you really think these clones will be enough to stop me?" Cosinga asks mockingly. I have no idea who attacked first, but they all start firing almost at once.

Fives lowers his blaster last, a full dozen shots later, eyeing the Sith's fallen form – because, of course, he couldn't stand up to them, not when they all surrounded and overwhelmed him instantly. "Yes," he replies fiercely, glaring, "That's for threatening my General."

He's not dead yet, but there's no way he's going to survive the blaster shot that actually hit him.

Sidious moves towards him first, and I suddenly have a very bad feeling about this, maybe partly from the sheer smugness he's radiating. And maybe Cosinga completely deserves this, given everything he's clearly done, but death is still never something to be enjoyed.

"Perhaps," he says, smugly, "You should not have warned us you were still working with Plagueis. The rest of your schemes end now." He raises a hand towards the Twi'lek's head, and I immediately realize what he's doing.

Invading his mind, ripping out whatever information pertains to the Sith Master's location.

"Get Omega out of the room," I advise, before this can get too... Sithly just yet. "Now."

"Why?" Wrecker asks, "... What's he doing?"

"It's best if you don't know."

I think the Twi'lek would be screaming if he had the breath left to, and thankfully,Hunter is already nudging Omega out of the room. I'd leave, too, except I feel frozen in place. Maybe it's just that seeing Sidious being like this to... anyone is disturbing, because I never know when he could do it to us.

It's only moments before he goes still, though Sidious lingers by the body a few moments longer, maybe to... I don't know, even.

"Plagueis is on Exegol," he says, "Hiding in a Sith Temple. He has other mind-controlled forces there, but I did not see the extent of them."

We have something of a lead then. Still, I'm not sure I'm ready.

"You must be prepared," Sidious continues, as though reading my mind. I'm sure he picked up on our anxiety, anyway. "He has... done much to you, but let your fear turn to hate. It will give you the power you need to destroy him. It is your destiny." That's... true enough, but it doesn't make me feel any more ready to face him. We don't have a choice, though. We'll have to get ready, fast.

I can't help asking. "What if one of us dies?" I inquire quietly.

"Your bond ties you together forever," Sidious replies, "That is not of concern."

It means I wouldn't have to worry about living without Aniya, or her without me, but that doesn't answer what our family would do. They just got us back, and even if... I can't understand why they're still willing to stand by us, I know it would hurt them if we were gone. And I don't want to do that.

The image of Qui-Gon's dead body replays through my mind. I'm not under the illusion that we're the only ones who might be hurt. "What if you die?" I ask finally, because that's the only thing I am willing to confront. I'm not sure what to think about Sidious exactly. He has watched out for us, cared for us even, and I don't know what to think of that. I can't forgive him for what he's done to us and to the galaxy, but I... I don't know that I want him to die, either, even if it would be better for everyone if he wasn't here.

He doesn't answer, and the silence grates on me, and a growing dread spreads across me. This – "You... think it will happen?" I guess finally. He does. And I don't even think he cares. He's running off on a literal suicide mission, and I don't understand why.

"I will have vengeance, no matter what the cost," Sidious replies at last.

I don't know what to feel about that. I can't even understand why it hurts as much as it does. "You... don't care?" Aniya deduces finally. I should probably tell her to stop asking before we... get in trouble, but I want to know, too. I don't understand.

"The Empire has fallen," Sidious answers, "Destroying Plagueis is all that is left. He is the one that began all of this."

"There's more to life than power," I point out, "There's nothing more important than family."

"Relying on others is a weakness."

"Not for us."

I'm not sure he can even understand that. I can't imagine what that would be like. Aniya and I have always had each other. We've always had family, no matter how tight the times we lived through were. For Sidious, it must've been the opposite. I – I guess I can see now, for the first time, why my sister and I had to grow up on the most backwards planet in the galaxy, and why we had to live through everything we did. If we hadn't, we would never have understood the value of family. We would never have had a way to have our powers reigned in and controlled by the Force. We'd be... unstoppable, and more than that, we would have no reason to care.

And for the first time in my life, I find that I truly... pity him. Because no one should have to live like that. No one should have to lack the most important thing in life.

And it answers so much about him.

"Your powers are different," he replies, "You fuel each other. That is not true for others. It is time to plan our attack."

I'm still not sure what to feel about it, but I force it down, hold it back, lock it away for later. We can figure out what it means after... after he's gone. Why does that thought hurt so much?

