Reviews to Responses

Lewton Spoons, 20.07.2020. Ch. 19: I'm very happy to hear that you enjoyed this whole story. I hope you come back and re-read it in the future and leave me reviews of anything you see in the future.

DuckBoi, 20.07.2020. Ch. 19: I'm very amused that I've left you speechless. I believe that after so much suffering characters need a happy ending. For Ares, the happy ending is Ahsoka and not being branded a traitor. For Pallas, happy ending is to have control of her life and to finally have some peace. I'm grateful that you enjoyed the ride and thankful for all your wonderful reviews. You made me really, really fricken happy to read them. I'll try to read the stories and be sure to follow me as an author if I decide to publish something else. PS. Out of curiosity, if I was to write a sequel (and I'm making absolutely no promises), what would you enjoy reading about? Tybolt Silver, signing off for the final time!

Triglavian, 20.07.2020. Ch. 19: All those Jedi are unemployed now. They can all collectively go and beat Maul's ass. But yes, you're right, let's enjoy peace. You're most welcome for the story – I hope you enjoy this little epilogue.

Hghg (Guest), 20.07.2020. Ch. 19: I am so happy to hear that you liked the ending of this epic tale and the fic as a whole. Your one concern of Maul should be easy enough to deal with if there are about 10,000 Jedi who are unemployed and not fighting a war. Anyway, enjoy this little treat of an epilogue.

MattMatrix 20.07.2020. Ch. 19: You've been eyeing-up this story since it was an infant and you're only JUST telling me about this!? You should be ashamed of yourself. You're welcome for the ride, but where's my gas money? But in all seriousness, THANK YOU for reading this and for all your friends (This goes to you guys too – if you like it, where the hell are you? Silence is selfish and unappreciated here.).

FalconFighter1427, 20.07.2020. Ch. 19: Aw, "the story is perfection" I'm tearing up now. Thank you for being there on this ride and for your constant support. Here's a little treat to mellow the Friday.

KarajeJinsta, 20.07.2020. Ch. 1: Ooh, I see you've only recently started this ride. I sincerely hope you enjoy it. My best wishes to you for finishing it.

RainfallMyth, 20.07.2020, Ch. 19: I'm glad that you enjoyed the last chapter. You have been a very loyal reviewer and I couldn't ask for a better reader – thank you so much. Enjoy this little treat.

TheChamp123, 20.07.2020, Ch. 19: And I am extremely satisfied with your review, my friend. I will admit that I did have the itch to red wedding everything. For about two weeks, I was pondering with the idea of killing Ares via Maul and then have his grieving widow/girlfriend and sister find solace in each other and become lesbians, but then I thought "I'm gonna be tracked and killed by my readers if I do that". So for my own safety, this is the ending you get. Enjoy the little treat to cure the Friday blues and I'll see you, my apprentice, when you have a question to ask.

TragicFiction, 20.07.2020, Ch. 19: I'm very happy to hear that you enjoyed every bit of it. Your idea about Ahsoka becoming a Jedi Master is wonderful – have you thought of writing it? I'd be happy to beta read for you. Enjoy this final treat.

DojoYoyo (Guest), 20.07.2020, Ch. 19: I've got a present for you, DojoYoyo (hands little explosive epilogue). Enjoy the peace and this little treat.

Xxnike575xX, 20.07.2020, Ch. 19: Buddy, you have such a beautiful way with words. I did steal the previous chapter from an art gallery and do you know what else? I stole this little epilogue from the same place too. Questions from before being answered in the final chapter? That's what writing a good story arc entails – I'm sorry that you've been brought up otherwise. It's not mind-reading because it was all planned. I didn't leave any cliff-hangers or questions because there will be no sequel – at least as far as I can see (who knows? maybe next year's exams will have me so bored that I will procrastinate them with more epic fanfics). If I was to write one, (and I make absolutely no promises because I am exhausted as I post this epilogue), what would you like to read about? I'm glad that you liked Pallas and Lux's relationship. I'm pretty sure Padme died only because of Palpatine – so no danger there now that Palp is dead. I am so happy to hear that you've enjoyed this so much. "Countless hours of entertainment and joy" is another quote for my memoirs. Enjoy this little treat to soothe the Friday blues.

