Chapter 47 - Zygerria

Author's Note: A familiar face shows up... ;)

Thank you, loldelegate! :)

~ Amina Gila

"No sign of the colonists," Obi-Wan observes, as they cut through the last of the droids in strangely silent Kiros village. "Commander, secure the area."

"Yes, sir!" Cody says, turning to give orders to the others.

"Perhaps the Separatists did something with them," Ahsoka points out, scowling. "Though I would have expected them to use them as shields not... disappear with them."

"Maybe something else is going on," Anakin suggests quietly.

"Massacring them would be pointless," Obi-Wan points out. The Separatists might be brutal, but that would give them absolutely nothing.

They don't have to wait long before Cody comes back. "The perimeter is secured, sir, but the Separatist commander has barricaded himself inside the tower. He sent a message for you." Cody withdraws a comm, displaying the hologram of a... Zygerrian?

That's unusual. They've haven't seen any Separatist commanders of that species, that Obi-Wan recalls. "Master Kenobi, come to the tower," he says, tone clipped and... sinister, somehow, "We will negotiate terms for surrender."

Seriously?

He's planning to surrender just like that?

"That was easy," Obi-Wan replies, dryly.

The Force suddenly coils around the comm, and it's yanked to Ahsoka's hand. She crushes it, eyes burning with anger. It isn't until then that he notices Anakin also seems... upset? He always gets touchy about these things, but Obi-Wan has never seen it this strong before.

"Zygerrian scum," Ahsoka spits, "We aren't making any deals with the likes of them."

Of course, he shouldn't be surprised, given her past, when Zygerrians are very often slavers. But especially considering her emotional involvement in the situation, Obi-Wan can't let her do this. "He asked for me, Ahsoka," he replies, "Your job is to locate the Togruta colonists."

"Then let me go with you," Anakin asks, standing. He's leaning slightly against the structure he was beside, and somehow, Obi-Wan thinks it's to cover the slight tremor running through him. He's obviously upset about something, though Obi-Wan doesn't know what.

"I believe you would be of more help to Ahsoka here," he points out.

"I know what these people are capable of," Anakin argues – he does? – "I don't want you to go there alone."

This is... somehow a very strange attitude, from his padawan. Obi-Wan feels like he's missing something big. "He said he was going to surrender."

"He said he would address surrender terms," Ahsoka counters, "He never said he was going to do it."

"He couldn't seriously expect that we were going to, when we have him surrounded," Obi-wan replies, flatly.

"Yes, he could," Anakin argues, "They're slavers. They always have back-up plans. They'd level the whole city, kill all the inhabitants, or worse, if they wanted to."

Truly, Obi-Wan can't make sense of it, but he already knows it's what has to be done. "Then you need to find the colonists first. Stay here. I will determine the situation and tell you what I find." Neither of them are happy, but there's not time to debate about it. They need to move.

**w**

Obi-Wan will admit the relatively pointless fight with that Zygerrian was satisfying, though he would have preferred if he hadn't had to intentionally drag it out so long by pretending he was losing. But it's predictable enough that the moment he pulls his lightsaber on him, the Zygerrian throws a bomb at him and runs for it.

"Ahsoka! Anakin!" he calls urgently, through his comm, "D'Nar is making his escape from the tower."

"We're on it," Ahsoka replies, and Obi-Wan takes off in pursuit as well.

He's only made it halfway to the landing platform when the two fly past almost literally on walkers. Anakin and Ahsoka jump off, lightsabers drawn, cornering the Zygerrian. It doesn't take long to restrain him with all three of them there.

Ahsoka still looks furious, unsurprisingly, and Anakin himself is visibly struggling with barely restrained rage.

"Are you alright?" Obi-Wan asks him finally as they start heading back to the clones.

Anakin sighs. "I'm fine, Master." Except Obi-Wan knows him well enough to know that's a lie.

"What's wrong?" he repeats. Anakin is passionate, yes, but never is he this emotionally driven on missions. It just... doesn't happen. It rarely happens, and Obi-Wan cannot think of a reason for it to be happening now.

"I..." He hesitates. "I have had experiences with Zyggerians in the past."

Obi-Wan would know if that was true. "... before you came to the Temple?" he asks finally.

Anakin looks away, unable to meet his gaze, and nods slightly.

Ahsoka herself stops and looks at Anakin almost knowingly, though visibly surprised. "You never told me."

