In the Naboo cell blocks Maul pondered to himself what to do. He had blasted anyone that got close to his cell with the force, in order to let others know not to get close. He was thinking of an escape plan, as while he could break out right now, without knowing what he was up against he risked capture again, and in a much more secure cell. It was then that Rey walked up, and recognizing her as the one that freed him made him pause.
"Your name is Maul. Is that correct?", Rey asked.
Maul remained silent staring at her.
"My name is Rey. There is no need to answer, I already know who you are. The Chancellor gave me access to Obi-Wan Kenobi's reports."
"Kenobi...", Maul growled.
"Listen I know what happened to you, and I know you have no reason to trust us, but I believe we can help each other. We may not be on the same side, but we have the same enemies. I know you were betrayed, and I know just about every faction wants you dead, would you at least hear us out?"
Maul was silent for a moment glaring at her.
"Fine.", Maul replied after a moment.
It was then that Chancellor Organa came in and cautiously approached the cell Maul was in.
"Darth Maul is it?", Chancellor Organa asked.
"Just Maul now.", Maul replied correcting him.
"Okay Maul."
"Just get on with it."
There was a moment of silence between them before Organa answered.
"As Rey here mentioned you're not very popular in most if most if not all of the factions around the galaxy. That is why I have an offer for you. We will give you a full pardon of all the actions you've committed against the Republic if you will help fight against the factions we are war with. You will be compensated for your actions as well. Plus you know how Emperor Palpatine of the Empire thinks, so that could prove useful. What do you say?"
"I say you're a fool to resist the Dark Side" The Zabrak warrior snarled. "Can't you feel it? The Empires of old have returned, the Sith have rose again in every corner of the Galaxy. All of us, you, me, the Jedi, everyone, who stands in their way will die. They'll destroy us all, it's useless to resist the inevitable!"
"Perhaps…" Chancellor Organa admitted. "But is that any reason you shouldn't seek what revenge you can before the end?"
"I... shall consider it." Maul said, after several long minutes, meeting Bail's gaze directly.
"That is all I ask." The Chancellor said with a smile. "We shall see to your release as soon as we can. Good day."
Bail left the room, beckoning for Rey to follow him. Han Solo met them on the outside.
"So? How'd it go?" The Rebel General asked, falling in step with the other two.
"I don't trust him." Rey said quickly. "He's either mad, evil, or both. I could feel the dark and rage just dripping in every word he said."
"Of course we shouldn't trust him." Bail agreed. "But we may have to make use of him regardless. This merge... he's not wrong you know. We have more enemies now than ever before."
"But also more allies." Han mused. "The Alliance, the Resistance, both Republics, not to mention all the Jedi. I say the baddies have their work cut out for them, dealing with all of us at once."
"Assuming we don't turn on each other." Bail said, coming to a stop where The Palace's corridors split three different ways. "We must all remember that in these dark days. We stand together, all of us, even people like Maul, or we are sure to fall. If you two will excuse, I'm afraid I have some dull ambassadors to speak with."
"Don't envy his job." Han muttered to Rey, making her laugh. "Fraid I need to be going to, kid. It's getting late and Chewie's expecting me back at the Falcon. See you around."
Rey waved goodbye to the ex-smuggler until he rounded the corner, after which she made for her own quarters. She unclipped her lightsaber from her belt and set it on the bed, before crossing her legs and beginning her nightly meditation. She was sore and hurt all over from the long day of fighting, but she didn't want to miss a single night: becoming a Jedi had become very important to her.
"Rey..."
Her eyes shot open at the ghostly whisper. There was no one in her room and the window wasn't even open. Deciding it was just her imagination, she went back to her meditation, until...
"Rey..."
There was still no sign of an intruder in her room! Was she losing it? Or...
She closed her eyes again and quietly whispered "Hello?"
"Hello, Rey." The voice said, growing warmer and clearer.
"Who are you?" Rey asked, heart racing. "How do you know me? Where are you?"
"We are far away, and know most everyone." the voice said. "As for who we are, there is no name you'd know us by, save maybe one out of long distant legend: The Ones."
Rey was silent for a moment thinking. She heard of "The Ones" before. Luke Skywalker had told her about them, but even he was unsure if they were real, and regarded them as legends.
"What do you want from me?”, Rey asked, “ Why are you talking to me? If you are as powerful as the legends say you are, what significance could I have to you?"
