TWO WEEKS LATER

Base One - Yavin 4

Jarik POV...

I sat on a cot in the medical bay, waiting patiently as the doctors scanned my collarbone, running a few small tests to check on its progress. At one point they attached a weight to my left shoulder and gently eased it down to slowly add weight; I grimaced slightly, but otherwise wasn't too bothered. Eventually they finished their testing, and the head doctor approached me with his datapad.

"Well, it seems that everything is in order," he informs me. "The bacta treatment has fully healed the broken clavicle, and your other injuries and bruises are long gone."

"That's good to hear," I say with a nod.

"I'd advise some caution when you acquire a new prosthetic," the doctor adds. "While your clavicle is healed, it did so without the weight of your left arm, so it may not yet be prepared for a drastic addition such as that."

"I'll take your word for it. Thank you doctor," I say in gratitude.

"Of course, sir," he nods in reply, heading off.

Satisfied, I get off of the cot and stand on my feet, rolling both of my shoulders experimentally; it's a bit weird moving my left shoulder without an arm, but then again these past few weeks have all been really strange. Thankfully I don't feel any trouble, and let out a sigh of relief now that I don't have to wear the figure eight splint anymore. I feel like my shoulders are going to be aching for a little while because of it. Upon leaving the medical bay, I don't even get one step before Mara is immediately on me.

"So, is it all good now?" she asks anxiously.

"Yes, I'm good Mara," I reply.

She starts walking along beside me as we begin to make our way through the rebel base, headed in the direction of the landing pad where the Knight Hawk was sitting.

"Like, seriously good? Fully healed, good?" she presses insistently.

"Yes, Mara, for real," I say with an exasperated sigh.

"Finally!" she exclaims.

As if she had been waiting in total anxiety for several years for this, Mara lets out a joyful whoop and suddenly jumps up and onto me. I stumble backwards a step in complete surprise as she grabs hold of me, pulling herself up on my back and throwing her arms around my neck while wrapping her legs around my waist to secure her grip, setting her chin on my right shoulder with a wide, joyful, and mischievous smile on her face.

"Now I can actually start getting back at you for being a kriffing idiot!" Mara chirps triumphantly.

"Wh- what?" I ask incredulously, baffled and annoyed. "What are you even talking about?"

"You're always going off and doing stupid things, daddy! You always come back hurt," she whines, before brightening up once more. "Now that you're not hurt, I can actually get back at you for it!"

"You're idea of 'getting back at me' for being hurt..." I say slowly, narrowing my eyes at her. "Is to jump on my back?!"

"No, just anything annoying," she states. "Being physical gets your attention better."

"That sounds dumb," I deadpan.

"So is jumping at a giant metal warlord," she retorts.

I roll my eyes in annoyance and frustration, grumbling to myself as I start to continue onwards; surely I was never this annoying, right? Aside from the Meiloorun incident when we were younglings, but even Weron and Kurhran weren't so crazy, much less Ahsoka and I... well, come to think of it Ahsoka sometimes like to tease me in the most exasperating or embarrassing ways, even forcing me to carry her through the Temple on my back—

...kriff it all, this is definitely one of Mara's Ahsoka traits. She's basically the two of us put together if we never had the discipline, reverence, or formality that came as a result of growing up in the Jedi Order. Speaking of which, Mara was humming to herself while rocking back and forth to pull me along with her momentum, making it a bit harder to walk properly.

"You keep that up and I'll just fall on my back," I threaten.

"Rude," she scoffs, but eases up.

Just then, Boil came walking around the corner alongside Agent Kallus—the former ISB agent now sported an appearance much more common along rebel officers, and was also growing his hair a bit out of the military cut he had while serving the Empire. Upon taking notice of us, the pair stop conversing with each other and look on in some surprise and bewilderment, while I let out an irritated sigh.

"Should I even ask?" Kallus asks warily.

"Count yourselves lucky you don't have to deal with this," I say dryly.

"Hey!" Mara protests indignantly.

"I can relate a little bit, commander," Boil replies in sympathy.

"Hmm hmm," I nod in response.

"You guys have no respect," Mara scoffs, grumbling to herself.

"And you do?" I counter.

Kallus coughs into his hand, a bit awkwardly, in order to regain our attention.

"Just so you're aware Jarik, Alliance High Command is scheduled to meet in the next hour," he informs me.

I nod my head in response.

"Alright, thank you. I'll make sure to be there," I tell him.

He nods back in reply and the two continue on their way, though Boil smiles sympathetically at me with a shrug of his shoulders as he walks past. Sighing once more, I look to my right to glance at Mara with an irritated expression before continuing onwards.

For the past two weeks, I've been going through the computer network of the Knight Hawk, searching for any lingering trace of Soundwave and looking to figure out if there's anything else he may have tampered with. When he had R5 under his control he did a lot of damage to the ship's systems, and nearly stole all of the data that I have stored in it: rebel intel, important files, base locations, Fulcrum agents, etc. Thankfully he didn't get his hands on any of it before I overloaded his end with the power surge, but the possibility of him leaving something in the ship was very possible.

