Hello, I'm back!

To my fanfiction dot net reader, I have some bad news. This is my last update for Across the Stars on this site. Next week will be my last update for Restoration Of An Exceptional Mind, and my final update here.

This site is practically unusable at this point. Fics and updates disappear. There are rampant bots. The posting system is such that it destroys my formatting and I have to go in and redo every italic. The only reason I've kept it up this long are my regular readers.

This makes me really sad because I started reading fanfic on this site 15 years ago. I've posted on it, my sisters have posted on it, heck, my mom posted on it. I've also had some of my favorite interactions with readers on here.

I will be continuing my stories on Archive of Our Own. I'm under the same name, same profile pic. I even have a couple of fics that I haven't posted here. I'd put a link, but it's a difficult process on this site. My profile and stories are open to guests, so you don't have to make an account.

Thank you all for reading and commenting, and I'll hopefully see you on AO3!

GUYS I KNOW IT'S BEEN A MINUTE BUT HAVE YOU SEEN THE PLOT SUMMARY FOR THE BAD BATCH NOVEL? TECH AND PHEE ARE TRANSPORTING A PREGNANT WOMAN? IF TECH DELIVERS A BABY I WILL DIE HAPPY (besides the fact I want Tech to be alive) AUGUST NEEDS TO GET HERE NOW.

Anyway, let's get going!

I don't think there are any trigger warnings in this one. Everything is pretty Canon typical.

Mando'a translations at the end!

RESTITUTION: Chapter 17

This place was cold- colder than any place Darth Syn had been before. His Master had told him that it had once been a place sacred to the Jedi. Some of the remnants of the Order may return, so Darth Syn was ordered to make occasional visits. This was his third, but the cold still shocked him.

The Force probed him and recoiled. It was strange here. He could not use it as easily. There was still something familiar to the way it felt. It- understood him. But it also hated him.

Standing on the cold plain, Darth Syn compelled the Force to obey his will. He could sense life here and three were tethered strongly to the Force. Jedi. He was careful to hide his presence in the Force. He quickly lost track of two of them, but one remained.

Darth Syn began his trek towards the entrance of the temple. He had never entered it. It felt wrong to do so. He wished to ask his Master about it, but Lord Sidious was not someone to ask questions of.

He did not pause as he trudged through the snow, distracted by the fluttering flakes. He did not think of how beautiful it was. Of how- peaceful the soft quiet was.

There was no peace. Peace was a lie, a suffocating set of chains used to enslave. Peace wouldn't have saved his brothers. It would have gotten them killed even quicker.

The sky began to darken, the grey clouds billowing to near black. The snowflakes that once reflected light started to create a grey haze as the wind whipped around him. His helmet quickly adjusted and allowed him to pierce the storm. He did not shudder at the cold and just stared into the haze. The remaining Jedi stayed as his beacon as he forged forward into the storm.

"I thought you said there were predators in these cracks." Callum said carefully.

He followed Ahsoka through the darkening corridors of ice. The wind from the incoming storm still followed them, cutting through even his protective clothing.

"Which would you rather face?" Ahsoka asked. She didn't even glance behind her. "An animal or a Sith?"

She had a point. Callum, despite everything since the Order, had never actually faced a Dark Side user and had little idea of how to deal with one. Master Baylan hadn't either. The Sith were thought to be extinct until Master Qui Gon had found them, which was rather inconvenient. During the war, it was rare to run across the short roster of Sith and other fallen Jedi the enemy employed, unless one's name was Skywalker, Kenobi, or Tano.

"I'd rather find him before he finds us." Ahsoka went on. "And I like our chances down here better."

"Can you feel them?" Callum asked, his breath puffing in front of him.

"No." Ahsoka said. "I got a glimpse when they first arrived, but they're hiding their presence now."

Callum threw his senses out, more out of habit rather than any doubt in Ahsoka's ability. Indeed, it was actually rather stupid to double check her work. Her power was beyond anything Callum had encountered.

His senses, to his surprise, did catch on a presence. Small, tired, afraid, but not Dark. A bright signal to any searching.

Callum cursed. He, of course, was hiding his presence, as was Ahsoka. But they had not yet taught Omega that skill.

"Ahsoka!" Callum said. "Omega isn't masking her presence!"

