Axis (RP)

* The Key
* Axis (Naboo)
* Axis (Pre-War)
* Axis (Post-Tempus)
* Axis (3rd Last)

## Axis

"*And until my task is completed and my promise fulfilled... even death cannot touch me*"
―Axis, after nearly being killed in one conflict
**Axis**, otherwise known as **The Key**, **The Master of the Void**, or **The God of Mourning**; is an ancient being from before the Void, described to be a humanoid figure with ice blue eyes. The Key is said to be older than time itself, and there is not a single soul in all of reality bar The Thread Maker that knows where it came from, or who created it; save one. Being involved in several creation myths, many believe him to be a god, when the man himself is aware that he was just in the right place at the right time.

Seemingly in a mortal body as of the time of the Clone Wars, when a clone with the name of "Knives" was inducted into the Clone Assassin program. One day, unexplained to the Kaminoans, they awoke with a different personality; calling themselves "Axis" instead. However, this was chalked up as repressed trauma by the long neck scientists. Axis' inability to use firearms got worse, and as such, he was transferred to Krosha Morze as their melee expert. Later, Axis became the Republic's Director of Communications during the Clone Wars, known to many as the "Republic's Spin Doctor" or "Palpatine's Web Weaver". Known for his abrasive personality and anger issues, Axis helps lead the Republic Military as the Chancellor's right-hand man. Being the main centre of communication between the entire GAR, as well as the PR manager; Axis comes into contact with the System Armies often, and his presence was noted as a growing hurricane whenever he would arrive.

Becoming more involved with the GAR, Axis was eventually made the official public Director of Communications, controversially being granted many administrative power by Palpatine. From here, he would spearhead several key policies that would become the talk of the Republic. After receiving a call from his brother Boba about someone needing help, Axis would rush back to Tatooine and meet Annalise Dimidium, to whom he would become close friends with.

Eventually he would end up in Sundari, causing chaos in a bid to take down the government he helped set up a month prior. Falling extremely ill in this time after holding back Abeloth in the Maw, Axis would become a high-sought after target for the Galactic Syndicate, and a extremely closely guarded individual for Annalise and the Mandalore-based Nimbus Commandos.

Having dealt with HaVoK and the Galactic Syndicate, Axis would return to Tatooine, ready for Annalise to accompany him to the Chiss Ascendency after visiting Richard. It was at this point the two would part on poor terms, with Annalise leaving for Zakuul instead. Axis would then travel to the Ascendency, and arrive on Csilla.

Making new friends, Axis would eventually rekindle contact with Annalise, the two being unable to keep their relationship on poor terms. Axis would relax during this period, before engaging Abeloth in a duel on the planet of Csilla, resulting in its destruction. Concerned about Alena's safety, Axis would finally reunite with Omega after 10,000 years, and the man would take Alena back with him to the Unknown Regions to look after her

## **Biography**

### **The God of Mourning**

"*I've met them once. Their eyes were colder than the Ice Worlds of the Dark; their anger stirred beneath them like a hurricane; their soul was ancient and alien, looking on the oldest of the Swimmer Council like their children... and yet, they were kind. So very, very kind*"
―The Swimmer Ten'ran, recalling the experience of their meeting with The Key
Not much is known about Axis and his time as the Key, only that he has a second part, a mirror image; a being known as "The Devourer". Both the Devourer and Axis seek the same goal, only they wish to do so by different means. Both seek to repair the damaged Thread, a fundamental connection between each universe which holds all of reality together. The Key seemed to be connected to the universes, multiverses, and the Void itself.

After becoming the Master of the Void thousands of years into realities inception, Axis would become one with it, helping to ease its state of instability. The Void had a living aspect before bonding with the Key, and this prevented the formation of the Thread and reality itself; due to instability caused by the Void being nothing while also having a consciousness. Axis merged with the Void, and became something akin to its consciousness, thus allowing the Void to become stable by helping it siphon off its consciousness into "parts". The parts became known as the "Amalgamations", beings that represented personality and forces of nature, with The Key being seen as their "father" or "mentor".

The Amalgamations would eventually go on to be the progenitors of life in the Void, forming Swimmers, Gardeners and all other manner of Void life. Axis, tiring of such responsibilities, would abandon them in favour of travelling about. Seeking thrills and helping all those he came across, he would travel across reality to see all he could and have adventures. Eventually coming out of hiding to combat Ectherid, the Key formed the Council of the Key with Omega and later, with other important Void Creatures.

The two's conflict escalated until tensions burst, igniting a war which lasted billions of years and culminated in the annihilation of a portion of reality forever. The Key would lose itself in the conflict, forcing its horsemen to commit heinous acts and not caring for universes or multiverses as collateral damage. The War of the Hallowed Thread ended in horror for all sides, with both The Devourer and The Key retreating to serve their own destinies once more, no longer aligning themselves with their former armies. The Key, however, would be far more responsible than The Devourer, taking steps to decommission their armies and ensuring the War would not restart. However, the Key would fail to accept its own responsibilities, and be unable to track down and mend the Horsemen. Suffering from memory loss he would go into exile, and the Void would fall into chaos.

Thousands of years later, Axis would end up in the Universe of Fracture, eventually joining the Rebel Alliance.

### Universe of Fracture

Axis was a member of the Rebel Alliance and the New Republic, acting as a Supreme Commander in the former and briefly the Head of Intelligence in the latter. Having raised Boba Fett since the end of the Clone Wars, Axis seemed to always be in the right place at the right time. He also was close with Strzalk, considering the clone family who had also played a large role in Boba Fett's upbringing.

He was reported to have gone on several missions with Leia Organa and company, was the one behind the rescuing of Saw Gererra, and to have been in a close personal relationship with General Sabé Nabierre, whom he met during the Subjugation of Naboo.

### **Galactic Civil War**

#### **Beginning of the End**

##### Supreme Commander of Intelligence

Prior to Palpatine's disappearance, Axis conducted several notable intelligence operations outside the knowledge of the rest of Alliance Command.

He had been subtly shifting Rebel activity into Sith space and the sectors around it, based on a hunch he had due to remembering a key bit of history many were unaware of or brushed over due to the details being less than accurate. However, for Axis, time and memory were no issue.

Notably, he and Senior Intelligence Officer Kallus spent several weeks observing the Rebel Alliance Captain Shira Brie, who was in fact an Imperial Agent serving under Vader and Director Isard. Before being able to conduct a report to Mon Mothma, Axis went to investigate his hunch before doing so, as to be able to deliver a full report to Mothma as to allow her to make the final call.

Making the jump to Korriban, Axis would perform a wide-scale archaeological dig, while avoiding several Inquisitors who had been deployed there due to his activity. Contacting Rebel Command, Kyle Katarn's team was dispatched as to take away the heat from what Axis considered to be a vital mission. After finally discovering what he needed, Axis would make the jump back to Florrum, to rendezvous with the Rebel Fleet.

It was in the Alliance Command meeting that Axis intended to tell Mothma of all his discoveries. However, before doing so, Emperor Palpatine finally changed history through the World Between Worlds, and Axis collapsed with a scream; placing himself in a coma as to avoid damage from the brain storm he experienced seconds later.

##### Making a Gamble

Bedridden aboard the medical frigate *Shining Paradox*, with the medical droids unable to figure out why he was in critical condition, although after numerous tests, medical droid XY-890 was able to discover that he placed himself into the coma, similar to that of a healing trance. Though the cause and reasoning for doing so was unknown.

During his period of critical state, Axis was visited by several friends and colleagues in the Rebellion, notable among them being Princess Leia Organa, whom Axis had worked with and gone on life-threatening missions with several times. Furthermore, he was also watched over by General Vao, who noted that when he collapsed, he looked at her like he had not seen her.

After Dr Ball consulted with Saw Gererra and C-3PO, the latter two were shocked to find out that Axis' official next of kin was the infamous bounty hunter Boba Fett. With Leia at his bedside, Axis eventually awoke minutes after Sabé arrived, and his bright and chipper attitude immediately filled the room. After conversing with Mission, and noting that he both did and did not remember her, Axis dodged the issue and was escorted back to *Home One*. It was on the ship that Axis would learn from Kallus about the strange fleet movements reported by Sabine Wren in the Core, which puzzled him greatly when he also got numerous reports about the Grand Moffs retreating back to their territories, and Coruscant being under lockdown via a communication blockade.

The next day, Axis would call a command meeting after learning from Shriv that Darth Vader had shown up at the Bounty Hunter Guild and called a Great Hunt on all 20 Grand Moffs, as well as ordering a special hit on key members of the Imperial succession. Confused but beginning to get a sense of what was going on, Axis would call for an emergency meeting with Rebel Command, requesting to them that they move the Rebel Fleet to Korriban and also promote Shira Brie to General.

This request was received differently by members of Alliance Command. Leia Organa, while initially sceptical about Axis' lack of explanations, was aware that he would not lie to her or mislead her, and decided to back him on his move to Korriban and the promotion of Brie. Kallus was fully trusting, ready to back and defend any move the Supreme Commander made. Upon Axis noting that if he was wrong, he would step down from his position, Airen Cracken fully backed him, though did note that Axis should understand why he was concerned. Ackbar, while initially confused, noted that the fleet's position did not matter as long as it was safe, and decided to back the move. Both Solo and Saw Gererra were confused by the tactical benefits of doing so, but opted to trust his judgment. Crix Madine, however, was the most vocal in opposition. Noting Axis was not in the right mind to make such calls, and accusing him of being reckless, Madine would eventually storm from the room; furious.

However, the final debate was settled upon Mon Mothma entering the room, who noted she fully trusted the Supreme Commander and backed the move completely. This made up Ackbar's mind completely, and with him being Supreme Commander of the fleet, the preparations began. After Axis promised that this move could potentially restore the Republic and would bring Luke back into the Alliance, nearly everyone in the room was in agreement; though Leia had to step out to emotionally process the latter information.

Axis would inform Mothma that Shira Brie was an imperial agent, and pleaded she did not attend any command meetings until his plan was finished, recognising that Brie would be able to read anyone who was not Kallus or himself; thus compromising the plan. Mothma agreed once again, and Axis expressed his thanks.

Upon being contacted by Kallus that Sabine Wren was sending encrypted information on the Alpha Priority scale, something that had not been used for the Death Star plans, Axis would rush to the Intelligence Hub. After waiting for half an hour, Axis and Kallus would finally receive the message.

##### An Empire in Chaos

Axis would personally decrypt Wren's cipher, complimenting it's complexity and it's brilliance. However, his speaking did not last long as he fully decrypted the information. Dropping the papers in shock, Axis would sprint back to the bridge of Home One, almost manic when he burst into the room and demanded that the Alliance be placed into Black Alert, which ordered the full recall of the Fleet and all assets to a single place.

Informing the Commanders present that Palpatine had disappeared, Axis would put forward the motion for a recall. Madine would once again voice his opposition at the full recall, due to not being aware of the Daragon Trail, Axis' secret weapon. A single-jump hyperlane that went directly from Coruscant to Korriban. Ackbar, though reluctant, would give his vote; and Juno, having done similar manoeuvres before, would also give her vote. Madine would once again storm out, outvoted on his suggestion to perform multiple strikes instead of a single one on Coruscant.

Axis and Ackbar would begin making plans, with plans including Bel Iblis and *The Pride of the Core*. Axis would request to Leia if she would get Sabé for him, as Axis needed to get into contact with Rex in order to acquire Luke for the operation. Leia would agree, gladly going about doing so as a moment of quiet finally settled in the bridge of *Home One*.

Upon Mothma demanding explanation as to what was going on, Axis would inform her the Palpatine was finally gone, and that they had an opportunity to finally restore the Republic. Mothma, relieved and elated, agreed to the move; and thus the beginning of the restoration officially began.

The fleet would arrive on Korriban the next day, as the full recall continued to take place.

##### Confirming the Rumours

Axis would, much to his confusion, struggle with the memory loss that had plagued him in the recent years of his life. The only thing he had were lingering words in his head and memories of a woman he could not quite remember, her appearance blurry to his memory and sight. Put off by his doubts regarding his own past, Axis would begin to feel doubt settling in about if Palpatine's disappearance was in fact truthful. Unwilling to take risks, Axis would take a shuttle down to the surface of Korriban, and arrive in the Valley of the Dark Lords.

Briefly encountering Shyracks, to whom he frightened off with a single word and glare, Axis would step into the Valley; noting that too much history had happened in one place. Heading into the most well kept tomb, Axis would encounter a cross-roads, symbolising the association with two; something that the Sith inside was known for. Heading in, Axis would finally arrive in the Tomb of Darth Bane.

    Emerging from the tomb, Darth Bane would immediately comment on the Commander's lack of Force Sensitivity, thus questioning both how he was able to see him as well as the purpose for his showing up. Consulting the Dark Side and the realm beyond, Bane would begin to get hints as to the person he was conversing with, and thus began an exchange which was not reciprocated by the new arrival. Briefly commenting on his lack of visitors in recent years, Bane would attempt to ask what Axis wanted, and would be prevented from speaking the man's title in Sith with the threat of violence.

Bane would merely point out that he was not there for conflict, and neither was Axis. Axis would follow up in asking if Palpatine was truly gone; to which Bane would respond in silence, angered by what he viewed to be a heretic speaking his Sith title. However, he did confirm the fact Sidious had gone missing, to which Axis would leave, satisfied at how short the exchange was. However, Bane would forgo informing the man that the Emperor had disappeared into the World Between Worlds, and that this new outcome was far worse. Axis would return to *Home One*, with a confidence and peace settling over his mind.

### **Life on Kamino**

#### Early Life

"*You know, when I was younger, I wanted to see the stars. And I used to blab on and on about it...*"
―Axis, recalling his younger years
CT-0811 began his life as one of countless cloned troopers slated to fight for the Grand Army of the Republic. Early on in his career, he showed a extremely natural talent with daggers and blades, thus the clone known as "Knives" began their journey through the Kaminoan's training. However, CT-0811 had one flaw, his complete and utter failure at using an blaster or gun of any variant, having a 10% hit rate in training.

Knives, from the beginning, wanted to defect from the Grand Army of the Republic and become a wandering nomad, travelling and seeing the sights of the galaxy, hating staying in one place for too long. Knives also had a fascination with the Jedi Order after extensive reading into their philosophy, and often entertained the thought of becoming a Jedi Librarian in the temple, something many of his fellow clones took great amusement in.

The Kaminoans struggled to find a use for him, until they determined that he would be excellent for the Clone Assassin Program. And thus, CA-0042 was born.

#### Clone Assassin Program

"*He seems to have complete and utter control over his bladework. I've never seen anything like it...*"
"*Then why is he slated for termination?*"
"*Well apart from all the reasons we listed... he really doesn't know how to shut his mouth*"
―Two Kaminoans discussing the termination of Knives
Knives was immediately inducted into the program, where he met the clone known as Taravara, the leader of the assassins in terms of skill and reputation. The two immediately did not get along, with Taravara's uncompromising control over others coming into hard contact with Knives' indominatable force of will. The two would spar often, with Taravara injuring him heavily as he did all the other assassins during training sessions. Knives would grow to loathe Taravara, expressing to another clone assassin that the man was "the worst person he had ever met". Axis would hate his time in training and undergo severe psychological trauma, something noted in the routine profiles the Kaminoans did. Taravara would be transferred to Krosha Morze, much to Knives' relief.

Knives would prove to be slated for removal from the Clone Assassin program, after completely failing every firearm side of the training, to the point where he could not even use the most basic of blasters successfully. Despite having an unprecedented skill with daggers and blades, it would not be enough for Knives to be set for termination a couple of weeks later, as he also refused to train and kill abducted Padawans in the training, his passion for the Order too strong.

#### Becoming Axis

"*I know we don't want to die... but it's something that must be done...*"
―Axis, talking to himself in his own head
It was after one particular incident two weeks before his due termination that Axis suffered what the Kaminoans described as "complete mental shutdown". It was hours later that the clone would open his eyes, his personality changed. Completely in a panic, the clone would take awhile to calm down, before they would introduce themselves as "Axis", and the Kaminoans were able to recognise this psychological shift as a symptom of trauma. Despite the clone's seemingly immediate discomfort that they could not explain, the Kaminoans began running him through physical exercises.

They were shocked to see the clone increase his results in all physical and combat scenarios by a 500% skill increase, however, his blaster skills had now completely become untenable; to the point where even picking up a blaster could cause serious loss of life to others as well as severe property damage. The clone also seemed to have an unstable personality, flitting between different moods rapidly and easily.

Recognising this, they took the report to Darth Sidious in their monthly progress reports, who recognised this specialist skillset perhaps required tempering. Like all other members of Krosha Morze, Palpatine selected Axis for his deathsquad.

#### Training for Palpatine's Deathsquad

"*You seem to have done a complete 180. I do have that effect on people...*"
"*Well... your utterly despicable nature makes it very easy to find common ground Taravara...*"
―Axis, conversing with Taravara after their last "session"
Axis would be extremely uncomfortable seeing Taravara again, more so than he ever was in the program. Distant and seemingly inefficient when around the squad leader, to the point where Axis refused to spar with Taravara at all; the leader decided to rectify this with his own private little "sessions", very similar to the ones Hawkeye would receive years later. With brand marks and other such scars, Axis would eventually mellow around Taravara; however, the clone would note that it was only because his squad member had seemingly been broken since his personality change. Axis would regain some life from these sessions as well as having a stable personality, Taravara noting it was if the pain had "restored his soul".

Axis would become Krosha Morze's melee and close quarters expert, even pulling ahead of Taravara in terms of bladework and martial weapons. Krosha Morze would begin to be deployed by Sidious, ready to help him set up the conflict which they were engineered for so many years ago. With polite manners and seemingly infinite insight and wisdom, the Kaminoans truly believed that the work on Axis had been salvaged and it was down to their own successes, watching with pride as the squad left Kamino.

### **The Clone Wars**

#### The Works

"*You know 'Nah? The terrifying thing about getting my memory back isn't that I'm so different to who I was before. It's the fact that I am noticing more similarities by the day...*"
―Axis to Darth Zannah, during one of their many conversations
Now that the Clone Wars were beginning to come to a close amidst the arrival of the Eternal Sith Empire, Axis would continue to struggle to keep up his façade, given the fact his memories had come back in full force. Somewhat sensing his lack of loyalty and presence, Darth Sidious would recall Axis back to Coruscant to reunite with Krosha Morze, in the hopes that Taravara could once again whip the Director of Communications into shape. Begrudgingly, Axis would accept this order and return to the centre of the spider's nest, surrounded by the machinations of both Palpatine and Taravara.

Struggling to keep a hold of the little freedom he had over his own personality, Axis would encounter Darth Zannah in the Works as well, as the two would often engage in conversation and discourse. Both feeling trapped and confined by Sidious, they would often vent to one another about their anger towards their situations, eventually becoming firm friends despite their differences. Sidious now had two objectives that needed to be carried out. One was the assurance that his agenda would succeed in what he could sense was the upcoming Republic-Confederacy alliance, and the second was the continued silence of Méra Dimitra in order to protect his identity and assets. To do so, Sidious kidnapped ARC Hawkeye and bring him to the Works as bait for Mixer, as well as devising a plan to use Saleucami as a medium through which he could gain an advantage after the treaty at the negotiating table.

Zannah would begin the torture of Hawkeye in order to get him to yield information about Arye Prays and Etain Tur Mukan, seeing both as potential pawns for the uncertain future of the galaxy. Meanwhile, Axis and Krosha Morze were ordered to rig the Works to be a trap, in order to capture and detain Mixer. Axis began construction of his carnival themed trap, with various rides and kiosks in order to trap the group, something which both Taravara and Sidious noted to be out of character, further cementing their suspicions.

#### End of the Clone Wars

"*I don't have enough time to deal with you. I'm planning the collapse of a fuckin' government and I don't need your lip...*"
―Axis to Hawkeye, after raging at the ARC for his insubordinate attitude
Days before the Treaty of Serenno, Axis could sense the war was coming to an end, given the fact Sidious departed from the Works to sign the Treaty. This, in combination with the lack of presence of the Sith Lord, allowed Axis to act more on his own accord. Recognising the difficult position Hawkeye was in, Axis would introduce himself to the trooper, his intentions self-serving despite the friendly face he put up.

Realising that he could never escape the clutches of Taravara unless he found himself a replacement, Axis immediately documented Hawkeye as the newest member of Krosha Morze to facilitate his escape. Injecting Hawkeye in the neck with water, Axis would lie to the clone and inform him it was a liquid filled with micro-explosives, in order to prevent the man's escape. Axis would inform Hawkeye that Sidious needed him to help clean up a mess on Saleucami, using the mission in order to extract the clone for his own goals. Axis would briefly get frustrated by Hawkeye's insubordination, sinking into a rant that many in the Senate were familiar with.

The Treaty of Serenno would be signed, and Krosha Morze would begin their departure to Saleucami at the end of the Clone Wars. Axis would observe Taravara tormenting Hawkeye, and unknowingly begin to feel sympathy for the ARC Trooper who was in the same position he had once been in. Axis would elect to stay behind and meet Krosha at Saleucami, realising that Mixer and his rescue party were still on their way, and he wouldn't want to waste his carnival trap for nothing.