After two weeks of constant work I finally satisfied myself that there was no further trace of Soundwave in the Knight Hawk, or in R5's essential components. During that time I also acquired some new astromech parts from the rebel base that allowed me to repair R5's scorched internal hardware, which some of the mechanics on base helped out with doing, as well as renewing R5's outer shell and eliminating any burn residue. With it all said and done, R5's chassis was now fully repaired, and only needed his memory and programming chips reinstalled in order to be back in full shape.

"I hope this works," Mara says anxiously.

"Yeah, me too," I nod in agreement. "Alright, here it goes."

Opening a small hatch on the astromech, I take a cable from the computer terminal and plug it in, initiating the download of R5 into the otherwise lifeless shell. Mara and I both wait about a minute for the download to complete, and I remove the cable once the computer signifies it's complete. Mara then powers up the astromech droid, and we both step back to look at him anxiously as he turns on. R5's sensor lights up red, the function indicators coming online with blue light. His dome swivels around to slowly look at us, pausing for a few moments.

"R5? You okay buddy?" I ask hopefully.

The astromech droid looks between the two of us for a few long moments, keeping silent and making me a bit tense.

::The kriff is wrong with you two?:: he demands.

Despite his rude questioning, I can't help but smile with a sigh of relief, while Mara breaks out into a wide grin.

"You're back! Thank the Force!" she says joyfully, hopping over to him and patting his dome. "I'm so glad that mess is over."

::Back? What do you mean, 'back?':: he demands. ::What mess?::

"Does he not remember the incident?" Mara asks me.

"No, I wiped it clean to make sure there's no trace of Soundwave still lingering in his programming," I tell her.

::WHAT?!:: R5 squeals with incredulous anger. ::Soundwave?! What are you talking about?::

"Well, if there were any doubts in my mind, they're gone now," I comment with an amused smile, starting to realize I kind of missed R5's attitude; only a little.

::Are you two even listening to me?!:: R5 demands.

"Yep, definitely not compromised," Mara snickers in agreement.

R5 screeches in frustration and outrage.

While Mara helped R5 to catch up on the things he missed, I made my way over to the command center to join up with Rebel command for the scheduled meeting. There I found Mon Mothma of course, as well as a hologram of Bail Organa. Hera, Cere, and Kallus were also present, as was Rex and HK-47, the latter of which surprising me a little bit, though I shrugged it off. General Dodonna was with General Draven reviewing intel over recent missions, while Boil was off to help with instructing the newer rebel soldiers; in the last two weeks since the Battle of Atollon, and Shaak's death, Rex and Boil have both taken up positions in the training of rebel soldiers. I think the role suits them well.

"I hear that your injury has now fully healed," Mothma says upon my entry.

"It has, Mon," I confirm with a nod.

"I'm glad to hear it," she replies with a small smile.

"As am I," Bail adds in agreement.

"Thank you," I tell them politely. "So, what've I missed lately?"

"Well, you're already aware that my team is currently assisting our Mandalorian allies," Hera says.

"How're things going over there?" I ask curiously.

"Kanan just contacted me not to long ago. They're preparing to rescue Sabine's father from an Imperial prison. As long as he's in the Empire's custody, they have leverage over Clan Wren," she reports with a small frown.

I frown as well, bringing my hand to my chin as I think about it for a moment. Despite joining forces together, the Ordo and Wren clans are still not enough to challenge the Empire, especially with what's hampering their efforts: Sabine's father keeps Clan Wren at bay, while the likely danger of revealing Mandalore's Mask keeps Clan Ordo at bay.

"I must admit, I had hoped that they would've already succeeded in this endeavor," Mothma says, also frowning.

"Indeed," Bail adds in agreement. "From my understanding, the Empire's grip on Mandalore still remains strong."

"Statement: I can hardly believe that the Mandalorians, even as fractured as they are today, would ever stop fighting the Empire," HK-47 comments. "The only thing I say would make them submit is another 'Mass Shadow Generator' kind of incident."

"Because that turned out so well the first time," I say sarcastically, rolling my eyes.

"Statement: As a matter of fact, it did," HK replies proudly. "The Republic won the war. I fail to see why an Empire ruled by a Sith Lord wouldn't use a superweapon of his own."

"The Empire currently has no superweapons in use, as far as I'm aware," Bail reports.

"The Senate wouldn't stand for the use of superweapons," Mothma states firmly.

"You sure about that, senator?" Kallus asks skeptically. "This is the Empire we're talking about."

"Not to mention the Empire is ruled by the Sith," Cere adds.

"Palpatine may be Galactic Emperor, but even he can't control thousands of star systems without keeping the Senate intact," Bail points out.

"And is the Senate aware of many things beyond what Imperial propaganda claims?" I ask carefully, already guessing the likely answer.

"Unfortunately, no," he sighs, confirming my suspicions.

"So, what's to say there isn't a superweapon being planned?" Rex suggests grimly.

"Well, we do know the Empire has a heavy interest in kyber," Hera comments.

"Statement: Of course there is. I've heard plenty of rumors from others suggesting as much," HK-47 interjects casually.

"Others?" Cere asks, confused.

I narrow my eyes at the assassin droid, putting two-and-two together on his meaning.

"You're referring to Saw?" I say cautiously.

