Chapter 35 – The Growing Storm

Author's Note: Just so y'all know, I'll be posting the next chapter in three weeks instead of two. :)

~ Amina Gila

Obi-Wan is exhausted, but he doesn't allow himself to sleep until after they've gotten off the cargo transport and boarded a passenger shuttle that will take them to Tatooine. He's a Jedi Master, and he might not have needed to draw on the Force to restore his energy for a while, but he has not forgotten the techniques. Only when he knows they are safe, or at least as safe as they can possibly be until they reach their destination, does he lay down.

He's asleep almost at once.

But when he sleeps, he dreams.

The images before him are indistinct, but he can still make out the fiery reds and oranges of what is either fire or lava. The planet burns with the Dark, and the glimpses that he sees are filled with that same darkness. He sees Anakin, his yellow eyes wild and furious as he wields his blue lightsaber against… him? He can feel the familiar hum of his kyber crystal in his hands as he duels his once padawan to the death.

Their environment doesn't stop them, not the ash, not the air, and not even the lava rivers that crisscross the surface.

"I have failed you, Anakin!"

"– the Jedi are evil!"

"You underestimate my power!"

Obi-Wan sees as Anakin's delimbed body tumbles to the blackened ground, as he struggles and screams, trying to drag himself away from the bank. Pain doesn't stop him, nothing does. He's driven on by hatred and determination.

"You were the Chosen One!"

And he sees as Anakin's body catches on fire, burning with flames that are not out, burning as Obi-Wan walks away and leaves him there.

Obi-Wan wakes up with a scream caught in his throat, heart hammering frantically in his chest, the Force whispering a wordless message to him, one that he is unable to comprehend. A vision? Or something that could have happened?

He doesn't know, can't tell, and he cannot shake the very real fear that something dark and sinister lies ahead of them. On Daiyu, he saw Qui-Gon, and his dead master told him that he had to bridge the gap between the Light and Dark. It seemed so absurd at the time, and now, after this… nightmare, it seems even more impossible.

He lets out a shaky breath, scrubbing a hand over his face. Probably, he should try meditating on it. There is no reality in which he wants to fight Anakin, much less leave him to burn to death. What could even lead to such a thing? He doesn't know, or maybe he's too afraid to know.

"Master?" Anakin's voice is careful. Quiet. He's probably trying not to make too much noise lest they wake Reva. "What's wrong?"

"I didn't mean to wake you," Obi-Wan answers, turning toward him. The lighting is dim, but he can still make out the too-familiar concern on his once padawan's face. "It was only a dream." That might have worked on Anakin in the past, but when he sees the look that flickers through Anakin's blue eyes only moments before his expression settles with conviction, Obi-Wan is faced with how much Anakin has changed.

"You once told me that it is rare for Jedi to merely have dreams," he counters. "I can sense that it has upset you deeply."

Obi-Wan looks away. "I do not think it was a vision," he answers, "or at least, I hope it was not. We– we were dueling on a planet of lava, and I– injured you."

"Fatally?" Anakin asks, and he seems far too calm given what Obi-Wan just revealed to him.

He grimaces. "I hope not."

Anakin hums. "Something… touched you, Obi-Wan. I can feel it. Something unnatural." His eyes are distant in that way they always are when he's focusing solely on what the Force is telling him. "I do not believe we need to be concerned, not yet, but we should at least be cautious. Always in motion, the future is. That's what Master Yoda always taught."

A part of Obi-Wan feels unfairly surprised to hear it. Just because Anakin is dabbling with the Dark, that doesn't mean he has cast aside everything he learned as a Jedi. He is so… different. He has matured. He possesses a sense of surety that he was always lacking in the past. Perhaps it is merely time, or perhaps being on a path of his own choosing was good for him, Obi-Wan doesn't know.

"I suppose you are right," he concedes, taking another breath as he tries to dispel his fear into the Force. He isn't ready to face the enormity of what Anakin means to him… and what it would do to him to lose him.

