Avengers: Infinite Wars

by free man writer

The Clone Wars are in full swing with the galaxy divided. The Jedi lead the clone army against the infinite droid army of the Separatists. Yet a wild card enters the fray. The Avengers. From there, newer, more sinister and deadlier threats emerge and The Galaxy, no, the universe, shall never be the same again. Co-written by Jebest4781 and BulletStormX. Now in Season 4.

97. Let The Force Guide You

Feelin' the excitement as, at long last, we're getting to an arc I know everybody has been dying to see. It's funny when one would think how only now we're getting a long awaited arrival and one might say "Will there be enough time for certain things to happen?". Well the answer is yes cause the next two seasons, season 4 in particular, is gonna be pretty damn massive.

But, uh, quick response. Anthony, saw your review and… I don't know if this is a joke review or not but you say the story is getting chaotic with all the elements that are in play with the Sith, Jedi, Ultron, Avengers etc. and you say it's too much… then you turn around and request I do a Warhammer 40k story, a franchise KNOWN for its multiple factions and chaotic nature and on top of that, have Bayonetta, Devil May Cry, Darksiders, Doom and other shit crossed over into it. Like… do ya see what I'm saying here?

So, yeah, not gonna do that cause I don't know anything about 40k other than the barebones stuff and have no interest in learning about it at this time.

Also, just gonna say this once and get it out of the way. How you react to it is entirely up to you but Opinions come with the fic. Not sorry when I say that. We have our opinions on certain matters in regards to Marvel and Star Wars and we're gonna share it. You can respond to them or just outright ignore it. People have and still do ask us our thoughts on things coming out concurrently to this story and we will share our thoughts be they positive or negative. We want it to be positive but we know that's not always the case.

Ok, done, not gonna address that anymore, moving on to something WAY more positive.

We've cracked into the 2k of favorites and followers. Fuck yes, thank you all so fucking much for like this story that much that we've finally breached the 2k limit. Hope we continue to deliver with this story.

We have a lot and I do mean A LOT that we're gonna be covering in this chapter and moreover, the arc. A lot of moving parts to attend to on top of setting up what's to come in the future.

Hope you guys are ready for the madness.

Rate Read and Review and as Always Have Nice Day.

Avengers Infinite Wars Chapter 97: Let the Force Guide You

The planet of Coruscant was certainly a sight to behold for one Mitth'raw'nuruodo or Thrawn as he is called in Galactic Basic.

Despite the multitude of visible areas under construction, the Chiss couldn't help but marvel at this centerpiece of culture, arts, and architecture.

Thrawn wanted to delve into this seemingly endless expanse of art, history, philosophy, all of it but he was also a man of pragmatic principle. He had other matters to attend to right now so his indulges would be put on the back burner at this time.

"An Acolyte and a Jedi walk into a diner. There's a joke somewhere in there." Spoke a blue-skinned, robed humanoid.

Thrawn hummed aloud. "If there is more context, yes."

Next to them, a blue-skinned woman scoffed, shaking her head at the two.

"Come now, Sev'Rance has your time under Dooku dampened your sense of humor?" Asked the younger male Chiss with a teasing grin.

Sev'Rance Tann said nothing in return, simply giving her companion a look before addressing Thrawn.

"We should be alright to speak here without being disturbed." Tann assured the man with Thrawn arching a brow as he looked around the diner they stood in that was positively packed to the brim.

"Are you positive about such a claim?"

"I've been here several times already." The Acolyte revealed, the waitress droid of Dex's Diner gesturing them to follow after her to their seats. "I have seen many Jedi, Clones and even Avengers and have gone unnoticed by all."

"And as of present times?" Thrawn asked.

"With the summit talks, it's somewhat alright for the Separatists coming back to Coruscant far more easily than before; just so long as we don't cause trouble."

"You got nothing to worry about, Thrawn." Kung'urama'nuruodo, or as he typically went by, Nuru Kungurama assured him with a confident grin as they all sat down.

The eldest Chiss of the three was silent from Nuru's assurance, instead focusing his attention on the comically large selection of foods this establishment possessed.

What in the galaxy was Italian supposed to be?

They were relatively quiet, looking over the menu; mulling over what to have. Even Thrawn had to ask Tann and Nuru about some queries he had about what was good or not.

"So, Sev'Rance," Thrawn spoke, this time changing his dialect.

"Yes?"

"What can you tell me about this diner?"

The Sith Acolyte gave the man a look.

"Indulge me if you will. It has been some time since I've eaten at any establishment remotely similar to this since coming to the known galaxy."

"I've heard quite a lot about this place since coming to the first summit talks." Said Tann. "Decided to stay behind after the others went back to Separatist space so I could do some reconnaissance work. It was a good break, having my desire to come here when I could."

"It's gained a lot of popularity over the past year since the Avengers shared their Earth recipes with the owner," Nuru added in. "More so after Ultron's first attack."

"Ultron," Thrawn repeated the name, holding a deep frown. "I have only recently encountered him proper on the moon that I was taken to after being captured."

"I still couldn't believe it when I heard that." Tann admitted. "How in the galaxy did someone like you get captured?"

"They made sure I had little to no options. I have studied Trandoshans and how they hunt and seek out their prey. But the additions of Ultron's enhancements cemented their capture over me. The rarity of our species appealed to their culture of the Hunt and considered me to be a prize worth killing."

"You deduced all that?" Nuru inquired, clearly impressed.

"Easy to surmise but they do tend to blabber." Thrawn remarked, picking a meal at random from the menu. "An apparent change from their norm of hunting typical Jedi to the common species roaming the known galaxy."

"An arrogant trait for their kind." Said Sev'Rance. "Have their egos rise high enough, they loosely speak of anything of their apparent superiority."

"Gave me some personal insight outside of the knowledge I've learned of their kind."

"Some information one needs to obtain outside of the lecture halls." Said Nuru.

Their conversation came to a brief halt when a droid waitress came over, requesting to jot down their respective meals.

Once giving the waitress their respective requests, Nuru let out a small, reminiscent 'hmph'.

"I come here often after a mission for a "hero's meal" with Breakout Squad." A look of melancholy graced his features. "A means of de-stress and relaxation I grew to enjoy."

"And where is this Breakout Squad?"

"Gone." Nuru said briefly, a glum look on his face. "Ultron's doing."

"You sound like you were close with them." Tann pointed out, Nuru shrugging.

"Spending much time with them, fighting alongside them, one tends to forge bonds with your comrades."

"Very un-Jedi-like."

"I was never one to follow the Code to the letter, just the principles."

"And what are these principles?" Thrawn asked.

"To protect and serve the people of this galaxy." Said the Chiss Jedi. "An extension of what we were taught back in our home space."

"We were taught to serve the Ascendancy and its people." Tann stated firmly.

"Oh yes. But of course, much of it is complicated at most. Better to build trust with those you work with than feeling tyrannical. And yes, strength and respect are good pillars, but one needs to know how not to be blinded by misinterpretation."

The Sith Acolyte gave the older Chiss male a look.

"I would have thought you of all people would have stressed the loyalty that we must hold to the Ascendancy."

"I have a broader view now of what's at stake than simply serving one entity." Was Thrawn's simple response. "It is not a surprise considering how long we have been in this part of the galaxy. We are quite out of touch with the Ascendancy. Some more so than others."

"You know how it is with most operatives."

"But given recent events, none of us were able to hear a word for a while." Said Thrawn. "I intended to immediately comb through "known" space as per my assignment, but my transport -after reaching one of the Republic worlds- was attacked by Ultron's men. Having been held captive at one of his experiment sites."

"His labs or testing grounds?"

"The latter, having his Trandoshans hunt others and I for sport."

"And that is the tame reports." Tann said with a sigh, making Thrawn look at her with narrowed eyes.

He wasn't challenging her but silently inquiring just what she meant by it.

"Have you been able to read all of our collected data and reports on Ultron's doings across the galaxy?"

"Only so much. What have I missed?"

"What you went through was one of the better stories. You had a fighting chance. But there are factories where organics are being forcibly transformed into mechanical beings under Ultron's direct control."

Thrawn hummed a little. "Ahsoka Tano informed me of quite the amount during our captivity. I personally saw the results of one of Ultron's experiments. Rather… horrific on seeing the live process." He eyed them a bit more. "And you?"

Tann shook her head, remembering her own encounter with one of the genocidal AI's horrific foundries. "It wasn't pretty."

"How wasn't it to begin with?" Said the Chiss Jedi, curious on the Acolyte's point of view just as much as Thrawn's.

"While disturbing, most of my fellow Acolytes found enjoyment in killing the converted." Sev'Rance shook her head at their actions. "Their bloodthirst is only matched by their ineptitude. They have skill but refuse to fully sharpen their edges. Only Masters Bulq and Dibbs have any inkling of this. And Kadrian Sey, though I believe her hatred of a Jedi Knight named Aayla Secura is her motivator."

"Why's that?" Asked Thrawn.

Nuru came in to fill in some blanks. "While I haven't met either of them, I've heard of their relationship. They were close. I believe they were raised together in the same Foundling clan. They obviously had a falling out when Kadrian fell to the Dark Side and joined Dooku's Acolytes. I recall rumors of them having multiple clashes with the onset of the war."

"So this Kadrian Sey imagines many of the converted Ultron drones as Aayla Secura."

"Her means of therapeutic actions." Tann took a sip of her water. "Her being creative on how she wants to kill her former friend."

"A lovely picture you paint, Sev'Rance." Thrawn remarked.

It was then that they had their food brought to them, the droid waitress telling them to enjoy it before rushing off to serve the next table.

Thrawn examined his dish for a few moments, curling up several strands of pasta, as it is called and plucking some Porg meat and taking a bite. His eyes widened considerably as his taste buds registered this new cuisine and he let out a satisfied hum.

Nuru noticed his reaction and grinned widely.

"Good, right?"

"It is… different."

"But is it good?" The Jedi egged on.

"Considerably." Thrawn said after a second, chewing on it and then nodding.

Kungurama held up his meal which was called lasagna. "Beats certain ration bars and bland meals by parsecs."

"Very much so." Tann said, digging into her own dish called Chicken (Porg) Parmesan.

"Wonder what the Ascendancy would make of this."

Tann 'hmphed'. "They would be fools to deny such delicacies."

It was then that Thrawn noticed something from the Chiss Jedi, a consistent reaction he had seen from him, subdued as it may be over the course of their conversation.

"You seem disgruntled when we speak of reporting to the Ascendancy, Nuru." Thrawn noted, making Kungurama pause in his food and Tann look at the pair. "Do you have reservations in letting our people know of what's transpiring in the galaxy?"

There was a moment of tense silence between the three Chiss before the Jedi of the trio released a sigh.

"Thrawn, I haven't communicated with our people in over five years." Nuru stressed out. "I can tell you this now, only because it's you. I hold no loyalties to our people. My loyalties lie with the Jedi Order and the people of this galaxy. I cannot stomach the idea of returning to isolation after everything I have seen and what I am able to do here."

Rather than appearing enraged or insulted, Thrawn merely looked curious.

Nuru sighed, looking down at his drink before speaking again.

"I was young when the Ascendency sent me into the wider galaxy." Nuru had a far-off look in his red eyes. "I remember being sent off from a "home" that no longer bears that title. When I was found by Master Shaak Ti, I was given a new home, a new purpose. One I embraced with open arms. It was only when I became a Padawan did our people reach out to me and by that point-"

"I understand." Thrawn interrupted but the Jedi Chiss shook his head.

"I don't think you do, Thrawn, not fully at least." Kungurama took a sip of his drink. "Give it time and you'll get a new perspective."

"And what is the perspective you have now?"

The young Chiss didn't respond for a few seconds before setting his drink down.

"I will do what I must to help the galaxy in this war. If that means bringing in the Ascendency, the more we have, the better chance we have at fighting Ultron. He is a threat beyond factions and sides and must be dealt with as soon as possible. But I will not be doing this out of obligation to the Chiss but out of duty to the people of this galaxy. He must be stopped at all costs."

Thrawn was silent for a time until he nodded.

"You would be right, per se. With Ultron's presence, it adds more problems for the Ascendancy with the threats in the "Unknown Regions" and from beyond."

"Beyond?"

"I got quite informed of certain variables coming into this galaxy as of late." Thrawn plainly said.

Sev'Rance let out a small scoff. "You speak of the Avengers."

"Quite." The non-Force sensitive Chiss elaborated. "During the liberation mission on Onderon, one of their members came across some they were familiar with and reported back for confirmation. Ahsoka Tano was with him at the time, giving me some forewarning before our rescue."

"And it gave you time to prepare on what to inquire about once out of your captivity."

"To its entirety, yes."

Some silence surrounded the three Chiss as they slowly partook in their meal. Digesting not just the food but the present topic.

"You feel as though they'd be factors equal to or worse than the Grysk." Sev'Rance said, narrowing her eyes at Thrawn.

"Correct."

"Quite the claim."

"Not one to make out of hand." Thrawn said with a dark look. "I understand my words don't convey enough of the severity that we face but seeing an enemy that could have toppled our society be so thoroughly annihilated like that."

"We're not taking it out of hand, Thrawn." Nuru assured. "I believe a united galaxy has a better chance fighting what's to come more than anyone."

"If that can be achieved." Tann rebuked. "Even if this ceasefire comes to pass and works for a time, lingering animosities are not ones so easily discarded."

"I can think of several war profiteers who'd be amongst those numbers." Nuru commented.

"Yet there are those who seek to end such a unification once Ultron is taken care of." Sev'Rance revealed making both Chiss men look at her.

"Like who?"

"My master's master."

Nuru and Thrawn wore a look of curiosity and intrigue once the Acolyte said those words.

"Why would this Master want such an outcome? Does he not understand that this galaxy needs to come together and stay that way?"

"Maybe he does, maybe he does not," Sev'Rance shook her head. "But I know what I have seen and from what I've been able to gather in my time under Master Dooku's tutelage, they need to make sure the galaxy is against each other. There are plans that I am not privy to but they involve the division of this galaxy at the forefront."

Nuru snorted. "If Dooku's master intends such a goal, they'd rule a galaxy of bones and ashes at this rate."

"I concur." Tann murmured. "Which is why my Master has been working to undermine his own."

"And why hasn't it been accomplished sooner?" Asked the Jedi.

"Not all of the Acolytes side with Dooku, but Sidious."

"Oh."

"Yes, Oh." Tann remarked, shaking her head at her fellow Dark Side practitioners. "You'd think everyone is truly compliant to the whims of Dooku. No. Others wish to curry favor with Sidious, hoping they could become the next Apprentice one day or have more influence in his grand schemes once Dooku dies."

Nuru said nothing, only eating more of his meal.

"It's bad enough that Force Pulse is causing issues for my Master, the rest of the Acolytes believe this to be a sign. What that is, I haven't even bothered to learn about."

"This Force Pulse as you described it," There was a glint in Thrawn's eyes as he placed his elbows on the table, interlacing his fingers in front of him. "How exactly would you describe it? I have heard rumors abound of Jedi departing Coruscant as "something" in the Force called to them."