It's not that hard to figure out, considering HK would probably fit right in with the Partisans considering his eagerness for violence. And it's no secret to anyone that Saw's been chasing down any possibles rumors of a terrible superweapon being constructed by the Empire: I've done my best to help with that search myself, since the Empire is gathering any traces of kyber crystal across the galaxy at an alarming rate. Ahsoka mentioned her brief visit to Ilum before the uprising on Raada where she saw Star Destroyers hovering in orbit above the planet.

Nevertheless, as I expected the room immediately fills up with tension at the mention of Saw Gerrera. Mon and Bail's expressions both harden slightly, as does Kallus, while Hera and Rex both look a bit exasperated and/or resigned. Cere seems a bit less put off at the mention of Gerrera, but does understand the tension. Maybe for once I'm won't have to be the only one playing the middle ground. I really do want to have a positive view of Saw, and I respect his cause greatly, but at the same time it's both disappointing and saddening that his way of doing things is so... extreme, I guess is the best way of saying it. Even Lux can only do so much to keep him in check.

"Statement: I've reviewed his militia's track record," HK-47 says, breaking me out of my thoughts. "Clearly this Gerrera knows what he's doing."

"You might want to review it again," Kallus scoffs, crossing his arms.

"Sarcastic query: I'm sorry, is there something wrong with him?" HK demands, looking around. "He's very effective, and seems to do better at fighting the Empire than you all."

"We will not stoop to the same level of barbarism as the Partisans!" Mothma declares firmly, frowning at the assassin droid.

"Here we go," I mutter with an exasperated sigh.

"Query: Barbarism? They're rebels fighting an Empire," HK states matter-of-factly.

"Bloodthirsty terrorists, would be a more accurate description of the Partisans," Kallus responds irritably. "They have no regard for the safety and wellbeing of innocent civilians."

"Musing: Are you not rebels? By definition, we're all terrorists," HK points out.

"There's a difference between resisting an oppressive government, and destroying innocent lives," Bail interjects with a disapproving frown.

Realizing this could go on and on and only stir up animosity between us, I finally decide to step in and cut off the argument.

"Can I interrupt for a second? Please?" I interrupt loudly, making my frustration clear.

"Query: Surely you could talk some sense into these meatbags?" HK-47 asks hopefully.

Mothma and Bail both glance at each other with raised eyebrows, slightly annoyed by the term while Rex crosses his arms with an irritated scowl, copying Kallus's expression.

"How about I talk sense into all of you?" I retort, glaring at him before turning to the others with a sigh. "Look, I know that Saw is a bit of a loose cannon, and often times makes questionable choices, but he wants the same thing we do: defeating the Empire."

"That may be so, but that doesn't change the fact that Gererra's way of conducting his cell has only grown more callous," Mothma says.

"Correction: Successful," HK interrupts.

"Shut up," I snap.

Mothma also narrows her eyes at the droid, showing more irritation than I've seen from her before.

"Senator Mothma, my crew and I have worked with Gerrera several times in the past," Cere says. "Even though I'm not comfortable with his way of doing things, I'm confident that he also wants a free galaxy."

"I understand that Saw means well, but, if he continues in this manner, then I fear we may have to cut ties with him and the Partisans," she states grimly.

"I hate to say it, but I agree as well," Bail says.

"Statement: No wonder it seems Gerrera doesn't enjoy working with you," HK scoffs.

"Will you just shut up for two seconds?" Rex demands irritably.

"Musing: I apologize for recognizing Gerrera's success," he retorts.

"Gerrera may be 'successful,' but the manner in which he conducts his militia goes against precisely what we're fighting for," Kallus states with a glare. "I know from personal experience just how cruel and barbaric Gerrera's forces truly are. But as a droid, you'll never understand that."

"Statement: You're right, I won't. And I probably wouldn't care anyways," HK says smugly.

"Oh for Revan's sake, HK, we get it! Just stop already!" I exclaim in frustration, surprising everyone. "Do I always have to be the mediator with this topic? I'm sick of it! Yes, I recognize that Saw does things far to ruthlessly for my liking. However, I also recognize that it is in fact true that he seems to have more success in what he does."

"But-" Mothma starts to say.

"No buts! I'm not finished," I cut her off. "Senator, I understand you want to uphold the Alliance to a worthy standard, and I agree with that. But that doesn't change the fact that we're still rebels, fighting an Empire. War isn't pretty, nor is it respectable and forgiving. You either win, or you die. That's just the reality of things."

I look down at the holotable we were all standing around, sighing as the others all glance at each other with saddened, but thoughtful expressions on their faces. Mothma looks down with a small frown on her face, sighing in acceptance of my words.

"Statement: Isn't that the-" HK starts to say smugly.

He doesn't continue any further before I swing my arm out and smack him on the head, startling him. He looks at me with indignant surprise while I gaze at him in irritation.

"I'm not agreeing with you either, so shut it," I say warningly.

HK grumbles in response, crossing his arms in begrudging defeat.

"I see your point, Jarik," Mothma concedes with a nod. "I'm not fond of war, so my expertise on the matter is limited. I will always ensure the Alliance operates with the principles we hold, but I will do my best to acknowledge what you have said as well."

"Thank you senator," I say in reply.

I then grimace slightly, holding my hand to my head as a rush of dark side energy blows past me through the Force. It only lingers for a moment, and wasn't didn't do much more than make me uncomfortable, but my reaction apparently was just enough to be noticeable for the others.