Ahsoka whipped around, eyes wide. And at the same time, the ice walls shuddered. Callum jerked his head to stare into the blue, hazy depths. A dark form was streaking towards them.

"About those predators-" Callum started.

"Run!" Ahsoka snapped.

Callum did not run- he sprinted. The Force kept him from stumbling as he raced down the corridor. He could hear Ahsoka's footsteps right behind. The dark form was racing alongside them, keeping pace. Its smear of a shape was always in the corner of his eye. How could it swim through the ice like that?"

"Callum, jump!"

Callum did so and found himself flung forward by a push. A heartbeat later, a hissing crash exploded behind him. The rough ground scraped his cheek as he tumbled down. He sprang to his feet and whirled around. A long, sinuous form filled the corridor. Heat blasted his face and the walls dripped. The creature screeched at a frequency that made Callum feel that his ears would bleed. But it didn't face him.

"Go, Callum!" Ahsoka shouted. "I can handle it, get to Omega!"

Callum hesitated only a moment before gritting his teeth, turning around, and running. He had to trust Ahsoka.

The ship was rank with fear. Darth Syn watched it from atop one of the icy cliffs. There was a control to that fear, but it was there nonetheless. All bottled up in the locked down ship. Those security measures would be useless against his lightsaber. He would carve his way through the walls and destroy those inside. He ignited his blade, stalking towards the ship.

I must protect my brothers.

Darth Syn paused. The young Jedi within was blaring the thought over and over and over.

Brothers?

Protectmybrothersprotectmybrothersprotectmybrothers-

Pain.

His intentions shifted. He would have slaughtered the inhabitants of the ships without pause. His master rarely put restrictions on who he killed, and it was often easiest to just dispatch all in his way. But-

Please, protect my brothers.

Perhaps only the Jedi needed to die.

The Force spasmed and Darth Syn whipped around to catch the lightsaber blade of one of the other Jedi. The Theelin boy's eyes were wide with fear, but he stood his ground. They broke apart and the boy reset, twirling his blade and pasting on a mask of calm.

"Fancy meeting you here." The Jedi said. "Introductions are in order; my master taught me to be polite. My name is Callum Braun. You are?"

Darth Syn glared at the boy. He wanted to be done with this task and be away from these complicated feelings.

"The killer of Callum Braun." He spat.

He struck out. Braun parried, but did not retaliate. Darth Syn cocked his head. Obviously the boy was stalling, hoping to wait for the other, more experienced Jedi to arrive.

Fool.

Darth Syn and dashed for the ship.

"No!"

Braun intercepted him, panting. Darth Syn easily batted his attack aside.

"Coward!" The boy said.

"By not facing a weakling such as yourself?" Darth Syn scoffed. "You are merely a waste of time: you'll resist enough to take time to kill, but I'll never be in any danger."

Braun set his jaw.

"Coward for targeting a child." He said.

Darth Syn could not help but laugh.

"Then you're a coward too."

Braun's brow furrowed with confusion, but Darth Syn did not give him time to ponder his words. The boy wasn't bad, graceful in his blocking and attacks, but it was clear he had not spent his life being sharpened every waking moment.

Darth Syn began to- perhaps not enjoy, but be amused by hitting harder and faster, whittling down Braun's defenses and showing the child how outmatched he was. His opponent's fear fed him and filled his limbs with energy.

He ducked a tired strike, twisted around, and clipped Braun's shoulder. The boy cried out, dropping the saber.

Darth Syn smirked, lifting his own. It had been entertaining, but it was time to finish his mission.

A commotion in the Force made him halt. He glanced at the ship. He heard shouting that suddenly became louder. A small form burst from the ship. It wielded a blue-green lightsaber.

"OMEGA!"

The name was screamed by many voices, out loud and in the Force. A few men in bulky armor dashed after the child. The girl outpaced them and screamed out a feral cry as she bolted towards him.

Bemused, Darth Syn blocked her rabid, unskilled strike. The girl's eyes flashed with alarm, but not the fear she should have expressed. It would be better if this was quick. Darth Syn lunged for the child.

And froze.

Not by his own will. Something had taken hold of him, paralyzing his muscles. He could only watch as one of the men grabbed the girl and dragged her back.

How many of you does Palpatine have?