Both Tann and Nuru shared a look, both contemplating just how to explain what had happened recently within the Force and how to elaborate on a feeling that didn't have a proper means of description.

"Why are you asking?"

"I have only been able to learn so much of the Force in my time in captivity. Padawan Tano only gave me a simple summation of the Force."

Sev'Rance rolled the red within red eyes. "Again with Ahsoka Tano."

Thrawn made no effort in rebuking what Tann said.

"You can say she fascinated me. Frankly, the entirety of the Jedi and Sith do but after seeing it firsthand and in the manner in which Ahsoka reacted to her display of the Force -in her limited state- I can tell it was something she wasn't entirely sure as to what it was. Even she admitted it as much."

"And what exactly did you see?" Nuru asked, now greatly curious as to what Thrawn was speaking of.

"A literal aura of white light appeared are her despite her being limited."

"And what do you mean by limited?"

"She was wearing a collar designed around the Ysalamiri, dampening her connection to the Force. She was unable to use it until those moments."

Tann and Nuru shared a look, both frowning at this. They were familiar with the Ysalamiri and if these force-dampening collars were to be believed, the fact that Ahsoka was able to use the Force was truly something special.

Their conversation continued on for quite some time with various topics being discussed in depth with what needed to be done to be caught up more with the galaxy at large.

-Scene Cut-

Within the main hall of Coruscant's Jedi temple, a big meeting was taking place. It would've been done at a better setting for such an occasion, yet with the number of people needing to be in attendance at the same time and place, the main hall had to suffice to fit everyone.

Others who weren't on Coruscant at this time were hailed by the Grandmaster of the Order to radio in on what he had to say.

Surveying the hall within the entrance corridor out of sight, Yoda eyed countless members of their ancient Order conversing with one another on the various levels. He even spotted others who weren't, not that he minded for they were curious just as everyone else. His ears had picked up on what was practically the same topic, one which he would address very soon.

Yoda soon entered, tapping his walking stick on the ground, utilizing the Force to amplify its sound. All who had assembled, physically and via holo-transmission turned in the direction of the Grandmaster who walked to stand in the center of the room.

"For attendance, I thank you."

Everyone quieted down, listening with complete silence as their Grandmaster addressed them all.

"As for its purpose, the answer you all already have." There were some murmurs, a few shifting in their spot, and looks of concern, uncertainty, and deep introspection. "The call of the Force, we've all felt. Abrupt, it is. Wide and Powerful. Raw and true, it is."

Further chatter came up when Windu held his hand up to silence the gathered Jedi as Yoda went on.

The little green Jedi let out a hum of thought, eyes closed for a moment as he took in the presence of the Force that surrounded him. Primarily, that of all the Jedi here, each and every one that he has at one point trained directly under his tutelage.

For centuries now, Yoda has watched the Jedi Order continue to stand tall and strong, a beacon of light and strength for the Republic and the galaxy.

But now, that very notion has been called into question.

The advent of the Clone Wars was the start of it but at the time, Yoda went along in believing that this was what was meant to happen. To take down the resurgent Sith now that they had revealed themselves.

Then came the Avengers, their shockwave in the Force followed by Ultron's entrance into the war and now, everything has been riddled with questions and uncertainties.

Yet the other day, they had all felt it.

A feeling in the Force similar to that of the arrival of the Avengers.

And this time, they will not wait for whatever caused this pulse to come to them, no they will go to it.

"A call in the Force, there is. For the source, we must search. Present situation, we must exploit and not waste." Said Yoda.

Several members of the Jedi council then stepped forward.

"Not everyone may go, if they wish." Plo Koon's baritone voice reverberated off the walls within the main hall. "We will not fault you if you aren't comfortable with this open task."

"We've discussed this with other members of the Council," Mace said sternly. "No one -and I repeat, no one- will be journeying alone, given present circumstances."

"But just because you will be going out does not mean you can't reflect or act on this feeling as you see fit." Shaak Ti, from Kamino, spoke up.

"Remember what Master Yoda instructed of you." Obi-Wan picked up for the Togruta Master. "Reflect and react on this feeling within the Force as you see fit, as what makes the most sense for you."

"The Force, guide you all, it will," Yoda said aloud. "The code and rules, ignore that, you must. Act on what you feel, follow where the Force takes you. Confront what you find, learn what you can disregard, nothing you must."

The Grandmaster looked at the gathered Jedi and each one felt his eyes on them.

"Our duty, called into question it has, our responsibility, its purpose, forgotten it, we have." He stated, shaking his head in self-disappointment. "Rectify this, we must. To the Force, our duty is. To the people of this galaxy, our responsibility is. Find answers and purpose we seek, out in the galaxy. Not within these halls. Adhere to the call of the Force, our task now is. Go now, we shall."

Yoda closed his eyes, allowing himself to feel the flow of the Force, the Jedi around him, and in turn, have it that all who were present felt the same.

"The Force be with you, always." The Grandmaster said with finality.

With the meeting coming to an end, many within the Order -present and otherwise- began their given task. Others, however, resumed their previous ones.

Yoda gave out his instructions to the Council to monitor and keep tabs on all the Jedi to assure their safety or at least keep track of those who are departing from the temple.

Heading back to his private chambers, Yoda slowed his step for a brief moment before resuming his normal pace. Passing by a pillar, he finally spoke.

"Some time has been, Master Kuro."

From behind the pillar that cast a shadow, a scoff was heard. "You know I abandoned my name a long time ago, Master Yoda."

"I have not. Dark Woman, title it is. Name of a young pupil, it is not."

There was a 'hmph' that came from the shadow of the pillar the grandmaster stood next to before out stepped a woman with silver hair and blue eyes.

"Good to see you it is, Master An'ya." Yoda greeted warmly with a small smile. "Heard you had recently returned from self-imposed exile."

"After the start of the war, figured it was best to come back. Been all over, doing what I can to help the Order and the people of the galaxy. But that Force Pulse… I've never felt anything like it." Kuro released a sigh. "Then again, those shockwaves the Avengers caused are nothing to scoff at either."

Yoda eyed An'ya Kuro, a Jedi Master known for having a rather controversial reputation within the Order.

Wherein most Masters are treated with reverence and respect, no other Jedi other than perhaps Anakin Skywalker, help such a divisive set of opinions on them.

Some Jedi viewed the "Dark Woman" as an extremist due to her views and methodology on the Force, training those under her to the point where she actively harmed them.

But then there are those who have been trained in her ways that are one of the most hardened and gifted Jedi Knights and Masters the Order has at this time.

"Come back you have, another apprentice in mind?"

An'ya's expression fell, turning away from the Grandmaster. "After what happened to Aurra Sing, I don't deserve to have another apprentice."

Yoda closed his eyes in understanding. "Heard from her, you have?"

"Given the reports I've heard, or through some small talk over the years, she still resents me; not that I blame her."

"With Dooku, she is."

Kuro's eyes widened, turning to the green Jedi in disbelief.

"By Quinlan Vos, his report states." Yoda revealed. "Understand your pain, I do, Master Kuro. Results of both our failures, this is."

An'ya released a pained sigh, looking down at the ground.

"What would you have me do, Master Yoda?" She asked after a moment. "Doubt you and the council would allow me to properly teach lessons, given my habits."

Yoda shook his head, walking up to her. "Exactly what you must do."

His words completely surprised the Dark Woman, the Jedi Master looking at the Grandmaster in disbelief.

"Perspectives, we have ignored. Rigid, we have become. Ignorant, a grave error that has befallen our Order." Yoda gravely stated. "Many have fallen, due to their faults. One must confront, to be better. Your methods, being troubling, have shown results."

"...Who are you and what have you done with Yoda?"

Yoda chuckled at this, reaching forward with his hand which Kuro took as she kneeled down to one knee.

"Failure, the greatest teacher we have. From failure, we learn to be better, to be stronger." Yoda then gave her a mirthful look. "Show better restraint, you must."

An'ya snorted. "I'll try, no promises."

"Do or do not, there is no try."

Their conversation went on for a time until Yoda and Kuro separated, the former going to the Council Chamber, rather than his private chamber as he initially intended to go to.

From the chamber, Yoda stared out at the windows and saw multiple Venators, Acclimators and ships of all sizes departing from the world of Coruscant.

With a nod, the Grandmaster felt the flow of the Force once again and turned to depart for his own journey.

Across the stars, the Jedi with their Clone legions and battalions spread out, following the feeling they had when they reached out to the Force.

Whilst the clones held some reservations and uncertainties about what they were doing, they held enough trust in their Jedi generals and commanders that they knew what they were doing. Plus, the Jedi managed to chalk this up to maintaining a security force for the galaxy given its current state and that having the Jedi and Clones in sectors can provide a level of security for the people of the galaxy.

Additionally, they wouldn't be coming alone.

Joining several of these fleets were some of the Avengers as they too believed they needed to be out there, helping patrol the galaxy for anything that may spring up, Ultron or otherwise.

But shockingly, it wasn't just because of their adherence to their duty as heroes but some of their own members felt the Force Pulse that was detected by all the Jedi. They too wished to investigate this phenomenon so they divided themselves up and departed from Coruscant along with several other Jedi.

All over the galaxy, Jedi, Clones and Avengers went to planets familiar to them, following the guidance of the Force.

Meaning, they mostly followed the Jedi.

"So this is where you were for the longest time." Prince T'Challa commented, stepping out on the red planet of Dathomir.

By his side was Wanda Maximoff, holding the hands of Merrin and Ilyana, the two girls eager to return to their home world.

Next to them was the Jedi Masters Quinlan Vos with his lover Khaleen Hentz, Tholme, T'ra Saa and the Clone Commandos of Delta Squad.

"Dathomir." T'ra Saa mused aloud. "I have not been here in some time."

"You've been here before, Master Saa?" Wanda asked in surprise.

"Centuries ago." The Netti Jedi Master said with a sigh. "Long before Allya was exiled."

That made Wanda's eyes widen considerably, including her two wards/adoptees. The three of them were well aware of the exiled Jedi Knight Allya who was sent here over 600 years ago after she "fell" to the Dark Side of the Force. Or rather, in hindsight, following a path the Jedi Order didn't approve of.

Rather than seek "redemption" as the Order had once hoped, Allya discovered the powerful Force presence Dathomir possessed and went on to teach the native women of this land, giving rise to the Witches of Dathomir and now, despite the many separated clans that exist on this planet, all call themselves the daughters of Allya.

All follow her will and teachings and above all else "never concede to evil". Much as the Jedi Order might have believed Allya to may have been "lost" to the Dark Side, she never lost herself and her principles.

"Sir, unknown signatures ahead." Clone Commando Boss spoke up, having Quinlan pat his shoulder.

"No need to be all tense, Boss." Vos assured. "Just the locals coming to greet us."

"They sure have a lot of red." Scorch noted, a throat being cleared a moment later as he gazed at Wanda Maximoff. "But it looks good on you ma'am." Then came a cough which made the Clone roll his eyes. "Shut up, Sev."

The natives of the planet soon stood before the Jedi, Clones and Avengers.

"Ah, Jedi Masters." Augwynne Djo greeted with a gracious bow. "And your mighty Clone Warriors. Mother Talzin and I welcome you to Dathomir."

"We thank you for greeting us on such short notice." Master Tholme said, he and the rest all bowing in greeting.

"Wanda, it is good to see you again." Mother Talzin said with a small smile.

"Likewise, Mother Talzin."

"How goes the hunt?"

Wanda blew out a puff of air in annoyance. "No such luck, I'm afraid."

Talzin only nodded in understanding, looking down at her charges. "Merrin, Ilyana, welcome home my dears. Come, we shall have something cooked up for your return."

"Something I believe you will all need." Djo spoke up. "I believe I speak for all of us when I say we all know why you have come here, yes?"

"You are correct in that regard, Lady Djo." Saa respectfully said. "I don't have to take a guess to know that like us, you have all felt what recently transpired within the Force."

"We had called the clans together for that very reason." Talzin revealed. "We sense a great change is upon the galaxy. But we do not know whether or not that is a good thing or a warning of darker times to come."

"That is why we are here to do what we can to help." T'Challa spoke up and the two Clan leaders had their eyes land on him and in an instant, they felt something different about him.

"You…" Djo murmured, leaning forward. "Who… are you?"

"I am Prince T'Challa, the Black Panther of Wakanda." He placed a fist over his heart and bowed. "I thank you for allowing us to come to your home in this uncertain time."

Augwynne squinted her eyes at the enhanced Prince. "Are you perhaps one of these Avengers Wanda had spoken of before?"

"That I am. She spoke much of your people and what to be warned of beforehand."

"Then come." Djo gestured for them to follow. "It is one thing to speak of us but it is another to experience it firsthand. Not all of us are like the Nightsisters."

Talzin sent an unamused deadpan in the direction of the leader of the Singing Mountain Clan but nonetheless led the group into the coven of the Nightsisters.

Upon arriving there, the group saw many Witches and Nightsisters from all clans of Dathomir had gathered here. Chatter and interactions were going on from all sides and it didn't subside even with the arrival of the newcomers.

Tholme hummed aloud at seeing this. "We had a gathering like this just the other day with the Order."

"This was called by myself and Djo." Talzin said. "What has transpired and been transpiring is something we must all speak of. Come, the other clan leaders will undoubtedly wish to speak with you all."

"Lead the way." Quinlan said, feeling Khaleen reach for his hand which he took into his.

"We'll stay back, Vos." Boss spoke up. "This is your field, not ours. Don't wanna have all these ladies lookin' at us funny."

"Speak for yourself." Fixer said, spotting a particularly pretty Dathomiri Witch that had caught his eye.

The leader of Domino Squad slapped his brother's helmet, forcibly dragging him out of the coven with Sev and Scorch following after them.

"Don't you remember what Ms. Maximoff said?" Scorch scolded. "They take a mate and often kill them afterward once pregnant."

"...Slipped my mind."

"Could still be worth it."

"Don't encourage him, Sev." Boss admonished.

The Kiffar Jedi snorted at this behavior, Hentz letting out a withering sigh. Saa and Tholme only chuckled at this while Vos' lover spoke to him.

"Want me to stay behind with the boys? Keep them out of trouble?"

"Nah, Boss has that handled." Quinlan said dismissively.

In the middle of all this, Wanda told Merrin and Ilyana to go see how their clan of Nightsisters was doing but not to wander away from the coven. The two girls promised and rushed off to their sect, spotting them easily and being welcomed warmly by their older sisters.

They were soon led into an area with a pitched tent. In front of it stood a half dozen Witches all standing guard.

Djo and Talzin held up their hands as a means of allowing the others further entrance and they came in to see all the clan leaders of the Witches of Dathomir in attendance.

"Wanda." One particularly beautiful and even sensual Clan Leader immediately stood and rushed over to the Sokovian, pulling her into a hug.

"Ros." The Scarlet Witch happily greeted her, hugging her back. "It's so good to see you again."

"The same to you, my dear friend." Lai said with a warm smile. "Welcome back to Dathomir. And I welcome your companions with open arms as well."

"We thank you for your hospitality and for allowing us to be here on such short notice." T'ra Saa stated, bowing as did Tholme, Vos, Khaleen and T'Challa.

