Chapter 2: Questions & Revelations
Kannan was shocked at what Hunter had just said. Sure he was cautious about him and his team because of what happened when order 66 was issued, but he still was shocked to see that these clones that had just helped them were not with the empire. But then he shook himself out of his shock and got back to the matter at hand. "Well since you and your group helped out with me and my crew with freeing the wookies how can I refuse, but first we need to get these wookies back to their home before we go talk to General Skywalker". Kannan told Hunter and his team. He nodded and motioned for the rest of Bad Batch to come over and helped the Ghost Crew with freeing the wookies.
The wookies, while still anxious of the clones, were grateful for the help that was given to them by both the Bad Batch and the Ghost Crew. Once they freed all of the wookies the Bad Batch and Ghost Crew along with the wookies got in their personal ships and took off into space with the wookies in the Ghost ship. While both ships had left the planet Agent Calais had woken up from being knocked out by Wrecker and glared at the two ships knowing that the empire will want to know about the clones and the Jedi he had encountered.
Meanwhile after the Ghost crew and the Bad Batch had let the wookies go on their merry way and then both teams jumped into hyperspace with the ghost crew following the Bad Batch. In hyperspace while the Bad Batches ship Havoc Marauder traveled with the Ghost, the Ghost crew were discussing what had just happened on Kessel after they had let the wookies go onto their merry way. "Well I got to say those clones were quite impressive". Sabine told the crew. "Impressive, karabast they were kriffing awesome"! Zeb said in awe. "But the question still remains who are they"? Hera questioned. "I know who they are". Kannan told them. The crew all looked at Kannan with questionable looks. "Back during the days in the clone wars they were a clone unit called clone force 99 or as they were simply called in those days the Bad Batch".
"The Bad Batch huh, interesting name, but why would they be called that"? Zeb asked Kannan. "They were called the Bad Batch because they weren't good at following orders and they liked to do things differently than ordinary clones". Kannan told him. "I remember them now, they were able to help me and my family out of some tight spots when the empire rose up". Hera said, remembering the group of defective clones. "But the question remains how are they still alive and more importantly still so young"? Hera questioned out loud. "Well I guess we'll find out when we talk to this general Skywalker". Kannan told them. They all were quiet at the thought of meeting this general who was a legend in the clone wars. That is until Zeb brought up an interesting question.
"So what do we do with the kid"? Zeb asked them. They all looked at each other until Kannan said to them "I was thinking Ezra could join us". Everyone looked at Kannan in surprise. "You can't be serious Kannan"!? Zeb asked him incredulously. "No I'm not". Kannan stated. "Care to tell us why we should let him join our crew"? Hera asked him. "He's force sensitive like me and maybe I can help teach him to become a jedi and learn the ways of the force, plus we don't want the empire getting their hands on him or trying to kill". Kannan told them. The more the crew thought about it the more it made sense, and as far they knew Ezra was all alone and like them he had lost his loved ones to the Empire. They all nodded in agreement and then while they went back to what they were doing on the Ghost Kannan went to go talk to Ezra.
Meanwhile, Ezra was examining the lightsaber that he took from Kannan in his hand when he then got that feeling again, the same feeling he's been getting all day when he was around Kannan. "What's the force?" He asked, turning around to see Kanan. Kanan stepped inside "The force is everywhere. It surrounds us and penetrates us. It binds the galaxy together. And it's strong with you, Ezra. Otherwise, you'd never been able to open the Holocron". Ezra turned to face him "So, what do you want?" He asked.
Kanan walked forward towards him and placed a hand on his shoulder "To offer you a choice. We can take you back to your home and you can keep the lightsaber you stole, let it become just another dusty souvenir that you've collected. Or you can give it back and come with us, come with me and be trained in the ways of the Force. You can learn what it truly means to be a Jedi". Ezra thought about it for a moment thinking back to what his life was like before he met the ghost crew, now it felt like a better choice to be with good people that actually cared about him rather than foraging around like a rat. Looking up at Kannan and gave him back his lightsaber.
While this was happening on the Ghost back on the Havoc Marauder the Bad Batch was communicating with Anakin Skywalker on the Resolute. "I'm just glad that you were able to convince the ghost crew to come and talk with us". Anakin told Hunter and the Bad Batch on the Havoc Marauder. "Heh I wouldn't get too excited general, I'm pretty sure that they're still a little cautious about us asking them to come with us". Hunter said to Anakin. "Well I don't blame them, I mean the way you do things and how your armor looks it really doesn't scream friendly". Anakin told him jokingly. "But I also understand where you're going with this Hunter but I want you to remember that we're from a different reality and that the events that happened after the clone wars never even happened or took place". Hunter nodded just before Tech said to them. "We will be arriving soon general". Anakin nodded and said to Hunter. "See you on the Resolute".
Hunter nodded as Tech pulled down a lever as both Ghost and Havoc Marauder exited out of hyperspace. For the Ghost crew it was a shock to see an old republic cruiser still operational and still looked as good as new. "Well I've got to say that is a beautiful piece of work". Sabine said to herself greatly impressed. "I've got to admit it's great to see an old republic cruiser but the question still remains how is the old republic still alive and working"? Hera questioned. "I guess we're about to find out". Kannan said as the Ghost crew docked in the Resolute hannager alongside the Bad batch. "Alright let's go meet this general Skywalker". Hera stated to the crew as exited out of the ghost. As soon as the Ghost crew stepped out of the Ghost they were met with a sight of four groups of the 501st clone troopers with what looked like a mixture between phase one and two with Captain Rex standing in front of them.
