Hello everyone!
Again, apologies for the delay in upload. My start at uni has been a wonderful adventure so far and it has not allotted me as much time as I would have hopped to work on the fanfic.
This chapter will serve as the final "actionless" one before things begin to pick up again in chapter 33. Hope you still enjoyed it, it was fun to take things at a different pace for a change.
I'm already going to get ahead of any comments on errors I might have made concerning character's ages or the way certain planets work: I KNOW! I am aware of both of these inconsistencies and I left them because they help the story. Just a fair warning.
Alright, let's answer some reviews:
-RKF22: Thank you! Appreciate you for sticking around since the start. May the Force be with you.
-Guest: Yeah… I guess the cave was in a bit of an overachieving mood that day ;)
-DarthDrachonus: Thanks sooo much! It's annoying that it takes me so long to write these chapters since I feel I loose some of the writing habits and mojo I gained from writing the previous chapter.
-Jeda31: Bless you Jeda, your reviews always warm my heart. This chapter will be a bit less understated than the previous ones but I hope you still enjoy it. I really look forward to further developing the relationship between Mara and Luke, but this chapter will be helpful to put into the light a character whom I really want to give a proper sendoff.
-TheEmeraldMage: Thanks a million! I'm very happy you enjoyed it. I really want to give a Yoda a proper treatment and sendoff so I'm happy he feels like the one you know and love. I want to make sure to include more Empire/Sidious scenes where we see all the evil scheming going on behind the scenes, could be fun.
-TheDragon2000: Really glad you're enjoying it. I'm looking forward to Obi-Wan coming back and Padmé making her return. Bamf Obi-Wan is definitely the best.
-mrhunterjdavis: hope I've manages to keep you entertained on your road trip. I will be sure to get better at updating regularly now that my midterm exams are nearly over. Definetly some Luke and Mara goodness on the horizon.
Those are all the reviews for this chapters! Thanks you so much a please keep them coming, I read every single one.
Enjoy the chapter and I will see you at the end.
Ahsoka disliked what this moment reminded her of. It recalled some of the toughest moments of her life, as well as the single event that completely changed her life. All those times, she had been forced to wait in silence for someone else to come and announce an important decision. While the situation was different here and she had no idea what she had been summoned for, Ahsoka could not help but feel dread as she sat in the sterile waiting room aboard the Rebel Alliance's main cruiser.
She had barely begun her search and rescue mission on Kashyyk when an urgent transmission from the Rebel High Command had forced her to immediately return to the fleet. She had been given no explanation or reason, merely a direct order to report back immediately.
Ahsoka knew well enough that these sorts of summons were rarely to announce positive news. Now she just hoped that it was not anything truly devastating. Her mind briefly wandered over to Obi-Wan as she contemplated the worse possible scenarios, but she swiftly dismissed them. Ahsoka had nearly driven herself sick with worry when she heard the news about Obi-Wan's execution, which was being broadcast nonstop on all Imperial communication channels.
However, she had managed to stay strong and not let emotion and impulsiveness control her actions. The last thing Obi-Wan had asked was if she trusted him, which was perhaps the only thing she was absolutely certain of: she could trust Obi-Wan Kenobi. He was not the sort of man to just roll over and let fate take the wheel.
Just as her spirits began to lift, Ahsoka's attention was drawn to the door as it hissed to let someone in. She smiled broadly when Ezra Bridger entered the waiting room, and he in turn grinned knowingly when he saw her standing up to meet him. They both exchanged a strong hug, holding each other a couple of seconds, fully realizing the weeks that had passed since they last saw each other.
"Have you grown since our last meeting?" Ahsoka asked with a mischievous smile, ruffling Ezra's hair much like a big sister would.
"You have no idea," he replied, smiling easily as he straightened up to his full height. "I'll soon be taller than you."
Ahsoka did not know how she felt about that statement. Currently, Ezra was more or less as tall as her, but his growth spurt was not likely to end soon. His body had filled out nicely. Whereas before, many found Ezra to be lean and scrawny, his shoulders were now much wider and his nimble body had made way to a sturdier and more muscular physique. Upon Sabine's request and recommendation, Ezra had let his hair grow long again. It was now shoulder-length but he generally kept it neatly tied up in a bun or a braid. This, in addition to his scruffy but still developing beard, led to many people comparing him to a younger Obi-Wan.