"With what's happening, we hold nothing against it." Ros remarked, all the Clan leaders nodding in agreement behind her.

"I doubt you coming here is out of pleasantries," Djo spoke up, seeing Wanda sigh.

"How I wish it was."

"You seek something during your time here." Talzin stated rather than asked.

It was here that Tholme stepped forward. "We do. There are artifacts here that we are aware of that we must access, possibly even take with us. We need access to the Kwa artifacts stored here. If possible the Star Chamber."

The clan leaders all fell silent with Talzin giving the Jedi an intense gaze. "...You do realize what you request."

"We do." Vos spoke in complete seriousness. "With the Star Chamber, it's a possible risk."

"And why, pray tell, do you need to go there of all places?"

"Answers to what happened with this apparent Force Pulse, this Beacon we are all sensing." Saa elaborated.

Augwynne sighed aloud. "I should have figured this would happen. Perhaps, this was inevitable."

"To give you access to something like that…" Talzin conveyed a clear aura of denial. "That is something that is sacredly guarded by all on this planet. After Zalem and especially with Gethzerion out there."

"We know that." T'ra calmly stated. "Which is why we invite some of you to come with us."

That got the attention of all within the tent.

"Come with you?" One of the Clan Leaders said in disbelief. "Why in the name of the mother would we do that?"

"Because it would be needed." Tholme firmly said. "With what is coming, with what is happening, perspective is needed from all sides of the Force."

"And why would we assist the Jedi in anything?" Talzin challenged. "Was it not your Order that banished Allya, our lawgiver and foremother that allowed our people to flourish and grow?"

"That was something I was against." T'ra Saa spoke up, making all look at her in disbelief. "I knew Allya when she was a youngling and watched her become a Jedi Knight. I tried to oppose her banishment but I was too late. But what I do believe now is that perhaps it was the Will of the Force that she founded the Witches of Dathomir. That a time would come where you would all play a role in the galaxy that can change and shape a new foundation and understanding in the Force."

"That is a rather altruistic means of viewing such a thing even though it may be untrue." Talzin rebuked.

"Perhaps that may indeed be an optimistic lens to view things through." T'Challa spoke up and now all attention was on him. "But right now, the galaxy is in a state of peril. In a state of tumultuous change. And to get through such an ordeal, unity is needed from all aspects. Compromise where we must because the future of all depends on it."

The Witches all regarded the Black Panther with surprise followed by clear intrigue.

"There is much we all have to talk about." Saa spoke up.

"Agreed." Djo said with a nod. "Please, take what free seats there are. We have much to discuss. And it'll be quite a while."

As all this went on, a Clan leader approached the Prince of Wakanda with a glint in her eyes.

"Quite a speech you gave there." T'Challa turned to the Dathomiri Witch that Wanda had greeted with a hug. "I don't believe we've been introduced to each other properly. I'm Ros. Ros Lai."

"T'Challa. A pleasure to meet you, my lady."

"No need for that formality, T'Challa. You may simply call me by name."

"Then I insist you do the same." The Prince said in turn with a polite smile. "You and Wanda must be good friends."

"She is." Lai confirmed. "And if Wanda considers you one as well then I believe you and I will get along well enough."

"I would hope so." T'Challa then noticed a look she was giving him. "Is something wrong?"

"Nothing it's just…" Ros scrunched her face in thought. "You…" Her eyes widened. "You have been touched by those who have passed. The dead, they… what is this?"

T'Challa then had a look of realization as he nodded slowly.

"What you sense are the traditions of my people, of how I took the mantle of the Black Panther." He placed a hand over his Panther Habit. "To become the protector of Wakanda and the mantle of the Black Panther, I must enact a ritual that grants me the ability to commune with the deceased Kings and Queens of my people."

"Can't be as simple as that."

"Partaking of a heart-shaped herb is also a factor, putting me in a death-like state to enhance me as I commune with my ancestors."

"Oh my." Ros said with an unsure smile. "It sounds-"

"A bit painful." T'Challa said with a small smirk. "Will have to do so again once I take the crown to undergo further rites."

Lai hummed at this, looking over to the table where everyone seated themselves. "Perhaps the two of us can discuss this at a later time? I'm very much interested in this communion you speak of."

"And I would like to know more about your own culture if you are willing to share."

"An exchange then." Ros teased, one T'Challa couldn't disagree on.

Elsewhere in the galaxy, on the planet Jedha, Master Depa Billaba walked the streets of its capital alongside her padawan, Caleb Dume. Their escort was the blind member of the Avengers, Matthew Murdock.

"Do you know where we're going?" Asked Caleb, having a bit of a hard time keeping track of everything as they were walking through a clustered bazaar.

Depa gave her padawan a small glance, ignoring the snort of Clone Commander Price who was following behind them.

"I most certainly do." Came Matt's response. "Some old friends of mine have a base here that served as my temporary home when I first arrived here."

They eventually exited the Bazaar and made their way over to a large building right outside the market with Depa's Padawan looking up at the place in wonder.

"Whoa~" Caleb said aloud, narrowing his eyes at one of the statues in front of the structure. A statue with a hood and stone lightsaber. "Wait… is this a Jedi temple?!"

"It once was." Spoke a voice that came from the temple, one that Murdock immediately recognized.

"I was hoping I would find you here." The blind Avenger said aloud.

"Your hopes were not in vain, Matthew." The blind monk Chirrut greeted with a broad smile.

"Chirrut." Matt smiled back, the two grasping each other's arms in greeting when he tilted his head. "Where's Baze?"

"With the Guardians on a job." His head shifted slightly to focus on the two Jedi. "And who are they?"

Stepping forward slightly, the master of the duo spoke. "I am Depa Billaba and this is my padawan, Caleb Dune. We seek entrance to the temple here if it wouldn't be much trouble."

"Those who seek guidance in the Force are welcome here, just so long as they don't seek trouble." Imwe said. "Also, I cannot deny the Jedi to a temple that was once theirs."

"This hasn't been ours in many years." The Council member pointed out.

"It can be once again." Chirrut said. "Come, there is much knowledge that remains here that can be useful to you, Master Jedi."

Depa tilted her head forward in appreciation, chuckling slightly at her Padawan's clear eagerness to go in and the group entered the old Jedi Temple a moment later.

"Welcome new comrades!"

"... Is that a talking Russian Dog?"

Meanwhile, upon the planet of Ryloth, Aayla Secura had arrived with the 327th Corps with Captain America and Quicksilver.

They landed outside the residence of the current ruling family of the Twi'leks, said family coming out to greet them.

A friendly handshake and pat on the shoulder were given as Pietro was the first to greet Cham. He then turned to Cham's wife.

"Eleni, good to see you again." He said, the female Twi'lek giving the Sokovian a brief hug.

"Likewise, Pietro." Said the green-skinned Twi'lek. "Hopefully my husband has been doing well on Coruscant."

Said man let out a mock gasp. "Surely you doubt my words, love."

"I don't, but you sometimes exaggerate them."

"Even those of my stress being there?"

"Most certainly."

The Sokovian chuckled. "He's been fine. Just homesick, in my opinion."

"Which is why I'm glad to be here." The male Syndulla remarked, kissing his wife's cheek before rounding on the fastest Avenger. "And what kind of greeting is that Pietro? Here I am, welcoming you with my wife to our home and the first thing you do is… what was that thing you called it in your homeworld?"

"Bust your balls."

"Yeah, that."

Green eyes rolled over with a playful smirk graced her lips before turning to the other Avenger, Jedi and the several Clones behind them.

"Captain Rogers, General Secura and Commander Bly." Eleni greeted kindly. "We welcome you and your men to Ryloth."

The Ryloth Senator held out his hand which Steve grasped.

"Cham."

"Steve. And General Secura, I welcome you and your men to your homeworld."

"Thank you for having us on such short notice, Senator Syndulla." Aayla said respectfully, Bly, Lucky, Cameron and Flash all saluting him in turn.

"Pietro!"

From behind the couple came their daughter, Hera Syndulla.

"Hera!" The Speedster said aloud, letting her jump into his arms and he then zipped around in a quick circle, the young child laughing all the while.

"Pietro." Eleni admonished.

"Let her have her fun, Eleni." Cham said with a small laugh. "It's a rare luxury these days."

His wife released a sigh, shaking her head before putting on a more pleasant expression for the others.

"Please, this way. We have some tea prepared for you and your men."

Aayla smirked as she saw Bly shake his head out of the corner of her eye. She heard Lucky mutter out "tea?" in an excited fashion and since being exposed to so many customs of Earth, the Arc Trooper had developed a liking for tea as a whole.

It didn't help that a chance encounter with Senator Amidala, who just so happened to have a cup of Naboo tea in hand, stemmed his unusual addiction to the thing so now, that's almost all he drinks. They don't even know how he gets it, he just does, living up to his namesake of just having it at all times.

They all followed after Hera and Eleni into the Syndulla residence while Pietro took Hera for a run around the place, the young Twi'lek girl laughing in pure joy the whole time. Eventually, the pair came to a stop, the young child giggling incessantly despite how dizzy and frazzled she appeared.

"You alright there?" Pietro asked with a laugh.

All he got was more giggling in response, making the Avenger shake his head with amusement.

"Waa, waa, waa?"

Blinking at the sudden sound, Maximoff turned to see a droid with two mechanical arms coming towards them.

"Hey~~~ buddy." Hera managed out from her dizzy state, falling on top of the astromech droid that supported her from collapsing to the floor.

She giggled, rubbing the droid appreciatively. "Thanks buddy. You came just in time to meet Pietro."

Kneeling down, Quicksilver eyed the odd astromech. From what he could recall, this was a C1 series with the flat top and the orange, yellow and white coloration.

"Who's this little guy?"

"C1-10P, but I call him Chopper."

"And how'd you find him?"

"A lot of us were scavenging the wreckages after the occupation. One of which was a Y-wing, with my father wanting it to remain as it is, serving as a memorial of what happened. It also happened to be the ship I pulled Chopper out of. Cleaned and tuned him up, stuck with me ever since."

Pietro blinked before looking over to the open hangar area of the Syndulla residence, where a skeletal Y-wing was leaning against the rocky wall.

"You mean the one on your front lawn?"

"Yeah. Chopper still has issues with it."

"Would be better to just move it if Chopper here isn't happy with it." Pietro commented and it appeared the astromech warbled in agreement.

"I know, but you know my father." Hera said expectantly, making the speedster laugh, patting her head.

Speaking of her father, the man sat at the dining room table of his residence with his wife by his side. The rest of the table was occupied by Steve, Aayla and the four men representing the 327th Corps.

"While I always welcome guests in our house, the message you sent our way conveyed your visit to be one of great importance." Cham said, getting right to the point of their arrival here after they had gotten their food.

"You would be right in that regard, Senator Cham." Aayla respectfully said, seeing the Twi'lek Senator squirm at the title.

"Please, when here, just address me by my name, General Secura." He asked.

"Syndulla." The blue Twi'lek kindly said. "You would be right in that regard. There are several important matters that have come up for the Jedi Order and the Republic as a whole."

"Does it have to do with the Ceasefire?" Eleni curiously asked.

The Jedi knight shook her head.

"Several matters, ma'am." Commander Bly spoke up. "It has to do with Jedi business as well as Senator Cham's defense bill."

"Captain Rogers is here as added security." Flash said. "His words, not mine."

The WWII veteran snorted at this, Bly giving the ARC trooper a look while Aayla took Steve's hand beneath the table.

The Clone Commander picked up where he left off.

"Multiple Republic forces are being sent across the galaxy as a means of surveillance and security against the threat that Ultron poses."

Aayla spoke next. "Us Jedi also have something important that must do and it has to do with the Force."

"The Force?" Cham repeated in clear intrigue. "It led you here?"

"You don't sound all that doubtful." Steve noted, not in an accusatory fashion.

"Ima-Gun Di taught me what he could about how the Force works, as the Jedi understand it." Cham explained. "He spoke of how there is a Will to the Force and it is the duty of the Jedi to adhere to it."

"One we have been neglecting for far too long." Aayla freely admitted. "And one that we mean to rectify now."

"Can we help you in any way?" Eleni inquired.

"Maybe. We just need to figure out on the "what". For now, we'll help you in getting Ryloth ready for Ultron if he rears his ugly head."

"We would like to check on the progress of the current conscripts from Ryloth." Bly stated. "I understand that the 71st Legion was personally requested by you Senator to serve as the training force for your planet."

"One I am grateful in having." Cham confirmed, standing from his seat. "Please, right this-"

His sentence was interrupted by a gust of wind blowing into the room, heralding the arrival of Quicksilver with Hera hanging off his shoulder.

"Hey guys." Pietro greeted boisterously, helping a dizzy and laughing Hera down to the ground. "What'd I miss?"

"Actually, you came right on time, Pietro." Steve said, getting up from the table. "Come on, we'll explain on the way."

Tilting his head at that, the speedster shrugged and the group followed after Cham and Eleni, the latter hefting up the still dizzy Hera into her arms.

They soon walked out onto a large field where they saw over a hundred Twi'leks all doing exercises and walking between them all were Clones with brown accented armor.

Shouts and orders were being hurled at the Twi'leks by the Clones, all of which were taken without complaint.

Off to the side where Cham and company had come out from stood two high-ranking clone officers, one of whom Maximoff recognized immediately.

"Keeli!" Pietro couldn't help himself and pulled the surprised Clone Captain into a bear hug, one that threw the man off until he realized who it was.

"Pietro?!" He said, happily surprised. "What the hell? When'd you get here?"

"Just a few minutes ago." Quicksilver replied, enthusiastically clapping Keeli's shoulder. "It's good to see ya again. How're the boys?"

"Well enough and busy, as you can see." Keeli remarked, thumbing behind him before addressing everyone else. "General Cham."

"Captain."

"Captain Rogers, General Secura, Bly, boys, good to see you all again."

"Likewise, Captain." Steve replied with a knowing smirk at the rank both men shared.

The high-ranking Clone officer next to Keeli then stepped forward.

"Commander Howzer, sir." The Clone greeted Steve and Aayla with a snap salute. "I don't know if you're aware of this but I fought on Jabiim with you all. If it weren't for all of you coming, my battalion would have been wiped out."

"Think nothing of it." Steve offered his hand which Howzer accepted. "Pleasure to meet you, soldier."

Howzer lip turned upward slightly, turned to his Clone brothers and nodded in silent greeting.

"Here to check up on the troops, sir?" Keeli spoke up, directing this question to Cham who nodded.

"That I am." The General turned Senator stated, looking at the two Avengers, Jedi and four 327th clones. "The 71st Legion has been training the people of Ryloth tirelessly." Cham said, looking over to the training grounds where a hundred Twi'leks were currently undergoing training by the clones that had once stuck with them during the occupation of Ryloth. "I personally requested they be the ones to train the Twi'lek conscripts for the GAR. They've been hard on the conscripts and volunteers but they've taken everything that they have been taught to heart."

"We are a hardy people." Eleni said, mirroring the pride her husband possessed. "The clone troopers of the Republic have laid their lives down for us all since the start of the war. So many perished in keeping the planet from falling into the hands of the Separatists and when our home was liberated."

