"There are no secrets that time does not reveal"

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Chapter Thirty-Two

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Translations

Othanian

Neod - Another term of endearment translating roughly to 'Honey' or 'Babe'

Mando'a

Mand'alor - One true leader

Adenn Cabur - Fearless Protector

Ad'ika - Term of endearment for children

Buir - Parent

vod(e) - Sibling (s)

Vode - preferred name for the clones

~*~

"Padawan, it's been so long since we've spent time together. I realize you have responsibilities to attend to, but perhaps if you were able to spare some time..."

Plo Koon looked so hopeful to be able to spend time with you that you were determined to make it work. There wasn't much on your schedule for the day. You were supposed to oversee some military training and you had a meeting concerning some of the relief efforts the former New Mandalorians were heading, but both things weren't urgent. The only thing that would be difficult to reschedule was your meeting with Din Djarin. You had been meeting with him periodically over the past several weeks, trying to gauge his potential, his mental state, and his interest in your family. The Force was pushing the two of you together, but you would not force him to be a part of your life if he wished to accept one of the other adoption offers that had been given to him over his time on Mandalore.

"I'd be more than happy to meet with you, Plo. Is this for fun or is this a mission you're dragging me on?"

"I'm afraid it's the latter, but based on what I've been hearing from my sons this might be a mission that interests you. It's extremely confidential and the Council is unaware of your involvement."

"Well, well, Master. It seems my rebellion is rubbing off on you," you teased. In reality, you couldn't take full credit for the constant rebellion of the Council members. Since the war had begun, upholding Jedi traditions and rules had become extremely lax in favor of simply surviving. You hoped some of those rules could be abolished someday. Currently, you and Obi-Wan were working on a proposal together, but such things would have to come later. Right now you have too many other things to focus on, "Can I bring Barriss with me?"

"I am quite certain this mission will be dangerous, but that is up to your discretion."

Due to your new position, you felt like you had been neglecting Barriss and the rest of your family as of late. All of you still spoke often, and you trained with Barriss whenever you had spare time, but ruling a planet just coming off the brink of Civil War took up most of your time.

You missed the others. You would have to plan something to be able to see them soon. Your husband and your children needed you, and you needed them. This war had put wedges between all of you and every day you felt the Dark Side nipping at the edges of your mind, searching for weakness in order to convince you once and for all to use your full power.

Whatever this was, this war, this battle between the Light and Dark Side, the end was near. You felt it every time you meditated or sunk into the Force. The Dark Side was preparing to make its final bid for power, and the Light was desperately trying to keep up. The end of this was dependent on you and your family. This battle for balance began thirteen years ago, and every action you and your family took had changed the course of it. Now, however, the chips were down.

So you'd have to reschedule your meeting with Din in order to go with Plo on his mission, praying to the Force that you were making the right choice.

"Where would you like to meet?"

"I'm sending the coordinates now, it's a distress signal from a ship believed to belong to Master Sifo-Dyas."

Letting out a shocked breath, you nodded and ended the call. Clik had been working non-stop on the fried chip extracted from Tup's brain but it was slow going. Tup himself remembered almost nothing of what happened. You knew it was all leading back to the Sith behind this war, and that somehow the Chancellor was involved but you didn't know how.

Because you didn't have the answers you needed, you turned to what you did know. The clones had programming installed that urged them to kill all Jedi, and it had to be removed. Your family had been discreetly spreading the word to all medics in the GAR, with Cody giving the order to operate at any given chance on any clone(s) available to remove the chips for good. It was slow going as many battalions were in the middle of battles, but slowly yet surely the clones were being freed of the chips, with the Senate and Order being none the wiser for the time being.

"Korkie, report in, how goes the extraction process?"

"Sixty percent complete, Commander Cody reports that all clones currently working in the field should be clear within the next two months."

Two months was too long, but there was nothing else you could do without potentially drawing attention to the issue, "Good, keep track of that."

Moving onto your next call, you asked Barriss to meet you at your normal ship, contacted Jango and Bo-Katan to let them know you would be off planet for the time being, and also contacted the caretakers currently treating Din and let them know you would have to reschedule your meeting due to an emergency.

