The Shadow Hammer, 2 Days Later

The Separatist-built space station held a commanding position over the planet of Boz Pity, as well as a wealth of information on the planet below that the droids had been trying to wipe before they’d been stopped.

As Obi-Wan and Commander Cody’s shuttle made its way to the now bustling station, passing the satellite-based anti-fighter defense web that was being constructed around it, it was that info that somewhat concerned the Jedi Master so.

They hadn’t retrieved much yet; slicing into military databases like this often took weeks, but what they had retrieved was rather sobering. The Separatists had dug deep into the surface of Boz Pity in multiple locations. Even with the nominally uninhabited status of the planet, there were certain concerns of satisfying the needs of engagement. You never knew what kind of targets they might be hiding just out of sight of the gunner’s cameras.

Their shuttle touched down, and Obi-Wan and Cody stood as the forward ramp came down, walking into a bustling hangar bay. Waiting there in front of him were Anakin, Ahsoka, and Captain Rex.

Obi-Wan gave a casual glance around the station. “I must say, the risk you took was well worth it, Anakin. This station should speed things up considerably.”

“I aim to please, master,” Anakin replied with a confident grin. “It’s not quite set up to be homey, but there’s somewhere to sleep that’s a little more comfortable than a bunk room.”

“That’s fair enough,” Obi-Wan replied as they walked out of the landing bay. “Is there a planning area we can go to? I’d like to have some preliminary discussions about our approach to Boz Pity.”

“Preliminary?” Anakin asked. “We aren’t preparing to attack now?”

“I’ve gotten word from the Council that a few more forces are moving in to ensure that we can take the planet,” Obi-Wan explained.

“Any word on who?” Ahsoka asked.

“We have at least 3 more legions coming in the next day,” Obi-Wan replied. “With Depa Billaba’s 76th Airborne, Luminara’s 41st Elite, and Baylan Skoll’s 117th Mechanized Infantry, we should have enough manpower to liberate and secure this world. Quinlan Vos and his 84th will come in and fully secure the world once we’ve done our part, allowing us to move on to other battlefields that might need us.”

“Or maybe get a second to rest and replenish,” Ahsoka said meaningfully. “We’ve been pushing the troops hard this last year. I can feel a certain weariness in them here.”

“She’s right,” Rex admitted. “As much as I would like us to be able to keep going, we’ve lost more than a few in the way of men and equipment, especially on that assault on Maridun. It might not be a bad idea to put in for a little breathing room.”

“That’s not a bad idea at all,” Anakin replied. “I’ll talk to High Command, see what I can do.”

Rex nodded, and Obi-Wan looked at Anakin meaningfully. “Now, with the particulars of that out of the way, I’d like to go ahead and meet the other reason why we’re here.”

“Ah, yes,” Anakin said with a slight grin, “our time-traveling Jedi and friends. They’re in one of the guest rooms. Do you want to go and see them now?”

“I suppose now’s as good a time as any,” Obi-Wan admitted with a shrug. “It gives the others time to arrive, at the very least. Cody, do you want to come along?”

Cody shrugged. “It sounds as interesting as anything, I suppose.”

With that, the group made its way toward the guest quarters, entering to see the time travelers lounging around for the moment. If any of them had to guess, this was likely a Trade Federation-designed station, due to how lavishly the rather wide space was organized and furnished, a wide window into space on the far wall.

Dan and Luke stood from the rather plush seats that they were sitting in, the others following suit as Anakin began to introduce them. “This is Luke Starkiller, Mara Jade, Cal Kestis, Nightsister Merrin, and Dan and Elle. All of you, this is Master Obi-Wan Kenobi and Commander Cody of the 212th.”

Obi-Wan studied them in turn, searching through the Force and his own perceptions for any hint of deception. He found nothing of the sort. All of them at least believed themselves to truly be from the future. From Luke, he got a strange sense of… relief. Had seeing him triggered something? Was Luke familiar with him somehow?

“It’s a pleasure to meet you both,” Dan replied. “How are the clones doing? Has any progress been made on that chip that Malachite found?”

Obi-Wan looked over at Anakin. He’d been informed of the discovery but hadn’t made the time to have anyone in the 212th undergo such an examination. They were in the middle of a battlefield at the moment.

“Not yet,” Anakin admitted. “Malachite got pretty heavily wounded helping us secure the top hangars. We’ve got him in a bacta tank now, but it’s going to be quite a while before he’s back up on his feet.”

Dan nodded, a grave expression on his face. “I’m sorry to hear that. We’ll probably stop by the medical bay, and give him our sympathies and well wishes.”

“I’m sure he’d appreciate that,” Anakin replied.

Dan was silent for long moments, studying the group before him with a critical eye before looking around him at Elle and the others. As if they were silently deciding something.

“Is there something you’d like to say to us?” Obi-Wan ventured.