"It didn't matter. It was years ago."

Except clearly, it does, in fact, still matter to him, or he wouldn't be so upset about it. Obi-Wan refrains from pointing it out, anyway. "The Jedi found you when you were... with the Zygerrians?"

"I was on Zygerria, actually," Anakin answers quietly.

Suddenly, all his similarities to Ahsoka make so much sense, and it feels like Obi-Wan is looking at his second padawan for the very first time. Thought to be fair, Ahsoka's expression right now very much mirrors how Obi-Wan himself feels. "I... didn't know that," he offers lamely.

"Of course not," Anakin waves it off, "No one does. I don't talk about it. It's not important."

"It does matter," Ahsoka objects, "I know that isn't something you can simply forget. I never could."

"It was different for you," Anakin argues, "I was only there for five years. You were there for nine. I don't remember much of it anymore." Somehow, Obi-Wan doesn't think that's true, but for now, he refrains from calling him out on it. If... Anakin wanted to talk about it, he could have countless times already. It's perfectly obvious that he doesn't. "What will we do now?" Anakin inquires instead, changing the topic, "About... the colonists?"

"Likely, they were already taken to Zygerria. We'll have to go there to see if we can track them down," Obi-Wan replies.

"D'Nar said they were trying to bring back to the Zygerrian Empire," Ahsoka says, bitterly, "We have to do more than find the colonists. We can't let that happen."

"We won't," Obi-Wan assures, "But first, we must report to the Council. This is a delicate situation, and they will decide our next course of action."

From the dark look in Ahsoka's eyes, he has the feeling she disagrees, and that she's already planning... something. That's not good. Best they get going before she can get too many ideas.

**w**

Truthfully, Ahsoka has never wanted to obliterate an entire planet more in her entire life. She didn't even know it was possible, but here she is. And she knows, already, what she has to do, per usual, even if the Council refuses to let her. All she needs is Palpatine's help and... maybe Kitster's.

"Troubling is the return of the Zygerrians," Yoda murmurs, when they finish updating the Council on what happened.

"It is likely they mean to use Dooku to rebuild their slaver empire," says Mundi. Which reminds Ahsoka of the deal she was having with Dooku. She cannot believe he would stoop to a level like this. She needs to have some serious words with him the next time she has the chance. This is one thing she will not tolerate.

"We cannot allow that, Master," Ahsoka asserts, determinedly.

"Agree, I do, but find the colonists you must," Yoda replies, "In grave danger, they are."

She already knows that. It was perfectly obvious – of course, they are. They were captured by slavers. "If the Zygerrians know we're coming ahead of time, they'll be prepared. We have to deal with them all at once."

"That would be a massive operation," Mundi cautions, "Not one that we have the resources for right now."

Ahsoka feels her anger swell instantly; she can't help it. "We can't always use that as an excuse not to help people who need us, especially not when this opportunity presents itself."

"Understand, we do," Master Yoda replies, "But with caution, we must proceed. A dangerous path, this is."

"Leaving these slavers to fight against us would be a greater danger for everyone," she argues, refusing to back down.

There's a long pause of silence. "Perhaps if we had the resources to divert to this, we would authorize a full-scale invasion," Mundi replies. "But with the war progressing, we cannot afford to send a larger force to what is not an immediate threat."

"If we divert resources to this now, it will give us an opportunity," Ahsoka insists stubbornly, "If we do this, more systems will stay to our cause."

"You're talking about the use of fear, Ahsoka," Obi-Wan objects, "That is not the Jedi way."

Her eyes instantly snap to him, temper flaring, but she tries not to let it out now. "This isn't about fear. It's justice. These people need our help. I refuse to let any of these people end in chains. Not like me. And so many of them are of age. I always knew what would have eventually happened to me once I was older, but Qui-Gon and you saved me from that. I will not let anyone else end up that way if I can do anything against it. Now the Zygerrians have given us a reason to save every enslaved person there. We cannot pass up on this chance. Not now." Even if it means going against orders, it's what she's going to do. She doesn't have a choice – not on this.

The Council members exchange glances. "We understand, Ahsoka," Plo assures her, "You can free whoever you are able to while you are there, but a planet-wide invasion would require massive resources."

"You're letting your emotions cloud your judgement," Mundi objects.

Ahsoka clenches her jaw. "If we won't help the people who need us, what are we fighting for?"