EnderGhost1225, 22.07.2020, Ch. 19: Wow! I'm very glad you found my little story. "The best Star Wars story" that you've found is quite an accomplishment, thank you. What were your favourite parts? Enjoy this little treat and I hope to hear from you soon.

Chapter 20 – Epilogue

Two years later…

The light of Raxus' three moons shone through the window of the Head of State's offices and the fireworks crackled in the skies of Raxulon, though Pallas herself hardly looked at either.

She sat with her back to the fireworks, writing a new bill for the next Parliament session. In her hand was one of her father's old cigars. Pallas was only too happy to deplete his prized, untouchable collection. The Admiral coat that had been her most prized possession was now on a mannequin in a glass case pushed against one of her walls; a reminder to both her guests and herself of a bloodied past. The same sleepless, endless work habits that had characterized the young woman in war had continued into peacetimes too.

"Burning the midnight oil?" the voice made her jolt in surprise. Lux Bonterri stood at the door.

"It's not midnight," she said, though she rubbed her eyes, tiredly. "What can I do for you?"

"I just wanted to see where the Supreme Leader escaped to from her own party," said Lux. He had a drink in his hand.

"I don't like parties," she said. "And besides, it's your party."

For the past two years, Lux had served as the ambassador of the Confederacy to the Republic. It had been the Supreme Leader's strategic masterstroke to both give him what he wanted, which was the ability to ensure peace, and send him far, far away. Now, she had recalled him back home and her Parliament had been ordered to rejoice in his return.

He shook his head. "Let's be fair. They're only celebrating because you made them."

It was no secret to anyone that Lux Bonterri was of a complicated character. He had fought against the Separatists on Onderon and delivered his system into the hands of the Republic, though he'd been banished from his homeworld days before being named ambassador. Everyone also remembered his out-spoken, popular mother and the dubious cause of her death. He did not share his mother's popularity amongst his peers, only the favour of their leader.

"So it would seem that we are both two outsiders of our own party," he said as he walked around the massive desk to be on one side of it, with her, and leaned against it.

"Is there something you wanted, Lux? I'm quite busy," she said. Pallas took a puff of her cigar and her eyes skirted to the bill.

"I think we have to have a very important conversation," he said. He finished the last of his drink and put it down. "Why am I back?"

Pallas instantly tensed. "Are you sure you want to have it now?" she asked, flicking ash into a tray.

"Yes," he said.

"Alright," she said and took a deep breath. She pushed away her bill and extinguished the cigar. "We need to discuss the terms of your service. The clone wars are over and the galaxy is at peace. Your mother's death wish has been achieved. I need to know… what you want now. Where do we stand."

Perhaps unsurprisingly, they worked well together. He was a brilliant politician and negotiator, whilst she was a great leader. He could tell her when she was being too much of a 'general' or too much of a push-over with her fickle senators – a balance that wasn't easy to learn. Sentient relations had always been her weakness. In exchange, she gave him power and the ability to make change, despite their people's mistrust of him.

"Scared I'll go on a rampage and try to assassinate you?" asked Lux in a mocking tone.

"It's not funny," said Pallas, seriously.

"No, I suppose it's not," he said. He remembered both of his foolish attempts of violent revenge and assassinations. He'd been passionate, young and stupid, but he'd learnt his lesson. "…I've decided to forgive you," he said. "You've proven to me that you are truly repentant and you've worked hard to make up for my mother's death. You've kept your word. So, I forgive you."

"… Good for you," said Pallas.

Lux looked at her strangely. "No 'thank you', no feelings of relief?"

"With all due respect, your forgiveness of me is between you and yourself," said Pallas. "Whether I can forgive myself is a different matter entirely. I'm going to carry your mother's death with me until the day I die."

"You make me a bad son," said Lux.

"That's not true," said Pallas.

He was angry now. "So, I can forgive you, but you can't?" asked Lux. "Who do you think you are?" Pallas sighed. "You want to know what I want? You want to know what you can give me so I don't… go on a rampage, as you're so scared of. You can give me old life back. Both of our old lives back!"

Pallas looked at him sadly, her mind racking to remember what their previous life was like before the war. "What life?" she asked. The war and everything she did during it clouded everything.

