Part Eight: The Jedi, the Witch, and the Warlord

The protagonists are in a race against time, endeavoring to thwart Grand Admiral Thrawn's departure.

Morgan Elsbeth informs Grand Admiral Thrawn at the Great Mothers' Fortress on Peridea that the cargo has been successfully transferred. Subsequently, Thrawn instructs Enoch, the captain of Thrawn's guards, to maneuver the Eye of Sion from high orbit so that the linking sequence can commence. Captain Enoch informs Thrawn that their com-scan indicates they've pinpointed the location of Ahsoka Tano's Jedi shuttle. Thrawn commands Enoch to deploy two TIE fighters, authorizing engagement should they locate their target.

Enoch bows and departs. Elsbeth suggests that the Jedi possess limited means to impede their progress. Thrawn cautions against underestimating the Jedi, recounting instances where Imperial officers made similar misjudgments concerning the Rebellion. Thrawn concedes that he once fell prey to the actions of a single Jedi and pledges to prevent a recurrence.

Thrawn expresses gratitude to the Great Mothers for their advantageous partnership. In response, the Mothers extend their appreciation to Thrawn and Elsbeth. They then summon Elsbeth, offering her the "gift of shadows." Upon Elsbeth's acceptance, they request her allegiance to the sisterhood, the magicks, and the "old ways." Following Elsbeth's affirmation, they inquire if she is prepared to relinquish her former existence. Elsbeth vows her life and unwavering loyalty. Klothow places her hands upon Elsbeth's forehead, causing her eyes to illuminate. Subsequently, the three Mothers channel their powers to conjure the Blade of Talzin, bestowing the sword upon Elsbeth, who grasps it, causing it to glow with a green hue. Thrawn observes as the klaxons sound and two TIE fighters launch from the Chimaera's hangar.

Meanwhile, the Jedi shuttle hovers above the Noti caravan. Within Tano's shuttle, Ezra Bridger, aided by Huyang, is in the process of assembling his new lightsaber. Bridger considers the blade emitter to be too narrow, but Huyang asserts his greater experience. Bridger emphasizes the urgency of pursuing Thrawn, but Huyang insists on proceeding with care. Bridger rummages through Huyang's workspace, prompting the droid to express his annoyance and emphasize his organized system. Bridger retorts that he too has a system, prompting Huyang to voice disagreement.

When Huyang inquires about Bridger's lightsaber construction instructor, Sabine Wren mentions Kanan Jarrus. Bridger clarifies that Jarrus was his master, imparting all his Jedi knowledge. Huyang counters that he was the one who taught Jarrus how to construct a lightsaber. Huyang then recalls instructing every Jedi youngling within the Jedi Temple, including his late master Jarrus. Huyang remembers Caleb Dume as intelligent, inquisitive, and reserved due to the turbulent times. When Bridger asks about Huyang's age, the droid responds that he is sufficiently old to understand that it can be both demanding and significant.

Huyang presents Bridger with a lightsaber blade emitter, explaining that it was a spare intended for Jarrus. Huyang suggests that Bridger should possess it, given his status as Jarrus' Padawan. Bridger activates the blue-bladed lightsaber, earning Huyang's approval. Before Bridger can practice with Wren, he notices that she has left the room.

When Bridger inquires about Wren's relationship with Tano, Huyang explains that the older Jedi grew concerned that Wren was training with ulterior motives following the Great Purge of Mandalore, which took place at the conclusion of the Galactic Civil War. The Purge resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands, including members of Wren's family. At the time, Tano feared that Wren's full potential could render her dangerous.

Wren exits the Jedi shuttle's docking rig and discovers Tano meditating on the hull. When Tano asks if she is content, Wren responds that she is relieved. Tano acknowledges that Wren's gamble was successful, and Wren realizes that she is aware of her agreement with Baylan Skoll. When Wren mentions that she succeeded in finding Bridger, Tano suggests that it might not have occurred had she made a different decision. Wren apologizes for not destroying the star map, but Tano understands her motivations.

Wren observes that Tano is not angry. Tano explains that she has made her share of difficult choices over the years. Most individuals, with the exception of her late master Anakin Skywalker, failed to comprehend her reasoning. Tano states that Skywalker supported her when no one else did. Tano pledges to remain with Wren regardless of future events. Tano then asks Wren if she has maintained her training. Wren reluctantly admits to improving her control over her lightsaber. Tano informs Wren that being a Jedi extends beyond lightsaber combat. She advises the Mandalorian to cultivate her mind and body, and to place her trust in the Force.

Shortly thereafter, Bridger emerges from the docking rig, brandishing his new lightsaber. At that moment, the two Imperial TIE fighters approach the Jedi shuttle and strafe the ship's hull, damaging the ship's stabilizers. While Bridger and Tano leap onto the grassy plains, Wren joins Huyang in the cockpit.