Ahsoka agreed with some of the physical similarities, but they were each one of a kind in terms of character and personality. At seventeen (almost eighteen) years old, Ezra was no longer an impatient and sometimes reckless boy. He had learned much, had been assigned greater responsibilities, and was now walking his path with confidence and serenity. His eyes shone bright with that newfound knowledge, and his face and body carried the physical evidence of his change. Innocence and youth had made way to experience and maturity.
"Yeah we'll see about that," Ahsoka chuckled good-naturedly. "Have you spoken with Kanan and the others recently?"
"We talked yesterday, yeah," Ezra replied as they both took a seat. "Everyone's spirits are high which is good. Chopper is behaving, most of the time at least. Sabine and Zeb were both on assignment when I called so I didn't get to speak to them but Hera says they're both doing well. I'm glad that she and Kanan are getting along so well. I really think they're perfect for each other."
Ahsoka nodded thoughtfully. It truly was beautiful that two people could love each other so openly, even when one of them was a Jedi. During the Old Republic, such a union would have never even been socially acceptable, but now it was not questioned by anyone. Ahsoka tried not to think about the one person in the galaxy for whom this rule had cost everything…
"I agree," Ahsoka quickly replied, trying to clear the melancholy off her face. "I'm happy for both of them, they've got something special happening. Their love should be allowed to express itself without interference."
"Yeah, speaking of interference…"
Ahsoka was surprised by Ezra's unexpected transition, but she did not have to think too hard to figure out what he was referring to. The young man's brow had furrowed into a displeased frown as he glanced around the empty room as if he thought they were being watched.
"Do you have any idea what this is all about?" Ezra whispered, leaning closer to Ahsoka so she could hear.
"I have a couple of ideas, sure," she whispered back. The Force was not screaming "danger!", rather it felt ominously silent and muddled. "We'll just have to wait for whoever summoned us to show up."
No sooner had she spoken that a large set of double doors hissed open to let in an enormous party of people. I just had to say it… At the head of the group were Jan Dodonna and Crix Madine, both looking quite somber, surrounded by two dozen Alliance soldiers who encircled three familiar faces.
"Ahsoka!" Rex called out to her as they both locked eyes.
"Rex, what's going on?" she asked back, not liking how Rex, Cody, and Chewie were being treated like prisoners, short of being handcuffed.
Cody and Chewie said nothing. They nodded a greeting towards Ahsoka and Ezra but their expressions were noticeably tight and severe. The soldiers escorting them were quite well-armed, and none of them seemed particularly thrilled to be there.
"What's the meaning of this, Dodonna?" Ezra ground out, barely stifling his contempt towards the old man.
"We are trying to determine who can be trusted," Crix replied firmly, holding the young Jedi's stern gaze.
"Oh, and this is to help build trust?" Ezra snorted derisively, waving towards the armed soldiers in front of them.
"It is to help make us stronger," a strong female voice cut through the tension in the room, bringing all eyes towards her.
Mon Mothma entered the room, followed closely by Admiral Ackbar, C3-PO, and R2-D2. Ahsoka and Ezra were surprised that the usually vocal and boisterous Admiral was noticeably quiet and reflective, which immediately clued them in to the fact that something important was being devised.
"With respect, Mon Mothma, I specifically asked you and Admiral Ackbar to stay away from this questioning," Jan Dodonna said critically, eying them both with disapproval.
"You're able to make requests to us, Jan," Ackbar replied with a knowing smirk. "But we are not under your orders. And don't worry, we're not here to undercut your interrogation. We just want our own side of the story to be heard when you're done."
It was clear that Dodonna and Madine did not want this current power dynamic looming over them as they asked questions to Ezra and Ahsoka, but they did not have much choice. Neither of them wanted to escalate things because of suspicions that were based on gut-feelings and tangential evidence.
Both men exchanged a quick look and silently reached an agreement. Madine took a single step towards Ahsoka and Ezra, and addressed them like a general does his troops:
"We've summoned you here because, for all intents and purposes, we are in a crisis. We have lost our most important operatives and some of them through flagrant violations of the chain of command. You are here to reiterate your loyalty to the Rebel Alliance, and help us find Luke Skywalker, Mara Jade, and Lando Calrissian."
A few seconds of silence passed before Ahsoka decide to address the elephant in the room:
"I have no idea who two of those people are."
"And what are you talking about 'reiterating our loyalty'?" Ezra asked, frustrated by this blatant lack of respect. "Our loyalty has been proven every single day since we got here. We've been going out on missions, assisting Rebel forces, helping in negotiations… What more do you want from us?"