"You alright, commander?" Rex asks me.

"Yeah, I'm good Rex. Just a small flutter through the Force, nothing to worry about," I assure him.

"What do you mean?" Cere asks in confusion.

"Periodically, a dark side echo passes through the base," I explain.

I've been sensing those brief disturbances through the Force a few times a day since first arriving here, as a result of the ancient temples scattered across the surface of Yavin 4. Many of them were built by the Sith over a millennia ago, so they still carry a lingering presence of the dark side. Mara hasn't felt them though, and considering the look on Cere's face she hasn't either.

"A dark side echo?" she questions uneasily. "I didn't sense anything."

"What does that mean?" Hera asks in concern. "Should we be worried?"

"No, it's just a result of the temple," I tell her.

"Statement: I find that rather interesting. This temple we're in was built by the Massassi to worship the Sith Lord Naga Sadow," HK-47 comments with intrigue.

"This place is a Sith temple?" Cere asks in alarm.

"I don't like the sound of that," Bail says warily.

"Guys, it's perfectly fine. There's nothing we need to worry about," I try reassuring them. "The fact that this used to be a Sith temple is one of the reasons I suggested it as a base."

"Seriously?" Rex asks in surprise.

"If you knew that already, then why did you suggest this location?" Kallus asks with a confused frown.

"Because it's the perfect place to hide from the Emperor," I state simply. "There are a lot of temples on this moon that have originated from ancient Sith. Their combined energy is just enough to make it hard for Palpatine to sense our presence here."

"That's... actually pretty smart," Hera admits with an amused scoff.

"I suppose it is," Mothma says in agreement, smiling herself.

Cere gives me a look, and I shrug my shoulders in response. She sighs, conceding with an agreeable nod. I almost forgot that she's still more attached to the ways of the Jedi Order, and thus is more uncomfortable about the idea of taking up residence in what was once a monument to the Sith.

"So, there's nothing we need to worry about then?" Cere asks.

"Nope. If it puts you at ease, Mara, R5, and I can investigate some of the more darker sites before we head off to Mandalore," I offer.

"I suppose," she shrugs in acceptance. "I'm not comfortable with it, but I think you're right. It would be harder for the Sith to find us here."

"Why is it that only you can sense these, 'dark side echoes?'" Mara asks, making air quotes for emphasis.

"They're just really faint, I suppose," I shrug in reply.

We were flying in the Knight Hawk through the sky of Yavin 4, headed on our way to the site that was known as the 'Emperor's sanctuary,' if what I know is correct. Very little is known about ancient Sith, and it's not like the Jedi Order would teach such things to younglings anyways. But the ancient Sith Emperor was one of the biggest influencers of galactic history during the Old Republic, if not the biggest, so he's someone we did learn about. Thankfully, Satele's journal goes into great detail about these things. The Emperor's sanctuary is where Vitiate was reawakened, and where Revan died his final death.

"Are you saying I'm not strong enough in the Force to sense it?" Mara accuses me.

"Maybe," I remark, and she scoffs. "In all honesty though, it's more likely because I have a natural affinity for sensing the dark side."

"Hmph. 'Natural affinity,'" she hums sarcastically in response. "How did that even become a thing anyways?"

"Bloodline?" I suggest casually. "Revan was infamous as a Sith Lord."

"Nice," she comments. "So, what exactly are we investigating at this temple?"

"Just getting a feel of how powerful the dark side is, and to make sure it doesn't have much of an influence," I explain. "I think it could also serve as a good test for you."

"Why not 'test' Cere? She's the one who was the most jumpy about it," Mara suggests.

"I don't think her feelings about it will really change by this point," I admit in reply. "She gets in, and acknowledges the positives of being here, but she'll still remain uncomfortable with it. It is what it is."

::Coming up on the 'sanctuary,':: R5 states, rolling into the cockpit. ::It's hideous.::

"You say that about a lot of things," I reply, rolling my eyes.

Up ahead, the ancient temple that is the Emperor's sanctuary comes into view above the treeline. Its shape is that of a cubical pyramid, made of stone that's now covered in moss and vines. On one side of it is a large golden panel displaying an intricate design, part of it looking like a mix between a sword and the symbol for the Order of Revan. Finding an flattened area of grass in front of the temple, we landed the Knight Hawk in the area and then exited the ship, walking out down the ramp; R5 for once decided to follow us outside.

As soon as we left the ship, I could instantly notice a difference in the environment: the area of Yavin 4 we're at is currently in its warm 'summer' season, yet around here there was an unnatural chill in the air, making it much cooler than it should normally be. Mara even shivered a little bit, holding her arms instinctively against the cold.

"Geez, since when did it get so cold?" she scoffs. "This place is weird."

::You don't say, Mistress Mara,:: R5 comments.

"You want your fur, berkian, cape?" I ask her.

"Yeah, I'm gonna go get it," she replies.

While she rushes back up into the ship, I look up at the large structure with a thoughtful gaze, sensing the dark side swirling within it. Even after several thousand years, the Sith Emperor's dark presence still lingers here with no sign of decay. A true testament to his power. The sound of footsteps has me looking over to see Mara coming back down the ship, throwing her cowl over her shoulders. She also pulls her hood up, and I shake my head a little with an amused smile, and we continue on.