**w**

Alema Syndulla

We have a very short window of time. I'm not entirely sure how long, but we need to gather up everyone we can and move in right away before it's too late. We gather up all the Force-sensitives we have immediate contact with. There's a lot, thankfully. Anakin, Aniya, Obi-Wan, Ahsoka, Dooku, Sidious, Maul, and myself.

And now... Jinx. I can't help the ridiculous amount of nervousness twisting inside me as I contact him. It's been a very long time. "Jinx," I say the moment the familiar presence hits me, trying to hold back the surge of emotions it instantly elicits. "I'm sorry I haven't called you in so long, but – but we need your help."

"Alema," he replies, blinking in surprise a few times, "Are you okay?"

"Better than okay," I promise, "We have the twins. But we need you here as soon as possible. We have a lead on the Sith." I'll spare the strange explanation of how we have to work with so many Sith for when he arrives in-person.

I don't have to wait long for him to get to the base, and it's along with the rest of my family too. Hera is the first off the ship, tackling me in a hug so tightly I can hardly breathe.

"I missed you," she murmurs, face buried in my shoulder.

"I missed – air," I wheeze, and she pulls back, giggling.

"This better be the last time you're leaving," Hera insists.

"I hope so," I murmur, "Once this battle is over."

"You are going after the once Emperor?" Cham asks, approaching. He looks decidedly wary.

"His master, actually," I correct, "We need all the forces you can get."

He hesitates a moment, glancing between me and my mother. "Right now, my forces are needed on Ryloth. Now that I have the chance, I must restore peace there."

"Ryloth will never have peace so long as any remnants of the last Empire remain," reminds my mother.

"I understand if you don't want to get involved," I offer. It will be dangerous, and I don't know how many people will come back. And frankly, I think more than enough clones will already be coming, not that having more backup could ever hurt.

"Will you be alright?" my mother asks, frowning.

"If you need more forces, I can come!" Hera chirps.

Right. Just like what happened on Ryloth. I don't comment on it, though. "Aniya said she's calling in Appo – my former clone captain. We'll be okay." At least I can hope so.

Jinx comes off the ship finally, and the others move aside to give us space. I feel at a sudden loss for words, and the only thing that can truly express how much I missed him – how grateful I was to have a friend from the Order with me after I'd lost everything and everyone I ever knew – is to pull him into a hug, too.

The emotions that surge through me mean far more than just... friendship, though.

I know exactly what it is that I feel towards him, though it – it scares me. At least it once did, because a Jedi should never have feelings like this, though now, I don't care about that like I once did. I don't have to blindly follow their rules when I'm no longer a Jedi. Whatever I do now, it's of my own choice.

One look at Jinx's face, and I can tell he's feeling the same way. "I know this isn't the time or place for this, but if we're going after the Sith, we might not see each other again."

One of us might die is the simple wording, and I'm grateful he doesn't say it bluntly. "I know. I..." have no idea how to say this, but I need to say something. "Ever since I met Rafa and Trace, I've been thinking that I want a... a family. I mean, more than Hera, or Aniya."

Jinx nods, reaching down to squeeze my hand. "After staying with your family so long, I... do too."

"We can then, can't we?" I ask, leaning closer.

Jinx doesn't respond, but he doesn't need to. It's an unspoken promise, one that we both know we'll carry through with once we get out of here.

We're still much too young to consider marriage, but it's only a few years off, and I certainly won't be ready to actually start a family until that time comes, but at least it gives me something to look forward to, once all this fighting is over.

**w**

Ahsoka Tano

"Ironic that the last Jedi Council member is willing to ally with Sith," Maul drawls, shooting a pointed glance at Obi-Wan as everyone starts to gather.

He turns, giving him an icy glare. "This is no alliance."

"Is it truly that offensive when you have already Fallen yourself?"

I could nearly roll my eyes at the interactions, and at the instant denial Obi-Wan immediately gives. Sensing how dark he's become is frankly unsettling, especially when I know how close to the Dark Side I was slipping, too. But now that we're back together again, I haven't felt so light in years.

That does little to take off the tension away from the moment, though. This is the last chance we'll have to destroy the Sith, and everything is counting on us.

"Maul," Anakin says, pointedly.

The Sith scoffs, looking decidedly amused at Obi-Wan's annoyance, as he goes to join the others present.

"I'm inclined to agree with Maul, just this once," Ventress' voice calls from the doorway.

