Shadows of Tomorrow

Chapter 96 - Operation Cinder

Author's Note: Sidious never dies easily. ;)

~ Amina Gila

Marr knows nothing of the faceless Mandalorian, beyond his name. It's probably all he will ever know, seeing that he's one of those who believes they have to always keep their helmets on. It's not a belief he'd criticize, even if he definitely doesn't understand it. He can't say the same for Bo and Anastasia, but they've become... more tolerant of differences over the years.

"As the Mand'alor, what do you intend to do?" Marr asks.

He can feel Din's uncertainty. "I'm expected to rule Mandalore?" he queries.

"You are," Marr replies, "If you chose to do so." He had never led Mandalore in the normal way, but he still led it to victory against those trying to oppress it and destroy its culture, so that's something.

"You can have it back," Din offers, unclipping the Darksaber and holding it out to him.

Marr tries to suppress his amusement. "No, that is not how it works."

"Why not?"

"I lost it. I do not deserve it anymore. You earned it fairly."

"The person I won it from did not win it fairly."

"Maybe not, but it's still no longer mine. I can't just take it, and it's in your possession. I have no intention of fighting you for it." Regardless of what Anastasia keeps advising him. "In truth, it is the story that makes people support the Mand'alor. If they just found it, there is nothing inspirational about it."

Din feels decidedly unhappy and confused, but he doesn't object.

"This isn't something you need to do anything about now," Marr says, "I did not for a long time either."

They pretty much leave it at that. Din obviously has no idea what he's going to do now, and Marr can sympathize. It's not something he can really offer advice on, though. The choice is up to Din, and right now, Marr more than has his hands full with the aftermath of everything.

Ruling an Empire is not something Anakin has experience with, even if he's doing a really good job. Marr thinks the only reason it's working so well, actually, is because there's no Senate right now to object to any of the things he's doing – or to object to his rule at all. They're trying to reinstate Senators from everywhere as quickly as they can, but it's hard when so many were killed. It's also hard to make sure they can get rid of the corruption while they're trying to do so.

"Saying this is a disaster is an understatement," Marr grumbles.

"I see no way to remove corruption without keeping an Empire for a time," Anakin says, something he's stated repeatedly.

"At this point, I don't believe there is any other way," he replies, "I can see why the Republic fell now."

"Palpatine held it together," Anakin admits, "There is unrest everywhere now. Some Imperials are demanding that I take action against the Rebellion, regardless of if they want peace. Some want me to take action against you personally."

Marr winces. "I knew many people would be upset about it, but it was the only way I saw." He knows a lot of the footage from the battle was mysteriously leaked to the public, to make the Rebellion look bad, and in many ways, it worked. Even people who don't support the Empire are not necessarily happy with the things the Rebellion did. Marr himself isn't, but sometimes, he knows that fighting like that is the only way.

"He would have destroyed the galaxy in time."

"Yeah," Marr mutters, "But right now, I could almost wish he was still alive, so we could force him to clean up this mess. Now I see why Bo usually takes flame-throwers to everything that annoys her." Because right now, he's highly tempted to do the same thing to the newly constructed Senate.