### **Beyond the Clone Wars**

#### Mixer and the Works

"*The Republic is a fat lion. A machine whose parts try to become something bigger. What? You think those senators get along because of the good of democracy? Why do you think the media is so favourable to the GAR, despite it's blatant militant spin? How do you think war crimes get ejected into the public as heroic deeds? Why is no one questioning the blatant slavery of the clones? Or the suffering of the Jedi? Because I have made them see that way. Perspective is everything. A web holds the Senate together, and I am merely a spider trying to do its job*"
―Axis, detailing his position as Director of Communications to Mixer
Mixer and the Bad Batch would arrive at the Works, having followed a communication signal that Hawkeye was able to send out before being re-captured by Taravara. Having laid traps and rigged the entire place to look like a carnival for him own amusement, Axis would watch the group enter; locking the door behind them.

Axis would inform the group they were trapped inside the building with a bomb due to go off in two days, though he did not inform them the door was unlocked and Axis' careless personality once again kicked in, as he was unsure if the bomb would detonate or not. After a brief exchange, Mixer would gain hold of one of Axis' daggers. Disappearing inside the tower, Mixer would scale it to follow him, while the Bad Batch searched for a way out.

Mixer would be informed as to the nature of Axis' position in the GAR, enlightening the clone with the true inner machinations of the institution he served. Axis would present Mixer with two pieces of paper. Axis would inform Mixer that one paper was the executive order containing the execution orders of Méra Dimitra, and the other was an official sanction by the Galactic Senate to genocide part of the local population on Ragoon VI. To gain a reading of the clone's personality, he would lie to Mixer and inform him that whichever one Mixer would keep, he would forward the other to Republic Command. Mixer would immediately choose the execution orders, something which Axis admired.

Axis would hand Mixer both resignation forms, which would make Mixer a Republic citizen with the rights of any other human being in the Republic. Axis would then begin burning the room with matches, determined the get rid of the plans and evidence now that they had served their purpose. Mixer would fire a shot at Axis, which the man would barely cut in half, having initially reached for the dagger that he had thrown at Hunter. In anger over being nearly shot and after noticing Mixer held his beloved wife's dagger, Axis would immediately lash out cruelly at Mixer, stabbing the man twice.

Axis would throw Mixer onto the growing flames before slightly calming down and regretfully pulling him from the flames. Performing one last act of vindication, Axis would lie to Mixer and inform him that he sent a message out to the clone's friends and told them they could save Mixer if they betrayed the Republic to do so. Informing him that he received no response, Axis would throw Mixer from the tower, pulverising the man's arm though saving him from being burnt further.

Axis would depart from the Works in heavy contemplation, wondering just how much of himself he had lost despite regaining his memories and reuniting with his younger brother.

### **Saleucami**

##### En Route

"*Okay, this is what is gonna happen Commander. You’re gonna let this useless bitch leave your ship, or I’m gonna detonate the vessel to the point where the ash mark that was your disobedient useless body will be analysed by fucking Grand Admiral Blueballs in command. And he’s gonna dictate the fuckin incompetence is off the scale...*"
―Axis to Commander Jesse, reacting in a rage to Klutz's careless escape
On his way to Saleucami, Axis would get word of Corporal Klutz's activities aboard the 3SAs flagship, with the man potentially compromising Sidious' involvement in the Republic by revealing how he arrived with the 3SA. Sending a communication almost immediately, Axis would berate the man for being so careless and stupid. Hanging up after releasing a storm of expletives and insults, Axis would continue to monitor the Third Systems Army via the surveillance onboard.

To facilitate his escape, Klutz would detonate sections of the ship with explosives, to which Axis would predict the clone would be unable to escape from the tactics and skill of Commander Jesse. Sending a communication using the unique ID of the Office of the Chancellor, Axis would berate Jesse for his supposed incompetence, despite knowing that the reason he commed was because the Commander was very much the opposite.

Axis would realise here he could never be the man he was unless he escaped the clutches of his job and Sidious himself before having to deal with another Repuiblic scandal. Because of a failure by the public Director of Communications, Palpatine would inform Axis that he was merging the public and private roles of the Director of Communications, and instating Axis to take the role. Axis would lament over this once the call ended, wondering if he would ever be able to escape the web that now seemed to be trapping him as well.

##### Director of Communications

"*Members of the Senate may know this individual as the one who goes by the call sign of Axis*"
―Palpatine, in his transmission introducing the Director of Communications
Axis would finally arrive on Saleucami and immediately go to contact Boba, telling the rest of Krosha he had to make contact with some local information sources. It was here that Axis would receive a signal from their encampment on Tatooine that something was emerging from the Void into the universe, or would be doing so soon. In a panic, Axis would immediately begin to make contingency plans, aware that the scale of the incoming threat could be massive. This was the defining moment where Axis finally began to work for his own agenda and destiny again, now fully committed to doing what he wanted, despite his recent promotion.

Axis would approach Taravara and engage him in conversation about his recent test subject named Gamma. Axis would inform Taravara that he would be departing Krosha Morze and going into the public eye; before visiting Hawkeye, seeing the man with burns and brands all over. Axis would sympathise with the position, having undergone similar treatment from Taravara in his own past. Handing Hawkeye a communicator, he told the man that he was free to call who he wished, and handed him documentation showing that Hawkeye was officially a member of Krosha Morze. Though Axis informed Hawkeye that he had managed to pull a few strings to grant Hawkeye open communication and regular leave, finally informing the ARC that he was to be Axis' replacement.

Recognising that someone needed to carry out the work on Saleucami in his potential absence, Axis would plead to Hawkeye to remain on the planet, knowing from his entire life that whatever emerged from the Void could kill trillions. Axis would leave feeling guilty, realised that he used a man he trusted to save his own soul to escape the presence of Taravara.

Before he could even settle down in a moment of peace, Chancellor Palpatine would make his infamous transmission, which would reveal Axis as the new Director of Communications after Sidious murdered the public one for his failures. Palpatine would give Axis even more executive powers, realising he had to trust the Director to make sure the Republic did not internally fracture as Palpatine would focus on more Sith based politics holding back the arising Eternal Empire. Before he could deal with the fallout of the situation, A'Sharad Hett and Etain Tur Mukan would arrive on planet, further complicating the situation.

##### A'Sharad Hett and Grand Admiral Thrawn

"*Judging by the look of the saber, the quite frankly terrible accent, the height, and the arrogance; you must be A’Sharad Hett, Padawan of the late Iri Camas...*"
―Axis, deducing the identity of A'Sharad Hett upon the Jedi's first meeting with Axis
Axis would arrive to the aggressive confrontation between Hett and Taravara, pointing out that Saleucami was a sensitive Republic operation and Hawkeye would be staying. Learning of the man being there on Thrawn's position, he would demand Hett help with the operation or leave, something which the Jedi would agree to. Axis would storm off, once again annoyed that his own past seemed to be rearing its head towards him.

"*Quite frankly, you're one of the few people I can tolerate*"
"*It is good to have someone who doesn't sugarcoat anything, refreshing, very few with that quality...*"
―The long awaited meeting between Axis and Grand Admiral Thrawn
It was at long last that two defining members of the Republic would finally come into contact. Axis and Thrawn would agree that despite their dislike of it, Darth Sidious was the best bet at stopping the universe from collapsing and other threats like the Vong, and the two formed a quick bond over their frustration at the incompetence throughout the Republic Military. Axis would send Thrawn files on the rebelling Republic worlds, before the two would end their communication on friendly terms, both glad to have the other playing in their corner.

##### Further Dealings with the Third System Army

"*SON OF A FUCKING SCARLET EMERALD WHORE*"
―Axis, realising how much of a PR disaster the dealings of the Third System Army would have been if word had gotten out
Axis would react poorly to the news of Mon Mothma's assassination, remembering the woman who he called a close friend during his time with the Rebel Alliance, and the man would spend most of the day in a foul mood; also lamenting over the fact that he would now have to deal with the media in relation to the news as well. Right after this and capitalising on the panic, Axis would present a bill in the Senate which granted clones time off every year, which was a major step in clone rights.

Axis would contact Tarkin as a holoprojection, in regards to discipline of the Third Systems Army. Already in a fowl mood at seeing a man he despised from his time during the Galactic Civil War, Axis would quickly request the comm number of Arye Prays, as well as asking if he could request a one-on-one meeting with Clone Commander Cody.

Loosely promising Tarkin that he would prevent the Jedi High Council's interference with his operations. Axis would then be informed by Tarkin of the inter-clone relationships happening with the Systems Army, with multiple incidents of clones engaging in romantic and even sexual relationships aboard the ship. Disbelieving at first, Axis would spiral into a deep rage at the meeting, ranting about the PR disaster the incident could be if left unchecked. Axis was forced to retreat to a secluded spot to continue attendance in the meeting after a misfired blaster shot, as he finally succumbed to the extreme stress that had occurred over the previous 5 days. Axis ordered Tarkin to cover it up, demanding it be kept behind closed doors or end entirely. Axis would exit the call before collapsing, attempting to calm down from the sheer stress of his situation.

"*Smooth transition...*"
"*Oh my word Commander. Is that an official document signed by the Director of Communications himself saying Commander Cody and Silver get leave for maximum of a year, with pay and all benefits that come with being a Commander and member of the GAR? Nah... of course not. [...] I’m a smooth operator Commander...*"
―Cody and Axis, after the document was printed remotely by Axis
Despite his rage, Axis would be very happy to see Cody again, joyful at seeing a familiar face once again. He would immediately ask if Cody was okay upon reading his file, concerned over the Commander's mental state. He would follow up to inquire how his relationship with Silver was coming along, to which the Commander would go into detail about their relationship.

Axis would detail the new bill that was passed just that day, before explaining he had something separate in mind for the Commander. He told him he had been granted leave for a year, with full pay and a retention of his rank in the Grand Army of the Republic. Suggesting Cody should spend his time on Mandalore, Axis recognised he needed someone on the inside due to recent actions by the Galactic Syndicate that he disapproved of. Cody would request time to think about the offer.

Later, Axis would begrudgingly accept a communication from Tarkin, informing the man of his promotion to Grand Admiral before hanging up.

##### Hawkeye and Departing Saleucami

"*Everyone is a threat. Even the smallest of children. Underestimate anyone and you're dead. Go into fights with the intention to kill, or don't bother at all...*"
"*So, I can kill children then*"
"*We both know that's not what I meant...*"
―Axis and Hawkeye, during the assassin's training session with the ARC Trooper
Axis would approach Hawkeye, informing him that the clone needed to train if he was going to survive his time with Krosha Morze. Axis quickly dispatched of Hawkeye in their spar, before informing the man of his first lesson: if you are in a fight, aim to kill the person you are fighting. He informed Hawkeye that underestimating any opponent would be his downfall, unknowingly being hypocritical given his absurd arrogance; and would do so regretfully, given he is a pacifist at heart.

Axis would request a second spar, demanding that Hawkeye do so with the intention of killing him. Axis began his second lesson, noticing that Hawkeye relied on feints and deception to fight. Here he taught Hawkeye to use the environment to his advantage, as it would allow him to defeat even the strongest of opponents.

Axis would then inform Hawkeye that if he had time, he intended to teach him some of his own techniques, before he cut an AT-TE in half while standing a great distance away. Axis would then tell a partial lie to Hawkeye, informing him that he had learnt from a group of people in the Deep Core whom he had considered family, and that he had killed them himself. While most of the explanation was a lie, Axis' grief and mourning as to how he learnt the sword technique was genuine.

Days later, Axis would confront Hawkeye about helping Gamma escape with a party of Chiss, as well as subduing Taravara. Realising that Gamma had escaped in a Chiss shuttle, Axis contacted Thrawn and told him to put the ship on red alert. Concerned that word would get out about Saleucami and thus endangering more people from the incoming threat, Axis would regretfully demand the ship be shot on sight. He would then storm off to deal with a communication from Commander Cody, which detailed the recent dealings of the Mand'alor. Axis would upload the data onto a chip, which he would keep on his person.

"*Okay, I'll see you there. Look after yourself Vode...*"
―Axis to Boba, after the Mandalorian requested his assistance
Before he could deal with the incoming threat to Saleucami further, Axis would receive a communication from Boba, to which he would respond immediately. Boba would inform him that he was going after Vitiate, to which Axis responded to great concern, having been told details of Boba's lost daughter during the period of his capture by the Empire. Axis would express concerns that killing Vitiate would not bring his daughter back, but Boba would plead for his brother's help nonetheless. Axis would immediately depart Saleucami upon hearing this, handing Hawkeye a datapad detailing everything he needed to do to prevent whatever was arriving from the Void, unaware Hawkeye had the intentions of leaving the planet himself soon after.

Axis would leave Saleucami, jumping to Hyperspace towards the second Tatooine.

### **A Long Awaited Reunion**

#### **Tatooine**

##### Waiting for Boba

"*A long time ago, you told me there is nothing worse than being truly alone. And that the miracles the universe had granted you made you feel truly happy. I... I'm feeling pretty alone right now. And I am asking for your help...*"
―Whirr to Belkrin, finally reaching out to figures from his past in a plea for help
Before arriving on the second Tatooine, Axis would finally read the vague mission report about the disappearance and supposed death of Jedi Master Stass Allie. Aware of how history may repeat itself and interested to see what would happen, Axis would assign General Pong Krell to the Third System Army, lying about Krell's former battalion getting wiped out to set up the necessary prejudice in the Third System Army for a disaster to occur; doing so to register the changes in the timeline and to see if history would occur if prodded.

Axis would arrive on Tatooine at long last, immediately checking the readings to see which creature from the Void would be emerging in the universe. He would spend the rest of the day attempting to interpret the data, until reaching a conclusion which would force him into action. His thoughts would be found by Annalise later on several post-it notes in his kitchen.

Checking if Hawkeye was still on Saleucami, Axis would find out he was not. Briefly looking at the situation, Axis realised the inevitability of the situation and instead opted to ensure history took place as he had been told, opting to call Maul and Belkrin instead. Realising their lack of knowledge on who he was, Axis would introduce himself as 'Whirr', explaining that a being called the Devourer would be arriving in the galaxy, and would cause mass destruction if not stopped. Having used data from the machine he and Boba had built, Axis would explain the date of Ectherid's arrival and that he needed Maul and Belkrin's help. Struggling to convince Maul due to the fact they had not met him yet, Axis would insist on talking to Belkrin.

Axis would explain that Belkrin would trust him one day, citing a time when she said she would always help him. Telling her to convince Maul to trust him by citing his first kill, something the man would confess to him in his future. Axis would then hang up, thanking the two for their help, while also steeling himself with the fact he had to send the two there.

##### Meeting Annalise Prays

"*Thank you... really. Seems all I needed was someone to tell me it'll be okay*"
"*We all need that sometimes...*"
―Annalise and Axis, conversing for the first time
Axis was glad to reunite with his brother after so long. Upon seeing Boba run out of the ship to embrace him, Axis would joyfully greet his brother in turn, before the two began to scuffle. Annalise would appear at the top of the ramp of Slave-1 and greet the assassin, stunning him to silence briefly before he introduced himself as Axis and the planet as the remains of Tatooine. Noticing that the woman seemed to be on edge with the disappearance of her son, Axis was assure her that Richard would be okay, citing that Vitiate would have his hands full with him. Annalise thanked him for his assurance, and Axis walked out of the residence after offering to spar with her later. He would then retreat to the Tatooine dunes for a couple of hours, before returning to the encampment to spend the night sleeping on the sand, electing not to take back his residence from the camp's new arrival.

Later that night, for the first time in months, Axis would complete a journal entry in his book as the destruction of Saleucami occurred. He would be unable to sleep for the rest of the night. Axis would be unaffected by the erasure of A'Sharad Hett, due to having time travelled before.

"*Well, I still have my manners! Ladies first...*"
―Axis to Annalise, before engaging the latter in a spar
Axis would stop pretending to sleep upon seeing Annalise and Boba conversing, joining the two in discussion about the climate of Tatooine. Boba seemingly noticed Axis' better mood, one which had not been around in years, but both decided not to touch on the issue. Axis would then offer to spar with Annalise, with Axis teasing the woman by using the smallest blade she had ever seen, which he had drawn from his back pocket. Axis quickly danced around the woman, predicting her every move as if it was his own, dismantling her movesets and techniques with almost instinctual ease. Dashing through her rotating saber barrier, Axis kicked the Aruzan in the chest, sending her flying back and ending the spar. Noting she had a habit of leaving her left guard open, Axis would stalk off, leaving the woman confused but educated.

Axis would later call Cody, receiving information on Fyst's ties to the Neo Crusaders. Congratulating Cody on his success, he would do the same for Cody's wedding, before warning the clone not to show up late to the alter. Axis lamented that doing so had got him "the sofa for weeks", before he disconnected the call.

Axis would spend this time contemplating his role in the Republic, finally realising just how much Palpatine had twisted and manipulated him due to his arrogance. He noted he felt more alive than ever, and that Sidious' machinations had exaggerated his flaws to ridiculous degrees. Axis would sense a change in the universe, one he recognised, but would go to sleep feeling more at peace than ever.

##### Ghost Squad

"*Don’t push it Tarkin. Don’t you dare assume you can fucking get the last word on me. Braver men have tried and failed...*"
―Axis, expressing his utter hatred for Tarkin upon seeing the man's dismissive attitudeAxis would awaken in the morning with regret, picking up on the fact that Saleucami had disappeared when entering his equipment tent. Knowing Maul and Belkrin would have been cast off into the Void, he eventually ended up comming Grand Admiral Tarkin in a foul mood, ready to respond to the man's inquiries. Axis would criticise Tarkin over accepting orders from Ghost Squad, a covert group created by the Jedi Council, and would order Tarkin to fabricate false reports that Ghost Squad were responsible for the death of Stass Allie; in order to keep the idea of a Jedi covert unit out of public eye, something he feared would cause a great deal of backlash.

Axis, after threatening Tarkin, would order him to make sure they got to Polis Massa. Suggesting to Tarkin in making sure the clones believe the Republic were chasing them for crimes, when in actuality, Axis just wanted to make sure the potentially controversial team was off the radar. Axis would disconnect the call, finally hanging up on the man which he utterly despised.

##### Beginning of a Friendship

"*Ectherid. Their name is... Ectherid. A creature of abstract and nothing. They come from the Void, the Howling, the Final Resting Place of Abaddon, the Final Level of Hell...*"
―Axis, describing what little he knew of Ectherid to Thrawn
Hours later towards the evening, Axis would comm Grand Admiral Thrawn, seeking a favour. Axis would ask Thrawn for the gravitational signals implanted by various Chiss and Republic scanners to analyse hyperspace patters, something which Thrawn did not question as to how he acquired such knowledge. Axis would feed the data into a device of his and Boba's creation, and upon seeing his suspicions that Ectherid had arrived into the universe, Axis would order Thrawn to place every Republic World under Ultimate Code Red. This caused evacuation plans to be set up on every planet, in the case a potential planetary destruction was imminent. These preparations would still be in place for years to come, impending for a disaster that may happen.

Axis would send Thrawn a signal for the Republic transistors which would buy the Republic worlds maybe minutes of warning, which would make the world of difference given the circumstances. Axis would go on to describe what little he knew about Ectherid, briefly being confused by Thrawn bringing up the Sith spirit Marka Ragnos, completely unaware of the Sith Lord's activities in the previous months. Axis would inform Thrawn that Ectherid would be after the children, something the Chiss would deduce to be Alena and Richard.

Axis, recognising that he needed a way to subdue Vitiate, would request a device that upon hitting the Sith Emperor, could completely immobilise him. Offering information in exchange, Thrawn would agree to assist Axis in any way possible. Asking if Ectherid and the portals were a greater threat than the Vong, Thrawn would learn that such was very much the case. Axis offered to supply a micro stasis field generator to the Chiss, something which the Admiral could hardly believe but accepted nonetheless. Briefly talking about Thrawn's past, Axis would suggest getting a mobile tracker into the Crustai system, in the hope Ectherid would show up and they would be able to track the being's movements.

"*Marriage is... it's a lot. And it is a big step. It can seem like everything one day... and be gone the next. Cherish every second because one day it'll be gone... [...] Be glad you die first Cody. Because the alternative is far worse...*"
―Axis, describing the complexity of marriage to Cody
During the final moments of the call, Axis would receive a communication from Cody, and briefly put this Chiss on hold upon hearing Cody's wedding invitation to Axis. Axis would briefly talk to Cody about the commitment of marriage to the clone, clearly speaking from personal experience. Hanging up, Axis would spend the next few hours in the tent, wondering why happiness seemed to evade him at critical points.