"Where we were friends, not cold colleagues. Where Dooku and the Dark Lord didn't overshadow everything. Where there was peace both in the galaxy and in your head," he said. "When we were happy."

It was incredible how lonely it could be after a war. There was no one left to trust. He was cut off from his home, his family and his peers. Steela had been furious with him and so were the rest of his Onderon allies. Who could one share their wounds with if not one's close ones?

It had been wise to send him to the Republic's capital. The distance and paradoxically simultaneous constant communication with Pallas had been beneficial. It gave him perspective, space and time. On Coruscant, he'd learnt and grown and thought, but they were all still weary of the Separatist outsider – the formal, Senate-approved spy. It was to be Lux Bonterri's greatest irony that the only person who could understand him was his mother's murderer.

"I'm sorry, Lux," said Pallas. "I can't give you that any more than I can turn back time."

"I'm not asking you to turn back time, damnit!" Lux snarled. Then he checked himself, realising that he had risen his voice. He sighed rubbed his eyes and temple. He'd thought about this subject for so long. "Don't you still love me?"

"You're drunk, Lux," Pallas said instantly, barely letting him finish the sentence. "I think it's time you went home. We'll finish this conversation later." She reached for the control panel. "I'll call my guards to take you home."

He grabbed her wrist and stopped her from pressing the button. "You're very good at… compartmentalizing, aren't you? Distancing feelings from purpose. Being completely focused on one thing and putting everything else to the side. It's… infuriating. Isn't it time we were both happy? Don't we both deserve it? We could make each other happy."

"We'd never be happy," said Pallas, sternly. "I'd always be the person who murdered your mother whilst we made love. And you will always hold that against me."

"And I've decided to forgive you for it," he said. "I understand why you had to do it. I've had a lot of time, Pal. I kriffing forgive you!"

"Forgiven, not forgotten," she amended.

"What will it take?" asked Lux. Pallas was silent, watching his grey gaze fearfully.

She didn't remember leaning in. It must have been him, but whoever started it, they were suddenly in a violent kiss, wrapped in one another's arms. Angry red gashes scraped on both of their necks and their lips were raw. He tasted of whiskey and parchment, she tasted like the smell a blaster made when it was fired. "What will it take?" he whispered against her lips, before kissing her again, even more ravenously. "Answer me," he said as she kissed her neck. She growled in the back of her throat. She should have pushed him away, but instead her fingers went into his silky hair and pulled him onto her lips. There was hunger and year long yearning that needed to be satiated.

A hologram buzz interrupted them and broke them apart in a guilt jolt. Pallas answered it immediately, not caring who it was. She needed time to think and she couldn't think on Lux's lips.

The blue holograms of her special droid unit commander and Obi-Wan Kenobi appeared before her. The droid gave her a customary salute and Obi-Wan inclined his head a little.

"We have good news, general. We've found and secured the target," said Obi-Wan. He was wrapped in a Jedi robe and a weary, tired look was on his face. Pallas had hired him for this job and he'd worked tirelessly to complete it.

"The target is located on the planet of Mustafa. What are your orders, Supreme Leader?" asked the droid commander.

"Excellent," said Pallas, instinctually the general. "I'll uh… I'll send a special task force to your position immediately." She switched off the hologram and grabbed her keys. "We'll have to continue this conversation later, ambassador. Something vital has come up." She walked past him, avoiding his steely, vulnerable gaze.

"And we're back to formality and running away," he said, rolling his eyes. His hand smoothed his ruffled hair.

"This is important," she said.

He gave her a look saying that he didn't buy it. "I would have thought that two years was enough for you to think about it. It has certainly been enough for me," he said. "If you need me, you'll know where to find me, Supreme Leader."

The door of the offices shut behind her and her squadron of loyal Magna guard droids were on her heels. She politely nodded to any senators and politicians that saluted her in the hallways, but her mind was too busy to notice the form of Anakin Skywalker trailing behind,

"Escaping your own party?" Skywalker asked. He had followed the rushing young woman and her billowing robes to the ship bay.

"I have some important business to take care of," she said brusquely. "I'm sure your wife misses you, Skywalker. Don't keep her waiting."

"My wife sent me to make sure you're alright, general, and to escort you if you're leaving the safety of the capital," said Skywalker.

