KINGDOM HEARTS REMAKE

by Spiderfan626

Destiny should never be left to chance. Now, it will no longer be... With the Whispers gone, it affects not only the lives of those who slayed them but everyone else in existence... Everyone... Everywhere... On EVERY world... Including a young boy on a small island, who's been having...these weird thoughts lately... (A continuation/Remake a crossover by KenobiTanoSkywalker)

4. Prologue, Part 4:Divide Across The Stars

I don't own Kingdom Hearts or any of the properties in this story. They respectfully belong to Disney and Square Enix. Not to many changes in here, minor some edits, but this chapter was filled with Star Wars goodness. Before anyone is wondering, this chapter takes place during Season 7 of the Clone Wars, right before events of final four episodes, same time period as Revenge of the Sith. So, let's reply to the review and we can dive into the chapter...

Monkey D. Conan: He'll pull through, he always does... now, Marvel just needs to remember that for his latest Amazing Spider-Man run. Definitely the Clone Wars, and one of the ships is definitely SpiderQueen. We're also sticking with Sokai with this. It's OTP. Although, I'm not saying Sora X Ashoka it's bad pairing, it's most certainly better than the original plan with Ashoka and Anna. Right now, other pairings that come to mind is Cloud X Tifa and Anakin X Padmè; any others are debatable at the moment. And is up for discussion.

Okay, with that out of the way, let's begin the next part of the prologue. Enjoy!

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Prologue Part 4: A Divide Across The Stars

Anakin Skywalker didn't know if any of this was real, or not…

People don't come back from the dead. Anakin knows that. He's known from the moment that he was told that Master Jinn died at the hands of a Sith, he's known the moment he cried himself to sleep as a Youngling after finally giving up on praying and wishing that his mother was alive, he knew from the many, many men that have died under his command. Even though the Force makes many things possible, bringing the dead back to life wasn't one of them, and he's learned this lesson the hard way many times in his life. That's why he strives to be the best Jedi that has ever been, and he knows he can be because he knows how powerful he is, and he's barely tapped into all of his own potential. He wants to be great not because of his pride, like many of his peers in the Jedi Order believe, but because he's just tired of people dying. This war has torn many people apart, killed millions across hundreds of planets, left millions more suffering and starving, not to mention rampant increases in crime, bounty hunters, and….slavery. Being so attuned to the Living Force means that he can feel things more acutely than normal Jedi, and it means he's constantly feeling pain, sadness, and life slipping away from his fingers; he's just learned to get used to it. Anakin wants to save the galaxy, and he knows he can because, as the Jedi Council have so CLEARLY stated time and time again, he is the Chosen One that will bring balance to the Force. But how can he bring balance when the galaxy right now has never been in more chaos than it is in right now?

Anakin Skywalker knows people don't come back from the dead. That's why it was so jarring to see Echo, a man thought dead, was standing there proudly with Clone Force 99, saluting with his artificial hand, looking very much alive.

Echo was—is a good soldier. He was one of the two survivors from the attack on Rishi Station so many years ago (the other was Fives, and the moment Anakin saw the blaster bolt go straight through his chest, he knew he wasn't coming back, either). While Fives was the playful, cheery, and sometimes more reckless of the two, Echo is more solemn, more informed, always taking the time to read up battle strategies and making plans for backup plans. They got along very well with each other in the 501st, and the men welcomed them with open arms. Anakin was proud to see them become ARC's, seeing how they more than earned that right to stand tall amongst his men and…Ahsoka. He remembers the many missions they've had together, from Felucia to Geonosis to Scipio, to—

The Citadel. He remembers it all too clearly. They were sent on a mission to rescue Tarkin from the super prison, but were cut off by a large battalion of droids too big to handle on their own. He remembers Echo telling him that a droid was manning one of the bigger turrets, and in a rare moment of impulsiveness, he ran bravely to a transport ship to try and shoot down the turret. But it was too late. The turret hit and destroyed the shuttle in a fiery blaze, and Echo along with it. He remembers Fives' desperate yell for his brother, and seeing his singed helmet lay on the ground before them. They had to escape and retreat from the attack, so they never had time to see that he was alive, scarred and captured, but alive.

He remembers the aftermath of the mission. He remembers Obi-Wan offering his condolences, telling him that he was a good man. He remembers Ahsoka sitting alone on a crate in the hanger, tired and grief-stricken that another brother, one that was a close friend, was gone. But what really got to Anakin the most was going to Fives' and Echo's shared quarters to try and comfort his grieving friend, only to find Captain Rex beating him to it, holding a teary-eyed and distraught Fives on the floor, begging the Force to bring him back, while Rex held back tears of his own. It was a moment where it really struck to Anakin that despite the bonds one makes, despite how much you care, and despite how much you never think that someone can perish, no one is safe, not even the one's closest to you.

After that moment, Anakin's life only got much harder. It started with Umbara, a moment that still makes him burn in rage to this day. Had he known what that kriffer Krell would have done, he and his men would have never gone to aid him that day, and left him to be overrun by the natives. Rex gave him every cruel detail of what happened privately after the official report was filed to the Council, and Anakin's heart cracked and shattered at what he and his men went through, and it only made him more resentful of how the Council would've known about a fallen Master, and not do anything about it. Obi-Wan suffered as well, as his 212th battalion was also caught in the fight, and he lost a good soldier in Waxer. However, he and Anakin were on thin ice due to what would happen shortly after that traumatic event…

…by pulling another traumatic event of his own, and making Anakin the target. He FAKED his own death to sell the reaction of the young knight, and had to watch helplessly, in shock, sorrow, and pain, as his innocent Padawan cradled the seemingly lifeless body of the man who raised, trained, and cared for him ever since he left his homeworld. He mourned him at his "funeral," he made promises to avenge him, and he was so CLOSE to killing the sick man, the sack of poodoo who had the GALL to—

Only it wasn't him. It was Obi-Wan himself, sent by the Council to take the place of the assassin and stop an assassination attempt on Chancellor Palpatine headed by Cad Bane and his lackeys. The deception stung Anakin right in the heart, like everything he ever knew and believed about Obi-Wan, being a compassionate and caring Jedi, just got thrown out the window. He betted on him reacting on his emotions like he always does, like it was some kind of GAME to him. He blamed him and the Council once again for not only using him, but also not trusting him to know about the ruse, and stormed off. He didn't speak to him for quite some time, and although their working relationship has somewhat healed, their personal one was still on thin ice…

…and it kept getting worse. After that, a Temple bombing that killed Jedi and Republic personnel alike led them on a wild goose chase that somehow made the Council believe that Ahsoka Tano, his Padawan, his kriffing SISTER, was the perpetrator. Anakin argued ferociously, making the case for how ridiculous it sounded that she would be involved, but the Council, including Obi-Wan, would have none of it, and sentenced her to prison and revoked her rights as a member of the Jedi Order. She escaped prison to find out the real criminal, and honestly Anakin could never blame her. Had their positions been switched, he would have done the same thing, but it would have been best for her to remain there so HE could be the one to find out the real killer for her. It didn't work out, as Ahsoka was captured once again and framed for more murder, and was almost sentenced to death until Anakin, through his own detective work and excessive force, brought forth the true mastermind of Barriss Offee and made her how and why she did it. Ahsoka's charges were dropped and it felt like maybe, MAYBE, things were going to go back to normal and she would return to him, and they can rebuild and heal. But the trauma of the Council and Jedi turning their backs on her so easily, including Obi-Wan and Plo, and almost being sent to die, followed by that MOTHERKRIFFER Mace Windu making a comment on how everything that transpired was the "will of the Force" and a challenge for her, forced Ahsoka to leave. Anakin begged her to stay, but she couldn't stay here when no one trusted her and her faith was shaken, so Anakin just…watched her walk away. He knew, he understood why she left, and he had no right to blame her, but it still felt like she left him behind, and he couldn't do anything about it. Like…something whispering in his ear that he shouldn't follow…

…and to top off his miserable life, he and his secret wife, the OTHER source of stress of trying to hide an illegal marriage to a prominent and beautiful Senator, almost separated by means of the Sith-aligned scum and Padme's old flame, Rush Clovis, trying to both use her to take over the Banking Clan and the Republic's finances for Dooku, AND take her from him. Anakin's rage was so great when he saw Rush try to kiss his wife, HIS WIFE, that he nearly beat him to death. Padme was so terrified at this display of violence that she nearly called of their marriage, saying that it was too much to hide and how she doesn't feel safe with him anymore. It took Anakin's already traumatized and scarred heart and just ripped in half. Luckily, THANKFULLY, he and Padme reconciled after that, but the tension still remained.

And that was where Anakin was up until a few days ago, just a man going through one tragedy after another, one betrayal and desertion and him taking it as best he possibly can, or not take it well at all. However, these past few days finally gave him something he so desperately needed:

Hope.

The campaign on Annaxes had taken a turn for the worse, with the Separatists capturing the Republic's main fleet manufacturing plant there. The move came as a surprise to Anakin and the others, as the droids aren't exactly the most cunning and creative force that's ever graced the galaxy, and yet with this move, and many others recently, they've achieved victory after victory at the cost of Republic lives and credits. Rex had a theory as to why this was the case, that maybe there was a mole giving the clankers inside information on Republic battle tactics and strategies, but he needed proof. Anakin agreed, and with his help, along with Commander Cody and Clone Force 99, aka the "Bad Batch," they were able to infiltrate a tech center to isolate messages that were being transmitted on Separatist lines. One of those transmissions actually spoke to the men there, identifying himself as…

Echo.

Rex may have been the only other person besides Anakin that got extremely emotional at the prospect of their old friend returning to them, and one trip to Skakko Minor later, they freed the man himself. Anakin would have wept if they weren't deep behind enemy lines. Seeing Echo again after so long, seeing a good man come back to him, was exactly what Anakin needed in his life at that moment. Echo coming back didn't just mean that he's safe, even though Anakin was extremely grateful for that, but it represented a light at the end of the tunnel of his dark life, like finally being able to breathe again.

It was sad to see him leave after just having him back, but he understood that Echo needed to find his way again, to find a new path now that he was free, and the Bad Batch promised to look after him. Anakin and Rex held them to that promise. Seeing Echo leave reminded him of Ahsoka leaving, but there was a different emotion here now. Ahsoka leaving felt like a part of his very soul left him, never to return, but here, it felt like closure, setting something to rest that was never fixed, and feeling satisfied at the outcome. Anakin hoped that if Ahsoka ever left, he would have had that same emotion, probably with her becoming a Knight like he knew she deserved to be and going off on her own. That obviously wasn't the case, however, and now Anakin was left wondering what his next move should be, what this new high should lead him to do…

"General?" Rex asked next to him, seeing his Jedi in a stupor. Anakin shook it off to address his captain.

"Oh, it's nothing, Rex. Just…thinking." He said. Rex hummed in response. "We rescue Echo only a short while ago, and then he ups and leaves us." He joked.

"That's Echo for you, always going off on his own. I'm happy for him. I hope he makes friends with the Batch. He needs…friends…" Rex said sadly, looking off to the distance. Anakin understood what he meant, but needed to know…

"Rex, before Echo left…did you….tell him about…?" Anakin began to ask, but Rex beat him to it.

"Yes and no. I told him Fives passed away, with honor….but I didn't tell him how." Rex admitted guiltily. Anakin looked a little surprised.

"You don't think it would have been better to be honest with him? Fives and Echo were close…"

"Sir, we just got Echo back. It's bad enough to tell him that Fives is gone, but to know that he was gunned down by his own brothers, after being framed and driven mad? I couldn't do that to him…" Rex said, looking at Anakin. "Could you?"

Anakin thought long and hard on that decision, whether to be honest with his friends or relieve them of any burdens they don't need to know, but before he can give an answer, Jesse ran up to them. "Sir, sorry to interrupt, but General Kenobi wants to see you!"

Anakin sighed. "Yeah, that's about right. Leave us to have an emotional moment, then Obi-Wan interrupts." He said fondly, like thinking of a far-off memory. He turned back to Jesse. "Let's go see what the old coot needs." He said sarcastically. He really does care for Obi-Wan, more so than any other Jedi in the Order, but he just wishes for once, he'd act like he cares back the same way. Anakin knows that deep down, Obi-Wan sees him as family, but he's too strung up by the Code to ever admit it, while Anakin has never shied away from expressing his true feelings, Code be damned, and that was the main difference between the two. It's also the big reason why he's never confided with the older man his marriage to Padme. He likes to think that maybe, just maybe, Obi-Wan understands through his own relationship with the late Duchess Satine, and he'd let it slide. Still, the more rational part of Anakin knows to not trust a man so close to the Council that sees him as a liability with such damning information. It saddens and frustrates him that they can never see eye to eye because of this, but Anakin has simply resigned himself to this fate, just like he's resigned himself to many other things in his life.

Anakin and Rex walked into the main communication room to find the auburn-haired man looking over supply lists and requisition forms displayed on the holoboard in the center of the room, looking every bit like the Jedi general the media made them out to be.

Speaking of, Anakin REALLY should talk to Padme again and tell her he found Echo. She'd love to hear it.

Obi-Wan turned to his former Padawan and clone captain as he walked up to the board. "Ah, there you are. I take it you saw Echo off?" He asked, hand resting normally on his bearded chin.

"Yeah. I hated seeing him leave so soon after we just got him back, but he wanted to be in a place where he felt like he belonged, and that place led him to the Bad Batch. I hope he'll be happy."

"He will. I know Echo. He can make friends with a wild rancor when he makes an effort. The Batch'll love him!" Rex agreed.

"Good to hear. Captain, can I have a word with Anakin for a moment? While we discuss our next move, you can also catch up with Commander Cody in the medbay. I just heard he's recovered."

"Permission to yell at him for being a reckless bantha, sir?" Rex asked earnestly. Anakin chuckled.

Obi-Wan couldn't hide his amused grin. "Do be gentle, Rex. I still need him to help me run my battalion. Go on ahead." Rex nodded and saluted both men before making it out of the room, leaving the two Jedi and the silent murmur of chatter from the other clones in the room.

"How are you feeling, Anakin? Your Force signature appears absolutely giddy right now."

"I mean, I am. It's just that Echo coming back…it feels like for the first time for me in this war, something…GOOD actually happened, you know? Like…something in my life is feeling good again. I haven't felt like that since…." Anakin stopped, memories flashing in of—

"Ahsoka…" Obi-Wan finished for him. "I understand. Hopefully, it's a sign that maybe we'll have far better luck in the war now that the Separatists don't have Echo to feed them strategies."

Anakin wasn't listening to that part, however. He was still thinking about his missing Padawan, the one that walked away from him. He didn't blame her, never, but still…he misses her.

"Do you think…do you think she's out there, somewhere, thinking about us, Master?" He asked hopefully.

"Well…I'd like to imagine so. I miss her dearly as well…"

"Then why don't we go find her? After we're done fixing everything here, we can go to the lower levels on Coruscant and bring her back with us! She can live on the ship, the clones will take care of her…she must be STARVING down there in that filthy underbelly! Maybe we can—"

Obi-Wan had a conflicted look on her face. "Anakin, I know you miss her, but you must remember that she made her decision to leave on her own accord. We must respect that."

Anakin banged his fist on the board hard, face turning immediately into a scowl. "DID WE GIVE HER A CHOICE?!?" All outside chatter completely vanished at Anakin's outburst. Obi-Wan breathed deeply and just let the younger man let it out. It's usually better to let him finish than interrupt. "The SECOND the Council felt any sort of suspicion, they turned their back on her….including you." Anakin added darkly.

Obi-Wan looked hurt for a brief second, but reverted back to his neutral stance. "I admit, mistakes were made on our part, but Anakin, I was but one voice among many. I did not, nor did I ever believe, that Ahsoka would ever do such a thing. Master Plo felt the same thing, and we both argued in her favor, but we were outvoted on the matter. We tried, Anakin. We really did."

"…you should have tried harder. She would still be here." Anakin said, his mood souring instantly now that the joy of Echo's return had passed, and now he was back to his usual stoic, easily-angered mood. "If I was ever accused of the same thing Ahsoka was, would you stand by, too, as I was convicted to death?" He asked, more honestly than angrily.

Obi-Wan stared at him, not knowing how to respond to such a claim. It was true that Obi-Wan and Anakin were closer than other Jedi, perhaps TOO close for the Code's liking, but they were inseparable, and the best generals the GAR had to offer, so no arguments were made…yet. Even after the Rako Hardeen incident, both men were still working in tandem with each other, earning victories by knowing each other so well. It was near inconceivable for them to ever be against each other, but these past few months have tested both men. Anakin's troubles have been well known, and maybe the only reason that Anakin is even back to normal terms with Obi-Wan is because of how distraught and saddened he was when he heard that Maul killed Satine on Mandalore, and Obi-Wan defied the Council to try and rescue her. Anakin knew that pain of losing someone so dear to his heart, and prayed every day that would never happen to his dear Angel, so he's been trying to mend the wounds of the past with his old master to try and rekindle their friendship, but Ahsoka's departure and Obi-Wan's idleness on the matter have only dampened that idea. Now, Obi-Wan's silence on whether he would save the man that claimed he was his brother from a crime he knows Anakin would never commit was speaking volumes…

"Hmph. Thought as much. If that's all, I'm heading to the barracks." Anakin was about to turn to leave before Obi-Wan stopped him.