"We shall give just as much as you all have for our people." Cham said with pure sincerity, something that resonated with the Clones.

They said nothing but the gratitude they radiated from Cham's words was felt.

"Don't mind if we check this out, General?" Bly asked Secura who smiled at him.

"That's what you're here for, Bly. Don't let me keep you." She says. Her Commander nodded and he silently gestured his head at the ARC troopers, Howzer and Keeli taking the four over to the training Twi'leks.

Cham and Eleni turned to the Avengers and Jedi, the former speaking first.

"Now, what can we do to help you, Master Jedi." Cham said. "You spoke of the Force being what led you here."

"It did." Aayla commented, crossing her arms in thought. "And it shouldn't come as a surprise. Despite the history Ryloth has with how much it has endured, our species has given the Jedi Order countless Jedi, many past Twi'leks always have been strong with the Force."

"Do you think there is something here that can help you with what you seek?" Eleni asked.

"That's the thing," Aayla admitted with a frown. "I am not entirely sure just what I seek but when I reached out to the Force, it led me here."

There was a brief moment of silence shared between them all when Pietro recalled something he had seen when he first arrived on Ryloth.

"Hey Aayla," He said, getting her attention. "There is something that I think you should check out that I saw when I first arrived here."

The Jedi master blinked when hearing Pietro.

"And what would that be?"

"Let me show you."

Before she could mutter out a word, Pietro grabbed onto her and sped away.

The others present could hear Aayla's screams in the air as she went miles per second.

Steve held a flat look as Quicksilver ran off, dragging a hand down his face as he glanced over at the Syndulla family. Hera couldn't help but giggle at what she just saw but quieted down at the look her mother gave her.

"She's gonna kill him." Cham stated, not questioned.

"Probably." Steve said rubbing the bridge of his nose.

"We'll prepare the funeral."

"No, no, just… get me a speeder." Rogers said. "I'll try to reach them before she mutilates him."

"Of course." Eleni said sympathetically.

In a seemingly lost sector of the galaxy, a small Republic ship soared through the sea of stars before coming across a world apparently invisible to the naked eye.

On the planet's surface, the ship made its landing using hydraulics holding the ship upright. It wasn't long before a small hangar opened up.

From the vapors coming out, it revealed Thor Odinson as he walked down the ramp.

Electric blue eyes scanned the environment, seeing how nice and tranquil it all is.

It didn't take long after walking for a bit for him to be greeted by someone.

"Surprised you'd come here." Looking to the side, Thor saw the Daughter standing there, around her flowers blooming. "And on a ship no less. Can you not fly through space?"

"I… needed the experience." Thor awkwardly coughed into his hand. "And I couldn't let Heimdall overexert himself by using the Bifrost to take me here. Flying here may have also taken far longer than one might assume."

"Mighty kind of you." Said the light Celestial, crouching to the ground. "What are you here for?"

"I don't know if you're aware of this, but a Beacon was sounded out. A pulse, if you will, from the Force."

The Daughter nodded, tending to a flower. "I am well aware, Thor Odinson."

"Then you must have an idea as to why I am here."

"I have many but none that will give you the answers you may seek."

Thor frowned. "And why is that?"

"After my father's passing, and Arishem causing the disturbance in this world, I had to restructure it. Much of what you'd possibly seek was lost in the process."

Thor soon eyed the surroundings, seeing the garden world Mortis became.

"Probably a decent sacrifice." He exhaled a sigh. "Though I wish the timing could've been better." He focused back on the green-haired Celestial. "Is there anything at least you could share?"

"You'll need to be specific as I might be quite vague."

Thor gave her an unamused look, really wishing he had Loki's sharp tongue right about now.

In the jungle world of Kashyyyk, Grandmaster Yoda arrived and he wasn't alone.

With him was Commander Thire along with Jek and Ryss as well as the Bad Batch.

The Avenger that had been chosen to accompany them was Sam Wilson, much to his confusion. When asked why him and not T'Challa, the Prince had responded that he felt he was needed elsewhere, to go to another sector of the galaxy rather than Kashyyyk.

So he was chosen from literally drawing straws.

Thire, Jek and Ryss were selected to come along due to their past work with the Grandmaster as well as Yoda personally selecting them to come along. The Bad Batch was a surprise yet they soon revealed they helped a group of Wookiees from being sold off into slavery and they brought them back home, earning respect and an open welcome for this eclectic group of Clones on the planet whenever they pleased.

Yoda walked forward, being greeted by several Wookiee chieftains with the Grandmaster bowing his head.

"Grateful, I am, for welcoming us without warning, yes." Yoda spoke respectfully. "Wish for assistance, I ask, for the Force brought me here, it has."

All the while, where many planets were being visited by the Republic and their Jedi protectors and Clone soldiers, one planet got an unusual band of misfits making its way down to its surface.

A ship in the shape of an M made its way to the planet Shili, homeworld of the Togruta species.

The ship landed in the middle of a jungle clearing and the back entrance opened up to reveal…

"Why are we here, Quill?" Gamora asked for the rest of the Guardians of the Galaxy.

"We here for a job or something?" Wes Journ said, surveying the jungle world.

"Something like that."

Ventress let loose a small snarl. "For Force sake, Quill, stop being vague."

Peter rolled his eyes. "Well, I can't help it. It's like you with your whole Force nonsense."

"It's not nonsense, it's the Force and I can't explain it to someone who has half a brain cell that works."

Quill only deadpanned at his half-sister, shaking his head in response before pointing ahead.

"You guys are gonna see in a sec." Star-Lord said. "It's just up ahead."

Leading the Guardians through the jungle, they soon came upon something that several Guardians recognized immediately while the rest could only look at it in bewilderment and even slight disgust given its look and shape.

It was quite a large mass with this blue cosmic light within the smooth texture. Whilst it didn't seem responsive at all, it dimly pulsed.

Asajj eyed the large blue mass. "What is that?"

"A disgusting pustule of your old man." Rocket answered.

That only got a look from the Dathomirian. "...What?"

"Nasty but accurate." Peter stated, pointing at the blue blob. "Remember what we told you of Ego of him being a planet, not really an exaggeration."

This ended up causing Asajj to recall that… peculiar chat after taking down that Crime Syndicate Triumvirate.

She could vividly remember where she sat at the bar the Guardians frequented as they discussed she learned more about her father.

"Let me get this straight. Our father, Ego, was a literal Living Planet."

"Yes." Peter confirmed for her. "Technically a Celestial, but a living planet, yeah."

"I don't believe you." Ventress bluntly admitted.

"I understand why you're confused. I still find it hard to believe he can have sex with a normal-sized person." Drax said abruptly. "Planets don't usually have a penis."

"Dammit, Drax. Not this again." Gamora bemoaned aloud.

Asajj went bug-eyed upon hearing this.

"What? No! Drax, that's not why people wouldn't believe it!"

"Oh, right. It's because if a planet did have a penis they'd smoosh a regular-sized person."

"Fascination: A planet having reproductive intercourse with a meatbag? I have always been aware of the instinctual need for reproduction amongst meatbags, but that is certainly a new one."

"I really don't wanna know." Baze muttered, standing up and leaving them.

"No! Jesus, Drax. The planet wasn't even his body, his real body was a glowing brain."

This got Ventress even more frustrated. "Now, you're making even less sense!"

Drax took this as his validation. "Yeah, Quill. Brains don't have a penis, either. You're just confusing her more."

Rocket only laughed at this whilst the other Guardians had varying looks of confusion and disgust.

"You have any idea what they're talking about?" Wes asked Chirrut who only shook his head.

"Something about planet sex but knowing Drax…"

"Yeah, I wouldn't think too much about it." Sugi remarked, Fennec raising her drink for the Zabrak to clink within agreement.

Peter, meanwhile, was trying to get the conversation on track. "Oh, for crying out loud. Ego's REAL body was a brain. Using Celestial energy, he made a normal human body, to roam the universe, and make children to help with his evil plan of assimilating the universe. That's the actual truth."

All this got was Ventress, along with several others who weren't in the know, to be silent and have a massive brain fart.

Drax leaned over and spoke to Quill's "grumpy" sister. "We didn't actually see his penis, so we can't know for certain, but lots of humans can have one, so it's possible."

Ventress mustered the blankest stare she had likely ever produced before standing from her seat with a look of defeat. "I think I'm going to throw myself into a star now."

A Kyuzo responded in kind.

"Fuck off Embo."

Back in the present, the Dathomirian shook her head to focus back on what's happening.

"What does that have to do with this?" Asajj asked, hating that no matter how hard she tried, that conversation will likely plague her mind until her last days.

"Each world Ego visited, he didn't just spread his metaphorical seed by having a child with a species, but literally spreading Celestial Seeds; seeds which are extensions of himself." Mantis explained, having seen some of these moments herself.

"Why?" Sugi asked, keeping a wary eye on the blob.

"Ego is a parasitic Celestial." Gamora elaborated. "When the time came of gaining additional power from a child he conceived who had the Celestial spark, he'd use it to signal his Seeds to activate and encompass the planets they're planted in."

"Once swallowed up, they soon become an extension of him." Peter stated.

Ventress eyed the blue mass with a feeling of unease.

"So… is this like… what's left of him?" Fennec Shand spoke up, looking a bit perturbed by the fact that it seemed to still be alive.

"Pretty much." Star-Lord said. "I recommend you don't physically touch it."

Embo inquired as to why.

"On the worlds we went to in taking care of this, we heard some locals got stupid in examining 'em. The blobs ended up devouring them." Rocket answered with a shake of his head. "Damn morons."

"...Like devour-devour?" Wes asked for clarity.

"It wasn't pretty." Mantis muttered quietly.

"I still can't believe you guys did all this outside the galaxy." Fennec murmured.

"We'll take you there one day." Peter promised.

"Why not sooner?" Sugi asked, clearly interested in this matter.

"We're still searching for our siblings." Said Mantis. "We didn't know if there were any left if Ego got to them or not. Back where we're from, only Peter and I are the last."

"This galaxy is a weird one." Rocket added on. "When we got here, we had to go through one of the worst FTL jumps we've ever experienced."

"I am Groot."

"Yeah, you said it buddy." The anthropomorphic Raccoon said with a grimace.

"We'll be sticking around till we've combed the whole galaxy." Quill said. "Who knows if we can find other brothers and sisters out here in this galaxy before we leave."

Hearing more of this, Ventress pondered and digested the details.

There might be other siblings of theirs out there, given the signs of this "Ego blob". Somewhat narrowed down of one's homeworld and species… but that only filtered so much. Force knows if they're still alive or not, given the present war or previous circumstances. Even then, it's a needle in a massive haystack.

Her mind then drifted over to Mantis, her sibling who lacked the Celestial power. This factor is also something to consider if any sibling of theirs is able to tap into the innate power or something else entirely.

"And how will this be taken care of?" Wes asked, gesturing his head in the direction of the blob.

"Doing some mumbo jumbo Quill's been doing for a while now: killing his pops over and over again." Rocket stated only further confusing those who hadn't seen this before.

"...What?" Was the response from several of them.

"It's a theory of ours since taking care of the first seed." Gamora stated. "Ego might not be really dead if these things are still around."

"Could be considered residual corpses." Sugi mused.

"That's what we thought too, but boss said there's still power within them." Kraglin said. "Like a dim heartbeat that's still beating even if the rest of the body is dead, if that makes any sense."

"Something we ain't gonna overlook."

"...We'll take your word for it."

A number of others decided to get a safe distance away, surveying the area. If they were to come across any of the locals, they'll have to tell them to stay away, one way or another.

Back at the Ego blob, Peter was pacing back and forth, seemingly getting ready to get rid of it.

"How do you get rid of this?"

Quill looked over to Asajj, who stood there with a curious look on her face.

"I touch it, reach in, concentrate, feel a connection, and compress."

Asajj showed confusion. "You said physically touching it-"

"Normal people can't. Celestials -like me- can be without issue." Peter gestured his head back to their half-sister. "Mantis can too but she didn't inherit the power like you and I did but she could at least touch it without being affected by it."

"Awfully noble of you to do this, Quill." Journ commented, the leader of the Guardians huffing at that.

"Don't wanna sound high and mighty here but it's a duty of mine to get rid of these Celestial blobs. Don't want this to be a chance that our bastard father comes back through these." Peter then said an off-handed comment. "Besides, I somewhat find it therapeutic."

A gray brow was quirked. "That's rather dark to admit."

"This shitbag killed my mom by giving her cancer, just because he didn't want to actually settle down and quit his expansion project." Quill retorted. "He deserves everything he gets in life and death."

"Encouragement: Oh Master, I knew there was a reason I liked you so much. I knew the dark side dwelled deep within you and with it, the needed desire to kill meatbags."

"Just this one, HK.'" Quill said, standing closer to the blob now.

Looking down at his hands, Ventress saw Peter struggle to manifest his innate power, his Celestial power. They were flickering in his palm before forming a small ball.

"I gave up the power when killing him the first time. I didn't want to be like him." Peter then let the Celestial energy ball die out. "When they suddenly came back, I wanted to make things right by taking care of him for good. If it means the rest of my powers will be gone as a result, so be it."

Asajj froze, almost not believing what she just heard.

Her brother… wanted to get rid of his powers?

Why?!

This power was beyond anything she could ever have imagined and she was now just starting to tap into it.

This got Ventress to blurt out the first thing that came to mind.

"If you get rid of your power, you'll just be like everyone else."

Peter looked at her with an inquisitive look before it morphed into a small grin. "What's so wrong with that?"

"Besides, he already isn't like everyone else." Gamora spoke up.

"Yeah, he's a grade-A douchebag."

"And you're a furry asshole." Quill retorted before looking back to his still astonished Dathomiri sister. "Asajj. I know that you having your own powers makes you what you are. You understand and control more of the Celestial gene, and I'm happy for you. You do you. Me not having mine for all my life, but suddenly getting it for like a few days at most before coming back a while ago… it's just not me. It's all alien to what I am."

"But… you could… you could be so much more." Ventress argued. "Have so much more, be so much more!"

"But I don't need to be." Peter rebuked calmly. "I already got everything I would ever have wanted in my life. And I'd rather stand side-by-side with them instead of from above like what Ego wanted to do."

"That was disgustingly sappy." Sugi spoke up.

"Yeah, please don't ever talk like that again." Wes added on.

Embo had his own things to say, making HK whir in amusement.

"Observation: Yes, meatbags are known for their sloshy displays of sickening affection. Master Revan did the same with his wife Bastila in many ways, on and off clothes."

Quill gave them all a flat look in response. "Fuck all of you."

"Ah, we love you too Quill." Rocket said with a wide grin.

Peter shook his head, focusing back on the blob.

He held up his hand, clenching and unclenching it as the power of his father flowed around his limb once more.

"Would you like some help?"

He blinked, the power dissipating as he glanced over at Ventress. "What?"

"Would you like-"

"I heard what you said, Asajj, but you actually wanna help with this?"