"If are to send any more resources to assist, we will have to consider this further," decides Obi-Wan, and they dismiss her at that.

But she has no intention of waiting. She doesn't need only the Republic's resources for this.

Heading to where she keeps her personal, completely private, comm, Ahsoka calls Kitster. "Can you talk now? It's important."

It's been so long since she last saw him, even over hologram, but she doesn't have time to dwell on the emotions of the moment right now. "I can. What's happening?" Kitster queries.

"The Zygerrians are trying to rebuild their Empire. We're going to invade, but if you aren't tied up anywhere, I could use all the help I can get."

He blinks, eyes widening. "The Republic is invading?"

"Well... they haven't agreed yet, but I'll take the 501st there, even if they don't send more resources. I'm confident Palpatine will agree to send me something." Even if the Council doesn't. Though convincing the Chancellor to let her start a planet-wide invasion might be a bit tricky.

"This is short notice, but I'll get everyone ready that I can," Kitster promises, fiercely, "When do you need us?" She can see the determination burning in his eyes. Why can't the Council react the same way? Why do people have to live in corruption before it begins to bother them?

"... Just get ready as fast as possible. I'll let you know."

Now, time to make a call to Ventress.

**w**

Palpatine has, admittedly, begun second-guessing his decision to take Ahsoka Tano as his future Sith apprentice for a while now, and he finds himself doing so again when she contacts him and explains the details of Zygerria. She has her usefulness, to be sure, but he fears how rash she may be as a Sith.

She has very little respect for authority and often doesn't look at the bigger picture. That is not what he needs in his apprentice. Keeping most of his efforts focused on Anakin is definitely the wiser move. The boy is... far easier to manipulate, in many ways.

"I know this is short notice and the Republic has many other fronts to be fighting on, but I can't just let this opportunity go," she's insisting. She's expecting him to agree as he nearly always does, but that isn't something he'll always be able to... indulge her with in the future.

But right now, perhaps invading Zygerria would be in their best interests. The system chose to side with the Separatists, and it will be a clear sign to the those who oppose the Republic what can happen. It will be an effective reminder once the Empire is formed. Going ahead with this will have it's uses. "I will see what forces we have that are immediately available," Palpatine replies.

"Thank you, Your Excellency," Ahsoka replies, gratitude clear in her voice, "And... I know the Malevolence will be of great use as well."

He had planned for Zygerria to be a tool in the future Empire, but perhaps there is benefit to this as well. If Zygerria is destroyed for siding with the Separatists, it will make many more systems too afraid to resist Republic control.

"Tarkin will be notified of this," he tells her. "He will arrive as soon as possible." Tarkin, he already knows, will be in full support of the mission.

**w**

The Council is not impressed with this, even if they reluctantly give her the go-ahead for the mission. She got several other cruisers to help the 501st and what they have of the 212th barricade the planet, and along with the help of the Malevolence, that should be enough.

She gives Tarkin strict orders against using the biological disintegrator, even if she'll admit she's... almost inclined to say it would be very useful once all the slaves are cleared out.

Some Zygerrian ships immediately move to intercept them, but they're shot down. They don't stand a chance against the entire Republic fleet. Kitster's forces are here, too, but they're staying out of the way of any fighting. They're here to help with the actual extraction of the slaves, because that's something they're skilled in, especially when many of his fighters are former slaves themselves.

"Prepare to begin landing," Ahsoka orders, with no small measure of satisfaction. She can't believe this moment has finally come.

"We have an incoming transmission from the surface," reports Rex.

"Put it through," Obi-Wan orders. He moves to the front of bridge as a hologram of a Zygerrian flickers to life. From the looks of her fancy way of dressing, she's probably the queen.

"What is the meaning of this blockade?" she demands, sharply. "We are neutral in this conflict."

"I'm afraid we've found out about your little scheme on Kiros," Ahsoka snaps, stepping forwards.

The sudden, sharp flare of fear from Anakin catches Ahsoka's attention, and she throws a sideways glance at him. He's standing out of sight of the transmission, but his expression is strangely tight and closed-off at once.

Did he... know the queen by any chance?

It only makes her angrier. All this time, she had no idea Anakin was a slave like her.

"We have no knowledge of what you speak," she insists, "If there were any of our people involved in something against the Republic, it was as independent agents. You cannot attack our system on those grounds."