Axis would then engage in a game of Gofish with Boba, playing under their house rules where the loser would have to give up a personal item for a week. Axis put forward his sword that Boba had never seen him part from, and Boba put forward his cape from his armour. Annalise would join the two, seeing that Axis was besting his brother in the game, and put forward the bracelet she had received from Ghos Gin after learning of the house rules. Axis seemed briefly surprised by this action, but continued with the game nonetheless. After explaining the rules of the game to Annalise, Axis would watch Boba would eventually come to lose all of his cards before firing a wrist rocket at the table. Axis and Annalise withdrew, with the man complaining when the rocket did not explode at all, whining about a lack of final flair. Axis, sitting back at the table, would be shocked to discover his entire deck of cards burnt with soot on his face after Boba detonated the rocket remotely. Boba would point out it was only fair, given the fact Axis cut the table and deck in half during the last game. Axis would slam his hand down on the malfunctioning section of Boba's jetpack, watching the man fly off into the distance with a wide grin.

"*Friend of mine once called an orbital bombardment. Did not have fun explaining to our families why the house was destroyed... I won though!*"
―Axis, telling stories of his past to the amusement of Annalise
Axis and Annalise would begin discussion about her desire to teach Alena and Richard the game, as well as Axis' own history with disastrous endings to the card game, recalling one incident with an orbital bombardment. Upon offering to exchange items anyway, Axis would quickly backtrack, pointing out that his sword did not take well to new masters. Before falling onto the ground to look at the sky, Axis would offer if Annalise wanted to head out with him into Mos Eisley, something she accepted easily.

"*Endor. Lovely little place. Forest moon. Once lived in a lodge house with a bunch of Ewoks... They charged too much rent!*"
"*You stayed there?*"
"*I've stayed everywhere! [...] Uyter! And let me tell you, the cabbages they grow there... simply gorgeous! [...] Every star glows with its own colour, its own story. They have all been different from birth to death. All with a slightly different shine! You know, when I was younger, I wanted to see the stars... And I used to blab on and on about it. And I had this... friend. She used to laugh at me from dusk til dawn! But you know what?*"
"*Hm?*"
"*She was with me every step of the way. With me to every star, any star! [...] There’s so much to explore!*"
―Axis and Annalise, the former animatedly describing various stars to Annalise
Axis would begin pointing out different star systems in the sky with his finger to Annalise, bringing forth his impressive factual information he had on the various star systems in the galaxy as she lay beside him. The man would go on to describe various systems in the galaxy, while also elaborating on a female figure from his past who would be later revealed to be his wife, talking about how she was with him for every step of the way as he explored various different star systems.

"*Did you know there is a universe out there where no alien genome ever evolved? And it’s just empty. An empty universe filled with plants and untouched beauty on every planet.*"
"*Sounds like it would be really pretty. The flourishing greens and everything...*"
―Axis and Annalise, talking about life outside the universe
Axis would briefly go on to describe life outside of the universe, before helping Annalise locate her home system of Aruza in the sky. Questioning to Annalise who she was, the woman would be puzzled by the question, unable to answer. Noticing her dismay, Axis would begin to explain while standing off, before being dragged off with a laugh as Boba tackled him into the air with his jetpack towards the dunes.

Axis would later return to the camp, happy and excited for the next day.

##### Trip to Mos Eisley

"*Funnily enough, I haven’t exactly... tested it yet*"
―Axis, commenting on the speeder to Annalise
Axis and Annalise would prepare to set out to Mos Eisley on Axis' untested speeder he had been tinkering with, Annalise endearingly beginning to understand the man's eccentric and excitable personality. The two would astounded and surprised by the speed, although shook up when they finally arrived at their destination.

The two would arrive at a city in ruins, seemingly hundreds of years old. Axis would despondently describe the city to his companion, mournful about the sheer loss of life that had taken place on the planet. It was here, after being dragged into an alley by Axis, that Annalise would encounter the ghosts of Tatooine; creatures that seemed to shift between being real and shadow as they screamed. Axis pointed out to Annalise that they would not attack unless they were provoked, and would carefully lead the woman through the crowd of creatures.

Upon arriving at the school, which contained haunting, high-pitched screams, Annalise would inquire into what the creatures actually were. Axis would explain that no one knows what really happened, but he would go into detail about the legend he had found from various passages scattered through the town.

"*Legend has it that there was some kind of monster.*"
"*Monster? Is there any chance it could still be here?*"
"*No... whatever it was is long gone. This... creature lived beneath the sand, and was growing larger and larger. Until it would encompass the planet. And it would grow beyond that... according to the legend itself. Apparently, it fell down to the ground in a great shower of flaming rock and debris.*"
"*Good thing it's gone then. Tragic story... those poor people*"
"*This creature grew to be so large, the locals speculated it would become the planet itself, before ripping it into tiny pieces and moving on.*"
"*Undeserved. Why didn't any of them leave? There was a way out right?*"
"*Well, the story goes that a... demon appeared from nowhere one day. Some sort of... Trickster God. They say, the demon told the people of Tatooine that it was here to vanquish the monster, to seal it away forever. But, as to be expected, this Trickster tricked them. According to the myth, he consumed all the souls of the people of Tatooine, before using them to send the planet into the Infinite Dark. Where the creature could die. The people were forced to go with it, and remain shattered ever since. Half of themselves living in two realities at once. The planet died instantly... as did everything on it as the planet itself exists in two instances...*"
―Axis and Annalise, with the former elaborating on the legend of Tatooine to the latter

Axis would then receive the formal wedding invitation from Cody, with Axis quickly pleading to Annalise to not tell Boba about the wedding in fear that his younger brother would wish to see his father. Annalise would quickly express her desire to attend, to which Axis would gladly accept.

"*Annalise... why don't I hear screaming?*"
"*I didn't even notice it stop...*"
"*As much as I don't want to look, I know we have to face the music some time*"
"*Face the music? You mean the screams that were coming from the school or something else?*"
"*No... I more meant... the thousand-man crowd of evil, murderous ghosts looking at us unamused... [...] I... feel like I should have opened with that part...*"
"*Maybe... I understand what you're saying though*"
―Axis and Annalise, realising the Ghosts of Tatooine were about to descend upon them
The two's joy would end when they realised the Ghosts had been disturbed by their joyful banter, and Axis would quickly pick Annalise off and sprint off, at speeds the woman was extremely surprised by. Rushing to the speeder, Axis would throw his companion in the driver seat before jumping on the back of the speeder, as Annalise attempted to jump-start the vehicle.

"'*Lise! GO!*"
"*Alright, alright!*"
―Axis and Annalise, escaping the Ghosts of Tatooine in a panic
Axis would attempt to fend off the creatures, before quickly being overwhelmed, the beings clawed at his flesh. Axis would begin to be consumed by the creature when one jumped on his back, but the man jumped onto his stomach, stabbing his dagger into the vehicle as it sped off, throwing the creature off of his back. Reaching the encampment, the two would reflect that the experience was fun and exciting despite the danger, Axis would suggest they immediately depart if they wanted to reach the wedding in time and also get the Mandalorian armour that was required for attendance.

Axis would inform Boba of their departure, frustrating the younger man and causing an argument between him and Axis, with Boba arguing that Axis should be focused on the mission as much as he. The argument would escalate to the point of Boba throwing the man out, before Axis and Annalise would board Slave-1 and depart for the Mandalore System.

#### **Concordia**

##### Arrival on Mandalore

"*I could fold the hyperdrive into a temporal state, allowing the ship to cross a time bridge! Then, we would arrive there yesterday!*"
"*Then why don't we do that?*"
"*I may have forgot to mention that we would explode and die, but our bodies would get there for sure!*"
―Axis and Annalise, discussing methods on reaching their destination
En route to Concordia, Axis would learn he had gotten the timing of the wedding wrong after being commed by Tarkin, who explained he needed time off to attend a wedding on Concordia. Realising the Grand Admiral was unaware of his attendance, Axis would happily grant the request before shutting off the communicator, laughing to himself as he realised the comedy of the situation. Axis would spend the next hours pacing through the ship to the amusement of Annalise, who would watch the man rattle through various methods of reaching their destination at greater speeds.

Axis would settle on performing a risky change to the hyperdrive mid-flight, satisfied when the speed increased several folds over, but also aware that Slave-1 would likely exit into real space with more damage then it could handle. Deciding to forgo informing Annalise of this fact, Axis would absentmindedly retire to his room, completely forgetting about the potential damages to the hyperdrive.

"*It all arose with Jaster Mereel stating the Mandalorians were guns for hire, mercenaries with honour! Meanwhile, the good people of Mandalore had been rebuilding for the last centuries after they got defeated by the Jedi in the Mandalorian Wars. So, you have two groups: Your hippy Mandalorians, living in the cities; and the warrior Mandalorians living in the not-cities. To put it simply, some civil war happened. Really was quite brutal...*"
―Axis, explaining the politics of Mandalore to Annalise
Hours later, Annalise and Axis would be awoken by the rattling of metal and smoke filling the air. While Annalise tried to figure out the source of the damage, Axis would merely go to the cockpit and transmit Jango Fett's transponder codes that were still stored in Slave-1s databanks, in order to bypass the Mandalorian fleet. Slave-1 would barely make its way down to Sundari, the engines downright failing as they glided towards the city to the apprehension of Annalise. Axis, ever the thrill seeker, would brush off her concerns as he guided the ship clumsily towards one of the landing platforms.

Axis and Annalise would exit Slave-1 quickly after prompting from the clone, before Axis would close the blast doors on the ship due to the spreading fire. After being fondly scolded by Annalise for his recklessness, Axis would call a maintenance crew nearby, paying them credits and asking them to only bring the ship out of critical condition before dragging Annalise into the capital of Mandalore. The two would immediately notice that the city was undergoing heavy repairs, something which Axis found confusing as to why it had not been fixed, but still elaborated that the damages were from repeated invasions and political coups.

Axis would remark that they needed to kill two Mandalorians to get armour for the wedding, and despite Annalise's amused yet reluctant acceptance of the situation, Axis would pick up on her discomfort and offer that they kill two Deathwatch members instead, citing that they were terrorists. More comfortable with this option, Annalise would inquire about the origin of Deathwatch and the history of Mandalore, something which Axis animatedly explained to her. Axis would also point out some landmarks, noting that the palace had recently been the location of a legendary duel between Revan and Tarre Vizsla.

"*What would the Jedi want with the Mand'alor?*"
"*No, it's what the bo-... what the Republic wanted with him. And what I wanted with him. I wanted to grab information from the Mandalorian archive, as well as preventing Mandalore from forming a cohesive military block that could oppose the Republic. Meanwhile the... Republic wanted Mandalore to answer for their crimes. They murdered a Senator here ya know?*"
―Annalise and Axis, with the latter regretfully explaining his involvement in Mandalore's recent political troubles
Upon Annalise asking about the circumstances of said duel, Axis would explain the recent Republic-Mandalorian disputes, as well as admitting his involvement in the politics. It was at this point Annalise would realise Axis worked for the Republic, learning of his position as the Director of Communications, much to her surprise. Axis would admit that he also had personal politics in the most recent invasion, citing that he needed to learn if the Jedi had learnt about Order 66 from their last incursion on the planet. He would quickly point out he did not hand his findings over to Palpatine, noting the Sith Lord would have killed him. Upon hearing this, Annalise would ask what Palpatine's actual motives were, to which he explained the time differential as well as the inevitable fate of the Jedi. Before they could go discuss more, Axis would drag Annalise into an alley upon seeing two Deathwatch Mandalorians walk past.

"*Mandalore was shattered after their loss. Vitiate manipulated them into a war they fully committed to, and when over, they had nothing left...*"
"*Vitiate did? He had to be absolutely demented...*"
"*Smart. The Mandalorians were and still are a force to be reckoned with...*"
―Axis and Annalise, discussing Vitiate's involvement with Mandalore
Axis would notice the civilians unease towards Deathwatch, confused over such a mentality since he believed the Syndicate had finally united all the population under one happy umbrella. Axis would explain the history of Deathwatch, pointing out that in some ways, the group had given the planet the desperate revival they needed after years of torment. Axis and Annalise would notice the two Deathwatch members get in an alley on the other side of the street, and as such would scale the buildings before eventually reaching the ledge right above what was a couple enjoying a romantic retreat. Annalise would be shocked to learn of Vitiate's involvement in Mandalorian history, something which Axis complimented the Sith Lord for.

"*Why them?*"
"*Who else would it have been? I didn't want to kill them. But do not forget these were mass-murdering terrorists. Human and deserving of my respect? Yes. Deserving of my mercy? I ran out of that a long time ago...*"
―Annalise and Axis, right after the latter killed two members of Deathwatch for their armour
Axis would deduce the circumstances of the pair's romantic get-away, and without saying a word to Annalise, would drop down from the ledge and assassinate the happy couple. Upon noticing Annalise's discomfort at the loss of life, Axis would explain his reasoning as to their deaths, something which Annalise reluctantly agreed with. Picking up on her underlying disapproval, Axis would admit she was right, pointing out that he should have attempted to search for another method. The two would strip the couple of their armour, donning it themselves and jokingly commenting on each other's appearance. The two would depart, ready to attend Cody and Silver's wedding, Annalise scratching off any Deatchwatch markings on the armour before they did so.

##### **The Wedding**

###### A Priest for the Wedding

"*Isn't this great?! Now you get to go to a Mandalorian wedding, moon, forest, and even skydive all for the first time! Between you and me, I'll call that a victory! [...] If you want advice, I would say... don't hit the ground!*"
"*Oh yeah, it's wonderful. Quite the holiday I must say! And thanks for the advice! I will definitely take it into consideration...*"
―Axis and Annalise, before jumping out of their crashing shuttle
Axis and Annalise would steal a shuttle to reach Concordia, with Slave-1 being in no condition to take the duo anywhere, still being in critical condition. Evading any patrols or defences on their way to the moon, their shuttle would be picked up by the automatic defence system on Concordia. Despite Axis' best efforts, the shuttle would be impacted by a turbolaser, and begin to crash. Axis would give Annalise a jetpack, with the woman complaining that she had never used one before. After some banter between the two, Axis would kick Annalise out of the shuttle before jumping out without a jetpack and bag with a self-made machine inside, confident in his ability to prevent Annalise from hitting the ground.

"*Oh yeah... that's right, cool guys don't look a- [...] JESUS CHRIST!*"
―Axis, terrified as the shuttle crashes and explodes right behind him on the ground
Annalise would activate her jetpack, before noticing that Axis did not bring one himself. Before she could break his fall with the Force, Axis would kick off the air using Air Walking, yielding a great deal of surprise from the Aruzan woman. The two would quickly abandon the area due to the shuttle exploding right next to them, and Axis pointed out they were close to the wedding location. After giving Annalise some context about Cody and Silver, the two would arrive and begin to watch the wedding from afar, feeling as if they were outsiders.

"*Ummmmm... yes. I wish I had brought a script to be honest... Oh well! Cody, do your vows I guess...*"
"*You can kiss now I guess. Or don't... y'know*"
"*Congratulations, you're married! There's no overtime, no paychecks, and arguments about toilet seats. It's the life...*"
―Axis, awkwardly acting as the priest for Cody's wedding
Axis would set up the device he stored in the bag, and despite protesting that the two should go interact with the guests, Axis would activate what he knew to be a machine capable of giving Belkrin and Maul live footage of the wedding from inside the Void. Upon noticing the panicking guests, Annalise would watch with horror as Axis would step in to take the place of the missing priest.

Upon standing up in front of everyone, Axis would immediately regret his actions, feeling unsure if he even had enough humanity left to bring two people into happiness. Seeing Annalise in the distance, Axis would steel himself, proceeding to give an awkward delivery with sarcastic comments. Axis would skip the whole process, immediately asking Cody to say his vows, much to his friend's amusement. Axis would also ask for Silver's vows, watching with a happy smile as the two lovers basked in each other's presence. Axis would awkwardly ask the two to finish the process with a kiss, and deliver a sarcastic comment when the two would hesitate in trepidation, stepping back upon realising how rude he was.

"*Sorry... that's a picture of a fish...*"
―Axis, dejectedly realising his mistake
After grabbing a bottle from the drinks table and exchanging brief words with Near Farr, Axis would head back outside to talk to Annalise, complaining about how much of an idiot he had acted despite being reassured by his travel partner. Sensing Belkrin had a message for the happy couple, also sending a picture of Eliza via the machine. Axis would grab the image and rush back inside to deliver the message as well as the image, though due to interfering signals, the image was instead of a fish. Axis would briefly complain before stalking off, accepting thanks from the couple before answering a communication from Tarkin, who did not realise he was at the wedding.

###### Old Enemies, New Friends, and Belkrin

"*Yeah... working for him sounds like it would suck*"
"*Taravara... is a symptom of a terrible system. And is as much a victim as you or I. He's just... a lot less sympathetic*"
"*And a psychopath*"
"*That is an apt description...*"
―Hawkeye and Axis, discussing the nature of Taravara
Learning of recent actions on the Third System Army command bridge, Axis would immediately send Tarkin back to his duties to clean up the situation, also no longer wanting the man present at the wedding. Being unable to read Annalise's emotions, who was watching the exchange, Axis would back off and finally approach Hawkeye, who he had spotted earlier.

Axis would drag Hawkeye to the treeline by his collar, much to the displeasure of the ARC Trooper. Upon ascertaining his identity and panicking, Hawkeye would be glad to see Axis note that he was not angry or disappointed in him. Axis apologised for leaving Hawkeye with Taravara, admitting to his foolishness. Axis noted that it maybe would have been for the best if he had informed Hawkeye of the true threat on Saleucami, something which Hawkeye passionately agreed with. Axis would learn of Hawkeye's intentions to travel to Naboo, and would ask if his friend could convince the Nubian Queen to prevent her planet from leaving the Republic, with Axis emphasising the great deal of trust he had in the clone. Axis would ask Hawkeye to tell Mixer he wanted to speak to him if he ran into him, and after reassuring Hawkeye that Ectherid was not his fault, the two would say goodbye to one another on extremely good terms. Collecting a paper plate from the venue, Axis would head back over to Annalise and the machine, ready to communicate with Belkrin inside the Void.

"*You're a good man, from what I have seen. Stay safe! And uh... do yourself a favour, don't officiate more weddings. You seemed pained...*"
"*Believe me, I was not planning on doing so*"
―Belkrin and Axis, communicating through writing via Axis' machine
Annalise would watch in confusion Axis would approach the machine with the one-way camera, waving back to Belkrin after the woman did so inside the Void. Spinning the plate on the tip of a pencil, Belkrin would understand this as Axis confirming his identity as Whirr, allowing the two to begin comfortable communication. Axis would immediately ask if Belkrin was safe by writing it on a notepad and holding it up to the camera, something she would confirm with a nod. Able to observe Eliza despite not having a camera into the Void, Axis would be delighted at seeing such an important figure from his own past for the first time in a long time. Belkrin would respond back on a notepad, but Axis would respond that he could see her and hear her, and there was little need for her to write.

Axis would inform Belkrin about the poor quality of the machine he designed, telling the Devaronian that this would be the last connection for a while. Briefly commenting on his genius at being able to create the machine in the first place, Axis would confirm that Belkrin still retained memories of A'Sharad Hett due to her passage into the Void. The clone would instruct her to read the datapad, and would inform Belkrin that she would need to head to Tatooine upon exiting the Void. Axis would draw a map of the galaxy he remembered since leaving the Universe of Fracture, marking out regions that the woman should not find herself in, as well as pointing out that the Void would only shield them from Sidious for limited time. He would express his concern for Eliza, before explaining the situation to Annalise, informing her of the birth of said girl, much to the Aruzan's delight. Sending one final message telling Belkrin to say hello to Obi-Wan for him when she arrived on Tatooine.

"*Better than it did last night. Just been trying not to put too much pressure on it for now, but that's kind of hard when you're jumping out of shuttles...*"
"*But Annalise, your foot might not be good enough to jump out of shuttles. But I think it may be good enough to dance...*"
―Annalise and Axis, the latter inviting the former to dance with him
The machine would spark out and Axis would kick it, annoyed at his own inability to sustain the connection, but still happy he had finally seen Eliza again. Axis would respond to Annalise's comment about injuring her foot the day before, and would use it as a prompt to dance inside the venue with the Aruzan. Grabbing her hand, Axis and Annalise would burst into the chapel, laughing along the way.

###### Familiar Footsteps and Ahsoka Tano

"*Ah, don't be so down! You are here, and I am here; on an untouched ground with an unseen sky!*"
"*You're right. And on top of that, I can't think of another person I'd rather be dancing with at this time...*"
―Axis and Annalise, dancing at Cody and Silver's wedding
Axis would immediately spot Ahsoka in the nearly empty venue, something he was embarrassed by as he did not realise anyone was still present. Briefly conversing with someone who, in the context of his own Rebel history, was a legendary figure; Axis would rig the sound system to begin playing music, taking Annalise's hand with a fit of giggles.

Axis would point out that he had some experience dancing, though following up with that fact that he reserved his best for truly special people, something which Annalise misunderstood as a slight jab at her skills. Misreading her discomfort while twirling his dance partner, Axis would note that there would be no need to use his best that day, doubling down on his teasing and flirting. Annalise would jab back, hoping that Axis would find the individual he wanted to dance with; the clone responding that if Annalise practised, he would not have to look very far.