“Yes,” Dan finally said after a moment. “Now that the people we know we can trust are here, we’d like to talk to you about the truth. The truth of where Elle and I come from. And of who’s running this war.”

. . .

Dan waited patiently for the response, watching calmly as the Jedi and clones looked at each other with some small amount of indecision. Finally, Anakin nodded. “If we can trust that what you’re about to say is true…”

He wished it wasn’t. But he nodded. “It will be. I promise. First, though, has this room been swept for bugs? Republic, Confederacy, any kind?”

Anakin and Obi-Wan looked over at Rex, who shook his head. “Not yet. But Cody and I can do a quick sweep.”

“Please, do so. Either kind of bug could mean the death of us all, as I’ll explain in a moment.” Dan said.

That gained him a look of confusion. “Why Republic bugs?” Ahsoka asked as Rex and Cody took out sensors from their belts and began to slowly pace the length of the room, one to each wall. “Wouldn’t those be safe?”

“Not necessarily,” Dan said with a sigh as they waited for Rex and Cody to finish their sweep.

Soon enough, Rex and Cody, now standing near the window, shook their heads. “This room is clear of any bugs,” Rex said. “Whatever you’re going to say…”

“Is likely going to take some time,” Elle replied. “Get comfortable.”

The clones and the Jedi took their seats, the time travelers doing the same. Dan clasped his hands and sighed quietly. ‘Here we go. Into the raging depths of uncertainty, yet again…’

He looked around the room. “Elle and I aren’t just strangers to this time in galactic history, as the others are. No being here could interact with the flow of time as we have. Not without help from… where we’re from.”

“You’re telling me you’re… what?” Anakin asked incredulously, a feeling he was sure that his compatriots all shared. “Interdimensional?”

“Yes,” Elle replied. “Explaining exactly how would take too much time and require a proper demonstration. As it stands, time is of the essence. Suffice it to say, there are things we know that even Luke, Mara, and the others don’t or didn’t.”

“Such as the truth of who the Sith lord is,” Dan said.

As he’d expected, all eyes turned to him. “You know Dooku’s master?” Obi-Wan asked. “Ventress and Grievous’s?”

“Yes,” Dan said quietly. “And it all comes back to the fact that Dooku was not trying to deceive you.”

“Trying to deceive me?” Obi-Wan’s brow furled. “What… what does that even mean?”

“Think back to Geonosis, just before the war,” Dan said. “You’d been captured after trailing Jango Fett from Kamino. Dooku had entered the room. And there was one question that he asked you.”

Obi-Wan’s brow furled deeper, then his eyes began to widen. “No…”

“What if I told you that the Galactic Republic was under the control of a Dark Lord of the Sith?” Dan asked, echoing the words of Count Dooku.

Everyone’s eyes went wide. “You mean…” Anakin asked. “Someone’s manipulating Chancellor Palpatine?”

Daniel closed his eyes, chuckled grimly as he bowed his head for a moment. He was so close…

“No, Anakin,” Dan replied as he looked back at Anakin. “Palpatine is the Sith Lord. He is Darth Sidious.”

Anakin’s eyes went wide, his face draining of color. “No,” he said. He began to stand. “No, that can’t be true. That’s impossible! He’s doing everything he can to make sure we win this war! Why would he be the Sith Lord?”

“I wish it weren’t true that your friend of many years hadn’t been manipulating you,” Elle said sorrowfully. “But he’s been manipulating things and people politically, emotionally, and mentally ever since he found the dark side of the Force on Naboo in his youth. He only cares for you until you have outlived your usefulness, and the fact that you, specifically, are the Chosen One.”

“I…” Anakin said, his breath almost heaving now as he looked down at his hands. “I…”

Dan looked over at Luke, who stood and walked over to Anakin, placing a black-gloved hand on the man’s shoulder. Anakin’s head jerked up to meet Luke’s eyes, his eyes wide and slightly unfocused.

“Breathe, Anakin,” Luke said quietly. “There is no shame in feeling anger for a moment. Such an emotion is just a part of living beings, and that cannot be changed. But it can be controlled. Give it its time, acknowledge it… and then let it go. Breathe deeply.”

Anakin, his expression twisted into a masque of despair and confusion, followed Luke’s lead, taking deep breaths for a long moment before he closed his eyes and took one final, deep breath.

As he opened his eyes, still simmering with hurt, he glanced over at Luke’s hand on his shoulder, then down at the bare left hand hanging at Luke’s side. “Is that a prosthetic hand?” he asked, his voice somewhat husky.

Luke smiled sadly. “Yes, it is. I lost mine in a battle with one of the Emperor’s commanders. His apprentice, Darth Vader.”

Anakin chuckled, a slightly wet sound. “I lost mine to Dooku. What a way to be alike, huh?”

Luke nodded as he removed his hand from Anakin’s shoulder, stepping back to his seat. “That it is,” he said as he sat back down.

“Thanks,” Anakin said as he took his seat next to the ashen-faced Obi-Wan and Ahsoka again. “That helped.”