Seeing the young Jedi's temper flare up, the Rebel Soldiers instinctively tightened their grips on their blasters, looking worriedly at their leaders. In return, Ezra grew tenser, his eyes narrowing at the people who were supposed to be his allies. He would not do anything as foolish as reach for his lightsaber, but at this point, Ezra wondering what the correct way out of this situation was.
Crix and Jan looked over to each other discreetly, an unspoken agreement passing between them. It was now their responsibility to ensure that no one did or said anything that they would regret.
Crix Madine took a step towards Ahsoka and Ezra, hands raised up in appeal:
"We did not mean to belittle all the work you've done for the Alliance. Your actions have helped win countless battled against the Empire, as did the actions of Obi-Wan Kenobi and Luke Skywalker. That being said, both of them have demonstrated that they do not have the interest or the inclination to follow proper protocol. We decided to forgive General Kenobi when he left for the Citadel without permission since his mission was largely successful. However, that was with the expectation that such an occurrence would never happen again. And lo and behold, his own apprentice goes on a solo crusade across the galaxy without informing anyone of his whereabouts, and when he finally returns to the fleet to be placed into custody, he escapes and disappears again."
"Our concern is of this behavior becoming commonplace amongst the Jedi in our ranks, perhaps even spreading to others," Jan continued, standing beside Madine. "Highly skilled, well-trained and powerful individuals going on their own secret assignments without prior approval is not something we can allow. Beyond putting into question our own credibility as leaders, the risks it poses are far too great. I believe that has been proven beyond a shadow of a doubt at this point: Leia Organa and Han Solo have been abducted by a bounty hunter."
Ezra and Ahsoka were shocked. They both exchanged a look of concern, weighing this new information carefully. Ahsoka was the first one to speak up:
"Do we know where they're being held?"
Crix was about to reply "no" but he was interrupted by Admiral Ackbar's booming baritone:
"Yes!"
All eyes fell on the Mon Calamari, who was now making his way over with Mon Mothma and R2-D2 towards the center of the room.
"Just a couple hours ago, this R2 unit received a message from Lando Calrissian."
Ackbar waved towards R2 who rolled up in front of Jan and Crix, and projected the blue hologram of Lando on the floor. The charming gambler was no longer wearing his expensive suit and absurdly ostentatious cape. His attire was now utterly strange. He wore a large helmet with a tooth-like visor, a padded armor set covered his body and he appeared to be carrying an axe in his right hand. Definitely not what anyone was expecting to see, even for those who had no idea how he usually dressed.
"This is Lando Calrissian. I'm transmitting this to Luke Skywalker's personal astromech, and it's urgent that you relay this information to him as soon as possible. The bounty hunter that kidnapped Han and Leia is called Boba Fett, he's working for Jabba the Hutt. He's taken them to his fortress on Tattooine, where he keeps them as a decoration on his wall. I've managed to get hired as a guard, but I don't think my cover will last very long. It's only a matter of time before someone I owe a debt too recognizes me and rats me out. Whoever is watching this, you MUST get this message to Luke Skywalker. He's their only hope."
As the message ended, Jan and Crix exchanged a concerned look. Ahsoka and Ezra shared a glance, both understanding the urgency they were now under.
Oddly enough, it was Admiral Ackbar who broke the tense silence. In a calm yet authoritative tone he spoke:
"Mon Mothma and I agree with you that rules and regulations must be followed, that without them we risk anarchy. But we must never forget the freedom that this Alliance fights for and for which the Jedi have fought for centuries. I believe that if we are to live and die by our ideals, we must accept that the Jedi can only do their best work if they are free to do it how they best see fit. I believe that Luke Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi have not abandoned us and that they will be our greatest allies in destroying the Empire once and for all. And if I am wrong, I will immediately hand over my resignation from the High Council."
"And I will do the same," Mon Mothma added, making everyone's eyes bulge even more.
The ball now in Crix and Jan's court. This opportunity had been handed to them on a silver platter and they took full advantage of it.
"Those were some admirable words, Admiral," Crix Madine said with genuine respect. "We will put our concerns aside for the time being but we will remember the promises you've made today. I suggest we call a High Council meeting immediately to decide how to find Skywalker and rescue Kenobi, Solo, and Princess Leia."
"After you, general Madine," Mon Mothma spoke, gesturing towards the exit.
As the Rebel Soldiers filed out of the room, followed by Dodonna and Madine, Ackbar approached Ezra and Ahsoka, his brow furrowed with concern.