"You made it," I exclaim, brightening.

"Told you I'd show up if you were getting revenge," she replies, eyes skirting momentarily to Dooku.

"Can you handle working with him?" Alema asks, approaching.

"I'll manage," she replies, tone clipped.

I take a seat next to Anakin as everyone gathers, Alema on my other side, with Aniya on her other side. For a moment, it almost feels like back when we were planning missions during the war together, with other Jedi.

... Except that most of the people here aren't Jedi.

Sidious is the only one who knows anything about Exegol, so all we can do is take his word for it, as he explains what he does know, as well as the general layout of the Temple. There's some images of it that we can find, though how much has changed since they were taken, we won't know until we get there.

"This is very little information," Dooku notes, finally.

"It is the only chance we may have," Sidious retorts, and I try not to sigh when the two Sith exchange a not-quite glare. Then again, it must be quite awkward for Dooku to have to deal with his former master.

I still don't think I'll ever understand why the twins have somewhat willingly put up with it. Although this once, I have to grudgingly agree with Sidious. We can't wait.

And I'll just try not to think too hard about what they've probably been through without me, because I can't even begin to imagine what would ever have made them so desperate they were willing to trust a Sith, let alone the very Sith who put the entire galaxy in this situation.

"We'll have to make the most of what we have," Aniya agrees, "And expect Plagueis already knows we're coming."

"Assuming this isn't an intentional trap," Obi-Wan interjects, gaze quite pointedly lingering on Sidious.

"We always sprung traps during the war," Anakin replies, smoothly avoiding another... argument. Thankfully.

Coming up with a plan from there is as simple as it could be, given the circumstances. Dooku is calling in some of his own forces, including some still remaining droids, but other than Force users, we'll only have the clones.

We're leaving tomorrow, and the tension in the air has never felt thicker before. I linger near the twins as all the others start filing from the room, soon leaving only me, them, Alema, and Obi-Wan behind. Somehow, it sticks out even more obviously that Qui-Gon is gone. I never knew him, but I can feel the twin's fear, and I know how easy it would be for someone else to end up dead.

Realistically, I don't see a way out of this without someone else ending up like him.

"Clearly, we cannot wait for Quinlan Vos. I've been comming him for three days," Obi-Wan says, finally.

"We'll manage," Aniya replies, subdued, "We have to."

"We'll be alright," I promise, even if it sounds lame in the face of what we're about to do.

"There is no surety of that," my former master points out, quietly. I hate seeing him this different.

"We'll never be safe if we don't," Alema points out.

The twins exchange a glance, something seeming to settle over them. Maybe the faintest hint of determination, of strength that they've both been lacking. "This is the only way, the only path forward we have," Anakin agrees, "What happens now is the will of the Force." It's something Qui-Gon probably would've said, I know, especially from the shadow that crosses Obi-Wan's face.

"Yes, it is," Obi-Wan concurs, "Perhaps we should begin our preparations now."

"Or we can spend this last evening with each other not worrying about it," Aniya suggests.

"Why not?" I offer, when no one has any objections. Really, that's all I want right now. It's so much like it was back during the war, when we had that one night before being shipped out to battle again. It's a sharp reminder of why, in so many ways, the war was the best years of my life. But we're together again, and there's still the entire future we'll have together to... relive those days, or maybe something better.)

(I refuse to think of what will happen tomorrow. Of what will happen if this doesn't last forever.)

**w**

Jaufre Naberrie

"Hey, why all the long faces?" I demand, with far more flippancy than I feel, as we go to see the twins off. They're leaving on this mission now, and I have no idea how long they'll be gone. (I have no idea who's going to come back.)

"Long faces?" Aniya repeats, raising an eyebrow, "What are you so chipper about?"

"You're going on an adventure. This planet sounds fun," I reply, grinning, "Maybe once this is over, we can take a vacation there!"

"A vacation to a Dark Side wasteland?" Anakin asks, the faintest hint of amusement in his eyes, so I count that as a win.

"With an atmosphere full of lightning?" Aniya seconds.

"Yeah! Are you sure I can't come?"

"I believe Padme could use your help with the children," Anakin reminds.

"Oh, I'm sure she'd love to come, too! At least afterwards, so you can take her flying through the lightning bolts."

Padme crosses her arms behind me, giving us a flat look. "I do not believe that would be too enjoyable, no."