Silence settles, and it's a comfortable one. For a few minutes, they're each lost in their own thoughts and resting in each other's presences.

"We need to find the Predator," Anakin blurts out abruptly. "His identity, not his hiding spot. Whoever– whatever he is, we cannot let him roam free. The chaos he could inflict…" His voice trails off, and he nearly shudders visibly.

"I know," Obi-Wan replies, "but he's too strong for us."

Something that looks too much like fear flashes across his face, and he looks away. "He was able to track me," he whispers. "I tried to run, but he– he used my Force presence to track me. He somehow created a portal. I don't know where that ends. Can he still find me off-world?"

The possibility is chilling, and Obi-Wan does his best to control his reaction to it. Anakin doesn't need to face Obi-Wan's anxiety on top of his own. "I don't know," he answers, "but we will be mindful and prepared. He could have killed all of us, but he didn't. I don't know why." It's not much of a reassurance, nor does it seem to make Anakin feel better.

He watches as Anakin swallows, visibly turning his focus to something else. "We need to find Maul, too," he says.

Obi-Wan huffs. "On that, you and I are in full agreement. The weapons he is distributing are dangerous, to say the least."

"When we get home, I guess we can try to pick up his trail." Anakin sounds tired, and Obi-Wan reaches out to squeeze his shoulder.

"Get some rest. We won't be back for a few hours still, and you're injured."

He almost thinks that Anakin will protest, but in the end, he doesn't, laying back down and closing his eyes. Obi-Wan watches him for a moment before settling down himself and letting the sound of Anakin's breathing pull him back under.

**w**

To say that Sidious is alarmed by the revelation of kyber-powered weaponry would be an understatement. He knew that the Jedi possessed some such weapons, but the extent that has been seen on Daiyu is different. It's more. This is not the work of the Jedi. This is the work of other criminal factions, ones that may well be in collusion with the Jedi – or even other traitors to the Empire. It's something they need to investigate with due haste.

He orders his apprentice to look into it. This, at least, should be one mission that he does not fail. If he does…

Well, there are many other Inquisitors who would be grateful to take his role.

"My Lord, someone wishes to see you," Inquiere informs him after accepting his new mission. "He insists that he is your personal emissary."

The distrust in his apprentice's voice is obvious, and Sidious reaches out with the Force to check who it is. "Mm. Let him in," he commands.

Inquiere falters for only a moment before bowing his head and doing as he's told. He returns escorting none other than Ochi of Bestoon. The assassin has long been in the Sith's employ, and after the Empire formed and Skywalker disappeared, Sidious sent Ochi to find him. He has no doubt scoured many planets, but it's a big galaxy. Eventually, Skywalker will turn up.

"Tell me what you've found," Sidious demands the moment that Ochi approaches.

"The duel that transpired on this world," Ochi replies. "I witnessed it. The one with the red blade. He calls himself Darth Vader. He may be the same shadow that has been rumored to haunt the Hutt spaces."

Darth Vader? It's an odd name, a Sith's name, and Sidious' suspicions only grow. Skywalker. It has to be. But if he is going through such great pains to hide his identity, he will not be captured easily… or at all.

It is imperative that he drive Vader away from the public eye. Should word spread of a rival Sith, he would not be surprised if the Jedi flock to him in the hopes of finding a powerful ally. And perhaps if there is a hunt for Vader, Sidious can flush him out of hiding.

"Put a bounty on his head," Sidious orders. "Four million credits for the capture of the Shadow." After all, it would do no good to publicize the name Darth Vader. Whatever game Skywalker is playing, Sidious does not intend to fall into the trap. He has other things to worry about.

"There is one more thing," Ochi adds. "Kenobi is alive. He was on the planet. I assume he fled when the Imperial forces arrived."

Sidious' eyes narrow. "Was he a participant in the duel?"

"He appeared to be helping… Vader."

Of course. When it came down to it, Kenobi sided with his former apprentice over the unknown Predator.