"This place must've been a big fuss if I can still sense the dark side in it," Mara comments, making a face.

"It was. It was once the sanctuary of the Sith Emperor Vitiate, as a place to host his spirit," I tell her.

"Vitiate?" she asks curiously. "Have you mentioned him before? I can't really remember the name."

"I don't know," I shrug in response. "But it doesn't surprise me that this place still has a heavy presence in the dark side. Aside from the Mortis gods, I can't think of any being more powerful in the Force than him."

The three of us come to a stop before the large structure, looking up at the golden panel of the wall that towers in front of us. Two statues stand on either side of the entrance, depicting armored warriors with spears held in their grip.

"Must've been quite the guy, huh?" she remarks sarcastically.

::Well he's dead now, so turns out he was just a punk,:: R5 chirps.

"R5, everyone dies eventually," I deadpan.

::Except for droids. I'll survive as long as I want,:: he replies smugly. ::I'll beat HK's operational years eventually!::

"Unless you run into Soundwave again," I retort sarcastically.

::Hey! That doesn't count!:: R5 squeals indignantly.

"Come on Dad, that's probably a sensitive topic. Don't be a bully," Mara chides.

"Me? Bully R5?" I scoff in amusement. "The irony in that statement..."

::You're bullying me right now! That's a sensitive topic, just like Mistress Mara said!:: R5 beeps angrily.

"Sensitive huh? I wouldn't make jokes at your expense if I thought you couldn't handle them," I say, smiling down at him. "Unless you aren't actually that tough?"

R5's dome swivels around quickly to look at me, and I raise an eyebrow at him. Although it's physically impossible to sense the 'emotions' of a droid with the Force, I've known R5 long enough to know what's going on through his processor. Grumbling in defeat, he keeps his retort quiet and rolls on by in frustration, knowing that I beat him with that comment. He's too prideful to admit to being 'sensitive.' Mara shrugs at him with an apologetic smile, slightly amused herself.

"So... what're we looking for in here?" Mara asks me.

"Nothing, really. We're just here to gain a sense of how powerful the dark side's influence is, and if it is anything to be worried about," I tell her.

"I thought you said there wasn't anything to worry about from these temples?" she asks, confused.

"I don't believe there is," I nod in confirmation, before shrugging. "Still, you can never be too careful."

Accepting my reason, Mara and I continue on our way through the temple, with R5 in front of us to provide light in the dark. We didn't want to go in too far, in case we got ourselves lost, but far enough in to be in an area that the residue dark side energy is relatively focused on. We don't go much further before entering a circular chamber, which carries an alter of some sort in the center. Deeming this to be satisfactory, I sit myself down on the stone floor and Mara follows my example, sitting down across from me.

"Alright, this feels as good a place as any to work with," I state, looking over at her. "You remember what Ahsoka and I have told you about the dark side?"

"Yep. Stretch out my senses to it, connect with it, but don't let it overtake me," Mara recalls with a nod.

"Good. If a spike of dark energy lashes out at you, then release your hold over it," I advise, and she nods in acknowledgement. "Let's start."

::If you two are gonna do your whole 'Force' thing, I'm just gonna busy myself with checking my systems,:: R5 says.

"No problem," I reply.

With that being said, Mara and I both take in deep breaths and close our eyes, preparing ourselves mentally, and then open ourselves to the Force. Delving into the familiar realm of the Force, the darkness of this place surrounding us immediately becomes clear. I stretch my mind out to it, probing its energy inquisitively to see how intimately connected with this structure it is. The darkness seems to react to my presence, hissing in what almost seems to be familiarity, or recognition. I'm a little confused, but shrug it off. The dark side eagerly stretches out to me with its tendril, desiring to fill my soul, but I firmly hold it at bay, using my determination and memory of Ahsoka to keep it away.

I've gotten a lot better at this ever since I got rid of Darth Traya's holocron.

"Hahahahahahaha!"

"You wanted my return! You did not need to destroy whole fleets or turn a living world barren for that!"

"You only had to point the Empire and Republic to a shared adversary, and let them do what they do naturally: make war."

"The scores of the dead have nourished me. I am awakened. And I bring with me, death!"

"Dark days lie ahead. The darkest days. If my error can't be undone, everyone will pay the price."

I pull myself out of the vision, though still keep my eyes close as I grit my teeth in annoyance. I push away the presence of the dark side, and it falls back with an irritated hiss. I open my eyes with a sigh, taking a moment to recenter myself in the Force.

"You alright Dad?" Mara asks, noticing my slight change.

"Yeah, I'm okay. The dark side really seems to like me," I explain.

"There's a surprise," she replies sarcastically.

A new flicker in the Force however suddenly gets my attention, and I tilt my head in the direction I felt it coming from with a frown; I notice Mara did the same as well. It wasn't the dark side, or the influence of the temple, it was almost as if there was... another life form in here. I could sense a brief flash of surprise and alarm that did not belong to either of us.

"Did you sense that?" Mara asks me.

"Yeah, I did," I confirm with a nod.