Bridger and Tano employ their Force abilities to stabilize the ship, allowing the Noti underneath to evacuate. The TIE fighters execute a second pass, bombarding a Noti caravan. Wren persuades Huyang to initiate the engines for a direct assault on the TIEs. The Jedi shuttle collides with them, causing the starfighters to crash onto the grassy plains. A Noti celebrates, but the Jedi shuttle executes a belly landing nearby. Huyang and Wren evacuate the ship. While the Noti tend to their wounded and deceased, Bridger comments that this will delay them. Tano retorts that it will only do so if they allow it.

Back at the fortress, Enoch informs Thrawn that the TIEs engaged the Jedi shuttle before losing contact. Despite the loss of the TIEs, Thrawn deems this an acceptable outcome and recommends their captain for a commendation. Enoch complies before presenting Thrawn with the coordinates of the skirmish on the holoprojector. Thrawn asserts that the TIE attack has diminished their enemy's capacity to attack them or depart Peridea. Thrawn then commands Enoch to prepare for an immediate ground assault.

While Huyang and the Noti repair the damaged Jedi shuttle, Tano, Wren, and Bridger ride on howlers to confront Thrawn and his allies. Huyang wishes them the Force's blessings. At the Chimaera, Elsbeth and the Great Mothers bestow blessings upon several Night Troopers prior to the impending ground assault. When Thrawn inquires if the volunteers were informed of the Nightsisters' blessing, Elsbeth affirms that they were and that they were prepared to sacrifice themselves for him. Thrawn states that this is for the Galactic Empire and the security of their galaxy.

The Jedi and Sabine reach the outskirts of the Nightsister fortress just as the Chimaera initiates docking with the Eye of Sion hyperspace transport ring. Bridger realizes that Thrawn intends to take his Star Destroyer with him. When Tano inquires about the repair progress, Huyang replies that he and the Noti are doing their best but can't guarantee anything. When Tano asks Bridger what they are facing, he explains that Thrawn awakened the Great Mothers and rebuilt his warship, making it unsafe for him to come alone. Tano reassures him that he is not alone.

Tano proposes attempting the front entrance while Wren dons her helmet. A navigator droid informs Thrawn, Elsbeth, and Enoch that com-scan is tracking two targets approaching from the north. Thrawn orders his forces to bombard the Jedi and Wren, stating that Skywalker's apprentice is beyond reasoning. As the trio approaches the hyperspace ring, the Chimaera's turbolasers unleash laser fire upon them. Despite the bombardment, the three manage to use their Force powers to open the round stony gate, breaching the fortress.

In the command center, Thrawn orders the deployment of the Night Troopers while informing the Great Mothers. The Night Troopers descend the stairs and converge on the intruders. Sabine and Bridger deflect their blasts with their lightsabers while Wren switches from her lightsaber to her blaster. Working together, they draw out the Night Troopers and cut them down. Meanwhile, the Great Mothers chant in an unknown language and use their Magick to reanimate the fallen Night Troopers. Thrawn observes the ritual.

Tano, Wren, and Bridger battle the undead Night Troopers while advancing upstairs. Despite shooting the Night Troopers, they are not able to stop the undead Imperials. Bridger tells Tano that this is the first time he has encountered this Magick. A Night Trooper grabs Bridger and Wren frees Bridger by impaling the undead Imperial with her lightsaber. The trio manage to escape the undead Imperials by sealing the blast doors. Tano tells Bridger that Wren has been training.

Outside, the Eye of Sion extends clamps onto the Chimaera. Since the Jedi are advancing quickly, Thrawn tells Elsbeth that they require a little more time. Elsbeth says she understands and bows silently. Thrawn says for the Empire. After Thrawn, his soldiers, and the Great Mothers depart, Elsbeth swears she is doing it for Dathomir and exits the Star Destroyer's hangar. Meanwhile, the undead Night Troopers, who were becoming more intelligent, break through the blast doors and rush upstairs. Bridger closes a second blast door with his lightsaber.

The Jedi and Wren encounter Elsbeth inside a large chamber. Tano tells Wren and Bridger to go after Thrawn while she deals with the Nightsister, who is wielding Talzin's sword. After Wren and Bridger circumnavigate Elsbeth, she and Tano engage in a duel. Tano fights with both her lightsabers while Elsbeth fights with her magical sword. Elsbeth puts up a fierce fight. Meanwhile, Bridger and Wren encounter two Death Troopers at the top of the fortress, who gain the upper hand.