"Do not sell yourself short. You and some allies, some of which you would find unlikely, will all have big roles to play in the coming days.", They replied.
"Well... Again. Why talk to me?", She asked again trying to understand their reasons.
"You've already met one or two of these unlikely allies, you will find another in The Galactic Empire, and two other possible allies exist in Separatist Alliance. They however may require a little convincing."
Rey was completely shocked and baffled by this.
"The Galactic Empire!? The Separatists!? They hate us! Who would want to help us there?"
"We have foreseen it will happen eventually regardless of us telling you. And with that we go. May The Force go with you."
The Ones voices then trailed off and disapeared
"No wait! Where am I even supposed to go!?"
Rey groaned frustrated. She hated it when she never got straight answers.
"That some sort of Jedi thing?", Boba asked.
The bounty hunter had apparently seen the whole thing, seeing Rey talk to what appeared to be no one.
"Didn't mean to intrude. Got a message from an "Anakin Skywalker" wanted to ask some questions about your master."
Boba told her as he tossed over a holo recorder.
"Paid quite a bit for me to pass it along to you for whatever reason. At least in terms of passing along a message. Figured I might as well."
Rey said nothing as the Mandalorian left the room: honestly, he scared her. After he was gone, she switched the Holo device on and watched the recording.
The grainy blue image of a young man with wild hair and a large scar, probably only about twenty two at the most, appeared.
"Er, hello? Rey, I think it was?" He asked cautiously, fidgeting with his hands. "Yeah, er, hello. I know we've never met, and you might not even know who I am, but I wanted to send you this message because, well, there are some questions I want... need to ask you."
He scratched the back of his head.
"Honestly, this Merge business has sent everything spiraling to crazy town." He laughed a bit. "But I guess you know that as well as I. The stuff we know is true, the ancient Empires and legends of old returning, are bad enough. The rumors? Force spirits speaking in dreams, a conspiracy of Togruta, alien invaders from another Galaxy, Palpatine gone mad?"
The man, Anakin Skywalker presumably (He had never actually introduced himself), shook his head sadly.
"I never would have..." He gave a fake laugh before continuing. "Anyways, like I said, crazy town. You know the worst part? I'm buying most of it. If I didn't know better, I would say I heard the Force spirits myself during meditation! But that brings me to you."
He stared fiercely straight ahead, making Rey recoil, even though she knew he couldn't actually see her.
"I've heard stories about my family." He said shortly. "A family that, not that long ago, no one even knew about. The High Council still has me under review for it, but I don't suppose you care about my personal troubles. I've heard... stories about myself. About a version of me who went as bad as a Jedi can, an armored monster who butchers without thought or reason."
He shrugged.
"You know something though? That's not what scares me." He looked down. "The stories that scare me are about... about a new generation of Skywalkers, one that grew up in my shadow. About a bold young pilot who wants to be a Jedi. They say he even... Even saves his father."
Anakin stood silent for a few moments, still staring at his feet.
"More than that..." He mumbled. "I've heard of this young man, estranged from his sister, all alone and abandoned... An old man, disillusioned with the Jedi and stewing in his own shadows. And training you, Rey. Rey... please tell me. Tell me... about Luke. I don't know if you can get a message back to me at all, but... If you could, you'd have them hero with no fear in your eternal debt. For all that's worth any more."
He shook his head one more time, before the message abruptly cut off.
Rey thought for a moment. If this was really Anakin Skywalker, then perhaps Luke would want to meet him. She sat pondering, thinking about what she should do.
------
Meanwhile...
Satele Shan, and her master, Kao Cen Darach were training. They were about to head to Korriban to deal with a smuggler named Nico Okarr when The Covergence happened. Since then they've been stuck at the Jedi Temple just training and waiting to be called upon.
"You're getting better Satele.", Kao told his apprentice smirking as he blocked an over head strike.
"I owe all of that to you master.", Satele replied smirking in return.
They were going to continue when a blast was heard shaking the Temple.
"What was that!?!", Satele said after regaining her balance.
It was then Ven Zallow ran by and informed them of what was happening.
"The Temple is under attack!"
"By who!?", Kao asked.
"They're using C.I.S. droids, but they have different markings."
"Satele with me! Come on!"