"I thought you liked fast things!" I protest.

"Quick debates in the Senate, yes. Younger brothers quickly being quiet, yes," she agrees.

"I can't say goodbye if I'm 'being quiet'," I retaliate, though the mood promptly drops at that. That's what this is, after all. But I refuse to believe it'll be anything different than all those times we had to do this, during the war. They'll be back. I won't believe anything else.

"We will... be back," Anakin promises.

"I know," Padme replies, softly, though I can clearly see how afraid she is.

"Be careful," Aniya cautions, "If they found our base before, they could again."

"I doubt it would be anything we couldn't handle," I answer, "And I think you're the ones who really need to stay safe."

"We have to take whatever risks we must, to end this," Anakin replies firmly, though there's a tiredness lingering in his eyes that I still hate seeing. I move closer, pulling him into a brief hug before Aniya joins us.

"I know you do," I agree, more solemnly, "And whatever happens, we'll be together in the end." Even if not here, then... after. I never think about things after death, because why would I, but Nubians believe in an afterlife. It's too ridiculous to even think that might be a concern right now, though.

The long silence that follows is too agonizing to handle anymore. "Padme, are you gonna just stand there or will you join the hug, too?"

She gives me an incredulous look. "I am not joining a group hug."

"Why not?" Aniya asks, with a faint note of cheer, though we disentangle ourselves.

"Because it makes her embarrassed," I answer for her. Padme glares at me.

"It's time to go," Anakin says, as his comm beeps, and we share one last final glance, before they head for the waiting shuttle. I reach over, touching my sister's shoulder, offering her the only comfort that I can as we watch the twins walk away again, never knowing when, or if, we'll see them again.

And I can only hope that this will be the last time, that after this, the distance between us will finally come to an end.

**w**

Obi-Wan Kenobi

I still have many reservations about this plan, but maybe this once, Anakin is right that we have to spring this, even if it's a trap. If it is, we can take care of all the Sith at once. But for now, all I can do is keep my focus on the mission. (I don't want to think about how the twins might not be ready for this, how we could be making a serious mistake coming here with forces who we can't trust. I can't let myself believe that anything will happen to them. Especially not after Qui-Gon, even if in some ways it feels like he was already gone so long ago.)

Exegol is a dark, bluish-gray as we fly down for the atmosphere. Lightning crackles violently around all of our ships, and the planet itself feels dark. Everything here feels of the Dark Side, and I don't like it. I actually don't like anything about this planet whatsoever, but we don't have much choice.

"Careful," I warn, as more lightning crackles right past our ship, barely missing it.

"I can see it," Aniya replies, abruptly jolting the ship forwards, nearly throwing me from my seat.

I could swear that was intentional. "Was that necessary?" I huff, as she turns sharply to the side again.

"Your commentary is not at all distracting," she informs me, cheerfully.

It's such a sharp reminder of how things used to be between us, before everything fell apart. I want those days back, despite everything that's happened. Even if I know it wouldn't be real. Even if... even if the twins did betray everything that once mattered to us, I somehow care about them more than that.

We're split up in groups, which is how I ended up paired with only Aniya. Anakin is with Ahsoka, Alema and Jinx are with the Bad Batch and Maul, and Dooku, Ventress, and Sidious went in together.

The Dark Side suddenly surges around us, lightning crackling violently through the clouds, indicating the beginning of a storm, but something about it feels very much not natural.

Plagueis – presumably – is causing this, isn't he?

"Hang on," Aniya grits out, flying at what feels like every random angle to avoid being hit.

It doesn't last long, before electricity crackles against the shield's ships, frying through them faster than blaster fire. "We're going down," I warn, bracing myself as the ship starts to spiral out of control.

At least once we're out of the upper atmosphere it's a lot easier to at least somewhat avoid the lightning and control where we land. The ship skids to a most ungraceful stop on the rocks some distance away from the towering Sith Citadel that Plagueis stays in. Apparently, it's one of the oldest of all Sith places. Just the place I'd want to be. Although, I suppose it's a fitting place for them all to end.

We climb out of the ship, going to collect the group of Appo's men that are coming with us inside – I'd like to know how they made it down without crashing, unless the storm was relatively specific on who it was centered around.

I don't know what's going to happen now, but we're here, and we're... going in.

Lightning is still flashing violently in the sky above, wind blowing across the barren landscape, as we make our way for the ancient Sith Citadel.

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