"Very well," Sidious answers. "I want you to track down this new player. Bring him in." Ochi is well trained, and even if he cannot defeat Skywalker, he will surely pose a challenge to him. To even the playing field, perhaps he can even let the assassin take some of the kyber weapons the Empire retrieved. The sooner he can have Skywalker in his hands, the better.

**w**

Ahsoka is not the only Jedi who is present at the meeting of the rapidly growing Rebel Alliance, nor is she the only one who is immediately intrigued by Master Windu's report of what happened on Daiyu. The surviving Jedi have learned well how to live in the shadows. They have learned how to survive when all the odds are stacked against them. Sometimes, that means doing things that are against their beliefs, their very way of life, but more and more, she has begun to realize that is the only option.

Their only option.

The Alliance had mixed views on whether or not to strike up a tentative deal with Maul. As the leader of much of the criminal underworld, he has contacts and resources that could be pivotal to turning the tide against the Empire. Eventually, the Alliance agreed that should he be able to prove the effectiveness of his new kyber crystal powered weapons, they would purchase them from him.

Master Windu went personally to observe, and his report is reassuring, if disturbing. The damage those weapons can cause is vast, and that might be just what the Alliance needs if it is to have any hope of surviving the increasing scrutiny of the Empire.

"And the being you fought?" one of the other Jedi questions. His name is Ferren Barr if Ahsoka remembers correctly. She doesn't know him very well. "What of them? Is there a chance they can be swayed to our side? We need allies, and I know that there are those of us who find it… distasteful to ally ourselves with Dark Side users, but these are difficult times."

These are difficult times.

How many times has she heard that recently? Too many, and she exhales softly, exchanging a glance with Lux and Saw who are next to her. They are still working together, but she has noticed the strain between them. Saw is losing himself, determined to go to any lengths necessary to achieve an Alliance victory. Lux is more cautious. He might have been a rebel, but he was raised by a politician. He's better at diplomacy than Saw. Two different viewpoints, each of which the Alliance needs to hear.

"No," Windu replies, and there's a sharpness to his voice that startles Ahsoka a bit. "He is far too dangerous. We have reached a deal with Maul. He will supply us with these weapon prototypes so long as we agree to do some jobs for him."

"What kind of jobs?" Ahsoka asks warily. She knows Maul, and she knows he can't be trusted. Master Obi-Wan was right about that. He's difficult to kill, difficult to deal with, period. After what he said to her on Mandalore, after what he did to her there –

Well, she doesn't trust him. He's dangerous. So many lives were lost because of him, all because he wanted to lure Anakin there to kill him. And then, when she refused his offer, he defeated her. Instead of killing her like she expected, he ordered her to pull Republic forces off-world lest he slaughter every single clone still on the planet. It was a bitter defeat, and the 501st retreated back to their cruisers. Bo-Katan and her people went underground.

Ahsoka had been planning a second attack in the hopes of catching Maul off-guard when… everything fell apart. Order 66 came through, and she narrowly escaped from the cruiser with Rex. So many died, and the survivors returned to the Empire.

It took time before they started coming back. Some died on missions, others had been reassigned and more sent to "retirement". But the survivors are together again, with Rex, with her. Together, they're continuing Anakin's fight, even if he isn't here.

"Unknown," Windu replies. "Vos spoke to him, but Maul would not budge or give us details. He'll call when he needs us."

"That is far from ideal," Lux points out. "We have no idea what he might intend to do. For all we know, he could send us into a trap to turn the Empire's focus onto us in a bid to protect himself."

"I am aware," Windu answers, "but those were our options, and these weapons could turn the tide of this war."

"We must make sacrifices," Saw agrees. "Working for criminals is not ideal, but these are difficult times."

Ahsoka presses her lips together. For how long will they say that? For how long, will the words "difficult times" be thrown around to justify whatever path they're taking? If they're sacrificing all of their morals, if they're agreeing to do terrible things in the name of the fallen Republic and Jedi Order, they might not be worse than the Sith, but are they truly any better?