"However inspiring my words may have sounded, the truth is I have no idea if we'll ever see Luke and Obi-Wan again," he said ominously. "I need your honest opinion, as Jedi, will they come back?"
Ezra and Ahsoka shared a glance and immediately smirked at each other, knowing what the other was thinking.
"They'll come back, Admiral," Ahsoka replied, smiling reassuringly. "If there are two people in the galaxy who will never stop fighting, it's them."
It took several hours for Luke, Mara, and Yoda to travel to Illum. During the journey, Luke mostly spent his time in the cockpit, keeping an eye on the controls and meditating on how best to navigate this grey space between the Light Side and the Dark. Meanwhile, Yoda and Mara spent the entire trip at the back of the ship, performing an intense dual meditation in order to help Mara understand deeper truths about herself.
"Emerging from hyperspace. Auto-pilot deactivated."
The artificial voice pulled Luke out of his meditation and refocused his attention on the flight controls. As the blue tunnel of hyperspace melted away, the shuttled came to a halt in front of a large, fissured blue moon.
"Woah…" Luke muttered.
"Majestic it is," Yoda spoke from behind him as he and Mara entered the cockpit. "The origin of nearly all kyber crystals. Many younglings came here, for millennia and millennia. Yet now…"
Yoda's eyes darkened as he gazed towards the Imperial blockade surrounding the planet. Already, they were receiving a transmission to ascertain if they had clearance to be here.
"What should we do?" Mara asked anxiously. "Make a run for it?"
"I should be able to outmaneuver them," Luke spoke cautiously, flipping some switches, ready to go on the attack.
Yoda raised up his hand, to focus their attention back on him. His voice was as serene as it was eerie:
"Patience…"
Yoda pressed the blinking button to accept the transmission. The loud and authoritative voice of an Imperial technician blared through the speaker:
"This is a restricted Imperial sector. Identify yourselves immediately or we will open fire."
Calmly, Yoda raised his hand up towards the Imperial blockade and replied over the comms:
"Important guest of the Emperor we are."
"Important guests of the Emperor you are," the technician replied.
"Let us pass you will, and say that all is normal."
"Let you pass I will. All is normal."
The communications cut off and Luke advanced the shuttle towards the blockade slowly. They passed just a couple of meters away from the giant grey Star Destroyers, and after several nerve-wracking seconds, their shuttle was past the blockade.
"That was incredible," Mara whispered in shock.
"Skywalker, take us towards those ruins," Yoda said, pointing to a barely visible temple at the base of a large ice mountain.
Luke wordlessly obeyed, taking in the extensive damage that the Empire had inflicted upon this planet. Despite the heavy winds and snowfall, Luke could see the numerous Imperial vehicles and machinery that were gutting and stripping the kyber crystals caves. Would they even be able to find any for themselves?
He kept the ship flying quite high until they were just above the ruined temple. Luke set the shuttle down just in front of the entrance and followed Yoda and Mara outside. The cold would have killed them in seconds since they weren't wearing any clothing for this sort of weather. However, they were able to use the Force as an insulating barrier from the cold until they managed to get inside the temple.
Yoda's heart grew heavy when he saw the inside. He recalled the many times he had accompanied groups of younglings into these very halls and has seen their awe and wonder at the beauty and grandeur of the temple.
The Empire had completely pillaged it. There were scorch marks and explosion craters everywhere. The giant kyber crystal that hung above the room and granted access to the caves had been taken. The giant ice wall that was meant to melt away and allow the younglings to enter the cave had been blown to pieces. Hardly anything was left untouched, everything had been desecrated.
Yoda approached the central platform, which was mostly intact, and sat down cross-legged, facing the entrance to the caves.
"Enter the cave you must," he explained. "Still hidden crystals there are. Find the one that is yours, but beware of your fears. Much like the Cave, distract you this place will. Stay true to that which is you, and find success you will."
Luke and Mara shared a look and wordlessly stepped past Yoda and into the caves.
The old master waited until he lost sight of them before closing his eyes and focusing deeply on his meditation. In his mind he reconstructed the temple around him, recalling how it looked during the Clone Wars, before the Empire destructive reign.
All the shattered ice and blaster marks were scrubbed away, everything reconstructed itself as it once was; the giant kyber crystal now hung above Yoda to melt away the ice that blocked the cave. He had projected this new environment in his mind down to the most minute detail, just as he remembered it.