You explained the situation to Barriss on the way, answering any questions she had over the course of the flight - and she had a lot of them. About Sifo-Dyas, the war, the clone's creation, all of them questions you yourself had looked for answers to. Some you had found, some you were still searching for. While Barriss had returned to the Light Side of the Force, her morality was much more Gray now that she was out of the Order and constantly surrounded by Mandalorians. It was what made you such a great team, and what led to her theories.

"Could the Order itself be involved in the war? Especially if Sifo-Dyas was behind the creation of the Clones?"

Shaking your head, you pressed the button that would send your ship's identification up to Plo's battle cruiser, guiding the ship up to the landing bay, "The Council had no idea about the clones, they were made without their consent. They're deeply involved with the Senate, but not the war, trust me. I'm more concerned about other people in power and their part."

Although both of you wanted to continue this conversation, you quieted as you landed. It wouldn't do good to theorize about the faults of the Council on a Council member's ship. Exiting first, you were greeted immediately with a tight hug from Wolffe.

"Nice to see you too," you grunted, hearing your back crack. His helmet was off and you could see that his hair was still growing back after his operation, although it was nearly the same length at this point. Many of the other vode around you kept their helmets on, meaning their surgeries were still fresh, "How goes it?"

Immediately picking up on what you were truly asking, Wolffe replied, "It's all good, Mand'alor, thanks to you. The General is already on the drop ship, I offered to walk you and the ad'ika there. Unless Barriss is planning on bombing us again?"

Lips thinning, Barriss uncomfortably replied, "I wasn't planning on it, Commander."

"Good, let's go then," Wolffe led the two of you across the hangar to the large drop ship you'd be taking down to the planet the signal came from, "Buir, (Y/n)'s here."

Turning away from the group he was conversing with, your former master's tone was full of warmth as he greeted you, "Padawan! How lovely to see you again, and I see you brought along your student as well. Welcome to the lineage, Barriss."

Bring your Master into a hug, you replied, "Neither of us is a part of the Order anymore, Master. I'm afraid we don't count as lineage."

"You may not be Order members, but you are still my family," there was no room for argument in Plo's tone so you didn't even try. Barriss seemed pleasantly surprised by Plo's easy acceptance, used to the harsh stares and glares of the Order and vode alike. It was, admittedly, well-deserved after what she did, but to be given a chance was more impactful than anything else, "The area we are landing in is currently experiencing a sand-storm, so it won't be much fun, but that's not why I brought you here."

"Why did you invite us here, Master?" The ship jerked, signaling take off.

"I notice when my boys are acting strange, so finding out about their surgeries was inevitable. This entire war has nearly destroyed the Order, but to hear that those we have come to see as family were created to destroy us... it was unthinkable. Sifo-Dyas was reportedly the Jedi to order their creation, if searching his ship can bring us more answers then I wanted you to be there with me. It is my understanding you have been investigating this for a long time on your own, not even involving your husband or children. I want you to know that you are not alone, (Y/n)."

"We stand behind you, Adenn Cabur," Wolffe pressed his fist over his heart and bowed his head, every other clone in the area doing the same.

You'd held many titles in your life. Padawan, Knight, Master, Royal, and now Mand'alor. But Adenn Cabur was the one you were most proud of because you were gifted that name thanks to your good deeds, not because of your strength. To hear the Vode use it now, assuring you that they would stand by you... you felt your eyes growing watery.

"Thank you," you got out, deeply bowing to all of them, "I will get to the bottom of this with your help and end this war before any more are lost, I swear it."

Morale and energy were high as the ship landed and all of you rolled out either on foot or in different vehicles in search of the distress beacon. You and Barriss were stationed in a tank with Wolffe and Plo to watch the monitors as they attempted to narrow down where exactly the signal was originating from.

"All of our information pinpoints it here."

"I don't know what to tell you, Ser. We're getting no visual, and no recognition on the scanner."

"We must locate the source of the signal, Commander. Press on."

"Wait. I think I've found something. It's very faint, Ser."

"That is it."