The voice echoed in his head, placed there deftly despite his defenses. With an effort that nearly took his consciousness, Darth Syn turned his head.

A Togruta stood beyond Bryn, hand outstretched. Her coat and lekku whipped about, though he could see a bubble of calm air surrounding her and protecting her from the storm.

I don't recognize you. The voice said. Its even tone belied the overwhelming weight of its actions. You weren't a Jedi.

The power that held him probed his mind. It was far more gentle than he had anticipated. A question rather than a demand.

Who are you?

Darth Syn screamed, forcing the presence from his mind. It took nearly everything he had. Even that seemed to give this creature information.

The grip released and Darth Syn fell to the ground. He coughed, struggling to hands and knees. He looked up.

The monster was approaching him. Blood streamed down its face.

"He's hurt you." It said. "That much is obvious. We can help you."

"Stay away from me!" Darth Syn snarled.

Its light was painful. It was a different pain than the agony that fueled him. It made him think of the causes of his suffering. His brothers.

He needed to get away.

He forced himself to his feet. He vaguely noticed other beings backing away. It was still looking at him.

He fled.

Ahsoka forced herself to stay standing as the dark figure dashed away. She was at her limit, but she would not falter until they were safe.

"The ship." She growled. "Now."

Hunter, who was practically carrying Omega, didn't need to be told twice. Wrecker and Tech followed. Callum paused.

"I'll be right behind you." Ahsoka promised.

She took an agonizing step. Callum lifted a hand as if to help. Wrecker came jogging out of the ship. Ahsoka gasped as the large clone scooped her up.

"Come on!" Wrecker said to Callum. "Geez, Commander, every time we're on a mission together-"

"Oh, shut it." Ahsoka grumbled through gritted teeth, though she was grateful.

The ship lifted off practically the moment they boarded. The engines were nearly drowned out by Crosshair's angry lecture.

"The second you get a lightsaber, you try to get yourself killed?" He snapped and then paused. "And where the hell did you get a lightsaber?"

Wrecker deposited Ahsoka onto a bunk and turned to watch the show. Hunter was carefully giving Omega a scan, though Ahsoka didn't think she'd been hurt.

"Was I not to arm the Padawan?" Huyang asked. "It's a simple thing to construct a bare bones shell for a saber. I assumed you would want the help."

"She's not a Padawan!" Hunter growled.

The ship shifted, jumping into hyperspace, and Tech came from the cockpit to take over Hunter's scan.

"You ran out there." Omega said, sullen. "If Ahsoka hadn't shown up, you'd be dead too!"

"We ran out there because you were out there!" Hunter said.

"And Callum was too!" Omega said. "You're the ones who taught me to risk myself to help people I care about! I will not stand by if I can do something!"

Silence. Hunter looked away and Crosshair scowled. Tech worked with his lips drawn to a line. Wrecker, on the other hand, wore a slight smile.

Captain Rex of the 501st, ARC trooper, right hand man to the General Skywalker, decorated veteran, blew a raspberry.

Kestrel burst into squeals of laughter, just like the past dozen times Rex had done it. It was one of Rex's favorite sounds. Rex waited a moment before blowing another. If he did them too close together, Kestrel was liable to throw up from laughter.

Kes began to kick in earnest as he giggled. Rex watched with a grin.

"Working on your hand to hand?" He asked. "No need. You won't be seeing battle. Not if I can help it."

The idea of his little boy being forced into any of the hells he and his brothers had experienced made him swallow. He was really starting to understand the Batch's protectiveness over Omega. Did he even want Kes trained in the Force?

Maybe, maybe not. But he wanted his son to have the choices. That was something Rex and Ahsoka had never had.

A knock at the door broke him from his thoughts. Rex scooped Kestrel up and hurried to answer it.

Senator Amidala- Padme, he corrected himself, and Tup stood on the doorstep, holding the twins.

"Ex!" Leia pronounced as soon as she saw him.

Rex gave her a smile and turned it to Padme.

"Padme." He said. "Did 'Soka put you up to this?"

"Maybe." Padme said. "May we come in?"

"If you want." He gave Tup a solid nod and a raised eyebrow. "But I'm fine, I swear."

"That's what Anakin said the first time he watched the twins alone." Padme said. "And when I came home, he was lying on the floor while the twins played with his detached arm."