But it's not something to which she can give voice, not here. She's only nineteen. No longer a child, but perhaps not enough of an adult to understand the situation. Though her trust in the Jedi has been shaken, she knows that Plo agrees with Windu, and because of that, she won't speak out against him. He must know what he's doing. These are difficult times. For all of them. It's just – sometimes, she's afraid of where this path might take them.

The meeting adjourns when no one has anything further to add, and Ahsoka finds herself wandering along the edges of their camp long after sunset as she tries to sort through the tangled mess of conflicting thoughts and feelings. Meditating isn't helping, not when the Force is alive with death and darkness. She doesn't know what the right path is.

When she left the Order, she hadn't seen any other option. She hadn't wanted to be pulled back into the fight. She was never supposed to be a warrior. This is not the life she wants for herself, for any of the people here, but if they don't stand up for what's right, then who will? The people out there need them. Day by day, the Empire makes life harder for so many. They deserve justice, and the one thing that Ahsoka knows for sure is that someone has to help them. Helping people is what the Jedi did, and now that the Order is all but destroyed, it falls on them – the survivors – to carry the burden.

"Ahsoka?"

She turns at the sound of Lux's voice, heart fluttering in her chest. They've never spoken about what they could have been if not for her being a Jedi, but she still cares for him deeply – just as he cares for her. Sometimes, Ahsoka lets herself imagine the kind of life they could have had if they were just people, not Senator and Jedi, not politician and warrior. But it's only a dream.

"What is it?" she asks.

"Let's go for a walk," he suggests, fingertips brushing her arm. She doesn't pull away when he takes her hand, and for a few minutes, they're quiet as they walk through the darkness, letting the soft sounds of nature soothe them. "I am not sure that General Windu is correct," Lux says at last. "Whoever he fought was skilled and powerful."

Ahsoka nods, lekku swaying with the movement. "I know," she answers. "It seems like it would be worth the risk of allying with him. He can't be worse than Maul."

Lux sighs. "Yeah. I'm not sure about this agreement with Maul, either. We're giving him too much power over us, but everyone is so certain that the weapons are worth it."

Maybe it's simply too hard for them to consider the possibility that they're making a mistake, their need for victory, for revenge, blinding them to the reality in which they are living.

"It concerns me, too," Ahsoka confesses. "When does this end? I understand that we cannot allow the Empire to continue unchallenged, and diplomacy will not work, but we are sacrificing so much. Our very way of life is being destroyed."

"I suppose it would be hard to be both a Jedi and a freedom fighter at once." Lux's voice is thoughtful.

"I never liked fighting," Ahsoka whispers. It's a hushed confession. She knows it was something many Jedi struggled with, but it also feels as though complaining about it is somehow wrong. This is their reality, and if they don't fight, then they must surrender to the Empire which is something they cannot do. "I hated it, but Anakin– he helped me. I– I miss him. It would be easier if he was here."

"You haven't found any traces of him?" Lux asks, and in his tone, she can hear that he misses Anakin, too. He might not have known him well, but he was fond of Anakin – just as Anakin was very fond of him. They were friends, once.

She shakes her head mutely, and Lux pulls her closer, wrapping her in his arms. "We'll find him," he murmurs in that gentle tone reserved just for her. "He would not die easy. He's out there, and we'll find him."

"I hope so," Ahsoka answers, equally soft. She squeezes him a little tighter, taking a moment to bask in the warmth of his presence. Maybe they can never be more than friends, not without being distracted from their purpose, but moments of comfort such as this are okay. They're friends, after all.

"Ahsoka…" It's barely above a whisper. "Do you– have you ever considered that maybe the Alliance is making a mistake? With Maul. With… many things."

She closes her eyes. It feels like a betrayal, and yet –

"… yes," she breathes.

Lux pulls back to look at her face, and they're so close that she would only need to lean in slightly to have a repeat of what happened on Carlac.

She doesn't.

"Me too," he admits, and she can see, in his gaze, the same desire that he will not act on, either. Maybe someday, when this is all over, they can take the time to figure out what they want, but that day has not yet come.

For now, they must fight.

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