The order was given to halt the vehicles and you quickly pulled on a cloak and raised the hood, being sure Barriss did the same before heading out into the storm. A helmet would have been much nicer, but the armorers were still working on a design that could incorporate beskar without harming your Force abilities.

"The hull shows substantial scoring and wear. Whenever it crashed, it wasn't recently."

"General Plo, the scans check out. It's a T-6 shuttle, all right, serial number 775519."

Plo reached down and picked up what looked to be a lightsaber, the design was old, and from the same time Sifo-Dyas would have been a Padawan. This truly was his ship, "I want the entire area cleared. We're taking everything back to Coruscant."

"Everything?"

"Everything! (Y/n), I must go contact the Council."

"Understood, Barriss and I will stay here and look around a bit more."

Wolffe stayed behind with you to provide light from his helmet and you walked around the damaged hull in search for clues as to what happened.

"Could it have been an attack?" Barriss asked, motioning to the large hole in the hull, "That could have been caused by something other than hitting the surface."

Humming, you ran your hand over the controls to see if they would turn on, "It's a possibility. But Sifo-Dyas was extremely unstable at the end of his life. That's why he created the army in the first place. Jedi record states he died on Felucia during a mission."

Brows furrowing, Bariss stated the obvious, "This isn't Felucia."

"No, it isn't."

You struggled to find anything of substance in the ruins of the ship and concluded that the Jedi would have to look into it themselves and perhaps have someone like Quinlan look into it with their abilities to see what you couldn't.

By the time you made it back to the tank, Plo had finished speaking with the Council. He seemed troubled by something.

"What is it, Master?"

"As you know Sifo-Dyas was reported to have died on Felucia, but his body was never recovered and the files were sealed by the office of the Chancellor. I have been asked to speak to those who interacted with Sifo-Dyas before he died to hopefully follow the trail. I will need to return to Coruscant, I'm afraid. However, Obi-Wan and Anakin are investigating further."

"I'll ask them to let me tag along with them. Thank you for this, Master. I have a feeling this is a very important piece that we have been missing."

After a brief return to Mandalore, Obi-Wan and Anakin told you that they were being sent to the Pyke planet that the moon you found the ship on was orbiting. Apparently, Sifo-Dyas and another unnamed Jedi were on a mission there before going to Felucia. This time you had Barriss stay on Mandalore before leaving to join them. It had been a long mission, but necessary as you felt as though you wouldn't make much progress in your investigation without it.

"Long time no see your majesty," Anakin teased light-heartedly as you met them on the same landing pad at the base of the Pyke's operations.

"Oh please, I wouldn't call leading a group of dangerous warriors 'majestic'," you rolled your eyes, sharing a warm look with Obi-Wan. It had been a month since you'd seen each other in person due to your separate duties, and the separation had been difficult for both of you. Even though you were now on a mission, the two of you would enjoy being in each other's presence all the same.

The Pykes were a nasty group, focused on drug running and sometimes slavery. While current Mandalorian operations were focused on the Hutts, your generals were currently discussing taking out the big drug traders next and inputting some of your more trusted advisors to take over. Attempting to completely shut down the drug trades would never be possible and would create a power vacuum, but assuming control of them and inputting better policies was your best option.

"I cannot remember the last time a Jedi came here. Many years it has been. And for the new Mand'alor to grace me with their presence, this is a surprise."

"We've come in search of a Jedi that got lost here," Obi-Wan shifted so his body was slightly blocking you. You were more than capable of handling the Pykes, especially now that you were a member of two Imperial families, but Obi-Wan's protective instincts would never fade, "His name is Sifo-Dyas."

"Oh, the Jedi Sifo-Dyas was here, but that was a long time ago."

"Master Sifo-Dyas' ship was found, crashed on a moon orbiting this world."

"What you found, we know nothing of. Would the Jedi and Mand'alor like to join us for a refreshment?"

Anakin opened his mouth to refuse but Obi-Wan interrupted, "The Pykes' offer is kindly accepted."

A Twi'lek slave brought over a drink for each of you. You all took them but made no move to actually consume them. Obi-Wan's eyes narrowed in on a necklace the Pyke leader was wearing, it looked vaguely familiar but you couldn't place your finger on why.

"What an interesting necklace that is. May I have a look?"