"We are well aware of your deals with the Separatists," Obi-Wan replies. Well, it's not entirely true, but it's not really a lie, either.

"And it's hardly a secret that your planet thrives on slavery," Ahsoka adds, steely. "That is something the Republic will no longer tolerate."

"We are not part of Republic space," she snaps, "Your laws do not encompass us. We have powerful allies. Spread the war to our planet, and you will face the consequences."

"Then they will be dealt with, as well," Ahsoka responds, undeterred.

"Surrender now, and perhaps we can negotiate a deal," Obi-Wan interjects.

As if they ever would. (A part of her very much doesn't want them too. She wants to see Zygerria burn.)

"Never," the queen snaps, and the hologram flickers off.

Ahsoka turns away, sparing a momentary glance at Anakin who still seems strangely shaken. It can't be easy for him, but finally being able to free the slaves here should help. "It's time to move in," she orders.

This is a moment she's been waiting for so long. More than anything, she wishes she could officially work with Kitster now. Or maybe... find a way to have him work with her, so some Republic resources can be sent for this purpose. It's freeing to finally be able to this on a massive scale – especially remembering her mother's dead body – and it's more than fitting. These slavers have gotten away with what they're doing long enough.

Fighting their way down to the surface is easy enough. The Zygerrian forces are vastly outnumbered, even if they put a violent fight. Areas across the city are already smoking from the crashed debris as they start landing.

They're simultaneously beginning their assault in all the major cities on planet, and they'll have to move as efficiently as they can because the population here is... large.

Ahsoka heads for the capital with Anakin and Obi-Wan; once that falls, the remaining on-planet resistance will be far easier to overcome.

She's working alongside the clones, though, methodically moving through the streets building by building. They kill all the fighting Zygerrians, while having Kitster's group and Anakin focus on taking the now freed slaves out of the vicinity of the city.

Some of the Zygerrians are fleeing from the area, and she leaves them for now. Right now, they need to keep their focus on the ones who are fighting back.

Going through the entire capital is going to take a long time, but the most important thing they need to do is ensure no slaves are left in the city. The remaining resistance will be dealt with in... other ways.

She has no idea how long it's dragged on, but she's spent much of the time fighting herself. Maybe by the Jedi way, this shouldn't be so satisfying, but she can't find it in herself to feel anything else.

"All slaves appear to be out of the city, ma'am," Rex finally comes to report.

Ahsoka withdraws a pair of macrobinoculars, scanning the already smoking city. Across the area, she can still see scattered fire fights between the slavers and the clones. "Withdraw all our forces to the outskirts."

They won't do this all across the planet, but here, it's time they make a point. She never expressly told any of the others what her plan here was, but she's the one in charge of the operation.

As soon as the troops are withdrawn, she makes a call to Tarkin. "Open fire on the city."

**w**

Anakin is fine with the assault on Zygerria. It's long past time, actually – but he's afraid of what this might lead to. Mostly, he's worried about Ahsoka. But... right now, he can only focus on how this is always what he's wanted to do. He wanted to come here to help everyone, though for some reason, he never thought it would be like this. He never thought what it would feel like destroying an entire civilization. Zygerria has done that to others, true, but still, a tiny part of him questions if this is wrong, anyway. (Or rather, he was alright with it until Ahsoka gave the order to bombard the planet from space. That just seems wrong, even if what the Zygerrians are doing is, too.)

But being back here at the palace makes it hard to care about any of that. This is where he grew up. This is...

He busies himself with the slaves, with trying to settle them in.

Anakin knew he would see her again, but... it somehow never occurred to him how close he was until he sees her. Until he senses the familiar, soft, warm presence right nearby. She looks the same, just... older. "Mom," Anakin breathes, tears immediately stinging his eyes.

Her eyes widen slight, shock washing over her features. "Ani?" It's been years – she shouldn't be able to recognize him, but she does. Of course, she does.

She looks the same, except maybe older and... sadder.

"I came back," Anakin says, hands twitching, "I promised I would come back." It's been eleven years since they saw each other, eleven years throughout which he often found himself wondering if he would see her again.

"My grown-up son," she murmurs, and all shreds of self-control are snapped. He's not sure who moved forwards first, but he's wrapped firmly in her arms a moment later, tightly clinging to her. It's like coming home. It is coming home. After everything Shmi did for him, Anakin should've come back here a long time ago.

In this moment, at least, everything else slips away. His worry about Ahsoka, about the war, everything.

