The ship jostled slightly as it came to dock at the large tropical island coast. Sailors were tying the mooring lines down to the cleats with expert ease and swiftness. Anakin had to say, this rather primitive form of transportation was rather enjoyable. He knew some of the planets in his home galaxy still used them as tourists attractions, but to use it as true genuine transport was interesting to say the least. Looking to his right, Blake seemed uncomfortable. Her cat ears were free, and exposed having forgone the bow hiding them. Anakin found they made Blake look adorable, and rather hard to take seriously. Something he'd never admit to her deciding it would piss her off.

"You ready?" Anakin said instead.

Blake shrugged. "Not really. But we've come this far."

Anakin nodded. Once the ramp was down, Anakin and Blake stepped off carrying their luggage behind them. The city before them was filled with many homes and Faunus. Tropical trees were everywhere, and small lizards were easy to spot scurrying around. In the water Anakin saw some water based Faunus, with stands and houses partially under water. As they walked onto the crowded streets, Anakin started getting plenty of stares. Most were questioning, others accusatory, few were happy. Anakin leaned closer to Blake.

"Should I have gotten some makeup help from Nora?" He whispered, half joking.

Blake shook her head. "No. What we had Jaune do for that night was for the mission. Doing it for something like this would be considered... insensitive."

"Insensitive?" Anakin asked not seemingly understanding.

Blake didn't seem too shocked he was confused. She spoke in a soft, teacher like tone. "Essentially some Faunus would see it as insulting, given that Faunus typically have to hide their identity from humans to fit in human society."

"Sounds complicated." Anakin said with a frown. "I mean, where I come from, people mimic other races all the time. Heck, there's even a race of changelings who literally mimic the body structure of other races."

Blake shrugged. "You come from a different society though. I'm not saying every Faunus would be against it. Some may even feel flattered by it. But given the state of things with the White Fang, and the rising tensions in some of the kingdoms with less acceptance for Faunus, it's simply safer not to."

Anakin shrugged. "Good point."

They kept walking for a bit down the street, the sandy path not nearly as bad as the sands of Tatooine. Anakin couldn't help but appreciate the people of Menagerie for walking on this path so much. It meant less of a chance that the cursed sand wound get in his boots.

"So what's this place called again?" Anakin asked. "Menagerie?"

Blake giggled. "That's the name of the land mass, but this city is called Kuo Kuana. It's the largest city in Menagerie."

"So it's like how Vale and Vacuo are both on the continent of Sanus." Anakin compared.

"Exactly." Blake agreed. "And Mistral is on Anima, and Atlas is on Solitus."

"Alright. So what kind of government do you have here?" Anakin asked.

"Here we have a Chieftain, a single ruler who abides by the wishes of the people. In a sense, the Chieftain requires permission from the people to do certain things including creating new laws, and things like that." Blake explained.

"Does the Chieftain have any real power then?" Anakin asked with a frown.

Blake giggled again. "Yes, he can enforce the laws, sign and offer treaties, order around our local military, and even declare war if necessary. His power is only limited to a certain extent, but if the Chieftain ever gets too carried away they can be voted out of power."

"Huh. Sounds like it's not well fleshed out." Anakin noted. "What about legislation, delegation, and other fancy political terms?"

Blake rolls her eyes with a smile. "We don't have anything real complicated like Atlas or Vale because we aren't as big as the Kingdom's in terms of scale. Sure we have plenty of people, but we rarely have much political power in global politics. In a sense, we mostly keep to our own here."

Anakin nodded understanding. "Alright then."

Anakin's eyes wander over the sea of people and the vast marketplaces, packed residential buildings, and narrow alleyways. He still got a few stares, but they were lesser than what he got at first. Most people too busy with their own business. Down the path a ways a large mansion stood surrounded by foliage with a desert landscape visible beyond the trees. Definitely the chieftains house.

Anakin looked to Blake. "So. Where's your home?"

Blake smiles lightly, a faint blush on her face. "Well, you can see it from here." She said vaguely.

Anakin looked around a bit before narrowing his eyes in thought. "Are you the Chieftain's daughter?" He asked inquiringly.

Blake shrunk into herself a bit, her face filled with a look of what looked like both pride and embarrassment. "...Yeaaaaah."