"Perhaps the Pykes have taken enough of the Jedi's time."

"Oh, no, no. It's no bother at all. The Jedi are happy to know all the Pykes' secrets."

Anakin lifted his hand and summoned the necklace from around the leader's neck into his hand. Immediately two guards were pointing blasters at you, but they were of little concern.

"We have no quarrel with the Jedi," the leader claimed.

"Maybe you should tell us why you're wearing the crest of the Chancellor's personal advisor," Anakin held up the necklace. That was why it was familiar, of course! It was the symbol of Chancellor Valorum. You were young when he was in office but had interacted with his staff enough to have the piece stuck in your brain forever.

"I am confused. Is the Jedi looking for a Jedi Master or someone else?"

"Stop playing games! Sifo-Dyas was traveling with an advisor. They were sent here to negotiate with you."

The leader chuckled, unconcerned that all of you knew the truth, "Well, it looks like you have finally put the pieces together. The man you are looking for is here."

All of you shared confused glances. All records pointed to Chancellor Valorum's advisor having been killed on this mission when negotiations went south, with Sifo-Dyas being killed immediately after on his side mission. However, instead of leading you to a tomb, the Pyke leader led all of you to the planet's detention center.

They kept him alive, you stated the obvious in the Soul Bond.

Yes, the question is why, especially after all these years. An advisor to Valorum would have no power in the current Senate, Obi-Wan rubbed his hand over his beard.

"The Pykes wanted to gain an advantage over the other crime families, so alliances were made. One alliance was with a man named Tyranus."

"I've heard that name before. Jango Fett mentioned it during my Kamino investigation."

Tyranus is a Sith name, you sent into the bond, Just like Sidious. The two must have been working together to take down Sifo-Dyas, but why?

He had a lot of visions, right? Anakin asked, Maybe he was getting too close to revealing that the Sith had returned and had to be taken out

A good hypothesis, Anakin

"Tyranus wanted Sifo-Dyas dead. The Pykes were well-paid to shoot down his ship. However, any man that is willing to pay to have a Jedi killed is dangerous and unpredictable. The Pykes inspected the crash to retrieve the Jedi's body for proof. But with the dead Jedi, the Pykes found another, still alive."

"Silman, the Chancellor's aide?"

"The Pykes gave Tyranus Sifo-Dyas, but the Pykes did not tell Tyranus of Silman. The Pykes needed insurance."

Brows furrowing, you looked at the door you had stopped in front of, "Insurance?"

"Yes, and now the Pykes can bargain. We give you Silman. You forget about the Pykes' treachery against the Jedi."

The door opened and the three of you entered the dark detention block. The room was dark, with only dim light coming in from the skylight. It wasn't easy to see anything in there, much less Silman.

"Hello?" Obi-Wan called out.

"Who's there?" A weak voice hesitantly called out.

"We are Jedi sent to find you."

"Jedi?" Solemn popped up from behind the control panel at the center of the room. His hair and beard were long and unkempt, as were his clothes. There was madness in his eyes. So many years spent in isolation must have damaged his mind beyond repair. You were filled with pity at the sight, as he had gotten involved in a battle much bigger than himself by pure coincidence.

"Jedi? To find me? Why me? I was betrayed, forgotten long ago."

"No one knew you were alive," Anakin stated blandly.

Silman cautiously moved out from behind the machinery, "Maybe you have some food. Have you... have you any food?"

Reaching into one of the pockets on his belt, Anakin pulled out a rations bar, "Of course."

Silman was quick to snatch it up, staring at the bland bar like it was ambrosia, "Thank you, my friend. A supply bar! Delicious. You see, I was so frightened I would have nothing to serve."

"Serve?"

"My babies, they get so angry when I have nothing to serve."

Leaning In close, Anakin whispered, "We might have a problem here."

"Let me take the lead," you whispered back, "As much as I love you, Anakin, you're too blunt. Silman, many years ago when you were free, you traveled with Sifo-Dyas. What happened?"

Laughing, Silman replied, "Sifo-Dyas? He died. Died, died, died, died. Tricked, we were. The Pykes are not to be trusted. But the Pykes were not the ones. No, no, the Pykes were not the reason."