Pallas sighed loudly. Being a Head of State entailed a certain feeling of… suffocation that had not been present when she was a general. Her father never seemed to suffer under this pressure, but she had often wondered if Palpatine had languished in this… patronizing helplessness. Everyone had to know where she was at all times. A suitable bodyguard was supposed to be with her at all times. She was supposed to be reachable at all times. It shouldn't have bothered her – she had been raised under similar constraints after all – but it did. It was like being a mother to a million, needy, greedy children.

She briefly thought about her next destination. An ex-Jedi warrior wouldn't be terrible idea. "Fine," she said. "Don't crash my ship, Skywalker."

[][][]

Bail Organa had chosen his ambassador wisely too. Padme Amidala had been more than happy to work towards peace, even if her husband was sceptical about her being surrounded by so many Separatists and droids. A sector of Raxulon had been transformed into a Republic embassy. Clones patrolled the sector and Republic law was enforced within those walls. The ambassador's apartments overlooked the sun-kissed city.

Ares of Serenno sat on the marble floor of the luxury apartment, looking at the shining moons of his homeworld. He took a deep breath, savouring the moment. He found it quite ironic that after the whole war, Anakin Skywalker was raising his family in the Separatist capital.

"Come on, Leia. Come to Auntie Snips," Ahsoka's voice brought his attention back. The Togruta was sitting on the marble a few feet away from him. She was smiling at a little brunette girl and stretching her hands out to her.

The toddler in question stood on wobbly little legs and made timid steps forward. Her brother was napping on the silk couch behind Ares' head, already exhausted by his two babysitters. They'd both only recently learnt how to walk and the art was still quite confusing. The Skywalker twins had been born the day after the peace treaty was officially ratified. A month premature, but they were healthy and so was the mother. It had been a family joke that they had waited for the peace to finally be born. The first of a new generation who wouldn't know the horror of the clone war. They were the new hope of the galaxy.

"Sips!" she giggled adorably and fell into the embrace. Ares amused himself by briefly imagining the shock and betrayal when she'd learn that "Snips" or "Sips" wasn't her aunt's real name.

"Atta girl, Leia," said Ahsoka. "Now go to Uncle Shiny!" she said, pointing at Ares who stretched out his own arms to welcome her.

"Come to the dark side, Leia," said Ares, grinning. The little Skywalker whimpered and huddled into the Togruta's warm and safe embrace.

"Great," deadpanned Ahsoka, as she stroked the girl's head. "You scared her."

"I'm only trying to seduce her," said Ares, rolling his eyes. "Fine, I'll bring cookies next time."

"When you say stuff like that it really makes me wonder how they trust us to babysit," said Ahsoka, looking at the child in her arms. Padme had to attend a party at the Confederate Parliament and Anakin, never one to trust Separatists easily, went with her.

"Why do you think Skywalker assigned both of us for this…" said Ares, gesturing to the child, "mission."

"I keep thinking that they're trying to hint something," said Ahsoka. She looked at Leia who stared back at her. "Subtlety is not your dad's strong suit, is it, little one?"

Ares looked at the little girl in Ahsoka's arms. He took on a pale colour.

"What's wrong?" asked Ahsoka.

"I'd be a terrible father," said Ares.

"Why would you think that?" asked Ahsoka.

"I don't… exactly have a great family history," said Ares.

"And that matters because…?" asked Ahsoka. "Enlighten me and this young lady." Ahsoka put her chin on the top of the toddler's head. Leia was staring at him with wide curious brown eyes.

"Wait. You're not… are you?" he asked suddenly panicked.

"No, Ares," she said and rolled her eyes. "I'm not. If I was, this is not how I would tell you." She stroked Leia's head again. "But you still haven't answered our question, Uncle Shiny."

"Kids in my family tend to…" Ares made a sign of his neck being slit open, "their parents."

"Only the lousy parents," said Ahsoka.

"Which I inevitably will be," said Ares. "Can we not talk about this right now?"

Ahsoka sighed. "Fine," said Ahsoka. "But let me say one thing and then we won't talk about it: you're more than your father's son. That's all." She looked at the toddler in her arms. "Go give Uncle Shiny a hug, Leia. He's not so scary, is he? He looks like he needs a hug." The little toddler was strangely obedient to the Togruta and strode cautiously over to her uncle's equally strong and warm arms.