Not a second after I was finished, R5's frantic beeps start echoing from down a tunnel, as well as the sound of scurrying footsteps, followed by a quick yelp of pain. Mara and I wasted no time in leaping to our feet and rushing down the dark hall, with Mara igniting her shimmering blue lightsaber to provide light as well as prepare for any sort of intruder. We exit the circular chamber to run down a large hallway for a few moments, spotting a light up ahead. Moving down a few feet we turn around the corner to find a bizarre sight.

R5 was squealing, beeping harsh threats with his electric prod held out while rolling up to a man that was lying on the ground, his flashlight directed fully on him. The light source Mara and I saw came from a bright lamp that was laying on the ground, probably a light source the man used to navigate the dark areas. The man in question was human, looking to be in his late thirties or mid forties, with light brown hair. He wore a brown robe and blue tunic, and had several strange necklaces of some cultural significance. He was backing away, hand held in front of his head to either shield himself from the light or R5's electric prod.

Judging by this situation, I imagine they both crossed paths, startled each other, before R5 struck and knocked him to the ground with his prod. The man did seem to have a pained expression on his face.

"What the heck?" Mara asks, baffled.

"My goodness, droid, will you just leave me be?" the man pleads, uneasy but also frustrated.

R5 squeals again, rolling forwards to threaten him with another zap, but I move forward to block him off with an irritated sigh, shoving him back with my leg.

"Back off, R5, you're being ridiculous," I state firmly.

R5 beeps in protest, but after I intensify my glare he pulls back with reluctant grumbling, putting his electric prod away. Shaking my head, I take a moment to observe the man, quickly judging him to be of no threat, and help him to his feet.

"Sorry about that, my droid here can get a bit defensive," I apologize, offering him a small smile.

"I suppose it is partially my fault as well. I didn't expect to run into anyone here," the man replies kindly, accepting my help with a nod of gratitude.

He reaches down to pick up his lamp as well, though quickly takes notice of the lightsaber, seeming a bit startled; not surprising to me. What is surprising however is after he looks at her with immense curiosity, his gaze turns towards me and he widens his eyes as if in recognition, immediately moving into a brief, but formal and respectful bow of his head.

"Jedi Master Shan!" he greets politely, his expression brightening up considerably. "I did not realize you were here!"

I raise an eyebrow and glance over at Mara, who looks just as weirded out, shrugging her shoulders while keeping her lightsaber on to provide extra light.

"I didn't know anyone else was here either," I respond, looking warily at him. "Not just anyone visits an old Sith temple of all places."

"True enough. Sith temples are not the most friendly of places," the man chuckles pleasantly. "But I thought it prudent to research and explore these old temples in order to uncover much of their history, in order to preserve it."

"Preserve it?" Mara asks skeptically.

"Of course, young Jedi. I'm not in any way fond of anything Sith related, but that doesn't mean they don't contain clues to help in better understanding the history of the Jedi," the man explains. "If there's anything that relates back to the Jedi, then preserving it will better ensure that the Jedi Order can be brought back. I've been here on Yavin for that last few months to do so, as I'm sure you're well aware, Master Shan."

He nods his head respectfully to me once more, and I narrows my eyes a bit suspiciously at him. Although his explanation makes perfect sense, it still doesn't change the fact that an unknown stranger walking through the ruins of an old Sith temple is a bit odd. Or at the very least, he's unknown me, and yet I'm not unknown to him...

"I'm sorry, do I know you?" I ask, getting straight to the point.

The man pauses, his smile faltering as he looks at me, looking almost... confused?

"Do you... know me?" he asks carefully.

Mara narrows her eyes as well as she catches on, and R5 prepares to move forward, bringing out his electric prod, but she stops him with a light kick to his side.

"You're acting like you know me, and yet I'm almost certain I've never met you before in my life," I state firmly, looking expectantly at him.

The man frowns, once again seeming confused oddly enough, before realization seems to dawn on his face.

"Oh, I see what you mean!" he says with a friendly laugh, his confusion fading. "I apologize for the confusion. As an explorer I'm not around other people very often, so my social skills aren't quite what they should be."

::Clearly,:: R5 beeps mockingly, and I lightly kick his chassis to shut him up.

"In any case, my name is Lor San Tekka," the man introduces himself. "It's a great pleasure to meet you, Master Shan. And you as well, miss...?"

"I'm Mara," she answers carefully.

"A lovely name, miss Mara," Lor tells her with a pleasant smile.

"Thanks," she replies.

"Good to meet you as well, Lor," I tell him, still a bit skeptical. "But how did you know who I am?"

"Your name is no secret, even to a distant traveler like me, Master Jedi," Lor says with an amused chuckle. "I've always been a believer in the ideals of the Jedi Order, regardless of what the Emperor claims. When I heard about you challenging the Empire's rule, it gave me hope that the Jedi may once again return to the galaxy."

I nod my head slowly, sensing truth to his story. Still, while I am famous, or infamous, on a galactic scale that doesn't mean I'm recognizable on sight. There's no clear image of me on the HoloNet, is there?

As if noticing my hesitation, Lor continues.

"I also heard about how you lost your arm during the Clone Wars when the Jedi Temple was bombed," he says, before gesturing awkwardly to my left side. "And considering... well, your lack thereof..."

"I see your point," I begrudgingly admit with a shrug. "So, you're an explorer?"