Anakin looked back to the mansion. "So yours is the big house then right?"

Blake sighed. "Yeah..."

After a nice walk, the ground was much less traveled on, the sand now covering Anakin's boots much to his displeasure. The darn stuff would be impossible to get rid of. There were just so many tiny crevices. The course, rough, and irritating specks would apparently be guests to his boots for the foreseeable future. Eventually they reached the front door to the Belladonna family home... or rather the family mansion. A large knocker was on the even larger door. It seemed big enough for a Hutt, or a Rancor. Blake, Anakin noticed, seemed very reluctant to use the knocker.

"Something wrong?" He asked her.

She tensed, then sighed. "The last time I was here, I didn't leave under good circumstances."

Anakin shrugged. "Well there's no changing the past. Besides we've come all this way."

Blake nodded looking away. "I know, but..."

Anakin could tell she was thinking way too much about this. So after a moment, Anakin steps forward and knocks the knocker. Blake stared at him wide eyed before looking to the door. She looked ready to run away. Anakin turned to her.

"You aren't going to get anywhere if you don't press forward with your goals." He said simply. "If something seems too hard or complicated. Uncomplicated it and just dive right in. That's how I do things."

Blake closes her eyes now seeming a bit annoyed. "That's not exactly a safe way to live Anakin."

Anakin shrugs. "Maybe. But it's more fun."

After a moment, the door opens and a delegate hand with purple nails sticks out to pull the door inward. A woman with matching hair, eye, and primary fashion color to Blake steps out. She had shorter hair, and larger feline ears with gold piercings. The woman had slight wrinkles on her face, but still looked fairly young for her age. Her yellow eyes were wide with surprise focused on Blake.

"Blake?" The woman questioned, seemingly stunned.

Blake smiled nervously. "Hey mom... I'm... home."

The woman, Blake's mom, smiles brightly and steps up to Blake, pulling the younger girl into her arms. "Oh Blake I'm so glad to see you." Blake's mom said. "Are you alright, have you been eating properly?"

Blake tilted her head seemingly taken aback by the questions. "Huh? Well yeah I'm fine. I've..."

It was then that a deeper cultured voice spoke up from inside. "Kali, who is it?" The voice questioned politely.

"Come quick dear!" Kali called out to the voice. They could hear the deep chuckle as a large man with black hair like a lions mane. He had yellow eyes as well, and claws for fingernails, though they seemed retracted. He showed deep surprise. "Ghira dear, our Blake has come home." Kali continued.

The man, Ghira let out a jolly laugh as he scooped booth Kali and Blake into a big hug. "Hhahahaha, oh why didn't you tell us you were coming?!" Ghira exclaimed in excitement. When he set them down Blake stumbled a bit, but the older Kali seemed use to such a hug, and managed to land without so much as a twitch.

"I didn't know how you'd react." Blake answered nervously, her hand holding her other arm. Anakin placed a hand on her shoulder smirking at her.

"I told you they'd be happy to see you." Anakin said. Blake rolled her eyes at him. Kali and Ghira seemed to just take notice of Anakin. Kali clapped her hands together with a grin, and Ghira crossed his arms giving an intimidating appraisal.

"And who might you be young man?" Ghira inquired.

Anakin looked him in the eye and offered his hand out. "Anakin. Anakin Skywalker. I attend Beacon Academy with your daughter."

Ghira hesitated but shakes Anakin's hand. "You seem like a respectable young man. Human if I'm not mistaken." Ghira said, his tone coming across as curious and amused.

"Yes sir." Anakin acknowledged. "I'm human."

"And you come all this way to an Island I'm sure you knew would be less accepting?" Ghira asked.

"I have no problem being judged. Don't much care for other's opinions on me." Anakin stated.

"A bold statement." Ghira said with a laugh. "I like you young man. Welcome to Menagerie, and to Kuo Kuana."

Anakin gave a light bow. "It's my pleasure to be here sir."

Kali giggled. "So are you just here as a friend to Blake, or..."

"Mooom..." Blake whined.

"Oh I'm just teasing dear." Kali said playfully. "But he is the first boy you've brought home with you in quite some time."

Anakin chuckled nervously. "We are in a relationship currently, yes Mrs Belladonna."