Kao lead Satele through the halls of the Jedi Temple. Knights were running everywhere, as the blasts and shouting of battle in the distance started to reach their ears.
"Where are we going?" Satele asked. "Aren't we going to fight?"
"Don't worry about that." Her Master assured her. "Even in these troubled times, no one would be bold enough to launch a direct attack on the Temple, it's the one thing that could bring all our different Orders onto one side."
"Well, someone is definitely attacking the Temple anyways!" Satele pointed out.
"A fight is never a goal in and of itself: it's usually just a distraction from the true goal, and better counted with a larger distraction." Kao said, before smirking. "One of my new friends told me that."
Master and Apprentice burst into the hall of records. The archives had been left unguarded in the panic of the attack, allowing the invader's leaders to sneak in. It was mostly a squad of black armored Death Troopers, but their leader was a tall, yellow eyed Pau'an with cybernetic attachments.
"Ah, I was wondering if someone would see through our little scheme." The Grand Inquisitor said airily, without even turning to look at the Jedi. "I must say I'm impressed, Master Darach."
"It was fairly obvious." Kao said, shrugging and igniting his emerald blade. "The only faction on Coruscant invested in bringing down the Jedi would be the Empire. Neither Republics would, and they certainly wouldn't try to pin it on the Separatists."
"If we were trying to 'pin it on them', as you say," The Inquisitor said offhandedly. "We wouldn't have sent them in with such distinct markings. No, the droids belong to our allies, stolen from the Confederacy. They wanted to test them, and, well..."
"Jump!" Kao suddenly ordered.
Satele obeyed, igniting her saberstaff mid leap. As she landed, so did Bo Katan, and an entire squad of Death Watch troopers. The two Jedi were now thoroughly surrounded.
"I'm afraid we can't have you alerting your friends" The Inquisitor declared, finally turning around and igniting his own, scarlet bladed Saberstaff.
"That's a fancy way of saying 'You're dead meat' " Bo helpfully translated, igniting the Dark Saber.
"Are you sure about that?" Kao said with a smirk, brandishing his blade.
Satele hoped he had a really good plan in mind: she didn't feel nearly as cocky about their current situation as her master did.
Kao had sensed something about two out of the three other inquisitors with the Grand Inquisitor.
"Take them!", The Grand Inquisitor ordered.
"With pleasure.". The largest inquisitor said activating his... blue lightsaber?
The large inquisitor struck at the Grand Inquisitor with barely enough time to block it as he had just noticed.
"What is this!?!", The Grand Inquisitor said shocked.
The Grand Inquisitor then blasted him back with the force leaping on top of him and stabbing him only for the blade to short out.
"What!?!", He said even more surprised now.
The large inquisitor grabbed him and threw him into a holo-book case. He then proceeded to rip off the armor to reveal that he was General Grievious. One of the other inquisitors attempted to engage the General only to be stabbed in the back with curved hilt lightsaber. As the last inquisitor fell to the floor the one that stabbed him pulled back his hood and mask to reveal that he was Count Dooku. The two then quickly dispacted the Death Troopers.
"Get down!", Dooku yelled ordered Kao and Satele.
Kao and Satele did as Dooku said as Dooku blasted the Death Watch with Force lightning either killing them or knocking them out. As The Jedi master and apprentice got up they curious as to why the leaders of the C.I.S. were here and why they were helping.
"Ah Master Darach and his star pupil. Nice to see you." Dooku said smirking as he walked up to them.
"Why are you here Count?", The Jedi master asked glaring at him.
"To save your lives and discuss a cease and potential peace treaty.”, Dooku told him, “It is no secret that the Separatists and The Republics share a common enemy with the Galactic Empire. We cannot beat them without each other’s help."
"How do we know we can trust you?", Satele asked glaring as well.
Dooku nodded towards Grievous as he hit a button causing a C.I.S. ship to come uncloaked and started dropping pod filled with commando droids to aid in the defense of the Temple. More Ships came out of hyperspace and started firing on the enemy vessels.
At this time The Grand Inquisitor was slowly starting to come around.
There was some confusion, at first, around the Separatist reinforcements, Ven Zallow personally disabling over two dozen of them. But soon the Jedi realized the Commandos were attacking the invaders and let them be, standing side by side with them and Republic security forces to defend their home.
Quite a few Battle droids were still managing to push through however, making a beeline for the Archives and their commanders.