"Actually, I did bring you up here for a quick briefing. While you were on Skakko Minor rescuing Echo and stopping Admiral Trench, me and Master Windu were here dealing with the remaining droid forces. After we cleared them out and retook the base, Mace needed to head back to Coruscant to brief the Council. He also wanted me to pass along his congratulations on a job well done to you." He admitted, hoping that would at least brighten Anakin's mood just a little. It did not.

"Couldn't even stay behind to say it himself? Honestly, he probably asked you to do it so he doesn't have try and compliment me to my face. We both know he hates me."

"Anakin, really, that's not true. He just wants you to reach your full potential."

"Well, can he do it without making me feel like I'm worthless? Or maybe he's just doing it because it's some sort of trial for me to pass." He mocked, echoing Mace's harsh words to Ahsoka after the trial was over, and yet another reason as to why she left. If even the people who convicted her couldn't come to terms that they were wrong and blamed it on the Force, why work with them?

Obi-Wan just gave Anakin a look. "In any case, before he left, he gave us another assignment."

"What? Now? We just barely got this place back up and running."

"He knows, and he really didn't want to make us do this now, but the situation on Mygeeto is escalating too quickly."

"Wait…WHAT situation on Mygeeto?"

Obi-Wan used the buttons on the holoboard to wipe away his previous lists and brought up a holographic area of the planet's industrial surface. "Master Mundi and his Galactic Marines have begun their assault on the planet, but the Separatists are putting up a tough resistance. Mundi thinks he can break through and get a solid foothold on the planet to plan attacks and fortify, but he's received word that the droids are planning to cut him off at THIS bridge." Obi-Wan zoomed in on a large bridge that connected from the main city to a section of bunkers and spires. Anakin had to agree that those spires could be good to protect troops and set up camp, and that bridge, if taken, could be a very painful knife in the Separatist's side if Mundi takes it.

"So basically, we help him take the bridge while he's off getting that area taken for his troops, and….that's it?" Anakin asked. This seemed like too easy of a mission, even for them. They both know there's always a catch; they've been doing this for way too long to know that by now, but if there was one, it wasn't showing itself yet, so they couldn't worry about that now.

"That's it. A simple defense and position hold while we clear out the Separatists and let Mundi have a base to commence further attacks. We ship out tomorrow. We should be there within a couple of days, just before the droids should make it to the bridge."

Anakin nodded, knowing that even after a successful mission, they were always on call to do more, because that is a Jedi's duty. Still, it would be nice to take a damn nap for once. Obi-Wan noticed the dreariness in his comrade. "Why don't you go ahead and get some rest, Anakin? I can take over things from here. I'll let you know if you need help."

Anakin snorted. "And how will I know YOU'LL get rest if I'm not around to make sure you do?"

"Anakin, I'll have you know that—"

"Don't you even dare! I was there when you passed out on the floor RIGHT after a Council meeting over the holo on the Negotiator! I had to carry you over my shoulder to your room afterward!"

"…that was different."

"Or do you recall the time where we had to give you anesthesia not because you were sick or injured, but because you just couldn't rest in the medbay? Me, Rex, AND Cody had to hold you down for that!"

"That medbay was filthy—"

"And you do NOT want me to bring up—"

"ALRIGHT! I get the point. I promise I will get the appropriate amount of rest after we check everything."

Anakin shook his head with a smile. On the outside, Obi-Wan was a near perfect Jedi, the shining Knight of the Order that did no wrong and was the example set to many Younglings of the Creche.

But really? He was a caffeinated workaholic that didn't know what "vacation" meant even if it slapped him like a wampa with an iron glove. He made a personal bet that it wouldn't even be sundown before he finds Obi-Wan barely upright somewhere in the maintenance room….AGAIN.

"I can still help right now. Anything you need checked?"

"You sure? I wouldn't want to trouble you…"

"I'm fine. I just need a good walk. Maybe it'll tire me out and give me a goodnight's sleep."

"Hmm, well if that's what it takes…could you go to the armory and check what weapons we have available? We need to be fully prepared for what the Separatists could throw at us."

"Got it. I'll let you know what I find." And with that, Anakin walked out of the room, still a little sour after their little chat about Ahsoka. He knows she's out there, probably feeling alone and cast out on the street. He can't afford to lose anyone else, not again. He will find her soon, he swears it. He just needs to--

Anakin stopped dead in his tracks in the hallway. Jedi have the ability to not only sense emotions, but also the light or darkness of other beings around them. And right now…

Darkness…was everywhere.

Anakin nearly through up at the onslaught of dark filth that ran through the Force. Since Anakin was more gifted in tuning into the Living Force, he feels it more acutely than others. Right now, that was more of a blessing than a curse. What felt odd about this was that this wasn't the typical darkness that he was used to, from Ventress or Dooku, or even from Mortis, however little memories of that place Anakin even had. No, this felt worse, like an infection bleeding out in his mind, and the dark contents oozing out like poison. Anakin had to stand still and recenter himself briefly after that wave. What the kriff was that.

He checked his bond with Obi-Wan, and he could feel that same uneasiness as well.

""Did you feel that?" Anakin asked.

"Yes, I've never felt darkness in that magnitude before, not even from Maul or Dooku. I just checked the perimeter readings…and there's nothing. No intruders, no anomalies, nothing." Obi-Wan informed him.

"That's…odd. Very odd. My head's still spinning from that. We need to figure out what that was, and soon. I don't like what that entails."

"You and me both. Let's check our supplies and then reconvene to discuss our next steps. If we feel that onslaught again, we'll inform the Council and see if they also feel something off."

Anakin had to bite his tongue and tighten his Force bond to hold back how nothing ever gets done with the Council, only arguments and wasted time, but kept it to himself. "Yes, Master. Heading to the barracks now."

"Do be careful, Padawan mine."

"You know me, Master."

Hmph. Yes, I do. DO be careful." And with that, the bond shut down and Anakin was walking a little faster than usual to check supplies and find the source of...WHATEVER that was….

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Ahsoka Tano didn't know if any of this was real, or not.

It's been a whirlwind of a couple of weeks for the young Torgrutan. Not that long ago, she was the Padawan of Anakin Skywalker, the Chosen One, the Hero with No Fear, and the man who became like a big brother to her. She was part of the Jedi Order, a group she THOUGHT was good and pure, and fought to save the galaxy from the tyranny and rebellion of the Confederation of Independent Systems. She had a family consisting of Anakin, her Grandmaster Obi-Wan, Senator Padme (they really thought they were slick, hiding their relationship when they were as subtle as rancors), her brothers of the 501st, and so many others she knew and cared for.

Up until the day she was betrayed and cast aside by almost everyone she knew and cared for.

She was in the wrong place at the wrong time, and despite the evidence on the contrary, despite the years she poured as a faithful member of the Jedi Order and fighting to protect the Republic, she was deemed a traitor, stripped of her rank, and sent to prison. She broke out a little while later to find out who REALLY did this, why someone would pin it on her in the first place, and that trail led to her old frenemy, Ventress. In another time, she would have had a lightsaber to her throat the second she saw the witch, but she needed help, and eventually, that help led to a fight in a warehouse against whom she THOUGHT was Ventress, but it turned out to be…

Ahsoka Tano was rarely scared of anything. Maybe back when she was a Youngling, or even during her first year as a Padawan, but the war beat the fear out of her. She wasn't scared of the Trandoshians that kidnapped her and used her for sport, she wasn't scared of the Death Watch that held her hostage, she wasn't even afraid of Grievous himself, and sparred with him on numerous occasions. Years of fighting, and being under the tutelage of one of the Order's best lightsaber combatants, helped her overcome everything she faced, and came out stronger for it.

Ahsoka Tano was rarely scared, but being so close to being put to death at her trial terrified her.

It wasn't so much her own death that scared her. She knew that being a Jedi meant there was never a guarantee of surviving, especially whilst fighting a war, but it was the WAY that it would have happened. Being completely faithful to an Order who raised you, trained you, guided you, only to have them turn their back on you at the first possible sign of suspicion. She held the tears in as Chancellor Palpatine was about to give the order to put her to death, only for her Master to rush in, as dramatically and fashionably late as he usually does, with the real culprit in hand….

Barriss Offee.

She trusted her. She SAVED her life on Geonosis, and AGAIN on the ship out of there because of those kriffing brain worms. She was her best friend, and one of the few friends she's ever had. She's confided with her on many of her struggles, her secrets, her cares and worries, and she's done the same with Barriss whenever she needed an ear (or lekku) to talk into. She was the one who led Ahsoka to the warehouse, which meant SHE was the one who attacked her with Ventress' sabers. She admitted in front of everyone in attendance, and everyone watching on the Holonet, that she was the one who bombed the Temple. Why? Because she thought that the Jedi had lost their way, that they were corrupted and didn't care about the populace they were trying to save, and tried to bomb it to prove a point. Seeing that as definitive proof of guilt (and Ahsoka thought she saw a look of disappointment on Palpatine's face), the trial was called off and Barriss was sentenced to life in prison.

When she got back to the Council Chambers, she felt numb. Here stood the men and women who basically said that she was unworthy of the mantle of Jedi, who would have sent her to her death if it meant keeping in the graces of the Republic, and they wanted her back like nothing happened. Everyone at the trial was in the room, everyone who convicted her of a crime now proven she never committed…

…all except her Master. Her brother. The man she's grown to admire and never give up in the face of adversity. She had a feeling that while she was in prison and on trial, he was raising hell on Coruscant trying to find the truth, and thankfully, he found it in the nick of time. She remembers seeing his hopeful smile as he held out her Padawan braids, the ones he helped make for her after he accepted her, and felt his Force signature bubbling up with hopeful excitement, like a child getting to see a loved one after so many years. For a moment, a brief one, she considered coming back, having her hand right there to take the braid.

Only for Mas—Mace Windu, known prick, saying that this was all just a test given by the Force to strengthen her resolve, and how the Council never knew about it until now, and…it just clicked. She was walking back into an organization that basically washed its hands of the whole affair and blamed the one thing they practically worshipped and served in order to pass the blame off of them, and suddenly, Ahsoka realized something that she always took for granted until now. The Jedi were supposed to be peacekeepers, independent of all parties in order to save everyone they can, to be compassionate to all. What they've been doing all this time is be generals, fighting and nearly destroying cities against the droid army, and not returning to fix them, like Christopholis, and Ryloth, and so many others. The peacekeeping and mercy missions they've done in the past have stopped in favor of militarizing themselves and strategizing for upcoming battles. The poor, sick, starving, and orphaned masses have blamed the Jedi and the Republic for ignoring them, and now, Ahsoka realizes that maybe there was something to that accusation, given their past actions. She couldn't do this anymore, least of all with the people she couldn't trust, let alone them not trusting her.

That moment of clarity led to the hardest decision of her life: turning her back on Anakin, and her home. She walked out of the room, down the many hallways holding her memories she's made, and nearly walked down the stairs until Anakin stopped her, because of course he would. Anakin cared so much for everyone around him, from Padme to Obi-Wan to the clones, and especially Ahsoka. He pleaded for her to stay, that this was her home. Ahsoka told him that she needed to leave, that she didn't trust both herself or the Order, and that she needed to walk a different path (she also ignored the ominous whispers in her mind that led her to say those things). In the end, she left, tears finally falling as she felt Anakin's heartbroken Force signature behind her.

The Jedi taught her many lessons, but life outside the Order taught her more, even more important ones, ones that the Order never taught. Namely, it was how to live in a society. Ahsoka realized very quick that the Order existed in its own bubble, isolated from the everyday struggles of the various people of the galaxy. While a war raged and left millions destitute, there were many others who had their own struggles. Rising taxes for the war effort, poverty lines a mile wide, people beginning to put the blame on the Order for causing this war or not finishing it (even Ahsoka had to admit that one was far-fetched). She realized that for so long, people on Coruscant, and probably people around the galaxy, have been neglected and put aside when they need help the most. She understood that the Jedi were stretched thin, but that's still not an excuse to leave so many people behind, so since she was no longer attached to the Order, she decided it was time to fix that.

She started finding odd jobs around the city for money. Mechanic work, taught to her by Anakin, crate lifting, package delivery, the occasional mugging she stops on the lower levels (it happens a lot down there. Ahsoka almost can't blame them; the ones at the surface live in luxury, while the millions down below can barely afford a meal). Ahsoka tries to do anything and everything to not only help those around her, but to figure out who she is. Her life was defined by the Jedi, and she still holds on to their beliefs, even if the ones in the Order don't follow them. She wanted to know who Ahsoka Tano the person was, not Ahsoka Tano the Jedi.

That path eventually led her to the Mortez sisters, and a crime ring, and a trip to Kessel and negotiating with the pikes…and seeing a certain former Sith Lord ordering his own criminal organization. It also led her to meeting a woman by the name of Bo-Katan Kryze, a Mandalorian warrior who wanted her home back from Maul, the Sith thought long dead at the hands of Obi-Wan Kenobi. Ahsoka remembered her sister, Satine, and how kind she was, and how heartbroken Master Kenobi was at her death, now infuriating her knowing that Maul was the cause of it. Bo's people were suffering, and the Republic was too busy with the Separatists to do anything about it. THIS was what Ahsoka was waiting for, the opportunity she needed to help others. She agreed to come with Bo and help her liberate Mandalore.

On one condition…

"You can't be serious!" Bo said annoyingly on the ship she, Ahsoka, Ursa Wren, and another Mandalorian were flying in space in.

"Unfortunately, I am. Your forces are too small to handle the army Maul may have. We NEED the Republic to back us up." Ahsoka defended. Here she was, calling out the numerous times the Republic has ignored helping others, and now she's proposing to get them to help. Funny how life works.

"From what you just told me, the Republic, and your Jedi Order, abandoned you! Now you want to go back to them for help? It's been said that one Mandalorian is worth 10 Jedi alone. I think we'll manage without them." She said defiantly. Ahsoka knew that Mandalorians prided themselves on their fighting abilities and independence, but even she knew it was foolish to run head long at Maul's army without backup, even with Bo's sizable force back home.

She continued. "I have contacts in the Outer Rim, people who both owe me favors, and know more people to help. If we can get enough—"

Ahsoka raised her hand to pause Bo before she went any further. "I know I sound like a hypocrite, but Maul is one of the most dangerous Sith in the galaxy. He killed a Jedi Master, and survived being sliced in half. He's been on a rampage with a Mandalorian army loyal only to him, along with a criminal empire hidden throughout the galaxy, including the Pikes on Kessel. Regardless of either of our feelings for the Order, we need the Jedi, and the Republic's, help on this."

Bo looked conflicted, a history left unsaid about the Jedi written on her face. Ahsoka saw this and comforted her new friend. "You asked for my help. I'm trying to, but I need you to listen to me. I've fought in battles like this, and if the Jedi taught me one thing, it's that you can't fight alone."

It took a minute for Bo to remove the scowl from her face, but eventually, she conceded. "Fine, you have a point. My contacts aren't even skilled enough to take down a mudhorn, let alone a Mandalorian. But…" She turned to Ahsoka. "…you said the Order doesn't trust you, and they're busy fighting in other sectors of the galaxy right now. Who can we call to help us?"

Ahsoka smirked. She knew the answer long before Bo bothered to even ask the question. "I have a couple of people in mind."

Ahsoka excused herself as she went into her private quarters to prepare herself, mentally and emotionally, for the talk to the two men that meant so much to her, the men that raised her, and the two men she left behind. Ahsoka tugged at the gauntlets on her hands, and looked down to properly examine herself in the mirror. It's been a while since she's ever had a different outfit than her usual Padawan attire. She started out wearing a tube top of all things (adult Ahsoka would slap child Ahsoka silly for going out into a warzone looking like that), but then evolved into a more mature and protective full body outfit. When she left the Order, she had to sell her clothes to buy cheaper ones and some spare credits. Those old clothes reminded her too much of her old life, even the akul teeth headdress she's worn since she was a Youngling, and if she wanted to start anew, she would need something new to fit her as well. The mechanic outfit was good, but wasn't going to last long. Luckily, the slim armored clothes Bo provided her did more than enough to comfort her. She was never a big fashion critique like Padme was (even with all the shopping they did together when they had the time together), but even she admitted blue looked good on her.

Still, she had to focus. How was she going to greet her old Masters after so—

Ahsoka leaned over on the wall, hand cradling her head. She felt like her mind was hit by dark daggers, twisting and turning inside of her. She didn't know what this feeling was, but it felt…cold. As a Jedi, she could sense dark feelings and emotions, like from Ventress, Grievous, and even Anakin at times. But this…this was unlike any kind of darkness she's ever felt.