“But what do we do now?” Ahsoka asked. “The Chancellor’s been interacting with us for years, and we haven’t sensed a thing. How could he hide from us for so long?”

“The longer you spend in the light,” Mara said, “the longer the shadows can become. And the easier it becomes to hide within them.”

“Are you saying…” Obi-Wan said incredulously. “Are you saying our very Order is how this Sidious has managed to maintain the guise he has?”

“Partly,” Dan admitted. “The Jedi Order, in our time, falls at the end of the war, blinded by the careful chaos that Sidious sowed as Palpatine and by the ascetic dogma and long entwining of the Order into the Republic as a state apparatus that carried all Jedi away from true balance. It makes it all too easy for Sidious to wipe your order out with three simple words as he reveals himself to the Jedi.”

“Three words?” Rex said. “How could three simple words do something that drastic?”

Dan looked at the others, at Cal, who looked back at him with carefully concealed fear. Then he looked back at Rex and Cody. “It all has to do with the reason the chip is in there.”

Rex’s look of concern deepened, Cody’s beginning to match it. “Sidious wanted that thing in our heads?” he asked slowly.

“It all has to do with General Order 66,” Cal said, his expression hard. “It’s right there, in front of everyone’s noses, and no one would have thought to see it.”

“General Order…” Cody said, his eyes going wide. “In the event of Jedi officers acting against the interests of the Republic, and after receiving specific orders verified as coming directly from the Supreme Commander, GAR officers will remove those officers… by lethal force…”

“No,” Rex said firmly, his hand darting to Cody’s shoulder. “Not after everything we’ve been through. The galaxy would have to go mad before the Jedi start acting like that. General Skywalker, Commander Tano, none of them would betray the people like that. No one who serves under the Jedi for any length of time would follow that order.”

“But good soldiers follow orders, right?” Dan asked quietly. “That’s what they drilled into you on Kamino, after all.”

“They have no idea of what it’s like out here on Kamino,” Cody said. “Good soldiers might follow orders, but the best soldiers know that not every order should be followed in order to complete the mission. And we are the best soldiers in the galaxy.”

“Which is why the chip feeds you the mission,” Dan said. “The nightmares.”

“The mission?” Ahsoka said hesitantly. She and the other two Jedi looked up…

And saw the look of slack-faced horror. “You know… the mission?” Rex asked.

“What is the mission?” Obi-Wan asked, rising to look at Cody directly.

“It’s a neverending mission in our dreams,” Rex replied. “We can’t stop and rest. We can’t retreat. We don’t even know what our objective is. Only that it has to be completed at all costs. And every clone I’ve ever talked to about it has the same nightmare.”

Dan nodded. “And when the time comes, and the order is given, the chip switches modes. Induces a PTSD trance. And the mission becomes real. The shinies don’t fully realize the difference. And the ones that could disobey are brought into line as they’re locked in their own head, screaming as they pound at the back of their skulls. I wish it weren’t true. Fives died for that truth. Then… the Jedi Order did, too.”

Rex reached for the scar on his head. “We’ve gotta get this out,” he nearly whispered. “We’ve gotta get this out now. I won’t betray my commanding officers, my friends. Not like that.”

“And we will,” Anakin said firmly as he stood and walked over to Rex. “Rex, when we’re done here, talk to Appo and get that process started as soon as you can. I won’t let my soldiers become slaves. Ever.”

“Nor will I,” Obi-Wan rejoined. “Cody, you get that process started as well. Have our medics confer with the 501st medics who know about this.”

“Yes, sir,” Cody said, relief breaking through the professional facade he wore.

“That still leaves millions, even billions of clones that are going to be getting chipped during their growth on Kamino,” Ahsoka said. “What about them?”

“Right now,” Elle said with a grimace, “any big moves we make might tip off Sidious that someone is aware of his plans. Then he could activate Order 66 early, and doom the Jedi and the galaxy. For now, we need to keep our circle of conspirators small.” she paused as she chuckled darkly. “Welcome to your first long-haul intelligence op, Ahsoka.”

Ahsoka fidgeted slightly As Obi-Wan nodded. “With information like this, when is going to be just as important as how. But as confident as I am in our abilities, we'll need more than half a dozen Jedi, two clone legions, and three other conspirators if we're going to move against this Darth Sidious.”

“Of course,” Dan admitted. “But Palpatine has made it so that Sidious, and any of the Sith, can't be defeated on the field of battle like in centuries past. Stealth has been the game of the Sith ever since the war that led to the Ruusan Reformation ended in their defeat and the creation of the Rule of Two. It is a game that Sidious plays with exceptional skill. It is a game we must play exceptionally carefully.”