"I hope they'll never have to fight in a war," he said, as he held the toddler. "I hope they don't become child-soldiers."

Ahsoka smiled at him. "Yeah, me too," she said.

It had been two years and neither of them could sleep well. Nightmares plagued both of them. Ares dreamt of Pompeii and Dooku and Mortis. Ahsoka would toss and turn until he shook her awake and then tell him about Kalifa and Barriss and the villagers of Karlac. Not to mention the hundreds, thousands of clones, named or numbered, that also haunted them. Above all, the Dark Lord of the Sith reserved a special place in their nightmares.

It occurred to Ares just then that Skywalker didn't ask them to babysit for their own pleasure. No doubt the Chosen One felt much more at ease to leave his children under their protection. Ares shook his head and reached out his hand to touch Luke's foot, just to make sure he hadn't vanished into thin air.

It was hard to survive a war.

"Funny. 14-year-old you would vehemently disagree," he said. Then he heightened his pitch and did an impression of her. "I'm not too young, master! Stop calling me youngling! My kill count is double my age!"

Ahsoka smiled, humourlessly. "Bold of you to assume my kill count was only double my age," she said.

"Case in point," said Ares.

"If my memory serves me right then you weren't much better," Ahsoka said with a grin. Her voice lowered and gave an imitation of him. "The Jedi Order sucks. My sister sucks. Coruscant sucks. Obi-Wan and Anakin suck. The love of my life is a celibate Jedi, which sucks." Her impression amused Leia who erupted into a bout of giggles.

"Great role model you are. Very mature," he said, stroking the toddler's head with his gold-copper prosthetic, before they both smirked and broke into laughter.

[][][]

They touched down on a landing platform on the planet of Mustafa where a few Separatist ships and droid squadrons were already waiting for them. Anakin finished the landing cycle and turned to the co-pilot seat where Pallas was staring at the fiery, hellish landscape.

"I can feel the shadow of the dark side here," said Skywalker. "What are you here for?"

"Palpatine's secret lair," she said as she stood up. "It's finally been found."

Skywalker followed her, muttering questions until his eyes landed on his former master, who had come to greet them. "Master? What are you doing here?"

Obi-Wan crooked an eyebrow at his former student. "This is the special task force? You brought Anakin?"

"And myself. I had a spare evening. Skywalker is on loan," Pallas amended. "Now, where is it?"

"Follow me," said Obi-Wan. He led them into the depths of the anti-gravity station. The heat was stifling even with the cooling ducts. Pallas noticed both Jedi tense at the pulsating darkness. "Your droids are searching through the computers to find… anything we don't already know, but I've discovered something that you might find interesting." He pushed open a door and revealed a laboratory.

It was a wide, bright room not unlike The Laboratory Pallas had built for Dr. Vindi two years ago to restore her brother's memories. Grotesque cleavers and forceps curled around a massive operating table. Palpatine's med droids had been fitted with retraining bolts by Pallas' battle units.

"Impressive, but what's so special about it?" asked Pallas.

"This," said Obi-Wan and led them to the inventory, opening its doors to reveal the instruments of the Dark Lord.

It was Anakin's eyes that widened most as he realised what Obi-Wan had dug out. An entire inventory of prosthetic lungs and pipes, breathing tubes, metallic prosthetics, skin replacements were laid out, ready for an operation. A breathing diagnostics box was there, inactivated. Most horrifically of all was the black mask that looked like a skull. Its red eyes glared angrily at the three of them, promising vengeance and pain for being forbidden its true devastating potential. It made their stomach's clench to see all these tools of evil.

Skywalker reached out and picked up the black visor with trembling hands. "W—who..?" was all he could ask, but he already knew.

"The Dark Lord's plan for the Chosen One," said Obi-Wan. Against his best interests, he had become an expert on Palpatine's plots the past year or so.

"Your final slave chains," said Pallas.

Anakin crushed the visor in his hands with his bare hands. The shards fell on the floor, shattered and broken. The last plans of the Dark Lord of the Sith destroyed.

I couldn't resist writing a little epilogue. I needed it to be a round 20, not 19. Hope you all enjoyed it.

PLEASE leave a REVIEW!