And it felt like it was all around her, closing her in.

She ran out of the room and up into the cockpit, surprising the others. "Are we under attack?"

Ursa and Bo looked at each other, confused. "Noooo…I'm pretty sure we'd know if we were." Bo said. "Ursa?"

"Nothing on the scanners. There's no one even near us." She confirmed. Bo nodded, then turned back to the concerned girl.

"What's wrong. You…sense something?" She asked, knowing a little about how the Jedi worked.

Ahsoka shook her head in her own confusion, mind still feeling pained and a wave a nausea setting in. "I don't know. I feel…darkness…surrounding us. Everywhere. Both here and far away. I've never felt anything like this. I—"

She bent down on one knee, headache increasing tenfold. Bo immediately rushed down to help, "Hey, take it easy! I need you at your full strength, all right? Here, why don't you take a rest for a sec? You've been on the street with barely any food, and you've had to deal with two idiot sisters and a crime ring on your own."

"They weren't—"

"They dumped spice. In hyperspace. I've killed people for less. Look, just please take a minute and rest. I really need your help, and you're not going to be much of it with you passing out." She stated sarcastically. Ahsoka chortled at the jab.

"Nice to know you care so much. All right, I won't be long. Just need…a minute." She felt fatigued, sore, and cold all at once as she headed to lie down in her quarters.

There was one other thing the Jedi taught her: to trust her feelings, to let them guide you. Right now, her feelings were telling her something bad was happening…

---

Obi-Wan Kenobi was tired of a lot of things. It just depended on the day and his own mood.

He was tired of war. So many have suffered for too long, and there was no end in sight. Funny enough, this isn't even the FIRST war he's ever fought in. He remembers Melida/Daan in vivid detail. He remembers fighting with child soldiers barely older than him, and many much younger. He remembers the screams of death and the taste of blood, and the feeling of abandonment as to how he ended up staying there. Master Qui-Gon never gave it a second thought when he left him there…

He was tired of the Order's continued antics. He cares for his peers and his fellow Masters, but they've infuriated him as of late. The Rako Hardeen idea was foolish in hindsight, an over-planned attempt to stop some bounty hunters that the Jedi and Republic combined would have taken care of. It nearly cost him the relationship he held dear with Anakin. The look of pure agony on his face when he "died," followed by the look of anger and betrayal afterward when he saw him alive was almost too much to bear, but he had orders, and he needed to follow them to the letter. He's been a soldier before, this was no different, even with how much it corrodes his own heart…

He's tired of losing the ones he cares most for. Many believe him to be a model Jedi, following it to the letter and not having any attachments. That couldn't be farther from the truth. He loves Anakin like a brother, even though he can't show that affection to the others on the Council, and he cared for Ahsoka like a daughter, in a way. It broke him to see her look betrayed as well when they expelled her, and it was worse when she walked away. He knew exactly why she left because he's been in that exact same position making that EXACT same decision before. He would have followed Anakin after her if he wasn't stopped by Master Plo, who told him that it was her decision, and the Council must honor it. The words stung, and he really wanted to go after her despite it, but orders were orders.

That wasn't even the worst pain he's felt. Losing Qui-Gon, despite their tremulous history, nearly destroyed the man, almost compromising the training he needed to give his newly minted Padawan Anakin as he wallowed in his own grief. Couple the fact that he didn't even kill the bastard who took his dear Master's life only makes it worse. And speaking of loved ones taken by Maul…

There have been few times Obi-Wan Kenobi has been close to the Dark Side. Melida/Daan was a crucible that he managed to overcome, losing Qui-Gon and the rage he used inside of himself to "kill" Maul on Naboo was even closer to the edge than what Obi-Wan wanted, but he pulled through that too. But Satine…her lifeless corpse of the woman he loved, Code be damned, the one that could've said the word and they would have had a happy life together, in his arms as Maul looked on, satisfied in making Obi-Wan suffer. If he stayed in that cell Maul put him in any longer before Bo-Katan busted him out, he was sure he would have Fallen. He thought of many ways he could've made that scum pay, how he would be so close to death and in extreme pain, but Obi-Wan wouldn't let him this time. He would—

He was tired. So very tired. But, he had to stay strong, keep his resolve up, because now more than ever, the Jedi needed to step up and put an end to this war.

Because now, the Jedi know that the Sith were the ones behind it.

They've been fools. Shortly after Ahsoka's trial, the long-lost lightsaber of Sifo-Dyas was found by Master Plo. The former Jedi left the Order due to differences of how it has been run and accusations of deceit and corruption (there was a lot of that thrown around lately, hasn't there?). He disappeared, never to be seen again afterwards. The Jedi wouldn't hear a mention of him until just before the Clone Wars began, when Obi-Wan went to Kamino to find the bounty hunter Jango Fett and discovered an army already created and bought just for the Republic using Sifo's name. The Jedi didn't have time to investigate why Sifo did this, as the Confederation of Independent Systems declared war on the Republic, claiming corruption and deceit by Count Dooku, yet another Jedi that left the Order for the same reason, and suddenly the Jedi were thrust to the front lines with their new clone comrades. The Jedi, Obi-Wan included, has always respected and admired the hard work and loyalty the clones have shown them, and would do anything to protect them in turn.

But there was a new wrinkle to the clones' tale. After examining Sifo's lightsaber, they found that he was in contact with Dooku and the Pikes shortly before his arrival on Kamino. Travelling to the Pikes homeworld, they confirmed to Anakin and Obi-Wan that they did house the two former Jedi, but nothing more. Before they could get anything else, Dooku arrived and put a stop to it. During their brief fight, Dooku revealed that Sifo-Dyas helped Dooku create the clone army, that he truly was Darth Tyrannus, just like he revealed back on Geonosis.

It just…it didn't make any sense. How could he give them soldiers that were so kind and devoted to serving the Jedi, even though he's trying to kill them? Through process of elimination and a rare moment of thought for the Council, they deduced that Dooku was telling the truth, and that his Master, the mysterious Darth Sidious, was behind the war from the beginning, and they needed to stop him soon. They also decided to hide the information of Dooku's involvement to the public, saying that people would lose faith if a Sith Lord was responsible for creating their main army forces. Obi-Wan didn't know what Sidious has planned for them, but judging from recent events, including Anakin's tearful description of Fives' death and how he said something about being controlled, he didn't like ANY of it.

And to top it all off…there's the new matter of whatever darkness has been creeping up lately.

As a Jedi, Obi-Wan has the ability to sense objects, people, and emotions. It's useful to determine a person's true intentions, or to sense any dangers to him or others around him. But this…Obi-Wan couldn't for the life of him figure out what this was. It was unlike any other type of darkness he felt from other fiends he's ever faced, even someone as corrupt as Maul or Dooku. It came out of nowhere, like an assassin hopping out of the shadows to strike, and it struck hard. Anakin felt it too, which was no surprise given his increased affinity to the Force, which meant he's probably being hit harder than Obi-Wan was right now. Hopefully, it ends soon. He really wasn't in the mood for another problem to add to the already large stack.

He rubbed his eyes tiredly as he looked around the briefing room he's been in for a couple of hours now. It's a skeleton crew monitoring it since it's so late, with only Kenobi, Commander Cody, Captain Rex, and a few technicians walking in and out to check monitors. Obi-Wan's been pouring over plans and strategies for the Mygeeto assault in the hopes of minimalizing casualty rates while Anakin is off checking for supplies. Once he's done doing that, he's going to contact the Council to see if any of them feel the same darkness as they do. Maybe they hold some type of answer to this. Probably not, though. When have the Council ever—

"General?" Cody asked next to him. Obi-Wan swayed a little bit to look at his comrade, eyes half-lidded.

Oh. Silly Obi-Wan. He forgot that he was ALSO tired of the lack of sleep due to overthinking and stressing over all the OTHER things he's been tired of. What a fun life Obi-Wan has.

"Yes, Cody?" Obi-Wan asked. He was trying very, very hard to hold back the yawn threatening to escape his throat. Hopefully, Cody didn't notice.

Unfortunately, Cody is an observant and cunning man. A curse and a blessing at times for Obi-Wan. "Perhaps it would be best if I take over going over the plans? You look like you need some rest. We wake up bright and early to set off tomorrow, so you'll need all the sleep you can get." He tried to negotiate.

"I understand, Cody, but after this, I need to speak to the Council to investigate whether this…strange feeling in the Force is isolated to me and Anakin, or if this is widespread." Obi-Wan retorted.

"How bad is it?" Rex asked from the other side of the holodesk.

"Unsure, but it's become too noticeable to ignore. It's slowly been growing as of late, the pain I'm feeling from it increasing…" Obi-Wan rubbed his temple, remembering the strain coming from the darkness stabbing the back of his mind.

"We can have medical take a look at you two, make sure it's not going to harm you in any way." Rex offered. Obi-Wan declined.

"I'm not sure that will help. They can help us physically, but when it comes to the Force and our abilities—"

It wouldn't do much. That was what Obi-Wan was going to finish with right up until the images of Master Yoda, Windu, Plo, Mundi, Secura, and Ti all showed up on the holodesk, replacing the lists and reports Obi-Wan was examining earlier. Rex and Cody immediately snapped to attention at their superiors, and Obi-Wan perked up, his exhaustion put on the back burner for a little while longer. "Masters? Is there something wrong? Believe it or not, I was just about to call some of you…"

Obi-Wan asked. It was a surprise that they would just show up out of the blue, especially with the Council spread far across the galaxy on their own campaigns. There would usual be a notice, short as it may be, when they would call, but this…Obi-Wan had a bad feeling about this.

"We apologize for the abruptness of the call, especially while you and Skywalker are preparing to aid Master Mundi on Mygeeto, but there has been a rising concern that we feel like we need to address." Mace said in his usual strict tone.

Obi-Wan had an idea on what it was about. "This dark feeling in the Force. Is that what this is about? I was about to call and see if any of you have felt it, but it looks like I just got my answer."

"Yes." Master Plo spoke next. "We all felt it at the same time, even at the farthest reaches of the galaxy. We have never felt something so malignant, even the eldest among us."

Obi-Wan silently agreed and worried. If Plo could feel the same thing as Kenobi did, even on the other side of the galaxy on Nar Shaada, then this could be much worse than he realized.

"What could this mean?" Master Secura asked. Obi-Wan pitied her. He rarely had luck on Felucia, and she was charged with clearing out the Separatists there that have dug themselves in deeper than a krayt dragon on a mountain.

"Unclear, but it doesn't bode well, considering our…recent discoveries." Mace said grimly, and every Master on the call had a deep frown on their face. They felt like they were walking directly into a trap. Obi-Wan would usually say to just spring it in his usual sassy tone, but they shouldn't even dare to risk that now.

"Hmm. If recent rumors are true, bode well for us, it will not." Yoda said in his usual mysterious way. THAT got Obi-Wan's attention.

"What rumors?"

Master Windu looked to Kenobi and the other Masters. "Right after we felt this strange darkness, there has been comm chatter discovered from various parts of the galaxy, specifically in the Outer Rim. While no footage has been found, they claim that creatures, as black as night and twice as deadly, have been seen appearing out of nowhere, attacking anything in sight. The few clones stationed on some of those planets have not been heard from when we tried to contact them."

"Has there been any connection to the planets attacked?" Obi-Wan asked. Since Mace mentioned clones, maybe it was a Separatist-created enemy, another tool to try and decimate them, like the Blue Shadow Virus?

Unfortunately, it wasn't that simple.

"None. We looked over the planets where the attack claims have come from. Agamar, Raxus Prime, Colus, Takadona, L'iipsti, Prokka Co, and others were just some of the systems and planets found. All of them either Republic, Separatist, or independent or trader aligned." Plo explained.

That was not good. Not good at all. At the very least, if the Separatists were behind it, it would be clear that they could attack them and put a stop to it. Now, if whatever this was is attacking people regardless of alignment, attacking people regardless of who they were, than this could escalate quickly.

"If this isn't the Separatists, then maybe…a third party? What about the witches of Dathomir? They've been involved with our affairs as of late." Obi-Wan asked. It was true that Mother Talzin and her servants, both witches and Zabrak-bred slaves, have become an increasing thorn to their side, giving the deceased Savage Oppress to Dooku as a new apprentice, having a hand in resurrecting Maul, and even before, witches have been stealing their kyber crystal supply off of Ilum for years now. Surely, they would—

"I don't believe them to be the cause of this either. Their numbers are too few to do anything of major harm, and if the reports of Dathomiran refugees are to be believed, then Mother Talzin was killed by General Grievous himself during an attack on their planet." Shaak Ti said.

Ah, Obi-Wan nearly forgot about that. They've heard chatter amongst the survivors of Dathomir that spread themselves across the galaxy about a large army of droids, led by what they believed to be a monstrous Jedi with four lightsabers, descended and attacked them with no mercy, slaughtering their dear Mother in the process. While there has been no proof of this, there hasn't been anything they could sense coming from the now barren planet, so they took them at their word. Obi-Wan grimaced. While he enjoyed toying with the mechanical psycho, he sometimes forgets that Grievous is a formidable opponent, a bloodlust-crazed monster with no remorse for life, and the attack on Dathomir is a reminder of it.

"There must be some sort of explanation for this. Have we tried contacted the governments of those planets?" Ki-Adi asked. Mace shook his head.

"No, we lost contact with all of those planets just a few minutes ago, and the Force has only been darkened further after that. That is why Master Yoda and I contacted you all here." Mace said grimly. Obi-Wan and the other Masters were shocked. All of those planets just…cease communications. Some of those worlds were large and vast and had millions of people. How could something take control so quickly…?

"We must help them! We cannot ignore something of this magnitude, even for the planets aligned with the Separatists. They suffer just as much as we do." Plo said wisely.

"I agree, Master Plo, but remember, we still have our own campaigns and battles to fight. We cannot ignore our duties now, otherwise Dooku and the CIS could capitalize." Mace explained, and THAT was it, wasn't it? All this talk of bad things happening to people across the galaxy, evidence clear as day, and they wouldn't do a thing about it immediately. Sometimes, Obi-Wan thinks that there is merit to all the blame being tossed their way.

"Agree, I do, that the planets we are fighting for are important. However, bad decision it is, to leave these planets without aid. Send unassigned Jedi, however few we may have, we must, to these systems to help them. Pray that this ends quickly, we must." Yoda spoke, face becoming more and more tired and stressed. Obi-Wan remembers when he was a Youngling how happy Yoda always was, always playing with them and teaching them. Now, he looks just as defeated as the rest of the Council, doomed to fight endless battles and putting more Padawans in the line of fire…and to their graves.

Obi-Wan just now realized that all the Masters were looking at him.

"Master Kenobi, we understand that your mission to aid Master Mundi is critical to the war effort on Mygeeto, but we expect it to be brief. Could you…" Master Windu asked. It took every ounce of strength that Obi-Wan had left in his body to hold back the disappointed sigh that threatened to leave him. He just wanted a break, not for him, but for Anakin, and all their men, for the danger they put themselves in. He thought they would finally get one after the mission here on Annaxes, but Mace thrusted them to Mygeeto as soon as they could, and now—

Obi-Wan shot a quick glance at the Captain and Commander next to him. They both felt as fatigued as they looked, but they were willing to help people, no matter the personal cost. Obi-Wan made a mental note to apologize to them for this later.

"Very well, Anakin and I will look into this matter after we're done on Mygeeto, but we need a restock before then." He requested.

"That can be arranged. Report to the Kuat driveyards when you're through on Mygeeto, then get to the Outer Rim to investigate this darkness. Slowly but surely, it feels like it's creeping closer to us. If that's the case, then more planets could be attacked, going to the Mid-Rim, and even the Inner-Rim as well. We must stop it before it grows, and even more lives are lost." Mace said.

"Yes, Masters, we'll do what we can."

"Good, good. Darkness all around us, there has been, but none has felt as cold and threatening as this. Tread carefully, we must. Another machination of the Dark Lord of the Sith, this could very well be. May the For—"

The power went out. Of all the kriffing things that could happen now, it had to be the power going out.

"What happened?" Rex asked as he put his helmet on and flipped on the lights connected to it. Cody did the same and Kenobi ignited his lightsaber to further illuminate the darkened room.

"I'm not sure. There's no electrical storms happening outside, and we have plenty of fuel for the generators. Maybe a malfunction…?" Cody theorized.

"Or perhaps an ambush." Obi-Wan said. He imagined the Separatists weren't too happy about them beating them out of the factory and having Trench and his fleet be blown up by Anakin and the Bad Batch, so perhaps they want some revenge. A pity…

For them.

"Rex, go find Anakin. Last I felt him, he was in the barracks…for whatever reason. Then go grab a squad and check the perimeter, including the generator outside. We need to reestablish comms, figure out what happened, and make sure this area is secure for us to leave. We don't want the Separatists to come back right as we depart."

"Yes, sir!" Rex complied and headed out the door. Kenobi then turned to his own commander.