"Indeed, Master Jedi. As I mentioned already, I've been traveling the galaxy seeking to uncover old Jedi lore and preserve it from the hands of the Empire," Lor explains eagerly. "I've always been a firm believer in the ideals of the Jedi Order, and what they stood for. When the Jedi were branded as traitors by the Emperor, I simply could not believe it."

"Yeah, I don't see how the entire galaxy could believe it either, but here we are," Mara shrugs in resignation.

"It's not as unbelievable as you might think. Public opinion of the Jedi wasn't very high at the time, and only fell much more drastically during the war," I explain with a sigh.

"Maybe so, but there are still others who still believe. I'm just a simple man who's a part of that faith," Lor tells us.

"Your faith?" I asks curiously.

"The Church of the Force, Master Jedi. We've always believed that without the Jedi, there can be no balance in the Force. And the Force, is what holds the galaxy together," Lor says with a smile. "As a follower of the Church, I am truly humbled to be in the presence of true Jedi."

He gives us another small bow, and Mara glances at me weirdly, a bit put off at having someone being so 'worshipping' of her.

"I didn't know that was a thing," she admits, looking at me curiously. "Did you know about that?"

"Not specifically, but it's not unknown to me," I tell her, looking over at Lor. "I'm surprised there are some who can still practice such spiritual beliefs. The Empire isn't kind to that sort of thing."

"That is true. The Church exists as an underground faith because of it," Lor explains. "We make sure to hide and preserve any Jedi lore we find."

"Is that in any way related to the Guardians of the Whills?" Mara asks curiously.

"Not exactly, but we do share the same faith. While the Church seeks to keep these ancient practices alive, the Guardians serve as, well, guardians, to locations that hold sacred importance," he replies.

"I've met two of the Guardians before," I comment.

Lor brightens up with a smile on his face.

"Ah yes! Chirrut Îmwe and Baze Malbus!" he says, chuckling. "I've known them for some time now, they are quite the pair. They spoke of you some years ago."

"Are they those two guys you mentioned were on Jedha at some point?" Mara asks me.

"Hmm hmm," I nod in confirmation. "Funny enough, that was literally right before I rescued you."

Mara raises an eyebrow at me, scoffing in response. I shrug my shoulders with a small smile on my face before R5 beeps up at us, sounding a little bit annoyed.

::Hate to interrupt all of this... religious talk,:: R5 beeps sarcastically. ::But we're kind of starting to run late!::

I frown slightly at his attitude before remembering that he did have a point: we never intended to stay here for long in the first place, as we are on a tight schedule.

"You're right, R5," I admit with a sigh. "We've got other things to worry about right now."

"Pardon me?" Lor asks curiously.

"We kind of have to go," Mara explains with a sheepish smile.

"We're on a bit of a schedule, and have some responsibilities to the Rebellion that can't be ignored. Especially right now," I tell Lor.

"Ah yes, of course! Very understandable. I would hate to be the cause of an inconvenience to you, Master Jedi ," Lor nods in reply.

"Don't worry about it," I assure him with a small smile, as Mara and I make sure we have everything with us.

"Before you depart, may I offer my aid to you?" he questions. "When this galaxy-wide conflict comes to an end, I would be happy to lend my assistance in any way I can to help you rebuild the Jedi Order."

Mara glances at him for a moment in a bit of surprise.

"Not that I don't agree, but you already think we'll beat the Empire?" she asks curiously. "Most people don't have the same optimism, it feels like."

"My dear Jedi, my faith in the Force has never wavered," Lor says with a smile.

"Huh. Nice," she replies with her own grin, whereas R5 beeps a sarcastic comment.

"Well, if you're offering to help, Lor, I don't see why I should deny that," I tell him. "As long as it's no trouble to you."

If I'm being honest, this whole conversation has kind of surprised me. I'm not exactly someone who trusts other people immediately after a first meeting—and for good reason considering the dangers of the galaxy—but Lor San Tekka seems... different. Based on how he randomly showed up within a Sith temple, normally that'd be a serious cause for concern; Maul on Malachor is the perfect example to be suspicious. But I never felt a flicker of danger or something sinister from Tekka through the Force, in fact, quite the opposite. Whatever it is, the Force is giving off the vibe that he truly is a trustworthy being.

"Helping the Jedi is never a burden, Master Shan," he declares cheerfully.

"I'm glad to hear it," I respond, giving him a small wave. "It was good talking to you."

"And to you both as well," Lor says, waving his hand back at us. "I'm certain you'll be seeing me again some time soon!"

For some reason I'm getting the feeling that there's a deeper meaning behind that statement, but I shrug it off as Mara, R5 and I depart from the presence of Lor and head back down the temple, making our way to the outside so we can get to the Knight Hawk.

"That was... interesting," Mara comments.

"It certainly was," I reply in agreement.

::Why couldn't I keep shocking him?:: R5 complains. ::He was suspicious. And weird!::

"R5, you can't just keep going around and shocking random people," I sigh in exasperation.

"Yeah, it's not very nice," Mara adds in agreement. "Besides, what could he have done to you? He's a religious dude!"

::That's the worst kind of person!:: R5 retorts. ::They make no sense, and you never know when they'll backstab you!::

"You're an astromech droid affiliated with a family of Jedi, and you're saying that?" I ask incredulously, raising an eyebrow at him. "Do you realize how stupid that sounds? We're basically living religion."

