Hope Reborn - Chapter 18

Luke tried to hide a small smile as he watched Iden. She was on edge around all of the Mandalorians. Bo and Ventress had picked up on it as well. Thankfully, Bo and her people weren't opposed to removing their helmets. It helped humanize, or at least person-ize, them. Still, being surrounded by a small army was a little disconcerting. He probably would have been nervous too without the interaction in his past life. They had made a deal. He had delivered on his portion which meant they were bound by honor to deliver on their side. Until then, they were safe. The fact that Luke was actively poking the Empire in the eye endeared him to them even more.

Right now, the four of them sat around a conference table. This room looked like it hadn't been changed at all from its original purpose. The only new addition was the expected weapons racks that had been bolted to the walls.

"I'm curious." Luke said. "Why are you orbiting an Imperial planet?"

"The management is about to change. They wanted muscle." Bo replied with a smug smile.

"The Empire needs the resources elsewhere." Iden spoke up. "They tried to keep the Death Star under wraps, but there was only so much they could do. Too many people knew about it. Add the fact that a few thousand people just disappeared, it raises questions. There are smaller issues all over that are popping up to test them."

"That's good for business." Bo smiled even broader.

"As wonderful as that is." Ventress cut in. "We have our own business to discuss."

"Ahsoka Tano." Bo sighed. "Her last known location was the planet Malachor and that is where the trail runs cold."

"That's it?" Luke asked.

"Wish I had better news for you, kid." Bo shrugged. "It's like she just disappeared."

Luke ran a hand over his face. He didn't know what to expect. Last time through he only met her after the destruction of the second Death Star. Most of the time they spent together focused on learning. She left the Jedi Order before she made Master, but she still knew quite a lot. The ghost of Obi-Wan and Yoda couldn't be around all the time and the knowledge they were able to impart was limited. She did tell him quite a lot about the Clone Wars as well as some stories about his father. Her recent past wasn't one of the things they discussed.

He had already made contact with Bo and her Mandalorians. Though he had still not yet convinced her to attack the Empire. It wouldn't really matter if they aligned with the Rebellion or acted on their own. Either he could go to Malachor and try to track her down, or he could move on to another potential ally. Ventress was an unexpected boon, as was Iden. They both seemed to be along for the ride. Still, he would like their input. He just had to figure out what the options were.

Malachor to track down Ahsoka. Or something else. Yoda was still out there. Honestly, he wasn't sure he trusted the little green guy. He spoke in riddles and half-truths. Lando was in Cloud City, he was a good resource, but without Han there wasn't as smooth of an opening. There were the remnants of the various Separatists. The Empire didn't take kindly to non-human species. Adding the betrayal at the end of the Clone Wars had proved how much they valued them.

"Don't look so down, kid." Bo chuckled. "Her trail goes cold, but I've got leads on a couple of others."

Luke arced an eyebrow at her.

"We've heard some rumors about a couple of strange occurrences." Bo continued. "The Inquisitors have been hunting down a couple of ghosts. Do the names Barriss Offee and Shaak Ti mean anything to you?"

Ventress clicked her tongue but didn't say anything more. Luke squinted as he ran through the vast memories from two lifetimes.

"Vaguely." Luke replied.

"Shaak TI was a Jedi Master during the Clone Wars." Bo-Katan continued. "She was part of the Clone training process."

"Inner peace and meditation." Ventress rolled her eyes. "She was annoying even by Jedi standards. Last I heard she was dead when the Temple fell."

"Rumors of her death may have been exaggerated." Bo replied easily. "What about Offee?"

"She tried to frame me for blowing up the Jedi temple." Ventress shrugged. "It was a pretty good plan too. When that didn't work, she shifted the blame to Tano. It led to both of them leaving the Jedi Order. One as a prisoner and the other by choice."

"She was arrested when the Temple was stormed?" Luke asked. "How did she survive?"

"I have no idea." Bo-Katan looked over at Iden.

"Before my time." Iden shrugged. "The Imperials I was stationed with didn't think the Force was real."

"A few years ago, the Black Sun Syndicate was run by a familiar face." Bo inclined her head at Ventress. "Maul."

Ventress glared at her.

"Don't worry." Bo glared right back. "He's dead. Black Sun failed not long before. He cut a swath of death and chaos through the Mandalorian Empire first. I would have killed him myself if I could have. It's a shame I didn't get to dance on his shallow grave."

Luke watched the byplay with no small bit of interest. He had started to be rather annoyed with his previous life. His detachment from the new Republic was now causing problems. He had been so focused on gathering his students. Most of which weren't even born yet. Those that were currently alive weren't eating solid food yet.

"Do you have any solid leads?" Luke said to beak the tension between the two.

"I'll transfer the information to your droid." Bo shifted her attention to Luke. "I do have one solid piece of information."

"You didn't lead with that?" Luke cocked his head to the side.

"She's not the best resource." Bo shrugged.

"She?" Ventress crossed her arms over her chest.

"Sabine Wren." Bo offered. "She's a Mandalorian and used to work with Tano. She might have a better idea as to where she is."

"We'll start there." Luke said. "Can you get any further information on the other leads?"

"For a favor or two." Bo smiled at him.

"I guess we'll be seeing a lot of each other." Luke gave her a smile of his own.

~§~

"What is your bidding, master?" Vader asked as he kneeled before the holo-graphic visage of Palpatine.

"There is much unrest in the galaxy." Palpatine didn't seem to acknowledge his words. "Small forces inspired by the fluke destruction of the Death Star. Rumors of former Jedi have spread as well."

"Doubtful." Vader stood. "Kenobi was the last master that needed to be dealt with. A stray padawan is of no consequence."

"Re-activate the Inquisitors." Palpatine ordered. "Scour the galaxy. Destroy anything that could be interpreted as Jedi. Pretenders. Charlatans. Padawans in hiding. Leave none of them alive."

"As you command." Vader replied.

The connection ended. A moment later the holo-graphic avatar of Darth Vader faded away. The suit had been destroyed. He had made sure of that.

Vader fought the urge to spit on the floor. The words he spoke to Palpatine tasted like ash in his mouth. He had used his time in the various healing tanks to activate his own information network. They delved into the past. Palpatine didn't bother to hide his various machinations now that he had won. It was clear how he had manipulated Vader. The Tusken Raiders found a small cache of 'lost' Republic weapons shortly before they attacked the homestead and captured his mother. Palpatine altered the orders Anakin was given in subtle ways more times than he could count. Then he would stoke the discontent for the Jedi as he provided a friendly ear to listen.

Every new report stoked the rage inside of him. It took more willpower than he ever thought he possessed not to storm the Emperors Tower and cut the bastard in two. The Stormtroopers were sub-par when compared to the Clones he had commanded during the war. It was the Honor Guard that would put up the most fight. They were force sensitive. Not trained in the intricate ways of the force, but enough to focus on the physical aspects.

It was clear what needed to be done. Palpatine needed to die. Vader would find his son and they would rule the galaxy together. All he had to do was wait. Patience was never one of his strong points. However, the vast catalogue of how that had shaped his downfall pushed him to learn.

Vader clenched his flesh and blood fist for the first time in years. It was the arm that Dooku had cut off. The limb had grown much faster than expected. His skin was no longer bright pink. It had started to shift to his nature tone. Just a bit paler.