"Cody, can you wake up the men and tell them to be on alert? I hate to do this to them, but if it IS the Separatists, we can't take any chances."

"Yes, general. I'll have them up and ready to go." Cody said as he made it out the door as well. Satisfied with that, Obi-Wan turned to the engineers trying to figure out what was going on and helped illuminate the control panels as the mechanics tried to at least get some lights working.

As Obi-Wan was doing this, he wondered why in the world Anakin was in the barracks. He should have checked in some time ago, letting Kenobi know that they had the needed supplies…

---

Anakin was annoyed before at the constant darkness swimming around in the Force and giving him a headache, and now the power goes out RIGHT as he just got his loving wife on the line.

He checked everything they needed for Mygeeto and made sure they had the right amount and all functioning. He WAS going to tell Obi-Wan about it, he really was, but first…he really wanted to talk to Padme again to tell him Echo was alright and he was feeling a little better than last time they talked, and just to check in on her. Anakin was never savvy with politicians, always preferring the simple battle to solve his problems, but he understands that there is nuance in negation, and Padme was a master of it. He enjoyed how he used words with such authority and grace to stir a crowd, and especially when she uses THAT tone to dress down annoying Senators who piss her off. However, as good as she was, he knows that it drains her constantly to be in battle with stubborn-headed officials who can't make up their minds, so it was always good to check in and give her some comforting words, the same ones that she uses on him when he's stressed.

At least, he WOULD if the power was on. Typical.

"R2, you know what's going on?" He asked his mechanical companion as he stepped out the door. R2 was assigned guard duty this time to make sure no one was around to snoop on his conversation with his secret wife. That close call with Obi-Wan was TOO close for his liking, and he didn't want his pal Rex to go through that again. So, he got his trusted ally, and the best secret keeper he knew, to handle it this time.

R2 beeped and booped in confusion, also not knowing why the power was out. Anakin sighed. "Well, guess we should check the generator and see what's up. Our luck: one of those giant birds crashed into it."

"*Sigh* It'll be a nightmare to fix if that's the case." He bemoaned as he headed toward that direction. R2 was right behind him, moving his head around full 360 to make sure he won't hit anything and whining about how his lights weren't bright enough….and then stopped in his tracks.

"Yeah, I know. I can't see that much either." Anakin turned on his lightsaber to get a better view. "Just follow me so you don't trip up, 'kay?"

R2 didn't hear him, instead beeping madly at…something.

"What? Don't tell me your sc—" Anakin turned around to playfully berate his pal…until he looked ahead and saw what R2 was seeing. He could barely make it out in the dark, but he could make out the outline of a figure. The hanger doors were open behind the person's back, so Anakin saw clearly that the person was wearing some kind of jacket or coat, their hands barely poking out of their sleeve as it flapped with the wind at their back. They wore a hood over their head, concealing themselves.

How—How did Anakin NOT sense this man coming? He's usually good at that, sensing danger right before it strikes. It's what makes him a good leader and helps protect himself and his men from harm. He didn't look like anyone he knew, and considering the power was out for no reason and this person was just…standing there menacingly….

Welp, time for some patented 'aggressive negotiations.' Anakin rushed in front of R2 and held out his lightsaber in a fighting stance.

"Who are you? How did you get in?" He demanded threateningly. The figure just stood there, the small silver ornaments attached to their hood clanging silently in the wind. Anakin was getting annoyed at the lack of explanations, so he pointed his lightsaber at the person. "ANSWER ME! You have five seconds to tell me why I shouldn't come over there and make you WISH you were behind a cell and not in front of me!"

The figure just stood there, silently, for longer than five seconds. Anakin decided that he'll just interrogate him in a cell, and went to forcefully grab him. As his hands were inches away from the person, the figure…floated backwards, away from Anakin. Anakin was shocked, and R2 wheezed in concern as he scooted behind his friend. The figure again just stared down Anakin from behind his hood, and Anakin was getting VERY unhappy already. First this strange darkness keeps invading his mind, and now THIS? Anakin used the Force to try and pull the figure into his arms. Surely that would—

The Force Pull brought some crates flying back, but the figure…it just stood there as if nothing happened, like it didn't feel a thing. Now Anakin was completely dumbfounded. Either this person was using some advanced Force blocking…or this was something different. Anakin brought his lightsaber in a defensive stance, not liking where this was going.

"Who…are you?" He asked slowly.

Finally, after a painfully long time, the figure spoke. "I….am nothing…" It was a man's voice, smooth as silk with undertones of deadly intent. Anakin perked up at the voice. It didn't sound even remotely familiar, and he's never heard a voice so…compelling, yet threatening. The man continued, "And you…are not whole…"

…What in the kark was THAT supposed to mean? Regardless, Anakin didn't have anytime for this as his anger was beginning to pool up inside him. "Whoever you are, you're coming with me!"

The man started to glide backwards, towards the open hanger doors. "Incomplete…not even close…"

The man turned his head over to R2, and suddenly, the small droid started to short circuit, much to Anakin's surprise and horror. The little droid fell over with a plop, spluttering and lights flashing. Anakin kneeled down to check on him, worried about his dear mechanical friend. He turned to see the man glide back faster, and Anakin figured he was trying to escape.

"Hey…HEY!" After some hesitation on leaving R2 behind, Anakin ran after him. He activated his wrist comm. "Rex, get a squad over to the hanger! We have an intruder! AND GET HELP FOR R2!"

"Copy that, sir! Heading to your position now!" He heard Rex say. Anakin had to hurry. Whoever this stranger was, he didn't want him escaping.

---

Obi-Wan had a shared comm with Anakin. Which meant that the message Rex got, Obi-Wan got as well. He damn near broke the sound barrier out of the comm room to rush to the hanger, and he knew Cody had the foresight to go get some troops of his own to meet him there. He managed to reach Rex, Jesse, Appo, Vaughn, and a few others of the 501st as they reached the hanger. In front of them, they saw a collapsed R2, some overturned crates, and out further, they saw Anakin run outside in pursuit of said intruder.

"Hurry! We need to help Anakin!" Obi-Wan ordered.

"Got it, sir! Appo, help R2 up!" Rex ordered. Appo nodded and ran over to the droid while Rex, Obi-Wan and the others ran like hell to reach the two others, who were out in the night air. Obi-Wan couldn't tell, but he thought he saw the stranger's hand moving in front of him, waving it to the side…

And he noticed the hanger doors closing. Rapidly. Obi-Wan was perplexed. The power was out, so how were the DOORS operational? He ran as fast as he could, using the Force to propel him, but to no avail as the doors shut right as he got there. Obi-Wan grunted in frustration as he banged his fist on the door as Rex and the 501st caught up with him.

"Blast! How did he manage to do that?" Obi-Wan thought out loud.

"Who did what, sir?" Jesse asked.

"Whoever that intruder is, he must know the Force. I think he closed these doors." He ignited his lightsaber, intent on cutting through to the other side. "Let's not waste anymore time!"

He plunged his lightsaber toward the door…

But the second the lightsaber connected, it bounced right back, knocking Obi-Wan back slightly. Obi-Wan looked like he just got slapped in the face with how wide his eyes got. How--WHAT--?

The clones looked and felt equally shocked at what happened, and Rex turned toward the door to see what happened. No scorch marks, nothing. He touched the door, expecting to feel the familiar durasteel metal finish, but instead, the second his hand tried to touch it, a strange, hexagonal-like shield came into view, blocking him from touching it.

"What in the kriff is this?" Rex said, now using both hands to inspect this new phenomenon. Obi-Wan walked forward to investigate it as well. No matter where Rex's hands glided across, this mysterious shield protected it, like a film covering.

"Is this some type of force field? I don't remember installing one for the hanger doors…" Obi-Wan pondered to himself.

"Sir, I…don't know what this is, but I don't think we can pierce through it." Rex admitted, turning back toward him.

"Yes, I see that. We need to find a way to get through it, and get to Anakin and help him capture that intruder out there." Obi-Wan said. He heard rapid footsteps behind him, and he turned to see Cody with some of the 212th, Boil, Barlex, Crys, Trapper, and Wooley included, running up to catch up with them.

"General Kenobi, I have everyone on alert, but all the doors are locked, and there's been reports of…force fields blocking the doors?" Cody tried to explain.

"Yes, we seem to be facing that problem now, and Anakin is on the other side of this door dealing with our unwanted friend. We need to figure out what this is and fast." Obi-Wan said. He saw Appo appear out of the corner of his eye with a renewed R2. The droid beeped out angrily at being knocked out by that mean stranger.

"He's alright. He says that the intruder looked at him, and his systems went into an overload. He's doing a self-diagnostic now to calculate if there's any damage." Appo explained.

That piqued Obi-Wan's curiosity. "He made R2 malfunction? Just by looking at him?"

That gave him pause. No Force ability he knew could do that. The closest thing was simply crushing it, but that appears to not be the case. All these question could be answered later, however, as they needed to get out. "R2, you may need to hold off that diagnostic for a little while. I need your help to get this door open, and maybe find out what subsystem kicked on this…" He gestured to the door "…force field to activate. Anakin's on the other side, and he needs our help."

R2 beeped in acknowledgement and went over to the far left of the wide hanger doors to the service jack, and plugged himself in. Right before he did that, the emergency lights finally kicked on, illuminating some of the floor and the walls.

"Well, about time those kicked on. Still gonna need our headlamps, though." Rex said. He turned to Kenobi. "Still, the main power is out. Doesn't that mean R2 can't hack into the terminal?"

"Probably not, but if we don't try all our options, we may be stuck in here. If R2 can't get us out, then we should try—"

"Uhhhh…General?" Cody said, concern, confusion, and defensiveness laced in his vococoded voice as he pointed out into the hanger in front of them. Obi-Wan, Rex, and the clones turned to see yet another sight they never expected.

A dark, floating aura appeared on the rampway leading out of the hanger, right in front of them. It was deep black, with hints of grey circling the edges of it. Obi-Wan couldn't tell what it was, especially with the lack of adequate lighting, but he wasn't betting on anything good coming out of it. "What in blazes is that?"

They kept watching it float, until finally, the aura disappeared and gave way to…what appeared to be…

A person?

A very odd looking person, if it was one at all.

"What the—" Rex said. Cody decided right then and there that this wasn't a good omen.

"All men, defensive positions!" He ordered as he ran to a crate in front of him, Boil right next to him. The other clones made their way to various cover points, from crates to the wings of some nearby fighters, all blasters pointing at the twitching, thrusting figure just standing in front of them. Obi-Wan walked out in front a little to get a better view.

Obi-Wan has seen many types of species in his life, but he's never encountered one like this. It was grey, from head to toe, with black outlines on the side that emanated a blueish glow. It was extremely thin, almost rubbery in shape, and had thin hands and feet. It was roughly the height of Obi-Wan's belly, and its head was almost triangular in shape. On its forehead, tilted down, Obi-Wan could make out a symbol of some kind, one that he didn't recognize. He also notice that its mouth(?) was closed…

By a zipper?

Obi-Wan looked quite confused at this little being, but still, he was the Negotiator, and he would still try to resolve this peacefully before he resorts to violence.

"Hello there. My name is Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi of the Galactic Republic. You are trespassing on a Republic military base and subject to imprisonment or worse if you do not comply." He tried to explain to the being, who looked like it was in another world right now.

"Is—is General Kenobi trying to reason with that thing? Does that usually work?" Vaughn, the newbie of the 501st, asked innocently.

"In these situations…rarely." Wooley answered next to him.

"Quiet, both of you!" Cody said to the two.

"If the man outside is your master, then I highly recommend that both him and yourself surrender immediately, or face the consequences. Do you understand?" Obi-Wan said as he ignited his lightsaber. The figure just stood there swaying some more.

Until the zipper around its mouth began to move across it, and the mouth opened wide.

Then, more auras came into view next to the being, and more of the exact same ones popped out, bringing the total to seven. All of them twitched and moved erratically, and four of them began flying around the room and jumping on their heads and feet. One of them swiped a crate and knocked toward a clone, barely missing him.

"Well, I think we got our answer!" Rex said, bringing out his pistols. Cody nodded.

"All troops, OPEN FIRE!" He barked out as he brought his blaster out and started shooting them, the others joining in. Soon, a loud volley of blue bolts encompassed the hanger, trying to hit the creatures as they dodged almost effortlessly in their twisting and turning dance.

Meanwhile, the other three creatures were in front of Obi-Wan, and slowly walking their way toward him. Obi-Wan brought up his lightsaber in his traditional Sorosu stance, and prepared for battle. One creature jumped up and floated back down face first, and then quickly jerked its head up to try and headbutt Obi, but he narrowly dodged it. Obi-Wan then thrusted his lightsaber forward, but the creature jumped up and…floated upside down? Obi-Wan would have been floored at the sight, had he not been bombarded by the creature's abnormally long arms try to slap him as it walked upside down, as if there was a floor for it to walk on. Obi-Wan backed up from the attacks, and when one was about to hit, he blocked it with his lightsaber. The creature was stunned, and flipped itself multiple times before slowly landing on the floor. Obi-Wan marveled at the creature's sheer agility, but he didn't notice another creature behind him kick him in the back and knock him forward. Obi-Wan grimaced as he quickly spun around to face his attackers.

This was worrying him. It was bad enough he was dealing with enemies he doesn't understand, but he's dealing with enemies he couldn't even SENSE. It was like…they weren't even there to begin with.

Still, Obi-Wan had to focus. He deduced that there was an opening to attack if he can deflect their assaults, so he would do that. He would just have to manually look and see where the other creatures would be to avoid being ambushed again. This time, he went on the offensive, jumping over one and confusing it, if its head and arm twisting was any indication. He sliced it several times and knocked it back. It floated down like a piece of paper, but eventually got back up.

So, it took SEVERAL hits to kill these things. Lovely. Obi-Wan didn't have time to air that grievance, as another creature tried to headbutt it again. Obi-Wan read it perfectly, sidestepping it and hitting it with a hard overhead slash and some cross slashes, ending with another piercing stab that eventually made the creature disappear in a clear haze.

Meanwhile, the clones weren't having any better luck, as their shots were mostly missing.

"I can't hit any of them!" Jesse shouted as one of them was making its way towards him. Jesse jumped out of the way as it ran into the wall, dizzying momentarily. Jesse, thoroughly annoyed, had enough. "Alright, whatever the kriff you are, TAKE THIS!"

He held his blaster backwards like a club and started swinging violently at the creature, hitting it upside the head. When he was about to hit the killing blow, the creature jumped out of the way, moving to another location. Jesse brought his gun back the right way to shoot it, but he heard R2 beep loudly behind him. He turned to see another creature latch onto him, not letting go.

"HANG ON!" Jesse shouted as he grabbed it and pulled it off of the droid. The creature writhed violently in Jesse's clutches, trying to escape.

"Little…help, buddy?" Jesse said, struggling.

R2 rolled over to them, and brought out his taser to shock it. The creature shook rapidly at the electricity flowing in it, and kneeled to the ground. Jesse didn't take any chances this time, shooting it while it was down several times, making it disappear.

"Good work, R2!" Jesse commended the droid, which he shook side to side and beeped happily to show his appreciation. Jesse ran over to see if he can help his brothers, and shoot some more of these things.

It took some doing, but Obi-Wan FINALLY got the other two creatures taken care of. He felt exhausted, drained, and sore from fighting them, but he couldn't give up. He needed to help the clones fighting off the other ones, but before Obi-Wan had a chance to turn to help them, more creatures appeared before him, surrounding him in a circle.

Well, it looks like he can add 'fighting white, zipper-mouthed creatures' to the list of things he was tired of.

"Well…come on, then!" He invited them in, holding his lightsaber defiantly over his head, ready for another round. The creatures simultaneously lunged at the Jedi…

---

Anakin ran down further outside onto the airfield, the mysterious man floating away from him while staring directly at Anakin. Well, Anakin THINKS he is. He can barely make out a face over that hood…

Eventually, the man stopped floating and stood stationary in the middle of the airfield, with Anakin skidding to a halt. His lightsaber was out in seconds.

"Nowhere to go?" He mocked.

The man said nothing, instead lifting his hand and moved it to the side. Anakin was confused by what he did, until he heard the loud sound of the hanger door closing, and turned to see it slowly close itself…right in front of Obi-Wan and the clones, sealing them in.

Anakin spun right around to the man as he threatened him, "Let them go. Now!"

"Tell me…what would you do if they were harmed?" The man asked. Anakin was perplexed on why he would ask such a question. Anakin's blood boiled.

"I'd hunt down whoever hurt them and END them on the spot, like I'm gonna do to you right now!" He shouted.

"Oh? Tell me this, then." The man merely cocked his head as he continued to speak in his slow, methodical manner Anakin was already tired of hearing. "You would save a man who, regardless of the bond you may have, would disregard it in order to maintain 'peace'? Was it not he who played your emotions like a fiddle, and burned your heart at the deception he created, specifically for you to sell? What darkness could be in such a person's heart, if he is willing to cast aside bonds of friendship so easily, at a mere order?"