Kali looked frankly ecstatic, Ghira seeming less happy, but approving for now, keeping a professional air about him. "Oh no need for formalities dear. Just call me Kali. Come in. I'll prepare tea."

Thrawn stands, his red eyes looking out at the vast city of Vale out the viewport of his Atlas frigate. The army he commands under General Ironwood is nothing compared to the ones he'd led in the past. The warriors of the Chiss, The reluctant to obey Stormtroopers, the Hand Of Thrawn he never got to utilize. Now, while his resources are so limited, his soldiers obey without question, without fear. The trust they have stemming from the trust Ironwood placed in Thrawn. He would make it work. He can't blame these people for their primitivity given the limits of their power source. Dust. A energy rendered useless beyond atmosphere. This planet needed desperately to have other advancements, but their singular unified enemy makes that out of sight to them.

Thrawn folded his arms behind his back, his gaze becoming less focused as he lets his mind swirl with thought. Recounting his past enemies. Their strategies. Their weaknesses. The Vagaari Pirates who held captives stuck in pods on the sides of their vessels as living shields. The Grysks, slavers who had a knack at both subtlety and brutality. The Far Outsiders whom he prepared for, and never got to fend off directly. Tano's words lingered at that thought. So many dead. Undoubtedly mostly civilian. Now this new enemy. It started so reluctantly, killing with care caution so effectively. Now so bold to attack in such mass. No, perhaps starting small enough to not raise immediate alarm. Making them believe a Grimm had entered the City. However what it turned out to be wasn't much better. A corpse made army like an old horror Holo. Like zombies. Yet they weren't really zombies were they. The report on his desk showed several people had been bitten by these corpses, yet showed only minor infections akin to that of a dog bite. Treatable, and completely unrelated to viral disease. Yet it's similarity did not escape Thrawn's notice. He decided he would inspect some art in the fictional subject... of Zombies.

Moving away from the thoughts of the future, Thrawn turned to Rex and Lilly. He'd kept them waiting. "My apologies. I was lost in my own analysis." Thrawn said, his tone genial.

"It's... fine." Rex said. Rex crossed his arms. "I've heard what kind of plans you can cook up. Experienced them first hand."

Thrawn inclined his head. "Indeed. With the Rebellion no doubt. I'm not quite certain if I've had the pleasure to meet you face to face before today."

"Not that I recall. Then again I try not to get acquainted with those hunting me and my men." Rex said.

Thrawn's lips curved slightly into an almost imperceptible smile. "A wise decision in your case. Though learning about one's enemy is the best way to eradicate them." Thrawn said. His cultured voice was like that of a teacher. "I presume you've had little success in contacting Skywalker."

Rex nodded. "He won't answer his scroll."

"He isn't answering me either." Lilly chimed in.

Thrawn nodded thoughtfully. "For one claiming to have put his past behind him, he certainly doesn't change much does he."

Rex and Lilly shared a look. Lilly frowned at Thrawn. "What do you mean?" She asked.

"What I mean is that he continues to be headstrong, reckless, and emotionally driven." Thrawn explained calmly. "Given what I know about his recent departure, it is my belief he is going to Menagerie. A place with poor reception. Though still reachable. I suspect he also has his scroll turned off. If you are to contact him it would be more effective to do so through Miss Blake Belladonna I suspect."

Rex nods slowly. "We'll try that next then." Rex assured. "So what did you want to discuss with us?"

"Not you specifically Captain, or... well I suppose that rank no longer has purpose to you." Thrawn corrected. Rex crossed his arms, not appreciating the comment. "No, my questions are for Miss Volentine here."

"Me?" Lilly questioned.

"Yes. I have a theory." Thrawn said. "I've noticed a trend. Many of those from our far mutual home have found themselves in direct contact with one another. It's possible that more are out there, but why that is, I'm not certain. My guess is there is some commonality to us all that links us to showing up here. It's not the Force as Skywalker calls it, nor is it species given my arrival, as well as Miss Tano's."

Rex frowns. "Alright. What do you think it could be?"

"Given Skywalker seems to be where everything is centering, perhaps it has something to do with him. Miss Tano, you, myself, Dooku, and this Starkiller character all fit this description. However I can't say I know how Crimson Vrudas fits into that equation." Thrawn states. "It's only a theory, and not one I think is entirely right."