Dan noticed more than a few glances at him from both sides. There were certainly some terms in there, especially the ‘Rule of Two’ he was sure, that would require some further explanation. “For now,” he continued, “our objectives are clear; divest the clones of as many of these chips as we can in a quiet, safe fashion. Then, we do some scouting for those whom we can trust within the Jedi Order with this information. And as much as I’m sure you three trust everyone in the Order, there are some who I would hesitate to bring into our little scheme.”

“Like who?” Obi-Wan asked.

“Those traditionalists such as Master Windu or Master Yoda, unfortunately,” Dan admitted. “As I said, it is the rigidity, some might call it the arrogance, of many in the Jedi Order that allowed Sidious to maneuver them so deftly to their downfall. Both they, along with many others, are just as likely to charge into the Chancellor’s office and try to kill him on the spot. Not only would that throw the galaxy into even more chaos, but even if they succeed, it might also trigger a deadman’s switch in the chips to make it so the clones avenge his death on the rest of the Order.”

“So what kind of Jedi are we looking for, then?” Anakin asked. “Because tradition is… y’know… one of the pillars of the Order.”

“The sort of people who can be convinced that reformation is not an evil, but a necessity,” Luke said. “Adaptation and flexibility is the only way that the concept of the Jedi survived past the Purge, just as they allowed Sidious to become powerful enough to destroy the Order. It was the only way that I was able to be trained by Obi-Wan and Yoda. And even then, those teachings needed to be reconsidered as the galaxy changed.”

It was silent for long moments, Anakin, Ahsoka, and Obi-Wan looking at each other with no small amount of hesitation. “That's a lot to ask in what is relatively a short time,” Obi-Wan said slowly. “You're asking me and my fellow Jedi to question the teachings not only of our Order, but that my master and all the masters we learned under have taught us will keep me safe from the dark side of the Force.”

“When the alternative is death, not only of your body, but of those teachings, what choice is there?” Cal asked. “We're not asking you to open yourselves up to the dark side of the Force. Just to look at the teachings of the Order with a critical eye and an open mind.”

Again, it was silent for long moments before Obi-Wan sighed quietly. “I shall have to meditate on what you're asking of us,” he said as he stood. “In the meantime, we have a planet to liberate. I have to go and prepare for that as well.”

He began to walk out of the room, Cody following after him. He paused just before the closed door. “Thank you for giving us this information,” he said quietly. “I do hope we can act on it.”

The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

With that, the two men exited. Anakin sighed quietly as the doors closed. “He'll probably come around,” he said to the others. “He always meditates on big things like that, and I'm sure he wants to help us.”

“I think he will,” Luke said. “If he wasn't capable of changing, I likely would never have been a Jedi.”

Anakin nodded as he and Ahsoka stood, Rex standing with them. “He is right, though. We do have to get ready to break the Sep blockade and storm the planet. You're invited to our planning sessions. The privilege of Generals and all that.”

“Thank you,” Luke said. “We'll probably be along for that soon enough.”

Anakin nodded, beginning to turn and walk to the door with the others, then pausing halfway.

Ahsoka and Rex looked back at him as the door opened. “Something wrong, master?” Ahsoka asked.

Anakin shook his head. “Go on ahead. I'll catch up with you. I just have one more question to ask.”

Ahsoka nodded, then the pair walked out the door, leaving Anakin alone with the group out of their time.

He turned to face them. Turned to face Luke. “Did you learn that calming technique from Obi-Wan?” he asked. “Nothing… nothing’s quite worked like that.”

Luke shook his head. “No, actually. It came from a holocron, one of a series of them that we searched out.”

“Holocrons scattered around the galaxy?” Anakin said. “Were the Jedi holocrons scattered after the Purge?”

“Well, yes,” Luke said. “But these holocrons aren't like any I think you've seen before.”

“Wait a minute,” Mara interjected as Anakin quirked a brow, “didn't you find one of those holocrons on Boz Pity?”

“That’s right,” Cal said as he nodded. “And because we've traveled through time…”

“That means it'll still be there,” Dan said with a smile. “That might be the ticket.”

“Wait a minute,” Anakin said, frowning slightly. “If you found it here, wouldn't you need to leave it here for your future selves?”

Dan glanced over at Elle for a moment. “A lesson in how time works is in order, it seems,” he replied. “But suffice it to say that no, it won't impact our future.”

He stood, the others standing with him. “Now, there’s a planning session we need to be at, isn't there?”

. . .

16 Hours Later

The conference room, its center taken up by a rectangular holotable, was slowly beginning to fill as clones and Jedi strode in, taking in the rather unfamiliar surroundings. Those who were already present began the niceties of greeting their new arrivals.

The first new arrivals in the room were two women in dark robes, the taller and somewhat older one with a slightly elaborate headdress, with yellowish-green skin, quite early by all accounts. Between and slightly behind them was a clone trooper marked in a somewhat darker shade of green. They stopped before Obi-Wan, the older bowing as the younger curtsied.

“It’s good to see you again, Luminara,” Obi-Wan said with a slight bow of his own. “And you as well, Padawn Offee.”