Anakin was trying his best to keep his cool, but it was getting increasingly hard to do. On top of that…how did this guy know about the Rako Hardeen incident? He wasn't there for it…was he?

"You're wrong! Obi-Wan's not like that! He's a good man, just like the Order!" He retorted…but deep down, he knew it was only half-heartedly.

The man seemed to pick up on that. "You lie to yourself, despite your pain. They are indifferent of suffering, whether it be you or anyone else. And besides…you KNOW that if they knew your secret…you would be cast out by them, doomed to wander without a purpose. A Chosen One…without a destiny to fulfill."

Wh—WHAT? How did—what was he— "What are you talking about? What secr—"

"Poor Anakin Skywalker. You must feel pity for him. As a child, he only wanted to shed his chains and see a world beyond his own, places his own imagination could not compare to. Instead, he only knew tragedy at every turn. Some of it…self-inflicted, like the burning rage he felt at the loss of his own mother, and the slaughter of the men, women, and children who had anything to do with it. Some…caused by others, like his wife he was never allowed to have, and causes him to fear daily of their sin being discovered. Or…by an order of idle Masters, distrusting him for the power he wields, and tightens his chains, removing his student, his friendships…his happiness. Woe be to this tortured soul, forever haunted by his own faults and the machinations of those around him. He will fall to darkness, if he is not careful."

Anakin was in absolute shock at the man basically giving his life story right in front of him. How could he know about the Sand People slaughter, or Padme, or everything he's been going through? He did he—

There was only one explanation. He asked lowly, "Are—are you Darth Sidious?"

The man chuckled. "I have never been called such a name. Your titles on this world do not apply to me, or others like me."

"Others? Who—WHAT are you?"

The man didn't respond. Anakin was about to speculate if he was another being from Mortis, come to get revenge for the havoc he, Obi-Wan, and Ahsoka caused on that strange, foreboding planet, when he saw the man's hand give off a strange glow. It was like an orb in his hands, and he pointed it at Anakin…and lightning shot out! Anakin used his lightsaber to block the lighting, much stronger than what Dooku usually uses on him. It actually manage to get Anakin down on one knee at one point. But Anakin managed to overpower it and get back up as the man stopped blasting it out.

Anakin, panting from blocking such a strong attack, got back up in a fighting stance. "I…am not…asking you again. Either you surrender…or I will kill you."

"…you hate me."

Anakin perked up slightly. "You're not giving me a reason to like you!"

"Good. That anger, rage, hate, sorrow, guilt, pain…let it shield your heart. We NEED it for what is to come."

"Why? So you can TURN ME INTO A SITH? IT WON'T HAPPEN!"

"No…for what comes after…"

"…what?"

Out of the man's hands shot out a red beam that looked EXACTLY like a lightsaber, and if Anakin wasn't determined to take this guy out, his eyes would have popped out at the mere sight. What Force power was that?!

"Even with all that darkness…you are still not yet whole…" He walked slowly to Anakin, other hand out from behind his back and ignited another lightsaber from his palm. "Allow me…to help you."

The man then dashed forward, faster than a Force sprint, and Anakin just barely had the time to lift his lightsaber up to block the cross-slash coming his way. He struggled to overpower the man, as they were locked blade to blades. Soon, the man ducked under lighting quick and hit Anakin with the beam. Surprisingly, the beam didn't immediately cut off Anakin's leg, but it still hurt the same as if it were a real lightsaber. Anakin grunted in pain, and jumped back away from him. The man slowly walked toward him again, and this time Anakin decided to go on the offensive, using his traditional style to try and get a hit on him. The man merely dodged and blocked, effortlessly evading Anakin's best efforts. Anakin's anger was growing, and as he tried to read him using the Force, he found that he couldn't even feel a Force signature near him. It was as if this man did not exist in the first place…

However, that wasn't the only trick in the bag the man had. As Anakin tried to land another hit, the man summoned a large barrier in front of him, knocking Anakin back as he hit it. Anakin was confused on how he did that, but then saw the man summon more of those orbs before, and threw them at him. Anakin jumped just in time to see those orbs explode in an electrical sphere, and the man TELEPORTED himself in a puff of black smoke next to him, hitting him with the beams again, getting his midsection, arms, and hitting him straight in the head. Anakin reeled back on the ground, struggling to get back to his feet as he grabbed his lightsaber to desperately look around to where the man was. He looked behind him to see him just standing there, watching.

This was NOT how Anakin was going to go out, not by a long shot! He was going to end this man and save his friends, then figure out who—or WHAT—he was and see if he's connected to that darkness he can STILL feel in the back of his mind or Darth Sidious, and then he'll save the galaxy. He has to!

Anakin took a different approach, zigzagging his way to him as he avoided more of the electricity orbs and went for a horizontal swing, barely missing the man. Anakin was about to strike, but the man held up another barrier. Anakin was prepared for this as he relented right at the time, but he didn't expect the man to simply pass through his side of the barrier and attack him again with his own handgrown lightsabers. Anakin was ready now, deflecting and ducking out of the way, and finally, FINALLY, landed a hit on him.

But his lightsaber didn't even scratch him, let alone cut off an appendage. It merely knocked him back a bit. Anakin wasn't sure what this guy was even made of, let alone who he was, but he needed to keep fighting.

But the man had other plans. He flew around in a circle within Anakin's range, blasting out his beams as he flew to create several beams stay in place. Anakin was beyond perplexed at what he just did, but had no time to think about it as the beams fired upon him after that short delay and hit Anakin, seriously hurting him. He clutched his chest in pain as he felt electric heat scorch his inside. He was getting weak, tired, and hurt, but he could still do this. He was the Hero with No Fear. He took down guys much worse than this.

The battle continued, with the man keeping to the pattern of barriers, electric bombs, lightsaber-sized blaster bolts, and his own lightsaber strikes. Anakin found patterns in his attacks, but was still too fast to avoid some hits. Anakin would get luck a couple of times with successful blows of his own, but not enough to even tire the man. It was like he was invincible, and he couldn't even use the Force on him to tell if he was even hurt.

This went on for several minutes, with Anakin taking serious hits, getting increasingly more and more hurt, barely able to stand. The man decided to end it for him, hitting him with electricity, but only a little bit this time, and it left some type of aura around Anakin that zapped him periodically after a short time. Anakin couldn't do anything as the aura sparked him up, and the man unleashed an absolute flurry of attacks on the Jedi, spinning and hitting him at every angle conceivable.

Anakin knelt to the ground, defeated and broken. He couldn't move, couldn't stand, and was on the verge of passing out from the pain. The man simply stood over him, hands behind his back as Anakin lay there, twitching and grunting in pain.

"I expected…more." He declared, almost disappointingly. This made Anakin burn in hate more, not only by being absolutely destroyed by this man, but that he knows all his secrets, and yet he knows nothing about this stranger. The stranger simply walked away, Anakin seething as he turned to see him.

"You won't—You'll pay! I will find you! I will get stronger, and I will END YOU!" He said, fury he's rarely ever felt before coursing through him. The man slowly turned to him.

"Good. Hold onto it. Keep it close. You will need it…for what will come next."

Anakin didn't care for riddles.

"For what? What comes next?" He tried getting back to his feet, but his arms gave way, and his body felt like it was shutting down.

"It is beyond your comprehension…for now. Until we meet again, Anakin." He slowly began to fade away, becoming more and more transparent. Anakin was shocked yet again. This guy, whatever he was, had powers he's never seen or heard of before. No one could simply teleport themselves across the galaxy!

"WHO ARE YOU?" Anakin shouted angrily. The man made one final look at Anakin before fully disappearing, and said:

"I am—but a mere shell."

That was the last thing he heard before Anakin passed out.

---

Obi-Wan and the clones backed up to the door, fully surrounded by the white creatures walking slowly towards them. They managed to take some out, but more keep appearing in their stead. Obi-Wan was hurt, and some of the clones, Vaughn, Crys, and Wooley included, were badly injured, being dragged back by Jesse, Boil, and Appo to the back with them. They were ready to make a final stand, if they needed to. Not the ideal way the men wanted to go out, but for the good of the Republic, and the Jedi Order, they will—

The creatures stopped in their tracks, confusing their opponents briefly. Then, they jumped up in a floating aura and disappeared. Obi-Wan and the clones were stunned, but not exactly celebratory right now.

"What the hell just happened?" Jesse said, exhausted and still had a hand on his trigger. Appo and Barlex were checking injured, and Obi-Wan, Cody, and Rex were trying to coordinate.

"Alright, first, we help the injured to the medbay to get treated. Then, we're sending all available units into squads to hunt down any of those creatures that may still be in the base. Jesse, I need you to stay with R2, and protect him until he—"

Just as he was about to utter the words of what he wanted to happen, the Force, apparently, decided to cooperate for once. The power kicked back on, illuminating the entire hanger and the rest of the base. Everyone looked around, silently thankful for this break, but still apprehensive. Then, they heard the hanger door behind them slowly open up, the mysterious barrier apparently gone away.

It didn't even need to fully open for Obi-Wan to see Anakin lying on the ground. Hurt.

"ANAKIN!" He shouted, running straight for him, Rex, Cody, and Jesse not far behind him. He made it and knelt down to check his former Padawan. He looked…it was much worse than the usual beatings he occasionally get out of fighting too hard. It looked even worse than the crash landing he had after rescuing Aayla all those years ago, and THAT was a close call. He had bruises, scorch marks, slices and gashes, he looked like a man pinned him and just mauled him.

What in the entire galaxy could possibly overpower someone as powerful and skilled as Anakin?

Obi-Wan, for the first time in a long time, started to panic. This was different than Satine's death. That moment, while tragic and nearly drove him over the edge, was at least something he knew was about to happen as he watched it happen in person. This? Obi-Wan had no answers, no insight, and absolutely no CLUE as to what was going on. And now, Anakin, the most powerful Jedi he has ever known, lay beaten to a near bloody pulp, and he wasn't even drugged or hampered in any way, that Obi-Wan knew of.

He heard the others rush over to him and got a good look at Anakin's condition.

"Dear stars, what—what happened? Who did this?!" Rex said frantically, protective instincts for his General on full display.

"I don't know. I barely got a look at the person before the hanger doors closed. I couldn't identify who it was. The only person who could is Anakin, but he's…" Obi-Wan replied, as he began to scan him in the Force for internal injuries. He felt him alive, but in critical condition. Thank the Force Cody had the forethought to step out of the way and comm Kix and Helix to get down here immediately.

"That guy…did he summon those monsters back there? Did he try and prevent us from getting to General Skywalker so he could do this?" Jesse asked, anger setting in at the mere thought of anyone hurting their General in ANY way shape or form. Come to think of it, Obi-Wan didn't give it much thought, probably because they were busy fighting for their lives back there, but maybe…

"I'm not sure. Right now, let's focus on making sure Anakin is okay in a bacta tank as soon as possible. Then, we still need to check if any of them are still in the base." Obi-Wan said calmly, trying hard to hide his concern and grief of not getting here to help his dear friend in time.

The way Anakin looks just…broken and almost…is this what Anakin saw when Obi-Wan—

"General, before the power blacked out and this happened, you and the Council mentioned something about "darkness" and creatures appearing in the Outer Rim. Were these it? Was this person their ringmaster?" Rex asked, trying to make sense of all of this. Yet another good question that Obi-Wan would have to ponder, however, he had an early theory.

"No, I don't believe they are, at least I don't think so right now?"

"Why is that, sir?"

"Because, Captain, I can FEEL the darkness rising, and I still can feel it growing stronger. But these…I couldn't feel any of them. There was no Force signature on any of them whatsoever. It was like they weren't even sentient…like they weren't even real…"

---

Ahsoka sat in her quarters meditating and trying to figure out what was going on. This darkness…it felt like it was slowly eating away at the galaxy at large, and growing closer, like a virus surrounding a body and taking it out from all sides. Ahsoka has never felt something so large and menacing in the Force in her life, not even from threats like Ventress or even Barriss. The only time she could even recount something like this was on that strange planet she, Anakin and Obi-Wan visited so long ago, Mortis. She could never truly remember all of the events that happened there. Everything was foggy when it came to it, and she remembered certain parts. She remembers landing there, being held captive in the courtyard until Anakin saved her and Obi-Wan, being bitten by a creature…and then a large blank for most of the remainder.

Except for the part where Anakin was corrupted by the Son briefly before breaking out of it.

The thought of Anakin turning to the Dark Side, even not under his own power or right mind, was unheard of to Ahsoka. The man had a heart that he could fit the whole galaxy into. Yes, she's seen him lose his temper sometimes, especially around slavers or when a friend's life was in danger (The Zygerrian slavers and hunting "Rako Hardeen" come to mind instantly), but even as a former slave, he overcame and fought through to help others, including Ahsoka. He went through hell and back to make sure the real bomber was found, and would have walked through Mustafar barefoot for her or Obi-Wan. That's why it hurt that much to walk away from the Order, and him by association. He probably feels like she left him, maybe even betra—

"He does."

Ahsoka's eyes shot up immediately as the voice was heard. She looked around frantically, trying to find the source of the chilling voice.

"Who's there?" She demanded. Looking around the room and backing up to the door. She didn't remember any men on the ship when Bo brought her on board. Was it a saboteur? "Show yourself!"

Nothing. No one was in here with her. So why does the room feel so…cold?

"People will always assume the best in others…" The voice spoke from behind the door. Ahsoka opened it and rushed out into the cockpit, but no one was there.

Wait…no one was there.

Where was Bo-Katan and the others?

"…even when they have been swallowed whole by their own darkness, their own anger, their own fear." The voice continued. Ahsoka had her hands up ready for a fight, and slowly backed out of the cockpit. She should have felt herself keep walking, not feel a large body behind her. Ahsoka didn't even waste time after contact. She jumped around and did a flying kick, hoping to knock the man off balance.

She not only didn't do that, she didn't even hit him in the face. Ahsoka stumbled back, her leg feeling like it kicked concrete, and now she had a full, good look at the man, and started to worry. This man, whoever he was, was TALL, very much so. His head was almost touching the roof of the cockpit, and it wasn't exactly small. He was wearing dark clothing, and his eyes. They weren't human, and they didn't exactly look Sith, and yet, she could feel a dark cold emanating from the man. This man was sturdy and deadly from the look of him, and he was fully blocking the exit. Ahsoka narrowed her eyes, showing no fear.

"Who are you? Some kind of assassin?" Ahsoka asked, fists up and feet ready to move or dodge if needed. "And where is Lady Bo-Katan and the others? What did you do to them?"

The man merely smiled sadistically, looking down upon Ahsoka with an almost unimpressed look. This ticked off Ahsoka as she went forward and attacked him some more, hitting him in the face, but barely doing anything, not even getting him to move from his spot. The last punch Ahsoka tried to throw was blocked as the man grabber her wrist, and slowly lifted her upwards. Her arm screamed in pain as she was hoisted up to be in eye-contact with the man, staring into his reptilian eyes and seeing nothing but a pool of darkness in them.

"Tell me…what would you do if what you thought was true…was not?" The man asked. Ahsoka looked at him with a puzzled expression, still gritting her teeth at being hung by her wrist so tight. "Not simply a changed view, like your Order betraying you…"

What? How in the stars did he know about—

"A fundamental truth, thought to be changeless, constant…something you could believe in. Like the stars shining bright…your…'Force' being always with you…Your dear Master being incorruptible." He finished with a sinister smirk and a look in his eyes that makes Ahsoka physically ill.

He throws her with ease to the door to her quarters, landing with a thud. Ahsoka barely got to her knees as she saw the man's shadow on the floor below her.

"You think him pure, that despite his flaws, his temper, his anger, he will remain on the side of the Light? Is that true?" He asked.

Ahsoka looks up at him with a deep frown and furrowed brows.

"You don't know Anakin. He will always be there to protect us, even in his worse moments. He won't Fall, no matter what you plan on doing. You're insane if you think it's that easy to turn him, because he won't!" She defended. She's known him for years. She's lived under him for that same amount of time, and she knows him to be the best of them, despite what the Council thinks. Even when he gets angry, which…is a lot…

"Then clearly, you don't know him that well, either." The man declared. Ahsoka looked at him with a scandalized look.

"AND YOU DO? Who are you, and what do you want with him?" She demanded, back against the wall. She decided that maybe enough was enough, and tried to Force Push him to give her space from him. He didn't budge. At. All. Ahsoka's jaw nearly fell of its hinges when he just stared back like this was some kind of joke.

"All I truly want…is for you to see the truth. Do you know his past?" He asked, almost sincerely.

Ahsoka didn't want to answer him, she really didn't, but the words tumbled out anyway. "He was a slave, but he got free. What's it to you?"

The man raised his hand, which caused Ahsoka to go into a defensive stance. "Let me show you, then, what really is in his heart."

His hand emanated a bright glow, and suddenly, he thrusted the hand forward to Ahsoka's face and all she could see was white. Her eyes stung as she covered them. Soon, the bright white light gave way to a reddish-orange one, and it suddenly felt a lot hotter than it was before.