Thrawn and the Great Mothers reach the bridge of the Eye of Sion where a navigator droid informs them that their course is locked in. Thrawn gives the orders to depart. While Elsbeth advances on Tano, Wren struggles with the undead Death Trooper, who, despite blasting off part of its helmet and revealing its rotting jaw, removes her helmet and forces her against a pillar with runes. The second Death Trooper, after being stabbed in the chest by Bridger to no effect, throws Him against the floor. While Bridger fights back with his fists, Wren struggles to use the Force to levitate her lightsaber. She uses her lightsaber to skewer the Death Trooper's head, incapacitating it. She then distracts the second Death Trooper long enough for Bridger to behead it with his lightsaber.

Bridger and Wren are unable to reach the Chimaera's hangar in time. Meanwhile, the undead Night Troopers join Elsbeth in her battle against Tano. While two Night Troopers aim their blasters at Bridger and Wren, Wren proposes that she push Bridger and he then pull her onto the Star Destroyer. Bridger thinks this is too far but Wren convinces him to give it a try. Bridger does a Force jump and gets Wren to push him with her latent Force powers. Bridger appears to fall but manages to grab onto a ladder and drags one of the Imperial sentries down. Wren shoots the second sentry.

Before Wren can join Bridger, she is distracted by the sight of her master Tano under attack from the undead Night Troopers. Tano fights with Elsbeth at the peak of the fortress. Elsbeth manages to damage one of her white lightsabers while the Night Troopers converge around them. Elsbeth gains the upper hand and taunts Tano that her friends are dead and that she will die on Peridea alone. Wren disagrees and attacks the Night Troopers with her lightsaber. A reinvigorated Tano resumes the duel. After parrying, she manages to slice Elsbeth across the waist with her remaining lightsaber, killing her. The Great Mothers sense the death of their sister. Thrawn replies that she did her duty.

Meanwhile, Bridger impersonates the fallen Night Trooper LS-757 using his comlink. Tano asks Wren where Bridger is. Wren replies that he is aboard the Chimaera. Meanwhile, Thrawn orders the Star Destroyer's turbolaser batteries to bombard the fortress. The undead Night Troopers pursue Tano and Wren to the edge of a cliff but the two escape on Tano's Jedi shuttle, which Huyang is flying. They fly away as the mountain fortress crumbles.

Tano and Wren join Huyang inside the cockpit and divert power to the engines. They rise into Peridea's upper atmosphere in pursuit of the Eye of Sion and Chimaera. The navigator droid informs Thrawn that the Jedi shuttle is closing in. Thrawn opens a channel to Tano and thanks her for being a worthy opponent. While they have never met face to face, Thrawn says he knows her because he knew her late Master. He concluded that their strategies were similar and wonders what she would have become had she stayed with the Jedi. He opines that a ronin like her belongs on Peridea and says that victory belongs to him. Thrawn says "Long live the Empire" before the Eye of Sion jumps with the Chimaera into the pathway back to their galaxy. The intergalactic hyperspace jump leaves behind a massive surge of energy. Tano and Wren are visibly disappointed at their failure to stop Thrawn from escaping Peridea.

Later Tano and Wren return with their howler steeds, Huyang and their Jedi shuttle to the Noti convoy. The Noti are overjoyed to see their allies return and gather around Tano and Wren. Tano sees Morai in the distance. Meanwhile, Shin Hati rides towards the camp of the Bandits of Peridea and ignites her lightsaber, drawing their attention. Elsewhere, Baylan Skoll reaches two statues of the Father and the Son. He stares at the mountains beyond towards the apparent source of the power calling to him; a flashing beacon of light off the farthest mountain.

Back in the main galaxy, Thrawn along with Enoch and the Great Mothers watch from a balcony as the Eye of Sion and the Chimaera approach Dathomir. Various coffins from the catacombs of Peridea are stored inside the Star Destroyer's hangar.

Elsewhere, an Eta-class shuttle lands in the hangar of Home One. General Hera Syndulla, Chopper and several armed New Republic soldiers, officers and crew including First officer Vic Hawkins and Beyta converge on the shuttle. A lone Night Trooper emerges with his hands raised. Chopper speaks in Binary and approaches the figure, who reveals himself to be a disguised Ezra Bridger. Syndulla is surprised and pleased to see that her friend has come home.

Back on Peridea, Wren and Tano spend time alone outside the Noti camp. Wren tells her master they are almost packed. Tano reassures her that she did well. Wren is upset that Thrawn escaped but Tano points out that they managed to send Bridger home. Wren says that she hope that Bridger succeeded. Tano responds that Bridger is where he needs to be and so are they. Tano tells Wren that it is time to move on as they watch the night sky. Wren senses something hopeful but does not elaborate. Tano stares into the night sky before rejoining Wren at the camp, as the Force spirit of Anakin Skywalker watches over them.