“Thank you,” Luminara Unduli replied. “It is good to see you as well. You remember Commander Rook, I hope.”

The trooper stood at attention and saluted, Obi-Wan saluting back. “That I do. It’s been some time since the surprise assault on Rendili.”

“That it has, General,” Rook replied.

Luminara nodded, sweeping her gaze across the room… and finding her brow furling slightly at the strangers. “I recognize Knight Skywalker and Padawan Tano, but the others are new to me. Who are they?”

“Well,” Obi-Wan began, “This is Master Luke Starkiller, Master Mara Jade, Knight Kestis, Nightsister Merrin, and Dan and Elle Thisan, some Jedi and outside advisors that Anakin picked up from his mission to Tytheria.”

Luminara nodded slightly. “I see. Hello to you all. I look forward to working with you.”

“And we with you,” Luke replied as the trio took their place at the holotable.

“I was unaware we were able to bring in civilian assets for more than local guidance,” Barris Offee said as she studied Dan and Elle intently.

“Well,” Ahsoka said, drawing Barris’s attention to her, “part of picking them up was rescuing them from the shuttle they crashed in the middle of the refinery. Then they helped take the station, and are willing to fight further with us.”

“I see,” Barris replied. “Well met, Padawan Tano. My Master speaks highly of you due to your assistance on the Tranquility.”

“Please,” Ahsoka said somewhat sheepishly, “just Ahsoka is fine. I’m glad I was able to help, even if Gunray and Ventress escaped.”

Barriss blinked, but nodded. “Very well, Ahsoka.”

Rook made his way over to Appo and Cody, conversing quietly with them for a moment before the door opened again, this time allowing through a woman and a young man, a clone in pale sky-blue armor beside them. The woman, her hair in distinctive loops and her tanned face marked with twin jewels one atop the other, scanned the room, smiling slightly at Obi-Wan. “I see you haven’t gotten around to internal decorating yet, Master Kenobi,” she said.

“Master Billaba,” Obi-Wan said with a nod, “no, we certainly haven’t. Though the Neimodian quarters are quite well furnished, I can assure you that.”

“And I’m sure that it seems positively spare to them,” Depa Billaba replied. “I’m not sure if you’ve heard of my newest apprentice, Caleb Dume. My commander here is Grey.”

“Good to meet you, sir,” Grey said.

“Pleasure to meet you as well, Commander,” Obi-Wan said. “And you as well, Padawan Dume.”

“Thank you, Master,” Caleb said. “Who are the others?”

Obi-Wan steeled himself for another round of introductions when Dan stepped forward. “I’m Dan Thisan. This is my wife, Elle. With me are Masters Starkiller and Jade, Knight Kestis, and Nightsister Merrin.”

“Nightsister?” Depa said, her brow arched. “How strange to see a witch of Dathomir out this far from home.”

Merrin simply nodded, her eyes narrowing slightly as Depa’s gaze fell on Cal. “And Knight Kestis…” she said quietly. “I served with Master Tapal in the Corellian Run Offensive. Alongside Padawan Kestis.”

Obi-Wan and Anakin both saw Depa beginning to reach for her lightsaber. “There’s a perfect explanation for all that, actually,” Anakin was first to say.

“That there is, strange as it might sound,” Obi-Wan continued. “The Jedi, along with their friends, are from 30 years into the future.”

Depa’s other brow joined its sister. “I find that hard to believe,” she said levelly.

“I would too,” Cal said. “But I remember the Corellian Run Offensive. We fought together on Druckenwell. You saved my life from a squad of B2s.”

Depa looked at Cal for moments longer before her eyes closed and she nodded. “I suppose that proves it then,” she said. “That would mean you likely know the outcome of the war.”

“We do,” Elle said. “However, that’s going to be a secret. Much as we’d like to tell all, if some of what we know goes too far beyond our control, it would have dire ramifications for everyone in this room. For now, what we know stays between us and those we know we can trust. Hopefully, someday, we can add you to that number.”

“That is fair enough, I suppose,” Depa said with a shrug. “With so much of the future at stake, it takes a steady hand to know where to steer it. I hope you have such.”

“The Force will guide us, Master Billaba,” Luke said assuagingly. “As I hope it will all of us.”

Before anyone could continue, the doors opened once again, admitting one last trio, two men and a young woman. The non-clone was tall, remarkably so, as he strode over towards Anakin. Just slightly taller than the man to whom he extended his hand. “Anakin Skywalker,” the Jedi said, a rather bushy black beard not fully concealing a warm smile. “It’s a pleasure to work with you at last. I’ve heard tell of a fair few of your exploits. Master Kenobi has trained you well.”

Anakin took the proffered hand somewhat hesitantly. “Master Skoll, I presume.”

“Indeed,” Baylan Skoll replied. “This is my new apprentice, Shin Hati, and my clone Commander Cinder. The 117th Firehounds are ready to fight.”