She opened her eyes to see that she was no longer on Bo's ship, but in a ring of fire. In the smoke, she could barely make out tents and camps, a small nomadic settlement being burnt to the ground around her, and people, men, women, and children, all crying out in agony, and being snuffed out. Ahsoka looked up at the descending suns to see where she…

Suns. Two suns. Twin suns.

She was on Tatooine. But…HOW? How did that guy…

"He never told you. He never told anyone, lest he be cast out or worse. Why would he, when he did what you deemed unthinkable?" She heard the man say, but she couldn't identify where he could be in the fiery blaze.

Suddenly, she heard a shout, much closer this time, and she turned to see a clear pathway through the fire, and to the person on the ground cowering at an unforeseen enemy. Maybe it was the man again! Ahsoka rushed over, trying to help the person who was begging for their life. She could have been seeing things, but she thought she saw the person wear a Tuskan Raider mask. Why was she—

She was only a few feet away when she saw the person floating, holding their neck as if they were being choked. Ahsoka skidded to a halt in confusion, and she turned to look at the person approach from the other side, and Ahsoka's heart stopped.

She almost didn't recognize him. He looked so young compared to when she last saw him. He wore tan Jedi robes, which was a stark contrast to what the man she called a brother wore, and he had BOTH hands. She almost didn't believe it was Anakin, that this was a trick, but that face was uncanny. That was the face she saw as a creche Youngling when the teachers would show holos of him mastering skills that should have been impossible for a Padawan of his age to learn, and motivated the children to push harder in their studies. Even with the short hair and Padawan braid, she KNEW that frown. It was the exact same one he had when he forced his way into the bar the night after Obi-Wan "died" and tracked down his killer. It was the same one when she watched him slaughter the Zygerrian slavers who took the Torgurtan colonists. It looked…just like…

He drew his hand back, and the helpless person flew back at the lightsaber Anakin had pointing at them. Ahsoka was paralyzed. She's seen her Master kill, but he's never had THAT look on his face, the face of merciless hate, and as she looked behind him, she saw a pathway of broken and ripped apart bodies of other Tuskans as well. Why—why would he—

This was fake. This must be some sort of Mortis-esqe trick. There's no way this was—

"Search your feelings. You KNOW it's true. Your Master…is a monster…and it will only get worse."

No, Ahsoka shook her head. She wouldn't fall for this. "You're lying! I won't fall for this scheme. Your vision is flawed. My Master would NEVER—"

"He did…" The man rebutted, and suddenly the fire rose around her, the destroyed village burned away around her as she was inside the eye of a fiery tornado.

"…he has…" Ahsoka heard voices, and images within the fire. All related to Anakin.

"There's no TIME for caution. My Padawan is trapped down there and SO IS PADME!...I mean, Senator Amidala."

"You saw them, Master. They were dying! We can't wait any longer! We have to go NOW!"

Ahsoka remembered that as when she, Padme, and some others were trapped in the bunker with the Blue Shadow Virus on Naboo. She understood why Anakin was impatient and wanted to help them, but she never knew how ANGRY he was…

Another image of him slowly approaching droids on a Separatist ship, chopping down droids with an angry expression reserved for only a few moments.

Ahsoka thinks that was when she was held hostage by Cad Bane when they tried to recollect a holocron stolen by him…

It flicked over to him, Mace, and Obi-Wan using a collective Mind Trick on the bounty hunter, as Ahsoka watched from the back. He flinched in pain as he fought back, and Anakin was more than willing to try again, a dangerous look in his eye…

It switched again to Anakin in a pilot's outfit heading to C-3PO. "Why isn't Padme with you?"

"She has been with Senator Clovis. She offered him a private tour of the Palace."

"AND YOU LET HER GO OFF WITH HIM?!" He exploded, anger coursing through him.

The scene switched over to him and Padme arguing. "How could you EVER put your trust in a man like…CLOVIS, after what he did?"

"It's for the Republic, Anakin. Something is very wrong with the banks…"

"Why is it that when Clovis is around, your excuse is always 'that you're doing it for the Republic?" He turned to stomp out of the…cell?

"Anakin, please…" She pleaded.

"You know, maybe I should just leave you here…" He said, looking threatening with a scowl on his face.

"Ani…"

"You've already been released in my custody. Now come with me before I change my mind." He declared angrily.

Something was wrong. Ahsoka has NEVER seen Anakin talk to Padme like that, ever. She knew they were in a relationship, the extent of which she didn't know, but that was not how Anakin acted around her. Why would—

The scene changed to Obi-Wan trying to talk to Anakin in his room about Padme and Clovis, but Anakin doesn't want to hear it, so Obi-Wan leaves. The scene changed once again to this…Clovis trying to make moves on the Senator, and Anakin comes in right on time. The look on his face is absolutely murderous, like nothing Ahsoka has ever seen. She watches as Anakin beats Clovis absolutely senseless, throwing him through furniture and using the Force to slam him to the ground. Even Padme could barely stop him from beathing Clovis to death, and the look of shame on Anakin's face after he calms down is sad.

The scene changes to just he and Padme. "

I know I went too far, it's just…it's just something inside me snapped." Anakin pleaded, trying to defend himself.

"I don't know who's in there sometimes. I just know I don't feel happy anymore. I don't feel safe."

"But, Padme…"

"I think it's best that we don't see each other anymore. At least, not for a while. I don't know if this marriage can continue, after what transpired tonight. I'm sorry, Ani…"

Ahsoka was absolutely floored. THEY WERE MARRIED!?!? She knew they loved each other, but…marriage? He's been hiding it from her, from Obi-Wan, from everyone for—

The scenes go rapidly now, as it shows Anakin choking Poggle the Lesser to get information on how to stop the brain worms attacking Ahsoka at the time, and lying to the other Jedi about it. It showed him killing the terrorist onboard the Concordia to stop him from destroying it, not looking a smidge guilty. Him shoving a lightsaber at a Zygerrian's name, choking the Queen to find out where his friends are, nearly killing "Rako Hardeen" on the spot, him going off on Obi-Wan for lying about his death, him threatening the guard to let him see Ahsoka in prison, him choking the life out of Ventress for information on where Ahsoka was, him raging against Barriss trying to capture her, him stabbing Trench in cold blood…

…and him killing Dooku as he kneel defenseless at the Chancellor's behest.

Ahsoka looked traumatized…and heartbroken. All of these things, she was there for some of them, even supported him for some of them, and from what she's seen, he's done even worse without her there. She never realized that he hid so much pain, would go to any length to save people, he was tiptoeing across the line of the Dark Side, and if he wasn't careful…

That settled it. She needed to find him. Fast.

But how could she get out?

As she pondered it, the fire-nado slowly dissipated, revealing a new location, an indoors location that was also engulfed in fire. It took Ahsoka only seconds to figure out where she was. She could walk the halls blindfolded if asked to. Ahsoka looked around to see the Jedi Temple, her former home, burning to the ground around her. Columns and statues were either fallen over or destroyed, debris was everywhere. All around her, she heard blaster fire, lightsabers swinging and hitting things, and people screaming. She found herself choking on the smoke accumulating around her. Was…was there an attack on the Temple?

"…and he will." She heard the man's voice say one more time.

She looked above her to see a part of the ceiling falling off and heading towards her. She jumped out of the way and landed on her stomach as the debris crashed behind her, sending dust and smoke over and her not being able to see for a moment. She got to her feet and stumbled around aimlessly for a moment, the fog too thick to make out. There was no fire to point her in a direction, but she heard voices, familiar ones from different Jedi she once knew…

"SKYWALKER! WHAT HAVE YOU DON—ARGH!"

"No, Anakin…please…"

"You have…doomed us all…"

"WE TRUSTED YOU!"

"The younglings…how coul—"

"YOU WERE MY BROTHER, ANAKIN!"

That last one, sounding betrayed, heartbroken, and seconds away from dying, was the distinct voice of Obi-Wan. Ahsoka was worried, and she ran in that direction.

All of this…this couldn't be…Anakin wouldn't….he had his issues with the Order, yes, but he still believed in it, still fought to protect the galaxy from the Sith. He…he wouldn't…

Ahsoka stumbled on something and tripped. She looked back to see what she stepped on and…oh.

OH FORCE ABOVE!

Master Plo. The Jedi who found her. The Jedi who saved her and brought her to the Temple. The Jedi that was like an elderly grandfather to her and used to play with her as a Youngling. She looked at his mangled corpse full of blaster bolts and laid dead at her feet. Ahsoka gasped and reeled back, and that was when she realized that her hands were feeling bodies, and she slowly stood up to see bodies all around her. Master Windu, Mundi, Secura, Fisto, Koth, Unduli, Ti, other Masters and Knights, and even…stars, the YOUNGLINGS! All of them piles on top of each other, all dead from blasters or lightsaber wounds. Her tears were falling freely now. Even though they initially turned their back on her, she still missed them. She knew that they were still good, that they were still her family, in a way. Who could do something this cruel?

She looked up and saw who it was, the fog long since passed to reveal darkness all around her except for a single light above focused on a single person.

She saw who it was…and her soul, her being, broke into pieces.

Obi-Wan lay dead at his feet, the stab wound on his chest still smoking. Above the body, Anakin looked down on another Jedi, a small one that Ahsoka knew from the first day she arrived at the Temple. The one who was considered the wisest among them, the oldest…lay helpless at Anakin's feet. Anakin had his lightsaber out, looking to slaughter the little Master. She noticed that is was no longer the bright blue that was associated with him, but blood red.

"Failed you, we have, young Skywalker." Yoda said sorrowfully.

"I should have known the Jedi would try and take over!" Anakin said angrily. Ahsoka saw that his eyes were fully yellow now, just like that of a Sith Lord.

"Anakin, evil, Chancellor Palpatine is!"

"From what I've seen, from everything I've experienced, the Jedi have been the true evil all along!" He raised his lightsaber, pointing it down at the helpless Jedi.

Yoda looked resigned to his fate, and closed his eyes. "Then…lost, you truly are."

Anakin yelled and dove the lightsaber deep into the heart of the Jedi. Ahsoka yelled in agony as she sunk to her knees and sobbed at the cruelty, crying at the loss of life, the loss of her family, the loss of her brother. Anakin…he WOULD do this. It lay bare, right in front of her, every bad thing he ever did, every dark urge he gave into, and now, it would come to THIS! But…why? What would drive him over the edge like this?

Anakin took the lightsaber out, and fell to his knees as well. He looked…defeated, like all of this didn't satisfy him, like he was almost sorry for all of this to happen as a tear of his own fell down his face. Ahsoka thought she was seeing things, as her own eyes were filled with tears, but she thought she saw his eyes return to his normal ocean blue. He looked around to see the miles of corpses he caused, and breathed in and out.

"I've done what you wanted, Master. Now…where is Padme? Is she safe? Is she alright?" He asked desperately.

Padme? No…don't tell her…was all this slaughter, was his Fall…because of Padme?

"It seems…" She heard a voice, deep and gravely, and from the accent and what Yoda said before dying, she had no doubt it was Palpatine, and now she knew, without a doubt in that exact moment, that he MUST be the Sith Lord they have been looking for all this time, right under their noses. It was all so clear now, why he preferred Anakin all this time, why he drove him away from missions, and from her and Obi-Wan, to speak privately. He must have been grooming him, all this time, without any of them knowing. Hell, he probably LOVED it when she was on trial, then. It would have meant she was out of the way and would have drove Anakin further down the Dark Path by blaming himself, and Palpatine taking advantage. She was going to make that sleemo pay, she promised Anakin and the galaxy of that.

But what did he promise to make Anakin Fall? Something about Padme?

"…that in your anger…you…killer her."

No…

Anakin looked like he didn't believe it, his eyes going wide and back immediately to yellow. His face contorted into multiple emotions, from disbelief, to anguish, to anger, to rage, sorrow, grief, guilt…

"No…no, it can't be! She was alive…I FELT IT!" The ground, and the corpses began to shake, and Ahsoka had to hold on to some of them tightly to keep her balance. Anakin has his head in his hands in fury and a kind of twisted torment she's rarely had the privilege of seeing. What was more…a dark aura surrounded Anakin, black and purple whisps coming off of him in droves. What was that? Was it…Anakin's darkness come to bear?

"NNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Anakin screamed, and the entire room shook, and darkness enveloped them all. A bright light emanated at Ahsoka's feet, and she noticed that the corpses were gone. The light was a large circle, perfectly round and made purely of white light. In its center was like a dark flame, filled with screams and Anakin's emotions in turmoil.

"The brightest light…causes even the largest of shadows…"

A new voice, one Ahsoka did not recognize, came into her mind.

"If not careful, if one goes too far into the light, they cannot see what is truly ahead…and the shadow will consume them whole."

The bright light gave way to a mural platform, stained glass containing an image while the dark fire still raged. Ahsoka looked down at what she could see from the mural. It was cast in red and orange. In front of her, she could make out a picture of Anakin, but half of him was cast in pure shadow, with a dark red eyehole in the place of his right eye, while the other half was his normal black Jedi robes, and his left eye was crying. On the sides to his left and right, there were images of Obi-Wan, Ahsoka, Padme, and Yoda looking downcast and sad, almost like they were in mourning. On the edges surrounding the farthermost parts of the circle were symbols that looked similar to the Republic's, but different, somehow. The feeling when she looked at them felt…sinister.

"That shadow…will come for you as well."

The dark pyre soon started to grow arms, and Ahsoka immediately stood up, ready to move. The fire grew and grew with the arms, and the little stubs for legs. The fire started to dissipate as it grew into a body…or most of one, as it had a large hole in the middle of its giant chest. Its head was cast in shadow, with long hair tendrils flowing around, and two beady yellow eyes bearing down upon her.

Ahsoka has never seen a creature like this, not once in her life. She started to back up from the creature, even tried to run as there was no way to defend herself. But as she stopped at the edge of the platform, she realized she had nowhere to go, and turned to see the giant stand at its full height, looking beyond opposing. Ahsoka had nowhere to run, nowhere to hide.

Was this thing…was this Anakin's darkness, taken form?

"But do not be afraid…you all have the means to defend yourself against the coming shadow…"

Ahsoka felt a sudden weight at her hips, and to her surprise and silent gratitude, her lightsabers, the ones she left behind when she left the temple, were right there where they would usually hang. She immediately got them out and ignited them, the long emerald blade and short yellow shoto blade being instantly familiar to her. However, the hilts of them looked…different. The ones she knew were the typical chrome silver, similar to all Jedi, but these were bright white, with hints of seafoam green. Ahsoka didn't know why, but they looked…familiar to her, somehow. She didn't have time to ponder the significance, though. She looked up at the monster, now determined to fight her way out of…whatever this was. She got into her fighting stance, a stance she knew by heart, and got ready for battle.

The large being lifted one of its clawed hands up, emanating a glow from it, and slammed it onto the platform. Ahsoka moved out of the way and noticed that his hand was submerged partially into the platform, with a dark pool surrounding it. Little black creatures spawned out of it, and headed straight for Ahsoka. She wasted no time dispatching them, making quick work of them with one or two slashes from her new lightsabers, that gave her some kind of power to combat this raging darkness. She rushed over the wrist of the creature still stuck in the platform, and started attacking it as well. The creature howled in pain as Ahsoka stabbed and struck the creature, and Ahsoka used all her pain, all her negative emotions, and drove them into laser-like focus on the monster…hoping she could forget everything she saw prior.

The beast jerked its hand back out of the ground, causing Ahsoka to stumble back and check to see what it would do next. The beast knelt down, and energy started to accumulate within the giant hole in its chest. Purple bolts shot out, and circled around to home in on the Torgrutan. Ahsoka dodged and deflected the bolts back, and continued striking at the creature, aiming for the hands, and using her lightsaber throw ability to aim for the head.

This went on for several minutes, with Ahsoka fighting back against this behemoth, while fighting her own battle within her, a battle of her emotions over the darkness she found in her Master, and what it would lead to if she didn't do something soon.

Ahsoka jumped back to fully face the creature after a short while, and right as she was about to go for another barrage…her lightsabers switched off. Ahsoka looked frantic as she tried to switch them back on, desperate to defend herself. She looked up just in time to see the giant's hand come down to crush her, and she tripped back to avoid it. She dropped her lightsabers, and they disappeared in a burst of light. Ahsoka was now all alone, with nothing to defend herself, against a monster.

A monster made by her own Master.

The giant fell down, shaking the whole area. The platform began to crack and splinter around. Ahsoka saw that the platform was giving way and some pieces were falling into the abyss below. She thought she heard voices.

"Anakin…you're breaking my heart."

"Gone…the boy you knew…"

"Arise…Lord Vader…"

"YOU WERE THE CHOSEN ONE!"

"Master Skywalker, what are we going to do…?"

"Ahsoka, why did you leave? Do you know…what I've become?"

"I HATE YOU!"