Rex sighs. "If you don't think it's right, why bring it up?"

"Why indeed." Thrawn agrees. "I feel like it's in the right direction, but not the right destination. So... that brings me to you Miss Volentine." Thrawn says looking to her. "I've looked extensively through files for Crimson Vrudas and You. Our system shows you in our records, yet no actual records exist prior to 3 years ago."

Lilly frowned. "That can't be right. I use to live in a village off the coast of anima called..."

"Kaiyome." Thrawn cut her off. Lilly blinked surprise.

"Yeah. Wait if you know that then..."

"Your records show you were born in Kaiyome, 17 years ago. That village was destroyed 20 years ago." Thrawn said crossing his arms.

Lilly's eyes widened. That was impossible. She remembered living there. She remembers her father. The ocean. Her school. All of it. How could she have not lived there? "Your... your lying! I remember living there! I remember..." Flashes came to her mind. The docks and ships in view from her beach house, waking up to see the ocean every morning. It all flickered. The sight of large grey vessels floating through a black star filled void. Waking up to a nice room with a window view of the great expansive ocean of black. Then she remembered her words to Rex so long ago.

"One day though we were attacked by the Grimm..." The image of a forest came to mind. She was standing with so many people in brown and cream colored robes. Then glowing orange dots formed the sky. When they got closer she could see they were in Armor. Armor with T shaped visors. "but we held them off." She saw herself holding a blue glowing blade, A lightsaber, as she blocked and deflected bolts of blue and red light. "Unfortunately my father lost his legs from the fighting." A man with pale skin and dark black robes shouted in pain as one of the armored men kicked him in the face to stun the man, then blasted a cauterized hole through his leg. "From then on I wanted to train to become a Huntress. Seeing the lives he saved that day inspired me. He always encouraged me, telling me that The Ocean Eyes will always watch over me, and that when I needed help most they would provide." She saw the man in black robes hold up a silver and red mask, taken from the female leader of the armored men, then puts it on. His leg was wrapped in bandages. Men and women in robes all around them cheered. Holding up lightsabers of greens, yellows, and blues. Lilly herself lifted her own.

The man turned to her and the others holding up a purple lightsaber to the sky. "The Force will watch over you all! It will provide us with the strength we need when we need it! Trust in the Force! Now let us push back the invaders! For the people! For the Republic!!!"

Lilly felt tears welling in her eyes. Her head felt like it was splitting in half. This wasn't right. Those weren't her memories. They couldn't be. She felt so lost, and confused. She wanted nothing more than for the pain to stop. Then, Rex's hand was on her shoulder. She looked to him only to see that mask again. That dark mask.

"Meetra." The masked man said.

"What?" She asked, blinking. Rex's face replaced the mask. He looked concerned.

"I asked if your alright Lilly." Rex said.

"I..." she didn't know how to answer him. She didn't feel alright. She felt like her whole life was crumbling away into an abyss. Tears streamed down her face and she clung to Rex.

Thrawn watched on with no judgment on his features. "You are not from this world. Just like me. Just like Rex. Just like Skywalker. Who you really are, we can learn later if it's too difficult right now. That being said. I'm curious as to why you don't outright remember your past correctly. Perhaps you felt some guilt in some way? Repressed your memories?"

Rex glared at Thrawn. "Is it necessary to interrogate her about this? I thought we were trying to stop those monsters from attacking the citizens down there. Stop Dooku and his cronies from their plan."

"Your very right." Thrawn agreed. "But you must also remember that Crimson Vrudas showed no signs of evil intent at first. I suspect it was only after he started remembering who he was that he started his killing spree."

Rex laughed without mirth. "What? You think Lilly will turn out like that?"

Thrawn inclined his head. "I believe it is possible. That is why I want to know who she was before she got here." Rex's eyes widened as he looked into Thrawn's red eyes. Thrawn was dead serious. He perceived Lilly as a potential threat. "All unknowns are capable of being dangerous. What if she turns out to have been a Sith like Dooku, or this Crimson Vrudas?"

Rex looked to Lilly, his kind swirling. He scowled back at Thrawn. "So what if she does. If Anakin can change back into a good person, so can anyone."

Thrawn gave a disappointed look. "Your willing to gambol your own safety... on that belief?"