Cinder, his armor striped in bold orange down the left side, nodded silently as he made his way over to the other clones. Shin, who like all others so focused on the current spectacle, missed the glance and arched brows that Dan and Elle shared, simply bowed slightly, her blue eyes containing a strange, cool intensity to them, a wary thing, that seemed to match her pale blonde, almost silver hair.

Baylan put a hand on Shin’s shoulder. “You’ll forgive her for being so quiet. She recently lost her first master during the campaign on Eiattu. I know the pain such a thing can leave on one so young.”

“I’m sorry to hear that, Shin,” Ahsoka said. “It’s nice to meet you.”

Shin closed her eyes and took a deep breath, the intensity faded as she opened them again. “Thank you. You’re Ahsoka, right?”

“That I am,” Ahsoka said with a slight smile.

Baylan looked at the other group. “And I see we have guests, as well,” he said.

“That we do,” Anakin said, “but we also have a battle to plan out. I’ll introduce them to you afterward.”

“Of course,” Baylan said as the holotable, worked by Obi-Wan, lit up. The center of the table bloomed with a remarkably large sphere that showed the world of Boz Pity.

After a moment, several misshapen dots, resolving themselves into small outposts and far larger main factories and control centers, sprang up on the surface of the planet’s single large continent. As those finished appearing, a cloud of Separatist ships seemed to bloom over the planet’s hemisphere.

“This is a collation of both our current sensor readings and the information that the droids were unsuccessful in fully wiping during Anakin’s seizing of this station. We have readings on at least 4 major droid stations and over a dozen minor ones scattered across the surface of the planet.”

“Do we know which surface station is the primary signal transmitter?” Luminara asked. It was the great weakness of the droids. For all their numbers, they were largely ineffective on a strategic level without some sort of large signal transmitter. In some cases, such as with the droids of the Trade Federation, its deactivation or destruction shut them down completely.

“Unfortunately, no,” Obi-Wan admitted. “That was part of the data that was successfully wiped before we could stop the process. For now, we’ll have to resort to guesswork. And that would be after we surmount this defensive blockade.”

“They’ve really put the screws on this planet, haven’t they?” Ahsoka mused as the composition of the fleet began to be broken down in detail. 10 Providence-class destroyers, 35 Munificent-class frigates, 22 Recusant-class light destroyers, and hundreds of smaller corvettes, fighters, and bombers.

“Maybe so,” Baylan said, “but they’ve focused on the most direct approach our current location can offer. Their defenses are weak on the far side of the planet. With so little in the way of oceans, we could land a force there that’s capable of long-range attacks.”

“My Strike Comets would be in the ideal position for airborne engagements and drops,” Depa said. “However, if we aren’t at least contesting the orbit of the planet, they could just as easily shift to a bombardment of our forces.”

“And that’s not even accounting for any surface-to-orbit batteries that could be set up,” Luke interjected, cupping his chin thoughtfully. “Master Kenobi, do we have any data that could suggest those sorts of guns are set up?”

“Let's see…” Obi-Wan said, tapping at a screen on the holotable. After a moment, a web of green dots appeared, spread out across the surface of the planet.

“It's a well-constructed net of defenses,” Shin said. “I can't see any weaknesses. But maybe a small commando team could go down and open a hole at least. Begin subverting the cannons to fire for us.”

“A wise idea, Shin,” Baylan agreed. “I would imagine there to be no shortage of such commandos with how many legions are here. The Firehounds’ Theta and Halcyon Squads are eminently capable.”

“They would probably appreciate a distraction to get down to the surface without the Seps noticing,” Appo said. “We have 2 commando squads of our own, Quintessential and Royal. I’d be unsurprised if there weren't at least 10 squads with all of us here. With a combined commando presence and the enemy focused on us, I'd be surprised if they didn't find a way to get all the guns under our control.”

“A simultaneous attack seems to be in order, then,” Luminara said as she studied the map. “As we strike, we release the gathered commando squads to go to one of the less defended portions of the planet. Perhaps a polar cap or the far side of the planet. As the battle progresses, we could land a clone legion in one of the areas where the orbital batteries are secured. The 76th Legion could strike out towards one of the major droid stations with ease while supporting the commandos as they capture more anti-orbital batteries.”

“A sound plan,” Obi-Wan said, nodding. “But until we know the location of the main transmitter, it’s still going to be a process of elimination that requires more than one legion on the ground.”

“For now, though,” Anakin said, “I think we’ve laid out about as much as we can on the planetary invasion itself for now. We’ll need to consider the space battle as well. And we should bring our admirals into that.”

“Then, for now, we’ll adjourn,” Obi-Wan said as he began to shut down the holotable. “Spend a day at rest and undergo meditation, and preparation, over what we’ve discussed today.”

With that, the meeting was adjourned, the officers going their separate ways.

. . .