"Who was responsible?"

"Someone powerful, someone who wanted to be Sifo-Dyas."

"Why?"

"All is deception. Can't you see? Because- because," the Dark Side shifted around you as Silman was lifted into the air, struggling for breath as his hands clutched at his throat. He died incredibly fast, likely weak from his years of imprisonment, and there was nothing you could do to stop it.

Spinning around and pulling out your original saber - the Dark Saber was for Mandalorian business only, you decided early on - you scowled at the sight of Count Dooku.

Anakin was just as upset as you were to see his face, "Dooku. For once, you actually came to do your own dirty work."

"Sometimes things are just that important."

The three of you struck, the fight leading out into the hallway where there was much more space to battle. Dooku led the three of you out onto the landing pads, more open space but also much more dangerous due to the height of the detention center.

Dooku had once been one of the most talented swordsmen in the order, and that had not changed with his Fall. Even three against one, with all of your power it was still a struggle. Dooku wasn't trying to harm any of you either, all of his strikes were simply to redirect you- he didn't come here expecting a battle, that much was clear.

From the door on either side of the pad, Pyke guards spilled out with their blasters raised, "You have no business left with the Pykes, Tyranus."

Your heart dropped. It had been in front of your face the entire time but you were too blind to see it. Count Dooku was the Sith Lord Tyrannus. He had ordered the death of his once dear friend Sifo-Dyas. Likely for Sidious. Everything here was connected, there was just one piece you were missing and you felt like an idiot for not knowing what it was already.

"Tyranus?" Obi-Wan's voice nearly broke as the dark deeds of his Grandmaster crashed down upon him. Of course, he was already aware of the death and destruction Dooku incurred everywhere he went, but to be the direct cause of one of his dearest friends? "You are the man called Tyranus?"

"I told you everything you needed to know on Geonosis all those years ago, Kenobi. You should have joined me. Both of you should have. Sifo-Dyas understood. He saw the future. That is why he helped me."

"You lie. Minister Lom, if you are going to help us, now is the time."

"Kill Tyranus!"

It was a free for all from that moment on. The Pyke guards were easily taken care of by Dooku with several clever uses of the Force, and he stopped to kill Minister Lom on the way. He stepped off the platform and easily landed on a transport ship.

"I'll give you a push," Obi-Wan offered Anakin, assisting him onto the moving ship with the Force.

"He told us that the Sith was in the Senate on Geonosis," you reminded Obi-Wan, watching as Anakin and Dooku battled.

"He did."

"They're still in the Senate, powerful enough to keep this war going and smart enough to keep their power all this time despite the conflict. If what Dooku said is true, and Sifo-Dyas and he were working together, that means the clones- the chips."

"The clones were created to destroy the Jedi Order, the chips weren't just a failsafe," Obi-Wan was pale as he whispered that revelation, "How goes the operations?"

"Seventy percent complete, we're going as fast as possible and ran into some issues with getting the Guard time off to receive the operation, but we're going our best. If we don't complete these surgeries soon..."

"It will be our doom. I have a terrible feeling about this, (Y/n)."

Nodding along, you ran a hand over your face, "I need to contact my people and let them know there's an opening in the Syndicate powers we should take advantage of. Will you and Anakin be alright?"

"We'll report what we discovered to the Council, though I doubt much will be done," Obi-Wan frowned, "I feel like so little is done these days, and every day we wait or try to hide away from the truth is another day closer to the destruction of the Order."

Anakin was climbing up the side of the building to get back to the platform. The Pykes were scrambling to fill the vacancy of power left by Minister Lom's death. The war was in year three and showed no signs of slowing down unless you did something. The pieces of the puzzle were finally coming together to form a clear picture.

You stood side by side with your husband in the chaos of the universe, knowing that all of this was far from over, but embracing this moment of strange peace all the same. The two of you would have to go your separate ways again soon, back to the front of the war or leading your planet, but for now, you were together.

"Are you really going to insert yourself as a drug lord?" Obi-Wan asked, breaking the tentative silence.

"You ruined the moment, neod."

"Apologies, my dear, but I had to ask."