Refusing to be outdone and a little upset, Annalise would remark that she would have to practise on her own to do so, briefly disengaging from the dance before being dragged back in by the assassin. Axis would point out the beauty of the situation and Concordia, remarking that Annalise needed to let loose sometimes and relax. Annalise would begin to do so, pointing out she was glad to be dancing with the man, to which Axis would tease her even further before disengaging from the dance himself. Upon a familiar song to the man playing, Axis would request a final dance, to which Annalise would graciously accept.

"*Quite the song choice...*"
"*I... I didn't pick it...*"
―Annalise and Axis, the latter in shock to hear a song from his past
Surprised the song would even be in the playlist, the two would begin to dance instinctually, in a familiar dance to the Aruzan that she could not quite place. The dance would remind Annalise of Aruza, and she would begin to express her desire to go back to the planet and find out what happened to her family. Annalise would ask if Axis would accompany her when she did so, unknowingly recognising the emotional support the man seemed to provide her with, to which Axis happily agreed. Axis would finish off the dance in an aerial fashion, using his jetpack to dance briefly with Annalise before dropping to the ground, carrying the woman in his arms. The two would briefly remark on their trust in one another, before Annalise would walk off to get a drink.

"*So, where are you going to next Tano?*"
"*You know, I really don’t know*"
"*Yeah... know the feeling...*"
―Axis and Ahsoka, as the former held his gaze on Annalise
Axis would sit next to Ahsoka while waiting for Annalise, seeing the woman finish her novel with a soft smile on her face. Axis would proceed to give Ahsoka life advice, telling her to find the good in everything, for life was far more beautiful that way. Ahsoka would comment that the words sounded like the came from a man who was broken, to which Axis would neither confirm or deny.

"*Your eyes... they are that of an old man. But you move with youth*"
"*Sadly Tano, I'm just a clone. I do a lot of reading. That's all...*"
―Ahsoka and Axis, the former dissecting the latter with her skills of observation

Noticing the man's open personality, Ahsoka would inquire as to whether or not he was an avid reader, to which Axis would respond with a confirmation. Finally looking into his eyes, Ahsoka would be the first to recognise that Axis' eyes seemed to carry a great deal of age, despite his body moving like that of someone in their youth. Axis would deny this, pointing out he was a clone and that he merely did "a lot of reading". Axis would slightly tune the conversation out upon Ahsoka's passionate defending of the clone troopers, before commenting that he agreed the soldiers deserved a lot better than what they currently had, remarking they were mostly good people.

To Axis' surprise, Ahsoka would repeat his earlier comment back to him, pointing out that he needed to see the good in the bad. Handing Axis a copy of one of her favourite books, they two would cease their conversation, with Axis approaching Cody for the final time that night.

###### Departure

"*Well... he's respectful, good with words, and usually available to comfort someone if they need it. Perhaps that's not entirely a good thing. He cares, really... I just think it was the right person at the wrong time. I'm not sure where it went wrong...*"
"*She was... everything to me. Her and the children. I've seen a lot of this universe Annalise. [...] I've seen wonders and sights incomprehensible to the mind that it leaves me in awe. But none of that, even for a second... was as beautiful as them*"
―Annalise and Axis, describing the families they once had
The two would say their goodbyes, with Axis giving Cody some final advice before embracing the man, departing the venue with Annalise.

The two would head back to Mandalore through a civilian shuttle system via the tourist office, with Axis already having thrown away the Beskar armour in a nearby bin on the street of Sundari as the pair headed towards the hotel. The two would comment on how enjoyable the event was, pointing out that they expected the couple to have a long and happy life together. Axis would comment that the wedding must have been tough for his companion given her recent concerns about her husband, to which Annalise pointed out that she was eventually able to enjoy the wedding for the experience that it was.

Axis would ask about the kind of man Arye was, to which Annalise would regale him with compliments and stories of her wayward husband, her kindness and benevolence outstanding the clone. He would remark upon entering the hotel that he had been married before as well, brushing it off quickly upon Annalise's inquiries.

Before heading into his room after collecting their room keys, Axis would briefly describe his family to Annalise, mournfully going into detail about how much they had meant to him before entering his room to retire for the night.

### **Meddling in Affairs on Mandalore**

#### **A Change in Attitude**

##### Discovery in Sundari

"*Seared flesh? Check. Terrified eyes? Check. Spiderweb-like burn marks? Check. And seemingly... hang on, that's not supposed to be there...*"
―Axis, noting the symptoms of Force Lightning to himself before discovering something else
After retiring to his room, Axis would immediately take to the street through the window, intent on ascertaining the source of the unrest in the city. After heading into one of the more active bars in the city and eavesdropping for several hours, Axis would eventually pick up on the fact that several people had family members and friends who were sentenced to death row. Learning that the bodies were not able to be seen or buried, in contrast to standard Mandalorian government policy, Axis would immediately begin to investigate.

He would travel to the Mandalorian Crown Hospital, breaking into the morgue to discover that the bodies were mutilated and charred, as opposed to the standard beheading that came with an execution. Also recognising some as infamous political activists, Axis would ascertain the more harsh policy regarding prisoners, as well as the Syndicate's use of Force Lightning on the people, recognising the spiderweb-like burn marks that were a signature to the technique. Finally steeling himself to what needed to be done, Axis would decide that he would collapse the Syndicate influence on Mandalore, or at least Sundari. This would be greatly reinforced afterwards, where he would see a group of children and their mother desperately beg to see the body of their missing family member, only to be rejected.

Axis would shadow the family back to their residence in one of the local shanty towns outside of Sundari, who's conditions were poorly at best due to the centralisation on city work by the Mandalorian government. Observing the family mourn at the dinner table through their window, it would be the tears of the children that would cement Axis' path of interference. Noting a comment by a local villager about the disrespect the shanty towns had received in the area around Sundari, it was here that Axis truly to concoct the plan to unite the civilian population against those who ruled in Mandalore.

Returning to the hotel in the morning, Axis would recognise it to be the day before Valentine's. Purchasing a basket of violet Campanula for Annalise, he would leave them with the receptionist, also writing a note for Annalise giving her thanks. Axis would also note that he would be back, before leaving the hotel in order to begin his plans.

"*Sorry to bother you! Just your... annual window sill inspection. Health and safety, you know the drill...*"
"*That would have worked had they not been here just last week.*"
"*You're shitting me, that's not actually a thing is it?!*"
―Axis and the Mandalorian Royal, after he broke into her room via the window
It was around this time that Axis would be informed of the damages to the Cortosis refineries, angered to the point of throwing his communicator across the street as well as kicking a bin into someone's house. However, he would quickly calm down, noting that he now had enough freedom to prioritise his own plans over those belonging to the Republic.

Axis would realise that he could not afford to waste time, contacting a Republic agent situated in Sundari to begin setting up a information network based on the civilian population via rumours and chatter. Doing so would ensure that he would be able to quickly relay orders to the people of Sundari when they inevitably would band together against the Syndicate. Hearing rumours of a charismatic political activist, Axis would begin working to contact the man, premeditating the eventual meeting by transferring a large sum of credits he needed to afford the bail of another political activist. Leaving a note with the transfer, Axis would eventually request to meet up with this leader, thus sowing the seeds of revolution in a short amount of time.

Arrogant enough to believe they could gain an audience with Fyst or HaVoK, Axis would concoct a chaotic plan to kidnap one of the minor royals of Mandalore and use them as a bargaining chip to gain audience with one of his targets. En route to the castle, Axis would feed three lothcats on the street, imported due to poor Confederacy wildlife policies on Lothal. Feeding the starving animals, Axis would be in shock when the cats would latch onto his back, insistent in accompanying him on his journey. Checking the front entrance and being put-off by the bar establishment there, Axis would decide to enter the palace by other means. As opposed to using much simpler means, Axis had once again began to embrace his chaotic and adventurous nature, instead opting to scale the tower to the royal's room through climbing, as opposed to the simple method of Air Walking. Entering her room in the palace through the window, Axis was greeted by his target, confusing him by her lack of panic and fear.

Entering the royals room and engaging in dialogue, the woman's conversation with him seemed odd, to the point that upon her physical approach, Axis backed up into the windowsill. Learning that the royal was seeking a suitor and that their conversation had seemingly proven to the woman that they were meant to be, Axis would reject her advances, causing the once friendly Mandalorian to call the guards in the palace. In panic, Axis would jump out the window after leaving the lothcats, and with a misplaced step, would fall off the tower and into the stables.

Jumping onto the first animal he could find, Axis would flee the scene on horseback, with Mandalorian Honour Guards hot in pursuit.

##### Fleeing Sundari

"*I'm going to- Ugh! What's your plan here?*"
"*I'm not sure quite frankly. Dashing hero like me escaping on a horse. What could possibly go wrong?*"
―Annalise and Axis, before escaping from the guards on horseback
Arriving at the hotel residence that he and Annalise were staying at, Axis would be found by his now partner in crime hanging on her windowsill, asking to be let in to avoid the guards. Heaving himself inside, Axis would explain the situation, much to Annalise's frustration and disbelief. Annalise would question the logic of her partner's plans, to which Axis would point out he would not go through the bar entrance due to its promiscuous nature. The guards would begin to break into the room, and Axis and Annalise would jump onto the back of the horse, much to Annalise's chagrin and frustration.

Noting that they could lay low in the shanty town he inspected the day before, Axis and Annalise would begin charging towards the outskirts of the city, with Mandalorians on jetpacks hot in pursuit. Axis would finally inform Annalise of his intentions to collapse the Mandalorian government, much to the woman's shock and questioning, to which Axis would regale her with stories of the suffering of the people he had observed. Annalise would briefly question Axis' stupidity when he would stand on the back of the horse, as the man recklessly handed the reins to her. Axis would then pull out one of his daggers, bringing it down and to Annalise's astonishment, slicing the entire outer wall of Sundari in two.

Having created a hole large enough for them to escape, the horse would begin travelling across the desert planes around the city, with the guards hot in pursuit. Upon Axis' request, Annalise would use her skill in the Force to create an artificial sandstorm, to which Axis would look at her in awe and admiration for. The two would arrive at the Ciryc Town, having lost the guards and finally catching a sense of quiet in the shanty town.

"*I understand that, but there had to be another way of going about it! Now you've brought attention to us and the government could be hunting us, or you! And I really really really don't want to get involved with the Mandalorians to save your ass if something were to go wrong!*"
"*Ahah! But you would save this sorry ass no?*"
―Annalise and Axis, after having arrived at the shanty town
Axis would introduce Annalise to the Ciryc, informing her this was where Mandalore shoved their "destitute and dying". Helping her off the horse, Annalise would then hit the man on the back of the head lightly, frustrated by his shenanigans and carelessness. She would criticise him for his carelessness with her and the horse's safety, as well as all the issues he had caused in Sundari for them. Defending his actions, Annalise would then complain that throwing them into the attention of the government was an unneeded move, endangering them and his new operation and how she didn't want to have to get him out of trouble. Axis would point out she would do so anyway, to which the woman would awkwardly agree with.

It was here that Axis would fall over onto his knee, in great physical strain much to Annalise's panic and worry. Axis would quickly recover, lying that everything was fine and Annalise should not worry. Axis would inform her of some of the situation, much to the woman's worry upon hearing her husband's name involved with the situation. Axis would get them the keys to their rooms, and the man would thank her for saving him and putting up with his actions. Annalise would thank him, noting that despite the chaos, she enjoyed spending the experience with him. The two would retire to their rooms after a brief hug, tired from the day and the news Axis had wrought. Axis would briefly mourn his emotional situation, before getting up to work through the night again, making preparations to meet with the political leader who he intended to put in charge of the revolution.

#### Uprising

##### Mixer

"*And if Valkorian thinks he can keep it from me. Well... galaxies have burnt for less*"
"*I understand your drive. And I am willing to lay down my life for this. After all, you are the one who opened my naive eyes. Sacrificing myself is the least I could do to repay you. Now, you ready to kick ass?*"
―Axis and Mixer, the former recruiting the latter to his team against the Eternal Sith Empire
Axis would recognise that, despite his desires to help Mandalore, there was still the priority of his main mission and goals. Knowing that Boba would likely need help organising the group Axis would need to break into Zakuul to retrieve Annalise's son, he would comm ARC-29 "Mixer" in the hopes the man would pick up.

Delighted when he did so, Axis would begin by apologising for his actions in The Works, before honestly asking the clone trooper for their help. Axis would point out he was not ordering or demanding anything, merely asking for his help from one burdened soul to another, informing the ARC that the mission would be extremely dangerous. Upon being asked his real name by Mixer, Axis would lie and say Axis was all he knew, and that maybe his wife had given him one a long time ago but that he could not remember.

Upon being asked about what they were retrieving, Axis would merely go on to reiterate its importance. Giving the clone the coordinates to his Tatooine base where Boba resided, Axis would hang up on the call, satisfied that things were underway.

##### Leader of the Revolution

"*But why would you help us? You have no reason to...*"
"*Because I can do whatever the hell I like...*"
―Opos Hon and Axis, the former questioning the intentions of the latter
Axis, despite his tired and lethargic state, would finally make use of the systems already in place by the shanty towns themselves. Noting that they shared food with one another in times of crisis, Axis would discover that this network of food transfer and carriages spread across the entire continent at ridiculous speeds, and the clone realised he could use such a system to his favour. During the hours of the day, and having left Annalise to her own devices, quickly snapping a picture of her as she helped out around the village with various tasks, noting her kind heart and drive in helping people who could not help themselves.

Axis would realise, upon getting on the horse's back, that it seemed to have the habit of spinning on the spot when stationary. Seeing that the random rotational movement was akin to that of a compass needle, Axis would finally give the horse their name, that being Compass. Axis would head off into Sundari, using his cloak to disguise his figure as he searched for the political activist which he had transferred money to earlier. Finally tracking the man down via his local informant, the Director of Communications would arrive at the soon-to-be leader's home, finally discovering his name as Opos Hon.

Quickly explaining that it was he that lent the money, Axis would bring forward the idea of revolution, something which enticed the man greatly. Having been informed that Opos had systems in place to begin one, the Mandalorian told Axis that he could not start a revolution on the basis the people were simply blind to the issues around them, as many did not approach their doorstep.

Axis would put Opos in contact with the local Republic informant, before informing him he had access to most resources he wanted, as well as promising that he would bring the issues to the people's eyes and grant Opos the spark of revolution. Axis would return back to the shanty town and retire for the night, exhausted by his most recent actions and responsibilities, but content overall with what he was doing; completely unaware of just how many of his personal rules he was breaking.

##### A Promise to Annalise and Relaxation

"*I will get him back Annalise. I promise. And then, I will get Alena back. I will bring you back together again. All of you...*"
"*Thank you Axis...*"
―Axis and Annalise, embracing in the run-down hotel room
Axis would spend the next couple of days recovering from his declining condition, at one point only having gotten two hours of sleep. Spending most of his time relaxing with Annalise, he would one day burst into her room and endower her with an excited embrace, excitedly telling her he had secured a contact source on Zakuul and that they were going to help retrieve Richard. Upon noticing that he had secured the source through violent means due to the blood on his hands, initially extremely concerned it was a wound of his own, Axis would be ashamed to admit as such. Informing her he was just doing it to get Richard back, and that the man he had killed was an pro-EE conspirator and a murderer, Annalise would still question him as to why he had taken someone's life.

Unable to lie to her, feeling very open under her compassionate gaze, Axis would admit that he had forgotten what a life truly meant; the War and his time under Sidious having forced him to only see the bigger picture. Alluding to his age, Axis would then be shocked when given a comforting embrace by Annalise, quickly breaking down emotionally as he allowed himself to cry for the first time in years. Offering to clean his shirt which was now covered in blood, Axis would end up revealing his scarred torso, with Annalise noticing his brand mark as well as his deeper scars. Axis would leave the room, with Annalise having decided she would not press him on the strange markings and scars she had seen.

The next day, Axis would watch Annalise with absolute endearment as she played games with the local children, sitting up on the window sill as he listened to the report from Chip Chapley about the clone's recent addition in the Senate to permit clones received medals from their Jedi Generals; as opposed to just the Chancellor himself. Axis would also be called days later by Tarkin, and would begin helping the Grand Admiral get to the bottom of a recent assassination attempt on his life.

"*Commando Droids are good, but they aren’t that good. Commanders are different, they get an extra layer of programming uploaded on a routinely checkup upon promotion. Standard Kaminoan policy, those bloody Longnecks. Now, replicating a commander for a day is one thing, but for this one... no, whoever programmed this droid knew what they were doing. Point number two, computers, for all their brilliance, are stupid. Get a droid like SCORPIO and yeah, you’ve got some serious intelligence. But a commando droid? No, that has to be programmed. And programming has traces, and has to be imputed. That droid could have only hacked that simulation terminal with code it was given beforehand. Point number 3, simulation machines remember. They have to, they track your progress. Now, I bet the droid wiped the simulation terminal, but it likely didn’t know about the secondary cache dump. All simulation info is stored there for a routine uploading to the central intelligence database once a month. So, that reprogramming is still in the machine. Get a team of technicians and retrieve the new code, and upload it to the main Republic Information Terminals. Use this code, priority omega. Running this makes sure this information is checked against an average to check for false reports and fakes. It’ll run the code and play spot the difference, and then we have our hacked code. Code which will leave traces, traces which I can track...*"
―Axis, breaking down the idea of a CIS Commando Droid impersonating a Clone Commander to Tarkin
Axis would quickly deduce that the attack was an inside job, instructing Tarkin to retrieve as much left over code he could find from both the droid and the simulation machine used in the assassination attempt. Suspecting it to be a clone trooper behind the attack, Axis reported he would cross-check activity of rogue clones with Jabba, while Tarkin should check Republic records.

Ordering Tarkin to get a Republic commando squad to shadow him as protection detail, as well as retrieving the beskar-woven armour on the ship. He ordered the admiral to use the other clones as a neighbourhood watch-type system, in order to retrieve information as soon as possible. Lastly, he instructed Tarkin to report to the Jedi Council, who were upset at his extreme interrogation methods, citing that Tarkin should not make this an issue again; before hanging up.

Over this period of time, Axis and Annalise would become extremely close with the local villagers, having helped them out a lot in various ways. Axis would often repair things for the village and upgrade many of their local devices, while Annalise would simply help out with tasks and act as a healer in many different capacities. Becoming somewhat local heroes in their abilities and their desire to help, they would eventually have a photo taken with the entire village, with the pair arm-in-arm and staring delighted at the camera.

##### Communication Centre

"*I can download the codes in Xesh's stead. You... need to get the Jedi to get to the Maw and stop her. I can't hold out any longer [...] I've got weeks at best... before my body falls apart*"
―Axis, imploring Thrawn to get the Jedi to stop Abeloth before it's too late
Recognising he needed to call people on a secure line, Axis would go on to discover an abandoned communication centre on the outskirts of Sundari. Opting to spend some further downtime, Axis would later be challenged by the local children to a shooting game, similar to one found at a carnival. Upon missing every can the children instructed him to shoot, much to their chagrin and amusement, Annalise would watch Axis miss the target from a mere 50 centimetres away; once again highlighting his impossibly bad shooting skills. Causing an incident and property damage with his misfired shot, Axis would be embarrassed upon the ecstatic laughter of Annalise, though it did brighten his mood.

Axis would happily say goodbye to the children, who thanked him for spending time with them, much to his delight and happiness. Offering Annalise his hand, the two would walk off to explore, fingers interlocked and both grinning along the way. Axis would begin guiding the two to the communication centre, intent on making some outgoing calls. Briefly collapsing and coughing up blood, much to Annalise's horror, Axis would explain his discomfort about spending too long in one place to her, regaling her with an explanation about his desire to explore and have fun. The two would note that they weren't alone, having each other's company to keep one another busy, as Axis would lead Annalise into the abandoned yet operational building.

Axis would call Thrawn the next day, after he and Annalise spent the night in the abandoned building, asking the Chiss Grand Admiral whether he had any current or former operations on the planet which he should know about; in light of the clone's own increasing involvement on Mandalore. Thrawn would inform Axis that he had been in contact with both Near Farr and Tarre Vizsla, in order to secure an alliance should the two have been successful in their planned takeover. Axis would then instruct Thrawn to go with Yoda to Fwillsving, under vague pretences, as he revealed the extent of his poorly condition.

Axis would proceed to call Dooku, after hearing that the Galactic Syndicate had captured high ranking members of the CIS alongside Kal Skirata, and wanted to make a strike. Wanting to keep it quiet, the Director of Communications would suggest that Dooku instead sends an elite Special Operations team instead. Dooku would agree, sending 3 Nimbus Commandos to assist on the mission before Dooku disconnected the call, Axis being unable to inform him about the secret tunnels that would prove useful to the current CIS conflict on Listehol. Axis' heart would briefly stop in the call, but he would hide any extent of his injuries in front of Annalise when she woke up in the morning. It was at this point that Axis confirmed the issue was the Gardener Tau's presence on Mandalore, the combination of having to keep himself suppressed on her behalf as well as his troubles in the Maw causing his body to begin to shut down.