::Well, yeah, but you do things based on facts and logic,:: he argues.

"Because the Force has always been logical," Mara says, rolling her eyes.

::But... alright, fine. Fair point. You're all freaky,:: R5 concludes.

Mara and I both shake our heads with exasperated sighs, and she puts away her blue lightsaber as the temple exit comes into view, providing us with natural light.

"So what're we gonna do when we get to Mandalore?" she asks me.

"Get my arm first, that's what," I say before shrugging. "And then see if we can establish a peaceful meeting with the Nite Owls."

"Nite Owls?" she asks curiously.

"An elite Mandalorian unit, led by Bo-Katan," I inform her.

"Oh, those guys!" Mara says, becoming giddy with excitement. "I've always wanted to meet Bo-Katan!"

::Mistress Mara, she hates us, remember?:: R5 beeps in a deadpan.

"But I thought you said Mom fought alongside them in the Siege of Mandalore?" she asks, confused.

"Yeah, Ahsoka did. I didn't," I point out, sighing. "She only tolerated my presence because of my relationship to Ahsoka and Obi-Wan."

"Still, she can't be any worse than Crassus, right?" Mara reasons.

"I suppose," I say with a thoughtful look. I come to a stop however upon remembering something, and let out a frustrated sigh. "Oh boy."

"What now?" she asks.

"I forgot to mention that HK-47 wants to come to Mandalore with us as well," I tell them.

R5 starts beeping and cursing up a storm while Mara sighs in exasperation.

"Can't we just leave him here?" she asks.

"And let him express his pent up energy on the rebels?" I point out. "He hasn't been in a fight since Atollon, and it's probably best to separate him and Rebel command for a little while. Mandalorians are more up to HK's speed anyways."

"Fair enough," Mara replies in reluctant agreement.

::I swear, if he makes one more comment about the Knight Hawk—:: R5 starts to say.

"Yeah, I get it R5," I interrupt, rolling my eyes.

ISB Central Office - Coruscant

3rd person POV...

The headquarters of the Imperial Security Bureau was always a busy place, especially as more and more rebel synthesizers made themselves known across the galaxy. Even so, there was no shortage of places for its workforce to carry out their duties, being that the complex itself was several city blocks large. And Marshal Gideon, an officer of the ISB, had more than enough authority to carry out his work in private.

Unlike most officers in the Empire, Gideon wasn't afraid to get his hands dirty if necessary, but he also enjoy outfitting himself in a way that made it clear he deserved the privileges of the rank he held. He was a dark-skinned man, wearing a black Imperial uniform that featured dark red highlights, as well as a black cape to go along with it. Gideon enters a small command center room that was currently empty of personnel, and approached the holotable set up in the middle of the room. Pressing a few buttons on the holotable, he takes a step back with his arms held behind his back, watching as a hologram of Grand Admiral Thrawn appeared.

"Marshal Gideon, it is a pleasure to meet you," Thrawn greets pleasantly.

"And to you as well, Grand Admiral," Gideon replies with a respectful nod. Unlike many in the Empire, he cared little about the species of other individuals, seeing no point in the anti-alien bias. "You wished to speak with me?"

"Indeed, marshal," he confirms in reply. "I was wondering if you would be willing to fill in for me on evaluating the progress of Governor Saxon on Mandalore."

"Mandalore?" he questions curiously. "What is it I would be evaluating?"

"As I'm sure you're well aware, Mandalore is on the brink of a civil war right now," Thrawn explains. "Governor Saxon has promised the Emperor and I that he will have completed a special weapon in order to end the uprising. As I understand it, you do carry some interest in the culture of Mandalore, do you not?"

If Gideon was surprised that Thrawn knew that, he didn't show it.

"I do, Grand Admiral. Mandalorian culture has always drawn my interest," he confirms.

"Of course. Normally I would evaluate Governor Saxon's progress myself, but I am still preoccupied at the moment on an assignment with Lord Vader," Thrawn explains. "If you could report back to me on the Governor's current status, I would be most appreciative."

"Certainly. I have no problem with that," Gideon nods in confirmation.

"Excellent. I shall send you the information of Saxon's project," Thrawn informs him.

With that being said, the hologram of Thrawn disappears, and Gideon turns away from the holoprojector with a thoughtful, curious expression on his face.

Author's Note: Hello readers! Sorry for the late update, stuff kind of happens lol. My motivation has been poor lately (while at the same time I've been really anxious to continue this story as well lol, it's making me crazy) but I'm back with another chapter. Been trying to formulate my strategy for uploads on the Shaniverse, and I'm getting there. I originally meant to start Heroes of Mandalore in this chapter, but I ended up doing a lot more on Yavin 4 than originally planned...

Lor San Tekka! :O

Sure that's fun. But now the next chapter will see Jarik and the group returning to Mandalore for real this time, and I'm excited for it. Especially because we now have a new player being added to the story... Moff Gideon! (well, not moff yet chronologically) Really loved the character of Gideon in the Mandalorian, makes for a great villain. And there's so much mystery about him too, like how he got the freaking Darksaber! It leaves so much uncertainty about the fate of Bo-Katan, about whether or not she's dead.

Tbh, I don't know what rumors to believe anymore, apparently every single character in Star Wars is rumored to be in season 2. xD