I finally beat the game and was thinking, what if Trilla wasn't killed by Vader in the end? What if Cal managed to save her in time? Thus, the birth of this story came about XD (I blame my muse once again)

Summary: Cal Kestis managed to escape Fortress Inquisitorius with Cere and a redeemed Trilla. With the Holocron destroyed to prevent the Empire from tracking down the Force-sensitive children, Cal and his crew begin searching for alternate ways to weaken the Empire. Yet Cal is not safe, for Emperor Palpatine has tasked Darth Vader with bringing him back...with the intention of turning him into his new Inquisitor.

Rating: T

Setting: AU (divergence from main storyline in the game)

Disclaimer: I do not own anything related to the Star Wars franchise aside from my own plot.

xXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

Star Wars Jedi Fallen Order: Redemption

xXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

Chapter XXXVI

Trilla and Entiran were forced out of the room as the door closed from the inside. The two stood up quickly to avoid suspicion from the Stormtroopers that were on guard duty, though many seemed to avoid them due to their status as Inquisitors.

"Did he just Force-push us out of the room?" Trilla asked in disbelief.

"Are you really going to ask me that?" Entiran gave her a look through his helmet.

Just as they were discussing their next step of action, the door opened up and Cal walked through with the helmet back over his head.

"Cal! We need to come up with a plan to leave this place," Trilla grabbed his upper arm as he walked by.

Cal was silent for a while before he calmly pulled his arm free.

"I can't leave, not yet, not until I finish what the Emperor wants me to do or Merrin and I will both die."

"What does the Emperor want you to do?" Entiran inquired, not liking where this was going.

"It doesn't concern you but I need to finish this."

He walked off without another word, leaving Trilla and Entiran staring after his disappearing silhouette.

Aboard the Mantis, Jayna spent a long time conversing with Cere and she learned about the former Jedi's past and how she ended up on board the ship.

"I'm sorry about what happened...but at least your padawan is back by your side," she said when Cere finished telling her story.

"Being a Jedi is never an easy task. Even now I still fear for Trilla and Cal. I fear the dark side will tempt Trilla back to its embrace, and from what you told me, Cal is teetering between the forces of light and dark. One wrong nudge and his path will become the same as the other Jedi who fell."

Jayna bit her lips and reached into her bag, pulling out the lightsaber given to her by her former commander.

Cere noticed the weapon and her eyes went wide.

"How did you get a lightsaber?"

"My former commander gave it to me on Bracca. I don't know why she had one but she insisted I take it."

"What's your commander's name?"

"Halas Torone."

At this Cere's body went rigid at the mention of the name, her eyebrows furrowing together in shock and her hands began trembling slightly. Jayna noticed this and turned to give the elder woman a questioning look.

"Is something wrong?"

"Did you say Halas Torone?"

"Yes...is there a problem?"

"Her real name is Malavai Cordova...the sister of my former master Eno Cordova..."

Coming up with an excuse to get off the planet of Nur and back on board the Mantis was something that was definitely going to be difficult. Cal couldn't just very well waltz up to the Grand Inquisitor and say to the Pa'un he was on a secret mission from the Emperor. Palpatine had ordered him to remain silent on this matter, meaning he couldn't tell anyone, not even Darth Vader.

When he asked why he wasn't allowed to tell the Sith Lord, the Emperor didn't say the reason by the look from his eyes was enough to instill fear in Cal and he quickly dropped the matter.

Turning the corner towards the hangar, he was halfway through walking when someone stepped in front of his path.

"Cal, we need to talk about this."

"Trilla, I really don't have time for this," he said, brushing past her.

"We're not leaving without you and Merrin! Why else did you think I risked my life sneaking back here and pretending to be an Inquisitor again?" she hissed, pulling him into a small crack big enough to fit both of them so the Stormtroopers wouldn't overhear their conversation.

"None of this would've happened if Merrin hadn't been shot by that Haxion bounty hunter! I wouldn't have had to come to the Empire to ask for help! What were you doing the entire time? Just watching over your little friend instead!"

The Second Sister merely stared at her friend silently as Cal went on a rant.

"My life was completely fine until you and the Ninth Sister showed up on Bracca! You killed Prauf, the only friend I ever had on that planet. You chased me halfway across the galaxy, toying with my mind and playing games with me the entire time. Trilla...you don't know what I'm going through right now. If you really want to help, then figure out a way to get Merrin off Nur and back with Cere. I can't come back yet, not until my mission is done."

Trilla was torn between punching her friend in the face or actually helping to find a way to get Merrin of Nur.

"What mission?! Tell me so I can help you!" she insisted.

"If I told you, you wouldn't let me finish it. I need to do this on my own."

"Cal-"

A hand was held up to stop her from finishing the sentence.

"I appreciate the concern Trilla."

Jayna stared at Cere like she had just spoken in an alien language.

"You're saying...Commander Torone is a Jedi?"

"Was," Cere corrected. "She was a Jedi until Order 66 was given. She must have gone into hiding like those of us who survived did...I just never thought she'd end up on Bracca as a commander of BracSec..."

Cere had to sit down to prevent her legs from giving out.

"So...if I'm following correctly...Commander Torone is actually Malavai Cordova...the sister of your former master?"

"Yes. Master Cordova has mentioned many times that he had a sister, he would often speak of her during our time alone on Bogano. I think his greatest regret was dying without knowing what happened to her, since they were sent on different missions once they became Masters."

"I see..."

Scooting closer to the young girl, Cere closed Jayna's fingers over the hilt of the lightsaber.

"Wield it in her honor. If she passed it on to you, it must mean something. Perhaps she wants you to become a Jedi in your own right."

"Me? A Jedi? I'm in no fighting condition! Cal can easily kick my ass if he wanted to!" Jayna protested.

"While it is true you weren't afforded the luxury of training as a Padawan like Cal did, it is still never too late to learn the ways of the Force. The only way I can offer help is to give you guidance, as I clearly failed in my endeavor as a Master...not after what happened with Trilla."

Staring at the lightsaber hilt in her hand, Jayna contemplated Cere's words. The Empire wanted her for some reason, whether malicious or benevolent she did not know. The only thing she was sure of was one plain fact; the Empire will stop at nothing to get her. If training in ways of the Force was the only way to defend herself, then she'll have to take risk.

She certainly didn't want a repeat of what happened on Bracca after all.

"Alright. Train me in the ways of the Force," she said with determination.

To be continued...

I'm alive!

Real life just caught up to me so I'm sorting out a lot of stuff at the moment.

My husband and I bought an apartment so I'm busy trying to take care of things so we can move in together.

Work has been hectic as well.

I promise I'll update again whenever I'm able to!

See you all next chapter!

Things will kick back up next chapter as Cal is forced to bring Jayna back to the Emperor!

Celsius Fate~