Asajj didn't respond at first, looking at the blob and then at her brother. "He's also my father, but not the one who I identify as. He is what caused my mother to regretfully give me up. And what you say is true, I'd rather not want such a family reunion."

Gamora heard this and glanced down while Asajj stood shoulder to shoulder with Quill as they stood in front of the Ego blob.

"So how do we do this?"

"Alright, it goes like this…"

-Scene Cut-

As the forces of good moved throughout the galaxy, the flow of the Force acting as their guide, upon a planet steeped in the Dark Side of the Force, its followers were conducting their own response to the Pulse all Force Users detected.

"It came from Tython."The Son stated with absolute certainty.

"Are you sure of this?" Barel Ovair inquired.

"It has been some time since I had last been to that planet but one does not forget a world such as that one."

"Tython… I remember from our stories. The origin point to how our forefathers came across the Force." The Sith infiltrator murmured.

"More or less." The Son soon listed off several factors. "The Tho Yor, pilgrims. Porg, egg. The possibility of what came first is irrelevant. But yes, Tython is where it remotely began."

"But shall we be journeying there?" The revived Sith Lord Momin inquired. "We still have much to do."

"The Acolytes can take care of what's needed for the plan while we're gone." Said Gethzerion.

"Tython is not linked to what we have planned." Barel pointed out. "If anything, it would just be a detour in the grand scheme of things at this time."

"Perhaps at a later time then." Darth Momin remarked, returning to his work on the mask of Darth Nihilus. In front of him was the gateway he had used to bring himself forward to this time.

The Son gazed upon the revived Sith Lord and then at the gate, giving it an analytical stare, a recurring instance since he first saw this doorway.

"How did you manage this?" The Dark Celestial suddenly asked. "I've been curious and have my theories but would like to hear it from you directly."

Momin paused in his work, setting down tools he had and slowly turned to the Son.

"It… is a very long and complicated answer." The Sith Lord answered.

"We have time." The Son retorted arms crossed as a silent means of conveying he expected an answer.

Momin fell silent, his glowing red eyes turning to the doorway that served as his means of revival.

"Connecting to the realm of Chaos wasn't easy. It was all theory, to begin with. How the afterlife for Jedi and Sith differ. The Jedi join the collective Force while the Sith are damned for eternity in the Void. It being a subconscious reason why so many Sith seek to avoid death, having anchors to the mortal plane of existence to prolong their imminent demise." Momin stepped back, beginning to pace about in the chamber. "While I wasn't really afraid to enter the void, the idea stuck with me as a way to truly come back. I came across many texts and references of others seeking their revival through some rituals that never had been tested or used. Essence transfer is a popular use among past Sith Lords as was Force absorption but they would always backfire upon those who had utilized them."

The others listened to Momin's lecture. Some present were quite understanding, others confused as to where this was heading towards.

"In my research, I came across a place that transcends our universe, where Time and Space meet that allows free access to all corners of the galaxy, possibly even the universe."

For the Celestial, he knew then and there what the Dark Lord was talking about.

"The World Between Worlds." The Son said, making Barel and Gethzerion turn to him, the former in astonishment and the other in confusion.

"The what between what?" Gethzerion said aloud.

"I thought it was just a myth." Barel said in disbelief.

"Far from it. It's a realm some seek to reach once knowing of its existence. My father, sister and I made a gateway to easily reach it." The Dark Celestial says to them. "But back to the matter at hand…"

Nodding, Momin resumed his talk.

"My gate is a corrupted version of it. Not the pure form as it was once described to be. What I needed was an anchor, a means of having a sort of instant navigation and direction to traverse that mystical domain without being lost to it."

"Hence your helmet." Said Gethzerion.

"Correct."

Barel pondered for some moments, understanding a bit more with Momin's gate on how they'll increase their numbers.

And yet, one factor just became too much to bare to keep to himself.

"This World Between Worlds… Can we not use it for our own mea-"

"No." The Son sharply replied.

"No? What do you mean 'no'?"

The Son looked away, arms behind his back.

"There are… certain practices that my Father forbade and accessing the World Between Worlds is one of the few I shall abide by until the stars of this universe cease to shine brightly in the skies above. For a time, we did freely access that realm but… we learned that there are times where curiosity is left at that and not pursued any further other than passing inquiries." The Son's red eyes bore into his Sith allies. "We shall leave that realm as is and rely on Momin's gateway to bring back the Sith Lords of the past."

With great reluctance, Barel conceded. "If that is what you wish."

"No," Gethzerion now looked at the Celestial with mistrust. "Are you not a user of the Dark Side of the Force?"

"I AM The Dark Side." The Son rounded on her, a dark, fiery aura flaring from him. "I am the purest representation of it."

"Then why do you deny us usage of this… World Between Worlds?" The ancient Nightsister challenged. "Would it not be beneficial to our plans?"

The Son narrowed his eyes at her, stepping up to the crimson-clad woman, his frame towering over her.

"Oh, it most certainly would accelerate the plans and make them successful… if one thing wasn't in the way. Know this, I will have my revenge upon Arishem but I will not do so at the expense of my sister and mother by rendering the universe asunder by setting what's in there free to rip apart all in its path."

There was a feeling of palpable anxiousness now as they saw a genuine display of fear from the Celestial as he turned away from them all again.

"By what?" Momin finally asked. "What's in there that frightens one such as yourself?"

The Son didn't deny the accusation of fear, instead shifting his head back for them to see one red eye.

"Not what. But whom."

-Scene Cut-

As one group of Dark Side users discussed their plans for the future, another was doing the same within a ship traversing Hyperspace at this time.

Around a holo table stood Maul with his brother Savage to his immediate right and on the other side of the table was Jorus C'Baoth and the newly reincarnated Freedon Nadd, his body having been recently tampered with by the Sith Lord to fully resemble what he once was in his younger years.

"That Pulse certainly came from seemingly nowhere." C'Baoth mused aloud. "Are there any ideas as to where it originated?"

"Like any beacon, we are meant to answer and follow its trail. Everyone sensitive to the Force is bound to accept and follow its course towards its origin." Freedon Nadd stated.

Maul held a contemplative look before he flicked his hand dismissively.

"It is of no importance to us." He said, earning looks of surprise from those in the room.

Savage especially bore a bewildered look upon hearing this.

"Brother, should we not capitalize on what has happened?"

"And what would that accomplish, Savage?" Maul shot back, shaking his head. "We are to stay out of sight and mind for the time being. The usage of the Chitauri, Sakaarans and Outriders was enough to draw attention to us considering the presence of the Avengers. We need not more. Let them speculate as to their origin."

Jorus C'Baoth soon contributed to the conversation. "Our surveillance teams will suffice in keeping an eye on the happenings as we keep searching for our main objective."

Maul nodded, giving Savage a look of what Jorus said was true.

"And tell us, Lord Nadd," All eyes were now on the revived Sith Lord. "What do you know of the whereabouts of the Soul Stone? You were rather vague days ago and never spoke of it since."

Freedon showed a look of uncertainty, in the fact that someone was asking him about a subject long believed to be a myth and the other in only knowing so much.

"The Soul Stone has long since been hidden away somewhere in this galaxy." The revived Sith began. "As to where it is, that is not something I need to tell you in it being unknown. Obtaining it is the most difficult factor to consider on the journey."

"And that would be?"

"I am unsure." Nadd admitted. "The texts I found regarding its existence were damaged and incomplete. It was not on a Holocron but on an ancient scribe on Ossus that Odan-Urr kept locked away before that temple fell. And even then, the knowledge it gave was lacking to be sure. The scribe, as I was told, predates most known civilizations within this galaxy. Thousands upon thousands of years ago, possibly fifty, maybe even one hundred thousand years. The fact such a portion of the stone scribe stayed intact as it did for that long is a miracle unto itself."

A hum emanated from Maul's throat. A sense of pondering came from Jorus. Confusion from Savage.

"What else do you recall from this scribe? And have you seen its likeness anywhere else?"

"The scribe detailed that it took years to acquire the information he found. What he noted and in his opinion, the context and clues were deliberately being erased. A means to make it impossible to obtain the Stone."

Maul was silent on this matter before giving Nadd a piercing look.

"I take it you had theories and ideas as to where you could find more of these scribes that could lead us to the Soul Stone."

"I can only know so much." Freedon said with a disgruntled look. "But… perhaps in our search, we can begin to find a needed trail to help us locate the Soul Stone."

"Something is better than nothing." Stated Jorus.

-Scene Cut-

At the Jedi Temple archives, many occupants were scouring through the space. Tables filled with data pads with just about every chair occupied.

After the meeting in the main hall, Ahsoka, Barriss and Peter immediately came to the library for yet another look-over. It wasn't long before others they knew or were unfamiliar with followed the same idea.

"Should've figured I'd find you here, Snips."

Without looking up from the data she reading over, Ahsoka greeted Anakin who was leaning on the wall behind her.

"Hey Master." She said, looking intently at the information she pulled up before dismissing it.

"Not what you were looking for, I take it."

"No." She confirmed, slumping in her seat. "We've been at this for a few hours now."

"Hours?" Anakin parroted, shaking his head.

"Feels like days."

"He's exaggerating."

Anakin looked over to see Barriss and Peter at the table Ahsoka sat at, the pair was also absorbed in the study of the knowledge of the Jedi Archives.

"You know, when Master Yoda spoke of us following the will of the Force in trying to find answers to this calling, I figured Barriss would be here but not you, Snips." The Jedi Knight remarked, moving to sit next to his Padawan.

"Ah, Skywalker, a pleasure to see you." Spoke a familiar baritone voice from the side.

Anakin turned to see Master Plo Koon approaching the table, a Holocron in one hand and a data card in the other. Not far away was a pot of tea.

"Master Plo?" The brown-haired Jedi said in surprise. "What are you doing here?"

"Assisting these young ones in their research." The Kel-Dor Master answered, sitting between Ahsoka and Barriss. "Are you here to help?"

"Well, how would I?" Anakin asked in return. "What are you guys even looking for?"

"That's honestly what we're trying to find out." Peter admitted with a shrug. "I mean, that whole Force thing was weird to be sure but Barriss here believes that maybe we can find a hint of… you know, she didn't exactly elaborate on it but she dragged us to the library and here we are."

"Force thing?" Anakin parroted, squinting at Peter. "Wait… Pete did you-"

"Yeah." Parker looked at him dead in the eye. "I felt it. Not like you guys did but there was something that made my spider-sense go off."

This truly astonished the Jedi Knight, considering the void the Avengers all possessed. But there were a few in their midst that stood out in that regard, Peter being one of them.

Like with Vision, the Maximoff twins and recently T'Challa, Peter always felt different in regards to the rest of the Avengers. There was something around the New Yorker and the way the Force reacted to him was like… was like webs that were either trying to get to him or spreading out around him. He just couldn't discern what it was.

Anakin abruptly scrunched his face up in amusement.

"Wait, Spider-Sense?"

Peter held a sheepish smile. "Yeah, Obi-Wan and I thought of it one day and honestly, it's better than calling it the Peter-Tingle."

Skywalker snorted in amusement, looking around the table at the others before landing on the teapot Plo had set in the center.

"Who's the tea for?"

"That would be me, my Old Padawan."

Anakin rolled his eyes at his former title, not even bothering to look over to see that it was Obi-Wan Kenobi, the Jedi Master sitting down next to Peter. Placed on the table soon after was another Holocron with a few other data pads.

"So, you too, Obi-Wan."

"I believe our younger members might be onto something with what they are doing here." Kenobi remarked, placing down a holocron on the table. "After all, we are not the only ones here studying the past."

Anakin didn't need to look around to see the nearly packed archives.

"Do you really think what we're looking for is somewhere in all these Holocrons and data cards?" Anakin inquired, taking one of the data cards, seeing it marked as a history of the New Sith Wars.

"The answers that we seek can be found somewhere in this galaxy." Plo said. "That is what Master Yoda told us and believes."

"But maybe with some foresight, we can get a better idea of what we're looking for instead of randomly going somewhere." Ahsoka confidently said, making Anakin smirk at her.

"Well, haven't always been one to sit still for long but I figure you guys wouldn't mind the help."

"On the contrary." Obi-Wan levitated the Holocron he had brought and sent it over to his former pupil. "The more assistance we have, the more likely a chance to help us find what we seek."

"But that's what I wanna know." Anakin took the Holocron out of the air, giving them all a look. "What exactly are you hoping to find here?"

"A proper beginning." Plo said.

"To what?"

"We're not entirely sure." Barriss admitted. "But maybe, just maybe, a trigger or a spark or anything that we can use here can start us on our path that we don't see just yet."

The Chosen One beheld a small frown, looking down at the Holocron he held before he applied a bit of Force into it and it began opening up.

"Alright, might as well dive into it." He commented, watching the projection of a Kel-Dor Jedi appear.

"You think opening a random Holocron will miraculously give you what you seek right away?"

"Greetings, I am Master Gnost Dural, archivist of the Jedi Order."

The Jedi were silent in this regard and all were rather surprised at the stroke of luck. Gnost Dural was a revered Jedi Scholar, known by all in the history of the Order, especially those who followed in his footsteps.

"...Well what do you know?"

"Don't be smug about it, Skyguy." Ahsoka remarked with a puff of her cheeks.

"I call it lucky." Parker deadpanned.

"Chosen One, not luck."

"So it all just falls into your lap then?"

"I can't help but be awesome."

"Boo, that's our thing." Peter jokingly admonished, giving Anakin a thumbs down.

Plo chortled, waving his hand for them to quiet down as the ancient Kel-Dor Jedi began recounting the knowledge he had at their disposal.

He spoke in length about the war that the Order in his era was dealing with, that against the Ancient Dark Lord Darth Vitiate and his Eternal Sith Empire.

What he primarily focused on was where the roots of the struggle between the Jedi and the Sith started and just how far back it went. The two opposing sides have been at each other's throats for thousands of years but just when did this begin was called into question.

And it really was a good question.

The Jedi and Sith have been ideologically opposed for so long that the Jedi in this current era and that of Gnost Dural had actually lost track of just where it began. Dural's spirit within the Holocron went on to describe the wars fought before the Galactic War that plagued his time as well as documenting past wars.

The Jedi Civil War, the Mandalorian War, the Old Sith Wars and lastly, the Great Hyperspace War.

And strangely, that's where he ended it.

The ancient Kel-Dor Jedi showed frustration on his part as he too was flummoxed as to why he couldn't delve further back but hoped that with the knowledge that he has right now, future Jedi could use it and perhaps help fill in the blanks left behind.

"I didn't know that the Sith were once a species." Peter said aloud.

"Me neither." Ahsoka and Anakin admitted at the same time.

"It's not a well-known fact these days." Obi-Wan revealed. "After all, for over a thousand years, the Order presumed the Sith to be dead and gone. We did teach about them, yes, but in-depth as in the olden days, no longer is that the case. The factor of the originating species was one such detail."

"Anyone remotely close was Dark Jedi, who fell from the light and proclaimed to be Sith but were merely pretenders. There were even some instances of brief corruptions or possessions by artifacts or spirits." Plo Koon further elaborated. "Few were true Sith Lords and those that were brought about terrible destruction."