Cal found himself musing on the Corellian Run Offensive as he made his way to the quarters they’d been assigned to. He did remember Master Billaba. How scared he had been in the moment. How he’d tried to put the teachings that Master Tapal had taught him to seemingly little avail. How she’d managed to calm him down, bring him back to balance with the Force.

“Your first time in combat?” she’d asked. He’d nodded shakily. “Don’t be afraid. It happens to all who go through it the first time. Take your fear, your shame, and cast them away. The Force will strengthen you, and bring peace.”

It had worked then. After a while. But he still had nightmares about B2s.

“Something on your mind, Cal?” Merrin asked quietly.

Cal nodded. “Just reminiscing. I'm glad Master Billaba remembered me. I wouldn't be shocked if she'd forgotten me.”

Merrin nodded. “I see. A shame she seemed ready to try to kill you under the assumption you were an impostor.”

“Master Billaba is a skilled duelist,” Cal said meaningfully as they entered their quarters, one of the few spaces set aside for living beings at the moment. “She was Master Windu’s apprentice, and he's one of the most famous people to use a lightsaber in this time.”

“She’s also never fought a Nightsister before, I would think,” Merrin said matter-of-factly. “I have weapons and skills she’s not aware of.”

“Including the one you haven't used yet?” Cal said with an arched brow as they sat together on one of the couches. “You must be saving it for a special occasion.”

Merrin was silent for a moment before she nodded. “A very special moment, yes,” she admitted rather levelly.

It was silent again. “Merrin,” Cal said quietly, “does something about it bother you?”

Merrin, somewhat surprisingly, fidgeted slightly. “Making it was practical,” she murmured. “With what you and Luke taught me, it makes sense to have it. But every time I light it up, even for a moment… I see it happening all over again.”

Cal’s expression became one of understanding, quickly followed by sympathy, as he grabbed her hand, stroking her face gently. “Merrin… I’m sorry if we forced you into making it.”

“No, no, you didn’t force me into anything,” Merrin replied. “I just… I need just a little more time to get used to it. Seeing Luke with such a weapon, seeing you… well, it helps. And now I’m surrounded by them. I’ll be desensitized to it at some point, surely.”

Cal chuckled softly. “If you need to talk to me…”

“I will. You know it.”

They leaned in… closer…

And then, thank the Force, the door chimed to warn them instead of just opening.

They retreated from each other as if shocked, trying to hide the flush on their faces. Cal had warned them all how strictly the Jedi viewed such intimacy. They needed to be careful here, at least for the moment.

“One moment,” Cal called out, taking deep breaths.

“Damn,” Merrin muttered. “A moment of privacy, please…”

“We’ll get back to it,” Cal promised, composing himself as he rose and went to the door.

He opened it and found his view blocked as he looked up at the Jedi who waited outside, looking up to see a bearded smile.

“Knight Kestis,” Baylan said, reaching out a hand that Cal took. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. May I come in?”

“Uh, certainly,” Cal said, stepping aside.

“Have I interrupted something?” Baylan asked rather innocently. “I can return at a better time if I have.”

“Not at all,” Cal replied, hoping that Master Skoll couldn’t sense his lingering embarrassment through the Force. “Have you met Masters Luke or Mara yet? Or Dan and Elle?”

“Not yet,” Baylan said as he took a seat, not needing to incline his head much to continue looking at Cal. “Master Skywalker filled me in on what he could concerning your… peculiar circumstances. As far as I’m aware, Luke and Mara, as well as Dan and Elle, have no past stake in this war. You though, Cal… you do.”

The man’s expression softened. “I imagine it must be hard for you, to relive all this. The war that shaped your formative years. I sense that something weighs on you. Something familiar to you that had been resolved before this.”

He paused for a meaningful moment. “Are you able to talk about it?”

Cal wondered that himself. Then, he took a deep breath as he sat down again next to Merrin. “My master, Master Tapal… he died at the end of the war. I was left stranded on the planet we’d been fighting on for five years after that. Alone. Hunted. I had to survive. And so I did.”

It was silent again as Baylan nodded. “I see. I lost my first master when I was young, before the war. A mediation, the first one I led out, gone terribly wrong. I spent… years, the better part of a decade, blaming myself. I suspect that’s what you did too.”

Cal nodded. “Yeah. It was tough. But I managed to realize that I didn’t need to blame myself after a while, and some help from my friends.”

Baylan smiled slightly. “Good. Your master continues on with you in the Living Force. All Jedi do. In fact, there’s a part of me that thinks the Living Force might have led you here.”

Cal smiled slightly. “Maybe so.”

“I wouldn’t bet against it,” Baylan said.

He paused as his focus turned to Merrin. “And a Nightsister of Dathomir. You are a rare sight beyond your homeworld, Miss Merrin, the subject of many different tales. Most… quite exaggerated, I’m sure.”

“I’m surprised that there are stories of us to begin with,” Merrin replied. “Most people who visited Dathomir didn’t leave.”