Rex smiles at them only before turning back to the four groups of clone toppers and shouts at them. "501st, attention"! As he shouts As one, all four groups pivot on their feet and stand straight upright, turning so that they're facing towards the middle in two rows and raising all of their right hands in salute. The Ghost crew were shocked to see this much respect shown to them by soldiers that they didn't even know but were honored all the same. Kannan, while nervous, was happy to see that these clones were different from the ones he had fought with during the clone wars. "You must be Kannan Jarrus, leader of the Ghost crew". Rex asked Kannan, Kannan nodded. "I am Captain Rex, leader of the 501st and general Skywalker's second in command". Rex introduced himself while shaking Kannan's hand. "Well now that you are here let me take you to the general so that we can explain who we are". The crew nodded as they walked alongside Rex and the Bad Batch to the bridge of the Resolute.
While they were walking they saw clones who were going about their business and gave them salutes as they passed by. "Not that I'm complaining but I need to ask something why are the clones giving us salutes". Sabine asked Rex as they entered the gravlift. "They're saluting you because when the general informed us of where we were he also told us about the rebels known as the Ghost crew and what they were doing to fight against the empire, that's why they're saluting you guys because they have a lot of respect from what they have heard from you guys". Rex told them. After hearing what Rex had said to them the Ghost crew was taken aback by this because they had never been honored in such a way.
When Rex, The Bad Batch and the Ghost crew exited the gravlift to the bridge of the Resolute they saw two men who were waiting for them. One was wearing an old Republic admiral uniform and the other was wearing a Jedi knight uniform. "I'm guessing that you're General Skywalker". Kannan asked Anakin while shaking his robotic hands. "Yes I am, and on behalf of the republic it's an honor to meet you Kannan Jarrus". Anakin said to him. "Now If you will follow me, the Bad Batch, Rex, and I will answer all of your questions as best as we can". The Ghost crew all nodded and followed him to the war table. "So what do you want to know first"? Anakin asked. " how is the republic even still alive because the last I checked republic doesn't exist anymore thanks to Emperor Palpatine, and how is it that these clones look different from the ones in the clone wars"? Kanaan asked them. Anakin looked at Tech who nodded and pulled up his hollow pad typing a few keys. "The reason why The Republic still exists and why the clone troopers look different in their armor is because we come from another reality where the Empire never rose and the clone troopers never obeyed order 66". Tech answered them.
When Tech told them this all of their jaws literally hit the floor. "So you mean to tell us that there is an alternate reality like ours only that the republic is still alive"?! Hera asked incredulously. "That's basically correct". Hunter stated matter-of-factly. "But how were you able to avoid all those events from ever even happening in the first place"? Sabin questioned them. "Allow me to explain". Anakin told them. He went into full details telling the ghost crew about why and how he married Padme, meeting the force wielders on mortise, and finally the confrontation between him and Palpatine. "So you mean to tell us that you were able to stop Palpatine who was actually the emperor the whole time in the clone wars from creating the empire in the first place". Zeb asked in awe. "That basically sums it up". Anakin told him. The entire ghost crew, kannan included, were shocked at what Aniken had told them and held a great deep sympathy for him because of how and why he lost his mother and why he married Padme.
"But the question remains how did you arrive in our reality in the first place"? Hera ask them. Tech then typed up a few keys showing them the Resolutes hyperdrive. " The reason why we arrived in this reality is because our hyperdrive which was newly installed by the republic was overloaded with so much FTL energy that it caused it to malfunction and send us into this reality. The ghost crew nodded until Ezra brought up a very important question. "Will you be freeing my home planet Lothal"? Anakin looked at Ezra and said to him. " We haven't fully decided to go to war against the Galactic Empire but once we return to our reality and notify the Jedi order and the republic on what has transpired I'm sure that they will declare war on the Galactic Empire and help free all of the planets under imperial rule once again. Everyone nodded at that mentally staying in relief knowing that they will finally have the back up they need to bring down the Empire. Just then a clone officer walked into the war table room where Anakin, Rex, The bad batch and the ghost crew were occupying and said to Anakin. "General we have detected 4 to 5 imperial star destroyers coming out of hyperspace. I would suggest that we head back to our reality". Anakin nodded and turned two the Ghost crew and said to them." I think it would be best if you come with us to tell both the republic and the Jedi order of what you know about the Empire and its weaknesses that we can exploit". The Ghost crew nodded and went with Anakin, Rex, and the Bad batch to the bridge. Once they arrived Anakin said to admiral Yularen. "Admiral initiate the hyperdrive and head into hyperspace". Yularen nodded and ordered all clone officers to initiate the hyperdrive. "You all might want to hang onto something". Anakin told the ghost crew as the Bad Batch and Rex buckled down into whatever seat they could find just before the blue/Green lights appeared as the resolute and all of its crew went into hyperspace and back into the alternate universe of the Republic.