"But like all others, they died, leaving much speculation if their proclamations were true."

"So, uh, what do we do with this information now then?" Peter asked. "Dural said his research is incomplete."

"And though the Jedi Archives hosts an astounding quantity of knowledge, we can only have so much." Obi-Wan remarked. "There are many periods in which knowledge has been completely lost. Either by time, tampering or raids as some examples."

Before they could discuss matters any further, a new individual saw their group and came over to them.

"Hello everyone." Spoke another voice familiar to them all and they looked to see that it was Vision.

"Hey Viz," Peter greeted pleasantly. "Care to join us? We could use your super mind to process all this information that we have."

"Just what are you doing?" The synthetic Avenger asked, seeing all the data cards and Holocrons gathered at the table.

"The young Padawans believe that there may be something that we can find in the archives to better assist in our… well, not sure what we should call what it is that all of us are undertaking right now since we felt that pulse in the Force." Obi-Wan explained, gesturing to Ahsoka and Barriss.

"Our history may hold an idea of what we seek." The latter stated, making the bearer of the Mind Stone gaze at her.

"History, you say?" Vision murmured, frowning in thought.

Seeing his response, Anakin perked up slightly.

"What, you have something in mind, Viz?" Skywalker asked, seeing him nod in response.

"Yes, I do believe so. Tell me, what do you know of Odan-Urr?"

Obi-Wan and Barriss perked up at that.

"The Jedi Master who was once called the unofficial Master of the Order? The greatest Scholar, greatest knowledge keeper, master librarian of the Jedi Order?" Obi-Wan rattled off the many titles this ancient Jedi Master held with deep reverence.

"He preserved as much knowledge as he could over the years. Unfortunately, his service came to an end, courtesy of Exar Kun, when he was seeking to hide certain knowledge once feeling the dark presence at the Ossus Jedi Temple." Barriss stated with a downtrodden look. "The temple that once stood was destroyed."

"But untouched." Kenobi mused aloud, rubbing his beard. "Barel Ovair came back stating the temple on Ossus still stands despite it being in ruins."

There was a pause between the group before Peter spoke up.

"So… should we go there?"

"What would we find?" Ahsoka asked in uncertainty.

"Let us not have reservations, little Soka." Plo pointed out. "This could be something that can help us on our paths."

Anakin stood up. "Alright, I'll get the boys ready. Don't worry, Obi-Wan, Plo, I'll reach out to Commanders Cody and Wolffe."

"That seems a bit much to have all three of our fleets, Anakin." Kenobi pointed out.

"No way in hell." Anakin said with a firm shake of his head. "Ultron is out there and I am not taking any chances. We're all going together and not giving that metal bastard the chance to get the jump on us."

"I concur." Vision said with a nod.

Several hours later, over a dozen Venators appeared out of hyperspace in the Outer Rim at the end of the Perlemian Hyperspace route.

The planet they appeared in front of; Ossus once the main temple of the Jedi Temple 4000 years ago.

"Ossus." Kenobi whispered a sense of awe in his voice. "I never thought I would actually come here."

"So, what was this place?" Peter asked, looking between the Jedi. "Barriss and Ahsoka mentioned that this place was a library at one point, right?"

"More than that." Plo's deep baritone voice reverberated off the walls, sharing the sentiments that his fellow Council member possessed. "This was once the homeworld of the Jedi, where we once held all the knowledge of the Force, the galaxy, all of it."

"Why abandon it, sir?" Captain Rex inquired, standing next to Anakin and Ahsoka.

"It was due to the Old Sith Wars and the damage they wrought." Barriss explained, looking at the former homeworld of the Jedi with enraptured attention. "Unfortunately, we've rather neglected this planet for thousands of years now."

"Maybe we can reclaim and rebuild it now." Ahsoka commented. "After all is said and done, we can take back what we've lost."

"A wonderful idea, little Soka." Plo said approvingly, patting her shoulder with the Togruta shooting him a wide smile.

Soon after, half a dozen gunships descended to the planet's surface, the land barren and desolate until they arrived at a large structure.

A Jedi Temple.

The Jedi Temple that once served as their headquarters.

But due to Exar Kun and his forces, this planet is vacant of the Jedi. But the sense of the Force is still prevalent in the world.

As the clones began stationing around the vicinity, the Jedi and the Avengers entered the main Jedi temple.

Handheld light devices were at the ready, eventually illuminating some of the darkened space. The sun did shine down through several openings on the ceilings and walls. Even then, neither person knew how dark the place may be.

As the group traversed through the entrance of the temple ruins-

"Da, Da, Da, Daaa~ Duh Duh Dum! Ba, Da, Da, Daaa~ Duh Duh Dum!"

-when Peter started to softly sing a certain theme.

"What are you doing?" Anakin spoke up.

"Uh…"

"Why are you humming that?"

"What? It's Indiana Jones." Peter gestured to the temple they were walking into. "We're venturing inside an abandoned temple. There could be traps for all we know."

"Peter, there are not gonna be any traps." Ahsoka said with a shake of her head.

As they reached several feet into the entrance, someone pressed on a pressure plate.

Flamethrowers, Force gravity wells and an assortment of other means that can kill someone in an instant appeared in front of them all.

"See? Traps." Peter said in a triumphant manner.

"...Coincidence." Anakin grumbled.

"Interesting to see some security measures are still active." Kenobi mused aloud. "Would've thought Barel Ovair got these taken care of when he was here."

"Some may have been overlooked." Koon reasoned. "Or he went through another entrance."

"Right." Peter soon crawled up the wall to check the mechanism. It took some minutes of searching along the walls until finding a hidden compartment he soon pried open.

"What are you doing now?" Barriss asked, watching her boyfriend open the mechanism and start fiddling with it.

"Trying to see if I can shut this off." He answered.

"I could solve this, Peter." Vision spoke up.

"Vision… there are things one must do without cheats."

The Synthetic Avenger raised a brow. "Excuse me?"

"You can phase through walls and detect machinery. There's a certain finesse to these situations." Peter said with an odd tone of superiority.

Barriss looked at her boyfriend with a perplexed look. "Now you're just exaggerating."

"No, he's right."

Ahsoka and Anakin gave Plo Koon a dry look.

"Master Plo Koon, don't encourage him." The former pleaded.

"This isn't an exact joke." Said Obi-wan. "Certain situations require intellect and I believe Peter has the right idea."

"But I'm intelligent as well." Vision said, sounding almost childish.

"But I… am a fan of movies." Spider-man countered, triggering a wire within the mechanism. "I need to fulfill some inner desire of my geekdom."

Ahsoka rolled her eyes. "That is such a stupid excuse."

"And you all love me for it."

A moment later, all the traps were deactivated, and Spider-man dropped down to join them.

"See? Aren't I just amazing."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah." Anakin shoved the side of the web-heads head.

Venturing further into the temple, with what digital map they had on hand, they came into what was once the temple's grand library.

"Oh, what a tragedy this is." Obi-Wan said aloud, shaking his head with a downtrodden gaze. "This temple was once the home of the Jedi for thousands upon thousands of years. It was once our great library. Now it is reduced to a crumbling ruin."

"Talk about a patch job." Parker muttered, seeing the state of the interior.

"As long as the knowledge remains, the legacy of the Jedi lives on."

"It's incredible, at least."

The grand library was falling apart yet somehow stood despite being untouched for over four thousand years now. There were some openings from the ceiling, hence the natural light seeping into the space. And there was quite the amount of water damage, given the several water puddles and mini-lakes present sprawled about over the millennia. Shelves were toppled over and wrecked. Decorative statues were in a similar state.

For those who have known the Coruscant archives, this place was quite the polar opposite of the state of maintenance.

"Though I wonder if there's anything salvageable."

"What are we looking for here?" Anakin asked aloud. "This place is empty."

"Looks can be deceiving, Anakin." Kenobi lightly chided. "Though much has been taken, there can always be something that has been missed."

Hearing this, Vision squinted his eyes, looking around the empty chamber until his eyes landed on the floor. Though it was faded, the symbol of the Jedi Order was painted on the ground and was displayed as vividly as ever.

Focusing on the star in the center, Vision fired a beam at its center but found himself blinking a moment later at what he just did.

"Vision?" Barriss spoke up, bewildered by what he just did. "What was-"

The temple suddenly began to shake, the whole group tensed up.

The Clone Commanders and Captain that were stationed outside the temple were calling in from the comms to ask what was happening when the floor in the center opened up.

Back inside of the temple, the floor more or less caved in at a certain section. Investigating, the group found it was a stairwell.

"A hidden chamber." Said Obi-wan in astonishment.

Plo Koon observed this and recalled a factor he knew of the Coruscant temple.

In case of emergencies or times of peril, the librarian would try to hide many artifacts and pieces of history away so they may be retrieved later. Members of the Jedi Council know of this factor, even the librarian, who is presently Jocasta Nu.

Yet something rather intricate for the Ossus temple made him ponder.

Making their way down the stairwell, the assembled party had their own respective reactions. Mostly widened their eyes once they saw what was revealed.

It was a basement floor filled to the brim with scrolls, books, data cards and Holocrons.

"By the Force!" Plo exclaimed in awe, a sentiment shared by all.

"WOOHOO!" Peter jumped in the air. "We found the motherload!"

"I can't believe this." Obi-wan muttered, running his hand through his hair.

"I don't either." Barriss whispered, spotting the symbols etched on the many bookshelves and she gasped.

"What?"

The Mirialan Padawan turned to Obi-Wan and pointed at the symbols on the shelves.

"Master Kenobi, look." She exclaimed excitedly. "Do you recognize what that is?"

Taking a moment to inspect the symbol, the bearded Jedi's jaw dropped.

"This… this is…" Obi-wan stammered. "This is the secret trove of Odan Urr!"

"Don't have a panic attack here, Kenobi." Chimed Vision.

"Hard not to." Plo spoke up. "I can't believe our luck."

The group descended into the basement library and just picked a random spot and began taking out data cards, scrolls, books, everything.

Despite the space having been sealed off for millennia, there was a small layer of dust having collected here.

A small blur went past them. Looking over, they saw Ahsoka's avian companion flying around.

No one really minded the Trandoshan bird at this time, for they were more focused at the treasure trove of lost knowledge.

"Would've thought Exar Kun would've raided this place." Said Barriss.

Anakin hummed in agreement. "Given us seeing all this, he never had."

"But what about the stories?" Says Ahsoka.

Obi-wan gave a response. "Odan Urr was no doubt in the midst of moving property here once sensing the Dark Side coming onto the Temple. Exar Kun merely stumbled upon him when he may have been transferring the darker artifacts, not knowing of this hidden space."

"Rather fortunate… or unfortunate in that case." Noted Vision.

"Quite debatable. For now, let's take heart we've found this lost trove for the Order."

"We'll send a message out to the Order, getting Jocasta and as many other Jedi as we can to get this back to Coruscant." Plo stated.

"Now gonna wonder what's left behind." Said Kenobi.

"Hopefully none of these scrolls and books got corroded or content faded over the years." Spoke the Mirialan padawan.

"You know, it's gonna be a while to filter through all this." Said the young Avenger.

Vision spoke an inquiry. "Why do you say that?"

"I don't feel we're exactly finished with… whatever journey we're on."

The Jedi looked over to Peter's location. It was Kenobi who asked the wall crawler a question. "And what do you feel exactly?"

Picking up a random book and whipping off the dust from the cover, Peter coughed a little as a result. "I think we need to find our next clue somewhere here."

"He's probably right."

"While we wait for the others to arrive, we might as well get comfortable and start reading."

"Hooray…" Came Peter and Ahsoka's sarcastic response.

Barriss merely smacked their arms in response.

In the middle of all this, Anakin seized up for a moment, a cold chill running down his spine. He heard an echo, a heavy breath that made his head whip around.

'No…' Anakin wildly thought. 'It can't be… he can't be he-'

"At least someone's already comfortable."

The comment from his Padawan caused Skywalker to break out of his thoughts.

Looking over some distance away, Morai was situated on a pile of ancient data cards, scrolls and books. With the amount, it resembled a nest for her.

"Yes. Seated and resting upon vast knowledge that had been lost to time, not caring at all about them."

Anakin looked at Obi-wan with a raised brow. "She's just a bird."

"A rather intelligent one."

Ahsoka giggled into her hand, kneeling and stroking the Trandoshan bird's head.

"She most certainly is."

Morai preened at the affection, leaning into her hands, and rubbing her face against them.

"Wait… how did Morai get here?" Anakin questioned.

"What do you mean? She was always here." His Padawan pointed out.

Her Master shook his head. "No, I recall she was back at the Coruscant temple."

"No. She was on our ship. I brought her with me. You were just more focused on-"

*Hoot Hoot*

The Convor hopped out of her makeshift nest before taking flight, flying around Ahsoka followed by Barriss and Peter before hovering in front of a dark corridor.

"Morai, where are you going?" Ahsoka said, walking after the Convor who kept hooting at the Togruta and her lovers.

The trio took a gander and followed after the green and white feathered bird while the others decided to stay behind and keep looking on their own.

Getting past the many rows of shelves of the vast space, the small group soon came to an abrupt stop.

"...Hey, guys!" Peter called out. "You gotta come here, now!"

The others rushed in and all halted at what Peter, Barriss and Ahsoka were looking at, with Morai now perched on the Togruta's shoulder.

A mural was drawn and painted out on the wall's surface. Several people looking at it more or less froze where they stood.

The spread depicted a series of stars and orbital rings in the background. Nearly at the forefront was a unique symbol of what was akin to a jagged star or sun within an oddly shaped four-leaf clover. It seemed to repeat once more within the center of the design with curved brackets around the whole thing.

It was between it all where the main focus resided.

In the foreground was a trio of individuals.

A trio of Celestials.

"The Mortis Celestials." Obi-wan breathed out.

Vision stepped forward, same as Anakin who placed his hand on the mural.

The Chosen One inhaled sharply, feeling a surge within the Force.

"This is old." He looked back to the others, an unreadable serious face. "Very old."

"Where does this come from?" Ahsoka murmured. "And why…"

Vision took a scan, translating a number of characteristics. "This states coordinates to the planet Lothal."

"Lothal?" Plo muttered.

"What kind of planet is that?" Peter asked.

"One deeply connected to the Force." Obi-wan stated, turning to Vision. "Is there anything else you can make out of this?"

"As Anakin said, this is old. So too are the other characters. I can't make out the rest. They've been faded and even damaged." Viz said, gesturing to several markings that were clearly damaged.

Looking at it further, Ahsoka's eyes glanced over the Mortis trio. She shivered slightly at the depiction of the Son. Her sense of discomfort ended when feeling Barriss and Peter grasp her hands and giving them a reassuring squeeze. She smiled slightly in response as her eyes drifted over to the Father before settling on the Daughter.

A connection was there with the green-haired Celestial. The one who sacrificed part of herself to save her. Ahsoka felt a sense of debt owed to her. One to live on with her life, among other factors.

As this happened, Morai rubbed her head against hers. Ahsoka let go of her lover's hands before caressing the bird's plumage.

Digesting the name Lothal from Vision, the padawan realized where they needed to journey to next.