##### Xesh and Tau

"*Now hold on a second there Xesh... we need to talk*"
―Axis from atop a rooftop, clad in a disguise

Suggesting that the two get breakfast, Axis would inform Annalise that he knew a place in Sundari with a great view, before enlightening her on why he named the horse Compass. Fondly agreeing with the title, the two would set out to Sundari. The two would arrive at the pancake house and Axis would briefly leave to finally confront Xesh and Tau's presence on Mandalore. The two on an assignment from Thrawn, Axis realised he would need to do the mission in their place to successfully remove them from the planet.

Axis, speaking to Xesh and Tau from a rooftop, would elaborate on the Gardener's weakness to the Dark Side; emphasising the need for Tau to train herself under someone who was knowledgeable in both the Void and the Force. Axis would direct the two to find Omega, who also had a vast knowledge of Gardeners themselves, and informed the two it was the 415th who last saw Omega. Telling them the clone group was on Dantooine, Axis would briefly ponder on his own child still being active in the Void, and gave Xesh and Tau incentive to find Omega by bringing up the Harbinger. Xesh would finally take leave with Tau, and Axis would return to spend the rest of the day with Annalise.

During this time, Axis would sense something dark in relation to the future of Coruscant, and would use override codes he had received from Sidious to take control of a Lucrehulk. Placing the droids on standby, Axis would keep the ship in orbit with the correct clearance, hoping he was incorrect. Upon Tau and Xesh rendezvousing with the 415th, Axis would find himself frustrated with their lack of action. But upon seeing Sights, a familiar face given his past with the 415th, Axis found himself taking a sympathetic approach. Instructing Sights to communicate with Thrass, he would inform the Commander of Xesh and Tau's presence, citing that the two would help with his mission. He parted from the conversation by promoting Sights to the rank of General, the only clone known to achieve such a rank within the main branch of the military.

#### **Nimbus Commandos and Death's Doorstep**

##### Meeting Beans and Flauros

"*Spare me your Mandalorian pride. Your people are being slaughtered in the streets. Get here, as soon as possible*"
―Axis, reprimanding Near Farr
Throughout relaxing with Annalise and spending time with her, Axis' plans for revolution began to accelerate further. Within days, after working with Opos extensively, an underground movement had been set up; and Axis had nearly united the shanty towns with the help of Ciryc Town as a home base. The people of the town, sick of the way they were being treated and their love for the duo, would gladly help Axis and Annalise set up and the next stage of the plan would begin.

Axis, aware that they needed material resource that would not only give them leverage but also a combat advantage, would travel to the main Beskar mine outside of Sundari with Annalise, both hitching a ride on a cart from Ciryc Town. Axis, telling Annalise that the Beskar mines were mostly left to run on their own and did not have much contact with the cities except during times of shipment, would inform his partner they needed to do two things. Replace the overseer of the mine and replace them with their own person, and go and free those working at the mines that were conscripts and prisoners of war. Axis would take the overseer and Annalise would take the prisoners.

The mission would not take long, with Axis swiftly assassinating the overseer and Annalise freeing the prisoners quietly. With the help of Opos, they would replace the overseer with their own agent, while Annalise dispatched of the guards with the help of the prisoners. Now that the mine was fully under their control, much to the delight of the workers in light of receiving better conditions and for some, freedom; Axis and Annalise would return to the pancake house for breakfast. Meanwhile, Opos would begin performing similar operations in the other key Beskar mines which surrounded Sundari.

Axis would later receive a message from Mitth'ras'safis, who would inform him the device he requested had been made with the help of the Chiss Commandos, who were collecting the parts thinking it was part of the Ascendency mission to ally with their neighbours. Axis would inform Thrass he intended to pick up the device on Csilla soon, and would give his thanks before hanging up.

Axis and Annalise would be deep in conversation about some of Axis' adventures when the Nimbus Commandos arrived on planet, setting themselves up in an abandoned store. Axis meanwhile, would tell Annalise of some of the knowledge he had gained from his crossing from one universe to the other, telling her about a universe made entirely of cheese. Animatedly talking about how life and reality always managed to make things that were utterly unique, Axis would briefly go into some history he had read up on, notably about some "War" which the books made unclear. Briefly commenting on his discomfort at the idea of knowing all, and how the mysteries offered by life were one of the few things that kept him going, Axis would depart to meet the Nimbus Commandos with Annalise; the two strolling arm-in-arm.

Telling her the Nimbus Commandos were there to help perform a prison break, to which Annalise would point out she had never done such a task before, Axis would tell Annalise that he would be willing to show her all the mysteries to life; an activity they could undertake together. Annalise would agree with a smile, informing him that she was extremely happy to have met him, and that he had done more for her than anyone had since she had arrived.

Arriving at the hideout belonging to that of the Nimbus Commandos, who immediately were suspicious of the two arriving at their door. Moving into the room with Annalise, Axis would introduce himself to the Nimbus Commando known as Beans. The two would settle in quickly, with Beans informing Axis that they had a tracking device on their kidnapped CIS member. Asking for the tracking device, the clone would be bemused to see pure static on the tracker, the signal being blocked. Recognising that there was only one place in Sundari with that level of signal jamming, Axis would quickly point to the Sundari Palace, confident in his assessment.

Axis would quickly begin explaining his ideas that he had been working on in conjunction with Opos' growing rebellion, the clone would plan a small scale riot at the power station, recognising that the repairing Sundari could not afford to lose its power. Telling Beans, and by extension Annalise who offered to help out, to cut the power to the poor district; Axis would contact Near Farr in order to get another figurehead. With a heartfelt departure with Annalise, Axis would run off to scout the Sundari defences after imploring Beans to look after Annalise, and for Annalise to stay out of trouble.

It would not be long before Axis found Flauros, who was mentioned to him by Beans, seeing through his cloaking device. Landing on the rooftop behind the man, the clone would quickly have to calm the Nimbus Commando, who was now pointing their weapons at him. Introducing himself as a representative of Republic command, Axis would quickly point out the flaws to the Sundari palace, including construction works happening on the palace walls. Speaking of a thermonuclear device planted in Sundari by the previous government, Axis would set off to find someone who knew of its location.

##### Setting Up the Revolution

"*Tal'zin is a very smart woman. Her words have weight, though lined with distrust and deceit*"
―Axis, in discussion with Tarre Vizsla about his interaction with Mother Tal'zin
Around midnight, Axis would shadow Bo-Katan and Tarre Vizsla, heading towards their camp to train with one another; away from the watchful eyes of the Mandalorian state. Interrupting the training with a pointer on Tarre's Shii-Cho, Axis would be forced to dodge Tarre's Force Push; before asking the man if he could have a word with Bo-Katan. Pointing out that she was part of Dorjander Kace's Mandalorian administration, Axis would ask for the location of the thermonuclear device buried under Sundari.

Upon Bo not telling him what he needed, Axis would break Tarre's knee before cutting a responsive shot from Bo-Katan in two; before using Tarre as a meatshield when she would fire more shots at him. Upon the woman's further resistance, Axis would threaten to remove Tarre's spine, an old habit from his days in Korsha Morze. It was here that Bo-Katan would concede, promising to tell the clone what she knew in exchange for Tarre's safety. Dropping the former Mand'alor to the ground, Axis would act as if the previous situation did not occur, giving the former Jedi tips to improve his Shii-Cho even further. Tarre would easily engage in friendly talks with Axis after this, agreeing that he may join Axis and Near Farr in liberating his home planet.

After being offered a beverage from Tarre and getting the device location from Bo-Katan, Axis would lament his violent methods, realising he probably should have just asked like a normal person. After this, Axis would awkwardly walk off into the desert, leaving the two to their business. Before returning to the rendezvous point, Axis would rig together a trigger device for the nuke with his knowledge of the device's location. After this, Axis would send word to Opos and those in Ciryc Town to began rallying the Shanty Towns in preparation for revolution.

"*Whether he is deposed or educated, HaVoK needs to know he cannot play God. Few have that privilege...*"
―Axis, discussing what they would do with the leader of the Syndicate
The next morning, Axis would approach two Royal Guards of Mandalore, killing them cleanly and efficiently using a fake scroll which read "How to avoid deception" and a swift slice to their throats. Flinging the two bodies into the base after travelling there, Axis would explain the use of the outfits for the break-in they had planned; as well as showing and handing Beans the trigger device to the thermonuclear devices beneath the city. Taking a seat within the building, Axis would briefly note Annalise being asleep during the midday, endearingly commenting on her sleep schedule. Axis would hand Beans forged papers in order for the power cut to look like an inside job, with timetables and various other documents.

The clone would explain to Beans his plans to access the central mainframe that controlled all of the hidden cameras throughout the city, set up by the administration of Dorjander Kace that the Syndicate were utilising. Noting the Void Lightning and the way of organisation as if there was an uncaring higher master to the Syndicate, Axis would highly suspect that Ectherid had taken control of the organisation and was giving them power. Briefly elaborating to the Nimbus Commandos' about the Great Devourer and the disappearance of Saleucami, Axis would send the coordinates to Near Farr, who had just arrived on Mandalore. Axis would greet Near Farr, before retiring upstairs.

Axis would quickly fall to his knees once in his room, body covered in gashes. Not only did using the Void in such a capacity cause physical damage, Abeloth lashing out against his Void Barrier echoed her attacks onto his person; accelerating his worsening condition. Axis would briefly respond to a communication from Tarre, informing he should talk to Near Farr instead, before passing out on the bed.

##### Near Farr and the Holonet Leak

"*Listen, I saw some stuff in there... [...] Wanna talk about it?*"
"*Depends on what you saw...*"
―Axis and Near Farr, after Axis had accidentally caught glimpses of Near Farr's psyche
Late in the evening, Annalise would briefly check up on the man, who would only poke his head out the door to reassure his companion that he was okay. Telling Annalise to go on the mission without him, as he had a mission with Near, the woman would make him promise his return. Axis would gladly agree, Having his heart stop during this exchange due to getting out of bed, Axis would forcibly restart it before stopping to rest on the floor.

Getting up and heading out, Axis would finally greet Near Farr properly. Near would explain the surveillance system and how Fyst had both locked him out the system and destroyed the cameras in the palace. Pointing out it was Near Farr who lead the Neo Crusaders by reading his timeline when they were brought up in his story, Farr would dismiss the comment and the two would head out to find the location of the mainframe. Showing Axis his Kom'rk, Near would take off and fly the ship low to avoid the defence systems of the city, starting the two's journey to the sewers.

Near would ask him why Axis said he was the leader of the Neo-Crusaders, and being tired from his extensive injuries, Axis would confess he was a complex space-time event and that he was older than time; and that he had read Near's entire timeline from the moment he laid eyes on him. Apologising afterwards, saying that he was unable to filter any of it out due to his current condition, Axis would offer Near Farr the opportunity to talk about some of his more troubled past. Near would no comment, instead asking the clone about why his condition was so poor, and Axis would explain the situation with Abeloth.

The two would arrive at the sewers, and Farr would begin to lead Axis through the complex maze of tunnels. Opening a hidden entrance, the two would embark down another tunnel, Near explaining the extensive defences of the tunnels he had implanted. The two would drop into the server room through a hatch Near opened with his spear, where Axis would quickly approach the central computer. Axis would immediately check the footage to the powerplant, relieved to see that Annalise was alright. Axis would ask if there was a connection to the holonet from the computer, to which Near would point he used the system for security, not with the intentions of leaking it. Noticing a junk pile in the corner of the room, Axis immediately set out constructing the necessary hardware for such a task to be undertaken. Noticing the Academy alarm on the screens, Near would point out that Bo could be in danger, so the clone merely pointed out that Near should go save her if that was the case.

In the night, Bly would use his Void Cloak for the first time, and Axis would react with alarm and pain as if someone had fired a spotlight into his eyes. The pain would eventually subside, and Axis would continue to work into the night. During his work into the next day, Near would call him asking about CC-5502. Axis would point out that Bly disappeared with the rest of the 327th.

It was after this that Axis would leak the last 3 months of the Mandalorian surveillance system to the Holonet, aware that it would cause utter chaos and rebellion all over Mandalore. He would also remove Annalise and the Nimbus' footage from the upload, as well as any footage of himself and Annalise in general. With one hit of the enter key, Axis had set the Mandalorian government to collapse for a third time, arrogantly congratulating himself and noting that collapsing them this many times was a privilege. The public had full access to the Syndicate covering up the tortured men on death row, the dumping of the bodies, the lies, and the schemes. And they were ready to riot.

"*Well of course I did. It was easy enough to predict you. Hell, this is a pre-recorded message. Don’t know what that says about you quite frankly...*"
―Axis mocking Bly in the message he left for the Chief of State
Knowing he would be tracked back to this location, Axis would create mocking signs leading who he knew would be Bly to the computer terminal, which he had rigged to wipe any evidence that it was him and explode afterwards. He would also record a hologram to speak to Bly, using his pseudo precognition to predict what the former Marshal Commander was most likely to say. He would return back to the rendezvous point, Axis would regale Beans with his schemes with a hint of arrogance, before noting that he would retire upstairs until Annalise woke up.

##### Restoring A'Sharad Hett and A Close Call

"*Electricity... need shock...*"
―Axis to Beans and Falcon, instructing them on how to restart his heart in cardiac arrest
High off his victory, Axis would enter the Void to revel in such a feeling. It was here that Axis would feel [REDACTED] drag A'Sharad Hett out of the Void. Brought to tears and snapping out of his stupor due to feeling her presence for the first time in over 50 billion years, Axis would resolve himself to restore the Thread that Ectherid damaged, and restore Hett to the timeline of the Universe of Fracture. This would allow all of the prior mentioned universe's inhabitants to remember the Jedi as he was restored back into history, once again achieving existence.

Axis would wake up back on his bed with a scream, vomiting a large quantity of blood onto the floor. Axis would resolve to himself that he did the right thing, that despite shaving off the days of his dwindling life, he had given Hett his life back; and that one life that he had restored was worth it. He would pass out with peaceful resignation, happy with his deeds for the day.

The next day, concerned by his delirious state at the table, Beans and Falcon would take the bloodied man upstairs. Axis would reassure Beans that he was fine, and the two would lie him on his bed. Taking off his clothes, they would see the extent of his wounds inflicted by Abeloth; long, open gashes that seemed like chasms in his flesh. As if he had been attacked by an animal with teeth and claws, with chunks of his body looking as if they been ripped out. Falcon would use a bacta grenade to heal the wounds, and Axis would stop moving, no signs of life in his body; with a lack of a pulse as well. Beginning to writhe, Axis would sit up with a scream, vomiting the bacta out of his system and onto the floor. Axis would barely be about to move or communicate, saying he needed an electric shock while slamming his hand into his chest, trying to indicate that his heart had stopped. Using a defibrillator, Beans and Falcon would restart Axis' heart, who would profess his thanks before getting up on shaky legs.

Asking to be placed on the bed, Axis would vaguely explain the situation with Abeloth, noting her as a "stupid squid" and mentioning he needed a "group to finish her off", referring to the Jedi Strike Team preparing to go to the Maw. Axis would mention what the two now assume to be his deceased wife deliriously, before passing out on the bed and allowing himself to sleep. He would be treated by both Falcon and Beans over the next couple of days, the two looking after him and ensuring that he stayed alive. Riots would continue to spread rapidly across the city as he slept.

As Annalise and the group broke Dragonius and Kal Skirata out of prison, Axis would be awoken by a vision of Annalise dying, and would force himself out of bed despite his condition, extremely worried for the safety of his friend. Reopening his wounds that Beans and Falcon had patched up, as well as losing more flesh to Abeloth's attacks; and despite collapsing, Axis would continue to show what he had been told was his greatest quality. His vitality and force of will. Forcing himself to get up, Axis would reach the stairs, and despite tumbling down the stairs, he would begin to drag himself with one arm down the next flight of stairs. He would collapse in front of the door, but the relief in his voice would be palpable when he saw that Annalise was okay; Axis began making joking comments, Annalise stunned on the spot, asking what would possess him to end up in this state.

Axis stated that he was worried about her and wanted to make sure he was okay, expressing his profound care for her, before passing out on the floor. Annalise would carry him back to bed, and would express her guilt as to not asking him earlier about his injuries. Annalise would confess her extreme worry for him, asking the unconscious man to hold on for her.

"*Near Farr cared for you, so much more than you realise. Do not dishonour his memory by acting like a fool*"
―Axis, chiding Kal Skirata for his behaviour
The next day, Falcon would enter Axis' room with Beans, briefly rousing Annalise from her sleep at his bedside. Beans and Falcon would confront Kal when he attempted to steal Axis' holocommunicator, and before it could escalate, Axis would awaken and tell the two to stand down. Informing Kal that Near's ship was outside, he would receive his communicator back, and chastise Kal that he should honour Near Farr's memory better. Axis would fall back asleep as Skirata took his leave.

#### **The Final Riot**

##### Revenant Squad

"*It seems you did not hear me the first time. I said put him down...*"
―Annalise to Sigyn, threatening the woman who had kidnapped Axis
Axis would eventually confess to Annalise that he was dying, telling her that holding off Abeloth in the Maw would kill him if it went on for much longer. He would tell her that he was merely waiting for the Jedi to do their job, and that if he were to die, she should know the time he spent with her was the best time of his life. He would say they only needed to deal with HaVoK and then they could leave the planet. As the conversation became more personal, they would be interrupted by an explosion on the ground floor, Revanant Squad having tracked down the groups position via a planted tracker. Annalise would head downstairs, ready to deal with the threat.

Sigyn would enter the room through the window, and subdue Axis quickly using poisonous darts. Slinging the man over her shoulder, Sigyn would begin to leave down the street, having collected her target. Annalise, spurred by emotion, would quickly catch up to the woman and threaten her to let Axis go. Bly would quickly intercept Annalise and prevent her from stopping Sigyn grappling to another rooftop, increasing the distance between her and the clone. Ecosha would also intercept the former Jedi, meaning it was Beans who would catch up to Sigyn on his jetpack, adamantly stating his refusal towards Axis' capture.

Sigyn, gripped by the Force, would attempt to pass Axis to Bly; but the man would instead crash to the ground in front of the squad leader. Bleeding out, he would be finally grabbed by Bly; who started to make a swift escape from the scene. Attempting to utilise his jetpack to escape, Bly would be sent crashing to the ground via a Force Speed-enhanced tackle by Annalise; as Axis would slam into the wall of another nearby building, having fallen out of the clone's grip. With Icarus, Beans, and Sigyn all running to the downed man, Sigyn would mistakenly grapple to the rooftop without her prize.

Thinking quick, Bly would fire his repulsor at Axis, sending him spiralling into Parundo's arms. Parundo, attempting to escape on jetpack, was once again pulled to the ground by Annalise despite the woman being intercepted by Bly. Jetpack damaged by the grip of Annalise's Force Pull, Parundo would take off on foot, fleeing the chaotic scene as Nimbus Commandos fought members of the Revenant Squad. Parundo, in his panic would run towards Bly for help, not noticing the man's location right next to Annalise. With an emotionally charged Force push towards Bly, Annalise would finally get her hands on Axis, though in a tug-of-war for possession with Parundo.

Sigyn, desperate to not lose her target, would hurl her vibroblade at full speed through the air; a desperate attempt to regain control of the situation. Axis would awaken with a scream, the blade plunging through his leg. Bly, far more controlled, would throw two daggers at Annalise's back; and ending with another scream, Axis would intercept them with his shoulder. Despite this, Annalise would take off towards Compass, who had been waiting loyally down the street. Finally riding off with Axis, and Beans catching up, they would leave Falcon, Dragonius, and Flauros to be captured. Annalise would conjure a sandstorm with the Force, covering the escape of the three on horseback. As one final expression of anger, Axis would remove the daggers from his shoulders and hurtle them into the shoulders of Sigyn, from his awkward position on the horse's back and over great distance. After a brief state of deliriousness due to extreme blood loss, talking to both Beans and Compass, he was escorted back to his room. Being patched up by Beans and Annalise, and after talking with Annalise about what had happened, he would finally pass out; resting in order to help the Mandalorian Rebels at a later date.

##### Calm Before the Storm

"*Things are immortal if we remember them. And if you try hard enough... and wait long enough... then you can see anything. Because nothing is truly dead. Not to time...*"
―Axis, conversing with Annalise while stargazing
After briefly conferring with Beans and Kal Skirata about the plans for tomorrow, upon which they would join in the riot in the capital to rescue the captured Nimbus Commandos, Axis would return to rest. It was later that during the night before the Day of Chaos that Axis and Annalise would head to the roof of the building they were staying in, to observe the remains of Star Acol-7; which had gone supernova 100 years ago, passing over Mandalore in a great spectrum of lights. The trail of the supernova was being dragged by what Axis described to be a Paladdun, a turtle-like creature dragging the supernova to its nesting grounds. After briefly stargazing more, the two remarked on their plans after Mandalore, where Annalise would reaffirm the two's plans to head to Aruza.

After talking with Thrass about the device he commissioned, and briefly discussing matters such as Tau, upon which Axis would remark that she needed to remove her new lightsaber from her person lest Sidious came after her. Later sending Thrass extensive data in relation to the Yuuzhan Vong, the two would depart from their conversation. Axis would drift off to sleep, worrying for what he sensed in regards to the next day.