Ahsoka cried a little at the last one. Was this…did her leaving have something to do with this? She never meant for this to be about leaving him. She just needed to leave because she couldn't trust the Order. It didn't mean she didn't trust him. This was all her fa—

She felt something grab her wrists and ankles, and she looked to her horror, to see dark tendrils latch onto her, and darkness started to envelope her as the large creature looked on. Ahsoka struggled with all her might, trying to drag herself away, but to no avail. She felt like she was sinking, about to be swallowed whole…

"…don't be afraid."

She turned over to look at the monster's face slowly peering closer at her.

Even in the darkest depths, one can still be pulled out into the light. You just have to believe…

Darkness started to engulf her vision. She closed her eyes for what she thought was the final time.

"You were right about me. Tell your…you were right…"

"You can save Anakin Skywalker. After all, you NEED him to help open the door…"

---

"Ahsoka?! AHSOKA CAN YOU HEAR ME!? WAKE UP!!" Bo shouted, trying to get her new friend to calm down and wake from whatever nightmare she was going through. It was only a few minutes after she went to her quarters and tried to recollect herself because of some weird feeling in the Force that knocked her off balance. Bo thought it was strange but Jedi had their ways, so she let it slide. She agreed to help her liberate Mandalore, and Bo saw how skilled she was, so she left it at that. But later, she heard murmuring coming from the room…followed by screaming. LOUD screaming. Bo rushed in to see her looking like she was struggling for her life, caught in some twisted nightmare. Bo has been trying everything to get her to come back to reality, from shaking to yelling to even slapping her a little. She was about to get a shot of adrenaline to see if that might work until Ahsoka shot up from the bed, landed on the floor in front of them, and panted like she ran a marathon. Bo and Ursa looked at each other with no idea of what was going on.

"A—Ahsoka?" Bo said cautiously, not wanting to startle her. "Are you okay? What happened?"

Ahsoka slowly sat up and trembles slightly, her eyes trailing tears as she looked like her whole world just crumbled around her. Bo had no idea what she just saw, but it looked like it nearly killed her.

Slowly, she turned to Bo, looking desperate. "I need to call Anakin. Now. The galaxy depends on it."

---

Obi-Wan watched as Anakin floated in the bacta tank, the scars visible now that his robes and pants were off looking much worse than they realized. He slowly rubbed his eyes as he looked tiredly at the rest of the medbay. The injured from the attack in the hanger were being treated as well, and knowing Helix and Kix, they were either going to calmly ask Kenobi to lie down to let them check on him, or they were going to sedate him to do it. He knows better by now than to argue with them. They may be even scarier than the Sith sometimes.

But, his worry for Anakin prevailed against compliance. He looked at him with a concerned expression, trying to figure out what had happened while they were trapped inside. He was also trying to figure out what was happening in GENERAL. Those creatures…they were unlike anything he had ever seen. Were they part of the darkness that were attacking planets like what the Council mentioned? Was that man in the cloak Anakin was fighting the reason behind this? Was this all Force-related, or something else? Whatever exhaustion or fatigue that Obi-Wan had before all of this was gone, cast aside in favor of figuring out this mystery, for his friend and for the galaxy at large.

He already knew it was Rex walking up to him before he even bothered to feel him in the Force. "How is he, sir?"

Obi-Wan sighed. "He will live, but the wounds are severe. Burn marks, internal and external bruising and swelling on the inside and outside of his body, that's not even mentioning if he received any brain damage or if that mystery man performed any sort of psychological Force trick on him."

"Who is he, General? Who hurt our Jedi?" Rex asked lowly. It was no secret that the clones were fiercely loyal to their assigned Jedi. They were always there to protect them, no matter the cost, and the fact that they weren't there to protect Anakin meant that they were all burning up in the Force, wanting to exact revenge on behalf of Anakin and prevent it from happening again. He could feel all the members in the 501st in the medbay turn their heads toward them at the mention of who the person was.

"I haven't a single clue right now, Rex…but we will find out. I promise."

Rex may not have looked satisfied with that answer, but he took comfort in knowing that they would waste no effort in finding the culprit. Soon after, Cody's voice crackled on his wrist comm.

"General Kenobi, you have a call on the holo. I think you need to see this."

Great. Another call. He'd rather be here when Anakin wakes up, regardless of how long it would take, but duty was duty, after all. "Thank you, Cody. I'll be up there shortly."

Taking one last look at the broken state of his friend, he reluctantly turned to leave the medbay. Rex stayed behind, probably to take Obi-Wan's watch until he returned. Good man, that Rex.

Obi-Wan took a moment to collect himself and his thoughts, and to compose himself. Can't have whoever was calling him to see him in such a frazzled state, regardless of who it was or the attack on them prior. Who was calling them again? Cody didn't mention the Council…

He sauntered in with his usual Kenobi flair. "Alright, Commander. What's so important that I have to—"

Whatever words were about to spill out of Obi-Wan's mouth died in his throat.

They didn't stop. They didn't pause. They just died.

Because right on the holo was the blue image of a distraught and scared Ahsoka Tano, and right next to her was a concerned Bo-Katan Kryze, the sister of the woman he loved and lost to Maul.

Obi-Wan blinked several times, any composure he had completely lost as he looked shocked to see either of them again, let alone together. Millions of thoughts ran through his head as to why they were calling. Maybe Ahsoka was being kidnapped and held for ransom. Maybe they were attacked too, by either the darkness or whatever just attacked them. Maybe Maul was after them too, trying to end the Kryze line just to spite Kenobi more. Maybe she just wanted to see him and Anakin again.

Millions of replies went through Obi-Wan's head as well, greetings, questions, concerns…

An apology for not doing enough for his Grandpadawan…

"…General?" Cody asked, seeing the pause take too long.

Obi-Wan snapped out of whatever stupor he was in, and found his voice again.

"Ahsoka. Bo. My apologies…I didn't expect to hear from either of you, especially at the same time. What's wrong? Ahsoka, are you okay?" He asked, seeing her tired and almost hopeless expression.

Bo spoke up, "We don't know. I invited her to help liberate Mandalore from Maul. She agreed, but then she had this strange feeling in the Force. Something about 'darkness all around us.' She went to lie down…and we found her having what might be the worst nightmare anyone's ever had. She was screaming bloody murder, having spasms, crying…when she woke up, she wanted to call Anakin Skywalker and you. She said the galaxy depended on it."

Obi-Wan left the Maul on Mandalore bit for later. Right now, he was more concerned about Ahsoka, and how she had an experience sensing this darkness as well. And a dream of that magnitude, making her do all of that…did she have a vision of some sort?

What was the galaxy depending on? Did it have something to do with Anakin?

"Ahsoka, are you okay? Did you have a vision? I need you to calm yourself and tell me everything you saw. Does this have anything to do with Anakin?"

Ahsoka breathed in and out slowly, voice trembling as she spoke, and Obi-Wan realized how long it's been since he last heard her speak. Her usually chipper voice was replaced with a saddened, sore one. "Where's Anakin? I…I need to see him, Master."

Obi-Wan's heart nearly broke. How was he going to explain this? "Ahsoka…Anakin is…he's alive, but he's not doing well. Right before you called, we had an attack on our base. Anakin received critical injuries from an unknown assailant."

Ahsoka's eyes shot up wider than he's ever seen. "Who? Did he have white hair? Long coat? His eyes…were they reptilian blue? You couldn't miss it!!"

Obi-Wan rubbed his beard at this. A very detailed description of a man he's never seen before. "No, Ahsoka. This man wore a long black coat with a hood. We couldn't identify him. The only person who could was Anakin and…well, we can't reach him right now. Ahsoka, who is this man you speak of? Has he attacked either of you?"

"We don't know. Ahsoka mentioned him in her 'vision,' claiming she saw things about Anakin…things that will happen to him, and will affect the galaxy if something isn't done." Bo explained.

Obi-Wan pondered that information carefully. Anakin was the Chosen One, the one who would bring balance to the Force as it has been prophesized. Lately, the galaxy has been growing closer and closer to destruction than ever before, and that was before this darkness business popped up. Now, they were attacked by forces beyond any of their understanding, leaving Anakin injured in a way he hasn't been in a while, and now Ahsoka had a vision about him and his fate.

He had a BAD feeling about this.

"Ahsoka…what did you see? What happened to Anakin in your vision?" Obi-Wan asked carefully.

"I—I can't say over this channel. It's too open to say this out loud and in detail. They'll hear us, I know it. I need to see you both. I need to save Anakin!"

"From what? I can give you the coordinates to where we are, and we can discuss it further, if you like, but Ahsoka…what happened to Anakin in your vision?" He asked almost desperately, eager for answers of his own.

Ahsoka looked worried, almost sick as she looked like she recollected her vision. She whispered so lowly Obi-Wan could barely hear her. "I—I think I know who Darth Sidious is…and what he's going to do to Anakin…"

The comm shut off after that, and Obi-Wan fell on the floor flat on his butt, feeling like the world just came tumbling down. Cody came to check him…but Obi-Wan, after everything, finally looked as tired as he felt…

Dear Force, what did that bastard want with his brother?

Obi-Wan didn't know if any of this was real…or not…

---

Maul felt a darkness he was not used to. A darkness that he cannot say he enjoyed…at the moment.

He sits on the throne of his own palace of a planet he subjugated not long ago, the greatest achievement in his life thus far. But the victory felt empty, as it cost him a great many things. In fact, learning the ways of the Force cost him a great many things, as well…

He remembers being taken by that monster all those years ago, when he was but a child. He remembers the beatings, the pain, the torture it took to mold Maul as a perfect weapon, an agent of rage and chaos for the Sith, and for a time, he thought he was perfect. His Master would provide for him, that he would be by his side when the Sith finally took their revenge.

Then Kenobi happened. And he ruined everything.

He was so inconsequential back then, Maul foolishly thought him as insignificant. Especially after he killed his Master, so weak and feeble, right in front of him. Maul was arrogant enough in his youth to believe that because his Master was so easy to kill, Kenobi would be even easier, and that his Master would be pleased at their slaughter. He never expected the young Kenobi to fight with such ferocity, even with his dead Master, and soon he found himself falling with half of his body sliced off, thought to be dead. In a way…Maul wished he was.

He spent so many long years in torment, his psyche damaged beyond compare. It was only the pure rage and the Force that kept him going, that kept him alive for so long. He was resigned to live life as a crazed hermit, killing anything and everything in his way. Until his brother, his one link to his life before the Sith found him. He brought the crazed Zabrak back to his dear Mother, and she used her dark magic to bring back his mind, his conscious, from the depths of insanity.

With his mind returned, and a new pair of legs bestowed upon him, he took Savage Oppress as his new apprentice, and set off to wreak havoc upon a galaxy ravaged by a war conducted by his Master, who apparently forgot about him. Maul's first target: the man who took everything from him. He lured Kenobi to him and promptly beat him for hours. It was barely anything that could compare to the torment he put Maul through, but it felt good nonetheless. Had the witch not intervened, he could have went for DAYS making Kenobi squeal before putting him out of his misery.

He realized, however, that the best way for revenge was not death. Death was too easy, and it would only cease their suffering, and Maul wanted Kenobi to feel pain he's never felt before. He got his chance to do just that, when he used the Death Watch to conquer Mandalore and lured Kenobi in once again. He had him dragged on his knees as he watched helplessly as he plunged the darksaber into the heart of the one person he ever truly loved. The look of hopeless grief and anguish on his face as she died in his arms…the feeling of loss in the Force…it was absolute bliss. Somehow, Kenobi managed to escape, but it was fine. He would live the rest of his life in squalor, in agony that he could do nothing as his loved ones die around him.

He thought it would be fine, then. That he and Savage could finally prepare to become even more powerful, more notorious in the galaxy. He was wrong.

Sidious did return to him, but not in the way he expected. No, he came to kill them both, that he was no longer part of his plan…that he was REPLACED. Maul had been a fool. He should have known that the Sith were backstabbing traitors, as he was taught that practice by Sidious himself. There was tragic irony in Maul watching his own brother die as he was helpless to stop it, and in that moment, all the rage and hate accumulated for Kenobi transferred itself solely onto Sidious, and he wanted him to suffer for everything. They fought, but it was for naught, as Sidious toyed and beat him within an inch of his life. He had Maul captured and would have used him for more sadistic purposes, but he was rescued by his loyal Death Watch soldiers.

The last few days were a blur, a mixture of running from captivity, and being captured and meeting Sidious's lackeys, including that mechanical monstrosity for a general, and apparently, Maul's replacement. An old man with a grudge against the Jedi. Pathetic. This cycle continued until he was cornered on his homeworld with his mother, and all three of his enemies came to end them. He and Talzin fought valiantly, but in the end, Talzin fell to save Maul, and he fled to Mandalore with his tail between his legs.

Sidious, apparently, thought the business was done, that Maul was now a nuisance that could be dealt with at a later date, an afterthought…a nobody. That burned Maul even more, that after everything they have been through, for all the blood flowed and spilt in the name of the Sith, he was a mere puppet for that man. Ever since, Maul's been lurking in the shadows, waiting and watching through his criminal network he accumulated since returning to the land of the living with Savage, and he's grown into a fearsome kingpin. Adequate, but not enough. Not even close enough compared to Sidious, and that infuriated him more.

However, Maul had a plan forming, one that would prove to not only make Sidious's plans blow up in his face, but yet another plan to make Kenobi suffer, but for his own good this time. Through his own memory of his former Master's plan, his spy network, and his own deduction, Maul has figured out that the Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan's own Padawan, is being groomed to being the next, and greatest tool, in Sidious's arsenal. In fact, Maul figured out that this war, and so many of his carefully laid plans, revolved around the prospect of making the young man Fall to him, right under the idiotic Order's nose. Maul briefly remembers seeing him as a young child on Tatooine when he was sent to kill Kenobi and his Master years ago, and had he known the significance and importance of that child for his Master's plans, he would have slayed him then and there. However, this discovery was the break Maul needed to finally strike at Sidious, and hit him where it hurts. The plan was simple. Maul knew deep down that Kenobi would never stay away for long. He would come to him with an army large enough to take several systems, just to be sure he can do the job this time. Only this time, however, he KNOWS he'll bring Skywalker with him, either being brought with him, or Anakin going regardless of Kenobi's denying him coming out of risk of losing him to Maul too. Maul will let them come in, and let them know about Sidious, since they're too kriffing dense to figure it out for themselves, and what he plans to do with Skywalker. Maul would either tell Kenobi to help kill the boy, denying his Master and saving the galaxy from his machinations, and finally break Kenobi by making HIM slay his loved one with no other choice…or he chooses not to, and Maul will simply kill them both. Works either way for him.

At least, it would, before he started sensing a disturbance in the Force. One that indicated that darkness was creeping all around him.

He is intimately familiar with Sidious's Force signature. It is cruel, cunning, calculating, filled with hate and malice, and he can still feel it in the back of his mind. A constant reminder of his pain and fear, and how he would do literally anything to get rid of it. He knew the darkness Sidious emanated, so that's why it gave Maul pause when he felt a new kind of darkness in the Force, and how quickly it grew. This darkness was a different kind of cold…not death, but similar, like a void that sucks in everything in its path. He wasn't even sure if this was the true Dark Side of the Force, and that both confused and intrigued him. Was this yet another of his Master's schemes come to play? What is its purpose? Is it coming for him?

"Oh, this feeling…such dark and violent feelings. Is this your doing, Master, you cowardly scum?" He muttered to himself.

"You think you can come and take me too? Well, I will take something from you. I will take your prize you've sought for so long, make your years long plan crumble at your feet. Then, you won't have a choice but to come here and face me for revenge…and I'll be waiting. When I'm through with you, there will be nothing in my way. I will be the most powerful Sith in the galaxy! I will make them all tremble before me…just like you promised so long ago." He continued with disdain at the memory.

"Ah, so it's the REVENGE schtick you got going on, huh?"

Maul immediately leapt from his throne, dual-bladed lightsaber in hand.

"WHO SAID THAT? WHO GOES THERE?" He ignited the dual crimson blades, ready to cut down the intruder on sight.

"Woah! Easy there, horny. Sheesh, that guy was right. You've got enough rage and anger on you to give ol' Ares a run for his drachmae. I think I can use that…"

"Enough nonsense! Come out and face me, or I will make you suffer when I find you!" Maul growled.

"PFFFT HAHA! Oh, okay. You're gonna make ME suffer. That—that's rich. Really, good stuff. Pal, I know that you're new on the concept of 'immortals' and 'gods' and 'titans' and all that, but here's the thing. You can't make me suffer anything. In fact…"

A pillar of black smoke rose in front of Maul, causing him to immediately get into a defensive stance. The smoke dissipated, and being appeared into view…

"…I'm the guy in charge of making people suffer! Kinda my job, really."