Anakin sensed this and contacted the troops. Obi-Wan sent a missive out to the Jedi Temple on Coruscant.

Heading to Lothal took some additional hours to reach. A large number of the clones had to stay behind for the other members of the Order to arrive to properly secure the Ossus temple. The others stayed with the one group of assembled Jedi and Avengers to their next destination.

The Outer Rim planet was quaint and peaceful. Had quite the frontier feel to it with its vast prairies, marshes and mountain ranges.

Taking a shuttle from the Republic cruiser, the group more or less followed the Force to where they needed to get to on this planet. Eventually they stopped at some vicinity with smooth rocky terrain with a rather large hill. Not to mention all of the snow covering the land, given it was located in the northern hemisphere.

"Where would this temple be? I don't see any signs of it." Peter commented, looking out at the landscape.

"Hidden, probably." Kenobi surmised.

"Why would it be hidden?" His pseudo-student asked.

"A number of temples are like that."

"Wait, really? You're kidding."

"I wish he wasn't." Skywalker said with a shake of his head.

Coming to a stop, Barriss looked around in confusion. Scratching her head, she wandered before feeling the odd compulsion to look down.

When she did, she saw some indents in the dirt and snow. The Mirialan would've dismissed it and moved on, but the Force made her look deeper.

Her eyes soon trailed the dirt indents and saw some pattern.

Getting an idea, she used a Force Push to sweep the snow and dirt away from all around her. This got the attention of the others, who convened to her position.

"What did you find?" Ahsoka asked, looking down at the ground.

Barriss merely gave a brief response. "This."

This symbol… It was familiar, one way or another.

"Strange. I recall seeing this symbol at Illum's temple." Plo Koon stated.

"And back at the Ossus basement library." Vision tacked on.

Peter crouched to get a closer look at the symbol, tilting his head in several angles. "Doesn't this look like what was seen on Mortis?"

"Rather hard to spot, or recall." Said Anakin. "Was more focused getting off that rock."

"It was there." Chimed Obi-wan. "At the Father's abode, where we fought his children; more so towards the Son."

Plo Koon hummed when hearing all of this. "More questions seem to form before us."

Obi-wan stroked his beard, pondering. "I concur. Pieces for a puzzle we may have, but not everything is visible to form a clearer picture."

Vision gazed at the symbol intently.

"Perhaps… what we seek can be found elsewhere. But some help is needed. And I do believe I know where to go."

"And where will that be?"

The synthetic Avenger gave them a small smile. "Seeing a friend and mentor."

-Scene Cut-

At his office at the Senate Building of Coruscant, Darth Sidious was deep in thought.

His apprentice contacted him not long after the Force Beacon reached them. Well, not just them, but every Force sensitive out in the galaxy as to what the reports say.

Undoubtedly, from what the Jedi have done recently, the age-old enemies of the Sith were mobilizing in the most unexpected way.

From reports, the Jedi were on a pilgrimage and he had seen many ships departing from the Temple.

The Secret Sith Lord found himself frowning, for once, not relying on his Force but relying on his gut and what his gut was telling him didn't fill him with much assurance.

That Force Pulse… A great shift in the galaxy was occurring. One which didn't seem to go in his favor.

He was one who thrived on the certainty of how things were meant to be but now, that is no longer in the cards for the Sith Lord.

Exiting his office, Palpatine took a walk and passed by Sly's connecting office.

"Sly Moore." He called out to her.

Looking up from her work, Sly addressed him. "Yes, Chancellor?"

"Cancel and reschedule my meetings."

"Of course." She said, glancing over to the Secret Sith Lord. "And where will you be going?"

"My usual place."

The Umbaran administrative aide nodded before contacting Mas Amedda and Sate Pestage on the upcoming change of plans for the day. For she knew the Chancellor will not be available for the rest of the day.

Getting to the secret door nearby, he opened it and entered.

This passageway was used by past Chancellors of the Republic for millennia, in case of emergencies. Of course, it wasn't inside the office, which was sadly a design flaw.

Regardless, this served its purpose for the Sith Lord.

Entering a secret hangar, Sidious soon switched out his robes to ones he preferred to wear on the regular. From there, he took his craft and took off from the Senate Building to a secret base located on Coruscant.

Once getting to the industrial district, the Dark Lord landed his ship inside a particular structure and exited, making his way to a room he always had prepared beforehand. Not by servants, but by himself personally.

"What to do, what to do…" He mused to himself. "So much is happening to the galaxy. So much beyond my control."

He waved his hand, sending out a small wave with the force. In an instant, half a dozen blue fires lit the chamber he stood in.

The room was decorated with red carpets and curtains, the ancient language of the Sith sewn onto the fabric with some being carved into the walls and ceilings.

His hand was once again raised. Force lightning shot out from his fingertips, striking a large dish on a raised pedestal in the center of the room which was set aflame. Approaching the fiery dish, Sidious looked over the flames dancing atop the liquid in the dish.

The Dark Side radiated from the fire and calling upon his power, Sidious' eyes shifted into the sickly yellow that all Sith Lords possess and raised his hands.

Lightning danced across his fingertips before it was all directed into the bowl, the flames heightening.

Palpatine began chanting in a throaty manner, the language that is known only to Sith Lords that originated in the birthplace of the Sith: Korriban.

The Sith Speak filled the air as Sidious conjured sorcery into the vicinity for what he had in mind. It wasn't long before the alchemical ritual was complete.

Exhaling, Sidious closed his eyes momentarily. He allowed the aura of the ritual to permeate over him before opening his eyes again, focusing on the dish.

He needed an advantage in the present circumstances. He needed a clearer picture of what was to come with the coming conflicts.

Essentially, he needed to cheat in order to know the future.

He did it decades ago with his Master when the Force shifted into that of the Dark Side.

But that wasn't the case anymore.

He needed a new means of gaining the edge in this war and in the conflicts that are coming.

If not, then the grand plan of the Sith will be forever ruined. Darth Bane's lineage will go down in disgrace and the Revenge of the Sith never come to pass.

-Scene Cut-

It took a while to reach Atollon. Hopefully, for the assembled party, it'll be worth the journey.

"My word, this is quite out of the way, Vision." Obi-Wan commented.

"Intentionally made to be difficult to find as it is to reach." Vision said, looking down at the planet where he had spent close to a year at.

There was a silent feeling of growing anticipation from the Jedi. While they were informed beforehand on the flight over, it was going to be a nervous encounter on some level.

They had ordered their men to stay on the Venators, taking only a shuttle down with them.

Landing in front of a large crater, Vision led the group down into it and the Avenger was greeted with a brown Convor and a small Dokma. A wide grin bloomed on Vision's face, kneeling momentarily to scoop up the small crab-like creature whilst the Trandoshan bird perched itself on the Avenger's shoulder.

"Ah~ Archimedes, Gary, good to see you two again." Vision greeted happily.

"Friends of yours, Viz?" Peter asked, holding his hand up to the Convor, the bird nibbling at one of his fingers.

"Companions I had made in my time here." The synthetic being remarked fondly. "But first."

Vision walked into the center of the crater.

"Bendu. It's me, Vision. And I've brought friends."

There was a moment of silence from all of them until they heard the shifting of rock and stone.

Everyone turned behind them from a shadow that seemingly appeared out of nowhere behind them.

The Jedi had their eyes widened whilst Peter whistled in awe.

Vision held a grin at the sight of the being that was known as the Bendu.

"Bendu."

"Ah~ Vision, my friend." The rocky and bearded being greeted with a wry smile. "At long last found the time to visit, eh?"

"You should know the state of the galaxy, my friend." Viz rebuked, Bendu humming and nodding.

"Yes, that tremor in the Force was hard to ignore. A great shift in the galaxy has occurred." It was then that the being noticed Visions companions who were staring in silent wonder. "Many troubles are brewing on the horizon. Jedi, a pleasure to meet you after so many centuries since I last met one of your kind. Avenger…" Bendu blinked, leaning down and giving Peter a particular look. "Oh~ a totem. And the Chosen One."

"Again with the Totem." Peter muttered, earning an elbow hit from Ahsoka to have him shut up. "What? That's what the Father said to me on Mortis."

"The Father?" Bendu said in surprise. "You've been to Mortis? Did you see the Daughter and Son? How are they?"

There was an awkward air between them all when Obi-Wan spoke up.

"We had… quite the encounter with them."

"A lot happened during our time there. Most of all," Vision sighed. "The Father's dead, Bendu."

Bendu's face fell, a sad expression coming over him.

"What?" He said quietly. "How did-"

"Arishem." Vision stated, making Bendu's mouth clamp shut tightly.

"I see…"

"I'm sorry, my friend." Viz quietly said. "I know you two were friends."

The being of the Force released a haggard sigh, hanging his head momentarily. "I had sensed a great deal happening as of late. Never comprehended he would be amongst it all." Bendu shook his head, closing his eyes. "Oh, old friend, I am sorry for how things had come to be."

"Sorry." Ahsoka quietly said, making Bendu gaze at her with his eyes widening.

"You," He leaned close to her, startling the Togruta slightly, Barriss placing a hand on her back.

Bendu stared at her with intense scrutiny before he released a disbelieving laugh.

"The light of the Daughter was bestowed upon you, Ahsoka Tano."

Those who had been to Mortis all looked at Bendu in clear surprise.

As for Ahsoka, as much as she'd like to ask how he knew of her name, she clamped up on the question. All she did in response was give a nod.

"Truly astonishing times." Bendu's eyes shifted over to Barriss and a similar look appeared when he first gazed at the Togruta Padawan. "And you, Barriss Offee…" The Mirialan discreetly grabbed Ahsoka's hand. "Vision, you have brought some unique company."

"We have been undergoing quite the journey, my friend."

"It's like an RPG quest." Peter commented, making the Bendu look at him.

Ahsoka shook her head at her lover. "Ignore him."

"Hard not to with that mouth of his."

"Oh, like you're one to talk, Anakin." Parker deadpanned. "And don't you try to say anything, Obi-Wan. You're no better."

Bendu chortled aloud at the interaction, stroking his beard. "Tell me, where have you visited on this recent journey of yours?"

"Ossus… Lothal…" Barriss listed off.

"Quite the small list so far." Says Peter.

"Lothal… such a quaint place." The Bendu appeared to adopt a reminiscent expression. "I recall it's quite nice this time of the year."

"There's apparently a temple there-"

"Yes, I remember it. Tell me, have you seen all three tiers?" The large being inquired.

"Tiers?" Ahsoka parroted.

"Levels." Bendu elaborated.

Ahsoka shifted in her spot. "We didn't see a temple, only the symbol of the Mortis trio… I think."

"Ah~ Quite understandable. The temple won't reveal itself unless one knows how to access it."

"How does one reveal it?" Anakin asked.

"How does one open a door?" Came the Bendu's answer with a question.

"...With force."

"At the right placement…"

"...We were right at the temple all along, weren't we?"

The smile the Force entity bore was the answer to that.

This earned facepalms from Peter, Ahsoka, Obi-wan and Anakin. Barriss, Plo Koon and Vision merely had bland expressions, though there were subtle signs of annoyance, tiredness and understanding.

Bendu chuckled, gesturing his hand down at them. "There now, no need to hold such a thing over your heads. What matters is where you are now and what you are to do next."

"And what exactly is that supposed to be?" Obi-Wan queried.

The Bendu chuckled. "Spoilers."

Peter balked slightly. "You did not just say that."

He was met with only a mischievous grin in response.

"You spoke of 'tiers'." Anakin spoke of, directing the Bendu's attention onto him.

"Yes, there are three."

"What's on the first level?"

"One that is suited more for guidance and trials between a master and an apprentice."

"What of the second?"

"One can consider it an advanced course."

"What's with the third tier?"

"Something neither of you are ready to see at this time. Hopefully never at all."

There was a look shared between them all.

"You hold much knowledge of that temple, Bendu." Plo Koon pointed out.

"Force pilgrims came and went there, establishing its foundation millennia ago to enhance the Je'Daii order. They succeeded, in more ways than one."

"And the Mortis Trio?" Obi-wan brought up. "What are their connections to it?"

"They took part in its construction."

That was a surprise, given the reactions of the Jedi with Bendu letting out a mirthful chuckle.

"A time where they were a more active presence in the galaxy. A forgotten time." Bendu's expression then shifted, becoming more serious. "But I believe we've wasted enough time now. I have a feeling you brought them here for a reason, Vision. The shift in the Force felt by all who are connected to it."

The Avenger nodded in confirmation. "The Jedi have scattered across the galaxy."

"And what led you here?"

"Ahsoka and Barriss." Anakin answered, placing a hand on the shoulder of his Padawan. "They believe that the answers we're looking for can be found in the past."

"Oh ho~~" There was a gleam in Bendu's eyes, the being nodding. "You're on the right path, young ones."

Skywalker narrowed his eyes at him and stepped forward, gazing intently at him.

"You know where the source originates, don't you?"

Bendu slowly nodded. "I do."

"And… where did it come from?" Obi-Wan slowly asked.

"A planet where many believe the Force originates." Came the entity's answer.

That seemed rather vague to some, others were a bit known.

Peter opened his mouth. "Then could you-"

"I cannot."

The young Avenger balked at the abrupt response. "What do you mean you can't tell us?"

"You think me telling you upfront will make you fully learn? There are things one can't learn directly for certain journeys. One needs to obtain knowledge in certain manners. One can't just simply point it out directly, saying 'Look, there it is.' The best answers are only found from within, or else they won't really understand."

"I get that, Mr. Bendu sir." Said the wall crawler. "But some guidance and advice would be appreciated. Something to help point us in the right direction instead of getting lost when being pushed the wrong way. Unintentionally, I mean."

Bendu silently contemplated on this and thought about the state of the galaxy and the trajectory it was on.

Thousands of years ago, he brought himself here in self-exile, his own punishment for his actions in the past. He vowed to never directly involve himself in the affairs of the galaxy and when it came to dealing with Force Users, he usually relied on the indirect method of teaching them to get in better touch with the Force.

"Both the Jedi and Sith valued supposed wisdom and knowledge over imagination, creativity and curiosity. I recall a past discussion with Vision back on the Avengers' homeworld of a great scholar. Albert Einstein, I believe, said that imagination is more precious than knowledge. I agree. Knowledge and wisdom need imagination, creativity and curiosity to be fulfilled to their fullest potential. Otherwise, it is just collecting and hoarding information, like a great beast hoarding treasure. Both sides, even if it's merely subconscious when not acknowledging, view knowledge as power, to be doled out only as they see fit."

There was a look of confusion from them but they remained silent as Bendu went on.

"In that, stagnation has now halted the growth of the Jedi and now, the Sith. There was a time when the imagination with the Force has started to dwindle. Oh yes, the Sith had done some interesting things over the millennia, but the Jedi, not so much."

"Really? You're complimenting them?" Anakin said in disbelief.

"Why can't I?" Bendu shot back. "Something the Jedi have lost sight of was adaptation, changes and allowing different perspectives to filter into their Order. Whilst the Jedi remained stagnant, the Sith changed right under them and the years leading up to the start of the Clone Wars were the machinations of your age-old enemy. Darkness, in most forms, can lead to one who loses their sight. But too much light is just another form of expediting a different form of blindness. When you have too much on both ends, you lose sight from all perspectives, even your own."