##### The Day of Chaos

"*The Void is nothing. The Void is non-existence. You didn’t just kill those people, you wrenched their souls from their bodies and turned them into dust. They died screaming, and I had to feel every second of it*"
―Axis, describing the effects of Void Lightning to HaVoK
The day would open with a call to action, and Axis would depart with Beans to the Sundari Palace, where the riot had already begun. With his Nimbus ally entering via climbing the back wall, Axis would decide to take a more direct approach. Jumping to the plaza walls to the East, Axis would begin to head towards the gardens, but would instead be diverted to the plaza due to a conflict with Sigyn. Forcing Sigyn to fight hundreds of rioters, Axis would retreat, heading to the gardens once again. Dispatching more guards, Axis would arrive into the main palace into the library. Here he would encounter Njex Rodarch and Agent 66, and after a brief conversation, would be forced to depart to head towards the prison.

Catching the Nimbus Commandos upon their escape, they would inform him they were unable to rescue Darth Dragonius. Axis, not willing to leave any man behind, Sith or otherwise, would head down into the prison and later rescue Dragonius. Rendezvousing with the Nimbus Commandos and depositing Dragonius with them, Axis would proceed to head back up to the palace throne room, intending on confronting HaVoK. Engaging two honour guards outside the throne room, Axis would remove one's head and throw it down towards HaVoK in the plaza; thus gaining his attention before heading into the throne room himself.

With HaVoK and Revenant Squad entering the throne room, the confrontation was ready to begin. With HaVoK and the group blaming him for the destruction outside, Axis would begin to shut down their arguments, pointing out the whole revolution started because of the way the Syndicate treated their citizens. Axis would proceed to call HaVoK out for his lack of insight into his identity, citing Ectherid's foolishness if the Snake had not informed HaVoK of his actual capabilities. It was at this point that Axis would sense the Jedi finally enter the Maw, and knowing they would handle Abeloth, would drop the shields and defences he had placed around her; finally free from endless injury and danger, his body beginning to recuperate.

Now back to strength, Axis would prevent any attempts of HaVoK's use of Void Lightning against him, before cutting HaVoK off from the Dark Side. Forcing HaVoK to agree to stop killing innocents, Axis would relinquish his punishment over the leader of the Syndicate, who would reconnect with the Dark Side. Extending his mental prowess to the members of Revenant Squad, Axis would proceed to wipe their memories and place them into a sleep, in order to keep things private. With the entrance of Bly, Axis would inform the two they would likely lose the city, calm despite Bly's attempts to assassinate him. With Bly entering Void Cloak and briefly overwhelming Axis's senses, the clone would stab violently into the Key's leg, the latter shrugging it off despite the pain.

Upon bringing up Bly's crimes with the 327th, and after informing HaVoK of the effects his Void Lightning has on others, Axis would briefly postulate as to what actually happened to the body of Aayla Secura. Realising Bly didn't do anything with the body, and being informed of their pit stop to Kessel around the time Abeloth had woken up, Axis came to the conclusion in a panic that Abeloth must have inhabited Secura prior to him sealing her in the Maw. Now realising just who could have manipulated the Hutt Cartel into leaving the Syndicate, Axis felt foolish in understanding Abeloth had been partially playing him the entire time, having been active in the galaxy despite his efforts. With the panicked thought that the foreboding feeling he had been sensing in regards to the future was likely to do with Abeloth, Axis would later activate the Lucrehulk in Coruscant's orbit, deploying the droids to protect the Jedi at the Coruscant Temple at all costs.

##### Aftermath

"*Sundari Palace... all those people...*"
―Axis, in grief after the explosion in Sundari
Axis would meet the Nimbus Commandos far healthier than they had ever seen him, explaining the situation and outcome, while also helping to treat their wounds. The group discussing if they would have to part ways, Axis would pose the question if they wished to help him retrieve Richard back from the Eternal Empire, to which they would agree much to the immortal's ecstatic joy. Going to visit Annalise, who he had left sleeping for the entire duration, he would inform her of his success in Sundari as well as that of the people they had come to know and love, all of the revolutionaries celebrating in the capital. Their conversation would be cut short when Axis would sense a disaster approaching, and the man would quickly head outside.

However, he was too late, and Axis and the Nimbus Commandos were forced to watch Sundari Palace explode in a fiery blaze; which would lead to the deaths of 56,000 innocent civilians, all of whom were congregated in the palace. Still unaware of the details, Axis would ride off on Compass to investigate the slag crater that was now Sundari Palace, and was able to determine the explosion had come from underneath; likely with a point of origin at the sewers. Storming off in anger, Annalise would attempt to console the man, which worked somewhat in its efforts; with Axis later informing her of his improved condition. Unable to figure out the cause of the explosion, Axis would briefly leave to make alterations to Slave-1; before he and Annalise prepared to depart the planet once and for all.

#### Departure from Mandalore

##### Saying Goodbye

"'*Course! She's old, but she's tough!*"
―Axis, speaking with fondness upon seeing Slave-1
Axis and Annalise, ready to leave the planet which had ended on a mournful note, would rendezvous with the Nimbus Commandos. Axis would thank the group for saving his life and helping to protect Annalise, before giving Flauros his contact information in order for the group to reunite on Mandalore later. Departing with Compass, the two would arrive at Slave-1, loading the horse onto the ship with the alterations Axis had made; both happy to see the ship looked good as new.

Having given Annalise a fish tank, as she had mentioned she desired in a previous exchange, the two jumped to hyperspace; finally leaving Mandalore behind.

##### Galactic Affairs

"*That's fine. I'll just take it out of your account anyway*"
―Axis to Palpatine, the former no longer under the control of the latter upon threats to cut his pay
Not long after their departure, Axis would be called by Beans, the NC noting that Axis had not said goodbye to him given he was asleep; to which the immortal noted that he disliked goodbyes in general. Sending Beans the coordinates of their Tatooine base, Axis left the call satisfied that he had secured his friends along for the mission he was planning on undertaking. Now curious about the state of the galaxy and for information on Abeloth's dealings, Axis would respond to Palpatine contacting him, making sure to do so out of the earshot of his ship companions.

Axis would question the viability of Palpatine's machine on Mortis, and how Abeloth was still able to press her influence to take over Secura despite the sacrifice the Son and Daughter had made through the Sith Lord's machinations. The two discussed the fate of the Jedi after they underwent a genocide during the Day of Chaos, as the media had begun to dub it, and how to keep them within the Republic and working with Palpatine. Axis suggested undoing the Ruusan Reformation as compensation, while suggesting they create a new obligation for the Jedi to still assist the Republic militarily, as the Director realised the Jedi were likely going to push for the Reformation's destruction anyway. Agreeing to this, the two had formed a plan that would successfully keep the Jedi working with the Republic, also pledging to give funding to the reconstruction of other Jedi enclaves or even the Coruscant Temple if that is what the Order wanted.

The two left the conversation realising that the dynamic between them had changed, and both would regard one another with more caution from this point.

### Separation from Annalise

#### Tatooine

##### Encounter with Abeloth

"*Very clever. Using our telepathic link as a bridge. Enjoy your little escapade to the temple did we?*"
"*Come to me my love, so we may be together*"
"*Pardon?*"
―Axis and Abeloth, after the latter forces a psychic encounter between the two
During the journey back to Tatooine, Axis would be contacted by Abeloth, who was now back to full strength after the Day of Chaos. However, it was from this conversation that Axis would learn of an uncomfortable development. With the death of the Father, Abeloth searched for one who could stand by her side to keep her children in line, and she had decided that Axis would fit the role perfectly; developing an obsession with the abilities he had showcased to trap her within the Maw.

Panicked and having not anticipated the change in her motivations at all, Axis would erect extremely powerful mental shields, cutting himself off from the chaotic Force entity completely, and would later pass out after having a panic attack. During his time in his own head, Axis would see hallucinations of his dead wife, and force himself out of his own mindscape before he purposefully trapped himself there. Coming to, Axis would calm himself through reading an old letter he kept, given to him by his wife prior to her death. It was then that Axis came to the realisation that while he couldn't reunite Annalise with Richard right away, he could set up some form of brief communication between the two through the Void.

##### Contact with Richard

"*I'm here. I'm not going to let you go*"
―Axis to Annalise, reassuring her after her panic upon entering the Void
Axis, having meditated and found Richard's presence in the Void, would quickly make efforts to hide both himself and the child from prying eyes; as to keep both of them safe. Upon Annalise arriving in the room, Axis would direct her to take his hand, and her mind would enter the Void upon doing so. Initially terrified of the emptiness and terror of the sensation, Axis would reassure her with his presence, and the two would begin to traverse the dimension while Axis explained exactly what the Void was to the woman accompanying him.

Allowing Annalise to enter Richard's mind, Axis would keep watch as the woman interacted with her son for the first time since their separation. A Void creature acting as a scout for the Harbinger would briefly sense the interaction, but before it could tell its master, Axis would slaughter it without a single moment of hesitation. Axis would sadly have to force the two to part, the security measures he had placed already falling apart, before disconnecting the projection of the Void.

The two would briefly discuss Omega and Alena, Annalise noting how much she owed the Swimmer, while Axis did not particularly elaborate on his own connection to the horseman. Later that day, after receiving a message from Thrawn about Axis's plans to go to Csilla, Axis would bend his own rules by using a Void Portal to teleport Slave-1 to their home base.

##### Disagreement with Annalise

After their arrival on Tatooine, the two would meet the members of the team that Boba had gathered, including members of the Bad Batch, Ion Team, and Jaws. After introductions were out of the way, Axis would watch Annalise brief Jaws on the specifics of their mission and the reasoning for the team assembling, and avoid the members of the Bad Batch given their encounter at the Works previously. The immortal would fail to recognise Annalise's growing desire to see Richard in person, the pseudo-meeting with her son having only made Annalise want to see Richard more. Excited to show Annalise the world of Csilla, Axis would tinker in his workshop while planning the two's trip to Ascendency Space.

Approached by his companion, Axis would show Annalise equipment he had made to track Zakuul when it would likely move at the hands of Valkorion. Upon ranting in excitement about the sights of Csilla, Annalise would interject with her desire to see Richard, informing Axis she was not going with him to help the Chiss. Insisting that she could see Richard prior to the team's arrival, Annalise would attempt to explain her reasoning to Axis, who seemed to be in confusion at the logistics of Annalise's plan to charge into "the lion's den".

"*You're banking on what? "Oh yeah, he might not kill me". What about Alena huh? What happens when I have to tell her her mother is dead because she decided to run face first into a spiked wall! I am not risking everything because you thought you could get lucky on a gamble!*"
"*I should have told Arye I was on Sundari. I should have asked for one of the ships. Then I could have left to go to Zakuul instead of coming back here with you...*"
"*Oh really?! I'm sure you would have **loved** third wheeling with Satele Shan! You're justifying your own suicide Annalise! Think about what you are risking here!*"
―Axis and Annalise, arguing over her plan to return to ZakuulUpon hearing that Axis would not allow her to go, the man citing that he couldn't lose her alongside what Valkorion had already taken, Annalise would bristle at the idea of his refusal, citing that she did not require the clone's permission to leave. Upon realising Annalise had no intention on listening to his logistical concerns, Axis would instead press the issue that she could lose her life from the ideal, potentially leaving Alena motherless. The argument shifting to one more emotionally charged, Annalise insisted she should have never gone with Axis in the first place, and gone to Zakuul on her own.

After pleading to Annalise that he would take her place if it was Richard's safety she was concerned over, and after the woman still refused, Axis would finally lose his temper. After shouting at her that he couldn't let her risk her life, Axis would watch Annalise depart with harsh words, informing the man he could take as long as he wanted on Csilla. After calming down as soon as she had left, Axis would break down, heartbroken that he had ruined one of the few positive things left in his life.

##### Aftermath of Parting and the Key Team

"*I’d appreciate you forwarding the files to my datapad, Axis. I have a feeling I have a lot of reading to do.*"
"*No files I'm afraid. Just memory. My datapad is currently... unavailable*"
―Kylo Ren and Axis, the latter mulling over A.L.I.C.E no longer being with him
Axis, secluding himself after Annalise's departure, would once again be contacted by Abeloth during his moment of weakness. The woman would attempt to emotionally manipulate him, and though Axis briefly considered her offer to join her, he would refuse after remembering his late wife and Annalise. Plagued by the guilt of his crimes and nothing to show for it, Axis would attempt to see if he could finally end his life through using the Void itself, something the dimension would attempt to prevent its other half from doing, though such insistence would fall from deaf ears.

After being visited by [REDACTED], Axis would come to, ending the process and steeling himself for the days to come; resigning that all would be fixed as long as he reached Annalise as soon as possible. Resolving he could not leave Annalise on her own, Axis would teleport Compass to her ship in hyperspace, accompanied by a photo of her enjoying her time on Mandalore as well as his device to track movements in the Thread. He would be present of the arrival of Boba and Mixer, who had acquired Kylo Ren as per Axis's instructions, and would happily reunite with the two.

Axis and Ren would find themselves in confrontation, the latter finding the former's lack of respect and emotional prodding infuriating. Boba would briefly inquire into the location of Annalise, but Axis would brush him off quickly, walking away to contact Thrawn instead. Axis would assure the Chiss he would arrive on Tython soon, before updating Thrawn as to what he knew about the Day of Chaos. The Key would insist Abeloth was not of his concerns, instead that his focus lied with Ectherid, but did advise Thrawn to investigate the Killiks; as well as further insisting that Anakin should be trained further in order to defeat her.

##### Departing Tatooine

"*Did something happen with Annalise?*"
"*I'm fine. I'm always fine. In fact, I'm very fine...*"
―Beans and Axis, the latter lying to the former
Axis, Boba, and Mixer would discuss their plan for dealing with Zakuul and the Eternal Emperor; with Axis informing the two that he would go to Csilla, while they would attack key Eternal Sith Empire assets while he did so. Axis recognised that once the Chiss government was stabilised, it would be very hard for Valkorion to spread his influence to the Unknown Regions, thus cutting him off to remain within the known galaxy. In order to counteract SCORPIO, Axis would inform Boba they should recruit HK-47, as the droid had enough experience with droid-based hiveminds to counteract the Iokathi construct where necessary. Mixer would volunteer to track down Grievous and recruit him, while Boba decided that he would pursue the HK droid.

The Key also decided he had a message to deliver to Bendu, and would dispatch Ren to do so, recognising that the Atollon native could set the young Supreme Leader straight. Axis would also bolster Boba and Mixer's mental prowess and defences, just in the off chance Valkorion attempted to breach their minds. Later that day, Axis would inform Hunter of the death of Near Farr, giving his condolences before discussing Vader's actions in the galaxy with Kylo.

With the arrival of the Nimbus Commandos he had met on Mandalore, Axis's mood began to lift. The excited man wasted no time prepping their departure in a whirlwind of energy, and led the group to his modified CR90, named the *Subtle Avoidance*. After exchanging a goodbye with Boba, the *Subtle Avoidance* took off, jumping to hyperspace. As the group left, Beans would attempt to get Axis to open up about Annalise's lack of presence, but the man did not elaborate.

#### Spiders of the Void

##### The Punishment of Kal Skirata and Tython

"*The Force doesn’t get to decide where and how your debt is payed! How many people were in Sundari? How many children?!*"
―Axis to Kal Skirata, before giving him his punishment
The next day, Axis would hear of Kal Skirata's capture through his data network, and hear of the evidence of Skirata being the one behind the destruction of Sundari. Already emotionally unbalanced, Axis would intervene at Kal Skirata's execution in a fit of rage, preventing his presence from becoming one with the Force before casting him into a collapsing universe to be trapped for eternity as punishment.

After his return, and after calming down, Axis would elaborate more to the Nimbus Commandos about his disagreement with Annalise, citing that he had gone into the conversation with the wrong perspective. Axis would also briefly explain the dynamics of the multiverse, going into detail about how there were only two instances of Annalise, and describing the horror that was the Universe of Fracture.

"*One morning the Chiss Ascendency existed, the next they didn’t. One evening I was talking to Leia, the next she vanished; came back two hours later. People died every day, ceasing to exist before being brought back. Empires would appear at sunrise and disappear at dawn, planets would appear and disappear, people you met wiped from history and you’d never even know...*"
―Axis, describing Palpatine's damage to the Universe of Fracture
The Nimbus Commandos would be horrified to hear of the other universe's state, and would question how Axis was still alive. Elaborating how his nature as a complex space-time event allowed him to avoid most of the damage, Axis would also bring up his former family, and how he only had three children left, the rest being dead. The rest of their conversation would be cut short by the *Subtle Avoidance*'s arrival to Tython.

It was here that Axis met this universe's Grand Admiral Thrawn for the first time in person, after the *Subtle Avoidance* docked within the *Chimaera,* as well as meeting Arcann Tirall. The three would discuss matters of the Eternal Sith Empire, with Axis directing Thrawn's attention to a map to point out the location that Vitiate was planning on moving Zakuul to. With Thrawn providing more details on the Chiss houses that were rebelling, Axis would recommend they enlist help from Thrawn's tactical Chiss Commando squad, to which the Grand Admiral would agree.

The *Chimaera* would leave Tython, jumping to hyperspace and departing the Jedi's stronghold.

##### Diversion to Vosnodana

"*Well... would you look at that?*"
―Axis, upon seeing the result of the two's efforts in the chemical lab
The occupants of the *Chimaera* would be rudely awakened when the ship suffered turbulence from something wrong with its travel through hyperspace. Unknown to the occupants, the ship was caught by the web of the Void Spiders, a group of creatures from the Void which could spread their webs across entire galaxies and universes. With people having gone missing across the galaxy in and out of hyperspace, their presence had been relatively unknown due to the lack of connection between the various disappearances.

As the *Chimaera's* hyperdrive continued to cause panic, with engineering crews unable to stop it from falling apart, Thrawn would warn Axis of the emergency. With such warning, Axis would rush to the hyperdrive within seconds, beginning to work on minimalizing the damage and potentially repairing the mechanism. With the arrival of Flauros, who Axis had read out the state of the coolant in the hyperdrive as he attempted various repair methods, the clone would realise that there was nothing to stop the hyperdrive from exploding. Calling for an evacuation, Axis would barely escape through the bulkhead he had programmed to close as the hyperdrive exploded behind him.

With the destruction of the hyperdrive, Axis was forced to help Flauros brace for impact, causing him to impact the wall harshly; injuring him temporarily. Upon looking out the window, and seeing the webs dragging the *Chimaera* towards Vosnodana, Axis would direct Beans and Flauros to assist those in life support before heading towards a chemical lab with Arcann, with the intent of analysing the webs.

Upon Arcann reaching out with the Force, and discovering they were made from the Void, Axis would be puzzled as to why he could not sense particles from his own dimension. Altering a laser grid analysis machine, Axis would instruct Arcann to cast a melt of chemicals he had produced into the custom-shaped laser grid as a cauldron. Altering the machine with the Void, Axis would then further instruct Arcann to pour as much of his Force energy into the melt as possible. And while this process drained the power, Axis was able to create a liquid-based substance to which the Force Arcann had used was bound to.

After engaging in small talk with the now Jedi Battlemaster, Axis and Arcann would access the Megamaser batteries, applying the liquid to the first they could fine. After Arcann targeted the webs, causing them to fall apart, Axis would sense a familiar presence he could not quite place on the planet's surface. Instructing Arcann to deal with the Void Spiders that had already boarded, Axis would rush to the hangar and depart to the surface of Vosnodana.

##### Willow

"*What...? I’m confused...I thought it would be sticky and gross...I mean it’s still gross but like yeah...*"
"*It's like... air is inside. Of courseeeee! Oxygen pockets! That's why the webs are so buoyant! They need the oxygen to be able to sustain the life as they drag people across the galaxy!*"
"*Ohhhh!! Yeeeahh!! Oxygen!*"
"*It is what organics need to breath Droid...*"
―Willow and Axis investigating the properties of the Void Spider's webbing
As he arrived on the surface of the planet, Axis would sense the presence more clearly, though not able to pinpoint it exactly. At first denying such a conclusion, Axis would press on through the forests of Vosnodana, avoiding Void Spiders where he could. It was later that he would run into Willow, in her form of the Droid Bartender, and the two would become acquainted. Willow would inform Axis she suspected others were on the planet that needed rescuing, given she had heard Na'al's voice, and the man declared they would help anyone who was trapped. Noticing the webs seemed to congregate around a gigantic tree, the two would head towards it with haste, though it would take them some time.

Approaching a shack they found near the giant structure, Axis and Willow would begin to investigate the surface of Vosnodana, with Axis pointing out the shack was likely built by people who could not leave the surface of the planet. Upon discovering the mutilated body of the home owner, Axis would cover it as to prevent Willow from seeing the gruesome sight. Through reading the deceased's journal, Axis would learn of the Queen Mother intending on spreading her webs to every parallel universe, consuming every living thing after her children hatched. Realising they had to stop the Void Spiders from doing so, Axis would wonder how people got transported through space to arrive on Vosnodana.