“I’d like to get to know your people better,” Baylan replied. “Learn your views on the galaxy and the Force.”

“I must admit,” Merrin said after a moment’s surprise, “I’m even more surprised that a Jedi would be interested in our ways.”

“The Living Force has made us all unique beings, Merrin,” Baylan said. “I am firmly of the belief that understanding the nature of the Force means understanding the many different people that comprise it. That the war has set so many against each other… it saddens me greatly. It is my hope that the war ends quickly, that we may have the chance to recognize each other not as Republicans or Confederates, but as people who can help each other make the galaxy a better place.”

“A noble goal,” Merrin said with a slight smile. “I hope that you find satisfaction in it.”

“As much satisfaction as a Jedi is allowed to have in his work,” Baylan replied as he stood. “But for now, I and the rest of the Order must focus on far more dire work. I can only hope that we can lead the galaxy out of this war safely, as we have in the past.”

He nodded, turning and making his way to the door. “I’ll leave you be for now. I look forward to fighting by your side.”

Cal and Merrin nodded, then Cal reached out his hand. “Master Skoll…”

Baylan paused at the doorway, looking back and waiting for Cal to speak again. “I know what your apprentice is going through, too,” Cal continued. “It’s fresh for her still. We both know how long it takes for it to stop being like that. If she needs someone other than her Master to talk to… I’m here.”

Baylan smiled slightly. “I appreciate the offer, and I’ll let her know.”

He paused for the briefest of moments. “I don’t know how long we’ll be fighting by your side,” he continued, “but if you need to talk to someone about this, share the burden again… I’m available as well.”

“Thank you, Master Skoll,” Cal said quietly.

Baylan chuckled. “Please, just call me Baylan. We’ll have our lives in each other’s hands soon enough, I sense.”

With that, he departed, the doors shutting once again. After long, somewhat hesitant moments, Cal and Merrin looked back at each other. “Now,” Merrin said with a cool expression and an arched brow, “as I recall, we were about to do something that would be very helpful for the both of us.”

Cal smiled softly, a gleam in his eyes. “That we were.”

. . .

Luke and Mara found themselves in a secluded observation platform at the bottom of the station, guided quite helpfully by S8. The windows showed the sweep of the stars, the pale green dot that was Boz Pity coming into view every so often.

The droid was now standing watch outside the door as Luke and Mara sat cross-legged on the floor in front of each other.

Mara held Luke’s hands to keep them from trembling. “I hope this works,” she said, taking a deep breath.

Luke nodded. “So do I. We’re treading uncharted territory here. I’m not sure if I’ll be able to find this link let alone ensure that it’s severed.”

“We have to,” Mara said firmly. “Otherwise I’m a danger to us all. If Sidious finds this link…”

“Don’t worry about that now,” Luke said firmly. “It’s likely that Sidious hasn’t even heard of us yet. We have time to find this connection and see what it does. Now, do you recall if he could ever see the contents of your mind without you wanting him to?”

Mara was quiet for a moment. “There wasn’t anything I didn’t want him to see then, I don’t think,” she said quietly. “I’m not sure.”

“Then there’s every chance that, as long as he doesn’t find you in the Force, we might not need to worry about it,” Luke replied assuringly. “But let’s at least get some mental defenses up, shall we?”

Mara nodded. “It’s as good an idea as any.”

The pair fell silent, and set about the task of fortifying Mara’s mind.

Luke focused on his connection to Mara through the Force, an easy task after all the years spent together. He focused on her mind, her thoughts, carding through the usual slight chaos that was at the surface of every mind and diving deeper with her as she led the way.

Eventually, he felt it, a dangling thread in her mind that had no connection. Luke and Mara’s brows furrowed slightly as they focused, visualizing the Force covering it as shield barriers, layer upon layer, pushing the thread down.

Time was lost to them as they worked, minutes slipping by into an hour. Then two.

Then, rather crude though they were, the barriers were done. With a deep breath, Luke pulled himself out of Mara’s mind.

Opening eyes that had been closed in concentration, Luke found himself concerned at the lingering fear in Mara’s expression. “You aren't satisfied,” he deduced.

Mara nodded. “Yeah. This is only a stopgap measure. We both know that. I don't think I'll be satisfied until we get rid of the connection for good.”

Luke took a deep breath. “That, I think, is beyond our abilities. But it might not be beyond the Jedi archives.”

“You're right,” Mara said quietly as she nodded. “If there's something there on Coruscant about breaking Force connections, we could learn and use that.”

“It's certainly worth a shot,” Luke said. “But we have to get this planet liberated from an army of droids first.”

“Oh, that?” Mara said with a grin that still made Luke’s heart beat a little faster. “Compared to what we've done already, that’s nothing.”

“I admire your confidence,” Luke said with a smile of his own. “Don't let it get to your head.”

“With you around? There isn't a chance.”

With that, they shared a gentle kiss on the eve of battle.