"The Dark Side of the Force leads to corruption and destruction."

"Parts of the universe that are needed." Bendu rebuked. "The Jedi, while noble in their intentions, have become far too ignorant for their own good. Had you kept on changing, evolving, as the Sith have, tell me, do you think this war could have been prevented?"

There was a tense silence shared between the Force Users and two Avengers as they let Bendu's words sink in.

"So… what do we do then?" Ahsoka asked, breaking the silence.

Barriss stared at the Bendu for a time before looking between her two lovers followed by Vision, Anakin, Kenobi and Koon.

"Maybe… what if we all meditated together?"

"Meditated?" Anakin said questioningly.

"Just… I truly believe that what we seek lies in the past, what we have lost needs to be found," Barriss said, though there were obvious signs that she wasn't entirely sure as to how to properly frame her suggestion. "We need to-"

"Can we try it with this?" The Togruta Padawan interrupted and everyone saw an ethereal white light emanating from her hand.

"The Daughter." Bendu whispered, longingly and forlorn yet a melancholy joy in seeing the power. "You truly were blessed by her hand, Ahsoka Tano."

She only gave a shaky smile in return before reaching out to take Barriss' hand into hers followed by Peter's.

"Wait, what makes you think I can do this?" Spider-man asked and Ahsoka gave him a look of assuredness.

"Well, Bendu here mentioned something special about you, as did those Mortis Celestials. Maybe you're more connected to the Force than you think." She looked at the others. "Come on everyone, let's form a circle. Hold each other's hands and… just…"

"Let go." Anakin finished for her, giving her a small smile which she returned.

Plo wasted no time in grasping Anakin who in turn took Kenobi's hand and the bearded Jedi grabbed Vision's and soon, a circle had been formed.

Bendu hummed aloud, approvingly, holding one of his hands up.

"While I can't explicitly verbalize where you need to go," There was a gleam in the eyes of the being. "I can help in other ways."

Everyone soon had their eyes closed and all concentrated.

"How are we supposed to-"

"Trust in the Force, Peter." Barriss soothed. "And if not in the Force, trust us."

Hearing this, the New Yorker simply nodded and just let things go as is.

At first, nothing happened, the ambient sound of the environment around them filling their ears.

Then…

Slowly…

Ahsoka felt it. That power that she felt when she was being hunted by the Trandoshans. That power that brought her back, purging the taint of the Dark Side from her.

Slowly, it wafted into the hands of her two lovers and a moment later, they too had the glow and felt the power washing over them.

Barriss let out a gasp of amazement, turning into a small laugh with even a tear streaming down her eye.

Peter just made a 'whoa~` followed by his own laughter.

The trio of lovers inadvertently let their feelings run wild and the three of them basked in the love they shared for each other. They even felt Simby the Symbiote warbling with glee, a comforting "hug" around its host and holding Ahsoka and Barriss' hands through them.

Anakin soon felt the power he once utilized in bringing Ahsoka back and it was like a surge of adrenaline. He released a loud laugh as well, sensing the deep bonds he has with all he cares for.

But… he did sense the unusual connection between the three teens yet he knew now wasn't the time for it.

Obi-Wan, Plo Koon and Vision all had their own experiences of wonder, awe and amazement at the power and they heard the joyful laugh of the Bendu in the background.

"There it is." He encouraged. "The Force, the Power Cosmic, the universe in motion all at once. Feel it, flow it through your bodies and souls, let it touch every cell of your body."

They followed his instructions and it literally felt like their souls had momentarily left their bodies.

Seemingly leaving Atollon, they saw themselves leaving the present system. Speeding across the stars, not like how one goes through hyperspace, but through some other method. Regardless, it showed them a path.

Soon enough through the expanded sight through the Force, they saw the path's end towards a planet. One filled with forests, grasslands and mountains. When expanding beyond it, they saw where it originates in the galaxy somewhere in the Deep Core.

Before seeing where on the planet the whole Force beacon originated, they were pulled back to Atollon.

They all released gasps, yet they squeezed each other's hands as if to make sure they wouldn't fly apart.

"That… that was…"

"I know Master." Anakin mumbled, letting out a shaky chuckle, patting his former mentor. "Yeah." He then turned to his Padawan. "Ahsoka. That was amazing."

"Thank you, master." She softly said, turning to Peter and Barriss a moment later, missing the small unsure frown Skywalker now held.

"You all saw it, yes?" Vision spoke up and Plo nodded.

"We know where to go now." The Kel-Dor Jedi declared with complete certainty.

Bendu released a hum that seemed to resonate throughout the entire area. "Then I wish you all a safe journey, my new friends. Until we see each other again."

All bid their farewells, turning to depart whilst Anakin walked by his apprentice, placing a hand on her shoulder.

"Gotta ask with that whole light thing, but since when have you been able to do that?"

His padawan was about to answer when someone gained his attention.

"Chosen One." Bendu gestured for him to come back. "A moment, if you would."

Anakin looked over to the Force entity for a brief moment before glancing back to the others.

"Go. I'll catch up."

Seeing their compliance, Anakin focused more on the Bendu as he walked back to stand in front of him.

"What is it you wanna talk about?"

"Troubled, you are." The entity stated straight away.

This threw Skywalker off a bit but had to remind himself who he was speaking to.

"You can say that." He said, trying to play things off.

Bendu shook his head. "Not because of your problems with the present state of the galaxy and of your compatriots, but of yourself."

The Jedi Knight tensed where he stood as he heard the Bendu keep on talking.

"You've felt it. A dark shadow looms over you. Something alien, yet familiar."

Anakin grimaced, the image of this "dark shadow" being clear as day in his mind. Tall, dark, and imposing, the Dark Side oozing from him with a frame that towers over many others.

He knew what it was, more or less. The man who radiated in the Dark Side who he fought on Mortis. Even after facing him back then, he could still feel his presence. It was as if he was following in his every step, just a few paces behind him at all times.

Anakin thought of him as a manifestation the Son conjured to throw him off and then some. However, it didn't seem to be the case since leaving Mortis.

It wasn't the end of him haunting him. Not just in his dreams, but in his waking hours.

"I have." Anakin finally relented. "Constantly."

"You've never completed your trials, haven't you?"

Rather than rebuke or fight against the sudden statement, Anakin exhaled a sigh and nodded. "With the war, many knights needed to be sent out. I was old enough and completed many of my trials… except for one. Obi-wan convinced the Council to advance me, which I am grateful for…"

"Yet you didn't exactly feel ready." The Bendu stated, rather than asked.

Anakin didn't voice it, but the silent response was telling.

Bendu shook his head, giving the former slave a look of sympathy. "People, no matter how old or young they are, are never exactly ready for anything. They proclaim they are, but the ones brave enough to admit will be better suited for a later time."

The Jedi Knight scoffed. "Easier said than done."

"Often one's pride makes them hesitate for admittance." The entity shot back, giving the man a pointed look.

Anakin made a face, knowing that factor was sadly true.

"Groomed from a young age, you have been. Taking the path many set course for you, but never one truly of your own choosing. You adapted and worked with it. Tell me, do you regret the journey?"

There was a beat of silent contemplation from the Chosen One.

"Most of it, yes. But not all of it." The Bendu gave him a look, having Anakin explain. "I got to live most of my dream. Seeing the stars beyond Tatooine. Just never expected it would come with a catch, but I grew to accept it. Eventually, I made a new dream, one many others before and after me clearly will have of being a Master."

"But is that what you want now?"

Anakin gazed up at the larger Force User before craning his head in the direction of his friends that were waiting for him at the shuttle.

"I don't know what that is anymore, honestly." He admitted.

Bendu regarded Anakin for a moment, looking past him to the others. "The attachments you formed."

"Not really the Jedi way."

"But it is the way of the Force." Bendu said with a small stomp of his hand. "The Force, the Power Cosmic, the energy of the universe itself. It penetrates all, and binds us all together. We are, in fact, all attached to each other in one way shape or form. Through the Force, the Universe, we become one with it. Love and Loss come with the coin that you are dealt. What makes you who you are is how you choose to react to it, how you deal with it."

Anakin thought back to when Sam offered up his services with the group meetings to one-on-one sessions. Not just that, but Falcon outright telling him to not always stick with the Jedi mindset but to switch towards a normal, regular person in order to have a healthy mindset when talking things out.

"I… I still don't know."

Bendu waved him off. "It is alright, young one. One can never truly know who and what they are supposed to be. What matters is whether or not you're willing to find that balance. To know when to let the Force guide you and when you make the choices for yourself. I sense in your present journey, you'll properly complete your final trial to become a fully-fledged Knight of the Force."

A brow was cocked when hearing this. "Any advice you could give?" Asks Anakin.

Bendu gazed intently at the brown-haired Jedi, as if his eyes bore into his soul, and with someone like him, Anakin figured he might as well have that ability.

"The Darkness within you… it is not something to be conquered, Chosen One, but one that is always in conflict within you. The Dark Side is there for a reason, temptation, fear, corruption, power, destruction, ambition, all of it resides in every living being. There is a Will to the Force but you have one as well, Anakin Skywalker. And whilst the Will of the Force dictates you be the Chosen One, let me ask you this. What have you thought of in regard to your own choices? What I can tell you now, Anakin Skywalker, is to trust in your power, trust in yourself, trust in the Force and in the ones you love. You will find a strength unlike any other when the time comes."

"And if I don't?" Skywalker couldn't help but ask and was met with a small grin.

"Have faith, Skywalker. Sometimes, faith can be rewarded."

Anakin let the words wash over him before he nodded, bowing in goodbye.

"I… thank you, Bendu. I can't thank you-"

"You don't need to, young one. What you need to do is become better. For yourself and the ones you love."

Saying nothing else, Anakin gave him a nod and turned around, walking towards the spacecraft the others were no doubt awaiting him for departure.

They departed from Atollon soon after yet not a word was said or exchanged.

It felt as though they were unneeded.

All that mattered was where they needed to go.

Their fleet entered into hyperspace and there came a growing feeling of anticipation shared by all.

It was so strong that even the Clones felt it, all asking their Jedi Generals and Commanders if all was well.

Anakin simply asked them to trust them as they have since the war began and Captain Rex simply nodded and said "Alright".

All just went about their duties aboard the Venators until they came out of Hyperspace.

The Jedi and Avengers with several Clones all stood upon the bridge of The Resolute with their eyes solely drawn to the planet they were all staring at.

It appeared to be a jungle world and orbiting the planet were two moons, one of pure light and another pitch black darkness. The feeling of the Force was immediate with the Jedi and Avengers all gazing at each other.

The Clones too shifted about, feeling an odd pressure in the air.

"This… this is it." Ahsoka whispered, her eyes widening considerably at the planet their ship was flying towards. "We're here."

"You sure it is?"

"You doubt us, Peter?" Barriss said in good humor.

"Safety first, girls. Always make sure to double check."

"He's not wrong there." Obi-Wan remarked in amusement. "But in this case… I do believe they are right."

"It's beautiful." Vision said aloud.

"It most certainly does." Said Kenobi before stroking his beard. "I find it rather strange that this isn't in our archives."

Plo Koon hummed in agreement. "Another planet lost to the Order, either through tampering or faded knowledge."

"I'd rather say the former." Said the synthetic Avenger.

"If so, then I can't help but ask when it happened."

"Shuttles ready, General." Captain Rex chimed in.

"Alright then." Anakin said, turning to the others. "You guys ready?"

They departed from the Venator and made their way down to the planet's surface.

Landing their craft, the party awaited for the ramp to open up for them to walk down from.

And they were bombarded by the Force in the rawest sensation they had ever felt, even more so than what they did on Atollon.

"I… can you guys feel it?" Offee muttered, almost not believing this sensation.

"The Force… it's… beautiful." Plo Koon stated, raising his hands and letting the Force that exuded in the air to flow freely through him.

"This is trippy." Parker commented, feeling his sixth sense going a bit wonky but not in a sense of danger. Almost as if it was taking in this place and adjusting and fine-tuning to it.

"But not in a bad way." Vision quietly said, hand over his forehead as the Mind Stone pulsed momentarily.

The Chosen One held his head up, gazing up at the skies of the planet and closed his eyes, soaking in the Force that radiated from everywhere.

"This is it." He whispered. "Tython."

He opened his eyes and turned to Obi-Wan and Plo Koon.

"Send out the signal to the Order. We found it." Anakin stated.

His Padawan stood by him and she spotted something in the distance. Its shape was similar to that of the strange structure that housed the Mortis Celestials and it was floating above a mountain with an eight-pillared temple.

She felt Anakin place a hand on her shoulder and she turned to see a look of pure pride on his face, the man pulling her into a one-armed hug.

"I can't begin to tell you how proud I am right now of you, Ahsoka." He said, a beaming grin directed at his Padawan. "You're gonna be one of the greatest Jedi in the history of the Order. You and Barriss."

Ahsoka blinked and found herself somewhat glossy eyed as she smiled back at her master and leaned into the hug. She didn't need to turn to see Peter and Barriss now standing on either side of the pair as they all took in the view of Tython.

"Love ya Skyguy."

"Love you too, Snips."

With the sun shining bright on the world, the shadows of those having arrived grew long and dark. One, in particular, was shaped differently than where it originated.

In the shadows of the trees, a helmeted figure stood, its hollow eyes boring its gaze into that of the Chosen One.

It knew that Anakin sensed his presence.

And their time to finally meet again was near.

But for now, let him enjoy the moment.

It will be the last one he has in the light.

AN

Fuck YES.

Fuck yes on this chapter and especially, ESPECIALLY, FUCK YES GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOLUME 3.

That movie was everything that it was meant to be, everything Jeb, Bullet and I love about the MCU. The characters, the humor, the action, the setting, the music ALL OF IT is what we love about the MCU.

It may have been in a bit of a slump lately but GOD DAMN JAMES GUNN DELIVERED.

Straight up, this is what Phase 5 should have started on.

And let me tell ya, this is very personal to my heart and it's also a spoiler.

I got to know both my grandfathers and it was a joy to be with them. And then came the day they both died and I watched them go. So to see Peter reunite with his grandfather broke me down and I just straight-up cried.

Ideas came to mind once Guardians Volume 3 dropped and boy there's a lot.

And by that, yes, after seeing the movie, Jeb, Bullet and I know outright that we WILL be doing Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3 in one-way shape or form in this story. And we already know exactly how and when to do this arc. Other than the nuanced details, everything has been planned out.

How we're using all the settings, the villains, all that shit, this movie spoke to the three of us and we got it all down pat. We know what we want for this movie and how we're gonna use it in this story.

Fuck yes Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3.

People, please check out the latest artwork we've gotten for this story on my DeviantArt for Ahsoka and Barriss's season 4 looks and our very first VS art piece all done by the incredibly talented Mropang30.

And instead of the usual goodbye, just gotta say one thing.

The Dog days are over, the dog days are done.

The Horses are coming so you better run.

See ya Guardians of the Galaxy, until next time.