Upon closer inspection, Axis realised the webbing lead directly underground, likely to the Queen Mother herself. Axis would instruct Willow to feel the webs, and upon doing so, the girl ascertained that the webs themselves were quite buoyant. Axis agreed, postulating that they must be full of air, likely oxygen to keep those they transported alive. Cutting through the webs, Axis would discover the liquid-based oxygen that produced enough air to allow transportation over vast distances. With that concluded, the two headed within the gigantic tree they had spied earlier.

##### The First Gardener

"*I’m so sorry Axis... [...] I bet she was amazing...you did a great job, man. As a father...yeah. I bet you did amazing...*"
―Willow, attempting to communicate with the silent Axis
Upon Axis and Willow entering the husk of the latter's daughter, Axis would begin to recognise his surroundings as one of a Gardener. Ascertaining that the Gardener must have died in agony from being hollowed out and eaten by the spiders, with its energy causing the Void Spiders to afford rapidly expanding. With Axis concerned that Gardeners should not be able to grow as large as the tree they were in, perhaps in denial, he and Willow would split up; heading deeper into the tree. Reaching a dead end, Axis would double back, eventually catching up to Willow; who was with the true form of the First Gardener. Na'al would thank Willow for allowing her to see her father one last time, to which was somewhat lost on the girl.

Panicked, Axis would rush over to the two, as the truth of the entire matter began to weigh down on his mind. Na'al would inform Axis she had arrived to this universe to look after Tau, and seek out Omega, but had been apprehended by the spiders. With Na'al informing her father of her impending death, Axis would vehemently deny such a truth, paralysed by fear of his daughter passing to act. With the final act of seeing her father alive and well after the War now complete, the First Gardener would pass; causing a depression of emotion to spread through the Void and the surrounding universes.

After a brief period of horrific mourning, with the Key trapped in their own memories and mind, Willow's prompting brought Axis back to a reality. A reality where his daughter was no longer alive. With determination, Axis would head deeper into the carcass of his eldest daughter, Willow following close behind in worry as he approached the Queen Mother, feeling completely alone with nothing left to lose.

##### Genocide

"*Then I cannot be held responsible...*"
―The Key, upon the Queen Mother declining their offer of mercy

Upon seeing the Queen Mother, Axis would approach her with the intention of parlay; a concerned Willow at his heels. Axis, despite his losses, would offer the Queen Mother a chance to a pocket dimension; where her children could grow in peace and where they would not attach to any universe with the intent of feeding, and instead feast at the worlds generated within such a new home. The Queen Mother quickly declined such an offer, declaring the regular cosmos was the feast they intended, and their children would have their first feast through Axis and Willow.

Having exhausted his mercy, Axis would use thermal detonators to set the oxygen-filled webs alight, the fire beginning to spread rapidly towards the Queen Mother's egg. With the spider's children burning alive, Axis would stare on with no intention of leaving the firestorm that had spread throughout the room, despite the screams of the Queen Mother in agony at the sight of her children perishing. However, at Willow's protests, Axis was shaken from his stupor, and the two ran out of the burning hell that the massive Queen Mother now chose to crawl from as well; with the young girl having saved his life.

With the angry arachnid intent on killing the two who ran from her, Axis would call Thrawn, ordering a MAC strike that emerged from the fleet that had just arrived. The superheated round slammed into the Queen Mother, with Axis and Willow watching the being perish upon repeated MAC strikes, much to the latter's relief and the former's vindication. With the two escaping on the shuttle Axis took down, Axis would ask Thrawn to order the fleet to glass the entire planet, wiping out every Void Spider in the cosmos; the genocide completed.

##### Fallout of the Loss

"*It’s hard...but it’ll get better. Just have hope it will. See you around, glitter eyes.*"
―Willow to Axis, before the former departed from the *Chimaera*
Axis, after the *Chimaera* had left Vosnodana, would lock himself in his room for an entire day, not interacting with the outside world. In a state of mourning over Natalie's, otherwise known as Na'al, death; Axis would attempt to write several letters of apology to Annalise, though would fail after hundreds of drafts. After emerging from his room, he would encounter a lost Willow wandering the halls, before escorting her to the hangar so she could get on with her intended business elsewhere.

Taking her to an X-Wing, Axis would inform the girl that the road ahead would be tough, and that he had every ounce of faith she would succeed. As she prepared for departure, Axis would thank her for getting him to stop, to which Willow reassured him that things would look up; though received no response from the man afterwards. He would return to his room, and remain there for days, trapped in his own memories of Na'al.

It was later that Dooku would attempt to contact Axis, to which the clone would respond. Upon learning the Count was trapped in a child's body, Axis could not help but laugh, the first time he had done so in days. Now in debt to Dooku, Axis would help him with his request for Kamino to produce him a new body. Still attempting to write Annalise a letter, Axis would still be trapped in his room for more than a week, unable to stand leaving the confines of its walls. Almost going mad with grief, Axis resolved he needed answers as to how Na'al ended up on Vosnodana, as well as feeling the call of adventure to lift his spirits. With a departing note to the Nimbus Commandos, Axis left the universe, heading to Krovashda; a planet he tried to avoid given the outcome of his visit prior.

#### Krovashda

##### Arrival

"*Of all the people I had to fall in love with...*"
―The hallucination of Axis's wife upon the man in question ignoring her
Axis, seeking counsel and adventure, arrived on the snow-stricken planet of Krovashda once again. Axis noted the last time he had been on the planet, on which he had been much younger and still with his late wife; the two having arrived on the planet through some cosmic interference. Recognising the need to get his bearings, Axis proceeded onwards to a familiar presence he felt amongst the snow. However, the man did not account for the attempts his grief-stricken mind would make to preserve his sanity, and it wasn't long before Axis started to hallucinate his deceased wife. Noticing the snow density beneath him did not indicate the snow had fallen from the sky, Axis ascertained that it must have fallen off some kind of building in the distance, or been carried due to displaced land.

Axis would grow more frustrated by the hallucinations persistence at talking to him, and more worried by the history of Krovashda not aligning with its current state. Given the Children of Krovashda had begun to explore beyond the human cities they were kept prisoner in after he left the last time, determining they were not ready to live in such structures, Axis grew concerned by the lack of native individuals around.

##### Growing Concerns

"*How did you all do this? How did you do this in 400 years?*"
"*What she said. Because this is way too rapid, too fast. The last time I was here, most of your lot were crawling out of caves on their hands and knees...*"
―Axis's hallucination and Axis himself, pressing Tal for answers
It was at this point Axis would receive a call from Kylo Ren, to which the former would question how the latter had even performed such a feat. Learning of Kar'nek's travels with the boy, Axis seemed slightly happy for such an outcome, though as to why could not be determined. Upon receiving the Bendu's warning from Kylo, Axis would grow to be more confused, not understanding the Force being's enigmatic communication. Discussing the cataclysm and Thread Maker, the two's conversation would be cut off by Kar'nek before Ren could elaborate more. Now more concerned than ever, Axis would press on regardless, before he finally caught up to the presence he felt before; a figure he recognised from his last visit, a Child of Krovashda named Tal.

Feeling his old friend's concern for his well-being, Axis dodged the subject, instead pressing Tal for information on the current state of Krovashda. Upon asking Tal how the Child knew he was coming, the older creature did not elaborate to a sufficient degree, instead stating it would be explained in time. Slightly frustrated, Axis would instead ask Tal his age, trying to determine how long it had been since he had last set foot on the ice world. Discovering it had been 436 years since they had last seen one another, Axis would later discover why he took such issue with the time. Upon seeing the vast Krovashdan city, not in any way built from the former human cities that resided elsewhere, the clone realised that the evolutionary speed of the Children of Krovashda had been accelerated far too quickly.

Rushing down to inspect the city, Axis would question how such expansion occurred so quickly, and Tal would elaborate that he did not know the answer; instead informing Axis that the Twenty had been keeping secrets from them. Given the nature of the race's shared telepathic connection, Axis grew concerned, as did the hallucination of his wife. She pressed the issue of the accelerated evolution, to which Axis agreed and pressed Tal as well, who would lead him into the city.

It was at this point that Axis would confront the hallucination directly, after she asked him what happened to him to the point he would change to such a degree. However, the hallucination would quickly make its complete forgiveness known regardless of what he had done, causing the man to wonder if this was an accurate representation or his own mind being sympathetic. After this, [REDACTED].

#### Other Adventures

"*Fought in the Battle of Trafalgar, and let me tell you, he really did want a kiss that old fella*"
―Axis to Flauros, describing his adventures while he was away
After his time on Krovashda, Axis was stated to have gone on a few adventures. Stated to have seen and saved the Hanging Gardens of the Plant Priestess, where the tree allegedly climbs through the star system and the planets hang from its branches like fruit. He also stated that he fought in the Battle of Trafalgar on Earth in 1805, and also helped to create a planet.

## **Personality and Traits**

By nature, Axis was cheerful, charismatic, hyperactive and enthusiastic, often at times where others would deem it to be socially inappropriate. He tended to keep a massive smile on his face, though in his later years it was often a mask, and simply enjoyed his travels wherever he went. Axis' human side made him a more loving and fun character to be around, welcoming most people with open arms. He was able to gain the loyalty of those around him extremely quickly, to the point of it being noted as a superpower. The Mandalorian Nimbus Commandos were willing to engage Kal Skirata in a fight to the death over his possessions being stolen, and Tarre Vizsla was willing to jovially interact with the man seconds after Axis threatened to remove his spine. Axis would become serious and demanding when the situation called for it, but sometimes this was interrupted by inappropriate humour and quips, as well as a lack of social understanding of many social interactions.

However, several people had observed a man who had seen many terrible things and felt a deep loneliness, beneath his false mask He felt profound regret for the deaths he'd seen and caused. His keen sense of loss led him to empathise with those who had also suffered, and made him feel driven to prevent death and destruction wherever possible. Axis had an extremely hard time accepting failure, and would lash out when he failed to succeed in helping those around him. He had a capacity for righteous anger, particularly when his friends were threatened or at risk. When driven by his anger, he would not hesitate to strike down those who opposed him and his goals. His advanced age, greater than that of 50 billion years, had caused endless loss and pain for the man; and he sometimes allows his own past to dictate his actions.

As a person, he deeply cherished all life to the extreme, capable of extreme acts of love and devotion to those he cared for; to the point of nearly ripping his body apart just to check if a person close to him was alright. He was extremely dedicated to looking after those he cared about, punishing those severely who tried to harm any form of life, but especially those he cares about. Though tempered by those around him, there will always be the monster inside him somewhere. Axis will always go to punish those for their misdeeds, and usually does punish those who people would see as “villains”, which is what he spend billions of years doing travelling reality. However, this sometimes can become personal and vindictive; and without certain people to ground him, he doesn’t know when to stop before he takes his punishments too far and end up doing something he would regret. Axis had a merciful and compassionate nature, consistently extending an offer to help even the most vile of people before putting a stop to their actions. However, when his patience reached its limit or his enemies were deceptive after receiving his offer, they received no mercy.

By nurture of several different events, Axis was a cold, easy-to-anger man when performing his Republic duties; often frustrated by the lack of competence in those around him. Many of his personality traits are twisted by the position he holds, to the point where his righteous anger which normally arises out of a sense of love instead appearing when people made doing his job harder. Known for using an extreme amount of expletives and insults, he regularly uses smears or threats of violence to achieve his goals and is openly contemptuous of anyone who exhibits incompetence or makes mistakes of the "they should know better" variety. Acting as the Director of Communications, he was a hurricane of anger, to the point Grand Admiral Tarkin would dread calling him and he gained a reputation in the Republic Senate. Axis had begun to lose these traits as he spent more time away from the job, notably holding himself back and apologising after lashing out at Commander Sights.

Axis' main flaw by nature was his arrogance, with him trying to take control of situations he found himself in, and often making them far worse due to his intervention, as seen by his handling over Saleucami. Axis felt it his place to punish those who committed horrific acts, such as when he stayed on Mandalore to topple the very Syndicate he facilitated the creation of. Occasionally, he stated himself to be the most powerful man in the room, often using unnecessary showings of force to simply prove a point. This arrogance was also coupled by a more lighter carefree attitude, willing to push Annalise out of a shuttle despite her never using a jetpack before, confident in his own abilities to make sure she was alright. His nature as the Key often comes into conflict with his nature as Axis, with the former being far more serene and humble with the powers granted. The human side, Axis, sometimes allows it to go to his head, placing himself as a god-like deity above all other creatures. He sees himself as the highest authority in all of reality, with his word being literal law, though this trait is more subconscious than anything else.

He was also extremely selfish by nature, completely willing to risk the fate of millions just to save someone he cared about. However, this issue often was coupled with his ego, seeing himself as magnificent enough to take those kinds of risks. As soon as he received a concerning message from his younger brother, he completely abandoned his duty and left the galaxy hanging by a string as he went back to Tatooine without any hesitation. In light of a select few people being in danger, Axis is willing to completely drop everything to help them, although he will most likely attempt to save everyone as opposed to picking and choosing. However, if his back is completely against the wall, he will sacrifice everything to save those select few.

Axis showed parental compassion towards the children he encountered, and even some of his younger friends like Commander Cody, engaging in friendly conversations with the man and being extremely understanding of his situation. He showed a deep patience and caring, willing to play games with the children of the shanty town outside Sundari for hours just because they kept asking him. When asked about why he was remaining in Mandalore to topple HaVoK's government, one of the main reasons was the children being upset and losing their parents.

Axis has gained a recent extreme fear of death by outside forces, due to his fear of losing the emotional stability he had recently gained. However, the feeling is still budding and has yet to develop into an issue.

Axis had several habits and quirks that had been noted by those around him. When feeling awkward, the man would have a habit of rubbing the back of his head with a sheepish smile. Axis seemed to hate the military and war in general, his anger at his own involvement reflecting that. As such, he usually gives salutes in a casual manner with two fingers. Axis has a tendency of his tongue slightly poking through his teeth when he smiles brightly.

### Relationships

Axis had close relationships with those who he got on with, his magnetic personality often drawing people into a sense of loyalty, sometimes to the point of it being sacrificial loyalty. Axis often disliked his co-workers from a Director of Communications perspective, his personality warped by Palpatine often getting angered by those he saw as incompetent.

Axis was extremely loyal to all his friends, going out of his way to sacrifice himself to ensure their safety and happiness. He engaged with all his friends in excited and energetic conversations, and often hugged those he deeply cared for, expressing his adoration for them.

Axis got on very well with the clones Mixer and Hawkeye, despite having wronged both of them. Mixer and Axis seemed to hold a respect for one another despite Axis partially burning the man alive. This is likely to Axis giving Mixer the freedom to become a legal citizen and step away from his responsibilities, allowing the man to pursue the life he wanted to. Axis seemed to respect Mixer enough that he would invite him in his quest against the Eternal Empire. The case was similar for Hawkeye, with Axis relating greatly to the torture the clone suffered under Taravara. Axis would help release Hawkeye and also give him the right to citizenship, not blaming the clone for running from Saleucami despite Axis' insistence the clone needed to stay to prevent a great catastrophe. Having reunited at the wedding, Axis expressed his fondness and respect for the clone, departing with a hug before walking off.

Axis and Palpatine did not get on well, though during Axis' time as the Director of Communication, he respected Palpatine as a boss and coworker, the latter being much to the Chancellor's anger. Palpatine saw Axis as one of his most useful instruments, vital to his PR campaign in the senate and galaxy. However, Palpatine's patience and love for the man ended briefly there, with Axis' disrespectful attitude after spending recovery time with Annalise causing Palpatine to not care if his Director of Communications was killed by Taravara and Krosha Morze. Axis would later admit to his utter loathing and hatred of the Sith Lord.

Axis seemed to hold a great dislike of Tarkin, though this was likely based on his opinions of the man's Imperial counterpart. Despite this, Axis would never actually refuse contact with the man, at least retaining a somewhat professional relationship.

Axis had an extremely trustworthy relationship with Grand Admiral Thrawn, with both parties holding a profound and everlasting respect for each other's abilities and work. The two often shared secrets and plans, using their combined intellect to great mutual satisfaction. Thrawn would have no issue trusting Axis in his ability to help stop the Chiss instability, and trusted the man with many secrets that he would not normally give to others.

Axis' relationship with members of Rebel Command and the Alliance in general is relatively unknown, however, statements from Gial Ackbar go to show that he and the Supreme Allied Commanders were extremely close. Being a prominent figure in the Alliance before his capture, Axis was close with a decent number of their members, a point noted by Han Solo and the man himself.

Despite starting off on the wrong foot, given the team first met him with Axis performing a fake attempted murder, Axis seemed to get on moderately well with Hunter and the rest of Bad Batch, at least enough that the team leader appreciated Axis' condolences upon Kal Skirata's demise.

Axis seemed to get on very well with many other people, such as but not limited to: Tarre Vizsla, Near Farr, Arcann Tirall, Darth Zannah, Droid, Ahsoka Tano, and many others.

Axis seemed to greatly dislike Mas Amedda, and the feeling was apparently mutual. The Shabogan onboard AI called Karnek seemed to loathe Axis with a passion, refusing to even call the man by any title. Axis also seemed to loathe Darth Vader, though did not often elaborate.

#### Axis' Wife

"*She was my everything. The ground I walked on, the air I breathed. I...*"
―Axis, recalling his wife in a conversation to Beans
Axis does not mention his wife often, though he has clearly indicated that she has long since passed in conversations to several people. It is clear the loss still haunts him, to the point there is a mental projection of her in his head, which even manifested as a hallucination during his month on Krovashda. However, he clearly is not so haunted by the loss that he can't move on or discuss at, as seen by his close interactions with Annalise and dismissive comments about his wife's death, though this may be a defence mechanism.

Axis clearly loved whoever it was an extreme amount, with notes of a wistful tone when he described her in an almost angelic-like way. The two seemed to trust each other and know each other extremely well, pointing out each other's personality traits and flaws as if they were their own. The relationship was often quite teasing, with his wife making several tongue-in-cheek comments about how he liked to whine and complain on occasion, which seemed to only bring the widower amusement rather than frustration at being teased.

His wife clearly loved their children, and Axis as well, with Axis recalling a devotion and endless love that "left him in awe". However, the two kept secrets from each other, with Axis noting he was only starting to learn some of them "now" to Beans.

#### The Twelve Amalgamations

"*One of them hates me, the other is against me... and the third... I haven't seen in a very long time*"
―Axis, recalling his children to the Nimbus Commandos
Axis had 12 children, those being the 12 Amalgamations of the Void, which formed when the Void siphoned off its emotions into living beings with the help of Axis. Through various descriptions and details, it was very clear Axis loved all his children greatly, perhaps more than anything he ever had done before. His love extended to the point that his child the Harbinger, the most evil creature in all of creation, was still loved all the same.

However, it is clear that Axis has outlived most of his children, which haunts him to this day. In a mere conversation with Beans, he nearly had a breakdown in front of him, mourning the loss of the 12 beings he had raised. And despite this, only two were left alive, that being The Harbinger and The Trickster. Though one of the other children was stated to be "lost" rather than dead, possibly implying they simply were in a place that was unreachable.

Finally, Axis noted to the Nimbus Commandos that Alena was his child, though Axis had been notably lying the entire conversation and likely said this as to hide his true intentions for finding the daughter of Annalise.

#### Boba Fett

"*But when I found you, I was a broken man. Completely and utterly broken. You made me better... and you'll always be my little brother*"
―Axis, in a conversation with his little brother
Boba and Axis were extremely close, being siblings in all but blood. Via accounts from both Boba and Axis, it is clear that Axis raised Boba right after the boy lost his father. This prevented Boba from growing up under the influence of bounty hunters such as Bossk, and it allowed the son of Jango to receive a relatively stable upbringing, moulding him into a kinder and more honourable figure, as well as turning him away from the path of revenge. Axis would often read Boba made-up stories, something Boba could remember well into his 40s.

Axis would spend years raising and mentoring Boba, before his little brother decided to become a bounty hunter on his own terms and follow his own moral code, something which Axis was extremely proud of him for. The two would assist the Rebel Alliance and what would later be the New Republic a massive deal, working together side-by-side and trusting each other completely. This ended when Axis was captured by the Empire and Boba would not see him for more than a decade, though he spent the time desperately searching for his older brother.

After ending up in the Universe of Prophecy, Boba would reunite with Axis, though find his brother was extremely different. Axis was more closed off and cold, almost cruel, something which confused the bounty hunter's image of the kind, selfless man who had raised him. Upon encountering Boba, Axis would immediately begin to mend the trauma he suffered under Palpatine, regaining small bits of his personality.

Axis clearly cared deeply for Boba, fussing over him with worry and making sure the boy was alright. Boba would in turn do the same, noticing Axis' mourning over Annalise leaving the party after their argument, also willing to call Axis out for being such an idiot and letting the woman run off to the most dangerous planet in the galaxy.