Rex repressed a snort.

"Ma'am." He said. She gave him a sharp look. "Padme. That's not nearly the same. I've only got the one, Kes can't walk yet, and let's be honest, I've had more experience."

"Well, maybe I thought you'd appreciate the visit regardless." Padme said. "It doesn't matter if you can handle it or not, it's always nice to visit with adults."

Rex shrugged and gestured them inside.

"Sorry about the-"

"Captain, this is nothing." Tup piped up. "Right, Luke? You and your sister make way bigger messes."

Luke gave a solemn nod. The little boy didn't talk much, at least compared to his sister, but Rex knew he was just as sharp.

"How're things in the Senate?" Rex asked as he gestured for them to sit down.

"Well enough." Padme said.

Tup snorted.

"Ma'am, you don't have to sugar coat it." He said. "Just as much squabbling as the old one. Only difference is that we've got decent people in charge."

"This is a little different." Padme insisted. "Many of the worlds in the DAP are in precarious positions. They're afraid of being taken by the Empire or the crime lords."

"I'd feel a bit more sorry for them," Tup said. "If we didn't have Senator Chuchi there."

"I thought we'd sent troops to Pantora." Rex said with a frown. He bounced Kestrel on his knee absently. "It was next on the list when I started my leave."

Padme shifted, looking uncomfortable.

"We've had to allocate our troops to- other matters."

Rex frowned.

"What's going on?" He asked.

"Nothing to worry yourself about, Rex." Padme said.

Rex frowned.

"That makes me think it's exactly the sort of thing I need to worry about."

He didn't bother trying to pry further from Padme. He instead turned to Tup and gave him as intense a Captain's glare as he'd given during the war. Tup resisted for a moment, but wilted.

"The Hutts and the Empire are both pressing at the borders, sir." He said.

Rex felt himself tense at the words. Kes began to fuss in his arms.

"And what are we doing about it?" He asked. "Besides not liberating Pantora?"

"Rex, you're off duty." Padme said. "You don't have-"

Rex stopped listening. Ahsoka had reached out, brushing against his mind.

Head's up. She said.

Head's up for what-

Rex gasped aloud as a surge of power hit him. It had been so long since he'd felt Ahsoka use her abilities that it felt like a blaster bolt to the head. He grit his teeth, shoving down nausea. Kestrel was wailing, confused and frightened.

"Shh." Rex forced out, stroking Kestrel's hair. "Shh, Kes'ika. She's all right."

He looked up and saw Tup on his feet and Padme halfway to hers.

"Ahsoka." Rex said. "She- must have needed to do something."

Tup and Padme shared a nervous look that Rex understood. This was supposed to be a safe mission. What had happened that had forced Ahsoka to push herself this far?

Rex had a bad feeling about this.

Rex jerked awake to the sound of a comm beeping. His hazy mind took a moment to recognize the pattern of a high alert message. He groaned, sitting up and scooping the comm up.

"Rex Tano here." He said.

He hadn't answered the comm as Captain Rex for a few months.

"Rex!" It was General Skywalker. "Get up. You need to leave Ossus now."

Rex blinked, and then tensed.

"What's happened?" He demanded. "Is it something to do with what Ahsoka had to do?"

"Nothing's happened yet." General Skywalker said. "I've had a dream. Something Dark hunts you, Rex. You and Kestrel."

Rex's heart pounded painfully in his chest.

"What is it?" He asked. "Why?"

"I don't know. These dreams aren't very specific." General Skywalker said. "But- the last time I had one like this, my mother died."

Rex stared at his comm. The General sounded terrified.

"Right." He said. "Right. What do we do?"

"I've already contacted Padme." The General said. "You, her, the twins, Tup, Master Plo, and Obi Wan are to leave for my Venator immediately."

"They were-"

"Yes, they're in danger too." General Skywalker said. "Get going."

The comm clicked off and Rex burst into motion. His mind was in a fog as he threw Kes' things into a bag. He barely thought to grab anything for himself. Finally he went to Kestrel's crib. The little boy had woken and blinked up with large eyes that were turning brown. He was quiet and reached for Rex. Rex scooped him up, his heart aching. Kestrel was supposed to never have to face danger like this.