"Beautiful, wasn't it?"
"Indeed," Yoda replied to the familiar voice. "Remind me of different times it does."
"I thought a Jedi did not dwell on the past?" Qui-Gon asked humorously.
Yoda did not immediately reply. His brow furrowed as he meditated on that statement. Yes… always on the present a Jedi's mind must be…
"Changing the ways of the Jedi are," Yoda finally answered, solemnly. "For better or for worse, and despite me, a different generation of Jedi is emerging."
"Our enemy has changed, old friend. We must adapt to it. Is that not what we've always done? During the Great Sith Wars, strategies and methods that were once considered foolproof needed to be completely revisited."
"Hmmm… always upsetting change is," Yoda said slowly. "For we do not know what we are changing into until it is too late."
Qui-Gon chuckled softly. Never would he have expected Yoda to be someday swayed in his beliefs. While he had always been an open and tolerant Grand Master, at least in comparison to other Jedi of his era, Yoda was still a firmly "classical" teacher and student. Understandable, since in the nearly nine-hundred years of his lifetime, nothing much had changed in how Jedi were trained or what they were taught.
"Would you like to see your Padawans?" Qui-Gon asked with a smirk.
"My Padawans they are not," Yoda replied sharply. "And need to see their progress I do not."
"Very well."
Qui-Gon waved his transparent blue hand and in front of him appeared two greyish clouds which each showed Luke and Mara making their way through the crystal cave. Yoda did his best to avert his gaze, trying to concentrate deeper on his meditation, but despite that, his eyes were drawn towards the projected images.
The insides of the caves looked barren and sad, their kyber crystals having been plundered by the Empire, but there were still bound to be secret veins that they had not yet found. Yoda watched as Luke came upon one such vein after using the Force to push through an ice wall.
The young man was at the entrance of a narrow tunnel that stretched out into the darkness. He had to crouch down to be able to fit and as sunlight slowly faded away, the kyber crystals began illuminating the walls with their luster. On Luke's left, red crystals shined like rubies, peppering the tunnel with crimson spots. On his right, the wall was resplendent with blue and green crystals, casting a softer glow against the harsh redness.
Yoda watched as Luke progressed forwards down the tunnel, hands extended against both sides of it, running his fingers along the various rocks which gradually lost their luster as he passed by.
The former Grand Master could not stop himself from looking over to Mara. She was crawling through a narrow gap and emerged into a medium-sized cave. As she delved forward, the ground, ceiling, and walls started glowing red; hundreds of red kyber crystals illuminated the cave, soaking Mara in a crimson glow. Step by step, she soldiered on, reaching out with the Force and continuing her search, and just like Luke, the crystals she passed slowly lost their brightness.
"They are doing well," Qui-Gon's voice tore Yoda away from the projections. "I believe the next generation is carrying on the torch just fine."
"Hmmm," Yoda grumbled softly, sudden tiredness falling over his mind and body. "Let us hope they succeed where we have failed."
Qui-Gon cast a concerned and compassionate look towards his old mentor; the mentor to all Jedi of his generation, and the ones before him, and the ones after. A master who had dedicated nine lifetimes to the Jedi Order and now felt like he had failed it.
"You judge yourself too harshly. Measure yourself by your successes, not your failures."
"Such a failure I cannot forgive. This one failure, negated all my successes it has."
"Then finish what you have started, my friend. We do not ask you to rewrite the past, simply to pave the way for the future."
Yoda's eyes were suddenly forced open as the living Force seemed to ripple out around him, like the epicenter of an explosion. He cast a cursory glance at his surroundings, which were the same as when he had arrived: destroyed and desecrated.
Yoda could feel he was cradling something between his hands…
Luke and Mara both emerged from the entrance to the cave, each with broad smiles on their faces. As Yoda looked on, they both raised their crystals up so he could see: a striking blue one for Mara and a warm yellow one for Luke.
And as they looked back at him, Yoda stood up and opened up his palms to show them a brilliant green kyber crystal.
Pave the way for the future…
Just to say it now: I KNOW THAT EZRA'S AGE IS WRONG AND THAT THERE ARE NO RED KYBER CRYSTALS IN THE CAVES ON ILLUM.
This was definitely a less "flashy" chapter, but I needed it to help me get back in the swing of things. I promise that chapter 33 will have a nice amount of character progression, action, and SW goodness… I hope, I don't have all of it planned out just yet.
Anyway, hope you enjoyed it! Please favorite, follow, and review.