Though the two often came into conflict, with Boba taking issue with Axis' secretive and controlling presence. Boba had made a promise to Axis to assist him with his mission, and Axis prevents Boba from seeing Jango for this reason, fearing he will stray from the mission. Upon realising his hypocrisy, Axis backed down and gave Boba permission, though the man refused; talking about how he would uphold his promises. The two often came into conflict over Axis' secretive nature, with Boba calling the man out for keeping so much hidden from his own brother, to which Axis often promised that he would tell him later.

#### Annalise Dimidium

"*Annalise, if I go... I want you to know that my time with you... really has been some of the best time in my life. Thank you...*"
"*You're really the one to thank here. I've just.. Been along for the ride the past few weeks. A ride that I don't want to end yet*"
―Axis and Annalise in Sundari, after Axis expressed concern that his illness may kill him
Axis and Annalise developed a deep and profound friendship very quickly upon meeting each other on Tatooine. The two seem to have a mutual reliance on one another, especially when they first met. Axis, being at a time where he finally began to escape the clutches of Palpatine; and Annalise, who's relationship with her husband had broken down alongside her children having been taken away from her. As such, the two used one another to heal and grow as people, their travels together signifying moving on from the chains that held them down. Annalise relies on Axis to bring the thrill of life and uncertainty to her doorstep, as well as seemingly acting as an unwavering emotional pillar; while Axis relies on her to regain humanity and joy in his life, with Annalise's kind and benevolent outlook on life reminding him how to act as such. Their friendship was so profound that Axis and Annalise would be unable to remain angry at one another for long, the two quickly realising that they needed each other's company; something they counteracted through the exchange of various letters.

The two often tease and make fun of one another, willing to take jabs at one another as they became more familiar with each other's flaws and traits as time went on. While they could have spats, the two never really had a harsh argument until their return to Tatooine before parting ways. Annalise would often tease Axis for being childish and reckless, while Axis would respond with comments about her capacity to worry and her lack of knowledge about certain things. However, they care deeply for one another and balanced each other out; with Axis being the drive and the ambition, and Annalise being the calm and the reason.

Around Annalise, Axis would be far more joyful and childlike, regaining his sense of wonder and joy for the universe. Far more excitable and happy in her presence, Annalise also acts as his morality chain, making sure he remains aware of his actions and does not go too far in his emotional responses. Axis and Annalise would often partake in activities with one another, enjoying each other's company as they stargazed, played cards, or went out to explore different areas. Axis, during these activities, would often be extremely energetic and captivated by what he was observing, regaling his companion with explanations and stories of different planets, people, and adventures. He was seemingly more open around her, enthusiastic in his conversation as he proceeded to go into detail about various topics.

Axis and Annalise would often console one another in times of emotional stress or crisis, providing one another with emotional comfort that they desperately needed at the time. This was seen with Axis helping Annalise after they left Mandalore, when the woman expressed her grief at not being able to see her children and internally noting that he was her only sense of comfort since she parted ways with Arye; and when Annalise comforted Axis when the palace of Sundari was destroyed, killing thousands of people. Since departing from each other's sides, the two were able to recognise the effect they had on one another, both lamenting about the lack of the other's presence despite parting on extremely poor terms.

Very often, Annalise tends to be the one to make sure Axis does not do anything too reckless, reacting with exasperation before and after Axis does something outlandish and completely off-the-rails, in some cases attempting to prevent him from doing something stupid. This has been seen often, but notably when she berated Axis after he stole Compass and broke into the noblewoman's home, expressing her frustration with his carelessness. She lamented at his downright stupidity after he got out of bed while injured just because he held deep concerns she could be in danger, which opened many of his wounds and caused him to collapse. She would also note how he could act "childish" and petulant, though this was often expressed with fondness rather than negativity. However, this was followed by seemingly a fond exasperation and concern, with Annalise being somewhat touched by his caring sentiment.

However, there was a slight lack of trust between the two during their initial time together, all of which culminated in the harsh argument that took place between them on Tatooine. Axis seemingly cannot stand losing her, treating her as if she was made of glass as he would go out of his way to make sure she was safe. This does not mean Axis doubts her strength or capabilities, he is consciously aware of her ability to look after herself and has complete faith in her. However, when he believes the woman is endangered or endangering herself, he cannot stand by and let such a thing occur. This was shown during and after their argument, where Axis would visit [REDACTED] to ensure her safety on Zakuul. Annalise, on the other hand, cannot stand this slightly controlling element; and while she recognises that it comes from a place of deep caring, that was not enough for her taking issue at the restriction on her independence. This was expressly noted by the woman after the two parted on poor terms, with Annalise furious that Axis would seek to make decisions for her when it came to going back to Zakuul to see her son.

The relationship between the two is also held back by Axis' lack of explanation into some topics. While this is a point of intrigue Annalise is likely interested in, Axis' vague answers and explanations often cause friction between the two. Axis never explains his abilities or how he is able to do the things he can, often frustrating Annalise when he assures her she was never in danger when he pushed her out the shuttle but not explaining how he could guarantee as such. When he was injured and dying, he would not go into detail as to why, frustrating and greatly concerning the woman to the point that she would remain overnight at his bedside.

The two seem to hold a concern and protectiveness over one another that cannot be ignored. Axis refused to let Annalise go to Zakuul out of concern for her, which eventually culminated in their argument. Axis also risked his own life several times just to make sure the woman was safe and happy, something which did resonate with Annalise, admiring his dedication and compassion. Axis would also let Annalise sleep in during the Siege of Sundari despite being critically injured, not wanting his friend to get hurt or worse. Annalise, on the other hand, also showed a deep rooted protectiveness of the man, internally pointing out she had spent her entire time on Mandalore fretting over his worsening condition. When Axis was kidnapped by the Sus 6, Annalise showed a fierce and determined protectiveness of the man, storming through Bly and his squad just to make sure her friend would not be taken from her, especially given his poorly condition. She and the Mandalorian Nimbus Commandos would bond over their worry for Axis, acting as his protectors when he was bedridden and dying.

While suggested, it is unclear whether or not the two harboured romantic feelings for one another. The apparent romantic element has been noted by some of their mutual acquaintances, such as but not limited to: Boba Fett, Ahsoka Tano, Beans, Flauros, and Falcon. Even the Sus 6 seemed to be aware of the emotional connection between the two, and were able to recognise that Annalise would not stop coming after them until Axis was back in her arms. And while the two never clearly stated if they had feelings for one another, both seemingly danced around the issue, both figuratively and literally. This has been suggested by the two sharing a dance at the wedding of Cody and Silver, sharing a bed after the Sus 6 incident, both keeping pictures of one another despite parting on bad terms, and Axis relating their relationship to a story with a suggested romantic element in a conversation with Boba. Both Axis and Annalise, if they did hold feelings for one another, did hold themselves back; with Axis seemingly lamenting over some unknown circumstances, and Annalise dealing with her raw trust issues after suspecting her husband's lack of commitment. Annalise also was directly noted to have some minor romantic feeling towards Axis, but was aware she was still married to Arye and would remain faithful to him, having no solid evidence of Arye's extensive romantic relationship with Satele Shan.

Axis, after finding out about the disappearance of his former lover Sabé Naberrie from Mara Jade, would finally concede that he was in love with his Aruzan companion, something that would make the distance between them more painful than ever.

#### Compass

"*But you need to look after Annalise for me, okay?*"
―Axis to Compass, saying goodbye to his beloved companion before sending her on her wayAxis and Compass formed a close bond extremely quickly, despite Axis' poor track record with animals. Compass seemingly held a great degree of emotional intelligence, being able to follow Axis and stay in his company despite Axis having stolen the horse from their previous owner. Axis was able to direct Compass in their initial escape, with the horse seemingly accompanying the man for a sense of adventure if nothing else.

Axis was the one to name the horse Compass, due to the way the horse would stand still in one spot and spin around, reminding him of the way a compass needle spins around. The two would become closer, with Axis (and later Annalise) spending a lot of their downtime tending to the horse and taking care of her, brushing her hair and making sure the animal was happy. Compass seemingly took great pleasure in these sessions, happy for the love and attention she was receiving from her new owners. Compass was seemingly extremely loyal to both Axis and Annalise, and did not seem to show a preference between the two. Despite Compass following Annalise's commands far more than Axis', the horse always listened to Axis in times of panic or when the situation called for it.

Compass was loyal enough to charge into a hailstorm of blaster fire during the Sus 6 confrontation to save Axis and Annalise, and during the escape, travelled at top speed after sensing Axis' dying condition. While Compass did begin to retreat after receiving warning shots from Atabash, she did not actually leave the combat zone until Axis and Annalise had been extracted.

Compass showed a great deal of emotional intelligence in interactions with Axis, sensing the man was upset after Flauros and Falcon were captured in order to save him, as well as his continuing emotional struggle with Annalise. Compass was seemingly able to indicate that Axis was mainly upset about Annalise, something which the man chided the horse for. While it seems to be the case that Axis can speak and respond to Compass, it is obvious that the man is just using 'animal speak' and projecting responses he wants to hear onto the horse's sounds and body language.

Axis and Compass were close enough that Axis would temporarily retrofit Slave-1 to accommodate the horse, as the man refused to depart from Mandalore without his beloved friend. Axis also trusted the horse to look after Annalise after the two parted on poor terms.

## **Powers and Abilities**

"*To use a blade is easy, to master it requires dedication; but to understand it is something none in this galaxy have ever done*"
―Axis to Hawkeye, telling him of the many ways one can easily surpass any Force User
### Combat Abilities

Axis didn't elaborate much on his skills, nor his abilities; however, it could be assumed that he was aware of how to use the typical twin vibroblades of the Clone Assassins. It is likely he can use them to extremely masterful degrees, given his bladework was specifically pointed out by the Kaminoans. He also carried a sword on his back, however, no one has ever seen him use it. Axis is extremely masterful in bladework, to the point he himself doubts there is anyone who could best him in such, though this fact may be a symptom of his own arrogance. While it has not been shown that he knows every form of sword combat, there has been no such scenario where he has not been able to immediately use a style. It was even briefly observed by Annalise that some of his dagger-work showed forms of Juyo, of which she could not tell his knowledge of the lightsaber forms. All of these things come from his advanced age, with endless time to practise and refine his abilities.

However, Axis was likely the worst with firearms in the entire universe. Naturally, he was a terrible shot, but his condition meant he was the definition of useless. Axis, after taking the name of "Axis", has not hit a single firearm shot intentionally. On Mandalore, he missed a bottle in a carnival game despite it being 50 centimeters away, before the shot proceeded to ricochet an extreme amount of times and cause major property damage. On Concordia, he mentioned to Annalise how he had missed a shot despite the muzzle of the weapon being pressed against the target. Even when attempting to not shoot anything, upon firing off a shot in anger, the bolt ended up hitting someone a great distance away completely on accident. His skill is so poor that Axis had noted himself to Annalise very briefly and dismissively that "I dislike shooting because I have practically killed myself in trying to do so. Well, in fact I have". This implies that Axis once ended his own life accidently upon missing a shot.

Axis' dagger-work is second to none. Upon numerous occasions has Axis shown to be able to cut objects at a distance, and ones that far exceed the size of the dagger he is cutting them with. On Saleucami, he was able to cut an entire All Terrain Tactical Enforcer (AT-TE) in half with one of his daggers from about 100 meters away. On Sundari, he was able to cleave an entire section of the city wall in two while standing on the back of a horse. He was also able to cut rubble in Sundari Palace Prison to free Dragonius without even scratching the man at all. However, his skills in the daggers were not limited to this esoteric cutting ability. In terms of actual dagger combat, Axis was able to cleave through the strongest of honour guards immediately during the Sundari Palace attack. He also has shown an extreme skill in throwing his daggers. In The Works, he was able to throw a dagger right between Hunter's legs intentionally from a height 50 meters above; and when fighting the Sus 6 in Sundari, Axis was able to hit Sigyn from 200 meters away with a dagger throw, while he was extremely injured as well as at an awkward angle with his stomach over the back of a horse.

Axis was extremely fast, able to disappear from nearly anyone's eye view. He was more than capable of going toe-to-toe with the legendary Taravara, as well as being able to disappear from the view of individuals like Annalise, HaVoK, Boba Fett, and Bly. Axis had another strange ability that allowed him to step off the air itself, be that due to an ability or his speed itself. This was seen on the moon of Concordia when he and Annalise jumped out of a crashing shuttle, as well as him jumping over Boba during a friendly spar the two were involved in. Being a clone assassin, he very likely had extreme mastery of Teras Kasi, which boosts his speed even further.

Axis also had two hidden wrist blades, to which he used to dispatch targets easily, especially seen in the Sundari Palace attack where he dispatched guards with such ease that Njex Rodarch barely even noticed him move, nor did he stop conversing to her as he did so. He also has an unknown skill with martial weapons, to the point he was able to casually offer Beans tutoring in the use of a spear.

He was shown to be extremely stealthy, likely credited to his time as an assassin and during Krosha Morze; as he was able to sneak up on several capable Force users despite them being combat alert and ready.

### Abilities as the Key

#### Void Abilities

As the Key, Axis is completely one with the Void, with the two essentially taking the same identity upon merging; though they often make a distinction between one another. When in the realm between universes, where the man spent very little of his time, Axis has gone on record to say that he could "do anything". Be that as it may, he clearly showed the ability to manipulate anything within the confides of the realm. During various battles with Ectherid, he was able to collapse a universe and draw every star to fire like a pellet, damaging and injuring the snake. During the War of the Hallowed Thread, multiple accounts of entire multiversal clusters being cut in half were reported, a testament to the extent of his control.

However, outside the Void, things are noticeably different. Due to the mechanics of Void Sickness and Axis' unwillingness to bind himself to Father Tempus, he discovered a method upon which a lack of Void Sickness would instead be compensated by physical damage. This means, whenever in a physical universe, using the powers he so casually uses in the Void causes a great deal of physical damage. When holding Abeloth in the Maw for more than a month, Axis' body began to literally fall apart, with Annalise often noting that cuts and scars would appear like he was being mauled by a wild animal. Not only was this due to the use of his abilities, it was also due to his Void connection, with all damage done to the realm of nothing transferring to him. While rescuing Mara Jade at the Battle of Coruscant, using his powers caused his entire right arm to nearly fall off, alongside his heart going into cardiac arrest.

When outside the Void, Axis has shown to be able to teleport himself or any other creature, usually through a portal. Axis seemed to be able to coat certain objects and people in markings, able to teleport to them instantly as opposed to using an extensive portal process. This had more combat applications, teleporting to his dagger to land a hit on Arye Prays in their spar. He has been shown to be able to breath in the vacuum of space, as well as cloak himself in a shroud. And though not observed, it was shown that he was able to produce a blue fire-like substance, as well as black tendrils that were able to physically interact with objects. This was shown by the tendrils swatting away blaster bolts directed at Mara Jade, as well as holding daggers which gouged out the eyes of Cipher 9. The tendrils seems to be his go-to use of the Void, not being that taxing and seemingly having a mind of their own. Axis would often use them to watch over Alena while he was away, the tendrils having their own personalities when interacting with the girl.

Axis was also able to produce barriers and pockets of Void, allowing him to influence space and the area within the pockets he created. He was able to extend a barrier around the Maw to prevent Abeloth from leaving, with the only thing dropping the barrier being his near-fatal condition. However, this was all shown to cause him some harm, with a large draining effect on his vitality. He was also able to use his powers in conjunction with his sword play, bolstering the power of his projection techniques.

Whether these same things occur when he actually reveals his true form is unknown.

##### Void Art

The Void Art was a classification of Axis' powers that required verbal activation, and the use of runic patterns drawn onto various surfaces to project a field in which Axis could control. The verbal side of the ability was stated by Axis to increase the efficiency and reduce the time it took to project the attack, though some suspect he merely does it for flair and grandiose appearance.

**Banish** was an ability Axis used against Spar, suspecting he was Jango Fett and thus a threat to his companions. 8 black mist-like poles were conjured and slammed into the ground around the target, and upon ability use, sent the occupant within into a pocket of the Void for containment.

**Mirror Flip** seemed to be conjured through Axis slamming his hands on the ground, and ejecting the runes like snakes between himself and the target. Upon use of the ability, Axis would swap positions in space with the individual he trapped. Axis used this ability in his spar against those on Nar Shaddaa, swapping positions with Sev to remove himself from danger.

**Temporal Cage** was conjured through six tendrils from the ground turning into bar like objects, surrounding the target in a cage. Upon ability use, it seemed to freeze someone in time, acting as a cage that would preserve the captured individual. This was shown against Count Dooku, used to prevent a dangerous confrontation between him and Anakin Skywalker.

**Conceptual Trap** seemed to be the most exhaustive and extensive ability, with Axis having to manually draw a large pattern with the Void that covered a large area. This was done with exuding the substance from his foot, however, it is likely this could be done by hand if needed. Once the pattern was complete, Axis could remove a concept within the area, using the Void's nature of non-conceptual non-existence to do so. In his spar with General Grievous, Axis removed the concept of movement, trapping Grievous for an hour within the trap.

#### Temporal Abilities

The extent to these is unknown, but Axis was shown to at least exert some control of the fabric of time, being able to move through it at the minimum. This was shown by his travels with Spar to Tentallivion VII in the future, as well as his travels throughout the Chiss history at the end of the Civil War. He also showed an ability to halt the flow, though this seemingly took a great toll on him, both physically and mentally.

It should be noted that the man has stated several times that there are rules to prevent him from altering the course of history, however, as time has gone on, he has become more liberal with his use of these powers. When Alena was threatened by the Chiss Traditionalists, Axis changed their entire history to make the three families side with Thrawn, though he made sure as to make sure established events where he was involved still occurred, manipulating behind the scenes to do so. This ensured a lack of paradox, something which Axis seemed firmly against doing.

### Other Abilities

Axis was a extraordinary manipulator, often utilising his choice of words to persuade others into a decision of his choosing, or devising cold and pragmatic schemes to defeat his adversaries. He had a tendency to play the long game in his schemes, preferring to keep his plans subtle, though this sometimes fell through due to his arrogance, as seen at his beginning in Sundari. But he also was able to play the game "behind the scenes", completely setting up a revolution in Sundari in a matter of weeks with no link to his name. However, he often focused on over complicating his plans to the point that he overlooked a more simpler approach. When his plans went poorly, or an unexpected element developed, Axis was efficient at improvising around it, after he got over his anger at the plan failing. This played extremely well with the knowledge of the political environment, where he was able to successfully predict the terms of the Jedi's post-purge response towards the Republic.

Axis had a strange ability to bring people over to his side quickly, with Palpatine having noted it to be a "magic voice". He was able to reasonably get along with Hunter after nearly causing his death, and was able to gain Mixer's loyalty after literally burning him alive in the Works. Despite being a clone and admitting to the involvement in the orchestration of the Battle of Jabiim, the Nimbus Commandos still showed an unwavering loyalty towards him, willing to completely risk their lives to save him when he was captured by the Sus 6. This was further shown by his time with Tarre Vizsla, where he was able to gain the man's loyalty after he started to rip out the man's spine seconds earlier, though it is likely this could be credited to the former Mand'alor's relaxed attitude.

He showed an extreme level of intelligence, though this could be interpreted as foresight from his time during the Galactic Civil War in the Universe of Fracture as a member of Rebel Command. He was able to cite complete knowledge on Kylo Ren and his original identity of Ben Solo; he was able to recognise and know the location of Bendu; he was able to give detailed knowledge on the workings of reality; and seemingly was able to give knowledge recall on anything anyone asked him, though this very likely had limits that were just not discovered yet. This was shown by his lack of knowledge of Sundari and its inner workings; as well as getting his facts mixed up, as shown when he was questioned on the history of Mandalore and Deathwatch by Annalise.

However, he showed an extreme prowess in engineering and tinkering. On Mandalore, he was able to completely rig Near Farr's observation system to leak all the information over the last 6 months to the general populace, while also scrubbing the information related to himself, Annalise, and the Nimbus Commandos. He was able to rig machines and devices together quickly, able to build a micro stasis field generator in a matter of days, something which Grand Admiral Thrawn implied was beyond the Chiss Ascendency's ability. It is likely, however, that this knowledge could be attributed to the man being from a future time in another universe. He was able to rig several other marvellous devices together in a short amount of time, of which some had temporal properties as shown by the device he made to track the movement of the planet of Zakuul upon Valkorion's teleportation. However, this engineering capability had extreme flaws. He was unable to produce the device which utilised Ysalamir blood, having to ask the Chiss Ascendency for assistance. His devices often broke and did not work for significant periods of time, as shown by many of the devices in his workshop breaking and falling apart.

Axis seemed to possess some kind of psychic ability, noting to Boba that he would be able to place mental shields over him and Mixer at their concern of Valkorion breaching their minds, though they interpreted this as over-confidence rather than anything else. Hunter was able to notice Axis' passive telepathic field due to his higher senses, and Axis explained that with enough practise, people could emit a psychic field which dampens the curiosity in the brain. Axis passively does so to prevent people questioning his more esoteric abilities, as to not draw attention to himself. He was also shown, at least in the physical world, to only be a touch-telepath. This was how he placed mental shields on Mixer and Boba, as well as wake Arye Prays from his coma.