"I'm sorry." Rex muttered. "I was supposed to protect you from this sort of thing."

Kestrel just laid his head on Rex's chest, seemingly unbothered by the fact that his father's dream for him had just been shattered.

"Ahsoka!"

Rex hadn't expected to see his wife when he boarded the Defiant, but there she was, waiting in the hangar. She rushed forward and she, Rex, and Kestrel became a tangle of embraces.

"You're here too?" Rex asked. He felt he hadn't seen her in months. "What's going on?"

Ahsoka nodded. Kestrel had somehow ended up in her arms.

"We'll tell you what we know in the briefing." She said. "Though it isn't much."

He let her lead him and the others to a briefing room, though he kept his hand in hers. General Skywalker paced inside the room. It was already half filled by the Batch, Fives, Jesse, Echo, Kix, Cody, and Callum Braun.

"Padme!" General Skywalker said. "Luke, Leia!"

He enfolded them into his arms.

"Ani, what's happening?" Padme said.

"I think we'd all like to know that, Anakin." General Kenobi said.

He learned against General Plo, but was much steadier than Rex had seen recently.

"Take your seats." General Skywalker said, waving Padme to one and resuming his pacing.

They all did and watched him for a moment more.

"I told you all that I had a dream." He finally said. "Many of the people here were involved. You were all in grave danger, being hunted by a Dark assassin."

Rex noticed the Bad Batch share looks. He understood; they were barely now starting to get immersed in the world of the Force. They didn't know to trust the Jedi's dream and feelings.

"I had Echo look into it." General Skywalker went on. "And-"

He nodded to Echo, who plugged into the holotable. Rex blinked as his own face appeared in blue. And it was him. His blonde hair, his scars. Most convincing was the label on the holo: WANTED BY THE EMPIRE: CT-7567.

"And how is this new?" Fives asked. "Pretty sure Rex has been wanted by the Empire since it started.

"His bounty has been tripled." Echo said. "And he's not the only one."

The holos flickered, now showing Fives. Then Echo. Jesse. Tup. Kix. General Plo, General Kenobi, Padme, even the twins. All declared they were wanted dead rather than alive. Rex heard a sharp noise from the Batch as Omega's face appeared. Besides him, Ahsoka's anger was rising.

"All the already existing bounties have been tripled, and those who didn't got ones just as big. We've already intercepted a few bounty hunter ships from both Empire and Hutt space." General Skywalker said. The Imperials are pushing harder at our borders."

"But why us?" Fives asked. "Why just Omega and Echo and not the entire Batch? Why not all commanding clones, or all leaders of the DAP?"

"It doesn't matter." Ahsoka said, standing. Her anger was burning in Rex's head. "This ends. Now."

"How?" Padme asked. "We've been fighting for months. If we had a way to end this, we would."

"We cut the head of the hydrosnake." Ahsoka said. "He sends assassins, we can return the favor."

Rex felt dread, cold and tight, fill his stomach. Ahsoka did not look at him and instead met General Skywalker's gaze.

"I can end this. I need to find Palpatine and kill him."

Mando'a:

Kes'ika: little Kestrel, affectionate nickname

From the top!

I'm really falling in love with this concept of the Force becoming more like a character in different settings. It's fun.

Apparently those things are canonically on Ilum. Ironically, I used a similar creature I stole from DnD in an earlier chapter.

Hmm, maybe don't send this guy with severe brother issues after a kid with many brothers she would die to protect.

Now that the seriousness of the scene is over, please imagine the Batch screaming OMEGA NO and Omega screaming OMEGA YES.

I love the idea of Huyang just going 'hey kid you wanna build a lightsaber?" while her brothers aren't looking.

Don't worry Omega, Echo will be proud when he hears what you did.

I adore the first line of Rex's scene.

Tup still calls Padme ma'am because he's on duty. He insists, she has given up on getting him to use her name on duty.

Is this my first 'bad feeling about this?' It feels long overdue.

This chapter was initially a bit longer but I had to cut a scene that explained things perhaps too much. I also initially had Ahsoka have the dream, but I feel like Anakin is more likely to have it.

Well, that's a bit dramatic, Ahsoka.

That should be everything! Hopefully I'll be able to keep up lol.

Stay safe, remember to review, and have a great week!