"Pathetic excuse for a fighter, really." Dooku commented, walking to stand over the Inquisitor. "Any of my Dark Acolytes could have done better."
The Count was interrupted by the Inquisitor suddenly rolling over and sweeping at his feet. Dooku jumped, just barely avoiding losing his legs, but the Inquisitor swung up and managed to slice through his lightsaber's hilt midair.
"Is that so?" He sneered, jumping to his feet.
Grievous moved to stop him, but was suddenly encased in a river of electricity and came crashing to his knees. Bo Katan slowly climbed back to her feet, pulling off her helmet.
"We were prepared for Sith, Count!", she spat. "My armor's reinforced against electrical discharges. Even your fancy Force powers!"
"It won't save you." Dooku declared, even while ducking under the Grand Inquisitor's fresh attack. "Master Darach, your assistance would be greatly appreciated."
"Let the record show I still don't trust you." The Battle master pointed out, even while nodding for Satele to leap at Bo. "You are a Sith, after all."
The Zabrak caught the Inquisitor mid leap, kicking him in the chest and sending him crashing to the ground. The resilient Pau'an was was once again back on his feet in a flash, Meeting Darach's strikes head on while at the same time dodging Dooku's Force attacks. He had no idea how long he could actually keep this up, but he wasn't going down easily!
Satele, meanwhile, had driven Bo Katan out of the archives and down the Temple's halls. The Mandalorian was probably the better fighter over all, as Satele was focused mostly on studying the Force. But while she had faced many bounty hunters and fellow Jedi before, Katan had never even seen a Saberstaff before, much less fought one.
Still, a well-timed missile to the floor Satele was standing on put the battle back in her favor. Standing over the prone Jedi Apprentice, she was just about to deliver the lethal blow when she found herself hoisted in the air and hurled into a nearby pillar.
"As much as I hate Jedi" Grievous snarled. "I hate being E.M.P.'d even more! Get up whelp, unless you're ready to die."
The cybernetic general was still dragging from Katan's surprise attack, but he still managed to draw two of his stolen lightsabers and flash them around dangerously, as Imperial/Mandalorian battle droids surrounded him and Satele.
The droids and Bo Katan began to fire on Grievous and Satele, both of them deflecting blaster bolts back to back. Whatever Grievous couldn't block his cortosis armor protected him from. Bo Katan threw a grenade at the Jedi and the General, which Grievous caught and threw at the battle driods. Satele quickly put up a Force barrier as the grenade went off taking out the droids and blowing Bo Katan off her feet. The General lowered his arms realizing the grenade hadn't even affected them.
"Not bad... For a Jedi.", Grievous as he deactivated his sabers.
Meanwhile Kao Cen Darach and Count Dooku continued to battle The Grand Inquisitor. Dooku had retrieved the lightsaber of the Inquisitor he killed and was fighting side by side with the Jedi master. The Grand Inquisitor was no doubt talented, but it was clear he was being pushed to his limit against the two masters. His breathing was heavily labored. Although he mostly cybernetic now, he was beginning to tire out, he was forced on the defensive and couldn't get out it.
It was then that a joint fleet of Old Republic, and Grand Army fleet came out hyperspace to aid in the fight. Sensing this The Grand Inquisitor growled.
"Give up you are out matched!", Kao told the Inquisitor.
"The Jedi master is right.”, Dooku said in agreement, “Surrender now, to continue would be foolish."
There was a pause between all of them. The Grand Inquisitor locked eyes with both of them as Temple Guards entered the archives, and after a moment he deactivated his lightsaber. The Temple Guards then secured him.
"It would be unlike a Sith to let me live Dooku.", The Grand Inquisitor told the Count.
"I'm no Sith, not anymore.” Dooku told him sternly, “That was the path Sidious lead me down."
"Take him away.", The Jedi master ordered the Temple Guards.
The Temple Guards then took him to the holding cells where they usually held Dark Force users.
"You really have renounced the Sith haven't you?”, Kao said turning to Dooku, “Are you looking to rejoin the Jedi?"
"No... That isn't a path for me either.", Dooku told the Jedi master.
"Well I believe you have no wish to fight us, but what will the C.I.S. do after The Empire is dealt with?"
