The Way Out

"Lay down your weapon, and I'll show you the way out."

―Barriss Offee, to the Fourth Sister^[1]

"The Way Out" is the sixth and final episode of the animated anthology series Star Wars: Tales of the Empire. The episode premiered on May 4, 2024.

Official description[]

A shadow from Barriss' past catches up with her.

Plot summary[]

Seeking the healer[]

The episode opens with a snow storm blanketing a landscape. A four-legged animal scurries by. A couple carrying a child travel with their pack animal through the blizzard. Amidst the storm, they encounter a short Mohsenian. The man tells the Mohsenian that they seek the "healer." The woman carries a small child in her arms. The Mohsenian tells the couple to follow him.

Later, the blizzard pasts and the travelers approaches a small hut. A woman dressed in a fur coat invites them inside to meet with the healer. The healer reveals herself to be the former Jedi Padawan and former Inquisitor Barriss Offee, who asks to see the child. She touches the child's head and says there appears to be nothing wrong with the child. The parents agree and tell Offee that the Galactic Empire came to their village and took samples of the children's blood. They tell Offee that the Imperials were scared of their child and wanted to take him away, prompting them to flee. They explain that the Mohsenian traveler told them to find her.

Inviting the couple to sit with her, Offee explains that her family faced a similar situation but the Jedi took and trained her as their own. She talked about seeing amazing things and traveling the stars with her Master Luminara Unduli before a darkness took me. Offee emphasizes that was long ago. When the mother asks if their child is a Jedi, Offee explains that the child in the days of the Jedi would have been considered to have potential to become a Jedi. She says that such gifts are a curse under the Empire. Offee says that the parents were right to flee since the Empire would use them or something worst.

An old enemy[]

Just then a wind enters the hut, snuffing out the candles. The Mohsenian tells Offee that someone is coming. The father accompanies Offee outside the hut. In the distance, Offee sees a figure approaching. She tells the Mohsenian traveler to take the family to safety aboard his starship. When the Mohsenian says that they are here to help, Offee tells him to take the family to see an "old friend" using the coordinates stored in her ship's navigation computer. The other attendant offers to come back to help but Offee tells the two attendants that they have done more than they should. She tells them to pass on everything she has taught them. When the parents ask how they can repay her kindness, Offee tells them to escape aboard her starship.

After the others have left, Offee faces the stranger, who turns out to be the Fourth Sister, the former Jedi known as Lyn Rakish. The Fourth Sister expresses surprise and delight to have found Offee. When Offee tells her to leave, the Fourth Sister says that she has been sent for the child Micah. Offee stands defiantly. The Fourth Sister advances on her with her double-bladed spinning lightsaber, which is in singular mode. When Offee condemns her for kidnapping innocent children for the Empire, the Fourth Sister denounces her as a traitor, saying that she doesn't expect her to understand.

The Fourth Sister is angered by Offee calling her by her old name. Offee dodges the Inquisitor's blade, prompting her to activate her lightsaber's second blade. Offee continues to dodge the Fourth Sister's attack. When Offee taunts her that her anger makes her predictable, the Inquisitor shifts her lightsaber to spinning mode and launches a third attack. Offee uses the Force to deactivate the weapon, causing the Fourth Sister to the drop to the ground. She realizes that Offee is distracting her so that her attendants can escape with the family. Offee warns her not to follow the child into that cave because she doesn't know the path.

Lyn's trials[]

The Fourth Sister counters that fear is her ally, prompting Offee to remark that she has a poor choice of allies. The Fourth Sister ignores Offee and charges into the cave, vowing to finish her off once she has the child. The attendants lead the family and their child through the tunnels inside the cave. The Fourth Sister follows but is confused by the ice structures, which give reflections. The attendants, who know the way, are able to guide the family to their starship. The Inquisitor gets lost inside the cave while the family and attendants safely board their starship and escape into hyperspace.

Back in the cave, the Fourth Sister slashes at the ice structures in an attempt to find her way out. Offee says that she warned her. When the Fourth Sister accuses her of tricking her, Offee responds that she doesn't want her to die here. Offee tells her to lay down her weapon and she will show her a way out. The Fourth Sister fears the consequences of her failure. When Offee remarks that fear is not her ally, the Inquisitor continues slashing at the ice structures in a fit of rage. She accidentally stabs Offee with her lightsaber.

The Fourth Sister is horrified by her actions and apologizes. Offee says she doesn't want her apology and tells Lyn that she knows the way out, which involves abandoning fear and her Imperial identity. Making peace with Offee, she carries her and says that she will get them out of here. She leaves her double-bladed spinning lightsaber behind. Outside the ice cave, the rodent notices Lyn carrying Offee out of the cave.