Maul took the man in with an inquisitive stare. In his life, he's seen and slaughtered many a man and creature. His instincts tell him he shouldn't be surprised by anything, and yet…he found himself wondering just what the KRIFF he was seeing right now. The man in front of him was a sight to see. He was blue in skin color, almost like that of a Pantoran, but as he looked up at his head, he didn't have hair…or perhaps he did, and the fire was taking its place. Fire. This man had fire blazing on the top of his head, and he was acting like it was nothing serious. His eyes were yellow, his teeth sharp and ragged, his fingers long and pointy, and he was wearing a long, dark robe that didn't look like any Sith garments Maul had ever seen. Whatever this man was or what he represented was a mystery to the Zabrak.

Maul wasn't exactly a fan of the unknown.

He promised that he would make him suffer, and damn it, who was he to back out now? Maul leapt forward, killer instincts kicking in, and proceeded to try and stab the person in the heart. Autopsy reports could be much more informative than interrogations sometimes. Unfortunately, as Maul looked at the blade going through the man's chest, he saw that the guy was literally unfazed by this, like he didn't feel anything at all.

The man sighed. "Really? Is this how you people greet each other, or something?"

Maul, furious, tried again, slashing and stabbing the man in all areas, either missing because the man's body created black smoke at the marks of contact, or him connecting and the man just not caring. He was getting incensed as the man just gave a snarky smirk and rolled his eyes.

"Why. Won't. You. DIE?"

"Alright, this is cute and all, but I've got some business to take care of back home, so can we just speed this along?" The man asked as he proceeded to twack Maul away with just his finger, sending him back a ways.

"Believe me, on any other day, I'd be more than happy to send you down the River Styx for trying to pull that little stunt, but today, I'm feeling a bit more…what's the word? Um…cherry? Chumper—AH! Charitable! That's it. I'm feeling just a smidge charitable today, so good news for you: I'm not gonna roast you like a Trojan barbeque. You're welcome."

Maul got back up, lightsaber already in hand. "What are you blabbering about? Who—or what—are you? Are you the cause of this darkness surrounding the galaxy?"

The man just laughed. "There you go. Finally, we're getting somewhere. And yeah, that darkness…well, kinda. See, it's not technically 'ours,' that darkness is just…kinda everybody's, but we just opened the curtains and let it all out. Don't worry. You'll catch on soon. So, about me…" The man disappeared in another pillar of smoke, and reappeared next to Maul, startling him greatly. "The name's Hades, pal. Lord of the Underworld, keeper of souls, punisher of sinners, yadda yadda. Gets kinda samey the more titles you get, you know. Basically, I'm the guy in charge of making the dead stay dead, and I've been doing it for just…the LONGEST time, honestly, and you know the really funny thing about it? It's just hilarious, honestly, you're gonna love it. See…" The man, Hades, then turned violently red and grew just a tad taller, and Maul actually looked a little intimidated as his hair-fire turned blazing hot red as well. "I DIDN'T EVEN WANT THAT STUPID GIG! I HAD IT THROWN MY WAY BY MY STUPID, NO GOOD, LOUSY, SNOBBY, SON OF A—" Hades started to breathe slowly, causing him revert back to his normal blue. "I'm cool, I'm cool. Sorry, I get just a TAD worked up talking about it."

Maul looked absolutely stunned at what he was seeing and hearing. It almost made him think he was dreaming it up, the sheer absurdity and strangeness of the situation. Still, one thing Hades said intrigued him. "Lord…of the Dead?"

Hades perked up. "Nuh-ah-ah. Lord of the Underworld, but I mean…yeah, same difference. See, I am stuck day and night, for literally an eternity, breaking my back," He said as enunciated with a loud crack of his back, "and working by fingers to the bone," his hands become comically skeletal, until fire engulfs them and turns them back to normal, "doing my job, and let me tell you, all things considered, I think I'm doing a good job of it, you know, but the other gods, ESPECIALLY MY BROTHER, think that it's no big deal, like managing the dead souls of the world is all apples and dates. I have the hardest job in all of our existence, while that lightning lout and his deity circus up there are living it up on Mt. Olympus partying non-stop while the mortals they 'care' about struggle and wither and die, and then they get sent to me, and then it's just more papyrus-work for me, and…*sigh*."

He turns back to Maul. "Basically, I feel underappreciated, my peers are absolutely useless…and I want some payback."

Maul took all of this in, and he was extremely skeptical. He really didn't believe any of the stuff this…Hades was spouting, of gods and souls and whatever else he had cooked up. But, what kept him interested was revenge. Apparently, Hades wanted revenge on something, and here Maul was talking about claiming his revenge moments before this figure arrived. Perhaps this was a chance meeting?

And also, if what he says is true, even thought it is more likely not…if he controls the souls of the dead…could that mean…

"So, you claim to be a god?" Maul asks, deactivating his lightsaber, but still holding his defensive stance for the moment. He knows not to trust anyone.

Hades looked exasperated. "WHAT? WHAT DID I JUST SAY? WERE YOU NOT—Ugh, right. Got it. Not from 'round these parts. Okay. Let me preface this all with this little bombshell. Pay attention, because this one's KINDA important. Here we go—I. Am. From. Another. World."

"What does that matter? There are thousands of worlds in the galaxy."

"No, no, that's not how that works where I'm from, buddy. How can I put this? Ah, got it! How about I'm from another 'galaxy' entirely, and I know a bunch of other people from other 'galaxies' as well, huh? You didn't think you were the only ones hanging around, did you?"

Maul raised his brow, but his suspicion still remain. "What do you mean? What other people?"

"Ah, finally. We're at this part now. Took you long enough!" Another teleport, this time on the throne. Hades lay there sleazily while Maul silently burned at the transgression, but couldn't do a thing about it. "There's this club I'm a part of right now. Granted, I don't really NEED to be hanging out with those losers. Let me tell you, Jason and the Argonauts, these chuckleheads are NOT, you know what I'm saying? Anyway, I wouldn't have even bothered to give any of them the second glance…until one guy came to me with an offer I just couldn't refuse."

Maul listened, keen on finding out more information on these other 'worldly' beings. "Go on."

"Well, Silverlocks says to me: 'Hey Hades, there's this thing called…''Kingdom Hearts'' that's supposed to contain the heart of literally all the worlds in existence. If we can find all the different stuff that unlocks it, you can have the ability to control all of our worlds.' And that got me thinking: I don't HAVE to wait two more years for a bunch of cosmic malarky to get my revenge. If I can gain control of my own world, I'll have my revenge on all those pathetic gods in spades. I'll torture them so bad, it'll make Pandora's box look like a Peloponnesian spa day!"

Maul hadn't the slightest idea on what Hades was referring to, but what he just said about this "Kingdom Hearts" and the ability to control worlds…was that actually true? How would that even be possible?

Hades turned to Maul. "And THAT is where you come in, hothead. Apparently, that same guy has had an eye on you for a while now, and wants you to join up. Come be a part of our little timeshare we got going on, it'll be fun! We can sit back, do each other's…I'd say hair, but…" Hades slicked back his fiery hair "…you know, and most importantly…we can have all our worlds right where we want them. At least, that's what the guy said."

Maul found himself pacing as Hades spoke. "So you DON'T know if this plan of yours even works? You don't know if they even speak the truth? Forget it, every single thing you've said sounds like nothing but lies and absolute nonsense. I'll get my revenge on my own accord. Go back to whatever pit you came from." Maul turned to leave, intent on getting guards to clean out the filth for him, when another pillar of black smoke appeared, and an angry looking Hades appeared in front of him, red and all.

"YOU ARE VERY LUCKY THAT I'VE BEEN TOLD TO KEEP YOU ALIVE, CUPCAKE, BECAUSE OTHERWISE, I'D GIVE YOU A PUNISHMENT SO BAD, IT'll EVEN MAKE PROMETHEUS WINCE!" He shouted angrily. Maul jumped back and snarled, getting his lightsaber back out for another fight, however pointless it may be.

Hades took a little longer to calm down this time, but managed to revert back to blue. "Okay, so you don't believe in Kingdom Hearts. Well, as misguided as that is for you, it looks like you need some other type of…motivation."

"If you think you can control me, you'll find it to be very…" Maul ignited his lightsaber. "…difficult."

Hades wheezed and laughed. "Oh, you little devil, if I wanted to have you on a pair of strings…" He used his hands to conjure up a child's toy version of Maul on puppet strings. "…I'd have done WAY sooner." The toy disappeared. "But, I have my instructions, and after seeing what ol' SilverBlade can do, even I'm not up to THAT challenge…not yet, anyway."

Hades looked out the window of the palace, marveling at the wide city of Mandalore below. "You know, where I come from, all our mortals only know how to build with rocks and stones and clay and whatever their filthy little hands can come up and build with. But here…*whistles* you have everything. And this is just only ONE planet here, isn't it?"

"Mandalore is my domain. I took it with my own power, and its people are loyal to me."

"Not bad, Alexander the Great Junior. But if I know you like I'm thinking I do, I bet you don't just wanna stop with this place, do you? I speak from experience when I tell you that no matter how much space you got, you always want more, am I right?"

Maul found himself silently agreeing with him, even though he would no way show it to him. "Is there a point you are trying to make?"

Hades popped up next to him, putting an arm around his shoulder. "I'm saying that if you're that good at conquering, what's stopping you from doing more of it, huh? You got yourself an army every Spartan back home would kill for! So what exactly is stopping you? There's something holding you back? Maybe…something you're scared of…or someone."

Maul pushed his way past the god. "Enough!"

Hades pressed on. "Nope, hold on. We're near a breakthrough here. I heard you rambling on about a 'Master,' right?" Maul stopped in his tracks, trying hard to maintain composure at the mention of his former Master. Hades saw this as a home run. "There we go. So, whoever this guy is, you know he can stop you whenever he wants, huh? Kinda like Zeus and me. Let's see…what did Silver say about you again? You had just the worst childhood. Even Oizys would have taken pity on you, pal. If my memory serves me correctly, you've been…kidnapped as a child, beaten and tortured by an old geezer, cut in LITERAL HALF, drove insane, couldn't quite kill the man who CUT YOU IN HALF, betrayed by the Master you wanted to impress as he killed your brother right before your very eyes, captured and tortured again, watched your mommy die…anything I'm missing so far?"

Maul yelled ferociously as he threw his lightsaber spear-like at Hades' body, passing threw him and dropping to the floor with a plop from the wall behind him. Hades just smirked. "I'll take that as a 'no.'"

Maul paced and growled. "All my life, I have been a puppet at the hands of my Master, I've been loyal to him for years, gave him everything that my power could offer. And he cast me aside like I was nothing! He is a traitor, a schemer, a man who cares for no sentient life whatsoever. I promise to make him pay for everything he's ever done to me, and I would make it slow for him, let him feel my anguish, my torment…and I know just how to do it." Maul breathed, his rage brimming within in.

"Well, don't keep me in suspense, my red hot petunia! What's that revenge plan of yours?" Hades asked, looking eager to hear it.

"There is a boy, a child destined to be the greatest of the Jedi, prophesized to bring balance to the Force itself. He is the most powerful Force user in the galaxy, but he's also ever so close to Falling to the Dark Side. My Master has been grooming him, sowing seeds of mistrust in him to make him hate everything he stands for, and Sidious would enslave him into everlasting servitude, just like he did to me."

Hades took this all in. "Huh. Sounds like my kinda guy. Continue."

"I plan on bringing Skywalker here, along with Kenobi, the man who is the bane of my existence. I will either force Kenobi to help me kill Skywalker, denying my Master of his precious prize and saving the boy from a fate worse than death…or I just kill them both, and I will finally be free of this burden once and for all." Maul stated and closed his eyes. Killing Kenobi would definitely make him feel a lot better, but even then, with Sidious still alive, it would be a hollow victory, even with Skywalker's death.

And even more so, killing Sidious would be great, finally killing the ghost that haunts every fiber of his being, but it would still do nothing to bring back—

"Sounds great and all, but let's be honest: killing some chumps who wronged wouldn't bring back THEM, would they?" Hades finished that thought for him, using both hands to conjure up small versions of Savage Oppress and Mother Talzin. Maul flinched at the sight of them, feeling guilty for their deaths.

Wait…Hades mentioned that he was the keeper of souls.

"You mentioned that you were the ruler of your 'Underworld?' That you watch and maintain the souls that pass on? Is…is my mother there? My brother?" He asked, and for a moment, it sounded like the tiniest bit of hope was in his voice.

Hades smiled sadistically, seeing his big opening. "Alright, buddy. Here's my ultimatum. Refuse, I leave you here and you get to be swallowed whole by the darkness treating this little galaxy like its own personal buffet, just like everybody else here. Accept, and we help make your wildest dreams come true, and more." Hades said, full businessman mode on display. "I AM the keeper of souls, and guess what? Every soul that has ever died ends up on MY doorstep. Now, there's been a COUPLE of times I've made bargains in the past with the occasional hero or cocky twat who wanted to save a loved one so dearly missed, and there's even fewer occasions where I've actually let them have them back…but it has happened. So here's the big deal, one time only, just for YOU. Help us take Kingdom Hearts, and you get your world and everything that encompasses it. No strings attached, AND…if you're willing to help me take over the pantheon and drive my fellow idiot gods down to MY level, and help me conquer all of Olympus…I may be charitable enough to let you have your mommy and brother back, and you can all live as a happy family in a galaxy YOU have control over."

Maul's eyes went wide, and he carefully pondered the implications of the offer. If he accepts, and all of this is true, he can finally right the wrongs that were caused by Sidious, see his family again, and finally have what has been denied to him for so long. But what did he mean by the darkness swallowing him whole? Who were the others who joined Hades? Who is this 'Silver' he keeps mentioning that apparently knows his life story?

Other than that, there was still one glaring hole in the deal that needed to be addressed. "What of Sidious? Will he be destroyed by this 'darkness' as well?"

"Yep. We don't really need Old Man Wrinkles for our plan. You should be happy about that, except for the fact that you won't get that long awaited revenge you wanted. Believe me, if I had a heart, it would go out to you, because I know EXACTLY the feeling of delivering just desserts. So, I'm gonna sweeten the deal, and give you the next best thing." Hades used his power to conjure up three more small figures with his hands, and Maul's eyes blazed with anger.

In Hades hands were Obi-Wan, Anakin Skywalker, and his little brat of a Padawan he had as well.

"Don't ask me why cuz I don't know, but apparently, these three are going to be the only ones that make it out of this dark takeover somewhat unscathed. Now, since you can't pierce the heart of the main reason you've been sour all your life, but I can give you the opportunity to exact revenge on the SECOND reason you've been sour all your life. He and his peanut gallery are all yours…IF you come with me." He made the three disappear and used his hands to summon a dark portal near in the center of the room. Maul looked extremely skeptical to step into something like THAT, but considering his options, how this galaxy's days were apparently numbered, the prospect of erasing Sidious from existence, controlling the galaxy, and seeing his lost ones again…

And Kenobi…

"If this is nothing but a trick, I will do everything in my power to end your life, or whatever form of existence you possess. Do I make myself clear?" Maul said, malice dripping from his voice.

"Uh-huh. Sure, you can certainly try it, but let's be honest: you've already made up your mind, haven't you?" Hades said, ushering him in. Maul breathed and looked determined, hesitantly stepping into the portal and disappearing in the darkness. Hades stayed back to reflect briefly.

"Hmph. Maybe I should've mentioned that my Underworld holds all the souls that die IN MY WORLD…but he just seemed so eager to join after I said that, didn't he? Besides, he could prove VERY useful on my ascent to Olympus, and if he objects…welp, I've taken souls for much less. Hehehe…"

With that, the god of the underworld stepped through the portal as well, and it disappeared from sight, like it was never there at all.

Later that night, when Gar Saxon, head of the Death Watch under Maul, came to give him a list of disturbing reports from his spies across the galaxy about dark creature consuming entire worlds, he found that his leader wasn't there at all. He immediately ordered a search of Mandalore to find him, but he was never found…

---

And that will conclude today's chapter. So many things have happened, the Heartless have already been eating away at the Star Wars Galaxy, and the Organization makes an early appearance; all for Anakin, who we saw get his butt kicked by Xemnas, while his Nobodies kept Obi-Wan and the Clones busy while Sephoirth has a chat with Ashoka which the latter battle's a Darkside.

And the fact that Hades convinced Maul to join their cause under the guise that he could bring his family back... which Maul doesn't know Hades couldn't do even if he wanted to, but let's face it, it's totally in his character to do this.

And in case anyone is wondering, the "force fields" in this chapter are supposed to represent the barriers that prevent us from leaving or in this case, entering a boss battle. And the mural similar to Sora's dream, but darker. Half of Anakin is normal and crying, while the other dark half represents Vader. The others faces are saddened and in mourning. The other symbols are stormtrooper helmets and the top, bottom and sides are the Imperial logo.

Now next time, we see the villains make a new recruit as well as what Cloud and his Final Fantasy crew has been up to. You know, before the events of ReBirth would have taken place. Anyways, I hope you enjoyed the chapter, be sure to leave a review. And if you haven't already, be sure to leave a fav. and follow. Okay, just two more prologues before we get into the first act of the story. So until then, see ya real soon and may the Force be with you!