"I hope our relations would be better actually.” Dooku replied, “It was Palpatine that manipulated both Separatists and Replubic into fighting each other. It hard to explain, but ever since I renounced him as my master things seem clearer now."
"Do you intend to turn back to the light then?", Kao asked.
Dooku smirked at that.
"No... Not completely."
It was then that Satele and Grievous walked in with Grievous using all four of his arms to restrain Bo Katan.
"You've won this battle." Bo Katan admitted with a snarl. "It is an honor for my people to fall in combat."
"Well, you're not falling today." Kao said with a shrug, switching off his lightsaber. "What do you think, Count? It was your droids she stole after all."
Dooku stared at the defiant Mandalorian warrior for several minutes.
"Mercy." He said at last. "Which may be crueler for someone like her. Hand her over to the Republic, those fools will keep her in jail for years."
"You'll get a trial first." Kao cheerfully reassured the non-plussed Bo as she was escorted out of the room.
"If you must." Dooku said with a sigh, moving to stand by Grievous.
Satele happily gave the Count her place: the cybernetic general unsettled her somewhat, if she was being honest. Kao bowed in respect and lead the two visitors out of the archive, only to be stopped short where Ven Zallow suddenly appeared, holding his emerald blade to Dooku's throat.
"Easy master Zallow." Kao said quickly. "They helped us stop the attack's leaders."
"Count Dooku, isn't it?" Ven Zallow said, without lowering his blade. "I've heard of you. Even in my dark times, a Jedi who turns his back on the Order for the Sith is rare."
"I had my reasons." Dooku said shortly, eyeing Zallow coldly. "I regret my decision more than you can know, but I won't apologize to the likes of you."
"Master Zallow, please." Kao insisted. "He's on our side. Or at least, not the Empire's."
After a very tense moment, Ven Zallow lowered his lightsaber and turned the blade off. It did not escape Satele's notice that Grievous's hands moved away from the blades hanging from his belt when he did.
"I assume you wish to speak with the High Council?" Van Zallow coldly asked the Count.
"Yes, thank you." Dooku said with a polite smile, choosing not to notice the hostility.
The Jedi Master lead Dooku and Grievous away, while Satele and Kao watched.
"Do you really believe them master?" Satele asked.
"I sensed no lies in what he said," Kao replied. "and I don't mean just with the Force. Besides, he seemed... friendly, in a gentlemanly way."
"Ugh! You make the weirdest friends!" Satele complained.
"Well, I chose you, didn't I?" Kao shot back with a grin that did not exactly fit a well respected Battle Master. "Now come along, we have business to attend to."
----------
Shortly after...
It was quite a surprise for the Republics to see C.I.S. droids assisting saving the Jedi Temple on Old Republic Coruscant. Dooku spoke with High Jedi Council and agreed to have worker droids help rebuild the Temple as a show of good faith. Later Dooku ended up speaking with Chancellor Bail Organa of The Galactic Republic and Chancellor Dorian Janarus of the Old Republic and worked out a peace treaty.
"It is settled then?", Dooku asked the Chancellors.
"Yes.”, Chancellor Organa of The Galactic Republic replied, “Our forces are all freely allowed to move throughout each territory in order to better combat the Empire."
Dooku: "One thing we do have an overabundance of is star fighters, we can send Vulture droids to reinforce your air and naval forces."
"That would be appreciated,” Chancellor Janarus of The Old Republic said expressing his gratitude, “many of the fighters we are going up against are far more advanced, and we've lost many already."
"What we need is more supplies, The Empire and pirates are slowly bleeding us dry." Organa informed Dooku.
"We have had much of the same problem in our territory.” Dooku replied, “I shall start sending supplies to your fronts where they are needed most. All I ask in return is that you start sending forces to reinforce our heaviest front with the Empire. I shall also work with your people to reduce our mutual piracy problem."
"If we are done here we should start organizing all of this with our forces.", Chancellor Janarus said wanting to get to work.
“Agreed. Best of luck to you both.", Organa replied.
Dooku nodded ending the transmission. For the first time in awhile he felt like his own person no longer having to answer to Sidious, and that the C.I.S. would do some good. He legitimately wanted a good relationship with the Republics and their allies, but he was weary of them as were they of him. It was understandable considering everything that happened,
After Dooku did what he promised organizing and sending supplies on their way to his new allies, he had other business to attend to. He needed to build a new lightsaber.