"Have they taken care of you?" Shmi asks him.

Instantly, Anakin finds himself thinking about how he helped with the building stages of the Malevolence. "Far more than I'm worth."

"Don't say that," she replies firmly, fiercely, "You are worth everything."

He shakes his head, tears burning his eyes. "I left you, Mom. I went to live in the most luxurious place in the galaxy, and you had to stay here."

"Our paths were separate, Ani," she replies softly, with the same gentleness that Anakin remembers so strongly, that he has missed so much, "My place was here, and yours was beyond. You were meant to be free."

It's been long enough that they shouldn't have a way of knowing each other as well as they do, but still, it feels like they do. Or maybe it's just that Shmi understands him better than anyone else ever could. "I wanted to come back all this time. I just – didn't know how. And even now, we didn't come here for you." They should have. Anakin, at least, should have, but no. Zygerria would have been ignored entirely if not for the Togruta colonists that were taken. It's wrong. It's so very wrong – and he understands why Ahsoka was so angry. He is, too.

That doesn't mean he can... it needs to be done, to stamp out these people, but it worries him to see how brutal Ahsoka is. She has no mercy. She never really has. It... reminds him of Mortis when Ahsoka Fell. He needs to ask someone about that, to talk to someone about how afraid he is that Ahsoka is losing her way, but there's no one he could talk to.

"You came here now," Shmi assures, "That's what counts."

It certainly doesn't feel like it, but hearing her say it is easing something in him.

"My master – teacher is here," Anakin hastily corrects, so his mother won't get confused on what he means. "I can take you to meet him."

She nods her agreement, giving him a warm smile. He's missed this so much; he doesn't want to think about how this won't be able to last long. They'll be going separate ways as soon as the mission is over.

It's easy to find Obi-Wan. He's overseeing escorting the remaining slaves to an area outside of the city for now. Though now, Anakin suddenly feels inexplicably nervous. He has no idea how to even go about this. "She's my mother," he finally settles for blurting out.

Surprise flickers across his master's face. "I didn't know she was still here."

"I didn't either," Anakin tells him, "I wasn't certain she would still be here." And he wasn't. It's so, so easy for slaves to get sold all across the galaxy. Families are always torn apart. As it was, he and his mother were fortunate to have stayed together so long. Many others can't even have that.

"Thank you for taking care of my son," Shmi tells him, and Obi-Wan seems momentarily unsure how to respond.

"Of course," he says, finally. "He is my padawan."

Shmi nods. "Still, the Jedi have cared for him far better than I could have, had he remained here."

Anakin shifts uncomfortably. He already knows the kinds of things that probably would have happened if he stayed. (The kinds of things that have probably happened to his mother, and he doesn't want to think about it.)

"You will be provided with somewhere to live off of Zygerria, when our campaign is over," Obi-Wan tells her, changing the topic, whether because he noticed Anakin's discomfort or because it was making him feel that way, too, Anakin's not sure.

"As a war refugee?" Anakin asks, a little unhappily. There's so many of them now, it's becoming increasingly hard for the Republic systems to keep providing for them, from the little he's heard from Padme. And he wants his mother to have something better than she has now, not... just that. (He also wishes he could stay in contact with her, even if he knows that's impossible.)

"Likely," Obi-Wan agrees, "This was not something we planned for in detail before coming here." He sounds slightly disapproving at the end, not as though that's a surprise. Anakin knows Obi-Wan had his questions about the mission, even if he agreed with the intention.

"Wherever we go, it will be better than here," Shmi replies, with certainty.

Anakin winces. "I'll make sure it's somewhere good, Mom," he promises. And however he can, he'll make sure he can keep that promise.

Final Notes: If you want to join our Discord to receive updates or just hang out, here's the invite link, and please delete the spaces! :) discord . gg / nqSxuz2

You can find us on tumblr at fanfictasia (which is our more serious blog which does have controversial posts on it; I won't be offended if you choose to block it, promise), and disastertriowriting (which is our fun blog with crack posts or incorrect SW quotes; we also advertise our SW gift exchanges on there)

And! We have a YT channel for tributes! Please delete the spaces in the link. :D youtube channel / UC_g1M5rSCxJUzQCRS29B6pA

Finally, if you're interested, you can submit a SW gift fic request via the following form (delete the spaces): forms . gle / rmXWtRomMMaULuPa6